A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 1 MY UNCLE MAKES A GREAT DISCOVERY back to all that has occurred to me since that eventful day, I am scarcely able to believe in the reality of my adventures. They were truly so wonderful that even now I am bewildered when I think of them. My uncle was a German, having married my mother's sister, an Englishwoman. Being very much attached to his fatherless nephew, he invited me to study under him in his home in the fatherland. This home was in a large town, ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 2 THE MYSTERIOUS PARCHMENT [Illustration: Runic Glyphs] Declare," cried my uncle, striking the table fiercely with his fist, "I declare to you it is Runic--and contains some wonderful secret, ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 3 AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY "What is the cried the cook, entering the room; "when will master have his dinner?" "Never." "And, his supper?" "I don't know. He says he will eat no more, neither shall I. My uncle has determined to fast and make me fast until he makes out this abominable inscription," I replied. "You will be starved to death," she said. I was very much of the same opinion, but not liking to say so, sent her away, and began some of my usual work ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 4 WE START ON THE JOURNEY "You the whole island is composed of volcanoes," said the Professor, "and remark carefully that they all bear the name of Yocul. The word is Icelandic, and means a glacier. In most of the lofty mountains of that region the volcanic eruptions come forth from icebound caverns. Hence the name applied to every volcano on this extraordinary island." "But what does this word Sneffels mean?" To this question I expected no rational answer. I was mistaken. "Follow my finger to the ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 5 First Lessons in Climbing At Altona, suburb of Hamburg, is the Chief Station of the Kiel railway, which was to take us to the shores of the Belt. In twenty minutes from the moment of our departure we were in Holstein, and our carriage entered the station. Our heavy luggage was taken out, weighed, labeled, and placed in a huge van. We then took our tickets, and exactly at seven o'clock were seated opposite each other in a firstclass railway carriage. My uncle said nothing. He ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 6 Our Voyage to Iceland The hour departure came at last. The night before, the worthy Mr. Thompson brought us the most cordial letters of introduction for Baron Trampe, Governor of Iceland, for M. Pictursson, coadjutor to the bishop, and for M. Finsen, mayor of the town of Reykjavik. In return, my uncle nearly crushed his hands, so warmly did he shake them. On the second of the month, at two in the morning, our precious cargo of luggage was taken on board the good ship Valkyrie. ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 7 Conversation and Discovery When I returned, was ready. This meal was devoured by my worthy relative with avidity and voracity. His shipboard diet had turned his interior into a perfect gulf. The repast, which was more Danish than Icelandic, was in itself nothing, but the excessive hospitality of our host made us enjoy it doubly. The conversation turned upon scientific matters, and M. Fridriksson asked my uncle what he thought of the public library. "Library, sir?" cried my uncle; "it appears to me a collection of ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 8 THE EIDER-DOWN HUNTER--OFF AT LAST That I took a brief walk on the shore near Reykjavik, after which I returned to an early sleep on my bed of coarse planks, where I slept the sleep of the just. When I awoke I heard my uncle speaking loudly in the next room. I rose hastily and joined him. He was talking in Danish with a man of tall stature, and of perfectly Herculean build. This man appeared to be possessed of very great strength. His eyes, which ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 9 OUR START--WE MEET WITH ADVENTURES BY WAY The weather was overcast but settled, when we commenced our adventurous and perilous journey. We had neither to fear fatiguing heat nor drenching rain. It was, in fact, real tourist weather. As there was nothing I liked better than horse exercise, the pleasure of riding through an unknown country caused the early part of our enterprise to be particularly agreeable to me. I began to enjoy the exhilarating delight of traveling, a life of desire, gratification and liberty. The ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 10 TRAVELING IN ICELAND It ought, one have thought, to have been night, even in the sixty-fifth parallel of latitude; but still the nocturnal illumination did not surprise me. For in Iceland, during the months of June and July, the sun never sets. The temperature, however, was very much lower than I expected. I was cold, but even that did not affect me so much as ravenous hunger. Welcome indeed, therefore, was the hut which hospitably opened its doors to us. It was merely the house of ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 11 WE REACH MOUNT SNEFFELS--THE "REYKIR" Stapi a town consisting of thirty huts, built on a large plain of lava, exposed to the rays of the sun, reflected from the volcano. It stretches its humble tenements along the end of a little fjord, surrounded by a basaltic wall of the most singular character. Basalt is a brown rock of igneous origin. It assumes regular forms, which astonish by their singular appearance. Here we found Nature proceeding geometrically, and working quite after a human fashion, as if she ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 12 THE ASCENT OF MOUNT SNEFFELS The volcano which was the first stage of our daring experiment is above five thousand feet high. Sneffels is the termination of a long range of volcanic mountains, of a different character to the system of the island itself. One of its peculiarities is its two huge pointed summits. From whence we started it was impossible to make out the real outlines of the peak against the grey field of sky. All we could distinguish was a vast dome of white, ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 13 THE SHADOW OF SCARTARIS Our supper eaten with ease and rapidity, after which everybody did the best he could for himself within the hollow of the crater. The bed was hard, the shelter unsatisfactory, the situation painful--lying in the open air, five thousand feet above the level of the sea! Nevertheless, it has seldom happened to me to sleep so well as I did on that particular night. I did not even dream. So much for the effects of what my uncle called "wholesome fatigue." Next ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 14 THE REAL JOURNEY COMMENCES Our real had now commenced. Hitherto our courage and determination had overcome all difficulties. We were fatigued at times; and that was all. Now we were about to encounter unknown and fearful dangers. I had not as yet ventured to take a glimpse down the horrible abyss into which in a few minutes more I was about to plunge. The fatal moment had, however, at last arrived. I had still the option of refusing or accepting a share in this foolish and ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 15 WE CONTINUE OUR DESCENT At eight the next morning, a faint kind of dawn of day awoke us. The thousand and one prisms of the lava collected the light as it passed and brought it to us like a shower of sparks. We were able with ease to see objects around us. "Well, Harry, my boy," cried the delighted Professor, rubbing his hands together, "what say you now? Did you ever pass a more tranquil night in our house in the Konigstrasse? No deafening sounds of ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 16 THE EASTERN TUNNEL The next day Tuesday, the 30th of June--and at six o'clock in the morning we resumed our journey. We still continued to follow the gallery of lava, a perfect natural pathway, as easy of descent as some of those inclined planes which, in very old German houses, serve the purpose of staircases. This went on until seventeen minutes past twelve, the precise instant at which we rejoined Hans, who, having been somewhat in advance, had suddenly stopped. "At last," cried my uncle, "we ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 17 DEEPER AND DEEPER--THE COAL MINE In we were compelled to put ourselves upon rations. Our supply would certainly last not more than three days. I found this out about supper time. The wo ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 18 THE WRONG ROAD! Next day, our took place at a very early hour. There was no time for the least delay. According to my account, we had five days' hard work to get back to the place where the galleries divided. I can never tell all the sufferings we endured upon our return. My uncle bore them like a man who has been in the wrong--that is, with concentrated and suppressed anger; Hans, with all the resignation of his pacific character; and I--I confess that I ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 19 THE WESTERN GALLERY--A NEW ROUTE Our was now resumed by means of the second gallery. Hans took up his post in front as usual. We had not gone more than a hundred yards when the Professor carefully examined the walls. "This is the primitive formation--we are on the right road--onwards is our hope!" When the whole earth got cool in the first hours of the world's morning, the diminution of the volume of the earth produced a state of dislocation in its upper crust, followed by ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 20 WATER, WHERE IS IT? A BITTER During a long, long, weary hour, there crossed my wildly delirious brain all sorts of reasons as to what could have aroused our quiet and faithful guide. The most absurd and ridiculous ideas passed through my head, each more impossible than the other. I believe I was either half or wholly mad. Suddenly, however, there arose, as it were from the depths of the earth, a voice of comfort. It was the sound of footsteps! Hans was returning. Presently the ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 21 UNDER THE OCEAN By the next we had nearly forgotten our past sufferings. The first sensation I experienced was surprise at not being thirsty, and I actually asked myself the reason. The running stream, which flowed in rippling wavelets at my feet, was the satisfactory reply. We breakfasted with a good appetite, and then drank our fill of the excellent water. I felt myself quite a new man, ready to go anywhere my uncle chose to lead. I began to think. Why should not a man ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 22 SUNDAY BELOW GROUND I Awoke on morning without any sense of hurry and bustle attendant on an immediate departure. Though the day to be devoted to repose and reflection was spent under such strange circumstances, and in so wonderful a place, the idea was a pleasant one. Besides, we all began to get used to this kind of existence. I had almost ceased to think of the sun, of the moon, of the stars, of the trees, houses, and towns; in fact, about any terrestrial necessities. ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 23 ALONE It must in all truth confessed, things as yet had gone on well, and I should have acted in bad taste to have complained. If the true medium of our difficulties did not increase, it was within the range of possibility that we might ultimately reach the end of our journey. Then what glory would be ours! I began in the newly aroused ardor of my soul to speak enthusiastically to the Professor. Well, was I serious? The whole state in which we existed was ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 24 LOST! No words in any human can depict my utter despair. I was literally buried alive; with no other expectation before me but to die in all the slow horrible torture of hunger and thirst. Mechanically I crawled about, feeling the dry and arid rock. Never to my fancy had I ever felt anything so dry. But, I frantically asked myself, how had I lost the course of the flowing stream? There could be no doubt it had ceased to flow in the gallery in which ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 25 THE WHISPERING GALLERY When at last came back to a sense of life and being, my face was wet, but wet, as I soon knew, with tears. How long this state of insensibility lasted, it is quite impossible for me now to say. I had no means left to me of taking any account of time. Never since the creation of the world had such a solitude as mine existed. I was completely abandoned. After my fall I lost much blood. I felt myself flooded with ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 26 A RAPID RECOVERY When I returned the consciousness of existence, I found myself surrounded by a kind of semiobscurity, lying on some thick and soft coverlets. My uncle was watching--his eyes fixed intently on my countenance, a grave expression on his face, a tear in his eye. At the first sigh which struggled from my bosom, he took hold of my hand. When he saw my eyes open and fix themselves upon his, he uttered a loud cry of joy. "He lives! he lives!" "Yes, my ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 27 THE CENTRAL SEA At first I absolutely nothing. My eyes, wholly unused to the effulgence of light, could not bear the sudden brightness; and I was compelled to close them. When I was able to reopen them, I stood still, far more stupefied than astonished. Not all the wildest effects of imagination could have conjured up such a scene! "The sea--the sea," I cried. "Yes," replied my uncle, in a tone of pardonable pride; "the Central Sea. No future navigator will deny the fact of my ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 28 LAUNCHING THE RAFT On the morning the next day, to my great surprise, I awoke completely restored. I thought a bath would be delightful after my long illness and sufferings. So, soon after rising, I went and plunged into the waters of this new Mediterranean. The bath was cool, fresh and invigorating. I came back to breakfast with an excellent appetite. Hans, our worthy guide, thoroughly understood how to cook such eatables as we were able to provide; he had both fire and water at discretion, ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 29 ON THE WATERS--A RAFT VOYAGE On thirteenth of August we were up betimes. There was no time to be lost. We now had to inaugurate a new kind of locomotion, which would have the advantage of being rapid and not fatiguing. A mast, made of two pieces of wood fastened together, to give additional strength, a yard made from another one, the sail a linen sheet from our bed. We were fortunately in no want of cordage, and the whole on trial appeared solid and seaworthy. ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 30 TERRIFIC SAURIAN COMBAT Saturday, August 15th. sea still retains its uniform monotony. The same leaden hue, the same eternal glare from above. No indication of land being in sight. The horizon appears to retreat before us, more and more as we advance. My head, still dull and heavy from the effects of my extraordinary dream, which I cannot as yet banish from my mind. The Professor, who has not dreamed, is, however, in one of his morose and unaccountable humors. Spends his time in scanning the ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 31 THE SEA MONSTER Wednesday, August 19th. the wind, which for the present blows with some violence, has allowed us to escape from the scene of the unparalleled and extraordinary struggle. Hans with his usual imperturbable calm remained at the helm. My uncle, who for a short time had been withdrawn from his absorbing reveries by the novel incidents of this sea fight, fell back again apparently into a brown study. His eyes were fixed impatiently on the widespread ocean. Our voyage now became monotonous and uniform. ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 32 THE BATTLE OF THE ELEMENTS Friday, 21st. This morning the magnificent geyser had wholly disappeared. The wind had freshened up, and we were fast leaving the neighborhood of Henry's Island. Even the roaring sound of the mighty column was lost to the ear. The weather, if, under the circumstances, we may use such an expression, is about to change very suddenly. The atmosphere is being gradually loaded with vapors, which carry with them the electricity formed by the constant evaporation of the saline waters; the clouds ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 33 OUR ROUTE REVERSED Here ends what call "My Journal" of our voyage on board the raft, which journal was happily saved from the wreck. I proceed with my narrative as I did before I commenced my daily notes. What happened when the terrible shock took place, when the raft was cast upon the rocky shore, it would be impossible for me now to say. I felt myself precipitated violently into the boiling waves, and if I escaped from a certain and cruel death, it was wholly ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 34 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY It would altogether impossible for me to give any idea of the utter astonishment which overcame the Professor on making this extraordinary discovery. Amazement, incredulity, and rage were blended in such a way as to alarm me. During the whole course of my Life I had never seen a man at first so chapfallen; and then so furiously indignant. The terrible fatigues of our sea voyage, the fearful dangers we had passed through, had all, all, gone for nothing. We had to ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 35 DISCOVERY UPON DISCOVERY In order fully understand the exclamation made by my uncle, and his allusions to these illustrious and learned men, it will be necessary to enter into certain explanations in regard to a circumstance of the highest importance to paleontology, or the science of fossil life, which had taken place a short time before our departure from the upper regions of the earth. On the 28th of March, 1863, some navigators under the direction of M. Boucher de Perthes, were at work in the ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 36 WHAT IS IT? For a long weary hour we tramped over this great bed of bones. We advanced regardless of everything, drawn on by ardent curiosity. What other marvels did this great cavern contain--what other wondrous treasures for the scientific man? My eyes were quite prepared for any number of surprises, my imagination lived in expectation of something new and wonderful. The borders of the great Central Ocean had for some time disappeared behind the hills that were scattered over the ground occupied by the plain ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 37 THE MYSTERIOUS DAGGER During this time, had left the bright and transparent forest far behind us. We were mute with astonishment, overcome by a kind of feeling which was next door to apathy. We kept running in spite of ourselves. It was a perfect Right, which resembled one of those horrible sensations we sometimes meet with in our dreams. Instinctively we made our way towards the Central Sea, and I cannot now tell what wild thoughts passed through my mind, nor of what follies I might ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 38 NO OUTLET--BLASTING THE ROCK Ever since commencement of our marvelous journey, I had experienced many surprises, had suffered from many illusions. I thought that I was case-hardened against all surprises and could neither see nor hear anything to amaze me again. I was like a many who, having been round the world, finds himself wholly blase and proof against the marvelous. When, however, I saw these two letters, which had been engraven three hundred years before, I stood fixed in an attitude of mute surprise. Not ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 39 THE EXPLOSION AND ITS RESULTS The day, which was the twenty-seventh of August, was a date celebrated in our wondrous subterranean journey. I never think of it even now, but I shudder with horror. My heart beats wildly at the very memory of that awful day. From this time forward, our reason, our judgment, our human ingenuity, have nothing to do with the course of events. We are about to become the plaything of the great phenomena of the earth! At six o'clock we were all ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 40 THE APE GIGANS It is difficult me to determine what was the real time, but I should suppose, by after calculation, that it must have been ten at night. I lay in a stupor, a half dream, during which I saw visions of astounding character. Monsters of the deep were side by side with the mighty elephantine shepherd. Gigantic fish and animals seemed to form strange conjunctions. The raft took a sudden turn, whirled round, entered another tunnel--this time illumined in a most singular manner. The ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 41 HUNGER Hunger, prolonged, is temporary madness! brain is at work without its required food, and the most fantastic notions fill the mind. Hitherto I had never known what hunger really meant. I was likely to understand it now. And yet, three months before I could tell my terrible story of starvation, as I thought it. As a boy I used to make frequent excursions in the neighborhood of the Professor's house. My uncle always acted on system, and he believed that, in addition to the day ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 42 THE VOLCANIC SHAFT Man's constitution is peculiar that his health is purely a negative matter. No sooner is the rage of hunger appeased than it becomes difficult to comprehend the meaning of starvation. It is only when you suffer that you really understand. As to anyone who has not endured privation having any notion of the matter, it is simply absurd. With us, after a long fast, some mouthfuls of bread and meat, a little moldy biscuit and salt beef triumphed over all our previous gloomy ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 43 DAYLIGHT AT LAST When I opened eyes I felt the hand of the guide clutching me firmly by the belt. With his other hand he supported my uncle. I was not grievously wounded, but bruised all over in the most remarkable manner. After a moment I looked around, and found that I was lying down on the slope of a mountain not two yards from a yawning gulf into which I should have fallen had I made the slightest false step. Hans had saved me from ...Read More

A JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH By Jules Verne CHAPTER 44 THE JOURNEY ENDED This is the conclusion of a narrative which will be probably disbelieved even by people who are astonished at nothing. I am, however, armed at all points against human incredulity. We were kindly received by the Strombolite fishermen, who treated us as shipwrecked travelers. They gave us clothes and food. After a delay of forty-eight hours, on the 30th of September a little vessel took us to Messina, where a few days of delightful and complete repose restored us to ourselves. On Friday, ...Read More