Thecoldwaskeen，searchingandintense。Thewindblewwithextraordinaryviolence。Iwasutterlyexhausted。
Myworthyuncle，theProfessor，sawclearlythatmylegsrefusedfurtherservice，andthat，infact，Iwasutterlyexhausted。Despitehishotandfeverishimpatience，hedecided，withasigh，uponahalt。
Hecalledtheeider-duckhuntertohisside。Thatworthy，however，shookhishead。
\"Ofvanfor，\"washissolespokenreply。
\"Itappears，\"saysmyunclewithawoebegonelook，\"thatwemustgohigher。\"
HethenturnedtoHans，andaskedhimtogivesomereasonforthisdecisiveresponse。
\"Mistour，\"repliedtheguide。
\"Ja，mistour-yes，themistour，\"criedoneoftheIcelandicguidesinaterrifiedtone。
Itwasthefirsttimehehadspoken。
\"Whatdoesthismysteriouswordsignify?\"Ianxiouslyinquired。
\"Look，\"saidmyuncle。
Ilookeddownupontheplainbelow，andIsawavast，aprodigiousvolumeofpulverizedpumicestone，ofsand，ofdust，risingtotheheavensintheformofamightywaterspout。ItresembledthefearfulphenomenonofasimilarcharacterknowntothetravelersinthedesertofthegreatSahara。
ThewindwasdrivingitdirectlytowardsthatsideofSneffelsonwhichwewereperched。Thisopaqueveilstandingupbetweenusandthesunprojectedadeepshadowontheflanksofthemountain。Ifthissandspoutbrokeoverus，wemustallbeinfalliblydestroyed，crushedinitsfearfulembraces。Thisextraordinaryphenomenon，verycommonwhenthewindshakestheglaciers，andsweepsoverthearidplains，isintheIcelandictonguecalled\"mistour。\"
\"Hastigt，hastigt!\"criedourguide。
NowIcertainlyknewnothingofDanish，butIthoroughlyunderstoodthathisgesturesweremeanttoquickenus。
Theguideturnedrapidlyinadirectionwhichwouldtakeustothebackofthecrater，allthewhileascendingslightly。
Wefollowedrapidly，despiteourexcessivefatigue。
AquarterofanhourlaterHanspausedtoenableustolookback。
Themightywhirlwindofsandwasspreadinguptheslopeofthemountaintotheveryspotwherewehadproposedtohalt。Hugestoneswerecaughtup，castintotheair，andthrownaboutasduringaneruption。Wewerehappilyalittleoutofthedirectionofthewind，andthereforeoutofreachofdanger。Butfortheprecautionandknowledgeofourguide，ourdislocatedbodies，ourcrushedandbrokenlimbs，wouldhavebeencasttothewind，likedustfromsomeunknownmeteor。
Hans，however，didnotthinkitprudenttopassthenightonthebaresideofthecone。Wethereforecontinuedourjourneyinazigzagdirection。Thefifteenhundredfeetwhichremainedtobeaccomplishedtookusatleastfivehours。Theturningsandwindings，theno-thoroughfares，themarchesandmarches，turnedthatinsignificantdistanceintoatleastthreeleagues。Ineverfeltsuchmisery，fatigueandexhaustioninmylife。Iwasreadytofaintfromhungerandcold。Therarefiedairatthesametimepainfullyacteduponmylungs。
Atlast，whenIthoughtmyselfatmylastgasp，aboutelevenatnight，itbeinginthatregionquitedark，wereachedthesummitofMountSneffels!Itwasinanawfulmoodofmind，thatdespitemyfatigue，beforeIdescendedintothecraterwhichwastoshelterusforthenight，Ipausedtobeholdthesunriseatmidnightontheverydayofitslowestdeclension，andenjoyedthespectacleofitsghastlypalerayscastupontheislewhichlaysleepingatourfeet!
InolongerwonderedatpeopletravelingallthewayfromEnglandtoNorwaytobeholdthismagicalandwondrousspectacle。
CHAPTER13
TheShadowofScartarisOURsupperwaseatenwitheaseandrapidity，afterwhicheverybodydidthebesthecouldforhimselfwithinthehollowofthecrater。Thebedwashard，theshelterunsatisfactory，thesituationpainful-lyingintheopenair，fivethousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea!
Nevertheless，ithasseldomhappenedtometosleepsowellasIdidonthatparticularnight。Ididnotevendream。Somuchfortheeffectsofwhatmyunclecalled\"wholesomefatigue。\"
Nextday，whenweawokeundertheraysofabrightandglorioussun，wewerenearlyfrozenbythekeenair。Ileftmygranitecouchandmadeoneofthepartytoenjoyaviewofthemagnificentspectaclewhichdevelopeditself，panorama-like，atourfeet。
IstoodupontheloftysummitofMountSneffels\'southernpeak。
ThenceIwasabletoobtainaviewofthegreaterpartoftheisland。Theopticaldelusion，commontoallloftyheights，raisedtheshoresoftheisland，whilethecentralportionsappeareddepressed。Itwasbynomeanstoogreataflightoffancytobelievethatagiantpicturewasstretchedoutbeforeme。Icouldseethedeepvalleysthatcrossedeachotherineverydirection。Icouldseeprecipiceslookinglikesidesofwells，lakesthatseemedtobechangedintoponds，pondsthatlookedlikepuddles，andriversthatweretransformedintopettybrooks。Tomyrightwereglaciersuponglaciers，andmultipliedpeaks，toppedwithlightcloudsofsmoke。
Theundulationoftheseinfinitenumbersofmountains，whosesnowysummitsmakethemlookasifcoveredbyfoam，recalledtomyremembrancethesurfaceofastorm-beatenocean。IfIlookedtowardsthewest，theoceanlaybeforemeinallitsmajesticgrandeur，acontinuationasitwere，ofthesefleecyhilltops。
Wheretheearthendedandtheseabeganitwasimpossiblefortheeyetodistinguish。
Isoonfeltthatstrangeandmysterioussensationwhichisawakenedinthemindwhenlookingdownfromloftyhilltops，andnowIwasabletodosowithoutanyfeelingofnervousness，havingfortunatelyhardenedmyselftothatkindofsublimecontemplation。
IwhollyforgotwhoIwas，andwhereIwas。Ibecameintoxicatedwithasenseofloftysublimity，withoutthoughtoftheabyssesintowhichmydaringwassoonabouttoplungeme。Iwaspresently，however，broughtbacktotherealitiesoflifebythearrivaloftheProfessorandHans，whojoinedmeupontheloftysummitofthepeak。
Myuncle，turninginawesterlydirection，pointedouttomealightcloudofvapor，akindofhaze，withafaintoutlineoflandrisingoutofthewaters。
\"Greenland!\"saidhe。
\"Greenland?\"criedIinreply。
\"Yes，\"continuedmyuncle，whoalwayswhenexplaininganythingspokeasifhewereinaprofessor\'schair；\"wearenotmorethanthirty-fiveleaguesdistantfromthatwonderfulland。Whenthegreatannualbreakupoftheicetakesplace，whitebearscomeovertoIceland，carriedbythefloatingmassesoficefromthenorth。This，however，isamatteroflittleconsequence。Wearenowonthesummitofthegreat，thetranscendentSneffels，andhereareitstwopeaks，northandsouth。HanswilltellyouthenamebywhichthepeopleofIcelandcallthatonwhichwestand。\"
Myuncleturnedtotheimperturbableguide，whonodded，andspokeasusual-oneword。
\"Scartaris。\"
Myunclelookedatmewithaproudandtriumphantglance。
\"Acrater，\"hesaid，\"youhear?\"
Ididhear，butIwastotallyunabletomakereply。
ThecraterofMountSneffelsrepresentedaninvertedcone，thegapingorificeapparentlyhalfamileacross；thedepthindefinitefeet。Conceivewhatthisholemusthavebeenlikewhenfullofflameandthunderandlightning。Thebottomofthefunnel-shapedhollowwasaboutfivehundredfeetincircumference，bywhichitwillbeseenthattheslopefromthesummittothebottomwasverygradual，andwewerethereforeclearlyabletogettherewithoutmuchfatigueordifficulty。Involuntarily，Icomparedthiscratertoanenormousloadedcannon；andthecomparisoncompletelyterrifiedme。
\"Todescendintotheinteriorofacannon，\"Ithoughttomyself，\"whenperhapsitisloaded，andwillgooffattheleastshock，istheactofamadman。\"
Buttherewasnolongeranyopportunityformetohesitate。Hans，withaperfectlycalmandindifferentair，tookhisusualpostattheheadoftheadventurouslittleband。Ifollowedwithoututteringasyllable。
Ifeltlikethelambledtotheslaughter。
Inordertorenderthedescentlessdifficult，Hanstookhiswaydowntheinterioroftheconeinratherazigzagfashion，making，asthesailorssay，longtrackstotheeastward，followedbyequallylongonestothewest。Itwasnecessarytowalkthroughthemidstoferuptiverocks，someofwhich，shakenintheirbalance，wentrollingdownwiththunderingclamortothebottomoftheabyss。Thesecontinualfallsawokeechoesofsingularpowerandeffect。
Manyportionsoftheconeconsistedofinferiorglaciers。Hans，wheneverhemetwithoneoftheseobstacles，advancedwithagreatshowofprecaution，soundingthesoilwithhislongironpoleinordertodiscoverfissuresandlayersofdeepsoftsnow。Inmanydoubtfulordangerousplaces，itbecamenecessaryforustobetiedtogetherbyalongropeinorderthatshouldanyoneofusbeunfortunateenoughtoslip，hewouldbesupportedbyhiscompanions。Thisconnectinglinkwasdoubtlessaprudentprecaution，butnotbyanymeansunattendedwithdanger。
Nevertheless，anddespiteallthemanifolddifficultiesofthedescent，alongslopeswithwhichourguidewaswhollyunacquainted，wemadeconsiderableprogresswithoutaccident。OneofourgreatparcelsofropeslippedfromoneoftheIcelandporters，andrushedbyashortcuttothebottomoftheabyss。
Bymiddaywewereattheendofourjourney。Ilookedupwards，andsawonlytheupperorificeofthecone，whichservedasacircularframetoaverysmallportionofthesky-aportionwhichseemedtomesingularlybeautiful。ShouldIeveragaingazeonthatlovelysunlitsky!
Theonlyexceptiontothisextraordinarylandscape，wasthePeakofScartaris，whichseemedlostinthegreatvoidoftheheavens。
Thebottomofthecraterwascomposedofthreeseparateshafts，throughwhich，duringperiodsoferuption，whenSneffelswasinaction，thegreatcentralfurnacesentforthitsburninglavaandpoisonousvapors。Eachofthesechimneysorshaftsgapedopen-mouthedinourpath。Ikeptasfarawayfromthemaspossible，notevenventuringtotakethefaintestpeepdownwards。
AsfortheProfessor，afterarapidexaminationoftheirdispositionandcharacteristics，hebecamebreathlessandpanting。Heranfromonetotheotherlikeadelightedschoolboy，gesticulatingwildly，andutteringincomprehensibleanddisjointedphrasesinallsortsoflanguages。
Hans，theguide，andhishumblercompanionsseatedthemselvesonsomepilesoflavaandlookedsilentlyon。Theyclearlytookmyuncleforalunatic；and-waitedtheresult。
SuddenlytheProfessorutteredawild，unearthlycry。AtfirstI
imaginedhehadlosthisfooting，andwasfallingheadlongintooneoftheyawninggulfs。Nothingofthekind。Isawhim，hisarmsspreadouttotheirwidestextent，hislegsstretchedapart，standinguprightbeforeanenormouspedestal，highenoughandblackenoughtobearagiganticstatueofPluto。Hisattitudeandmienwerethatofamanutterlystupefied。Buthisstupefactionwasspeedilychangedtothewildestjoy。
\"Harry!Harry!comehere!\"hecried；\"makehaste-wonderful-
wonderful!\"
Unabletounderstandwhathemeant，Iturnedtoobeyhiscommands。
NeitherHansnortheotherIcelandersmovedastep。
\"Look!\"saidtheProfessor，insomethingofthemanneroftheFrenchgeneral，pointingoutthepyramidstohisarmy。
Andfullypartakinghisstupefaction，ifnothisjoy，Ireadontheeasternsideofthehugeblockofstone，thesamecharacters，halfeatenawaybythecorrosiveactionoftime，thename，tomeathousandtimesaccursed-
Seeillustration。
\"ArneSaknussemm!\"criedmyuncle，\"now，unbeliever，doyoubegintohavefaith?\"
Itwastotallyimpossibleformetoanswerasingleword。Iwentbacktomypileoflava，inastateofsilentawe。Theevidencewasunanswerable，overwhelming!
Inafewmoments，however，mythoughtswerefaraway，backinmyGermanhome，withGretchenandtheoldcook。WhatwouldIhavegivenforoneofmycousin\'ssmiles，foroneoftheancientdomestic\'somelettes，andformyownfeatherbed!
HowlongIremainedinthisstateIknownot。AllIcansayis，thatwhenatlastIraisedmyheadfrombetweenmyhands，thereremainedatthebottomofthecrateronlymyself，myuncleandHans。TheIcelandicportershadbeendismissedandwerenowdescendingtheexteriorslopesofMountSneffels，ontheirwaytoStapi。HowheartilydidIwishmyselfwiththem!
Hansslepttranquillyatthefootofarockinakindofrilloflava，wherehehadmadehimselfaroughandreadybed。MYunclewaswalkingaboutthebottomofthecraterlikeawildbeastinacage。
Ihadnodesire，neitherhadIthestrength，tomovefrommyrecumbentposition。Takingexamplebytheguide，Igavewaytoakindofpainfulsomnolency，duringwhichIseemedbothtohearandfeelcontinuedheavingsandshudderingsinthemountain。
Inthiswaywepassedourfirstnightintheinteriorofacrater。
Nextmorning，agrey，cloudy，heavyskyhunglikeafunerealpalloverthesummitofthevolcaniccone。Ididnotnoticeitsomuchfromtheobscuritythatreignedaroundus，asfromtheragewithwhichmyunclewasdevoured。
Ifullyunderstoodthereason，andagainaglimpseofhopemademyheartleapwithjoy。Iwillbrieflyexplainthecause。
Ofthethreeopeningswhichyawnedbeneathoursteps，onlyonecouldhavebeenfollowedbytheadventurousSaknussemm。AccordingtothewordsofthelearnedIcelander，itwasonlytobeknownbythatoneparticularmentionedinthecryptograph，thattheshadowofScartarisfelluponit，justtouchingitsmouthinthelastdaysofthemonthofJune。
Wewere，infact，toconsiderthepointedpeakasthestylusofanimmensesun-dial，theshadowofwhichpointedononegivenday，liketheinexorablefingeroffate，totheyawningchasmwhichledintotheinterioroftheearth。
Now，asoftenhappensintheseregions，shouldthesunfailtoburstthroughtheclouds，noshadow。Consequently，nochanceofdiscoveringtherightaperture。Wehadalreadyreachedthe25thJune。Ifthekindlyheavenswouldonlyremaindenselycloudedforsixmoredays，weshouldhavetoputoffourvoyageofdiscoveryforanotheryear，whencertainlytherewouldbeonepersonfewerintheparty。Ialreadyhadsufficientofthemadandmonstrousenterprise。
ItwouldbeutterlyimpossibletodepicttheimpotentrageofProfessorHardwigg。Thedaypassedaway，andnotthefaintestoutlineofashadowcouldbeseenatthebottomofthecrater。Hanstheguidenevermovedfromhisplace。Hemusthavebeencurioustoknowwhatwewereabout，ifindeedhecouldbelievewewereaboutanything。Asformyuncle，heneveraddressedawordtome。Hewasnursinghiswrathtokeepitwarm!Hiseyesfixedontheblackandfoggyatmosphere，hiscomplexionhideouswithsuppressedpassion。
Neverhadhiseyesappearedsofierce，hisnosesoaquiline，hismouthsohardandfirm。
Onthe26thnochangeforthebetter。Amixtureofrainandsnowfellduringthewholeday。HansveryquietlybuilthimselfahutoflavaintowhichheretiredlikeDiogenesintohistub。Itookamaliciousdelightinwatchingthethousandlittlecascadesthatfloweddownthesideofthecone，carryingwiththemattimesastreamofstonesintothe\"vastydeep\"below。
Myunclewasalmostfrantic:tobesure，itwasenoughtomakeevenapatientmanangry。Hehadreachedtoacertainextentthegoalofhisdesires，andyethewaslikelytobewreckedinport。
Butiftheheavensandtheelementsarecapableofcausingusmuchpainandsorrow，therearetwosidestoamedal。AndtherewasreservedforProfessorHardwiggabrilliantandsuddensurprisewhichwastocompensatehimforallhissufferings。
Nextdaytheskywasstillovercast，butonSunday，the28th，thelastdaybuttwoofthemonth，withasuddenchangeofwindandanewmoontherecameachangeofweather。Thesunpoureditsbeamingraystotheverybottomofthecrater。
Eachhillock，everyrock，everystone，everyasperityofthesoilhaditsshareoftheluminouseffulgence，anditsshadowfellheavilyonthesoil。Amongothers，tohisinsanedelight，theshadowofScartariswasmarkedandclear，andmovedslowlywiththeradiantstartofday。
Myunclemovedwithitinastateofmentalecstasy。
Attwelveo\'clockexactly，whenthesunhadattaineditshighestaltitudefortheday，theshadowfellupontheedgeofthecentralpit!
\"Hereitis，\"gaspedtheProfessorinanagonyofjoy，\"hereitis-wehavefoundit。Forward，myfriends，intotheInterioroftheEarth。\"
IlookedcuriouslyatHanstoseewhatreplyhewouldmaketothisterrificannouncement。
\"Forut，\"saidtheguidetranquilly。
\"Forwarditis，\"answeredmyuncle，whowasnowintheseventhheavenofdelight。
Whenwewerequiteready，ourwatchesindicatedthirteenminutespastone!
CHAPTER14
TheRealJourneyCommencesOURrealjourneyhadnowcommenced。Hithertoourcourageanddeterminationhadovercomealldifficulties。Wewerefatiguedattimes；andthatwasall。Nowwewereabouttoencounterunknownandfearfuldangers。
IhadnotasyetventuredtotakeaglimpsedownthehorribleabyssintowhichinafewminutesmoreIwasabouttoplunge。Thefatalmomenthad，however，atlastarrived。Ihadstilltheoptionofrefusingoracceptingashareinthisfoolishandaudaciousenterprise。ButIwasashamedtoshowmorefearthantheeider-duckhunter。Hansseemedtoacceptthedifficultiesofthejourneysotranquilly，withsuchcalmindifference，withsuchperfectrecklessnessofalldanger，thatIactuallyblushedtoappearlessofamanthanhe!
HadIbeenalonewithmyuncle，Ishouldcertainlyhavesatdownandarguedthepointfully；butinthepresenceoftheguideIheldmytongue。Igaveonemomenttothethoughtofmycharmingcousin，andthenIadvancedtothemouthofthecentralshaft。
Itmeasuredaboutahundredfeetindiameter，whichmadeaboutthreehundredincircumference。Ileanedoverarockwhichstoodonitsedge，andlookeddown。Myhairstoodonend，myteethchattered，mylimbstrembled。Iseemedutterlytolosemycenterofgravity，whilemyheadwasinasortofwhirl，likethatofadrunkenman。Thereisnothingmorepowerfulthanthisattractiontowardsanabyss。Iwasabouttofallheadlongintothegapingwell，whenIwasdrawnbackbyafirmandpowerfulhand。ItwasthatofHans。IhadnottakenlessonsenoughattheFrelser\'s-KirkofCopenhagenintheartoflookingdownfromloftyeminenceswithoutblinking!
However，fewastheminuteswereduringwhichIgazeddownthistremendousandevenwondrousshaft，Ihadasufficientglimpseofittogivemesomeideaofitsphysicalconformation。Itssides，whichwerealmostasperpendicularasthoseofawell，presentednumerousprojectionswhichdoubtlesswouldassistourdescent。
Itwasasortofwildandsavagestaircase，withoutbannisterorfence。Aropefastenedabove，nearthesurface，wouldcertainlysupportourweightandenableustoreachthebottom，buthow，whenwehadarrivedatitsutmostdepth，werewetoloosenitabove?Thiswas，Ithought，aquestionofsomeimportance。
Myuncle，however，wasoneofthosemenwhoarenearlyalwayspreparedwithexpedients。Hehituponaverysimplemethodofobviatingthisdifficulty。Heunrolledacordaboutasthickasmythumb，andatleastfourhundredfeetinlength。Heallowedabouthalfofittogodownthepitandcatchinahitchoveragreatblockoflavawhichstoodontheedgeoftheprecipice。Thisdone，hethrewthesecondhalfafterthefirst。
Eachofuscouldnowdescendbycatchingthetwocordsinonehand。Whenabouttwohundredfeetbelow，alltheexplorerhadtodowastoletgooneendandpullawayattheother，whenthecordwouldcomefallingathisfeet。Inordertogodownfarther，allthatwasnecessarywastocontinuethesameoperation。
Thiswasaveryexcellentproposition，andnodoubt，acorrectone。Goingdownappearedtomeeasyenough；itwasthecomingupagainthatnowoccupiedmythoughts。
\"Now，\"saidmyuncle，assoonashehadcompletedthisimportantpreparation，\"letusseeaboutthebaggage。Itmustbedividedintothreeseparateparcels，andeachofusmustcarryoneonhisback。I
alludetothemoreimportantandfragilearticles。\"
Myworthyandingeniousuncledidnotappeartoconsiderthatwecameunderthedenomination。
\"Hans，\"hecontinued，\"youwilltakechargeofthetoolsandsomeoftheprovisions；you，Harry，musttakepossessionofanotherthirdoftheprovisionsandofthearms。Iwillloadmyselfwiththerestoftheeatables，andwiththemoredelicateinstruments。\"
\"But，\"Iexclaimed，\"ourclothes，thismassofcordandladders-whowillundertaketocarrythemdown?
\"Theywillgodownofthemselves。\"
\"Andhowso?\"Iasked。
\"Youshallsee。\"
Myunclewasnotfondofhalfmeasures，nordidhelikeanythinginthewayofhesitation。GivinghisorderstoHanshehadthewholeofthenonfragilearticlesmadeupintoonebundle；andthepacket，firmlyandsolidlyfastened，wassimplypitchedovertheedgeofthegulf。
Iheardthemoaningofthesuddenlydisplacedair，andthenoiseoffallingstones。Myuncleleaningovertheabyssfollowedthedescentofhisluggagewithaperfectlyself-satisfiedair，anddidnotriseuntilithadcompletelydisappearedfromsight。
\"Nowthen，\"hecried，\"itisourturn。\"
Iputitingoodfaithtoanymanofcommonsense-wasitpossibletohearthisenergeticcrywithoutashudder?
TheProfessorfastenedhiscaseofinstrumentsonhisback。Hanstookchargeofthetools，Iofthearms。Thedescentthencommencedinthefollowingorder:Hanswentfirst，myunclefollowed，andIwentlast。Ourprogresswasmadeinprofoundsilence-asilenceonlytroubledbythefallofpiecesofrock，whichbreakingfromthejaggedsides，fellwitharoarintothedepthsbelow。
Iallowedmyselftoslide，sotospeak，holdingfranticallyonthedoublecordwithonehandandwiththeotherkeepingmyselfofftherocksbytheassistanceofmyiron-shodpole。Oneideawasallthetimeimpresseduponmybrain。Ifearedthattheuppersupportwouldfailme。Thecordappearedtomefartoofragiletobeartheweightofthreesuchpersonsaswewere，withourluggage。Imadeaslittleuseofitaspossible，trustingtomyownagilityanddoingmiraclesinthewayoffeatsofdexterityandstrengthupontheprojectingshelvesandspursoflavawhichmyfeetseemedtoclutchasstronglyasmyhands。
Theguidewentfirst，Ihavesaid，andwhenoneoftheslipperyandfrailsupportsbrokefromunderhisfeethehadrecoursetohisusualmonosyllabicwayofspeaking。
\"Gifakt-\"
\"Attention-lookout，\"repeatedmyuncle。
Inabouthalfanhourwereachedakindofsmallterraceformedbyafragmentofrockprojectingsomedistancefromthesidesoftheshaft。
Hansnowbegantohauluponthecordononesideonly，theothergoingasquietlyupwardastheothercamedown。Itfellatlast，bringingwithitashowerofsmallstones，lavaanddust，adisagreeablekindofrainorhail。
WhilewewereseatedonthisextraordinarybenchIventuredoncemoretolookdownwards。WithasighIdiscoveredthatthebottomwasstillwhollyinvisible。Werewe，then，goingdirecttotheinterioroftheearth?
Theperformancewiththecordrecommenced，andaquarterofanhourlaterwehadreachedtothedepthofanothertwohundredfeet。
Ihaveverystrongdoubtsifthemostdeterminedgeologistwould，duringthatdescent，havestudiedthenatureofthedifferentlayersofeartharoundhim。Ididnottroublemyheadmuchaboutthematter；whetherwewereamongthecombustiblecarbon，Silurians，orprimitivesoil，Ineitherknewnorcaredtoknow。
NotsotheinveterateProfessor。Hemusthavetakennotesallthewaydown，for，atoneofourhalts，hebeganabrieflecture。
\"Thefartherweadvance，\"saidhe，\"thegreaterismyconfidenceintheresult。ThedispositionofthesevolcanicstrataabsolutelyconfirmsthetheoriesofSirHumphryDavy。Wearestillwithintheregionoftheprimordialsoil，thesoilinwhichtookplacethechemicaloperationofmetalsbecominginflamedbycomingincontactwiththeairandwater。Iatonceregrettheoldandnowforeverexplodedtheoryofacentralfire。Atallevents，weshallsoonknowthetruth。\"
Suchwastheeverlastingconclusiontowhichhecame。I，however，wasveryfarfrombeinginhumortodiscussthematter。Ihadsomethingelsetothinkof。Mysilencewastakenforconsent；andstillwecontinuedtogodown。
Attheexpirationofthreehours，wewere，toallappearance，asfaroffaseverfromthebottomofthewell。WhenIlookedupwards，however，Icouldseethattheupperorificewaseveryminutedecreasinginsize。Thesidesoftheshaftweregettingcloserandclosertogether，wewereapproachingtheregionsofeternalnight!
Andstillwecontinuedtodescend!
Atlength，Inoticedthatwhenpiecesofstoneweredetachedfromthesidesofthisstupendousprecipice，theywereswallowedupwithlessnoisethanbefore。Thefinalsoundwassoonerheard。Wewereapproachingthebottomoftheabyss!
AsIhadbeenverycarefultokeepaccountofanthechangesofcordwhichtookplace，Iwasabletotellexactlywhatwasthedepthwehadreached，aswellasthetimeithadtaken。
Wehadshiftedtheropetwenty-eighttimes，eachoperationtakingaquarterofanhour，whichinallmadesevenhours。Tothishadtobeaddedtwenty-eightpauses；inalltenhoursandahalf。Westartedatone，itwasnow，therefore，abouteleveno\'clockatnight。
Itdoesnotrequiregreatknowledgeofarithmetictoknowthattwenty-eighttimestwohundredfeetmakesfivethousandsixhundredfeetinallmorethananEnglishmile。
WhileIwasmakingthismentalcalculationavoicebrokethesilence。ItwasthevoiceofHans。
\"Halt!\"hecried。
Icheckedmyselfverysuddenly，justatthemomentwhenIwasabouttokickmyuncleonthehead。
\"Wehavereachedtheendofourjourney，\"saidtheworthyProfessorinasatisfiedtone。
\"What，theinterioroftheearth?\"saidI，slippingdowntohisside。
\"No，youstupidfellow!butwehavereachedthebottomofthewell。
\"AndIsupposethereisnofartherprogresstobemade?\"Ihopefullyexclaimed。
\"Oh，yes，Icandimlyseeasortoftunnel，whichturnsoffobliquelytotheright。Atallevents，wemustseeaboutthattomorrow。Letussupnow，andseekslumberasbestwemay。\"
Ithoughtittime，butmadenoobservationsonthatpoint。Iwasfairlylaunchedonadesperatecourse，andallIhadtodowastogoforwardhopefullyandtrustingly。
Itwasnotevennowquitedark，thelightfilteringdowninamostextraordinarymanner。
Weopenedtheprovisionbag，ateafrugalsupper，andeachdidhisbesttofindabedamidthepileofstones，dirt，andlavawhichhadaccumulatedforagesatthebottomoftheshaft。
Ihappenedtogropeoutthepileofropes，ladders，andclotheswhichwehadthrowndown；anduponthemIstretchedmyself。Aftersuchaday\'slabor，myroughbedseemedassoftasdown!
ForawhileIlayinasortofpleasanttrance。
Presently，afterlyingquietlyforsomeminutes，Iopenedmyeyesandlookedupwards。AsIdidsoImadeoutabrilliantlittledot，attheextremityofthislong，gigantictelescope。
Itwasastarwithoutscintillatingrays。Accordingtomycalculation，itmustbeBetaintheconstellationoftheLittleBear。
Afterthislittlebitofastronomicalrecreation，Idroppedintoasoundsleep。
CHAPTER15
WeContinueOurDescentATeighto\'clockthenextmorning，afaintkindofdawnofdayawokeus。Thethousandandoneprismsofthelavacollectedthelightasitpassedandbroughtittouslikeashowerofsparks。
Wewereablewitheasetoseeobjectsaroundus。
\"Well，Harry，myboy，\"criedthedelightedProfessor，rubbinghishandstogether，\"whatsayyounow?DidyoueverpassamoretranquilnightinourhouseintheKonigstrasse?Nodeafeningsoundsofcartwheels，nocriesofhawkers，nobadlanguagefromboatmenorwatermen!
\"Well，Uncle，wearequiteatthebottomofthiswell-buttomethereissomethingterribleinthiscalm。\"
\"Why，\"saidtheProfessorhotly，\"onewouldsayyouwerealreadybeginningtobeafraid。Howwillyougetonpresently?Doyouknow，thatasyet，wehavenotpenetratedoneinchintothebowelsoftheearth。\"
\"Whatcanyoumean，sir?\"wasmybewilderedandastonishedreply。
\"Imeantosaythatwehaveonlyjustreachedthesoiloftheislanditself。Thislongverticaltube，whichendsatthebottomofthecraterofSneffels，ceasesherejustaboutonalevelwiththesea。\"
\"Areyousure，sir?\"
\"Quitesure。Consultthebarometer。\"
Itwasquitetruethatthemercury，afterrisinggraduallyintheinstrument，aslongasourdescentwastakingplace，hadstoppedpreciselyattwenty-ninedegrees。
\"Youperceive，\"saidtheProfessor，\"wehaveasyetonlytoendurethepressureofair。Iamcurioustoreplacethebarometerbythemanometer。\"
Thebarometer，infact，wasabouttobecomeuseless-assoonastheweightoftheairwasgreaterthanwhatwascalculatedasabovetheleveloftheocean。
\"But，\"saidI，\"isitnotverymuchtobefearedthatthisever-increasingpressuremaynotintheendturnoutverypainfulandinconvenient?\"
\"No，\"saidhe。\"Weshalldescendveryslowly，andourlungswillbegraduallyaccustomedtobreathecompressedair。Itiswellknownthataeronautshavegonesohighastobenearlywithoutairatall-
why，then，shouldwenotaccustomourselvestobreathewhenwehave，say，alittletoomuchofit?Formyself，IamcertainIshallpreferit。Letusnotloseamoment。Whereisthepacketwhichprecededusinourdescent?\"
Ismilinglypointeditouttomyuncle。Hanshadnotseenit，andbelieveditcaughtsomewhereaboveus:\"Huppe\"ashephrasedit。
\"Now，\"saidmyuncle，\"letusbreakfast，andbreakfastlikepeoplewhohavealongday\'sworkbeforethem。\"
Biscuitanddriedmeat，washeddownbysomemouthfulsofwaterflavoredwithSchiedam，wasthematerialofourluxuriousmeal。
Assoonasitwasfinished，myuncletookfromhispocketanotebookdestinedtobefilledbymemorandaofourtravels。Hehadalreadyplacedhisinstrumentsinorder，andthisiswhathewrote:
Monday，June29thChronometer，8h。17m。morning。
Barometer，29。6inches。
Thermometer，6degrees[43degreesFahr。]
Direction，E。S。E。
Thislastobservationreferredtotheobscuregallery，andwasindicatedtousbythecompass。
\"Now，Harry，\"criedtheProfessor，inanenthusiastictoneofvoice，\"wearetrulyabouttotakeourfirststepintotheInterioroftheEarth；neverbeforevisitedbymansincethefirstcreationoftheworld。Youmayconsider，therefore，thatatthisprecisemomentourtravelsreallycommence。\"
Asmyunclemadethisremark，hetookinonehandtheRuhmkorffcoilapparatus，whichhungroundhisneck，andwiththeotherheputtheelectriccurrentintocommunicationwiththewormofthelantern。
Andabrightlightatonceilluminedthatdarkandgloomytunnel!
Theeffectwasmagical!
Hans，whocarriedthesecondapparatus，haditalsoputintooperation。Thisingeniousapplicationofelectricitytopracticalpurposesenabledustomovealongbythelightofanartificialday，amideventheflowofthemostinflammableandcombustiblegases。
\"Forward!\"criedmyuncle。Eachtookuphisburden。Hanswentfirst，myunclefollowed，andIgoingthird，weenteredthesombergallery!
Justaswewereabouttoengulfourselvesinthisdismalpassage，Iliftedupmyhead，andthroughthetubelikeshaftsawthatIcelandskyIwasnevertoseeagain!
WasitthelastIshouldeverseeofanysky?
Thestreamoflavaflowingfromthebowelsoftheearthin1219
hadforceditselfapassagethroughthetunnel。Itlinedthewholeoftheinsidewithitsthickandbrilliantcoating。Theelectriclightaddedverygreatlytothebrilliancyoftheeffect。
Thegreatdifficultyofourjourneynowbegan。Howwerewetopreventourselvesfromslippingdownthesteeplyinclinedplane?
Happilysomecracks，abrasuresofthesoil，andotherirregularities，servedtheplaceofsteps；andwedescendedslowly；
allowingourheavyluggagetosliponbefore，attheendofalongcord。
Butthatwhichservedasstepsunderourfeetbecameinotherplacesstalactites。Thelava，veryporousincertainplaces，tooktheformoflittleroundblisters。Crystalsofopaquequartz，adornedwithlimpiddropsofnaturalglasssuspendedtotherooflikelusters，seemedtotakefireaswepassedbeneaththem。Onewouldhavefanciedthatthegeniiofromancewereilluminatingtheirundergroundpalacestoreceivethesonsofmen。
\"Magnificent，glorious!\"Icriedinamomentofinvoluntaryenthusiasm，\"Whataspectacle，Uncle!Doyounotadmirethesevariegatedshadesoflava，whichrunthroughawholeseriesofcolors，fromreddishbrowntopaleyellow-bythemostinsensibledegrees?Andthesecrystals，theyappearlikeluminousglobes。\"
\"Youarebeginningtoseethecharmsoftravel，MasterHarry，\"criedmyuncle。\"Waitabit，untilweadvancefarther。Whatwehaveasyetdiscoveredisnothing-onwards，myboy，onwards!
Itwouldhavebeenafarmorecorrectandappropriateexpression，hadhesaid，\"letusslide，\"forweweregoingdownaninclinedplanewithperfectease。Thecompassindicatedthatweweremovinginasoutheasterlydirection。Theflowoflavahadneverturnedtotherightortheleft。Ithadtheinflexibilityofastraightline。
Nevertheless，tomysurprise，wefoundnoperceptibleincreaseinheat。ThisprovedthetheoriesofHumphryDavytobefoundedontruth，andmorethanonceIfoundmyselfexaminingthethermometerinsilentastonishment。
Twohoursafterourdepartureitonlymarkedfifty-fourdegreesFahrenheit。Ihadeveryreasontobelievefromthisthatourdescentwasfarmorehorizontalthanvertical。Asfordiscoveringtheexactdepthtowhichwehadattained，nothingcouldbeeasier。TheProfessorasheadvancedmeasuredtheanglesofdeviationandinclination；buthekepttheresultofhisobservationstohimself。
Abouteighto\'clockintheevening，myunclegavethesignalforhalting。Hansseatedhimselfontheground。Thelampswerehungtofissuresinthelavarock。Wewerenowinalargecavernwhereairwasnotwanting。Onthecontrary，itabounded。Whatcouldbethecauseofthis-towhatatmosphericagitationcouldbeascribedthisdraught?
ButthiswasaquestionwhichIdidnotcaretodiscussjustthen。
Fatigueandhungermademeincapableofreasoning。Anunceasingmarchofsevenhourshadnotbeenkeptupwithoutgreatexhaustion。
Iwasreallyandtrulywornout；anddelightedenoughIwastohearthewordHalt。