第9章

"Yes。"

"Well，makeready，Iamabouttopronounceyourname，"saidtheProfessor。

Iappliedmyearclosetothesidesofthecavernousgallery，andassoonastheword"Harry"reachedmyear，Iturnedroundand，placingmylipstothewall，repeatedthesound。

"Fortyseconds，"saidmyuncle。"Therehaselapsedfortysecondsbetweenthetwowords。Thesound，therefore，takestwentysecondstoascend。Now，allowingathousandandtwentyfeetforeverysecond-

wehavetwentythousandfourhundredfeet-aleagueandahalfandone-eighth。"

Thesewordsfellonmysoullikeakindofdeathknell。

"Aleagueandahalf，"Imutteredinalowanddespairingvoice。

"Itshallbegotover，myboy，"criedmyuncleinacheerytone；

"dependonus。"

"Butdoyouknowwhethertoascendordescend?"Iaskedfaintlyenough。

"Wehavetodescend，andIwilltellyouwhy。Youhavereachedavastopenspace，akindofbarecrossroad，fromwhichgalleriesdivergeineverydirection。Thatinwhichyouarenowlyingmustnecessarilybringyoutothispoint，foritappearsthatallthesemightyfissures，thesefracturesoftheglobe"sinterior，radiatefromthevastcavernwhichweatthismomentoccupy。Rouseyourself，then，havecourageandcontinueyourroute。Walkifyoucan，ifnotdragyourselfalong-slide，ifnothingelseispossible。Theslopemustberatherrapid-andyouwillfindstrongarmstoreceiveyouattheendofyourjourney。Makeastart，likeagoodfellow。"

Thesewordsservedtorousesomekindofcourageinmysinkingframe。

"Farewellforthepresent，gooduncle，Iamabouttotakemydeparture。AssoonasIstart，ourvoiceswillceasetocommingle。

Farewell，then，untilwemeetagain。"

"Adieu，Harry-untilwesayWelcome。"SuchwerethelastwordswhichreachedmyanxiousearsbeforeIcommencedmywearyandalmosthopelessjourney。

Thiswonderfulandsurprisingconversationwhichtookplacethroughthevastmassoftheearth"slabyrinth，thesewordsexchanged，thespeakersbeingaboutfivemilesapart-endedwithhopefulandpleasantexpressions。IbreathedonemoreprayertoHeaven，Isentupwordsofthanksgiving-believinginmyinmostheartthatHehadledmetotheonlyplacewherethevoicesofmyfriendscouldreachmyears。

Thisapparentlyastoundingacousticmysteryiseasilyexplainablebysimplenaturallaws；itarosefromtheconductibilityoftherock。

Therearemanyinstancesofthissingularpropagationofsoundwhicharenotperceptibleinitslessmediatepositions。IntheinteriorgalleryofSt。Paul"s，andamidthecuriouscavernsinSicily，thesephenomenaareobservable。ThemostmarvelousofthemallisknownastheEarofDionysius。

Thesememoriesofthepast，ofmyearlyreadingandstudies，camefreshtomythoughts。Moreover，IbegantoreasonthatifmyuncleandIcouldcommunicateatsogreatadistance，noseriousobstaclecouldexistbetweenus。AllIhadtodowastofollowthedirectionwhencethesoundhadreachedme；andlogicallyputtingit，Imustreachhimifmystrengthdidnotfail。

Iaccordinglyrosetomyfeet。Isoonfound，however，thatIcouldnotwalk；thatImustdragmyselfalong。TheslopeasIexpectedwasveryrapid；butIallowedmyselftoslipdown。

Soontherapidityofthedescentbegantoassumefrightfulproportions；andmenacedafearfulfall。Iclutchedatthesides；I

graspedatprojectionsofrocks；Ithrewmyselfbackwards。Allinvain。MyweaknesswassogreatIcoulddonothingtosavemyself。

Suddenlyearthfailedme。

Iwasfirstlaunchedintoadarkandgloomyvoid。Ithenstruckagainsttheprojectingasperitiesofaverticalgallery，aperfectwell。Myheadboundedagainstapointedrock，andIlostallknowledgeofexistence。AsfarasIwasconcerned，deathhadclaimedmeforhisown。

CHAPTER26

ARapidRecoveryWHENIreturnedtotheconsciousnessofexistence，Ifoundmyselfsurroundedbyakindofsemiobscurity，lyingonsomethickandsoftcoverlets。Myunclewaswatching-hiseyesfixedintentlyonmycountenance，agraveexpressiononhisface，atearinhiseye。Atthefirstsighwhichstruggledfrommybosom，hetookholdofmyhand。

Whenhesawmyeyesopenandfixthemselvesuponhis，heutteredaloudcryofloudcryofjoy。"Helives!helives!"

"Yes，mygooduncle，"Iwhispered。

"Mydearboy，"continuedthegrimProfessor，claspingmetohisheart，"youaresaved!"

Iwasdeeplyandunaffectedlytouchedbythetoneinwhichthesewordswereuttered，andevenmorebythekindlycarewhichaccompaniedthem。TheProfessor，however，wasoneofthosemenwhomustbeseverelytriedinordertoinduceanydisplayofaffectionorgentleemotion。AtthismomentourfriendHans，theguide，joinedus。Hesawmyhandinthatofmyuncle，andIventuretosaythat，taciturnashewas，hiseyesbeamedwithlivelysatisfaction。

"Goddag，"hesaid。

"Goodday，Hans，goodday，"Ireplied，inasheartyatoneasI

couldassume，"andnow，Uncle，thatwearetogether，tellmewhereweare。Ihavelostallideaofourposition，asofeverythingelse。"

"Tomorrow，Harry，tomorrow，"hereplied。"Todayyouarefartooweak。Yourheadissurroundedwithbandagesandpoulticesthatmustnotbetouched。Sleep，myboy，sleep，andtomorrowyouwillknowallthatyourequire。"

"But，"Icried，letmeknowwhato"clockitis-whatdayitis?"

"Itisnoweleveno"clockatnight，andthisisoncemoreSunday。ItisnowtheninthofthemonthofAugust。AndIdistinctlyprohibityoufromaskinganymorequestionsuntilthetenthofthesame。"

Iwas，ifthetruthweretold，veryweakindeed，andmyeyessoonclosedinvoluntarily。Ididrequireagoodnight"srest，andIwentoffreflectingatthelastmomentthatmyperilousadventureintheinterioroftheearth，intotaldarkness，hadlastedfourdays!

Onthemorningofthenextday，atmyawakening，Ibegantolookaroundme。Mysleepingplace，madeofallourtravelingbedding，wasinacharminggrotto，adornedwithmagnificentstalagmites，glitteringinallthecolorsoftherainbow，thefloorofsoftandsilverysand。

Adimobscurityprevailed。Notorch，nolampwaslighted，andyetcertainunexplainedbeamsoflightpenetratedfromwithout，andmadetheirwaythroughtheopeningofthebeautifulgrotto。

I，moreover，heardavagueandindefinitemurmur，liketheebbandflowofwavesuponastrand，andsometimesIverilybelievedIcouldhearthesighingofthewind。

Ibegantobelievethat，insteadofbeingawake，Imustbedreaming。

Surelymybrainhadnotbeenaffectedbymyfall，andallthatoccurredduringthelasttwenty-fourhourswasnotthefrenziedvisionsofmadness?Andyetaftersomereflection，atrialofmyfaculties，IcametotheconclusionthatIcouldnotbemistaken。Eyesandearscouldnotsurelybothdeceiveme。

"Itisarayoftheblesseddaylight，"Isaidtomyself，"whichhaspenetratedthroughsomemightyfissureintherocks。Butwhatisthemeaningofthismurmurofwaves，thisunmistakablemoaningofthesalt-seabillows?Icanhear，too，plainlyenough，thewhistlingofthewind。ButcanIbealtogethermistaken?Ifmyuncle，duringmyillness，hasbutcarriedmebacktothesurfaceoftheearth!Hashe，onmyaccount，givenuphiswondrousexpedition，orinsomestrangemannerhasitcometoanend?"

Iwaspuzzlingmybrainovertheseandotherquestions，whentheProfessorjoinedme。

"Goodday，Harry，"hecriedinajoyoustone。"Ifancyyouarequitewell。"

"Iamverymuchbetter，"Ireplied，actuallysittingupinmybed。

"Iknewthatwouldbetheendofit，asyousleptbothsoundlyandtranquilly。HansandIhaveeachtakenturntowatch，andeveryhourwehaveseenvisiblesignsofamelioration。"

"Youmustberight，Uncle，"wasmyreply，"forIfeelasifI

coulddojusticetoanymealyoucouldputbeforeme。"

"Youshalleat，myboy，youshalleat。Thefeverhasleftyou。OurexcellentfriendHanshasrubbedyourwoundsandbruiseswithIknownotwhatointment，ofwhichtheIcelandersalonepossessthesecret。

Andtheyhavehealedyourbruisesinthemostmarvelousmanner。Ah，he"sawisefellowisMasterHans。"

Whilehewasspeaking，myunclewasplacingbeforemeseveralarticlesoffood，which，despitehisearnestinjunctions，Ireadilydevoured。Assoonasthefirstrageofhungerwasappeased，I

overwhelmedhimwithquestions，towhichhenownolongerhesitatedtogiveanswers。

Ithenlearned，forthefirsttime，thatmyprovidentialfallhadbroughtmetothebottomofanalmostperpendiculargallery。AsIcamedown，amidstaperfectshowerofstones，theleastofwhichfallingonmewouldhavecrushedmetodeath，theycametotheconclusionthatIhadcarriedwithmeanentiredislocatedrock。Ridingasitwereonthisterriblechariot，Iwascastheadlongintomyuncle"sarms。

AndintothemIfell，insensibleandcoveredwithblood。

"Itisindeedamiracle，"wastheProfessor"sfinalremark，"thatyouwerenotkilledathousandtimesover。Butletustakecarenevertoseparate；forsurelyweshouldrisknevermeetingagain。"

"Letustakecareneveragaintoseparate。"

Thesewordsfellwithasortofchilluponmyheart。Thejourney，then，wasnotover。Ilookedatmyunclewithsurpriseandastonishment。Myuncle，afteraninstant"sexaminationofmycountenance，said:"Whatisthematter，Harry?"

"Iwanttoaskyouaveryseriousquestion。YousaythatIamallrightinhealth?"

"Certainlyyouare。"

"Andallmylimbsaresoundandcapableofnewexertion?"Iasked。

"Mostundoubtedly。"

"Butwhataboutmyhead?"wasmynextanxiousquestion。

"Well，yourhead，exceptthatyouhaveoneortwocontusions，isexactlywhereitoughttobe-onyourshoulders，"saidmyuncle，laughing。

"Well，myownopinionisthatmyheadisnotexactlyright。Infact，Ibelievemyselfslightlydelirious。"

"Whatmakesyouthinkso?"

"IwillexplainwhyIfancyIhavelostmysenses，"Icried。"HavewenotreturnedtothesurfaceofMotherEarth?"

"Certainlynot。"

"ThentrulyImustbemad，fordoInotseethelightofday?doI

nothearthewhistlingofthewind?andcanInotdistinguishthewashofagreatsea?"

"Andthatisallthatmakesyouuneasy?"saidmyuncle，withasmile。

"Canyouexplain?"

"Iwillnotmakeanyattempttoexplain；forthewholematterisutterlyinexplicable。Butyoushallseeandjudgeforyourself。Youwillthenfindthatgeologicalscienceisasyetinitsinfancy-andthatwearedoomedtoenlightentheworld。"

"Letusadvance，then，"Icriedeagerly，nolongerabletorestrainmycuriosity。

"Waitamoment，mydearHarry，"heresponded；"youmusttakeprecautionsafteryourillnessbeforegoingintotheopenair。"

"Theopenair?"

"Yes，myboy。Ihavetowarnyouthatthewindisratherviolent-

andIhavenowishforyoutoexposeyourselfwithoutnecessaryprecautions。"

"ButIbegtoassureyouthatIamperfectlyrecoveredfrommyillness。"

"Havejustalittlepatience，myboy。Arelapsewouldbeinconvenienttoallparties。Wehavenotimetolose-asourapproachingseavoyagemaybeoflongduration。"

"Seavoyage?"Icried，morebewilderedthanever。

"Yes。Youmusttakeanotherday"srest，andweshallbereadytogoonboardbytomorrow，"repliedmyuncle，withapeculiarsmile。

"Goonboard!"Thewordsutterlyastonishedme。

Goonboard-whatandhow?Hadwecomeuponariver，alake，hadwediscoveredsomeinlandsea?Wasavessellyingatanchorinsomepartoftheinterioroftheearth?

Mycuriositywasworkeduptotheveryhighestpitch。Myunclemadevainattemptstorestrainme。Whenatlast，however，hediscoveredthatmyfeverishimpatiencewoulddomoreharmthangood-

andthatthesatisfactionofmywishescouldalonerestoremetoacalmstateofmind-hegaveway。

Idressedmyselfrapidly-andthentakingtheprecautiontopleasemyuncle，ofwrappingmyselfinoneofthecoverlets，Irushedoutofthegrotto。

CHAPTER27

TheCentralSeaATfirstIsawabsolutelynothing。Myeyes，whollyunusedtotheeffulgenceoflight，couldnotbearthesuddenbrightness；andIwascompelledtoclosethem。WhenIwasabletoreopenthem，Istoodstill，farmorestupefiedthanastonished。Notallthewildesteffectsofimaginationcouldhaveconjuredupsuchascene!"Thesea-thesea，"Icried。

"Yes，"repliedmyuncle，inatoneofpardonablepride；"theCentralSea。Nofuturenavigatorwilldenythefactofmyhavingdiscoveredit；andhenceofacquiringarightofgivingitaname。"

Itwasquitetrue。Avast，limitlessexpanseofwater，theendofalakeifnotofanocean，spreadbeforeus，untilitwaslostinthedistance。Theshore，whichwasverymuchindented，consistedofabeautifulsoftgoldensand，mixedwithsmallshells，thelong-desertedhomeofsomeofthecreaturesofapastage。Thewavesbrokeincessantly-andwithapeculiarlysonorousmurmur，tobefoundinundergroundlocalities。Aslightfrothyflakearoseasthewindblewalongthepellucidwaters；andmanyadashofspraywasblownintomyface。Themightysuperstructureofrockwhichroseabovetoaninconceivableheightleftonlyanarrowopening-butwherewestood，therewasalargemarginofstrand。Onallsideswerecapesandpromontoriesandenormouscliffs，partiallywornbytheeternalbreakingofthewaves，throughcountlessages!AndasIgazedfromsidetoside，themightyrocksfadedawaylikeafleecyfilmofcloud。

Itwasinrealityanocean，withantheusualcharacteristicsofaninlandsea，onlyhorriblywild-sorigid，coldandsavage。

Onethingstartledandpuzzledmegreatly。HowwasitthatIwasabletolookuponthatvastsheetofwaterinsteadofbeingplungedinutterdarkness?Thevastlandscapebeforemewaslituplikeday。

Buttherewaswantingthedazzlingbrilliancy，thesplendidirradiationofthesun；thepalecoldilluminationofthemoon；thebrightnessofthestars。Theilluminatingpowerinthissubterraneanregion，fromitstremblingandRickeringcharacter，itscleardrywhiteness，theveryslightelevationofitstemperature，itsgreatsuperioritytothatofthemoon，wasevidentlyelectric；somethinginthenatureoftheauroraborealis，onlythatitsphenomenawereconstant，andabletolightupthewholeoftheoceancavern。

Thetremendousvaultaboveourheads，thesky，sotospeak，appearedtobecomposedofaconglomerationofnebulousvapors，inconstantmotion。Ishouldoriginallyhavesupposedthat，undersuchanatmosphericpressureasmustexistinthatplace，theevaporationofwatercouldnotreallytakeplace，andyetfromtheactionofsomephysicallaw，whichescapedmymemory，therewereheavyanddensecloudsrollingalongthatmightyvault，partiallyconcealingtheroof。

Electriccurrentsproducedastonishingplayoflightandshadeinthedistance，especiallyaroundtheheavierclouds。Deepshadowswerecastbeneath，andthensuddenly，betweentwoclouds，therewouldcomearayofunusualbeauty，andremarkableintensity。Andyetitwasnotlikethesun，foritgavenoheat。

Theeffectwassadandexcruciatinglymelancholy。Insteadofanoblefirmamentofblue，studdedwithstars，therewasabovemeaheavyroofofgranite，whichseemedtocrushme。

Gazingaround，IbegantothinkofthetheoryoftheEnglishcaptainwhocomparedtheearthtoavasthollowsphereintheinteriorofwhichtheairisretainedinaluminousstatebymeansofatmosphericpressure，whiletwostars，PlutoandProserpine，circledthereintheirmysteriousorbits。Afterall，supposetheoldfellowwasright!

Intruth，wewereimprisoned-boundasitwere，inavastexcavation。Itswidthitwasimpossibletomakeout；theshore，oneitherhand，wideningrapidlyuntillosttosight；whileitslengthwasequallyuncertain。Ahazeonthedistanthorizonboundedourview。

Astoitsheight，wecouldseethatitmustbemanymilestotheroof。

Lookingupward，itwasimpossibletodiscoverwherethestupendousroofbegan。Thelowestofthecloudsmusthavebeenfloatingatanelevationoftwothousandyards，aheightgreaterthanthatofterrestrialvapors，whichcircumstancewasdoubtlessowingtotheextremedensityoftheair。

Iusetheword"cavern"inordertogiveanideaoftheplace。I

cannotdescribeitsawfulgrandeur；humanlanguagefailstoconveyanideaofitssavagesublimity。Whetherthissingularvacuumhadorhadnotbeencausedbythesuddencoolingoftheearthwheninastateoffusion，Icouldnotsay。Ihadreadofmostwonderfulandgiganticcaverns-but，noneinanywaylikethis。

ThegreatgrottoofGuachara，inColombia，visitedbythelearnedHumboldt；thevastandpartiallyexploredMammothCaveinKentucky-

whatweretheseholesintheearthtothatinwhichIstoodinspeechlessadmiration!withitsvaporyclouds，itselectriclight，andthemightyoceanslumberinginitsbosom!Imagination，notdescription，canalonegiveanideaofthesplendorandvastnessofthecave。

Igazedatthesemarvelsinprofoundsilence。WordswereutterlywantingtoindicatethesensationsofwonderIexperienced。I

seemed，asIstooduponthatmysteriousshore，asifIweresomewanderinginhabitantofadistantplanet，presentforthefirsttimeatthespectacleofsometerrestrialphenomenabelongingtoanotherexistence。Togivebodyandexistencetosuchnewsensationswouldhaverequiredthecoinageofnewwords-andheremyfeeblebrainfounditselfwhollyatfault。Ilookedon，Ithought，Ireflected，I

admired，inastateofstupefactionnotaltogetherunmingledwithfear!

Theunexpectedspectaclerestoredsomecolortomypallidcheeks。

Iseemedtobeactuallygettingbetterundertheinfluenceofthisnovelty。Moreover，thevivacityofthedenseatmospherereanimatedmybodybyinflatingmylungswithunaccustomedoxygen。

Itwillbereadilyconceivedthatafteranimprisonmentofforty-sevendays，inadarkandmiserabletunnelitwaswithinfinitedelightthatIbreathedthissalineair。Itwaslikethegenial，revivinginfluenceofthesaltseawaves。

Myunclehadalreadygotoverthefirstsurprise。

WiththeLatinpoetHoracehisideawasthat-

NottoadmireisalltheartIknow，Tomakemanhappyandtokeephimso。

"Well，"hesaid，aftergivingmetimethoroughlytoappreciatethemarvelsofthisundergroundsea，"doyoufeelstrongenoughtowalkupanddown?"

"Certainly，"wasmyreadyanswer，"nothingwouldgivemegreaterpleasure。"

"Wellthen，myboy，"hesaid，leanonmyarm，andwewillstrollalongthebeach。"

Iacceptedhisoffereagerly，andwebegantowalkalongtheshoresofthisextraordinarylake。Toourleftwereabruptrocks，piledoneupontheother-astupendoustitanicpile；downtheirsidesleapedinnumerablecascades，whichatlast，becominglimpidandmurmuringstreams，werelostinthewatersofthelake。Lightvapors，whichrosehereandthere，andfloatedinfleecycloudsfromrocktorock，indicatedhotsprings，whichalsopouredtheirsuperfluityintothevastreservoiratourfeet。

AmongthemIrecognizedouroldandfaithfulstream，theHansbach，which，lostinthatwildbasin，seemedasifithadbeenflowingsincethecreationoftheworld。

"WeshallmissourexcellentfriendIremarked，withadeepsigh。

"Bah!"saidmyuncletestily，"whatmattersit?Thatoranother，itisallthesame。"

Ithoughttheremarkungrateful，andfeltalmostinclinedtosayso；

butIforbore。

Atthismomentmyattentionwasattractedbyanunexpectedspectacle。Afterwehadgoneaboutfivehundredyards，wesuddenlyturnedasteeppromontory，andfoundourselvesclosetoaloftyforest!Itconsistedofstraighttrunkswithtuftedtops，inshapelikeparasols。Theairseemedtohavenoeffectuponthesetrees-

whichinspiteofatolerablebreezeremainedasstillandmotionlessasiftheyhadbeenpetrified。

Ihastenedforward。Icouldfindnonameforthesesingularformations。Didtheynotbelongtothetwothousandandmoreknowntrees-orwerewetomakethediscoveryofanewgrowth?Bynomeans。Whenweatlastreachedtheforest，andstoodbeneaththetrees，mysurprisegavewaytoadmiration。

Intruth，Iwassimplyinthepresenceofaveryordinaryproductoftheearth，ofsingularandgiganticproportions。Myuncleunhesitatinglycalledthembytheirrealnames。

"Itisonly，"hesaid，inhiscoolestmanner，"aforestofmushrooms。"

OncloseexaminationIfoundthathewasnotmistaken。Judgeofthedevelopmentattainedbythisproductofdamphotsoils。IhadheardthattheLycoperdongiganteumreachesninefeetincircumference，butherewerewhitemushrooms，nearlyfortyfeethigh，andwithtopsofequaldimensions。Theygrewincountlessthousands-thelightcouldnotmakeitswaythroughtheirmassivesubstance，andbeneaththemreignedagloomyandmysticdarkness。

StillIwishedtogoforward。Thecoldintheshadesofthissingularforestwasintense。Fornearlyanhourwewanderedaboutinthisvisibledarkness。AtlengthIleftthespot，andoncemorereturnedtotheshoresofthelake，tolightandcomparativewarmth。

Buttheamazingvegetationofsubterraneouslandwasnotconfinedtogiganticmushrooms。Newwondersawaitedusateverystep。Wehadnotgonemanyhundredyards，whenwecameuponamightygroupofothertreeswithdiscoloredleaves-thecommonhumbletreesofMotherEarth，ofanexorbitantandphenomenalsize:lycopodsahundredfeethigh；

floweringfernsastallaspines；giganticgrasses!

"Astonishing，magnificent，splendid!"criedmyuncle；"herewehavebeforeusthewholefloraofthesecondperiodoftheworld，thatoftransition。Beholdthehumbleplantsofourgardens，whichinthefirstagesoftheworldweremightytrees。Lookaroundyou，mydearHarry。Nobotanisteverbeforegazedonsuchasight!"

Myuncle"senthusiasm，alwaysalittlemorethanwasrequired，wasnowexcusable。

"Youareright，Uncle，"Iremarked。"Providenceappearstohavedesignedthepreservationinthisvastandmysterioushothouseofantediluvianplants，toprovethesagacityoflearnedmeninfiguringthemsomarvelouslyonpaper。"

"Wellsaid，myboy-verywellsaid；itisindeedamightyhothouse。Butyouwouldalsobewithintheboundsofreasonandcommonsense，ifyouaddedthatitisalsoavastmenagerie。"

Ilookedratheranxiouslyaround。Iftheanimalswereasexaggeratedastheplants，thematterwouldcertainlybeserious。

"Amenagerie?"

"Doubtless。Lookatthedustwearetreadingunderfoot-beholdtheboneswithwhichthewholesoiloftheseashoreiscovered-"

"Bones，"Ireplied，"yes，certainly，thebonesofantediluviananimals。"

IstoopeddownasIspoke，andpickeduponeortwosingularremains，relicsofabygoneage。Itwaseasytogiveanametothesegiganticbones，insomeinstancesasbigastrunksoftrees。

"Hereis，clearly，thelowerjawboneofamastodon，"Icried，almostaswarmlyandenthusiasticallyasmyuncle；"herearethemolarsoftheDinotherium；hereisalegbonewhichbelongedtotheMegatherium。

Youareright，Uncle，itisindeedamenagerie；forthemightyanimalstowhichthesebonesoncebelonged，havelivedanddiedontheshoresofthissubterraneansea，undertheshadowoftheseplants。

Look，yonderarewholeskeletons-andyet-"

"Andyet，nephew?"saidmyuncle，noticingthatIsuddenlycametoafullstop。

"Idonotunderstandthepresenceofsuchbeastsingranitecaverns，howevervastandprodigious，"wasmyreply。

"Whynot?"saidmyuncle，withverymuchofhisoldprofessionalimpatience。

"Becauseitiswellknownthatanimallifeonlyexistedonearthduringthesecondaryperiod，whenthesedimentarysoilwasformedbythealluviums，andthusreplacedthehotandburningrocksoftheprimitiveage。"

"Ihavelistenedtoyouearnestlyandwithpatience，Harry，andI

haveasimpleandclearanswertoyourobjections:andthatis，thatthisitselfisasedimentarysoil。"

"Howcanthatbeatsuchenormousdepthfromthesurfaceoftheearth?"

"Thefactcanbeexplainedbothsimplyandgeologically。Atacertainperiod，theearthconsistedonlyofanelasticcrust，liabletoalternativeupwardanddownwardmovementsinvirtueofthelawofattraction。Itisveryprobablethatmanyalandsliptookplaceinthosedays，andthatlargeportionsofsedimentarysoilwerecastintohugeandmightychasms。"

"Quitepossible，"Idrylyremarked。"But，Uncle，iftheseantediluviananimalsformerlylivedinthesesubterraneanregions，whatmorelikelythanthatoneofthesemonstersmayatthismomentbeconcealedbehindoneofyondermightyrocks。"

AsIspoke，Ilookedkeenlyaround，examiningwithcareeverypointofthehorizon；butnothingaliveappearedtoexistonthesedesertedshores。

Inowfeltratherfatigued，andtoldmyuncleso。Thewalkandexcitementweretoomuchformeinmyweakstate。Ithereforeseatedmyselfattheendofapromontory，atthefootofwhichthewavesbrokeinincessantrolls。Ilookedroundabayformedbyprojectionsofvastgraniticrocks。Attheextremeendwasalittleportprotectedbyhugepyramidsofstones。Abrigandthreeorfourschoonersmighthavelaintherewithperfectease。Sonaturaldiditseem，thateveryminutemyimaginationinducedmetoexpectavesselcomingoutunderallsailandmakingfortheopenseaundertheinfluenceofawarmsoutherlybreeze。

Butthefantasticillusionneverlastedmorethanaminute。Weweretheonlylivingcreaturesinthissubterraneanworld!

Duringcertainperiodstherewasanuttercessationofwind，whenasilencedeeper，moreterriblethanthesilenceofthedesertfelluponthesesolitaryandaridrocks-andseemedtohanglikealeadenweightuponthewatersofthissingularocean。Isought，amidtheawfulstillness，topenetratethroughthedistantfog，toteardowntheveilwhichconcealedthemysteriousdistance。Whatunspokenwordsweremurmuredbymytremblinglips-whatquestionsdidIwishtoaskanddidnot!Wheredidthisseaend-towhatdiditlead?Shouldweeverbeabletoexamineitsdistantshores?

Butmyunclehadnodoubtsaboutthematter。Hewasconvincedthatourenterprisewouldintheendbesuccessful。Formypart，Iwasinastateofpainfulindecision-Idesiredtoembarkonthejourneyandtosucceed，andstillIfearedtheresult。

Afterwehadpassedanhourormoreinsilentcontemplationofthewondrousspectacle，weroseandwentdowntowardsthebankonourwaytothegrotto，whichIwasnotsorrytogain。Afteraslightrepast，Isoughtrefugeinslumber，andatlength，aftermanyandtediousstruggles，sleepcameovermywearyeyes。

CHAPTER28

LaunchingtheRaftONthemorningofthenextday，tomygreatsurprise，Iawokecompletelyrestored。Ithoughtabathwouldbedelightfulaftermylongillnessandsufferings。So，soonafterrising，IwentandplungedintothewatersofthisnewMediterranean。Thebathwascool，freshandinvigorating。

Icamebacktobreakfastwithanexcellentappetite。Hans，ourworthyguide，thoroughlyunderstoodhowtocooksucheatablesaswewereabletoprovide；hehadbothfireandwateratdiscretion，sothathewasenabledslightlytovarythewearymonotonyofourordinaryrepast。