Chapter 36 - Page 2

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

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

"Of course."

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

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

We left this grotto which lay open to every wind. At the same time Icherished a trembling hope which was a fear as well. It seemed to meimpossible that the terrible wreck of the raft should not havedestroyed everything on board. On my arrival on the shore I foundHans surrounded by an assemblage of articles all arranged in goodorder. My uncle shook hands with him with a lively gratitude. Thisman, with almost superhuman devotion, had been at work all the whilethat we were asleep, and had saved the most precious of the articlesat the risk of his life.

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

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

"Yes, but how about the instruments?"

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

Such high spirits as these were rather too strong.

"But where is the compass? I asked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Now," said he, "we will replenish our supply of water with the rainwhich the storm has left in all these granite basins; therefore weshall have no reason to fear anything from thirst. As for the raft,