第13章

"IfIcouldbutwashthiscorpseinasolutionofsulphuricacid，"

continuedmyuncle，"Iwouldundertaketoremovealltheearthyparticles，andtheseresplendentshells，whichareincrustedalloverthisbody。ButIamwithoutthispreciousdissolvingmedium。

Nevertheless，suchasitis，thisbodywilltellitsownhistory。"

HeretheProfessorheldupthefossilbody，andexhibiteditwithraredexterity。Noprofessionalshowmancouldhaveshownmoreactivity。

"Asonexaminationyouwillsee，"myunclecontinued，"itisonlyaboutsixfeetinlength，whichisalongwayfromthepretendedgiantsofearlydays。Astotheparticularracetowhichitbelonged，itisincontestablyCaucasian。Itisofthewhiterace，thatis，ofourown。Theskullofthisfossilbeingisaperfectovoidwithoutanyremarkableorprominentdevelopmentofthecheekbones，andwithoutanyprojectionofthejaw。Itpresentsnoindicationoftheprognathismwhichmodifiesthefacialangle。*Measuretheangleforyourselves，andyouwillfindthatitisjustninetydegrees。ButI

willadvancestillfartherontheroadofinquiryanddeduction，andI

dareventuretosaythatthishumansampleorspecimenbelongstotheJapheticfamily，whichspreadovertheworldfromIndiatotheuttermostlimitsofwesternEurope。Thereisnooccasion，gentlemen，tosmileatmyremarks。"

*Thefacialangleisformedbytwoplanes-onemoreorlessverticalwhichisinastraightlinewiththeforeheadandtheincisors；theother，horizontal，whichpassesthroughtheorgansofhearing，andthelowernasalbone。Prognathism，inanthropologicallanguage，meansthatparticularprojectionofthejawwhichmodifiesthefacialangle。

Ofcoursenobodysmiled。ButtheexcellentProfessorwassoaccustomedtobeamingcountenancesathislectures，thathebelievedhesawallhisaudiencelaughingduringthedeliveryofhislearneddissertation。

"Yes，"hecontinued，withrenewedanimation，"thisisafossilman，acontemporaryofthemastodons，withthebonesofwhichthiswholeamphitheateriscovered。ButifIamcalledontoexplainhowhecametothisplace，howthesevariousstratabywhichheiscoveredhavefallenintothisvastcavity，Icanundertaketogiveyounoexplanation。Doubtless，ifwecarryourselvesbacktotheQuaternaryepoch，weshallfindthatgreatandmightyconvulsionstookplaceinthecrustoftheearth；thecontinuallycoolingoperation，throughwhichtheearthhadtopass，producedfissures，landslips，andchasms，throughwhichalargeportionoftheearthmadeitsway。Icometonoabsoluteconclusion，butthereistheman，surroundedbytheworksofhishands，hishatchetsandhiscarvedflints，whichbelongtothestonyperiod；andtheonlyrationalsuppositionis，that，likemyself，hevisitedthecenteroftheearthasatravelingtourist，apioneerofscience。Atallevents，therecanbenodoubtofhisgreatage，andofhisbeingoneoftheoldestraceofhumanbeings。"

TheProfessorwiththesewordsceasedhisoration，andIburstforthintoloudand"unanimous"applause。Besides，afterall，myunclewasright。Muchmorelearnedmenthanhisnephewwouldhavefounditratherhardtorefutehisfactsandarguments。

Anothercircumstancesoonpresenteditself。Thisfossilizedbodywasnottheonlyoneinthisvastplainofbones-thecemeteryofanextinctworld。Otherbodieswerefound，aswetrodthedustyplain，andmyunclewasabletochoosethemostmarvelousofthesespecimensinordertoconvincethemostincredulous。

Intruth，itwasasurprisingspectacle，thesuccessiveremainsofgenerationsandgenerationsofmenandanimalsconfoundedtogetherinonevastcemetery。Butagreatquestionnowpresenteditselftoournotice，andonewewereactuallyafraidtocontemplateinallitsbearings。

Hadtheseonceanimatedbeingsbeenburiedsofarbeneaththesoilbysometremendousconvulsionofnature，aftertheyhadbeenearthtoearthandashestoashes，orhadtheylivedherebelow，inthissubterraneanworld，underthisfactitioussky，borne，married，andgiveninmarriage，anddiedatlast，justlikeordinaryinhabitantsoftheearth?

Uptothepresentmoment，marinemonsters，fish，andsuchlikeanimalshadalonebeenseenalive!

Thequestionwhichrenderedusratheruneasy，wasapertinentone。

Wereanyofthesemenoftheabysswanderingaboutthedesertedshoresofthiswondrousseaofthecenteroftheearth?

Thiswasaquestionwhichrenderedmeveryuneasyanduncomfortable。

How，shouldtheyreallybeinexistence，wouldtheyreceiveusmenfromabove?

CHAPTER36

WhatIsIt?

FORalongandwearyhourwetrampedoverthisgreatbedofbones。

Weadvancedregardlessofeverything，drawnonbyardentcuriosity。

Whatothermarvelsdidthisgreatcaverncontain-whatotherwondroustreasuresforthescientificman?Myeyeswerequitepreparedforanynumberofsurprises，myimaginationlivedinexpectationofsomethingnewandwonderful。

ThebordersofthegreatCentralOceanhadforsometimedisappearedbehindthehillsthatwerescatteredoverthegroundoccupiedbytheplainofbones。TheimprudentandenthusiasticProfessor，whodidnotcarewhetherhelosthimselfornot，hurriedmeforward。Weadvancedsilently，bathedinwavesofelectricfluid。

ByreasonofaphenomenonwhichIcannotexplain，andthankstoitsextremediffusion，nowcomplete，thelightilluminedequallythesidesofeveryhillandrock。Itsseatappearedtobenowhere，innodeterminedforce，andproducednoshadewhatever。

Theappearancepresentedwasthatofatropicalcountryatmiddayinsummer-inthemidstoftheequatorialregionsandundertheverticalraysofthesun。

Allsignsofvaporhaddisappeared。Therocks，thedistantmountains，someconfusedmassesoffar-offforests，assumedaweirdandmysteriousaspectunderthisequaldistributionoftheluminousfluid!

Weresembled，toacertainextent，themysteriouspersonageinoneofHoffmann"sfantastictales-themanwholosthisshadow。

Afterwehadwalkedaboutamilefarther，wecametotheedgeofavastforestnot，however，oneofthevastmushroomforestswehaddiscoverednearPortGretchen。

ItwasthegloriousandwildvegetationoftheTertiaryperiod，inallitssuperbmagnificence。Hugepalms，ofaspeciesnowunknown，superbpalmacites-agenusoffossilpalmsfromthecoalformation-

pines，yews，cypress，andconifersorcone-bearingtrees，thewholeboundtogetherbyaninextricableandcomplicatedmassofcreepingplants。

Abeautifulcarpetofmossesandfernsgrewbeneaththetrees。

Pleasantbrooksmurmuredbeneathumbrageousboughs，littleworthyofthisname，fornoshadedidtheygive。Upontheirbordersgrewsmalltreelikeshrubs，suchasareseeninthehotcountriesonourowninhabitedglobe。

Theonethingwantingintheseplants，theseshrubs，thesetrees-

wascolor!Foreverdeprivedofthevivifyingwarmthofthesun，theywerevapidandcolorless。Allshadewaslostinoneuniformtint，ofabrownandfadedcharacter。Theleaveswerewhollydevoidofverdure，andtheflowers，sonumerousduringtheTertiaryperiodwhichgavethembirth，werewithoutcolorandwithoutperfume，somethinglikepaperdiscoloredbylongexposuretotheatmosphere。

Myuncleventuredbeneaththegiganticgroves。Ifollowedhim，thoughnotwithoutacertainamountofapprehension。Sincenaturehadshownherselfcapableofproducingsuchstupendousvegetablesupplies，whymightwenotmeetwithmammalsjustaslarge，andthereforedangerous?

Iparticularlyremarked，intheclearingsleftbytreesthathadfallenandbeenpartiallyconsumedbytime，manyleguminous(beanlike)

shrubs，suchasthemapleandothereatabletrees，deartoruminatinganimals。Thenthereappearedconfoundedtogetherandintermixed，thetreesofsuchvariedlands，specimensofthevegetationofeverypartoftheglobe；therewastheoaknearthepalmtree，theAustralianeucalyptus，aninterestingclassoftheorderMyrtaceae-leaningagainstthetallNorwegianpine，thepoplarofthenorth，mixingitsbrancheswiththoseoftheNewZealandkauris。

Itwasenoughtodrivethemostingeniousclassifieroftheupperregionsoutofhismind，andtoupsetallhisreceivedideasaboutbotany。

SuddenlyIstoppedshortandrestrainedmyuncle。

Theextremediffusenessofthelightenabledmetoseethesmallestobjectsinthedistantcopses。IthoughtIsaw-no，I

reallydidseewithmyowneyes-immense，giganticanimalsmovingaboutunderthemightytrees。Yes，theyweretrulygiganticanimals，awholeherdofmastodons，notfossils，butliving，andexactlylikethosediscoveredin1801，onthemarshybanksofthegreatOhio，inNorthAmerica。

Yes，Icouldseetheseenormouselephants，whosetrunksweretearingdownlargeboughs，andworkinginandoutthetreeslikealegionofserpents。Icouldhearthesoundsofthemightytusksuprootinghugetrees!

Theboughscrackled，andthewholemassesofleavesandgreenbrancheswentdownthecapaciousthroatsoftheseterriblemonsters!

Thatwondrousdream，whenIsawtheantehistoricaltimesrevivified，whentheTertiaryandQuaternaryperiodspassedbeforeme，wasnowrealized!

Andtherewewerealone，fardowninthebowelsoftheearth，atthemercyofitsferociousinhabitants!

Myunclepaused，fullofwonderandastonishment。

"Come!"hesaidatlast，whenhisfirstsurprisewasover，"Comealong，myboy，andletusseethemnearer。"

"No，"repliedI，restraininghiseffortstodragmeforward，"wearewhollywithoutarms。Whatshouldwedointhemidstofthatflockofgiganticquadrupeds?Comeaway，Uncle，Iimploreyou。Nohumancreaturecanwithimpunitybravetheferociousangerofthesemonsters。"

"Nohumancreature，"saidmyuncle，suddenlyloweringhisvoicetoamysteriouswhisper，"youaremistaken，mydearHenry。Look!lookyonder!ItseemstomethatIbeholdahumanbeing-abeinglikeourselves-aman!"

Ilooked，shruggingmyshoulders，decidedtopushincredulitytoitsverylastlimits。Butwhatevermighthavebeenmywish，Iwascompelledtoyieldtotheweightofoculardemonstration。

Yes-notmorethanaquarterofamileoff，leaningagainstthetrunkofanenormoustree，wasahumanbeing-aProteusofthesesubterraneanregions，anewsonofNeptunekeepingthisinnumerableherdofmastodons。

Immanispecoriscustos，immanioripse!*

*Thekeeperofgiganticcattle，himselfstillmoregigantic!

Yes-itwasnolongerafossilwhosecorpsewehadraisedfromthegroundinthegreatcemetery，butagiantcapableofguidinganddrivingtheseprodigiousmonsters。Hisheightwasabovetwelvefeet。

Hishead，asbigastheheadofabuffalo，waslostinamaneofmattedhair。Itwasindeedahugemane，likethosewhichbelongedtotheelephantsoftheearlieragesoftheworld。

Inhishandwasabranchofatree，whichservedasacrookforthisantediluvianshepherd。

Weremainedprofoundlystill，speechlesswithsurprise。

Butwemightatanymomentbeseenbyhim。Nothingremainedforusbutinstantflight。

"Come，come!"Icried，draggingmyunclealong；and，forthefirsttime，hemadenoresistancetomywishes。

Aquarterofanhourlaterwewerefarawayfromthatterriblemonster!

NowthatIthinkofthemattercalmly，andthatIreflectuponitdispassionately；nowthatmonths，years，havepassedsincethisstrangeandunnaturaladventurebefellus-whatamItothink，whatamItobelieve?

No，itisutterlyimpossible!Ourearsmusthavedeceivedus，andoureyeshavecheatedus!wehavenotseenwhatwebelievedwehadseen。Nohumanbeingcouldbyanypossibilityhaveexistedinthatsubterraneanworld!Nogenerationofmencouldinhabitthelowercavernsoftheglobewithouttakingnoteofthosewhopeopledthesurface，withoutcommunicationwiththem。Itwasfolly，folly，folly!nothingelse!

Iamratherinclinedtoadmittheexistenceofsomeanimalresemblinginstructurethehumanrace-ofsomemonkeyofthefirstgeologicalepochs，likethatdiscoveredbyM。LartetintheossiferousdepositofSansan。

Butthisanimal，orbeing，whichsoeveritwas，surpassedinheightallthingsknowntomodernscience。Nevermind。Howeverunlikelyitmaybe，itmighthavebeenamonkey-butaman，alivingman，andwithhimawholegenerationofgiganticanimals，buriedintheentrailsoftheearth-itwastoomonstroustobebelieved!

CHAPTER37

TheMysteriousDaggerDURINGthistime，wehadleftthebrightandtransparentforestfarbehindus。Weweremutewithastonishment，overcomebyakindoffeelingwhichwasnextdoortoapathy。Wekeptrunninginspiteofourselves。ItwasaperfectRight，whichresembledoneofthosehorriblesensationswesometimesmeetwithinourdreams。

InstinctivelywemadeourwaytowardstheCentralSea，andI

cannotnowtellwhatwildthoughtspassedthroughmymind，norofwhatfolliesImighthavebeenguilty，butforaveryseriouspreoccupationwhichbroughtmebacktopracticallife。

ThoughIwasawarethatweweretreadingonasoilquitenewtous，I，however，everynowandthennoticedcertainaggregationsofrock，theshapeofwhichforciblyremindedmeofthosenearPortGretchen。

Thisconfirmed，moreover，theindicationsofthecompassandourextraordinaryandunlooked-for，aswellasinvoluntary，returntothenorthofthisgreatCentralSea。Itwassolikeourstartingpoint，thatIcouldscarcelydoubttherealityofourposition。

Streamsandcascadesfellinhundredsoverthenumerousprojectionsoftherocks。

IactuallythoughtIcouldseeourfaithfulandmonotonousHansandthewonderfulgrottoinwhichIhadcomebacktolifeaftermytremendousfall。

Then，asweadvancedstillfarther，thepositionofthecliffs，theappearanceofastream，theunexpectedprofileofarock，threwmeagainintoastateofbewilderingdoubt。

Aftersometime，Iexplainedmystateofmentalindecisiontomyuncle。Heconfessedtoasimilarfeelingofhesitation。Hewastotallyunabletomakeuphismindinthemidstofthisextraordinarybutuniformpanorama。

"Therecanbenodoubt，"Iinsisted，"thatwehavenotlandedexactlyattheplacewhencewefirsttookourdeparture；butthetempesthasbroughtusaboveourstartingpoint。Ithink，therefore，thatifwefollowthecoastweshalloncemorefindPortGretchen。"

"Inthatcase，"criedmyuncle，"itisuselesstocontinueourexploration。Theverybestthingwecandoistomakeourwaybacktotheraft。Areyouquitesure，Harry，thatyouarenotmistaken?"

"Itisdifficult，"wasmyreply，"tocometoanydecision，foralltheserocksareexactlyalike。Thereisnomarkeddifferencebetweenthem。Atthesametime，theimpressiononmymindisthatI

recognizethepromontoryatthefootofwhichourworthyHansconstructedtheraft。Weare，Iamnearlyconvinced，nearthelittleport:ifthisbenotit，"Iadded，carefullyexaminingacreekwhichappearedsingularlyfamiliartomymind。

"MydearHarry-ifthiswerethecase，weshouldfindtracesofourownfootsteps，somesignsofourpassage；andIcanreallyseenothingtoindicateourhavingpassedthisway。"

"ButIseesomething，"Icried，inanimpetuoustoneofvoice，asIrushedforwardandeagerlypickedupsomethingwhichshoneinthesandundermyfeet。

"Whatisit?"criedtheastonishedandbewilderedProfessor。

"This，"wasmyreply。

AndIhandedtomystartledrelativearustydagger，ofsingularshape。

"Whatmadeyoubringwithyousouselessaweapon?"heexclaimed。

"Itwasneedlesslyhamperingyourself。"

"Ibringit?Itisquitenewtome。Ineversawitbefore-areyousureitisnotoutofyourcollection?"

"NotthatIknowof，"saidtheProfessor，puzzled。"Ihavenorecollectionofthecircumstance。Itwasnevermyproperty。"

"Thisisveryextraordinary，"Isaid，musingoverthenovelandsingularincident。

"Notatall。Thereisaverysimpleexplanation，Harry。TheIcelandersareknowntokeepuptheuseoftheseantiquatedweapons，andthismusthavebelongedtoHans，whohasletitfallwithoutknowingit。"

Ishookmyhead。ThatdaggerhadneverbeeninthepossessionofthepacificandtaciturnHans。Iknewhimandhishabitstoowell。

"Thenwhatcanitbe-unlessitbetheweaponofsomeantediluvianwarrior，"Icontinued，"ofsomelivingman，acontemporaryofthatmightyshepherdfromwhomwehavejustescaped?Butno-mysteryuponmystery-thisisnoweaponofthestonyepoch，norevenofthebronzeperiod。Itismadeofexcellentsteel-"

EreIcouldfinishmysentence，myunclestoppedmeshortfromenteringuponawholetrainoftheories，andspokeinhismostcoldanddecidedtoneofvoice。

"Calmyourself，mydearboy，andendeavortouseyourreason。Thisweapon，uponwhichwehavefallensounexpectedly，isatruedague，oneofthosewornbygentlemenintheirbeltsduringthesixteenthcentury。Itsusewastogivethecoupdegrace，thefinalblow，tothefoewhowouldnotsurrender。ItisclearlyofSpanishworkmanship。

Itbelongsneithertoyou，nortome，northeeider-downhunter，nortoanyofthelivingbeingswhomaystillexistsomarvelouslyintheinterioroftheearth。"

"Whatcanyoumean，Uncle?"Isaid，nowlostinahostofsurmises。

"Lookcloselyatit，"hecontinued；"thesejaggededgeswerenevermadebytheresistanceofhumanbloodandbone。Thebladeiscoveredwitharegularcoatingofironmoldandrust，whichisnotadayold，notayearold，notacenturyold，butmuchmore-"

TheProfessorbegantogetquiteexcited，accordingtocustom，andwasallowinghimselftobecarriedawaybyhisfertileimagination。

Icouldhavesaidsomething。Hestoppedme。

"Harry，"hecried，"wearenowonthevergeofagreatdiscovery。

Thisbladeofadaggeryouhavesomarvelouslydiscovered，afterbeingabandoneduponthesandformorethanahundred，twohundred，eventhreehundredyears，hasbeenindentedbysomeoneendeavoringtocarveaninscriptionontheserocks。"

"Butthisponiardnevergothereofitself，"Iexclaimed，"itcouldnothavetwisteditself。Someone，therefore，musthaveprecededusupontheshoresofthisextraordinarysea。"

"Yes，aman。"

"Butwhatmanhasbeensufficientlydesperatetodosuchathing?"

"Amanwhohassomewherewrittenhisnamewiththisverydagger-amanwhohasendeavoredoncemoretoindicatetherightroadtotheinterioroftheearth。Letuslookaround，myboy。Youknownottheimportanceofyoursingularandhappydiscovery。"

Prodigiouslyinterested，wewalkedalongthewallofrock，examiningthesmallestfissures，whichmightfinallyexpandintothemuchwished-forgullyorshaft。

Weatlastreachedaspotwheretheshorebecameextremelynarrow。

Theseaalmostbathedthefootoftherocks，whichwerehereveryloftyandsteep。Therewasscarcelyapathwiderthantwoyardsatanypoint。Atlast，underahugeover-hangingrock，wediscoveredtheentranceofadarkandgloomytunnel。

There，onasquaretabletofgranite，whichhadbeensmoothedbyrubbingitwithanotherstone，wecouldseetwomysterious，andmuchwornletters，thetwoinitialsoftheboldandextraordinarytravelerwhohadprecededusonouradventurousjourney。

"A。S。!"criedmyuncle。"Yousee，Iwasright。ArneSaknussemm，alwaysArneSaknussemm!"

CHAPTER38

NoOutlet-BlastingtheRockEVERsincethecommencementofourmarvelousjourney，Ihadexperiencedmanysurprises，hadsufferedfrommanyillusions。I

thoughtthatIwascase-hardenedagainstallsurprisesandcouldneitherseenorhearanythingtoamazemeagain。

Iwaslikeamanywho，havingbeenroundtheworld，findshimselfwhollyblaseandproofagainstthemarvelous。

When，however，Isawthesetwoletters，whichhadbeenengraventhreehundredyearsbefore，Istoodfixedinanattitudeofmutesurprise。

Notonlywastherethesignatureofthelearnedandenterprisingalchemistwrittenintherock，butIheldinmyhandtheveryidenticalinstrumentwithwhichhehadlaboriouslyengravedit。

Itwasimpossible，withoutshowinganamountofincredulityscarcelybecomingasaneman，todenytheexistenceofthetraveler，andtherealityofthatvoyagewhichIbelievedallalongtohavebeenamyth-

themystificationofsomefertilebrain。

Whilethesereflectionswerepassingthroughmymind，myuncle，theProfessor，gavewaytoanaccessoffeverishandpoeticalexcitement。

"Wonderfulandgloriousgenius，greatSaknussemm"，hecried，"youhaveleftnostoneunturned，noresourceomitted，toshowtoothermortalsthewayintotheinteriorofourmightyglobe，andyourfellowcreaturescanfindthetrailleftbyyourillustriousfootsteps，threehundredyearsago，atthebottomoftheseobscuresubterraneanabodes。

Youhavebeencarefultosecureforothersthecontemplationofthesewondersandmarvelsofcreation。Yournameengravedateveryimportantstageofyourgloriousjourneyleadsthehopefultravelerdirecttothegreatandmightydiscoverytowhichyoudevotedsuchenergyandcourage。Theaudacioustraveler，whoshallfollowyourfootstepstothelast，willdoubtlessfindyourinitialsengravedwithyourownhanduponthecenteroftheearth。Iwillbethataudacioustraveler-I，too，willsignmynameupontheverysamespot，uponthecentralgranitestoneofthiswondrousworkoftheCreator。Butinjusticetoyourdevotion，toyourcourage，andtoyourbeingthefirsttoindicatetheroad，letthiscape，seenbyyouupontheshoresofthisseadiscoveredbyyou，becalled，ofalltime，CapeSaknussemm。"

ThisiswhatIheard，andIbegantoberousedtothepitchofenthusiasmindicatedbythosewords。Afierceexcitementrousedme。

Iforgoteverything。Thedangersofthevoyageandtheperilsofthereturnjourneywerenowasnothing!

Whatanothermanhaddoneinagespastcould，Ifelt，bedoneagain；

Iwasdeterminedtodoitmyself，andnownothingthatmanhadaccomplishedappearedtomeimpossible。

"Forward-forward，"Icriedinaburstofgenuineandheartyenthusiasm。

IhadalreadystartedinthedirectionofthesomberandgloomygallerywhentheProfessorstoppedme；he，themansorashandhasty，he，themansoeasilyrousedtothehighestpitchofenthusiasm，checkedme，andaskedmetobepatientandshowmorecalm。

"Letusreturntoourgoodfriend，Hans，"hesaid；"wewillthenbringtheraftdowntothisplace。"

ImustsaythatthoughIatonceyieldedtomyuncle"srequest，itwasnotwithoutdissatisfaction，andIhastenedalongtherocksofthatwonderfulcoast。

"Doyouknow，mydearuncle，"Isaid，aswewalkedalong，"thatwehavebeensingularlyhelpedbyaconcurrenceofcircumstances，rightuptothisverymoment。"

"Soyoubegintoseeit，doyou，Harry?"saidtheProfessorwithasmile。

"Doubtless，"Iresponded，"andstrangelyenough，eventhetempesthasbeenthemeansofputtingusontherightroad。Blessingsonthetempest!Itbroughtussafelybacktotheveryspotfromwhichfineweatherwouldhavedrivenusforever。Supposingwehadsucceededinreachingthesouthernanddistantshoresofthisextraordinarysea，whatwouldhavebecomeofus?ThenameofSaknussemmwouldneverhaveappearedtous，andatthismomentweshouldhavebeencastawayuponaninhospitablecoast，probablywithoutanoutlet。"

"Yes，Harry，myboy，thereiscertainlysomethingprovidentialinthatwanderingatthemercyofwindandwavestowardsthesouth:wehavecomebackexactlynorth；andwhatisbetterstill，wefalluponthisgreatdiscoveryofCapeSaknussemm。Imeantosay，thatitismorethansurprising；thereissomethinginitwhichisfarbeyondmycomprehension。Thecoincidenceisunheardof，marvelous!"

"Whatmatter!Itisnotourdutytoexplainfacts，buttomakethebestpossibleuseofthem。"

"Doubtless，myboy；butifyouwillallowme-"saidthereallydelightedProfessor。

"Excuseme，sir，butIseeexactlyhowitwillbe；weshalltakethenorthernroute；weshallpassunderthenorthernregionsofEurope，underSweden，underRussia，underSiberia，andwhoknowswhere-

insteadofburyingourselvesundertheburningplainsanddesertsofAfrica，orbeneaththemightywavesoftheocean；andthatisall，atthisstageofourjourney，thatIcaretoknow。Letusadvance，andHeavenwillbeourguide!"

"Yes，Harry，youareright，quiteright；allisforthebest。Letusabandonthishorizontalsea，whichcouldneverhaveledtoanythingsatisfactory。Weshalldescend，descend，andeverlastinglydescend。Doyouknow，mydearboy，thattoreachtheinterioroftheearthwehaveonlyfivethousandmilestotravel!"

"Bah!"Icried，carriedawaybyaburstofenthusiasm，"thedistanceisscarcelyworthspeakingabout。Thethingistomakeastart。"

Mywild，mad，andincoherentspeechescontinueduntilwerejoinedourpatientandphlegmaticguide。Allwas，wefound，preparedforanimmediatedeparture。Therewasnotasingleparcelbutwhatwasinitsproperplace。Wealltookupourpostsontheraft，andthesailbeinghoisted，Hansreceivedhisdirections，andguidedthefrailbarktowardsCapeSaknussemm，aswehaddefinitelynamedit。

Thewindwasveryunfavorabletoacraftthatwasunabletosailclosetothewind。Itwasconstructedtogobeforetheblast。Wewerecontinuallyreducedtopushingourselvesforwardbymeansofpoles。Onseveraloccasionstherocksranfaroutintodeepwaterandwewerecompelledtomakealonground。Atlast，afterthreelongandwearyhoursofnavigation，thatistosay，aboutsixo"clockintheevening，wefoundaplaceatwhichwecouldland。

Ijumpedonshorefirst。Inmypresentstateofexcitementandenthusiasm，Iwasalwaysfirst。MyuncleandtheIcelanderfollowed。

Thevoyagefromtheporttothispointoftheseahadbynomeanscalmedme。Ithadratherproducedtheoppositeeffect。Ievenproposedtoburnourvessel，thatis，todestroyourraft，inordertocompletelycutoffourretreat。Butmyunclesternlyopposedthiswildproject。Ibegantothinkhimparticularlylukewarmandunenthusiastic。

"Atanyrate，mydearuncle，"Isaid，"letusstartwithoutdelay。"

"Yes，myboy，Iamquiteaseagertodosoasyoucanbe。But，inthefirstplace，letusexaminethismysteriousgallery，inordertofindifweshallneedtoprepareandmendourladders。"

MyunclenowbegantoseetotheefficiencyofourRuhmkorffcoil，whichwoulddoubtlesssoonbeneeded；theraft，securelyfastenedtoarock，wasleftalone。Moreover，theopeningintothenewgallerywasnottwentypacesdistantfromthespot。Ourlittletroop，withmyselfatthehead，advanced。

Theorifice，whichwasalmostcircular，presentedadiameterofaboutfivefeet；thesombertunnelwascutinthelivingrock，andcoatedontheinsidebythedifferentmaterialwhichhadoncepassedthroughitinastateoffusion。Thelowerpartwasaboutlevelwiththewater，sothatwewereabletopenetratetotheinteriorwithoutdifficulty。

Wefollowedanalmosthorizontaldirection；when，attheendofaboutadozenpaces，ourfurtheradvancewascheckedbytheinterpositionofanenormousblockofgraniterock。

"Accursedstone!"Icriedfuriously，onperceivingthatwewerestoppedbywhatseemedaninsurmountableobstacle。

Invainwelookedtotheright，invainwelookedtotheleft；invainexamineditaboveandbelow。Thereexistednopassage，nosignofanyothertunnel。Iexperiencedthemostbitterandpainfuldisappointment。SoenragedwasIthatIwouldnotadmittherealityofanyobstacle。Istoopedtomyknees；Ilookedunderthemassofstone。

Nohole，nointerstice。Ithenlookedabove。Thesamebarrierofgranite!Hans，withthelamp，examinedthesidesofthetunnelineverydirection。

Butallinvain!Itwasnecessarytorenounceallhopeofpassingthrough。

Ihadseatedmyselfupontheground。Myunclewalkedangrilyandhopelesslyupanddown。Hewasevidentlydesperate。

"But，"Icried，aftersomemoments"thought，"whataboutArneSaknussemm?"

"Youareright，"repliedmyuncle，"hecanneverhavebeencheckedbyalumpofrock。"

"No-tenthousandtimesno，"Icried，withextremevivacity。"Thishugelumpofrock，inconsequenceofsomesingularconcussion，orprocess，oneofthosemagneticphenomenawhichhavesooftenshakentheterrestrialcrust，hasinsomeunexpectedwayclosedupthepassage。ManyandmanyyearshavepassedawaysincethereturnofSaknussemm，andthefallofthishugeblockofgranite。Isitnotquiteevidentthatthisgallerywasformerlytheoutletforthepent-uplavaintheinterioroftheearth，andthattheseeruptivemattersthencirculatedfreely?Lookattheserecentfissuresinthegraniteroof；itisevidentlyformedofpiecesofenormousstone，placedhereasifbythehandofagiant，whohadworkedtomakeastrongandsubstantialarch。Oneday，afteranunusuallystrongshock，thevastrockwhichstandsinourway，andwhichwasdoubtlessthekeyofakindofarch，fellthroughtoalevelwiththesoilandhasbarredourfurtherprogress。Weareright，then，inthinkingthatthisisanunexpectedobstacle，withwhichSaknussemmdidnotmeet；andifwedonotupsetitinsomeway，weareunworthyoffollowinginthefootstepsofthegreatdiscoverer；andincapableoffindingourwaytothecenteroftheearth!"

InthiswildwayIaddressedmyuncle。ThezealoftheProfessor，hisearnestlongingforsuccess，hadbecomepartandparcelofmybeing。Iwhollyforgotthepast；Iutterlydespisedthefuture。

NothingexistedformeuponthesurfaceofthisspheroidinthebosomofwhichIwasengulfed，notowns，nocountry，noHamburg，noKoenigstrasse，notevenmypoorGretchen，whobythistimewouldbelievemeutterlylostintheinterioroftheearth!

"Well，"criedmyuncle，rousedtoenthusiasmbymywords，"Letusgotoworkwithpickaxes，withcrowbars，withanythingthatcomestohand-butdownwiththeseterriblewalls。"

"Itisfartootoughandtoobigtobedestroyedbyapickaxorcrowbar，"Ireplied。

"Whatthen?"

"AsIsaid，itisuselesstothinkofovercomingsuchadifficultybymeansofordinarytools。"

"Whatthen?"

"Whatelsebutgunpowder，asubterraneanmine?Letusblowuptheobstaclethatstandsinourway。"

"Gunpowder!"

"Yes；allwehavetodoistogetridofthispaltryobstacle。"

"Towork，Hans，towork!"criedtheProfessor。

TheIcelanderwentbacktotheraft，andsoonreturnedwithahugecrowbar，withwhichhebegantodigaholeintherock，whichwastoserveasamine。Itwasbynomeansaslighttask。Itwasnecessaryforourpurposetomakeacavitylargeenoughtoholdfiftypoundsoffulminatingguncotton，theexpansivepowerofwhichisfourtimesasgreatasthatofordinarygunpowder。

Ihadnowrousedmyselftoanalmostmiraculousstateofexcitement。

WhileHanswasatwork，Iactivelyassistedmyuncletopreparealongwick，madefromdampgunpowder，themassofwhichwefinallyenclosedinabagoflinen。

"Weareboundtogothrough，"Icried，enthusiastically。

"Weareboundtogothrough，"respondedtheProfessor，tappingmeontheback。

Atmidnight，ourworkasminerswascompletelyfinished；thechargeoffulminatingcottonwasthrustintothehollow，andthematch，whichwehadmadeofconsiderablelength，wasready。

Asparkwasnowsufficienttoignitethisformidableengine，andtoblowtherocktoatoms!

"Wewillnowrestuntiltomorrow。"

Itwasabsolutelynecessarytoresignmyselftomyfate，andtoconsenttowaitfortheexplosionforsixwearyhours!

CHAPTER39

TheExplosionandItsResultsTHEnextday，whichwasthetwenty-seventhofAugust，wasadatecelebratedinourwondroussubterraneanjourney。Ineverthinkofitevennow，butIshudderwithhorror。Myheartbeatswildlyattheverymemoryofthatawfulday。

Fromthistimeforward，ourreason，ourjudgment，ourhumaningenuity，havenothingtodowiththecourseofevents。Weareabouttobecometheplaythingofthegreatphenomenaoftheearth!

Atsixo"clockwewereallupandready。Thedreadedmomentwasarrivingwhenwewereabouttoseekanopeningintotheinterioroftheearthbymeansofgunpowder。Whatwouldbetheconsequencesofbreakingthroughthecrustoftheearth?

Ibeggedthatitmightbemydutytosetfiretothemine。I

lookeduponitasanhonor。Thistaskonceperformed，Icouldrejoinmyfriendsupontheraft，whichhadnotbeenunloaded。Assoonaswewereallready，weweretosailawaytosomedistancetoavoidtheconsequencesoftheexplosion，theeffectsofwhichwouldcertainlynotbeconcentratedintheinterioroftheearth。

Theslowmatchwecalculatedtoburnforabouttenminutes，moreorless，beforeitreachedthechamberinwhichthegreatbodyofpowderwasconfined。Ishouldthereforehaveplentyoftimetoreachtheraftandputofftoasafedistance。

Ipreparedtoexecutemyself-allottedtask-not，itmustbeconfessed，withoutconsiderableemotion。

Afteraheartyrepast，myuncleandthehunter-guideembarkedonboardtheraft，whileIremainedaloneuponthedesolateshore。