us over 3949 miles.
This makes the depression at either pole upward of thirteen miles. A
depression of over thirteen miles, as you must plainly see, should
produce strange results in the scenery at the poles. Of course, if
there are mountains, no difference would be noticed between this and
any other part of the earth's surface; but if there is water, why,
we ought to expect some such state of things as More describes. The
gravitation test has also been tried, with very nearly the same
result. The surface of the earth at the equator, being farthest from
the centre of gravity, indicates the least weight in bodies; but at
the poles, where the surface is nearest the centre of gravity, there
must be the greatest weight. It is found, in fact, that the weight
of bodies increases in passing from the equator to the poles. By
experiments made in this way the polar compression is ascertained to
be the same as I have mentioned."

"What effect would this have on the climate at the poles?" asked
Oxenden.

"That's a complicated question," said the doctor. "In answer to that
we must leave ascertained facts and trust to theories, unless, indeed,
we accept as valid the statements of this remarkable manuscript.
For my own part, I see no reason why it should not be as More says.
Remember, this polar world is thirteen miles nearer to the centre of
the earth. Whether this should affect the climate or not, depends upon
the nature of the earth's interior. That interior, according to the
popular theory of the present day is a mass of fire. This theory
affirms that the earth was once a red-hot mass, which has cooled down;
but the cooling process has only taken place on the surface, leaving
the interior still a molten mass of matter in a state of intense heat
and combustion. At the poles the surface is thus thirteen miles nearer
to these tremendous fires. Of course it may be supposed that the
earth's crust is of about equal thickness on all parts; yet still,
even if this be so, thirteen miles ought to make some difference. Now
at the North Pole there seem to be causes at work to counterbalance
the effect of the internal heat, chiefly in the enormous accumulation
of polar ice which probably hems it in on every side; and though many
believe in an open polar sea of warm water at the North Pole, yet
still the effect of vast ice-masses and of cold submarine currents
must be to render the climate severe. But at the South Pole it is
different. The o