Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 13.djvu/346

 "WHEN THE SEAS ARE SHIFTED."

"Yes," said Baldenak. " But suppose the change of axis throws the seas out of their existing basins? "

"And if the ocean level is lowered at different points," said Jensen, "some people may find themselves so high up in the world that communication with them will be impossible!" * * * *

The modification of the axis was evidently a public danger. A change of 23° 28′ would produce a considerable displacement in the seas, owing to the flattening at the Poles. The Earth was thus threatened with similar disasters to those that, it is believed, have recently occurred in Mars. There entire continents, among others Libya and Schiaparelli, have been submerged, as shown by the faint blue replacing the faint red. Lake Moeris has disappeared. North and south there have been changes, and the oceans have withdrawn from many localities they formerly occupied.—Page 366. Vol. 13.