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。