"Butthatistheextremelimitallowedbyscienceforthethicknessoftheearth'scrust，"Ireplied，referringtomygeologicalstudies。
"Idonotcontravenethatassertion，"washisquietanswer。
"Andatthisstageofourjourney，accordingtoallknownlawsontheincreaseofheat，thereshouldbehereatemperatureoffifteenhundreddegreesofReaumur。"
"Thereshouldbe-yousay，myboy。"
"Inwhichcasethisgranitewouldnotexist，butbeinastateoffusion。"
"Butyouperceive，myboy，thatitisnotso，andthatfacts，asusual，areverystubbornthings，overrulingalltheories。"
"Iamforcedtoyieldtotheevidenceofmysenses，butIamneverthelessverymuchsurprised。"
"Whatheatdoesthethermometerreallyindicate?"continuedthephilosopher。
"Twenty-sevensix-tenths。"
"Sothatscienceiswrongbyfourteenhundredandseventy-fourdegreesandfour-tenths。Accordingtowhich，itisdemonstratedthattheproportionalincreaseintemperatureisanexplodederror。HumphryDavyhereshinesforthinallhisglory。Heisright，andIhaveactedwiselytobelievehim。Haveyouanyanswertomaketothisstatement?"
HadIchosentohavespoken，Imighthavesaidagreatdeal。IinnowayadmittedthetheoryofHumphryDavy-Istillheldoutforthetheoryofproportionalincreaseofheat，thoughIdidnotfeelit。
Iwasfarmorewillingtoallowthatthischimneyofanextinctvolcanowascoveredbylavaofakindrefractorytoheat-infactabadconductor-whichdidnotallowthegreatincreaseoftemperaturetopercolatethroughitssides。Thehotwaterjetsupportedmyviewofthematter。
Butwithoutenteringonalonganduselessdiscussion，orseekingfornewargumentstocontrovertmyuncle，Icontentedmyselfwithtakingupfactsastheywere。
"Well，sir，Itakeforgrantedthatallyourcalculationsarecorrect，butallowmetodrawfromthemarigorousanddefiniteconclusion。"
"Goon，myboy-haveyoursay，"criedmyunclegoodhumoredly。
"Attheplacewherewenoware，underthelatitudeofIceland，theterrestrialdepthisaboutfifteenhundredandeighty-threeleagues。"
"Fifteenhundredeighty-threeandaquarter。"
"Well，supposewesaysixteenhundredinroundnumbers。Now，outofavoyageofsixteenhundredleagueswehavecompletedsixteen。"
"Asyousay，whatthen?"
"Attheexpenseofadiagonaljourneyofnolessthaneighty-fiveleagues。"
"Exactly。"
"Wehavebeentwentydaysaboutit。"
"Exactlytwentydays。"
"Nowsixteenisthehundredthpartofourcontemplatedexpedition。
Ifwegooninthiswayweshallbetwothousanddays，thatisaboutfiveyearsandahalf，goingdown。"
TheProfessorfoldedhisarms，listened，butdidnotspeak。
"Withoutcountingthatifaverticaldescentofsixteenleaguescostsusahorizontalofeighty-five，weshallhavetogoabouteightthousandleaguestothesoutheast，andwemustthereforecomeoutsomewhereinthecircumferencelongbeforewecanhopetoreachthecenter。"
"Botheryourcalculations，"criedmyuncleinoneofhisoldrages。"Onwhatbasisdotheyrest?Howdoyouknowthatthispassagedoesnottakeusdirecttotheendwerequire?Moreover，I
haveinmyfavor，fortunately，aprecedent。WhatIhaveundertakentodo，anotherhasdone，andhehavingsucceeded，whyshouldInotbeequallysuccessful?"
"Ihope，indeed，youwill，butstill，IsupposeImaybeallowedto-"
"Youareallowedtoholdyourtongue，"criedProfessorHardwigg，"whenyoutalksounreasonablyasthis。"
IsawatoncethattheolddoctorialProfessorwasstillaliveinmyuncle-andfearfultorousehisangrypassions，Idroppedtheunpleasantsubject。
"Now，then，"heexplained，"consultthemanometer。Whatdoesthatindicate?"
"Aconsiderableamountofpressure。"
"Verygood。Yousee，then，thatbydescendingslowly，andbygraduallyaccustomingourselvestothedensityofthisloweratmosphere，weshallnotsuffer。"
"Well，Isupposenot，exceptitmaybeacertainamountofpainintheears，"wasmyrathergrimreply。
"That，mydearboy，isnothing，andyouwilleasilygetridofthatsourceofdiscomfortbybringingtheexteriorairincommunicationwiththeaircontainedinyourlungs。"
"Perfectly，"saidI，forIhadquitemadeupmymindinnowisetocontradictmyuncle。"IshouldfancyalmostthatIshouldexperienceacertainamountofsatisfactioninmakingaplungeintothisdenseatmosphere。Haveyoutakennoteofhowwonderfullysoundispropagated?"
"OfcourseIhave。Therecanbenodoubtthatajourneyintotheinterioroftheearthwouldbeanexcellentcurefordeafness。"
"Butthen，Uncle，"Iventuredmildlytoobserve，"thisdensitywillcontinuetoincrease。"
"Yes-accordingtoalawwhich，however，isscarcelydefined。Itistruethattheintensityofweightwilldiminishjustinproportiontothedepthtowhichwego。Youknowverywellthatitisonthesurfaceoftheearththatitsactionismostpowerfullyfelt，whileonthecontrary，intheverycenteroftheearthbodiesceasetohaveanyweightatall。"
"Iknowthatisthecase，butasweprogresswillnottheatmospherefinallyassumethedensityofwater?"
"Iknowit；whenplacedunderthepressureofsevenhundredandtenatmospheres，"criedmyunclewithimperturbablegravity。
"Andwhenwearestilllowerdown?"Iaskedwithnaturalanxiety。
"Well，lowerdown，thedensitywillbecomeevengreater。"
"Thenhowshallwebeabletomakeourwaythroughthisatmosphericfog?"
"Well，myworthynephew，wemustballastourselvesbyfillingourpocketswithstones，"saidProfessorHardwigg。
"Faith，Uncle，youhaveananswerforeverything，"wasmyonlyreply。
IbegantofeelthatitwasunwiseofmetogoanyfartherintothewidefieldofhypothesesforIshouldcertainlyhaverevivedsomedifficulty，orratherimpossibility，thatwouldhaveenragedtheProfessor。
Itwasevident，nevertheless，thattheairunderapressurewhichmightbemultipliedbythousandsofatmospheres，wouldendbybecomingperfectlysolid，andthatthenadmittingourbodiesresistedthepressure，weshouldhavetostop，inspiteofallthereasoningsintheworld。Factsovercomeallarguments。
ButIthoughtitbestnottourgethisargument。MyunclewouldsimplyhavequotedtheexampleofSaknussemm。SupposingthelearnedIcelander'sjourneyeverreallytohavetakenplace-therewasonesimpleanswertobemade:
Inthesixteenthcenturyneitherthebarometernorthemanometerhadbeeninvented-how，then，couldSaknussemmhavebeenabletodiscoverwhenhedidreachthecenteroftheearth?
ThisunanswerableandlearnedobjectionI，however，kepttomyselfand，bracingupmycourage，awaitedthecourseofevents-littleawareofhowadventurousyetweretobetheincidentsofourremarkablejourney。
Therestofthisdayofleisureandreposewasspentincalculationandconversation。ImadeitapointtoagreewiththeProfessorineverything；butIenviedtheperfectindifferenceofHans，who，withouttakinganysuchtroubleaboutthecauseandeffect，wentblindlyonwardswhereverdestinychosetoleadhim。
CHAPTER23
AloneITmustinalltruthbeconfessed，thingsasyethadgoneonwell，andIshouldhaveactedinbadtastetohavecomplained。Ifthetruemediumofourdifficultiesdidnotincrease，itwaswithintherangeofpossibilitythatwemightultimatelyreachtheendofourjourney。Thenwhatglorywouldbeours!IbeganinthenewlyarousedardorofmysoultospeakenthusiasticallytotheProfessor。Well，wasIserious?Thewholestateinwhichweexistedwasamystery-anditwasimpossibletoknowwhetherornotIwasinearnest。
Forseveraldaysafterourmemorablehalt，theslopesbecamemorerapid-somewereevenofamostfrightfulcharacter-almostvertical，sothatwewereforevergoingdownintothesolidinteriormass。Duringsomedays，weactuallydescendedaleagueandahalf，eventwoleaguestowardsthecenteroftheearth。Thedescentsweresufficientlyperilous，andwhilewewereengagedinthemwelearnedfullytoappreciatethemarvelouscoolnessofourguide，Hans。Withouthimweshouldhavebeenwhollylost。ThegraveandimpassibleIcelanderdevotedhimselftouswiththemostincomprehensiblesang-froidandease；and，thankstohim，manyadangerouspasswasgotover，where，butforhim，weshouldinevitablyhavestuckfast。
Hissilenceincreasedeveryday。Ithinkthatwebegantobeinfluencedbythispeculiartraitinhischaracter。Itiscertainthattheinanimateobjectsbywhichyouaresurroundedhaveadirectactiononthebrain。Itmustbethatamanwhoshutshimselfupbetweenfourwallsmustlosethefacultyofassociatingideasandwords。Howmanypersonscondemnedtothehorrorsofsolitaryconfinementhavegonemad-simplybecausethethinkingfacultieshavelaindormant!
Duringthetwoweeksthatfollowedourlastinterestingconversation，thereoccurrednothingworthyofbeingespeciallyrecorded。
Ihave，whilewritingthesememoirs，taxedmymemoryinvainforoneincidentoftravelduringthisparticularperiod。
Butthenexteventtoberelatedisterribleindeed。Itsverymemory，evennow，makesmysoulshudder，andmybloodruncold。
ItwasontheseventhofAugust。Ourconstantandsuccessivedescentshadtakenusquitethirtyleaguesintotheinterioroftheearth，thatistosaythattherewereaboveusthirtyleagues，nearlyahundredmiles，ofrocks，andoceans，andcontinents，andtowns，tosaynothingoflivinginhabitants。Wewereinasoutheasterlydirection，abouttwohundredleaguesfromIceland。
Onthatmemorabledaythetunnelhadbeguntoassumeanalmosthorizontalcourse。
Iwasonthisoccasionwalkingoninfront。MyunclehadchargeofoneoftheRuhmkorffcoils，Ihadpossessionoftheother。BymeansofitslightIwasbusyexaminingthedifferentlayersofgranite。I
wascompletelyabsorbedinmywork。
Suddenlyhaltingandturninground，IfoundthatIwasalone!
"Well，"thoughtItomyself，"Ihavecertainlybeenwalkingtoofast-orelseHansandmyunclehavestoppedtorest。ThebestthingI
candoistogobackandfindthem。Luckily，thereisverylittleascenttotireme。"
Iaccordinglyretracedmystepsand，whiledoingso，walkedforatleastaquarterofanhour。Ratheruneasy，Ipausedandlookedeagerlyaround。Notalivingsoul。Icalledaloud。Noreply。Myvoicewaslostamidthemyriadcavernousechoesitaroused!
Ibeganforthefirsttimetofeelseriouslyuneasy。Acoldshivershookmywholebody，andperspiration，chillandterrible，burstuponmyskin。
"Imustbecalm，"Isaid，speakingaloud，asboyswhistletodriveawayfear。"TherecanbenodoubtthatIshallfindmycompanions。
Therecannotbetworoads。ItiscertainthatIwasconsiderablyahead；allIhavetodoistogoback。"
HavingcometothisdeterminationIascendedthetunnelforatleasthalfanhour，unabletodecideifIhadeverseencertainlandmarksbefore。EverynowandthenIpausedtodiscoverifanyloudappealwasmadetome，wellknowingthatinthatdenseandintensifiedatmosphereIshouldhearitalongwayoff。Butno。Themostextraordinarysilencereignedinthisimmensegallery。Onlytheechoesofmyownfootstepscouldbeheard。
AtlastIstopped。Icouldscarcelyrealizethefactofmyisolation。IwasquitewillingtothinkthatIhadmadeamistake，butnotthatIwaslost。IfIhadmadeamistake，Imightfindmyway；
iflost-Ishudderedtothinkofit。
"Come，come，"saidItomyself，"sincethereisonlyoneroad，andtheymustcomebyit，weshallatlastmeet。AllIhavetodoisstilltogoupwards。Perhaps，however，notseeingme，andforgettingIwasahead，theymayhavegonebackinsearchofme。Still，eveninthiscase，ifImakehaste，Ishallgetuptothem。Therecanbenodoubtaboutthematter。"
ButasIspoketheselastwordsaloud，itwouldhavebeenquitecleartoanylistener-hadtherebeenone-thatIwasbynomeansconvincedofthefact。Moreoverinordertoassociatetogetherthesesimpleideasandtoreunitethemundertheformofreasoning，requiredsometime。Icouldnotallatoncebringmybraintothink。
Thenanotherdreaddoubtfelluponmysoul。Afterall，wasI
ahead?OfcourseIwas。Hanswasnodoubtfollowingbehindprecededbymyuncle。Iperfectlyrecollectedhishavingstoppedforamomenttostraphisbaggageonhisshoulder。Inowrememberedthistriflingdetail。Itwas，Ibelieve，justatthatverymomentthatIhaddeterminedtocontinueMyroute。
"Again，"thoughtI，reasoningascalmlyaswaspossible，"thereisanothersuremeansofnotlosingmyway，athreadtoguidemethroughthelabyrinthinesubterraneousretreat-onewhichIhadforgotten-myfaithfulriver。"
Thiscourseofreasoningrousedmydroopingspirits，andI
resolvedtoresumemyjourneywithoutfurtherdelay。Notimewastobelost。
ItwasatthismomentthatIhadreasontoblessthethoughtfulnessofmyuncle，whenherefusedtoallowtheeiderhuntertoclosetheorificesofthehotspring-thatsmallfissureinthegreatmassofgranite。Thisbeneficentspringafterhavingsavedusfromthirstduringsomanydayswouldnowenablemetoregaintherightroad。
Havingcometothismentaldecision，Imadeupmymind，beforeI
startedupwards，thatablutionwouldcertainlydomeagreatdealofgood。
IstoppedtoplungemyhandsandforeheadinthepleasantwateroftheHansbachstream，blessingitspresenceasacertainconsolation。
Conceivemyhorrorandstupefaction!-Iwastreadingahard，dusty，shinglyroadofgranite。ThestreamonwhichIreckonedhadwhollydisappeared!
CHAPTER24
Lost!
NOwordsinanyhumanlanguagecandepictmyutterdespair。Iwasliterallyburiedalive；withnootherexpectationbeforemebuttodieinalltheslowhorribletortureofhungerandthirst。
MechanicallyIcrawledabout，feelingthedryandaridrock。NevertomyfancyhadIeverfeltanythingsodry。
But，Ifranticallyaskedmyself，howhadIlostthecourseoftheflowingstream?TherecouldbenodoubtithadceasedtoflowinthegalleryinwhichInowwas。NowIbegantounderstandthecauseofthestrangesilencewhichprevailedwhenlastItriedifanyappealfrommycompanionsmightperchancereachmyear。
ItsohappenedthatwhenIfirsttookanimprudentstepinthewrongdirection，Ididnotperceivetheabsenceoftheall-importantstream。
Itwasnowquiteevidentthatwhenwehalted，anothertunnelmusthavereceivedthewatersofthelittletorrent，andthatIhadunconsciouslyenteredadifferentgallery。Towhatunknowndepthshadmycompanionsgone?WherewasI?
Howtogetback!Clueorlandmarktherewasabsolutelynone!Myfeetleftnosignsonthegraniteandshingle。MybrainthrobbedwithagonyasItriedtodiscoverthesolutionofthisterribleproblem。Mysituation，afterallsophistryandreflection，hadfinallytobesummedupinthreeawfulwords-
Lost!Lost!!LOST!!!
Lostatadepthwhich，tomyfiniteunderstanding，appearedtobeimmeasurable。
ThesethirtyleaguesofthecrustoftheearthweigheduponmyshouldersliketheglobeontheshouldersofAtlas。Ifeltmyselfcrushedbytheawfulweight。Itwasindeedapositiontodrivethesanestmantomadness!
Itriedtobringmythoughtsbacktothethingsoftheworldsolongforgotten。ItwaswiththegreatestdifficultythatIsucceededindoingso。Hamburg，thehouseontheKonigstrasse，mydearcousinGretchen-allthatworldwhichhadbeforevanishedlikeashadowfloatedbeforemynowvividimagination。
Theretheywerebeforeme，buthowunreal。UndertheinfluenceofaterriblehallucinationIsawalltheincidentsofourjourneypassbeforemelikethescenesofapanorama。Theshipanditsinmates，Iceland，M。Fridriksson，andthegreatsummitofMountSneffels!I
saidtomyselfthat，ifinmypositionIretainedthemostfaintandshadowyoutlineofahope，itwouldbeasuresignofapproachingdelirium。Itwerebettertogivewaywhollytodespair!
Infact，didIbutreasonwithcalmnessandphilosophy，whathumanpowerwasthereinexistenceabletotakemebacktothesurfaceoftheearth，andready，too，tosplitasunder，torendintwainthosehugeandmightyvaultswhichstandabovemyhead?Whocouldenablemetofindmyroad-andregainmycompanions?
Insensatefollyandmadnesstoentertainevenashadowofhope!
"Oh，Uncle!"wasmydespairingcry。
Thiswastheonlywordofreproachwhichcametomylips；forI
thoroughlyunderstoodhowdeeplyandsorrowfullytheworthyProfessorwouldregretmyloss，andhowinhisturnhewouldpatientlyseekforme。
WhenIatlastbegantoresignmyselftothefactthatnofurtheraidwastobeexpectedfromman，andknowingthatIwasutterlypowerlesstodoanythingformyownsalvation，IkneeledwithearnestfervorandaskedassistancefromHeaven。Theremembranceofmyinnocentchildhood，thememoryofmymother，knownonlyinmyinfancy，camewellingforthfrommyheart。Ihadrecoursetoprayer。AndlittleasIhadarighttoberememberedbyHimwhomIhadforgotteninthehourofprosperity，andwhomIsotardilyinvoked，Iprayedearnestlyandsincerely。
Thisrenewalofmyyouthfulfaithbroughtaboutamuchgreateramountofcalm，andIwasenabledtoconcentrateallmystrengthandintelligenceontheterriblerealitiesofmyunprecedentedsituation。
IhadaboutmethatwhichIhadatfirstwhollyforgotten-threedays'provisions。Moreover，mywaterbottlewasquitefull。
Nevertheless，theonethingwhichitwasimpossibletodowastoremainalone。TrytofindmycompanionsImust，atanyprice。ButwhichcourseshouldItake?ShouldIgoupwards，oragaindescend?
Doubtlessitwasrighttoretracemystepsinanupwarddirection。
Bydoingthiswithcareandcoolness，ImustreachthepointwhereI
hadturnedawayfromtheripplingstream。Imustfindthefatalbifurcationorfork。Onceatthisspot，oncetheriveratmyfeet，I
could，atallevents，regaintheawfulcraterofMountSneffels。WhyhadInotthoughtofthisbefore?This，atlast，wasareasonablehopeofsafety。Themostimportantthing，then，tobedonewastodiscoverthebedoftheHansbach。
Afteraslightmealandadraughtofwater，Iroselikeagiantrefreshed。Leaningheavilyonmypole，Ibegantheascentofthegallery。Theslopewasveryrapidandratherdifficult。ButIadvancedhopefullyandcarefully，likeamanwhoatlastismakinghiswayoutofaforest，andknowsthereisonlyoneroadtofollow。
Duringonewholehournothinghappenedtocheckmyprogress。AsI
advanced，Itriedtorecollecttheshapeofthetunnel-torecalltomymemorycertainprojectionsofrocks-topersuademyselfthatI
hadfollowedcertainwindingroutesbefore。ButnooneparticularsigncouldIbringtomind，andIwassoonforcedtoallowthatthisgallerywouldnevertakemebacktothepointatwhichIhadseparatedmyselffrommycompanions。Itwasabsolutelywithoutissue-amereblindalleyintheearth。
Themomentatlengthcamewhen，facingthesolidrock，Iknewmyfate，andfellinanimateonthearidfloor!
TodescribethehorriblestateofdespairandfearintowhichIthenfellwouldnowbevainandimpossible。Mylasthope，thecouragewhichhadsustainedme，droopedbeforethesightofthispitilessgraniterock!
Lostinavastlabyrinth，thesinuositiesofwhichspreadineverydirection，withoutguide，clueorcompass，Iknewitwasavainanduselesstasktoattemptflight。Allthatremainedtomewastoliedownanddie。Toliedownanddiethemostcruelandhorribleofdeaths!
Inmystateofmind，theideacameintomyheadthatonedayperhaps，whenmyfossilboneswerefound，theirdiscoverysofarbelowtheleveloftheearthmightgiverisetosolemnandinterestingscientificdiscussions。
Itriedtocryaloud，buthoarse，hollow，andinarticulatesoundsalonecouldmakethemselvesheardthroughmyparchedlips。Iliterallypantedforbreath。
Inthemidstofallthesehorriblesourcesofanguishanddespair，anewhorrortookpossessionofmysoul。Mylamp，byfallingdown，hadgotoutoforder。Ihadnomeansofrepairingit。Itslightwasalreadybecomingpalerandpaler，andsoonwouldexpire。
Withastrangesenseofresignationanddespair，Iwatchedtheluminouscurrentinthecoilgettinglessandless。Aprocessionofshadowsmovedflashingalongthegranitewall。Iscarcelydaredtolowermyeyelids，fearingtolosethelastsparkofthisfugitivelight。Everyinstantitseemedtomethatitwasabouttovanishandtoleavemeforever-inutterdarkness!
Atlast，onefinaltremblingflameremainedinthelamp；I
followeditwithallmypowerofvision；Igaspedforbreath；I
concentrateduponitallthepowerofmysoul，asuponthelastscintillationoflightIwaseverdestinedtosee:andthenIwastobelostforeverinCimmerianandtenebrousshades。
Awildandplaintivecryescapedmylips。Onearthduringthemostprofoundandcomparativelycompletedarkness，lightneverallowsacompletedestructionandextinctionofitspower。Lightissodiffuse，sosubtle，thatitpermeateseverywhere，andwhateverlittlemayremain，theretinaoftheeyewillsucceedinfindingit。Inthisplacenothing-theabsoluteobscuritymademeblindineverysense。
Myheadwasnowwhollylost。Iraisedmyarms，tryingtheeffectsofthefeelingingettingagainstthecoldstonewall。Itwaspainfulintheextreme。Madnessmusthavetakenpossessionofme。IknewnotwhatIdid。Ibegantorun，tofly，rushingathaphazardinthisinextricablelabyrinth，alwaysgoingdownwards，runningwildlyunderneaththeterrestrialcrust，likeaninhabitantofthesubterraneanfurnaces，screaming，roaring，howling，untilbruisedbythepointedrocks，fallingandpickingmyselfupallcoveredwithblood，seekingmadlytodrinkthebloodwhichdrippedfrommytornfeatures，madbecausethisbloodonlytrickledovermyface，andwatchingalwaysforthishorridwallwhicheverpresentedtomethefearfulobstacleagainstwhichIcouldnotdashmyhead。
WherewasIgoing?Itwasimpossibletosay。Iwasperfectlyignorantofthematter。
Severalhourspassedinthisway。Afteralongtime，havingutterlyexhaustedmystrength，Ifellaheavyinertmassalongthesideofthetunnel，andlostconsciousness。
CHAPTER25
TheWhisperingGalleryWHENatlastIcamebacktoasenseoflifeandbeing，myfacewaswet，butwet，asIsoonknew，withtears。Howlongthisstateofinsensibilitylasted，itisquiteimpossibleformenowtosay。I
hadnomeanslefttomeoftakinganyaccountoftime。Neversincethecreationoftheworldhadsuchasolitudeasmineexisted。Iwascompletelyabandoned。
AftermyfallIlostmuchblood。Ifeltmyselffloodedwiththelife-givingliquid。Myfirstsensationwasperhapsanaturalone。
WhywasInotdead?BecauseIwasalive，therewassomethinglefttodo。Itriedtomakeupmymindtothinknolonger。AsfarasIwasable，Idroveawayallideas，andutterlyovercomebypainandgrief，Icrouchedagainstthegranitewall。
Ijustcommencedtofeelthefaintingcomingonagain，andthesensationthatthiswasthelaststrugglebeforecompleteannihilation-when，onasudden，aviolentuproarreachedmyears。
Ithadsomeresemblancetotheprolongedrumblingvoiceofthunder，andIclearlydistinguishedsonorousvoices，lostoneaftertheother，inthedistantdepthsofthegulf。
Whencecamethisnoise?Naturally，itwastobesupposedfromnewphenomenawhichweretakingplaceinthebosomofthesolidmassofMotherEarth!Theexplosionofsomegaseousvapors，orthefallofsomesolid，ofthegraniticorotherrock。
AgainIlistenedwithdeepattention。Iwasextremelyanxioustohearifthisstrangeandinexplicablesoundwaslikelytoberenewed!Awholequarterofanhourelapsedinpainfulexpectation。
Deepandsolemnsilencereignedinthetunnel。SostillthatIcouldhearthebeatingsofmyownheart!Iwaited，waitedwithastrangekindofhopefulness。
Suddenlymyear，whichleanedaccidentallyagainstthewall，appearedtocatch，asitwere，thefaintestechoofasound。IthoughtthatIheardvague，incoherentanddistantvoices。Iquiveredalloverwithexcitementandhope!
"Itmustbehallucination，"Icried。"Itcannotbe!itisnottrue!"
Butno!Bylisteningmoreattentively，IreallydidconvincemyselfthatwhatIheardwastrulythesoundofhumanvoices。Tomakeanymeaningoutofthesound，however，wasbeyondmypower。Iwastooweakeventoheardistinctly。Stillitwasapositivefactthatsomeonewasspeaking。OfthatIwasquitecertain。
Therewasamomentoffear。Adreadfelluponmysoulthatitmightbemyownwordsbroughtbacktomebyadistantecho。Perhapswithoutknowingit，Imighthavebeencryingaloud。Iresolutelyclosedmylips，andoncemoreplacedmyeartothehugegranitewall。
Yes，forcertain。Itwasintruththesoundofhumanvoices。
Inowbytheexerciseofgreatdeterminationdraggedmyselfalongthesidesofthecavern，untilIreachedapointwhereIcouldhearmoredistinctly。ButthoughIcoulddetectthesound，Icouldonlymakeoutuncertain，strange，andincomprehensiblewords。Theyreachedmyearasiftheyhadbeenspokeninalowtone-murmured，asitwere，afaroff。
Atlast，Imadeoutthewordforloradrepeatedseveraltimesinatonebetokeninggreatmentalanguishandsorrow。
Whatcouldthiswordmean，andwhowasspeakingit?ItmustbeeithermyuncleortheguideHans!If，therefore，Icouldhearthem，theymustsurelybeabletohearme。
"Help，"Icriedatthetopofmyvoice；"help，Iamdying!"
Ithenlistenedwithscarcelyabreath；Ipantedfortheslightestsoundinthedarkness-acry，asigh，aquestion!Butsilencereignedsupreme。Noanswercame!Inthiswaysomeminutespassed。A
wholefloodofideasflashedthroughmymind。Ibegantofearthatmyvoice，weakenedbysicknessandsuffering，couldnotreachmycompanionswhowereinsearchofme。
"Itmustbethey，"Icried；"whoelsecouldbyanypossibilitybeburiedahundredmilesbelowtheleveloftheearth?"Themeresuppositionwaspreposterous。
Ibegan，therefore，tolistenagainwiththemostbreathlessattention。AsImovedmyearsalongthesideoftheplaceIwasin，Ifoundamathematicalpointasitwere，wherethevoicesappearedtoattaintheirmaximumofintensity。Thewordforloradagaindistinctlyreachedmyear。Thencameagainthatrollingnoiselikethunderwhichhadawakenedmeoutoftorpor。
"Ibegintounderstand，"Isaidtomyselfaftersomelittletimedevotedtoreflection；"itisnotthroughthesolidmassthatthesoundreachesmyears。Thewallsofmycavernousretreatareofsolidgranite，andthemostfearfulexplosionwouldnotmakeuproarenoughtopenetratethem。Thesoundmustcomealongthegalleryitself。TheplaceIwasinmustpossesssomepeculiaracousticpropertiesofitsown。"
AgainIlistened；andthistime-yes，thistime-Iheardmynamedistinctlypronounced:castasitwereintospace。
Itwasmyuncle，theProfessor，whowasspeaking。Hewasinconversationwiththeguide，andthewordwhichhadsooftenreachedmyears，forlorad，wasaDanishexpression。
ThenIunderstooditall。Inordertomakemyselfheard，Itoomustspeakasitwerealongthesideofthegallery，whichwouldcarrythesoundofmyvoicejustasthewirecarriestheelectricfluidfrompointtopoint。
Buttherewasnotimetolose。Ifmycompanionswereonlytoremoveafewfeetfromwheretheystood，theacousticeffectwouldbeover，myWhisperingGallerywouldbedestroyed。Iagainthereforecrawledtowardsthewall，andsaidasclearlyanddistinctlyasI
could:
"UncleHardwigg。"
Ithenawaitedareply。
Sounddoesnotpossessthepropertyoftravelingwithsuchextremerapidity。Besidesthedensityoftheairatthatdepthfromlightandmotionwasveryfarfromaddingtotherapidityofcirculation。
Severalsecondselapsed，whichtomyexcitedimagination，appearedages；andthesewordsreachedmyeagerears，andmovedmywildlybeatingheart:
"Harry，myboy，isthatyou?"
Ashortdelaybetweenquestionandanswer。
"Yes-yes。"
"Whereareyou?"
"Lost!"
"Andyourlamp?"
"Out。"
"Buttheguidingstream?"
"Islost!"
"Keepyourcourage，Harry。Wewilldoourbest。"
"Onemoment，myuncle，"Icried；"Ihavenolongerstrengthtoansweryourquestions。But-forheaven'ssake-doyou-continue-tospeak-tome!"Absolutesilence，Ifelt，wouldbeannihilation。
"Keepupyourcourage，"saidmyuncle。"Asyouaresoweak，donotspeak。Wehavebeensearchingforyouinalldirections，bothbygoingupwardsanddownwardsinthegallery。Mydearboy，Ihadbeguntogiveoverallhope-andyoucanneverknowwhatbittertearsofsorrowandregretIhaveshed。Atlast，supposingyoutobestillontheroadbesidetheHansbach，weagaindescended，firingoffgunsassignals。
Now，however，thatwehavefoundyou，andthatourvoicesreacheachother，itmaybealongtimebeforeweactuallymeet。Weareconversingbymeansofsomeextraordinaryacousticarrangementofthelabyrinth。Butdonotdespair，mydearboy。Itissomethinggainedeventoheareachother。"
Whilehewasspeaking，mybrainwasatworkreflecting。Acertainundefinedhope，vagueandshapelessasyet，mademyheartbeatwildly。
Inthefirstplace，itwasabsolutelynecessaryformetoknowonething。Ioncemore，therefore，leanedmyheadagainstthewall，whichIalmosttouchedwithmylips，andagainspoke。
"Uncle。"
"Myboy?"washisanswerafterafewmoments。
"Itisoftheutmostconsequencethatweshouldknowhowfarweareasunder。"
"Thatisnotdifficult。"
"Youhaveyourchronometerathand?"Iasked。
"Certainly。"
"Well，takeitintoyourhand。Pronouncemyname，notingexactlythesecondatwhichyouspeak。IwillreplyassoonasIhearyourwords-andyouwillthennoteexactlythemomentatwhichmyreplyreachesyou。"
"Verygood；andthemeantimebetweenmyquestionandyouranswerwillbethetimeoccupiedbymyvoiceinreachingyou。"
"ThatisexactlywhatImean，Uncle，"wasmyeagerreply。
"Areyouready?"