\"Yes。\"
\"Well，makeready，Iamabouttopronounceyourname，\"saidtheProfessor。
Iappliedmyearclosetothesidesofthecavernousgallery，andassoonastheword\"Harry\"reachedmyear，Iturnedroundand，placingmylipstothewall，repeatedthesound。
\"Fortyseconds，\"saidmyuncle。\"Therehaselapsedfortysecondsbetweenthetwowords。Thesound，therefore，takestwentysecondstoascend。Now，allowingathousandandtwentyfeetforeverysecond-
wehavetwentythousandfourhundredfeet-aleagueandahalfandone-eighth。\"
Thesewordsfellonmysoullikeakindofdeathknell。
\"Aleagueandahalf，\"Imutteredinalowanddespairingvoice。
\"Itshallbegotover，myboy，\"criedmyuncleinacheerytone；
\"dependonus。\"
\"Butdoyouknowwhethertoascendordescend?\"Iaskedfaintlyenough。
\"Wehavetodescend，andIwilltellyouwhy。Youhavereachedavastopenspace，akindofbarecrossroad，fromwhichgalleriesdivergeineverydirection。Thatinwhichyouarenowlyingmustnecessarilybringyoutothispoint，foritappearsthatallthesemightyfissures，thesefracturesoftheglobe\'sinterior，radiatefromthevastcavernwhichweatthismomentoccupy。Rouseyourself，then，havecourageandcontinueyourroute。Walkifyoucan，ifnotdragyourselfalong-slide，ifnothingelseispossible。Theslopemustberatherrapid-andyouwillfindstrongarmstoreceiveyouattheendofyourjourney。Makeastart，likeagoodfellow。\"
Thesewordsservedtorousesomekindofcourageinmysinkingframe。
\"Farewellforthepresent，gooduncle，Iamabouttotakemydeparture。AssoonasIstart，ourvoiceswillceasetocommingle。
Farewell，then，untilwemeetagain。\"
\"Adieu，Harry-untilwesayWelcome。\"SuchwerethelastwordswhichreachedmyanxiousearsbeforeIcommencedmywearyandalmosthopelessjourney。
Thiswonderfulandsurprisingconversationwhichtookplacethroughthevastmassoftheearth\'slabyrinth，thesewordsexchanged，thespeakersbeingaboutfivemilesapart-endedwithhopefulandpleasantexpressions。IbreathedonemoreprayertoHeaven，Isentupwordsofthanksgiving-believinginmyinmostheartthatHehadledmetotheonlyplacewherethevoicesofmyfriendscouldreachmyears。
Thisapparentlyastoundingacousticmysteryiseasilyexplainablebysimplenaturallaws；itarosefromtheconductibilityoftherock。
Therearemanyinstancesofthissingularpropagationofsoundwhicharenotperceptibleinitslessmediatepositions。IntheinteriorgalleryofSt。Paul\'s，andamidthecuriouscavernsinSicily，thesephenomenaareobservable。ThemostmarvelousofthemallisknownastheEarofDionysius。
Thesememoriesofthepast，ofmyearlyreadingandstudies，camefreshtomythoughts。Moreover，IbegantoreasonthatifmyuncleandIcouldcommunicateatsogreatadistance，noseriousobstaclecouldexistbetweenus。AllIhadtodowastofollowthedirectionwhencethesoundhadreachedme；andlogicallyputtingit，Imustreachhimifmystrengthdidnotfail。
Iaccordinglyrosetomyfeet。Isoonfound，however，thatIcouldnotwalk；thatImustdragmyselfalong。TheslopeasIexpectedwasveryrapid；butIallowedmyselftoslipdown。
Soontherapidityofthedescentbegantoassumefrightfulproportions；andmenacedafearfulfall。Iclutchedatthesides；I
graspedatprojectionsofrocks；Ithrewmyselfbackwards。Allinvain。MyweaknesswassogreatIcoulddonothingtosavemyself。
Suddenlyearthfailedme。
Iwasfirstlaunchedintoadarkandgloomyvoid。Ithenstruckagainsttheprojectingasperitiesofaverticalgallery，aperfectwell。Myheadboundedagainstapointedrock，andIlostallknowledgeofexistence。AsfarasIwasconcerned，deathhadclaimedmeforhisown。
CHAPTER26
ARapidRecoveryWHENIreturnedtotheconsciousnessofexistence，Ifoundmyselfsurroundedbyakindofsemiobscurity，lyingonsomethickandsoftcoverlets。Myunclewaswatching-hiseyesfixedintentlyonmycountenance，agraveexpressiononhisface，atearinhiseye。Atthefirstsighwhichstruggledfrommybosom，hetookholdofmyhand。
Whenhesawmyeyesopenandfixthemselvesuponhis，heutteredaloudcryofloudcryofjoy。\"Helives!helives!\"
\"Yes，mygooduncle，\"Iwhispered。
\"Mydearboy，\"continuedthegrimProfessor，claspingmetohisheart，\"youaresaved!\"
Iwasdeeplyandunaffectedlytouchedbythetoneinwhichthesewordswereuttered，andevenmorebythekindlycarewhichaccompaniedthem。TheProfessor，however，wasoneofthosemenwhomustbeseverelytriedinordertoinduceanydisplayofaffectionorgentleemotion。AtthismomentourfriendHans，theguide，joinedus。Hesawmyhandinthatofmyuncle，andIventuretosaythat，taciturnashewas，hiseyesbeamedwithlivelysatisfaction。
\"Goddag，\"hesaid。
\"Goodday，Hans，goodday，\"Ireplied，inasheartyatoneasI
couldassume，\"andnow，Uncle，thatwearetogether，tellmewhereweare。Ihavelostallideaofourposition，asofeverythingelse。\"
\"Tomorrow，Harry，tomorrow，\"hereplied。\"Todayyouarefartooweak。Yourheadissurroundedwithbandagesandpoulticesthatmustnotbetouched。Sleep，myboy，sleep，andtomorrowyouwillknowallthatyourequire。\"
\"But，\"Icried，letmeknowwhato\'clockitis-whatdayitis?\"
\"Itisnoweleveno\'clockatnight，andthisisoncemoreSunday。ItisnowtheninthofthemonthofAugust。AndIdistinctlyprohibityoufromaskinganymorequestionsuntilthetenthofthesame。\"
Iwas，ifthetruthweretold，veryweakindeed，andmyeyessoonclosedinvoluntarily。Ididrequireagoodnight\'srest，andIwentoffreflectingatthelastmomentthatmyperilousadventureintheinterioroftheearth，intotaldarkness，hadlastedfourdays!
Onthemorningofthenextday，atmyawakening，Ibegantolookaroundme。Mysleepingplace，madeofallourtravelingbedding，wasinacharminggrotto，adornedwithmagnificentstalagmites，glitteringinallthecolorsoftherainbow，thefloorofsoftandsilverysand。
Adimobscurityprevailed。Notorch，nolampwaslighted，andyetcertainunexplainedbeamsoflightpenetratedfromwithout，andmadetheirwaythroughtheopeningofthebeautifulgrotto。
I，moreover，heardavagueandindefinitemurmur，liketheebbandflowofwavesuponastrand，andsometimesIverilybelievedIcouldhearthesighingofthewind。
Ibegantobelievethat，insteadofbeingawake，Imustbedreaming。
Surelymybrainhadnotbeenaffectedbymyfall，andallthatoccurredduringthelasttwenty-fourhourswasnotthefrenziedvisionsofmadness?Andyetaftersomereflection，atrialofmyfaculties，IcametotheconclusionthatIcouldnotbemistaken。Eyesandearscouldnotsurelybothdeceiveme。
\"Itisarayoftheblesseddaylight，\"Isaidtomyself，\"whichhaspenetratedthroughsomemightyfissureintherocks。Butwhatisthemeaningofthismurmurofwaves，thisunmistakablemoaningofthesalt-seabillows?Icanhear，too，plainlyenough，thewhistlingofthewind。ButcanIbealtogethermistaken?Ifmyuncle，duringmyillness，hasbutcarriedmebacktothesurfaceoftheearth!Hashe，onmyaccount，givenuphiswondrousexpedition，orinsomestrangemannerhasitcometoanend?\"
Iwaspuzzlingmybrainovertheseandotherquestions，whentheProfessorjoinedme。
\"Goodday，Harry，\"hecriedinajoyoustone。\"Ifancyyouarequitewell。\"
\"Iamverymuchbetter，\"Ireplied，actuallysittingupinmybed。
\"Iknewthatwouldbetheendofit，asyousleptbothsoundlyandtranquilly。HansandIhaveeachtakenturntowatch，andeveryhourwehaveseenvisiblesignsofamelioration。\"
\"Youmustberight，Uncle，\"wasmyreply，\"forIfeelasifI
coulddojusticetoanymealyoucouldputbeforeme。\"
\"Youshalleat，myboy，youshalleat。Thefeverhasleftyou。OurexcellentfriendHanshasrubbedyourwoundsandbruiseswithIknownotwhatointment，ofwhichtheIcelandersalonepossessthesecret。
Andtheyhavehealedyourbruisesinthemostmarvelousmanner。Ah，he\'sawisefellowisMasterHans。\"
Whilehewasspeaking，myunclewasplacingbeforemeseveralarticlesoffood，which，despitehisearnestinjunctions，Ireadilydevoured。Assoonasthefirstrageofhungerwasappeased，I
overwhelmedhimwithquestions，towhichhenownolongerhesitatedtogiveanswers。
Ithenlearned，forthefirsttime，thatmyprovidentialfallhadbroughtmetothebottomofanalmostperpendiculargallery。AsIcamedown，amidstaperfectshowerofstones，theleastofwhichfallingonmewouldhavecrushedmetodeath，theycametotheconclusionthatIhadcarriedwithmeanentiredislocatedrock。Ridingasitwereonthisterriblechariot，Iwascastheadlongintomyuncle\'sarms。
AndintothemIfell，insensibleandcoveredwithblood。
\"Itisindeedamiracle，\"wastheProfessor\'sfinalremark，\"thatyouwerenotkilledathousandtimesover。Butletustakecarenevertoseparate；forsurelyweshouldrisknevermeetingagain。\"
\"Letustakecareneveragaintoseparate。\"
Thesewordsfellwithasortofchilluponmyheart。Thejourney，then，wasnotover。Ilookedatmyunclewithsurpriseandastonishment。Myuncle，afteraninstant\'sexaminationofmycountenance，said:\"Whatisthematter，Harry?\"
\"Iwanttoaskyouaveryseriousquestion。YousaythatIamallrightinhealth?\"
\"Certainlyyouare。\"
\"Andallmylimbsaresoundandcapableofnewexertion?\"Iasked。
\"Mostundoubtedly。\"
\"Butwhataboutmyhead?\"wasmynextanxiousquestion。
\"Well，yourhead，exceptthatyouhaveoneortwocontusions，isexactlywhereitoughttobe-onyourshoulders，\"saidmyuncle，laughing。
\"Well，myownopinionisthatmyheadisnotexactlyright。Infact，Ibelievemyselfslightlydelirious。\"
\"Whatmakesyouthinkso?\"
\"IwillexplainwhyIfancyIhavelostmysenses，\"Icried。\"HavewenotreturnedtothesurfaceofMotherEarth?\"
\"Certainlynot。\"
\"ThentrulyImustbemad，fordoInotseethelightofday?doI
nothearthewhistlingofthewind?andcanInotdistinguishthewashofagreatsea?\"
\"Andthatisallthatmakesyouuneasy?\"saidmyuncle，withasmile。
\"Canyouexplain?\"
\"Iwillnotmakeanyattempttoexplain；forthewholematterisutterlyinexplicable。Butyoushallseeandjudgeforyourself。Youwillthenfindthatgeologicalscienceisasyetinitsinfancy-andthatwearedoomedtoenlightentheworld。\"
\"Letusadvance，then，\"Icriedeagerly，nolongerabletorestrainmycuriosity。
\"Waitamoment，mydearHarry，\"heresponded；\"youmusttakeprecautionsafteryourillnessbeforegoingintotheopenair。\"
\"Theopenair?\"
\"Yes，myboy。Ihavetowarnyouthatthewindisratherviolent-
andIhavenowishforyoutoexposeyourselfwithoutnecessaryprecautions。\"
\"ButIbegtoassureyouthatIamperfectlyrecoveredfrommyillness。\"
\"Havejustalittlepatience，myboy。Arelapsewouldbeinconvenienttoallparties。Wehavenotimetolose-asourapproachingseavoyagemaybeoflongduration。\"
\"Seavoyage?\"Icried，morebewilderedthanever。
\"Yes。Youmusttakeanotherday\'srest，andweshallbereadytogoonboardbytomorrow，\"repliedmyuncle，withapeculiarsmile。
\"Goonboard!\"Thewordsutterlyastonishedme。
Goonboard-whatandhow?Hadwecomeuponariver，alake，hadwediscoveredsomeinlandsea?Wasavessellyingatanchorinsomepartoftheinterioroftheearth?
Mycuriositywasworkeduptotheveryhighestpitch。Myunclemadevainattemptstorestrainme。Whenatlast，however，hediscoveredthatmyfeverishimpatiencewoulddomoreharmthangood-
andthatthesatisfactionofmywishescouldalonerestoremetoacalmstateofmind-hegaveway。
Idressedmyselfrapidly-andthentakingtheprecautiontopleasemyuncle，ofwrappingmyselfinoneofthecoverlets，Irushedoutofthegrotto。
CHAPTER27
TheCentralSeaATfirstIsawabsolutelynothing。Myeyes，whollyunusedtotheeffulgenceoflight，couldnotbearthesuddenbrightness；andIwascompelledtoclosethem。WhenIwasabletoreopenthem，Istoodstill，farmorestupefiedthanastonished。Notallthewildesteffectsofimaginationcouldhaveconjuredupsuchascene!\"Thesea-thesea，\"Icried。
\"Yes，\"repliedmyuncle，inatoneofpardonablepride；\"theCentralSea。Nofuturenavigatorwilldenythefactofmyhavingdiscoveredit；andhenceofacquiringarightofgivingitaname。\"
Itwasquitetrue。Avast，limitlessexpanseofwater，theendofalakeifnotofanocean，spreadbeforeus，untilitwaslostinthedistance。Theshore，whichwasverymuchindented，consistedofabeautifulsoftgoldensand，mixedwithsmallshells，thelong-desertedhomeofsomeofthecreaturesofapastage。Thewavesbrokeincessantly-andwithapeculiarlysonorousmurmur，tobefoundinundergroundlocalities。Aslightfrothyflakearoseasthewindblewalongthepellucidwaters；andmanyadashofspraywasblownintomyface。Themightysuperstructureofrockwhichroseabovetoaninconceivableheightleftonlyanarrowopening-butwherewestood，therewasalargemarginofstrand。Onallsideswerecapesandpromontoriesandenormouscliffs，partiallywornbytheeternalbreakingofthewaves，throughcountlessages!AndasIgazedfromsidetoside，themightyrocksfadedawaylikeafleecyfilmofcloud。
Itwasinrealityanocean，withantheusualcharacteristicsofaninlandsea，onlyhorriblywild-sorigid，coldandsavage。
Onethingstartledandpuzzledmegreatly。HowwasitthatIwasabletolookuponthatvastsheetofwaterinsteadofbeingplungedinutterdarkness?Thevastlandscapebeforemewaslituplikeday。
Buttherewaswantingthedazzlingbrilliancy，thesplendidirradiationofthesun；thepalecoldilluminationofthemoon；thebrightnessofthestars。Theilluminatingpowerinthissubterraneanregion，fromitstremblingandRickeringcharacter，itscleardrywhiteness，theveryslightelevationofitstemperature，itsgreatsuperioritytothatofthemoon，wasevidentlyelectric；somethinginthenatureoftheauroraborealis，onlythatitsphenomenawereconstant，andabletolightupthewholeoftheoceancavern。
Thetremendousvaultaboveourheads，thesky，sotospeak，appearedtobecomposedofaconglomerationofnebulousvapors，inconstantmotion。Ishouldoriginallyhavesupposedthat，undersuchanatmosphericpressureasmustexistinthatplace，theevaporationofwatercouldnotreallytakeplace，andyetfromtheactionofsomephysicallaw，whichescapedmymemory，therewereheavyanddensecloudsrollingalongthatmightyvault，partiallyconcealingtheroof。
Electriccurrentsproducedastonishingplayoflightandshadeinthedistance，especiallyaroundtheheavierclouds。Deepshadowswerecastbeneath，andthensuddenly，betweentwoclouds，therewouldcomearayofunusualbeauty，andremarkableintensity。Andyetitwasnotlikethesun，foritgavenoheat。
Theeffectwassadandexcruciatinglymelancholy。Insteadofanoblefirmamentofblue，studdedwithstars，therewasabovemeaheavyroofofgranite，whichseemedtocrushme。
Gazingaround，IbegantothinkofthetheoryoftheEnglishcaptainwhocomparedtheearthtoavasthollowsphereintheinteriorofwhichtheairisretainedinaluminousstatebymeansofatmosphericpressure，whiletwostars，PlutoandProserpine，circledthereintheirmysteriousorbits。Afterall，supposetheoldfellowwasright!
Intruth，wewereimprisoned-boundasitwere，inavastexcavation。Itswidthitwasimpossibletomakeout；theshore，oneitherhand，wideningrapidlyuntillosttosight；whileitslengthwasequallyuncertain。Ahazeonthedistanthorizonboundedourview。
Astoitsheight，wecouldseethatitmustbemanymilestotheroof。
Lookingupward，itwasimpossibletodiscoverwherethestupendousroofbegan。Thelowestofthecloudsmusthavebeenfloatingatanelevationoftwothousandyards，aheightgreaterthanthatofterrestrialvapors，whichcircumstancewasdoubtlessowingtotheextremedensityoftheair。
Iusetheword\"cavern\"inordertogiveanideaoftheplace。I
cannotdescribeitsawfulgrandeur；humanlanguagefailstoconveyanideaofitssavagesublimity。Whetherthissingularvacuumhadorhadnotbeencausedbythesuddencoolingoftheearthwheninastateoffusion，Icouldnotsay。Ihadreadofmostwonderfulandgiganticcaverns-but，noneinanywaylikethis。
ThegreatgrottoofGuachara，inColombia，visitedbythelearnedHumboldt；thevastandpartiallyexploredMammothCaveinKentucky-
whatweretheseholesintheearthtothatinwhichIstoodinspeechlessadmiration!withitsvaporyclouds，itselectriclight，andthemightyoceanslumberinginitsbosom!Imagination，notdescription，canalonegiveanideaofthesplendorandvastnessofthecave。
Igazedatthesemarvelsinprofoundsilence。WordswereutterlywantingtoindicatethesensationsofwonderIexperienced。I
seemed，asIstooduponthatmysteriousshore，asifIweresomewanderinginhabitantofadistantplanet，presentforthefirsttimeatthespectacleofsometerrestrialphenomenabelongingtoanotherexistence。Togivebodyandexistencetosuchnewsensationswouldhaverequiredthecoinageofnewwords-andheremyfeeblebrainfounditselfwhollyatfault。Ilookedon，Ithought，Ireflected，I
admired，inastateofstupefactionnotaltogetherunmingledwithfear!
Theunexpectedspectaclerestoredsomecolortomypallidcheeks。
Iseemedtobeactuallygettingbetterundertheinfluenceofthisnovelty。Moreover，thevivacityofthedenseatmospherereanimatedmybodybyinflatingmylungswithunaccustomedoxygen。
Itwillbereadilyconceivedthatafteranimprisonmentofforty-sevendays，inadarkandmiserabletunnelitwaswithinfinitedelightthatIbreathedthissalineair。Itwaslikethegenial，revivinginfluenceofthesaltseawaves。
Myunclehadalreadygotoverthefirstsurprise。
WiththeLatinpoetHoracehisideawasthat-
NottoadmireisalltheartIknow，Tomakemanhappyandtokeephimso。
\"Well，\"hesaid，aftergivingmetimethoroughlytoappreciatethemarvelsofthisundergroundsea，\"doyoufeelstrongenoughtowalkupanddown?\"
\"Certainly，\"wasmyreadyanswer，\"nothingwouldgivemegreaterpleasure。\"
\"Wellthen，myboy，\"hesaid，leanonmyarm，andwewillstrollalongthebeach。\"
Iacceptedhisoffereagerly，andwebegantowalkalongtheshoresofthisextraordinarylake。Toourleftwereabruptrocks，piledoneupontheother-astupendoustitanicpile；downtheirsidesleapedinnumerablecascades，whichatlast，becominglimpidandmurmuringstreams，werelostinthewatersofthelake。Lightvapors，whichrosehereandthere，andfloatedinfleecycloudsfromrocktorock，indicatedhotsprings，whichalsopouredtheirsuperfluityintothevastreservoiratourfeet。
AmongthemIrecognizedouroldandfaithfulstream，theHansbach，which，lostinthatwildbasin，seemedasifithadbeenflowingsincethecreationoftheworld。
\"WeshallmissourexcellentfriendIremarked，withadeepsigh。
\"Bah!\"saidmyuncletestily，\"whatmattersit?Thatoranother，itisallthesame。\"
Ithoughttheremarkungrateful，andfeltalmostinclinedtosayso；
butIforbore。
Atthismomentmyattentionwasattractedbyanunexpectedspectacle。Afterwehadgoneaboutfivehundredyards，wesuddenlyturnedasteeppromontory，andfoundourselvesclosetoaloftyforest!Itconsistedofstraighttrunkswithtuftedtops，inshapelikeparasols。Theairseemedtohavenoeffectuponthesetrees-
whichinspiteofatolerablebreezeremainedasstillandmotionlessasiftheyhadbeenpetrified。
Ihastenedforward。Icouldfindnonameforthesesingularformations。Didtheynotbelongtothetwothousandandmoreknowntrees-orwerewetomakethediscoveryofanewgrowth?Bynomeans。Whenweatlastreachedtheforest，andstoodbeneaththetrees，mysurprisegavewaytoadmiration。
Intruth，Iwassimplyinthepresenceofaveryordinaryproductoftheearth，ofsingularandgiganticproportions。Myuncleunhesitatinglycalledthembytheirrealnames。
\"Itisonly，\"hesaid，inhiscoolestmanner，\"aforestofmushrooms。\"
OncloseexaminationIfoundthathewasnotmistaken。Judgeofthedevelopmentattainedbythisproductofdamphotsoils。IhadheardthattheLycoperdongiganteumreachesninefeetincircumference，butherewerewhitemushrooms，nearlyfortyfeethigh，andwithtopsofequaldimensions。Theygrewincountlessthousands-thelightcouldnotmakeitswaythroughtheirmassivesubstance，andbeneaththemreignedagloomyandmysticdarkness。
StillIwishedtogoforward。Thecoldintheshadesofthissingularforestwasintense。Fornearlyanhourwewanderedaboutinthisvisibledarkness。AtlengthIleftthespot，andoncemorereturnedtotheshoresofthelake，tolightandcomparativewarmth。
Buttheamazingvegetationofsubterraneouslandwasnotconfinedtogiganticmushrooms。Newwondersawaitedusateverystep。Wehadnotgonemanyhundredyards，whenwecameuponamightygroupofothertreeswithdiscoloredleaves-thecommonhumbletreesofMotherEarth，ofanexorbitantandphenomenalsize:lycopodsahundredfeethigh；
floweringfernsastallaspines；giganticgrasses!
\"Astonishing，magnificent，splendid!\"criedmyuncle；\"herewehavebeforeusthewholefloraofthesecondperiodoftheworld，thatoftransition。Beholdthehumbleplantsofourgardens，whichinthefirstagesoftheworldweremightytrees。Lookaroundyou，mydearHarry。Nobotanisteverbeforegazedonsuchasight!\"
Myuncle\'senthusiasm，alwaysalittlemorethanwasrequired，wasnowexcusable。
\"Youareright，Uncle，\"Iremarked。\"Providenceappearstohavedesignedthepreservationinthisvastandmysterioushothouseofantediluvianplants，toprovethesagacityoflearnedmeninfiguringthemsomarvelouslyonpaper。\"
\"Wellsaid，myboy-verywellsaid；itisindeedamightyhothouse。Butyouwouldalsobewithintheboundsofreasonandcommonsense，ifyouaddedthatitisalsoavastmenagerie。\"
Ilookedratheranxiouslyaround。Iftheanimalswereasexaggeratedastheplants，thematterwouldcertainlybeserious。
\"Amenagerie?\"
\"Doubtless。Lookatthedustwearetreadingunderfoot-beholdtheboneswithwhichthewholesoiloftheseashoreiscovered-\"
\"Bones，\"Ireplied，\"yes，certainly，thebonesofantediluviananimals。\"
IstoopeddownasIspoke，andpickeduponeortwosingularremains，relicsofabygoneage。Itwaseasytogiveanametothesegiganticbones，insomeinstancesasbigastrunksoftrees。
\"Hereis，clearly，thelowerjawboneofamastodon，\"Icried，almostaswarmlyandenthusiasticallyasmyuncle；\"herearethemolarsoftheDinotherium；hereisalegbonewhichbelongedtotheMegatherium。
Youareright，Uncle，itisindeedamenagerie；forthemightyanimalstowhichthesebonesoncebelonged，havelivedanddiedontheshoresofthissubterraneansea，undertheshadowoftheseplants。
Look，yonderarewholeskeletons-andyet-\"
\"Andyet，nephew?\"saidmyuncle，noticingthatIsuddenlycametoafullstop。
\"Idonotunderstandthepresenceofsuchbeastsingranitecaverns，howevervastandprodigious，\"wasmyreply。
\"Whynot?\"saidmyuncle，withverymuchofhisoldprofessionalimpatience。
\"Becauseitiswellknownthatanimallifeonlyexistedonearthduringthesecondaryperiod，whenthesedimentarysoilwasformedbythealluviums，andthusreplacedthehotandburningrocksoftheprimitiveage。\"
\"Ihavelistenedtoyouearnestlyandwithpatience，Harry，andI
haveasimpleandclearanswertoyourobjections:andthatis，thatthisitselfisasedimentarysoil。\"
\"Howcanthatbeatsuchenormousdepthfromthesurfaceoftheearth?\"
\"Thefactcanbeexplainedbothsimplyandgeologically。Atacertainperiod，theearthconsistedonlyofanelasticcrust，liabletoalternativeupwardanddownwardmovementsinvirtueofthelawofattraction。Itisveryprobablethatmanyalandsliptookplaceinthosedays，andthatlargeportionsofsedimentarysoilwerecastintohugeandmightychasms。\"
\"Quitepossible，\"Idrylyremarked。\"But，Uncle，iftheseantediluviananimalsformerlylivedinthesesubterraneanregions，whatmorelikelythanthatoneofthesemonstersmayatthismomentbeconcealedbehindoneofyondermightyrocks。\"
AsIspoke，Ilookedkeenlyaround，examiningwithcareeverypointofthehorizon；butnothingaliveappearedtoexistonthesedesertedshores。
Inowfeltratherfatigued，andtoldmyuncleso。Thewalkandexcitementweretoomuchformeinmyweakstate。Ithereforeseatedmyselfattheendofapromontory，atthefootofwhichthewavesbrokeinincessantrolls。Ilookedroundabayformedbyprojectionsofvastgraniticrocks。Attheextremeendwasalittleportprotectedbyhugepyramidsofstones。Abrigandthreeorfourschoonersmighthavelaintherewithperfectease。Sonaturaldiditseem，thateveryminutemyimaginationinducedmetoexpectavesselcomingoutunderallsailandmakingfortheopenseaundertheinfluenceofawarmsoutherlybreeze。
Butthefantasticillusionneverlastedmorethanaminute。Weweretheonlylivingcreaturesinthissubterraneanworld!
Duringcertainperiodstherewasanuttercessationofwind，whenasilencedeeper，moreterriblethanthesilenceofthedesertfelluponthesesolitaryandaridrocks-andseemedtohanglikealeadenweightuponthewatersofthissingularocean。Isought，amidtheawfulstillness，topenetratethroughthedistantfog，toteardowntheveilwhichconcealedthemysteriousdistance。Whatunspokenwordsweremurmuredbymytremblinglips-whatquestionsdidIwishtoaskanddidnot!Wheredidthisseaend-towhatdiditlead?Shouldweeverbeabletoexamineitsdistantshores?
Butmyunclehadnodoubtsaboutthematter。Hewasconvincedthatourenterprisewouldintheendbesuccessful。Formypart，Iwasinastateofpainfulindecision-Idesiredtoembarkonthejourneyandtosucceed，andstillIfearedtheresult。
Afterwehadpassedanhourormoreinsilentcontemplationofthewondrousspectacle，weroseandwentdowntowardsthebankonourwaytothegrotto，whichIwasnotsorrytogain。Afteraslightrepast，Isoughtrefugeinslumber，andatlength，aftermanyandtediousstruggles，sleepcameovermywearyeyes。
CHAPTER28
LaunchingtheRaftONthemorningofthenextday，tomygreatsurprise，Iawokecompletelyrestored。Ithoughtabathwouldbedelightfulaftermylongillnessandsufferings。So，soonafterrising，IwentandplungedintothewatersofthisnewMediterranean。Thebathwascool，freshandinvigorating。
Icamebacktobreakfastwithanexcellentappetite。Hans，ourworthyguide，thoroughlyunderstoodhowtocooksucheatablesaswewereabletoprovide；hehadbothfireandwateratdiscretion，sothathewasenabledslightlytovarythewearymonotonyofourordinaryrepast。