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The Blog of Axel Lidenbrock : June 24th 1863

From: Harry Hayfield <harryhayfield~at~googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:49:06 +0100
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~gilead.org.il>

Blank

Yes, I know that the temperature is 14°F, and that with the 15 mph wind
blowing feels more like -1°F, but you have to admit there is a certain
beauty to this potential deathtrap. I stood on the very summit of the
southernmost of the volcano's peaks. The range of the eye extended over the
whole island. By an optical law which obtains at all great heights, the
shores seemed raised and the centre depressed. It seemed as if one of
Helbesmer's raised maps lay at my feet. I could see deep valleys
intersecting each other in every direction, precipices like low walls, lakes
reduced to ponds, rivers abbreviated into streams. On my right were
numberless glaciers and innumerable peaks, some plumed with feathery clouds
of smoke. The undulating surface of these endless mountains, crested with
sheets of snow, reminded one of a stormy sea. If I looked westward, there
the ocean lay spread out in all its magnificence, like a mere continuation
of those flock-like summits. The eye could hardly tell where the snowy
ridges ended and the foaming waves began.

Is it any wonder then that I was so lost in admiration, that I failed to
notice Hans and my uncle joining me. He turned me due west and asked what I
could see. I tried hard to think what it was and have to give up.
"Greenland" he replied, which amazed me. But that wasn't the only thing that
amazed me today because guess what the picture I had taken also showed?
That's right, what looks like a pile of snow is in fact the fabled
Scartaris. The only problem was that we had a week or so to go until it's
shadow would show us the correct route into the crater and my word, what a
crater it is. It resembled an inverted cone, the opening of which might be
half a league in diameter. Its depth appeared to be about two thousand feet.
Imagine the aspect of such a reservoir, brim full and running over with
liquid fire amid the rolling thunder. The bottom of the funnel was about 250
feet in circuit, so that the gentle slope allowed its lower brim to be
reached without much difficulty and reminded me of a mortar (which was a
very bad comparsion to make as it set me on edge again).

We decided to have a little look to see if we could see anything of note and
found three chimneys (well they looked like chimneys) and next to them was a
very familar signature. That of Arne. It was decided that we would spend the
night in the actual crater itself and hope (well I hope at any rate) that we
are still here in the morning.

Received on Wed 25 Jun 2008 - 00:49:34 IDT

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