Thecoldwaskeen，searchingandintense。Thewindblewwithextraordinaryviolence。Iwasutterlyexhausted。
Myworthyuncle，theProfessor，sawclearlythatmylegsrefusedfurtherservice，andthat，infact，Iwasutterlyexhausted。Despitehishotandfeverishimpatience，hedecided，withasigh，uponahalt。
Hecalledtheeider-duckhuntertohisside。Thatworthy，however，shookhishead。
"Ofvanfor，"washissolespokenreply。
"Itappears，"saysmyunclewithawoebegonelook，"thatwemustgohigher。"
HethenturnedtoHans，andaskedhimtogivesomereasonforthisdecisiveresponse。
"Mistour，"repliedtheguide。
"Ja，mistour-yes，themistour，"criedoneoftheIcelandicguidesinaterrifiedtone。
Itwasthefirsttimehehadspoken。
"Whatdoesthismysteriouswordsignify?"Ianxiouslyinquired。
"Look，"saidmyuncle。
Ilookeddownupontheplainbelow，andIsawavast，aprodigiousvolumeofpulverizedpumicestone，ofsand，ofdust，risingtotheheavensintheformofamightywaterspout。ItresembledthefearfulphenomenonofasimilarcharacterknowntothetravelersinthedesertofthegreatSahara。
ThewindwasdrivingitdirectlytowardsthatsideofSneffelsonwhichwewereperched。Thisopaqueveilstandingupbetweenusandthesunprojectedadeepshadowontheflanksofthemountain。Ifthissandspoutbrokeoverus，wemustallbeinfalliblydestroyed，crushedinitsfearfulembraces。Thisextraordinaryphenomenon，verycommonwhenthewindshakestheglaciers，andsweepsoverthearidplains，isintheIcelandictonguecalled"mistour。"
"Hastigt，hastigt!"criedourguide。
NowIcertainlyknewnothingofDanish，butIthoroughlyunderstoodthathisgesturesweremeanttoquickenus。
Theguideturnedrapidlyinadirectionwhichwouldtakeustothebackofthecrater，allthewhileascendingslightly。
Wefollowedrapidly，despiteourexcessivefatigue。
AquarterofanhourlaterHanspausedtoenableustolookback。
Themightywhirlwindofsandwasspreadinguptheslopeofthemountaintotheveryspotwherewehadproposedtohalt。Hugestoneswerecaughtup，castintotheair，andthrownaboutasduringaneruption。Wewerehappilyalittleoutofthedirectionofthewind，andthereforeoutofreachofdanger。Butfortheprecautionandknowledgeofourguide，ourdislocatedbodies，ourcrushedandbrokenlimbs，wouldhavebeencasttothewind，likedustfromsomeunknownmeteor。
Hans，however，didnotthinkitprudenttopassthenightonthebaresideofthecone。Wethereforecontinuedourjourneyinazigzagdirection。Thefifteenhundredfeetwhichremainedtobeaccomplishedtookusatleastfivehours。Theturningsandwindings，theno-thoroughfares，themarchesandmarches，turnedthatinsignificantdistanceintoatleastthreeleagues。Ineverfeltsuchmisery，fatigueandexhaustioninmylife。Iwasreadytofaintfromhungerandcold。Therarefiedairatthesametimepainfullyacteduponmylungs。
Atlast，whenIthoughtmyselfatmylastgasp，aboutelevenatnight，itbeinginthatregionquitedark，wereachedthesummitofMountSneffels!Itwasinanawfulmoodofmind，thatdespitemyfatigue，beforeIdescendedintothecraterwhichwastoshelterusforthenight，Ipausedtobeholdthesunriseatmidnightontheverydayofitslowestdeclension，andenjoyedthespectacleofitsghastlypalerayscastupontheislewhichlaysleepingatourfeet!
InolongerwonderedatpeopletravelingallthewayfromEnglandtoNorwaytobeholdthismagicalandwondrousspectacle。
CHAPTER13
TheShadowofScartarisOURsupperwaseatenwitheaseandrapidity，afterwhicheverybodydidthebesthecouldforhimselfwithinthehollowofthecrater。Thebedwashard，theshelterunsatisfactory，thesituationpainful-lyingintheopenair，fivethousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea!
Nevertheless，ithasseldomhappenedtometosleepsowellasIdidonthatparticularnight。Ididnotevendream。Somuchfortheeffectsofwhatmyunclecalled"wholesomefatigue。"
Nextday，whenweawokeundertheraysofabrightandglorioussun，wewerenearlyfrozenbythekeenair。Ileftmygranitecouchandmadeoneofthepartytoenjoyaviewofthemagnificentspectaclewhichdevelopeditself，panorama-like，atourfeet。
IstoodupontheloftysummitofMountSneffels'southernpeak。
ThenceIwasabletoobtainaviewofthegreaterpartoftheisland。Theopticaldelusion，commontoallloftyheights，raisedtheshoresoftheisland，whilethecentralportionsappeareddepressed。Itwasbynomeanstoogreataflightoffancytobelievethatagiantpicturewasstretchedoutbeforeme。Icouldseethedeepvalleysthatcrossedeachotherineverydirection。Icouldseeprecipiceslookinglikesidesofwells，lakesthatseemedtobechangedintoponds，pondsthatlookedlikepuddles，andriversthatweretransformedintopettybrooks。Tomyrightwereglaciersuponglaciers，andmultipliedpeaks，toppedwithlightcloudsofsmoke。
Theundulationoftheseinfinitenumbersofmountains，whosesnowysummitsmakethemlookasifcoveredbyfoam，recalledtomyremembrancethesurfaceofastorm-beatenocean。IfIlookedtowardsthewest，theoceanlaybeforemeinallitsmajesticgrandeur，acontinuationasitwere，ofthesefleecyhilltops。
Wheretheearthendedandtheseabeganitwasimpossiblefortheeyetodistinguish。
Isoonfeltthatstrangeandmysterioussensationwhichisawakenedinthemindwhenlookingdownfromloftyhilltops，andnowIwasabletodosowithoutanyfeelingofnervousness，havingfortunatelyhardenedmyselftothatkindofsublimecontemplation。
IwhollyforgotwhoIwas，andwhereIwas。Ibecameintoxicatedwithasenseofloftysublimity，withoutthoughtoftheabyssesintowhichmydaringwassoonabouttoplungeme。Iwaspresently，however，broughtbacktotherealitiesoflifebythearrivaloftheProfessorandHans，whojoinedmeupontheloftysummitofthepeak。
Myuncle，turninginawesterlydirection，pointedouttomealightcloudofvapor，akindofhaze，withafaintoutlineoflandrisingoutofthewaters。
"Greenland!"saidhe。
"Greenland?"criedIinreply。
"Yes，"continuedmyuncle，whoalwayswhenexplaininganythingspokeasifhewereinaprofessor'schair；"wearenotmorethanthirty-fiveleaguesdistantfromthatwonderfulland。Whenthegreatannualbreakupoftheicetakesplace，whitebearscomeovertoIceland，carriedbythefloatingmassesoficefromthenorth。This，however，isamatteroflittleconsequence。Wearenowonthesummitofthegreat，thetranscendentSneffels，andhereareitstwopeaks，northandsouth。HanswilltellyouthenamebywhichthepeopleofIcelandcallthatonwhichwestand。"
Myuncleturnedtotheimperturbableguide，whonodded，andspokeasusual-oneword。
"Scartaris。"
Myunclelookedatmewithaproudandtriumphantglance。
"Acrater，"hesaid，"youhear?"
Ididhear，butIwastotallyunabletomakereply。
ThecraterofMountSneffelsrepresentedaninvertedcone，thegapingorificeapparentlyhalfamileacross；thedepthindefinitefeet。Conceivewhatthisholemusthavebeenlikewhenfullofflameandthunderandlightning。Thebottomofthefunnel-shapedhollowwasaboutfivehundredfeetincircumference，bywhichitwillbeseenthattheslopefromthesummittothebottomwasverygradual，andwewerethereforeclearlyabletogettherewithoutmuchfatigueordifficulty。Involuntarily，Icomparedthiscratertoanenormousloadedcannon；andthecomparisoncompletelyterrifiedme。
"Todescendintotheinteriorofacannon，"Ithoughttomyself，"whenperhapsitisloaded，andwillgooffattheleastshock，istheactofamadman。"
Buttherewasnolongeranyopportunityformetohesitate。Hans，withaperfectlycalmandindifferentair，tookhisusualpostattheheadoftheadventurouslittleband。Ifollowedwithoututteringasyllable。
Ifeltlikethelambledtotheslaughter。
Inordertorenderthedescentlessdifficult，Hanstookhiswaydowntheinterioroftheconeinratherazigzagfashion，making，asthesailorssay，longtrackstotheeastward，followedbyequallylongonestothewest。Itwasnecessarytowalkthroughthemidstoferuptiverocks，someofwhich，shakenintheirbalance，wentrollingdownwiththunderingclamortothebottomoftheabyss。Thesecontinualfallsawokeechoesofsingularpowerandeffect。
Manyportionsoftheconeconsistedofinferiorglaciers。Hans，wheneverhemetwithoneoftheseobstacles，advancedwithagreatshowofprecaution，soundingthesoilwithhislongironpoleinordertodiscoverfissuresandlayersofdeepsoftsnow。Inmanydoubtfulordangerousplaces，itbecamenecessaryforustobetiedtogetherbyalongropeinorderthatshouldanyoneofusbeunfortunateenoughtoslip，hewouldbesupportedbyhiscompanions。Thisconnectinglinkwasdoubtlessaprudentprecaution，butnotbyanymeansunattendedwithdanger。
Nevertheless，anddespiteallthemanifolddifficultiesofthedescent，alongslopeswithwhichourguidewaswhollyunacquainted，wemadeconsiderableprogresswithoutaccident。OneofourgreatparcelsofropeslippedfromoneoftheIcelandporters，andrushedbyashortcuttothebottomoftheabyss。
Bymiddaywewereattheendofourjourney。Ilookedupwards，andsawonlytheupperorificeofthecone，whichservedasacircularframetoaverysmallportionofthesky-aportionwhichseemedtomesingularlybeautiful。ShouldIeveragaingazeonthatlovelysunlitsky!
Theonlyexceptiontothisextraordinarylandscape，wasthePeakofScartaris，whichseemedlostinthegreatvoidoftheheavens。
Thebottomofthecraterwascomposedofthreeseparateshafts，throughwhich，duringperiodsoferuption，whenSneffelswasinaction，thegreatcentralfurnacesentforthitsburninglavaandpoisonousvapors。Eachofthesechimneysorshaftsgapedopen-mouthedinourpath。Ikeptasfarawayfromthemaspossible，notevenventuringtotakethefaintestpeepdownwards。
AsfortheProfessor，afterarapidexaminationoftheirdispositionandcharacteristics，hebecamebreathlessandpanting。Heranfromonetotheotherlikeadelightedschoolboy，gesticulatingwildly，andutteringincomprehensibleanddisjointedphrasesinallsortsoflanguages。
Hans，theguide，andhishumblercompanionsseatedthemselvesonsomepilesoflavaandlookedsilentlyon。Theyclearlytookmyuncleforalunatic；and-waitedtheresult。
SuddenlytheProfessorutteredawild，unearthlycry。AtfirstI
imaginedhehadlosthisfooting，andwasfallingheadlongintooneoftheyawninggulfs。Nothingofthekind。Isawhim，hisarmsspreadouttotheirwidestextent，hislegsstretchedapart，standinguprightbeforeanenormouspedestal，highenoughandblackenoughtobearagiganticstatueofPluto。Hisattitudeandmienwerethatofamanutterlystupefied。Buthisstupefactionwasspeedilychangedtothewildestjoy。
"Harry!Harry!comehere!"hecried；"makehaste-wonderful-
wonderful!"
Unabletounderstandwhathemeant，Iturnedtoobeyhiscommands。
NeitherHansnortheotherIcelandersmovedastep。
"Look!"saidtheProfessor，insomethingofthemanneroftheFrenchgeneral，pointingoutthepyramidstohisarmy。
Andfullypartakinghisstupefaction，ifnothisjoy，Ireadontheeasternsideofthehugeblockofstone，thesamecharacters，halfeatenawaybythecorrosiveactionoftime，thename，tomeathousandtimesaccursed-
Seeillustration。
"ArneSaknussemm!"criedmyuncle，"now，unbeliever，doyoubegintohavefaith?"
Itwastotallyimpossibleformetoanswerasingleword。Iwentbacktomypileoflava，inastateofsilentawe。Theevidencewasunanswerable，overwhelming!
Inafewmoments，however，mythoughtswerefaraway，backinmyGermanhome，withGretchenandtheoldcook。WhatwouldIhavegivenforoneofmycousin'ssmiles，foroneoftheancientdomestic'somelettes，andformyownfeatherbed!
HowlongIremainedinthisstateIknownot。AllIcansayis，thatwhenatlastIraisedmyheadfrombetweenmyhands，thereremainedatthebottomofthecrateronlymyself，myuncleandHans。TheIcelandicportershadbeendismissedandwerenowdescendingtheexteriorslopesofMountSneffels，ontheirwaytoStapi。HowheartilydidIwishmyselfwiththem!
Hansslepttranquillyatthefootofarockinakindofrilloflava，wherehehadmadehimselfaroughandreadybed。MYunclewaswalkingaboutthebottomofthecraterlikeawildbeastinacage。
Ihadnodesire，neitherhadIthestrength，tomovefrommyrecumbentposition。Takingexamplebytheguide，Igavewaytoakindofpainfulsomnolency，duringwhichIseemedbothtohearandfeelcontinuedheavingsandshudderingsinthemountain。
Inthiswaywepassedourfirstnightintheinteriorofacrater。
Nextmorning，agrey，cloudy，heavyskyhunglikeafunerealpalloverthesummitofthevolcaniccone。Ididnotnoticeitsomuchfromtheobscuritythatreignedaroundus，asfromtheragewithwhichmyunclewasdevoured。
Ifullyunderstoodthereason，andagainaglimpseofhopemademyheartleapwithjoy。Iwillbrieflyexplainthecause。
Ofthethreeopeningswhichyawnedbeneathoursteps，onlyonecouldhavebeenfollowedbytheadventurousSaknussemm。AccordingtothewordsofthelearnedIcelander，itwasonlytobeknownbythatoneparticularmentionedinthecryptograph，thattheshadowofScartarisfelluponit，justtouchingitsmouthinthelastdaysofthemonthofJune。
Wewere，infact，toconsiderthepointedpeakasthestylusofanimmensesun-dial，theshadowofwhichpointedononegivenday，liketheinexorablefingeroffate，totheyawningchasmwhichledintotheinterioroftheearth。
Now，asoftenhappensintheseregions，shouldthesunfailtoburstthroughtheclouds，noshadow。Consequently，nochanceofdiscoveringtherightaperture。Wehadalreadyreachedthe25thJune。Ifthekindlyheavenswouldonlyremaindenselycloudedforsixmoredays，weshouldhavetoputoffourvoyageofdiscoveryforanotheryear，whencertainlytherewouldbeonepersonfewerintheparty。Ialreadyhadsufficientofthemadandmonstrousenterprise。
ItwouldbeutterlyimpossibletodepicttheimpotentrageofProfessorHardwigg。Thedaypassedaway，andnotthefaintestoutlineofashadowcouldbeseenatthebottomofthecrater。Hanstheguidenevermovedfromhisplace。Hemusthavebeencurioustoknowwhatwewereabout，ifindeedhecouldbelievewewereaboutanything。Asformyuncle，heneveraddressedawordtome。Hewasnursinghiswrathtokeepitwarm!Hiseyesfixedontheblackandfoggyatmosphere，hiscomplexionhideouswithsuppressedpassion。
Neverhadhiseyesappearedsofierce，hisnosesoaquiline，hismouthsohardandfirm。
Onthe26thnochangeforthebetter。Amixtureofrainandsnowfellduringthewholeday。HansveryquietlybuilthimselfahutoflavaintowhichheretiredlikeDiogenesintohistub。Itookamaliciousdelightinwatchingthethousandlittlecascadesthatfloweddownthesideofthecone，carryingwiththemattimesastreamofstonesintothe"vastydeep"below。
Myunclewasalmostfrantic:tobesure，itwasenoughtomakeevenapatientmanangry。Hehadreachedtoacertainextentthegoalofhisdesires，andyethewaslikelytobewreckedinport。
Butiftheheavensandtheelementsarecapableofcausingusmuchpainandsorrow，therearetwosidestoamedal。AndtherewasreservedforProfessorHardwiggabrilliantandsuddensurprisewhichwastocompensatehimforallhissufferings。
Nextdaytheskywasstillovercast，butonSunday，the28th，thelastdaybuttwoofthemonth，withasuddenchangeofwindandanewmoontherecameachangeofweather。Thesunpoureditsbeamingraystotheverybottomofthecrater。
Eachhillock，everyrock，everystone，everyasperityofthesoilhaditsshareoftheluminouseffulgence，anditsshadowfellheavilyonthesoil。Amongothers，tohisinsanedelight，theshadowofScartariswasmarkedandclear，andmovedslowlywiththeradiantstartofday。
Myunclemovedwithitinastateofmentalecstasy。
Attwelveo'clockexactly，whenthesunhadattaineditshighestaltitudefortheday，theshadowfellupontheedgeofthecentralpit!
"Hereitis，"gaspedtheProfessorinanagonyofjoy，"hereitis-wehavefoundit。Forward，myfriends，intotheInterioroftheEarth。"
IlookedcuriouslyatHanstoseewhatreplyhewouldmaketothisterrificannouncement。
"Forut，"saidtheguidetranquilly。
"Forwarditis，"answeredmyuncle，whowasnowintheseventhheavenofdelight。
Whenwewerequiteready，ourwatchesindicatedthirteenminutespastone!
CHAPTER14
TheRealJourneyCommencesOURrealjourneyhadnowcommenced。Hithertoourcourageanddeterminationhadovercomealldifficulties。Wewerefatiguedattimes；andthatwasall。Nowwewereabouttoencounterunknownandfearfuldangers。
IhadnotasyetventuredtotakeaglimpsedownthehorribleabyssintowhichinafewminutesmoreIwasabouttoplunge。Thefatalmomenthad，however，atlastarrived。Ihadstilltheoptionofrefusingoracceptingashareinthisfoolishandaudaciousenterprise。ButIwasashamedtoshowmorefearthantheeider-duckhunter。Hansseemedtoacceptthedifficultiesofthejourneysotranquilly，withsuchcalmindifference，withsuchperfectrecklessnessofalldanger，thatIactuallyblushedtoappearlessofamanthanhe!
HadIbeenalonewithmyuncle，Ishouldcertainlyhavesatdownandarguedthepointfully；butinthepresenceoftheguideIheldmytongue。Igaveonemomenttothethoughtofmycharmingcousin，andthenIadvancedtothemouthofthecentralshaft。
Itmeasuredaboutahundredfeetindiameter，whichmadeaboutthreehundredincircumference。Ileanedoverarockwhichstoodonitsedge，andlookeddown。Myhairstoodonend，myteethchattered，mylimbstrembled。Iseemedutterlytolosemycenterofgravity，whilemyheadwasinasortofwhirl，likethatofadrunkenman。Thereisnothingmorepowerfulthanthisattractiontowardsanabyss。Iwasabouttofallheadlongintothegapingwell，whenIwasdrawnbackbyafirmandpowerfulhand。ItwasthatofHans。IhadnottakenlessonsenoughattheFrelser's-KirkofCopenhagenintheartoflookingdownfromloftyeminenceswithoutblinking!
However，fewastheminuteswereduringwhichIgazeddownthistremendousandevenwondrousshaft，Ihadasufficientglimpseofittogivemesomeideaofitsphysicalconformation。Itssides，whichwerealmostasperpendicularasthoseofawell，presentednumerousprojectionswhichdoubtlesswouldassistourdescent。
Itwasasortofwildandsavagestaircase，withoutbannisterorfence。Aropefastenedabove，nearthesurface，wouldcertainlysupportourweightandenableustoreachthebottom，buthow，whenwehadarrivedatitsutmostdepth，werewetoloosenitabove?Thiswas，Ithought，aquestionofsomeimportance。
Myuncle，however，wasoneofthosemenwhoarenearlyalwayspreparedwithexpedients。Hehituponaverysimplemethodofobviatingthisdifficulty。Heunrolledacordaboutasthickasmythumb，andatleastfourhundredfeetinlength。Heallowedabouthalfofittogodownthepitandcatchinahitchoveragreatblockoflavawhichstoodontheedgeoftheprecipice。Thisdone，hethrewthesecondhalfafterthefirst。
Eachofuscouldnowdescendbycatchingthetwocordsinonehand。Whenabouttwohundredfeetbelow，alltheexplorerhadtodowastoletgooneendandpullawayattheother，whenthecordwouldcomefallingathisfeet。Inordertogodownfarther，allthatwasnecessarywastocontinuethesameoperation。
Thiswasaveryexcellentproposition，andnodoubt，acorrectone。Goingdownappearedtomeeasyenough；itwasthecomingupagainthatnowoccupiedmythoughts。
"Now，"saidmyuncle，assoonashehadcompletedthisimportantpreparation，"letusseeaboutthebaggage。Itmustbedividedintothreeseparateparcels，andeachofusmustcarryoneonhisback。I
alludetothemoreimportantandfragilearticles。"
Myworthyandingeniousuncledidnotappeartoconsiderthatwecameunderthedenomination。
"Hans，"hecontinued，"youwilltakechargeofthetoolsandsomeoftheprovisions；you，Harry，musttakepossessionofanotherthirdoftheprovisionsandofthearms。Iwillloadmyselfwiththerestoftheeatables，andwiththemoredelicateinstruments。"
"But，"Iexclaimed，"ourclothes，thismassofcordandladders-whowillundertaketocarrythemdown?
"Theywillgodownofthemselves。"
"Andhowso?"Iasked。
"Youshallsee。"
Myunclewasnotfondofhalfmeasures，nordidhelikeanythinginthewayofhesitation。GivinghisorderstoHanshehadthewholeofthenonfragilearticlesmadeupintoonebundle；andthepacket，firmlyandsolidlyfastened，wassimplypitchedovertheedgeofthegulf。
Iheardthemoaningofthesuddenlydisplacedair，andthenoiseoffallingstones。Myuncleleaningovertheabyssfollowedthedescentofhisluggagewithaperfectlyself-satisfiedair，anddidnotriseuntilithadcompletelydisappearedfromsight。
"Nowthen，"hecried，"itisourturn。"
Iputitingoodfaithtoanymanofcommonsense-wasitpossibletohearthisenergeticcrywithoutashudder?
TheProfessorfastenedhiscaseofinstrumentsonhisback。Hanstookchargeofthetools，Iofthearms。Thedescentthencommencedinthefollowingorder:Hanswentfirst，myunclefollowed，andIwentlast。Ourprogresswasmadeinprofoundsilence-asilenceonlytroubledbythefallofpiecesofrock，whichbreakingfromthejaggedsides，fellwitharoarintothedepthsbelow。
Iallowedmyselftoslide，sotospeak，holdingfranticallyonthedoublecordwithonehandandwiththeotherkeepingmyselfofftherocksbytheassistanceofmyiron-shodpole。Oneideawasallthetimeimpresseduponmybrain。Ifearedthattheuppersupportwouldfailme。Thecordappearedtomefartoofragiletobeartheweightofthreesuchpersonsaswewere，withourluggage。Imadeaslittleuseofitaspossible，trustingtomyownagilityanddoingmiraclesinthewayoffeatsofdexterityandstrengthupontheprojectingshelvesandspursoflavawhichmyfeetseemedtoclutchasstronglyasmyhands。
Theguidewentfirst，Ihavesaid，andwhenoneoftheslipperyandfrailsupportsbrokefromunderhisfeethehadrecoursetohisusualmonosyllabicwayofspeaking。
"Gifakt-"
"Attention-lookout，"repeatedmyuncle。
Inabouthalfanhourwereachedakindofsmallterraceformedbyafragmentofrockprojectingsomedistancefromthesidesoftheshaft。
Hansnowbegantohauluponthecordononesideonly，theothergoingasquietlyupwardastheothercamedown。Itfellatlast，bringingwithitashowerofsmallstones，lavaanddust，adisagreeablekindofrainorhail。
WhilewewereseatedonthisextraordinarybenchIventuredoncemoretolookdownwards。WithasighIdiscoveredthatthebottomwasstillwhollyinvisible。Werewe，then，goingdirecttotheinterioroftheearth?
Theperformancewiththecordrecommenced，andaquarterofanhourlaterwehadreachedtothedepthofanothertwohundredfeet。
Ihaveverystrongdoubtsifthemostdeterminedgeologistwould，duringthatdescent，havestudiedthenatureofthedifferentlayersofeartharoundhim。Ididnottroublemyheadmuchaboutthematter；whetherwewereamongthecombustiblecarbon，Silurians，orprimitivesoil，Ineitherknewnorcaredtoknow。
NotsotheinveterateProfessor。Hemusthavetakennotesallthewaydown，for，atoneofourhalts，hebeganabrieflecture。
"Thefartherweadvance，"saidhe，"thegreaterismyconfidenceintheresult。ThedispositionofthesevolcanicstrataabsolutelyconfirmsthetheoriesofSirHumphryDavy。Wearestillwithintheregionoftheprimordialsoil，thesoilinwhichtookplacethechemicaloperationofmetalsbecominginflamedbycomingincontactwiththeairandwater。Iatonceregrettheoldandnowforeverexplodedtheoryofacentralfire。Atallevents，weshallsoonknowthetruth。"
Suchwastheeverlastingconclusiontowhichhecame。I，however，wasveryfarfrombeinginhumortodiscussthematter。Ihadsomethingelsetothinkof。Mysilencewastakenforconsent；andstillwecontinuedtogodown。
Attheexpirationofthreehours，wewere，toallappearance，asfaroffaseverfromthebottomofthewell。WhenIlookedupwards，however，Icouldseethattheupperorificewaseveryminutedecreasinginsize。Thesidesoftheshaftweregettingcloserandclosertogether，wewereapproachingtheregionsofeternalnight!
Andstillwecontinuedtodescend!
Atlength，Inoticedthatwhenpiecesofstoneweredetachedfromthesidesofthisstupendousprecipice，theywereswallowedupwithlessnoisethanbefore。Thefinalsoundwassoonerheard。Wewereapproachingthebottomoftheabyss!
AsIhadbeenverycarefultokeepaccountofanthechangesofcordwhichtookplace，Iwasabletotellexactlywhatwasthedepthwehadreached，aswellasthetimeithadtaken。
Wehadshiftedtheropetwenty-eighttimes，eachoperationtakingaquarterofanhour，whichinallmadesevenhours。Tothishadtobeaddedtwenty-eightpauses；inalltenhoursandahalf。Westartedatone，itwasnow，therefore，abouteleveno'clockatnight。
Itdoesnotrequiregreatknowledgeofarithmetictoknowthattwenty-eighttimestwohundredfeetmakesfivethousandsixhundredfeetinallmorethananEnglishmile。
WhileIwasmakingthismentalcalculationavoicebrokethesilence。ItwasthevoiceofHans。
"Halt!"hecried。
Icheckedmyselfverysuddenly，justatthemomentwhenIwasabouttokickmyuncleonthehead。
"Wehavereachedtheendofourjourney，"saidtheworthyProfessorinasatisfiedtone。
"What，theinterioroftheearth?"saidI，slippingdowntohisside。
"No，youstupidfellow!butwehavereachedthebottomofthewell。
"AndIsupposethereisnofartherprogresstobemade?"Ihopefullyexclaimed。
"Oh，yes，Icandimlyseeasortoftunnel，whichturnsoffobliquelytotheright。Atallevents，wemustseeaboutthattomorrow。Letussupnow，andseekslumberasbestwemay。"
Ithoughtittime，butmadenoobservationsonthatpoint。Iwasfairlylaunchedonadesperatecourse，andallIhadtodowastogoforwardhopefullyandtrustingly。
Itwasnotevennowquitedark，thelightfilteringdowninamostextraordinarymanner。
Weopenedtheprovisionbag，ateafrugalsupper，andeachdidhisbesttofindabedamidthepileofstones，dirt，andlavawhichhadaccumulatedforagesatthebottomoftheshaft。
Ihappenedtogropeoutthepileofropes，ladders，andclotheswhichwehadthrowndown；anduponthemIstretchedmyself。Aftersuchaday'slabor，myroughbedseemedassoftasdown!
ForawhileIlayinasortofpleasanttrance。
Presently，afterlyingquietlyforsomeminutes，Iopenedmyeyesandlookedupwards。AsIdidsoImadeoutabrilliantlittledot，attheextremityofthislong，gigantictelescope。
Itwasastarwithoutscintillatingrays。Accordingtomycalculation，itmustbeBetaintheconstellationoftheLittleBear。
Afterthislittlebitofastronomicalrecreation，Idroppedintoasoundsleep。
CHAPTER15
WeContinueOurDescentATeighto'clockthenextmorning，afaintkindofdawnofdayawokeus。Thethousandandoneprismsofthelavacollectedthelightasitpassedandbroughtittouslikeashowerofsparks。
Wewereablewitheasetoseeobjectsaroundus。
"Well，Harry，myboy，"criedthedelightedProfessor，rubbinghishandstogether，"whatsayyounow?DidyoueverpassamoretranquilnightinourhouseintheKonigstrasse?Nodeafeningsoundsofcartwheels，nocriesofhawkers，nobadlanguagefromboatmenorwatermen!
"Well，Uncle，wearequiteatthebottomofthiswell-buttomethereissomethingterribleinthiscalm。"
"Why，"saidtheProfessorhotly，"onewouldsayyouwerealreadybeginningtobeafraid。Howwillyougetonpresently?Doyouknow，thatasyet，wehavenotpenetratedoneinchintothebowelsoftheearth。"
"Whatcanyoumean，sir?"wasmybewilderedandastonishedreply。
"Imeantosaythatwehaveonlyjustreachedthesoiloftheislanditself。Thislongverticaltube，whichendsatthebottomofthecraterofSneffels，ceasesherejustaboutonalevelwiththesea。"
"Areyousure，sir?"
"Quitesure。Consultthebarometer。"
Itwasquitetruethatthemercury，afterrisinggraduallyintheinstrument，aslongasourdescentwastakingplace，hadstoppedpreciselyattwenty-ninedegrees。
"Youperceive，"saidtheProfessor，"wehaveasyetonlytoendurethepressureofair。Iamcurioustoreplacethebarometerbythemanometer。"
Thebarometer，infact，wasabouttobecomeuseless-assoonastheweightoftheairwasgreaterthanwhatwascalculatedasabovetheleveloftheocean。
"But，"saidI，"isitnotverymuchtobefearedthatthisever-increasingpressuremaynotintheendturnoutverypainfulandinconvenient?"
"No，"saidhe。"Weshalldescendveryslowly，andourlungswillbegraduallyaccustomedtobreathecompressedair。Itiswellknownthataeronautshavegonesohighastobenearlywithoutairatall-
why，then，shouldwenotaccustomourselvestobreathewhenwehave，say，alittletoomuchofit?Formyself，IamcertainIshallpreferit。Letusnotloseamoment。Whereisthepacketwhichprecededusinourdescent?"
Ismilinglypointeditouttomyuncle。Hanshadnotseenit，andbelieveditcaughtsomewhereaboveus:"Huppe"ashephrasedit。
"Now，"saidmyuncle，"letusbreakfast，andbreakfastlikepeoplewhohavealongday'sworkbeforethem。"
Biscuitanddriedmeat，washeddownbysomemouthfulsofwaterflavoredwithSchiedam，wasthematerialofourluxuriousmeal。
Assoonasitwasfinished，myuncletookfromhispocketanotebookdestinedtobefilledbymemorandaofourtravels。Hehadalreadyplacedhisinstrumentsinorder，andthisiswhathewrote:
Monday，June29thChronometer，8h。17m。morning。
Barometer，29。6inches。
Thermometer，6degrees[43degreesFahr。]
Direction，E。S。E。
Thislastobservationreferredtotheobscuregallery，andwasindicatedtousbythecompass。
"Now，Harry，"criedtheProfessor，inanenthusiastictoneofvoice，"wearetrulyabouttotakeourfirststepintotheInterioroftheEarth；neverbeforevisitedbymansincethefirstcreationoftheworld。Youmayconsider，therefore，thatatthisprecisemomentourtravelsreallycommence。"
Asmyunclemadethisremark，hetookinonehandtheRuhmkorffcoilapparatus，whichhungroundhisneck，andwiththeotherheputtheelectriccurrentintocommunicationwiththewormofthelantern。
Andabrightlightatonceilluminedthatdarkandgloomytunnel!
Theeffectwasmagical!
Hans，whocarriedthesecondapparatus，haditalsoputintooperation。Thisingeniousapplicationofelectricitytopracticalpurposesenabledustomovealongbythelightofanartificialday，amideventheflowofthemostinflammableandcombustiblegases。
"Forward!"criedmyuncle。Eachtookuphisburden。Hanswentfirst，myunclefollowed，andIgoingthird，weenteredthesombergallery!
Justaswewereabouttoengulfourselvesinthisdismalpassage，Iliftedupmyhead，andthroughthetubelikeshaftsawthatIcelandskyIwasnevertoseeagain!
WasitthelastIshouldeverseeofanysky?
Thestreamoflavaflowingfromthebowelsoftheearthin1219
hadforceditselfapassagethroughthetunnel。Itlinedthewholeoftheinsidewithitsthickandbrilliantcoating。Theelectriclightaddedverygreatlytothebrilliancyoftheeffect。
Thegreatdifficultyofourjourneynowbegan。Howwerewetopreventourselvesfromslippingdownthesteeplyinclinedplane?
Happilysomecracks，abrasuresofthesoil，andotherirregularities，servedtheplaceofsteps；andwedescendedslowly；
allowingourheavyluggagetosliponbefore，attheendofalongcord。
Butthatwhichservedasstepsunderourfeetbecameinotherplacesstalactites。Thelava，veryporousincertainplaces，tooktheformoflittleroundblisters。Crystalsofopaquequartz，adornedwithlimpiddropsofnaturalglasssuspendedtotherooflikelusters，seemedtotakefireaswepassedbeneaththem。Onewouldhavefanciedthatthegeniiofromancewereilluminatingtheirundergroundpalacestoreceivethesonsofmen。
"Magnificent，glorious!"Icriedinamomentofinvoluntaryenthusiasm，"Whataspectacle，Uncle!Doyounotadmirethesevariegatedshadesoflava，whichrunthroughawholeseriesofcolors，fromreddishbrowntopaleyellow-bythemostinsensibledegrees?Andthesecrystals，theyappearlikeluminousglobes。"
"Youarebeginningtoseethecharmsoftravel，MasterHarry，"criedmyuncle。"Waitabit，untilweadvancefarther。Whatwehaveasyetdiscoveredisnothing-onwards，myboy，onwards!
Itwouldhavebeenafarmorecorrectandappropriateexpression，hadhesaid，"letusslide，"forweweregoingdownaninclinedplanewithperfectease。Thecompassindicatedthatweweremovinginasoutheasterlydirection。Theflowoflavahadneverturnedtotherightortheleft。Ithadtheinflexibilityofastraightline。
Nevertheless，tomysurprise，wefoundnoperceptibleincreaseinheat。ThisprovedthetheoriesofHumphryDavytobefoundedontruth，andmorethanonceIfoundmyselfexaminingthethermometerinsilentastonishment。
Twohoursafterourdepartureitonlymarkedfifty-fourdegreesFahrenheit。Ihadeveryreasontobelievefromthisthatourdescentwasfarmorehorizontalthanvertical。Asfordiscoveringtheexactdepthtowhichwehadattained，nothingcouldbeeasier。TheProfessorasheadvancedmeasuredtheanglesofdeviationandinclination；buthekepttheresultofhisobservationstohimself。
Abouteighto'clockintheevening，myunclegavethesignalforhalting。Hansseatedhimselfontheground。Thelampswerehungtofissuresinthelavarock。Wewerenowinalargecavernwhereairwasnotwanting。Onthecontrary，itabounded。Whatcouldbethecauseofthis-towhatatmosphericagitationcouldbeascribedthisdraught?
ButthiswasaquestionwhichIdidnotcaretodiscussjustthen。
Fatigueandhungermademeincapableofreasoning。Anunceasingmarchofsevenhourshadnotbeenkeptupwithoutgreatexhaustion。
Iwasreallyandtrulywornout；anddelightedenoughIwastohearthewordHalt。