第15章

Hans，inallprobability，wasnomoreusedtostarvationthanourselves，buthishardyIcelandicnaturehadpreparedhimformanysufferings。Aslongashereceivedhisthreerix-dollarseverySaturdaynight，hewaspreparedforanything。

Thefactwas，Hansnevertroubledhimselfaboutmuchexcepthismoney。Hehadundertakentoserveacertainmanatsomuchperweek，andnomatterwhatevilsbefellhisemployerorhimself，heneverfoundfaultorgrumbled，solongashiswagesweredulypaid。

Suddenlymyunclerousedhimself。Hehadseenasmileonthefaceofourguide。Icouldnotmakeitout。

"Whatisthematter?"saidmyuncle。

"Schiedam，"saidtheguide，producingabottleofthispreciousfluid。

Wedrank。Myuncleandmyselfwillowntoourdyingdaythathencewederivedstrengthtoexistuntilthelastbittermoment。ThatpreciousbottleofHollandswasinrealityonlyhalffull；but，underthecircumstances，itwasnectar。

Ittooksomeminutesformyselfandmyuncletoformadecidedopiniononthesubject。TheworthyProfessorswallowedabouthalfapintanddidnotseemabletodrinkanymore。

"Fortrafflig，"saidHans，swallowingnearlyallthatwasleft。

"Excellent-verygood，"saidmyuncle，withasmuchgustoasifhehadjustleftthestepsoftheclubatHamburg。

Ihadbeguntofeelasiftherehadbeenonegleamofhope。Nowallthoughtofthefuturevanished!

Wehadconsumedourlastounceoffood，anditwasfiveo"clockinthemorning!

CHAPTER42

TheVolcanicShaftMAN"Sconstitutionissopeculiarthathishealthispurelyanegativematter。Nosooneristherageofhungerappeasedthanitbecomesdifficulttocomprehendthemeaningofstarvation。Itisonlywhenyousufferthatyoureallyunderstand。

Astoanyonewhohasnotenduredprivationhavinganynotionofthematter，itissimplyabsurd。

Withus，afteralongfast，somemouthfulsofbreadandmeat，alittlemoldybiscuitandsaltbeeftriumphedoverallourpreviousgloomyandsaturninethoughts。

Nevertheless，afterthisrepasteachgavewaytohisownreflections。IwonderedwhatwerethoseofHans-themanoftheextremenorth，whowasyetgiftedwiththefatalisticresignationofOrientalcharacter。Buttheutmoststretchoftheimaginationwouldnotallowmetorealizethetruth。Asformyindividualself，mythoughtshadceasedtobeanythingbutmemoriesofthepast，andwereallconnectedwiththatupperworldwhichInevershouldhaveleft。Isawitallnow，thebeautifulhouseintheKonigstrasse，mypoorGretchen，thegoodMartha；theyallpassedbeforemymindlikevisionsofthepast。Everytimeanyofthelugubriousgroaningswhichweretobedistinguishedinthehollowsaroundfelluponmyears，IfanciedIheardthedistantmurmurofthegreatcitiesabovemyhead。

Asformyuncle，alwaysthinkingofhisscience，heexaminedthenatureoftheshaftbymeansofatorch。Hecloselyexaminedthedifferentstrataoneabovetheother，inordertorecognizehissituationbygeologicaltheory。Thiscalculation，orratherthisestimation，couldbynomeansbeanythingbutapproximate。Butalearnedman，aphilosopher，isnothingifnotaphilosopher，whenhekeepshisideascalmandcollected；andcertainlytheProfessorpossessedthisqualitytoperfection。

Iheardhim，asIsatinsilence，murmuringwordsofgeologicalscience。AsIunderstoodhisobjectandhismeaning，Icouldnotbutinterestmyselfdespitemypreoccupationinthatterriblehour。

"Eruptivegranite，"hesaidtohimself，"wearestillintheprimitiveepoch。Butwearegoingup-goingup，stillgoingup。Butwhoknows?Whoknows?"

Thenhestillhoped。Hefeltalongtheverticalsidesoftheshaftwithhishand，andsomefewminuteslater，hewouldgoonagaininthefollowingstyle:

"Thisisgneiss。Thisismicaschist-siliceousmineral。Goodagain；

thisistheepochoftransition，atallevents，weareclosetothem-andthen，andthen-"

WhatcouldtheProfessormean?Couldhe，byanyconceivablemeans，measurethethicknessofthecrustoftheearthsuspendedaboveourheads?Didhepossessanypossiblemeansofmakinganyapproximationtothiscalculation?No。

Themanometerwaswanting，andnosummaryestimationcouldtaketheplaceofit。

Andyet，asweprogressed，thetemperatureincreasedinthemostextraordinarydegree，andIbegantofeelasifIwerebathedinahotandburningatmosphere。NeverbeforehadIfeltanythinglikeit。I

couldonlycompareittothehotvaporfromanironfoundry，whentheliquidironisinastateofebullitionandrunsover。Bydegrees，andoneaftertheother，Hans，myuncle，andmyselfhadtakenoffourcoatsandwaistcoats。Theywereunbearable。Eventheslightestgarmentwasnotonlyuncomfortable，butthecauseofextremesuffering。

"Areweascendingtoalivingfire?"Icried；when，tomyhorrorandastonishment，theheatbecamegreaterthanbefore。

"No，no，"saidmyuncle，"itissimplyimpossible，quiteimpossible。"

"Andyet，"saidI，touchingthesideoftheshaftwithmynakedhand，"thiswallisliterallyburning。"

Atthismoment，feelingasIdidthatthesidesofthisextraordinarywallwereredhot，Iplungedmyhandsintothewatertocoolthem。Idrewthembackwithacryofdespair。

"Thewaterisboiling!"Icried。

Myuncle，theProfessor，madenoreplyotherthanagestureofrageanddespair。

Somethingverylikethetruthhadprobablystruckhisimagination。

ButIcouldtakenoshareineitherwhatwasgoingon，orinhisspeculations。Aninvincibledreadhadtakenpossessionofmybrainandsoul。Icouldonlylookforwardtoanimmediatecatastrophe，suchacatastropheasnoteventhemostvividimaginationcouldhavethoughtof。Anidea，atfirstvagueanduncertain，wasgraduallybeingchangedintocertainty。

Itremulouslyrejecteditatfirst，butitforceditselfuponmebydegreeswithextremeobstinacy。ItwassoterribleanideathatI

scarcelydaredtowhisperittomyself。

Andyetallthewhilecertain，andasitwere，involuntaryobservationsdeterminedmyconvictions。Bythedoubtfulglareofthetorch，Icouldmakeoutsomesingularchangesinthegraniticstrata；astrangeandterriblephenomenonwasabouttobeproduced，inwhichelectricityplayedapart。

Thenthisboilingwater，thisterribleandexcessiveheat?I

determinedasalastresourcetoexaminethecompass。

Thecompasshadgonemad!

Yes，whollystarkstaringmad。Theneedlejumpedfrompoletopolewithsuddenandsurprisingjerks，ranround，orasitissaid，boxedthecompass，andthenransuddenlybackagainasifithadthevertigo。

Iwasawarethat，accordingtothebestacknowledgedtheories，itwasareceivednotionthatthemineralcrustoftheglobeisnever，andneverhasbeen，inastateofcompleterepose。

Itisperpetuallyundergoingthemodificationscausedbythedecompositionofinternalmatter，theagitationconsequentontheflowingofextensiveliquidcurrents，theexcessiveactionofmagnetismwhichtendstoshakeitincessantly，atatimewheneventhemultitudinousbeingsonitssurfacedonotsuspecttheseethingprocesstobegoingon。

Stillthisphenomenonwouldnothavealarmedmealone；itwouldnothavearousedinmymindaterrible，anawfulidea。

Butotherfactscouldnotallowmyself-delusiontolast。

Terribledetonations，likeHeaven"sartillery，begantomultiplythemselveswithfearfulintensity。Icouldonlycomparethemwiththenoisemadebyhundredsofheavilyladenchariotsbeingmadlydrivenoverastonepavement。Itwasacontinuousrollofheavythunder。

Andthenthemadcompass，shakenbythewildelectricphenomena，confirmedmeinmyrapidlyformedopinion。Themineralcrustwasabouttoburst，theheavygranitemasseswereabouttorejoin，thefissurewasabouttoclose，thevoidwasabouttobefilledup，andwepooratomstobecrushedinitsawfulembrace!

"Uncle，Uncle!"Icried，"wearewholly，irretrievablylost!"

"What，then，myyoungfriend，isyournewcauseofterrorandalarm?"hesaidinhiscalmestmanner。"Whatfearyounow?"

"WhatdoIfearnow!"Icriedinfierceandangrytones。"Doyounotseethatthewallsoftheshaftareinmotion?Doyounotseethatthesolidgranitemassesarecracking?Doyounotfeeltheterrible，torridheat?Doyounotobservetheawfulboilingwateronwhichwefloat?Doyounotremarkthismadneedle?Everysignandportentofanawfulearthquake!"

Myunclecoollyshookhishead。

"Anearthquake，"herepliedinthemostcalmandprovokingtone。

"Yes。"

"Mynephew，Itellyouthatyouareutterlymistaken，"hecontinued。

"Doyounot，canyounot，recognizeallthewell-knownsymtons-"

"Ofanearthquake?Bynomeans。Iamexpectingsomethingfarmoreimportant。"

"Mybrainisstrainedbeyondendurance-what，whatdoyoumean?"I

cried。

"Aneruption，Harry。"

"Aneruption，"Igasped。"Weare，then，inthevolcanicshaftofacraterinfullactionandvigor。"

"Ihaveeveryreasontothinkso，"saidtheProfessorinasmilingtone，"andIbegtotellyouthatitisthemostfortunatethingthatcouldhappentous。"

Themostfortunatething!Hadmyunclereallyandtrulygonemad?

Whatdidhemeanbytheseawfulwords-whatdidhemeanbythisterriblecalm，thissolemnsmile?

"What!"criedI，intheheightofmyexasperation，"weareonthewaytoaneruption，arewe?Fatalityhascastusintoawellofburningandboilinglava，ofrocksonfire，ofboilingwater，inaword，filledwitheverykindoferuptivematter?Weareabouttobeexpelled，thrownup，vomited，spitoutoftheinterioroftheearth，incommonwithhugeblocksofgranite，withshowersofcindersandscoriae，inawildwhirlwindofflame，andyousay-themostfortunatethingwhichcouldhappentous。"

"Yes，repliedtheProfessor，lookingatmecalmlyfromunderhisspectacles，"itistheonlychancewhichremainstousofeverescapingfromtheinterioroftheearthtothelightofday。"

ItisquiteimpossiblethatIcanputonpaperthethousandstrange，wildthoughtswhichfollowedthisextraordinaryannouncement。

Butmyunclewasright，quiteright，andneverhadheappearedtomesoaudaciousandsoconvincedaswhenhelookedmecalmlyinthefaceandspokeofthechancesofaneruption-ofourbeingcastuponMotherEarthoncemorethroughthegapingcraterofavolcano!

Nevertheless，whilewewerespeakingwewerestillascending；wepassedthewholenightgoingup，ortospeakmorescientifically，inanascensionalmotion。Thefearfulnoiseredoubled；Iwasreadytosuffocate。Iseriouslybelievedthatmylasthourwasapproaching，andyet，sostrangeisimagination，allIthoughtofwassomechildishhypothesisorother。Insuchcircumstancesyoudonotchooseyourownthoughts。Theyovercomeyou。

Itwasquiteevidentthatwewerebeingcastupwardsbyeruptivematter；undertherafttherewasamassofboilingwater，andunderthiswasaheaviermassoflava，andanaggregateofrockswhich，onreachingthesummitofthewater，wouldbedispersedineverydirection。

Thatwewereinsidethechimneyofavolcanotherecouldnolongerbetheshadowofadoubt。Nothingmoreterriblecouldbeconceived!

Butonthisoccasion，insteadofSneffels，anoldandextinctvolcano，wewereinsideamountainoffireinfullactivity。SeveraltimesIfoundmyselfasking，whatmountainwasit，andonwhatpartoftheworldweshouldbeshotout。Asifitwereofanyconsequence!

Inthenorthernregions，therecouldbenoreasonabledoubtaboutthat。Beforeitwentdecidedlymad，thecompasshadnevermadetheslightestmistake。FromthecapeofSaknussemm，wehadbeensweptawaytothenorthwardmanyhundredsofleagues。Nowthequestionwas，wereweoncemoreunderIceland-shouldwebebelchedforthontotheearththroughthecraterofMountHecla，orshouldwereappearthroughoneoftheothersevenfirefunnelsoftheisland?Takinginmymentalvisionaradiusoffivehundredleaguestothewestward，I

couldseeunderthisparallelonlythelittle-knownvolcanoesofthenorthwestcoastofAmerica。

Totheeastoneonlyexistedsomewhereabouttheeightiethdegreeoflatitude，theEsk，upontheislandofJanMayen，notfarfromthefrozenregionsofSpitsbergen。

Itwasnotcratersthatwerewanting，andmanyofthemwerebigenoughtovomitawholearmy；allIwishedtoknowwastheparticularonetowardswhichweweremakingwithsuchfearfulvelocity。

Ioftenthinknowofmyfolly:asifIshouldeverhaveexpectedtoescape!

Towardsmorning，theascendingmotionbecamegreaterandgreater。Ifthedegreeofheatincreasedinsteadofdecreasing，asweapproachedthesurfaceoftheearth，itwassimplybecausethecauseswerelocalandwhollyduetovolcanicinfluence。Ourverystyleoflocomotionleftinmymindnodoubtuponthesubject。Anenormousforce，aforceofseveralhundredsofatmospheresproducedbythevaporsaccumulatedandlongcompressedintheinterioroftheearth，washoistingusupwardswithirresistiblepower。

Butthoughwewereapproachingthelightofday，towhatfearfuldangerswereweabouttobeexposed?

Instantdeathappearedtheonlyfatewhichwecouldexpectorcontemplate。

Soonadim，sepulchrallightpenetratedtheverticalgallery，whichbecamewiderandwider。Icouldmakeouttotherightandleftlongdarkcorridorslikeimmensetunnels，fromwhichawfulandhorridvaporspouredout。Tonguesoffire，sparklingandcrackling，appearedabouttolickusup。

Thehourhadcome!

"Look，Uncle，look!"Icried。

"Well，whatyouseearethegreatsulphurousflames。Nothingmorecommoninconnectionwithaneruption。"

"Butiftheylapusround!"Iangrilyreplied。

"Theywillnotlapusround，"washisquietandsereneanswer。

"Butitwillbeallthesameintheendiftheystifleus，"Icried。

"Weshallnotbestifled。Thegalleryisrapidlybecomingwiderandwider，andifitbenecessary，wewillpresentlyleavetheraftandtakerefugeinsomefissureintherock。"

"Butthewater，thewater，whichiscontinuallyascending?"I

despairinglyreplied。

"Thereisnolongeranywater，Harry，"heanswered，"butakindoflavapaste，whichisheavingusup，incompanywithitself，tothemouthofthecrater。"

Intruth，theliquidcolumnofwaterhadwhollydisappearedtogiveplacetodensemassesofboilingeruptivematter。Thetemperaturewasbecomingutterlyinsupportable，andathermometerexposedtothisatmospherewouldhavemarkedbetweenonehundredandeighty-nineandonehundredninetydegreesFahrenheit。

Perspirationrushedfromeverypore。Butfortheextraordinaryrapidityofourascentweshouldhavebeenstifled。

Nevertheless，theProfessordidnotcarryouthispropositionofabandoningtheraft；andhedidquitewisely。Thosefewill-joinedbeamsoffered，anyway，asolidsurface-asupportwhichelsewheremusthaveutterlyfailedus。

Towardseighto"clockinthemorninganewincidentstartledus。Theascensionalmovementsuddenlyceased。Theraftbecamestillandmotionless。

"Whatisthematternow?"Isaid，querulously，verymuchstartledbythischange。

"Asimplehalt，"repliedmyuncle。

"Istheeruptionabouttofail?"Iasked。

"Ihopenot。"

Withoutmakinganyreply，Irose。Itriedtolookaroundme。Perhapstheraft，checkedbysomeprojectingrock，opposedamomentaryresistancetotheeruptivemass。Inthiscase，itwasabsolutelynecessarytoreleaseitasquicklyaspossible。

Nothingofthekindhadoccurred。Thecolumnofcinders，ofscoriae，ofbrokenrocksandearth，hadwhollyceasedtoascend。

"Itellyou，Uncle，thattheeruptionhasstopped，"wasmyoraculardecision。

"Ah，"saidmyuncle，"youthinkso，myboy。Youarewrong。Donotbeintheleastalarmed；thissuddenmomentofcalmwillnotlastlong，beassured。Ithasalreadyenduredfiveminutes，andbeforewearemanyminutesolderweshallbecontinuingourjourneytothemouthofthecrater。"

AllthetimehewasspeakingtheProfessorcontinuedtoconsulthischronometer，andhewasprobablyrightinhisprognostics。Soontheraftresumeditsmotion，inaveryrapidanddisorderlyway，whichlastedtwominutesorthereabout；andthenagainitstoppedassuddenlyasbefore。

"Good，"saidmyuncle，observingthehour，"intenweshallstartagain。"

"Intenminutes?"

"Yes-precisely。Wehavetodowithavolcano，theeruptionofwhichisintermittent。Wearecompelledtobreathejustasitdoes。"

Nothingcouldbemoretrue。Attheexactminutehehadindicated，wewereagainlaunchedonhighwithextremerapidity。Nottobecastofftheraft，itwasnecessarytoholdontothebeams。Thenthehoistagainceased。

ManytimessincehaveIthoughtofthissingularphenomenonwithoutbeingabletofindforitanysatisfactoryexplanation。

Nevertheless，itappearedquitecleartome，thatwewerenotintheprincipalchimneyofthevolcano，butinanaccessoryconduit，wherewefeltthecountershockofthegreatandprincipaltunnelfilledbyburninglava。

Itisimpossibleformetosayhowmanytimesthismaneuverwasrepeated。AllthatIcanrememberis，thatoneveryascensionalmotion，wewerehoistedupwitheverincreasingvelocity，asifwehadbeenlaunchedfromahugeprojectile。Duringthesuddenhaltswewerenearlystifled；duringthemomentsofprojectionthehotairtookawayourbreath。

Ithoughtforamomentofthevoluptuousjoyofsuddenlyfindingmyselfinthehyperboreanregionswiththecoldthirtydegreesbelowzero!

Myexaltedimaginationpicturedtoitselfthevastsnowyplainsofthearcticregions，andIwasimpatienttorollmyselfontheicycarpetoftheNorthPole。

Bydegreesmyhead，utterlyovercomebyaseriesofviolentemotions，begantogivewaytohallucination。Iwasdelirious。HaditnotbeenforthepowerfularmsofHans，theguide，Ishouldhavebrokenmyheadagainstthegranitemassesoftheshaft。

Ihave，inconsequence，keptnoaccountofwhatfollowedformanyhours。Ihaveavagueandconfusedremembranceofcontinualdetonations，oftheshakingofthehugegraniticmass，andoftheraftgoingroundlikeaspinningtop。Itfloatedonthestreamofhotlava，amidstafallingcloudofcinders。Thehugeflamesroaring，wrappedusaround。

Astormofwindwhichappearedtobecastforthfromanimmenseventilatorrouseduptheinteriorfiresoftheearth。Itwasahot，incandescentblast!

AtlastIsawthefigureofHansasifenvelopedinthehugehaloofburningblaze，andnoothersenseremainedtomebutthatsinisterdreadwhichthecondemnedvictimmaybesupposedtofeelwhenledtothemouthofacannon，atthesuprememomentwhentheshotisfiredandhislimbsaredispersedintoemptyspace。

CHAPTER43

DaylightatLastWHENIopenedmyeyesIfeltthehandoftheguideclutchingmefirmlybythebelt。Withhisotherhandhesupportedmyuncle。Iwasnotgrievouslywounded，butbruisedalloverinthemostremarkablemanner。

AfteramomentIlookedaround，andfoundthatIwaslyingdownontheslopeofamountainnottwoyardsfromayawninggulfintowhichI

shouldhavefallenhadImadetheslightestfalsestep。Hanshadsavedmefromdeath，whileIrolledinsensibleontheflanksofthecrater。

"Wherearewe?"dreamilyaskedmyuncle，wholiterallyappearedtobedisgustedathavingreturnedtoearth。

Theeider-downhuntersimplyshruggedhisshouldersasamarkoftotalignorance。

"InIceland?"saidI，notpositivelybutinterrogatively。

"Nej，"saidHans。

"Howdoyoumean?"criedtheProfessor；"no-whatareyourreasons?"

"Hansiswrong，"saidI，rising。

Afteralltheinnumerablesurprisesofthisjourney，ayetmoresingularonewasreservedtous。Iexpectedtoseeaconecoveredbysnow，byextensiveandwidespreadglaciers，inthemidstoftheariddesertsoftheextremenorthernregions，beneaththefullraysofapolarsky，beyondthehighestlatitudes。

Butcontrarytoallourexpectations，I，myuncle，andtheIcelander，werecastupontheslopeofamountaincalcinedbytheburningraysofasunwhichwasliterallybakinguswithitsfires。

Icouldnotbelievemyeyes，buttheactualheatwhichaffectedmybodyallowedmenochanceofdoubting。Wecameoutofthecraterhalfnaked，andtheradiantstarfromwhichwehadaskednothingfortwomonths，wasgoodenoughtobeprodigaltousoflightandwarmth-alightandwarmthwecouldeasilyhavedispensedwith。

Whenoureyeswereaccustomedtothelightwehadlostsightofsolong，Iusedthemtorectifytheerrorsofmyimagination。Whateverhappened，weshouldhavebeenatSpitsbergen，andIwasinnohumortoyieldtoanythingbutthemostabsoluteproof。

Aftersomedelay，theProfessorspoke。

"Hem!"hesaid，inahesitatingkindofway，"itreallydoesnotlooklikeIceland。"

"ButsupposingitweretheislandofJanMayen?"Iventuredtoobserve。

"Notintheleast，myboy。Thisisnotoneofthevolcanoesofthenorth，withitshillsofgraniteanditscrownofsnow。"

"Nevertheless-

"Look，look，myboy，"saidtheProfessor，asdogmaticallyasusual。

Rightaboveourheads，atagreatheight，openedthecraterofavolcanofromwhichescaped，fromonequarterofanhourtotheother，withaveryloudexplosion，aloftyjetofflamemingledwithpumicestone，cinders，andlava。Icouldfeeltheconvulsionsofnatureinthemountain，whichbreathedlikeahugewhale，throwingupfromtimetotimefireandairthroughitsenormousvents。

Below，andfloatingalongaslopeofconsiderableangularity，thestreamoferuptivematterspreadawaytoadepthwhichdidnotgivethevolcanoaheightofthreehundredfathoms。

Itsbasedisappearedinaperfectforestofgreentrees，amongwhichIperceivedolives，figtrees，andvinesloadedwithrichgrapes。

Certainlythiswasnottheordinaryaspectofthearcticregions。

Aboutthattherecouldnotbetheslightestdoubt。

Whentheeyewassatisfiedatitsglimpseofthisverdantexpanse，itfelluponthewatersofalovelyseaorbeautifullake，whichmadeofthisenchantedlandanislandofnotmanyleaguesinextent。

Onthesideoftherisingsunwastobeseenalittleport，crowdedwithhouses，andnearwhichtheboatsandvesselsofpeculiarbuildwerefloatinguponazurewaves。

Beyond，groupsofislandsroseabovetheliquidplain，sonumerousandclosetogetherastoresembleavastbeehive。

Towardsthesettingsun，somedistantshoresweretobemadeoutontheedgeofthehorizon。Somepresentedtheappearanceofbluemountainsofharmoniousconformation；uponothers，muchmoredistant，thereappearedaprodigiouslyloftycone，abovethesummitofwhichhungdarkandheavyclouds。

Towardsthenorth，animmenseexpanseofwatersparkledbeneaththesolarrays，occasionallyallowingtheextremityofamastortheconvexityofasailbellyingtothewind，tobeseen。

Theunexpectedcharacterofsuchasceneaddedahundredfoldtoitsmarvelousbeauties。

"Wherecanwebe?"Iasked，speakinginalowandsolemnvoice。

Hansshuthiseyeswithanairofindifference，andmyunclelookedonwithoutclearlyunderstanding。

"Whateverthismountainmaybe，"hesaid，atlast，"Imustconfessitisratherwarm。Theexplosionsdonotleaveoff，andIdonotthinkitisworthwhiletohavelefttheinteriorofavolcanoandremainheretoreceiveahugepieceofrockuponone"shead。Letuscarefullydescendthemountainanddiscovertherealstateofthecase。Toconfessthetruth，Iamdyingofhungerandthirst。"

DecidedlytheProfessorwasnolongeratrulyreflectivecharacter。Formyself，forgettingallmynecessities，ignoringmyfatiguesandsufferings，Ishouldhaveremainedstillforseveralhourslonger-butitwasnecessarytofollowmycompanions。

Theslopeofthevolcanowasverysteepandslippery；weslidoverpilesofashes，avoidingthestreamsofhotlavawhichglidedaboutlikefieryserpents。Still，whilewewereadvancing，Ispokewithextremevolubility，formyimaginationwastoofullnottoexplodeinwords。

"WeareinAsia!"Iexclaimed；"weareonthecoastofIndia，inthegreatMalayislands，inthecenterofOceania。WehavecrossedtheonehalfoftheglobetocomeoutrightattheantipodesofEurope!"

"Butthecompass!"exclaimedmyuncle；"explainthattome!"

"Yes-thecompass，"Isaidwithconsiderablehesitation。"Igrantthatisadifficulty。Accordingtoit，wehavealwaysbeengoingnorthward。"

"Thenitlied。"

"Hem-tosayitliedisratheraharshword，"wasmyanswer。

"ThenweareattheNorthPole-"

"ThePole-no-well-wellIgiveitup，"wasmyreply。

Theplaintruthwas，thattherewasnoexplanationpossible。Icouldmakenothingofit。

Andallthewhilewewereapproachingthisbeautifulverdure，hungerandthirsttormentedmefearfully。Happily，aftertwolonghours"

march，abeautifulcountryspreadoutbeforeus，coveredbyolives，pomegranates，andvines，whichappearedtobelongtoanybodyandeverybody。Inanyevent，inthestateofdestitutionintowhichwehadfallen，wewerenotinamoodtopondertooscrupulously。

Whatdelightitwastopressthesedeliciousfruitstoourlips，andtobiteatgrapesandpomegranatesfreshfromthevine。

Notfaroff，nearsomefreshandmossygrass，underthedeliciousshadeofsometrees，Idiscoveredaspringoffreshwater，inwhichwevoluptuouslylavedourfaces，hands，andfeet。

Whilewewereallgivingwaytothedelightsofnew-foundpleasures，alittlechildappearedbetweentwotuftedolivetrees。

"Ah，"criedI，"aninhabitantofthishappycountry。"

Thelittlefellowwaspoorlydressed，weak，andsuffering，andappearedterriblyalarmedatourappearance。Half-naked，withtangled，mattedandraggedbeards，wedidlooksupremelyill-favored；andunlessthecountrywasabanditland，wewerenotlikelytoalarmtheinhabitants!

Justastheboywasabouttotaketohisheels，Hansranafterhim，andbroughthimback，despitehiscriesandkicks。

Myuncletriedtolookasgentleaspossible，andthenspokeinGerman。

"Whatisthenameofthismountain，myfriend?"

Thechildmadenoreply。

"Good，"saidmyuncle，withaverypositiveairofconviction，"wearenotinGermany。"

HethenmadethesamedemandinEnglish，ofwhichlanguagehewasanexcellentscholar。

Thechildshookitsheadandmadenoreply。Ibegantobeconsiderablypuzzled。

"Ishedumb?"criedtheProfessor，whowasratherproudofhispolyglotknowledgeoflanguages，andmadethesamedemandinFrench。

Theboyonlystaredinhisface。

"ImustperforcetryhiminItalian，"saidmyuncle，withashrug。

"Dovenoisiamo?"

"Yes，tellmewhereweare?"Iaddedimpatientlyandeagerly。

Againtheboyremainedsilent。

"Myfinefellow，doyouordoyounotmeantospeak?"criedmyuncle，whobegantogetangry。Heshookhim，andspokeanotherdialectoftheItalianlanguage。

"Comesinomaquestaisola?"-"Whatisthenameofthisisland?"

"Stromboli，"repliedthericketylittleshepherd，dashingawayfromHansanddisappearingintheolivegroves。

Wethoughtlittleenoughabouthim。

Stromboli!Whateffectontheimaginationdidthesefewwordsproduce!WewereinthecenteroftheMediterranean，amidsttheeasternarchipelagoofmythologicalmemory，intheancientStrongylos，whereAEoluskeptthewindandthetempestchainedup。Andthosebluemountains，whichrosetowardstherisingsun，werethemountainsofCalabria。

AndthatmightyvolcanowhichroseonthesouthernhorizonwasEtna，thefierceandcelebratedEtna!

"Stromboli!Stromboli!"Irepeatedtomyself。

Myuncleplayedaregularaccompanimenttomygesturesandwords。Weweresingingtogetherlikeanancientchorus。

Ah-whatajourney-whatamarvelousandextraordinaryjourney!Herewehadenteredtheearthbyonevolcano，andwehadcomeoutbyanother。AndthisotherwassituatedmorethantwelvehundredleaguesfromSneffelsfromthatdrearcountryofIcelandcastawayontheconfinesoftheearth。Thewondrouschangesofthisexpeditionhadtransportedustothemostharmoniousandbeautifulofearthlylands。Wehadabandonedtheregionofeternalsnowsforthatofinfiniteverdure，andhadleftoverourheadsthegrayfogoftheicyregionstocomebacktotheazureskyofSicily!

Afteradeliciousrepastoffruitsandfreshwater，weagaincontinuedourjourneyinordertoreachtheportofStromboli。Tosayhowwehadreachedtheislandwouldscarcelyhavebeenprudent。

ThesuperstitiouscharacteroftheItalianswouldhavebeenatwork，andweshouldhavebeencalleddemonsvomitedfromtheinfernalregions。Itwasthereforenecessarytopassforhumbleandunfortunateshipwreckedtravelers。Itwascertainlylessstrikingandromantic，butitwasdecidedlysafer。

Asweadvanced，Icouldhearmyworthyunclemutteringtohimself:

"Butthecompass。Thecompassmostcertainlymarkednorth。ThisisafactIcannotexplaininanyway。"

"Well，thefactis，"saidI，withanairofdisdain，"wemustnotexplainanything。Itwillbemuchmoreeasy。"

"IshouldliketoseeaprofessoroftheJohanneumInstitutionwhoisunabletoexplainacosmicphenomenon-itwouldindeedbestrange。"

Andspeakingthus，myuncle，half-naked，hisleathernpurseroundhisloins，andhisspectaclesuponhisnose，becameoncemoretheterribleProfessorofMineralogy。

Anhourafterleavingthewoodofolives，wereachedthefortofSanVicenza，whereHansdemandedthepriceofhisthirteenthweekofservice。Myunclepaidhim，withverymanywarmshakesofthehand。

Atthatmoment，ifhedidnotindeedquiteshareournaturalemotion，heallowedhisfeelingssofartogivewayastoindulgeinanextraordinaryexpressionforhim。

Withthetipsoftwofingershegentlypressedourhandsandsmiled。

CHAPTER44

TheJourneyEndedTHISisthefinalconclusionofanarrativewhichwillbeprobablydisbelievedevenbypeoplewhoareastonishedatnothing。Iam，however，armedatallpointsagainsthumanincredulity。

WewerekindlyreceivedbytheStrombolitefishermen，whotreatedusasshipwreckedtravelers。Theygaveusclothesandfood。Afteradelayofforty-eighthours，onthe30thofSeptemberalittlevesseltookustoMessina，whereafewdaysofdelightfulandcompletereposerestoredustoourselves。

OnFriday，the4thofOctober，weembarkedintheVolturne，oneofthepostalpacketsoftheImperialMessageriesofFrance；andthreedayslaterwelandedatMarseilles，havingnoothercareonourmindsbutthatofourpreciousbuterraticcompass。Thisinexplicablecircumstancetormentedmeterribly。Onthe9thofOctober，intheevening，wereachedHamburg。

WhatwastheastonishmentofMartha，whatthejoyofGretchen!I

willnotattempttodefineit。

"Nowthen，Harry，thatyoureallyareahero，"shesaid，"thereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldeverleavemeagain。"

Ilookedather。Shewasweepingtearsofjoy。

IleaveittobeimaginedifthereturnofProfessorHardwiggmadeordidnotmakeasensationinHamburg。ThankstotheindiscretionofMartha，thenewsofhisdeparturefortheinterioroftheearthhadbeenspreadoverthewholeworld。

Noonewouldbelieveit-andwhentheysawhimcomebackinsafetytheybelieveditalltheless。

ButthepresenceofHansandmanystrayscrapsofinformationbydegreesmodifiedpublicopinion。

ThenmyunclebecameagreatmanandIthenephewofagreatman，which，atallevents，issomething。Hamburggaveafestivalinourhonor。ApublicmeetingoftheJohanneumInstitutionwasheld，atwhichtheProfessorrelatedthewholestoryofhisadventures，omittingonlythefactsinconnectionwiththecompass。

ThatsamedayhedepositedinthearchivesofthetownthedocumenthehadfoundwrittenbySaknussemm，andheexpressedhisgreatregretthatcircumstances，strongerthanhiswill，didnotallowhimtofollowtheIcelandictraveler"strackintotheverycenteroftheearth。Hewasmodestinhisglory，buthisreputationonlyincreased。

Somuchhonornecessarilycreatedforhimmanyenviousenemies。Ofcoursetheyexisted，andashistheories，supportedbycertainfacts，contradictedthesystemofscienceuponthequestionofcentralheat，hemaintainedhisownviewsbothwithpenandspeechagainstthelearnedofeverycountry。AlthoughIstillbelieveinthetheoryofcentralheat，Iconfessthatcertaincircumstances，hithertoveryilldefined，maymodifythelawsofsuchnaturalphenomena。

Atthemomentwhenthesequestionswerebeingdiscussedwithinterest，myunclereceivedarudeshock-onethathefeltverymuch。

Hans，despiteeverythinghecouldsaytothecontrary，quittedHamburg；themantowhomweowedsomuchwouldnotallowustopayourdeepdebtofgratitude。Hewastakenwithnostalgia；aloveforhisIcelandichome。

"Farval，"saidhe，oneday，andwiththisoneshortwordofadieu，hestartedforReykjavik，whichhesoonreachedinsafety。

Weweredeeplyattachedtoourbraveeider-duckhunter。Hisabsencewillnevercausehimtobeforgottenbythosewhoseliveshesaved，andIhope，atsomenotdistantday，toseehimagain。

Toconclude，Imaysaythatourjourneyintotheinterioroftheearthcreatedanenormoussensationthroughoutthecivilizedworld。Itwastranslatedandprintedinmanylanguages。Alltheleadingjournalspublishedextractsfromit，whichwerecommentated，discussed，attacked，andsupportedwithequalanimationbythosewhobelievedinitsepisodes，andbythosewhowereutterlyincredulous。

Wonderful!Myuncleenjoyedduringhislifetimeallthegloryhedeserved；andhewasevenofferedalargesumofmoney，byMr。Barnum，toexhibithimselfintheUnitedStates；whileIamcrediblyinformedbyatravelerthatheistobeseeninwaxworkatMadameTussaud"s!

Butonecarepreyeduponhismind，acarewhichrenderedhimveryunhappy。Onefactremainedinexplicable-thatofthecompass。Foralearnedmantobebaffledbysuchaninexplicablephenomenonwasveryaggravating。ButHeavenwasmerciful，andintheendmyunclewashappy。

Oneday，whileheputsomemineralsbelongingtohiscollectioninorder，Ifelluponthefamouscompassandexamineditkeenly。

Forsixmonthsithadlainunnoticedanduntouched。

Ilookedatitwithcuriosity，whichsoonbecamesurprise。Igavealoudcry。TheProfessor，whowasathand，soonjoinedme。

"Whatisthematter?"hecried。

"Thecompass!

"Whatthen?"

"Whyitsneedlepointstothesouthandnottothenorth。"

"Mydearboy，youmustbedreaming。"

"Iamnotdreaming。See-thepolesarechanged。"

"Changed!"

Myuncleputonhisspectacles，examinedtheinstrument，andleapedwithjoy，shakingthewholehouse。

Aclearlightfelluponourminds。

"Hereitis!"hecried，assoonashehadrecoveredtheuseofhisspeech，"afterwehadoncepassedCapeSaknussemm，theneedleofthiscompasspointedtothesouthwardinsteadofthenorthward。"

"Evidently。"

"Ourerrorisnoweasilyexplained。Buttowhatphenomenondoweowethisalterationintheneedle?"

"Nothingmoresimple。"

"Explainyourself，myboy。Iamonthorns。"

"Duringthestorm，upontheCentralSea，theballoffirewhichmadeamagnetoftheironinourraft，turnedourcompasstopsy-turvy。"

"Ah!"criedtheProfessor，withaloudandringinglaugh，"itwasatrickofthatinexplicableelectricity。"

Fromthathourmyunclewasthehappiestoflearnedmen，andIthehappiestofordinarymortals。FormyprettyVirlandgirl，abdicatingherpositionasward，tookherplaceinthehouseintheKonigstrasseinthedoublequalityofnieceandwife。

WeneedscarcelymentionthatherunclewastheillustriousProfessorHardwigg，correspondingmemberofallthescientific，geographical，mineralogical，andgeologicalsocietiesofthefivepartsoftheglobe。