It was as dark as Erebus, but the searchlight made the way clearer. Great walls of basalt rose upon either side.
Wendel, however, assured Frank that this pass was the true entrance to the warm valleys beyond. So the young inventor did not hesitate.
The snowshoes had been removed from the wheels, for they had now left the snow and ice region behind.
The air had rapidly grown milder, and it became necessary to remove all their heavy clothing. Indeed, the air which now rushed through the gorge was like a hot blast.
In a short while, however, as Wendel had predicted, the walls of the gorge began to widen, and now for the first time our voyagers beheld the land of promise, the new continent.
There it lay before them, green and fertile and beautiful as far as the eye could reach.
From their exalted position they could see a great panorama, smooth, green plains, clumps of trees, winding streams and beautiful lakes. They gazed upon it spellbound.
For months they had beheld nothing but stormy waters, cold icebergs and inhospitable rocks.
It was a relief to the senses and to the soul to now gaze upon this wonderful revelation of Divine Nature.
Wendel and Barney and Pomp raised their caps and cheered.