The central pit
At Noon on June 29th, "before the kalends of July" and as foretold by Arne Saknussemm, the shadow of Scartaris Peak had touched the central pit. "Forüt," the guide had said and forward they had gone. Now after a full day of vertical descent, the deep, dark well has finally levelled out into a gallery sloping off and downwards into the gloom.
Lanterns shining brightly, the trio set off along the tunnel. For two days they follow the path down through the darkness until the gallery ends in a cross-roads. The Professor calculates that they are now ten thousand feet below the level of the sea, six thousand feet deeper than any one has ever been before!
The group consider the four sombre and narrow tunnels ahead of them. The Professor does not want to appear hesitant in front of Harry or their guide - he makes up his mind at once and marches forward. Which way does he go?