CHAPTER XXX
AN ENDURING MONUMENT—CONCLUSION
But Professor Henderson and the boys, as well as Andy Sudds and Washington, gathered in the chart room. The aged scientist was confident that during their period of unconsciousness the fragment of the earth that had once been shot off into space, had returned to its parent globe, and he spoke cheerfully of their probable escape.
"But have we descended into the very place we left?" demanded Mark.
"Scarcely probable," returned the professor.
"Nevertheless the ocean has returned to this spot," declared Jack.
"There is water here, yes," admitted the professor. "We are afloat, that is true."
"And is it not the Arctic Ocean?"
"Later I will tell you. They say there is no land in sight. I believe the bulk of the land which was shot off by the volcanic eruption has now sunk in this sea. What sea it is we can tell soon."
"When can we see the sun and take an observation?" queried Mark. "Perhaps finding the temperature of this ocean which surrounds us will tell us something. However, we must have patience until this bitter storm is past."