第10章

OurmorningmealwaslikeacapitalEnglishbreakfast，withcoffeebywayofawindup。Andneverhadthisdeliciousbeveragebeensowelcomeandrefreshing。

Myunclehadsufficientregardformystateofhealthnottointerruptmeintheenjoymentofthemeal，buthewasevidentlydelightedwhenIhadfinished。

"Nowthen，"saidhe，"comewithme。Itistheheightofthetide，andIamanxioustostudyitscuriousphenomena。"

"What""Icried，risinginastonishment，"didyousaythetide，Uncle?"

"CertainlyIdid。"

"Youdonotmeantosay，"Ireplied，inatoneofrespectfuldoubt，"thattheinfluenceofthesunandmoonisfeltherebelow。"

"Andpraywhynot?Arenotallbodiesinfluencedbythelawofuniversalattraction?Whyshouldthisvastundergroundseabeexemptfromthegenerallaw，theruleoftheuniverse?Besides，thereisnothinglikethatwhichisprovedanddemonstrated。Despitethegreatatmosphericpressuredownhere，youwillnoticethatthisinlandsearisesandfallswithasmuchregularityastheAtlanticitself。"

Asmyunclespoke，wereachedthesandyshore，andsawandheardthewavesbreakingmonotonouslyonthebeach。Theywereevidentlyrising。

"Thisistrulytheflood，"Icried，lookingatthewateratmyfeet。

"Yes，myexcellentnephew，"repliedmyuncle，rubbinghishandswiththegustoofaphilosopher，"andyouseebytheseseveralstreaksoffoamthatthetiderisesatleasttenortwelvefeet。"

"Itisindeedmarvelous。"

"Bynomeans，"heresponded；"onthecontrary，itisquitenatural。"

"Itmayappearsoinyoureyes，mydearuncle，"wasmyreply，"butallthephenomenaoftheplaceappeartometopartakeofthemarvelous。ItisalmostimpossibletobelievethatwhichIsee。Whoinhiswildestdreamscouldhaveimaginedthat，beneaththecrustofourearth，therecouldexistarealocean，withebbingandflowingtides，withitschangesofwinds，andevenitsstorms!Iforoneshouldhavelaughedthesuggestiontoscorn。"

"But，Harry，myboy，whynot?"inquiredmyuncle，withapityingsmile；"isthereanyphysicalreasoninoppositiontoit?

"Well，ifwegiveupthegreattheoryofthecentralheatoftheearth，Icertainlycanoffernoreasonswhyanythingshouldbelookeduponasimpossible。"

"Thenyouwillown，"headded，"thatthesystemofSirHumphryDavyiswhollyjustifiedbywhatwehaveseen?"

"Iallowthatitis-andthatpointoncegranted，Icertainlycanseenoreasonfordoubtingtheexistenceofseasandotherwonders，evencountries，intheinterioroftheglobe。"

"Thatisso-butofcoursethesevariedcountriesareuninhabited?"

"Well，Igrantthatitismorelikelythannot:still，Idonotseewhythisseashouldnothavegivensheltertosomespeciesofunknownfish。"

"Hithertowehavenotdiscoveredany，andtheprobabilitiesareratheragainstoureverdoingso，"observedtheProfessor。

Iwaslosingmyskepticisminthepresenceofthesewonders。

"Well，Iamdeterminedtosolvethequestion。Itismyintentiontotrymyluckwithmyfishinglineandhook。"

"Certainly；maketheexperiment，"saidmyuncle，pleasedwithmyenthusiasm。"Whileweareaboutit，itwillcertainlybeonlypropertodiscoverallthesecretsofthisextraordinaryregion。"

"But，afterall，wherearewenow?"Iasked；"allthistimeIhavequiteforgottentoaskyouaquestion，which，doubtless，yourphilosophicalinstrumentshavelongsinceanswered。"

"Well，"repliedtheProfessor，"examiningthesituationfromonlyonepointofview，wearenowdistantthreehundredandfiftyleaguesfromIceland。"

"Somuch?"wasmyexclamation。

"Ihavegoneoverthematterseveraltimes，andamsurenottohavemadeamistakeoffivehundredyards，"repliedmyunclepositively。

"Andastothedirection-arewestillgoingtothesoutheast?"

"Yes，withawesterndeclination*ofnineteendegrees，forty-twominutes，justasitisabove。Asfortheinclination**Ihavediscoveredaverycuriousfact。"

*Thedeclinationisthevariationoftheneedlefromthetruemeridianofaplace。

**Inclinationisthedipofthemagneticneedlewithatendencytoinclinetowardstheearth。

"Whatmaythatbe，Uncle?Yourinformationinterestsme。"

"Why，thattheneedleinsteadofdippingtowardsthepoleasitdoesonearth，inthenorthernhemisphere，hasanupwardtendency。"

"Thisproves，"Icried，"thatthegreatpointofmagneticattractionliessomewherebetweenthesurfaceoftheearthandthespotwehavesucceededinreaching。"

"Exactly，myobservantnephew，"exclaimedmyuncle，elatedanddelighted，"anditisquiteprobablethatifwesucceedingettingtowardthepolarregions-somewhereneartheseventy-thirddegreeoflatitude，whereSirJamesRossdiscoveredthemagneticpole，weshallbeholdtheneedlepointdirectlyupward。Wehavethereforediscoveredbyanalogy，thatthisgreatcenterofattractionisnotsituatedataverygreatdepth。"

"Well，"saidI，rathersurprised，"thisdiscoverywillastonishexperimentalphilosophers。Itwasneversuspected。"

"Science，great，mightyandintheendunerring，"repliedmyuncledogmatically，"sciencehasfallenintomanyerrors-errorswhichhavebeenfortunateandusefulratherthanotherwise，fortheyhavebeenthesteppingstonestotruth。"

Aftersomefurtherdiscussion，Iturnedtoanothermatter。

"Haveyouanyideaofthedepthwehavereached?"

"Wearenow，"continuedtheProfessor，"exactlythirty-fiveleagues-

aboveahundredmiles-downintotheinterioroftheearth。"

"So，"saidI，aftermeasuringthedistanceonthemap，"wearenowbeneaththeScottishHighlands，andhaveoverourheadstheloftyGrampianHills。"

"Youarequiteright，"saidtheProfessor，laughing；"itsoundsveryalarming，theweightbeingheavy-butthevaultwhichsupportsthisvastmassofearthandrockissolidandsafe；themightyArchitectoftheUniversehasconstructeditofsolidmaterials。Man，eveninhishighestflightsofvividandpoeticimagination，neverthoughtofsuchthings!Whatarethefinestarchesofourbridges，whatthevaultedroofsofourcathedrals，tothatmightydomeaboveus，andbeneathwhichfloatsanoceanwithitsstormsandcalmsandtides!"

"Iadmireitallasmuchasyoucan，Uncle，andhavenofearthatourgraniteskywillfalluponourheads。Butnowthatwehavediscussedmattersofscienceanddiscovery，whatareyourfutureintentions?Areyounotthinkingofgettingbacktothesurfaceofourbeautifulearth?"

Thiswassaidmoreasafeelerthanwithanyhopeofsuccess。

"Goback，nephew，"criedmyuncleinatoneofalarm，"youarenotsurelythinkingofanythingsoabsurdorcowardly。No，myintentionistoadvanceandcontinueourjourney。Wehaveasyetbeensingularlyfortunate，andhenceforthIhopeweshallbemoreso。"

"But，"saidI，"howarewetocrossyonderliquidplain?"

"Itisnotmyintentiontoleapintoitheadforemost，oreventoswimacrossit，likeLeanderovertheHellespont。Butasoceansare，afterall，onlygreatlakes，inasmuchastheyaresurroundedbyland，sodoesitstandtoreason，thatthiscentralseaiscircumscribedbygranitesurroundings。"

"Doubtless，"wasmynaturalreply。

"Well，then，doyounotthinkthatwhenoncewereachtheotherend，weshallfindsomemeansofcontinuingourjourney?"

"Probably，butwhatextentdoyouallowtothisinternalocean?"

"Well，Ishouldfancyittoextendaboutfortyorfiftyleagues-

moreorless。"

"Butevensupposingthisapproximationtobeacorrectone-whatthen?"Iasked。

"Mydearboy，wehavenotimeforfurtherdiscussion。Weshallembarktomorrow。"

Ilookedaroundwithsurpriseandincredulity。Icouldseenothingintheshapeofboatorvessel。

"What!"Icried，"weareabouttolaunchoutuponanunknownsea；

andwhere，ifImayask，isthevesseltocarryus?"

"Well，mydearboy，itwillnotbeexactlywhatyouwouldcallavessel。Forthepresentwemustbecontentwithagoodandsolidraft。"

"Araft，"Icried，incredulously，"butdownherearaftisasimpossibleofconstructionasavessel-andIamatalosstoimagine-"

"MygoodHarry-ifyouweretolisteninsteadoftalkingsomuch，youwouldhear，"saidmyuncle，waxingalittleimpatient。

"Ishouldhear?"

"Yes-certainknockswiththehammer，whichHansisnowemployingtomaketheraft。Hehasbeenatworkformanyhours。"

"Makingaraft?"

"Yes。"

"Butwherehashefoundtreessuitableforsuchaconstruction?"

"Hefoundthetreesallreadytohishand。Come，andyoushallseeourexcellentguideatwork。"

MoreandmoreamazedatwhatIheardandsaw，Ifollowedmyunclelikeoneinadream。

Afterawalkofaboutaquarterofanhour，IsawHansatworkontheothersideofthepromontorywhichformedournaturalport。A

fewminutesmoreandIwasbesidehim。Tomygreatsurprise，onthesandyshorelayahalf-finishedraft。Itwasmadefrombeamsofaverypeculiarwood，andagreatnumberoflimbs，joints，boughs，andpieceslayabout，sufficienttohaveconstructedafleetofshipsandboats。

Iturnedtomyuncle，silentwithastonishmentandawe。

"Wheredidallthiswoodcomefrom?"Icried；"whatwoodisit?"

"Well，thereispinewood，fir，andthepalmsofthenorthernregions，mineralizedbytheactionofthesea，"hereplied，sententiously。

"Canitbepossible?"

"Yes，"saidthelearnedProfessor，"whatyouseeiscalledfossilwood。"

"Butthen，"criedI，afterreflectingforamoment，"likethelignites，itmustbeashardandasheavyasiron，andthereforewillcertainlynotfloat。"

"Sometimesthatisthecase。Manyofthesewoodshavebecometrueanthracites，butothersagain，likethoseyouseebeforeyou，haveonlyundergoneonephaseoffossiltransformation。Butthereisnoprooflikedemonstration，"addedmyuncle，pickingoneortwoofthesepreciouswaifsandcastingthemintothesea。

Thepieceofwood，afterhavingdisappearedforamoment，cametothesurface，andfloatedaboutwiththeoscillationproducedbywindandtide。

"Areyouconvinced?"saidmyuncle，withaself-satisfiedsmile。

"Iamconvinced，"Icried，"thatwhatIseeisincredible。"

Thefactwasthatmyjourneyintotheinterioroftheearthwasrapidlychangingallpreconceivednotions，anddaybydaypreparingmeforthemarvelous。

Ishouldnothavebeensurprisedtohaveseenafleetofnativecanoesafloatuponthatsilentsea。

Theverynextevening，thankstotheindustryandabilityofHans，theraftwasfinished。Itwasabouttenfeetlongandfivefeetwide。Thebeamsboundtogetherwithstoutropes，weresolidandfirm，andoncelaunchedbyourunitedefforts，theimprovisedvesselfloatedtranquillyuponthewatersofwhattheProfessorhadwellnamedtheCentralSea。

CHAPTER29

OntheWaters-ARaftVoyageONthethirteenthofAugustwewereupbetimes。Therewasnotimetobelost。Wenowhadtoinaugurateanewkindoflocomotion，whichwouldhavetheadvantageofbeingrapidandnotfatiguing。

Amast，madeoftwopiecesofwoodfastenedtogether，togiveadditionalstrength，ayardmadefromanotherone，thesailalinensheetfromourbed。Wewerefortunatelyinnowantofcordage，andthewholeontrialappearedsolidandseaworthy。

Atsixo"clockinthemorning，whentheeagerandenthusiasticProfessorgavethesignaltoembark，thevictuals，theluggage，allourinstruments，ourweapons，andagoodlysupplyofsweetwater，whichwehadcollectedfromspringsintherocks，wereplacedontheraft。

Hanshad，withconsiderableingenuity，contrivedarudder，whichenabledhimtoguidethefloatingapparatuswithease。Hetookthetiller，asamatterofcourse。Theworthymanwasasgoodasailorashewasaguideandduckhunter。Ithenletgothepainterwhichheldustotheshore，thesailwasbroughttothewind，andwemadearapidoffing。

Ourseavoyagehadatlengthcommenced；andoncemoreweweremakingfordistantandunknownregions。

Justaswewereabouttoleavethelittleportwheretherafthadbeenconstructed，myuncle，whowasverystrongastogeographicnomenclature，wantedtogiveitaname，andamongothers，suggestedmine。

"Well，"saidI，"beforeyoudecideIhaveanothertopropose。"

"Well；outwithit。"

"IshouldliketocallitGretchen。PortGretchenwillsoundverywellonourfuturemap。"

"Wellthen，PortGretchenletitbe，"saidtheProfessor。

Andthusitwasthatthememoryofmydeargirlwasattachedtoouradventurousandmemorableexpedition。

Whenwelefttheshorethewindwasblowingfromthenorthwardandeastward。Wewentdirectlybeforethewindatamuchgreaterspeedthanmighthavebeenexpectedfromaraft。Thedenselayersofatmosphereatthatdepthhadgreatpropellingpowerandacteduponthesailwithconsiderableforce。

Attheendofanhour，myuncle，whohadbeentakingcarefulobservations，wasenabledtojudgeoftherapiditywithwhichwemoved。Itwasfarbeyondanythingseenintheupperworld。

"If，"hesaid，"wecontinuetoadvanceatourpresentrate，weshallhavetraveledatleastthirtyleaguesintwenty-fourhours。Withamereraftthisisanalmostincrediblevelocity。"

Icertainlywassurprised，andwithoutmakinganyreplywentforwardupontheraft。Alreadythenorthernshorewasfadingawayontheedgeofthehorizon。Thetwoshoresappearedtoseparatemoreandmore，leavingawideandopenspaceforourdeparture。BeforemeI

couldseenothingbutthevastandapparentlylimitlesssea-uponwhichwefloated-theonlylivingobjectsinsight。

Hugeanddarkcloudscasttheirgreyshadowsbelow-shadowswhichseemedtocrushthatcolorlessandsullenwaterbytheirweight。

AnythingmoresuggestiveofgloomandofregionsofnetherdarknessIneverbeheld。Silveryraysofelectriclight，reflectedhereandthereuponsomesmallspotsofwater，broughtupluminoussparklesinthelongwakeofourcumbrousbark。Presentlywewerewhollyoutofsightofland；notavestigecouldbeseen，noranyindicationofwhereweweregoing。SostillandmotionlessdidweseemwithoutanydistantpointtofixoureyesonthatbutforthephosphoriclightatthewakeoftheraftIshouldhavefanciedthatwewerestillandmotionless。

ButIknewthatwewereadvancingataveryrapidrate。

Abouttwelveo"clockintheday，vastcollectionsofseaweedwerediscoveredsurroundingusonallsides。Iwasawareoftheextraordinaryvegetativepoweroftheseplants，whichhavebeenknowntocreepalongthebottomofthegreatocean，andstoptheadvanceoflargeships。Butneverwereseaweedseverseen，sogiganticandwonderfulasthoseoftheCentralSea。Icouldwellimaginehow，seenatadistance，tossingandheavingonthesummitofthebillows，thelonglinesofalgaehavebeentakenforlivingthings，andthushavebeenfertilesourcesofthebeliefinseaserpents。

Ourraftsweptpastgreatspecimensoffucusorseawrack，fromthreetofourthousandfeetinlength，immense，incrediblylong，lookinglikesnakesthatstretchedoutfarbeyondourhorizon。Itaffordedmegreatamusementtogazeontheirvariegatedribbon-likeendlesslengths。Hourafterhourpassedwithoutourcomingtotheterminationofthesefloatingweeds。Ifmyastonishmentincreased，mypatiencewaswell-nighexhausted。

Whatnaturalforcecouldpossiblyhaveproducedsuchabnormalandextraordinaryplants?Whatmusthavebeentheaspectoftheglobe，duringthefirstcenturiesofitsformation，whenunderthecombinedactionofheatandhumidity，thevegetablekingdomoccupieditsvastsurfacetotheexclusionofeverythingelse?

Thesewereconsiderationsofnever-endinginterestforthegeologistandthephilosopher。

Allthiswhilewewereadvancingonourjourney；andatlengthnightcame；butasIhadremarkedtheeveningbefore，theluminousstateoftheatmospherewasinnothingdiminished。Whateverwasthecause，itwasaphenomenonuponthedurationofwhichwecouldcalculatewithcertainty。

Assoonasoursupperhadbeendisposedof，andsomelittlespeculativeconversationindulgedin，Istretchedmyselfatthefootofthemast，andpresentlywenttosleep。

Hansremainedmotionlessatthetiller，allowingtherafttoriseandfallonthewaves。Thewindbeingaft，andthesailsquare，allhehadtodowastokeephisoarinthecenter。

EversincewehadtakenourdeparturefromthenewlynamedPortGretchen，myworthyunclehaddirectedmetokeeparegularlogofourday"snavigation，withinstructionstoputdowneventhemostminuteparticulars，everyinterestingandcuriousphenomenon，thedirectionofthewind，ourrateofsailing，thedistancewewent；inaword，everyincidentofourextraordinaryvoyage。

Fromourlog，therefore，ItellthestoryofourvoyageontheCentralSea。

Friday，August14th。Asteadybreezefromthenorthwest。Raftprogressingwithextremerapidity，andgoingperfectlystraight。Coaststilldimlyvisibleaboutthirtyleaguestoleeward。Nothingtobeseenbeyondthehorizoninfront。Theextraordinaryintensityofthelightneitherincreasesnordiminishes。Itissingularlystationary。

Theweatherremarkablyfine；thatistosay，thecloudshaveascendedveryhigh，andarelightandfleecy，andsurroundedbyanatmosphereresemblingsilverinfusion。

Thermometer，+32degreescentigrade。

Abouttwelveo"clockinthedayourguideHanshavingpreparedandbaitedahook，casthislineintothesubterraneanwaters。Thebaitheusedwasasmallpieceofmeat，bymeansofwhichheconcealedhishook。AnxiousasIwas，Iwasforalongtimedoomedtodisappointment。Werethesewaterssuppliedwithfishornot?Thatwastheimportantquestion。No-wasmydecidedanswer。Thentherecameasuddenandratherhardtug。Hanscoollydrewitin，andwithitafish，whichstruggledviolentlytoescape。

"Afish!"criedmyuncle。

"Itisasturgeon!"Icried，"certainlyasmallsturgeon。"

TheProfessorexaminedthefishcarefully，notingeverycharacteristic；andhedidnotcoincideinmyopinion。Thefishhadaflathead，roundbody，andthelowerextremitiescoveredwithbonyscales；itsmouthwaswhollywithoutteeth，thepectoralfins，whichwerehighlydeveloped，sprouteddirectfromthebody，whichproperlyspeakinghadnotail。Theanimalcertainlybelongedtotheorderinwhichnaturalistsclassthesturgeon，butitdifferedfromthatfishinmanyessentialparticulars。

Myuncle，afterall，wasnotmistaken。Afteralongandpatientexamination，hesaid:

"Thisfish，mydearboy，belongstoafamilywhichhasbeenextinctforages，andofwhichnotracehaseverbeenfoundonearth，exceptfossilremainsintheDevonianstrata。"

"Youdonotmeantosay，"Icried，"thatwehavecapturedalivespecimenofafishbelongingtotheprimitivestockthatexistedbeforethedeluge?"

"Wehave，"saidtheProfessor，whoallthistimewascontinuinghisobservations，"andyoumayseebycarefulexaminationthatthesefossilfishhavenoidentitywithexistingspecies。Toholdinone"shand，therefore，alivingspecimenoftheorder，isenoughtomakeanaturalisthappyforlife。"

"But，"criedI，"towhatfamilydoesitbelong?"

"TotheorderofGanoides-anorderoffishhavingangularscales，coveredwithbrightenamel-formingoneofthefamilyoftheCephalaspides，ofthegenus-"

"Well，sir，"Iremarked，asInoticedmyunclehesitatedtoconclude。

"TothegenusPterychtis-yes，Iamcertainofit。Still，thoughI

amconfidentofthecorrectnessofmysurmise，thisfishofferstoournoticearemarkablepeculiarity，neverknowntoexistinanyotherfishbutthosewhicharethenativesofsubterraneanwaters，wells，lakes，incaverns，andsuchlikehiddenpools。"

"Andwhatmaythatbe?"

"Itisblind。"

"Blind!"Icried，muchsurprised。

"Notonlyblind，"continuedtheProfessor，"butabsolutelywithoutorgansofsight。"

Inowexaminedourdiscoveryformyself。Itwassingular，tobesure，butitwasreallyafact。This，however，mightbeasolitaryinstance，Isuggested。Thehookwasbaitedagainandoncemorethrownintothewater。Thissubterraneanoceanmusthavebeentolerablywellsuppliedwithfish，forintwohourswetookalargenumberofPterychtis，aswellasotherfishbelongingtoanothersupposedextinctfamily-theDipterides(agenusoffish，furnishedwithtwofinsonly，whencethename)，thoughmyunclecouldnotclassitexactly。All，withoutexception，however，wereblind。Thisunexpectedcaptureenabledustorenewourstockofprovisionsinaverysatisfactoryway。

Wewerenowconvincedthatthissubterraneanseacontainedonlyfishknowntousasfossilspecimens-andfishandreptilesalikewereallthemoreperfectthefartherbacktheydatedtheirorigin。

Webegantohopethatweshouldfindsomeofthosesaurianswhichsciencehassucceededinreconstructingfrombitsofboneorcartilage。

Itookupthetelescopeandcarefullyexaminedthehorizon-lookedoverthewholesea；itwasutterlyandentirelydeserted。Doubtlesswewerestilltoonearthecoast。

Afteranexaminationoftheocean，Ilookedupward，towardsthestrangeandmysterioussky。WhyshouldnotoneofthebirdsreconstructedbytheimmortalCuvierflaphisstupendouswingsaloftinthedullstrataofsubterraneanair?Itwould，ofcourse，findquitesufficientfoodfromthefishinthesea。Igazedforsometimeuponthevoidabove。Itwasassilentandasdesertedastheshoreswehadbutlatelyleft。

Nevertheless，thoughIcouldneitherseenordiscoveranything，myimaginationcarriedmeawayintowildhypotheses。Iwasinakindofwakingdream。IthoughtIsawonthesurfaceofthewaterthoseenormousantediluvianturtlesasbigasfloatingislands。Uponthosedullandsombershorespassedaspectralrowofthemammifersofearlydays，thegreatLiptotheriumfoundinthecavernoushollowoftheBrazilianhills，theMesicotherium，anativeoftheglacialregionsofSiberia。

Fartheron，thepachydermatousLophrodon，thatgigantictapir，whichconcealeditselfbehindrocks，readytodobattleforitspreywiththeAnoplotherium，asingularanimalpartakingofthenatureoftherhinoceros，thehorse，thehippopotamusandthecamel。

TherewasthegiantMastodon，twistingandturninghishorridtrunk，withwhichhecrushedtherocksoftheshoretopowder，whiletheMegatherium-hisbackraisedlikeacatinapassion，hisenormousclawsstretchedout，dugintotheearthforfood，atthesametimethatheawokethesonorousechoesofthewholeplacewithhisterribleroar。

Higherupstill，thefirstmonkeyeverseenonthefaceoftheglobeclambered，gambolingandplayingupthegranitehills。Stillfartheraway，ranthePterodactyl，withthewingedhand，glidingorrathersailingthroughthedenseandcompressedairlikeahugebat。

Aboveall，neartheleadengraniticsky，wereimmensebirds，morepowerfulthanthecassowaryandtheostrich，whichspreadtheirmightywingsandflutteredagainstthehugestonevaultoftheinlandsea。

Ithought，suchwastheeffectofmyimagination，thatIsawthiswholetribeofantediluviancreatures。Icarriedmyselfbacktofarages，longbeforemanexisted-when，infact，theearthwasintooimperfectastateforhimtoliveuponit。

Mydreamwasofcountlessagesbeforetheexistenceofman。Themammifersfirstdisappeared，thenthemightybirds，thenthereptilesofthesecondaryperiod，presentlythefish，thecrustacea，themollusks，andfinallythevertebrata。Thezoophytesoftheperiodoftransitionintheirturnsankintoannihilation。

Thewholepanoramaoftheworld"slifebeforethehistoricperiod，seemedtobebornoveragain，andminewastheonlyhumanheartthatbeatinthisunpeopledworld!Therewerenomoreseasons；therewerenomoreclimates；thenaturalheatoftheworldincreasedunceasingly，andneutralizedthatofthegreatradiantSun。

Vegetationwasexaggeratedinanextraordinarymanner。IpassedlikeashadowinthemidstofbrushwoodasloftyasthegianttreesofCalifornia，andtrodunderfootthemoistandhumidsoil，reekingwitharankandvariedvegetation。

Ileanedagainstthehugecolumn-liketrunksofgianttrees，towhichthoseofCanadawereasferns。Wholeagespassed，hundredsuponhundredsofyearswereconcentratedintoasingleday。

Next，unrolledbeforemelikeapanorama，camethegreatandwondrousseriesofterrestrialtransformations。Plantsdisappeared；

thegraniticrockslostalltraceofsolidity；theliquidstatewassuddenlysubstitutedforthatwhichhadbeforeexisted。Thiswascausedbyintenseheatactingontheorganicmatteroftheearth。

Thewatersflowedoverthewholesurfaceoftheglobe；theyboiled；

theywerevolatilized，orturnedintovapor；akindofsteamcloudwrappedthewholeearth，theglobeitselfbecomingatlastnothingbutonehugesphereofgas，indescribableincolor，betweenwhiteheatandred，asbigandasbrilliantasthesun。

Intheverycenterofthisprodigiousmass，fourteenhundredthousandtimesaslargeasourglobe，Iwaswhirledroundinspace，andbroughtintocloseconjunctionwiththeplanets。Mybodywassubtilized，orratherbecamevolatile，andcommingledinastateofatomicvapor，withtheprodigiousclouds，whichrushedforwardlikeamightycometintoinfinitespace!

Whatanextraordinarydream!Wherewoulditfinallytakeme?Myfeverishhandbegantowritedownthemarvelousdetails-detailsmoreliketheimaginingsofalunaticthananythingsoberandreal。

Ihadduringthisperiodofhallucinationforgotteneverything-theProfessor，theguide，andtheraftonwhichwewerefloating。Mymindwasinastateofsemioblivion。

"Whatisthematter，Harry?"saidmyunclesuddenly。

Myeyes，whichwerewideopenedlikethoseofasomnambulist，werefixeduponhim，butIdidnotseehim，norcouldIclearlymakeoutanythingaroundme。

"Takecare，myboy，"againcriedmyuncle，"youwillfallintothesea。"

Asheutteredthesewords，Ifeltmyselfseizedontheothersidebythefirmhandofourdevotedguide。HaditnotbeenforthepresenceofmindofHans，Imustinfalliblyhavefallenintothewavesandbeendrowned。

"Haveyougonemad?"criedmyuncle，shakingmeontheotherside。

"What-whatisthematter?"Isaidatlast，comingtomyself。

"Areyouill，Henry?"continuedtheProfessorinananxioustone。

"No-no；butIhavehadanextraordinarydream。It，however，haspassedaway。Allnowseemswell""Iadded，lookingaroundmewithstrangelypuzzledeyes。

"Allright，"saidmyuncle；"abeautifulbreeze，asplendidsea。

Wearegoingalongatarapidrate，andifIamnotoutinmycalculationsweshallsoonseeland。Ishallnotbesorrytoexchangethenarrowlimitsofourraftforthemysteriousstrandofthesubterraneanocean。"

Asmyuncleutteredthesewords，Iroseandcarefullyscannedthehorizon。Butthelineofwaterwasstillconfoundedwiththeloweringcloudsthathungaloft，andinthedistanceappearedtotouchtheedgeofthewater。

CHAPTER30

TerrificSaurianCombatSATURDAY，August15th。Theseastillretainsitsuniformmonotony。

Thesameleadenhue，thesameeternalglarefromabove。Noindicationoflandbeinginsight。Thehorizonappearstoretreatbeforeus，moreandmoreasweadvance。

Myhead，stilldullandheavyfromtheeffectsofmyextraordinarydream，whichIcannotasyetbanishfrommymind。

TheProfessor，whohasnotdreamed，is，however，inoneofhismoroseandunaccountablehumors。Spendshistimeinscanningthehorizon，ateverypointofthecompass。Histelescopeisraisedeverymomenttohiseyes，andwhenhefindsnothingtogiveanycluetoourwhereabouts，heassumesaNapoleonicattitudeandwalksanxiously。

Iremarkedthatmyuncle，theProfessor，hadastrongtendencytoresumehisoldimpatientcharacter，andIcouldnotbutmakeanoteofthisdisagreeablecircumstanceinmyjournal。Isawclearlythatithadrequiredalltheinfluenceofmydangerandsuffering，toextractfromhimonescintillationofhumanefeeling。NowthatIwasquiterecovered，hisoriginalnaturehadconqueredandobtainedtheupperhand。

And，afterall，whathadhetobeangryandannoyedabout，nowmorethanatanyothertime?Wasnotthejourneybeingaccomplishedunderthemostfavorablecircumstances?Wasnottheraftprogressingwiththemostmarvelousrapidity?

What，then，couldbethematter?Afteroneortwopreliminaryhems，Ideterminedtoinquire。

"Youseemuneasy，Uncle，"saidI，whenforaboutthehundredthtimeheputdownhistelescopeandwalkedupanddown，mutteringtohimself。

"No，Iamnotuneasy，"herepliedinadryharshtone，"bynomeans。"

"PerhapsIshouldhavesaidimpatient，"Ireplied，softeningtheforceofmyremark。

"Enoughtomakemeso，Ithink。"

"Andyetweareadvancingatarateseldomattainedbyaraft，"I

remarked。

"Whatmattersthat?"criedmyuncle。"Iamnotvexedattheratewegoat，butIamannoyedtofindtheseasomuchvasterthanI

expected。"

IthenrecollectedthattheProfessor，beforeourdeparture，hadestimatedthelengthofthissubterraneanoceanasatmostaboutthirtyleagues。Nowwehadtraveledatleastoverthricethatdistancewithoutdiscoveringanytraceofthedistantshore。Ibegantounderstandmyuncle"sanger。

"Wearenotgoingdown，"suddenlyexclaimedtheProfessor。"Wearenotprogressingwithourgreatdiscoveries。Allthisisutterlossoftime。Afterall，Ididnotcomefromhometoundertakeapartyofpleasure。Thisvoyageonaraftoverapondannoysandweariesme。"