WhyisitthatIcannotwithdrawmyfeet?Aretheyrivetedtotheflooringoftheraft?
No。
Thefalloftheelectricglobehasturnedalltheirononboardintoloadstones-theinstruments，thetools，thearmsareclangingtogetherwithawfulandhorriblenoise；thenailsofmyheavybootsadherecloselytotheplateofironincrustatedinthewood。Icannotwithdrawmyfoot。
Itistheoldstoryagainofthemountainofadamant。
Atlast，byaviolentandalmostsuperhumaneffort，Itearitawayjustastheballwhichisstillexecutingitsgyratorymotionsisabouttorunrounditanddragmewithit-if-
Oh，whatintensestupendouslight!Theglobeoffirebursts-weareenvelopedincascadesoflivingfire，whichfloodthespacearoundwithluminousmatter。
Thenallwentoutanddarknessoncemorefelluponthedeep!Ihadjusttimetoseemyuncleoncemorecastapparentlysenselessontheflooringoftheraft，Hansatthehelm，"spittingfire"undertheinfluenceoftheelectricitywhichseemedtohavegonethroughhim。
Whitherarewegoing，Iask?andechoanswers，Whither?……
Tuesday，August25th。Ihavejustcomeoutofalongfaintingfit。
Theawfulandhideousstormstillcontinues；thelightninghasincreasedinvividness，andpoursoutitsfierywrathlikeabroodofserpentsletlooseintheatmosphere。
Arewestilluponthesea?Yes，andbeingcarriedalongwithincrediblevelocity。
WehavepassedunderEngland，undertheChannel，underFrance，probablyunderthewholeextentofEurope。
Anotherawfulclamorinthedistance。Thistimeitiscertainthattheseaisbreakingupontherocksatnogreatdistance。Then……
CHAPTER33
OurRouteReversedHEREendswhatIcall"MyJournal"ofourvoyageonboardtheraft，whichjournalwashappilysavedfromthewreck。IproceedwithmynarrativeasIdidbeforeIcommencedmydailynotes。
Whathappenedwhentheterribleshocktookplace，whentheraftwascastupontherockyshore，itwouldbeimpossibleformenowtosay。Ifeltmyselfprecipitatedviolentlyintotheboilingwaves，andifIescapedfromacertainandcrueldeath，itwaswhollyowingtothedeterminationofthefaithfulHans，who，clutchingmebythearm，savedmefromtheyawningabyss。
ThecourageousIcelanderthencarriedmeinhispowerfularms，faroutofthereachofthewaves，andlaidmedownuponaburningexpanseofsand，whereIfoundmyselfsometimeafterwardsinthecompanyofmyuncle，theProfessor。
Thenhequietlyreturnedtowardsthefatalrocks，againstwhichthefuriouswaveswerebeating，inordertosaveanystraywaifsfromthewreck。Thismanwasalwayspracticalandthoughtful。I
couldnotutteraword；Iwasquiteovercomewithemotion；mywholebodywasbrokenandbruisedwithfatigue；ittookhoursbeforeIwasanythinglikemyself。
Meanwhile，therefellafearfuldelugeofrain，drenchingustotheskin。Itsveryviolence，however，proclaimedtheapproachingendofthestorm。Someoverhangingrocksaffordedusaslightprotectionfromthetorrents。
Underthisshelter，Hanspreparedsomefood，which，however，Iwasunabletotouch；and，exhaustedbythethreewearydaysandnightsofwatching，wefellintoadeepandpainfulsleep。Mydreamswerefearful，butatlastexhaustednatureassertedhersupremacy，andI
slumbered。
NextdaywhenIawokethechangewasmagical。Theweatherwasmagnificent。Airandsea，asifbymutualconsent，hadregainedtheirserenity。Everytraceofthestorm，eventhefaintest，haddisappeared。IwassalutedonmyawakeningbythefirstjoyoustonesI
hadheardfromtheProfessorformanyaday。Hisgaiety，indeed，wassomethingterrible。
"Well，mylad，"hecried，rubbinghishandstogether，"haveyousleptsoundly?
MightitnothavebeensupposedthatwewereintheoldhouseontheKonigstrasse；thatIhadjustcomedownquietlytomybreakfast；andthatmymarriagewithGretchenwastotakeplacethatveryday?Myuncle'scoolnesswasexasperating。
Alas，consideringhowthetempesthaddrivenusinaneasterlydirection，wehadpassedunderthewholeofGermany，underthecityofHamburgwhereIhadbeensohappy，undertheverystreetwhichcontainedallIlovedandcaredforintheworld。
ItwasapositivefactthatIwasonlyseparatedfromherbyadistanceoffortyleagues。Butthesefortyleagueswereofhard，impenetrablegranite!
Allthesedrearyandmiserablereflectionspassedthroughmymind，beforeIattemptedtoanswermyuncle'squestion。
"Why，whatisthematter?"hecried。"Cannotyousaywhetheryouhavesleptwellornot?"
"Ihavesleptverywell，"wasmyreply，"buteveryboneinmybodyaches。Isupposethatwillleadtonothing。"
"Nothingatall，myboy。Itisonlytheresultofthefatigueofthelastfewdays-thatisall。
"Youappear-ifImaybeallowedtosayso-tobeveryjollythismorning，"Isaid。
"Delighted，mydearboy，delighted。Wasneverhappierinmylife。Wehaveatlastreachedthewished-forport。"
"Theendofourexpedition?"criedI，inatoneofconsiderablesurprise。
"No；buttotheconfinesofthatseawhichIbegantofearwouldneverend，butgoroundthewholeworld。Wewillnowtranquillyresumeourjourneybyland，andonceagainendeavortodiveintothecenteroftheearth。"
"Mydearuncle，"Ibegan，inahesitatingkindofway，"allowmetoaskyouonequestion。"
"Certainly，Harry；adozenifyouthinkproper。"
"Onewillsuffice。Howaboutgettingback?"Iasked。
"Howaboutgettingback?Whataquestiontoask。Wehavenotasyetreachedtheendofourjourney。"
"Iknowthat。AllIwanttoknowishowyouproposeweshallmanagethereturnvoyage?"
"Inthemostsimplemannerintheworld，"saidtheimperturbableProfessor。"Oncewereachtheexactcenterofthissphere，eitherweshallfindanewroadbywhichtoascendtothesurface，orweshallsimplyturnroundandgobackbythewaywecame。Ihaveeveryreasontobelievethatwhilewearetravelingforward，itwillnotclosebehindus。"
"Thenoneofthefirstmatterstoseetowillbetorepairtheraft，"wasmyrathermelancholyresponse。
"Ofcourse。Wemustattendtothataboveallthings，"continuedtheProfessor。
"Thencomestheall-importantquestionofprovisions，"Iurged。
"Haveweanythinglikeenoughlefttoenableustoaccomplishsuchgreat，suchamazing，designsasyoucontemplatecarryingout?"
"Ihaveseenintothematter，andmyanswerisintheaffirmative。
Hansisaverycleverfellow，andIhavereasontobelievethathehassavedthegreaterpartofthecargo。Butthebestwaytosatisfyyourscruplesistocomeandjudgeforyourself。"
Sayingwhich，heledthewayoutofthekindofopengrottoinwhichwehadtakenshelter。IhadalmostbeguntohopethatwhichIshouldratherhavefeared，andthiswastheimpossibilityofsuchashipwreckleavingeventheslightestsignsofwhatithadcarriedasfreight。
Iwas，however，thoroughlymistaken。
AssoonasIreachedtheshoresofthisinlandsea，IfoundHansstandinggravelyinthemidstofalargenumberofthingslaidoutincompleteorder。Myunclewrunghishandswithdeepandsilentgratitude。Hisheartwastoofullforspeech。
Thisman，whosesuperhumandevotiontohisemployersInotonlyneversawsurpassed，norevenequaled，hadbeenhardatworkallthetimeweslept，andattheriskofhislifehadsucceededinsavingthemostpreciousarticlesofourcargo。
Ofcourse，underthecircumstances，wenecessarilyexperiencedseveralseverelosses。Ourweaponshadwhollyvanished。Butexperiencehadtaughtustodowithoutthem。Theprovisionofpowderhad，however，remainedintact，afterhavingnarrowlyescapedblowingusalltoatomsinthestorm。
"Well，"saidtheProfessor，whowasnowreadytomakethebestofeverything，"aswehavenoguns，allwehavetodoistogiveupallideaofhunting。"
"Yes，mydearsir，wecandowithoutthem，butwhataboutallourinstruments?"
"Hereisthemanometer，themostusefulofall，andwhichIgladlyacceptinlieuoftherest。WithitaloneIcancalculatethedepthasweproceed；byitsmeansaloneIshallbeabletodecidewhenwehavereachedthecenteroftheearth。Ha，ha!butforthislittleinstrumentwemightmakeamistake，andruntheriskofcomingoutattheantipodes!"
Allthiswassaidamidburstsofunnaturallaughter。
"Butthecompass，"Icried，"withoutthatwhatcanwedo?"
"Hereitis，safeandsound!"hecried，withrealjoy，"ah，ah，andherewehavethechronometerandthethermometers。Hansthehunterisindeedaninvaluableman!"
Itwasimpossibletodenythisfact。Asfarasthenauticalandotherinstrumentswereconcerned，nothingwaswanting。Thenonfurtherexamination，Ifoundladders，cords，pickaxes，crowbars，andshovels，allscatteredaboutontheshore。
Therewas，however，finallythemostimportantquestionofall，andthatwas，provisions。
"Butwhatarewetodoforfood?"Iasked。
"Letusseetothecommissariatdepartment"，repliedmyunclegravely。
Theboxeswhichcontainedoursupplyoffoodforthevoyagewereplacedinarowalongthestrand，andwereinacapitalstateofpreservation；theseahadineverycaserespectedtheircontents，andtosumupinonesentence，takingintoconsideration，biscuits，saltmeat，Schiedamanddriedfish，wecouldstillcalculateonhavingaboutfourmonths'supply，ifusedwithprudenceandcaution。
"Fourmonths，"criedthesanguineProfessorinhighglee。"Thenweshallhaveplentyoftimebothtogoandtocome，andwithwhatremainsIundertaketogiveagranddinnertomycolleaguesoftheJohanneum。"
Isighed。Ishouldbythistimehavebecomeusedtothetemperamentofmyuncle，andyetthismanastonishedmemoreandmoreeveryday。HewasthegreatesthumanenigmaIeverhadknown。
"Now，"he，"beforewedoanythingelse，wemustlayinastockoffreshwater。Therainhasfalleninabundance，andfilledthehollowsofthegranite。Thereisarichsupplyofwater，andwehavenofearofsufferingfromthirst，whichinourcircumstancesisofthelastimportance。Asfortheraft，IshallrecommendHanstorepairittothebestofhisabilities；thoughIhaveeveryreasontobelieveweshallnotrequireitagain。"
"Howisthat?"Icried，moreamazedthaneveratmyuncle'sstyleofreasoning。
"Ihaveanidea，mydearboy；itisnoneotherthanthissimplefact；weshallnotcomeoutbythesameopeningasthatbywhichweentered。"
Ibegantolookatmyunclewithvaguesuspicion。Anideahadmorethanoncetakenpossessionofme；andthiswas，thathewasgoingmad。
Andyet，littledidIthinkhowtrueandprophetichiswordsweredoomedtobe。
"Andnow，"hesaid，"havingseentoallthesemattersofdetail，tobreakfast。"
Ifollowedhimtoasortofprojectingcape，afterhehadgivenhislastinstructionstoourguide。Inthisoriginalposition，withdriedmeat，biscuit，andadeliciouscupoftea，wemadeasatisfactorymeal-ImaysayoneofthemostwelcomeandpleasantI
everremember。Exhaustion，thekeenatmosphere，thestateofcalmaftersomuchagitation，allcontributedtogivemeanexcellentappetite。Indeed，itcontributedverymuchtoproducingapleasantandcheerfulstateofmind。
Whilebreakfastwasinhand，andbetweenthesipsofwarmtea，I
askedmyuncleifhehadanyideaofhowwenowstoodinrelationtotheworldabove。
"Formypart，"Iadded，"Ithinkitwillberatherdifficulttodetermine。"
"Well，ifwewerecompelledtofixtheexactspot，"saidmyuncle，itmightbedifficult，sinceduringthethreedaysofthatawfultempestIcouldkeepnoaccounteitherofthequicknessofourpace，orofthedirectioninwhichtheraftwasgoing。Still，wewillendeavortoapproximatetothetruth。Weshallnot，Ibelieve，besoveryfarout。"
"Well，ifIrecollectrightly，"Ireplied，"ourlastobservationwasmadeatthegeyserisland。"
"Harry'sIsland，myboy!Harry'sIsland。Donotdeclinethehonorofhavingnamedit；givenyournametoanislanddiscoveredbyus，thefirsthumanbeingswhotroditsincethecreationoftheworld!"
"Letitbeso，then。AtHarry'sIslandwehadalreadygoneovertwohundredandseventyleaguesofsea，andwewere，Ibelieve，aboutsixhundredleagues，moreorless，fromIceland。"
"Good。Iamgladtoseethatyouremembersowell。Letusstartfromthatpoint，andletuscountfourdaysofstorm，duringwhichourrateoftravelingmusthavebeenverygreat。Ishouldsaythatourvelocitymusthavebeenabouteightyleaguestothetwenty-fourhours。"
IagreedthatIthoughtthisafaircalculation。Therewerethenthreehundredleaguestobeaddedtothegrandtotal。
"Yes，andtheCentralSeamustextendatleastsixhundredleaguesfromsidetoside。Doyouknow，myboy，Harry，thatwehavediscoveredaninlandlakelargerthantheMediterranean?"
"Certainly，andweonlyknowofitsextentinoneway。Itmaybehundredsofmilesinlength。"
"Verylikely。"
"Then，"saidI，aftercalculatingforsomeforsomeminutes，"ifyourprevisionsareright，weareatthismomentexactlyundertheMediterraneanitself。"
"Doyouthinkso?"
"Yes，Iamalmostcertainofit。ArewenotninehundredleaguesdistantfromReykjavik?"
"Thatisperfectlytrue，andafamousbitofroadwehavetraveled，myboy。ButwhyweshouldbeundertheMediterraneanmorethanunderTurkeyortheAtlanticOceancanonlybeknownwhenwearesureofnothavingdeviatedfromourcourse；andofthisweknownothing。"
"Idonotthinkweweredrivenveryfarfromourcourse；thewindappearstometohavebeenalwaysaboutthesame。MyopinionisthatthisshoremustbesituatedtothesoutheastofPortGretchen。"
"Good-Ihopeso。Itwill，however，beeasytodecidethematterbytakingthebearingsfromourdeparturebymeansofthecompass。
Comealong，andwewillconsultthatinvaluableinvention。"
TheProfessornowwalkedeagerlyinthedirectionoftherockwheretheindefatigableHanshadplacedtheinstrumentsinsafety。
Myunclewasgayandlighthearted；herubbedhishands，andassumedallsortsofattitudes。Hewastoallappearanceoncemoreayoungman。SinceIhadknownhim，neverhadhebeensoamiableandpleasant。
Ifollowedhim，rathercurioustoknowwhetherIhadmadeanymistakeinmyestimationofourposition。
Assoonaswehadreachedtherock，myuncletookthecompass，placedithorizontallybeforehim，andlookedkeenlyattheneedle。
Ashehadatfirstshakenittogiveitvivacity，itoscillatedconsiderably，andthenslowlyassumeditsrightpositionundertheinfluenceofthemagneticpower。
TheProfessorbenthiseyescuriouslyoverthewondrousinstrument。Aviolentstartimmediatelyshowedtheextentofhisemotion。
Heclosedhiseyes，rubbedthem，andtookanotherandakeenersurvey。
Thenheturnedslowlyroundtome，stupefactiondepictedonhiscountenance。
"Whatisthematter?"saidI，beginningtobealarmed。
Hecouldnotspeak。Hewastoooverwhelmedforwords。Hesimplypointedtotheinstrument。
Iexaminediteagerlyaccordingtohismutedirections，andaloudcryofsurpriseescapedmylips。Theneedleofthecompasspointedduenorth-inthedirectionweexpectedwasthesouth!
Itpointedtotheshoreinsteadoftothehighseas。
Ishookthecompass；Iexamineditwithacuriousandanxiouseye。
Itwasinastateofperfection。Noblemishinanywayexplainedthephenomenon。Whateverpositionweforcedtheneedleinto，itreturnedinvariablytothesameunexpectedpoint。
Itwasuselessattemptingtoconcealfromourselvesthefataltruth。
Therecouldbenodoubtaboutit，unwelcomeaswasthefact，thatduringthetempest，therehadbeenasuddenslantofwind，ofwhichwehadbeenunabletotakeanyaccount，andthustherafthadcarriedusbacktotheshoreswehadleft，apparentlyforever，somanydaysbefore!
CHAPTER34
AVoyageofDiscoveryITwouldbealtogetherimpossibleformetogiveanyideaoftheutterastonishmentwhichovercametheProfessoronmakingthisextraordinarydiscovery。Amazement，incredulity，andragewereblendedinsuchawayastoalarmme。
DuringthewholecourseofmyLifeIhadneverseenamanatfirstsochapfallen；andthensofuriouslyindignant。
Theterriblefatiguesofourseavoyage，thefearfuldangerswehadpassedthrough，hadall，all，gonefornothing。Wehadtobeginthemalloveragain。
Insteadofprogressing，aswefondlyexpected，duringavoyageofsomanydays，wehadretreated。Everyhourofourexpeditionontherafthadbeensomuchlosttime!
Presently，however，theindomitableenergyofmyuncleovercameeveryotherconsideration。
"So，"hesaid，betweenhissetteeth，"fatalitywillplaymetheseterribletricks。Theelementsthemselvesconspiretooverwhelmmewithmortification。Air，fire，andwatercombinetheirunitedeffortstoopposemypassage。Well，theyshallseewhattheearnestwillofadeterminedmancando。Iwillnotyield，Iwillnotretreatevenoneinch；andweshallseewhoshalltriumphinthisgreatcontest-manornature。"
Standinguprightonarock，irritatedandmenacing，ProfessorHardwigg，liketheferociousAjax，seemedtodefythefates。I，however，tookuponmyselftointerfere，andtoimposesomesortofcheckuponsuchinsensateenthusiasm。
"Listentome，Uncle，"Isaid，inafirmbuttemperatetoneofvoice，"theremustbesomelimittoambitionherebelow。Itisutterlyuselesstostruggleagainsttheimpossible。Praylistentoreason。
Weareutterlyunpreparedforaseavoyage；itissimplymadnesstothinkofperformingajourneyoffivehundredleaguesuponawretchedpileofbeams，withacounterpaneforasail，apaltrystickforamast，andatempesttocontendwith。Aswearetotallyincapableofsteeringourfrailcraft，weshallbecomethemereplaythingofthestorm，anditisactingthepartofmadmenifwe，asecondtime，runanyriskuponthisdangerousandtreacherousCentralSea。"
TheseareonlyafewofthereasonsandargumentsIputtogether-
reasonsandargumentswhichtomeappearedunanswerable。Iwasallowedtogoonwithoutinterruptionforabouttenminutes。TheexplanationtothisIsoondiscovered。TheProfessorwasnotevenlistening，anddidnothearawordofallmyeloquence。
"Totheraft!"hecriedinahoarsevoice，whenIpausedforareply。
Suchwastheresultofmystrenuousefforttoresisthisironwill。Itriedagain；Ibeggedandimploredhim；Igotintoapassion；butIhadtodealwithawillmoredeterminedthanmyown。
Iseemedtofeellikethewaveswhichfoughtandbattledagainstthehugemassofgraniteatourfeet，whichhadsmiledgrimlyforsomanyagesattheirpunyefforts。
Hans，meanwhile，withouttakingpartinourdiscussion，hadbeenrepairingtheraft。Onewouldhavesupposedthatheinstinctivelyguessedatthefurtherprojectsofmyuncle。
Bymeansofsomefragmentsofcordage，hehadagainmadetheraftseaworthy。
WhileIhadbeenspeaking，hehadhoistedanewmastandsail，thelatteralreadyflutteringandwavinginthebreeze。
TheworthyProfessorspokeafewwordstoourimperturbableguide，whoimmediatelybegantoputourbaggageonboardandtoprepareforourdeparture。Theatmospherewasnowtolerablyclearandpure，andthenortheastwindblewsteadilyandserenely。Itappearedlikelytolastforsometime。
What，then，couldIdo?CouldIundertaketoresisttheironwilloftwomen?ItwassimplyimpossibleifevenIcouldhavehopedforthesupportofHans。This，however，wasoutofthequestion。ItappearedtomethattheIcelanderhadsetasideallpersonalwillandidentity。
Hewasapictureofabnegation。
Icouldhopefornothingfromonesoinfatuatedwithanddevotedtohismaster。AllIcoulddo，therefore，wastoswimwiththestream。
Inamoodofstolidandsullenresignation，Iwasabouttotakemyaccustomedplaceontheraftwhenmyuncleplacedhishanduponmyshoulder。
"Thereisnohurry，myboy，"hesaid，"weshallnotstartuntiltomorrow。"
Ilookedthepictureofresignationtothedirewilloffate。
"Underthecircumstances，"hesaid，"Ioughttoneglectnoprecautions。Asfatehascastmeupontheseshores，Ishallnotleavewithouthavingcompletelyexaminedthem。"
Inordertounderstandthisremark，Imustexplainthatthoughwehadbeendrivenbacktothenorthernshore，wehadlandedataverydifferentspotfromthatwhichhadbeenourstartingpoint。
PortGretchenmust，wecalculated，beverymuchtothewestward。
Nothing，therefore，wasmorenaturalandreasonablethanthatweshouldreconnoiterthisnewshoreuponwhichwehadsounexpectedlylanded。
"Letusgoonajourneyofdiscovery，"Icried。
AndleavingHanstohisimportantoperation，westartedonourexpedition。Thedistancebetweentheforeshoreathighwaterandthefootoftherockswasconsiderable。Itwouldtakeabouthalfanhour'swalkingtogetfromonetotheother。
Aswetrudgedalong，ourfeetcrushedinnumerableshellsofeveryshapeandsize-oncethedwellingplaceofanimalsofeveryperiodofcreation。
Iparticularlynoticedsomeenormousshells-carapacesturtleandtortoisespeciesthediameterofwhichexceededfifteenfeet。
TheyhadinpastagesbelongedtothosegiganticGlyptodonsofthePlioceneperiod，ofwhichthemodernturtleisbutaminutespecimen。Inaddition，thewholesoilwascoveredbyavastquantityofstonyrelics，havingtheappearanceofflintswornbytheactionofthewaves，andlyinginsuccessivelayersoneabovetheother。I
cametotheconclusionthatinpastagestheseamusthavecoveredthewholedistrict。Uponthescatteredrocks，nowlyingfarbeyonditsreach，themightywavesofageshadleftevidentmarksoftheirpassage。
Onreflection，thisappearedtomepartiallytoexplaintheexistenceofthisremarkableocean，fortyleaguesbelowthesurfaceoftheearth'scrust。Accordingtomynew，andperhapsfanciful，theory，thisliquidmassmustbegraduallylostinthedeepbowelsoftheearth。Ihadalsonodoubtthatthismysteriousseawasfedbyinfiltrationoftheoceanabove，throughimperceptiblefissures。
Nevertheless，itwasimpossiblenottoadmitthatthesefissuresmustnowbenearlychokedup，forifnot，thecavern，orrathertheimmenseandstupendousreservoir，wouldhavebeencompletelyfilledinashortspaceoftime。Perhapseventhiswater，havingtocontendagainsttheaccumulatedsubterraneousfiresoftheinterioroftheearth，hadbecomepartiallyvaporized。Hencetheexplanationofthoseheavycloudssuspendedoverourheads，andthesuperabundantdisplayofthatelectricitywhichoccasionedsuchterriblestormsinthisdeepandcavernoussea。
Thislucidexplanationofthephenomenawehadwitnessedappearedtomequitesatisfactory。Howevergreatandmightythemarvelsofnaturemayseemtous，theyarealwaystobeexplainedbyphysicalreasons。Everythingissubordinatetosomegreatlawofnature。
Itnowappearedclearthatwewerewalkinguponakindofsedimentarysoil，formedlikeallthesoilsofthatperiod，sofrequentonthesurfaceoftheglobe，bythesubsidenceofthewaters。
TheProfessor，whowasnowinhiselement，carefullyexaminedeveryrockyfissure。Lethimonlyfindanopeninganditdirectlybecameimportanttohimtoexamineitsdepth。
ForawholemilewefollowedthewindingsoftheCentralSea，whensuddenlyanimportantchangetookplaceintheaspectofthesoil。
Itseemedtohavebeenrudelycastup，convulsionized，asitwere，byaviolentupheavingofthelowerstrata。Inmanyplaces，hollowshereandhillocksthereattestedgreatdislocationsatsomeotherperiodoftheterrestrialmass。
Weadvancedwithgreatdifficultyoverthebrokenmassesofgranitemixedwithflint，quartz，andalluvialdeposits，whenalargefield，moreeventhanafield，aplainofbones，appearedsuddenlybeforeoureyes!Itlookedlikeanimmensecemetery，wheregenerationaftergenerationhadmingledtheirmortaldust。
Loftybarrowsofearlyremainsroseatintervals。Theyundulatedawaytothelimitsofthedistanthorizonandwerelostinathickandbrownfog。
Onthatspot，somethreesquaremilesinextent，wasaccumulatedthewholehistoryofanimallife-scarcelyonecreatureuponthecomparativelymodernsoiloftheupperandinhabitedworldhadnotthereexisted。
Nevertheless，weweredrawnforwardbyanall-absorbingandimpatientcuriosity。Ourfeetcrushedwithadryandcracklingsoundtheremainsofthoseprehistoricfossils，forwhichthemuseumsofgreatcitiesquarrel，evenwhentheyobtainonlyrareandcuriousmorsels。AthousandsuchnaturalistsasCuvierwouldnothavesufficedtorecomposetheskeletonsoftheorganicbeingswhichlayinthismagnificentosseouscollection。
Iwasutterlyconfounded。Myunclestoodforsomeminuteswithhisarmsraisedonhightowardsthethickgranitevaultwhichservedusforasky。Hismouthwaswideopen；hiseyessparkledwildlybehindhisspectacleswhichhehadfortunatelysaved，hisheadbobbedupanddownandfromsidetoside，whilehiswholeattitudeandmienexpressedunboundedastonishment。
Hestoodinthepresenceofanendless，wondrous，andinexhaustiblyrichcollectionofantediluvianmonsters，piledupforhisownprivateandpeculiarsatisfaction。
FancyanenthusiasticloverofbookscarriedsuddenlyintotheverymidstofthefamouslibraryofAlexandriaburnedbythesacrilegiousOmar，andwhichsomemiraclehadrestoredtoitspristinesplendor!SuchwassomethingofthestateofmindinwhichUncleHardwiggwasnowplaced。
Forsometimehestoodthus，literallyaghastatthemagnitudeofhisdiscovery。
Butitwasevenagreaterexcitementwhen，dartingwildlyoverthismassoforganicdust，hecaughtupanakedskullandaddressedmeinaquiveringvoice:
"Harry，myboy-Harry-thisisahumanhead!"
"Ahumanhead，Uncle!"Isaid，nolessamazedandstupefiedthanhimself。
"Yes，nephew。Ah!Mr。Milne-Edwards-ah!Mr。DeQuatrefages-whyareyounotherewhereIam-I，ProfessorHardwigg!"
CHAPTER35
DiscoveryuponDiscoveryINorderfullytounderstandtheexclamationmadebymyuncle，andhisallusionstotheseillustriousandlearnedmen，itwillbenecessarytoenterintocertainexplanationsinregardtoacircumstanceofthehighestimportancetopaleontology，orthescienceoffossillife，whichhadtakenplaceashorttimebeforeourdeparturefromtheupperregionsoftheearth。
Onthe28thofMarch，1863，somenavigatorsunderthedirectionofM。BoucherdePerthes，wereatworkinthegreatquarriesofMoulin-Quignon，nearAbbeville，inthedepartmentoftheSomme，inFrance。Whileatwork，theyunexpectedlycameuponahumanjawboneburiedfourteenfeetbelowthesurfaceofthesoil。Itwasthefirstfossilofthekindthathadeverbeenbroughttothelightofday。
Nearthisunexpectedhumanrelicwerefoundstonehatchetsandcarvedflints，coloredandclothedbytimeinoneuniformbrillianttintofverdigris。
ThereportofthisextraordinaryandunexpecteddiscoveryspreadnotonlyalloverFrance，butoverEnglandandGermany。Manylearnedmenbelongingtovariousscientificbodies，andnoteworthyamongothers，Messrs。Milne-EdwardsandDeQuatrefages，tooktheaffairverymuchtoheart，demonstratedtheincontestableauthenticityoftheboneinquestion，andbecame-tousethephrasethenrecognizedinEngland-
themostardentsupportersofthe"jawbonequestion。"
TotheeminentgeologistsoftheUnitedKingdomwholookeduponthefactascertain-Messrs。Falconer，Buck，Carpenter，andothers-
weresoonunitedthelearnedmenofGermany，andamongthoseinthefirstrank，themosteager，themostenthusiastic，wasmyworthyuncle，ProfessorHardwigg。
TheauthenticityofahumanfossiloftheQuaternaryperiodseemedthentobeincontestablydemonstrated，andeventobeadmittedbythemostskeptical。
Thissystemortheory，callitwhatyouwill，had，itistrue，abitteradversaryinM。EliedeBeaumont。Thislearnedman，whoholdssuchahighplaceinthescientificworld，holdsthatthesoilofMoulin-Quignondoesnotbelongtothediluviumbuttoamuchlessancientstratum，and，inaccordancewithCuvierinthisrespect，hewouldbynomeansadmitthatthehumanspecieswascontemporarywiththeanimalsoftheQuaternaryepoch。Myworthyuncle，ProfessorHardwigg，inconcertwiththegreatmajorityofgeologists，hadheldfirm，haddisputed，discussed，andfinally，afterconsiderabletalkingandwriting，M。EliedeBeaumonthadbeenprettywellleftaloneinhisopinions。
Wewerefamiliarwithallthedetailsofthisdiscussion，butwerefarfrombeingawarethenthatsinceourdeparturethematterhadentereduponanewphase。Othersimilarjawbones，thoughbelongingtoindividualsofvariedtypesandverydifferentnatures，hadbeenfoundinthemovablegreysandsofcertaingrottoesinFrance，Switzerland，andBelgium；togetherwitharms，utensils，tools，bonesofchildren，ofmenintheprimeoflife，andofoldmen。TheexistenceofmenintheQuaternaryperiodbecame，therefore，morepositiveeveryday。
Butthiswasfarfrombeingall。Newremains，dugupfromthePlioceneorTertiarydeposits，hadenabledthemorefar-seeingoraudaciousamonglearnedmentoassignevenafargreaterdegreeofantiquitytothehumanrace。Theseremains，itistrue，werenotthoseofmen；thatis，werenotthebonesofmen，butobjectsdecidedlyhavingservedthehumanrace:shinbones，thighbonesoffossilanimals，regularlyscoopedout，andinfactsculptured-bearingtheunmistakablesignsofhumanhandiwork。
Bymeansofthesewondrousandunexpecteddiscoveries，manascendedendlesscenturiesinthescaleoftime；he，infact，precededthemastodon；becamethecontemporaryoftheElephasmeridionalis-thesouthernelephant；acquiredanantiquityofoverahundredthousandyears，sincethatisthedategivenbythemosteminentgeologiststothePlioceneperiodoftheearth。Suchwasthenthestateofpaleontologicscience，andwhatwemoreoverknewsufficedtoexplainourattitudebeforethisgreatcemeteryoftheplainsoftheHardwiggOcean。
ItwillnowbeeasytounderstandtheProfessor'smingledastonishmentandjoywhen，onadvancingabouttwentyyards，hefoundhimselfinthepresenceof，Imaysayfacetofacewith，aspecimenofthehumanraceactuallybelongingtotheQuaternaryperiod!
Itwasindeedahumanskull，perfectlyrecognizable。Hadasoilofverypeculiarnature，likethatofthecemeteryofSt。MichelatBordeaux，preserveditduringcountlessages?ThiswasthequestionIaskedmyself，butwhichIwaswhollyunabletoanswer。Butthisheadwithstretchedandparchmentyskin，withtheteethwhole，thehairabundant，wasbeforeoureyesasinlife!
Istoodmute，almostparalyzedwithwonderandawebeforethisdreadapparitionofanotherage。Myuncle，whoonalmosteveryoccasionwasagreattalker，remainedforatimecompletelydumfounded。Hewastoofullofemotionforspeechtobepossible。Afterawhile，however，weraisedupthebodytowhichtheskullbelonged。Westooditonend。Itseemed，toourexcitedimaginations，tolookatuswithitsterribleholloweyes。
Aftersomeminutesofsilence，themanwasvanquishedbytheProfessor。Humaninstinctssuccumbedtoscientificprideandexultation。ProfessorHardwigg，carriedawaybyhisenthusiasm，forgotallthecircumstancesofourjourney，theextraordinarypositioninwhichwewereplaced，theimmensecavernwhichstretchedfarawayoverourheads。TherecanbenodoubtthathethoughthimselfattheInstitutionaddressinghisattentivepupils，forheputonhismostdoctorialstyle，wavedhishand，andbegan:
"Gentlemen，IhavethehonoronthisauspiciousoccasiontopresenttoyouamanoftheQuaternaryperiodofourglobe。Manylearnedmenhavedeniedhisveryexistence，whileotherablepersons，perhapsofevenhigherauthority，haveaffirmedtheirbeliefintherealityofhislife。IftheSt。Thomasesofpaleontologywerepresent，theywouldreverentiallytouchhimwiththeirfingersandbelieveinhisexistence，thusacknowledgingtheirobstinateheresy。Iknowthatscienceshouldbecarefulinrelationtoalldiscoveriesofthisnature。IamnotwithouthavingheardofthemanyBarnumsandotherquackswhohavemadeatradeofsuchlikepretendeddiscoveries。Ihave，ofcourse，heardofthediscoveryofthekneebonesofAjax，ofthepretendedfindingofthebodyofOrestesbytheSpartiates，andofthebodyofAsterius，tenspanslong，fifteenfeet-ofwhichwereadinPausanias。
"IhavereadeverythinginrelationtotheskeletonofTrapani，discoveredinthefourteenthcentury，andwhichmanypersonschosetoregardasthatofPolyphemus，andthehistoryofthegiantdugupduringthesixteenthcenturyintheenvironsofPalmyra。YouarewellawareasIam，gentlemen，oftheexistenceofthecelebratedanalysismadenearLucerne，in1577，ofthegreatboneswhichthecelebratedDoctorFelixPlaterdeclaredbelongedtoagiantaboutnineteenfeethigh。IhavedevouredallthetreatisesofCassanion，andallthosememoirs，pamphlets，speeches，andrepliespublishedinreferencetotheskeletonofTeutobochus，kingoftheCimbri，theinvaderofGaul，dugoutofagravelpitinDauphine，in1613。IntheeighteenthcenturyIshouldhavedenied，withPeterCampet，theexistenceofthepreadamitesofScheuchzer。IhavehadinmyhandsthewritingcalledGigans-"
Heremyunclewasafflictedbythenaturalinfirmitywhichpreventedhimfrompronouncingdifficultwordsinpublic。Itwasnotexactlystuttering，butastrangesortofconstitutionalhesitation。
"ThewritingnamedGigans-"herepeated。
He，however，couldgetnofurther。
"Giganteo-"
Impossible!Theunfortunatewordwouldnotcomeout。TherewouldhavebeengreatlaughterattheInstitution，hadthemistakehappenedthere。
"Gigantosteology!"atlastexclaimedProfessorHardwiggbetweentwosavagegrowls。
Havinggotoverourdifficulty，andgettingmoreandmoreexcited-
"Yes，gentlemen，Iamwellacquaintedwithallthesematters，andknow，also，thatCuvierandBlumenbachfullyrecognizedinthesebonestheundeniableremainsofmammothsoftheQuaternaryperiod。Butafterwhatwenowsee，toallowadoubtistoinsultscientificinquiry。
Thereisthebody；youcanseeit；youcantouchit。Itisnotaskeleton，itisacompleteanduninjuredbody，preservedwithananthropologicalobject。"
Ididnotattempttocontrovertthissingularandastoundingassertion。