Chapter 11 - Page 2

reaphis harvest, but merely to gather it in.

This grave, phlegmatic, and silent individual was called Hans Bjelke;and he came recommended by M. Fridrikssen. He was our future guide.His manners were a singular contrast with my uncle's.

Nevertheless, they soon came to understand each other. Neither lookedat the amount of the payment: the one was ready to accept whateverwas offered; the other was ready to give whatever was demanded. Neverwas bargain more readily concluded.

The result of the treaty was, that Hans engaged on his part toconduct us to the village of Stapi, on the south shore of the Snæfellpeninsula, at the very foot of the volcano. By land this would beabout twenty-two miles, to be done, said my uncle, in two days.

But when he learnt that the Danish mile was 24,000 feet long, he wasobliged to modify his calculations and allow seven or eight days forthe march.

Four horses were to be placed at our disposal - two to carry him andme, two for the baggage. Hams, as was his custom, would go on foot.He knew all that part of the coast perfectly, and promised to take usthe shortest way.

His engagement was not to terminate with our arrival at Stapi; he wasto continue in my uncle's service for the whole period of hisscientific researches, for the remuneration of three rixdales a week(about twelve shillings), but it was an express article of thecovenant that his wages should be counted out to him every Saturdayat six o'clock in the evening, which, according to him, was oneindispensable part of the engagement.

The start was fixed for the 16th of June. My uncle wanted to pay thehunter a portion in advance, but he refused with one word:

"_Efter,_" said he.

"After," said the Professor for my edification.

The treaty concluded, Hans silently withdrew.

"A famous fellow," cried my uncle; "but he little thinks of themarvellous part he has to play in the future."

"So he is to go with us as far as --"

"As far as the centre of the earth, Axel."

Forty-eight hours were left before our departure; to my great regretI had to employ them in preparations; for all our ingenuity wasrequired to pack every article to the best advantage; instrumentshere, arms there, tools in this package, provisions in that: foursets of packages in all.

The instruments were:

1. An Eigel's centigrade thermometer, graduated up to 150 degrees(302 degrees Fahr.), which seemed to me too much or too little. Toomuch if the internal heat was to rise so high, for in this case weshould be baked, not enough to measure the temperature of springs orany matter in a state of fusion.

2. An aneroid barometer, to indicate extreme pressures of theatmosphere. An ordinary barometer would not have answered thepurpose, as the pressure would increase during our descent to a pointwhich the mercurial barometer [1] would not