The Europeans were charmed with the view spread out before them; they gazed with rapture upon the panorama and feasted their eyes upon the magnificent tropical vegetation above which they seem to be suspended. While most of the party were thus wrapt in admiration, Johannes was observed to be making notes on his pocketbook. “It is just seventy days since we left Kwala Kapoeas,” said he.
“Is it as long as that?” rejoined La Cueille. “Let me see; we quitted the fort on the tenth of January, did we not?”
“Yes, and to-day is the twenty-first of March, making exactly seventy days.”
“The twenty-first of March!” said Wienersdorf, struck by the date. “Then the sun must enter Aries to-day and be exactly above the equator. Wait; I will soon find out in what latitude we are.”
Cutting a fine young cedar of about ten yards in length he removed all its branches and planted it upright on a smooth bit of turf. He then took his compass and verified that the short shadow of the pole pointed due east and west.
“Error is impossible in these latitudes,” said the Swiss meditatively. [[357]]“But——that could be accidental. Perhaps there is a little local attraction which makes the needle deviate. I shall soon see.”
“What are you muttering about?” asked La Cueille.
“Silence!” was the laconic reply of the Swiss, while he continued to watch the shadow cast by the pole. It grew gradually less and at last disappeared altogether. For a moment no shadow was to be seen.
“Mid-day!” cried Wienersdorf. “I have the pleasure of congratulating you, gentlemen, upon being at the equator.”
Schlickeisen approached to look and, truly enough, no shadow could be seen. The Boekit Doesson therefore was exactly on the equinoctial line.