The Great Geyser
Wednesday, August 19 .—Fortunately the wind blows violently, and has enabled us to flee from the scene of the late terrible struggle. Hans keeps at his post at the helm. My uncle, whom the absorbing incidents of the combat had drawn away from his contemplations, began again to look impatiently around him.
The voyage resumes its uniform tenor, which I don’t care to break with a repetition of such events as yesterday’s.
Thursday, Aug. 20 .—Wind N. N. E. , unsteady and fitful. Temperature high. Rate three and a half leagues an hour. About noon a distant noise is heard. I note the fact without being able to explain it. It is a continuous roar. “In the distance,” says the Professor, “there is a rock or islet, against which the sea is breaking.” Hans climbs up the mast, but sees no breakers. The ocean is smooth and unbroken to its farthest limit. Three hours pass away. The roarings seem to proceed from a very distant waterfall. I remark upon this to my uncle, who replies doubtfully: “Yes, I am convinced that I am right.” Are we,