第7章

Iwouldhave，asitwere，madehimseeandfeel。Betweenus，wemighthaveconvincedtheobstinateProfessor。Iftheworsthadcometotheworst，wecouldhavecompelledhimtoreturntothesummitofSneffels。

IquietlyapproachedHans。Icaughthishandinmine。Henevermovedamuscle。Iindicatedtohimtheroadtothetopofthecrater。Heremainedmotionless。Mypantingform，myhaggardcountenance，musthaveindicatedtheextentofmysufferings。TheIcelandergentlyshookhisheadandpointedtomyuncle。

"Master，"hesaid。

ThewordisIcelandicaswellasEnglish。

"Themaster!"Icried，besidemyselfwithfury-"madman!no-I

tellyouheisnotthemasterofourlives；wemustfly!wemustdraghimwithus!doyouhearme?Doyouunderstandme，Isay?"

IhavealreadyexplainedthatIheldHansbythearm。Itriedtomakehimrisefromhisseat。Istruggledwithhimandtriedtoforcehimaway。Myunclenowinterposed。

"MygoodHenry，becalm，"hesaid。"Youwillobtainnothingfrommydevotedfollower；therefore，listentowhatIhavetosay。"

Ifoldedmyarms，aswellasIcould，andlookedmyunclefullintheface。

"Thiswretchedwantofwater，"hesaid，"isthesoleobstacletothesuccessofmyproject。Intheentiregallery，madeoflava，schist，andcoal，itistruewefoundnotoneliquidmolecule。Itisquitepossiblethatwemaybemorefortunateinthewesterntunnel。"

Mysolereplywastoshakemyheadwithanairofdeepincredulity。

"Listentometotheend，"saidtheProfessorinhiswell-knownlecturingvoice。"Whileyoulayyonderwithoutlifeormotion，I

undertookareconnoiteringjourneyintotheconformationofthisothergallery。Ihavediscoveredthatitgoesdirectlydownwardsintothebowelsoftheearth，andinafewhourswilltakeustotheoldgraniticformation。Inthisweshallundoubtedlyfindinnumerablesprings。Thenatureoftherockmakesthisamathematicalcertainty，andinstinctagreeswithlogictosaythatitisso。Now，thisistheseriouspropositionwhichIhavetomaketoyou。WhenChristopherColumbusaskedofhismenthreedaystodiscoverthelandofpromise，hismenill，terrified，andhopeless，yetgavehimthreedays-andtheNewWorldwasdiscovered。NowI，theChristopherColumbusofthissubterraneanregion，onlyaskofyouonemoreday。

If，whenthattimeisexpired，Ihavenotfoundthewaterofwhichweareinsearch，Isweartoyou，Iwillgiveupmymightyenterpriseandreturntotheearth"ssurface。"

Despitemyirritationanddespair，Iknewhowmuchitcostmyuncletomakethisproposition，andtoholdsuchconciliatorylanguage。Underthecircumstances，whatcouldIdobutyield?

"Well，"Icried，"letitbeasyouwish，andmayheavenrewardyoursuperhumanenergy。Butas，unlesswediscoverwater，ourhoursarenumbered，letuslosenotime，butgoahead。"

CHAPTER19

ANewRouteOURdescentwasnowresumedbymeansofthesecondgallery。Hanstookuphispostinfrontasusual。WehadnotgonemorethanahundredyardswhentheProfessorcarefullyexaminedthewalls。

"Thisistheprimitiveformation-weareontherightroad-

onwardsisourhope!"

Whenthewholeearthgotcoolinthefirsthoursoftheworld"smorning，thediminutionofthevolumeoftheearthproducedastateofdislocationinitsuppercrust，followedbyruptures，crevassesandfissures。Thepassagewasafissureofthiskind，throughwhich，agesago，hadflowedtheeruptivegranite。Thethousandwindingsandturningsformedaninextricablelabyrinththroughtheancientsoil。

Aswedescended，successionsoflayerscomposingtheprimitivesoilappearedwiththeutmostfidelityofdetail。Geologicalscienceconsidersthisprimitivesoilasthebaseofthemineralcrust，andithasrecognizedthatitiscomposedofthreedifferentstrataorlayers，allrestingontheimmovablerockknownasgranite。

Nomineralogistshadevenfoundthemselvesplacedinsuchamarvelouspositiontostudynatureinallherrealandnakedbeauty。

Thesoundingrod，ameremachine，couldnotbringtothesurfaceoftheearththeobjectsofvalueforthestudyofitsinternalstructure，whichwewereabouttoseewithourowneyes，totouchwithourownhands。

RememberthatIamwritingthisafterthejourney。

Acrossthestreakoftherocks，coloredbybeautifulgreentints，woundmetallicthreadsofcopper，ofmanganese，withtracesofplatinumandgold。IcouldnothelpgazingattheserichesburiedintheentrailsofMotherEarth，andofwhichnomanwouldhavetheenjoymenttotheendoftime!Thesetreasures-mightyandinexhaustible，wereburiedinthemorningoftheearth"shistory，atsuchawfuldepths，thatnocrowbarorpickaxwilleverdragthemfromtheirtomb!

ThelightofourRuhmkorff"scoil，increasedtenfoldbythemyriadofprismaticmassesofrock，sentitsjetsoffireineverydirection，andIcouldfancymyselftravelingthroughahugehollowdiamond，theraysofwhichproducedmyriadsofextraordinaryeffects。

Towardssixo"clock，thisfestivaloflightbegansensiblyandvisiblytodecrease，andsoonalmostceased。Thesidesofthegalleryassumedacrystallizedtint，withasomberhue；whitemicabegantocomminglemorefreelywithfeldsparandquartz，toformwhatmaybecalledthetruerock-thestonewhichishardaboveall，thatsupports，withoutbeingcrushed，thefourstoriesoftheearth"ssoil。

Wewerewalledbyanimmenseprisonofgranite!

Itwasnoweighto"clock，andstilltherewasnosignofwater。

ThesufferingsIenduredwerehorrible。Myunclenowkeptattheheadofourlittlecolumn。Nothingcouldinducehimtostop。I，meanwhile，hadbutonerealthought。Myearwaskeenlyonthewatchtocatchthesoundofaspring。Butnopleasantsoundoffallingwaterfelluponmylisteningear。

Butatlastthetimecamewhenmylimbsrefusedtocarrymelonger。IcontendedheroicallyagainsttheterribletorturesI

endured，becauseIdidnotwishtocompelmyuncletohalt。TohimI

knewthiswouldbethelastfatalstroke。

SuddenlyIfeltadeadlyfaintnesscomeoverme。Myeyescouldnolongersee；mykneesshook。Igaveonedespairingcry-andfell!

"Help，help，Iamdying!

Myuncleturnedandslowlyretracedhissteps。Helookedatmewithfoldedarms，andthenallowedonesentencetoescape，inhollowaccents，fromhislips:

"Allisover。"

ThelastthingIsawwasafacefearfullydistortedwithpainandsorrow；andthenmyeyesclosed。

WhenIagainopenedthem，Isawmycompanionslyingnearme，motionless，wrappedintheirhugetravelingrugs。Weretheyasleepordead?Formyself，sleepwaswhollyoutofthequestion。Myfaintingfitover，Iwaswakefulasthelark。Isufferedtoomuchforsleeptovisitmyeyelids-themore，thatIthoughtmyselfsickuntodeath-dying。Thelastwordsspokenbymyuncleseemedtobebuzzinginmyears-allisover!Anditwasprobablethathewasright。InthestateofprostrationtowhichIwasreduced，itwasmadnesstothinkofeveragainseeingthelightofday。

Aboveweremilesuponmilesoftheearth"scrust。AsIthoughtofit，Icouldfancythewholeweightrestingonmyshoulders。Iwascrushed，annihilated!andexhaustedmyselfinvainattemptstoturninmygranitebed。

Hoursuponhourspassedaway。Aprofoundandterriblesilencereignedaroundus-asilenceofthetomb。Nothingcouldmakeitselfheardthroughthesegiganticwallsofgranite。Theverythoughtwasstupendous。

Presently，despitemyapathy，despitethekindofdeadlycalmintowhichIwascast，somethingarousedme。Itwasaslightbutpeculiarnoise。WhileIwaswatchingintently，Iobservedthatthetunnelwasbecomingdark。Thengazingthroughthedimlightthatremained，I

thoughtIsawtheIcelandertakinghisdeparture，lampinhand。

Whyhadheactedthus?DidHanstheguidemeantoabandonus?Myunclelayfastasleep-ordead。Itriedtocryout，andarousehim。Myvoice，feeblyissuingfrommyparchedandfeveredlips，foundnoechointhatfearfulplace。Mythroatwasdry，mytonguestucktotheroofofmymouth。Theobscurityhadbythistimebecomeintense，andatlasteventhefaintsoundoftheguide"sfootstepswaslostintheblankdistance。Mysoulseemedfilledwithanguish，anddeathappearedwelcome，onlyletitcomequickly。

"Hansisleavingus，"Icried。"Hans-Hans，ifyouareaman，comeback。"

Thesewordswerespokentomyself。Theycouldnotbeheardaloud。

Nevertheless，afterthefirstfewmomentsofterrorwereover，Iwasashamedofmysuspicionsagainstamanwhohithertohadbehavedsoadmirably。Nothinginhisconductorcharacterjustifiedsuspicion。

Moreover，amoment"sreflectionreassuredme。Hisdeparturecouldnotbeaflight。Insteadofascendingthegallery，hewasgoingdeeperdownintothegulf。Hadhehadanybaddesign，hiswaywouldhavebeenupwards。

ThisreasoningcalmedmealittleandIbegantohope!

Thegood，andpeaceful，andimperturbableHanswouldcertainlynothavearisenfromhissleepwithoutsomeseriousandgravemotive。

Washebentonavoyageofdiscovery?Duringthedeep，stillsilenceofthenighthadheatlastheardthatsweetmurmuraboutwhichwewereallsoanxious?

CHAPTER20

ABitterDisappointmentDURINGalong，long，wearyhour，therecrossedmywildlydeliriousbrainallsortsofreasonsastowhatcouldhavearousedourquietandfaithfulguide。Themostabsurdandridiculousideaspassedthroughmyhead，eachmoreimpossiblethantheother。IbelieveIwaseitherhalforwhollymad。

Suddenly，however，therearose，asitwerefromthedepthsoftheearth，avoiceofcomfort。Itwasthesoundoffootsteps!Hanswasreturning。

Presentlytheuncertainlightbegantoshineuponthewallsofthepassage，andthenitcameinviewfardowntheslopingtunnel。AtlengthHanshimselfappeared。

Heapproachedmyuncle，placedhishanduponhisshoulder，andgentlyawakenedhim。Myuncle，assoonashesawwhoitwas，instantlyarose。

"Well!"exclaimedtheProfessor。

"Vatten，"saidthehunter。

IdidnotknowasinglewordoftheDanishlanguage，andyetbyasortofmysteriousinstinctIunderstoodwhattheguidehadsaid。

"Water，water!"Icried，inawildandfrantictone，clappingmyhands，andgesticulatinglikeamadman。

"Water!"murmuredmyuncle，inavoiceofdeepemotionandgratitude。"Hvar?"("Where?)

"Nedat。"("Below。")

"Where?below!"Iunderstoodeveryword。Ihadcaughtthehunterbythehands，andIshookthemheartily，whilehelookedonwithperfectcalmness。

Thepreparationsforourdeparturedidnottakelong，andweweresoonmakingarapiddescentintothetunnel。

Anhourlaterwehadadvancedathousandyards，anddescendedtwothousandfeet。

AtthismomentIheardanaccustomedandwell-knownsoundrunningalongthefloorsofthegraniterock-akindofdullandsullenroar，likethatofadistantwaterfall。

Duringthefirsthalfhourofouradvance，notfindingthediscoveredspring，myfeelingsofintensesufferingappearedtoreturn。OncemoreIbegantoloseallhope。Myuncle，however，observinghowdownheartedIwasagainbecoming，tookuptheconversation。

"Hanswasright，"heexclaimedenthusiastically；"thatisthedullroaringofatorrent。"

"Atorrent，"Icried，delightedatevenhearingthewelcomewords。

"There"snottheslightestdoubtaboutithereplied，"asubterraneanriverisflowingbesideus。"

Imadenoreply，buthastenedon，oncemoreanimatedbyhope。I

begannoteventofeelthedeepfatiguewhichhithertohadoverpoweredme。Theverysoundofthisgloriousmurmuringwateralreadyrefreshedme。Wecouldhearitincreasinginvolumeeverymoment。

Thetorrent，whichforalongtimecouldbeheardflowingoverourheads，nowrandistinctlyalongtheleftwall，roaring，rushing，spluttering，andstillfalling。

SeveraltimesIpassedmyhandacrosstherockhopingtofindsometraceofhumidity-oftheslightestpercolation。Alas!invain。

Againahalfhourpassedinthesamewearytoil。Againweadvanced。

Itnowbecameevidentthatthehunter，duringhisabsence，hadnotbeenabletocarryhisresearchesanyfarther。Guidedbyaninstinctpeculiartothedwellersinmountainregionsandwaterfinders，he"smelt"thelivingspringthroughtherock。Stillhehadnotseenthepreciousliquid。Hehadneitherquenchedhisownthirst，norbroughtusonedropinhisgourd。

Moreover，wesoonmadethedisastrousdiscoverythat，ifourprogresscontinued，weshouldsoonbemovingawayfromthetorrent，thesoundofwhichgraduallydiminished。Weturnedback。Hanshaltedattheprecisespotwherethesoundofthetorrentappearednearest。

Icouldbearthesuspenseandsufferingnolonger，andseatedmyselfagainstthewall，behindwhichIcouldhearthewaterseethingandeffervescingnottwofeetaway。Butasolidwallofgranitestillseparatedusfromit!

Hanslookedkeenlyatme，and，strangeenough，foronceIthoughtIsawasmileonhisimperturbableface。

Herosefromastoneonwhichbehadbeenseated，andtookupthelamp。Icouldnothelprisingandfollowing。Hemovedslowlyalongthefirmandsolidgranitewall。Iwatchedhimwithmingledcuriosityandeagerness。Presentlyhehaltedandplacedhisearagainstthedrystone，movingslowlyalongandlisteningwiththemostextremecareandattention。Iunderstoodatoncethathewassearchingfortheexactspotwherethetorrent"sroarwasmostplainlyheard。Thispointhesoonfoundinthelateralwallontheleftside，aboutthreefeetabovethelevelofthetunnelfloor。

Iwasinastateofintenseexcitement。Iscarcelydaredbelievewhattheeider-duckhunterwasabouttodo。Itwas，however，impossibleinamomentmorenottobothunderstandandapplaud，andeventosmotherhiminmyembraces，whenIsawhimraisetheheavycrowbarandcommenceanattackupontherockitself。

"Saved!"Icried。

"Yes，"criedmyuncle，evenmoreexcitedanddelightedthanmyself；"Hansisquiteright。Oh，theworthy，excellentman!Weshouldneverhavethoughtofsuchanidea。"

Andnobodyelse，Ithink，wouldhavedoneso。Suchaprocess，simpleasitseemed，wouldmostcertainlynothaveenteredourheads。Nothingcouldbemoredangerousthantobegintoworkwithpickaxesinthatparticularpartoftheglobe。Supposingwhilehewasatworkabreak-upweretotakeplace，andsupposingthetorrentoncehavinggainedaninchweretotakeanell，andcomepouringbodilythroughthebrokenrock!

Notoneofthesedangerswaschimerical。Theywereonlytooreal。

Butatthatmomentnofearoffallinginoftheroof，orevenofinundationwascapableofstoppingus。OurthirstwassointensethattoquenchitwewouldhavedugbelowthebedofoldOceanitself。

Hanswentquietlytowork-aworkwhichneithermyunclenorIwouldhaveundertakenatanyprice。Ourimpatiencewassogreatthatifwehadoncebegunwithpickaxandcrowbar，therockwouldsoonhavesplitintoahundredfragments。Theguide，onthecontrary，calm，ready，moderate，woreawaythehardrockbylittlesteadyblowsofhisinstrument，makingnoattemptatalargerholethanaboutsixinches。AsIstood，Iheard，orIthoughtIheard，theroarofthetorrentmomentarilyincreasinginloudness，andattimesIalmostfeltthepleasantsensationofwateruponmyparchedlips。

Attheendofwhatappearedanage，Hanshadmadeaholewhichenabledhiscrowbartoentertwofeetintothesolidrock。Hehadbeenatworkexactlyanhour。Itappearedadozen。Iwasgettingwildwithimpatience。Myunclebegantothinkofusingmoreviolentmeasures。Ihadthegreatestdifficultyincheckinghim。Hehadindeedjustgotholdofhiscrowbarwhenaloudandwelcomehisswasheard。

Thenastream，orratherjet，ofwaterburstthroughthewallandcameoutwithsuchforceastohittheoppositeside!

Hans，theguide，whowashalfupsetbytheshock，wasscarcelyabletokeepdownacryofpainandgrief。Iunderstoodhismeaningwhen，plungingmyhandsintothesparklingjet，Imyselfgaveawildandfranticcry。Thewaterwasscaldinghot!

"Boiling，"Icried，inbitterdisappointment。

"Well，nevermind，"saidmyuncle，"itwillsoongetcool。"

Thetunnelbegantobefilledbycloudsofvapor，whileasmallstreamranawayintotheinterioroftheearth。Inashorttimewehadsomesufficientlycooltodrink。Weswalloweditinhugemouthfuls。

Oh!whatexalteddelight-whatrichandincomparableluxury!Whatwasthiswater，whencediditcome?Touswhatwasthat?Thesimplefactwas-itwaswater；and，thoughstillwithatingleofwarmthaboutit，itbroughtbacktotheheart，thatlifewhich，butforit，mustsurelyhavefadedaway。Idrankgreedily，almostwithouttastingit。

When，however，Ihadalmostquenchedmyravenousthirst，Imadeadiscovery。

"Why，itischalybeatewater!"

"Amostexcellentstomachic，"repliedmyuncle，"andhighlymineralized。HereisajourneyworthtwentytoSpa。"

"It"sverygood，"Ireplied。

"Ishouldthinkso。Waterfoundsixmilesunderground。Thereisapeculiarlyinkyflavoraboutit，whichisbynomeansdisagreeable。

Hansmaycongratulatehimselfonhavingmadeararediscovery。Whatdoyousay，nephew，accordingtotheusualcustomoftravelers，tonamethestreamafterhim?"

"Good，"saidI。Andthenameof"Hansbach"("HansBrook")wasatonceagreedupon。

Hanswasnotabitmoreproudafterhearingourdeterminationthanhewasbefore。Afterhavingtakenaverysmallmodicumofthewelcomerefreshment，hehadseatedhimselfinacornerwithhisusualimperturbablegravity。

"Now，"saidI，"itisnotworthwhilelettingthiswaterruntowaste。"

"Whatistheuse，"repliedmyuncle，"thesourcefromwhichthisriverrisesisinexhaustible。"

"Nevermind，"Icontinued，"letusfillourgoatskinandgourds，andthentrytostoptheopeningup。"

Myadvice，aftersomehesitation，wasfollowedorattemptedtobefollowed。Hanspickedupallthebrokenpiecesofgranitehehadknockedout，andusingsometowhehappenedtohaveabouthim，triedtoshutupthefissurehehadmadeinthewall。Allhedidwastoscaldhishands。Thepressurewastoogreat，andallourattemptswereutterfailures。

"Itisevident，"Iremarked，"thattheuppersurfaceofthesespringsissituatedataverygreatheightabove-aswemayfairlyinferfromthegreatpressureofthejet。"

"Thatisbynomeansdoubtful，"repliedmyuncle，"ifthiscolumnofwaterisaboutthirty-twothousandfeethigh，theatmosphericpressuremustbesomethingenormous。Butanewideahasjuststruckme。"

"Andwhatisthat?"

"Whybeatsomuchtroubletoclosethisaperture?"

"Because-"

Ihesitatedandstammered，havingnorealreason。

"Whenourwaterbottlesareempty，wearenotatallsurethatweshallbeabletofillthem，"observedmyuncle。

"Ithinkthatisveryprobable。"

"Well，then，letthiswaterrun。Itwill，ofcourse，naturallyfollowinourtrack，andwillservetoguideandrefreshus。"

"Ithinktheideaagoodone，"Icriedinreply，"andwiththisrivuletasacompanion，thereisnofurtherreasonwhyweshouldnotsucceedinourmarvelousproject。"

"Ah，myboy，"saidtheProfessor，laughing，"afterall，youarecominground。"

"Morethanthat，Iamnowconfidentofultimatesuccess。

"Onemoment，nephewmine。Letusbeginbytakingsomehoursofrepose。"

Ihadutterlyforgottenthatitwasnight。Thechronometer，however，informedmeofthefact。Soonweweresufficientlyrestoredandrefreshed，andhadallfallenintoaprofoundsleep。

CHAPTER21

UndertheOceanBYthenextdaywehadnearlyforgottenourpastsufferings。ThefirstsensationIexperiencedwassurpriseatnotbeingthirsty，andI

actuallyaskedmyselfthereason。Therunningstream，whichflowedinripplingwaveletsatmyfeet，wasthesatisfactoryreply。

Webreakfastedwithagoodappetite，andthendrankourfilloftheexcellentwater。Ifeltmyselfquiteanewman，readytogoanywheremyunclechosetolead。Ibegantothink。Whyshouldnotamanasseriouslyconvincedasmyuncle，succeed，withsoexcellentaguideasworthyHans，andsodevotedanephewasmyself?Thesewerethebrilliantideaswhichnowinvadedmybrain。HadthepropositionnowbeenmadetogobacktothesummitofMountSneffels，Ishouldhavedeclinedtheofferinamostindignantmanner。

Butfortunatelytherewasnoquestionofgoingup。Wewereabouttodescendfartherintotheinterioroftheearth。

"Letusbemoving，"Icried，awakeningtheechoesoftheoldworld。

WeresumedourmarchonThursdayateighto"clockinthemorning。

Thegreatgranitetunnel，asitwentroundbysinuousandwindingways，presentedeverynowandthensharpturns，andinfactalltheappearanceofalabyrinth。Itsdirection，however，wasingeneraltowardsthesouthwest。Myunclemadeseveralpausesinordertoconsulthiscompass。

Thegallerynowbegantotrenddownwardsinahorizontaldirection，withabouttwoinchesoffallineveryfurlong。Themurmuringstreamflowedquietlyatourfeet。Icouldnotbutcompareittosomefamiliarspirit，guidingusthroughtheearth，andI

dabbledmyfingersinitstepidwater，whichsanglikeanaiadasweprogressed。Mygoodhumorbegantoassumeamythologicalcharacter。

Asformyunclehebegantocomplainofthehorizontalcharacteroftheroad。Hisroute，hefound，begantobeindefinitelyprolonged，insteadof"slidingdownthecelestialray，"accordingtohisexpression。

Butwehadnochoice；andaslongasourroadledtowardsthecenter-howeverlittleprogresswemade，therewasnoreasontocomplain。

Moreover，fromtimetotimetheslopesweremuchgreater，thenaiadsangmoreloudly，andwebegantodipdownwardsinearnest。

Asyet，however，Ifeltnopainfulsensation。Ihadnotgotovertheexcitementofthediscoveryofwater。

Thatdayandthenextwedidaconsiderableamountofhorizontal，andrelativelyverylittlevertical，traveling。

OnFridayevening，thetenthofJuly，accordingtoourestimation，weoughttohavebeenthirtyleaguestothesoutheastofReykjavik，andabouttwoleaguesandahalfdeep。Wenowreceivedaratherstartlingsurprise。

Underourfeetthereopenedahorriblewell。Myunclewassodelightedthatheactuallyclappedhishands-ashesawhowsteepandsharpwasthedescent。

"Ah，ah!"hecried，inrapturousdelight；"thistakeusalongway。Lookattheprojectionsoftherock。Hah!"heexclaimed，"it"safearfulstaircase!"

Hans，however，whoinallourtroubleshadnevergivenuptheropes，tookcaresotodisposeofthemastopreventanyaccidents。Ourdescentthenbegan。Idarenotcallitaperilousdescent，forIwasalreadytoofamiliarwiththatsortofworktolookuponitasanythingbutaveryordinaryaffair。

Thiswellwasakindofnarrowopeninginthemassivegraniteofthekindknownasafissure。Thecontractionoftheterrestrialscaffolding，whenitsuddenlycooled，hadbeenevidentlythecause。IfithadeverservedinformertimesasakindoffunnelthroughwhichpassedtheeruptivemassesvomitedbySneffels，Iwasatalosstoexplainhowithadleftnomark。Wewere，infact，descendingaspiral，somethinglikethosewindingstaircasesinuseinmodernhouses。

Wewerecompelledeveryquarterofanhourorthereaboutstositdowninordertorestourlegs。Ourcalvesached。Wethenseatedourselvesonsomeprojectingrockwithourlegshangingover，andgossipedwhileweateamouthful-drinkingstillfromthepleasantlywarmrunningstreamwhichhadnotdesertedus。

ItisscarcelynecessarytosaythatinthiscuriouslyshapedfissuretheHansbachhadbecomeacascadetothedetrimentofitssize。Itwasstill，however，sufficient，andmore，forourwants。

Besidesweknewthat，assoonasthedeclivityceasedtobesoabrupt，thestreammustresumeitspeacefulcourse。Atthismomentitremindedmeofmyuncle，hisimpatienceandrage，whilewhenitflowedmorepeacefully，IpicturedtomyselftheplacidityoftheIcelandicguide。

Duringthewholeoftwodays，thesixthandseventhofJuly，wefollowedtheextraordinaryspiralstaircaseofthefissure，penetratingtwoleaguesfartherintothecrustoftheearth，whichputusfiveleaguesbelowthelevelofthesea。Ontheeighth，however，attwelveo"clockintheday，thefissuresuddenlyassumedamuchmoregentleslopestilltrendinginasoutheastdirection。

Theroadnowbecamecomparativelyeasy，andatthesametimedreadfullymonotonous。Itwouldhavebeendifficultformatterstohaveturnedoutotherwise。Ourpeculiarjourneyhadnochanceofbeingdiversifiedbylandscapeandscenery。Atallevents，suchwasmyidea。

Atlength，onWednesdaythefifteenth，wewereactuallysevenleagues(twenty-onemiles)belowthesurfaceoftheearth，andfiftyleaguesdistantfromthemountainofSneffels。Though，ifthetruthbetold，wewereverytired，ourhealthhadresistedallsuffering，andwasinamostsatisfactorystate。Ourtraveler"sboxofmedicamentshadnotevenbeenopened。

Myunclewascarefultonoteeveryhourtheindicationsofthecompass，ofthemanometer，andofthethermometer，allwhichheafterwardspublishedinhiselaboratephilosophicalandscientificaccountofourremarkablevoyage。Hewasthereforeabletogiveanexactrelationofthesituation。When，therefore，heinformedmethatwewerefiftyleaguesinahorizontaldirectiondistantfromourstartingpoint，Icouldnotsuppressaloudexclamation。

"Whatisthematternow?"criedmyuncle。

"Nothingveryimportant，onlyanideahasenteredmyhead，"wasmyreply。

"Well，outwithit，Myboy。"

"ItismyopinionthatifyourcalculationsarecorrectwearenolongerunderIceland。"

"Doyouthinkso?"

"Wecanveryeasilyfindout，"Ireplied，pullingoutamapandcompasses。

"Yousee，"Isaid，aftercarefulmeasurement，"thatIamnotmistaken。WearefarbeyondCapePortland；andthosefiftyleaguestothesoutheastwilltakeusintotheopensea。"

"Undertheopensea，"criedmyuncle，rubbinghishandswithadelightedair。

"Yes，"Icried，"nodoubtoldOceanflowsoverourheads!"

"Well，mydearboy，whatcanbemorenatural!DoyounotknowthatintheneighborhoodofNewcastletherearecoalmineswhichhavebeenworkedfaroutunderthesea?"

Nowmyworthyuncle，theProfessor，nodoubtregardedthisdiscoveryasaverysimplefact，buttometheideawasbynomeansapleasantone。Andyetwhenonecametothinkthematteroverseriously，whatmattereditwhethertheplainsandmountainsofIcelandweresuspendedoverourdevotedheads，orthemightybillowsoftheAtlanticOcean?

Thewholequestionrestedonthesolidityofthegraniteroofaboveus。However，Isoongotusedtotheidealforthepassagenowlevel，nowrunningdown，andstillalwaystothesoutheast，keptgoingdeeperanddeeperintotheprofoundabyssesofMotherEarth。

Threedayslater，ontheeighteenthdayofJuly，onaSaturday，wereachedakindofvastgrotto。MyuncleherepaidHanshisusualsix-dollars，anditwasdecidedthatthenextdayshouldbeadayofrest。

CHAPTER22

SundaybelowGroundIAWOKEonSundaymorningwithoutanysenseofhurryandbustleattendantonanimmediatedeparture。Thoughthedaytobedevotedtoreposeandreflectionwasspentundersuchstrangecircumstances，andinsowonderfulaplace，theideawasapleasantone。Besides，weallbegantogetusedtothiskindofexistence。Ihadalmostceasedtothinkofthesun，ofthemoon，ofthestars，ofthetrees，houses，andtowns；infact，aboutanyterrestrialnecessities。Inourpeculiarpositionwewerefarabovesuchreflections。

Thegrottowasavastandmagnificenthall。Alongitsgraniticsoilthestreamflowedplacidlyandpleasantly。Sogreatadistancewasitnowfromitsfierysourcethatitswaterwasscarcelylukewarm，andcouldbedrunkwithoutdelayordifficulty。

Afterafrugalbreakfast，theProfessormadeuphismindtodevotesomehourstoputtinghisnotesandcalculationsinorder。

"Inthefirstplace，"hesaid，"Ihaveagoodmanytoverifyandprove，inorderthatwemayknowourexactposition。Iwishtobeableonourreturntotheupperregionstomakeamapofourjourney，akindofverticalsectionoftheglobe，whichwillbe，asitwere，theprofileoftheexpedition。"

"Thatwouldindeedbeacuriouswork，Uncle；butcanyoumakeyourobservationswithanythinglikecertaintyandprecision?"

"Ican。Ihaveneveronanyoccasionfailedtonotewithgreatcaretheanglesandslopes。Iamcertainastohavingmadenomistake。

Takethecompassandexaminehowshepoints。"

Ilookedattheinstrumentwithcare。

"Eastonequartersoutheast。"

"Verygood，"resumedtheProfessor，notingtheobservation，andgoingthroughsomerapidcalculations。"Imakeoutthatwehavejourneyedtwohundredandfiftymilesfromthepointofourdeparture。"

"ThenthemightywavesoftheAtlanticarerollingoverourheads?"

"Certainly。"

"Andatthisverymomentitispossiblethatfiercetempestsareragingabove，andthatmenandshipsarebattlingagainsttheangryblastsjustoverourheads?"

"Itisquitewithintherangeofpossibility，"rejoinedmyuncle，smiling。

"Andthatwhalesareplayinginshoals，thrashingthebottomofthesea，theroofofouradamantineprison?"

"Bequiteatrestonthatpoint；thereisnodangeroftheirbreakingthrough。Buttoreturntoourcalculations。Wearetothesoutheast，twohundredandfiftymilesfromthebaseofSneffels，and，accordingtomyprecedingnotes，Ithinkwehavegonesixteenleaguesinadownwarddirection。"

"Sixteenleagues-fiftymiles!"Icried。

"Iamsureofit。"