that some of the crew were missing. The few that were left became, like myself, hardened and indifferent; still, the rate at which we were travelling had something to do with raising our spirits, and we cheered one another. How long and how far we were borne in this manner I cannot say, for the current was tortuous and the rate of speed unequal. After a time, however, the stream became weaker and the vessel began to move more slowly, with compact ice on either side.
We were now apparently approaching strange regions, for the scene in front was one not to be forgotten. The sky problem was solved. A great chain of active volcanoes stretched east and west as far as the eye could reach, belching bolts of fire, flames, and clouds of ashes high up into the air, while streams of molten lava poured down their sides. The mountains, sea, and sky had a peculiar lurid glare, and we could see a long distance. The noise at first was deafening, but we got accustomed to it. The flames from a thousand peaks ascended to an enormous height, swaying to and fro with the frequent gusts of wind, and at the same time raining showers of cinders, stones, and ashes into the water at the foot of the range. The current carried us across a cinder-covered channel of open
