The start was fixed for the 16th of June. My uncle wanted to pay the hunter a portion in advance, but he refused with one word: "_Efter,_" said he. "After," said the Professor for my edification. The treaty concluded, Hans silently withdrew. "A famous fellow," cried my uncle; "but he little thinks of the marvellous part he has to play in the future." "So he is to go with us as far as--" "As far as the centre of the earth, Axel." Forty-eight hours were left before our departure; to my great regret I had to employ them in preparations; for all our ingenuity was required to pack every article to the best advantage; instruments here, arms there, tools in this package, provisions in that: four sets of packages in all. The instruments were: 1. An Eigel's centigrade thermometer, graduated up to 150 degrees (302 degrees Fahr.), which seemed to me too much or too little. Too much if the internal heat was to rise so high, for in this case we should be baked, not enough to measure the temperature of springs or any matter in a state of fusion. 2. An aneroid barometer, to indicate extreme pressures of the atmosphere. An ordinary barometer would not have answered the purpose, as the pressure would increase during our descent to a point which the mercurial barometer [1] would not register. 3. A chronometer, made by Boissonnas, jun., of Geneva, accurately set to the meridian of Hamburg. 4. Two compasses, viz., a common compass and a dipping needle. 5. A night glass. 6. Two of Ruhmkorff's apparatus, which, by means of an electric current, supplied a safe and handy portable light [2] The arms consisted of two of Purdy's rifles and two brace of pistols. But what did we want arms for? We had neither savages nor wild beasts to fear, I supposed. But my uncle seemed to believe in his arsenal as in his instruments, and more especially in a considerable quantity of gun cotton, which is unaffected by moisture, and the explosive force of which exceeds that of gunpowder. [1] In M. Verne's book a 'manometer' is the instrument used, of which very little is known. In a complete list of philosophical instruments the translator cannot find the name. As he is assured by a first-rate instrument maker, Chadburn, of Liverpool, that an aneroid can be constructed to measure any depth, he has thought it best to furnish the adventurous professor with this more familiar instrument. The 'manometer' is generally known as a pressure gauge.--TRANS.