OurmorningmealwaslikeacapitalEnglishbreakfast，withcoffeebywayofawindup。Andneverhadthisdeliciousbeveragebeensowelcomeandrefreshing。
Myunclehadsufficientregardformystateofhealthnottointerruptmeintheenjoymentofthemeal，buthewasevidentlydelightedwhenIhadfinished。
\"Nowthen，\"saidhe，\"comewithme。Itistheheightofthetide，andIamanxioustostudyitscuriousphenomena。\"
\"What\"\'Icried，risinginastonishment，\"didyousaythetide，Uncle?\"
\"CertainlyIdid。\"
\"Youdonotmeantosay，\"Ireplied，inatoneofrespectfuldoubt，\"thattheinfluenceofthesunandmoonisfeltherebelow。\"
\"Andpraywhynot?Arenotallbodiesinfluencedbythelawofuniversalattraction?Whyshouldthisvastundergroundseabeexemptfromthegenerallaw，theruleoftheuniverse?Besides，thereisnothinglikethatwhichisprovedanddemonstrated。Despitethegreatatmosphericpressuredownhere，youwillnoticethatthisinlandsearisesandfallswithasmuchregularityastheAtlanticitself。\"
Asmyunclespoke，wereachedthesandyshore，andsawandheardthewavesbreakingmonotonouslyonthebeach。Theywereevidentlyrising。
\"Thisistrulytheflood，\"Icried，lookingatthewateratmyfeet。
\"Yes，myexcellentnephew，\"repliedmyuncle，rubbinghishandswiththegustoofaphilosopher，\"andyouseebytheseseveralstreaksoffoamthatthetiderisesatleasttenortwelvefeet。\"
\"Itisindeedmarvelous。\"
\"Bynomeans，\"heresponded；\"onthecontrary，itisquitenatural。\"
\"Itmayappearsoinyoureyes，mydearuncle，\"wasmyreply，\"butallthephenomenaoftheplaceappeartometopartakeofthemarvelous。ItisalmostimpossibletobelievethatwhichIsee。Whoinhiswildestdreamscouldhaveimaginedthat，beneaththecrustofourearth，therecouldexistarealocean，withebbingandflowingtides，withitschangesofwinds，andevenitsstorms!Iforoneshouldhavelaughedthesuggestiontoscorn。\"
\"But，Harry，myboy，whynot?\"inquiredmyuncle，withapityingsmile；\"isthereanyphysicalreasoninoppositiontoit?
\"Well，ifwegiveupthegreattheoryofthecentralheatoftheearth，Icertainlycanoffernoreasonswhyanythingshouldbelookeduponasimpossible。\"
\"Thenyouwillown，\"headded，\"thatthesystemofSirHumphryDavyiswhollyjustifiedbywhatwehaveseen?\"
\"Iallowthatitis-andthatpointoncegranted，Icertainlycanseenoreasonfordoubtingtheexistenceofseasandotherwonders，evencountries，intheinterioroftheglobe。\"
\"Thatisso-butofcoursethesevariedcountriesareuninhabited?\"
\"Well，Igrantthatitismorelikelythannot:still，Idonotseewhythisseashouldnothavegivensheltertosomespeciesofunknownfish。\"
\"Hithertowehavenotdiscoveredany，andtheprobabilitiesareratheragainstoureverdoingso，\"observedtheProfessor。
Iwaslosingmyskepticisminthepresenceofthesewonders。
\"Well，Iamdeterminedtosolvethequestion。Itismyintentiontotrymyluckwithmyfishinglineandhook。\"
\"Certainly；maketheexperiment，\"saidmyuncle，pleasedwithmyenthusiasm。\"Whileweareaboutit，itwillcertainlybeonlypropertodiscoverallthesecretsofthisextraordinaryregion。\"
\"But，afterall，wherearewenow?\"Iasked；\"allthistimeIhavequiteforgottentoaskyouaquestion，which，doubtless，yourphilosophicalinstrumentshavelongsinceanswered。\"
\"Well，\"repliedtheProfessor，\"examiningthesituationfromonlyonepointofview，wearenowdistantthreehundredandfiftyleaguesfromIceland。\"
\"Somuch?\"wasmyexclamation。
\"Ihavegoneoverthematterseveraltimes，andamsurenottohavemadeamistakeoffivehundredyards，\"repliedmyunclepositively。
\"Andastothedirection-arewestillgoingtothesoutheast?\"
\"Yes，withawesterndeclination*ofnineteendegrees，forty-twominutes，justasitisabove。Asfortheinclination**Ihavediscoveredaverycuriousfact。\"
*Thedeclinationisthevariationoftheneedlefromthetruemeridianofaplace。
**Inclinationisthedipofthemagneticneedlewithatendencytoinclinetowardstheearth。
\"Whatmaythatbe，Uncle?Yourinformationinterestsme。\"
\"Why，thattheneedleinsteadofdippingtowardsthepoleasitdoesonearth，inthenorthernhemisphere，hasanupwardtendency。\"
\"Thisproves，\"Icried，\"thatthegreatpointofmagneticattractionliessomewherebetweenthesurfaceoftheearthandthespotwehavesucceededinreaching。\"
\"Exactly，myobservantnephew，\"exclaimedmyuncle，elatedanddelighted，\"anditisquiteprobablethatifwesucceedingettingtowardthepolarregions-somewhereneartheseventy-thirddegreeoflatitude，whereSirJamesRossdiscoveredthemagneticpole，weshallbeholdtheneedlepointdirectlyupward。Wehavethereforediscoveredbyanalogy，thatthisgreatcenterofattractionisnotsituatedataverygreatdepth。\"
\"Well，\"saidI，rathersurprised，\"thisdiscoverywillastonishexperimentalphilosophers。Itwasneversuspected。\"
\"Science，great，mightyandintheendunerring，\"repliedmyuncledogmatically，\"sciencehasfallenintomanyerrors-errorswhichhavebeenfortunateandusefulratherthanotherwise，fortheyhavebeenthesteppingstonestotruth。\"
Aftersomefurtherdiscussion，Iturnedtoanothermatter。
\"Haveyouanyideaofthedepthwehavereached?\"
\"Wearenow，\"continuedtheProfessor，\"exactlythirty-fiveleagues-
aboveahundredmiles-downintotheinterioroftheearth。\"
\"So，\"saidI，aftermeasuringthedistanceonthemap，\"wearenowbeneaththeScottishHighlands，andhaveoverourheadstheloftyGrampianHills。\"
\"Youarequiteright，\"saidtheProfessor，laughing；\"itsoundsveryalarming，theweightbeingheavy-butthevaultwhichsupportsthisvastmassofearthandrockissolidandsafe；themightyArchitectoftheUniversehasconstructeditofsolidmaterials。Man，eveninhishighestflightsofvividandpoeticimagination，neverthoughtofsuchthings!Whatarethefinestarchesofourbridges，whatthevaultedroofsofourcathedrals，tothatmightydomeaboveus，andbeneathwhichfloatsanoceanwithitsstormsandcalmsandtides!\"
\"Iadmireitallasmuchasyoucan，Uncle，andhavenofearthatourgraniteskywillfalluponourheads。Butnowthatwehavediscussedmattersofscienceanddiscovery，whatareyourfutureintentions?Areyounotthinkingofgettingbacktothesurfaceofourbeautifulearth?\"
Thiswassaidmoreasafeelerthanwithanyhopeofsuccess。
\"Goback，nephew，\"criedmyuncleinatoneofalarm，\"youarenotsurelythinkingofanythingsoabsurdorcowardly。No，myintentionistoadvanceandcontinueourjourney。Wehaveasyetbeensingularlyfortunate，andhenceforthIhopeweshallbemoreso。\"
\"But，\"saidI，\"howarewetocrossyonderliquidplain?\"
\"Itisnotmyintentiontoleapintoitheadforemost，oreventoswimacrossit，likeLeanderovertheHellespont。Butasoceansare，afterall，onlygreatlakes，inasmuchastheyaresurroundedbyland，sodoesitstandtoreason，thatthiscentralseaiscircumscribedbygranitesurroundings。\"
\"Doubtless，\"wasmynaturalreply。
\"Well，then，doyounotthinkthatwhenoncewereachtheotherend，weshallfindsomemeansofcontinuingourjourney?\"
\"Probably，butwhatextentdoyouallowtothisinternalocean?\"
\"Well，Ishouldfancyittoextendaboutfortyorfiftyleagues-
moreorless。\"
\"Butevensupposingthisapproximationtobeacorrectone-whatthen?\"Iasked。
\"Mydearboy，wehavenotimeforfurtherdiscussion。Weshallembarktomorrow。\"
Ilookedaroundwithsurpriseandincredulity。Icouldseenothingintheshapeofboatorvessel。
\"What!\"Icried，\"weareabouttolaunchoutuponanunknownsea；
andwhere，ifImayask，isthevesseltocarryus?\"
\"Well，mydearboy，itwillnotbeexactlywhatyouwouldcallavessel。Forthepresentwemustbecontentwithagoodandsolidraft。\"
\"Araft，\"Icried，incredulously，\"butdownherearaftisasimpossibleofconstructionasavessel-andIamatalosstoimagine-\"
\"MygoodHarry-ifyouweretolisteninsteadoftalkingsomuch，youwouldhear，\"saidmyuncle，waxingalittleimpatient。
\"Ishouldhear?\"
\"Yes-certainknockswiththehammer，whichHansisnowemployingtomaketheraft。Hehasbeenatworkformanyhours。\"
\"Makingaraft?\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Butwherehashefoundtreessuitableforsuchaconstruction?\"
\"Hefoundthetreesallreadytohishand。Come，andyoushallseeourexcellentguideatwork。\"
MoreandmoreamazedatwhatIheardandsaw，Ifollowedmyunclelikeoneinadream。
Afterawalkofaboutaquarterofanhour，IsawHansatworkontheothersideofthepromontorywhichformedournaturalport。A
fewminutesmoreandIwasbesidehim。Tomygreatsurprise，onthesandyshorelayahalf-finishedraft。Itwasmadefrombeamsofaverypeculiarwood，andagreatnumberoflimbs，joints，boughs，andpieceslayabout，sufficienttohaveconstructedafleetofshipsandboats。
Iturnedtomyuncle，silentwithastonishmentandawe。
\"Wheredidallthiswoodcomefrom?\"Icried；\"whatwoodisit?\"
\"Well，thereispinewood，fir，andthepalmsofthenorthernregions，mineralizedbytheactionofthesea，\"hereplied，sententiously。
\"Canitbepossible?\"
\"Yes，\"saidthelearnedProfessor，\"whatyouseeiscalledfossilwood。\"
\"Butthen，\"criedI，afterreflectingforamoment，\"likethelignites，itmustbeashardandasheavyasiron，andthereforewillcertainlynotfloat。\"
\"Sometimesthatisthecase。Manyofthesewoodshavebecometrueanthracites，butothersagain，likethoseyouseebeforeyou，haveonlyundergoneonephaseoffossiltransformation。Butthereisnoprooflikedemonstration，\"addedmyuncle，pickingoneortwoofthesepreciouswaifsandcastingthemintothesea。
Thepieceofwood，afterhavingdisappearedforamoment，cametothesurface，andfloatedaboutwiththeoscillationproducedbywindandtide。
\"Areyouconvinced?\"saidmyuncle，withaself-satisfiedsmile。
\"Iamconvinced，\"Icried，\"thatwhatIseeisincredible。\"
Thefactwasthatmyjourneyintotheinterioroftheearthwasrapidlychangingallpreconceivednotions，anddaybydaypreparingmeforthemarvelous。
Ishouldnothavebeensurprisedtohaveseenafleetofnativecanoesafloatuponthatsilentsea。
Theverynextevening，thankstotheindustryandabilityofHans，theraftwasfinished。Itwasabouttenfeetlongandfivefeetwide。Thebeamsboundtogetherwithstoutropes，weresolidandfirm，andoncelaunchedbyourunitedefforts，theimprovisedvesselfloatedtranquillyuponthewatersofwhattheProfessorhadwellnamedtheCentralSea。
CHAPTER29
OntheWaters-ARaftVoyageONthethirteenthofAugustwewereupbetimes。Therewasnotimetobelost。Wenowhadtoinaugurateanewkindoflocomotion，whichwouldhavetheadvantageofbeingrapidandnotfatiguing。
Amast，madeoftwopiecesofwoodfastenedtogether，togiveadditionalstrength，ayardmadefromanotherone，thesailalinensheetfromourbed。Wewerefortunatelyinnowantofcordage，andthewholeontrialappearedsolidandseaworthy。
Atsixo\'clockinthemorning，whentheeagerandenthusiasticProfessorgavethesignaltoembark，thevictuals，theluggage，allourinstruments，ourweapons，andagoodlysupplyofsweetwater，whichwehadcollectedfromspringsintherocks，wereplacedontheraft。
Hanshad，withconsiderableingenuity，contrivedarudder，whichenabledhimtoguidethefloatingapparatuswithease。Hetookthetiller，asamatterofcourse。Theworthymanwasasgoodasailorashewasaguideandduckhunter。Ithenletgothepainterwhichheldustotheshore，thesailwasbroughttothewind，andwemadearapidoffing。
Ourseavoyagehadatlengthcommenced；andoncemoreweweremakingfordistantandunknownregions。
Justaswewereabouttoleavethelittleportwheretherafthadbeenconstructed，myuncle，whowasverystrongastogeographicnomenclature，wantedtogiveitaname，andamongothers，suggestedmine。
\"Well，\"saidI，\"beforeyoudecideIhaveanothertopropose。\"
\"Well；outwithit。\"
\"IshouldliketocallitGretchen。PortGretchenwillsoundverywellonourfuturemap。\"
\"Wellthen，PortGretchenletitbe，\"saidtheProfessor。
Andthusitwasthatthememoryofmydeargirlwasattachedtoouradventurousandmemorableexpedition。
Whenwelefttheshorethewindwasblowingfromthenorthwardandeastward。Wewentdirectlybeforethewindatamuchgreaterspeedthanmighthavebeenexpectedfromaraft。Thedenselayersofatmosphereatthatdepthhadgreatpropellingpowerandacteduponthesailwithconsiderableforce。
Attheendofanhour，myuncle，whohadbeentakingcarefulobservations，wasenabledtojudgeoftherapiditywithwhichwemoved。Itwasfarbeyondanythingseenintheupperworld。
\"If，\"hesaid，\"wecontinuetoadvanceatourpresentrate，weshallhavetraveledatleastthirtyleaguesintwenty-fourhours。Withamereraftthisisanalmostincrediblevelocity。\"
Icertainlywassurprised，andwithoutmakinganyreplywentforwardupontheraft。Alreadythenorthernshorewasfadingawayontheedgeofthehorizon。Thetwoshoresappearedtoseparatemoreandmore，leavingawideandopenspaceforourdeparture。BeforemeI
couldseenothingbutthevastandapparentlylimitlesssea-uponwhichwefloated-theonlylivingobjectsinsight。
Hugeanddarkcloudscasttheirgreyshadowsbelow-shadowswhichseemedtocrushthatcolorlessandsullenwaterbytheirweight。
AnythingmoresuggestiveofgloomandofregionsofnetherdarknessIneverbeheld。Silveryraysofelectriclight，reflectedhereandthereuponsomesmallspotsofwater，broughtupluminoussparklesinthelongwakeofourcumbrousbark。Presentlywewerewhollyoutofsightofland；notavestigecouldbeseen，noranyindicationofwhereweweregoing。SostillandmotionlessdidweseemwithoutanydistantpointtofixoureyesonthatbutforthephosphoriclightatthewakeoftheraftIshouldhavefanciedthatwewerestillandmotionless。
ButIknewthatwewereadvancingataveryrapidrate。
Abouttwelveo\'clockintheday，vastcollectionsofseaweedwerediscoveredsurroundingusonallsides。Iwasawareoftheextraordinaryvegetativepoweroftheseplants，whichhavebeenknowntocreepalongthebottomofthegreatocean，andstoptheadvanceoflargeships。Butneverwereseaweedseverseen，sogiganticandwonderfulasthoseoftheCentralSea。Icouldwellimaginehow，seenatadistance，tossingandheavingonthesummitofthebillows，thelonglinesofalgaehavebeentakenforlivingthings，andthushavebeenfertilesourcesofthebeliefinseaserpents。
Ourraftsweptpastgreatspecimensoffucusorseawrack，fromthreetofourthousandfeetinlength，immense，incrediblylong，lookinglikesnakesthatstretchedoutfarbeyondourhorizon。Itaffordedmegreatamusementtogazeontheirvariegatedribbon-likeendlesslengths。Hourafterhourpassedwithoutourcomingtotheterminationofthesefloatingweeds。Ifmyastonishmentincreased，mypatiencewaswell-nighexhausted。
Whatnaturalforcecouldpossiblyhaveproducedsuchabnormalandextraordinaryplants?Whatmusthavebeentheaspectoftheglobe，duringthefirstcenturiesofitsformation，whenunderthecombinedactionofheatandhumidity，thevegetablekingdomoccupieditsvastsurfacetotheexclusionofeverythingelse?
Thesewereconsiderationsofnever-endinginterestforthegeologistandthephilosopher。
Allthiswhilewewereadvancingonourjourney；andatlengthnightcame；butasIhadremarkedtheeveningbefore，theluminousstateoftheatmospherewasinnothingdiminished。Whateverwasthecause，itwasaphenomenonuponthedurationofwhichwecouldcalculatewithcertainty。
Assoonasoursupperhadbeendisposedof，andsomelittlespeculativeconversationindulgedin，Istretchedmyselfatthefootofthemast，andpresentlywenttosleep。
Hansremainedmotionlessatthetiller，allowingtherafttoriseandfallonthewaves。Thewindbeingaft，andthesailsquare，allhehadtodowastokeephisoarinthecenter。
EversincewehadtakenourdeparturefromthenewlynamedPortGretchen，myworthyunclehaddirectedmetokeeparegularlogofourday\'snavigation，withinstructionstoputdowneventhemostminuteparticulars，everyinterestingandcuriousphenomenon，thedirectionofthewind，ourrateofsailing，thedistancewewent；inaword，everyincidentofourextraordinaryvoyage。
Fromourlog，therefore，ItellthestoryofourvoyageontheCentralSea。
Friday，August14th。Asteadybreezefromthenorthwest。Raftprogressingwithextremerapidity，andgoingperfectlystraight。Coaststilldimlyvisibleaboutthirtyleaguestoleeward。Nothingtobeseenbeyondthehorizoninfront。Theextraordinaryintensityofthelightneitherincreasesnordiminishes。Itissingularlystationary。
Theweatherremarkablyfine；thatistosay，thecloudshaveascendedveryhigh，andarelightandfleecy，andsurroundedbyanatmosphereresemblingsilverinfusion。
Thermometer，32degreescentigrade。
Abouttwelveo\'clockinthedayourguideHanshavingpreparedandbaitedahook，casthislineintothesubterraneanwaters。Thebaitheusedwasasmallpieceofmeat，bymeansofwhichheconcealedhishook。AnxiousasIwas，Iwasforalongtimedoomedtodisappointment。Werethesewaterssuppliedwithfishornot?Thatwastheimportantquestion。No-wasmydecidedanswer。Thentherecameasuddenandratherhardtug。Hanscoollydrewitin，andwithitafish，whichstruggledviolentlytoescape。
\"Afish!\"criedmyuncle。
\"Itisasturgeon!\"Icried，\"certainlyasmallsturgeon。\"
TheProfessorexaminedthefishcarefully，notingeverycharacteristic；andhedidnotcoincideinmyopinion。Thefishhadaflathead，roundbody，andthelowerextremitiescoveredwithbonyscales；itsmouthwaswhollywithoutteeth，thepectoralfins，whichwerehighlydeveloped，sprouteddirectfromthebody，whichproperlyspeakinghadnotail。Theanimalcertainlybelongedtotheorderinwhichnaturalistsclassthesturgeon，butitdifferedfromthatfishinmanyessentialparticulars。
Myuncle，afterall，wasnotmistaken。Afteralongandpatientexamination，hesaid:
\"Thisfish，mydearboy，belongstoafamilywhichhasbeenextinctforages，andofwhichnotracehaseverbeenfoundonearth，exceptfossilremainsintheDevonianstrata。\"
\"Youdonotmeantosay，\"Icried，\"thatwehavecapturedalivespecimenofafishbelongingtotheprimitivestockthatexistedbeforethedeluge?\"
\"Wehave，\"saidtheProfessor，whoallthistimewascontinuinghisobservations，\"andyoumayseebycarefulexaminationthatthesefossilfishhavenoidentitywithexistingspecies。Toholdinone\'shand，therefore，alivingspecimenoftheorder，isenoughtomakeanaturalisthappyforlife。\"
\"But，\"criedI，\"towhatfamilydoesitbelong?\"
\"TotheorderofGanoides-anorderoffishhavingangularscales，coveredwithbrightenamel-formingoneofthefamilyoftheCephalaspides，ofthegenus-\"
\"Well，sir，\"Iremarked，asInoticedmyunclehesitatedtoconclude。
\"TothegenusPterychtis-yes，Iamcertainofit。Still，thoughI
amconfidentofthecorrectnessofmysurmise，thisfishofferstoournoticearemarkablepeculiarity，neverknowntoexistinanyotherfishbutthosewhicharethenativesofsubterraneanwaters，wells，lakes，incaverns，andsuchlikehiddenpools。\"
\"Andwhatmaythatbe?\"
\"Itisblind。\"
\"Blind!\"Icried，muchsurprised。
\"Notonlyblind，\"continuedtheProfessor，\"butabsolutelywithoutorgansofsight。\"
Inowexaminedourdiscoveryformyself。Itwassingular，tobesure，butitwasreallyafact。This，however，mightbeasolitaryinstance，Isuggested。Thehookwasbaitedagainandoncemorethrownintothewater。Thissubterraneanoceanmusthavebeentolerablywellsuppliedwithfish，forintwohourswetookalargenumberofPterychtis，aswellasotherfishbelongingtoanothersupposedextinctfamily-theDipteridesagenusoffish，furnishedwithtwofinsonly，whencethename，thoughmyunclecouldnotclassitexactly。All，withoutexception，however，wereblind。Thisunexpectedcaptureenabledustorenewourstockofprovisionsinaverysatisfactoryway。
Wewerenowconvincedthatthissubterraneanseacontainedonlyfishknowntousasfossilspecimens-andfishandreptilesalikewereallthemoreperfectthefartherbacktheydatedtheirorigin。
Webegantohopethatweshouldfindsomeofthosesaurianswhichsciencehassucceededinreconstructingfrombitsofboneorcartilage。
Itookupthetelescopeandcarefullyexaminedthehorizon-lookedoverthewholesea；itwasutterlyandentirelydeserted。Doubtlesswewerestilltoonearthecoast。
Afteranexaminationoftheocean，Ilookedupward，towardsthestrangeandmysterioussky。WhyshouldnotoneofthebirdsreconstructedbytheimmortalCuvierflaphisstupendouswingsaloftinthedullstrataofsubterraneanair?Itwould，ofcourse，findquitesufficientfoodfromthefishinthesea。Igazedforsometimeuponthevoidabove。Itwasassilentandasdesertedastheshoreswehadbutlatelyleft。
Nevertheless，thoughIcouldneitherseenordiscoveranything，myimaginationcarriedmeawayintowildhypotheses。Iwasinakindofwakingdream。IthoughtIsawonthesurfaceofthewaterthoseenormousantediluvianturtlesasbigasfloatingislands。Uponthosedullandsombershorespassedaspectralrowofthemammifersofearlydays，thegreatLiptotheriumfoundinthecavernoushollowoftheBrazilianhills，theMesicotherium，anativeoftheglacialregionsofSiberia。
Fartheron，thepachydermatousLophrodon，thatgigantictapir，whichconcealeditselfbehindrocks，readytodobattleforitspreywiththeAnoplotherium，asingularanimalpartakingofthenatureoftherhinoceros，thehorse，thehippopotamusandthecamel。
TherewasthegiantMastodon，twistingandturninghishorridtrunk，withwhichhecrushedtherocksoftheshoretopowder，whiletheMegatherium-hisbackraisedlikeacatinapassion，hisenormousclawsstretchedout，dugintotheearthforfood，atthesametimethatheawokethesonorousechoesofthewholeplacewithhisterribleroar。
Higherupstill，thefirstmonkeyeverseenonthefaceoftheglobeclambered，gambolingandplayingupthegranitehills。Stillfartheraway，ranthePterodactyl，withthewingedhand，glidingorrathersailingthroughthedenseandcompressedairlikeahugebat。
Aboveall，neartheleadengraniticsky，wereimmensebirds，morepowerfulthanthecassowaryandtheostrich，whichspreadtheirmightywingsandflutteredagainstthehugestonevaultoftheinlandsea。
Ithought，suchwastheeffectofmyimagination，thatIsawthiswholetribeofantediluviancreatures。Icarriedmyselfbacktofarages，longbeforemanexisted-when，infact，theearthwasintooimperfectastateforhimtoliveuponit。
Mydreamwasofcountlessagesbeforetheexistenceofman。Themammifersfirstdisappeared，thenthemightybirds，thenthereptilesofthesecondaryperiod，presentlythefish，thecrustacea，themollusks，andfinallythevertebrata。Thezoophytesoftheperiodoftransitionintheirturnsankintoannihilation。
Thewholepanoramaoftheworld\'slifebeforethehistoricperiod，seemedtobebornoveragain，andminewastheonlyhumanheartthatbeatinthisunpeopledworld!Therewerenomoreseasons；therewerenomoreclimates；thenaturalheatoftheworldincreasedunceasingly，andneutralizedthatofthegreatradiantSun。
Vegetationwasexaggeratedinanextraordinarymanner。IpassedlikeashadowinthemidstofbrushwoodasloftyasthegianttreesofCalifornia，andtrodunderfootthemoistandhumidsoil，reekingwitharankandvariedvegetation。
Ileanedagainstthehugecolumn-liketrunksofgianttrees，towhichthoseofCanadawereasferns。Wholeagespassed，hundredsuponhundredsofyearswereconcentratedintoasingleday。
Next，unrolledbeforemelikeapanorama，camethegreatandwondrousseriesofterrestrialtransformations。Plantsdisappeared；
thegraniticrockslostalltraceofsolidity；theliquidstatewassuddenlysubstitutedforthatwhichhadbeforeexisted。Thiswascausedbyintenseheatactingontheorganicmatteroftheearth。
Thewatersflowedoverthewholesurfaceoftheglobe；theyboiled；
theywerevolatilized，orturnedintovapor；akindofsteamcloudwrappedthewholeearth，theglobeitselfbecomingatlastnothingbutonehugesphereofgas，indescribableincolor，betweenwhiteheatandred，asbigandasbrilliantasthesun。
Intheverycenterofthisprodigiousmass，fourteenhundredthousandtimesaslargeasourglobe，Iwaswhirledroundinspace，andbroughtintocloseconjunctionwiththeplanets。Mybodywassubtilized，orratherbecamevolatile，andcommingledinastateofatomicvapor，withtheprodigiousclouds，whichrushedforwardlikeamightycometintoinfinitespace!
Whatanextraordinarydream!Wherewoulditfinallytakeme?Myfeverishhandbegantowritedownthemarvelousdetails-detailsmoreliketheimaginingsofalunaticthananythingsoberandreal。
Ihadduringthisperiodofhallucinationforgotteneverything-theProfessor，theguide，andtheraftonwhichwewerefloating。Mymindwasinastateofsemioblivion。
\"Whatisthematter，Harry?\"saidmyunclesuddenly。
Myeyes，whichwerewideopenedlikethoseofasomnambulist，werefixeduponhim，butIdidnotseehim，norcouldIclearlymakeoutanythingaroundme。
\"Takecare，myboy，\"againcriedmyuncle，\"youwillfallintothesea。\"
Asheutteredthesewords，Ifeltmyselfseizedontheothersidebythefirmhandofourdevotedguide。HaditnotbeenforthepresenceofmindofHans，Imustinfalliblyhavefallenintothewavesandbeendrowned。
\"Haveyougonemad?\"criedmyuncle，shakingmeontheotherside。
\"What-whatisthematter?\"Isaidatlast，comingtomyself。
\"Areyouill，Henry?\"continuedtheProfessorinananxioustone。
\"No-no；butIhavehadanextraordinarydream。It，however，haspassedaway。Allnowseemswell\"\'Iadded，lookingaroundmewithstrangelypuzzledeyes。
\"Allright，\"saidmyuncle；\"abeautifulbreeze，asplendidsea。
Wearegoingalongatarapidrate，andifIamnotoutinmycalculationsweshallsoonseeland。Ishallnotbesorrytoexchangethenarrowlimitsofourraftforthemysteriousstrandofthesubterraneanocean。\"
Asmyuncleutteredthesewords，Iroseandcarefullyscannedthehorizon。Butthelineofwaterwasstillconfoundedwiththeloweringcloudsthathungaloft，andinthedistanceappearedtotouchtheedgeofthewater。
CHAPTER30
TerrificSaurianCombatSATURDAY，August15th。Theseastillretainsitsuniformmonotony。
Thesameleadenhue，thesameeternalglarefromabove。Noindicationoflandbeinginsight。Thehorizonappearstoretreatbeforeus，moreandmoreasweadvance。
Myhead，stilldullandheavyfromtheeffectsofmyextraordinarydream，whichIcannotasyetbanishfrommymind。
TheProfessor，whohasnotdreamed，is，however，inoneofhismoroseandunaccountablehumors。Spendshistimeinscanningthehorizon，ateverypointofthecompass。Histelescopeisraisedeverymomenttohiseyes，andwhenhefindsnothingtogiveanycluetoourwhereabouts，heassumesaNapoleonicattitudeandwalksanxiously。
Iremarkedthatmyuncle，theProfessor，hadastrongtendencytoresumehisoldimpatientcharacter，andIcouldnotbutmakeanoteofthisdisagreeablecircumstanceinmyjournal。Isawclearlythatithadrequiredalltheinfluenceofmydangerandsuffering，toextractfromhimonescintillationofhumanefeeling。NowthatIwasquiterecovered，hisoriginalnaturehadconqueredandobtainedtheupperhand。
And，afterall，whathadhetobeangryandannoyedabout，nowmorethanatanyothertime?Wasnotthejourneybeingaccomplishedunderthemostfavorablecircumstances?Wasnottheraftprogressingwiththemostmarvelousrapidity?
What，then，couldbethematter?Afteroneortwopreliminaryhems，Ideterminedtoinquire。
\"Youseemuneasy，Uncle，\"saidI，whenforaboutthehundredthtimeheputdownhistelescopeandwalkedupanddown，mutteringtohimself。
\"No，Iamnotuneasy，\"herepliedinadryharshtone，\"bynomeans。\"
\"PerhapsIshouldhavesaidimpatient，\"Ireplied，softeningtheforceofmyremark。
\"Enoughtomakemeso，Ithink。\"
\"Andyetweareadvancingatarateseldomattainedbyaraft，\"I
remarked。
\"Whatmattersthat?\"criedmyuncle。\"Iamnotvexedattheratewegoat，butIamannoyedtofindtheseasomuchvasterthanI
expected。\"
IthenrecollectedthattheProfessor，beforeourdeparture，hadestimatedthelengthofthissubterraneanoceanasatmostaboutthirtyleagues。Nowwehadtraveledatleastoverthricethatdistancewithoutdiscoveringanytraceofthedistantshore。Ibegantounderstandmyuncle\'sanger。
\"Wearenotgoingdown，\"suddenlyexclaimedtheProfessor。\"Wearenotprogressingwithourgreatdiscoveries。Allthisisutterlossoftime。Afterall，Ididnotcomefromhometoundertakeapartyofpleasure。Thisvoyageonaraftoverapondannoysandweariesme。\"