Wendel suddenly pointed to a distant range of mighty mountains, and declared:
“Look ye, mates! Beyond that range is the new continent. Do you see that column of smoke?”
“The volcano!” ejaculated Frank.
“Just so, skipper. We crossed the range to the west of that. This river rises somewhere in those heights.”
“How far distant are they?” asked Randall.
“About seventy miles,” calculated Frank.
“Yes, fully one hundred,” declared Wendel. “Distances are greater in this sort of atmosphere.”
“That is quite likely,” agreed Frank, “but it looks to me as if we must have rough traveling to get there.”
“Stick to the river,” declared Wendel, “then there will be no trouble.”
The voyagers now kept their gaze constantly upon the distant volcanic range. The blue haze which seemed to hang over their black summits was certainly fair proof that a land free from snow and ice existed beyond.