his little cell
before he comes forth, or like a bean in a bean-pod; and when the upper
part of the mountain was split across and knocked off, the superior half
of his person was discovered. He appeared of a bottle-blue colour, and
started, dazzled with the unexpected glare of the light: hearing the
dreadful rattle of the wheels, and the loud chirping of the crickets,
he was thunder-struck, and instantly giving a shriek, sunk down ten
thousand fathoms into the earth, while the mountain, vomiting out some
smoke, silently closed up, and left not a trace behind!

CHAPTER XXIV

_The Baron secures his chariot, &c., at the Cape and takes his passage
for England in a homeward-bound Indiaman--Wrecked upon an island of ice,
near the coast of Guinea--Escapes from the wreck, and rears a variety of
vegetables upon the island--Meets some vessels belonging to the negroes
bringing white slaves from Europe, in retaliation, to work upon their
plantations in a cold climate near the South Pole--Arrives in England,
and lays an account of his expedition before the Privy Council--Great
preparations for a new expedition--The Sphinx, Gog and Magog, and a
great company attend him--The ideas of Hilaro Frosticos respecting the
interior parts of Africa._

I perceived with grief and consternation the miscarriage of all my
apparatus; yet I was not absolutely dejected: a great mind is never
known but in adversity. With permission of the Dutch governor the
chariot was properly laid up in a great storehouse, erected at the
water's edge, and the bulls received every refreshment possible after so
terrible a voyage. Well, you may be sure they deserved it, and therefore
every attendance was engaged for them, until I should return.

As it was not possible to do anything more I took my passage in a
homeward-bound Indiaman, to return to London, and lay the matter before
the Privy Council.

We met with nothing particular until we arrived upon the coast of
Guinea, where, to our utter astonishment, we perceived a great hill,
seemingly of glass, advancing against us in the open sea; the rays
of the sun were reflected upon it with such splendour, that it was
extremely difficult to gaze at the phenomenon. I immediately knew it to
be an island of ice, and though in so very warm a latitude, determined
to make all possible sail from such horrible danger. We did so, but all
in vain, for about eleven o'clock at night, blowing a very hard gale,
and exceedingly