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Boldly Down the Crater

           InvoluntarilyIcomparedthewholecratertoanenormouserectedmortar,andthecomparisonputmeinaterriblefright.

           "Whatmadness,"Ithought,"togodownintoamortar,perhapsaloadedmortar,tobeshotupintotheairatamoment’snotice!"

           ButIdidnottrytobackoutofit.Hanswithperfectcoolnessresumedthelead,andIfollowedhimwithoutaword.

           Inordertofacilitatethedescent,Hanswoundhiswaydowntheconebyaspiralpath.Ourroutelayamidsteruptiverocks,someofwhich,shakenoutoftheirloosenedbeds,rushedboundingdowntheabyss,andintheirfallawokeechoesremarkablefortheirloudandwell-definedsharpness.

           Incertainpartsoftheconetherewereglaciers.HereHansadvancedonlywithextremeprecaution,soundinghiswaywithhisiron-pointedpole,todiscoveranycrevassesinit.Atparticularlydubiouspassageswewereobligedtoconnectourselveswitheachotherbyalongcord,inorderthatanymanwhomissedhisfootingmightbeheldupbyhiscompanions.Thissolidformationwasprudent,butdidnotremovealldanger.

           Yet,notwithstandingthedifficultiesofthedescent,downsteepsunknowntotheguide,thejourneywasaccomplishedwithoutaccidents,exceptthelossofacoilofrope,whichescapedfromthehandsofanIcelander,andtooktheshortestwaytothebottomoftheabyss.

           Atmid-daywearrived.Iraisedmyheadandsawstraightabovemetheupperapertureofthecone,framingabitofskyofverysmallcircumference,butalmostperfectlyround.JustupontheedgeappearedthesnowypeakofSaris,standingoutsharpandclearagainstendlessspace.

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