Chapter 36

CHAPTER XXXVI.

CALM PHILOSOPHIC DISCUSSIONS

Here I end what I may call my log, happily saved from the wreck, andI resume my narrative as before.

What happened when the raft was dashed upon the rocks is more than Ican tell. I felt myself hurled into the waves; and if I escaped fromdeath, 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.

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

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

But a deluge of rain was still falling, though with that violencewhich generally denotes the near cessation of a storm. A fewoverhanging rocks afforded us some shelter from the storm. Hansprepared some food, which I could not touch; and each of us,exhausted with three sleepless nights, fell into a broken and painfulsleep.

The next day the weather was splendid. The sky and the sea had sunkinto 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.

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

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

Alas! if the tempest had but sent the raft a little more east, weshould 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 fortyleagues perpendicular of solid granite wall, and in reality we were athousand leagues asunder!

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

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

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

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

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

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

"To our journey's end?"

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

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

"Of course, Axel."

"How about returning?"

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

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

"In