OurmorningmealwaslikeacapitalEnglishbreakfast，withcoffeebywayofawindup。Andneverhadthisdeliciousbeveragebeensowelcomeandrefreshing。
Myunclehadsufficientregardformystateofhealthnottointerruptmeintheenjoymentofthemeal，buthewasevidentlydelightedwhenIhadfinished。
"Nowthen，"saidhe，"comewithme。Itistheheightofthetide，andIamanxioustostudyitscuriousphenomena。"
"What"'Icried，risinginastonishment，"didyousaythetide，Uncle?"
"CertainlyIdid。"
"Youdonotmeantosay，"Ireplied，inatoneofrespectfuldoubt，"thattheinfluenceofthesunandmoonisfeltherebelow。"
"Andpraywhynot?Arenotallbodiesinfluencedbythelawofuniversalattraction?Whyshouldthisvastundergroundseabeexemptfromthegenerallaw，theruleoftheuniverse?Besides，thereisnothinglikethatwhichisprovedanddemonstrated。Despitethegreatatmosphericpressuredownhere，youwillnoticethatthisinlandsearisesandfallswithasmuchregularityastheAtlanticitself。"
Asmyunclespoke，wereachedthesandyshore，andsawandheardthewavesbreakingmonotonouslyonthebeach。Theywereevidentlyrising。
"Thisistrulytheflood，"Icried，lookingatthewateratmyfeet。
"Yes，myexcellentnephew，"repliedmyuncle，rubbinghishandswiththegustoofaphilosopher，"andyouseebytheseseveralstreaksoffoamthatthetiderisesatleasttenortwelvefeet。"
"Itisindeedmarvelous。"
"Bynomeans，"heresponded；"onthecontrary，itisquitenatural。"
"Itmayappearsoinyoureyes，mydearuncle，"wasmyreply，"butallthephenomenaoftheplaceappeartometopartakeofthemarvelous。ItisalmostimpossibletobelievethatwhichIsee。Whoinhiswildestdreamscouldhaveimaginedthat，beneaththecrustofourearth，therecouldexistarealocean，withebbingandflowingtides，withitschangesofwinds，andevenitsstorms!Iforoneshouldhavelaughedthesuggestiontoscorn。"
"But，Harry，myboy，whynot?"inquiredmyuncle，withapityingsmile；"isthereanyphysicalreasoninoppositiontoit?
"Well，ifwegiveupthegreattheoryofthecentralheatoftheearth，Icertainlycanoffernoreasonswhyanythingshouldbelookeduponasimpossible。"
"Thenyouwillown，"headded，"thatthesystemofSirHumphryDavyiswhollyjustifiedbywhatwehaveseen?"
"Iallowthatitis-andthatpointoncegranted，Icertainlycanseenoreasonfordoubtingtheexistenceofseasandotherwonders，evencountries，intheinterioroftheglobe。"
"Thatisso-butofcoursethesevariedcountriesareuninhabited?"
"Well，Igrantthatitismorelikelythannot:still，Idonotseewhythisseashouldnothavegivensheltertosomespeciesofunknownfish。"
"Hithertowehavenotdiscoveredany，andtheprobabilitiesareratheragainstoureverdoingso，"observedtheProfessor。
Iwaslosingmyskepticisminthepresenceofthesewonders。
"Well，Iamdeterminedtosolvethequestion。Itismyintentiontotrymyluckwithmyfishinglineandhook。"
"Certainly；maketheexperiment，"saidmyuncle，pleasedwithmyenthusiasm。"Whileweareaboutit，itwillcertainlybeonlypropertodiscoverallthesecretsofthisextraordinaryregion。"
"But，afterall，wherearewenow?"Iasked；"allthistimeIhavequiteforgottentoaskyouaquestion，which，doubtless，yourphilosophicalinstrumentshavelongsinceanswered。"
"Well，"repliedtheProfessor，"examiningthesituationfromonlyonepointofview，wearenowdistantthreehundredandfiftyleaguesfromIceland。"
"Somuch?"wasmyexclamation。
"Ihavegoneoverthematterseveraltimes，andamsurenottohavemadeamistakeoffivehundredyards，"repliedmyunclepositively。
"Andastothedirection-arewestillgoingtothesoutheast?"
"Yes，withawesterndeclination*ofnineteendegrees，forty-twominutes，justasitisabove。Asfortheinclination**Ihavediscoveredaverycuriousfact。"
*Thedeclinationisthevariationoftheneedlefromthetruemeridianofaplace。
**Inclinationisthedipofthemagneticneedlewithatendencytoinclinetowardstheearth。
"Whatmaythatbe，Uncle?Yourinformationinterestsme。"
"Why，thattheneedleinsteadofdippingtowardsthepoleasitdoesonearth，inthenorthernhemisphere，hasanupwardtendency。"
"Thisproves，"Icried，"thatthegreatpointofmagneticattractionliessomewherebetweenthesurfaceoftheearthandthespotwehavesucceededinreaching。"
"Exactly，myobservantnephew，"exclaimedmyuncle，elatedanddelighted，"anditisquiteprobablethatifwesucceedingettingtowardthepolarregions-somewhereneartheseventy-thirddegreeoflatitude，whereSirJamesRossdiscoveredthemagneticpole，weshallbeholdtheneedlepointdirectlyupward。Wehavethereforediscoveredbyanalogy，thatthisgreatcenterofattractionisnotsituatedataverygreatdepth。"
"Well，"saidI，rathersurprised，"thisdiscoverywillastonishexperimentalphilosophers。Itwasneversuspected。"
"Science，great，mightyandintheendunerring，"repliedmyuncledogmatically，"sciencehasfallenintomanyerrors-errorswhichhavebeenfortunateandusefulratherthanotherwise，fortheyhavebeenthesteppingstonestotruth。"
Aftersomefurtherdiscussion，Iturnedtoanothermatter。
"Haveyouanyideaofthedepthwehavereached?"
"Wearenow，"continuedtheProfessor，"exactlythirty-fiveleagues-
aboveahundredmiles-downintotheinterioroftheearth。"
"So，"saidI，aftermeasuringthedistanceonthemap，"wearenowbeneaththeScottishHighlands，andhaveoverourheadstheloftyGrampianHills。"
"Youarequiteright，"saidtheProfessor，laughing；"itsoundsveryalarming，theweightbeingheavy-butthevaultwhichsupportsthisvastmassofearthandrockissolidandsafe；themightyArchitectoftheUniversehasconstructeditofsolidmaterials。Man，eveninhishighestflightsofvividandpoeticimagination，neverthoughtofsuchthings!Whatarethefinestarchesofourbridges，whatthevaultedroofsofourcathedrals，tothatmightydomeaboveus，andbeneathwhichfloatsanoceanwithitsstormsandcalmsandtides!"
"Iadmireitallasmuchasyoucan，Uncle，andhavenofearthatourgraniteskywillfalluponourheads。Butnowthatwehavediscussedmattersofscienceanddiscovery，whatareyourfutureintentions?Areyounotthinkingofgettingbacktothesurfaceofourbeautifulearth?"
Thiswassaidmoreasafeelerthanwithanyhopeofsuccess。
"Goback，nephew，"criedmyuncleinatoneofalarm，"youarenotsurelythinkingofanythingsoabsurdorcowardly。No，myintentionistoadvanceandcontinueourjourney。Wehaveasyetbeensingularlyfortunate，andhenceforthIhopeweshallbemoreso。"
"But，"saidI，"howarewetocrossyonderliquidplain?"
"Itisnotmyintentiontoleapintoitheadforemost，oreventoswimacrossit，likeLeanderovertheHellespont。Butasoceansare，afterall，onlygreatlakes，inasmuchastheyaresurroundedbyland，sodoesitstandtoreason，thatthiscentralseaiscircumscribedbygranitesurroundings。"
"Doubtless，"wasmynaturalreply。
"Well，then，doyounotthinkthatwhenoncewereachtheotherend，weshallfindsomemeansofcontinuingourjourney?"
"Probably，butwhatextentdoyouallowtothisinternalocean?"
"Well，Ishouldfancyittoextendaboutfortyorfiftyleagues-
moreorless。"
"Butevensupposingthisapproximationtobeacorrectone-whatthen?"Iasked。
"Mydearboy，wehavenotimeforfurtherdiscussion。Weshallembarktomorrow。"
Ilookedaroundwithsurpriseandincredulity。Icouldseenothingintheshapeofboatorvessel。
"What!"Icried，"weareabouttolaunchoutuponanunknownsea；
andwhere，ifImayask，isthevesseltocarryus?"
"Well，mydearboy，itwillnotbeexactlywhatyouwouldcallavessel。Forthepresentwemustbecontentwithagoodandsolidraft。"
"Araft，"Icried，incredulously，"butdownherearaftisasimpossibleofconstructionasavessel-andIamatalosstoimagine-"
"MygoodHarry-ifyouweretolisteninsteadoftalkingsomuch，youwouldhear，"saidmyuncle，waxingalittleimpatient。
"Ishouldhear?"
"Yes-certainknockswiththehammer，whichHansisnowemployingtomaketheraft。Hehasbeenatworkformanyhours。"
"Makingaraft?"
"Yes。"
"Butwherehashefoundtreessuitableforsuchaconstruction?"
"Hefoundthetreesallreadytohishand。Come，andyoushallseeourexcellentguideatwork。"
MoreandmoreamazedatwhatIheardandsaw，Ifollowedmyunclelikeoneinadream。
Afterawalkofaboutaquarterofanhour，IsawHansatworkontheothersideofthepromontorywhichformedournaturalport。A
fewminutesmoreandIwasbesidehim。Tomygreatsurprise，onthesandyshorelayahalf-finishedraft。Itwasmadefrombeamsofaverypeculiarwood，andagreatnumberoflimbs，joints，boughs，andpieceslayabout，sufficienttohaveconstructedafleetofshipsandboats。
Iturnedtomyuncle，silentwithastonishmentandawe。
"Wheredidallthiswoodcomefrom?"Icried；"whatwoodisit?"
"Well，thereispinewood，fir，andthepalmsofthenorthernregions，mineralizedbytheactionofthesea，"hereplied，sententiously。
"Canitbepossible?"
"Yes，"saidthelearnedProfessor，"whatyouseeiscalledfossilwood。"
"Butthen，"criedI，afterreflectingforamoment，"likethelignites，itmustbeashardandasheavyasiron，andthereforewillcertainlynotfloat。"
"Sometimesthatisthecase。Manyofthesewoodshavebecometrueanthracites，butothersagain，likethoseyouseebeforeyou，haveonlyundergoneonephaseoffossiltransformation。Butthereisnoprooflikedemonstration，"addedmyuncle，pickingoneortwoofthesepreciouswaifsandcastingthemintothesea。
Thepieceofwood，afterhavingdisappearedforamoment，cametothesurface，andfloatedaboutwiththeoscillationproducedbywindandtide。
"Areyouconvinced?"saidmyuncle，withaself-satisfiedsmile。
"Iamconvinced，"Icried，"thatwhatIseeisincredible。"
Thefactwasthatmyjourneyintotheinterioroftheearthwasrapidlychangingallpreconceivednotions，anddaybydaypreparingmeforthemarvelous。
Ishouldnothavebeensurprisedtohaveseenafleetofnativecanoesafloatuponthatsilentsea。
Theverynextevening，thankstotheindustryandabilityofHans，theraftwasfinished。Itwasabouttenfeetlongandfivefeetwide。Thebeamsboundtogetherwithstoutropes，weresolidandfirm，andoncelaunchedbyourunitedefforts，theimprovisedvesselfloatedtranquillyuponthewatersofwhattheProfessorhadwellnamedtheCentralSea。
CHAPTER29
OntheWaters-ARaftVoyageONthethirteenthofAugustwewereupbetimes。Therewasnotimetobelost。Wenowhadtoinaugurateanewkindoflocomotion，whichwouldhavetheadvantageofbeingrapidandnotfatiguing。
Amast，madeoftwopiecesofwoodfastenedtogether，togiveadditionalstrength，ayardmadefromanotherone，thesailalinensheetfromourbed。Wewerefortunatelyinnowantofcordage，andthewholeontrialappearedsolidandseaworthy。
Atsixo'clockinthemorning，whentheeagerandenthusiasticProfessorgavethesignaltoembark，thevictuals，theluggage，allourinstruments，ourweapons，andagoodlysupplyofsweetwater，whichwehadcollectedfromspringsintherocks，wereplacedontheraft。
Hanshad，withconsiderableingenuity，contrivedarudder，whichenabledhimtoguidethefloatingapparatuswithease。Hetookthetiller，asamatterofcourse。Theworthymanwasasgoodasailorashewasaguideandduckhunter。Ithenletgothepainterwhichheldustotheshore，thesailwasbroughttothewind，andwemadearapidoffing。
Ourseavoyagehadatlengthcommenced；andoncemoreweweremakingfordistantandunknownregions。
Justaswewereabouttoleavethelittleportwheretherafthadbeenconstructed，myuncle，whowasverystrongastogeographicnomenclature，wantedtogiveitaname，andamongothers，suggestedmine。
"Well，"saidI，"beforeyoudecideIhaveanothertopropose。"
"Well；outwithit。"
"IshouldliketocallitGretchen。PortGretchenwillsoundverywellonourfuturemap。"
"Wellthen，PortGretchenletitbe，"saidtheProfessor。
Andthusitwasthatthememoryofmydeargirlwasattachedtoouradventurousandmemorableexpedition。
Whenwelefttheshorethewindwasblowingfromthenorthwardandeastward。Wewentdirectlybeforethewindatamuchgreaterspeedthanmighthavebeenexpectedfromaraft。Thedenselayersofatmosphereatthatdepthhadgreatpropellingpowerandacteduponthesailwithconsiderableforce。
Attheendofanhour，myuncle，whohadbeentakingcarefulobservations，wasenabledtojudgeoftherapiditywithwhichwemoved。Itwasfarbeyondanythingseenintheupperworld。
"If，"hesaid，"wecontinuetoadvanceatourpresentrate，weshallhavetraveledatleastthirtyleaguesintwenty-fourhours。Withamereraftthisisanalmostincrediblevelocity。"
Icertainlywassurprised，andwithoutmakinganyreplywentforwardupontheraft。Alreadythenorthernshorewasfadingawayontheedgeofthehorizon。Thetwoshoresappearedtoseparatemoreandmore，leavingawideandopenspaceforourdeparture。BeforemeI
couldseenothingbutthevastandapparentlylimitlesssea-uponwhichwefloated-theonlylivingobjectsinsight。
Hugeanddarkcloudscasttheirgreyshadowsbelow-shadowswhichseemedtocrushthatcolorlessandsullenwaterbytheirweight。
AnythingmoresuggestiveofgloomandofregionsofnetherdarknessIneverbeheld。Silveryraysofelectriclight，reflectedhereandthereuponsomesmallspotsofwater，broughtupluminoussparklesinthelongwakeofourcumbrousbark。Presentlywewerewhollyoutofsightofland；notavestigecouldbeseen，noranyindicationofwhereweweregoing。SostillandmotionlessdidweseemwithoutanydistantpointtofixoureyesonthatbutforthephosphoriclightatthewakeoftheraftIshouldhavefanciedthatwewerestillandmotionless。
ButIknewthatwewereadvancingataveryrapidrate。
Abouttwelveo'clockintheday，vastcollectionsofseaweedwerediscoveredsurroundingusonallsides。Iwasawareoftheextraordinaryvegetativepoweroftheseplants，whichhavebeenknowntocreepalongthebottomofthegreatocean，andstoptheadvanceoflargeships。Butneverwereseaweedseverseen，sogiganticandwonderfulasthoseoftheCentralSea。Icouldwellimaginehow，seenatadistance，tossingandheavingonthesummitofthebillows，thelonglinesofalgaehavebeentakenforlivingthings，andthushavebeenfertilesourcesofthebeliefinseaserpents。
Ourraftsweptpastgreatspecimensoffucusorseawrack，fromthreetofourthousandfeetinlength，immense，incrediblylong，lookinglikesnakesthatstretchedoutfarbeyondourhorizon。Itaffordedmegreatamusementtogazeontheirvariegatedribbon-likeendlesslengths。Hourafterhourpassedwithoutourcomingtotheterminationofthesefloatingweeds。Ifmyastonishmentincreased，mypatiencewaswell-nighexhausted。
Whatnaturalforcecouldpossiblyhaveproducedsuchabnormalandextraordinaryplants?Whatmusthavebeentheaspectoftheglobe，duringthefirstcenturiesofitsformation，whenunderthecombinedactionofheatandhumidity，thevegetablekingdomoccupieditsvastsurfacetotheexclusionofeverythingelse?
Thesewereconsiderationsofnever-endinginterestforthegeologistandthephilosopher。
Allthiswhilewewereadvancingonourjourney；andatlengthnightcame；butasIhadremarkedtheeveningbefore，theluminousstateoftheatmospherewasinnothingdiminished。Whateverwasthecause，itwasaphenomenonuponthedurationofwhichwecouldcalculatewithcertainty。
Assoonasoursupperhadbeendisposedof，andsomelittlespeculativeconversationindulgedin，Istretchedmyselfatthefootofthemast，andpresentlywenttosleep。
Hansremainedmotionlessatthetiller，allowingtherafttoriseandfallonthewaves。Thewindbeingaft，andthesailsquare，allhehadtodowastokeephisoarinthecenter。
EversincewehadtakenourdeparturefromthenewlynamedPortGretchen，myworthyunclehaddirectedmetokeeparegularlogofourday'snavigation，withinstructionstoputdowneventhemostminuteparticulars，everyinterestingandcuriousphenomenon，thedirectionofthewind，ourrateofsailing，thedistancewewent；inaword，everyincidentofourextraordinaryvoyage。
Fromourlog，therefore，ItellthestoryofourvoyageontheCentralSea。
Friday，August14th。Asteadybreezefromthenorthwest。Raftprogressingwithextremerapidity，andgoingperfectlystraight。Coaststilldimlyvisibleaboutthirtyleaguestoleeward。Nothingtobeseenbeyondthehorizoninfront。Theextraordinaryintensityofthelightneitherincreasesnordiminishes。Itissingularlystationary。
Theweatherremarkablyfine；thatistosay，thecloudshaveascendedveryhigh，andarelightandfleecy，andsurroundedbyanatmosphereresemblingsilverinfusion。
Thermometer，32degreescentigrade。
Abouttwelveo'clockinthedayourguideHanshavingpreparedandbaitedahook，casthislineintothesubterraneanwaters。Thebaitheusedwasasmallpieceofmeat，bymeansofwhichheconcealedhishook。AnxiousasIwas，Iwasforalongtimedoomedtodisappointment。Werethesewaterssuppliedwithfishornot?Thatwastheimportantquestion。No-wasmydecidedanswer。Thentherecameasuddenandratherhardtug。Hanscoollydrewitin，andwithitafish，whichstruggledviolentlytoescape。
"Afish!"criedmyuncle。
"Itisasturgeon!"Icried，"certainlyasmallsturgeon。"
TheProfessorexaminedthefishcarefully，notingeverycharacteristic；andhedidnotcoincideinmyopinion。Thefishhadaflathead，roundbody，andthelowerextremitiescoveredwithbonyscales；itsmouthwaswhollywithoutteeth，thepectoralfins，whichwerehighlydeveloped，sprouteddirectfromthebody，whichproperlyspeakinghadnotail。Theanimalcertainlybelongedtotheorderinwhichnaturalistsclassthesturgeon，butitdifferedfromthatfishinmanyessentialparticulars。
Myuncle，afterall，wasnotmistaken。Afteralongandpatientexamination，hesaid:
"Thisfish，mydearboy，belongstoafamilywhichhasbeenextinctforages，andofwhichnotracehaseverbeenfoundonearth，exceptfossilremainsintheDevonianstrata。"
"Youdonotmeantosay，"Icried，"thatwehavecapturedalivespecimenofafishbelongingtotheprimitivestockthatexistedbeforethedeluge?"
"Wehave，"saidtheProfessor，whoallthistimewascontinuinghisobservations，"andyoumayseebycarefulexaminationthatthesefossilfishhavenoidentitywithexistingspecies。Toholdinone'shand，therefore，alivingspecimenoftheorder，isenoughtomakeanaturalisthappyforlife。"
"But，"criedI，"towhatfamilydoesitbelong?"
"TotheorderofGanoides-anorderoffishhavingangularscales，coveredwithbrightenamel-formingoneofthefamilyoftheCephalaspides，ofthegenus-"
"Well，sir，"Iremarked，asInoticedmyunclehesitatedtoconclude。
"TothegenusPterychtis-yes，Iamcertainofit。Still，thoughI
amconfidentofthecorrectnessofmysurmise，thisfishofferstoournoticearemarkablepeculiarity，neverknowntoexistinanyotherfishbutthosewhicharethenativesofsubterraneanwaters，wells，lakes，incaverns，andsuchlikehiddenpools。"
"Andwhatmaythatbe?"
"Itisblind。"
"Blind!"Icried，muchsurprised。
"Notonlyblind，"continuedtheProfessor，"butabsolutelywithoutorgansofsight。"
Inowexaminedourdiscoveryformyself。Itwassingular，tobesure，butitwasreallyafact。This，however，mightbeasolitaryinstance，Isuggested。Thehookwasbaitedagainandoncemorethrownintothewater。Thissubterraneanoceanmusthavebeentolerablywellsuppliedwithfish，forintwohourswetookalargenumberofPterychtis，aswellasotherfishbelongingtoanothersupposedextinctfamily-theDipteridesagenusoffish，furnishedwithtwofinsonly，whencethename，thoughmyunclecouldnotclassitexactly。All，withoutexception，however，wereblind。Thisunexpectedcaptureenabledustorenewourstockofprovisionsinaverysatisfactoryway。
Wewerenowconvincedthatthissubterraneanseacontainedonlyfishknowntousasfossilspecimens-andfishandreptilesalikewereallthemoreperfectthefartherbacktheydatedtheirorigin。
Webegantohopethatweshouldfindsomeofthosesaurianswhichsciencehassucceededinreconstructingfrombitsofboneorcartilage。
Itookupthetelescopeandcarefullyexaminedthehorizon-lookedoverthewholesea；itwasutterlyandentirelydeserted。Doubtlesswewerestilltoonearthecoast。
Afteranexaminationoftheocean，Ilookedupward，towardsthestrangeandmysterioussky。WhyshouldnotoneofthebirdsreconstructedbytheimmortalCuvierflaphisstupendouswingsaloftinthedullstrataofsubterraneanair?Itwould，ofcourse，findquitesufficientfoodfromthefishinthesea。Igazedforsometimeuponthevoidabove。Itwasassilentandasdesertedastheshoreswehadbutlatelyleft。
Nevertheless，thoughIcouldneitherseenordiscoveranything，myimaginationcarriedmeawayintowildhypotheses。Iwasinakindofwakingdream。IthoughtIsawonthesurfaceofthewaterthoseenormousantediluvianturtlesasbigasfloatingislands。Uponthosedullandsombershorespassedaspectralrowofthemammifersofearlydays，thegreatLiptotheriumfoundinthecavernoushollowoftheBrazilianhills，theMesicotherium，anativeoftheglacialregionsofSiberia。
Fartheron，thepachydermatousLophrodon，thatgigantictapir，whichconcealeditselfbehindrocks，readytodobattleforitspreywiththeAnoplotherium，asingularanimalpartakingofthenatureoftherhinoceros，thehorse，thehippopotamusandthecamel。
TherewasthegiantMastodon，twistingandturninghishorridtrunk，withwhichhecrushedtherocksoftheshoretopowder，whiletheMegatherium-hisbackraisedlikeacatinapassion，hisenormousclawsstretchedout，dugintotheearthforfood，atthesametimethatheawokethesonorousechoesofthewholeplacewithhisterribleroar。
Higherupstill，thefirstmonkeyeverseenonthefaceoftheglobeclambered，gambolingandplayingupthegranitehills。Stillfartheraway，ranthePterodactyl，withthewingedhand，glidingorrathersailingthroughthedenseandcompressedairlikeahugebat。
Aboveall，neartheleadengraniticsky，wereimmensebirds，morepowerfulthanthecassowaryandtheostrich，whichspreadtheirmightywingsandflutteredagainstthehugestonevaultoftheinlandsea。
Ithought，suchwastheeffectofmyimagination，thatIsawthiswholetribeofantediluviancreatures。Icarriedmyselfbacktofarages，longbeforemanexisted-when，infact，theearthwasintooimperfectastateforhimtoliveuponit。
Mydreamwasofcountlessagesbeforetheexistenceofman。Themammifersfirstdisappeared，thenthemightybirds，thenthereptilesofthesecondaryperiod，presentlythefish，thecrustacea，themollusks，andfinallythevertebrata。Thezoophytesoftheperiodoftransitionintheirturnsankintoannihilation。
Thewholepanoramaoftheworld'slifebeforethehistoricperiod，seemedtobebornoveragain，andminewastheonlyhumanheartthatbeatinthisunpeopledworld!Therewerenomoreseasons；therewerenomoreclimates；thenaturalheatoftheworldincreasedunceasingly，andneutralizedthatofthegreatradiantSun。
Vegetationwasexaggeratedinanextraordinarymanner。IpassedlikeashadowinthemidstofbrushwoodasloftyasthegianttreesofCalifornia，andtrodunderfootthemoistandhumidsoil，reekingwitharankandvariedvegetation。
Ileanedagainstthehugecolumn-liketrunksofgianttrees，towhichthoseofCanadawereasferns。Wholeagespassed，hundredsuponhundredsofyearswereconcentratedintoasingleday。
Next，unrolledbeforemelikeapanorama，camethegreatandwondrousseriesofterrestrialtransformations。Plantsdisappeared；
thegraniticrockslostalltraceofsolidity；theliquidstatewassuddenlysubstitutedforthatwhichhadbeforeexisted。Thiswascausedbyintenseheatactingontheorganicmatteroftheearth。
Thewatersflowedoverthewholesurfaceoftheglobe；theyboiled；
theywerevolatilized，orturnedintovapor；akindofsteamcloudwrappedthewholeearth，theglobeitselfbecomingatlastnothingbutonehugesphereofgas，indescribableincolor，betweenwhiteheatandred，asbigandasbrilliantasthesun。
Intheverycenterofthisprodigiousmass，fourteenhundredthousandtimesaslargeasourglobe，Iwaswhirledroundinspace，andbroughtintocloseconjunctionwiththeplanets。Mybodywassubtilized，orratherbecamevolatile，andcommingledinastateofatomicvapor，withtheprodigiousclouds，whichrushedforwardlikeamightycometintoinfinitespace!
Whatanextraordinarydream!Wherewoulditfinallytakeme?Myfeverishhandbegantowritedownthemarvelousdetails-detailsmoreliketheimaginingsofalunaticthananythingsoberandreal。
Ihadduringthisperiodofhallucinationforgotteneverything-theProfessor，theguide，andtheraftonwhichwewerefloating。Mymindwasinastateofsemioblivion。
"Whatisthematter，Harry?"saidmyunclesuddenly。
Myeyes，whichwerewideopenedlikethoseofasomnambulist，werefixeduponhim，butIdidnotseehim，norcouldIclearlymakeoutanythingaroundme。
"Takecare，myboy，"againcriedmyuncle，"youwillfallintothesea。"
Asheutteredthesewords，Ifeltmyselfseizedontheothersidebythefirmhandofourdevotedguide。HaditnotbeenforthepresenceofmindofHans，Imustinfalliblyhavefallenintothewavesandbeendrowned。
"Haveyougonemad?"criedmyuncle，shakingmeontheotherside。
"What-whatisthematter?"Isaidatlast，comingtomyself。
"Areyouill，Henry?"continuedtheProfessorinananxioustone。
"No-no；butIhavehadanextraordinarydream。It，however，haspassedaway。Allnowseemswell"'Iadded，lookingaroundmewithstrangelypuzzledeyes。
"Allright，"saidmyuncle；"abeautifulbreeze，asplendidsea。
Wearegoingalongatarapidrate，andifIamnotoutinmycalculationsweshallsoonseeland。Ishallnotbesorrytoexchangethenarrowlimitsofourraftforthemysteriousstrandofthesubterraneanocean。"
Asmyuncleutteredthesewords，Iroseandcarefullyscannedthehorizon。Butthelineofwaterwasstillconfoundedwiththeloweringcloudsthathungaloft，andinthedistanceappearedtotouchtheedgeofthewater。
CHAPTER30
TerrificSaurianCombatSATURDAY，August15th。Theseastillretainsitsuniformmonotony。
Thesameleadenhue，thesameeternalglarefromabove。Noindicationoflandbeinginsight。Thehorizonappearstoretreatbeforeus，moreandmoreasweadvance。
Myhead，stilldullandheavyfromtheeffectsofmyextraordinarydream，whichIcannotasyetbanishfrommymind。
TheProfessor，whohasnotdreamed，is，however，inoneofhismoroseandunaccountablehumors。Spendshistimeinscanningthehorizon，ateverypointofthecompass。Histelescopeisraisedeverymomenttohiseyes，andwhenhefindsnothingtogiveanycluetoourwhereabouts，heassumesaNapoleonicattitudeandwalksanxiously。
Iremarkedthatmyuncle，theProfessor，hadastrongtendencytoresumehisoldimpatientcharacter，andIcouldnotbutmakeanoteofthisdisagreeablecircumstanceinmyjournal。Isawclearlythatithadrequiredalltheinfluenceofmydangerandsuffering，toextractfromhimonescintillationofhumanefeeling。NowthatIwasquiterecovered，hisoriginalnaturehadconqueredandobtainedtheupperhand。
And，afterall，whathadhetobeangryandannoyedabout，nowmorethanatanyothertime?Wasnotthejourneybeingaccomplishedunderthemostfavorablecircumstances?Wasnottheraftprogressingwiththemostmarvelousrapidity?
What，then，couldbethematter?Afteroneortwopreliminaryhems，Ideterminedtoinquire。
"Youseemuneasy，Uncle，"saidI，whenforaboutthehundredthtimeheputdownhistelescopeandwalkedupanddown，mutteringtohimself。
"No，Iamnotuneasy，"herepliedinadryharshtone，"bynomeans。"
"PerhapsIshouldhavesaidimpatient，"Ireplied，softeningtheforceofmyremark。
"Enoughtomakemeso，Ithink。"
"Andyetweareadvancingatarateseldomattainedbyaraft，"I
remarked。
"Whatmattersthat?"criedmyuncle。"Iamnotvexedattheratewegoat，butIamannoyedtofindtheseasomuchvasterthanI
expected。"
IthenrecollectedthattheProfessor，beforeourdeparture，hadestimatedthelengthofthissubterraneanoceanasatmostaboutthirtyleagues。Nowwehadtraveledatleastoverthricethatdistancewithoutdiscoveringanytraceofthedistantshore。Ibegantounderstandmyuncle'sanger。
"Wearenotgoingdown，"suddenlyexclaimedtheProfessor。"Wearenotprogressingwithourgreatdiscoveries。Allthisisutterlossoftime。Afterall，Ididnotcomefromhometoundertakeapartyofpleasure。Thisvoyageonaraftoverapondannoysandweariesme。"