Hanslaidoutsomeprovisionsonalumpoflava，andweeachsuppedwithkeenrelish。Onething，however，causedusgreatuneasiness-ourwaterreservewasalreadyhalfexhausted。Myunclehadfullconfidenceinfindingsubterraneanresources，buthithertowehadcompletelyfailedinsodoing。Icouldnothelpcallingmyuncle\'sattentiontothecircumstance。
\"Andyouaresurprisedatthistotalabsenceofsprings?\"hesaid。
\"Doubtless-Iamveryuneasyonthepoint。Wehavecertainlynotenoughwatertolastusfivedays。\"
\"Bequiteeasyonthatmatter，\"continuedmyuncle。\"Ianswerforitweshallfindplentyofwater-infact，farmorethanweshallwant。\"
\"Butwhen?\"
\"Whenweoncegetthroughthiscrustoflava。Howcanyouexpectspringstoforcetheirwaythroughthesesolidstonewalls?\"
\"Butwhatistheretoprovethatthisconcretemassoflavadoesnotextendtothecenteroftheearth?Idon\'tthinkwehaveasyetdonemuchinaverticalway。\"
\"Whatputsthatintoyourhead，myboy?\"askedmyunclemildly。
\"Well，itappearstomethatifwehaddescendedveryfarbelowthelevelofthesea-weshouldfinditratherhotterthanwehave。\"
\"Accordingtoyoursystem，\"saidmyuncle；\"butwhatdoesthethermometersay?\"
\"ScarcelyfifteendegreesbyReaumur，whichisonlyanincreaseofninesinceourdeparture。\"
\"Well，andwhatconclusiondoesthatbringyouto?\"inquiredtheProfessor。
\"ThedeductionIdrawfromthisisverysimple。Accordingtothemostexactobservations，theaugmentationofthetemperatureoftheinterioroftheearthisonedegreeforeveryhundredfeet。Butcertainlocalcausesmayconsiderablymodifythisfigure。ThusatYakoustinSiberia，ithasbeenremarkedthattheheatincreasesadegreeeverythirty-sixfeet。Thedifferenceevidentlydependsontheconductibilityofcertainrocks。Intheneighborhoodofanextinctvolcano，ithasbeenremarkedthattheelevationoftemperaturewasonlyonedegreeineveryfive-and-twentyfeet。Letus，then，gouponthiscalculation-whichisthemostfavorable-andcalculate。
\"Calculateaway，myboy。\"
\"Nothingeasier，\"saidI，pullingoutmynotebookandpencil。
\"Ninetimesonehundredandtwenty-fivefeetmakeadepthofelevenhundredandtwenty-fivefeet。\"
\"Archimedescouldnothavespokenmoregeometrically。\"
\"Well?\"
\"Well，accordingtomyobservations，weareatleasttenthousandfeetbelowthelevelofthesea。\"
\"Canitbepossible?\"
\"Eithermycalculationiscorrect，orthereisnotruthinfigures。\"
ThecalculationsoftheProfessorwereperfectlycorrect。Wewerealreadysixthousandfeetdeeperdowninthebowelsoftheearththananyonehadeverbeenbefore。ThelowestknowndepthtowhichmanhadhithertopenetratedwasintheminesofKitzbuhel，intheTirol，andthoseofWurttemberg。
Thetemperature，whichshouldhavebeeneighty-one，wasinthisplaceonlyfifteen。Thiswasamatterforseriousconsideration。
CHAPTER16
TheEasternTunnelTHEnextdaywasTuesday，the30thofJune-andatsixo\'clockinthemorningweresumedourjourney。
Westillcontinuedtofollowthegalleryoflava，aperfectnaturalpathway，aseasyofdescentassomeofthoseinclinedplaneswhich，inveryoldGermanhouses，servethepurposeofstaircases。
Thiswentonuntilseventeenminutespasttwelve，thepreciseinstantatwhichwerejoinedHans，who，havingbeensomewhatinadvance，hadsuddenlystopped。
\"Atlast，\"criedmyuncle，\"wehavereachedtheendoftheshaft。\"
Ilookedwonderinglyaboutme。Wewereinthecenteroffourcrosspaths-somberandnarrowtunnels。Thequestionnowaroseastowhichitwaswisetotake；andthisofitselfwasnosmalldifficulty。
Myuncle，whodidnotwishtoappeartohaveanyhesitationaboutthematterbeforemyselfortheguide，atoncemadeuphismind。Hepointedquietlytotheeasterntunnel；and，withoutdelay，weenteredwithinitsgloomyrecesses。
Besides，hadheentertainedanyfeelingofhesitationitmighthavebeenprolongedindefinitely，fortherewasnoindicationbywhichtodetermineonachoice。Itwasabsolutelynecessarytotrusttochanceandgoodfortune!
Thedescentofthisobscureandnarrowgallerywasverygradualandwinding。Sometimeswegazedthroughasuccessionofarches，itscourseveryliketheaislesofaGothiccathedral。ThegreatartisticsculptorsandbuildersoftheMiddleAgesmighthaveherecompletedtheirstudieswithadvantage。Manymostbeautifulandsuggestiveideasofarchitecturalbeautywouldhavebeendiscoveredbythem。Afterpassingthroughthisphaseofthecavernousway，wesuddenlycame，aboutamilefartheron，uponasquaresystemofarch，adoptedbytheearlyRomans，projectingfromthesolidrock，andkeepinguptheweightoftheroof。
Suddenlywewouldcomeuponaseriesoflowsubterraneantunnelswhichlookedlikebeaverholes，ortheworkoffoxes-throughwhosenarrowandwindingwayswehadliterallytocrawl!
Theheatstillremainedatquiteasupportabledegree。Withaninvoluntaryshudder，IreflectedonwhattheheatmusthavebeenwhenthevolcanoofSneffelswaspouringitssmoke，flames，andstreamsofboilinglava-allofwhichmusthavecomeupbytheroadwewerenowfollowing。Icouldimaginethetorrentsofhotseethingstonedartingon，bubblingupwithaccompanimentsofsmoke，steam，andsulphurousstench!
\"Onlytothinkoftheconsequences，\"Imused，\"iftheoldvolcanowereoncemoretosettowork。\"
Ididnotcommunicatetheseratherunpleasantreflectionstomyuncle。Henotonlywouldnothaveunderstoodthem，butwouldhavebeenintenselydisgusted。Hisonlyideawastogoahead。Hewalked，heslid，heclamberedoverpilesoffragments，herolleddownheapsofbrokenlava，withanearnestnessandconvictionitwasimpossiblenottoadmire。
Atsixo\'clockintheevening，afteraverywearisomejourney，butonenotsofatiguingasbefore，wehadmadesixmilestowardsthesouthward，buthadnotgonemorethanamiledownwards。
Myuncle，asusual，gavethesignaltohalt。Weateourmealinthoughtfulsilence，andthenretiredtosleep。
Ourarrangementsforthenightwereveryprimitiveandsimple。A
travelingrug，inwhicheachrolledhimself，wasallourbedding。Wehadnonecessitytofearcoldoranyunpleasantvisit。TravelerswhoburythemselvesinthewildsanddepthsoftheAfricandesert，whoseekprofitandpleasureintheforestsoftheNewWorld，arecompelledtotakeitinturntowatchduringthehoursofsleep；butinthisregionoftheearthabsolutesolitudeandcompletesecurityreignedsupreme。
Wehadnothingtofeareitherfromsavagesorfromwildbeasts。
Afteranight\'ssweetrepose，weawokefreshandreadyforaction。
Therebeingnothingtodetainus，westartedonourjourney。Wecontinuedtoburrowthroughthelavatunnelasbefore。Itwasimpossibletomakeoutthroughwhatsoilweweremakingway。Thetunnel，moreover，insteadofgoingdownintothebowelsoftheearth，becameabsolutelyhorizontal。
Ieventhought，aftersomeexamination，thatwewereactuallytendingupwards。Aboutteno\'clockinthedaythisstateofthingsbecamesoclearthat，findingthechangeveryfatiguing，Iwasobligedtoslackenmypaceandfinallycometoahalt。
\"Well，\"saidtheProfessorquickly，\"whatisthematter?\"
\"Thefactis，Iamdreadfullytired，\"wasmyearnestreply。
\"What，\"criedmyuncle，\"tiredafterathreehours\'walk，andbysoeasyaroad?\"
\"Easyenough，Idaresay，butveryfatiguing。\"
\"Buthowcanthatbe，whenallwehavetodoistogodownwards。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，sir。ForsometimeIhavenoticedthatwearegoingupwards。\"
\"Upwards，\"criedmyuncle，shrugginghisshoulders，\"howcanthatbe?\"
\"Therecanbenodoubtaboutit。Forthelasthalfhourtheslopeshavebeenupward-andifwegooninthiswaymuchlongerweshallfindourselvesbackinIceland。\"
Myuncleshookhisheadwiththeairofamanwhodoesnotwanttobeconvinced。Itriedtocontinuetheconversation。Hewouldnotanswerme，butoncemoregavethesignalfordeparture。HissilenceIthoughtwasonlycausedbyconcentratedill-temper。
Howeverthismightbe，Ioncemoretookupmyload，andboldlyandresolutelyfollowedHans，whowasnowinadvanceofmyuncle。Ididnotliketobebeatenorevendistanced。Iwasnaturallyanxiousnottolosesightofmycompanions。Theveryideaofbeingleftbehind，lostinthatterriblelabyrinth，mademeshiveraswiththeague。
Besides，iftheascendingpathwasmorearduousandpainfultoclamber，Ihadonesourceofsecretconsolationanddelight。Itwastoallappearancetakingusbacktothesurfaceoftheearth。Thatofitselfwashopeful。EverystepItookconfirmedmeinmybelief，andI
beganalreadytobuildcastlesintheairinrelationtomymarriagewithmyprettylittlecousin。
Abouttwelveo\'clocktherewasagreatandsuddenchangeintheaspectoftherockysidesofthegallery。Ifirstnoticeditfromthediminutionoftheraysoflightwhichcastbackthereflectionofthelamp。Frombeingcoatedwithshiningandresplendentlava，itbecamelivingrock。Thesideswereslopingwalls，whichsometimesbecamequitevertical。
Wewerenowinwhatthegeologicalprofessorscallastateoftransition，intheperiodofSilurianstones，socalledbecausethisspecimenofearlyformationisverycommoninEnglandinthecountiesformerlyinhabitedbytheCelticnationknownasSilures。
\"Icanseeclearlynow，\"Icried；\"thesedimentfromthewaterswhichoncecoveredthewholeearthformedduringthesecondperiodofitsexistencetheseschistsandthesecalcareousrocks。Weareturningourbacksonthegraniterocks，andarelikepeoplefromHamburgwhowouldgotoLubeckbywayofHanover。\"
Imightjustaswellhavekeptmyobservationstomyself。Mygeologicalenthusiasmgotthebetter，however，ofmycoolerjudgment，andProfessorHardwiggheardmyobservations。
\"Whatisthematternow?\"hesaid，inatoneofgreatgravity。
\"Well，\"criedI，\"doyounotseethesedifferentlayersofcalcareousrocksandthefirstindicationofslatestrata?\"
\"Well；whatthen?\"
\"Wehavearrivedatthatperiodoftheworld\'sexistencewhenthefirstplantsandthefirstanimalsmadetheirappearance。\"
\"Youthinkso?\"
\"Yes，look；examineandjudgeforyourself。\"
IinducedtheProfessorwithsomedifficultytocastthelightofhislamponthesidesofthelongwindinggallery。Iexpectedsomeexclamationtoburstfromhislips。Iwasverymuchmistaken。TheworthyProfessorneverspokeaword。
Itwasimpossibletosaywhetherheunderstoodmeornot。Perhapsitwaspossiblethatinhispride-myuncleandalearnedprofessor-hedidnotliketoownthathewaswronginhavingchosentheeasterntunnel，orwashedeterminedatanypricetogototheendofit?Itwasquiteevidentwehadlefttheregionoflava，andthattheroadbywhichweweregoingcouldnottakeusbacktothegreatcraterofMountSneffels。
AswewentalongIcouldnothelpruminatingonthewholequestion，andaskedmyselfifIdidnotlaytoogreatastressonthesesuddenandpeculiarmodificationsoftheearth\'scrust。
Afterall，Iwasverylikelytobemistaken-anditwaswithintherangeofprobabilityandpossibilitythatwewerenotmakingourwaythroughthestrataofrockswhichIbelievedIrecognizedpiledonthelowerlayerofgraniticformation。
\"Atallevents，ifIamright，\"Ithoughttomyself，\"Imustcertainlyfindsomeremainsofprimitiveplants，anditwillbeabsolutelynecessarytogivewaytosuchindubitableevidence。Letushaveagoodsearch。\"
Iaccordinglylostnoopportunityofsearching，andhadnotgonemorethanaboutahundredyards，whentheevidenceIsoughtforcroppedupinthemostincontestablemannerbeforemyeyes。ItwasquitenaturalthatIshouldexpecttofindthesesigns，forduringtheSilurianperiodtheseascontainednofewerthanfifteenhundreddifferentanimalandvegetablespecies。Myfeet，solongaccustomedtothehardandaridlavasoil，suddenlyfoundthemselvestreadingonakindofsoftdust，theremainsofplantsandshells。
UponthewallsthemselvesIcouldclearlymakeouttheoutline，asplainasasunpicture，ofthefucusandthelycopods。TheworthyandexcellentProfessorHardwiggcouldnotofcoursemakeanymistakeaboutthematter；butIbelievehedeliberatelyclosedhiseyes，andcontinuedonhiswaywithafirmandunalterablestep。
Ibegantothinkthathewascarryinghisobstinacyagreatdealtoofar。Icouldnolongeractwithprudenceorcomposure。Istoopedonasuddenandpickedupanalmostperfectshell，whichhadundoubtedlybelongedtosomeanimalverymuchresemblingsomeofthepresentday。Havingsecuredtheprize，Ifollowedinthewakeofmyuncle。
\"Doyouseethis?\"Isaid。
\"Well，saidtheProfessor，withthemostimperturbabletranquillity，\"itistheshellofacrustaceousanimaloftheextinctorderofthetrilobites；nothingmore，Iassureyou。\"
\"But，criedI，muchtroubledathiscoolness，\"doyoudrawnoconclusionfromit?\"
\"Well，ifImayask，whatconclusiondoyoudrawfromityourself?\"
\"Well，Ithought-\"
\"Iknow，myboy，whatyouwouldsay，andyouareright，perfectlyandincontestablyright。Wehavefinallyabandonedthecrustoflavaandtheroadbywhichthelavaascended。ItisquitepossiblethatI
mayhavebeenmistaken，butIshallbeunabletodiscovermyerroruntilIgettotheendofthisgallery。\"
\"Youarequiterightasfarasthatisconcerned\"\'Ireplied，\"andI
shouldhighlyapproveofyourdecision，ifwehadnottofearthegreatestofalldangers。\"
\"Andwhatisthat?\"
\"Wantofwater。\"
\"Well，mydearHenry，itcan\'tbehelped。Wemustputourselvesonrations。\"
Andonhewent。
CHAPTER17
DeeperandDeeperINtruth，wewerecompelledtoputourselvesuponrations。Oursupplywouldcertainlylastnotmorethanthreedays。Ifoundthisoutaboutsuppertime。Theworstpartofthematterwasthat，inwhatiscalledthetransitionrocks，itwashardlytobeexpectedweshouldmeetwithwater!
Ihadreadofthehorrorsofthirst，andIknewthatwherewewere，abrieftrialofitssufferingswouldputanendtoouradventures-andourlives!Butitwasutterlyuselesstodiscussthematterwithmyuncle。HewouldhaveansweredbysomeaxiomfromPlato。
Duringthewholeofnextdayweproceededonourjourneythroughthisinterminablegallery，archafterarch，tunnelaftertunnel。Wejourneyedwithoutexchangingaword。WehadbecomeasmuteandreticentasHans，ourguide。
Theroadhadnolongeranupwardtendency；atallevents，ifithad，itwasnottobemadeoutveryclearly。Sometimestherecouldbenodoubtthatweweregoingdownwards。Butthisinclinationwasscarcelytobedistinguished，andwasbynomeansreassuringtotheProfessor，becausethecharacterofthestratawasinnowisemodified，andthetransitioncharacteroftherocksbecamemoreandmoremarked。
Itwasaglorioussighttoseehowtheelectriclightbroughtoutthesparklesinthewallsofthecalcareousrocks，andtheoldredsandstone。OnemighthavefanciedoneselfinoneofthosedeepcuttingsinDevonshire，whichhavegiventheirnametothiskindofsoil。Somemagnificentspecimensofmarbleprojectedfromthesidesofthegallery:someofanagategreywithwhiteveinsofvariegatedcharacter，othersofayellowspottedcolor，withredveins；fartheroffmightbeseensamplesofcolorinwhichcherry-tintedseamsweretobefoundinalltheirbrightestshades。
Thegreaternumberofthesemarbleswerestampedwiththemarksofprimitiveanimals。Sincethepreviousevening，natureandcreationhadmadeconsiderableprogress。Insteadoftherudimentarytrilobites，I
perceivedtheremainsofamoreperfectorder。Amongothers，thefishinwhichtheeyeofageologisthasbeenabletodiscoverthefirstformofthereptile。
TheDevonianseaswereinhabitedbyavastnumberofanimalsofthisspecies，whichweredepositedintensofthousandsintherocksofnewformation。
Itwasquiteevidenttomethatwewereascendingthescaleofanimallifeofwhichmanformsthesummit。Myexcellentuncle，theProfessor，appearednottotakenoticeofthesewarnings。Hewasdeterminedatanyrisktoproceed。
Hemusthavebeeninexpectationofoneoftwothings；eitherthataverticalwellwasabouttoopenunderhisfeet，andthusallowhimtocontinuehisdescent，orthatsomeinsurmountableobstaclewouldcompelustostopandgobackbytheroadwehadsolongtraveled。Buteveningcameagain，and，tomyhorror，neitherhopewasdoomedtoberealized!
OnFriday，afteranightwhenIbegantofeelthegnawingagonyofthirst，andwheninconsequenceappetitedecreased，ourlittlebandroseandoncemorefollowedtheturningsandwindings，theascentsanddescents，ofthisinterminablegallery。Allweresilentandgloomy。
Icouldseethatevenmyunclehadventuredtoofar。
Afterabouttenhoursoffurtherprogress-aprogressdullandmonotonoustothelastdegree-Iremarkedthatthereverberation，andreflectionofourlampsuponthesidesofthetunnel，hadsingularlydiminished。Themarble，theschist，thecalcareousrocks，theredsandstone，haddisappeared，leavingintheirplacesadarkandgloomywall，somberandwithoutbrightness。Whenwereachedaremarkablynarrowpartofthetunnel，Ileanedmylefthandagainsttherock。
WhenItookmyhandaway，andhappenedtoglanceatit，itwasquiteblack。WehadreachedthecoalstrataoftheCentralEarth。
\"Acoalmine!\"Icried。
\"Acoalminewithoutminers，\"respondedmyuncle，alittleseverely。
\"Howcanwetell?\"
\"Icantell，\"repliedmyuncle，inasharpanddoctorialtone。\"Iamperfectlycertainthatthisgallerythroughsuccessivelayersofcoalwasnotcutbythehandofman。Butwhetheritistheworkofnatureornotisoflittleconcerntous。Thehourforoureveningmealhascome-letussup。
Hans，theguide，occupiedhimselfinpreparingfood。IhadcometothatpointwhenIcouldnolongereat。AllIcaredaboutwerethefewdropsofwaterwhichfelltomyshare。WhatIsuffereditisuselesstorecord。Theguide\'sgourd，notquitehalffull，wasallthatwasleftforusthree!
Havingfinishedtheirrepast，mytwocompanionslaidthemselvesdownupontheirrugs，andfoundinsleeparemedyfortheirfatigueandsufferings。Asforme，Icouldnotsleep，Ilaycountingthehoursuntilmorning。
Thenextmorning，Saturday，atsixo\'clock，westartedagain。Twentyminuteslaterwesuddenlycameuponavastexcavation。FromitsmightyextentIsawatoncethatthehandofmancouldhavehadnothingtodowiththiscoalmine；thevaultabovewouldhavefallenin；asitwas，itwasonlyheldtogetherbysomemiracleofnature。
Thismightynaturalcavernwasaboutahundredfeetwide，byaboutahundredandfiftyhigh。Theearthhadevidentlybeencastapartbysomeviolentsubterraneancommotion。Themass，givingwaytosomeprodigiousupheavingofnature，hadsplitintwo，leavingthevastgapintowhichweinhabitantsoftheearthhadpenetratedforthefirsttime。
Thewholesingularhistoryofthecoalperiodwaswrittenonthosedarkandgloomywalls。Ageologistwouldhavebeenableeasilytofollowthedifferentphasesofitsformation。Theseamsofcoalwereseparatedbystrataofsandstone，acompactclay，whichappearedtobecrusheddownbytheweightfromabove。
Atthatperiodoftheworldwhichprecededthesecondaryepoch，theearthwascoveredbyacoatingofenormousandrichvegetation，duetothedoubleactionoftropicalheatandperpetualhumidity。A
vastatmosphericcloudofvaporsurroundedtheearthonallsides，preventingtheraysofthesunfromeverreachingit。
Hencetheconclusionthattheseintenseheatsdidnotarisefromthisnewsourceofcaloric。
Perhapseventhestarofdaywasnotquitereadyforitsbrilliantwork-toillumineauniverse。Climatesdidnotasyetexist，andalevelheatpervadedthewholesurfaceoftheglobe-thesameheatexistingattheNorthPoleasattheequator。
Whencediditcome?Fromtheinterioroftheearth?
InspiteofallthelearnedtheoriesofProfessorHardwigg，afierceandvehementfirecertainlyburnedwithintheentrailsofthegreatspheroid。Itsactionwasfelteventotheverytopmostcrustoftheearth；theplantstheninexistence，beingdeprivedofthevivifyingraysofthesun，hadneitherbuds，norflowers，norodor，buttheirrootsdrewastrongandvigorouslifefromtheburningearthofearlydays。
Therewerebutfewofwhatmaybecalledtrees-onlyherbaceousplants，immenseturfs，briers，mosses，rarefamilies，which，however，inthosedayswerecountedbytensandtensofthousands。
Itisentirelytothisexuberantvegetationthatcoalowesitsorigin。Thecrustofthevastglobestillyieldedundertheinfluenceoftheseething，boilingmass，whichwasforeveratworkbeneath。Hencearosenumerousfissures，andcontinualfallinginoftheupperearth。Thedensemassofplantsbeingbeneaththewaters，soonformedthemselvesintovastagglomerations。
Thencameabouttheactionofnaturalchemistry；inthedepthsoftheoceanthevegetablemassatfirstbecameturf，then，thankstotheinfluenceofgasesandsubterraneanfermentation，theyunderwentthecompleteprocessofmineralization。
Inthismanner，inearlydays，wereformedthosevastandprodigiouslayersofcoal，whichanever-increasingconsumptionmustutterlyuseupinaboutthreecenturiesmore，ifpeopledonotfindsomemoreeconomiclightthangas，andsomecheapermotivepowerthansteam。
Allthesereflections，thememoriesofmyschoolstudies，cametomymindwhileIgazeduponthesemightyaccumulationsofcoal，whoseriches，however，arescarcelylikelytobeeverutilized。Theworkingoftheseminescouldonlybecarriedoutatanexpensethatwouldneveryieldaprofit。
Thematter，however，isscarcelyworthyconsideration，whencoalisscatteredoverthewholesurfaceoftheglobe，withinafewyardsoftheuppercrust。AsIlookedattheseuntouchedstrata，therefore，Iknewtheywouldremainaslongastheworldlasts。
Whilewestillcontinuedourjourney，Ialoneforgotthelengthoftheroad，bygivingmyselfupwhollytothesegeologicalconsiderations。Thetemperaturecontinuedtobeverymuchthesameaswhileweweretravelingamidthelavaandtheschists。Ontheotherhandmysenseofsmellwasmuchaffectedbyaverypowerfulodor。I
immediatelyknewthatthegallerywasfilledtooverflowingwiththatdangerousgastheminerscallfiredamp，theexplosionofwhichhascausedsuchfearfulandterribleaccidents，makingahundredwidowsandhundredsoforphansinasinglehour。
Happily，wewereabletoillumineourprogressbymeansoftheRuhmkorffapparatus。Ifwehadbeensorashandimprudentastoexplorethisgallery，torchinhand，aterribleexplosionwouldhaveputanendtoourtravels，simplybecausenotravelerswouldbeleft。
Ourexcursionthroughthiswondrouscoalmineintheverybowelsoftheearthlasteduntilevening。Myunclewasscarcelyabletoconcealhisimpatienceanddissatisfactionattheroadcontinuingstilltoadvanceinahorizontaldirection。
Thedarkness，denseandopaqueafewyardsinadvanceandintherear，rendereditimpossibletomakeoutwhatwasthelengthofthegallery。Formyself，Ibegantobelievethatitwassimplyinterminable，andwouldgooninthesamemannerformonths。
Suddenly，atsixo\'clock，westoodinfrontofawall。Totheright，totheleftabove，below，nowherewasthereanypassage。Wehadreachedaspotwheretherockssaidinunmistakableaccents-NoThoroughfare。
Istoodstupefied。Theguidesimplyfoldedhisarms。Myunclewassilent。
\"Well，well，somuchthebetter，\"criedmyuncle，atlast，\"Inowknowwhatweareabout。WearedecidedlynotupontheroadfollowedbySaknussemm。Allwehavetodoistogoback。Letustakeonenight\'sgoodrest，andbeforethreedaysareover，Ipromiseyouweshallhaveregainedthepointwherethegalleriesdivided。\"
\"Yes，wemay，ifourstrengthlastsaslong，\"Icried，inalamentablevoice。
\"Andwhynot?\"
\"Tomorrow，amongusthree，therewillnotbeadropofwater。Itisjustgone。\"
\"Andyourcouragewithit，\"saidmyuncle，speakinginaseveretone。
WhatcouldIsay?Iturnedroundonmyside，andfromsheerexhaustionfellintoaheavysleepdisturbedbydreamsofwater!AndI
awokeunrefreshed。
Iwouldhavebarteredadiamondmineforaglassofpurespringwater!
CHAPTER18
TheWrongRoad!
NEXTday，ourdeparturetookplaceataveryearlyhour。Therewasnotimefortheleastdelay。Accordingtomyaccount，wehadfivedays\'hardworktogetbacktotheplacewherethegalleriesdivided。
Icannevertellallthesufferingsweendureduponourreturn。Myuncleborethemlikeamanwhohasbeeninthewrong-thatis，withconcentratedandsuppressedanger；Hans，withalltheresignationofhispacificcharacter；andI-IconfessthatIdidnothingbutcomplain，anddespair。Ihadnoheartforthisbadfortune。
Buttherewasoneconsolation。Defeatattheoutsetwouldprobablyupsetthewholejourney!
AsIhadexpectedfromthefirst，oursupplyofwatergavecompletelyoutonourfirstday\'smarch。OurprovisionofliquidswasreducedtooursupplyofSchiedam；butthishorrible-nay，I
willsayit-thisinfernalliquorburntthethroat，andIcouldnotevenbearthesightofit。Ifoundthetemperaturetobestifling。I
wasparalyzedwithfatigue。MorethanonceIwasabouttofallinsensibletotheground。Thewholepartythenhalted，andtheworthyIcelanderandmyexcellentuncledidtheirbesttoconsoleandcomfortme。Icould，however，plainlyseethatmyunclewascontendingpainfullyagainsttheextremefatiguesofourjourney，andtheawfultorturegeneratedbytheabsenceofwater。
AtlengthatimecamewhenIceasedtorecollectanything-whenallwasoneawfullhideous，fantasticdream!
Atlast，onTuesday，theseventhofthemonthofJuly，aftercrawlingonourhandsandkneesformanyhours，moredeadthanalive，wereachedthepointofjunctionbetweenthegalleries。Ilaylikealog，aninertmassofhumanfleshonthearidlavasoil。Itwasthenteninthemorning。
Hansandmyuncle，leaningagainstthewall，triedtonibbleawayatsomepiecesofbiscuit，whiledeepgroansandsighsescapedfrommyscorchedandswollenlips。ThenIfelloffintoakindofdeeplethargy。
PresentlyIfeltmyuncleapproach，andliftmeuptenderlyinhisarms。
\"Poorboy，\"Iheardhimsayinatoneofdeepcommiseration。
Iwasprofoundlytouchedbythesewords，beingbynomeansaccustomedtosignsofwomanlyweaknessintheProfessor。Icaughthistremblinghandsinmineandgavethemagentlepressure。Heallowedmetodosowithoutresistance，lookingatmekindlyallthetime。Hiseyeswerewetwithtears。
Ithensawhimtakethegourdwhichheworeathisside。Tomysurprise，orrathertomystupefaction，heplacedittomylips。
\"Drink，myboy，\"hesaid。
Wasitpossiblemyearshadnotdeceivedme?Wasmyunclemad?I
lookedathim，with，Iamsure，quiteanidioticexpression。Icouldnotbelievehim。Itoomuchfearedthecounteractionofdisappointment。
\"Drink\"\'hesaidagain。
HadIheardaright?Before，however，Icouldaskmyselfthequestionasecondtime，amouthfulofwatercooledmyparchedlipsandthroat-onemouthful，butIdobelieveitbroughtmebacktolife。
Ithankedmyunclebyclaspingmyhands。Myheartwastoofulltospeak。
\"Yes，\"saidhe，\"onemouthfulofwater，theverylast-doyouhear，myboy-theverylast!Ihavetakencareofitatthebottomofmybottleastheappleofmyeye。Twentytimes，ahundredtimes，Ihaveresistedthefearfuldesiretodrinkit。But-no-no，Harry，Isaveditforyou。\"
\"Mydearuncle，\"Iexclaimed，andthebigtearsrolleddownmyhotandfeverishcheeks。
\"Yes，mypoorboy，Iknewthatwhenyoureachedthisplace，thiscrossroadintheearth，youwouldfalldownhalfdead，andIsavedmylastdropofwaterinordertorestoreyou。
\"Thanks，\"Icried；\"thanksfrommyheart。\"
Aslittleasmythirstwasreallyquenched，Ihadneverthelesspartiallyrecoveredmystrength。Thecontractedmusclesofmythroatrelaxed-andtheinflammationofmylipsinsomemeasuresubsided。
Atallevents，Iwasabletospeak。
\"Well，\"Isaid，\"therecanbenodoubtnowastowhatwehavetodo。
Waterhasutterlyfailedus；ourjourneyisthereforeatanend。Letusreturn。\"
WhileIspokethus，myuncleevidentlyavoidedmyface:hehelddownhishead；hiseyeswereturnedineverypossibledirectionbuttherightone。
\"Yes，\"Icontinued，gettingexcitedbymyownwords，wemustgobacktoSneffels。Mayheavengiveusstrengthtoenableusoncemoretorevisitthelightofday。Wouldthatwenowstoodonthesummitofthecrater。\"
\"Goback，\"saidmyuncle，speakingtohimself，\"andmustitbeso?\"
\"Goback-yes，andwithoutlosingasinglemoment\"，Ivehementlycried。
Forsomemomentstherewassilenceunderthatdarkandgloomyvault。
\"So，mydearHarry，\"saidtheProfessorinaverysingulartoneofvoice，\"thosefewdropsofwaterhavenotsufficedtorestoreyourenergyandcourage。\"
\"Courage!\"Icried。
\"Iseethatyouarequiteasdowncastasbefore-andstillgivewaytodiscouragementanddespair。\"
What，then，wasthemanmadeof，andwhatotherprojectswereenteringhisfertileandaudaciousbrain!
\"Youarenotdiscouraged，sir?\"
\"What!Giveupjustasweareonthevergeofsuccess?\"hecried。
\"Never，nevershallitbesaidthatProfessorHardwiggretreated。\"
\"Thenwemustmakeupourmindstoperish，\"Icriedwithahelplesssigh。
\"No，Harry，myboy，certainlynot。Go，leaveme，Iamveryfarfromdesiringyourdeath。TakeHanswithyou。Iwillgoonalone。\"
\"Youaskustoleaveyou?\"
\"Leaveme，Isay。Ihaveundertakenthisdangerousandperilousadventure。Iwillcarryittotheend-orIwillneverreturntothesurfaceofMotherEarth。Go，Harry-oncemoreIsaytoyou-go!\"
Myuncleashespokewasterriblyexcited。Hisvoice，whichbeforehadbeentender，almostwomanly，becameharshandmenacing。Heappearedtobestrugglingwithdesperateenergyagainsttheimpossible。Ididnotwishtoabandonhimatthebottomofthatabyss，while，ontheotherhand，theinstinctofpreservationtoldmetofly。
Meanwhile，ourguidewaslookingonwithprofoundcalmnessandindifference。Heappearedtobeanunconcernedparty，andyetheperfectlywellknewwhatwasgoingonbetweenus。Ourgesturessufficientlyindicatedthedifferentroadseachwishedtofollow-andwhicheachtriedtoinfluencetheothertoundertake。ButHansappearednottotaketheslightestinterestinwhatwasreallyaquestionoflifeanddeathforusall，butwaitedquitereadytoobeythesignalwhichshouldsaygoaloft，ortoresumehisdesperatejourneyintotheinterioroftheearth。
HowthenIwishedwithallmyheartandsoulthatIcouldmakehimunderstandmywords。Myrepresentations，mysighsandgroans，theearnestaccentsinwhichIshouldhavespokenwouldhaveconvincedthatcold，hardnature。Thosefearfuldangersandperilsofwhichthestolidguidehadnoidea，Iwouldhavepointedthemouttohim-