Iwouldhave，asitwere，madehimseeandfeel。Betweenus，wemighthaveconvincedtheobstinateProfessor。Iftheworsthadcometotheworst，wecouldhavecompelledhimtoreturntothesummitofSneffels。
IquietlyapproachedHans。Icaughthishandinmine。Henevermovedamuscle。Iindicatedtohimtheroadtothetopofthecrater。Heremainedmotionless。Mypantingform，myhaggardcountenance，musthaveindicatedtheextentofmysufferings。TheIcelandergentlyshookhisheadandpointedtomyuncle。
\"Master，\"hesaid。
ThewordisIcelandicaswellasEnglish。
\"Themaster!\"Icried，besidemyselfwithfury-\"madman!no-I
tellyouheisnotthemasterofourlives；wemustfly!wemustdraghimwithus!doyouhearme?Doyouunderstandme，Isay?\"
IhavealreadyexplainedthatIheldHansbythearm。Itriedtomakehimrisefromhisseat。Istruggledwithhimandtriedtoforcehimaway。Myunclenowinterposed。
\"MygoodHenry，becalm，\"hesaid。\"Youwillobtainnothingfrommydevotedfollower；therefore，listentowhatIhavetosay。\"
Ifoldedmyarms，aswellasIcould，andlookedmyunclefullintheface。
\"Thiswretchedwantofwater，\"hesaid，\"isthesoleobstacletothesuccessofmyproject。Intheentiregallery，madeoflava，schist，andcoal，itistruewefoundnotoneliquidmolecule。Itisquitepossiblethatwemaybemorefortunateinthewesterntunnel。\"
Mysolereplywastoshakemyheadwithanairofdeepincredulity。
\"Listentometotheend，\"saidtheProfessorinhiswell-knownlecturingvoice。\"Whileyoulayyonderwithoutlifeormotion，I
undertookareconnoiteringjourneyintotheconformationofthisothergallery。Ihavediscoveredthatitgoesdirectlydownwardsintothebowelsoftheearth，andinafewhourswilltakeustotheoldgraniticformation。Inthisweshallundoubtedlyfindinnumerablesprings。Thenatureoftherockmakesthisamathematicalcertainty，andinstinctagreeswithlogictosaythatitisso。Now，thisistheseriouspropositionwhichIhavetomaketoyou。WhenChristopherColumbusaskedofhismenthreedaystodiscoverthelandofpromise，hismenill，terrified，andhopeless，yetgavehimthreedays-andtheNewWorldwasdiscovered。NowI，theChristopherColumbusofthissubterraneanregion，onlyaskofyouonemoreday。
If，whenthattimeisexpired，Ihavenotfoundthewaterofwhichweareinsearch，Isweartoyou，Iwillgiveupmymightyenterpriseandreturntotheearth\'ssurface。\"
Despitemyirritationanddespair，Iknewhowmuchitcostmyuncletomakethisproposition，andtoholdsuchconciliatorylanguage。Underthecircumstances，whatcouldIdobutyield?
\"Well，\"Icried，\"letitbeasyouwish，andmayheavenrewardyoursuperhumanenergy。Butas，unlesswediscoverwater，ourhoursarenumbered，letuslosenotime，butgoahead。\"
CHAPTER19
ANewRouteOURdescentwasnowresumedbymeansofthesecondgallery。Hanstookuphispostinfrontasusual。WehadnotgonemorethanahundredyardswhentheProfessorcarefullyexaminedthewalls。
\"Thisistheprimitiveformation-weareontherightroad-
onwardsisourhope!\"
Whenthewholeearthgotcoolinthefirsthoursoftheworld\'smorning，thediminutionofthevolumeoftheearthproducedastateofdislocationinitsuppercrust，followedbyruptures，crevassesandfissures。Thepassagewasafissureofthiskind，throughwhich，agesago，hadflowedtheeruptivegranite。Thethousandwindingsandturningsformedaninextricablelabyrinththroughtheancientsoil。
Aswedescended，successionsoflayerscomposingtheprimitivesoilappearedwiththeutmostfidelityofdetail。Geologicalscienceconsidersthisprimitivesoilasthebaseofthemineralcrust，andithasrecognizedthatitiscomposedofthreedifferentstrataorlayers，allrestingontheimmovablerockknownasgranite。
Nomineralogistshadevenfoundthemselvesplacedinsuchamarvelouspositiontostudynatureinallherrealandnakedbeauty。
Thesoundingrod，ameremachine，couldnotbringtothesurfaceoftheearththeobjectsofvalueforthestudyofitsinternalstructure，whichwewereabouttoseewithourowneyes，totouchwithourownhands。
RememberthatIamwritingthisafterthejourney。
Acrossthestreakoftherocks，coloredbybeautifulgreentints，woundmetallicthreadsofcopper，ofmanganese，withtracesofplatinumandgold。IcouldnothelpgazingattheserichesburiedintheentrailsofMotherEarth，andofwhichnomanwouldhavetheenjoymenttotheendoftime!Thesetreasures-mightyandinexhaustible，wereburiedinthemorningoftheearth\'shistory，atsuchawfuldepths，thatnocrowbarorpickaxwilleverdragthemfromtheirtomb!
ThelightofourRuhmkorff\'scoil，increasedtenfoldbythemyriadofprismaticmassesofrock，sentitsjetsoffireineverydirection，andIcouldfancymyselftravelingthroughahugehollowdiamond，theraysofwhichproducedmyriadsofextraordinaryeffects。
Towardssixo\'clock，thisfestivaloflightbegansensiblyandvisiblytodecrease，andsoonalmostceased。Thesidesofthegalleryassumedacrystallizedtint，withasomberhue；whitemicabegantocomminglemorefreelywithfeldsparandquartz，toformwhatmaybecalledthetruerock-thestonewhichishardaboveall，thatsupports，withoutbeingcrushed，thefourstoriesoftheearth\'ssoil。
Wewerewalledbyanimmenseprisonofgranite!
Itwasnoweighto\'clock，andstilltherewasnosignofwater。
ThesufferingsIenduredwerehorrible。Myunclenowkeptattheheadofourlittlecolumn。Nothingcouldinducehimtostop。I，meanwhile，hadbutonerealthought。Myearwaskeenlyonthewatchtocatchthesoundofaspring。Butnopleasantsoundoffallingwaterfelluponmylisteningear。
Butatlastthetimecamewhenmylimbsrefusedtocarrymelonger。IcontendedheroicallyagainsttheterribletorturesI
endured，becauseIdidnotwishtocompelmyuncletohalt。TohimI
knewthiswouldbethelastfatalstroke。
SuddenlyIfeltadeadlyfaintnesscomeoverme。Myeyescouldnolongersee；mykneesshook。Igaveonedespairingcry-andfell!
\"Help，help，Iamdying!
Myuncleturnedandslowlyretracedhissteps。Helookedatmewithfoldedarms，andthenallowedonesentencetoescape，inhollowaccents，fromhislips:
\"Allisover。\"
ThelastthingIsawwasafacefearfullydistortedwithpainandsorrow；andthenmyeyesclosed。
WhenIagainopenedthem，Isawmycompanionslyingnearme，motionless，wrappedintheirhugetravelingrugs。Weretheyasleepordead?Formyself，sleepwaswhollyoutofthequestion。Myfaintingfitover，Iwaswakefulasthelark。Isufferedtoomuchforsleeptovisitmyeyelids-themore，thatIthoughtmyselfsickuntodeath-dying。Thelastwordsspokenbymyuncleseemedtobebuzzinginmyears-allisover!Anditwasprobablethathewasright。InthestateofprostrationtowhichIwasreduced，itwasmadnesstothinkofeveragainseeingthelightofday。
Aboveweremilesuponmilesoftheearth\'scrust。AsIthoughtofit，Icouldfancythewholeweightrestingonmyshoulders。Iwascrushed，annihilated!andexhaustedmyselfinvainattemptstoturninmygranitebed。
Hoursuponhourspassedaway。Aprofoundandterriblesilencereignedaroundus-asilenceofthetomb。Nothingcouldmakeitselfheardthroughthesegiganticwallsofgranite。Theverythoughtwasstupendous。
Presently，despitemyapathy，despitethekindofdeadlycalmintowhichIwascast，somethingarousedme。Itwasaslightbutpeculiarnoise。WhileIwaswatchingintently，Iobservedthatthetunnelwasbecomingdark。Thengazingthroughthedimlightthatremained，I
thoughtIsawtheIcelandertakinghisdeparture，lampinhand。
Whyhadheactedthus?DidHanstheguidemeantoabandonus?Myunclelayfastasleep-ordead。Itriedtocryout，andarousehim。Myvoice，feeblyissuingfrommyparchedandfeveredlips，foundnoechointhatfearfulplace。Mythroatwasdry，mytonguestucktotheroofofmymouth。Theobscurityhadbythistimebecomeintense，andatlasteventhefaintsoundoftheguide\'sfootstepswaslostintheblankdistance。Mysoulseemedfilledwithanguish，anddeathappearedwelcome，onlyletitcomequickly。
\"Hansisleavingus，\"Icried。\"Hans-Hans，ifyouareaman，comeback。\"
Thesewordswerespokentomyself。Theycouldnotbeheardaloud。
Nevertheless，afterthefirstfewmomentsofterrorwereover，Iwasashamedofmysuspicionsagainstamanwhohithertohadbehavedsoadmirably。Nothinginhisconductorcharacterjustifiedsuspicion。
Moreover，amoment\'sreflectionreassuredme。Hisdeparturecouldnotbeaflight。Insteadofascendingthegallery，hewasgoingdeeperdownintothegulf。Hadhehadanybaddesign，hiswaywouldhavebeenupwards。
ThisreasoningcalmedmealittleandIbegantohope!
Thegood，andpeaceful，andimperturbableHanswouldcertainlynothavearisenfromhissleepwithoutsomeseriousandgravemotive。
Washebentonavoyageofdiscovery?Duringthedeep，stillsilenceofthenighthadheatlastheardthatsweetmurmuraboutwhichwewereallsoanxious?
CHAPTER20
ABitterDisappointmentDURINGalong，long，wearyhour，therecrossedmywildlydeliriousbrainallsortsofreasonsastowhatcouldhavearousedourquietandfaithfulguide。Themostabsurdandridiculousideaspassedthroughmyhead，eachmoreimpossiblethantheother。IbelieveIwaseitherhalforwhollymad。
Suddenly，however，therearose，asitwerefromthedepthsoftheearth，avoiceofcomfort。Itwasthesoundoffootsteps!Hanswasreturning。
Presentlytheuncertainlightbegantoshineuponthewallsofthepassage，andthenitcameinviewfardowntheslopingtunnel。AtlengthHanshimselfappeared。
Heapproachedmyuncle，placedhishanduponhisshoulder，andgentlyawakenedhim。Myuncle，assoonashesawwhoitwas，instantlyarose。
\"Well!\"exclaimedtheProfessor。
\"Vatten，\"saidthehunter。
IdidnotknowasinglewordoftheDanishlanguage，andyetbyasortofmysteriousinstinctIunderstoodwhattheguidehadsaid。
\"Water，water!\"Icried，inawildandfrantictone，clappingmyhands，andgesticulatinglikeamadman。
\"Water!\"murmuredmyuncle，inavoiceofdeepemotionandgratitude。\"Hvar?\"\"Where?
\"Nedat。\"\"Below。\"
\"Where?below!\"Iunderstoodeveryword。Ihadcaughtthehunterbythehands，andIshookthemheartily，whilehelookedonwithperfectcalmness。
Thepreparationsforourdeparturedidnottakelong，andweweresoonmakingarapiddescentintothetunnel。
Anhourlaterwehadadvancedathousandyards，anddescendedtwothousandfeet。
AtthismomentIheardanaccustomedandwell-knownsoundrunningalongthefloorsofthegraniterock-akindofdullandsullenroar，likethatofadistantwaterfall。
Duringthefirsthalfhourofouradvance，notfindingthediscoveredspring，myfeelingsofintensesufferingappearedtoreturn。OncemoreIbegantoloseallhope。Myuncle，however，observinghowdownheartedIwasagainbecoming，tookuptheconversation。
\"Hanswasright，\"heexclaimedenthusiastically；\"thatisthedullroaringofatorrent。\"
\"Atorrent，\"Icried，delightedatevenhearingthewelcomewords。
\"There\'snottheslightestdoubtaboutithereplied，\"asubterraneanriverisflowingbesideus。\"
Imadenoreply，buthastenedon，oncemoreanimatedbyhope。I
begannoteventofeelthedeepfatiguewhichhithertohadoverpoweredme。Theverysoundofthisgloriousmurmuringwateralreadyrefreshedme。Wecouldhearitincreasinginvolumeeverymoment。
Thetorrent，whichforalongtimecouldbeheardflowingoverourheads，nowrandistinctlyalongtheleftwall，roaring，rushing，spluttering，andstillfalling。
SeveraltimesIpassedmyhandacrosstherockhopingtofindsometraceofhumidity-oftheslightestpercolation。Alas!invain。
Againahalfhourpassedinthesamewearytoil。Againweadvanced。
Itnowbecameevidentthatthehunter，duringhisabsence，hadnotbeenabletocarryhisresearchesanyfarther。Guidedbyaninstinctpeculiartothedwellersinmountainregionsandwaterfinders，he\"smelt\"thelivingspringthroughtherock。Stillhehadnotseenthepreciousliquid。Hehadneitherquenchedhisownthirst，norbroughtusonedropinhisgourd。
Moreover，wesoonmadethedisastrousdiscoverythat，ifourprogresscontinued，weshouldsoonbemovingawayfromthetorrent，thesoundofwhichgraduallydiminished。Weturnedback。Hanshaltedattheprecisespotwherethesoundofthetorrentappearednearest。
Icouldbearthesuspenseandsufferingnolonger，andseatedmyselfagainstthewall，behindwhichIcouldhearthewaterseethingandeffervescingnottwofeetaway。Butasolidwallofgranitestillseparatedusfromit!
Hanslookedkeenlyatme，and，strangeenough，foronceIthoughtIsawasmileonhisimperturbableface。
Herosefromastoneonwhichbehadbeenseated，andtookupthelamp。Icouldnothelprisingandfollowing。Hemovedslowlyalongthefirmandsolidgranitewall。Iwatchedhimwithmingledcuriosityandeagerness。Presentlyhehaltedandplacedhisearagainstthedrystone，movingslowlyalongandlisteningwiththemostextremecareandattention。Iunderstoodatoncethathewassearchingfortheexactspotwherethetorrent\'sroarwasmostplainlyheard。Thispointhesoonfoundinthelateralwallontheleftside，aboutthreefeetabovethelevelofthetunnelfloor。
Iwasinastateofintenseexcitement。Iscarcelydaredbelievewhattheeider-duckhunterwasabouttodo。Itwas，however，impossibleinamomentmorenottobothunderstandandapplaud，andeventosmotherhiminmyembraces，whenIsawhimraisetheheavycrowbarandcommenceanattackupontherockitself。
\"Saved!\"Icried。
\"Yes，\"criedmyuncle，evenmoreexcitedanddelightedthanmyself；\"Hansisquiteright。Oh，theworthy，excellentman!Weshouldneverhavethoughtofsuchanidea。\"
Andnobodyelse，Ithink，wouldhavedoneso。Suchaprocess，simpleasitseemed，wouldmostcertainlynothaveenteredourheads。Nothingcouldbemoredangerousthantobegintoworkwithpickaxesinthatparticularpartoftheglobe。Supposingwhilehewasatworkabreak-upweretotakeplace，andsupposingthetorrentoncehavinggainedaninchweretotakeanell，andcomepouringbodilythroughthebrokenrock!
Notoneofthesedangerswaschimerical。Theywereonlytooreal。
Butatthatmomentnofearoffallinginoftheroof，orevenofinundationwascapableofstoppingus。OurthirstwassointensethattoquenchitwewouldhavedugbelowthebedofoldOceanitself。
Hanswentquietlytowork-aworkwhichneithermyunclenorIwouldhaveundertakenatanyprice。Ourimpatiencewassogreatthatifwehadoncebegunwithpickaxandcrowbar，therockwouldsoonhavesplitintoahundredfragments。Theguide，onthecontrary，calm，ready，moderate，woreawaythehardrockbylittlesteadyblowsofhisinstrument，makingnoattemptatalargerholethanaboutsixinches。AsIstood，Iheard，orIthoughtIheard，theroarofthetorrentmomentarilyincreasinginloudness，andattimesIalmostfeltthepleasantsensationofwateruponmyparchedlips。
Attheendofwhatappearedanage，Hanshadmadeaholewhichenabledhiscrowbartoentertwofeetintothesolidrock。Hehadbeenatworkexactlyanhour。Itappearedadozen。Iwasgettingwildwithimpatience。Myunclebegantothinkofusingmoreviolentmeasures。Ihadthegreatestdifficultyincheckinghim。Hehadindeedjustgotholdofhiscrowbarwhenaloudandwelcomehisswasheard。
Thenastream，orratherjet，ofwaterburstthroughthewallandcameoutwithsuchforceastohittheoppositeside!
Hans，theguide，whowashalfupsetbytheshock，wasscarcelyabletokeepdownacryofpainandgrief。Iunderstoodhismeaningwhen，plungingmyhandsintothesparklingjet，Imyselfgaveawildandfranticcry。Thewaterwasscaldinghot!
\"Boiling，\"Icried，inbitterdisappointment。
\"Well，nevermind，\"saidmyuncle，\"itwillsoongetcool。\"
Thetunnelbegantobefilledbycloudsofvapor，whileasmallstreamranawayintotheinterioroftheearth。Inashorttimewehadsomesufficientlycooltodrink。Weswalloweditinhugemouthfuls。
Oh!whatexalteddelight-whatrichandincomparableluxury!Whatwasthiswater，whencediditcome?Touswhatwasthat?Thesimplefactwas-itwaswater；and，thoughstillwithatingleofwarmthaboutit，itbroughtbacktotheheart，thatlifewhich，butforit，mustsurelyhavefadedaway。Idrankgreedily，almostwithouttastingit。
When，however，Ihadalmostquenchedmyravenousthirst，Imadeadiscovery。
\"Why，itischalybeatewater!\"
\"Amostexcellentstomachic，\"repliedmyuncle，\"andhighlymineralized。HereisajourneyworthtwentytoSpa。\"
\"It\'sverygood，\"Ireplied。
\"Ishouldthinkso。Waterfoundsixmilesunderground。Thereisapeculiarlyinkyflavoraboutit，whichisbynomeansdisagreeable。
Hansmaycongratulatehimselfonhavingmadeararediscovery。Whatdoyousay，nephew，accordingtotheusualcustomoftravelers，tonamethestreamafterhim?\"
\"Good，\"saidI。Andthenameof\"Hansbach\"\"HansBrook\"wasatonceagreedupon。
Hanswasnotabitmoreproudafterhearingourdeterminationthanhewasbefore。Afterhavingtakenaverysmallmodicumofthewelcomerefreshment，hehadseatedhimselfinacornerwithhisusualimperturbablegravity。
\"Now，\"saidI，\"itisnotworthwhilelettingthiswaterruntowaste。\"
\"Whatistheuse，\"repliedmyuncle，\"thesourcefromwhichthisriverrisesisinexhaustible。\"
\"Nevermind，\"Icontinued，\"letusfillourgoatskinandgourds，andthentrytostoptheopeningup。\"
Myadvice，aftersomehesitation，wasfollowedorattemptedtobefollowed。Hanspickedupallthebrokenpiecesofgranitehehadknockedout，andusingsometowhehappenedtohaveabouthim，triedtoshutupthefissurehehadmadeinthewall。Allhedidwastoscaldhishands。Thepressurewastoogreat，andallourattemptswereutterfailures。
\"Itisevident，\"Iremarked，\"thattheuppersurfaceofthesespringsissituatedataverygreatheightabove-aswemayfairlyinferfromthegreatpressureofthejet。\"
\"Thatisbynomeansdoubtful，\"repliedmyuncle，\"ifthiscolumnofwaterisaboutthirty-twothousandfeethigh，theatmosphericpressuremustbesomethingenormous。Butanewideahasjuststruckme。\"
\"Andwhatisthat?\"
\"Whybeatsomuchtroubletoclosethisaperture?\"
\"Because-\"
Ihesitatedandstammered，havingnorealreason。
\"Whenourwaterbottlesareempty，wearenotatallsurethatweshallbeabletofillthem，\"observedmyuncle。
\"Ithinkthatisveryprobable。\"
\"Well，then，letthiswaterrun。Itwill，ofcourse，naturallyfollowinourtrack，andwillservetoguideandrefreshus。\"
\"Ithinktheideaagoodone，\"Icriedinreply，\"andwiththisrivuletasacompanion，thereisnofurtherreasonwhyweshouldnotsucceedinourmarvelousproject。\"
\"Ah，myboy，\"saidtheProfessor，laughing，\"afterall，youarecominground。\"
\"Morethanthat，Iamnowconfidentofultimatesuccess。
\"Onemoment，nephewmine。Letusbeginbytakingsomehoursofrepose。\"
Ihadutterlyforgottenthatitwasnight。Thechronometer，however，informedmeofthefact。Soonweweresufficientlyrestoredandrefreshed，andhadallfallenintoaprofoundsleep。
CHAPTER21
UndertheOceanBYthenextdaywehadnearlyforgottenourpastsufferings。ThefirstsensationIexperiencedwassurpriseatnotbeingthirsty，andI
actuallyaskedmyselfthereason。Therunningstream，whichflowedinripplingwaveletsatmyfeet，wasthesatisfactoryreply。
Webreakfastedwithagoodappetite，andthendrankourfilloftheexcellentwater。Ifeltmyselfquiteanewman，readytogoanywheremyunclechosetolead。Ibegantothink。Whyshouldnotamanasseriouslyconvincedasmyuncle，succeed，withsoexcellentaguideasworthyHans，andsodevotedanephewasmyself?Thesewerethebrilliantideaswhichnowinvadedmybrain。HadthepropositionnowbeenmadetogobacktothesummitofMountSneffels，Ishouldhavedeclinedtheofferinamostindignantmanner。
Butfortunatelytherewasnoquestionofgoingup。Wewereabouttodescendfartherintotheinterioroftheearth。
\"Letusbemoving，\"Icried，awakeningtheechoesoftheoldworld。
WeresumedourmarchonThursdayateighto\'clockinthemorning。
Thegreatgranitetunnel，asitwentroundbysinuousandwindingways，presentedeverynowandthensharpturns，andinfactalltheappearanceofalabyrinth。Itsdirection，however，wasingeneraltowardsthesouthwest。Myunclemadeseveralpausesinordertoconsulthiscompass。
Thegallerynowbegantotrenddownwardsinahorizontaldirection，withabouttwoinchesoffallineveryfurlong。Themurmuringstreamflowedquietlyatourfeet。Icouldnotbutcompareittosomefamiliarspirit，guidingusthroughtheearth，andI
dabbledmyfingersinitstepidwater，whichsanglikeanaiadasweprogressed。Mygoodhumorbegantoassumeamythologicalcharacter。
Asformyunclehebegantocomplainofthehorizontalcharacteroftheroad。Hisroute，hefound，begantobeindefinitelyprolonged，insteadof\"slidingdownthecelestialray，\"accordingtohisexpression。
Butwehadnochoice；andaslongasourroadledtowardsthecenter-howeverlittleprogresswemade，therewasnoreasontocomplain。
Moreover，fromtimetotimetheslopesweremuchgreater，thenaiadsangmoreloudly，andwebegantodipdownwardsinearnest。
Asyet，however，Ifeltnopainfulsensation。Ihadnotgotovertheexcitementofthediscoveryofwater。
Thatdayandthenextwedidaconsiderableamountofhorizontal，andrelativelyverylittlevertical，traveling。
OnFridayevening，thetenthofJuly，accordingtoourestimation，weoughttohavebeenthirtyleaguestothesoutheastofReykjavik，andabouttwoleaguesandahalfdeep。Wenowreceivedaratherstartlingsurprise。
Underourfeetthereopenedahorriblewell。Myunclewassodelightedthatheactuallyclappedhishands-ashesawhowsteepandsharpwasthedescent。
\"Ah，ah!\"hecried，inrapturousdelight；\"thistakeusalongway。Lookattheprojectionsoftherock。Hah!\"heexclaimed，\"it\'safearfulstaircase!\"
Hans，however，whoinallourtroubleshadnevergivenuptheropes，tookcaresotodisposeofthemastopreventanyaccidents。Ourdescentthenbegan。Idarenotcallitaperilousdescent，forIwasalreadytoofamiliarwiththatsortofworktolookuponitasanythingbutaveryordinaryaffair。
Thiswellwasakindofnarrowopeninginthemassivegraniteofthekindknownasafissure。Thecontractionoftheterrestrialscaffolding，whenitsuddenlycooled，hadbeenevidentlythecause。IfithadeverservedinformertimesasakindoffunnelthroughwhichpassedtheeruptivemassesvomitedbySneffels，Iwasatalosstoexplainhowithadleftnomark。Wewere，infact，descendingaspiral，somethinglikethosewindingstaircasesinuseinmodernhouses。
Wewerecompelledeveryquarterofanhourorthereaboutstositdowninordertorestourlegs。Ourcalvesached。Wethenseatedourselvesonsomeprojectingrockwithourlegshangingover，andgossipedwhileweateamouthful-drinkingstillfromthepleasantlywarmrunningstreamwhichhadnotdesertedus。
ItisscarcelynecessarytosaythatinthiscuriouslyshapedfissuretheHansbachhadbecomeacascadetothedetrimentofitssize。Itwasstill，however，sufficient，andmore，forourwants。
Besidesweknewthat，assoonasthedeclivityceasedtobesoabrupt，thestreammustresumeitspeacefulcourse。Atthismomentitremindedmeofmyuncle，hisimpatienceandrage，whilewhenitflowedmorepeacefully，IpicturedtomyselftheplacidityoftheIcelandicguide。
Duringthewholeoftwodays，thesixthandseventhofJuly，wefollowedtheextraordinaryspiralstaircaseofthefissure，penetratingtwoleaguesfartherintothecrustoftheearth，whichputusfiveleaguesbelowthelevelofthesea。Ontheeighth，however，attwelveo\'clockintheday，thefissuresuddenlyassumedamuchmoregentleslopestilltrendinginasoutheastdirection。
Theroadnowbecamecomparativelyeasy，andatthesametimedreadfullymonotonous。Itwouldhavebeendifficultformatterstohaveturnedoutotherwise。Ourpeculiarjourneyhadnochanceofbeingdiversifiedbylandscapeandscenery。Atallevents，suchwasmyidea。
Atlength，onWednesdaythefifteenth，wewereactuallysevenleaguestwenty-onemilesbelowthesurfaceoftheearth，andfiftyleaguesdistantfromthemountainofSneffels。Though，ifthetruthbetold，wewereverytired，ourhealthhadresistedallsuffering，andwasinamostsatisfactorystate。Ourtraveler\'sboxofmedicamentshadnotevenbeenopened。
Myunclewascarefultonoteeveryhourtheindicationsofthecompass，ofthemanometer，andofthethermometer，allwhichheafterwardspublishedinhiselaboratephilosophicalandscientificaccountofourremarkablevoyage。Hewasthereforeabletogiveanexactrelationofthesituation。When，therefore，heinformedmethatwewerefiftyleaguesinahorizontaldirectiondistantfromourstartingpoint，Icouldnotsuppressaloudexclamation。
\"Whatisthematternow?\"criedmyuncle。
\"Nothingveryimportant，onlyanideahasenteredmyhead，\"wasmyreply。
\"Well，outwithit，Myboy。\"
\"ItismyopinionthatifyourcalculationsarecorrectwearenolongerunderIceland。\"
\"Doyouthinkso?\"
\"Wecanveryeasilyfindout，\"Ireplied，pullingoutamapandcompasses。
\"Yousee，\"Isaid，aftercarefulmeasurement，\"thatIamnotmistaken。WearefarbeyondCapePortland；andthosefiftyleaguestothesoutheastwilltakeusintotheopensea。\"
\"Undertheopensea，\"criedmyuncle，rubbinghishandswithadelightedair。
\"Yes，\"Icried，\"nodoubtoldOceanflowsoverourheads!\"
\"Well，mydearboy，whatcanbemorenatural!DoyounotknowthatintheneighborhoodofNewcastletherearecoalmineswhichhavebeenworkedfaroutunderthesea?\"
Nowmyworthyuncle，theProfessor，nodoubtregardedthisdiscoveryasaverysimplefact，buttometheideawasbynomeansapleasantone。Andyetwhenonecametothinkthematteroverseriously，whatmattereditwhethertheplainsandmountainsofIcelandweresuspendedoverourdevotedheads，orthemightybillowsoftheAtlanticOcean?
Thewholequestionrestedonthesolidityofthegraniteroofaboveus。However，Isoongotusedtotheidealforthepassagenowlevel，nowrunningdown，andstillalwaystothesoutheast，keptgoingdeeperanddeeperintotheprofoundabyssesofMotherEarth。
Threedayslater，ontheeighteenthdayofJuly，onaSaturday，wereachedakindofvastgrotto。MyuncleherepaidHanshisusualsix-dollars，anditwasdecidedthatthenextdayshouldbeadayofrest。
CHAPTER22
SundaybelowGroundIAWOKEonSundaymorningwithoutanysenseofhurryandbustleattendantonanimmediatedeparture。Thoughthedaytobedevotedtoreposeandreflectionwasspentundersuchstrangecircumstances，andinsowonderfulaplace，theideawasapleasantone。Besides，weallbegantogetusedtothiskindofexistence。Ihadalmostceasedtothinkofthesun，ofthemoon，ofthestars，ofthetrees，houses，andtowns；infact，aboutanyterrestrialnecessities。Inourpeculiarpositionwewerefarabovesuchreflections。
Thegrottowasavastandmagnificenthall。Alongitsgraniticsoilthestreamflowedplacidlyandpleasantly。Sogreatadistancewasitnowfromitsfierysourcethatitswaterwasscarcelylukewarm，andcouldbedrunkwithoutdelayordifficulty。
Afterafrugalbreakfast，theProfessormadeuphismindtodevotesomehourstoputtinghisnotesandcalculationsinorder。
\"Inthefirstplace，\"hesaid，\"Ihaveagoodmanytoverifyandprove，inorderthatwemayknowourexactposition。Iwishtobeableonourreturntotheupperregionstomakeamapofourjourney，akindofverticalsectionoftheglobe，whichwillbe，asitwere，theprofileoftheexpedition。\"
\"Thatwouldindeedbeacuriouswork，Uncle；butcanyoumakeyourobservationswithanythinglikecertaintyandprecision?\"
\"Ican。Ihaveneveronanyoccasionfailedtonotewithgreatcaretheanglesandslopes。Iamcertainastohavingmadenomistake。
Takethecompassandexaminehowshepoints。\"
Ilookedattheinstrumentwithcare。
\"Eastonequartersoutheast。\"
\"Verygood，\"resumedtheProfessor，notingtheobservation，andgoingthroughsomerapidcalculations。\"Imakeoutthatwehavejourneyedtwohundredandfiftymilesfromthepointofourdeparture。\"
\"ThenthemightywavesoftheAtlanticarerollingoverourheads?\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"Andatthisverymomentitispossiblethatfiercetempestsareragingabove，andthatmenandshipsarebattlingagainsttheangryblastsjustoverourheads?\"
\"Itisquitewithintherangeofpossibility，\"rejoinedmyuncle，smiling。
\"Andthatwhalesareplayinginshoals，thrashingthebottomofthesea，theroofofouradamantineprison?\"
\"Bequiteatrestonthatpoint；thereisnodangeroftheirbreakingthrough。Buttoreturntoourcalculations。Wearetothesoutheast，twohundredandfiftymilesfromthebaseofSneffels，and，accordingtomyprecedingnotes，Ithinkwehavegonesixteenleaguesinadownwarddirection。\"
\"Sixteenleagues-fiftymiles!\"Icried。
\"Iamsureofit。\"