第12章

WhyisitthatIcannotwithdrawmyfeet?Aretheyrivetedtotheflooringoftheraft?

No。

Thefalloftheelectricglobehasturnedalltheirononboardintoloadstones-theinstruments，thetools，thearmsareclangingtogetherwithawfulandhorriblenoise；thenailsofmyheavybootsadherecloselytotheplateofironincrustatedinthewood。Icannotwithdrawmyfoot。

Itistheoldstoryagainofthemountainofadamant。

Atlast，byaviolentandalmostsuperhumaneffort，Itearitawayjustastheballwhichisstillexecutingitsgyratorymotionsisabouttorunrounditanddragmewithit-if-

Oh，whatintensestupendouslight!Theglobeoffirebursts-weareenvelopedincascadesoflivingfire，whichfloodthespacearoundwithluminousmatter。

Thenallwentoutanddarknessoncemorefelluponthedeep!Ihadjusttimetoseemyuncleoncemorecastapparentlysenselessontheflooringoftheraft，Hansatthehelm，"spittingfire"undertheinfluenceoftheelectricitywhichseemedtohavegonethroughhim。

Whitherarewegoing，Iask?andechoanswers，Whither?……

Tuesday，August25th。Ihavejustcomeoutofalongfaintingfit。

Theawfulandhideousstormstillcontinues；thelightninghasincreasedinvividness，andpoursoutitsfierywrathlikeabroodofserpentsletlooseintheatmosphere。

Arewestilluponthesea?Yes，andbeingcarriedalongwithincrediblevelocity。

WehavepassedunderEngland，undertheChannel，underFrance，probablyunderthewholeextentofEurope。

Anotherawfulclamorinthedistance。Thistimeitiscertainthattheseaisbreakingupontherocksatnogreatdistance。Then……

CHAPTER33

OurRouteReversedHEREendswhatIcall"MyJournal"ofourvoyageonboardtheraft，whichjournalwashappilysavedfromthewreck。IproceedwithmynarrativeasIdidbeforeIcommencedmydailynotes。

Whathappenedwhentheterribleshocktookplace，whentheraftwascastupontherockyshore，itwouldbeimpossibleformenowtosay。Ifeltmyselfprecipitatedviolentlyintotheboilingwaves，andifIescapedfromacertainandcrueldeath，itwaswhollyowingtothedeterminationofthefaithfulHans，who，clutchingmebythearm，savedmefromtheyawningabyss。

ThecourageousIcelanderthencarriedmeinhispowerfularms，faroutofthereachofthewaves，andlaidmedownuponaburningexpanseofsand，whereIfoundmyselfsometimeafterwardsinthecompanyofmyuncle，theProfessor。

Thenhequietlyreturnedtowardsthefatalrocks，againstwhichthefuriouswaveswerebeating，inordertosaveanystraywaifsfromthewreck。Thismanwasalwayspracticalandthoughtful。I

couldnotutteraword；Iwasquiteovercomewithemotion；mywholebodywasbrokenandbruisedwithfatigue；ittookhoursbeforeIwasanythinglikemyself。

Meanwhile，therefellafearfuldelugeofrain，drenchingustotheskin。Itsveryviolence，however，proclaimedtheapproachingendofthestorm。Someoverhangingrocksaffordedusaslightprotectionfromthetorrents。

Underthisshelter，Hanspreparedsomefood，which，however，Iwasunabletotouch；and，exhaustedbythethreewearydaysandnightsofwatching，wefellintoadeepandpainfulsleep。Mydreamswerefearful，butatlastexhaustednatureassertedhersupremacy，andI

slumbered。

NextdaywhenIawokethechangewasmagical。Theweatherwasmagnificent。Airandsea，asifbymutualconsent，hadregainedtheirserenity。Everytraceofthestorm，eventhefaintest，haddisappeared。IwassalutedonmyawakeningbythefirstjoyoustonesI

hadheardfromtheProfessorformanyaday。Hisgaiety，indeed，wassomethingterrible。

"Well，mylad，"hecried，rubbinghishandstogether，"haveyousleptsoundly?

MightitnothavebeensupposedthatwewereintheoldhouseontheKonigstrasse；thatIhadjustcomedownquietlytomybreakfast；andthatmymarriagewithGretchenwastotakeplacethatveryday?Myuncle"scoolnesswasexasperating。

Alas，consideringhowthetempesthaddrivenusinaneasterlydirection，wehadpassedunderthewholeofGermany，underthecityofHamburgwhereIhadbeensohappy，undertheverystreetwhichcontainedallIlovedandcaredforintheworld。

ItwasapositivefactthatIwasonlyseparatedfromherbyadistanceoffortyleagues。Butthesefortyleagueswereofhard，impenetrablegranite!

Allthesedrearyandmiserablereflectionspassedthroughmymind，beforeIattemptedtoanswermyuncle"squestion。

"Why，whatisthematter?"hecried。"Cannotyousaywhetheryouhavesleptwellornot?"

"Ihavesleptverywell，"wasmyreply，"buteveryboneinmybodyaches。Isupposethatwillleadtonothing。"

"Nothingatall，myboy。Itisonlytheresultofthefatigueofthelastfewdays-thatisall。

"Youappear-ifImaybeallowedtosayso-tobeveryjollythismorning，"Isaid。

"Delighted，mydearboy，delighted。Wasneverhappierinmylife。Wehaveatlastreachedthewished-forport。"

"Theendofourexpedition?"criedI，inatoneofconsiderablesurprise。

"No；buttotheconfinesofthatseawhichIbegantofearwouldneverend，butgoroundthewholeworld。Wewillnowtranquillyresumeourjourneybyland，andonceagainendeavortodiveintothecenteroftheearth。"

"Mydearuncle，"Ibegan，inahesitatingkindofway，"allowmetoaskyouonequestion。"

"Certainly，Harry；adozenifyouthinkproper。"

"Onewillsuffice。Howaboutgettingback?"Iasked。

"Howaboutgettingback?Whataquestiontoask。Wehavenotasyetreachedtheendofourjourney。"

"Iknowthat。AllIwanttoknowishowyouproposeweshallmanagethereturnvoyage?"

"Inthemostsimplemannerintheworld，"saidtheimperturbableProfessor。"Oncewereachtheexactcenterofthissphere，eitherweshallfindanewroadbywhichtoascendtothesurface，orweshallsimplyturnroundandgobackbythewaywecame。Ihaveeveryreasontobelievethatwhilewearetravelingforward，itwillnotclosebehindus。"

"Thenoneofthefirstmatterstoseetowillbetorepairtheraft，"wasmyrathermelancholyresponse。

"Ofcourse。Wemustattendtothataboveallthings，"continuedtheProfessor。

"Thencomestheall-importantquestionofprovisions，"Iurged。

"Haveweanythinglikeenoughlefttoenableustoaccomplishsuchgreat，suchamazing，designsasyoucontemplatecarryingout?"

"Ihaveseenintothematter，andmyanswerisintheaffirmative。

Hansisaverycleverfellow，andIhavereasontobelievethathehassavedthegreaterpartofthecargo。Butthebestwaytosatisfyyourscruplesistocomeandjudgeforyourself。"

Sayingwhich，heledthewayoutofthekindofopengrottoinwhichwehadtakenshelter。IhadalmostbeguntohopethatwhichIshouldratherhavefeared，andthiswastheimpossibilityofsuchashipwreckleavingeventheslightestsignsofwhatithadcarriedasfreight。

Iwas，however，thoroughlymistaken。

AssoonasIreachedtheshoresofthisinlandsea，IfoundHansstandinggravelyinthemidstofalargenumberofthingslaidoutincompleteorder。Myunclewrunghishandswithdeepandsilentgratitude。Hisheartwastoofullforspeech。

Thisman，whosesuperhumandevotiontohisemployersInotonlyneversawsurpassed，norevenequaled，hadbeenhardatworkallthetimeweslept，andattheriskofhislifehadsucceededinsavingthemostpreciousarticlesofourcargo。

Ofcourse，underthecircumstances，wenecessarilyexperiencedseveralseverelosses。Ourweaponshadwhollyvanished。Butexperiencehadtaughtustodowithoutthem。Theprovisionofpowderhad，however，remainedintact，afterhavingnarrowlyescapedblowingusalltoatomsinthestorm。

"Well，"saidtheProfessor，whowasnowreadytomakethebestofeverything，"aswehavenoguns，allwehavetodoistogiveupallideaofhunting。"

"Yes，mydearsir，wecandowithoutthem，butwhataboutallourinstruments?"

"Hereisthemanometer，themostusefulofall，andwhichIgladlyacceptinlieuoftherest。WithitaloneIcancalculatethedepthasweproceed；byitsmeansaloneIshallbeabletodecidewhenwehavereachedthecenteroftheearth。Ha，ha!butforthislittleinstrumentwemightmakeamistake，andruntheriskofcomingoutattheantipodes!"

Allthiswassaidamidburstsofunnaturallaughter。

"Butthecompass，"Icried，"withoutthatwhatcanwedo?"

"Hereitis，safeandsound!"hecried，withrealjoy，"ah，ah，andherewehavethechronometerandthethermometers。Hansthehunterisindeedaninvaluableman!"

Itwasimpossibletodenythisfact。Asfarasthenauticalandotherinstrumentswereconcerned，nothingwaswanting。Thenonfurtherexamination，Ifoundladders，cords，pickaxes，crowbars，andshovels，allscatteredaboutontheshore。

Therewas，however，finallythemostimportantquestionofall，andthatwas，provisions。

"Butwhatarewetodoforfood?"Iasked。

"Letusseetothecommissariatdepartment"，repliedmyunclegravely。

Theboxeswhichcontainedoursupplyoffoodforthevoyagewereplacedinarowalongthestrand，andwereinacapitalstateofpreservation；theseahadineverycaserespectedtheircontents，andtosumupinonesentence，takingintoconsideration，biscuits，saltmeat，Schiedamanddriedfish，wecouldstillcalculateonhavingaboutfourmonths"supply，ifusedwithprudenceandcaution。

"Fourmonths，"criedthesanguineProfessorinhighglee。"Thenweshallhaveplentyoftimebothtogoandtocome，andwithwhatremainsIundertaketogiveagranddinnertomycolleaguesoftheJohanneum。"

Isighed。Ishouldbythistimehavebecomeusedtothetemperamentofmyuncle，andyetthismanastonishedmemoreandmoreeveryday。HewasthegreatesthumanenigmaIeverhadknown。

"Now，"he，"beforewedoanythingelse，wemustlayinastockoffreshwater。Therainhasfalleninabundance，andfilledthehollowsofthegranite。Thereisarichsupplyofwater，andwehavenofearofsufferingfromthirst，whichinourcircumstancesisofthelastimportance。Asfortheraft，IshallrecommendHanstorepairittothebestofhisabilities；thoughIhaveeveryreasontobelieveweshallnotrequireitagain。"

"Howisthat?"Icried，moreamazedthaneveratmyuncle"sstyleofreasoning。

"Ihaveanidea，mydearboy；itisnoneotherthanthissimplefact；weshallnotcomeoutbythesameopeningasthatbywhichweentered。"

Ibegantolookatmyunclewithvaguesuspicion。Anideahadmorethanoncetakenpossessionofme；andthiswas，thathewasgoingmad。

Andyet，littledidIthinkhowtrueandprophetichiswordsweredoomedtobe。

"Andnow，"hesaid，"havingseentoallthesemattersofdetail，tobreakfast。"

Ifollowedhimtoasortofprojectingcape，afterhehadgivenhislastinstructionstoourguide。Inthisoriginalposition，withdriedmeat，biscuit，andadeliciouscupoftea，wemadeasatisfactorymeal-ImaysayoneofthemostwelcomeandpleasantI

everremember。Exhaustion，thekeenatmosphere，thestateofcalmaftersomuchagitation，allcontributedtogivemeanexcellentappetite。Indeed，itcontributedverymuchtoproducingapleasantandcheerfulstateofmind。

Whilebreakfastwasinhand，andbetweenthesipsofwarmtea，I

askedmyuncleifhehadanyideaofhowwenowstoodinrelationtotheworldabove。

"Formypart，"Iadded，"Ithinkitwillberatherdifficulttodetermine。"

"Well，ifwewerecompelledtofixtheexactspot，"saidmyuncle，itmightbedifficult，sinceduringthethreedaysofthatawfultempestIcouldkeepnoaccounteitherofthequicknessofourpace，orofthedirectioninwhichtheraftwasgoing。Still，wewillendeavortoapproximatetothetruth。Weshallnot，Ibelieve，besoveryfarout。"

"Well，ifIrecollectrightly，"Ireplied，"ourlastobservationwasmadeatthegeyserisland。"

"Harry"sIsland，myboy!Harry"sIsland。Donotdeclinethehonorofhavingnamedit；givenyournametoanislanddiscoveredbyus，thefirsthumanbeingswhotroditsincethecreationoftheworld!"

"Letitbeso，then。AtHarry"sIslandwehadalreadygoneovertwohundredandseventyleaguesofsea，andwewere，Ibelieve，aboutsixhundredleagues，moreorless，fromIceland。"

"Good。Iamgladtoseethatyouremembersowell。Letusstartfromthatpoint，andletuscountfourdaysofstorm，duringwhichourrateoftravelingmusthavebeenverygreat。Ishouldsaythatourvelocitymusthavebeenabouteightyleaguestothetwenty-fourhours。"

IagreedthatIthoughtthisafaircalculation。Therewerethenthreehundredleaguestobeaddedtothegrandtotal。

"Yes，andtheCentralSeamustextendatleastsixhundredleaguesfromsidetoside。Doyouknow，myboy，Harry，thatwehavediscoveredaninlandlakelargerthantheMediterranean?"

"Certainly，andweonlyknowofitsextentinoneway。Itmaybehundredsofmilesinlength。"

"Verylikely。"

"Then，"saidI，aftercalculatingforsomeforsomeminutes，"ifyourprevisionsareright，weareatthismomentexactlyundertheMediterraneanitself。"

"Doyouthinkso?"

"Yes，Iamalmostcertainofit。ArewenotninehundredleaguesdistantfromReykjavik?"

"Thatisperfectlytrue，andafamousbitofroadwehavetraveled，myboy。ButwhyweshouldbeundertheMediterraneanmorethanunderTurkeyortheAtlanticOceancanonlybeknownwhenwearesureofnothavingdeviatedfromourcourse；andofthisweknownothing。"

"Idonotthinkweweredrivenveryfarfromourcourse；thewindappearstometohavebeenalwaysaboutthesame。MyopinionisthatthisshoremustbesituatedtothesoutheastofPortGretchen。"

"Good-Ihopeso。Itwill，however，beeasytodecidethematterbytakingthebearingsfromourdeparturebymeansofthecompass。

Comealong，andwewillconsultthatinvaluableinvention。"

TheProfessornowwalkedeagerlyinthedirectionoftherockwheretheindefatigableHanshadplacedtheinstrumentsinsafety。

Myunclewasgayandlighthearted；herubbedhishands，andassumedallsortsofattitudes。Hewastoallappearanceoncemoreayoungman。SinceIhadknownhim，neverhadhebeensoamiableandpleasant。

Ifollowedhim，rathercurioustoknowwhetherIhadmadeanymistakeinmyestimationofourposition。

Assoonaswehadreachedtherock，myuncletookthecompass，placedithorizontallybeforehim，andlookedkeenlyattheneedle。

Ashehadatfirstshakenittogiveitvivacity，itoscillatedconsiderably，andthenslowlyassumeditsrightpositionundertheinfluenceofthemagneticpower。

TheProfessorbenthiseyescuriouslyoverthewondrousinstrument。Aviolentstartimmediatelyshowedtheextentofhisemotion。

Heclosedhiseyes，rubbedthem，andtookanotherandakeenersurvey。

Thenheturnedslowlyroundtome，stupefactiondepictedonhiscountenance。

"Whatisthematter?"saidI，beginningtobealarmed。

Hecouldnotspeak。Hewastoooverwhelmedforwords。Hesimplypointedtotheinstrument。

Iexaminediteagerlyaccordingtohismutedirections，andaloudcryofsurpriseescapedmylips。Theneedleofthecompasspointedduenorth-inthedirectionweexpectedwasthesouth!

Itpointedtotheshoreinsteadoftothehighseas。

Ishookthecompass；Iexamineditwithacuriousandanxiouseye。

Itwasinastateofperfection。Noblemishinanywayexplainedthephenomenon。Whateverpositionweforcedtheneedleinto，itreturnedinvariablytothesameunexpectedpoint。

Itwasuselessattemptingtoconcealfromourselvesthefataltruth。

Therecouldbenodoubtaboutit，unwelcomeaswasthefact，thatduringthetempest，therehadbeenasuddenslantofwind，ofwhichwehadbeenunabletotakeanyaccount，andthustherafthadcarriedusbacktotheshoreswehadleft，apparentlyforever，somanydaysbefore!

CHAPTER34

AVoyageofDiscoveryITwouldbealtogetherimpossibleformetogiveanyideaoftheutterastonishmentwhichovercametheProfessoronmakingthisextraordinarydiscovery。Amazement，incredulity，andragewereblendedinsuchawayastoalarmme。

DuringthewholecourseofmyLifeIhadneverseenamanatfirstsochapfallen；andthensofuriouslyindignant。

Theterriblefatiguesofourseavoyage，thefearfuldangerswehadpassedthrough，hadall，all，gonefornothing。Wehadtobeginthemalloveragain。

Insteadofprogressing，aswefondlyexpected，duringavoyageofsomanydays，wehadretreated。Everyhourofourexpeditionontherafthadbeensomuchlosttime!

Presently，however，theindomitableenergyofmyuncleovercameeveryotherconsideration。

"So，"hesaid，betweenhissetteeth，"fatalitywillplaymetheseterribletricks。Theelementsthemselvesconspiretooverwhelmmewithmortification。Air，fire，andwatercombinetheirunitedeffortstoopposemypassage。Well，theyshallseewhattheearnestwillofadeterminedmancando。Iwillnotyield，Iwillnotretreatevenoneinch；andweshallseewhoshalltriumphinthisgreatcontest-manornature。"

Standinguprightonarock，irritatedandmenacing，ProfessorHardwigg，liketheferociousAjax，seemedtodefythefates。I，however，tookuponmyselftointerfere，andtoimposesomesortofcheckuponsuchinsensateenthusiasm。

"Listentome，Uncle，"Isaid，inafirmbuttemperatetoneofvoice，"theremustbesomelimittoambitionherebelow。Itisutterlyuselesstostruggleagainsttheimpossible。Praylistentoreason。

Weareutterlyunpreparedforaseavoyage；itissimplymadnesstothinkofperformingajourneyoffivehundredleaguesuponawretchedpileofbeams，withacounterpaneforasail，apaltrystickforamast，andatempesttocontendwith。Aswearetotallyincapableofsteeringourfrailcraft，weshallbecomethemereplaythingofthestorm，anditisactingthepartofmadmenifwe，asecondtime，runanyriskuponthisdangerousandtreacherousCentralSea。"

TheseareonlyafewofthereasonsandargumentsIputtogether-

reasonsandargumentswhichtomeappearedunanswerable。Iwasallowedtogoonwithoutinterruptionforabouttenminutes。TheexplanationtothisIsoondiscovered。TheProfessorwasnotevenlistening，anddidnothearawordofallmyeloquence。

"Totheraft!"hecriedinahoarsevoice，whenIpausedforareply。

Suchwastheresultofmystrenuousefforttoresisthisironwill。Itriedagain；Ibeggedandimploredhim；Igotintoapassion；butIhadtodealwithawillmoredeterminedthanmyown。

Iseemedtofeellikethewaveswhichfoughtandbattledagainstthehugemassofgraniteatourfeet，whichhadsmiledgrimlyforsomanyagesattheirpunyefforts。

Hans，meanwhile，withouttakingpartinourdiscussion，hadbeenrepairingtheraft。Onewouldhavesupposedthatheinstinctivelyguessedatthefurtherprojectsofmyuncle。

Bymeansofsomefragmentsofcordage，hehadagainmadetheraftseaworthy。

WhileIhadbeenspeaking，hehadhoistedanewmastandsail，thelatteralreadyflutteringandwavinginthebreeze。

TheworthyProfessorspokeafewwordstoourimperturbableguide，whoimmediatelybegantoputourbaggageonboardandtoprepareforourdeparture。Theatmospherewasnowtolerablyclearandpure，andthenortheastwindblewsteadilyandserenely。Itappearedlikelytolastforsometime。

What，then，couldIdo?CouldIundertaketoresisttheironwilloftwomen?ItwassimplyimpossibleifevenIcouldhavehopedforthesupportofHans。This，however，wasoutofthequestion。ItappearedtomethattheIcelanderhadsetasideallpersonalwillandidentity。

Hewasapictureofabnegation。

Icouldhopefornothingfromonesoinfatuatedwithanddevotedtohismaster。AllIcoulddo，therefore，wastoswimwiththestream。

Inamoodofstolidandsullenresignation，Iwasabouttotakemyaccustomedplaceontheraftwhenmyuncleplacedhishanduponmyshoulder。

"Thereisnohurry，myboy，"hesaid，"weshallnotstartuntiltomorrow。"

Ilookedthepictureofresignationtothedirewilloffate。

"Underthecircumstances，"hesaid，"Ioughttoneglectnoprecautions。Asfatehascastmeupontheseshores，Ishallnotleavewithouthavingcompletelyexaminedthem。"

Inordertounderstandthisremark，Imustexplainthatthoughwehadbeendrivenbacktothenorthernshore，wehadlandedataverydifferentspotfromthatwhichhadbeenourstartingpoint。

PortGretchenmust，wecalculated，beverymuchtothewestward。

Nothing，therefore，wasmorenaturalandreasonablethanthatweshouldreconnoiterthisnewshoreuponwhichwehadsounexpectedlylanded。

"Letusgoonajourneyofdiscovery，"Icried。

AndleavingHanstohisimportantoperation，westartedonourexpedition。Thedistancebetweentheforeshoreathighwaterandthefootoftherockswasconsiderable。Itwouldtakeabouthalfanhour"swalkingtogetfromonetotheother。

Aswetrudgedalong，ourfeetcrushedinnumerableshellsofeveryshapeandsize-oncethedwellingplaceofanimalsofeveryperiodofcreation。

Iparticularlynoticedsomeenormousshells-carapaces(turtleandtortoisespecies)thediameterofwhichexceededfifteenfeet。

TheyhadinpastagesbelongedtothosegiganticGlyptodonsofthePlioceneperiod，ofwhichthemodernturtleisbutaminutespecimen。Inaddition，thewholesoilwascoveredbyavastquantityofstonyrelics，havingtheappearanceofflintswornbytheactionofthewaves，andlyinginsuccessivelayersoneabovetheother。I

cametotheconclusionthatinpastagestheseamusthavecoveredthewholedistrict。Uponthescatteredrocks，nowlyingfarbeyonditsreach，themightywavesofageshadleftevidentmarksoftheirpassage。

Onreflection，thisappearedtomepartiallytoexplaintheexistenceofthisremarkableocean，fortyleaguesbelowthesurfaceoftheearth"scrust。Accordingtomynew，andperhapsfanciful，theory，thisliquidmassmustbegraduallylostinthedeepbowelsoftheearth。Ihadalsonodoubtthatthismysteriousseawasfedbyinfiltrationoftheoceanabove，throughimperceptiblefissures。

Nevertheless，itwasimpossiblenottoadmitthatthesefissuresmustnowbenearlychokedup，forifnot，thecavern，orrathertheimmenseandstupendousreservoir，wouldhavebeencompletelyfilledinashortspaceoftime。Perhapseventhiswater，havingtocontendagainsttheaccumulatedsubterraneousfiresoftheinterioroftheearth，hadbecomepartiallyvaporized。Hencetheexplanationofthoseheavycloudssuspendedoverourheads，andthesuperabundantdisplayofthatelectricitywhichoccasionedsuchterriblestormsinthisdeepandcavernoussea。

Thislucidexplanationofthephenomenawehadwitnessedappearedtomequitesatisfactory。Howevergreatandmightythemarvelsofnaturemayseemtous，theyarealwaystobeexplainedbyphysicalreasons。Everythingissubordinatetosomegreatlawofnature。

Itnowappearedclearthatwewerewalkinguponakindofsedimentarysoil，formedlikeallthesoilsofthatperiod，sofrequentonthesurfaceoftheglobe，bythesubsidenceofthewaters。

TheProfessor，whowasnowinhiselement，carefullyexaminedeveryrockyfissure。Lethimonlyfindanopeninganditdirectlybecameimportanttohimtoexamineitsdepth。

ForawholemilewefollowedthewindingsoftheCentralSea，whensuddenlyanimportantchangetookplaceintheaspectofthesoil。

Itseemedtohavebeenrudelycastup，convulsionized，asitwere，byaviolentupheavingofthelowerstrata。Inmanyplaces，hollowshereandhillocksthereattestedgreatdislocationsatsomeotherperiodoftheterrestrialmass。

Weadvancedwithgreatdifficultyoverthebrokenmassesofgranitemixedwithflint，quartz，andalluvialdeposits，whenalargefield，moreeventhanafield，aplainofbones，appearedsuddenlybeforeoureyes!Itlookedlikeanimmensecemetery，wheregenerationaftergenerationhadmingledtheirmortaldust。

Loftybarrowsofearlyremainsroseatintervals。Theyundulatedawaytothelimitsofthedistanthorizonandwerelostinathickandbrownfog。

Onthatspot，somethreesquaremilesinextent，wasaccumulatedthewholehistoryofanimallife-scarcelyonecreatureuponthecomparativelymodernsoiloftheupperandinhabitedworldhadnotthereexisted。

Nevertheless，weweredrawnforwardbyanall-absorbingandimpatientcuriosity。Ourfeetcrushedwithadryandcracklingsoundtheremainsofthoseprehistoricfossils，forwhichthemuseumsofgreatcitiesquarrel，evenwhentheyobtainonlyrareandcuriousmorsels。AthousandsuchnaturalistsasCuvierwouldnothavesufficedtorecomposetheskeletonsoftheorganicbeingswhichlayinthismagnificentosseouscollection。

Iwasutterlyconfounded。Myunclestoodforsomeminuteswithhisarmsraisedonhightowardsthethickgranitevaultwhichservedusforasky。Hismouthwaswideopen；hiseyessparkledwildlybehindhisspectacles(whichhehadfortunatelysaved)，hisheadbobbedupanddownandfromsidetoside，whilehiswholeattitudeandmienexpressedunboundedastonishment。

Hestoodinthepresenceofanendless，wondrous，andinexhaustiblyrichcollectionofantediluvianmonsters，piledupforhisownprivateandpeculiarsatisfaction。

FancyanenthusiasticloverofbookscarriedsuddenlyintotheverymidstofthefamouslibraryofAlexandriaburnedbythesacrilegiousOmar，andwhichsomemiraclehadrestoredtoitspristinesplendor!SuchwassomethingofthestateofmindinwhichUncleHardwiggwasnowplaced。

Forsometimehestoodthus，literallyaghastatthemagnitudeofhisdiscovery。

Butitwasevenagreaterexcitementwhen，dartingwildlyoverthismassoforganicdust，hecaughtupanakedskullandaddressedmeinaquiveringvoice:

"Harry，myboy-Harry-thisisahumanhead!"

"Ahumanhead，Uncle!"Isaid，nolessamazedandstupefiedthanhimself。

"Yes，nephew。Ah!Mr。Milne-Edwards-ah!Mr。DeQuatrefages-whyareyounotherewhereIam-I，ProfessorHardwigg!"

CHAPTER35

DiscoveryuponDiscoveryINorderfullytounderstandtheexclamationmadebymyuncle，andhisallusionstotheseillustriousandlearnedmen，itwillbenecessarytoenterintocertainexplanationsinregardtoacircumstanceofthehighestimportancetopaleontology，orthescienceoffossillife，whichhadtakenplaceashorttimebeforeourdeparturefromtheupperregionsoftheearth。

Onthe28thofMarch，1863，somenavigatorsunderthedirectionofM。BoucherdePerthes，wereatworkinthegreatquarriesofMoulin-Quignon，nearAbbeville，inthedepartmentoftheSomme，inFrance。Whileatwork，theyunexpectedlycameuponahumanjawboneburiedfourteenfeetbelowthesurfaceofthesoil。Itwasthefirstfossilofthekindthathadeverbeenbroughttothelightofday。

Nearthisunexpectedhumanrelicwerefoundstonehatchetsandcarvedflints，coloredandclothedbytimeinoneuniformbrillianttintofverdigris。

ThereportofthisextraordinaryandunexpecteddiscoveryspreadnotonlyalloverFrance，butoverEnglandandGermany。Manylearnedmenbelongingtovariousscientificbodies，andnoteworthyamongothers，Messrs。Milne-EdwardsandDeQuatrefages，tooktheaffairverymuchtoheart，demonstratedtheincontestableauthenticityoftheboneinquestion，andbecame-tousethephrasethenrecognizedinEngland-

themostardentsupportersofthe"jawbonequestion。"

TotheeminentgeologistsoftheUnitedKingdomwholookeduponthefactascertain-Messrs。Falconer，Buck，Carpenter，andothers-

weresoonunitedthelearnedmenofGermany，andamongthoseinthefirstrank，themosteager，themostenthusiastic，wasmyworthyuncle，ProfessorHardwigg。

TheauthenticityofahumanfossiloftheQuaternaryperiodseemedthentobeincontestablydemonstrated，andeventobeadmittedbythemostskeptical。

Thissystemortheory，callitwhatyouwill，had，itistrue，abitteradversaryinM。EliedeBeaumont。Thislearnedman，whoholdssuchahighplaceinthescientificworld，holdsthatthesoilofMoulin-Quignondoesnotbelongtothediluviumbuttoamuchlessancientstratum，and，inaccordancewithCuvierinthisrespect，hewouldbynomeansadmitthatthehumanspecieswascontemporarywiththeanimalsoftheQuaternaryepoch。Myworthyuncle，ProfessorHardwigg，inconcertwiththegreatmajorityofgeologists，hadheldfirm，haddisputed，discussed，andfinally，afterconsiderabletalkingandwriting，M。EliedeBeaumonthadbeenprettywellleftaloneinhisopinions。

Wewerefamiliarwithallthedetailsofthisdiscussion，butwerefarfrombeingawarethenthatsinceourdeparturethematterhadentereduponanewphase。Othersimilarjawbones，thoughbelongingtoindividualsofvariedtypesandverydifferentnatures，hadbeenfoundinthemovablegreysandsofcertaingrottoesinFrance，Switzerland，andBelgium；togetherwitharms，utensils，tools，bonesofchildren，ofmenintheprimeoflife，andofoldmen。TheexistenceofmenintheQuaternaryperiodbecame，therefore，morepositiveeveryday。

Butthiswasfarfrombeingall。Newremains，dugupfromthePlioceneorTertiarydeposits，hadenabledthemorefar-seeingoraudaciousamonglearnedmentoassignevenafargreaterdegreeofantiquitytothehumanrace。Theseremains，itistrue，werenotthoseofmen；thatis，werenotthebonesofmen，butobjectsdecidedlyhavingservedthehumanrace:shinbones，thighbonesoffossilanimals，regularlyscoopedout，andinfactsculptured-bearingtheunmistakablesignsofhumanhandiwork。

Bymeansofthesewondrousandunexpecteddiscoveries，manascendedendlesscenturiesinthescaleoftime；he，infact，precededthemastodon；becamethecontemporaryoftheElephasmeridionalis-thesouthernelephant；acquiredanantiquityofoverahundredthousandyears，sincethatisthedategivenbythemosteminentgeologiststothePlioceneperiodoftheearth。Suchwasthenthestateofpaleontologicscience，andwhatwemoreoverknewsufficedtoexplainourattitudebeforethisgreatcemeteryoftheplainsoftheHardwiggOcean。

ItwillnowbeeasytounderstandtheProfessor"smingledastonishmentandjoywhen，onadvancingabouttwentyyards，hefoundhimselfinthepresenceof，Imaysayfacetofacewith，aspecimenofthehumanraceactuallybelongingtotheQuaternaryperiod!

Itwasindeedahumanskull，perfectlyrecognizable。Hadasoilofverypeculiarnature，likethatofthecemeteryofSt。MichelatBordeaux，preserveditduringcountlessages?ThiswasthequestionIaskedmyself，butwhichIwaswhollyunabletoanswer。Butthisheadwithstretchedandparchmentyskin，withtheteethwhole，thehairabundant，wasbeforeoureyesasinlife!

Istoodmute，almostparalyzedwithwonderandawebeforethisdreadapparitionofanotherage。Myuncle，whoonalmosteveryoccasionwasagreattalker，remainedforatimecompletelydumfounded。Hewastoofullofemotionforspeechtobepossible。Afterawhile，however，weraisedupthebodytowhichtheskullbelonged。Westooditonend。Itseemed，toourexcitedimaginations，tolookatuswithitsterribleholloweyes。

Aftersomeminutesofsilence，themanwasvanquishedbytheProfessor。Humaninstinctssuccumbedtoscientificprideandexultation。ProfessorHardwigg，carriedawaybyhisenthusiasm，forgotallthecircumstancesofourjourney，theextraordinarypositioninwhichwewereplaced，theimmensecavernwhichstretchedfarawayoverourheads。TherecanbenodoubtthathethoughthimselfattheInstitutionaddressinghisattentivepupils，forheputonhismostdoctorialstyle，wavedhishand，andbegan:

"Gentlemen，IhavethehonoronthisauspiciousoccasiontopresenttoyouamanoftheQuaternaryperiodofourglobe。Manylearnedmenhavedeniedhisveryexistence，whileotherablepersons，perhapsofevenhigherauthority，haveaffirmedtheirbeliefintherealityofhislife。IftheSt。Thomasesofpaleontologywerepresent，theywouldreverentiallytouchhimwiththeirfingersandbelieveinhisexistence，thusacknowledgingtheirobstinateheresy。Iknowthatscienceshouldbecarefulinrelationtoalldiscoveriesofthisnature。IamnotwithouthavingheardofthemanyBarnumsandotherquackswhohavemadeatradeofsuchlikepretendeddiscoveries。Ihave，ofcourse，heardofthediscoveryofthekneebonesofAjax，ofthepretendedfindingofthebodyofOrestesbytheSpartiates，andofthebodyofAsterius，tenspanslong，fifteenfeet-ofwhichwereadinPausanias。

"IhavereadeverythinginrelationtotheskeletonofTrapani，discoveredinthefourteenthcentury，andwhichmanypersonschosetoregardasthatofPolyphemus，andthehistoryofthegiantdugupduringthesixteenthcenturyintheenvironsofPalmyra。YouarewellawareasIam，gentlemen，oftheexistenceofthecelebratedanalysismadenearLucerne，in1577，ofthegreatboneswhichthecelebratedDoctorFelixPlaterdeclaredbelongedtoagiantaboutnineteenfeethigh。IhavedevouredallthetreatisesofCassanion，andallthosememoirs，pamphlets，speeches，andrepliespublishedinreferencetotheskeletonofTeutobochus，kingoftheCimbri，theinvaderofGaul，dugoutofagravelpitinDauphine，in1613。IntheeighteenthcenturyIshouldhavedenied，withPeterCampet，theexistenceofthepreadamitesofScheuchzer。IhavehadinmyhandsthewritingcalledGigans-"

Heremyunclewasafflictedbythenaturalinfirmitywhichpreventedhimfrompronouncingdifficultwordsinpublic。Itwasnotexactlystuttering，butastrangesortofconstitutionalhesitation。

"ThewritingnamedGigans-"herepeated。

He，however，couldgetnofurther。

"Giganteo-"

Impossible!Theunfortunatewordwouldnotcomeout。TherewouldhavebeengreatlaughterattheInstitution，hadthemistakehappenedthere。

"Gigantosteology!"atlastexclaimedProfessorHardwiggbetweentwosavagegrowls。

Havinggotoverourdifficulty，andgettingmoreandmoreexcited-

"Yes，gentlemen，Iamwellacquaintedwithallthesematters，andknow，also，thatCuvierandBlumenbachfullyrecognizedinthesebonestheundeniableremainsofmammothsoftheQuaternaryperiod。Butafterwhatwenowsee，toallowadoubtistoinsultscientificinquiry。

Thereisthebody；youcanseeit；youcantouchit。Itisnotaskeleton，itisacompleteanduninjuredbody，preservedwithananthropologicalobject。"

Ididnotattempttocontrovertthissingularandastoundingassertion。