Calm Philosophical Discussions

What happened when the raft was dashed upon the rocks is more than I can tell. I felt myself hurled into the waves; and if I escaped from death, and if my body was not torn over the sharp edges of the rocks, it was because the powerful arm of Hans came to my rescue.

I cannot say what happened when the raft crashed against the rocks. I felt myself thrown into the waves. If I escaped death and my body was not torn on the sharp rocks, it was because Hans rescued me with his powerful arm.

The brave Icelander carried me out of the reach of the waves, over a burning sand where I found myself by the side of my uncle.

The brave Icelander carried me away from the waves and across the burning sand, where I found myself beside my uncle.

Then he returned to the rocks, against which the furious waves were beating, to save what he could. I was unable to speak. I was shattered with fatigue and excitement; I wanted a whole hour to recover even a little.

Then he went back to the rocks to save what he could. Furious waves were crashing against them. I could not speak. I was exhausted from fatigue and excitement. It took me a full hour to recover even a little.

But a deluge of rain was still falling, though with that violence which generally denotes the near cessation of a storm. A few overhanging rocks afforded us some shelter from the storm. Hans prepared some food, which I could not touch; and each of us, exhausted with three sleepless nights, fell into a broken and painful sleep.

But rain was still pouring down. It was falling with the violence that usually means a storm is nearly over. A few overhanging rocks gave us some shelter from the storm. Hans prepared some food, but I could not touch it. Exhausted after three sleepless nights, we each fell into a broken and painful sleep.

The next day the weather was splendid. The sky and the sea had sunk into sudden repose. Every trace of the awful storm had disappeared. The exhilarating voice of the Professor fell upon my ears as I awoke; he was ominously cheerful.

The next day, the weather was splendid. The sky and sea had suddenly become calm. Every trace of the terrible storm had disappeared. I woke to the Professor’s lively voice. He was ominously cheerful.

"Well, my boy," he cried, "have you slept well?"

"Well, my boy," he cried, "did you sleep well?"

Would not any one have thought that we were still in our cheerful little house on the Königstrasse and that I was only just coming down to breakfast, and that I was to be married to Gräuben that day?

Wouldn't anyone have thought we were still in our cheerful little house on the Königstrasse? That I was just coming down to breakfast and was going to marry Gräuben that day?

Alas! if the tempest had but sent the raft a little more east, we should have passed under Germany, under my beloved town of Hamburg, under the very street where dwelt all that I loved most in the world. Then only forty leagues would have separated us! But they were forty leagues perpendicular of solid granite wall, and in reality we were a thousand leagues asunder!

If only the storm had pushed the raft a little farther east! We would have passed under Germany, under my beloved town of Hamburg, and under the very street where everyone I loved most in the world lived. Then only forty leagues would have separated us! But those forty leagues ran straight up through solid granite, and in reality we were a thousand leagues apart!

All these painful reflections rapidly crossed my mind before I could answer my uncle's question.

All these painful thoughts quickly crossed my mind before I could answer my uncle's question.

"Well, now," he repeated, "won't you tell me how you have slept?"

"Well, now," he repeated, "won't you tell me how you slept?"

"Oh, very well," I said. "I am only a little knocked up, but I shall soon be better."

"Oh, very well," I said. "I'm just a little tired, but I'll soon feel better."

"Oh," says my uncle, "that's nothing to signify. You are only a little bit tired."

"Oh," says my uncle, "that's nothing to worry about. You're just a little tired."

"But you, uncle, you seem in very good spirits this morning."

"But you seem very cheerful this morning, uncle."

"Delighted, my boy, delighted. We have got there."

"Thrilled, my boy, thrilled. We've made it."

"To our journey's end?"

"To the end of our journey?"

"No; but we have got to the end of that endless sea. Now we shall go by land, and really begin to go down! down! down!"

"No, but we've reached the end of that endless sea. Now we'll travel by land and really start going down! Down! Down!"

"But, my dear uncle, do let me ask you one question."

"But, dear uncle, please let me ask you one question."

"Of course, Axel."

"Of course, Axel."

"How about returning?"

"How about going back?"

"Returning? Why, you are talking about the return before the arrival."

"Coming back? You're talking about coming back before we've even arrived."

"No, I only want to know how that is to be managed."

"No, I just want to know how that can be done."

"In the simplest way possible. When we have reached the centre of the globe, either we shall find some new way to get back, or we shall come back like decent folks the way we came. I feel pleased at the thought that it is sure not to be shut against us."

“In the simplest way possible. When we reach the center of the Earth, we’ll either find a new way back or return the way we came, like decent people. I’m pleased to think that the way back is sure to remain open to us.”

"But then we shall have to refit the raft."

"But then we'll have to refit the raft."

"Of course."

"Of course."

"Then, as to provisions, have we enough to last?"

"Then, do we have enough food to last?"

"Yes; to be sure we have. Hans is a clever fellow, and I am sure he must have saved a large part of our cargo. But still let us go and make sure."

"Yes, of course we have. Hans is a clever fellow, and I'm sure he must have saved a large part of our cargo. But let's go and make sure."

We left this grotto which lay open to every wind. At the same time I cherished a trembling hope which was a fear as well. It seemed to me impossible that the terrible wreck of the raft should not have destroyed everything on board. On my arrival on the shore I found Hans surrounded by an assemblage of articles all arranged in good order. My uncle shook hands with him with a lively gratitude. This man, with almost superhuman devotion, had been at work all the while that we were asleep, and had saved the most precious of the articles at the risk of his life.

We left the grotto, which was exposed to the wind from every direction. At the same time, I held on to a shaky hope that was also a fear. It seemed impossible that the terrible wreck of the raft had not destroyed everything on board. When I reached the shore, I found Hans surrounded by a collection of items, all neatly arranged. My uncle shook his hand with heartfelt gratitude. While we slept, Hans had worked with almost superhuman devotion. He had risked his life to save the most precious items.

Not that we had suffered no losses. For instance, our firearms; but we might do without them. Our stock of powder had remained uninjured after having risked blowing up during the storm.

That is not to say we had lost nothing. We had lost our firearms, for example, but we could do without them. Our supply of gunpowder had survived intact, though it had risked exploding during the storm.

"Well," cried the Professor, "as we have no guns we cannot hunt, that's all."

"Well," cried the Professor, "we can't hunt because we have no guns, that's all."

"Yes, but how about the instruments?"

"Yes, but what about the instruments?"

"Here is the aneroid, the most useful of all, and for which I would have given all the others. By means of it I can calculate the depth and know when we have reached the centre; without it we might very likely go beyond, and come out at the antipodes!"

"Here is the aneroid, the most useful of all. I would have given up all the others for it. With it, I can calculate our depth and know when we have reached the centre. Without it, we might very well go beyond the centre and come out on the opposite side of the Earth!"

Such high spirits as these were rather too strong.

Such high spirits were a bit too much.

"But where is the compass? I asked.

"But where is the compass? I asked.

"Here it is, upon this rock, in perfect condition, as well as the thermometers and the chronometer. The hunter is a splendid fellow."

"Here it is on this rock, in perfect condition, along with the thermometers and the chronometer. The hunter is a wonderful fellow."

There was no denying it. We had all our instruments. As for tools and appliances, there they all lay on the ground—ladders, ropes, picks, spades, etc.

There was no denying it. We had all our instruments. All our tools and equipment lay on the ground: ladders, ropes, picks, spades, and so on.

Still there was the question of provisions to be settled, and I asked—"How are we off for provisions?"

There was still the question of supplies to settle, so I asked, "How are we doing for supplies?"

The boxes containing these were in a line upon the shore, in a perfect state of preservation; for the most part the sea had spared them, and what with biscuits, salt meat, spirits, and salt fish, we might reckon on four months' supply.

The boxes containing these lay in a row on the shore, perfectly preserved. The sea had spared most of them. With the biscuits, salt meat, spirits, and salt fish, we could count on four months' supply.

"Four months!" cried the Professor. "We have time to go and to return; and with what is left I will give a grand dinner to my friends at the Johannæum."

"Four months!" cried the Professor. "We have time to go and come back. With the time left over, I'll give a grand dinner for my friends at the Johannæum."

I ought by this time to have been quite accustomed to my uncle's ways; yet there was always something fresh about him to astonish me.

By now, I should have been used to my uncle's ways. Yet there was always something new about him to surprise me.

"Now," said he, "we will replenish our supply of water with the rain which the storm has left in all these granite basins; therefore we shall have no reason to fear anything from thirst. As for the raft, I will recommend Hans to do his best to repair it, although I don't expect it will be of any further use to us."

"Now," he said, "we will refill our water supply with the rain the storm left in all these granite basins. So we have no reason to fear thirst. As for the raft, I will ask Hans to do his best to repair it. Although I don't expect the raft will be of any further use to us."

"How so?" I cried.

"How is that?" I cried.

"An idea of my own, my lad. I don't think we shall come out by the way that we went in."

"Just an idea of mine, my boy. I don't think we'll come out the same way we went in."

I stared at the Professor with a good deal of mistrust. I asked, was he not touched in the brain? And yet there was method in his madness.

I stared at the Professor with considerable distrust. I wondered if he was out of his mind. And yet there was method in his madness.

"And now let us go to breakfast," said he.

"And now let's go to breakfast," he said.

I followed him to a headland, after he had given his instructions to the hunter. There preserved meat, biscuit, and tea made us an excellent meal, one of the best I ever remember. Hunger, the fresh air, the calm quiet weather, after the commotions we had gone through, all contributed to give me a good appetite.

After he gave the hunter his instructions, I followed him to a headland. There we had an excellent meal of preserved meat, biscuits, and tea, one of the best I can remember. Hunger, fresh air, and the calm, quiet weather after all the turmoil we had been through gave me a good appetite.

Whilst breakfasting I took the opportunity to put to my uncle the question where we were now.

While we were eating breakfast, I took the opportunity to ask my uncle where we were.

"That seems to me," I said, "rather difficult to make out."

"That seems rather hard to understand," I said.

"Yes, it is difficult," he said, "to calculate exactly; perhaps even impossible, since during these three stormy days I have been unable to keep any account of the rate or direction of the raft; but still we may get an approximation."

"Yes, it's difficult to calculate exactly," he said. "It may even be impossible. During these three stormy days, I haven't been able to track the raft's speed or direction. But we may still be able to estimate."

"The last observation," I remarked, "was made on the island, when the geyser was—"

"The last observation," I said, "was made on the island, when the geyser was..."

"You mean Axel Island. Don't decline the honour of having given your name to the first island ever discovered in the central parts of the globe."

"You mean Axel Island. Don't turn down the honor of having the first island discovered in the center of the Earth named after you."

"Well," said I, "let it be Axel Island. Then we had cleared two hundred and seventy leagues of sea, and we were six hundred leagues from Iceland."

"Well," I said, "let's call it Axel Island. We had crossed two hundred and seventy leagues of sea. We were now six hundred leagues from Iceland."

"Very well," answered my uncle; "let us start from that point and count four days' storm, during which our rate cannot have been less than eighty leagues in the twenty-four hours."

"All right," my uncle replied. "Let's start from that point and count four days of storm. During the storm, we must have traveled at least eighty leagues every twenty-four hours."

"That is right; and this would make three hundred leagues more."

"That's right, and this would add another three hundred leagues."

"Yes, and the Liedenbrock sea would be six hundred leagues from shore to shore. Surely, Axel, it may vie in size with the Mediterranean itself."

"Yes, and the Liedenbrock sea would be six hundred leagues from shore to shore. Surely, Axel, it may rival the Mediterranean itself in size."

"Especially," I replied, "if it happens that we have only crossed it in its narrowest part. And it is a curious circumstance," I added, "that if my computations are right, and we are nine hundred leagues from Rejkiavik, we have now the Mediterranean above our head."

"Especially," I replied, "if we have only crossed it at its narrowest point. And there's something curious," I added. "If my calculations are right and we're nine hundred leagues from Rejkiavik, the Mediterranean is now above our heads."

"That is a good long way, my friend. But whether we are under Turkey or the Atlantic depends very much upon the question in what direction we have been moving. Perhaps we have deviated."

"That's a long way, my friend. But whether we're under Turkey or the Atlantic depends a lot on the direction we've been moving. Perhaps we've changed course."

"No, I think not. Our course has been the same all along, and I believe this shore is south-east of Port Gräuben."

"No, I don't think so. We've been traveling in the same direction all along, and I believe this shore is southeast of Port Gräuben."

"Well," replied my uncle, "we may easily ascertain this by consulting the compass. Let us go and see what it says."

"Well," my uncle replied, "we can easily find out by checking the compass. Let's go and see what it says."

The Professor moved towards the rock upon which Hans had laid down the instruments. He was gay and full of spirits; he rubbed his hands, he studied his attitudes. I followed him, curious to know if I was right in my estimate. As soon as we had arrived at the rock my uncle took the compass, laid it horizontally, and questioned the needle, which, after a few oscillations, presently assumed a fixed position. My uncle looked, and looked, and looked again. He rubbed his eyes, and then turned to me thunderstruck with some unexpected discovery.

The Professor walked toward the rock where Hans had laid the instruments. He was cheerful and full of energy. He rubbed his hands and struck thoughtful poses. I followed him, curious to know if my estimate was right. When we reached the rock, my uncle picked up the compass and held it level. He watched the needle swing back and forth a few times before settling into a fixed position. My uncle looked at it, then looked again and again. He rubbed his eyes, then turned to me, stunned by an unexpected discovery.

"What is the matter?" I asked.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He motioned to me to look. An exclamation of astonishment burst from me. The north pole of the needle was turned to what we supposed to be the south. It pointed to the shore instead of to the open sea! I shook the box, examined it again, it was in perfect condition. In whatever position I placed the box the needle pertinaciously returned to this unexpected quarter. Therefore there seemed no reason to doubt that during the storm there had been a sudden change of wind unperceived by us, which had brought our raft back to the shore which we thought we had left so long a distance behind us.

He motioned for me to look. I cried out in astonishment. The north end of the needle was pointing toward what we thought was south. It pointed toward the shore instead of the open sea! I shook the compass and examined it again. It was in perfect condition. No matter how I turned the compass, the needle stubbornly returned to this unexpected direction. So there seemed no reason to doubt that the wind had suddenly changed during the storm without our noticing. It had brought our raft back to the shore we thought we had left far behind.