Sunny Lands in the Blue Mediterranean

When I opened my eyes again I felt myself grasped by the belt with the strong hand of our guide. With the other arm he supported my uncle. I was not seriously hurt, but I was shaken and bruised and battered all over. I found myself lying on the sloping side of a mountain only two yards from a gaping gulf, which would have swallowed me up had I leaned at all that way. Hans had saved me from death whilst I lay rolling on the edge of the crater.

When I opened my eyes again, I felt our guide gripping my belt with his strong hand. He supported my uncle with his other arm. I was not seriously hurt, but I was shaken, bruised, and battered all over. I was lying on the slope of a mountain, only two yards from a gaping gulf. It would have swallowed me if I had leaned toward it at all. Hans had saved me from death as I rolled on the edge of the crater.

"Where are we?" asked my uncle irascibly, as if he felt much injured by being landed upon the earth again.

"Where are we?" my uncle asked irritably, as if he felt deeply wronged by being brought back to earth.

The hunter shook his head in token of complete ignorance.

The hunter shook his head to show he knew nothing about it.

"Is it Iceland?" I asked.

"Is it Iceland?" I asked.

"Nej," replied Hans.

"No," replied Hans.

"What! Not Iceland?" cried the Professor.

"What! Not Iceland?" the Professor exclaimed.

"Hans must be mistaken," I said, raising myself up.

"Hans must be wrong," I said, sitting up.

This was our final surprise after all the astonishing events of our wonderful journey. I expected to see a white cone covered with the eternal snow of ages rising from the midst of the barren deserts of the icy north, faintly lighted with the pale rays of the arctic sun, far away in the highest latitudes known; but contrary to all our expectations, my uncle, the Icelander, and myself were sitting half-way down a mountain baked under the burning rays of a southern sun, which was blistering us with the heat, and blinding us with the fierce light of his nearly vertical rays.

This was our final surprise after all the astonishing events of our wonderful journey. I expected to see a white cone covered in eternal snow. It would rise from the barren deserts of the icy north, faintly lit by the pale Arctic sun. It would be far away, in the highest known latitudes. But, contrary to all our expectations, my uncle, the Icelander, and I were sitting halfway down a mountain. The burning southern sun baked the mountain. Its nearly vertical rays blistered us with heat and blinded us with their fierce light.

I could not believe my own eyes; but the heated air and the sensation of burning left me no room for doubt. We had come out of the crater half naked, and the radiant orb to which we had been strangers for two months was lavishing upon us out of his blazing splendours more of his light and heat than we were able to receive with comfort.

I could not believe my eyes, but the hot air and burning sensation left me no room for doubt. We had come out of the crater half naked. The sun, which we had not seen for two months, shone down on us. Its blazing light and heat were more than we could comfortably bear.

When my eyes had become accustomed to the bright light to which they had been so long strangers, I began to use them to set my imagination right. At least I would have it to be Spitzbergen, and I was in no humour to give up this notion.

Once my eyes had adjusted to the bright light they had gone without for so long, I looked around to check my guess. I was determined to believe it was Spitzbergen, and I was in no mood to give up that idea.

The Professor was the first to speak, and said:

The Professor spoke first and said:

"Well, this is not much like Iceland."

"Well, this doesn't look much like Iceland."

"But is it Jan Mayen?" I asked.

"But is it Jan Mayen?" I asked.

"Nor that either," he answered. "This is no northern mountain; here are no granite peaks capped with snow. Look, Axel, look!"

"Not that either," he answered. "This isn't a northern mountain. There are no snow-covered granite peaks here. Look, Axel, look!"

Above our heads, at a height of five hundred feet or more, we saw the crater of a volcano, through which, at intervals of fifteen minutes or so, there issued with loud explosions lofty columns of fire, mingled with pumice stones, ashes, and flowing lava. I could feel the heaving of the mountain, which seemed to breathe like a huge whale, and puff out fire and wind from its vast blowholes. Beneath, down a pretty steep declivity, ran streams of lava for eight or nine hundred feet, giving the mountain a height of about 1,300 or 1,400 feet. But the base of the mountain was hidden in a perfect bower of rich verdure, amongst which I was able to distinguish the olive, the fig, and vines, covered with their luscious purple bunches.

Above our heads, at a height of at least five hundred feet, we saw a volcanic crater. About every fifteen minutes, loud explosions sent towering columns of fire into the air, mixed with pumice stones, ash, and flowing lava. I could feel the mountain heaving. It seemed to breathe like a huge whale, puffing fire and wind from its enormous blowholes. Below the crater, streams of lava ran eight or nine hundred feet down a fairly steep slope. The mountain was about 1,300 or 1,400 feet high in all. But its base was hidden in a dense bower of lush greenery. Among the plants, I could make out olive and fig trees and vines covered in luscious purple grapes.

I was forced to confess that there was nothing arctic here.

I had to admit that there was nothing arctic here.

When the eye passed beyond these green surroundings it rested on a wide, blue expanse of sea or lake, which appeared to enclose this enchanting island, within a compass of only a few leagues. Eastward lay a pretty little white seaport town or village, with a few houses scattered around it, and in the harbour of which a few vessels of peculiar rig were gently swayed by the softly swelling waves. Beyond it, groups of islets rose from the smooth, blue waters, but in such numbers that they seemed to dot the sea like a shoal. To the west distant coasts lined the dim horizon, on some rose blue mountains of smooth, undulating forms; on a more distant coast arose a prodigious cone crowned on its summit with a snowy plume of white cloud. To the northward lay spread a vast sheet of water, sparkling and dancing under the hot, bright rays, the uniformity broken here and there by the topmast of a gallant ship appearing above the horizon, or a swelling sail moving slowly before the wind.

Beyond the greenery stretched a wide, blue sea or lake. It seemed to surround the enchanting island within just a few leagues. To the east stood a pretty little white seaport town or village, with a few houses scattered around it. In its harbor, a few strangely rigged vessels rocked gently on the softly swelling waves. Beyond the harbor, groups of islets rose from the smooth, blue water. There were so many that they dotted the sea like a shoal. To the west, distant coasts lined the hazy horizon. Blue mountains with smooth, rolling slopes rose on some of them. On a more distant coast stood a huge cone, crowned with a snowy plume of white cloud. To the north stretched a vast expanse of water, sparkling and dancing in the hot, bright sunlight. Here and there, a fine ship’s topmast appeared above the horizon, or a billowing sail moved slowly before the wind.

This unforeseen spectacle was most charming to eyes long used to underground darkness.

This unexpected sight was delightful to eyes long used to underground darkness.

"Where are we? Where are we?" I asked faintly.

"Where are we? Where are we?" I asked weakly.

Hans closed his eyes with lazy indifference. What did it matter to him? My uncle looked round with dumb surprise.

Hans closed his eyes, lazily indifferent. What did he care? My uncle looked around, speechless with surprise.

"Well, whatever mountain this may be," he said at last, "it is very hot here. The explosions are going on still, and I don't think it would look well to have come out by an eruption, and then to get our heads broken by bits of falling rock. Let us get down. Then we shall know better what we are about. Besides, I am starving, and parching with thirst."

"Well, whatever mountain this is," he said at last, "it's very hot here. The explosions are still going on. It would be a shame to escape in an eruption only to have our heads broken by falling rocks. Let's get down. Then we'll have a better idea of what to do. Besides, I'm starving and dying of thirst."

Decidedly the Professor was not given to contemplation. For my part, I could for another hour or two have forgotten my hunger and my fatigue to enjoy the lovely scene before me; but I had to follow my companions.

Clearly, the Professor was not one to pause and take in a view. As for me, I could have forgotten my hunger and exhaustion for another hour or two while enjoying the beautiful scene. But I had to follow my companions.

The slope of the volcano was in many places of great steepness. We slid down screes of ashes, carefully avoiding the lava streams which glided sluggishly by us like fiery serpents. As we went I chattered and asked all sorts of questions as to our whereabouts, for I was too much excited not to talk a great deal.

The volcano’s slope was very steep in many places. We slid down loose piles of ash, carefully avoiding the lava streams. They flowed slowly past us like fiery snakes. As we went, I chattered and asked all sorts of questions about where we were. I was too excited not to talk a lot.

"We are in Asia," I cried, "on the coasts of India, in the Malay Islands, or in Oceania. We have passed through half the globe, and come out nearly at the antipodes."

"We are in Asia," I cried, "on the coast of India, in the Malay Islands, or in Oceania. We have traveled halfway through the globe and come out nearly on the opposite side."

"But the compass?" said my uncle.

"But the compass?" said my uncle.

"Ay, the compass!" I said, greatly puzzled. "According to the compass we have gone northward."

"Yes, the compass!" I said, very puzzled. "According to the compass, we have gone north."

"Has it lied?"

"Has it lied?"

"Surely not. Could it lie?"

"Of course not. Could it lie?"

"Unless, indeed, this is the North Pole!"

"Unless this really is the North Pole!"

"Oh, no, it is not the Pole; but—"

"Oh, no, it isn't the Pole, but..."

Well, here was something that baffled us completely. I could not tell what to say.

Well, we were completely baffled. I didn't know what to say.

But now we were coming into that delightful greenery, and I was suffering greatly from hunger and thirst. Happily, after two hours' walking, a charming country lay open before us, covered with olive trees, pomegranate trees, and delicious vines, all of which seemed to belong to anybody who pleased to claim them. Besides, in our state of destitution and famine we were not likely to be particular. Oh, the inexpressible pleasure of pressing those cool, sweet fruits to our lips, and eating grapes by mouthfuls off the rich, full bunches! Not far off, in the grass, under the delicious shade of the trees, I discovered a spring of fresh, cool water, in which we luxuriously bathed our faces, hands, and feet.

But now we were entering that lovely green landscape, and I was suffering terribly from hunger and thirst. Luckily, after two hours of walking, a beautiful countryside opened up before us. It was covered with olive trees, pomegranate trees, and delicious grapevines. All of them seemed to belong to anyone who wanted to claim them. Besides, we were destitute and starving, so we were hardly likely to be particular. Oh, the indescribable pleasure of pressing that cool, sweet fruit to our lips and eating mouthfuls of grapes from the full, rich bunches! Nearby, in the grass under the wonderful shade of the trees, I found a spring of fresh, cool water. We luxuriated in washing our faces, hands, and feet in it.

Whilst we were thus enjoying the sweets of repose a child appeared out of a grove of olive trees.

While we were enjoying our rest, a child appeared from a grove of olive trees.

"Ah!" I cried, "here is an inhabitant of this happy land!"

"Ah!" I cried, "here is someone who lives in this happy land!"

It was but a poor boy, miserably ill-clad, a sufferer from poverty, and our aspect seemed to alarm him a great deal; in fact, only half clothed, with ragged hair and beards, we were a suspicious-looking party; and if the people of the country knew anything about thieves, we were very likely to frighten them.

It was only a poor boy, dressed in miserable clothes and suffering from poverty. Our appearance seemed to frighten him a great deal. In fact, we looked suspicious, half clothed, with unkempt hair and beards. If the people of the country knew anything about thieves, we were very likely to frighten them.

Just as the poor little wretch was going to take to his heels, Hans caught hold of him, and brought him to us, kicking and struggling.

Just as the poor little creature was about to run away, Hans caught him. Hans brought him to us, kicking and struggling.

My uncle began to encourage him as well as he could, and said to him in good German:

My uncle did his best to encourage him and said in good German:

"Was heiszt diesen Berg, mein Knablein? Sage mir geschwind!"

"What is this mountain called, my boy? Tell me quickly!"

("What is this mountain called, my little friend?")

("What's this mountain called, my little friend?")

The child made no answer.

The child did not answer.

"Very well," said my uncle. "I infer that we are not in Germany."

"All right," said my uncle. "I conclude that we are not in Germany."

He put the same question in English.

He asked the same question in English.

We got no forwarder. I was a good deal puzzled.

We made no progress. I was quite puzzled.

"Is the child dumb?" cried the Professor, who, proud of his knowledge of many languages, now tried French: "Comment appellet-on cette montagne, mon enfant?"

"Can't the child speak?" cried the Professor. Proud of his knowledge of many languages, he now tried French: "Comment appellet-on cette montagne, mon enfant?"

Silence still.

Still silence.

"Now let us try Italian," said my uncle; and he said:

"Now let's try Italian," said my uncle, and he said:

"Dove noi siamo?"

"Where are we?"

"Yes, where are we?" I impatiently repeated.

"Yes, where are we?" I repeated impatiently.

But there was no answer still.

But there was still no answer.

"Will you speak when you are told?" exclaimed my uncle, shaking the urchin by the ears. "Come si noma questa isola?"

"Will you speak when you're told?" my uncle exclaimed, shaking the boy by his ears. "Come si noma questa isola?"

"STROMBOLI," replied the little herdboy, slipping out of Hans' hands, and scudding into the plain across the olive trees.

"STROMBOLI," replied the little herdboy. He slipped out of Hans' hands and ran across the plain through the olive trees.

We were hardly thinking of that. Stromboli! What an effect this unexpected name produced upon my mind! We were in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea, on an island of the Æolian archipelago, in the ancient Strongyle, where Æolus kept the winds and the storms chained up, to be let loose at his will. And those distant blue mountains in the east were the mountains of Calabria. And that threatening volcano far away in the south was the fierce Etna.

We were hardly thinking of that. Stromboli! What a shock that unexpected name gave me! We were in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, on an island in the Æolian archipelago. It was the ancient Strongyle, where Æolus kept the winds and storms chained up, ready to release them at will. Those distant blue mountains in the east were the mountains of Calabria. And that threatening volcano far to the south was the fierce Etna.

"Stromboli, Stromboli!" I repeated.

"Stromboli, Stromboli!" I repeated.

My uncle kept time to my exclamations with hands and feet, as well as with words. We seemed to be chanting in chorus!

My uncle kept time with my exclamations, using his hands and feet as well as his voice. We seemed to be chanting together!

What a journey we had accomplished! How marvellous! Having entered by one volcano, we had issued out of another more than two thousand miles from Snæfell and from that barren, far-away Iceland! The strange chances of our expedition had carried us into the heart of the fairest region in the world. We had exchanged the bleak regions of perpetual snow and of impenetrable barriers of ice for those of brightness and 'the rich hues of all glorious things.' We had left over our heads the murky sky and cold fogs of the frigid zone to revel under the azure sky of Italy!

What a journey we had made! How wonderful! We had entered through one volcano and come out through another. We were more than two thousand miles from Snæfell and from barren, distant Iceland! The strange twists of our expedition had brought us to the heart of the most beautiful region in the world. We had left behind the bleak lands of endless snow and impassable ice. In their place, we found brightness and 'the rich hues of all glorious things.' Instead of the dark skies and cold fogs of the polar region, we could revel under Italy's blue sky!

After our delicious repast of fruits and cold, clear water we set off again to reach the port of Stromboli. It would not have been wise to tell how we came there. The superstitious Italians would have set us down for fire-devils vomited out of hell; so we presented ourselves in the humble guise of shipwrecked mariners. It was not so glorious, but it was safer.

After our delicious meal of fruit and cold, clear water, we set off again for the port of Stromboli. It would not have been wise to tell how we got there. The superstitious Italians would have taken us for fire-devils vomited out of hell. So we presented ourselves as humble shipwrecked sailors. It was less glorious, but safer.

On my way I could hear my uncle murmuring: "But the compass! that compass! It pointed due north. How are we to explain that fact?"

As I walked, I could hear my uncle murmuring: "But the compass! That compass! It pointed due north. How can we explain that?"

"My opinion is," I replied disdainfully, "that it is best not to explain it. That is the easiest way to shelve the difficulty."

"I think," I replied scornfully, "it's best not to explain it. That's the easiest way to avoid the problem."

"Indeed, sir! The occupant of a professorial chair at the Johannæum unable to explain the reason of a cosmical phenomenon! Why, it would be simply disgraceful!"

“Really, sir! A professor at the Johannæum unable to explain the cause of a cosmic phenomenon! Why, that would be downright disgraceful!”

And as he spoke, my uncle, half undressed, in rags, a perfect scarecrow, with his leathern belt around him, settling his spectacles upon his nose and looking learned and imposing, was himself again, the terrible German professor of mineralogy.

As he spoke, my uncle was half dressed and in rags, with a leather belt around him. He looked like a complete scarecrow. But he adjusted his glasses and looked learned and imposing. He was himself again, the formidable German professor of mineralogy.

One hour after we had left the grove of olives, we arrived at the little port of San Vicenzo, where Hans claimed his thirteen week's wages, which was counted out to him with a hearty shaking of hands all round.

An hour after leaving the olive grove, we arrived at the little port of San Vicenzo. There, Hans asked for his thirteen weeks' wages. They were counted out to him, and everyone shook hands warmly.

At that moment, if he did not share our natural emotion, at least his countenance expanded in a manner very unusual with him, and while with the ends of his fingers he lightly pressed our hands, I believe he smiled.

At that moment, even if he did not share our natural emotion, his face brightened in a way very unusual for him. He gently pressed our hands with his fingertips, and I believe he smiled.