第5章

Thecoldwaskeen，searchingandintense。Thewindblewwithextraordinaryviolence。Iwasutterlyexhausted。

Myworthyuncle，theProfessor，sawclearlythatmylegsrefusedfurtherservice，andthat，infact，Iwasutterlyexhausted。Despitehishotandfeverishimpatience，hedecided，withasigh，uponahalt。

Hecalledtheeider-duckhuntertohisside。Thatworthy，however，shookhishead。

"Ofvanfor，"washissolespokenreply。

"Itappears，"saysmyunclewithawoebegonelook，"thatwemustgohigher。"

HethenturnedtoHans，andaskedhimtogivesomereasonforthisdecisiveresponse。

"Mistour，"repliedtheguide。

"Ja，mistour-yes，themistour，"criedoneoftheIcelandicguidesinaterrifiedtone。

Itwasthefirsttimehehadspoken。

"Whatdoesthismysteriouswordsignify?"Ianxiouslyinquired。

"Look，"saidmyuncle。

Ilookeddownupontheplainbelow，andIsawavast，aprodigiousvolumeofpulverizedpumicestone，ofsand，ofdust，risingtotheheavensintheformofamightywaterspout。ItresembledthefearfulphenomenonofasimilarcharacterknowntothetravelersinthedesertofthegreatSahara。

ThewindwasdrivingitdirectlytowardsthatsideofSneffelsonwhichwewereperched。Thisopaqueveilstandingupbetweenusandthesunprojectedadeepshadowontheflanksofthemountain。Ifthissandspoutbrokeoverus，wemustallbeinfalliblydestroyed，crushedinitsfearfulembraces。Thisextraordinaryphenomenon，verycommonwhenthewindshakestheglaciers，andsweepsoverthearidplains，isintheIcelandictonguecalled"mistour。"

"Hastigt，hastigt!"criedourguide。

NowIcertainlyknewnothingofDanish，butIthoroughlyunderstoodthathisgesturesweremeanttoquickenus。

Theguideturnedrapidlyinadirectionwhichwouldtakeustothebackofthecrater，allthewhileascendingslightly。

Wefollowedrapidly，despiteourexcessivefatigue。

AquarterofanhourlaterHanspausedtoenableustolookback。

Themightywhirlwindofsandwasspreadinguptheslopeofthemountaintotheveryspotwherewehadproposedtohalt。Hugestoneswerecaughtup，castintotheair，andthrownaboutasduringaneruption。Wewerehappilyalittleoutofthedirectionofthewind，andthereforeoutofreachofdanger。Butfortheprecautionandknowledgeofourguide，ourdislocatedbodies，ourcrushedandbrokenlimbs，wouldhavebeencasttothewind，likedustfromsomeunknownmeteor。

Hans，however，didnotthinkitprudenttopassthenightonthebaresideofthecone。Wethereforecontinuedourjourneyinazigzagdirection。Thefifteenhundredfeetwhichremainedtobeaccomplishedtookusatleastfivehours。Theturningsandwindings，theno-thoroughfares，themarchesandmarches，turnedthatinsignificantdistanceintoatleastthreeleagues。Ineverfeltsuchmisery，fatigueandexhaustioninmylife。Iwasreadytofaintfromhungerandcold。Therarefiedairatthesametimepainfullyacteduponmylungs。

Atlast，whenIthoughtmyselfatmylastgasp，aboutelevenatnight，itbeinginthatregionquitedark，wereachedthesummitofMountSneffels!Itwasinanawfulmoodofmind，thatdespitemyfatigue，beforeIdescendedintothecraterwhichwastoshelterusforthenight，Ipausedtobeholdthesunriseatmidnightontheverydayofitslowestdeclension，andenjoyedthespectacleofitsghastlypalerayscastupontheislewhichlaysleepingatourfeet!

InolongerwonderedatpeopletravelingallthewayfromEnglandtoNorwaytobeholdthismagicalandwondrousspectacle。

CHAPTER13

TheShadowofScartarisOURsupperwaseatenwitheaseandrapidity，afterwhicheverybodydidthebesthecouldforhimselfwithinthehollowofthecrater。Thebedwashard，theshelterunsatisfactory，thesituationpainful-lyingintheopenair，fivethousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea!

Nevertheless，ithasseldomhappenedtometosleepsowellasIdidonthatparticularnight。Ididnotevendream。Somuchfortheeffectsofwhatmyunclecalled"wholesomefatigue。"

Nextday，whenweawokeundertheraysofabrightandglorioussun，wewerenearlyfrozenbythekeenair。Ileftmygranitecouchandmadeoneofthepartytoenjoyaviewofthemagnificentspectaclewhichdevelopeditself，panorama-like，atourfeet。

IstoodupontheloftysummitofMountSneffels"southernpeak。

ThenceIwasabletoobtainaviewofthegreaterpartoftheisland。Theopticaldelusion，commontoallloftyheights，raisedtheshoresoftheisland，whilethecentralportionsappeareddepressed。Itwasbynomeanstoogreataflightoffancytobelievethatagiantpicturewasstretchedoutbeforeme。Icouldseethedeepvalleysthatcrossedeachotherineverydirection。Icouldseeprecipiceslookinglikesidesofwells，lakesthatseemedtobechangedintoponds，pondsthatlookedlikepuddles，andriversthatweretransformedintopettybrooks。Tomyrightwereglaciersuponglaciers，andmultipliedpeaks，toppedwithlightcloudsofsmoke。

Theundulationoftheseinfinitenumbersofmountains，whosesnowysummitsmakethemlookasifcoveredbyfoam，recalledtomyremembrancethesurfaceofastorm-beatenocean。IfIlookedtowardsthewest，theoceanlaybeforemeinallitsmajesticgrandeur，acontinuationasitwere，ofthesefleecyhilltops。

Wheretheearthendedandtheseabeganitwasimpossiblefortheeyetodistinguish。

Isoonfeltthatstrangeandmysterioussensationwhichisawakenedinthemindwhenlookingdownfromloftyhilltops，andnowIwasabletodosowithoutanyfeelingofnervousness，havingfortunatelyhardenedmyselftothatkindofsublimecontemplation。

IwhollyforgotwhoIwas，andwhereIwas。Ibecameintoxicatedwithasenseofloftysublimity，withoutthoughtoftheabyssesintowhichmydaringwassoonabouttoplungeme。Iwaspresently，however，broughtbacktotherealitiesoflifebythearrivaloftheProfessorandHans，whojoinedmeupontheloftysummitofthepeak。

Myuncle，turninginawesterlydirection，pointedouttomealightcloudofvapor，akindofhaze，withafaintoutlineoflandrisingoutofthewaters。

"Greenland!"saidhe。

"Greenland?"criedIinreply。

"Yes，"continuedmyuncle，whoalwayswhenexplaininganythingspokeasifhewereinaprofessor"schair；"wearenotmorethanthirty-fiveleaguesdistantfromthatwonderfulland。Whenthegreatannualbreakupoftheicetakesplace，whitebearscomeovertoIceland，carriedbythefloatingmassesoficefromthenorth。This，however，isamatteroflittleconsequence。Wearenowonthesummitofthegreat，thetranscendentSneffels，andhereareitstwopeaks，northandsouth。HanswilltellyouthenamebywhichthepeopleofIcelandcallthatonwhichwestand。"

Myuncleturnedtotheimperturbableguide，whonodded，andspokeasusual-oneword。

"Scartaris。"

Myunclelookedatmewithaproudandtriumphantglance。

"Acrater，"hesaid，"youhear?"

Ididhear，butIwastotallyunabletomakereply。

ThecraterofMountSneffelsrepresentedaninvertedcone，thegapingorificeapparentlyhalfamileacross；thedepthindefinitefeet。Conceivewhatthisholemusthavebeenlikewhenfullofflameandthunderandlightning。Thebottomofthefunnel-shapedhollowwasaboutfivehundredfeetincircumference，bywhichitwillbeseenthattheslopefromthesummittothebottomwasverygradual，andwewerethereforeclearlyabletogettherewithoutmuchfatigueordifficulty。Involuntarily，Icomparedthiscratertoanenormousloadedcannon；andthecomparisoncompletelyterrifiedme。

"Todescendintotheinteriorofacannon，"Ithoughttomyself，"whenperhapsitisloaded，andwillgooffattheleastshock，istheactofamadman。"

Buttherewasnolongeranyopportunityformetohesitate。Hans，withaperfectlycalmandindifferentair，tookhisusualpostattheheadoftheadventurouslittleband。Ifollowedwithoututteringasyllable。

Ifeltlikethelambledtotheslaughter。

Inordertorenderthedescentlessdifficult，Hanstookhiswaydowntheinterioroftheconeinratherazigzagfashion，making，asthesailorssay，longtrackstotheeastward，followedbyequallylongonestothewest。Itwasnecessarytowalkthroughthemidstoferuptiverocks，someofwhich，shakenintheirbalance，wentrollingdownwiththunderingclamortothebottomoftheabyss。Thesecontinualfallsawokeechoesofsingularpowerandeffect。

Manyportionsoftheconeconsistedofinferiorglaciers。Hans，wheneverhemetwithoneoftheseobstacles，advancedwithagreatshowofprecaution，soundingthesoilwithhislongironpoleinordertodiscoverfissuresandlayersofdeepsoftsnow。Inmanydoubtfulordangerousplaces，itbecamenecessaryforustobetiedtogetherbyalongropeinorderthatshouldanyoneofusbeunfortunateenoughtoslip，hewouldbesupportedbyhiscompanions。Thisconnectinglinkwasdoubtlessaprudentprecaution，butnotbyanymeansunattendedwithdanger。

Nevertheless，anddespiteallthemanifolddifficultiesofthedescent，alongslopeswithwhichourguidewaswhollyunacquainted，wemadeconsiderableprogresswithoutaccident。OneofourgreatparcelsofropeslippedfromoneoftheIcelandporters，andrushedbyashortcuttothebottomoftheabyss。

Bymiddaywewereattheendofourjourney。Ilookedupwards，andsawonlytheupperorificeofthecone，whichservedasacircularframetoaverysmallportionofthesky-aportionwhichseemedtomesingularlybeautiful。ShouldIeveragaingazeonthatlovelysunlitsky!

Theonlyexceptiontothisextraordinarylandscape，wasthePeakofScartaris，whichseemedlostinthegreatvoidoftheheavens。

Thebottomofthecraterwascomposedofthreeseparateshafts，throughwhich，duringperiodsoferuption，whenSneffelswasinaction，thegreatcentralfurnacesentforthitsburninglavaandpoisonousvapors。Eachofthesechimneysorshaftsgapedopen-mouthedinourpath。Ikeptasfarawayfromthemaspossible，notevenventuringtotakethefaintestpeepdownwards。

AsfortheProfessor，afterarapidexaminationoftheirdispositionandcharacteristics，hebecamebreathlessandpanting。Heranfromonetotheotherlikeadelightedschoolboy，gesticulatingwildly，andutteringincomprehensibleanddisjointedphrasesinallsortsoflanguages。

Hans，theguide，andhishumblercompanionsseatedthemselvesonsomepilesoflavaandlookedsilentlyon。Theyclearlytookmyuncleforalunatic；and-waitedtheresult。

SuddenlytheProfessorutteredawild，unearthlycry。AtfirstI

imaginedhehadlosthisfooting，andwasfallingheadlongintooneoftheyawninggulfs。Nothingofthekind。Isawhim，hisarmsspreadouttotheirwidestextent，hislegsstretchedapart，standinguprightbeforeanenormouspedestal，highenoughandblackenoughtobearagiganticstatueofPluto。Hisattitudeandmienwerethatofamanutterlystupefied。Buthisstupefactionwasspeedilychangedtothewildestjoy。

"Harry!Harry!comehere!"hecried；"makehaste-wonderful-

wonderful!"

Unabletounderstandwhathemeant，Iturnedtoobeyhiscommands。

NeitherHansnortheotherIcelandersmovedastep。

"Look!"saidtheProfessor，insomethingofthemanneroftheFrenchgeneral，pointingoutthepyramidstohisarmy。

Andfullypartakinghisstupefaction，ifnothisjoy，Ireadontheeasternsideofthehugeblockofstone，thesamecharacters，halfeatenawaybythecorrosiveactionoftime，thename，tomeathousandtimesaccursed-

(Seeillustration。)

"ArneSaknussemm!"criedmyuncle，"now，unbeliever，doyoubegintohavefaith?"

Itwastotallyimpossibleformetoanswerasingleword。Iwentbacktomypileoflava，inastateofsilentawe。Theevidencewasunanswerable，overwhelming!

Inafewmoments，however，mythoughtswerefaraway，backinmyGermanhome，withGretchenandtheoldcook。WhatwouldIhavegivenforoneofmycousin"ssmiles，foroneoftheancientdomestic"somelettes，andformyownfeatherbed!

HowlongIremainedinthisstateIknownot。AllIcansayis，thatwhenatlastIraisedmyheadfrombetweenmyhands，thereremainedatthebottomofthecrateronlymyself，myuncleandHans。TheIcelandicportershadbeendismissedandwerenowdescendingtheexteriorslopesofMountSneffels，ontheirwaytoStapi。HowheartilydidIwishmyselfwiththem!

Hansslepttranquillyatthefootofarockinakindofrilloflava，wherehehadmadehimselfaroughandreadybed。MYunclewaswalkingaboutthebottomofthecraterlikeawildbeastinacage。

Ihadnodesire，neitherhadIthestrength，tomovefrommyrecumbentposition。Takingexamplebytheguide，Igavewaytoakindofpainfulsomnolency，duringwhichIseemedbothtohearandfeelcontinuedheavingsandshudderingsinthemountain。

Inthiswaywepassedourfirstnightintheinteriorofacrater。

Nextmorning，agrey，cloudy，heavyskyhunglikeafunerealpalloverthesummitofthevolcaniccone。Ididnotnoticeitsomuchfromtheobscuritythatreignedaroundus，asfromtheragewithwhichmyunclewasdevoured。

Ifullyunderstoodthereason，andagainaglimpseofhopemademyheartleapwithjoy。Iwillbrieflyexplainthecause。

Ofthethreeopeningswhichyawnedbeneathoursteps，onlyonecouldhavebeenfollowedbytheadventurousSaknussemm。AccordingtothewordsofthelearnedIcelander，itwasonlytobeknownbythatoneparticularmentionedinthecryptograph，thattheshadowofScartarisfelluponit，justtouchingitsmouthinthelastdaysofthemonthofJune。

Wewere，infact，toconsiderthepointedpeakasthestylusofanimmensesun-dial，theshadowofwhichpointedononegivenday，liketheinexorablefingeroffate，totheyawningchasmwhichledintotheinterioroftheearth。

Now，asoftenhappensintheseregions，shouldthesunfailtoburstthroughtheclouds，noshadow。Consequently，nochanceofdiscoveringtherightaperture。Wehadalreadyreachedthe25thJune。Ifthekindlyheavenswouldonlyremaindenselycloudedforsixmoredays，weshouldhavetoputoffourvoyageofdiscoveryforanotheryear，whencertainlytherewouldbeonepersonfewerintheparty。Ialreadyhadsufficientofthemadandmonstrousenterprise。

ItwouldbeutterlyimpossibletodepicttheimpotentrageofProfessorHardwigg。Thedaypassedaway，andnotthefaintestoutlineofashadowcouldbeseenatthebottomofthecrater。Hanstheguidenevermovedfromhisplace。Hemusthavebeencurioustoknowwhatwewereabout，ifindeedhecouldbelievewewereaboutanything。Asformyuncle，heneveraddressedawordtome。Hewasnursinghiswrathtokeepitwarm!Hiseyesfixedontheblackandfoggyatmosphere，hiscomplexionhideouswithsuppressedpassion。

Neverhadhiseyesappearedsofierce，hisnosesoaquiline，hismouthsohardandfirm。

Onthe26thnochangeforthebetter。Amixtureofrainandsnowfellduringthewholeday。HansveryquietlybuilthimselfahutoflavaintowhichheretiredlikeDiogenesintohistub。Itookamaliciousdelightinwatchingthethousandlittlecascadesthatfloweddownthesideofthecone，carryingwiththemattimesastreamofstonesintothe"vastydeep"below。

Myunclewasalmostfrantic:tobesure，itwasenoughtomakeevenapatientmanangry。Hehadreachedtoacertainextentthegoalofhisdesires，andyethewaslikelytobewreckedinport。

Butiftheheavensandtheelementsarecapableofcausingusmuchpainandsorrow，therearetwosidestoamedal。AndtherewasreservedforProfessorHardwiggabrilliantandsuddensurprisewhichwastocompensatehimforallhissufferings。

Nextdaytheskywasstillovercast，butonSunday，the28th，thelastdaybuttwoofthemonth，withasuddenchangeofwindandanewmoontherecameachangeofweather。Thesunpoureditsbeamingraystotheverybottomofthecrater。

Eachhillock，everyrock，everystone，everyasperityofthesoilhaditsshareoftheluminouseffulgence，anditsshadowfellheavilyonthesoil。Amongothers，tohisinsanedelight，theshadowofScartariswasmarkedandclear，andmovedslowlywiththeradiantstartofday。

Myunclemovedwithitinastateofmentalecstasy。

Attwelveo"clockexactly，whenthesunhadattaineditshighestaltitudefortheday，theshadowfellupontheedgeofthecentralpit!

"Hereitis，"gaspedtheProfessorinanagonyofjoy，"hereitis-wehavefoundit。Forward，myfriends，intotheInterioroftheEarth。"

IlookedcuriouslyatHanstoseewhatreplyhewouldmaketothisterrificannouncement。

"Forut，"saidtheguidetranquilly。

"Forwarditis，"answeredmyuncle，whowasnowintheseventhheavenofdelight。

Whenwewerequiteready，ourwatchesindicatedthirteenminutespastone!

CHAPTER14

TheRealJourneyCommencesOURrealjourneyhadnowcommenced。Hithertoourcourageanddeterminationhadovercomealldifficulties。Wewerefatiguedattimes；andthatwasall。Nowwewereabouttoencounterunknownandfearfuldangers。

IhadnotasyetventuredtotakeaglimpsedownthehorribleabyssintowhichinafewminutesmoreIwasabouttoplunge。Thefatalmomenthad，however，atlastarrived。Ihadstilltheoptionofrefusingoracceptingashareinthisfoolishandaudaciousenterprise。ButIwasashamedtoshowmorefearthantheeider-duckhunter。Hansseemedtoacceptthedifficultiesofthejourneysotranquilly，withsuchcalmindifference，withsuchperfectrecklessnessofalldanger，thatIactuallyblushedtoappearlessofamanthanhe!

HadIbeenalonewithmyuncle，Ishouldcertainlyhavesatdownandarguedthepointfully；butinthepresenceoftheguideIheldmytongue。Igaveonemomenttothethoughtofmycharmingcousin，andthenIadvancedtothemouthofthecentralshaft。

Itmeasuredaboutahundredfeetindiameter，whichmadeaboutthreehundredincircumference。Ileanedoverarockwhichstoodonitsedge，andlookeddown。Myhairstoodonend，myteethchattered，mylimbstrembled。Iseemedutterlytolosemycenterofgravity，whilemyheadwasinasortofwhirl，likethatofadrunkenman。Thereisnothingmorepowerfulthanthisattractiontowardsanabyss。Iwasabouttofallheadlongintothegapingwell，whenIwasdrawnbackbyafirmandpowerfulhand。ItwasthatofHans。IhadnottakenlessonsenoughattheFrelser"s-KirkofCopenhagenintheartoflookingdownfromloftyeminenceswithoutblinking!

However，fewastheminuteswereduringwhichIgazeddownthistremendousandevenwondrousshaft，Ihadasufficientglimpseofittogivemesomeideaofitsphysicalconformation。Itssides，whichwerealmostasperpendicularasthoseofawell，presentednumerousprojectionswhichdoubtlesswouldassistourdescent。

Itwasasortofwildandsavagestaircase，withoutbannisterorfence。Aropefastenedabove，nearthesurface，wouldcertainlysupportourweightandenableustoreachthebottom，buthow，whenwehadarrivedatitsutmostdepth，werewetoloosenitabove?Thiswas，Ithought，aquestionofsomeimportance。

Myuncle，however，wasoneofthosemenwhoarenearlyalwayspreparedwithexpedients。Hehituponaverysimplemethodofobviatingthisdifficulty。Heunrolledacordaboutasthickasmythumb，andatleastfourhundredfeetinlength。Heallowedabouthalfofittogodownthepitandcatchinahitchoveragreatblockoflavawhichstoodontheedgeoftheprecipice。Thisdone，hethrewthesecondhalfafterthefirst。

Eachofuscouldnowdescendbycatchingthetwocordsinonehand。Whenabouttwohundredfeetbelow，alltheexplorerhadtodowastoletgooneendandpullawayattheother，whenthecordwouldcomefallingathisfeet。Inordertogodownfarther，allthatwasnecessarywastocontinuethesameoperation。

Thiswasaveryexcellentproposition，andnodoubt，acorrectone。Goingdownappearedtomeeasyenough；itwasthecomingupagainthatnowoccupiedmythoughts。

"Now，"saidmyuncle，assoonashehadcompletedthisimportantpreparation，"letusseeaboutthebaggage。Itmustbedividedintothreeseparateparcels，andeachofusmustcarryoneonhisback。I

alludetothemoreimportantandfragilearticles。"

Myworthyandingeniousuncledidnotappeartoconsiderthatwecameunderthedenomination。

"Hans，"hecontinued，"youwilltakechargeofthetoolsandsomeoftheprovisions；you，Harry，musttakepossessionofanotherthirdoftheprovisionsandofthearms。Iwillloadmyselfwiththerestoftheeatables，andwiththemoredelicateinstruments。"

"But，"Iexclaimed，"ourclothes，thismassofcordandladders-whowillundertaketocarrythemdown?

"Theywillgodownofthemselves。"

"Andhowso?"Iasked。

"Youshallsee。"

Myunclewasnotfondofhalfmeasures，nordidhelikeanythinginthewayofhesitation。GivinghisorderstoHanshehadthewholeofthenonfragilearticlesmadeupintoonebundle；andthepacket，firmlyandsolidlyfastened，wassimplypitchedovertheedgeofthegulf。

Iheardthemoaningofthesuddenlydisplacedair，andthenoiseoffallingstones。Myuncleleaningovertheabyssfollowedthedescentofhisluggagewithaperfectlyself-satisfiedair，anddidnotriseuntilithadcompletelydisappearedfromsight。

"Nowthen，"hecried，"itisourturn。"

Iputitingoodfaithtoanymanofcommonsense-wasitpossibletohearthisenergeticcrywithoutashudder?

TheProfessorfastenedhiscaseofinstrumentsonhisback。Hanstookchargeofthetools，Iofthearms。Thedescentthencommencedinthefollowingorder:Hanswentfirst，myunclefollowed，andIwentlast。Ourprogresswasmadeinprofoundsilence-asilenceonlytroubledbythefallofpiecesofrock，whichbreakingfromthejaggedsides，fellwitharoarintothedepthsbelow。

Iallowedmyselftoslide，sotospeak，holdingfranticallyonthedoublecordwithonehandandwiththeotherkeepingmyselfofftherocksbytheassistanceofmyiron-shodpole。Oneideawasallthetimeimpresseduponmybrain。Ifearedthattheuppersupportwouldfailme。Thecordappearedtomefartoofragiletobeartheweightofthreesuchpersonsaswewere，withourluggage。Imadeaslittleuseofitaspossible，trustingtomyownagilityanddoingmiraclesinthewayoffeatsofdexterityandstrengthupontheprojectingshelvesandspursoflavawhichmyfeetseemedtoclutchasstronglyasmyhands。

Theguidewentfirst，Ihavesaid，andwhenoneoftheslipperyandfrailsupportsbrokefromunderhisfeethehadrecoursetohisusualmonosyllabicwayofspeaking。

"Gifakt-"

"Attention-lookout，"repeatedmyuncle。

Inabouthalfanhourwereachedakindofsmallterraceformedbyafragmentofrockprojectingsomedistancefromthesidesoftheshaft。

Hansnowbegantohauluponthecordononesideonly，theothergoingasquietlyupwardastheothercamedown。Itfellatlast，bringingwithitashowerofsmallstones，lavaanddust，adisagreeablekindofrainorhail。

WhilewewereseatedonthisextraordinarybenchIventuredoncemoretolookdownwards。WithasighIdiscoveredthatthebottomwasstillwhollyinvisible。Werewe，then，goingdirecttotheinterioroftheearth?

Theperformancewiththecordrecommenced，andaquarterofanhourlaterwehadreachedtothedepthofanothertwohundredfeet。

Ihaveverystrongdoubtsifthemostdeterminedgeologistwould，duringthatdescent，havestudiedthenatureofthedifferentlayersofeartharoundhim。Ididnottroublemyheadmuchaboutthematter；whetherwewereamongthecombustiblecarbon，Silurians，orprimitivesoil，Ineitherknewnorcaredtoknow。

NotsotheinveterateProfessor。Hemusthavetakennotesallthewaydown，for，atoneofourhalts，hebeganabrieflecture。

"Thefartherweadvance，"saidhe，"thegreaterismyconfidenceintheresult。ThedispositionofthesevolcanicstrataabsolutelyconfirmsthetheoriesofSirHumphryDavy。Wearestillwithintheregionoftheprimordialsoil，thesoilinwhichtookplacethechemicaloperationofmetalsbecominginflamedbycomingincontactwiththeairandwater。Iatonceregrettheoldandnowforeverexplodedtheoryofacentralfire。Atallevents，weshallsoonknowthetruth。"

Suchwastheeverlastingconclusiontowhichhecame。I，however，wasveryfarfrombeinginhumortodiscussthematter。Ihadsomethingelsetothinkof。Mysilencewastakenforconsent；andstillwecontinuedtogodown。

Attheexpirationofthreehours，wewere，toallappearance，asfaroffaseverfromthebottomofthewell。WhenIlookedupwards，however，Icouldseethattheupperorificewaseveryminutedecreasinginsize。Thesidesoftheshaftweregettingcloserandclosertogether，wewereapproachingtheregionsofeternalnight!

Andstillwecontinuedtodescend!

Atlength，Inoticedthatwhenpiecesofstoneweredetachedfromthesidesofthisstupendousprecipice，theywereswallowedupwithlessnoisethanbefore。Thefinalsoundwassoonerheard。Wewereapproachingthebottomoftheabyss!

AsIhadbeenverycarefultokeepaccountofanthechangesofcordwhichtookplace，Iwasabletotellexactlywhatwasthedepthwehadreached，aswellasthetimeithadtaken。

Wehadshiftedtheropetwenty-eighttimes，eachoperationtakingaquarterofanhour，whichinallmadesevenhours。Tothishadtobeaddedtwenty-eightpauses；inalltenhoursandahalf。Westartedatone，itwasnow，therefore，abouteleveno"clockatnight。

Itdoesnotrequiregreatknowledgeofarithmetictoknowthattwenty-eighttimestwohundredfeetmakesfivethousandsixhundredfeetinall(morethananEnglishmile)。

WhileIwasmakingthismentalcalculationavoicebrokethesilence。ItwasthevoiceofHans。

"Halt!"hecried。

Icheckedmyselfverysuddenly，justatthemomentwhenIwasabouttokickmyuncleonthehead。

"Wehavereachedtheendofourjourney，"saidtheworthyProfessorinasatisfiedtone。

"What，theinterioroftheearth?"saidI，slippingdowntohisside。

"No，youstupidfellow!butwehavereachedthebottomofthewell。

"AndIsupposethereisnofartherprogresstobemade?"Ihopefullyexclaimed。

"Oh，yes，Icandimlyseeasortoftunnel，whichturnsoffobliquelytotheright。Atallevents，wemustseeaboutthattomorrow。Letussupnow，andseekslumberasbestwemay。"

Ithoughtittime，butmadenoobservationsonthatpoint。Iwasfairlylaunchedonadesperatecourse，andallIhadtodowastogoforwardhopefullyandtrustingly。

Itwasnotevennowquitedark，thelightfilteringdowninamostextraordinarymanner。

Weopenedtheprovisionbag，ateafrugalsupper，andeachdidhisbesttofindabedamidthepileofstones，dirt，andlavawhichhadaccumulatedforagesatthebottomoftheshaft。

Ihappenedtogropeoutthepileofropes，ladders，andclotheswhichwehadthrowndown；anduponthemIstretchedmyself。Aftersuchaday"slabor，myroughbedseemedassoftasdown!

ForawhileIlayinasortofpleasanttrance。

Presently，afterlyingquietlyforsomeminutes，Iopenedmyeyesandlookedupwards。AsIdidsoImadeoutabrilliantlittledot，attheextremityofthislong，gigantictelescope。

Itwasastarwithoutscintillatingrays。Accordingtomycalculation，itmustbeBetaintheconstellationoftheLittleBear。

Afterthislittlebitofastronomicalrecreation，Idroppedintoasoundsleep。

CHAPTER15

WeContinueOurDescentATeighto"clockthenextmorning，afaintkindofdawnofdayawokeus。Thethousandandoneprismsofthelavacollectedthelightasitpassedandbroughtittouslikeashowerofsparks。

Wewereablewitheasetoseeobjectsaroundus。

"Well，Harry，myboy，"criedthedelightedProfessor，rubbinghishandstogether，"whatsayyounow?DidyoueverpassamoretranquilnightinourhouseintheKonigstrasse?Nodeafeningsoundsofcartwheels，nocriesofhawkers，nobadlanguagefromboatmenorwatermen!

"Well，Uncle，wearequiteatthebottomofthiswell-buttomethereissomethingterribleinthiscalm。"

"Why，"saidtheProfessorhotly，"onewouldsayyouwerealreadybeginningtobeafraid。Howwillyougetonpresently?Doyouknow，thatasyet，wehavenotpenetratedoneinchintothebowelsoftheearth。"

"Whatcanyoumean，sir?"wasmybewilderedandastonishedreply。

"Imeantosaythatwehaveonlyjustreachedthesoiloftheislanditself。Thislongverticaltube，whichendsatthebottomofthecraterofSneffels，ceasesherejustaboutonalevelwiththesea。"

"Areyousure，sir?"

"Quitesure。Consultthebarometer。"

Itwasquitetruethatthemercury，afterrisinggraduallyintheinstrument，aslongasourdescentwastakingplace，hadstoppedpreciselyattwenty-ninedegrees。

"Youperceive，"saidtheProfessor，"wehaveasyetonlytoendurethepressureofair。Iamcurioustoreplacethebarometerbythemanometer。"

Thebarometer，infact，wasabouttobecomeuseless-assoonastheweightoftheairwasgreaterthanwhatwascalculatedasabovetheleveloftheocean。

"But，"saidI，"isitnotverymuchtobefearedthatthisever-increasingpressuremaynotintheendturnoutverypainfulandinconvenient?"

"No，"saidhe。"Weshalldescendveryslowly，andourlungswillbegraduallyaccustomedtobreathecompressedair。Itiswellknownthataeronautshavegonesohighastobenearlywithoutairatall-

why，then，shouldwenotaccustomourselvestobreathewhenwehave，say，alittletoomuchofit?Formyself，IamcertainIshallpreferit。Letusnotloseamoment。Whereisthepacketwhichprecededusinourdescent?"

Ismilinglypointeditouttomyuncle。Hanshadnotseenit，andbelieveditcaughtsomewhereaboveus:"Huppe"ashephrasedit。

"Now，"saidmyuncle，"letusbreakfast，andbreakfastlikepeoplewhohavealongday"sworkbeforethem。"

Biscuitanddriedmeat，washeddownbysomemouthfulsofwaterflavoredwithSchiedam，wasthematerialofourluxuriousmeal。

Assoonasitwasfinished，myuncletookfromhispocketanotebookdestinedtobefilledbymemorandaofourtravels。Hehadalreadyplacedhisinstrumentsinorder，andthisiswhathewrote:

Monday，June29thChronometer，8h。17m。morning。

Barometer，29。6inches。

Thermometer，6degrees[43degreesFahr。]

Direction，E。S。E。

Thislastobservationreferredtotheobscuregallery，andwasindicatedtousbythecompass。

"Now，Harry，"criedtheProfessor，inanenthusiastictoneofvoice，"wearetrulyabouttotakeourfirststepintotheInterioroftheEarth；neverbeforevisitedbymansincethefirstcreationoftheworld。Youmayconsider，therefore，thatatthisprecisemomentourtravelsreallycommence。"

Asmyunclemadethisremark，hetookinonehandtheRuhmkorffcoilapparatus，whichhungroundhisneck，andwiththeotherheputtheelectriccurrentintocommunicationwiththewormofthelantern。

Andabrightlightatonceilluminedthatdarkandgloomytunnel!

Theeffectwasmagical!

Hans，whocarriedthesecondapparatus，haditalsoputintooperation。Thisingeniousapplicationofelectricitytopracticalpurposesenabledustomovealongbythelightofanartificialday，amideventheflowofthemostinflammableandcombustiblegases。

"Forward!"criedmyuncle。Eachtookuphisburden。Hanswentfirst，myunclefollowed，andIgoingthird，weenteredthesombergallery!

Justaswewereabouttoengulfourselvesinthisdismalpassage，Iliftedupmyhead，andthroughthetubelikeshaftsawthatIcelandskyIwasnevertoseeagain!

WasitthelastIshouldeverseeofanysky?

Thestreamoflavaflowingfromthebowelsoftheearthin1219

hadforceditselfapassagethroughthetunnel。Itlinedthewholeoftheinsidewithitsthickandbrilliantcoating。Theelectriclightaddedverygreatlytothebrilliancyoftheeffect。

Thegreatdifficultyofourjourneynowbegan。Howwerewetopreventourselvesfromslippingdownthesteeplyinclinedplane?

Happilysomecracks，abrasuresofthesoil，andotherirregularities，servedtheplaceofsteps；andwedescendedslowly；

allowingourheavyluggagetosliponbefore，attheendofalongcord。

Butthatwhichservedasstepsunderourfeetbecameinotherplacesstalactites。Thelava，veryporousincertainplaces，tooktheformoflittleroundblisters。Crystalsofopaquequartz，adornedwithlimpiddropsofnaturalglasssuspendedtotherooflikelusters，seemedtotakefireaswepassedbeneaththem。Onewouldhavefanciedthatthegeniiofromancewereilluminatingtheirundergroundpalacestoreceivethesonsofmen。

"Magnificent，glorious!"Icriedinamomentofinvoluntaryenthusiasm，"Whataspectacle，Uncle!Doyounotadmirethesevariegatedshadesoflava，whichrunthroughawholeseriesofcolors，fromreddishbrowntopaleyellow-bythemostinsensibledegrees?Andthesecrystals，theyappearlikeluminousglobes。"

"Youarebeginningtoseethecharmsoftravel，MasterHarry，"criedmyuncle。"Waitabit，untilweadvancefarther。Whatwehaveasyetdiscoveredisnothing-onwards，myboy，onwards!

Itwouldhavebeenafarmorecorrectandappropriateexpression，hadhesaid，"letusslide，"forweweregoingdownaninclinedplanewithperfectease。Thecompassindicatedthatweweremovinginasoutheasterlydirection。Theflowoflavahadneverturnedtotherightortheleft。Ithadtheinflexibilityofastraightline。

Nevertheless，tomysurprise，wefoundnoperceptibleincreaseinheat。ThisprovedthetheoriesofHumphryDavytobefoundedontruth，andmorethanonceIfoundmyselfexaminingthethermometerinsilentastonishment。

Twohoursafterourdepartureitonlymarkedfifty-fourdegreesFahrenheit。Ihadeveryreasontobelievefromthisthatourdescentwasfarmorehorizontalthanvertical。Asfordiscoveringtheexactdepthtowhichwehadattained，nothingcouldbeeasier。TheProfessorasheadvancedmeasuredtheanglesofdeviationandinclination；buthekepttheresultofhisobservationstohimself。

Abouteighto"clockintheevening，myunclegavethesignalforhalting。Hansseatedhimselfontheground。Thelampswerehungtofissuresinthelavarock。Wewerenowinalargecavernwhereairwasnotwanting。Onthecontrary，itabounded。Whatcouldbethecauseofthis-towhatatmosphericagitationcouldbeascribedthisdraught?

ButthiswasaquestionwhichIdidnotcaretodiscussjustthen。

Fatigueandhungermademeincapableofreasoning。Anunceasingmarchofsevenhourshadnotbeenkeptupwithoutgreatexhaustion。

Iwasreallyandtrulywornout；anddelightedenoughIwastohearthewordHalt。