We prepared to climb down into the earth. Hans went first, then my uncle, and I followed. We were silent, but, at times, heard loose rocks fall. We were tied together, and tied the rope to rocks as we went down to be safe.
我们做好准备要向地球里面爬了。汉斯走先，然后是我叔叔，后面是我。我们都默默无语，但是偶尔的会听到碎石子落下的声音。为了安全，我们下降的时候互相绑在一起，并把绳子绑在石头上。
"Gif akt," I heard Hans say when we went down.
“Gif akt，”在我们向下爬时，我听到汉斯说。
"Be careful," my uncle would translate for me.
“小心，”我叔叔为我翻译。
After going down for an hour, I still could not see the bottom of the hole. Although I have a great interest in studying the earth's surface and rocks, I was paying no attention as we climbed down, feeling nothing but fear as we went farther into the earth. The professor, however, was making observations or taking notes as we went down.
"Axel," he said to me, "the farther down we go, the more confident I feel that the inside of the earth is not too hot. The groupings of those volcanic rocks tell me that there has been water here. I must believe that there is not heat at the earth's center, but we shall soon see for ourselves."
Although I have a great interest in studying the earth's surface and rocks, I was paying no attention as we climbed down, feeling nothing but fear as we went farther into the earth.
尽管我对地球表面和岩石有着深厚的兴趣，但往下爬时并没有去留意，离地心越近就越感到害怕。
