第6章

Hanslaidoutsomeprovisionsonalumpoflava，andweeachsuppedwithkeenrelish。Onething，however，causedusgreatuneasiness-ourwaterreservewasalreadyhalfexhausted。Myunclehadfullconfidenceinfindingsubterraneanresources，buthithertowehadcompletelyfailedinsodoing。Icouldnothelpcallingmyuncle"sattentiontothecircumstance。

"Andyouaresurprisedatthistotalabsenceofsprings?"hesaid。

"Doubtless-Iamveryuneasyonthepoint。Wehavecertainlynotenoughwatertolastusfivedays。"

"Bequiteeasyonthatmatter，"continuedmyuncle。"Ianswerforitweshallfindplentyofwater-infact，farmorethanweshallwant。"

"Butwhen?"

"Whenweoncegetthroughthiscrustoflava。Howcanyouexpectspringstoforcetheirwaythroughthesesolidstonewalls?"

"Butwhatistheretoprovethatthisconcretemassoflavadoesnotextendtothecenteroftheearth?Idon"tthinkwehaveasyetdonemuchinaverticalway。"

"Whatputsthatintoyourhead，myboy?"askedmyunclemildly。

"Well，itappearstomethatifwehaddescendedveryfarbelowthelevelofthesea-weshouldfinditratherhotterthanwehave。"

"Accordingtoyoursystem，"saidmyuncle；"butwhatdoesthethermometersay?"

"ScarcelyfifteendegreesbyReaumur，whichisonlyanincreaseofninesinceourdeparture。"

"Well，andwhatconclusiondoesthatbringyouto?"inquiredtheProfessor。

"ThedeductionIdrawfromthisisverysimple。Accordingtothemostexactobservations，theaugmentationofthetemperatureoftheinterioroftheearthisonedegreeforeveryhundredfeet。Butcertainlocalcausesmayconsiderablymodifythisfigure。ThusatYakoustinSiberia，ithasbeenremarkedthattheheatincreasesadegreeeverythirty-sixfeet。Thedifferenceevidentlydependsontheconductibilityofcertainrocks。Intheneighborhoodofanextinctvolcano，ithasbeenremarkedthattheelevationoftemperaturewasonlyonedegreeineveryfive-and-twentyfeet。Letus，then，gouponthiscalculation-whichisthemostfavorable-andcalculate。

"Calculateaway，myboy。"

"Nothingeasier，"saidI，pullingoutmynotebookandpencil。

"Ninetimesonehundredandtwenty-fivefeetmakeadepthofelevenhundredandtwenty-fivefeet。"

"Archimedescouldnothavespokenmoregeometrically。"

"Well?"

"Well，accordingtomyobservations，weareatleasttenthousandfeetbelowthelevelofthesea。"

"Canitbepossible?"

"Eithermycalculationiscorrect，orthereisnotruthinfigures。"

ThecalculationsoftheProfessorwereperfectlycorrect。Wewerealreadysixthousandfeetdeeperdowninthebowelsoftheearththananyonehadeverbeenbefore。ThelowestknowndepthtowhichmanhadhithertopenetratedwasintheminesofKitzbuhel，intheTirol，andthoseofWurttemberg。

Thetemperature，whichshouldhavebeeneighty-one，wasinthisplaceonlyfifteen。Thiswasamatterforseriousconsideration。

CHAPTER16

TheEasternTunnelTHEnextdaywasTuesday，the30thofJune-andatsixo"clockinthemorningweresumedourjourney。

Westillcontinuedtofollowthegalleryoflava，aperfectnaturalpathway，aseasyofdescentassomeofthoseinclinedplaneswhich，inveryoldGermanhouses，servethepurposeofstaircases。

Thiswentonuntilseventeenminutespasttwelve，thepreciseinstantatwhichwerejoinedHans，who，havingbeensomewhatinadvance，hadsuddenlystopped。

"Atlast，"criedmyuncle，"wehavereachedtheendoftheshaft。"

Ilookedwonderinglyaboutme。Wewereinthecenteroffourcrosspaths-somberandnarrowtunnels。Thequestionnowaroseastowhichitwaswisetotake；andthisofitselfwasnosmalldifficulty。

Myuncle，whodidnotwishtoappeartohaveanyhesitationaboutthematterbeforemyselfortheguide，atoncemadeuphismind。Hepointedquietlytotheeasterntunnel；and，withoutdelay，weenteredwithinitsgloomyrecesses。

Besides，hadheentertainedanyfeelingofhesitationitmighthavebeenprolongedindefinitely，fortherewasnoindicationbywhichtodetermineonachoice。Itwasabsolutelynecessarytotrusttochanceandgoodfortune!

Thedescentofthisobscureandnarrowgallerywasverygradualandwinding。Sometimeswegazedthroughasuccessionofarches，itscourseveryliketheaislesofaGothiccathedral。ThegreatartisticsculptorsandbuildersoftheMiddleAgesmighthaveherecompletedtheirstudieswithadvantage。Manymostbeautifulandsuggestiveideasofarchitecturalbeautywouldhavebeendiscoveredbythem。Afterpassingthroughthisphaseofthecavernousway，wesuddenlycame，aboutamilefartheron，uponasquaresystemofarch，adoptedbytheearlyRomans，projectingfromthesolidrock，andkeepinguptheweightoftheroof。

Suddenlywewouldcomeuponaseriesoflowsubterraneantunnelswhichlookedlikebeaverholes，ortheworkoffoxes-throughwhosenarrowandwindingwayswehadliterallytocrawl!

Theheatstillremainedatquiteasupportabledegree。Withaninvoluntaryshudder，IreflectedonwhattheheatmusthavebeenwhenthevolcanoofSneffelswaspouringitssmoke，flames，andstreamsofboilinglava-allofwhichmusthavecomeupbytheroadwewerenowfollowing。Icouldimaginethetorrentsofhotseethingstonedartingon，bubblingupwithaccompanimentsofsmoke，steam，andsulphurousstench!

"Onlytothinkoftheconsequences，"Imused，"iftheoldvolcanowereoncemoretosettowork。"

Ididnotcommunicatetheseratherunpleasantreflectionstomyuncle。Henotonlywouldnothaveunderstoodthem，butwouldhavebeenintenselydisgusted。Hisonlyideawastogoahead。Hewalked，heslid，heclamberedoverpilesoffragments，herolleddownheapsofbrokenlava，withanearnestnessandconvictionitwasimpossiblenottoadmire。

Atsixo"clockintheevening，afteraverywearisomejourney，butonenotsofatiguingasbefore，wehadmadesixmilestowardsthesouthward，buthadnotgonemorethanamiledownwards。

Myuncle，asusual，gavethesignaltohalt。Weateourmealinthoughtfulsilence，andthenretiredtosleep。

Ourarrangementsforthenightwereveryprimitiveandsimple。A

travelingrug，inwhicheachrolledhimself，wasallourbedding。Wehadnonecessitytofearcoldoranyunpleasantvisit。TravelerswhoburythemselvesinthewildsanddepthsoftheAfricandesert，whoseekprofitandpleasureintheforestsoftheNewWorld，arecompelledtotakeitinturntowatchduringthehoursofsleep；butinthisregionoftheearthabsolutesolitudeandcompletesecurityreignedsupreme。

Wehadnothingtofeareitherfromsavagesorfromwildbeasts。

Afteranight"ssweetrepose，weawokefreshandreadyforaction。

Therebeingnothingtodetainus，westartedonourjourney。Wecontinuedtoburrowthroughthelavatunnelasbefore。Itwasimpossibletomakeoutthroughwhatsoilweweremakingway。Thetunnel，moreover，insteadofgoingdownintothebowelsoftheearth，becameabsolutelyhorizontal。

Ieventhought，aftersomeexamination，thatwewereactuallytendingupwards。Aboutteno"clockinthedaythisstateofthingsbecamesoclearthat，findingthechangeveryfatiguing，Iwasobligedtoslackenmypaceandfinallycometoahalt。

"Well，"saidtheProfessorquickly，"whatisthematter?"

"Thefactis，Iamdreadfullytired，"wasmyearnestreply。

"What，"criedmyuncle，"tiredafterathreehours"walk，andbysoeasyaroad?"

"Easyenough，Idaresay，butveryfatiguing。"

"Buthowcanthatbe，whenallwehavetodoistogodownwards。"

"Ibegyourpardon，sir。ForsometimeIhavenoticedthatwearegoingupwards。"

"Upwards，"criedmyuncle，shrugginghisshoulders，"howcanthatbe?"

"Therecanbenodoubtaboutit。Forthelasthalfhourtheslopeshavebeenupward-andifwegooninthiswaymuchlongerweshallfindourselvesbackinIceland。"

Myuncleshookhisheadwiththeairofamanwhodoesnotwanttobeconvinced。Itriedtocontinuetheconversation。Hewouldnotanswerme，butoncemoregavethesignalfordeparture。HissilenceIthoughtwasonlycausedbyconcentratedill-temper。

Howeverthismightbe，Ioncemoretookupmyload，andboldlyandresolutelyfollowedHans，whowasnowinadvanceofmyuncle。Ididnotliketobebeatenorevendistanced。Iwasnaturallyanxiousnottolosesightofmycompanions。Theveryideaofbeingleftbehind，lostinthatterriblelabyrinth，mademeshiveraswiththeague。

Besides，iftheascendingpathwasmorearduousandpainfultoclamber，Ihadonesourceofsecretconsolationanddelight。Itwastoallappearancetakingusbacktothesurfaceoftheearth。Thatofitselfwashopeful。EverystepItookconfirmedmeinmybelief，andI

beganalreadytobuildcastlesintheairinrelationtomymarriagewithmyprettylittlecousin。

Abouttwelveo"clocktherewasagreatandsuddenchangeintheaspectoftherockysidesofthegallery。Ifirstnoticeditfromthediminutionoftheraysoflightwhichcastbackthereflectionofthelamp。Frombeingcoatedwithshiningandresplendentlava，itbecamelivingrock。Thesideswereslopingwalls，whichsometimesbecamequitevertical。

Wewerenowinwhatthegeologicalprofessorscallastateoftransition，intheperiodofSilurianstones，socalledbecausethisspecimenofearlyformationisverycommoninEnglandinthecountiesformerlyinhabitedbytheCelticnationknownasSilures。

"Icanseeclearlynow，"Icried；"thesedimentfromthewaterswhichoncecoveredthewholeearthformedduringthesecondperiodofitsexistencetheseschistsandthesecalcareousrocks。Weareturningourbacksonthegraniterocks，andarelikepeoplefromHamburgwhowouldgotoLubeckbywayofHanover。"

Imightjustaswellhavekeptmyobservationstomyself。Mygeologicalenthusiasmgotthebetter，however，ofmycoolerjudgment，andProfessorHardwiggheardmyobservations。

"Whatisthematternow?"hesaid，inatoneofgreatgravity。

"Well，"criedI，"doyounotseethesedifferentlayersofcalcareousrocksandthefirstindicationofslatestrata?"

"Well；whatthen?"

"Wehavearrivedatthatperiodoftheworld"sexistencewhenthefirstplantsandthefirstanimalsmadetheirappearance。"

"Youthinkso?"

"Yes，look；examineandjudgeforyourself。"

IinducedtheProfessorwithsomedifficultytocastthelightofhislamponthesidesofthelongwindinggallery。Iexpectedsomeexclamationtoburstfromhislips。Iwasverymuchmistaken。TheworthyProfessorneverspokeaword。

Itwasimpossibletosaywhetherheunderstoodmeornot。Perhapsitwaspossiblethatinhispride-myuncleandalearnedprofessor-hedidnotliketoownthathewaswronginhavingchosentheeasterntunnel，orwashedeterminedatanypricetogototheendofit?Itwasquiteevidentwehadlefttheregionoflava，andthattheroadbywhichweweregoingcouldnottakeusbacktothegreatcraterofMountSneffels。

AswewentalongIcouldnothelpruminatingonthewholequestion，andaskedmyselfifIdidnotlaytoogreatastressonthesesuddenandpeculiarmodificationsoftheearth"scrust。

Afterall，Iwasverylikelytobemistaken-anditwaswithintherangeofprobabilityandpossibilitythatwewerenotmakingourwaythroughthestrataofrockswhichIbelievedIrecognizedpiledonthelowerlayerofgraniticformation。

"Atallevents，ifIamright，"Ithoughttomyself，"Imustcertainlyfindsomeremainsofprimitiveplants，anditwillbeabsolutelynecessarytogivewaytosuchindubitableevidence。Letushaveagoodsearch。"

Iaccordinglylostnoopportunityofsearching，andhadnotgonemorethanaboutahundredyards，whentheevidenceIsoughtforcroppedupinthemostincontestablemannerbeforemyeyes。ItwasquitenaturalthatIshouldexpecttofindthesesigns，forduringtheSilurianperiodtheseascontainednofewerthanfifteenhundreddifferentanimalandvegetablespecies。Myfeet，solongaccustomedtothehardandaridlavasoil，suddenlyfoundthemselvestreadingonakindofsoftdust，theremainsofplantsandshells。

UponthewallsthemselvesIcouldclearlymakeouttheoutline，asplainasasunpicture，ofthefucusandthelycopods。TheworthyandexcellentProfessorHardwiggcouldnotofcoursemakeanymistakeaboutthematter；butIbelievehedeliberatelyclosedhiseyes，andcontinuedonhiswaywithafirmandunalterablestep。

Ibegantothinkthathewascarryinghisobstinacyagreatdealtoofar。Icouldnolongeractwithprudenceorcomposure。Istoopedonasuddenandpickedupanalmostperfectshell，whichhadundoubtedlybelongedtosomeanimalverymuchresemblingsomeofthepresentday。Havingsecuredtheprize，Ifollowedinthewakeofmyuncle。

"Doyouseethis?"Isaid。

"Well，saidtheProfessor，withthemostimperturbabletranquillity，"itistheshellofacrustaceousanimaloftheextinctorderofthetrilobites；nothingmore，Iassureyou。"

"But，criedI，muchtroubledathiscoolness，"doyoudrawnoconclusionfromit?"

"Well，ifImayask，whatconclusiondoyoudrawfromityourself?"

"Well，Ithought-"

"Iknow，myboy，whatyouwouldsay，andyouareright，perfectlyandincontestablyright。Wehavefinallyabandonedthecrustoflavaandtheroadbywhichthelavaascended。ItisquitepossiblethatI

mayhavebeenmistaken，butIshallbeunabletodiscovermyerroruntilIgettotheendofthisgallery。"

"Youarequiterightasfarasthatisconcerned""Ireplied，"andI

shouldhighlyapproveofyourdecision，ifwehadnottofearthegreatestofalldangers。"

"Andwhatisthat?"

"Wantofwater。"

"Well，mydearHenry，itcan"tbehelped。Wemustputourselvesonrations。"

Andonhewent。

CHAPTER17

DeeperandDeeperINtruth，wewerecompelledtoputourselvesuponrations。Oursupplywouldcertainlylastnotmorethanthreedays。Ifoundthisoutaboutsuppertime。Theworstpartofthematterwasthat，inwhatiscalledthetransitionrocks，itwashardlytobeexpectedweshouldmeetwithwater!

Ihadreadofthehorrorsofthirst，andIknewthatwherewewere，abrieftrialofitssufferingswouldputanendtoouradventures-andourlives!Butitwasutterlyuselesstodiscussthematterwithmyuncle。HewouldhaveansweredbysomeaxiomfromPlato。

Duringthewholeofnextdayweproceededonourjourneythroughthisinterminablegallery，archafterarch，tunnelaftertunnel。Wejourneyedwithoutexchangingaword。WehadbecomeasmuteandreticentasHans，ourguide。

Theroadhadnolongeranupwardtendency；atallevents，ifithad，itwasnottobemadeoutveryclearly。Sometimestherecouldbenodoubtthatweweregoingdownwards。Butthisinclinationwasscarcelytobedistinguished，andwasbynomeansreassuringtotheProfessor，becausethecharacterofthestratawasinnowisemodified，andthetransitioncharacteroftherocksbecamemoreandmoremarked。

Itwasaglorioussighttoseehowtheelectriclightbroughtoutthesparklesinthewallsofthecalcareousrocks，andtheoldredsandstone。OnemighthavefanciedoneselfinoneofthosedeepcuttingsinDevonshire，whichhavegiventheirnametothiskindofsoil。Somemagnificentspecimensofmarbleprojectedfromthesidesofthegallery:someofanagategreywithwhiteveinsofvariegatedcharacter，othersofayellowspottedcolor，withredveins；fartheroffmightbeseensamplesofcolorinwhichcherry-tintedseamsweretobefoundinalltheirbrightestshades。

Thegreaternumberofthesemarbleswerestampedwiththemarksofprimitiveanimals。Sincethepreviousevening，natureandcreationhadmadeconsiderableprogress。Insteadoftherudimentarytrilobites，I

perceivedtheremainsofamoreperfectorder。Amongothers，thefishinwhichtheeyeofageologisthasbeenabletodiscoverthefirstformofthereptile。

TheDevonianseaswereinhabitedbyavastnumberofanimalsofthisspecies，whichweredepositedintensofthousandsintherocksofnewformation。

Itwasquiteevidenttomethatwewereascendingthescaleofanimallifeofwhichmanformsthesummit。Myexcellentuncle，theProfessor，appearednottotakenoticeofthesewarnings。Hewasdeterminedatanyrisktoproceed。

Hemusthavebeeninexpectationofoneoftwothings；eitherthataverticalwellwasabouttoopenunderhisfeet，andthusallowhimtocontinuehisdescent，orthatsomeinsurmountableobstaclewouldcompelustostopandgobackbytheroadwehadsolongtraveled。Buteveningcameagain，and，tomyhorror，neitherhopewasdoomedtoberealized!

OnFriday，afteranightwhenIbegantofeelthegnawingagonyofthirst，andwheninconsequenceappetitedecreased，ourlittlebandroseandoncemorefollowedtheturningsandwindings，theascentsanddescents，ofthisinterminablegallery。Allweresilentandgloomy。

Icouldseethatevenmyunclehadventuredtoofar。

Afterabouttenhoursoffurtherprogress-aprogressdullandmonotonoustothelastdegree-Iremarkedthatthereverberation，andreflectionofourlampsuponthesidesofthetunnel，hadsingularlydiminished。Themarble，theschist，thecalcareousrocks，theredsandstone，haddisappeared，leavingintheirplacesadarkandgloomywall，somberandwithoutbrightness。Whenwereachedaremarkablynarrowpartofthetunnel，Ileanedmylefthandagainsttherock。

WhenItookmyhandaway，andhappenedtoglanceatit，itwasquiteblack。WehadreachedthecoalstrataoftheCentralEarth。

"Acoalmine!"Icried。

"Acoalminewithoutminers，"respondedmyuncle，alittleseverely。

"Howcanwetell?"

"Icantell，"repliedmyuncle，inasharpanddoctorialtone。"Iamperfectlycertainthatthisgallerythroughsuccessivelayersofcoalwasnotcutbythehandofman。Butwhetheritistheworkofnatureornotisoflittleconcerntous。Thehourforoureveningmealhascome-letussup。

Hans，theguide，occupiedhimselfinpreparingfood。IhadcometothatpointwhenIcouldnolongereat。AllIcaredaboutwerethefewdropsofwaterwhichfelltomyshare。WhatIsuffereditisuselesstorecord。Theguide"sgourd，notquitehalffull，wasallthatwasleftforusthree!

Havingfinishedtheirrepast，mytwocompanionslaidthemselvesdownupontheirrugs，andfoundinsleeparemedyfortheirfatigueandsufferings。Asforme，Icouldnotsleep，Ilaycountingthehoursuntilmorning。

Thenextmorning，Saturday，atsixo"clock，westartedagain。Twentyminuteslaterwesuddenlycameuponavastexcavation。FromitsmightyextentIsawatoncethatthehandofmancouldhavehadnothingtodowiththiscoalmine；thevaultabovewouldhavefallenin；asitwas，itwasonlyheldtogetherbysomemiracleofnature。

Thismightynaturalcavernwasaboutahundredfeetwide，byaboutahundredandfiftyhigh。Theearthhadevidentlybeencastapartbysomeviolentsubterraneancommotion。Themass，givingwaytosomeprodigiousupheavingofnature，hadsplitintwo，leavingthevastgapintowhichweinhabitantsoftheearthhadpenetratedforthefirsttime。

Thewholesingularhistoryofthecoalperiodwaswrittenonthosedarkandgloomywalls。Ageologistwouldhavebeenableeasilytofollowthedifferentphasesofitsformation。Theseamsofcoalwereseparatedbystrataofsandstone，acompactclay，whichappearedtobecrusheddownbytheweightfromabove。

Atthatperiodoftheworldwhichprecededthesecondaryepoch，theearthwascoveredbyacoatingofenormousandrichvegetation，duetothedoubleactionoftropicalheatandperpetualhumidity。A

vastatmosphericcloudofvaporsurroundedtheearthonallsides，preventingtheraysofthesunfromeverreachingit。

Hencetheconclusionthattheseintenseheatsdidnotarisefromthisnewsourceofcaloric。

Perhapseventhestarofdaywasnotquitereadyforitsbrilliantwork-toillumineauniverse。Climatesdidnotasyetexist，andalevelheatpervadedthewholesurfaceoftheglobe-thesameheatexistingattheNorthPoleasattheequator。

Whencediditcome?Fromtheinterioroftheearth?

InspiteofallthelearnedtheoriesofProfessorHardwigg，afierceandvehementfirecertainlyburnedwithintheentrailsofthegreatspheroid。Itsactionwasfelteventotheverytopmostcrustoftheearth；theplantstheninexistence，beingdeprivedofthevivifyingraysofthesun，hadneitherbuds，norflowers，norodor，buttheirrootsdrewastrongandvigorouslifefromtheburningearthofearlydays。

Therewerebutfewofwhatmaybecalledtrees-onlyherbaceousplants，immenseturfs，briers，mosses，rarefamilies，which，however，inthosedayswerecountedbytensandtensofthousands。

Itisentirelytothisexuberantvegetationthatcoalowesitsorigin。Thecrustofthevastglobestillyieldedundertheinfluenceoftheseething，boilingmass，whichwasforeveratworkbeneath。Hencearosenumerousfissures，andcontinualfallinginoftheupperearth。Thedensemassofplantsbeingbeneaththewaters，soonformedthemselvesintovastagglomerations。

Thencameabouttheactionofnaturalchemistry；inthedepthsoftheoceanthevegetablemassatfirstbecameturf，then，thankstotheinfluenceofgasesandsubterraneanfermentation，theyunderwentthecompleteprocessofmineralization。

Inthismanner，inearlydays，wereformedthosevastandprodigiouslayersofcoal，whichanever-increasingconsumptionmustutterlyuseupinaboutthreecenturiesmore，ifpeopledonotfindsomemoreeconomiclightthangas，andsomecheapermotivepowerthansteam。

Allthesereflections，thememoriesofmyschoolstudies，cametomymindwhileIgazeduponthesemightyaccumulationsofcoal，whoseriches，however，arescarcelylikelytobeeverutilized。Theworkingoftheseminescouldonlybecarriedoutatanexpensethatwouldneveryieldaprofit。

Thematter，however，isscarcelyworthyconsideration，whencoalisscatteredoverthewholesurfaceoftheglobe，withinafewyardsoftheuppercrust。AsIlookedattheseuntouchedstrata，therefore，Iknewtheywouldremainaslongastheworldlasts。

Whilewestillcontinuedourjourney，Ialoneforgotthelengthoftheroad，bygivingmyselfupwhollytothesegeologicalconsiderations。Thetemperaturecontinuedtobeverymuchthesameaswhileweweretravelingamidthelavaandtheschists。Ontheotherhandmysenseofsmellwasmuchaffectedbyaverypowerfulodor。I

immediatelyknewthatthegallerywasfilledtooverflowingwiththatdangerousgastheminerscallfiredamp，theexplosionofwhichhascausedsuchfearfulandterribleaccidents，makingahundredwidowsandhundredsoforphansinasinglehour。

Happily，wewereabletoillumineourprogressbymeansoftheRuhmkorffapparatus。Ifwehadbeensorashandimprudentastoexplorethisgallery，torchinhand，aterribleexplosionwouldhaveputanendtoourtravels，simplybecausenotravelerswouldbeleft。

Ourexcursionthroughthiswondrouscoalmineintheverybowelsoftheearthlasteduntilevening。Myunclewasscarcelyabletoconcealhisimpatienceanddissatisfactionattheroadcontinuingstilltoadvanceinahorizontaldirection。

Thedarkness，denseandopaqueafewyardsinadvanceandintherear，rendereditimpossibletomakeoutwhatwasthelengthofthegallery。Formyself，Ibegantobelievethatitwassimplyinterminable，andwouldgooninthesamemannerformonths。

Suddenly，atsixo"clock，westoodinfrontofawall。Totheright，totheleftabove，below，nowherewasthereanypassage。Wehadreachedaspotwheretherockssaidinunmistakableaccents-NoThoroughfare。

Istoodstupefied。Theguidesimplyfoldedhisarms。Myunclewassilent。

"Well，well，somuchthebetter，"criedmyuncle，atlast，"Inowknowwhatweareabout。WearedecidedlynotupontheroadfollowedbySaknussemm。Allwehavetodoistogoback。Letustakeonenight"sgoodrest，andbeforethreedaysareover，Ipromiseyouweshallhaveregainedthepointwherethegalleriesdivided。"

"Yes，wemay，ifourstrengthlastsaslong，"Icried，inalamentablevoice。

"Andwhynot?"

"Tomorrow，amongusthree，therewillnotbeadropofwater。Itisjustgone。"

"Andyourcouragewithit，"saidmyuncle，speakinginaseveretone。

WhatcouldIsay?Iturnedroundonmyside，andfromsheerexhaustionfellintoaheavysleepdisturbedbydreamsofwater!AndI

awokeunrefreshed。

Iwouldhavebarteredadiamondmineforaglassofpurespringwater!

CHAPTER18

TheWrongRoad!

NEXTday，ourdeparturetookplaceataveryearlyhour。Therewasnotimefortheleastdelay。Accordingtomyaccount，wehadfivedays"hardworktogetbacktotheplacewherethegalleriesdivided。

Icannevertellallthesufferingsweendureduponourreturn。Myuncleborethemlikeamanwhohasbeeninthewrong-thatis，withconcentratedandsuppressedanger；Hans，withalltheresignationofhispacificcharacter；andI-IconfessthatIdidnothingbutcomplain，anddespair。Ihadnoheartforthisbadfortune。

Buttherewasoneconsolation。Defeatattheoutsetwouldprobablyupsetthewholejourney!

AsIhadexpectedfromthefirst，oursupplyofwatergavecompletelyoutonourfirstday"smarch。OurprovisionofliquidswasreducedtooursupplyofSchiedam；butthishorrible-nay，I

willsayit-thisinfernalliquorburntthethroat，andIcouldnotevenbearthesightofit。Ifoundthetemperaturetobestifling。I

wasparalyzedwithfatigue。MorethanonceIwasabouttofallinsensibletotheground。Thewholepartythenhalted，andtheworthyIcelanderandmyexcellentuncledidtheirbesttoconsoleandcomfortme。Icould，however，plainlyseethatmyunclewascontendingpainfullyagainsttheextremefatiguesofourjourney，andtheawfultorturegeneratedbytheabsenceofwater。

AtlengthatimecamewhenIceasedtorecollectanything-whenallwasoneawfullhideous，fantasticdream!

Atlast，onTuesday，theseventhofthemonthofJuly，aftercrawlingonourhandsandkneesformanyhours，moredeadthanalive，wereachedthepointofjunctionbetweenthegalleries。Ilaylikealog，aninertmassofhumanfleshonthearidlavasoil。Itwasthenteninthemorning。

Hansandmyuncle，leaningagainstthewall，triedtonibbleawayatsomepiecesofbiscuit，whiledeepgroansandsighsescapedfrommyscorchedandswollenlips。ThenIfelloffintoakindofdeeplethargy。

PresentlyIfeltmyuncleapproach，andliftmeuptenderlyinhisarms。

"Poorboy，"Iheardhimsayinatoneofdeepcommiseration。

Iwasprofoundlytouchedbythesewords，beingbynomeansaccustomedtosignsofwomanlyweaknessintheProfessor。Icaughthistremblinghandsinmineandgavethemagentlepressure。Heallowedmetodosowithoutresistance，lookingatmekindlyallthetime。Hiseyeswerewetwithtears。

Ithensawhimtakethegourdwhichheworeathisside。Tomysurprise，orrathertomystupefaction，heplacedittomylips。

"Drink，myboy，"hesaid。

Wasitpossiblemyearshadnotdeceivedme?Wasmyunclemad?I

lookedathim，with，Iamsure，quiteanidioticexpression。Icouldnotbelievehim。Itoomuchfearedthecounteractionofdisappointment。

"Drink""hesaidagain。

HadIheardaright?Before，however，Icouldaskmyselfthequestionasecondtime，amouthfulofwatercooledmyparchedlipsandthroat-onemouthful，butIdobelieveitbroughtmebacktolife。

Ithankedmyunclebyclaspingmyhands。Myheartwastoofulltospeak。

"Yes，"saidhe，"onemouthfulofwater，theverylast-doyouhear，myboy-theverylast!Ihavetakencareofitatthebottomofmybottleastheappleofmyeye。Twentytimes，ahundredtimes，Ihaveresistedthefearfuldesiretodrinkit。But-no-no，Harry，Isaveditforyou。"

"Mydearuncle，"Iexclaimed，andthebigtearsrolleddownmyhotandfeverishcheeks。

"Yes，mypoorboy，Iknewthatwhenyoureachedthisplace，thiscrossroadintheearth，youwouldfalldownhalfdead，andIsavedmylastdropofwaterinordertorestoreyou。

"Thanks，"Icried；"thanksfrommyheart。"

Aslittleasmythirstwasreallyquenched，Ihadneverthelesspartiallyrecoveredmystrength。Thecontractedmusclesofmythroatrelaxed-andtheinflammationofmylipsinsomemeasuresubsided。

Atallevents，Iwasabletospeak。

"Well，"Isaid，"therecanbenodoubtnowastowhatwehavetodo。

Waterhasutterlyfailedus；ourjourneyisthereforeatanend。Letusreturn。"

WhileIspokethus，myuncleevidentlyavoidedmyface:hehelddownhishead；hiseyeswereturnedineverypossibledirectionbuttherightone。

"Yes，"Icontinued，gettingexcitedbymyownwords，wemustgobacktoSneffels。Mayheavengiveusstrengthtoenableusoncemoretorevisitthelightofday。Wouldthatwenowstoodonthesummitofthecrater。"

"Goback，"saidmyuncle，speakingtohimself，"andmustitbeso?"

"Goback-yes，andwithoutlosingasinglemoment"，Ivehementlycried。

Forsomemomentstherewassilenceunderthatdarkandgloomyvault。

"So，mydearHarry，"saidtheProfessorinaverysingulartoneofvoice，"thosefewdropsofwaterhavenotsufficedtorestoreyourenergyandcourage。"

"Courage!"Icried。

"Iseethatyouarequiteasdowncastasbefore-andstillgivewaytodiscouragementanddespair。"

What，then，wasthemanmadeof，andwhatotherprojectswereenteringhisfertileandaudaciousbrain!

"Youarenotdiscouraged，sir?"

"What!Giveupjustasweareonthevergeofsuccess?"hecried。

"Never，nevershallitbesaidthatProfessorHardwiggretreated。"

"Thenwemustmakeupourmindstoperish，"Icriedwithahelplesssigh。

"No，Harry，myboy，certainlynot。Go，leaveme，Iamveryfarfromdesiringyourdeath。TakeHanswithyou。Iwillgoonalone。"

"Youaskustoleaveyou?"

"Leaveme，Isay。Ihaveundertakenthisdangerousandperilousadventure。Iwillcarryittotheend-orIwillneverreturntothesurfaceofMotherEarth。Go，Harry-oncemoreIsaytoyou-go!"

Myuncleashespokewasterriblyexcited。Hisvoice，whichbeforehadbeentender，almostwomanly，becameharshandmenacing。Heappearedtobestrugglingwithdesperateenergyagainsttheimpossible。Ididnotwishtoabandonhimatthebottomofthatabyss，while，ontheotherhand，theinstinctofpreservationtoldmetofly。

Meanwhile，ourguidewaslookingonwithprofoundcalmnessandindifference。Heappearedtobeanunconcernedparty，andyetheperfectlywellknewwhatwasgoingonbetweenus。Ourgesturessufficientlyindicatedthedifferentroadseachwishedtofollow-andwhicheachtriedtoinfluencetheothertoundertake。ButHansappearednottotaketheslightestinterestinwhatwasreallyaquestionoflifeanddeathforusall，butwaitedquitereadytoobeythesignalwhichshouldsaygoaloft，ortoresumehisdesperatejourneyintotheinterioroftheearth。

HowthenIwishedwithallmyheartandsoulthatIcouldmakehimunderstandmywords。Myrepresentations，mysighsandgroans，theearnestaccentsinwhichIshouldhavespokenwouldhaveconvincedthatcold，hardnature。Thosefearfuldangersandperilsofwhichthestolidguidehadnoidea，Iwouldhavepointedthemouttohim-