Iwouldhave，asitwere，madehimseeandfeel。Betweenus，wemighthaveconvincedtheobstinateProfessor。Iftheworsthadcometotheworst，wecouldhavecompelledhimtoreturntothesummitofSneffels。
IquietlyapproachedHans。Icaughthishandinmine。Henevermovedamuscle。Iindicatedtohimtheroadtothetopofthecrater。Heremainedmotionless。Mypantingform，myhaggardcountenance，musthaveindicatedtheextentofmysufferings。TheIcelandergentlyshookhisheadandpointedtomyuncle。
"Master，"hesaid。
ThewordisIcelandicaswellasEnglish。
"Themaster!"Icried，besidemyselfwithfury-"madman!no-I
tellyouheisnotthemasterofourlives；wemustfly!wemustdraghimwithus!doyouhearme?Doyouunderstandme，Isay?"
IhavealreadyexplainedthatIheldHansbythearm。Itriedtomakehimrisefromhisseat。Istruggledwithhimandtriedtoforcehimaway。Myunclenowinterposed。
"MygoodHenry，becalm，"hesaid。"Youwillobtainnothingfrommydevotedfollower；therefore，listentowhatIhavetosay。"
Ifoldedmyarms，aswellasIcould，andlookedmyunclefullintheface。
"Thiswretchedwantofwater，"hesaid，"isthesoleobstacletothesuccessofmyproject。Intheentiregallery，madeoflava，schist，andcoal，itistruewefoundnotoneliquidmolecule。Itisquitepossiblethatwemaybemorefortunateinthewesterntunnel。"
Mysolereplywastoshakemyheadwithanairofdeepincredulity。
"Listentometotheend，"saidtheProfessorinhiswell-knownlecturingvoice。"Whileyoulayyonderwithoutlifeormotion，I
undertookareconnoiteringjourneyintotheconformationofthisothergallery。Ihavediscoveredthatitgoesdirectlydownwardsintothebowelsoftheearth，andinafewhourswilltakeustotheoldgraniticformation。Inthisweshallundoubtedlyfindinnumerablesprings。Thenatureoftherockmakesthisamathematicalcertainty，andinstinctagreeswithlogictosaythatitisso。Now，thisistheseriouspropositionwhichIhavetomaketoyou。WhenChristopherColumbusaskedofhismenthreedaystodiscoverthelandofpromise，hismenill，terrified，andhopeless，yetgavehimthreedays-andtheNewWorldwasdiscovered。NowI，theChristopherColumbusofthissubterraneanregion，onlyaskofyouonemoreday。
If，whenthattimeisexpired，Ihavenotfoundthewaterofwhichweareinsearch，Isweartoyou，Iwillgiveupmymightyenterpriseandreturntotheearth'ssurface。"
Despitemyirritationanddespair，Iknewhowmuchitcostmyuncletomakethisproposition，andtoholdsuchconciliatorylanguage。Underthecircumstances，whatcouldIdobutyield?
"Well，"Icried，"letitbeasyouwish，andmayheavenrewardyoursuperhumanenergy。Butas，unlesswediscoverwater，ourhoursarenumbered，letuslosenotime，butgoahead。"
CHAPTER19
ANewRouteOURdescentwasnowresumedbymeansofthesecondgallery。Hanstookuphispostinfrontasusual。WehadnotgonemorethanahundredyardswhentheProfessorcarefullyexaminedthewalls。
"Thisistheprimitiveformation-weareontherightroad-
onwardsisourhope!"
Whenthewholeearthgotcoolinthefirsthoursoftheworld'smorning，thediminutionofthevolumeoftheearthproducedastateofdislocationinitsuppercrust，followedbyruptures，crevassesandfissures。Thepassagewasafissureofthiskind，throughwhich，agesago，hadflowedtheeruptivegranite。Thethousandwindingsandturningsformedaninextricablelabyrinththroughtheancientsoil。
Aswedescended，successionsoflayerscomposingtheprimitivesoilappearedwiththeutmostfidelityofdetail。Geologicalscienceconsidersthisprimitivesoilasthebaseofthemineralcrust，andithasrecognizedthatitiscomposedofthreedifferentstrataorlayers，allrestingontheimmovablerockknownasgranite。
Nomineralogistshadevenfoundthemselvesplacedinsuchamarvelouspositiontostudynatureinallherrealandnakedbeauty。
Thesoundingrod，ameremachine，couldnotbringtothesurfaceoftheearththeobjectsofvalueforthestudyofitsinternalstructure，whichwewereabouttoseewithourowneyes，totouchwithourownhands。
RememberthatIamwritingthisafterthejourney。
Acrossthestreakoftherocks，coloredbybeautifulgreentints，woundmetallicthreadsofcopper，ofmanganese，withtracesofplatinumandgold。IcouldnothelpgazingattheserichesburiedintheentrailsofMotherEarth，andofwhichnomanwouldhavetheenjoymenttotheendoftime!Thesetreasures-mightyandinexhaustible，wereburiedinthemorningoftheearth'shistory，atsuchawfuldepths，thatnocrowbarorpickaxwilleverdragthemfromtheirtomb!
ThelightofourRuhmkorff'scoil，increasedtenfoldbythemyriadofprismaticmassesofrock，sentitsjetsoffireineverydirection，andIcouldfancymyselftravelingthroughahugehollowdiamond，theraysofwhichproducedmyriadsofextraordinaryeffects。
Towardssixo'clock，thisfestivaloflightbegansensiblyandvisiblytodecrease，andsoonalmostceased。Thesidesofthegalleryassumedacrystallizedtint，withasomberhue；whitemicabegantocomminglemorefreelywithfeldsparandquartz，toformwhatmaybecalledthetruerock-thestonewhichishardaboveall，thatsupports，withoutbeingcrushed，thefourstoriesoftheearth'ssoil。
Wewerewalledbyanimmenseprisonofgranite!
Itwasnoweighto'clock，andstilltherewasnosignofwater。
ThesufferingsIenduredwerehorrible。Myunclenowkeptattheheadofourlittlecolumn。Nothingcouldinducehimtostop。I，meanwhile，hadbutonerealthought。Myearwaskeenlyonthewatchtocatchthesoundofaspring。Butnopleasantsoundoffallingwaterfelluponmylisteningear。
Butatlastthetimecamewhenmylimbsrefusedtocarrymelonger。IcontendedheroicallyagainsttheterribletorturesI
endured，becauseIdidnotwishtocompelmyuncletohalt。TohimI
knewthiswouldbethelastfatalstroke。
SuddenlyIfeltadeadlyfaintnesscomeoverme。Myeyescouldnolongersee；mykneesshook。Igaveonedespairingcry-andfell!
"Help，help，Iamdying!
Myuncleturnedandslowlyretracedhissteps。Helookedatmewithfoldedarms，andthenallowedonesentencetoescape，inhollowaccents，fromhislips:
"Allisover。"
ThelastthingIsawwasafacefearfullydistortedwithpainandsorrow；andthenmyeyesclosed。
WhenIagainopenedthem，Isawmycompanionslyingnearme，motionless，wrappedintheirhugetravelingrugs。Weretheyasleepordead?Formyself，sleepwaswhollyoutofthequestion。Myfaintingfitover，Iwaswakefulasthelark。Isufferedtoomuchforsleeptovisitmyeyelids-themore，thatIthoughtmyselfsickuntodeath-dying。Thelastwordsspokenbymyuncleseemedtobebuzzinginmyears-allisover!Anditwasprobablethathewasright。InthestateofprostrationtowhichIwasreduced，itwasmadnesstothinkofeveragainseeingthelightofday。
Aboveweremilesuponmilesoftheearth'scrust。AsIthoughtofit，Icouldfancythewholeweightrestingonmyshoulders。Iwascrushed，annihilated!andexhaustedmyselfinvainattemptstoturninmygranitebed。
Hoursuponhourspassedaway。Aprofoundandterriblesilencereignedaroundus-asilenceofthetomb。Nothingcouldmakeitselfheardthroughthesegiganticwallsofgranite。Theverythoughtwasstupendous。
Presently，despitemyapathy，despitethekindofdeadlycalmintowhichIwascast，somethingarousedme。Itwasaslightbutpeculiarnoise。WhileIwaswatchingintently，Iobservedthatthetunnelwasbecomingdark。Thengazingthroughthedimlightthatremained，I
thoughtIsawtheIcelandertakinghisdeparture，lampinhand。
Whyhadheactedthus?DidHanstheguidemeantoabandonus?Myunclelayfastasleep-ordead。Itriedtocryout，andarousehim。Myvoice，feeblyissuingfrommyparchedandfeveredlips，foundnoechointhatfearfulplace。Mythroatwasdry，mytonguestucktotheroofofmymouth。Theobscurityhadbythistimebecomeintense，andatlasteventhefaintsoundoftheguide'sfootstepswaslostintheblankdistance。Mysoulseemedfilledwithanguish，anddeathappearedwelcome，onlyletitcomequickly。
"Hansisleavingus，"Icried。"Hans-Hans，ifyouareaman，comeback。"
Thesewordswerespokentomyself。Theycouldnotbeheardaloud。
Nevertheless，afterthefirstfewmomentsofterrorwereover，Iwasashamedofmysuspicionsagainstamanwhohithertohadbehavedsoadmirably。Nothinginhisconductorcharacterjustifiedsuspicion。
Moreover，amoment'sreflectionreassuredme。Hisdeparturecouldnotbeaflight。Insteadofascendingthegallery，hewasgoingdeeperdownintothegulf。Hadhehadanybaddesign，hiswaywouldhavebeenupwards。
ThisreasoningcalmedmealittleandIbegantohope!
Thegood，andpeaceful，andimperturbableHanswouldcertainlynothavearisenfromhissleepwithoutsomeseriousandgravemotive。
Washebentonavoyageofdiscovery?Duringthedeep，stillsilenceofthenighthadheatlastheardthatsweetmurmuraboutwhichwewereallsoanxious?
CHAPTER20
ABitterDisappointmentDURINGalong，long，wearyhour，therecrossedmywildlydeliriousbrainallsortsofreasonsastowhatcouldhavearousedourquietandfaithfulguide。Themostabsurdandridiculousideaspassedthroughmyhead，eachmoreimpossiblethantheother。IbelieveIwaseitherhalforwhollymad。
Suddenly，however，therearose，asitwerefromthedepthsoftheearth，avoiceofcomfort。Itwasthesoundoffootsteps!Hanswasreturning。
Presentlytheuncertainlightbegantoshineuponthewallsofthepassage，andthenitcameinviewfardowntheslopingtunnel。AtlengthHanshimselfappeared。
Heapproachedmyuncle，placedhishanduponhisshoulder，andgentlyawakenedhim。Myuncle，assoonashesawwhoitwas，instantlyarose。
"Well!"exclaimedtheProfessor。
"Vatten，"saidthehunter。
IdidnotknowasinglewordoftheDanishlanguage，andyetbyasortofmysteriousinstinctIunderstoodwhattheguidehadsaid。
"Water，water!"Icried，inawildandfrantictone，clappingmyhands，andgesticulatinglikeamadman。
"Water!"murmuredmyuncle，inavoiceofdeepemotionandgratitude。"Hvar?""Where?
"Nedat。""Below。"
"Where?below!"Iunderstoodeveryword。Ihadcaughtthehunterbythehands，andIshookthemheartily，whilehelookedonwithperfectcalmness。
Thepreparationsforourdeparturedidnottakelong，andweweresoonmakingarapiddescentintothetunnel。
Anhourlaterwehadadvancedathousandyards，anddescendedtwothousandfeet。
AtthismomentIheardanaccustomedandwell-knownsoundrunningalongthefloorsofthegraniterock-akindofdullandsullenroar，likethatofadistantwaterfall。
Duringthefirsthalfhourofouradvance，notfindingthediscoveredspring，myfeelingsofintensesufferingappearedtoreturn。OncemoreIbegantoloseallhope。Myuncle，however，observinghowdownheartedIwasagainbecoming，tookuptheconversation。
"Hanswasright，"heexclaimedenthusiastically；"thatisthedullroaringofatorrent。"
"Atorrent，"Icried，delightedatevenhearingthewelcomewords。
"There'snottheslightestdoubtaboutithereplied，"asubterraneanriverisflowingbesideus。"
Imadenoreply，buthastenedon，oncemoreanimatedbyhope。I
begannoteventofeelthedeepfatiguewhichhithertohadoverpoweredme。Theverysoundofthisgloriousmurmuringwateralreadyrefreshedme。Wecouldhearitincreasinginvolumeeverymoment。
Thetorrent，whichforalongtimecouldbeheardflowingoverourheads，nowrandistinctlyalongtheleftwall，roaring，rushing，spluttering，andstillfalling。
SeveraltimesIpassedmyhandacrosstherockhopingtofindsometraceofhumidity-oftheslightestpercolation。Alas!invain。
Againahalfhourpassedinthesamewearytoil。Againweadvanced。
Itnowbecameevidentthatthehunter，duringhisabsence，hadnotbeenabletocarryhisresearchesanyfarther。Guidedbyaninstinctpeculiartothedwellersinmountainregionsandwaterfinders，he"smelt"thelivingspringthroughtherock。Stillhehadnotseenthepreciousliquid。Hehadneitherquenchedhisownthirst，norbroughtusonedropinhisgourd。
Moreover，wesoonmadethedisastrousdiscoverythat，ifourprogresscontinued，weshouldsoonbemovingawayfromthetorrent，thesoundofwhichgraduallydiminished。Weturnedback。Hanshaltedattheprecisespotwherethesoundofthetorrentappearednearest。
Icouldbearthesuspenseandsufferingnolonger，andseatedmyselfagainstthewall，behindwhichIcouldhearthewaterseethingandeffervescingnottwofeetaway。Butasolidwallofgranitestillseparatedusfromit!
Hanslookedkeenlyatme，and，strangeenough，foronceIthoughtIsawasmileonhisimperturbableface。
Herosefromastoneonwhichbehadbeenseated，andtookupthelamp。Icouldnothelprisingandfollowing。Hemovedslowlyalongthefirmandsolidgranitewall。Iwatchedhimwithmingledcuriosityandeagerness。Presentlyhehaltedandplacedhisearagainstthedrystone，movingslowlyalongandlisteningwiththemostextremecareandattention。Iunderstoodatoncethathewassearchingfortheexactspotwherethetorrent'sroarwasmostplainlyheard。Thispointhesoonfoundinthelateralwallontheleftside，aboutthreefeetabovethelevelofthetunnelfloor。
Iwasinastateofintenseexcitement。Iscarcelydaredbelievewhattheeider-duckhunterwasabouttodo。Itwas，however，impossibleinamomentmorenottobothunderstandandapplaud，andeventosmotherhiminmyembraces，whenIsawhimraisetheheavycrowbarandcommenceanattackupontherockitself。
"Saved!"Icried。
"Yes，"criedmyuncle，evenmoreexcitedanddelightedthanmyself；"Hansisquiteright。Oh，theworthy，excellentman!Weshouldneverhavethoughtofsuchanidea。"
Andnobodyelse，Ithink，wouldhavedoneso。Suchaprocess，simpleasitseemed，wouldmostcertainlynothaveenteredourheads。Nothingcouldbemoredangerousthantobegintoworkwithpickaxesinthatparticularpartoftheglobe。Supposingwhilehewasatworkabreak-upweretotakeplace，andsupposingthetorrentoncehavinggainedaninchweretotakeanell，andcomepouringbodilythroughthebrokenrock!
Notoneofthesedangerswaschimerical。Theywereonlytooreal。
Butatthatmomentnofearoffallinginoftheroof，orevenofinundationwascapableofstoppingus。OurthirstwassointensethattoquenchitwewouldhavedugbelowthebedofoldOceanitself。
Hanswentquietlytowork-aworkwhichneithermyunclenorIwouldhaveundertakenatanyprice。Ourimpatiencewassogreatthatifwehadoncebegunwithpickaxandcrowbar，therockwouldsoonhavesplitintoahundredfragments。Theguide，onthecontrary，calm，ready，moderate，woreawaythehardrockbylittlesteadyblowsofhisinstrument，makingnoattemptatalargerholethanaboutsixinches。AsIstood，Iheard，orIthoughtIheard，theroarofthetorrentmomentarilyincreasinginloudness，andattimesIalmostfeltthepleasantsensationofwateruponmyparchedlips。
Attheendofwhatappearedanage，Hanshadmadeaholewhichenabledhiscrowbartoentertwofeetintothesolidrock。Hehadbeenatworkexactlyanhour。Itappearedadozen。Iwasgettingwildwithimpatience。Myunclebegantothinkofusingmoreviolentmeasures。Ihadthegreatestdifficultyincheckinghim。Hehadindeedjustgotholdofhiscrowbarwhenaloudandwelcomehisswasheard。
Thenastream，orratherjet，ofwaterburstthroughthewallandcameoutwithsuchforceastohittheoppositeside!
Hans，theguide，whowashalfupsetbytheshock，wasscarcelyabletokeepdownacryofpainandgrief。Iunderstoodhismeaningwhen，plungingmyhandsintothesparklingjet，Imyselfgaveawildandfranticcry。Thewaterwasscaldinghot!
"Boiling，"Icried，inbitterdisappointment。
"Well，nevermind，"saidmyuncle，"itwillsoongetcool。"
Thetunnelbegantobefilledbycloudsofvapor，whileasmallstreamranawayintotheinterioroftheearth。Inashorttimewehadsomesufficientlycooltodrink。Weswalloweditinhugemouthfuls。
Oh!whatexalteddelight-whatrichandincomparableluxury!Whatwasthiswater，whencediditcome?Touswhatwasthat?Thesimplefactwas-itwaswater；and，thoughstillwithatingleofwarmthaboutit，itbroughtbacktotheheart，thatlifewhich，butforit，mustsurelyhavefadedaway。Idrankgreedily，almostwithouttastingit。
When，however，Ihadalmostquenchedmyravenousthirst，Imadeadiscovery。
"Why，itischalybeatewater!"
"Amostexcellentstomachic，"repliedmyuncle，"andhighlymineralized。HereisajourneyworthtwentytoSpa。"
"It'sverygood，"Ireplied。
"Ishouldthinkso。Waterfoundsixmilesunderground。Thereisapeculiarlyinkyflavoraboutit，whichisbynomeansdisagreeable。
Hansmaycongratulatehimselfonhavingmadeararediscovery。Whatdoyousay，nephew，accordingtotheusualcustomoftravelers，tonamethestreamafterhim?"
"Good，"saidI。Andthenameof"Hansbach""HansBrook"wasatonceagreedupon。
Hanswasnotabitmoreproudafterhearingourdeterminationthanhewasbefore。Afterhavingtakenaverysmallmodicumofthewelcomerefreshment，hehadseatedhimselfinacornerwithhisusualimperturbablegravity。
"Now，"saidI，"itisnotworthwhilelettingthiswaterruntowaste。"
"Whatistheuse，"repliedmyuncle，"thesourcefromwhichthisriverrisesisinexhaustible。"
"Nevermind，"Icontinued，"letusfillourgoatskinandgourds，andthentrytostoptheopeningup。"
Myadvice，aftersomehesitation，wasfollowedorattemptedtobefollowed。Hanspickedupallthebrokenpiecesofgranitehehadknockedout，andusingsometowhehappenedtohaveabouthim，triedtoshutupthefissurehehadmadeinthewall。Allhedidwastoscaldhishands。Thepressurewastoogreat，andallourattemptswereutterfailures。
"Itisevident，"Iremarked，"thattheuppersurfaceofthesespringsissituatedataverygreatheightabove-aswemayfairlyinferfromthegreatpressureofthejet。"
"Thatisbynomeansdoubtful，"repliedmyuncle，"ifthiscolumnofwaterisaboutthirty-twothousandfeethigh，theatmosphericpressuremustbesomethingenormous。Butanewideahasjuststruckme。"
"Andwhatisthat?"
"Whybeatsomuchtroubletoclosethisaperture?"
"Because-"
Ihesitatedandstammered，havingnorealreason。
"Whenourwaterbottlesareempty，wearenotatallsurethatweshallbeabletofillthem，"observedmyuncle。
"Ithinkthatisveryprobable。"
"Well，then，letthiswaterrun。Itwill，ofcourse，naturallyfollowinourtrack，andwillservetoguideandrefreshus。"
"Ithinktheideaagoodone，"Icriedinreply，"andwiththisrivuletasacompanion，thereisnofurtherreasonwhyweshouldnotsucceedinourmarvelousproject。"
"Ah，myboy，"saidtheProfessor，laughing，"afterall，youarecominground。"
"Morethanthat，Iamnowconfidentofultimatesuccess。
"Onemoment，nephewmine。Letusbeginbytakingsomehoursofrepose。"
Ihadutterlyforgottenthatitwasnight。Thechronometer，however，informedmeofthefact。Soonweweresufficientlyrestoredandrefreshed，andhadallfallenintoaprofoundsleep。
CHAPTER21
UndertheOceanBYthenextdaywehadnearlyforgottenourpastsufferings。ThefirstsensationIexperiencedwassurpriseatnotbeingthirsty，andI
actuallyaskedmyselfthereason。Therunningstream，whichflowedinripplingwaveletsatmyfeet，wasthesatisfactoryreply。
Webreakfastedwithagoodappetite，andthendrankourfilloftheexcellentwater。Ifeltmyselfquiteanewman，readytogoanywheremyunclechosetolead。Ibegantothink。Whyshouldnotamanasseriouslyconvincedasmyuncle，succeed，withsoexcellentaguideasworthyHans，andsodevotedanephewasmyself?Thesewerethebrilliantideaswhichnowinvadedmybrain。HadthepropositionnowbeenmadetogobacktothesummitofMountSneffels，Ishouldhavedeclinedtheofferinamostindignantmanner。
Butfortunatelytherewasnoquestionofgoingup。Wewereabouttodescendfartherintotheinterioroftheearth。
"Letusbemoving，"Icried，awakeningtheechoesoftheoldworld。
WeresumedourmarchonThursdayateighto'clockinthemorning。
Thegreatgranitetunnel，asitwentroundbysinuousandwindingways，presentedeverynowandthensharpturns，andinfactalltheappearanceofalabyrinth。Itsdirection，however，wasingeneraltowardsthesouthwest。Myunclemadeseveralpausesinordertoconsulthiscompass。
Thegallerynowbegantotrenddownwardsinahorizontaldirection，withabouttwoinchesoffallineveryfurlong。Themurmuringstreamflowedquietlyatourfeet。Icouldnotbutcompareittosomefamiliarspirit，guidingusthroughtheearth，andI
dabbledmyfingersinitstepidwater，whichsanglikeanaiadasweprogressed。Mygoodhumorbegantoassumeamythologicalcharacter。
Asformyunclehebegantocomplainofthehorizontalcharacteroftheroad。Hisroute，hefound，begantobeindefinitelyprolonged，insteadof"slidingdownthecelestialray，"accordingtohisexpression。
Butwehadnochoice；andaslongasourroadledtowardsthecenter-howeverlittleprogresswemade，therewasnoreasontocomplain。
Moreover，fromtimetotimetheslopesweremuchgreater，thenaiadsangmoreloudly，andwebegantodipdownwardsinearnest。
Asyet，however，Ifeltnopainfulsensation。Ihadnotgotovertheexcitementofthediscoveryofwater。
Thatdayandthenextwedidaconsiderableamountofhorizontal，andrelativelyverylittlevertical，traveling。
OnFridayevening，thetenthofJuly，accordingtoourestimation，weoughttohavebeenthirtyleaguestothesoutheastofReykjavik，andabouttwoleaguesandahalfdeep。Wenowreceivedaratherstartlingsurprise。
Underourfeetthereopenedahorriblewell。Myunclewassodelightedthatheactuallyclappedhishands-ashesawhowsteepandsharpwasthedescent。
"Ah，ah!"hecried，inrapturousdelight；"thistakeusalongway。Lookattheprojectionsoftherock。Hah!"heexclaimed，"it'safearfulstaircase!"
Hans，however，whoinallourtroubleshadnevergivenuptheropes，tookcaresotodisposeofthemastopreventanyaccidents。Ourdescentthenbegan。Idarenotcallitaperilousdescent，forIwasalreadytoofamiliarwiththatsortofworktolookuponitasanythingbutaveryordinaryaffair。
Thiswellwasakindofnarrowopeninginthemassivegraniteofthekindknownasafissure。Thecontractionoftheterrestrialscaffolding，whenitsuddenlycooled，hadbeenevidentlythecause。IfithadeverservedinformertimesasakindoffunnelthroughwhichpassedtheeruptivemassesvomitedbySneffels，Iwasatalosstoexplainhowithadleftnomark。Wewere，infact，descendingaspiral，somethinglikethosewindingstaircasesinuseinmodernhouses。
Wewerecompelledeveryquarterofanhourorthereaboutstositdowninordertorestourlegs。Ourcalvesached。Wethenseatedourselvesonsomeprojectingrockwithourlegshangingover，andgossipedwhileweateamouthful-drinkingstillfromthepleasantlywarmrunningstreamwhichhadnotdesertedus。
ItisscarcelynecessarytosaythatinthiscuriouslyshapedfissuretheHansbachhadbecomeacascadetothedetrimentofitssize。Itwasstill，however，sufficient，andmore，forourwants。
Besidesweknewthat，assoonasthedeclivityceasedtobesoabrupt，thestreammustresumeitspeacefulcourse。Atthismomentitremindedmeofmyuncle，hisimpatienceandrage，whilewhenitflowedmorepeacefully，IpicturedtomyselftheplacidityoftheIcelandicguide。
Duringthewholeoftwodays，thesixthandseventhofJuly，wefollowedtheextraordinaryspiralstaircaseofthefissure，penetratingtwoleaguesfartherintothecrustoftheearth，whichputusfiveleaguesbelowthelevelofthesea。Ontheeighth，however，attwelveo'clockintheday，thefissuresuddenlyassumedamuchmoregentleslopestilltrendinginasoutheastdirection。
Theroadnowbecamecomparativelyeasy，andatthesametimedreadfullymonotonous。Itwouldhavebeendifficultformatterstohaveturnedoutotherwise。Ourpeculiarjourneyhadnochanceofbeingdiversifiedbylandscapeandscenery。Atallevents，suchwasmyidea。
Atlength，onWednesdaythefifteenth，wewereactuallysevenleaguestwenty-onemilesbelowthesurfaceoftheearth，andfiftyleaguesdistantfromthemountainofSneffels。Though，ifthetruthbetold，wewereverytired，ourhealthhadresistedallsuffering，andwasinamostsatisfactorystate。Ourtraveler'sboxofmedicamentshadnotevenbeenopened。
Myunclewascarefultonoteeveryhourtheindicationsofthecompass，ofthemanometer，andofthethermometer，allwhichheafterwardspublishedinhiselaboratephilosophicalandscientificaccountofourremarkablevoyage。Hewasthereforeabletogiveanexactrelationofthesituation。When，therefore，heinformedmethatwewerefiftyleaguesinahorizontaldirectiondistantfromourstartingpoint，Icouldnotsuppressaloudexclamation。
"Whatisthematternow?"criedmyuncle。
"Nothingveryimportant，onlyanideahasenteredmyhead，"wasmyreply。
"Well，outwithit，Myboy。"
"ItismyopinionthatifyourcalculationsarecorrectwearenolongerunderIceland。"
"Doyouthinkso?"
"Wecanveryeasilyfindout，"Ireplied，pullingoutamapandcompasses。
"Yousee，"Isaid，aftercarefulmeasurement，"thatIamnotmistaken。WearefarbeyondCapePortland；andthosefiftyleaguestothesoutheastwilltakeusintotheopensea。"
"Undertheopensea，"criedmyuncle，rubbinghishandswithadelightedair。
"Yes，"Icried，"nodoubtoldOceanflowsoverourheads!"
"Well，mydearboy，whatcanbemorenatural!DoyounotknowthatintheneighborhoodofNewcastletherearecoalmineswhichhavebeenworkedfaroutunderthesea?"
Nowmyworthyuncle，theProfessor，nodoubtregardedthisdiscoveryasaverysimplefact，buttometheideawasbynomeansapleasantone。Andyetwhenonecametothinkthematteroverseriously，whatmattereditwhethertheplainsandmountainsofIcelandweresuspendedoverourdevotedheads，orthemightybillowsoftheAtlanticOcean?
Thewholequestionrestedonthesolidityofthegraniteroofaboveus。However，Isoongotusedtotheidealforthepassagenowlevel，nowrunningdown，andstillalwaystothesoutheast，keptgoingdeeperanddeeperintotheprofoundabyssesofMotherEarth。
Threedayslater，ontheeighteenthdayofJuly，onaSaturday，wereachedakindofvastgrotto。MyuncleherepaidHanshisusualsix-dollars，anditwasdecidedthatthenextdayshouldbeadayofrest。
CHAPTER22
SundaybelowGroundIAWOKEonSundaymorningwithoutanysenseofhurryandbustleattendantonanimmediatedeparture。Thoughthedaytobedevotedtoreposeandreflectionwasspentundersuchstrangecircumstances，andinsowonderfulaplace，theideawasapleasantone。Besides，weallbegantogetusedtothiskindofexistence。Ihadalmostceasedtothinkofthesun，ofthemoon，ofthestars，ofthetrees，houses，andtowns；infact，aboutanyterrestrialnecessities。Inourpeculiarpositionwewerefarabovesuchreflections。
Thegrottowasavastandmagnificenthall。Alongitsgraniticsoilthestreamflowedplacidlyandpleasantly。Sogreatadistancewasitnowfromitsfierysourcethatitswaterwasscarcelylukewarm，andcouldbedrunkwithoutdelayordifficulty。
Afterafrugalbreakfast，theProfessormadeuphismindtodevotesomehourstoputtinghisnotesandcalculationsinorder。
"Inthefirstplace，"hesaid，"Ihaveagoodmanytoverifyandprove，inorderthatwemayknowourexactposition。Iwishtobeableonourreturntotheupperregionstomakeamapofourjourney，akindofverticalsectionoftheglobe，whichwillbe，asitwere，theprofileoftheexpedition。"
"Thatwouldindeedbeacuriouswork，Uncle；butcanyoumakeyourobservationswithanythinglikecertaintyandprecision?"
"Ican。Ihaveneveronanyoccasionfailedtonotewithgreatcaretheanglesandslopes。Iamcertainastohavingmadenomistake。
Takethecompassandexaminehowshepoints。"
Ilookedattheinstrumentwithcare。
"Eastonequartersoutheast。"
"Verygood，"resumedtheProfessor，notingtheobservation，andgoingthroughsomerapidcalculations。"Imakeoutthatwehavejourneyedtwohundredandfiftymilesfromthepointofourdeparture。"
"ThenthemightywavesoftheAtlanticarerollingoverourheads?"
"Certainly。"
"Andatthisverymomentitispossiblethatfiercetempestsareragingabove，andthatmenandshipsarebattlingagainsttheangryblastsjustoverourheads?"
"Itisquitewithintherangeofpossibility，"rejoinedmyuncle，smiling。
"Andthatwhalesareplayinginshoals，thrashingthebottomofthesea，theroofofouradamantineprison?"
"Bequiteatrestonthatpoint；thereisnodangeroftheirbreakingthrough。Buttoreturntoourcalculations。Wearetothesoutheast，twohundredandfiftymilesfromthebaseofSneffels，and，accordingtomyprecedingnotes，Ithinkwehavegonesixteenleaguesinadownwarddirection。"
"Sixteenleagues-fiftymiles!"Icried。
"Iamsureofit。"