Chapter 7

CHAPTER VII.

A WOMAN'S COURAGE

Thus ended this memorable seance. That conversation threw me into afever. I came out of my uncle's study as if I had been stunned, andas if there was not air enough in all the streets of Hamburg to putme right again. I therefore made for the banks of the Elbe, where thesteamer lands her passengers, which forms the communication betweenthe city and the Hamburg railway.

Was I convinced of the truth of what I had heard? Had I not bentunder the iron rule of the Professor Liedenbrock? Was I to believehim in earnest in his intention to penetrate to the centre of thismassive globe? Had I been listening to the mad speculations of alunatic, or to the scientific conclusions of a lofty genius? Wheredid truth stop? Where did error begin?

I was all adrift amongst a thousand contradictory hypotheses, but Icould not lay hold of one.

Yet I remembered that I had been convinced, although now myenthusiasm was beginning to cool down; but I felt a desire to startat once, and not to lose time and courage by calm reflection. I hadat that moment quite courage enough to strap my knapsack to myshoulders and start.

But I must confess that in another hour this unnatural excitementabated, my nerves became unstrung, and from the depths of the abyssesof this earth I ascended to its surface again.

"It is quite absurd!" I cried, "there is no sense about it. Nosensible young man should for a moment entertain such a proposal. Thewhole thing is non-existent. I have had a bad night, I have beendreaming of horrors."

But I had followed the banks of the Elbe and passed the town. Afterpassing the port too, I had reached the Altona road. I was led by apresentiment, soon to be realised; for shortly I espied my littleGräuben bravely returning with her light step to Hamburg.

"Gräuben!" I cried from afar off.

The young girl stopped, rather frightened perhaps to hear her namecalled after her on the high road. Ten yards more, and I had joinedher.

"Axel!" she cried surprised. "What! have you come to meet me? Is thiswhy you are here, sir?"

But when she had looked upon me, Gräuben could not fail to see theuneasiness and distress of my mind.

"What is the matter?" she said, holding out her hand.

"What is the matter, Gräuben?" I cried.

In a couple of minutes my pretty Virlandaise was fully informed ofthe position of affairs. For a time she was silent. Did her heartpalpitate as mine did? I don't know about that, but I know that herhand did not tremble in mine. We went on a hundred yards withoutspeaking.

At last she said, "Axel!"

"My dear Gräuben."

"That will be a splendid journey!"

I gave a bound at these words.

"Yes, Axel, a journey worthy of the nephew of a savant; it is a goodthing for a man to be distinguished by some great