Their secret
The Professor will have it no other way. Harry and his uncle must travel to Iceland and descend to the center of the earth at once! So on the 2nd of June, they bid farewell to Martha, their old French cook and set sail for Reykjavik aboard the good ship Valkyrie.
Safely arriving in Iceland 13 days later, the Professor and his nephew are met by the governor, Baron Trampe, the mayor, M. Finsen and by M. Fridriksson, Professor of Natural Science in the college of Reykjavik. The visitors learn much about the history of Iceland, the scholar Arne Saknussemm and volcanic Mount Sneffel from the distinguished Professor - but they are careful not to reveal the real reason for their visit.
Fridriksson introduces them to their guide, Hans Bjelke, an eider duck hunter and the Professor, Harry and Hans set off to explore the mountain. Fridriksson leaves them with the words of Virgil:
"Et quacunque viam dederit fortuna sequamur."
"And whichsoever way thou goest, may fortune follow!"