第11章

Hecalledthisadventurousjourneyapartyofpleasure，andthisgreatinlandseaapond!

"But，"arguedI，"ifwehavefollowedtherouteindicatedbythegreatSaknussemm，wecannotbegoingfarwrong。"

""Thatisthequestion，"asthegreat，theimmortalShakespeare，hasit。Arewefollowingtherouteindicatedbythatwondroussage?DidSaknussemmeverfallinwiththisgreatsheetofwater?Ifhedid，didhecrossit?Ibegintofearthattherivuletweadoptedforaguidehasleduswrong。"

"Inanycase，wecanneverregrethavingcomethusfar。Itisworththewholejourneytohaveenjoyedthismagnificentspectacle-itissomethingtohaveseen。"

"Icarenothingaboutseeing，noraboutmagnificentspectacles。I

camedownintotheinterioroftheearthwithanobject，andthatobjectImeantoattain。Don"ttalktomeaboutadmiringscenery，oranyothersentimentaltrash。"

AfterthisIthoughtitwelltoholdmytongue，andallowtheProfessortobitehislipsuntilthebloodcame，withoutfurtherremark。

Atsixo"clockintheevening，ourmatter-of-factguide，Hans，askedforhisweek"ssalary，andreceivinghisthreerix-dollars，putthemcarefullyinhispocket。Hewasperfectlycontentedandsatisfied。

Sunday，August16th。Nothingnewtorecord。Thesameweatherasbefore。Thewindhasaslighttendencytofreshenup，withsignsofanapproachinggale。WhenIawoke，Myfirstobservationwasinregardtotheintensityofthelight。Ikeeponfearing，dayafterday，thattheextraordinaryelectricphenomenonshouldbecomefirstobscured，andthengowhollyout，leavingusintotaldarkness。

Nothing，however，ofthekindoccurs。Theshadowoftheraft，itsmastandsails，isclearlydistinguishedonthesurfaceofthewater。

Thiswondrousseais，afterall，infiniteinitsextent。ItmustbequiteaswideastheMediterranean-orperhapsevenasthegreatAtlanticOcean。Why，afterall，shoulditnotbeso?

Myunclehasonmorethanoneoccasion，trieddeep-seasoundings。Hetiedthecrossofoneofourheaviestcrowbarstotheextremityofacord，whichheallowedtorunouttotheextentoftwohundredfathoms。Wehadthegreatestdifficultyinhoistinginournovelkindoflead。

Whenthecrowbarwasfinallydraggedonboard，Hanscalledmyattentiontosomesingularmarksuponitssurface。Thepieceofironlookedasifithadbeencrushedbetweentwoveryhardsubstances。

Ilookedatourworthyguidewithaninquiringglance。

"Tander，"saidhe。

OfcourseIwasatalosstounderstand。Iturnedroundtowardsmyuncle，absorbedingloomyreflections。Ihadlittlewishtodisturbhimfromhisreverie。IaccordinglyturnedoncemoretowardsourworthyIcelander。

Hansveryquietlyandsignificantlyopenedhismouthonceortwice，asifintheactofbiting，andinthiswaymademeunderstandhismeaning。

"Teeth!"criedI，withstupefaction，asIexaminedthebarofironwithmoreattention。

Yes。Therecanbenodoubtaboutthematter。Theindentationsonthebarofironarethemarksofteeth!Whatjawsmusttheownerofsuchmolarsbepossessedof!Havewellthen，comeuponamonsterofunknownspecies，whichstillexistswithinthevastwasteofwaters-amonstermorevoraciousthanashark，moreterribleandbulkythanthewhale?Iamunabletowithdrawmyeyesfromthebarofiron，actuallyhalfcrushed!

Is，then，mydreamabouttocometrue-adreadandterriblereality?

Alldaymythoughtswerebentuponthesespeculations，andmyimaginationscarcelyregainedadegreeofcalmnessandpowerofreflectionuntilafterasleepofmanyhours。

Thisday，asonotherSundays，weobservedasadayofrestandpiousmeditation。

Monday，August17th。Ihavebeentryingtorealizefrommemorytheparticularinstinctsofthoseantediluviananimalsofthesecondaryperiod，whichsucceedingtothemollusca，tothecrustacea，andtothefish，precededtheappearanceoftheraceofmammifers。Thegenerationofreptilesthenreignedsupremeupontheearth。Thesehideousmonstersruledeverythingintheseasofthesecondaryperiod，whichformedthestrataofwhichtheJuramountainsarecomposed。Naturehadendowedthemwithperfectorganization。Whatagiganticstructurewastheirs；whatvastandprodigiousstrengththeypossessed!

Theexistingsaurians，whichincludeallsuchreptilesaslizards，crocodiles，andalligators，eventhelargestandmostformidableoftheirclass，arebutfeebleimitationsoftheirmightysires，theanimalsofageslongago。Ifthereweregiantsinthedaysofold，therewerealsogiganticanimals。

IshudderedasIevolvedfrommymindtheideaandrecollectionoftheseawfulmonsters。Noeyeofmanhadseenthemintheflesh。Theytooktheirwalksabroaduponthefaceoftheearththousandsofagesbeforemancameintoexistence，andtheirfossilbones，discoveredinthelimestone，haveallowedustoreconstructthemanatomically，andthustogetsomefaintideaoftheircolossalformation。

IrecollectonceseeinginthegreatMuseumofHamburgtheskeletonofoneofthesewonderfulsaurians。Itmeasurednolessthanthirtyfeetfromthenosetothetail。AmI，then，aninhabitantoftheearthofthepresentday，destinedtofindmyselffacetofacewitharepresentativeofthisantediluvianfamily?I

canscarcelybelieveitpossible；Icanhardlybelieveittrue。Andyetthesemarksofpowerfulteethuponthebarofiron!Cantherebeadoubtfromtheirshapethatthebiteisthebiteofacrocodile?

Myeyesstarewildlyandwithterroruponthesubterraneansea。

EverymomentIexpectoneofthesemonsterstorisefromitsvastcavernousdepths。

IfancythattheworthyProfessorinsomemeasuresharesmynotions，ifnotmyfears，for，afteranattentiveexaminationofthecrowbar，hecasthiseyesrapidlyoverthemightyandmysteriousocean。

"Whatcouldpossesshimtoleavetheland，"Ithought，"asifthedepthofthiswaterwasofanyimportancetous。Nodoubthehasdisturbedsometerriblemonsterinhiswateryhome，andperhapswemaypaydearlyforourtemerity。"

Anxioustobepreparedfortheworst，Iexaminedourweapons，andsawthattheywereinafitstateforuse。Myunclelookedonatmeandnoddedhisheadapprovingly。He，too，hasnoticedwhatwehavetofear。

Alreadytheupliftingofthewatersonthesurfaceindicatesthatsomethingisinmotionbelow。Thedangerapproaches。Itcomesnearerandnearer。Itbehoovesustobeonthewatch。

Tuesday，August18th。Eveningcameatlast，thehourwhenthedesireforsleepcausedoureyelidstobeheavy。Nightthereisnot，properlyspeaking，inthisplace，anymorethanthereisinsummerinthearcticregions。Hans，however，isimmovableattherudder。WhenhesnatchesamomentofrestIreallycannotsay。Itakeadvantageofhisvigilancetotakesomelittlerepose。

ButtwohoursafterIwasawakenedfromaheavysleepbyanawfulshock。Theraftappearedtohavestruckuponasunkenrock。Itwasliftedrightoutofthewaterbysomewondrousandmysteriouspower，andthenstartedofftwentyfathomsdistant。

"Eh，whatisit?"criedmyunclestartingup。"Areweshipwrecked，orwhat?"

Hansraisedhishandandpointedtowhere，abouttwohundredyardsoff，alargeblackmasswasmovingupanddown。

Ilookedwithawe。Myworstfearswererealized。

"Itisacolossalmonster!"Icried，claspingmyhands。

"Yes，"criedtheagitatedProfessor，"andthereyonderisahugesealizardofterriblesizeandshape。"

"Andfartheronbeholdaprodigiouscrocodile。Lookathishideousjaws，andthatrowofmonstrousteeth。Ha!hehasgone。"

"Awhale!awhale!"shoutedtheProfessor，"Icanseeherenormousfins。See，see，howsheblowsairandwater!"

Twoliquidcolumnsrosetoavastheightabovethelevelofthesea，intowhichtheyfellwithaterrificcrash，wakinguptheechoesofthatawfulplace。Westoodstill-surprised，stupefied，terror-strickenatthesightofthisgroupoffearfulmarinemonsters，morehideousintherealitythaninmydream。Theywereofsupernaturaldimensions；theverysmallestofthewholepartycouldwitheasehavecrushedourraftandourselveswithasinglebite。

Hans，seizingtherudderwhichhadflownoutofhishand，putsithardaweatherinordertoescapefromsuchdangerousvicinity；butnosoonerdoeshedoso，thanhefindsheisflyingfromScyllatoCharybdis。Toleewardisaturtleaboutfortyfeetwide，andaserpentquiteaslong，withanenormousandhideousheadpeeringfromoutthewaters。

Lookwhichwaywewill，itisimpossibleforustofly。Thefearfulreptilesadvanceduponus；theyturnedandtwistedabouttheraftwithawfulrapidity。Theyformedaroundourdevotedvesselaseriesofconcentriccircles。Itookupmyrifleindesperation。Butwhateffectcanarifleballproduceuponthearmorscaleswithwhichthebodiesofthesehorridmonstersarecovered?

Weremainstillanddumbfromutterhorror。Theyadvanceuponus，nearerandnearer。Ourfateappearscertain，fearfulandterrible。

Ononesidethemightycrocodile，ontheotherthegreatseaserpent。Therestofthefearfulcrowdofmarineprodigieshaveplungedbeneaththebrinywavesanddisappeared!

Iamabouttofireatanyriskandtrytheeffectofashot。Hans，theguide，however，interferedbyasigntocheckme。Thetwohideousandravenousmonsterspassedwithinfiftyfathomsoftheraft，andthenmadearushatoneanother-theirfuryandragepreventingthemfromseeingus。

Thecombatcommenced。Wedistinctlymadeouteveryactionofthetwohideousmonsters。

Buttomyexcitedimaginationtheotheranimalsappearedabouttotakepartinthefierceanddeadlystruggle-themonster，thewhale，thelizard，andtheturtle。Idistinctlysawthemeverymoment。I

pointedthemouttotheIcelander。Butheonlyshookhishead。

"Tva，"hesaid。

"What-twoonlydoeshesay。Surelyheismistaken，"Icriedinatoneofwonder。

"Heisquiteright，"repliedmyunclecoollyandphilosophically，examiningtheterribleduelwithhistelescopeandspeakingasifhewereinalectureroom。

"Howcanthatbe?"

"Yes，itisso。Thefirstofthesehideousmonstershasthesnoutofaporpoise，theheadofalizard，theteethofacrocodile；anditisthisthathasdeceivedus。Itisthemostfearfulofallantediluvianreptiles，theworld-renownedIchthyosaurusorgreatfishlizard。"

"Andtheother?"

"Theotherisamonstrousserpent，concealedunderthehardvaultedshelloftheturtle，theterribleenemyofitsfearfulrival，thePlesiosaurus，orseacrocodile。"

Hanswasquiteright。Thetwomonstersonly，disturbedthesurfaceofthesea!

Atlasthavemortaleyesgazedupontworeptilesofthegreatprimitiveocean!IseetheflamingredeyesoftheIchthyosaurus，eachasbig，orbiggerthanaman"shead。Natureinitsinfinitewisdomhadgiftedthiswondrousmarineanimalwithanopticalapparatusofextremepower，capableofresistingthepressureoftheheavylayersofwaterwhichrolledoverhiminthedepthsoftheoceanwhereheusuallyfed。Ithasbysomeauthorstrulybeencalledthewhaleofthesaurianrace，foritisasbigandquickinitsmotionsasourkingoftheseas。Thisonemeasuresnotlessthanahundredfeetinlength，andIcanformsomeideaofhisgirthwhenIseehimlifthisprodigioustailoutofthewaters。Hisjawisofawfulsizeandstrength，andaccordingtothebest-informednaturalists，itdoesnotcontainlessthanahundredandeighty-twoteeth。

TheotherwasthemightyPlesiosaurus，aserpentwithacylindricaltrunk，withashortstumpytail，withfinslikeabankofoarsinaRomangalley。

Itswholebodycoveredbyacarapaceorshell，anditsneck，asflexibleasthatofaswan，rosemorethanthirtyfeetabovethewaves，atowerofanimatedflesh!

Theseanimalsattackedoneanotherwithinconceivablefury。Suchacombatwasneverseenbeforebymortaleyes，andtouswhodidseeit，itappearedmorelikethephantasmagoriccreationofadreamthananythingelse。Theyraisedmountainsofwater，whichdashedinsprayovertheraft，alreadytossedtoandfrobythewaves。Twentytimesweseemedonthepointofbeingupsetandhurledheadlongintothewaves。

Hideoushissesappearedtoshakethegloomygraniteroofofthatmightycavern-hisseswhichcarriedterrortoourhearts。Theawfulcombatantsheldeachotherinatightembrace。Icouldnotmakeoutonefromtheother。Stillthecombatcouldnotlastforever；andwoeuntous，whichsoeverbecamethevictor。

Onehour，twohours，threehourspassedaway，withoutanydecisiveresult。Thestrugglecontinuedwiththesamedeadlytenacity，butwithoutapparentresult。Thedeadlyopponentsnowapproached，nowdrewawayfromtheraft。Onceortwicewefanciedtheywereabouttoleaveusaltogether，butinsteadofthat，theycamenearerandnearer。

Wecrouchedontheraftreadytofireatthematamoment"snotice，poorastheprospectofhurtingorterrifyingthemwas。

Stillweweredeterminednottoperishwithoutastruggle。

SuddenlytheIchthyosaurusandthePlesiosaurusdisappearedbeneaththewaves，leavingbehindthemamaelstrominthemidstofthesea。Wewerenearlydrawndownbytheindraftofthewater!

Severalminuteselapsedbeforeanythingwasagainseen。Wasthiswonderfulcombattoendinthedepthsoftheocean?Wasthelastactofthisterribledramatotakeplacewithoutspectators?

Itwasimpossibleforustosay。

Suddenly，atnogreatdistancefromus，anenormousmassrisesoutofthewaters-theheadofthegreatPlesiosaurus。Theterriblemonsterisnowwoundeduntodeath。Icanseenothingnowofhisenormousbody。Allthatcouldbedistinguishedwashisserpent-likeneck，whichhetwistedandcurledinalltheagoniesofdeath。Nowhestruckthewaterswithitasifithadbeenagiganticwhip，andthenagainwriggledlikeawormcutintwo。Thewaterwasspurteduptoagreatdistanceinalldirections。Agreatportionofitsweptoverourraftandnearlyblindedus。Butsoontheendofthebeastapproachednearerandnearer；hismovementsslackenedvisibly；hiscontortionsalmostceased；andatlastthebodyofthemightysnakelayaninert，deadmassonthesurfaceofthenowcalmandplacidwaters。

AsfortheIchthyosaurus，hashegonedowntohismightycavernundertheseatorest，orwillhereappeartodestroyus?

Thisquestionremainedunanswered。Andwehadbreathingtime。

CHAPTER31

TheSeaMonsterWEDNESDAY，August19th。Fortunatelythewind，whichforthepresentblowswithsomeviolence，hasallowedustoescapefromthesceneoftheunparalleledandextraordinarystruggle。Hanswithhisusualimperturbablecalmremainedatthehelm。Myuncle，whoforashorttimehadbeenwithdrawnfromhisabsorbingreveriesbythenovelincidentsofthisseafight，fellbackagainapparentlyintoabrownstudy。Hiseyeswerefixedimpatientlyonthewidespreadocean。

Ourvoyagenowbecamemonotonousanduniform。Dullasithasbecome，Ihavenodesiretohaveitbrokenbyanyrepetitionoftheperilsandadventuresofyesterday。

Thursday，August20th。ThewindisnowN。N。E。，andblowsveryirregularly。Ithaschangedtofitfulgusts。Thetemperatureisexceedinglyhigh。Wearenowprogressingattheaveragerateofabouttenmilesandahalfperhour。

Abouttwelveo"clockadistantsoundasofthunderfelluponourears。Imakeanoteofthefactwithoutevenventuringasuggestionastoitscause。Itwasonecontinuedroarasofaseafallingovermightyrocks。

"Faroffinthedistance，"saidtheProfessordogmatically，"thereissomerockorsomeislandagainstwhichtheseallashedtofurybythewind，isbreakingviolently。"

Hans，withoutsayingaword，clamberedtothetopofthemast，butcouldmakeoutnothing。Theoceanwaslevelineverydirectionasfarastheeyecouldreach。

Threehourspassedawaywithoutanysigntoindicatewhatmightbebeforeus。Thesoundbegantoassumethatofamightycataract。

Iexpressedmyopiniononthispointstronglytomyuncle。Hemerelyshookhishead。I，however，amstronglyimpressedbyaconvictionthatIamnotwrong。Areweadvancingtowardssomemightywaterfallwhichshallcastusintotheabyss?ProbablythismodeofdescendingintotheabyssmaybeagreeabletotheProfessor，becauseitwouldbesomethingliketheverticaldescentheissoeagertomake。I

entertainaverydifferentopinion。

Whateverbethetruth，itiscertainthatnotmanyleaguesdistanttheremustbesomeveryextraordinaryphenomenon，forasweadvancetheroarbecomessomethingmightyandstupendous。Isitinthewater，orintheair?

Icasthastyglancesaloftatthesuspendedvapors，andIseektopenetratetheirmightydepths。Butthevaultaboveistranquil。Theclouds，whicharenowelevatedtotheverysummit，appearutterlystillandmotionless，andcompletelylostintheirradiationofelectriclight。Itisnecessary，therefore，toseekforthecauseofthisphenomenonelsewhere。

Iexaminethehorizon，nowperfectlycalm，pure，andfreefromallhaze。Itsaspectstillremainsunchanged。Butifthisawfulnoiseproceedsfromacataract-if，sotospeakinplainEnglish，thisvastinterioroceanisprecipitatedintoalowerbasin-ifthesetremendousroarsareproducedbythenoiseoffallingwaters，thecurrentwouldincreaseinactivity，anditsincreasingswiftnesswouldgivemesomeideaoftheextentoftheperilwithwhichwearemenaced。Iconsultthecurrent。Itsimplydoesnotexist:thereisnosuchthing。Anemptybottlecastintothewaterliestoleewardwithoutmotion。

Aboutfouro"clockHansrises，clambersupthemast，andreachesthetruckitself。Fromthiselevatedpositionhislooksarecastaround。

Theytakeinavastcircumferenceoftheocean。Atlast，hiseyesremainfixed。Hisfaceexpressesnoastonishment，buthiseyesslightlydilate。

"Hehasseensomethingatlast，"criedmyuncle。

"Ithinkso"，Ireplied。

Hanscamedown，stoodbesideus，andpointedwithhisrighthandtothesouth。

"Dernere，"hesaid。

"There，"repliedmyuncle。

Andseizinghistelescope，helookedatitwithgreatattentionforaboutaminute，whichtomeappearedanage。Iknewnotwhattothinkorexpect。

"Yes，yes，"hecriedinatoneofconsiderablesurprise，"thereitis。"

"What?"Iasked。

"Atremendousspurtofwaterrisingoutofthewaves。"

"Someothermarinemonster，Icried，alreadyalarmed。

"Perhaps。"

"Thenletussteermoretothewestward，forweknowwhatwehavetoexpectfromantediluviananimals，"wasmyeagerreply。

"Goahead，"saidmyuncle。

IturnedtowardsHans。Hanswasatthetillersteeringwithhisusualimperturbablecalm。

Nevertheless，iffromthedistancewhichseparatedusfromthiscreature，adistancewhichmustbeestimatedatnotlessthanadozenleagues，onecouldseethecolumnofwaterspurtingfromtheblow-holeofthegreatanimal，hisdimensionsmustbesomethingpreternatural。Toflyis，therefore，thecoursetobesuggestedbyordinaryprudence。Butwehavenotcomeintothatpartoftheworldtobeprudent。Suchismyuncle"sdetermination。

We，accordingly，continuedtoadvance。Thenearerwecome，theloftieristhespoutingwater。Whatmonstercanfillhimselfwithsuchhugevolumesofwater，andthenunceasinglyspoutthemoutinsuchloftyjets?

Ateighto"clockintheevening，reckoningasaboveground，wherethereisdayandnight，wearenotmorethantwoleaguesfromthemightybeast。Itslong，black，enormous，mountainousbody，liesonthetopofthewaterlikeanisland。Butthensailorshavebeensaidtohavegoneashoreonsleepingwhales，mistakingthemforland。Isitillusion，orisitfear?Itslengthcannotbelessthanathousandfathoms。What，then，isthiscetaceousmonsterofwhichnoCuviereverthought?

Itisquitemotionlessandpresentstheappearanceofsleep。Theseaseemsunabletolifthimupwards；itisratherthewaveswhichbreakonhishugeandgiganticframe。Thewaterspout，risingtoaheightoffivehundredfeet，breaksinspraywithadull，sullenroar。

Weadvance，likesenselesslunatics，towardsthismightymass。

IhonestlyconfessthatIwasabjectlyafraid。IdeclaredthatI

wouldgonofarther。Ithreatenedinmyterrortocutthesheetofthesail。IattackedtheProfessorwithconsiderableacrimony，callinghimfoolhardy，mad，Iknownotwhat。Hemadenoanswer。

SuddenlytheimperturbableHansoncemorepointedhisfingertothemenacingobject:"Holme!"

"Anisland!"criedmyuncle。

"Anisland?"Ireplied，shruggingmyshouldersatthispoorattemptatdeception。

"Ofcourseitis，"criedmyuncle，burstingintoaloudandjoyouslaugh。

"Butthewaterspout?"

"Geyser，"saidHans。

"Yes，ofcourse-ageyser，"repliedmyuncle，stilllaughing，"ageyserlikethosecommoninIceland。Jetslikethisarethegreatwondersofthecountry。"

AtfirstIwouldnotallowthatIhadbeensogrosslydeceived。Whatcouldbemoreridiculousthantohavetakenanislandforamarinemonster?Butkickasonemay，onemustyieldtoevidence，andIwasfinallyconvincedofmyerror。Itwasnothing，afterall，butanaturalphenomenon。

Asweapproachednearerandnearer，thedimensionsoftheliquidsheafofwatersbecametrulygrandandstupendous。Theislandhad，atadistance，presentedtheappearanceofanenormouswhale，whoseheadrosehighabovethewaters。Thegeyser，awordtheIcelanderspronouncegeysir，andwhichsignifiesfury，rosemajesticallyfromitssummit。Dulldetonationsareheardeverynowandthen，andtheenormousjet，takenasitwerewithsuddenfury，shakesitsplumeofvapor，andboundsintothefirstlayeroftheclouds。Itisalone。

Neitherspurtsofvapornorhotspringssurroundit，andthewholevolcanicpowerofthatregionisconcentratedinonesublimecolumn。

Theraysofelectriclightmixwiththisdazzlingsheaf，everydropasitfallsassumingtheprismaticcolorsoftherainbow。

"Letusgoonshore，"saidtheProfessor，aftersomeminutesofsilence。

Itisnecessary，however，totakegreatprecaution，inordertoavoidtheweightoffallingwaters，whichwouldcausetherafttofounderinaninstant。Hans，however，steersadmirably，andbringsustotheotherextremityoftheisland。

Iwasthefirsttoleapontherock。Myunclefollowed，whiletheeider-duckhunterremainedstill，likeamanaboveanychildishsourcesofastonishment。Wewerenowwalkingongranitemixedwithsiliceoussandstone；thesoilshiveredunderourfeetlikethesidesofboilersinwhichover-heatedsteamisforciblyconfined。Itisburning。Wesooncameinsightofthelittlecentralbasinfromwhichrosethegeyser。Iplungedathermometerintothewaterwhichranbubblingfromthecenter，anditmarkedaheatofahundredandsixty-threedegrees!

Thiswater，therefore，camefromsomeplacewheretheheatwasintense。ThiswassingularlyincontradictionwiththetheoriesofProfessorHardwigg。Icouldnothelptellinghimmyopiniononthesubject。

"Well，"saidhesharply，"andwhatdoesthisproveagainstmydoctrine?

"Nothing，"repliedIdryly，seeingthatIwasrunningmyheadagainstaforegoneconclusion。

Nevertheless，Iamcompelledtoconfessthatuntilnowwehavebeenmostremarkablyfortunate，andthatthisvoyageisbeingaccomplishedinmostfavorableconditionsoftemperature；butitappearsevident，infact，certain，thatweshallsoonerorlaterarriveatoneofthoseregionswherethecentralheatwillreachitsutmostlimits，andwillgofarbeyondallthepossiblegradationsofthermometers。

VisionsoftheHadesoftheancients，believedtobeinthecenteroftheearth，floatedthroughmyimagination。

Weshall，however，seewhatweshallsee。ThatistheProfessor"sfavoritephrasenow。Havingchristenedthevolcanicislandbythenameofhisnephew，theleaderoftheexpeditionturnedawayandgavethesignalforembarkation。

Istoodstill，however，forsomeminutes，gazinguponthemagnificentgeyser。Isoonwasabletoperceivethattheupwardtendencyofthewaterwasirregular；nowitdiminishedinintensity，andthen，suddenly，itregainednewvigor，whichIattributedtothevariationofthepressureoftheaccumulatedvaporsinitsreservoir。

Atlastwetookourdeparture，goingcarefullyroundtheprojecting，andratherdangerous，rocksofthesouthernside。Hanshadtakenadvantageofthisbriefhalttorepairtheraft。

Beforewetookourfinaldeparturefromtheisland，however，I

madesomeobservationstocalculatethedistancewehadgoneover，andIputthemdowninmyjournal。SinceweleftPortGretchen，wehadtraveledtwohundredandseventyleagues-morethaneighthundredmiles-onthisgreatinlandsea；wewere，therefore，sixhundredandtwentyleaguesfromIceland，andexactlyunderEngland。

CHAPTER32

TheBattleoftheElementsFRIDAY，August21st。Thismorningthemagnificentgeyserhadwhollydisappeared。Thewindhadfreshenedup，andwewerefastleavingtheneighborhoodofHenry"sIsland。Eventheroaringsoundofthemightycolumnwaslosttotheear。

Theweather，if，underthecircumstances，wemayusesuchanexpression，isabouttochangeverysuddenly。Theatmosphereisbeinggraduallyloadedwithvapors，whichcarrywiththemtheelectricityformedbytheconstantevaporationofthesalinewaters；

thecloudsareslowlybutsensiblyfallingtowardsthesea，andareassumingadark-olivetexture；theelectricrayscanscarcelypiercethroughtheopaquecurtainwhichhasfallenlikeadropscenebeforethiswondroustheater，onthestageofwhichanotherandterribledramaissoontobeenacted。Thistimeitisnofightofanimals；itisthefearfulbattleoftheelements。

IfeelthatIamverypeculiarlyinfluenced，asallcreaturesareonlandwhenadelugeisabouttotakeplace。

Thecumuli，aperfectlyovalkindofcloud，pileduponthesouth，presentedamostawfulandsinisterappearance，withthepitilessaspectoftenseenbeforeastorm。Theairisextremelyheavy；theseaiscomparativelycalm。

Inthedistance，thecloudshaveassumedtheappearanceofenormousballsofcotton，orratherpods，piledoneabovetheotherinpicturesqueconfusion。Bydegrees，theyappeartoswellout，break，andgaininnumberwhattheyloseingrandeur；theirheavinessissogreatthattheyareunabletoliftthemselvesfromthehorizon；butundertheinfluenceoftheuppercurrentsofair，theyaregraduallybrokenup，becomemuchdarker，andthenpresenttheappearanceofonesinglelayerofaformidablecharacter；nowandthenalightercloud，stilllitupfromabove，reboundsuponthisgreycarpet，andislostintheopaquemass。

Therecanbenodoubtthattheentireatmosphereissaturatedwithelectricfluid；Iammyselfwhollyimpregnated；myhairsliterallystandonendasifundertheinfluenceofagalvanicbattery。Ifoneofmycompanionsventuredtotouchme，Ithinkhewouldreceiveratheraviolentandunpleasantshock。

Aboutteno"clockinthemorning，thesymptomsofthestormbecamemorethoroughanddecisive；thewindappearedtosoftendownasiftotakebreathforarenewedattack；thevastfunerealpallaboveuslookedlikeahugebag-likethecaveofAEolus，inwhichthestormwascollectingitsforcesfortheattack。

ItriedallIcouldnottobelieveinthemenacingsignsofthesky，andyetIcouldnotavoidsaying，asitwereinvoluntarily:

"Ibelievewearegoingtohavebadweather。"

TheProfessormademenoanswer。Hewasinahorrible，inadetestablehumor-toseetheoceanstretchinginterminablybeforehiseyes。Onhearingmywordshesimplyshruggedhisshoulders。

"Weshallhaveatremendousstorm，"Isaidagain，pointingtothehorizon。"Thesecloudsarefallinglowerandloweruponthesea，asiftocrushit。"

Agreatsilenceprevailed。Thewindwhollyceased。Natureassumedadeadcalm，andceasedtobreathe。Uponthemast，whereInoticedasortofslightignisfatuus，thesailhangsinlooseheavyfolds。

Theraftismotionlessinthemidstofadarkheavysea-withoutundulation，withoutmotion。Itisasstillasglass。Butaswearemakingnoprogress，whatistheuseofkeepingupthesail，whichmaybethecauseofourperditionifthetempestshouldsuddenlystrikeuswithoutwarning。

"Letuslowerthesail，"Isaid，"itisonlyanactofcommonprudence。"

"No-no，"criedmyuncle，inanexasperatedtone，"ahundredtimes，no。Letthewindstrikeusanddoitsworst，letthestormsweepusawaywhereitwill-onlyletmeseetheglimmerofsomecoast-ofsomerockycliffs，eveniftheydashourraftintoathousandpieces。No!keepupthesail-nomatterwhathappens。"

Thesewordswerescarcelyutteredwhenthesouthernhorizonunderwentasuddenandviolentchange。Thelongaccumulatedvaporswereresolvedintowater，andtheairrequiredtofillupthevoidproducedbecameawildandragingtempest。

Itcamefromthemostdistantcornersofthemightycavern。Itragedfromeverypointofthecompass。Itroared；ityelled；itshriekedwithgleeasofdemonsletloose。Thedarknessincreasedandbecameindeeddarknessvisible。

Theraftroseandfellwiththestorm，andboundedoverthewaves。

Myunclewascastheadlonguponthedeck。Iwithgreatdifficultydraggedmyselftowardshim。Hewasholdingonwithmightandmaintotheendofacable，andappearedtogazewithpleasureanddelightatthespectacleoftheunchainedelements。

Hansnevermovedamuscle。Hislonghairdrivenhitherandthitherbythetempestandscatteredwildlyoverhismotionlessface，gavehimamostextraordinaryappearance-foreverysinglehairwasilluminatedbylittlesparklingsprigs。

Hiscountenancepresentstheextraordinaryappearanceofanantediluvianman，atruecontemporaryoftheMegatherium。

Stillthemastholdsgoodagainstthestorm。Thesailspreadsoutandfillslikeasoapbubbleabouttoburst。Theraftrushesonatapaceimpossibletoestimate，butstilllessswiftlythanthebodyofwaterdisplacedbeneathit，therapidityofwhichmaybeseenbythelineswhichflyrightandleftinthewake。

"Thesail，thesail!"Icried，makingatrumpetofmyhands，andthenendeavoringtolowerit。

"Letitalone!"saidmyuncle，moreexasperatedthanever。

"Nej，"saidHans，gentlyshakinghishead。

Nevertheless，therainformedaroaringcataractbeforethishorizonofwhichwewereinsearch，andtowhichwewererushinglikemadmen。

Butbeforethiswildernessofwatersreachedus，themightyveilofcloudwastornintwain；theseabegantofoamwildly；andtheelectricity，producedbysomevastandextraordinarychemicalactionintheupperlayerofcloud，isbroughtintoplay。Tothefearfulclapsofthunderareaddeddazzlingflashesoflightning，suchasI

hadneverseen。Theflashescrossedoneanother，hurledfromeveryside；whilethethundercamepealinglikeanecho。Themassofvaporbecomesincandescent；thehailstoneswhichstrikethemetalofourbootsandourweaponsareactuallyluminous；thewavesastheyriseappeartobefire-eatingmonsters，beneathwhichseethesanintensefire，theircrestssurmountedbycombsofflame。

Myeyesaredazzled，blindedbytheintensityoflight，myearsaredeafenedbytheawfulroaroftheelements。Iamcompelledtoholdontothemast，whichbendslikeareedbeneaththeviolenceofthestorm，towhichnoneeverbeforeseenbymarinersboreanyresemblance。

Heremytravelingnotesbecomeveryincomplete，looseandvague。I

haveonlybeenabletomakeoutoneortwofugitiveobservations，jotteddowninameremechanicalway。Buteventheirbrevity，eventheirobscurity，showtheemotionswhichovercameme。

Sunday，August23rd。Wherehavewegotto?Inwhatregionarewewandering?Wearestillcarriedforwardwithinconceivablerapidity。

Thenighthasbeenfearful，somethingnottobedescribed。Thestormshowsnosignsofcessation。Weexistinthemidstofanuproarwhichhasnoname。Thedetonationsasofartilleryareincessant。

Ourearsliterallybleed。Weareunabletoexchangeaword，orheareachotherspeak。

Thelightningneverceasestoflashforasingleinstant。Icanseethezigzagsafterarapiddartstrikethearchedroofofthismightiestofmightyvaults。Ifitweretogivewayandfalluponus!

Otherlightningsplungetheirforkedstreaksineverydirection，andtaketheformofglobesoffire，whichexplodelikebombshellsoverabeleagueredcity。Thegeneralcrashandroardonotapparentlyincrease；ithasalreadygonefarbeyondwhathumanearcanappreciate。Ifallthepowdermagazinesintheworldweretoexplodetogether，itwouldbeimpossibleforustohearworsenoise。

Thereisaconstantemissionoflightfromthestormclouds；theelectricmatterisincessantlyreleased；evidentlythegaseousprinciplesoftheairareoutoforder；innumerablecolumnsofwaterrushuplikewaterspouts，andfallbackuponthesurfaceoftheoceaninfoam。

Whitherarewegoing?Myunclestillliesatfulllengthupontheraft，withoutspeaking-withouttakinganynoteoftime。

Theheatincreases。Ilookatthethermometer，tomysurpriseitindicates-Theexactfigureishererubbedoutinmymanuscript。

Monday，August24th。Thisterriblestormwillneverend。Whyshouldnotthisstateoftheatmosphere，sodenseandmurky，oncemodified，againremaindefinitive?

Weareutterlybrokenandharassedbyfatigue。Hansremainsjustasusual。Theraftrunstothesoutheastinvariably。Wehavenowalreadyruntwohundredleaguesfromthenewlydiscoveredisland。

Abouttwelveo"clockthestormbecameworsethanever。Weareobligednowtofasteneverybitofcargotightlyonthedeckoftheraft，oreverythingwouldbesweptaway。Wemakeourselvesfast，too，eachmanlashingtheother。Thewavesdriveoverus，sothatseveraltimesweareactuallyunderwater。

Wehadbeenunderthepainfulnecessityofabstainingfromspeechforthreedaysandthreenights。Weopenedourmouths，wemovedourlips，butnosoundcame。Evenwhenweplacedourmouthstoeachother"searsitwasthesame。

Thewindcarriedthevoiceaway。

Myuncleoncecontrivedtogethisheadclosetomineafterseveralalmostvainendeavors。Heappearedtomynearlyexhaustedsensestoarticulatesomeword。Ihadanotion，morefromintuitionthananythingelse，thathesaidtome，"Wearelost。"

Itookoutmynotebook，fromwhichunderthemostdesperatecircumstancesIneverparted，andwroteafewwordsaslegiblyasI

could:

"Takeinsail。"

Withadeepsighhenoddedhisheadandacquiesced。

Hisheadhadscarcelytimetofallbackinthepositionfromwhichhehadmomentarilyraiseditthanadiskorballoffireappearedontheveryedgeoftheraft-ourdevoted，ourdoomedcraft。Themastandsailarecarriedawaybodily，andIseethemsweptawaytoaprodigiousheightlikeakite。

Wewerefrozen，actuallyshiveredwithterror。Theballoffire，halfwhite，halfazure-colored，aboutthesizeofaten-inchbombshell，movedalong，turningwithprodigiousrapiditytoleewardofthestorm。Itranabouthere，there，andeverywhere，itclambereduponeofthebulwarksoftheraft，itleapeduponthesackofprovisions，andthenfinallydescendedlightly，felllikeafootballandlandedonourpowderbarrel。

Horriblesituation。Anexplosionofcoursewasnowinevitable。

Byheaven"smercy，itwasnotso。

Thedazzlingdiskmovedononeside，itapproachedHans，wholookedatitwithsingularfixity；thenitapproachedmyuncle，whocasthimselfonhiskneestoavoidit；itcametowardsme，asI

stoodpaleandshudderinginthedazzlinglightandheat；itpirouettedroundmyfeet，whichIendeavoredtowithdraw。

Anodorofnitrousgasfilledthewholeair；itpenetratedtothethroat，tothelungs。Ifeltreadytochoke。