“I do not believe in the dangers and difficulties which you, Henry, seem to multiply; and the only way to learn is, like Arne Saknussemm, to go and see.”
“Well,” cried I, overcome at last, “let us go and see. Though how we can do that in the dark is another mystery.”
“Fear nothing. We shall overcome these, and many other difficulties. Besides, as we approach the center, I expect to find it luminous—”
“Nothing is impossible.”
“And now that we have come to a thorough understanding, not a word to any living soul. Our success depends on secrecy and dispatch.”
Thus ended our memorable conference, which roused a perfect fever in me. Leaving my uncle, I went forth like one possessed. Reaching the banks of the Elbe, I began to think. Was all I had heard really and truly possible? Was my uncle in his sober senses, and could the interior of the earth be reached? Was I the victim of a madman, or was he a discoverer of rare courage and grandeur of conception?
To a certain extent I was anxious to be off. I was afraid my enthusiasm would cool. I determined to pack up at once. At the end of an hour, however, on my way home, I found that my feelings had very much changed.
“I’m all abroad,” I cried; “’tis a nightmare—I must have dreamed it.”
At this moment I came face to face with Gretchen, whom I warmly embraced.
“So you have come to meet me,” she said; “how good of you. But what is the matter?”
Well, it was no use mincing the matter; I told her all. She listened with awe, and for some minutes she could not speak.
“Well?” I at last said, rather anxiously.
“What a magnificent journey. If I were only a man! A journey worthy of the nephew of Professor Hardwigg. I should look upon it as an honor to accompany him.”
“My dear Gretchen, I thought you would be the first to cry out against this mad enterprise.”
“No; on the contrary, I glory in it. It is magnificent, splendid—an idea worthy of my father. Henry Lawson, I envy you.”
This was, as it were, conclusive. The final blow of all.
When we entered the house we found my uncle surrounded by workmen and porters, who were packing up. He was pulling and hauling at a bell.
“Where have you been wasting your time? Your portmanteau is not packed—my papers are not in order—the precious tailor has not brought my clothes, nor my gaiters—the key of my carpet bag is gone!”
I looked at him stupefied. And still he tugged away at the bell.
“We are really off, then?” I said.
“Yes—of course, and yet you go out for a stroll, unfortunate boy!”
“And when do we go?”
“The day after tomorrow, at daybreak.”
I heard no more; but darted off to my little bedchamber and locked myself in. There was no doubt about it now. My uncle had been hard at work all the afternoon. The garden was full of ropes, rope ladders, torches, gourds, iron clamps, crowbars, alpenstocks, and pickaxes—enough to load ten men.
I passed a terrible night. I was called early the next day to learn that the resolution of my uncle was unchanged and irrevocable. I also found my cousin and affianced wife as warm on the subject as was her father.
Next day, at five o’clock in the morning, the post chaise was at the door. Gretchen and the old cook received the keys of the house; and, scarcely pausing to wish anyone good-by, we started on our adventurous journey into the center of the earth.
V
First Lessons in Climbing
At Altona, a suburb of Hamburg, is the Chief Station of the Kiel railway, which was to take us to the shores of the Belt. In twenty minutes from the moment of our departure we were in Holstein, and our carriage entered the station. Our heavy luggage was taken out, weighed, labeled, and placed in a huge van. We then took our tickets, and exactly at seven o’clock were seated opposite each other in a first-class railway carriage.
My uncle said nothing. He was too busy examining his papers, among which of course was the famous parchment, and some letters of introduction from the Danish consul, which were to pave the way to an introduction to the Governor of Iceland. My only amusement was looking out of the window. But as we passed through a flat though fertile country, this occupation was slightly monotonous. In three hours we reached Kiel, and our baggage was at once transferred to the steamer.