\"Butthatistheextremelimitallowedbyscienceforthethicknessoftheearth\'scrust，\"Ireplied，referringtomygeologicalstudies。
\"Idonotcontravenethatassertion，\"washisquietanswer。
\"Andatthisstageofourjourney，accordingtoallknownlawsontheincreaseofheat，thereshouldbehereatemperatureoffifteenhundreddegreesofReaumur。\"
\"Thereshouldbe-yousay，myboy。\"
\"Inwhichcasethisgranitewouldnotexist，butbeinastateoffusion。\"
\"Butyouperceive，myboy，thatitisnotso，andthatfacts，asusual，areverystubbornthings，overrulingalltheories。\"
\"Iamforcedtoyieldtotheevidenceofmysenses，butIamneverthelessverymuchsurprised。\"
\"Whatheatdoesthethermometerreallyindicate?\"continuedthephilosopher。
\"Twenty-sevensix-tenths。\"
\"Sothatscienceiswrongbyfourteenhundredandseventy-fourdegreesandfour-tenths。Accordingtowhich，itisdemonstratedthattheproportionalincreaseintemperatureisanexplodederror。HumphryDavyhereshinesforthinallhisglory。Heisright，andIhaveactedwiselytobelievehim。Haveyouanyanswertomaketothisstatement?\"
HadIchosentohavespoken，Imighthavesaidagreatdeal。IinnowayadmittedthetheoryofHumphryDavy-Istillheldoutforthetheoryofproportionalincreaseofheat，thoughIdidnotfeelit。
Iwasfarmorewillingtoallowthatthischimneyofanextinctvolcanowascoveredbylavaofakindrefractorytoheat-infactabadconductor-whichdidnotallowthegreatincreaseoftemperaturetopercolatethroughitssides。Thehotwaterjetsupportedmyviewofthematter。
Butwithoutenteringonalonganduselessdiscussion，orseekingfornewargumentstocontrovertmyuncle，Icontentedmyselfwithtakingupfactsastheywere。
\"Well，sir，Itakeforgrantedthatallyourcalculationsarecorrect，butallowmetodrawfromthemarigorousanddefiniteconclusion。\"
\"Goon，myboy-haveyoursay，\"criedmyunclegoodhumoredly。
\"Attheplacewherewenoware，underthelatitudeofIceland，theterrestrialdepthisaboutfifteenhundredandeighty-threeleagues。\"
\"Fifteenhundredeighty-threeandaquarter。\"
\"Well，supposewesaysixteenhundredinroundnumbers。Now，outofavoyageofsixteenhundredleagueswehavecompletedsixteen。\"
\"Asyousay，whatthen?\"
\"Attheexpenseofadiagonaljourneyofnolessthaneighty-fiveleagues。\"
\"Exactly。\"
\"Wehavebeentwentydaysaboutit。\"
\"Exactlytwentydays。\"
\"Nowsixteenisthehundredthpartofourcontemplatedexpedition。
Ifwegooninthiswayweshallbetwothousanddays，thatisaboutfiveyearsandahalf，goingdown。\"
TheProfessorfoldedhisarms，listened，butdidnotspeak。
\"Withoutcountingthatifaverticaldescentofsixteenleaguescostsusahorizontalofeighty-five，weshallhavetogoabouteightthousandleaguestothesoutheast，andwemustthereforecomeoutsomewhereinthecircumferencelongbeforewecanhopetoreachthecenter。\"
\"Botheryourcalculations，\"criedmyuncleinoneofhisoldrages。\"Onwhatbasisdotheyrest?Howdoyouknowthatthispassagedoesnottakeusdirecttotheendwerequire?Moreover，I
haveinmyfavor，fortunately，aprecedent。WhatIhaveundertakentodo，anotherhasdone，andhehavingsucceeded，whyshouldInotbeequallysuccessful?\"
\"Ihope，indeed，youwill，butstill，IsupposeImaybeallowedto-\"
\"Youareallowedtoholdyourtongue，\"criedProfessorHardwigg，\"whenyoutalksounreasonablyasthis。\"
IsawatoncethattheolddoctorialProfessorwasstillaliveinmyuncle-andfearfultorousehisangrypassions，Idroppedtheunpleasantsubject。
\"Now，then，\"heexplained，\"consultthemanometer。Whatdoesthatindicate?\"
\"Aconsiderableamountofpressure。\"
\"Verygood。Yousee，then，thatbydescendingslowly，andbygraduallyaccustomingourselvestothedensityofthisloweratmosphere，weshallnotsuffer。\"
\"Well，Isupposenot，exceptitmaybeacertainamountofpainintheears，\"wasmyrathergrimreply。
\"That，mydearboy，isnothing，andyouwilleasilygetridofthatsourceofdiscomfortbybringingtheexteriorairincommunicationwiththeaircontainedinyourlungs。\"
\"Perfectly，\"saidI，forIhadquitemadeupmymindinnowisetocontradictmyuncle。\"IshouldfancyalmostthatIshouldexperienceacertainamountofsatisfactioninmakingaplungeintothisdenseatmosphere。Haveyoutakennoteofhowwonderfullysoundispropagated?\"
\"OfcourseIhave。Therecanbenodoubtthatajourneyintotheinterioroftheearthwouldbeanexcellentcurefordeafness。\"
\"Butthen，Uncle，\"Iventuredmildlytoobserve，\"thisdensitywillcontinuetoincrease。\"
\"Yes-accordingtoalawwhich，however，isscarcelydefined。Itistruethattheintensityofweightwilldiminishjustinproportiontothedepthtowhichwego。Youknowverywellthatitisonthesurfaceoftheearththatitsactionismostpowerfullyfelt，whileonthecontrary，intheverycenteroftheearthbodiesceasetohaveanyweightatall。\"
\"Iknowthatisthecase，butasweprogresswillnottheatmospherefinallyassumethedensityofwater?\"
\"Iknowit；whenplacedunderthepressureofsevenhundredandtenatmospheres，\"criedmyunclewithimperturbablegravity。
\"Andwhenwearestilllowerdown?\"Iaskedwithnaturalanxiety。
\"Well，lowerdown，thedensitywillbecomeevengreater。\"
\"Thenhowshallwebeabletomakeourwaythroughthisatmosphericfog?\"
\"Well，myworthynephew，wemustballastourselvesbyfillingourpocketswithstones，\"saidProfessorHardwigg。
\"Faith，Uncle，youhaveananswerforeverything，\"wasmyonlyreply。
IbegantofeelthatitwasunwiseofmetogoanyfartherintothewidefieldofhypothesesforIshouldcertainlyhaverevivedsomedifficulty，orratherimpossibility，thatwouldhaveenragedtheProfessor。
Itwasevident，nevertheless，thattheairunderapressurewhichmightbemultipliedbythousandsofatmospheres，wouldendbybecomingperfectlysolid，andthatthenadmittingourbodiesresistedthepressure，weshouldhavetostop，inspiteofallthereasoningsintheworld。Factsovercomeallarguments。
ButIthoughtitbestnottourgethisargument。MyunclewouldsimplyhavequotedtheexampleofSaknussemm。SupposingthelearnedIcelander\'sjourneyeverreallytohavetakenplace-therewasonesimpleanswertobemade:
Inthesixteenthcenturyneitherthebarometernorthemanometerhadbeeninvented-how，then，couldSaknussemmhavebeenabletodiscoverwhenhedidreachthecenteroftheearth?
ThisunanswerableandlearnedobjectionI，however，kepttomyselfand，bracingupmycourage，awaitedthecourseofevents-littleawareofhowadventurousyetweretobetheincidentsofourremarkablejourney。
Therestofthisdayofleisureandreposewasspentincalculationandconversation。ImadeitapointtoagreewiththeProfessorineverything；butIenviedtheperfectindifferenceofHans，who，withouttakinganysuchtroubleaboutthecauseandeffect，wentblindlyonwardswhereverdestinychosetoleadhim。
CHAPTER23
AloneITmustinalltruthbeconfessed，thingsasyethadgoneonwell，andIshouldhaveactedinbadtastetohavecomplained。Ifthetruemediumofourdifficultiesdidnotincrease，itwaswithintherangeofpossibilitythatwemightultimatelyreachtheendofourjourney。Thenwhatglorywouldbeours!IbeganinthenewlyarousedardorofmysoultospeakenthusiasticallytotheProfessor。Well，wasIserious?Thewholestateinwhichweexistedwasamystery-anditwasimpossibletoknowwhetherornotIwasinearnest。
Forseveraldaysafterourmemorablehalt，theslopesbecamemorerapid-somewereevenofamostfrightfulcharacter-almostvertical，sothatwewereforevergoingdownintothesolidinteriormass。Duringsomedays，weactuallydescendedaleagueandahalf，eventwoleaguestowardsthecenteroftheearth。Thedescentsweresufficientlyperilous，andwhilewewereengagedinthemwelearnedfullytoappreciatethemarvelouscoolnessofourguide，Hans。Withouthimweshouldhavebeenwhollylost。ThegraveandimpassibleIcelanderdevotedhimselftouswiththemostincomprehensiblesang-froidandease；and，thankstohim，manyadangerouspasswasgotover，where，butforhim，weshouldinevitablyhavestuckfast。
Hissilenceincreasedeveryday。Ithinkthatwebegantobeinfluencedbythispeculiartraitinhischaracter。Itiscertainthattheinanimateobjectsbywhichyouaresurroundedhaveadirectactiononthebrain。Itmustbethatamanwhoshutshimselfupbetweenfourwallsmustlosethefacultyofassociatingideasandwords。Howmanypersonscondemnedtothehorrorsofsolitaryconfinementhavegonemad-simplybecausethethinkingfacultieshavelaindormant!
Duringthetwoweeksthatfollowedourlastinterestingconversation，thereoccurrednothingworthyofbeingespeciallyrecorded。
Ihave，whilewritingthesememoirs，taxedmymemoryinvainforoneincidentoftravelduringthisparticularperiod。
Butthenexteventtoberelatedisterribleindeed。Itsverymemory，evennow，makesmysoulshudder，andmybloodruncold。
ItwasontheseventhofAugust。Ourconstantandsuccessivedescentshadtakenusquitethirtyleaguesintotheinterioroftheearth，thatistosaythattherewereaboveusthirtyleagues，nearlyahundredmiles，ofrocks，andoceans，andcontinents，andtowns，tosaynothingoflivinginhabitants。Wewereinasoutheasterlydirection，abouttwohundredleaguesfromIceland。
Onthatmemorabledaythetunnelhadbeguntoassumeanalmosthorizontalcourse。
Iwasonthisoccasionwalkingoninfront。MyunclehadchargeofoneoftheRuhmkorffcoils，Ihadpossessionoftheother。BymeansofitslightIwasbusyexaminingthedifferentlayersofgranite。I
wascompletelyabsorbedinmywork。
Suddenlyhaltingandturninground，IfoundthatIwasalone!
\"Well，\"thoughtItomyself，\"Ihavecertainlybeenwalkingtoofast-orelseHansandmyunclehavestoppedtorest。ThebestthingI
candoistogobackandfindthem。Luckily，thereisverylittleascenttotireme。\"
Iaccordinglyretracedmystepsand，whiledoingso，walkedforatleastaquarterofanhour。Ratheruneasy，Ipausedandlookedeagerlyaround。Notalivingsoul。Icalledaloud。Noreply。Myvoicewaslostamidthemyriadcavernousechoesitaroused!
Ibeganforthefirsttimetofeelseriouslyuneasy。Acoldshivershookmywholebody，andperspiration，chillandterrible，burstuponmyskin。
\"Imustbecalm，\"Isaid，speakingaloud，asboyswhistletodriveawayfear。\"TherecanbenodoubtthatIshallfindmycompanions。
Therecannotbetworoads。ItiscertainthatIwasconsiderablyahead；allIhavetodoistogoback。\"
HavingcometothisdeterminationIascendedthetunnelforatleasthalfanhour，unabletodecideifIhadeverseencertainlandmarksbefore。EverynowandthenIpausedtodiscoverifanyloudappealwasmadetome，wellknowingthatinthatdenseandintensifiedatmosphereIshouldhearitalongwayoff。Butno。Themostextraordinarysilencereignedinthisimmensegallery。Onlytheechoesofmyownfootstepscouldbeheard。
AtlastIstopped。Icouldscarcelyrealizethefactofmyisolation。IwasquitewillingtothinkthatIhadmadeamistake，butnotthatIwaslost。IfIhadmadeamistake，Imightfindmyway；
iflost-Ishudderedtothinkofit。
\"Come，come，\"saidItomyself，\"sincethereisonlyoneroad，andtheymustcomebyit，weshallatlastmeet。AllIhavetodoisstilltogoupwards。Perhaps，however，notseeingme，andforgettingIwasahead，theymayhavegonebackinsearchofme。Still，eveninthiscase，ifImakehaste，Ishallgetuptothem。Therecanbenodoubtaboutthematter。\"
ButasIspoketheselastwordsaloud，itwouldhavebeenquitecleartoanylistener-hadtherebeenone-thatIwasbynomeansconvincedofthefact。Moreoverinordertoassociatetogetherthesesimpleideasandtoreunitethemundertheformofreasoning，requiredsometime。Icouldnotallatoncebringmybraintothink。
Thenanotherdreaddoubtfelluponmysoul。Afterall，wasI
ahead?OfcourseIwas。Hanswasnodoubtfollowingbehindprecededbymyuncle。Iperfectlyrecollectedhishavingstoppedforamomenttostraphisbaggageonhisshoulder。Inowrememberedthistriflingdetail。Itwas，Ibelieve，justatthatverymomentthatIhaddeterminedtocontinueMyroute。
\"Again，\"thoughtI，reasoningascalmlyaswaspossible，\"thereisanothersuremeansofnotlosingmyway，athreadtoguidemethroughthelabyrinthinesubterraneousretreat-onewhichIhadforgotten-myfaithfulriver。\"
Thiscourseofreasoningrousedmydroopingspirits，andI
resolvedtoresumemyjourneywithoutfurtherdelay。Notimewastobelost。
ItwasatthismomentthatIhadreasontoblessthethoughtfulnessofmyuncle，whenherefusedtoallowtheeiderhuntertoclosetheorificesofthehotspring-thatsmallfissureinthegreatmassofgranite。Thisbeneficentspringafterhavingsavedusfromthirstduringsomanydayswouldnowenablemetoregaintherightroad。
Havingcometothismentaldecision，Imadeupmymind，beforeI
startedupwards，thatablutionwouldcertainlydomeagreatdealofgood。
IstoppedtoplungemyhandsandforeheadinthepleasantwateroftheHansbachstream，blessingitspresenceasacertainconsolation。
Conceivemyhorrorandstupefaction!-Iwastreadingahard，dusty，shinglyroadofgranite。ThestreamonwhichIreckonedhadwhollydisappeared!
CHAPTER24
Lost!
NOwordsinanyhumanlanguagecandepictmyutterdespair。Iwasliterallyburiedalive；withnootherexpectationbeforemebuttodieinalltheslowhorribletortureofhungerandthirst。
MechanicallyIcrawledabout，feelingthedryandaridrock。NevertomyfancyhadIeverfeltanythingsodry。
But，Ifranticallyaskedmyself，howhadIlostthecourseoftheflowingstream?TherecouldbenodoubtithadceasedtoflowinthegalleryinwhichInowwas。NowIbegantounderstandthecauseofthestrangesilencewhichprevailedwhenlastItriedifanyappealfrommycompanionsmightperchancereachmyear。
ItsohappenedthatwhenIfirsttookanimprudentstepinthewrongdirection，Ididnotperceivetheabsenceoftheall-importantstream。
Itwasnowquiteevidentthatwhenwehalted，anothertunnelmusthavereceivedthewatersofthelittletorrent，andthatIhadunconsciouslyenteredadifferentgallery。Towhatunknowndepthshadmycompanionsgone?WherewasI?
Howtogetback!Clueorlandmarktherewasabsolutelynone!Myfeetleftnosignsonthegraniteandshingle。MybrainthrobbedwithagonyasItriedtodiscoverthesolutionofthisterribleproblem。Mysituation，afterallsophistryandreflection，hadfinallytobesummedupinthreeawfulwords-
Lost!Lost!!LOST!!!
Lostatadepthwhich，tomyfiniteunderstanding，appearedtobeimmeasurable。
ThesethirtyleaguesofthecrustoftheearthweigheduponmyshouldersliketheglobeontheshouldersofAtlas。Ifeltmyselfcrushedbytheawfulweight。Itwasindeedapositiontodrivethesanestmantomadness!
Itriedtobringmythoughtsbacktothethingsoftheworldsolongforgotten。ItwaswiththegreatestdifficultythatIsucceededindoingso。Hamburg，thehouseontheKonigstrasse，mydearcousinGretchen-allthatworldwhichhadbeforevanishedlikeashadowfloatedbeforemynowvividimagination。
Theretheywerebeforeme，buthowunreal。UndertheinfluenceofaterriblehallucinationIsawalltheincidentsofourjourneypassbeforemelikethescenesofapanorama。Theshipanditsinmates，Iceland，M。Fridriksson，andthegreatsummitofMountSneffels!I
saidtomyselfthat，ifinmypositionIretainedthemostfaintandshadowyoutlineofahope，itwouldbeasuresignofapproachingdelirium。Itwerebettertogivewaywhollytodespair!
Infact，didIbutreasonwithcalmnessandphilosophy，whathumanpowerwasthereinexistenceabletotakemebacktothesurfaceoftheearth，andready，too，tosplitasunder，torendintwainthosehugeandmightyvaultswhichstandabovemyhead?Whocouldenablemetofindmyroad-andregainmycompanions?
Insensatefollyandmadnesstoentertainevenashadowofhope!
\"Oh，Uncle!\"wasmydespairingcry。
Thiswastheonlywordofreproachwhichcametomylips；forI
thoroughlyunderstoodhowdeeplyandsorrowfullytheworthyProfessorwouldregretmyloss，andhowinhisturnhewouldpatientlyseekforme。
WhenIatlastbegantoresignmyselftothefactthatnofurtheraidwastobeexpectedfromman，andknowingthatIwasutterlypowerlesstodoanythingformyownsalvation，IkneeledwithearnestfervorandaskedassistancefromHeaven。Theremembranceofmyinnocentchildhood，thememoryofmymother，knownonlyinmyinfancy，camewellingforthfrommyheart。Ihadrecoursetoprayer。AndlittleasIhadarighttoberememberedbyHimwhomIhadforgotteninthehourofprosperity，andwhomIsotardilyinvoked，Iprayedearnestlyandsincerely。
Thisrenewalofmyyouthfulfaithbroughtaboutamuchgreateramountofcalm，andIwasenabledtoconcentrateallmystrengthandintelligenceontheterriblerealitiesofmyunprecedentedsituation。
IhadaboutmethatwhichIhadatfirstwhollyforgotten-threedays\'provisions。Moreover，mywaterbottlewasquitefull。
Nevertheless，theonethingwhichitwasimpossibletodowastoremainalone。TrytofindmycompanionsImust，atanyprice。ButwhichcourseshouldItake?ShouldIgoupwards，oragaindescend?
Doubtlessitwasrighttoretracemystepsinanupwarddirection。
Bydoingthiswithcareandcoolness，ImustreachthepointwhereI
hadturnedawayfromtheripplingstream。Imustfindthefatalbifurcationorfork。Onceatthisspot，oncetheriveratmyfeet，I
could，atallevents，regaintheawfulcraterofMountSneffels。WhyhadInotthoughtofthisbefore?This，atlast，wasareasonablehopeofsafety。Themostimportantthing，then，tobedonewastodiscoverthebedoftheHansbach。
Afteraslightmealandadraughtofwater，Iroselikeagiantrefreshed。Leaningheavilyonmypole，Ibegantheascentofthegallery。Theslopewasveryrapidandratherdifficult。ButIadvancedhopefullyandcarefully，likeamanwhoatlastismakinghiswayoutofaforest，andknowsthereisonlyoneroadtofollow。
Duringonewholehournothinghappenedtocheckmyprogress。AsI
advanced，Itriedtorecollecttheshapeofthetunnel-torecalltomymemorycertainprojectionsofrocks-topersuademyselfthatI
hadfollowedcertainwindingroutesbefore。ButnooneparticularsigncouldIbringtomind，andIwassoonforcedtoallowthatthisgallerywouldnevertakemebacktothepointatwhichIhadseparatedmyselffrommycompanions。Itwasabsolutelywithoutissue-amereblindalleyintheearth。
Themomentatlengthcamewhen，facingthesolidrock，Iknewmyfate，andfellinanimateonthearidfloor!
TodescribethehorriblestateofdespairandfearintowhichIthenfellwouldnowbevainandimpossible。Mylasthope，thecouragewhichhadsustainedme，droopedbeforethesightofthispitilessgraniterock!
Lostinavastlabyrinth，thesinuositiesofwhichspreadineverydirection，withoutguide，clueorcompass，Iknewitwasavainanduselesstasktoattemptflight。Allthatremainedtomewastoliedownanddie。Toliedownanddiethemostcruelandhorribleofdeaths!
Inmystateofmind，theideacameintomyheadthatonedayperhaps，whenmyfossilboneswerefound，theirdiscoverysofarbelowtheleveloftheearthmightgiverisetosolemnandinterestingscientificdiscussions。
Itriedtocryaloud，buthoarse，hollow，andinarticulatesoundsalonecouldmakethemselvesheardthroughmyparchedlips。Iliterallypantedforbreath。
Inthemidstofallthesehorriblesourcesofanguishanddespair，anewhorrortookpossessionofmysoul。Mylamp，byfallingdown，hadgotoutoforder。Ihadnomeansofrepairingit。Itslightwasalreadybecomingpalerandpaler，andsoonwouldexpire。
Withastrangesenseofresignationanddespair，Iwatchedtheluminouscurrentinthecoilgettinglessandless。Aprocessionofshadowsmovedflashingalongthegranitewall。Iscarcelydaredtolowermyeyelids，fearingtolosethelastsparkofthisfugitivelight。Everyinstantitseemedtomethatitwasabouttovanishandtoleavemeforever-inutterdarkness!
Atlast，onefinaltremblingflameremainedinthelamp；I
followeditwithallmypowerofvision；Igaspedforbreath；I
concentrateduponitallthepowerofmysoul，asuponthelastscintillationoflightIwaseverdestinedtosee:andthenIwastobelostforeverinCimmerianandtenebrousshades。
Awildandplaintivecryescapedmylips。Onearthduringthemostprofoundandcomparativelycompletedarkness，lightneverallowsacompletedestructionandextinctionofitspower。Lightissodiffuse，sosubtle，thatitpermeateseverywhere，andwhateverlittlemayremain，theretinaoftheeyewillsucceedinfindingit。Inthisplacenothing-theabsoluteobscuritymademeblindineverysense。
Myheadwasnowwhollylost。Iraisedmyarms，tryingtheeffectsofthefeelingingettingagainstthecoldstonewall。Itwaspainfulintheextreme。Madnessmusthavetakenpossessionofme。IknewnotwhatIdid。Ibegantorun，tofly，rushingathaphazardinthisinextricablelabyrinth，alwaysgoingdownwards，runningwildlyunderneaththeterrestrialcrust，likeaninhabitantofthesubterraneanfurnaces，screaming，roaring，howling，untilbruisedbythepointedrocks，fallingandpickingmyselfupallcoveredwithblood，seekingmadlytodrinkthebloodwhichdrippedfrommytornfeatures，madbecausethisbloodonlytrickledovermyface，andwatchingalwaysforthishorridwallwhicheverpresentedtomethefearfulobstacleagainstwhichIcouldnotdashmyhead。
WherewasIgoing?Itwasimpossibletosay。Iwasperfectlyignorantofthematter。
Severalhourspassedinthisway。Afteralongtime，havingutterlyexhaustedmystrength，Ifellaheavyinertmassalongthesideofthetunnel，andlostconsciousness。
CHAPTER25
TheWhisperingGalleryWHENatlastIcamebacktoasenseoflifeandbeing，myfacewaswet，butwet，asIsoonknew，withtears。Howlongthisstateofinsensibilitylasted，itisquiteimpossibleformenowtosay。I
hadnomeanslefttomeoftakinganyaccountoftime。Neversincethecreationoftheworldhadsuchasolitudeasmineexisted。Iwascompletelyabandoned。
AftermyfallIlostmuchblood。Ifeltmyselffloodedwiththelife-givingliquid。Myfirstsensationwasperhapsanaturalone。
WhywasInotdead?BecauseIwasalive，therewassomethinglefttodo。Itriedtomakeupmymindtothinknolonger。AsfarasIwasable，Idroveawayallideas，andutterlyovercomebypainandgrief，Icrouchedagainstthegranitewall。
Ijustcommencedtofeelthefaintingcomingonagain，andthesensationthatthiswasthelaststrugglebeforecompleteannihilation-when，onasudden，aviolentuproarreachedmyears。
Ithadsomeresemblancetotheprolongedrumblingvoiceofthunder，andIclearlydistinguishedsonorousvoices，lostoneaftertheother，inthedistantdepthsofthegulf。
Whencecamethisnoise?Naturally，itwastobesupposedfromnewphenomenawhichweretakingplaceinthebosomofthesolidmassofMotherEarth!Theexplosionofsomegaseousvapors，orthefallofsomesolid，ofthegraniticorotherrock。
AgainIlistenedwithdeepattention。Iwasextremelyanxioustohearifthisstrangeandinexplicablesoundwaslikelytoberenewed!Awholequarterofanhourelapsedinpainfulexpectation。
Deepandsolemnsilencereignedinthetunnel。SostillthatIcouldhearthebeatingsofmyownheart!Iwaited，waitedwithastrangekindofhopefulness。
Suddenlymyear，whichleanedaccidentallyagainstthewall，appearedtocatch，asitwere，thefaintestechoofasound。IthoughtthatIheardvague，incoherentanddistantvoices。Iquiveredalloverwithexcitementandhope!
\"Itmustbehallucination，\"Icried。\"Itcannotbe!itisnottrue!\"
Butno!Bylisteningmoreattentively，IreallydidconvincemyselfthatwhatIheardwastrulythesoundofhumanvoices。Tomakeanymeaningoutofthesound，however，wasbeyondmypower。Iwastooweakeventoheardistinctly。Stillitwasapositivefactthatsomeonewasspeaking。OfthatIwasquitecertain。
Therewasamomentoffear。Adreadfelluponmysoulthatitmightbemyownwordsbroughtbacktomebyadistantecho。Perhapswithoutknowingit，Imighthavebeencryingaloud。Iresolutelyclosedmylips，andoncemoreplacedmyeartothehugegranitewall。
Yes，forcertain。Itwasintruththesoundofhumanvoices。
Inowbytheexerciseofgreatdeterminationdraggedmyselfalongthesidesofthecavern，untilIreachedapointwhereIcouldhearmoredistinctly。ButthoughIcoulddetectthesound，Icouldonlymakeoutuncertain，strange，andincomprehensiblewords。Theyreachedmyearasiftheyhadbeenspokeninalowtone-murmured，asitwere，afaroff。
Atlast，Imadeoutthewordforloradrepeatedseveraltimesinatonebetokeninggreatmentalanguishandsorrow。
Whatcouldthiswordmean，andwhowasspeakingit?ItmustbeeithermyuncleortheguideHans!If，therefore，Icouldhearthem，theymustsurelybeabletohearme。
\"Help，\"Icriedatthetopofmyvoice；\"help，Iamdying!\"
Ithenlistenedwithscarcelyabreath；Ipantedfortheslightestsoundinthedarkness-acry，asigh，aquestion!Butsilencereignedsupreme。Noanswercame!Inthiswaysomeminutespassed。A
wholefloodofideasflashedthroughmymind。Ibegantofearthatmyvoice，weakenedbysicknessandsuffering，couldnotreachmycompanionswhowereinsearchofme。
\"Itmustbethey，\"Icried；\"whoelsecouldbyanypossibilitybeburiedahundredmilesbelowtheleveloftheearth?\"Themeresuppositionwaspreposterous。
Ibegan，therefore，tolistenagainwiththemostbreathlessattention。AsImovedmyearsalongthesideoftheplaceIwasin，Ifoundamathematicalpointasitwere，wherethevoicesappearedtoattaintheirmaximumofintensity。Thewordforloradagaindistinctlyreachedmyear。Thencameagainthatrollingnoiselikethunderwhichhadawakenedmeoutoftorpor。
\"Ibegintounderstand，\"Isaidtomyselfaftersomelittletimedevotedtoreflection；\"itisnotthroughthesolidmassthatthesoundreachesmyears。Thewallsofmycavernousretreatareofsolidgranite，andthemostfearfulexplosionwouldnotmakeuproarenoughtopenetratethem。Thesoundmustcomealongthegalleryitself。TheplaceIwasinmustpossesssomepeculiaracousticpropertiesofitsown。\"
AgainIlistened；andthistime-yes，thistime-Iheardmynamedistinctlypronounced:castasitwereintospace。
Itwasmyuncle，theProfessor，whowasspeaking。Hewasinconversationwiththeguide，andthewordwhichhadsooftenreachedmyears，forlorad，wasaDanishexpression。
ThenIunderstooditall。Inordertomakemyselfheard，Itoomustspeakasitwerealongthesideofthegallery，whichwouldcarrythesoundofmyvoicejustasthewirecarriestheelectricfluidfrompointtopoint。
Buttherewasnotimetolose。Ifmycompanionswereonlytoremoveafewfeetfromwheretheystood，theacousticeffectwouldbeover，myWhisperingGallerywouldbedestroyed。Iagainthereforecrawledtowardsthewall，andsaidasclearlyanddistinctlyasI
could:
\"UncleHardwigg。\"
Ithenawaitedareply。
Sounddoesnotpossessthepropertyoftravelingwithsuchextremerapidity。Besidesthedensityoftheairatthatdepthfromlightandmotionwasveryfarfromaddingtotherapidityofcirculation。
Severalsecondselapsed，whichtomyexcitedimagination，appearedages；andthesewordsreachedmyeagerears，andmovedmywildlybeatingheart:
\"Harry，myboy，isthatyou?\"
Ashortdelaybetweenquestionandanswer。
\"Yes-yes。\"
\"Whereareyou?\"
\"Lost!\"
\"Andyourlamp?\"
\"Out。\"
\"Buttheguidingstream?\"
\"Islost!\"
\"Keepyourcourage，Harry。Wewilldoourbest。\"
\"Onemoment，myuncle，\"Icried；\"Ihavenolongerstrengthtoansweryourquestions。But-forheaven\'ssake-doyou-continue-tospeak-tome!\"Absolutesilence，Ifelt，wouldbeannihilation。
\"Keepupyourcourage，\"saidmyuncle。\"Asyouaresoweak，donotspeak。Wehavebeensearchingforyouinalldirections，bothbygoingupwardsanddownwardsinthegallery。Mydearboy，Ihadbeguntogiveoverallhope-andyoucanneverknowwhatbittertearsofsorrowandregretIhaveshed。Atlast，supposingyoutobestillontheroadbesidetheHansbach，weagaindescended，firingoffgunsassignals。
Now，however，thatwehavefoundyou，andthatourvoicesreacheachother，itmaybealongtimebeforeweactuallymeet。Weareconversingbymeansofsomeextraordinaryacousticarrangementofthelabyrinth。Butdonotdespair，mydearboy。Itissomethinggainedeventoheareachother。\"
Whilehewasspeaking，mybrainwasatworkreflecting。Acertainundefinedhope，vagueandshapelessasyet，mademyheartbeatwildly。
Inthefirstplace，itwasabsolutelynecessaryformetoknowonething。Ioncemore，therefore，leanedmyheadagainstthewall，whichIalmosttouchedwithmylips，andagainspoke。
\"Uncle。\"
\"Myboy?\"washisanswerafterafewmoments。
\"Itisoftheutmostconsequencethatweshouldknowhowfarweareasunder。\"
\"Thatisnotdifficult。\"
\"Youhaveyourchronometerathand?\"Iasked。
\"Certainly。\"
\"Well，takeitintoyourhand。Pronouncemyname，notingexactlythesecondatwhichyouspeak。IwillreplyassoonasIhearyourwords-andyouwillthennoteexactlythemomentatwhichmyreplyreachesyou。\"
\"Verygood；andthemeantimebetweenmyquestionandyouranswerwillbethetimeoccupiedbymyvoiceinreachingyou。\"
\"ThatisexactlywhatImean，Uncle，\"wasmyeagerreply。
\"Areyouready?\"