MyUncleMakesaDiscoveryLOOKINGbacktoallthathasoccurredtomesincethateventfulday，Iamscarcelyabletobelieveintherealityofmyadventures。TheyweretrulysowonderfulthatevennowIambewilderedwhenIthinkofthem。
MyunclewasaGerman，havingmarriedmymother\'ssister，anEnglishwoman。Beingverymuchattachedtohisfatherlessnephew，heinvitedmetostudyunderhiminhishomeinthefatherland。Thishomewasinalargetown，andmyuncleaprofessorofphilosophy，chemistry，geology，mineralogy，andmanyotherologies。
Oneday，afterpassingsomehoursinthelaboratory-myunclebeingabsentatthetime-Isuddenlyfeltthenecessityofrenovatingthetissues-i。e。，Iwashungry，andwasabouttorouseupouroldFrenchcook，whenmyuncle，ProfessorVonHardwigg，suddenlyopenedthestreetdoor，andcamerushingupstairs。
NowProfessorHardwigg，myworthyuncle，isbynomeansabadsortofman；heis，however，cholericandoriginal。Tobearwithhimmeanstoobey；andscarcelyhadhisheavyfeetresoundedwithinourjointdomicilethanheshoutedformetoattenduponhim。
\"Harry-Harry-Harry-\"
Ihastenedtoobey，butbeforeIcouldreachhisroom，jumpingthreestepsatatime，hewasstampinghisrightfootuponthelanding。
\"Harry!\"hecried，inafrantictone，\"areyoucomingup?\"
Nowtotellthetruth，atthatmomentIwasfarmoreinterestedinthequestionastowhatwastoconstituteourdinnerthaninanyproblemofscience；tomesoupwasmoreinterestingthansoda，anomelettemoretemptingthanarithmetic，andanartichokeoftentimesmorevaluethananyamountofasbestos。
Butmyunclewasnotamantobekeptwaiting；soadjourningthereforeallminorquestions，Ipresentedmyselfbeforehim。
Hewasaverylearnedman。Nowmostpersonsinthiscategorysupplythemselveswithinformation，aspeddlersdowithgoods，forthebenefitofothers，andlayupstoresinordertodiffusethemabroadforthebenefitofsocietyingeneral。Notsomyexcellentuncle，ProfessorHardwigg；hestudied，heconsumedthemidnightoil，heporedoverheavytomes，anddigestedhugequartosandfoliosinordertokeeptheknowledgeacquiredtohimself。
Therewasareason，anditmayberegardedasagoodone，whymyuncleobjectedtodisplayhislearningmorethanwasabsolutelynecessary:hestammered；andwhenintentuponexplainingthephenomenaoftheheavens，wasapttofindhimselfatfault，andalludeinsuchavaguewaytosun，moon，andstarsthatfewwereabletocomprehendhismeaning。Totellthehonesttruth，whentherightwordwouldnotcome，itwasgenerallyreplacedbyaverypowerfuladjective。
Inconnectionwiththesciencestherearemanyalmostunpronounceablenames-namesverymuchresemblingthoseofWelshvillages；andmyunclebeingveryfondofusingthem，hishabitofstammeringwasnottherebyimproved。Infact，therewereperiodsinhisdiscoursewhenhewouldfinallygiveupandswallowhisdiscomfiture-inaglassofwater。
AsIsaid，myuncle，ProfessorHardwigg，wasaverylearnedman；andInowaddamostkindrelative。Iwasboundtohimbythedoubletiesofaffectionandinterest。Itookdeepinterestinallhisdoings，andhopedsomedaytobealmostaslearnedmyself。Itwasararethingformetobeabsentfromhislectures。Likehim，I
preferredmineralogytoalltheothersciences。Myanxietywastogainrealknowledgeoftheearth。Geologyandmineralogyweretousthesoleobjectsoflife，andinconnectionwiththesestudiesmanyafairspecimenofstone，chalk，ormetaldidwebreakwithourhammers。
Steelrods，loadstones，glasspipes，andbottlesofvariousacidswereoftenerbeforeusthanourmeals。MyuncleHardwiggwasonceknowntoclassifysixhundreddifferentgeologicalspecimensbytheirweight，hardness，fusibility，sound，taste，andsmell。
Hecorrespondedwithallthegreat，learned，andscientificmenoftheage。Iwas，therefore，inconstantcommunicationwith，atalleventsthelettersof，SirHumphryDavy，CaptainFranklin，andothergreatmen。
ButbeforeIstatethesubjectonwhichmyunclewishedtoconferwithme，Imustsayawordabouthispersonalappearance。Alas!myreaderswillseeaverydifferentportraitofhimatafuturetime，afterhehasgonethroughthefearfuladventuresyettoberelated。
Myunclewasfiftyyearsold；tall，thin，andwiry。Largespectacleshid，toacertainextent，hisvast，round，andgoggleeyes，whilehisnosewasirreverentlycomparedtoathinfile。Somuchindeeddiditresemblethatusefularticle，thatacompasswassaidinhispresencetohavemadeconsiderableNNasaldeviation。
Thetruthbeingtold，however，theonlyarticlereallyattractedtomyuncle\'snosewastobacco。
Anotherpeculiarityofhiswas，thathealwayssteppedayardatatime，clenchedhisfistsasifheweregoingtohityou，andwas，wheninoneofhispeculiarhumors，veryfarfromapleasantcompanion。
Itisfurthernecessarytoobservethathelivedinaverynicehouse，inthatverynicestreet，theKonigstrasseatHamburg。Thoughlyinginthecenterofatown，itwasperfectlyruralinitsaspect-
halfwood，halfbricks，withold-fashionedgables-oneofthefewoldhousessparedbythegreatfireof1842。
WhenIsayanicehouse，Imeanahandsomehouse-old，tottering，andnotexactlycomfortabletoEnglishnotions:ahousealittleofftheperpendicularandinclinedtofallintotheneighboringcanal；
exactlythehouseforawanderingartisttodepict；allthemorethatyoucouldscarcelyseeitforivyandamagnificentoldtreewhichgrewoverthedoor。
Myunclewasrich；hishousewashisownproperty，whilehehadaconsiderableprivateincome。Tomynotionthebestpartofhispossessionswashisgod-daughter，Gretchen。Andtheoldcook，theyounglady，theProfessorandIwerethesoleinhabitants。
Ilovedmineralogy，Ilovedgeology。Tometherewasnothinglikepebbles-andifmyunclehadbeeninalittlelessofafury，weshouldhavebeenthehappiestoffamilies。ToprovetheexcellentHardwigg\'simpatience，Isolemnlydeclarethatwhentheflowersinthedrawing-roompotsbegantogrow，heroseeverymorningatfouro\'clocktomakethemgrowquickerbypullingtheleaves!
Havingdescribedmyuncle，Iwillnowgiveanaccountofourinterview。
Hereceivedmeinhisstudy；aperfectmuseum，containingeverynaturalcuriositythatcanwellbeimagined-minerals，however，predominating。Everyonewasfamiliartome，havingbeencataloguedbymyownhand。Myuncle，apparentlyobliviousofthefactthathehadsummonedmetohispresence，wasabsorbedinabook。Hewasparticularlyfondofearlyeditions，tallcopies，anduniqueworks。
\"Wonderful!\"hecried，tappinghisforehead。\"Wonderful-wonderful!\"
Itwasoneofthoseyellow-leavedvolumesnowrarelyfoundonstalls，andtomeitappearedtopossessbutlittlevalue。Myuncle，however，wasinraptures。
Headmireditsbinding，theclearnessofitscharacters，theeasewithwhichitopenedinhishand，andrepeatedaloud，halfadozentimes，thatitwasvery，veryold。
Tomyfancyhewasmakingagreatfussaboutnothing，butitwasnotmyprovincetosayso。Onthecontrary，Iprofessedconsiderableinterestinthesubject，andaskedhimwhatitwasabout。
\"ItistheHeims-KringlaofSnorreTarleson，\"hesaid，\"thecelebratedIcelandicauthorofthetwelfthcentury-itisatrueandcorrectaccountoftheNorwegianprinceswhoreignedinIceland。\"
Mynextquestionrelatedtothelanguageinwhichitwaswritten。
IhopedatalleventsitwastranslatedintoGerman。Myunclewasindignantattheverythought，anddeclaredhewouldn\'tgiveapennyforatranslation。HisdelightwastohavefoundtheoriginalworkintheIcelandictongue，whichhedeclaredtobeoneofthemostmagnificentandyetsimpleidiomsintheworld-whileatthesametimeitsgrammaticalcombinationswerethemostvariedknowntostudents。
\"AboutaseasyasGerman?wasmyinsidiousremark。
Myuncleshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Thelettersatallevents，\"Isaid，\"areratherdifficultofcomprehension。\"
\"ItisaRunicmanuscript，thelanguageoftheoriginalpopulationofIceland，inventedbyOdinhimself，\"criedmyuncle，angryatmyignorance。
Iwasabouttoventureuponsomemisplacedjokeonthesubject，whenasmallscrapofparchmentfelloutoftheleaves。LikeahungrymansnatchingatamorselofbreadtheProfessorseizedit。Itwasaboutfiveinchesbythreeandwasscrawledoverinthemostextraordinaryfashion。
Thelinesshownhereareanexactfacsimileofwhatwaswrittenonthevenerablepieceofparchment-andhavewonderfulimportance，astheyinducedmyuncletoundertakethemostwonderfulseriesofadventureswhicheverfelltothelotofhumanbeings。Seeillustration。
MyunclelookedkeenlyatthedocumentforsomemomentsandthendeclaredthatitwasRunic。Thelettersweresimilartothoseinthebook，butthenwhatdidtheymean?ThiswasexactlywhatIwantedtoknow。
NowasIhadastrongconvictionthattheRunicalphabetanddialectweresimplyaninventiontomystifypoorhumannature，IwasdelightedtofindthatmyuncleknewasmuchaboutthematterasIdid-whichwasnothing。Atalleventsthetremulousmotionofhisfingersmademethinkso。
\"Andyet，\"hemutteredtohimself，\"itisoldIcelandic，Iamsureofit。\"
Andmyuncleoughttohaveknown，forhewasaperfectpolyglotdictionaryinhimself。Hedidnotpretend，likeacertainlearnedpundit，tospeakthetwothousandlanguagesandfourthousandidiomsmadeuseofindifferentpartsoftheglobe，buthedidknowallthemoreimportantones。
Itisamatterofgreatdoubttomenow，towhatviolentmeasuresmyuncle\'simpetuositymighthaveledhim，hadnottheclockstrucktwo，andouroldFrenchcookcalledouttoletusknowthatdinnerwasonthetable。
\"Botherthedinner!\"criedmyuncle。
ButasIwashungry，Isalliedforthtothediningroom，whereI
tookupmyusualquarters。OutofpolitenessIwaitedthreeminutes，butnosignofmyuncle，theProfessor。Iwassurprised。Hewasnotusuallysoblindtothepleasureofagooddinner。ItwastheacmeofGermanluxury-parsleysoup，ahamomelettewithsorreltrimmings，anoysterofvealstewedwithprunes，deliciousfruit，andsparklingMoselle。Forthesakeofporingoverthismustyoldpieceofparchment，myuncleforboretoshareourmeal。Tosatisfymyconscience，Iateforboth。
Theoldcookandhousekeeperwasnearlyoutofhermind。Aftertakingsomuchtrouble，tofindhermasternotappearatdinnerwastoherasaddisappointment-which，assheoccasionallywatchedthehavocIwasmakingontheviands，becamealsoalarm。Ifmyuncleweretocometotableafterall?
Suddenly，justasIhadconsumedthelastappleanddrunkthelastglassofwine，aterriblevoicewasheardatnogreatdistance。Itwasmyuncleroaringformetocometohim。Imadeverynearlyoneleapofit-soloud，sofiercewashistone。
CHAPTER2
TheMysteriousParchment\"IDECLARE，\"criedmyuncle，strikingthetablefiercelywithhisfist，\"IdeclaretoyouitisRunic-andcontainssomewonderfulsecret，whichImustgetat，atanyprice。\"
Iwasabouttoreplywhenhestoppedme。
\"Sitdown，\"hesaid，quitefiercely，\"andwritetomydictation。\"
Iobeyed。
\"Iwillsubstitute，\"hesaid，\"aletterofouralphabetforthatoftheRunic:wewillthenseewhatthatwillproduce。Now，beginandmakenomistakes。\"
Thedictationcommencedwiththefollowingincomprehensibleresult:
mm。rnllsesreuelseecJdesgtssmfunteiefniedrkekt，samnatrateSSaodrrnemtnaeInuaectrrilSaAtvaar。nscrcieaabsccdrmieeutulfrantudt，iacoseiboKediiY
Scarcelygivingmetimetofinish，myunclesnatchedthedocumentfrommyhandsandexamineditwiththemostraptanddeepattention。
\"Ishouldliketoknowwhatitmeans，\"hesaid，afteralongperiod。
Icertainlycouldnottellhim，nordidheexpectmeto-hisconversationbeinguniformlyansweredbyhimself。
\"Ideclareitputsmeinmindofacryptograph，\"hecried，\"unless，indeed，thelettershavebeenwrittenwithoutanyrealmeaning；andyetwhytakesomuchtrouble?WhoknowsbutImaybeonthevergeofsomegreatdiscovery?\"
Mycandidopinionwasthatitwasallrubbish!ButthisopinionI
keptcarefullytomyself，asmyuncle\'scholerwasnotpleasanttobear。Allthistimehewascomparingthebookwiththeparchment。
\"Themanuscriptvolumeandthesmallerdocumentarewrittenindifferenthands，\"hesaid，\"thecryptographisofmuchlaterdatethanthebook；thereisanundoubtedproofofthecorrectnessofmysurmise。[AnirrefragableproofItookittobe。]ThefirstletterisadoubleM，whichwasonlyaddedtotheIcelandiclanguageinthetwelfthcentury-thismakestheparchmenttwohundredyearsposteriortothevolume。\"
Thecircumstancesappearedveryprobableandverylogical，butitwasallsurmisetome。
\"Tomeitappearsprobablethatthissentencewaswrittenbysomeownerofthebook。Nowwhowastheowner，isthenextimportantquestion。Perhapsbygreatgoodluckitmaybewrittensomewhereinthevolume。\"
WiththesewordsProfessorHardwiggtookoffhisspectacles，and，takingapowerfulmagnifyingglass，examinedthebookcarefully。
Ontheflyleafwaswhatappearedtobeablotofink，butonexaminationprovedtobealineofwritingalmosteffacedbytime。
Thiswaswhathesought；and，aftersomeconsiderabletime，hemadeouttheseletters:
Seeillustration。
\"ArneSaknussemm!\"hecriedinajoyousandtriumphanttone，\"thatisnotonlyanIcelandicname，butofalearnedprofessorofthesixteenthcentury，acelebratedalchemist。\"
Ibowedasasignofrespect。
\"Thesealchemists，\"hecontinued，\"Avicenna，Bacon，Lully，Paracelsus，werethetrue，theonlylearnedmenoftheday。Theymadesurprisingdiscoveries。MaynotthisSaknussemm，nephewmine，havehiddenonthisbitofparchmentsomeastoundinginvention?I
believethecryptographtohaveaprofoundmeaning-whichImustmakeout。\"
Myunclewalkedabouttheroominastateofexcitementalmostimpossibletodescribe。
\"Itmaybeso，sir，\"Itimidlyobserved，\"butwhyconcealitfromposterity，ifitbeauseful，aworthydiscovery?\"
\"Why-howshouldIknow?DidnotGalileomakeasecretofhisdiscoveriesinconnectionwithSaturn?Butweshallsee。UntilI
discoverthemeaningofthissentenceIwillneithereatnorsleep。\"
\"Mydearuncle-\"Ibegan。
\"Noryouneither，\"headded。
ItwasluckyIhadtakendoubleallowancethatday。
\"Inthefirstplace，\"hecontinued，\"theremustbeacluetothemeaning。Ifwecouldfindthat，therestwouldbeeasyenough。\"
Ibeganseriouslytoreflect。Theprospectofgoingwithoutfoodandsleepwasnotapromisingone，soIdeterminedtodomybesttosolvethemystery。Myuncle，meanwhile，wentonwithhissoliloquy。
\"Thewaytodiscoveritiseasyenough。Inthisdocumentthereareonehundredandthirty-twoletters，givingseventy-nineconsonantstofifty-threevowels。Thisisabouttheproportionfoundinmostsouthernlanguages，theidiomsofthenorthbeingmuchmorerichinconsonants。Wemayconfidentlypredict，therefore，thatwehavetodealwithasoutherndialect。\"
Nothingcouldbemorelogical。
\"NowsaidProfessorHardwigg，\"totracetheparticularlanguage。\"
\"AsShakespearesays，\'thatisthequestion，\"\'wasmyrathersatiricalreply。
\"ThismanSaknussemmhecontinued，\"wasaverylearnedman:nowashedidnotwriteinthelanguageofhisbirthplace，heprobably，likemostlearnedmenofthesixteenthcentury，wroteinLatin。If，however，Iprovewronginthisguess，wemusttrySpanish，French，Italian，Greek，andevenHebrew。Myownopinion，though，isdecidedlyinfavorofLatin。\"
Thispropositionstartledme。Latinwasmyfavoritestudy，anditseemedsacrilegetobelievethisgibberishtobelongtothecountryofVirgil。
\"BarbarousLatin，inallprobability，\"continuedmyuncle，\"butstillLatin。\"
\"Veryprobably，\"Ireplied，nottocontradicthim。
\"Letusseeintothematter，\"continuedmyuncle；\"hereyouseewehaveaseriesofonehundredandthirty-twoletters，apparentlythrownpell-melluponpaper，withoutmethodororganization。Therearewordswhicharecomposedwhollyofconsonants，suchasmm。rnlls，otherswhicharenearlyallvowels，thefifth，forinstance，whichisunteief，andoneofthelastoseibo。Thisappearsanextraordinarycombination。Probablyweshallfindthatthephraseisarrangedaccordingtosomemathematicalplan。Nodoubtacertainsentencehasbeenwrittenoutandthenjumbledup-someplantowhichsomefigureistheclue。Now，Harry，toshowyourEnglishwit-
whatisthatfigure?\"
Icouldgivehimnohint。Mythoughtswereindeedfaraway。WhilehewasspeakingIhadcaughtsightoftheportraitofmycousinGretchen，andwaswonderingwhenshewouldreturn。
Wewereaffianced，andlovedoneanotherverysincerely。Butmyuncle，whoneverthoughtevenofsuchsublunarymatters，knewnothingofthis。Withoutnoticingmyabstraction，theProfessorbeganreadingthepuzzlingcryptographallsortsofways，accordingtosometheoryofhisown。Presently，rousingmywanderingattention，hedictatedonepreciousattempttome。
Imildlyhandeditovertohim。Itreadasfollows:
mmessunkaSenrA。icefdoK。segnittamurtnecertserrette，rotaivsadua，ednecsedsadnelacartniiilrJsiratracSarbmutabiledmekmeretarcsilucoYsleffenSnI
Icouldscarcelykeepfromlaughing，whilemyuncle，onthecontrary，gotinatoweringpassion，struckthetablewithhisfist，dartedoutoftheroom，outofthehouse，andthentakingtohisheelswaspresentlylosttosight。
CHAPTER3
AnAstoundingDiscoveryWHATisthematter?\"criedthecook，enteringtheroom；\"whenwillmasterhavehisdinner?\"
\"Never。\"
\"And，hissupper?\"
\"Idon\'tknow。Hesayshewilleatnomore，neithershallI。Myunclehasdeterminedtofastandmakemefastuntilhemakesoutthisabominableinscription，\"Ireplied。
\"Youwillbestarvedtodeath，\"shesaid。
Iwasverymuchofthesameopinion，butnotlikingtosayso，sentheraway，andbegansomeofmyusualworkofclassification。
ButtryasImight，nothingcouldkeepmefromthinkingalternatelyofthestupidmanuscriptandoftheprettyGretchen。
SeveraltimesIthoughtofgoingout，butmyunclewouldhavebeenangryatmyabsence。Attheendofanhour，myallottedtaskwasdone。
Howtopassthetime?Ibeganbylightingmypipe。Likeallotherstudents，Idelightedintobacco；and，seatingmyselfinthegreatarmchair，Ibegantothink。
Wherewasmyuncle?Icouldeasilyimaginehimtearingalongsomesolitaryroad，gesticulating，talkingtohimself，cuttingtheairwithhiscane，andstillthinkingoftheabsurdbitofhieroglyphics。Wouldhehituponsomeclue?Wouldhecomehomeinbetterhumor?Whilethesethoughtswerepassingthroughmybrain，Imechanicallytookuptheexecrablepuzzleandtriedeveryimaginablewayofgroupingtheletters。Iputthemtogetherbytwos，bythrees，fours，andfives-
invain。Nothingintelligiblecameout，exceptthatthefourteenth，fifteenth，andsixteenthmadeiceinEnglish；theeighty-fourth，eighty-fifth，andeighty-sixth，thewordsir；thenatlastIseemedtofindtheLatinwordsrota，mutabile，ira，nec，atra。
\"Ha!thereseemstobesometruthinmyuncle\'snotion，thoughtI。
ThenagainIseemedtofindthewordluco，whichmeanssacredwood。TheninthethirdlineIappearedtomakeoutlabiled，aperfectHebrewword，andatthelastthesyllablesmere，are，mer，whichwereFrench。
Itwasenoughtodriveonemad。Fourdifferentidiomsinthisabsurdphrase。Whatconnectioncouldtherebebetweenice，sir，anger，cruel，sacredwood，changing，mother，are，andsea?Thefirstandthelastmight，inasentenceconnectedwithIceland，meanseaofice。Butwhatoftherestofthismonstrouscryptograph?
Iwas，infact，fightingagainstaninsurmountabledifficulty；mybrainwasalmostonfire；myeyeswerestrainedwithstaringattheparchment；thewholeabsurdcollectionoflettersappearedtodancebeforemyvisioninanumberofblacklittlegroups。Mymindwaspossessedwithtemporaryhallucination-Iwasstifling。Iwantedair。MechanicallyIfannedmyselfwiththedocument，ofwhichnowI
sawthebackandthenthefront。
Imaginemysurprisewhenglancingatthebackofthewearisomepuzzle，theinkhavinggonethrough，IclearlymadeoutLatinwords，andamongotherscrateremandterrestre。
Ihaddiscoveredthesecret!
Itcameuponmelikeaflashoflightning。Ihadgottheclue。Allyouhadtodotounderstandthedocumentwastoreaditbackwards。AlltheingeniousideasoftheProfessorwererealized；hehaddictateditrightlytome；byamereaccidentIhaddiscoveredwhathesomuchdesired。
Mydelight，myemotionmaybeimagined，myeyesweredazzledandI
trembledsothatatfirstIcouldmakenothingofit。Onelook，however，wouldtellmeallIwishedtoknow。
\"Letmeread，\"Isaidtomyself，afterdrawingalongbreath。
Ispreaditbeforemeonthetable，Ipassedmyfingerovereachletter，Ispelleditthrough；inmyexcitementIreaditout。
Whathorrorandstupefactiontookpossessionofmysoul。Iwaslikeamanwhohadreceivedaknock-downblow。WasitpossiblethatIreallyreadtheterriblesecret，andithadreallybeenaccomplished!Amanhaddaredtodo-what?
Nolivingbeingshouldeverknow。
\"Never!\"criedI，jumpingup。\"Nevershallmyunclebemadeawareofthedreadsecret。Hewouldbequitecapableofundertakingtheterriblejourney。Nothingwouldcheckhim，nothingstophim。Worse，hewouldcompelmetoaccompanyhim，andweshouldbelostforever。Butno；suchfollyandmadnesscannotbeallowed。\"
Iwasalmostbesidemyselfwithrageandfury。
\"Myworthyuncleisalreadynearlymad，\"Icriedaloud。\"Thiswouldfinishhim。Bysomeaccidenthemaymakethediscovery；inwhichcase，wearebothlost。Perishthefearfulsecret-lettheflamesforeverburyitinoblivion。\"
Isnatchedupbookandparchment，andwasabouttocastthemintothefire，whenthedooropenedandmyuncleentered。
Ihadscarcelytimetoputdownthewretcheddocumentsbeforemyunclewasbymyside。Hewasprofoundlyabsorbed。Histhoughtswereevidentlybentontheterribleparchment。Somenewcombinationhadprobablystruckhimwhiletakinghiswalk。
Heseatedhimselfinhisarmchair，andwithapenbegantomakeanalgebraicalcalculation。Iwatchedhimwithanxiouseyes。Myfleshcrawledasitbecameprobablethathewoulddiscoverthesecret。
HiscombinationsIknewnowwereuseless，Ihavingdiscoveredtheoneonlyclue。Forthreemortalhourshecontinuedwithoutspeakingaword，withoutraisinghishead，scratching，rewriting，calculatingoverandoveragain。Iknewthatintimehemusthitupontherightphrase。Thelettersofeveryalphabethaveonlyacertainnumberofcombinations。Butthenyearsmightelapsebeforehewouldarriveatthecorrectsolution。
Stilltimewenton；nightcame，thesoundsinthestreetsceased-
andstillmyunclewenton，notevenansweringourworthycookwhenshecalledustosupper。
Ididnotdaretoleavehim，sowavedheraway，andatlastfellasleeponthesofa。
WhenIawokemyunclewasstillatwork。Hisredeyes，hispallidcountenance，hismattedhair，hisfeverishhands，hishecticallyflushedcheeks，showedhowterriblehadbeenhisstrugglewiththeimpossible，andwhatfearfulfatiguehehadundergoneduringthatlongsleeplessnight。Itmademequiteilltolookathim。Thoughhewasratherseverewithme，Ilovedhim，andmyheartachedathissufferings。Hewassoovercomebyoneideathathecouldnotevengetinapassion!Allhisenergieswerefocusedononepoint。AndI
knewthatbyspeakingonelittlewordallthissufferingwouldcease。Icouldnotspeakit。
Myheartwas，nevertheless，incliningtowardshim。Why，then，didIremainsilent?Intheinterestofmyunclehimself。
\"Nothingshallmakemespeak，\"Imuttered。\"Hewillwanttofollowinthefootstepsoftheother!Iknowhimwell。Hisimaginationisaperfectvolcano，andtomakediscoveriesintheinterestsofgeologyhewouldsacrificehislife。IwillthereforebesilentandstrictlykeepthesecretIhavediscovered。Torevealitwouldbesuicidal。
Hewouldnotonlyrush，himself，todestruction，butdragmewithhim。\"
Icrossedmyarms，lookedanotherwayandsmoked-resolvednevertospeak。
Whenourcookwantedtogoouttomarket，oronanyothererrand，shefoundthefrontdoorlockedandthekeytakenaway。Wasthisdonepurposelyornot?SurelyProfessorHardwiggdidnotintendtheoldwomanandmyselftobecomemartyrstohisobstinatewill。Werewetobestarvedtodeath?Afrightfulrecollectioncametomymind。
Oncewehadfedonbitsandscrapsforaweekwhilehesortedsomecuriosities。Itgavemethecrampeventothinkofit!
Iwantedmybreakfast，andIsawnowayofgettingit。Stillmyresolutionheldgood。Iwouldstarveratherthanyield。Butthecookbegantotakemeseriouslytotask。Whatwastobedone?Shecouldnotgoout；andIdarednot。
Myunclecontinuedcountingandwriting；hisimaginationseemedtohavetranslatedhimtotheskies。Heneitherthoughtofeatingnordrinking。Inthiswaytwelveo\'clockcameround。Iwashungry，andtherewasnothinginthehouse。Thecookhadeatenthelastbitofbread。Thiscouldnotgoon。Itdid，however，untiltwo，whenmysensationswereterrible。Afterall，Ibegantothinkthedocumentveryabsurd。Perhapsitmightonlybeagigantichoax。Besides，somemeanswouldsurelybefoundtokeepmyunclebackfromattemptinganysuchabsurdexpedition。Ontheotherhand，ifhedidattemptanythingsoquixotic，Ishouldnotbecompelledtoaccompanyhim。
Anotherlineofreasoningpartiallydecidedme。VerylikelyhewouldmakethediscoveryhimselfwhenIshouldhavesufferedstarvationfornothing。Undertheinfluenceofhungerthisreasoningappearedadmirable。Ideterminedtotellall。
Thequestionnowaroseastohowitwastobedone。Iwasstilldwellingonthethought，whenheroseandputonhishat。
What!gooutandlockusin?Never!
\"Uncle，\"Ibegan。
Hedidnotappeareventohearme。
\"ProfessorHardwigg，\"Icried。
\"What，\"heretorted，\"didyouspeak?\"
\"Howaboutthekey?\"
\"Whatkey-thekeyofthedoor?
\"No-ofthesehorriblehieroglyphics?
Helookedatmefromunderhisspectacles，andstartedattheoddexpressionofmyface。Rushingforward，heclutchedmebythearmandkeenlyexaminedmycountenance。Hisverylookwasaninterrogation。
Isimplynodded。
Withanincredulousshrugoftheshoulders，heturneduponhisheel。
UndoubtedlyhethoughtIhadgonemad。
\"Ihavemadeaveryimportantdiscovery。\"
Hiseyesflashedwithexcitement。Hishandwasliftedinamenacingattitude。Foramomentneitherofusspoke。Itishardtosaywhichwasmostexcited。
\"Youdon\'tmeantosaythatyouhaveanyideaofthemeaningofthescrawl?\"
\"Ido，\"wasmydesperatereply。\"Lookatthesentenceasdictatedbyyou。\"
\"Well，\"butitmeansnothing，\"wastheangryanswer。
\"Nothingifyoureadfromlefttoright，butmark，iffromrighttoleft-\"
\"Backwards!\"criedmyuncle，inwildamazement。\"OhmostcunningSaknussemm；andItobesuchablockhead!\"
Hesnatchedupthedocument，gazedatitwithhaggardeye，andreaditoutasIhaddone。
Itreadasfollows:
InSneffelsYoculiscrateremkemdelibatumbraScartarisJuliiintracalendasdescende，audasviator，etterrestrecentrumattinges。
Kodfeci。ArneSaknussemmWhichdogLatinbeingtranslated，readsasfollows:
DescendintothecraterofYoculofSneffels，whichtheshadeofScartariscaresses，beforethekalendsofJuly，audacioustraveler，andyouwillreachthecenteroftheearth。Ididit。
ARNESAKNUSSEMM
Myuncleleapedthreefeetfromthegroundwithjoy。Helookedradiantandhandsome。Herushedabouttheroomwildwithdelightandsatisfaction。Heknockedovertablesandchairs。Hethrewhisbooksaboutuntilatlast，utterlyexhausted，hefellintohisarmchair。
\"What\'so\'clock?\"heasked。
\"Aboutthree。\"
\"Mydinnerdoesnotseemtohavedonememuchgood，\"heobserved。
\"Letmehavesomethingtoeat。Wecanthenstartatonce。Getmyportmanteauready。\"
\"Whatfor?\"
\"Andyourown，\"hecontinued。\"Westartatonce。\"