The wind was very unfavorable to a craft that was unable to sail close to the wind.It was constructed to go before the blast.We were continually reduced to pushing ourselves forward by means of poles.On several occasions the rocks ran far out into deep water and we were compelled to make a long round.At last,after three long and weary hours of navigation,that is to say,about six o'clock in the evening,we found a place at which we could land.
I jumped on shore first.In my present state of excitement and enthusiasm,I was always first.My uncle and the Icelander followed.
The voyage from the port to this point of the sea had by no means calmed me.It had rather produced the opposite effect.I even proposed to burn our vessel,that is,to destroy our raft,in order to completely cut off our retreat.But my uncle sternly opposed this wild project.I began to think him particularly lukewarm and unenthusiastic.
"At any rate,my dear uncle,"I said,"let us start without delay.""Yes,my boy,I am quite as eager to do so as you can be.But,in the first place,let us examine this mysterious gallery,in order to find if we shall need to prepare and mend our ladders."My uncle now began to see to the efficiency of our Ruhmkorff coil,which would doubtless soon be needed;the raft,securely fastened to a rock,was left alone.Moreover,the opening into the new gallery was not twenty paces distant from the spot.Our little troop,with myself at the head,advanced.
The orifice,which was almost circular,presented a diameter of about five feet;the somber tunnel was cut in the living rock,and coated on the inside by the different material which had once passed through it in a state of fusion.The lower part was about level with the water,so that we were able to penetrate to the interior without difficulty.
We followed an almost horizontal direction;when,at the end of about a dozen paces,our further advance was checked by the interposition of an enormous block of granite rock.
"Accursed stone!"I cried furiously,on perceiving that we were stopped by what seemed an insurmountable obstacle.
In vain we looked to the right,in vain we looked to the left;in vain examined it above and below.There existed no passage,no sign of any other tunnel.I experienced the most bitter and painful disappointment.So enraged was I that I would not admit the reality of any obstacle.I stooped to my knees;I looked under the mass of stone.
No hole,no interstice.I then looked above.The same barrier of granite!Hans,with the lamp,examined the sides of the tunnel in every direction.
But all in vain!It was necessary to renounce all hope of passing through.
I had seated myself upon the ground.My uncle walked angrily and hopelessly up and down.He was evidently desperate.