But, no; I saw him, with arms outstretched and legs straddling wide apart, erect before a granite rock that stood in the centre of the crater, just like a pedestal made ready to receive a statue of Pluto.

He stood like a man stupefied, but the stupefaction soon gave way to delirious rapture.
"Axel, Axel," he cried.

"Come, come!" I ran.

Hans and the Icelanders never stirred.
"Look!" cried the Professor.
And, sharing his astonishment, but I think not his joy, I read on the western face of the block, in Runic characters, half mouldered away with lapse of ages, this thrice-accursed name: [At this point a Runic text appears] "Arne Saknussemm!" replied my uncle.

"Do you yet doubt ?" I made no answer; and I returned in silence to my lava seat in a state of utter speechless consternation.