第62章 Launching the Raft(2)

"What may that be,Uncle?Your information interests me.""Why,that the needle instead of dipping towards the pole as it does on earth,in the northern hemisphere,has an upward tendency.""This proves,"I cried,"that the great point of magnetic attraction lies somewhere between the surface of the earth and the spot we have succeeded in reaching.""Exactly,my observant nephew,"exclaimed my uncle,elated and delighted,"and it is quite probable that if we succeed in getting toward the polar regions-somewhere near the seventy-third degree of latitude,where Sir James Ross discovered the magnetic pole,we shall behold the needle point directly upward.We have therefore discovered by analogy,that this great center of attraction is not situated at a very great depth.""Well,"said I,rather surprised,"this discovery will astonish experimental philosophers.It was never suspected.""Science,great,mighty and in the end unerring,"replied my uncle dogmatically,"science has fallen into many errors-errors which have been fortunate and useful rather than otherwise,for they have been the steppingstones to truth."After some further discussion,I turned to another matter.

"Have you any idea of the depth we have reached?""We are now,"continued the Professor,"exactly thirty-five leagues-above a hundred miles-down into the interior of the earth.""So,"said I,after measuring the distance on the map,"we are now beneath the Scottish Highlands,and have over our heads the lofty Grampian Hills.""You are quite right,"said the Professor,laughing;"it sounds very alarming,the weight being heavy-but the vault which supports this vast mass of earth and rock is solid and safe;the mighty Architect of the Universe has constructed it of solid materials.Man,even in his highest flights of vivid and poetic imagination,never thought of such things!What are the finest arches of our bridges,what the vaulted roofs of our cathedrals,to that mighty dome above us,and beneath which floats an ocean with its storms and calms and tides!""I admire it all as much as you can,Uncle,and have no fear that our granite sky will fall upon our heads.But now that we have discussed matters of science and discovery,what are your future intentions?Are you not thinking of getting back to the surface of our beautiful earth?"This was said more as a feeler than with any hope of success.

"Go back,nephew,"cried my uncle in a tone of alarm,"you are not surely thinking of anything so absurd or cowardly.No,my intention is to advance and continue our journey.We have as yet been singularly fortunate,and henceforth I hope we shall be more so.""But,"said I,"how are we to cross yonder liquid plain?""It is not my intention to leap into it head foremost,or even to swim across it,like Leander over the Hellespont.But as oceans are,after all,only great lakes,inasmuch as they are surrounded by land,so does it stand to reason,that this central sea is circumscribed by granite surroundings.""Doubtless,"was my natural reply.

"Well,then,do you not think that when once we reach the other end,we shall find some means of continuing our journey?""Probably,but what extent do you allow to this internal ocean?""Well,I should fancy it to extend about forty or fifty leagues-more or less."

"But even supposing this approximation to be a correct one-what then?"I asked.

"My dear boy,we have no time for further discussion.We shall embark tomorrow."I looked around with surprise and incredulity.I could see nothing in the shape of boat or vessel.

"What!"I cried,"we are about to launch out upon an unknown sea;and where,if I may ask,is the vessel to carry us?""Well,my dear boy,it will not be exactly what you would call a vessel.For the present we must be content with a good and solid raft.""A raft,"I cried,incredulously,"but down here a raft is as impossible of construction as a vessel-and I am at a loss to imagine-""My good Harry-if you were to listen instead of talking so much,you would hear,"said my uncle,waxing a little impatient.

"I should hear?"

"Yes-certain knocks with the hammer,which Hans is now employing to make the raft.He has been at work for many hours.""Making a raft?"

"Yes."

"But where has he found trees suitable for such a construction?""He found the trees all ready to his hand.Come,and you shall see our excellent guide at work."More and more amazed at what I heard and saw,I followed my uncle like one in a dream.

After a walk of about a quarter of an hour,I saw Hans at work on the other side of the promontory which formed our natural port.Afew minutes more and I was beside him.To my great surprise,on the sandy shore lay a half-finished raft.It was made from beams of a very peculiar wood,and a great number of limbs,joints,boughs,and pieces lay about,sufficient to have constructed a fleet of ships and boats.

I turned to my uncle,silent with astonishment and awe.

"Where did all this wood come from?"I cried;"what wood is it?""Well,there is pinewood,fir,and the palms of the northern regions,mineralized by the action of the sea,"he replied,sententiously.

"Can it be possible?"

"Yes,"said the learned Professor,"what you see is called fossil wood.""But then,"cried I,after reflecting for a moment,"like the lignites,it must be as hard and as heavy as iron,and therefore will certainly not float.""Sometimes that is the case.Many of these woods have become true anthracites,but others again,like those you see before you,have only undergone one phase of fossil transformation.But there is no proof like demonstration,"added my uncle,picking one or two of these precious waifs and casting them into the sea.

The piece of wood,after having disappeared for a moment,came to the surface,and floated about with the oscillation produced by wind and tide.

"Are you convinced?"said my uncle,with a self-satisfied smile.

"I am convinced,"I cried,"that what I see is incredible."The fact was that my journey into the interior of the earth was rapidly changing all preconceived notions,and day by day preparing me for the marvelous.

I should not have been surprised to have seen a fleet of native canoes afloat upon that silent sea.

The very next evening,thanks to the industry and ability of Hans,the raft was finished.It was about ten feet long and five feet wide.The beams bound together with stout ropes,were solid and firm,and once launched by our united efforts,the improvised vessel floated tranquilly upon the waters of what the Professor had well named the Central Sea.