Chapter 42 - Page 2

wasincreasing in a manner to cause us the most fearful anxiety, andcertainly the temperature was at this moment at the height of 100°Fahr.

What could be the meaning of such a change? Up to this time facts hadsupported the theories of Davy and of Liedenbrock; until nowparticular conditions of non-conducting rocks, electricity andmagnetism, had tempered the laws of nature, giving us only amoderately warm climate, for the theory of a central fire remained inmy estimation the only one that was true and explicable. Were we thenturning back to where the phenomena of central heat ruled in alltheir rigour and would reduce the most refractory rocks to the stateof a molten liquid? I feared this, and said to the Professor:

"If we are neither drowned, nor shattered to pieces, nor starved todeath, there is still the chance that we may be burned alive andreduced to ashes."

At this he shrugged his shoulders and returned to his thoughts.

Another hour passed, and, except some slight increase in thetemperature, nothing new had happened.

"Come," said he, "we must determine upon something."

"Determine on what?" said I.

"Yes, we must recruit our strength by carefully rationing ourselves,and so prolong our existence by a few hours. But we shall be reducedto very great weakness at last."

"And our last hour is not far off."

"Well, if there is a chance of safety, if a moment for activeexertion presents itself, where should we find the required strengthif we allowed ourselves to be enfeebled by hunger?"

"Well, uncle, when this bit of meat has been devoured what shall wehave left?"

"Nothing, Axel, nothing at all. But will it do you any more good todevour it with your eyes than with your teeth? Your reasoning has init neither sense nor energy."

"Then don't you despair?" I cried irritably.

"No, certainly not," was the Professor's firm reply.

"What! do you think there is any chance of safety left?"

"Yes, I do; as long as the heart beats, as long as body and soul keeptogether, I cannot admit that any creature endowed with a will hasneed to despair of life."

Resolute words these! The man who could speak so, under suchcircumstances, was of no ordinary type.

"Finally, what do you mean to do?" I asked.

"Eat what is left to the last crumb, and recruit our fading strength.This meal will be our last, perhaps: so let it be! But at any rate weshall once more be men, and not exhausted, empty bags."

"Well, let us consume it then," I cried.

My uncle took the piece of meat and the few biscuits which hadescaped from the general destruction. He divided them into threeequal portions and gave one to each. This made about a pound ofnourishment for each. The Professor ate his greedily, with a kind offeverish rage. I ate without pleasure, almost with disgust; Hansquietly,