Hecalledthisadventurousjourneyapartyofpleasure，andthisgreatinlandseaapond!
\"But，\"arguedI，\"ifwehavefollowedtherouteindicatedbythegreatSaknussemm，wecannotbegoingfarwrong。\"
\"\'Thatisthequestion，\'asthegreat，theimmortalShakespeare，hasit。Arewefollowingtherouteindicatedbythatwondroussage?DidSaknussemmeverfallinwiththisgreatsheetofwater?Ifhedid，didhecrossit?Ibegintofearthattherivuletweadoptedforaguidehasleduswrong。\"
\"Inanycase，wecanneverregrethavingcomethusfar。Itisworththewholejourneytohaveenjoyedthismagnificentspectacle-itissomethingtohaveseen。\"
\"Icarenothingaboutseeing，noraboutmagnificentspectacles。I
camedownintotheinterioroftheearthwithanobject，andthatobjectImeantoattain。Don\'ttalktomeaboutadmiringscenery，oranyothersentimentaltrash。\"
AfterthisIthoughtitwelltoholdmytongue，andallowtheProfessortobitehislipsuntilthebloodcame，withoutfurtherremark。
Atsixo\'clockintheevening，ourmatter-of-factguide，Hans，askedforhisweek\'ssalary，andreceivinghisthreerix-dollars，putthemcarefullyinhispocket。Hewasperfectlycontentedandsatisfied。
Sunday，August16th。Nothingnewtorecord。Thesameweatherasbefore。Thewindhasaslighttendencytofreshenup，withsignsofanapproachinggale。WhenIawoke，Myfirstobservationwasinregardtotheintensityofthelight。Ikeeponfearing，dayafterday，thattheextraordinaryelectricphenomenonshouldbecomefirstobscured，andthengowhollyout，leavingusintotaldarkness。
Nothing，however，ofthekindoccurs。Theshadowoftheraft，itsmastandsails，isclearlydistinguishedonthesurfaceofthewater。
Thiswondrousseais，afterall，infiniteinitsextent。ItmustbequiteaswideastheMediterranean-orperhapsevenasthegreatAtlanticOcean。Why，afterall，shoulditnotbeso?
Myunclehasonmorethanoneoccasion，trieddeep-seasoundings。Hetiedthecrossofoneofourheaviestcrowbarstotheextremityofacord，whichheallowedtorunouttotheextentoftwohundredfathoms。Wehadthegreatestdifficultyinhoistinginournovelkindoflead。
Whenthecrowbarwasfinallydraggedonboard，Hanscalledmyattentiontosomesingularmarksuponitssurface。Thepieceofironlookedasifithadbeencrushedbetweentwoveryhardsubstances。
Ilookedatourworthyguidewithaninquiringglance。
\"Tander，\"saidhe。
OfcourseIwasatalosstounderstand。Iturnedroundtowardsmyuncle，absorbedingloomyreflections。Ihadlittlewishtodisturbhimfromhisreverie。IaccordinglyturnedoncemoretowardsourworthyIcelander。
Hansveryquietlyandsignificantlyopenedhismouthonceortwice，asifintheactofbiting，andinthiswaymademeunderstandhismeaning。
\"Teeth!\"criedI，withstupefaction，asIexaminedthebarofironwithmoreattention。
Yes。Therecanbenodoubtaboutthematter。Theindentationsonthebarofironarethemarksofteeth!Whatjawsmusttheownerofsuchmolarsbepossessedof!Havewellthen，comeuponamonsterofunknownspecies，whichstillexistswithinthevastwasteofwaters-amonstermorevoraciousthanashark，moreterribleandbulkythanthewhale?Iamunabletowithdrawmyeyesfromthebarofiron，actuallyhalfcrushed!
Is，then，mydreamabouttocometrue-adreadandterriblereality?
Alldaymythoughtswerebentuponthesespeculations，andmyimaginationscarcelyregainedadegreeofcalmnessandpowerofreflectionuntilafterasleepofmanyhours。
Thisday，asonotherSundays，weobservedasadayofrestandpiousmeditation。
Monday，August17th。Ihavebeentryingtorealizefrommemorytheparticularinstinctsofthoseantediluviananimalsofthesecondaryperiod，whichsucceedingtothemollusca，tothecrustacea，andtothefish，precededtheappearanceoftheraceofmammifers。Thegenerationofreptilesthenreignedsupremeupontheearth。Thesehideousmonstersruledeverythingintheseasofthesecondaryperiod，whichformedthestrataofwhichtheJuramountainsarecomposed。Naturehadendowedthemwithperfectorganization。Whatagiganticstructurewastheirs；whatvastandprodigiousstrengththeypossessed!
Theexistingsaurians，whichincludeallsuchreptilesaslizards，crocodiles，andalligators，eventhelargestandmostformidableoftheirclass，arebutfeebleimitationsoftheirmightysires，theanimalsofageslongago。Ifthereweregiantsinthedaysofold，therewerealsogiganticanimals。
IshudderedasIevolvedfrommymindtheideaandrecollectionoftheseawfulmonsters。Noeyeofmanhadseenthemintheflesh。Theytooktheirwalksabroaduponthefaceoftheearththousandsofagesbeforemancameintoexistence，andtheirfossilbones，discoveredinthelimestone，haveallowedustoreconstructthemanatomically，andthustogetsomefaintideaoftheircolossalformation。
IrecollectonceseeinginthegreatMuseumofHamburgtheskeletonofoneofthesewonderfulsaurians。Itmeasurednolessthanthirtyfeetfromthenosetothetail。AmI，then，aninhabitantoftheearthofthepresentday，destinedtofindmyselffacetofacewitharepresentativeofthisantediluvianfamily?I
canscarcelybelieveitpossible；Icanhardlybelieveittrue。Andyetthesemarksofpowerfulteethuponthebarofiron!Cantherebeadoubtfromtheirshapethatthebiteisthebiteofacrocodile?
Myeyesstarewildlyandwithterroruponthesubterraneansea。
EverymomentIexpectoneofthesemonsterstorisefromitsvastcavernousdepths。
IfancythattheworthyProfessorinsomemeasuresharesmynotions，ifnotmyfears，for，afteranattentiveexaminationofthecrowbar，hecasthiseyesrapidlyoverthemightyandmysteriousocean。
\"Whatcouldpossesshimtoleavetheland，\"Ithought，\"asifthedepthofthiswaterwasofanyimportancetous。Nodoubthehasdisturbedsometerriblemonsterinhiswateryhome，andperhapswemaypaydearlyforourtemerity。\"
Anxioustobepreparedfortheworst，Iexaminedourweapons，andsawthattheywereinafitstateforuse。Myunclelookedonatmeandnoddedhisheadapprovingly。He，too，hasnoticedwhatwehavetofear。
Alreadytheupliftingofthewatersonthesurfaceindicatesthatsomethingisinmotionbelow。Thedangerapproaches。Itcomesnearerandnearer。Itbehoovesustobeonthewatch。
Tuesday，August18th。Eveningcameatlast，thehourwhenthedesireforsleepcausedoureyelidstobeheavy。Nightthereisnot，properlyspeaking，inthisplace，anymorethanthereisinsummerinthearcticregions。Hans，however，isimmovableattherudder。WhenhesnatchesamomentofrestIreallycannotsay。Itakeadvantageofhisvigilancetotakesomelittlerepose。
ButtwohoursafterIwasawakenedfromaheavysleepbyanawfulshock。Theraftappearedtohavestruckuponasunkenrock。Itwasliftedrightoutofthewaterbysomewondrousandmysteriouspower，andthenstartedofftwentyfathomsdistant。
\"Eh，whatisit?\"criedmyunclestartingup。\"Areweshipwrecked，orwhat?\"
Hansraisedhishandandpointedtowhere，abouttwohundredyardsoff，alargeblackmasswasmovingupanddown。
Ilookedwithawe。Myworstfearswererealized。
\"Itisacolossalmonster!\"Icried，claspingmyhands。
\"Yes，\"criedtheagitatedProfessor，\"andthereyonderisahugesealizardofterriblesizeandshape。\"
\"Andfartheronbeholdaprodigiouscrocodile。Lookathishideousjaws，andthatrowofmonstrousteeth。Ha!hehasgone。\"
\"Awhale!awhale!\"shoutedtheProfessor，\"Icanseeherenormousfins。See，see，howsheblowsairandwater!\"
Twoliquidcolumnsrosetoavastheightabovethelevelofthesea，intowhichtheyfellwithaterrificcrash，wakinguptheechoesofthatawfulplace。Westoodstill-surprised，stupefied，terror-strickenatthesightofthisgroupoffearfulmarinemonsters，morehideousintherealitythaninmydream。Theywereofsupernaturaldimensions；theverysmallestofthewholepartycouldwitheasehavecrushedourraftandourselveswithasinglebite。
Hans，seizingtherudderwhichhadflownoutofhishand，putsithardaweatherinordertoescapefromsuchdangerousvicinity；butnosoonerdoeshedoso，thanhefindsheisflyingfromScyllatoCharybdis。Toleewardisaturtleaboutfortyfeetwide，andaserpentquiteaslong，withanenormousandhideousheadpeeringfromoutthewaters。
Lookwhichwaywewill，itisimpossibleforustofly。Thefearfulreptilesadvanceduponus；theyturnedandtwistedabouttheraftwithawfulrapidity。Theyformedaroundourdevotedvesselaseriesofconcentriccircles。Itookupmyrifleindesperation。Butwhateffectcanarifleballproduceuponthearmorscaleswithwhichthebodiesofthesehorridmonstersarecovered?
Weremainstillanddumbfromutterhorror。Theyadvanceuponus，nearerandnearer。Ourfateappearscertain，fearfulandterrible。
Ononesidethemightycrocodile，ontheotherthegreatseaserpent。Therestofthefearfulcrowdofmarineprodigieshaveplungedbeneaththebrinywavesanddisappeared!
Iamabouttofireatanyriskandtrytheeffectofashot。Hans，theguide，however，interferedbyasigntocheckme。Thetwohideousandravenousmonsterspassedwithinfiftyfathomsoftheraft，andthenmadearushatoneanother-theirfuryandragepreventingthemfromseeingus。
Thecombatcommenced。Wedistinctlymadeouteveryactionofthetwohideousmonsters。
Buttomyexcitedimaginationtheotheranimalsappearedabouttotakepartinthefierceanddeadlystruggle-themonster，thewhale，thelizard，andtheturtle。Idistinctlysawthemeverymoment。I
pointedthemouttotheIcelander。Butheonlyshookhishead。
\"Tva，\"hesaid。
\"What-twoonlydoeshesay。Surelyheismistaken，\"Icriedinatoneofwonder。
\"Heisquiteright，\"repliedmyunclecoollyandphilosophically，examiningtheterribleduelwithhistelescopeandspeakingasifhewereinalectureroom。
\"Howcanthatbe?\"
\"Yes，itisso。Thefirstofthesehideousmonstershasthesnoutofaporpoise，theheadofalizard，theteethofacrocodile；anditisthisthathasdeceivedus。Itisthemostfearfulofallantediluvianreptiles，theworld-renownedIchthyosaurusorgreatfishlizard。\"
\"Andtheother?\"
\"Theotherisamonstrousserpent，concealedunderthehardvaultedshelloftheturtle，theterribleenemyofitsfearfulrival，thePlesiosaurus，orseacrocodile。\"
Hanswasquiteright。Thetwomonstersonly，disturbedthesurfaceofthesea!
Atlasthavemortaleyesgazedupontworeptilesofthegreatprimitiveocean!IseetheflamingredeyesoftheIchthyosaurus，eachasbig，orbiggerthanaman\'shead。Natureinitsinfinitewisdomhadgiftedthiswondrousmarineanimalwithanopticalapparatusofextremepower，capableofresistingthepressureoftheheavylayersofwaterwhichrolledoverhiminthedepthsoftheoceanwhereheusuallyfed。Ithasbysomeauthorstrulybeencalledthewhaleofthesaurianrace，foritisasbigandquickinitsmotionsasourkingoftheseas。Thisonemeasuresnotlessthanahundredfeetinlength，andIcanformsomeideaofhisgirthwhenIseehimlifthisprodigioustailoutofthewaters。Hisjawisofawfulsizeandstrength，andaccordingtothebest-informednaturalists，itdoesnotcontainlessthanahundredandeighty-twoteeth。
TheotherwasthemightyPlesiosaurus，aserpentwithacylindricaltrunk，withashortstumpytail，withfinslikeabankofoarsinaRomangalley。
Itswholebodycoveredbyacarapaceorshell，anditsneck，asflexibleasthatofaswan，rosemorethanthirtyfeetabovethewaves，atowerofanimatedflesh!
Theseanimalsattackedoneanotherwithinconceivablefury。Suchacombatwasneverseenbeforebymortaleyes，andtouswhodidseeit，itappearedmorelikethephantasmagoriccreationofadreamthananythingelse。Theyraisedmountainsofwater，whichdashedinsprayovertheraft，alreadytossedtoandfrobythewaves。Twentytimesweseemedonthepointofbeingupsetandhurledheadlongintothewaves。
Hideoushissesappearedtoshakethegloomygraniteroofofthatmightycavern-hisseswhichcarriedterrortoourhearts。Theawfulcombatantsheldeachotherinatightembrace。Icouldnotmakeoutonefromtheother。Stillthecombatcouldnotlastforever；andwoeuntous，whichsoeverbecamethevictor。
Onehour，twohours，threehourspassedaway，withoutanydecisiveresult。Thestrugglecontinuedwiththesamedeadlytenacity，butwithoutapparentresult。Thedeadlyopponentsnowapproached，nowdrewawayfromtheraft。Onceortwicewefanciedtheywereabouttoleaveusaltogether，butinsteadofthat，theycamenearerandnearer。
Wecrouchedontheraftreadytofireatthematamoment\'snotice，poorastheprospectofhurtingorterrifyingthemwas。
Stillweweredeterminednottoperishwithoutastruggle。
SuddenlytheIchthyosaurusandthePlesiosaurusdisappearedbeneaththewaves，leavingbehindthemamaelstrominthemidstofthesea。Wewerenearlydrawndownbytheindraftofthewater!
Severalminuteselapsedbeforeanythingwasagainseen。Wasthiswonderfulcombattoendinthedepthsoftheocean?Wasthelastactofthisterribledramatotakeplacewithoutspectators?
Itwasimpossibleforustosay。
Suddenly，atnogreatdistancefromus，anenormousmassrisesoutofthewaters-theheadofthegreatPlesiosaurus。Theterriblemonsterisnowwoundeduntodeath。Icanseenothingnowofhisenormousbody。Allthatcouldbedistinguishedwashisserpent-likeneck，whichhetwistedandcurledinalltheagoniesofdeath。Nowhestruckthewaterswithitasifithadbeenagiganticwhip，andthenagainwriggledlikeawormcutintwo。Thewaterwasspurteduptoagreatdistanceinalldirections。Agreatportionofitsweptoverourraftandnearlyblindedus。Butsoontheendofthebeastapproachednearerandnearer；hismovementsslackenedvisibly；hiscontortionsalmostceased；andatlastthebodyofthemightysnakelayaninert，deadmassonthesurfaceofthenowcalmandplacidwaters。
AsfortheIchthyosaurus，hashegonedowntohismightycavernundertheseatorest，orwillhereappeartodestroyus?
Thisquestionremainedunanswered。Andwehadbreathingtime。
CHAPTER31
TheSeaMonsterWEDNESDAY，August19th。Fortunatelythewind，whichforthepresentblowswithsomeviolence，hasallowedustoescapefromthesceneoftheunparalleledandextraordinarystruggle。Hanswithhisusualimperturbablecalmremainedatthehelm。Myuncle，whoforashorttimehadbeenwithdrawnfromhisabsorbingreveriesbythenovelincidentsofthisseafight，fellbackagainapparentlyintoabrownstudy。Hiseyeswerefixedimpatientlyonthewidespreadocean。
Ourvoyagenowbecamemonotonousanduniform。Dullasithasbecome，Ihavenodesiretohaveitbrokenbyanyrepetitionoftheperilsandadventuresofyesterday。
Thursday，August20th。ThewindisnowN。N。E。，andblowsveryirregularly。Ithaschangedtofitfulgusts。Thetemperatureisexceedinglyhigh。Wearenowprogressingattheaveragerateofabouttenmilesandahalfperhour。
Abouttwelveo\'clockadistantsoundasofthunderfelluponourears。Imakeanoteofthefactwithoutevenventuringasuggestionastoitscause。Itwasonecontinuedroarasofaseafallingovermightyrocks。
\"Faroffinthedistance，\"saidtheProfessordogmatically，\"thereissomerockorsomeislandagainstwhichtheseallashedtofurybythewind，isbreakingviolently。\"
Hans，withoutsayingaword，clamberedtothetopofthemast，butcouldmakeoutnothing。Theoceanwaslevelineverydirectionasfarastheeyecouldreach。
Threehourspassedawaywithoutanysigntoindicatewhatmightbebeforeus。Thesoundbegantoassumethatofamightycataract。
Iexpressedmyopiniononthispointstronglytomyuncle。Hemerelyshookhishead。I，however，amstronglyimpressedbyaconvictionthatIamnotwrong。Areweadvancingtowardssomemightywaterfallwhichshallcastusintotheabyss?ProbablythismodeofdescendingintotheabyssmaybeagreeabletotheProfessor，becauseitwouldbesomethingliketheverticaldescentheissoeagertomake。I
entertainaverydifferentopinion。
Whateverbethetruth，itiscertainthatnotmanyleaguesdistanttheremustbesomeveryextraordinaryphenomenon，forasweadvancetheroarbecomessomethingmightyandstupendous。Isitinthewater，orintheair?
Icasthastyglancesaloftatthesuspendedvapors，andIseektopenetratetheirmightydepths。Butthevaultaboveistranquil。Theclouds，whicharenowelevatedtotheverysummit，appearutterlystillandmotionless，andcompletelylostintheirradiationofelectriclight。Itisnecessary，therefore，toseekforthecauseofthisphenomenonelsewhere。
Iexaminethehorizon，nowperfectlycalm，pure，andfreefromallhaze。Itsaspectstillremainsunchanged。Butifthisawfulnoiseproceedsfromacataract-if，sotospeakinplainEnglish，thisvastinterioroceanisprecipitatedintoalowerbasin-ifthesetremendousroarsareproducedbythenoiseoffallingwaters，thecurrentwouldincreaseinactivity，anditsincreasingswiftnesswouldgivemesomeideaoftheextentoftheperilwithwhichwearemenaced。Iconsultthecurrent。Itsimplydoesnotexist:thereisnosuchthing。Anemptybottlecastintothewaterliestoleewardwithoutmotion。
Aboutfouro\'clockHansrises，clambersupthemast，andreachesthetruckitself。Fromthiselevatedpositionhislooksarecastaround。
Theytakeinavastcircumferenceoftheocean。Atlast，hiseyesremainfixed。Hisfaceexpressesnoastonishment，buthiseyesslightlydilate。
\"Hehasseensomethingatlast，\"criedmyuncle。
\"Ithinkso\"，Ireplied。
Hanscamedown，stoodbesideus，andpointedwithhisrighthandtothesouth。
\"Dernere，\"hesaid。
\"There，\"repliedmyuncle。
Andseizinghistelescope，helookedatitwithgreatattentionforaboutaminute，whichtomeappearedanage。Iknewnotwhattothinkorexpect。
\"Yes，yes，\"hecriedinatoneofconsiderablesurprise，\"thereitis。\"
\"What?\"Iasked。
\"Atremendousspurtofwaterrisingoutofthewaves。\"
\"Someothermarinemonster，Icried，alreadyalarmed。
\"Perhaps。\"
\"Thenletussteermoretothewestward，forweknowwhatwehavetoexpectfromantediluviananimals，\"wasmyeagerreply。
\"Goahead，\"saidmyuncle。
IturnedtowardsHans。Hanswasatthetillersteeringwithhisusualimperturbablecalm。
Nevertheless，iffromthedistancewhichseparatedusfromthiscreature，adistancewhichmustbeestimatedatnotlessthanadozenleagues，onecouldseethecolumnofwaterspurtingfromtheblow-holeofthegreatanimal，hisdimensionsmustbesomethingpreternatural。Toflyis，therefore，thecoursetobesuggestedbyordinaryprudence。Butwehavenotcomeintothatpartoftheworldtobeprudent。Suchismyuncle\'sdetermination。
We，accordingly，continuedtoadvance。Thenearerwecome，theloftieristhespoutingwater。Whatmonstercanfillhimselfwithsuchhugevolumesofwater，andthenunceasinglyspoutthemoutinsuchloftyjets?
Ateighto\'clockintheevening，reckoningasaboveground，wherethereisdayandnight，wearenotmorethantwoleaguesfromthemightybeast。Itslong，black，enormous，mountainousbody，liesonthetopofthewaterlikeanisland。Butthensailorshavebeensaidtohavegoneashoreonsleepingwhales，mistakingthemforland。Isitillusion，orisitfear?Itslengthcannotbelessthanathousandfathoms。What，then，isthiscetaceousmonsterofwhichnoCuviereverthought?
Itisquitemotionlessandpresentstheappearanceofsleep。Theseaseemsunabletolifthimupwards；itisratherthewaveswhichbreakonhishugeandgiganticframe。Thewaterspout，risingtoaheightoffivehundredfeet，breaksinspraywithadull，sullenroar。
Weadvance，likesenselesslunatics，towardsthismightymass。
IhonestlyconfessthatIwasabjectlyafraid。IdeclaredthatI
wouldgonofarther。Ithreatenedinmyterrortocutthesheetofthesail。IattackedtheProfessorwithconsiderableacrimony，callinghimfoolhardy，mad，Iknownotwhat。Hemadenoanswer。
SuddenlytheimperturbableHansoncemorepointedhisfingertothemenacingobject:\"Holme!\"
\"Anisland!\"criedmyuncle。
\"Anisland?\"Ireplied，shruggingmyshouldersatthispoorattemptatdeception。
\"Ofcourseitis，\"criedmyuncle，burstingintoaloudandjoyouslaugh。
\"Butthewaterspout?\"
\"Geyser，\"saidHans。
\"Yes，ofcourse-ageyser，\"repliedmyuncle，stilllaughing，\"ageyserlikethosecommoninIceland。Jetslikethisarethegreatwondersofthecountry。\"
AtfirstIwouldnotallowthatIhadbeensogrosslydeceived。Whatcouldbemoreridiculousthantohavetakenanislandforamarinemonster?Butkickasonemay，onemustyieldtoevidence，andIwasfinallyconvincedofmyerror。Itwasnothing，afterall，butanaturalphenomenon。
Asweapproachednearerandnearer，thedimensionsoftheliquidsheafofwatersbecametrulygrandandstupendous。Theislandhad，atadistance，presentedtheappearanceofanenormouswhale，whoseheadrosehighabovethewaters。Thegeyser，awordtheIcelanderspronouncegeysir，andwhichsignifiesfury，rosemajesticallyfromitssummit。Dulldetonationsareheardeverynowandthen，andtheenormousjet，takenasitwerewithsuddenfury，shakesitsplumeofvapor，andboundsintothefirstlayeroftheclouds。Itisalone。
Neitherspurtsofvapornorhotspringssurroundit，andthewholevolcanicpowerofthatregionisconcentratedinonesublimecolumn。
Theraysofelectriclightmixwiththisdazzlingsheaf，everydropasitfallsassumingtheprismaticcolorsoftherainbow。
\"Letusgoonshore，\"saidtheProfessor，aftersomeminutesofsilence。
Itisnecessary，however，totakegreatprecaution，inordertoavoidtheweightoffallingwaters，whichwouldcausetherafttofounderinaninstant。Hans，however，steersadmirably，andbringsustotheotherextremityoftheisland。
Iwasthefirsttoleapontherock。Myunclefollowed，whiletheeider-duckhunterremainedstill，likeamanaboveanychildishsourcesofastonishment。Wewerenowwalkingongranitemixedwithsiliceoussandstone；thesoilshiveredunderourfeetlikethesidesofboilersinwhichover-heatedsteamisforciblyconfined。Itisburning。Wesooncameinsightofthelittlecentralbasinfromwhichrosethegeyser。Iplungedathermometerintothewaterwhichranbubblingfromthecenter，anditmarkedaheatofahundredandsixty-threedegrees!
Thiswater，therefore，camefromsomeplacewheretheheatwasintense。ThiswassingularlyincontradictionwiththetheoriesofProfessorHardwigg。Icouldnothelptellinghimmyopiniononthesubject。
\"Well，\"saidhesharply，\"andwhatdoesthisproveagainstmydoctrine?
\"Nothing，\"repliedIdryly，seeingthatIwasrunningmyheadagainstaforegoneconclusion。
Nevertheless，Iamcompelledtoconfessthatuntilnowwehavebeenmostremarkablyfortunate，andthatthisvoyageisbeingaccomplishedinmostfavorableconditionsoftemperature；butitappearsevident，infact，certain，thatweshallsoonerorlaterarriveatoneofthoseregionswherethecentralheatwillreachitsutmostlimits，andwillgofarbeyondallthepossiblegradationsofthermometers。
VisionsoftheHadesoftheancients，believedtobeinthecenteroftheearth，floatedthroughmyimagination。
Weshall，however，seewhatweshallsee。ThatistheProfessor\'sfavoritephrasenow。Havingchristenedthevolcanicislandbythenameofhisnephew，theleaderoftheexpeditionturnedawayandgavethesignalforembarkation。
Istoodstill，however，forsomeminutes，gazinguponthemagnificentgeyser。Isoonwasabletoperceivethattheupwardtendencyofthewaterwasirregular；nowitdiminishedinintensity，andthen，suddenly，itregainednewvigor，whichIattributedtothevariationofthepressureoftheaccumulatedvaporsinitsreservoir。
Atlastwetookourdeparture，goingcarefullyroundtheprojecting，andratherdangerous，rocksofthesouthernside。Hanshadtakenadvantageofthisbriefhalttorepairtheraft。
Beforewetookourfinaldeparturefromtheisland，however，I
madesomeobservationstocalculatethedistancewehadgoneover，andIputthemdowninmyjournal。SinceweleftPortGretchen，wehadtraveledtwohundredandseventyleagues-morethaneighthundredmiles-onthisgreatinlandsea；wewere，therefore，sixhundredandtwentyleaguesfromIceland，andexactlyunderEngland。
CHAPTER32
TheBattleoftheElementsFRIDAY，August21st。Thismorningthemagnificentgeyserhadwhollydisappeared。Thewindhadfreshenedup，andwewerefastleavingtheneighborhoodofHenry\'sIsland。Eventheroaringsoundofthemightycolumnwaslosttotheear。
Theweather，if，underthecircumstances，wemayusesuchanexpression，isabouttochangeverysuddenly。Theatmosphereisbeinggraduallyloadedwithvapors，whichcarrywiththemtheelectricityformedbytheconstantevaporationofthesalinewaters；
thecloudsareslowlybutsensiblyfallingtowardsthesea，andareassumingadark-olivetexture；theelectricrayscanscarcelypiercethroughtheopaquecurtainwhichhasfallenlikeadropscenebeforethiswondroustheater，onthestageofwhichanotherandterribledramaissoontobeenacted。Thistimeitisnofightofanimals；itisthefearfulbattleoftheelements。
IfeelthatIamverypeculiarlyinfluenced，asallcreaturesareonlandwhenadelugeisabouttotakeplace。
Thecumuli，aperfectlyovalkindofcloud，pileduponthesouth，presentedamostawfulandsinisterappearance，withthepitilessaspectoftenseenbeforeastorm。Theairisextremelyheavy；theseaiscomparativelycalm。
Inthedistance，thecloudshaveassumedtheappearanceofenormousballsofcotton，orratherpods，piledoneabovetheotherinpicturesqueconfusion。Bydegrees，theyappeartoswellout，break，andgaininnumberwhattheyloseingrandeur；theirheavinessissogreatthattheyareunabletoliftthemselvesfromthehorizon；butundertheinfluenceoftheuppercurrentsofair，theyaregraduallybrokenup，becomemuchdarker，andthenpresenttheappearanceofonesinglelayerofaformidablecharacter；nowandthenalightercloud，stilllitupfromabove，reboundsuponthisgreycarpet，andislostintheopaquemass。
Therecanbenodoubtthattheentireatmosphereissaturatedwithelectricfluid；Iammyselfwhollyimpregnated；myhairsliterallystandonendasifundertheinfluenceofagalvanicbattery。Ifoneofmycompanionsventuredtotouchme，Ithinkhewouldreceiveratheraviolentandunpleasantshock。
Aboutteno\'clockinthemorning，thesymptomsofthestormbecamemorethoroughanddecisive；thewindappearedtosoftendownasiftotakebreathforarenewedattack；thevastfunerealpallaboveuslookedlikeahugebag-likethecaveofAEolus，inwhichthestormwascollectingitsforcesfortheattack。
ItriedallIcouldnottobelieveinthemenacingsignsofthesky，andyetIcouldnotavoidsaying，asitwereinvoluntarily:
\"Ibelievewearegoingtohavebadweather。\"
TheProfessormademenoanswer。Hewasinahorrible，inadetestablehumor-toseetheoceanstretchinginterminablybeforehiseyes。Onhearingmywordshesimplyshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Weshallhaveatremendousstorm，\"Isaidagain，pointingtothehorizon。\"Thesecloudsarefallinglowerandloweruponthesea，asiftocrushit。\"
Agreatsilenceprevailed。Thewindwhollyceased。Natureassumedadeadcalm，andceasedtobreathe。Uponthemast，whereInoticedasortofslightignisfatuus，thesailhangsinlooseheavyfolds。
Theraftismotionlessinthemidstofadarkheavysea-withoutundulation，withoutmotion。Itisasstillasglass。Butaswearemakingnoprogress，whatistheuseofkeepingupthesail，whichmaybethecauseofourperditionifthetempestshouldsuddenlystrikeuswithoutwarning。
\"Letuslowerthesail，\"Isaid，\"itisonlyanactofcommonprudence。\"
\"No-no，\"criedmyuncle，inanexasperatedtone，\"ahundredtimes，no。Letthewindstrikeusanddoitsworst，letthestormsweepusawaywhereitwill-onlyletmeseetheglimmerofsomecoast-ofsomerockycliffs，eveniftheydashourraftintoathousandpieces。No!keepupthesail-nomatterwhathappens。\"
Thesewordswerescarcelyutteredwhenthesouthernhorizonunderwentasuddenandviolentchange。Thelongaccumulatedvaporswereresolvedintowater，andtheairrequiredtofillupthevoidproducedbecameawildandragingtempest。
Itcamefromthemostdistantcornersofthemightycavern。Itragedfromeverypointofthecompass。Itroared；ityelled；itshriekedwithgleeasofdemonsletloose。Thedarknessincreasedandbecameindeeddarknessvisible。
Theraftroseandfellwiththestorm，andboundedoverthewaves。
Myunclewascastheadlonguponthedeck。Iwithgreatdifficultydraggedmyselftowardshim。Hewasholdingonwithmightandmaintotheendofacable，andappearedtogazewithpleasureanddelightatthespectacleoftheunchainedelements。
Hansnevermovedamuscle。Hislonghairdrivenhitherandthitherbythetempestandscatteredwildlyoverhismotionlessface，gavehimamostextraordinaryappearance-foreverysinglehairwasilluminatedbylittlesparklingsprigs。
Hiscountenancepresentstheextraordinaryappearanceofanantediluvianman，atruecontemporaryoftheMegatherium。
Stillthemastholdsgoodagainstthestorm。Thesailspreadsoutandfillslikeasoapbubbleabouttoburst。Theraftrushesonatapaceimpossibletoestimate，butstilllessswiftlythanthebodyofwaterdisplacedbeneathit，therapidityofwhichmaybeseenbythelineswhichflyrightandleftinthewake。
\"Thesail，thesail!\"Icried，makingatrumpetofmyhands，andthenendeavoringtolowerit。
\"Letitalone!\"saidmyuncle，moreexasperatedthanever。
\"Nej，\"saidHans，gentlyshakinghishead。
Nevertheless，therainformedaroaringcataractbeforethishorizonofwhichwewereinsearch，andtowhichwewererushinglikemadmen。
Butbeforethiswildernessofwatersreachedus，themightyveilofcloudwastornintwain；theseabegantofoamwildly；andtheelectricity，producedbysomevastandextraordinarychemicalactionintheupperlayerofcloud，isbroughtintoplay。Tothefearfulclapsofthunderareaddeddazzlingflashesoflightning，suchasI
hadneverseen。Theflashescrossedoneanother，hurledfromeveryside；whilethethundercamepealinglikeanecho。Themassofvaporbecomesincandescent；thehailstoneswhichstrikethemetalofourbootsandourweaponsareactuallyluminous；thewavesastheyriseappeartobefire-eatingmonsters，beneathwhichseethesanintensefire，theircrestssurmountedbycombsofflame。
Myeyesaredazzled，blindedbytheintensityoflight，myearsaredeafenedbytheawfulroaroftheelements。Iamcompelledtoholdontothemast，whichbendslikeareedbeneaththeviolenceofthestorm，towhichnoneeverbeforeseenbymarinersboreanyresemblance。
Heremytravelingnotesbecomeveryincomplete，looseandvague。I
haveonlybeenabletomakeoutoneortwofugitiveobservations，jotteddowninameremechanicalway。Buteventheirbrevity，eventheirobscurity，showtheemotionswhichovercameme。
Sunday，August23rd。Wherehavewegotto?Inwhatregionarewewandering?Wearestillcarriedforwardwithinconceivablerapidity。
Thenighthasbeenfearful，somethingnottobedescribed。Thestormshowsnosignsofcessation。Weexistinthemidstofanuproarwhichhasnoname。Thedetonationsasofartilleryareincessant。
Ourearsliterallybleed。Weareunabletoexchangeaword，orheareachotherspeak。
Thelightningneverceasestoflashforasingleinstant。Icanseethezigzagsafterarapiddartstrikethearchedroofofthismightiestofmightyvaults。Ifitweretogivewayandfalluponus!
Otherlightningsplungetheirforkedstreaksineverydirection，andtaketheformofglobesoffire，whichexplodelikebombshellsoverabeleagueredcity。Thegeneralcrashandroardonotapparentlyincrease；ithasalreadygonefarbeyondwhathumanearcanappreciate。Ifallthepowdermagazinesintheworldweretoexplodetogether，itwouldbeimpossibleforustohearworsenoise。
Thereisaconstantemissionoflightfromthestormclouds；theelectricmatterisincessantlyreleased；evidentlythegaseousprinciplesoftheairareoutoforder；innumerablecolumnsofwaterrushuplikewaterspouts，andfallbackuponthesurfaceoftheoceaninfoam。
Whitherarewegoing?Myunclestillliesatfulllengthupontheraft，withoutspeaking-withouttakinganynoteoftime。
Theheatincreases。Ilookatthethermometer，tomysurpriseitindicates-Theexactfigureishererubbedoutinmymanuscript。
Monday，August24th。Thisterriblestormwillneverend。Whyshouldnotthisstateoftheatmosphere，sodenseandmurky，oncemodified，againremaindefinitive?
Weareutterlybrokenandharassedbyfatigue。Hansremainsjustasusual。Theraftrunstothesoutheastinvariably。Wehavenowalreadyruntwohundredleaguesfromthenewlydiscoveredisland。
Abouttwelveo\'clockthestormbecameworsethanever。Weareobligednowtofasteneverybitofcargotightlyonthedeckoftheraft，oreverythingwouldbesweptaway。Wemakeourselvesfast，too，eachmanlashingtheother。Thewavesdriveoverus，sothatseveraltimesweareactuallyunderwater。
Wehadbeenunderthepainfulnecessityofabstainingfromspeechforthreedaysandthreenights。Weopenedourmouths，wemovedourlips，butnosoundcame。Evenwhenweplacedourmouthstoeachother\'searsitwasthesame。
Thewindcarriedthevoiceaway。
Myuncleoncecontrivedtogethisheadclosetomineafterseveralalmostvainendeavors。Heappearedtomynearlyexhaustedsensestoarticulatesomeword。Ihadanotion，morefromintuitionthananythingelse，thathesaidtome，\"Wearelost。\"
Itookoutmynotebook，fromwhichunderthemostdesperatecircumstancesIneverparted，andwroteafewwordsaslegiblyasI
could:
\"Takeinsail。\"
Withadeepsighhenoddedhisheadandacquiesced。
Hisheadhadscarcelytimetofallbackinthepositionfromwhichhehadmomentarilyraiseditthanadiskorballoffireappearedontheveryedgeoftheraft-ourdevoted，ourdoomedcraft。Themastandsailarecarriedawaybodily，andIseethemsweptawaytoaprodigiousheightlikeakite。
Wewerefrozen，actuallyshiveredwithterror。Theballoffire，halfwhite，halfazure-colored，aboutthesizeofaten-inchbombshell，movedalong，turningwithprodigiousrapiditytoleewardofthestorm。Itranabouthere，there，andeverywhere，itclambereduponeofthebulwarksoftheraft，itleapeduponthesackofprovisions，andthenfinallydescendedlightly，felllikeafootballandlandedonourpowderbarrel。
Horriblesituation。Anexplosionofcoursewasnowinevitable。
Byheaven\'smercy，itwasnotso。
Thedazzlingdiskmovedononeside，itapproachedHans，wholookedatitwithsingularfixity；thenitapproachedmyuncle，whocasthimselfonhiskneestoavoidit；itcametowardsme，asI
stoodpaleandshudderinginthedazzlinglightandheat；itpirouettedroundmyfeet，whichIendeavoredtowithdraw。
Anodorofnitrousgasfilledthewholeair；itpenetratedtothethroat，tothelungs。Ifeltreadytochoke。
