Hanslaidoutsomeprovisionsonalumpoflava，andweeachsuppedwithkeenrelish。Onething，however，causedusgreatuneasiness-ourwaterreservewasalreadyhalfexhausted。Myunclehadfullconfidenceinfindingsubterraneanresources，buthithertowehadcompletelyfailedinsodoing。Icouldnothelpcallingmyuncle'sattentiontothecircumstance。
"Andyouaresurprisedatthistotalabsenceofsprings?"hesaid。
"Doubtless-Iamveryuneasyonthepoint。Wehavecertainlynotenoughwatertolastusfivedays。"
"Bequiteeasyonthatmatter，"continuedmyuncle。"Ianswerforitweshallfindplentyofwater-infact，farmorethanweshallwant。"
"Butwhen?"
"Whenweoncegetthroughthiscrustoflava。Howcanyouexpectspringstoforcetheirwaythroughthesesolidstonewalls?"
"Butwhatistheretoprovethatthisconcretemassoflavadoesnotextendtothecenteroftheearth?Idon'tthinkwehaveasyetdonemuchinaverticalway。"
"Whatputsthatintoyourhead，myboy?"askedmyunclemildly。
"Well，itappearstomethatifwehaddescendedveryfarbelowthelevelofthesea-weshouldfinditratherhotterthanwehave。"
"Accordingtoyoursystem，"saidmyuncle；"butwhatdoesthethermometersay?"
"ScarcelyfifteendegreesbyReaumur，whichisonlyanincreaseofninesinceourdeparture。"
"Well，andwhatconclusiondoesthatbringyouto?"inquiredtheProfessor。
"ThedeductionIdrawfromthisisverysimple。Accordingtothemostexactobservations，theaugmentationofthetemperatureoftheinterioroftheearthisonedegreeforeveryhundredfeet。Butcertainlocalcausesmayconsiderablymodifythisfigure。ThusatYakoustinSiberia，ithasbeenremarkedthattheheatincreasesadegreeeverythirty-sixfeet。Thedifferenceevidentlydependsontheconductibilityofcertainrocks。Intheneighborhoodofanextinctvolcano，ithasbeenremarkedthattheelevationoftemperaturewasonlyonedegreeineveryfive-and-twentyfeet。Letus，then，gouponthiscalculation-whichisthemostfavorable-andcalculate。
"Calculateaway，myboy。"
"Nothingeasier，"saidI，pullingoutmynotebookandpencil。
"Ninetimesonehundredandtwenty-fivefeetmakeadepthofelevenhundredandtwenty-fivefeet。"
"Archimedescouldnothavespokenmoregeometrically。"
"Well?"
"Well，accordingtomyobservations，weareatleasttenthousandfeetbelowthelevelofthesea。"
"Canitbepossible?"
"Eithermycalculationiscorrect，orthereisnotruthinfigures。"
ThecalculationsoftheProfessorwereperfectlycorrect。Wewerealreadysixthousandfeetdeeperdowninthebowelsoftheearththananyonehadeverbeenbefore。ThelowestknowndepthtowhichmanhadhithertopenetratedwasintheminesofKitzbuhel，intheTirol，andthoseofWurttemberg。
Thetemperature，whichshouldhavebeeneighty-one，wasinthisplaceonlyfifteen。Thiswasamatterforseriousconsideration。
CHAPTER16
TheEasternTunnelTHEnextdaywasTuesday，the30thofJune-andatsixo'clockinthemorningweresumedourjourney。
Westillcontinuedtofollowthegalleryoflava，aperfectnaturalpathway，aseasyofdescentassomeofthoseinclinedplaneswhich，inveryoldGermanhouses，servethepurposeofstaircases。
Thiswentonuntilseventeenminutespasttwelve，thepreciseinstantatwhichwerejoinedHans，who，havingbeensomewhatinadvance，hadsuddenlystopped。
"Atlast，"criedmyuncle，"wehavereachedtheendoftheshaft。"
Ilookedwonderinglyaboutme。Wewereinthecenteroffourcrosspaths-somberandnarrowtunnels。Thequestionnowaroseastowhichitwaswisetotake；andthisofitselfwasnosmalldifficulty。
Myuncle，whodidnotwishtoappeartohaveanyhesitationaboutthematterbeforemyselfortheguide，atoncemadeuphismind。Hepointedquietlytotheeasterntunnel；and，withoutdelay，weenteredwithinitsgloomyrecesses。
Besides，hadheentertainedanyfeelingofhesitationitmighthavebeenprolongedindefinitely，fortherewasnoindicationbywhichtodetermineonachoice。Itwasabsolutelynecessarytotrusttochanceandgoodfortune!
Thedescentofthisobscureandnarrowgallerywasverygradualandwinding。Sometimeswegazedthroughasuccessionofarches，itscourseveryliketheaislesofaGothiccathedral。ThegreatartisticsculptorsandbuildersoftheMiddleAgesmighthaveherecompletedtheirstudieswithadvantage。Manymostbeautifulandsuggestiveideasofarchitecturalbeautywouldhavebeendiscoveredbythem。Afterpassingthroughthisphaseofthecavernousway，wesuddenlycame，aboutamilefartheron，uponasquaresystemofarch，adoptedbytheearlyRomans，projectingfromthesolidrock，andkeepinguptheweightoftheroof。
Suddenlywewouldcomeuponaseriesoflowsubterraneantunnelswhichlookedlikebeaverholes，ortheworkoffoxes-throughwhosenarrowandwindingwayswehadliterallytocrawl!
Theheatstillremainedatquiteasupportabledegree。Withaninvoluntaryshudder，IreflectedonwhattheheatmusthavebeenwhenthevolcanoofSneffelswaspouringitssmoke，flames，andstreamsofboilinglava-allofwhichmusthavecomeupbytheroadwewerenowfollowing。Icouldimaginethetorrentsofhotseethingstonedartingon，bubblingupwithaccompanimentsofsmoke，steam，andsulphurousstench!
"Onlytothinkoftheconsequences，"Imused，"iftheoldvolcanowereoncemoretosettowork。"
Ididnotcommunicatetheseratherunpleasantreflectionstomyuncle。Henotonlywouldnothaveunderstoodthem，butwouldhavebeenintenselydisgusted。Hisonlyideawastogoahead。Hewalked，heslid，heclamberedoverpilesoffragments，herolleddownheapsofbrokenlava，withanearnestnessandconvictionitwasimpossiblenottoadmire。
Atsixo'clockintheevening，afteraverywearisomejourney，butonenotsofatiguingasbefore，wehadmadesixmilestowardsthesouthward，buthadnotgonemorethanamiledownwards。
Myuncle，asusual，gavethesignaltohalt。Weateourmealinthoughtfulsilence，andthenretiredtosleep。
Ourarrangementsforthenightwereveryprimitiveandsimple。A
travelingrug，inwhicheachrolledhimself，wasallourbedding。Wehadnonecessitytofearcoldoranyunpleasantvisit。TravelerswhoburythemselvesinthewildsanddepthsoftheAfricandesert，whoseekprofitandpleasureintheforestsoftheNewWorld，arecompelledtotakeitinturntowatchduringthehoursofsleep；butinthisregionoftheearthabsolutesolitudeandcompletesecurityreignedsupreme。
Wehadnothingtofeareitherfromsavagesorfromwildbeasts。
Afteranight'ssweetrepose，weawokefreshandreadyforaction。
Therebeingnothingtodetainus，westartedonourjourney。Wecontinuedtoburrowthroughthelavatunnelasbefore。Itwasimpossibletomakeoutthroughwhatsoilweweremakingway。Thetunnel，moreover，insteadofgoingdownintothebowelsoftheearth，becameabsolutelyhorizontal。
Ieventhought，aftersomeexamination，thatwewereactuallytendingupwards。Aboutteno'clockinthedaythisstateofthingsbecamesoclearthat，findingthechangeveryfatiguing，Iwasobligedtoslackenmypaceandfinallycometoahalt。
"Well，"saidtheProfessorquickly，"whatisthematter?"
"Thefactis，Iamdreadfullytired，"wasmyearnestreply。
"What，"criedmyuncle，"tiredafterathreehours'walk，andbysoeasyaroad?"
"Easyenough，Idaresay，butveryfatiguing。"
"Buthowcanthatbe，whenallwehavetodoistogodownwards。"
"Ibegyourpardon，sir。ForsometimeIhavenoticedthatwearegoingupwards。"
"Upwards，"criedmyuncle，shrugginghisshoulders，"howcanthatbe?"
"Therecanbenodoubtaboutit。Forthelasthalfhourtheslopeshavebeenupward-andifwegooninthiswaymuchlongerweshallfindourselvesbackinIceland。"
Myuncleshookhisheadwiththeairofamanwhodoesnotwanttobeconvinced。Itriedtocontinuetheconversation。Hewouldnotanswerme，butoncemoregavethesignalfordeparture。HissilenceIthoughtwasonlycausedbyconcentratedill-temper。
Howeverthismightbe，Ioncemoretookupmyload，andboldlyandresolutelyfollowedHans，whowasnowinadvanceofmyuncle。Ididnotliketobebeatenorevendistanced。Iwasnaturallyanxiousnottolosesightofmycompanions。Theveryideaofbeingleftbehind，lostinthatterriblelabyrinth，mademeshiveraswiththeague。
Besides，iftheascendingpathwasmorearduousandpainfultoclamber，Ihadonesourceofsecretconsolationanddelight。Itwastoallappearancetakingusbacktothesurfaceoftheearth。Thatofitselfwashopeful。EverystepItookconfirmedmeinmybelief，andI
beganalreadytobuildcastlesintheairinrelationtomymarriagewithmyprettylittlecousin。
Abouttwelveo'clocktherewasagreatandsuddenchangeintheaspectoftherockysidesofthegallery。Ifirstnoticeditfromthediminutionoftheraysoflightwhichcastbackthereflectionofthelamp。Frombeingcoatedwithshiningandresplendentlava，itbecamelivingrock。Thesideswereslopingwalls，whichsometimesbecamequitevertical。
Wewerenowinwhatthegeologicalprofessorscallastateoftransition，intheperiodofSilurianstones，socalledbecausethisspecimenofearlyformationisverycommoninEnglandinthecountiesformerlyinhabitedbytheCelticnationknownasSilures。
"Icanseeclearlynow，"Icried；"thesedimentfromthewaterswhichoncecoveredthewholeearthformedduringthesecondperiodofitsexistencetheseschistsandthesecalcareousrocks。Weareturningourbacksonthegraniterocks，andarelikepeoplefromHamburgwhowouldgotoLubeckbywayofHanover。"
Imightjustaswellhavekeptmyobservationstomyself。Mygeologicalenthusiasmgotthebetter，however，ofmycoolerjudgment，andProfessorHardwiggheardmyobservations。
"Whatisthematternow?"hesaid，inatoneofgreatgravity。
"Well，"criedI，"doyounotseethesedifferentlayersofcalcareousrocksandthefirstindicationofslatestrata?"
"Well；whatthen?"
"Wehavearrivedatthatperiodoftheworld'sexistencewhenthefirstplantsandthefirstanimalsmadetheirappearance。"
"Youthinkso?"
"Yes，look；examineandjudgeforyourself。"
IinducedtheProfessorwithsomedifficultytocastthelightofhislamponthesidesofthelongwindinggallery。Iexpectedsomeexclamationtoburstfromhislips。Iwasverymuchmistaken。TheworthyProfessorneverspokeaword。
Itwasimpossibletosaywhetherheunderstoodmeornot。Perhapsitwaspossiblethatinhispride-myuncleandalearnedprofessor-hedidnotliketoownthathewaswronginhavingchosentheeasterntunnel，orwashedeterminedatanypricetogototheendofit?Itwasquiteevidentwehadlefttheregionoflava，andthattheroadbywhichweweregoingcouldnottakeusbacktothegreatcraterofMountSneffels。
AswewentalongIcouldnothelpruminatingonthewholequestion，andaskedmyselfifIdidnotlaytoogreatastressonthesesuddenandpeculiarmodificationsoftheearth'scrust。
Afterall，Iwasverylikelytobemistaken-anditwaswithintherangeofprobabilityandpossibilitythatwewerenotmakingourwaythroughthestrataofrockswhichIbelievedIrecognizedpiledonthelowerlayerofgraniticformation。
"Atallevents，ifIamright，"Ithoughttomyself，"Imustcertainlyfindsomeremainsofprimitiveplants，anditwillbeabsolutelynecessarytogivewaytosuchindubitableevidence。Letushaveagoodsearch。"
Iaccordinglylostnoopportunityofsearching，andhadnotgonemorethanaboutahundredyards，whentheevidenceIsoughtforcroppedupinthemostincontestablemannerbeforemyeyes。ItwasquitenaturalthatIshouldexpecttofindthesesigns，forduringtheSilurianperiodtheseascontainednofewerthanfifteenhundreddifferentanimalandvegetablespecies。Myfeet，solongaccustomedtothehardandaridlavasoil，suddenlyfoundthemselvestreadingonakindofsoftdust，theremainsofplantsandshells。
UponthewallsthemselvesIcouldclearlymakeouttheoutline，asplainasasunpicture，ofthefucusandthelycopods。TheworthyandexcellentProfessorHardwiggcouldnotofcoursemakeanymistakeaboutthematter；butIbelievehedeliberatelyclosedhiseyes，andcontinuedonhiswaywithafirmandunalterablestep。
Ibegantothinkthathewascarryinghisobstinacyagreatdealtoofar。Icouldnolongeractwithprudenceorcomposure。Istoopedonasuddenandpickedupanalmostperfectshell，whichhadundoubtedlybelongedtosomeanimalverymuchresemblingsomeofthepresentday。Havingsecuredtheprize，Ifollowedinthewakeofmyuncle。
"Doyouseethis?"Isaid。
"Well，saidtheProfessor，withthemostimperturbabletranquillity，"itistheshellofacrustaceousanimaloftheextinctorderofthetrilobites；nothingmore，Iassureyou。"
"But，criedI，muchtroubledathiscoolness，"doyoudrawnoconclusionfromit?"
"Well，ifImayask，whatconclusiondoyoudrawfromityourself?"
"Well，Ithought-"
"Iknow，myboy，whatyouwouldsay，andyouareright，perfectlyandincontestablyright。Wehavefinallyabandonedthecrustoflavaandtheroadbywhichthelavaascended。ItisquitepossiblethatI
mayhavebeenmistaken，butIshallbeunabletodiscovermyerroruntilIgettotheendofthisgallery。"
"Youarequiterightasfarasthatisconcerned"'Ireplied，"andI
shouldhighlyapproveofyourdecision，ifwehadnottofearthegreatestofalldangers。"
"Andwhatisthat?"
"Wantofwater。"
"Well，mydearHenry，itcan'tbehelped。Wemustputourselvesonrations。"
Andonhewent。
CHAPTER17
DeeperandDeeperINtruth，wewerecompelledtoputourselvesuponrations。Oursupplywouldcertainlylastnotmorethanthreedays。Ifoundthisoutaboutsuppertime。Theworstpartofthematterwasthat，inwhatiscalledthetransitionrocks，itwashardlytobeexpectedweshouldmeetwithwater!
Ihadreadofthehorrorsofthirst，andIknewthatwherewewere，abrieftrialofitssufferingswouldputanendtoouradventures-andourlives!Butitwasutterlyuselesstodiscussthematterwithmyuncle。HewouldhaveansweredbysomeaxiomfromPlato。
Duringthewholeofnextdayweproceededonourjourneythroughthisinterminablegallery，archafterarch，tunnelaftertunnel。Wejourneyedwithoutexchangingaword。WehadbecomeasmuteandreticentasHans，ourguide。
Theroadhadnolongeranupwardtendency；atallevents，ifithad，itwasnottobemadeoutveryclearly。Sometimestherecouldbenodoubtthatweweregoingdownwards。Butthisinclinationwasscarcelytobedistinguished，andwasbynomeansreassuringtotheProfessor，becausethecharacterofthestratawasinnowisemodified，andthetransitioncharacteroftherocksbecamemoreandmoremarked。
Itwasaglorioussighttoseehowtheelectriclightbroughtoutthesparklesinthewallsofthecalcareousrocks，andtheoldredsandstone。OnemighthavefanciedoneselfinoneofthosedeepcuttingsinDevonshire，whichhavegiventheirnametothiskindofsoil。Somemagnificentspecimensofmarbleprojectedfromthesidesofthegallery:someofanagategreywithwhiteveinsofvariegatedcharacter，othersofayellowspottedcolor，withredveins；fartheroffmightbeseensamplesofcolorinwhichcherry-tintedseamsweretobefoundinalltheirbrightestshades。
Thegreaternumberofthesemarbleswerestampedwiththemarksofprimitiveanimals。Sincethepreviousevening，natureandcreationhadmadeconsiderableprogress。Insteadoftherudimentarytrilobites，I
perceivedtheremainsofamoreperfectorder。Amongothers，thefishinwhichtheeyeofageologisthasbeenabletodiscoverthefirstformofthereptile。
TheDevonianseaswereinhabitedbyavastnumberofanimalsofthisspecies，whichweredepositedintensofthousandsintherocksofnewformation。
Itwasquiteevidenttomethatwewereascendingthescaleofanimallifeofwhichmanformsthesummit。Myexcellentuncle，theProfessor，appearednottotakenoticeofthesewarnings。Hewasdeterminedatanyrisktoproceed。
Hemusthavebeeninexpectationofoneoftwothings；eitherthataverticalwellwasabouttoopenunderhisfeet，andthusallowhimtocontinuehisdescent，orthatsomeinsurmountableobstaclewouldcompelustostopandgobackbytheroadwehadsolongtraveled。Buteveningcameagain，and，tomyhorror，neitherhopewasdoomedtoberealized!
OnFriday，afteranightwhenIbegantofeelthegnawingagonyofthirst，andwheninconsequenceappetitedecreased，ourlittlebandroseandoncemorefollowedtheturningsandwindings，theascentsanddescents，ofthisinterminablegallery。Allweresilentandgloomy。
Icouldseethatevenmyunclehadventuredtoofar。
Afterabouttenhoursoffurtherprogress-aprogressdullandmonotonoustothelastdegree-Iremarkedthatthereverberation，andreflectionofourlampsuponthesidesofthetunnel，hadsingularlydiminished。Themarble，theschist，thecalcareousrocks，theredsandstone，haddisappeared，leavingintheirplacesadarkandgloomywall，somberandwithoutbrightness。Whenwereachedaremarkablynarrowpartofthetunnel，Ileanedmylefthandagainsttherock。
WhenItookmyhandaway，andhappenedtoglanceatit，itwasquiteblack。WehadreachedthecoalstrataoftheCentralEarth。
"Acoalmine!"Icried。
"Acoalminewithoutminers，"respondedmyuncle，alittleseverely。
"Howcanwetell?"
"Icantell，"repliedmyuncle，inasharpanddoctorialtone。"Iamperfectlycertainthatthisgallerythroughsuccessivelayersofcoalwasnotcutbythehandofman。Butwhetheritistheworkofnatureornotisoflittleconcerntous。Thehourforoureveningmealhascome-letussup。
Hans，theguide，occupiedhimselfinpreparingfood。IhadcometothatpointwhenIcouldnolongereat。AllIcaredaboutwerethefewdropsofwaterwhichfelltomyshare。WhatIsuffereditisuselesstorecord。Theguide'sgourd，notquitehalffull，wasallthatwasleftforusthree!
Havingfinishedtheirrepast，mytwocompanionslaidthemselvesdownupontheirrugs，andfoundinsleeparemedyfortheirfatigueandsufferings。Asforme，Icouldnotsleep，Ilaycountingthehoursuntilmorning。
Thenextmorning，Saturday，atsixo'clock，westartedagain。Twentyminuteslaterwesuddenlycameuponavastexcavation。FromitsmightyextentIsawatoncethatthehandofmancouldhavehadnothingtodowiththiscoalmine；thevaultabovewouldhavefallenin；asitwas，itwasonlyheldtogetherbysomemiracleofnature。
Thismightynaturalcavernwasaboutahundredfeetwide，byaboutahundredandfiftyhigh。Theearthhadevidentlybeencastapartbysomeviolentsubterraneancommotion。Themass，givingwaytosomeprodigiousupheavingofnature，hadsplitintwo，leavingthevastgapintowhichweinhabitantsoftheearthhadpenetratedforthefirsttime。
Thewholesingularhistoryofthecoalperiodwaswrittenonthosedarkandgloomywalls。Ageologistwouldhavebeenableeasilytofollowthedifferentphasesofitsformation。Theseamsofcoalwereseparatedbystrataofsandstone，acompactclay，whichappearedtobecrusheddownbytheweightfromabove。
Atthatperiodoftheworldwhichprecededthesecondaryepoch，theearthwascoveredbyacoatingofenormousandrichvegetation，duetothedoubleactionoftropicalheatandperpetualhumidity。A
vastatmosphericcloudofvaporsurroundedtheearthonallsides，preventingtheraysofthesunfromeverreachingit。
Hencetheconclusionthattheseintenseheatsdidnotarisefromthisnewsourceofcaloric。
Perhapseventhestarofdaywasnotquitereadyforitsbrilliantwork-toillumineauniverse。Climatesdidnotasyetexist，andalevelheatpervadedthewholesurfaceoftheglobe-thesameheatexistingattheNorthPoleasattheequator。
Whencediditcome?Fromtheinterioroftheearth?
InspiteofallthelearnedtheoriesofProfessorHardwigg，afierceandvehementfirecertainlyburnedwithintheentrailsofthegreatspheroid。Itsactionwasfelteventotheverytopmostcrustoftheearth；theplantstheninexistence，beingdeprivedofthevivifyingraysofthesun，hadneitherbuds，norflowers，norodor，buttheirrootsdrewastrongandvigorouslifefromtheburningearthofearlydays。
Therewerebutfewofwhatmaybecalledtrees-onlyherbaceousplants，immenseturfs，briers，mosses，rarefamilies，which，however，inthosedayswerecountedbytensandtensofthousands。
Itisentirelytothisexuberantvegetationthatcoalowesitsorigin。Thecrustofthevastglobestillyieldedundertheinfluenceoftheseething，boilingmass，whichwasforeveratworkbeneath。Hencearosenumerousfissures，andcontinualfallinginoftheupperearth。Thedensemassofplantsbeingbeneaththewaters，soonformedthemselvesintovastagglomerations。
Thencameabouttheactionofnaturalchemistry；inthedepthsoftheoceanthevegetablemassatfirstbecameturf，then，thankstotheinfluenceofgasesandsubterraneanfermentation，theyunderwentthecompleteprocessofmineralization。
Inthismanner，inearlydays，wereformedthosevastandprodigiouslayersofcoal，whichanever-increasingconsumptionmustutterlyuseupinaboutthreecenturiesmore，ifpeopledonotfindsomemoreeconomiclightthangas，andsomecheapermotivepowerthansteam。
Allthesereflections，thememoriesofmyschoolstudies，cametomymindwhileIgazeduponthesemightyaccumulationsofcoal，whoseriches，however，arescarcelylikelytobeeverutilized。Theworkingoftheseminescouldonlybecarriedoutatanexpensethatwouldneveryieldaprofit。
Thematter，however，isscarcelyworthyconsideration，whencoalisscatteredoverthewholesurfaceoftheglobe，withinafewyardsoftheuppercrust。AsIlookedattheseuntouchedstrata，therefore，Iknewtheywouldremainaslongastheworldlasts。
Whilewestillcontinuedourjourney，Ialoneforgotthelengthoftheroad，bygivingmyselfupwhollytothesegeologicalconsiderations。Thetemperaturecontinuedtobeverymuchthesameaswhileweweretravelingamidthelavaandtheschists。Ontheotherhandmysenseofsmellwasmuchaffectedbyaverypowerfulodor。I
immediatelyknewthatthegallerywasfilledtooverflowingwiththatdangerousgastheminerscallfiredamp，theexplosionofwhichhascausedsuchfearfulandterribleaccidents，makingahundredwidowsandhundredsoforphansinasinglehour。
Happily，wewereabletoillumineourprogressbymeansoftheRuhmkorffapparatus。Ifwehadbeensorashandimprudentastoexplorethisgallery，torchinhand，aterribleexplosionwouldhaveputanendtoourtravels，simplybecausenotravelerswouldbeleft。
Ourexcursionthroughthiswondrouscoalmineintheverybowelsoftheearthlasteduntilevening。Myunclewasscarcelyabletoconcealhisimpatienceanddissatisfactionattheroadcontinuingstilltoadvanceinahorizontaldirection。
Thedarkness，denseandopaqueafewyardsinadvanceandintherear，rendereditimpossibletomakeoutwhatwasthelengthofthegallery。Formyself，Ibegantobelievethatitwassimplyinterminable，andwouldgooninthesamemannerformonths。
Suddenly，atsixo'clock，westoodinfrontofawall。Totheright，totheleftabove，below，nowherewasthereanypassage。Wehadreachedaspotwheretherockssaidinunmistakableaccents-NoThoroughfare。
Istoodstupefied。Theguidesimplyfoldedhisarms。Myunclewassilent。
"Well，well，somuchthebetter，"criedmyuncle，atlast，"Inowknowwhatweareabout。WearedecidedlynotupontheroadfollowedbySaknussemm。Allwehavetodoistogoback。Letustakeonenight'sgoodrest，andbeforethreedaysareover，Ipromiseyouweshallhaveregainedthepointwherethegalleriesdivided。"
"Yes，wemay，ifourstrengthlastsaslong，"Icried，inalamentablevoice。
"Andwhynot?"
"Tomorrow，amongusthree，therewillnotbeadropofwater。Itisjustgone。"
"Andyourcouragewithit，"saidmyuncle，speakinginaseveretone。
WhatcouldIsay?Iturnedroundonmyside，andfromsheerexhaustionfellintoaheavysleepdisturbedbydreamsofwater!AndI
awokeunrefreshed。
Iwouldhavebarteredadiamondmineforaglassofpurespringwater!
CHAPTER18
TheWrongRoad!
NEXTday，ourdeparturetookplaceataveryearlyhour。Therewasnotimefortheleastdelay。Accordingtomyaccount，wehadfivedays'hardworktogetbacktotheplacewherethegalleriesdivided。
Icannevertellallthesufferingsweendureduponourreturn。Myuncleborethemlikeamanwhohasbeeninthewrong-thatis，withconcentratedandsuppressedanger；Hans，withalltheresignationofhispacificcharacter；andI-IconfessthatIdidnothingbutcomplain，anddespair。Ihadnoheartforthisbadfortune。
Buttherewasoneconsolation。Defeatattheoutsetwouldprobablyupsetthewholejourney!
AsIhadexpectedfromthefirst，oursupplyofwatergavecompletelyoutonourfirstday'smarch。OurprovisionofliquidswasreducedtooursupplyofSchiedam；butthishorrible-nay，I
willsayit-thisinfernalliquorburntthethroat，andIcouldnotevenbearthesightofit。Ifoundthetemperaturetobestifling。I
wasparalyzedwithfatigue。MorethanonceIwasabouttofallinsensibletotheground。Thewholepartythenhalted，andtheworthyIcelanderandmyexcellentuncledidtheirbesttoconsoleandcomfortme。Icould，however，plainlyseethatmyunclewascontendingpainfullyagainsttheextremefatiguesofourjourney，andtheawfultorturegeneratedbytheabsenceofwater。
AtlengthatimecamewhenIceasedtorecollectanything-whenallwasoneawfullhideous，fantasticdream!
Atlast，onTuesday，theseventhofthemonthofJuly，aftercrawlingonourhandsandkneesformanyhours，moredeadthanalive，wereachedthepointofjunctionbetweenthegalleries。Ilaylikealog，aninertmassofhumanfleshonthearidlavasoil。Itwasthenteninthemorning。
Hansandmyuncle，leaningagainstthewall，triedtonibbleawayatsomepiecesofbiscuit，whiledeepgroansandsighsescapedfrommyscorchedandswollenlips。ThenIfelloffintoakindofdeeplethargy。
PresentlyIfeltmyuncleapproach，andliftmeuptenderlyinhisarms。
"Poorboy，"Iheardhimsayinatoneofdeepcommiseration。
Iwasprofoundlytouchedbythesewords，beingbynomeansaccustomedtosignsofwomanlyweaknessintheProfessor。Icaughthistremblinghandsinmineandgavethemagentlepressure。Heallowedmetodosowithoutresistance，lookingatmekindlyallthetime。Hiseyeswerewetwithtears。
Ithensawhimtakethegourdwhichheworeathisside。Tomysurprise，orrathertomystupefaction，heplacedittomylips。
"Drink，myboy，"hesaid。
Wasitpossiblemyearshadnotdeceivedme?Wasmyunclemad?I
lookedathim，with，Iamsure，quiteanidioticexpression。Icouldnotbelievehim。Itoomuchfearedthecounteractionofdisappointment。
"Drink"'hesaidagain。
HadIheardaright?Before，however，Icouldaskmyselfthequestionasecondtime，amouthfulofwatercooledmyparchedlipsandthroat-onemouthful，butIdobelieveitbroughtmebacktolife。
Ithankedmyunclebyclaspingmyhands。Myheartwastoofulltospeak。
"Yes，"saidhe，"onemouthfulofwater，theverylast-doyouhear，myboy-theverylast!Ihavetakencareofitatthebottomofmybottleastheappleofmyeye。Twentytimes，ahundredtimes，Ihaveresistedthefearfuldesiretodrinkit。But-no-no，Harry，Isaveditforyou。"
"Mydearuncle，"Iexclaimed，andthebigtearsrolleddownmyhotandfeverishcheeks。
"Yes，mypoorboy，Iknewthatwhenyoureachedthisplace，thiscrossroadintheearth，youwouldfalldownhalfdead，andIsavedmylastdropofwaterinordertorestoreyou。
"Thanks，"Icried；"thanksfrommyheart。"
Aslittleasmythirstwasreallyquenched，Ihadneverthelesspartiallyrecoveredmystrength。Thecontractedmusclesofmythroatrelaxed-andtheinflammationofmylipsinsomemeasuresubsided。
Atallevents，Iwasabletospeak。
"Well，"Isaid，"therecanbenodoubtnowastowhatwehavetodo。
Waterhasutterlyfailedus；ourjourneyisthereforeatanend。Letusreturn。"
WhileIspokethus，myuncleevidentlyavoidedmyface:hehelddownhishead；hiseyeswereturnedineverypossibledirectionbuttherightone。
"Yes，"Icontinued，gettingexcitedbymyownwords，wemustgobacktoSneffels。Mayheavengiveusstrengthtoenableusoncemoretorevisitthelightofday。Wouldthatwenowstoodonthesummitofthecrater。"
"Goback，"saidmyuncle，speakingtohimself，"andmustitbeso?"
"Goback-yes，andwithoutlosingasinglemoment"，Ivehementlycried。
Forsomemomentstherewassilenceunderthatdarkandgloomyvault。
"So，mydearHarry，"saidtheProfessorinaverysingulartoneofvoice，"thosefewdropsofwaterhavenotsufficedtorestoreyourenergyandcourage。"
"Courage!"Icried。
"Iseethatyouarequiteasdowncastasbefore-andstillgivewaytodiscouragementanddespair。"
What，then，wasthemanmadeof，andwhatotherprojectswereenteringhisfertileandaudaciousbrain!
"Youarenotdiscouraged，sir?"
"What!Giveupjustasweareonthevergeofsuccess?"hecried。
"Never，nevershallitbesaidthatProfessorHardwiggretreated。"
"Thenwemustmakeupourmindstoperish，"Icriedwithahelplesssigh。
"No，Harry，myboy，certainlynot。Go，leaveme，Iamveryfarfromdesiringyourdeath。TakeHanswithyou。Iwillgoonalone。"
"Youaskustoleaveyou?"
"Leaveme，Isay。Ihaveundertakenthisdangerousandperilousadventure。Iwillcarryittotheend-orIwillneverreturntothesurfaceofMotherEarth。Go，Harry-oncemoreIsaytoyou-go!"
Myuncleashespokewasterriblyexcited。Hisvoice，whichbeforehadbeentender，almostwomanly，becameharshandmenacing。Heappearedtobestrugglingwithdesperateenergyagainsttheimpossible。Ididnotwishtoabandonhimatthebottomofthatabyss，while，ontheotherhand，theinstinctofpreservationtoldmetofly。
Meanwhile，ourguidewaslookingonwithprofoundcalmnessandindifference。Heappearedtobeanunconcernedparty，andyetheperfectlywellknewwhatwasgoingonbetweenus。Ourgesturessufficientlyindicatedthedifferentroadseachwishedtofollow-andwhicheachtriedtoinfluencetheothertoundertake。ButHansappearednottotaketheslightestinterestinwhatwasreallyaquestionoflifeanddeathforusall，butwaitedquitereadytoobeythesignalwhichshouldsaygoaloft，ortoresumehisdesperatejourneyintotheinterioroftheearth。
HowthenIwishedwithallmyheartandsoulthatIcouldmakehimunderstandmywords。Myrepresentations，mysighsandgroans，theearnestaccentsinwhichIshouldhavespokenwouldhaveconvincedthatcold，hardnature。Thosefearfuldangersandperilsofwhichthestolidguidehadnoidea，Iwouldhavepointedthemouttohim-