Hans，inallprobability，wasnomoreusedtostarvationthanourselves，buthishardyIcelandicnaturehadpreparedhimformanysufferings。Aslongashereceivedhisthreerix-dollarseverySaturdaynight，hewaspreparedforanything。
Thefactwas，Hansnevertroubledhimselfaboutmuchexcepthismoney。Hehadundertakentoserveacertainmanatsomuchperweek，andnomatterwhatevilsbefellhisemployerorhimself，heneverfoundfaultorgrumbled，solongashiswagesweredulypaid。
Suddenlymyunclerousedhimself。Hehadseenasmileonthefaceofourguide。Icouldnotmakeitout。
\"Whatisthematter?\"saidmyuncle。
\"Schiedam，\"saidtheguide，producingabottleofthispreciousfluid。
Wedrank。Myuncleandmyselfwillowntoourdyingdaythathencewederivedstrengthtoexistuntilthelastbittermoment。ThatpreciousbottleofHollandswasinrealityonlyhalffull；but，underthecircumstances，itwasnectar。
Ittooksomeminutesformyselfandmyuncletoformadecidedopiniononthesubject。TheworthyProfessorswallowedabouthalfapintanddidnotseemabletodrinkanymore。
\"Fortrafflig，\"saidHans，swallowingnearlyallthatwasleft。
\"Excellent-verygood，\"saidmyuncle，withasmuchgustoasifhehadjustleftthestepsoftheclubatHamburg。
Ihadbeguntofeelasiftherehadbeenonegleamofhope。Nowallthoughtofthefuturevanished!
Wehadconsumedourlastounceoffood，anditwasfiveo\'clockinthemorning!
CHAPTER42
TheVolcanicShaftMAN\'Sconstitutionissopeculiarthathishealthispurelyanegativematter。Nosooneristherageofhungerappeasedthanitbecomesdifficulttocomprehendthemeaningofstarvation。Itisonlywhenyousufferthatyoureallyunderstand。
Astoanyonewhohasnotenduredprivationhavinganynotionofthematter，itissimplyabsurd。
Withus，afteralongfast，somemouthfulsofbreadandmeat，alittlemoldybiscuitandsaltbeeftriumphedoverallourpreviousgloomyandsaturninethoughts。
Nevertheless，afterthisrepasteachgavewaytohisownreflections。IwonderedwhatwerethoseofHans-themanoftheextremenorth，whowasyetgiftedwiththefatalisticresignationofOrientalcharacter。Buttheutmoststretchoftheimaginationwouldnotallowmetorealizethetruth。Asformyindividualself，mythoughtshadceasedtobeanythingbutmemoriesofthepast，andwereallconnectedwiththatupperworldwhichInevershouldhaveleft。Isawitallnow，thebeautifulhouseintheKonigstrasse，mypoorGretchen，thegoodMartha；theyallpassedbeforemymindlikevisionsofthepast。Everytimeanyofthelugubriousgroaningswhichweretobedistinguishedinthehollowsaroundfelluponmyears，IfanciedIheardthedistantmurmurofthegreatcitiesabovemyhead。
Asformyuncle，alwaysthinkingofhisscience，heexaminedthenatureoftheshaftbymeansofatorch。Hecloselyexaminedthedifferentstrataoneabovetheother，inordertorecognizehissituationbygeologicaltheory。Thiscalculation，orratherthisestimation，couldbynomeansbeanythingbutapproximate。Butalearnedman，aphilosopher，isnothingifnotaphilosopher，whenhekeepshisideascalmandcollected；andcertainlytheProfessorpossessedthisqualitytoperfection。
Iheardhim，asIsatinsilence，murmuringwordsofgeologicalscience。AsIunderstoodhisobjectandhismeaning，Icouldnotbutinterestmyselfdespitemypreoccupationinthatterriblehour。
\"Eruptivegranite，\"hesaidtohimself，\"wearestillintheprimitiveepoch。Butwearegoingup-goingup，stillgoingup。Butwhoknows?Whoknows?\"
Thenhestillhoped。Hefeltalongtheverticalsidesoftheshaftwithhishand，andsomefewminuteslater，hewouldgoonagaininthefollowingstyle:
\"Thisisgneiss。Thisismicaschist-siliceousmineral。Goodagain；
thisistheepochoftransition，atallevents，weareclosetothem-andthen，andthen-\"
WhatcouldtheProfessormean?Couldhe，byanyconceivablemeans，measurethethicknessofthecrustoftheearthsuspendedaboveourheads?Didhepossessanypossiblemeansofmakinganyapproximationtothiscalculation?No。
Themanometerwaswanting，andnosummaryestimationcouldtaketheplaceofit。
Andyet，asweprogressed，thetemperatureincreasedinthemostextraordinarydegree，andIbegantofeelasifIwerebathedinahotandburningatmosphere。NeverbeforehadIfeltanythinglikeit。I
couldonlycompareittothehotvaporfromanironfoundry，whentheliquidironisinastateofebullitionandrunsover。Bydegrees，andoneaftertheother，Hans，myuncle，andmyselfhadtakenoffourcoatsandwaistcoats。Theywereunbearable。Eventheslightestgarmentwasnotonlyuncomfortable，butthecauseofextremesuffering。
\"Areweascendingtoalivingfire?\"Icried；when，tomyhorrorandastonishment，theheatbecamegreaterthanbefore。
\"No，no，\"saidmyuncle，\"itissimplyimpossible，quiteimpossible。\"
\"Andyet，\"saidI，touchingthesideoftheshaftwithmynakedhand，\"thiswallisliterallyburning。\"
Atthismoment，feelingasIdidthatthesidesofthisextraordinarywallwereredhot，Iplungedmyhandsintothewatertocoolthem。Idrewthembackwithacryofdespair。
\"Thewaterisboiling!\"Icried。
Myuncle，theProfessor，madenoreplyotherthanagestureofrageanddespair。
Somethingverylikethetruthhadprobablystruckhisimagination。
ButIcouldtakenoshareineitherwhatwasgoingon，orinhisspeculations。Aninvincibledreadhadtakenpossessionofmybrainandsoul。Icouldonlylookforwardtoanimmediatecatastrophe，suchacatastropheasnoteventhemostvividimaginationcouldhavethoughtof。Anidea，atfirstvagueanduncertain，wasgraduallybeingchangedintocertainty。
Itremulouslyrejecteditatfirst，butitforceditselfuponmebydegreeswithextremeobstinacy。ItwassoterribleanideathatI
scarcelydaredtowhisperittomyself。
Andyetallthewhilecertain，andasitwere，involuntaryobservationsdeterminedmyconvictions。Bythedoubtfulglareofthetorch，Icouldmakeoutsomesingularchangesinthegraniticstrata；astrangeandterriblephenomenonwasabouttobeproduced，inwhichelectricityplayedapart。
Thenthisboilingwater，thisterribleandexcessiveheat?I
determinedasalastresourcetoexaminethecompass。
Thecompasshadgonemad!
Yes，whollystarkstaringmad。Theneedlejumpedfrompoletopolewithsuddenandsurprisingjerks，ranround，orasitissaid，boxedthecompass，andthenransuddenlybackagainasifithadthevertigo。
Iwasawarethat，accordingtothebestacknowledgedtheories，itwasareceivednotionthatthemineralcrustoftheglobeisnever，andneverhasbeen，inastateofcompleterepose。
Itisperpetuallyundergoingthemodificationscausedbythedecompositionofinternalmatter，theagitationconsequentontheflowingofextensiveliquidcurrents，theexcessiveactionofmagnetismwhichtendstoshakeitincessantly，atatimewheneventhemultitudinousbeingsonitssurfacedonotsuspecttheseethingprocesstobegoingon。
Stillthisphenomenonwouldnothavealarmedmealone；itwouldnothavearousedinmymindaterrible，anawfulidea。
Butotherfactscouldnotallowmyself-delusiontolast。
Terribledetonations，likeHeaven\'sartillery，begantomultiplythemselveswithfearfulintensity。Icouldonlycomparethemwiththenoisemadebyhundredsofheavilyladenchariotsbeingmadlydrivenoverastonepavement。Itwasacontinuousrollofheavythunder。
Andthenthemadcompass，shakenbythewildelectricphenomena，confirmedmeinmyrapidlyformedopinion。Themineralcrustwasabouttoburst，theheavygranitemasseswereabouttorejoin，thefissurewasabouttoclose，thevoidwasabouttobefilledup，andwepooratomstobecrushedinitsawfulembrace!
\"Uncle，Uncle!\"Icried，\"wearewholly，irretrievablylost!\"
\"What，then，myyoungfriend，isyournewcauseofterrorandalarm?\"hesaidinhiscalmestmanner。\"Whatfearyounow?\"
\"WhatdoIfearnow!\"Icriedinfierceandangrytones。\"Doyounotseethatthewallsoftheshaftareinmotion?Doyounotseethatthesolidgranitemassesarecracking?Doyounotfeeltheterrible，torridheat?Doyounotobservetheawfulboilingwateronwhichwefloat?Doyounotremarkthismadneedle?Everysignandportentofanawfulearthquake!\"
Myunclecoollyshookhishead。
\"Anearthquake，\"herepliedinthemostcalmandprovokingtone。
\"Yes。\"
\"Mynephew，Itellyouthatyouareutterlymistaken，\"hecontinued。
\"Doyounot，canyounot，recognizeallthewell-knownsymtons-\"
\"Ofanearthquake?Bynomeans。Iamexpectingsomethingfarmoreimportant。\"
\"Mybrainisstrainedbeyondendurance-what，whatdoyoumean?\"I
cried。
\"Aneruption，Harry。\"
\"Aneruption，\"Igasped。\"Weare，then，inthevolcanicshaftofacraterinfullactionandvigor。\"
\"Ihaveeveryreasontothinkso，\"saidtheProfessorinasmilingtone，\"andIbegtotellyouthatitisthemostfortunatethingthatcouldhappentous。\"
Themostfortunatething!Hadmyunclereallyandtrulygonemad?
Whatdidhemeanbytheseawfulwords-whatdidhemeanbythisterriblecalm，thissolemnsmile?
\"What!\"criedI，intheheightofmyexasperation，\"weareonthewaytoaneruption，arewe?Fatalityhascastusintoawellofburningandboilinglava，ofrocksonfire，ofboilingwater，inaword，filledwitheverykindoferuptivematter?Weareabouttobeexpelled，thrownup，vomited，spitoutoftheinterioroftheearth，incommonwithhugeblocksofgranite，withshowersofcindersandscoriae，inawildwhirlwindofflame，andyousay-themostfortunatethingwhichcouldhappentous。\"
\"Yes，repliedtheProfessor，lookingatmecalmlyfromunderhisspectacles，\"itistheonlychancewhichremainstousofeverescapingfromtheinterioroftheearthtothelightofday。\"
ItisquiteimpossiblethatIcanputonpaperthethousandstrange，wildthoughtswhichfollowedthisextraordinaryannouncement。
Butmyunclewasright，quiteright，andneverhadheappearedtomesoaudaciousandsoconvincedaswhenhelookedmecalmlyinthefaceandspokeofthechancesofaneruption-ofourbeingcastuponMotherEarthoncemorethroughthegapingcraterofavolcano!
Nevertheless，whilewewerespeakingwewerestillascending；wepassedthewholenightgoingup，ortospeakmorescientifically，inanascensionalmotion。Thefearfulnoiseredoubled；Iwasreadytosuffocate。Iseriouslybelievedthatmylasthourwasapproaching，andyet，sostrangeisimagination，allIthoughtofwassomechildishhypothesisorother。Insuchcircumstancesyoudonotchooseyourownthoughts。Theyovercomeyou。
Itwasquiteevidentthatwewerebeingcastupwardsbyeruptivematter；undertherafttherewasamassofboilingwater，andunderthiswasaheaviermassoflava，andanaggregateofrockswhich，onreachingthesummitofthewater，wouldbedispersedineverydirection。
Thatwewereinsidethechimneyofavolcanotherecouldnolongerbetheshadowofadoubt。Nothingmoreterriblecouldbeconceived!
Butonthisoccasion，insteadofSneffels，anoldandextinctvolcano，wewereinsideamountainoffireinfullactivity。SeveraltimesIfoundmyselfasking，whatmountainwasit，andonwhatpartoftheworldweshouldbeshotout。Asifitwereofanyconsequence!
Inthenorthernregions，therecouldbenoreasonabledoubtaboutthat。Beforeitwentdecidedlymad，thecompasshadnevermadetheslightestmistake。FromthecapeofSaknussemm，wehadbeensweptawaytothenorthwardmanyhundredsofleagues。Nowthequestionwas，wereweoncemoreunderIceland-shouldwebebelchedforthontotheearththroughthecraterofMountHecla，orshouldwereappearthroughoneoftheothersevenfirefunnelsoftheisland?Takinginmymentalvisionaradiusoffivehundredleaguestothewestward，I
couldseeunderthisparallelonlythelittle-knownvolcanoesofthenorthwestcoastofAmerica。
Totheeastoneonlyexistedsomewhereabouttheeightiethdegreeoflatitude，theEsk，upontheislandofJanMayen，notfarfromthefrozenregionsofSpitsbergen。
Itwasnotcratersthatwerewanting，andmanyofthemwerebigenoughtovomitawholearmy；allIwishedtoknowwastheparticularonetowardswhichweweremakingwithsuchfearfulvelocity。
Ioftenthinknowofmyfolly:asifIshouldeverhaveexpectedtoescape!
Towardsmorning，theascendingmotionbecamegreaterandgreater。Ifthedegreeofheatincreasedinsteadofdecreasing，asweapproachedthesurfaceoftheearth，itwassimplybecausethecauseswerelocalandwhollyduetovolcanicinfluence。Ourverystyleoflocomotionleftinmymindnodoubtuponthesubject。Anenormousforce，aforceofseveralhundredsofatmospheresproducedbythevaporsaccumulatedandlongcompressedintheinterioroftheearth，washoistingusupwardswithirresistiblepower。
Butthoughwewereapproachingthelightofday，towhatfearfuldangerswereweabouttobeexposed?
Instantdeathappearedtheonlyfatewhichwecouldexpectorcontemplate。
Soonadim，sepulchrallightpenetratedtheverticalgallery，whichbecamewiderandwider。Icouldmakeouttotherightandleftlongdarkcorridorslikeimmensetunnels，fromwhichawfulandhorridvaporspouredout。Tonguesoffire，sparklingandcrackling，appearedabouttolickusup。
Thehourhadcome!
\"Look，Uncle，look!\"Icried。
\"Well，whatyouseearethegreatsulphurousflames。Nothingmorecommoninconnectionwithaneruption。\"
\"Butiftheylapusround!\"Iangrilyreplied。
\"Theywillnotlapusround，\"washisquietandsereneanswer。
\"Butitwillbeallthesameintheendiftheystifleus，\"Icried。
\"Weshallnotbestifled。Thegalleryisrapidlybecomingwiderandwider，andifitbenecessary，wewillpresentlyleavetheraftandtakerefugeinsomefissureintherock。\"
\"Butthewater，thewater，whichiscontinuallyascending?\"I
despairinglyreplied。
\"Thereisnolongeranywater，Harry，\"heanswered，\"butakindoflavapaste，whichisheavingusup，incompanywithitself，tothemouthofthecrater。\"
Intruth，theliquidcolumnofwaterhadwhollydisappearedtogiveplacetodensemassesofboilingeruptivematter。Thetemperaturewasbecomingutterlyinsupportable，andathermometerexposedtothisatmospherewouldhavemarkedbetweenonehundredandeighty-nineandonehundredninetydegreesFahrenheit。
Perspirationrushedfromeverypore。Butfortheextraordinaryrapidityofourascentweshouldhavebeenstifled。
Nevertheless，theProfessordidnotcarryouthispropositionofabandoningtheraft；andhedidquitewisely。Thosefewill-joinedbeamsoffered，anyway，asolidsurface-asupportwhichelsewheremusthaveutterlyfailedus。
Towardseighto\'clockinthemorninganewincidentstartledus。Theascensionalmovementsuddenlyceased。Theraftbecamestillandmotionless。
\"Whatisthematternow?\"Isaid，querulously，verymuchstartledbythischange。
\"Asimplehalt，\"repliedmyuncle。
\"Istheeruptionabouttofail?\"Iasked。
\"Ihopenot。\"
Withoutmakinganyreply，Irose。Itriedtolookaroundme。Perhapstheraft，checkedbysomeprojectingrock，opposedamomentaryresistancetotheeruptivemass。Inthiscase，itwasabsolutelynecessarytoreleaseitasquicklyaspossible。
Nothingofthekindhadoccurred。Thecolumnofcinders，ofscoriae，ofbrokenrocksandearth，hadwhollyceasedtoascend。
\"Itellyou，Uncle，thattheeruptionhasstopped，\"wasmyoraculardecision。
\"Ah，\"saidmyuncle，\"youthinkso，myboy。Youarewrong。Donotbeintheleastalarmed；thissuddenmomentofcalmwillnotlastlong，beassured。Ithasalreadyenduredfiveminutes，andbeforewearemanyminutesolderweshallbecontinuingourjourneytothemouthofthecrater。\"
AllthetimehewasspeakingtheProfessorcontinuedtoconsulthischronometer，andhewasprobablyrightinhisprognostics。Soontheraftresumeditsmotion，inaveryrapidanddisorderlyway，whichlastedtwominutesorthereabout；andthenagainitstoppedassuddenlyasbefore。
\"Good，\"saidmyuncle，observingthehour，\"intenweshallstartagain。\"
\"Intenminutes?\"
\"Yes-precisely。Wehavetodowithavolcano，theeruptionofwhichisintermittent。Wearecompelledtobreathejustasitdoes。\"
Nothingcouldbemoretrue。Attheexactminutehehadindicated，wewereagainlaunchedonhighwithextremerapidity。Nottobecastofftheraft，itwasnecessarytoholdontothebeams。Thenthehoistagainceased。
ManytimessincehaveIthoughtofthissingularphenomenonwithoutbeingabletofindforitanysatisfactoryexplanation。
Nevertheless，itappearedquitecleartome，thatwewerenotintheprincipalchimneyofthevolcano，butinanaccessoryconduit，wherewefeltthecountershockofthegreatandprincipaltunnelfilledbyburninglava。
Itisimpossibleformetosayhowmanytimesthismaneuverwasrepeated。AllthatIcanrememberis，thatoneveryascensionalmotion，wewerehoistedupwitheverincreasingvelocity，asifwehadbeenlaunchedfromahugeprojectile。Duringthesuddenhaltswewerenearlystifled；duringthemomentsofprojectionthehotairtookawayourbreath。
Ithoughtforamomentofthevoluptuousjoyofsuddenlyfindingmyselfinthehyperboreanregionswiththecoldthirtydegreesbelowzero!
Myexaltedimaginationpicturedtoitselfthevastsnowyplainsofthearcticregions，andIwasimpatienttorollmyselfontheicycarpetoftheNorthPole。
Bydegreesmyhead，utterlyovercomebyaseriesofviolentemotions，begantogivewaytohallucination。Iwasdelirious。HaditnotbeenforthepowerfularmsofHans，theguide，Ishouldhavebrokenmyheadagainstthegranitemassesoftheshaft。
Ihave，inconsequence，keptnoaccountofwhatfollowedformanyhours。Ihaveavagueandconfusedremembranceofcontinualdetonations，oftheshakingofthehugegraniticmass，andoftheraftgoingroundlikeaspinningtop。Itfloatedonthestreamofhotlava，amidstafallingcloudofcinders。Thehugeflamesroaring，wrappedusaround。
Astormofwindwhichappearedtobecastforthfromanimmenseventilatorrouseduptheinteriorfiresoftheearth。Itwasahot，incandescentblast!
AtlastIsawthefigureofHansasifenvelopedinthehugehaloofburningblaze，andnoothersenseremainedtomebutthatsinisterdreadwhichthecondemnedvictimmaybesupposedtofeelwhenledtothemouthofacannon，atthesuprememomentwhentheshotisfiredandhislimbsaredispersedintoemptyspace。
CHAPTER43
DaylightatLastWHENIopenedmyeyesIfeltthehandoftheguideclutchingmefirmlybythebelt。Withhisotherhandhesupportedmyuncle。Iwasnotgrievouslywounded，butbruisedalloverinthemostremarkablemanner。
AfteramomentIlookedaround，andfoundthatIwaslyingdownontheslopeofamountainnottwoyardsfromayawninggulfintowhichI
shouldhavefallenhadImadetheslightestfalsestep。Hanshadsavedmefromdeath，whileIrolledinsensibleontheflanksofthecrater。
\"Wherearewe?\"dreamilyaskedmyuncle，wholiterallyappearedtobedisgustedathavingreturnedtoearth。
Theeider-downhuntersimplyshruggedhisshouldersasamarkoftotalignorance。
\"InIceland?\"saidI，notpositivelybutinterrogatively。
\"Nej，\"saidHans。
\"Howdoyoumean?\"criedtheProfessor；\"no-whatareyourreasons?\"
\"Hansiswrong，\"saidI，rising。
Afteralltheinnumerablesurprisesofthisjourney，ayetmoresingularonewasreservedtous。Iexpectedtoseeaconecoveredbysnow，byextensiveandwidespreadglaciers，inthemidstoftheariddesertsoftheextremenorthernregions，beneaththefullraysofapolarsky，beyondthehighestlatitudes。
Butcontrarytoallourexpectations，I，myuncle，andtheIcelander，werecastupontheslopeofamountaincalcinedbytheburningraysofasunwhichwasliterallybakinguswithitsfires。
Icouldnotbelievemyeyes，buttheactualheatwhichaffectedmybodyallowedmenochanceofdoubting。Wecameoutofthecraterhalfnaked，andtheradiantstarfromwhichwehadaskednothingfortwomonths，wasgoodenoughtobeprodigaltousoflightandwarmth-alightandwarmthwecouldeasilyhavedispensedwith。
Whenoureyeswereaccustomedtothelightwehadlostsightofsolong，Iusedthemtorectifytheerrorsofmyimagination。Whateverhappened，weshouldhavebeenatSpitsbergen，andIwasinnohumortoyieldtoanythingbutthemostabsoluteproof。
Aftersomedelay，theProfessorspoke。
\"Hem!\"hesaid，inahesitatingkindofway，\"itreallydoesnotlooklikeIceland。\"
\"ButsupposingitweretheislandofJanMayen?\"Iventuredtoobserve。
\"Notintheleast，myboy。Thisisnotoneofthevolcanoesofthenorth，withitshillsofgraniteanditscrownofsnow。\"
\"Nevertheless-
\"Look，look，myboy，\"saidtheProfessor，asdogmaticallyasusual。
Rightaboveourheads，atagreatheight，openedthecraterofavolcanofromwhichescaped，fromonequarterofanhourtotheother，withaveryloudexplosion，aloftyjetofflamemingledwithpumicestone，cinders，andlava。Icouldfeeltheconvulsionsofnatureinthemountain，whichbreathedlikeahugewhale，throwingupfromtimetotimefireandairthroughitsenormousvents。
Below，andfloatingalongaslopeofconsiderableangularity，thestreamoferuptivematterspreadawaytoadepthwhichdidnotgivethevolcanoaheightofthreehundredfathoms。
Itsbasedisappearedinaperfectforestofgreentrees，amongwhichIperceivedolives，figtrees，andvinesloadedwithrichgrapes。
Certainlythiswasnottheordinaryaspectofthearcticregions。
Aboutthattherecouldnotbetheslightestdoubt。
Whentheeyewassatisfiedatitsglimpseofthisverdantexpanse，itfelluponthewatersofalovelyseaorbeautifullake，whichmadeofthisenchantedlandanislandofnotmanyleaguesinextent。
Onthesideoftherisingsunwastobeseenalittleport，crowdedwithhouses，andnearwhichtheboatsandvesselsofpeculiarbuildwerefloatinguponazurewaves。
Beyond，groupsofislandsroseabovetheliquidplain，sonumerousandclosetogetherastoresembleavastbeehive。
Towardsthesettingsun，somedistantshoresweretobemadeoutontheedgeofthehorizon。Somepresentedtheappearanceofbluemountainsofharmoniousconformation；uponothers，muchmoredistant，thereappearedaprodigiouslyloftycone，abovethesummitofwhichhungdarkandheavyclouds。
Towardsthenorth，animmenseexpanseofwatersparkledbeneaththesolarrays，occasionallyallowingtheextremityofamastortheconvexityofasailbellyingtothewind，tobeseen。
Theunexpectedcharacterofsuchasceneaddedahundredfoldtoitsmarvelousbeauties。
\"Wherecanwebe?\"Iasked，speakinginalowandsolemnvoice。
Hansshuthiseyeswithanairofindifference，andmyunclelookedonwithoutclearlyunderstanding。
\"Whateverthismountainmaybe，\"hesaid，atlast，\"Imustconfessitisratherwarm。Theexplosionsdonotleaveoff，andIdonotthinkitisworthwhiletohavelefttheinteriorofavolcanoandremainheretoreceiveahugepieceofrockuponone\'shead。Letuscarefullydescendthemountainanddiscovertherealstateofthecase。Toconfessthetruth，Iamdyingofhungerandthirst。\"
DecidedlytheProfessorwasnolongeratrulyreflectivecharacter。Formyself，forgettingallmynecessities，ignoringmyfatiguesandsufferings，Ishouldhaveremainedstillforseveralhourslonger-butitwasnecessarytofollowmycompanions。
Theslopeofthevolcanowasverysteepandslippery；weslidoverpilesofashes，avoidingthestreamsofhotlavawhichglidedaboutlikefieryserpents。Still，whilewewereadvancing，Ispokewithextremevolubility，formyimaginationwastoofullnottoexplodeinwords。
\"WeareinAsia!\"Iexclaimed；\"weareonthecoastofIndia，inthegreatMalayislands，inthecenterofOceania。WehavecrossedtheonehalfoftheglobetocomeoutrightattheantipodesofEurope!\"
\"Butthecompass!\"exclaimedmyuncle；\"explainthattome!\"
\"Yes-thecompass，\"Isaidwithconsiderablehesitation。\"Igrantthatisadifficulty。Accordingtoit，wehavealwaysbeengoingnorthward。\"
\"Thenitlied。\"
\"Hem-tosayitliedisratheraharshword，\"wasmyanswer。
\"ThenweareattheNorthPole-\"
\"ThePole-no-well-wellIgiveitup，\"wasmyreply。
Theplaintruthwas，thattherewasnoexplanationpossible。Icouldmakenothingofit。
Andallthewhilewewereapproachingthisbeautifulverdure，hungerandthirsttormentedmefearfully。Happily，aftertwolonghours\'
march，abeautifulcountryspreadoutbeforeus，coveredbyolives，pomegranates，andvines，whichappearedtobelongtoanybodyandeverybody。Inanyevent，inthestateofdestitutionintowhichwehadfallen，wewerenotinamoodtopondertooscrupulously。
Whatdelightitwastopressthesedeliciousfruitstoourlips，andtobiteatgrapesandpomegranatesfreshfromthevine。
Notfaroff，nearsomefreshandmossygrass，underthedeliciousshadeofsometrees，Idiscoveredaspringoffreshwater，inwhichwevoluptuouslylavedourfaces，hands，andfeet。
Whilewewereallgivingwaytothedelightsofnew-foundpleasures，alittlechildappearedbetweentwotuftedolivetrees。
\"Ah，\"criedI，\"aninhabitantofthishappycountry。\"
Thelittlefellowwaspoorlydressed，weak，andsuffering，andappearedterriblyalarmedatourappearance。Half-naked，withtangled，mattedandraggedbeards，wedidlooksupremelyill-favored；andunlessthecountrywasabanditland，wewerenotlikelytoalarmtheinhabitants!
Justastheboywasabouttotaketohisheels，Hansranafterhim，andbroughthimback，despitehiscriesandkicks。
Myuncletriedtolookasgentleaspossible，andthenspokeinGerman。
\"Whatisthenameofthismountain，myfriend?\"
Thechildmadenoreply。
\"Good，\"saidmyuncle，withaverypositiveairofconviction，\"wearenotinGermany。\"
HethenmadethesamedemandinEnglish，ofwhichlanguagehewasanexcellentscholar。
Thechildshookitsheadandmadenoreply。Ibegantobeconsiderablypuzzled。
\"Ishedumb?\"criedtheProfessor，whowasratherproudofhispolyglotknowledgeoflanguages，andmadethesamedemandinFrench。
Theboyonlystaredinhisface。
\"ImustperforcetryhiminItalian，\"saidmyuncle，withashrug。
\"Dovenoisiamo?\"
\"Yes，tellmewhereweare?\"Iaddedimpatientlyandeagerly。
Againtheboyremainedsilent。
\"Myfinefellow，doyouordoyounotmeantospeak?\"criedmyuncle，whobegantogetangry。Heshookhim，andspokeanotherdialectoftheItalianlanguage。
\"Comesinomaquestaisola?\"-\"Whatisthenameofthisisland?\"
\"Stromboli，\"repliedthericketylittleshepherd，dashingawayfromHansanddisappearingintheolivegroves。
Wethoughtlittleenoughabouthim。
Stromboli!Whateffectontheimaginationdidthesefewwordsproduce!WewereinthecenteroftheMediterranean，amidsttheeasternarchipelagoofmythologicalmemory，intheancientStrongylos，whereAEoluskeptthewindandthetempestchainedup。Andthosebluemountains，whichrosetowardstherisingsun，werethemountainsofCalabria。
AndthatmightyvolcanowhichroseonthesouthernhorizonwasEtna，thefierceandcelebratedEtna!
\"Stromboli!Stromboli!\"Irepeatedtomyself。
Myuncleplayedaregularaccompanimenttomygesturesandwords。Weweresingingtogetherlikeanancientchorus。
Ah-whatajourney-whatamarvelousandextraordinaryjourney!Herewehadenteredtheearthbyonevolcano，andwehadcomeoutbyanother。AndthisotherwassituatedmorethantwelvehundredleaguesfromSneffelsfromthatdrearcountryofIcelandcastawayontheconfinesoftheearth。Thewondrouschangesofthisexpeditionhadtransportedustothemostharmoniousandbeautifulofearthlylands。Wehadabandonedtheregionofeternalsnowsforthatofinfiniteverdure，andhadleftoverourheadsthegrayfogoftheicyregionstocomebacktotheazureskyofSicily!
Afteradeliciousrepastoffruitsandfreshwater，weagaincontinuedourjourneyinordertoreachtheportofStromboli。Tosayhowwehadreachedtheislandwouldscarcelyhavebeenprudent。
ThesuperstitiouscharacteroftheItalianswouldhavebeenatwork，andweshouldhavebeencalleddemonsvomitedfromtheinfernalregions。Itwasthereforenecessarytopassforhumbleandunfortunateshipwreckedtravelers。Itwascertainlylessstrikingandromantic，butitwasdecidedlysafer。
Asweadvanced，Icouldhearmyworthyunclemutteringtohimself:
\"Butthecompass。Thecompassmostcertainlymarkednorth。ThisisafactIcannotexplaininanyway。\"
\"Well，thefactis，\"saidI，withanairofdisdain，\"wemustnotexplainanything。Itwillbemuchmoreeasy。\"
\"IshouldliketoseeaprofessoroftheJohanneumInstitutionwhoisunabletoexplainacosmicphenomenon-itwouldindeedbestrange。\"
Andspeakingthus，myuncle，half-naked，hisleathernpurseroundhisloins，andhisspectaclesuponhisnose，becameoncemoretheterribleProfessorofMineralogy。
Anhourafterleavingthewoodofolives，wereachedthefortofSanVicenza，whereHansdemandedthepriceofhisthirteenthweekofservice。Myunclepaidhim，withverymanywarmshakesofthehand。
Atthatmoment，ifhedidnotindeedquiteshareournaturalemotion，heallowedhisfeelingssofartogivewayastoindulgeinanextraordinaryexpressionforhim。
Withthetipsoftwofingershegentlypressedourhandsandsmiled。
CHAPTER44
TheJourneyEndedTHISisthefinalconclusionofanarrativewhichwillbeprobablydisbelievedevenbypeoplewhoareastonishedatnothing。Iam，however，armedatallpointsagainsthumanincredulity。
WewerekindlyreceivedbytheStrombolitefishermen，whotreatedusasshipwreckedtravelers。Theygaveusclothesandfood。Afteradelayofforty-eighthours，onthe30thofSeptemberalittlevesseltookustoMessina，whereafewdaysofdelightfulandcompletereposerestoredustoourselves。
OnFriday，the4thofOctober，weembarkedintheVolturne，oneofthepostalpacketsoftheImperialMessageriesofFrance；andthreedayslaterwelandedatMarseilles，havingnoothercareonourmindsbutthatofourpreciousbuterraticcompass。Thisinexplicablecircumstancetormentedmeterribly。Onthe9thofOctober，intheevening，wereachedHamburg。
WhatwastheastonishmentofMartha，whatthejoyofGretchen!I
willnotattempttodefineit。
\"Nowthen，Harry，thatyoureallyareahero，\"shesaid，\"thereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldeverleavemeagain。\"
Ilookedather。Shewasweepingtearsofjoy。
IleaveittobeimaginedifthereturnofProfessorHardwiggmadeordidnotmakeasensationinHamburg。ThankstotheindiscretionofMartha，thenewsofhisdeparturefortheinterioroftheearthhadbeenspreadoverthewholeworld。
Noonewouldbelieveit-andwhentheysawhimcomebackinsafetytheybelieveditalltheless。
ButthepresenceofHansandmanystrayscrapsofinformationbydegreesmodifiedpublicopinion。
ThenmyunclebecameagreatmanandIthenephewofagreatman，which，atallevents，issomething。Hamburggaveafestivalinourhonor。ApublicmeetingoftheJohanneumInstitutionwasheld，atwhichtheProfessorrelatedthewholestoryofhisadventures，omittingonlythefactsinconnectionwiththecompass。
ThatsamedayhedepositedinthearchivesofthetownthedocumenthehadfoundwrittenbySaknussemm，andheexpressedhisgreatregretthatcircumstances，strongerthanhiswill，didnotallowhimtofollowtheIcelandictraveler\'strackintotheverycenteroftheearth。Hewasmodestinhisglory，buthisreputationonlyincreased。
Somuchhonornecessarilycreatedforhimmanyenviousenemies。Ofcoursetheyexisted，andashistheories，supportedbycertainfacts，contradictedthesystemofscienceuponthequestionofcentralheat，hemaintainedhisownviewsbothwithpenandspeechagainstthelearnedofeverycountry。AlthoughIstillbelieveinthetheoryofcentralheat，Iconfessthatcertaincircumstances，hithertoveryilldefined，maymodifythelawsofsuchnaturalphenomena。
Atthemomentwhenthesequestionswerebeingdiscussedwithinterest，myunclereceivedarudeshock-onethathefeltverymuch。
Hans，despiteeverythinghecouldsaytothecontrary，quittedHamburg；themantowhomweowedsomuchwouldnotallowustopayourdeepdebtofgratitude。Hewastakenwithnostalgia；aloveforhisIcelandichome。
\"Farval，\"saidhe，oneday，andwiththisoneshortwordofadieu，hestartedforReykjavik，whichhesoonreachedinsafety。
Weweredeeplyattachedtoourbraveeider-duckhunter。Hisabsencewillnevercausehimtobeforgottenbythosewhoseliveshesaved，andIhope，atsomenotdistantday，toseehimagain。
Toconclude，Imaysaythatourjourneyintotheinterioroftheearthcreatedanenormoussensationthroughoutthecivilizedworld。Itwastranslatedandprintedinmanylanguages。Alltheleadingjournalspublishedextractsfromit，whichwerecommentated，discussed，attacked，andsupportedwithequalanimationbythosewhobelievedinitsepisodes，andbythosewhowereutterlyincredulous。
Wonderful!Myuncleenjoyedduringhislifetimeallthegloryhedeserved；andhewasevenofferedalargesumofmoney，byMr。Barnum，toexhibithimselfintheUnitedStates；whileIamcrediblyinformedbyatravelerthatheistobeseeninwaxworkatMadameTussaud\'s!
Butonecarepreyeduponhismind，acarewhichrenderedhimveryunhappy。Onefactremainedinexplicable-thatofthecompass。Foralearnedmantobebaffledbysuchaninexplicablephenomenonwasveryaggravating。ButHeavenwasmerciful，andintheendmyunclewashappy。
Oneday，whileheputsomemineralsbelongingtohiscollectioninorder，Ifelluponthefamouscompassandexamineditkeenly。
Forsixmonthsithadlainunnoticedanduntouched。
Ilookedatitwithcuriosity，whichsoonbecamesurprise。Igavealoudcry。TheProfessor，whowasathand，soonjoinedme。
\"Whatisthematter?\"hecried。
\"Thecompass!
\"Whatthen?\"
\"Whyitsneedlepointstothesouthandnottothenorth。\"
\"Mydearboy，youmustbedreaming。\"
\"Iamnotdreaming。See-thepolesarechanged。\"
\"Changed!\"
Myuncleputonhisspectacles，examinedtheinstrument，andleapedwithjoy，shakingthewholehouse。
Aclearlightfelluponourminds。
\"Hereitis!\"hecried，assoonashehadrecoveredtheuseofhisspeech，\"afterwehadoncepassedCapeSaknussemm，theneedleofthiscompasspointedtothesouthwardinsteadofthenorthward。\"
\"Evidently。\"
\"Ourerrorisnoweasilyexplained。Buttowhatphenomenondoweowethisalterationintheneedle?\"
\"Nothingmoresimple。\"
\"Explainyourself，myboy。Iamonthorns。\"
\"Duringthestorm，upontheCentralSea，theballoffirewhichmadeamagnetoftheironinourraft，turnedourcompasstopsy-turvy。\"
\"Ah!\"criedtheProfessor，withaloudandringinglaugh，\"itwasatrickofthatinexplicableelectricity。\"
Fromthathourmyunclewasthehappiestoflearnedmen，andIthehappiestofordinarymortals。FormyprettyVirlandgirl，abdicatingherpositionasward，tookherplaceinthehouseintheKonigstrasseinthedoublequalityofnieceandwife。
WeneedscarcelymentionthatherunclewastheillustriousProfessorHardwigg，correspondingmemberofallthescientific，geographical，mineralogical，andgeologicalsocietiesofthefivepartsoftheglobe。