Serious Preparations for a Vertical Descent

Altona, which is but a suburb of Hamburg, is the terminus of the Kiel railway, which was to carry us to the Belts. In twenty minutes we were in Holstein.

Altona is just a suburb of Hamburg. It is the terminus of the Kiel railway, which would take us to the Belts. In twenty minutes, we were in Holstein.

At half-past six the carriage stopped at the station; my uncle's numerous packages, his voluminous impedimenta, were unloaded, removed, labelled, weighed, put into the luggage vans, and at seven we were seated face to face in our compartment. The whistle sounded, the engine started, we were off.

At half past six, the carriage stopped at the station. My uncle’s many packages, his bulky baggage, were unloaded, taken away, labeled, weighed, and put into the luggage cars. At seven, we were seated opposite each other in our compartment. The whistle blew, the engine started, and we were off.

Was I resigned? No, not yet. Yet the cool morning air and the scenes on the road, rapidly changed by the swiftness of the train, drew me away somewhat from my sad reflections.

Had I accepted it? No, not yet. But the cool morning air and the scenery rushing past the train distracted me somewhat from my sad thoughts.

As for the Professor's reflections, they went far in advance of the swiftest express. We were alone in the carriage, but we sat in silence. My uncle examined all his pockets and his travelling bag with the minutest care. I saw that he had not forgotten the smallest matter of detail.

The Professor’s thoughts raced far ahead of the fastest express train. We were alone in the carriage, but we sat in silence. My uncle checked all his pockets and his travel bag with the greatest care. I could see that he had not forgotten even the smallest detail.

Amongst other documents, a sheet of paper, carefully folded, bore the heading of the Danish consulate with the signature of W. Christiensen, consul at Hamburg and the Professor's friend. With this we possessed the proper introductions to the Governor of Iceland.

Among the other documents was a carefully folded sheet of paper bearing the Danish consulate's heading. It was signed by W. Christiensen, the consul at Hamburg and the Professor's friend. With this document, we had the proper introductions to the Governor of Iceland.

I also observed the famous document most carefully laid up in a secret pocket in his portfolio. I bestowed a malediction upon it, and then proceeded to examine the country.

I also noticed that the famous document was carefully tucked away in a secret pocket in his portfolio. I cursed the document and then looked at the countryside.

It was a very long succession of uninteresting loamy and fertile flats, a very easy country for the construction of railways, and propitious for the laying-down of these direct level lines so dear to railway companies.

The landscape was a long succession of dull, flat plains with fertile, loamy soil. Railways could easily be built across them, with the straight, level tracks railway companies love.

I had no time to get tired of the monotony; for in three hours we stopped at Kiel, close to the sea.

I had no time to get bored with the monotony, because three hours later we stopped at Kiel, near the sea.

The luggage being labelled for Copenhagen, we had no occasion to look after it. Yet the Professor watched every article with jealous vigilance, until all were safe on board. There they disappeared in the hold.

Our luggage was labeled for Copenhagen, so we didn't need to look after it. Yet the Professor watched every item with jealous care until all of it was safely on board. There, the luggage disappeared into the hold.

My uncle, notwithstanding his hurry, had so well calculated the relations between the train and the steamer that we had a whole day to spare. The steamer Ellenora, did not start until night. Thence sprang a feverish state of excitement in which the impatient irascible traveller devoted to perdition the railway directors and the steamboat companies and the governments which allowed such intolerable slowness. I was obliged to act chorus to him when he attacked the captain of the Ellenora upon this subject. The captain disposed of us summarily.

Despite his hurry, my uncle had timed the train and steamer so well that we had a whole day to spare. The steamer Ellenora did not leave until night. This delay sent the impatient, irritable traveler into a fever of excitement. He cursed the railway directors, the steamboat companies, and the governments that allowed such intolerable slowness. When he confronted the captain of the Ellenora about it, I had to echo his complaints. The captain dismissed us both abruptly.

At Kiel, as elsewhere, we must do something to while away the time. What with walking on the verdant shores of the bay within which nestles the little town, exploring the thick woods which make it look like a nest embowered amongst thick foliage, admiring the villas, each provided with a little bathing house, and moving about and grumbling, at last ten o'clock came.

In Kiel, as elsewhere, we had to find something to pass the time. We walked along the green shores of the bay where the little town nestled. We explored the thick woods that made the town look like a nest surrounded by dense foliage. We admired the villas, each with its own little bathing house. We wandered about and grumbled. At last, ten o'clock came.

The heavy coils of smoke from the Ellenora's funnel unrolled in the sky, the bridge shook with the quivering of the struggling steam; we were on board, and owners for the time of two berths, one over the other, in the only saloon cabin on board.

Heavy coils of smoke from the Ellenora's funnel unrolled across the sky. The bridge shook as the steam engine strained. We were aboard, with two berths, one above the other, in the ship's only saloon cabin. They were ours for the time being.

At a quarter past the moorings were loosed and the throbbing steamer pursued her way over the dark waters of the Great Belt.

At a quarter past, the mooring lines were released, and the throbbing steamer continued across the dark waters of the Great Belt.

The night was dark; there was a sharp breeze and a rough sea, a few lights appeared on shore through the thick darkness; later on, I cannot tell when, a dazzling light from some lighthouse threw a bright stream of fire along the waves; and this is all I can remember of this first portion of our sail.

The night was dark, with a sharp wind and rough seas. A few lights appeared on shore through the thick darkness. Later, I cannot remember when, a dazzling lighthouse beam cast a bright stream of fire across the waves. That is all I can remember of the first part of our voyage.

At seven in the morning we landed at Korsor, a small town on the west coast of Zealand. There we were transferred from the boat to another line of railway, which took us by just as flat a country as the plain of Holstein.

At seven in the morning, we landed at Korsor, a small town on the west coast of Zealand. There we left the boat and boarded a train on another railway line. It took us through countryside just as flat as the plain of Holstein.

Three hours' travelling brought us to the capital of Denmark. My uncle had not shut his eyes all night. In his impatience I believe he was trying to accelerate the train with his feet.

After three hours of travel, we reached the capital of Denmark. My uncle had not slept all night. He was so impatient that I think he was trying to make the train go faster with his feet.

At last he discerned a stretch of sea.

At last, he saw a stretch of sea.

"The Sound!" he cried.

"The Sound!" he shouted.

At our left was a huge building that looked like a hospital.

On our left was a huge building that looked like a hospital.

"That's a lunatic asylum," said one of our travelling companions.

"That's a mental hospital," said one of our traveling companions.

Very good! thought I, just the place we want to end our days in; and great as it is, that asylum is not big enough to contain all Professor Liedenbrock's madness!

Very good! I thought. Just the place we want to spend the rest of our days! But even though that asylum is huge, it isn't big enough to contain all of Professor Liedenbrock's madness!

At ten in the morning, at last, we set our feet in Copenhagen; the luggage was put upon a carriage and taken with ourselves to the Phoenix Hotel in Breda Gate. This took half an hour, for the station is out of the town. Then my uncle, after a hasty toilet, dragged me after him. The porter at the hotel could speak German and English; but the Professor, as a polyglot, questioned him in good Danish, and it was in the same language that that personage directed him to the Museum of Northern Antiquities.

At ten in the morning, we finally arrived in Copenhagen. Our luggage was loaded onto a carriage, and we rode with it to the Phoenix Hotel in Breda Gate. The journey took half an hour because the station was outside the town. After quickly getting ready, my uncle dragged me out with him. The hotel porter spoke German and English, but the Professor knew many languages and questioned him in good Danish. The porter gave him directions to the Museum of Northern Antiquities in Danish too.

The curator of this curious establishment, in which wonders are gathered together out of which the ancient history of the country might be reconstructed by means of its stone weapons, its cups and its jewels, was a learned savant, the friend of the Danish consul at Hamburg, Professor Thomsen.

This curious establishment held a collection of wonders, including stone weapons, cups, and jewels. These objects could be used to reconstruct the country's ancient history. Its curator was Professor Thomsen, a learned scholar and a friend of the Danish consul at Hamburg.

My uncle had a cordial letter of introduction to him. As a general rule one savant greets another with coolness. But here the case was different. M. Thomsen, like a good friend, gave the Professor Liedenbrock a cordial greeting, and he even vouchsafed the same kindness to his nephew. It is hardly necessary to say the secret was sacredly kept from the excellent curator; we were simply disinterested travellers visiting Iceland out of harmless curiosity.

My uncle had a warm letter of introduction to him. As a rule, one scholar greets another coolly. But this time was different. M. Thomsen greeted Professor Liedenbrock warmly, like a good friend. He even extended the same kindness to his nephew. It hardly needs saying that we kept the secret completely from the excellent curator. As far as he knew, we were simply travelers visiting Iceland out of innocent curiosity, with no special interest.

M. Thomsen placed his services at our disposal, and we visited the quays with the object of finding out the next vessel to sail.

M. Thomsen offered to help us, and we visited the docks to find out which ship would sail next.

I was yet in hopes that there would be no means of getting to Iceland. But there was no such luck. A small Danish schooner, the Valkyria, was to set sail for Rejkiavik on the 2nd of June. The captain, M. Bjarne, was on board. His intending passenger was so joyful that he almost squeezed his hands till they ached. That good man was rather surprised at his energy. To him it seemed a very simple thing to go to Iceland, as that was his business; but to my uncle it was sublime. The worthy captain took advantage of his enthusiasm to charge double fares; but we did not trouble ourselves about mere trifles. .

I still hoped there would be no way to get to Iceland. But I had no such luck. A small Danish schooner, the Valkyria, was due to sail for Rejkiavik on June 2. The captain, M. Bjarne, was on board. My uncle was so delighted that he shook the captain's hands almost hard enough to hurt them. The good man was rather surprised by his enthusiasm. To the captain, going to Iceland seemed perfectly ordinary, since it was his business. But to my uncle, it was sublime. The worthy captain took advantage of his enthusiasm and charged us double fares. But we did not concern ourselves with such trifles.

"It's all right, it's all right," my uncle repeated. "How fortunate we are to have found this boat ready for sailing. Now let us have some breakfast and go about the town."

"It's all right, it's all right," my uncle repeated. "How lucky we are to have found this boat ready to sail. Now let's have some breakfast and look around town."

We went first to Kongens-nye-Torw, an irregular square in which are two innocent-looking guns, which need not alarm any one. Close by, at No. 5, there was a French "restaurant," kept by a cook of the name of Vincent, where we had an ample breakfast for four marks each (2s. 4d.).

We went first to Kongens-nye-Torw, an irregularly shaped square with two innocent-looking guns. No one needed to be alarmed by them. Nearby, at No. 5, there was a French "restaurant" run by a cook named Vincent. We had a generous breakfast there for four marks each (2s. 4d.).

Then I took a childish pleasure in exploring the city; my uncle let me take him with me, but he took notice of nothing, neither the insignificant king's palace, nor the pretty seventeenth century bridge, which spans the canal before the museum, nor that immense cenotaph of Thorwaldsen's, adorned with horrible mural painting, and containing within it a collection of the sculptor's works, nor in a fine park the toylike chateau of Rosenberg, nor the beautiful renaissance edifice of the Exchange, nor its spire composed of the twisted tails of four bronze dragons, nor the great windmill on the ramparts, whose huge arms dilated in the sea breeze like the sails of a ship.

Then I took a childish delight in exploring the city. My uncle let me take him along, but he noticed nothing. He ignored the unimpressive king’s palace and the pretty seventeenth-century bridge over the canal in front of the museum. He paid no attention to Thorwaldsen’s immense cenotaph, with its horrible wall paintings and collection of the sculptor’s works. He also ignored the toy-like chateau of Rosenberg in its fine park and the beautiful Renaissance building of the Exchange. He missed its spire, made from the twisted tails of four bronze dragons. Nor did he notice the great windmill on the ramparts. Its huge arms spread out in the sea breeze like the sails of a ship.

What delicious walks we should have had together, my pretty Virlandaise and I, along the harbour where the two-deckers and the frigate slept peaceably by the red roofing of the warehouse, by the green banks of the strait, through the deep shades of the trees amongst which the fort is half concealed, where the guns are thrusting out their black throats between branches of alder and willow.

What lovely walks my pretty Virlandaise and I would have had together! We would have walked along the harbor, where the two-deckers and the frigate rested peacefully beside the red-roofed warehouse. We would have strolled along the green banks of the strait and through the deep shade of the trees. Among them, the fort is half hidden, its guns thrusting their black muzzles between alder and willow branches.

But, alas! Gräuben was far away; and I never hoped to see her again.

But sadly, Gräuben was far away, and I had no hope of seeing her again.

But if my uncle felt no attraction towards these romantic scenes he was very much struck with the aspect of a certain church spire situated in the island of Amak, which forms the south-west quarter of Copenhagen.

But although my uncle felt no attraction to these romantic scenes, he was very struck by the appearance of a church spire. It stood on the island of Amak, which forms the southwest quarter of Copenhagen.

I was ordered to direct my feet that way; I embarked on a small steamer which plies on the canals, and in a few minutes she touched the quay of the dockyard.

I was told to go that way. I boarded a small steamer that traveled the canals. Within minutes, it reached the dockyard quay.

After crossing a few narrow streets where some convicts, in trousers half yellow and half grey, were at work under the orders of the gangers, we arrived at the Vor Frelsers Kirk. There was nothing remarkable about the church; but there was a reason why its tall spire had attracted the Professor's attention. Starting from the top of the tower, an external staircase wound around the spire, the spirals circling up into the sky.

We crossed a few narrow streets where some convicts were working under the direction of foremen. The convicts wore trousers that were half yellow and half grey. Then we arrived at the Vor Frelsers Kirk. There was nothing remarkable about the church, but there was a reason its tall spire had caught the Professor's attention. An outside staircase began at the top of the tower and wound around the spire, spiraling up into the sky.

"Let us get to the top," said my uncle.

"Let's get to the top," said my uncle.

"I shall be dizzy," I said.

"I'll get dizzy," I said.

"The more reason why we should go up; we must get used to it."

"That's all the more reason to go up. We have to get used to it."

"But—"

"But..."

"Come, I tell you; don't waste our time."

"Come on, I tell you. Don't waste our time."

I had to obey. A keeper who lived at the other end of the street handed us the key, and the ascent began.

I had to obey. A keeper who lived at the other end of the street gave us the key, and we began to climb.

My uncle went ahead with a light step. I followed him not without alarm, for my head was very apt to feel dizzy; I possessed neither the equilibrium of an eagle nor his fearless nature.

My uncle walked ahead with a light step. I followed him with some alarm because I was prone to dizziness. I had neither an eagle’s balance nor its fearless nature.

As long as we were protected on the inside of the winding staircase up the tower, all was well enough; but after toiling up a hundred and fifty steps the fresh air came to salute my face, and we were on the leads of the tower. There the aerial staircase began its gyrations, only guarded by a thin iron rail, and the narrowing steps seemed to ascend into infinite space!

As long as we were sheltered inside the tower’s winding staircase, all was well enough. But after climbing 150 steps, I felt fresh air on my face, and we reached the tower’s lead-covered roof. There the exposed staircase began to wind upward, guarded only by a thin iron railing. Its narrowing steps seemed to climb into infinite space!

"Never shall I be able to do it," I said.

"I'll never be able to do it," I said.

"Don't be a coward; come up, sir"; said my uncle with the coldest cruelty.

"Don't be a coward. Come up, sir," said my uncle with icy cruelty.

I had to follow, clutching at every step. The keen air made me giddy; I felt the spire rocking with every gust of wind; my knees began to fail; soon I was crawling on my knees, then creeping on my stomach; I closed my eyes; I seemed to be lost in space.

I had to follow, holding on at every step. The sharp air made me dizzy. I felt the spire sway with every gust of wind. My knees began to give way. Soon I was crawling on my knees, then creeping on my stomach. I closed my eyes. I felt as if I were lost in space.

At last I reached the apex, with the assistance of my uncle dragging me up by the collar.

At last I reached the top, with my uncle dragging me up by the collar.

"Look down!" he cried. "Look down well! You must take a lesson in abysses."

"Look down!" he cried. "Look carefully! You need to learn about abysses."

I opened my eyes. I saw houses squashed flat as if they had all fallen down from the skies; a smoke fog seemed to drown them. Over my head ragged clouds were drifting past, and by an optical inversion they seemed stationary, while the steeple, the ball and I were all spinning along with fantastic speed. Far away on one side was the green country, on the other the sea sparkled, bathed in sunlight. The Sound stretched away to Elsinore, dotted with a few white sails, like sea-gulls' wings; and in the misty east and away to the north-east lay outstretched the faintly-shadowed shores of Sweden. All this immensity of space whirled and wavered, fluctuating beneath my eyes.

I opened my eyes. The houses looked flattened, as if they had all fallen from the sky. A smoky fog seemed to engulf them. Ragged clouds drifted overhead. An optical illusion made them seem still, while the steeple, the ball, and I seemed to spin at fantastic speed. In the distance, green countryside lay on one side. On the other, the sea sparkled in the sunlight. The Sound stretched away to Elsinore, dotted with a few white sails like seagulls' wings. In the misty east and northeast, the faintly visible shores of Sweden stretched out. All this vast space spun and swayed beneath my eyes.

But I was compelled to rise, to stand up, to look. My first lesson in dizziness lasted an hour. When I got permission to come down and feel the solid street pavements I was afflicted with severe lumbago.

But I was forced to get up, stand, and look. My first lesson in dizziness lasted an hour. When I was allowed to come down and feel the solid pavement under my feet, I had severe lower back pain.

"To-morrow we will do it again," said the Professor.

"Tomorrow we will do it again," said the Professor.

And it was so; for five days in succession, I was obliged to undergo this anti-vertiginous exercise; and whether I would or not, I made some improvement in the art of "lofty contemplations."

And so it was. For five days in a row, I had to do this exercise to overcome my fear of heights. Whether I wanted to or not, I improved somewhat at the art of "lofty contemplation."