We had long lost sight of the sea shore behind the hills of bones. The rash Professor, careless of losing his way, hurried me forward. We advanced in silence, bathed in luminous6 electric fluid. By some phenomenon which I am unable to explain, it lighted up all sides of every object equally. Such was its diffusiveness, there being no central point from which the light emanated7, that shadows no longer existed. You might have thought yourself under the rays of a vertical8 sun in a tropical region at noonday and the height of summer. No vapour was visible. The rocks, the distant mountains, a few isolated9 clumps10 of forest trees in the distance, presented a weird11 and wonderful aspect under these totally new conditions of a universal diffusion12 of light. We were like Hoffmann's shadowless man.
After walking a mile we reached the outskirts13 of a vast forest, but not one of those forests of fungi14 which bordered Port Gräuben.
Here was the vegetation of the tertiary period in its fullest blaze of magnificence. Tall palms, belonging to species no longer living, splendid palmacites, firs, yews15, cypress16 trees, thujas, representatives of the conifers, were linked together by a tangled17 network of long climbing plants. A soft carpet of moss18 and hepaticas luxuriously19 clothed the soil. A few sparkling streams ran almost in silence under what would have been the shade of the trees, but that there was no shadow. On their banks grew tree-ferns similar to those we grow in hothouses. But a remarkable20 feature was the total absence of colour in all those trees, shrubs21, and plants, growing without the life-giving heat and light of the sun. Everything seemed mixed-up and confounded in one uniform silver grey or light brown tint22 like that of fading and faded leaves. Not a green leaf anywhere, and the flowers—which were abundant enough in the tertiary period, which first gave birth to flowers—looked like brown-paper flowers, without colour or scent23.
My uncle Liedenbrock ventured to penetrate24 under this colossal25 grove26. I followed him, not without fear. Since nature had here provided vegetable nourishment27, why should not the terrible mammals be there too? I perceived in the broad clearings left by fallen trees, decayed with age, leguminose plants, acerineæ, rubiceæ and many other eatable shrubs, dear to ruminant animals at every period. Then I observed, mingled28 together in confusion, trees of countries far apart on the surface of the globe. The oak and the palm were growing side by side, the Australian eucalyptus29 leaned against the Norwegian pine, the birch-tree of the north mingled its foliage30 with New Zealand kauris. It was enough to distract the most ingenious classifier of terrestrial botany.
Suddenly I halted. I drew back my uncle.
The diffused31 light revealed the smallest object in the dense32 and distant thickets33. I had thought I saw—no! I did see, with my own eyes, vast colossal forms moving amongst the trees. They were gigantic animals; it was a herd34 of mastodons—not fossil remains35, but living and resembling those the bones of which were found in the marshes36 of Ohio in 1801. I saw those huge elephants whose long, flexible trunks were grouting and turning up the soil under the trees like a legion of serpents. I could hear the crashing noise of their long ivory tusks37 boring into the old decaying trunks. The boughs38 cracked, and the leaves torn away by cartloads went down the cavernous throats of the vast brutes40.
So, then, the dream in which I had had a vision of the prehistoric41 world, of the tertiary and post-tertiary periods, was now realised. And there we were alone, in the bowels42 of the earth, at the mercy of its wild inhabitants!
My uncle was gazing with intense and eager interest.
"Come on!" said he, seizing my arm. "Forward! forward!"
"No, I will not!" I cried. "We have no firearms. What could we do in the midst of a herd of these four-footed giants? Come away, uncle—come! No human being may with safety dare the anger of these monstrous43 beasts."
"No human creature?" replied my uncle in a lower voice. "You are wrong, Axel. Look, look down there! I fancy I see a living creature similar to ourselves: it is a man!"
I looked, shaking my head incredulously. But though at first I was unbelieving I had to yield to the evidence of my senses.
In fact, at a distance of a quarter of a mile, leaning against the trunk of a gigantic kauri, stood a human being, the Proteus of those subterranean44 regions, a new son of Neptune45, watching this countless46 herd of mastodons.
Immanis pecoris custos, immanior ipse. [1]
Yes, truly, huger still himself. It was no longer a fossil being like him whose dried remains we had easily lifted up in the field of bones; it was a giant, able to control those monsters. In stature48 he was at least twelve feet high. His head, huge and unshapely as a buffalo's, was half hidden in the thick and tangled growth of his unkempt hair. It most resembled the mane of the primitive49 elephant. In his hand he wielded50 with ease an enormous bough39, a staff worthy51 of this shepherd of the geologic52 period.
"Come, do come!" I said to my uncle, who for once allowed himself to be persuaded.
In another quarter of an hour our nimble heels had carried us beyond the reach of this horrible monster.
And yet, now that I can reflect quietly, now that my spirit has grown calm again, now that months have slipped by since this strange and supernatural meeting, what am I to think? what am I to believe? I must conclude that it was impossible that our senses had been deceived, that our eyes did not see what we supposed they saw. No human being lives in this subterranean world; no generation of men dwells in those inferior caverns55 of the globe, unknown to and unconnected with the inhabitants of its surface. It is absurd to believe it!
I had rather admit that it may have been some animal whose structure resembled the human, some ape or baboon56 of the early geological ages, some protopitheca, or some mesopitheca, some early or middle ape like that discovered by Mr. Lartet in the bone cave of Sansau. But this creature surpassed in stature all the measurements known in modern palæontology. But that a man, a living man, and therefore whole generations doubtless besides, should be buried there in the bowels of the earth, is impossible.
However, we had left behind us the luminous forest, dumb with astonishment, overwhelmed and struck down with a terror which amounted to stupefaction. We kept running on for fear the horrible monster might be on our track. It was a flight, a fall, like that fearful pulling and dragging which is peculiar57 to nightmare. Instinctively58 we got back to the Liedenbrock sea, and I cannot say into what vagaries59 my mind would not have carried me but for a circumstance which brought me back to practical matters.
Although I was certain that we were now treading upon a soil not hitherto touched by our feet, I often perceived groups of rocks which reminded me of those about Port Gräuben. Besides, this seemed to confirm the indications of the needle, and to show that we had against our will returned to the north of the Liedenbrock sea. Occasionally we felt quite convinced. Brooks60 and waterfalls were tumbling everywhere from the projections61 in the rocks. I thought I recognised the bed of surturbrand, our faithful Hansbach, and the grotto62 in which I had recovered life and consciousness. Then a few paces farther on, the arrangement of the cliffs, the appearance of an unrecognised stream, or the strange outline of a rock, came to throw me again into doubt.
I communicated my doubts to my uncle. Like myself, he hesitated; he could recognise nothing again amidst this monotonous63 scene.
"Evidently," said I, "we have not landed again at our original starting point, but the storm has carried us a little higher, and if we follow the shore we shall find Port Gräuben."
"If that is the case it will be useless to continue our exploration, and we had better return to our raft. But, Axel, are you not mistaken?"
"It is difficult to speak decidedly, uncle, for all these rocks are so very much alike. Yet I think I recognise the promontory64 at the foot of which Hans constructed our launch. We must be very near the little port, if indeed this is not it," I added, examining a creek65 which I thought I recognised.
"No, Axel, we should at least find our own traces and I see nothing—"
"Come," said he, "had you this weapon with you?"
"I! No, certainly! But you, perhaps—"
"Not that I am aware," said the Professor. "I have never had this object in my possession."
"Well, this is strange!"
"No, Axel, it is very simple. The Icelanders often wear arms of this kind. This must have belonged to Hans, and he has lost it."
I shook my head. Hans had never had an object like this in his possession.
"Did it not belong to some pre-adamite warrior70?" I cried, "to some living man, contemporary with the huge cattle-driver? But no. This is not a relic71 of the stone age. It is not even of the iron age. This blade is steel—"
My uncle stopped me abruptly72 on my way to a dissertation73 which would have taken me a long way, and said coolly:
"Be calm, Axel, and reasonable. This dagger belongs to the sixteenth century; it is a poniard, such as gentlemen carried in their belts to give the coup74 de grace. Its origin is Spanish. It was never either yours, or mine, or the hunter's, nor did it belong to any of those human beings who may or may not inhabit this inner world. See, it was never jagged like this by cutting men's throats; its blade is coated with a rust67 neither a day, nor a year, nor a hundred years old."
The Professor was getting excited according to his wont75, and was allowing his imagination to run away with him.
"Axel, we are on the way towards the grand discovery. This blade has been left on the strand76 for from one to three hundred years, and has blunted its edge upon the rocks that fringe this subterranean sea!"
"But it has not come alone. It has not twisted itself out of shape; some one has been here before us!
"Yes—a man has."
"And who was that man?"
"A man who has engraved77 his name somewhere with that dagger. That man wanted once more to mark the way to the centre of the earth. Let us look about: look about!"
And, wonderfully interested, we peered all along the high wall, peeping into every fissure78 which might open out into a gallery.
And so we arrived at a place where the shore was much narrowed. Here the sea came to lap the foot of the steep cliff, leaving a passage no wider than a couple of yards. Between two boldly projecting rocks appeared the mouth of a dark tunnel.
There, upon a granite79 slab80, appeared two mysterious graven letters, half eaten away by time. They were the initials of the bold and daring traveller:
[Runic initials appear here]
"A. S.," shouted my uncle. "Arne Saknussemm! Arne Saknussemm everywhere!"
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1
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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7
emanated
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的过去式和过去分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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8
vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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9
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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10
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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11
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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12
diffusion
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| n.流布；普及；散漫 | |
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13
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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14
fungi
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| n.真菌，霉菌 | |
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yews
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| n.紫杉( yew的名词复数 ) | |
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cypress
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| n.柏树 | |
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17
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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18
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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19
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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20
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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22
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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24
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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25
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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26
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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27
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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28
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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29
eucalyptus
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| n.桉树，桉属植物 | |
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30
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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31
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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32
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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33
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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35
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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36
marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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38
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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40
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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41
prehistoric
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| adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的 | |
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42
bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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43
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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44
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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45
Neptune
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| n.海王星 | |
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46
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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47
herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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48
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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49
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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50
wielded
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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51
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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52
geologic
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| adj.地质的 | |
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53
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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54
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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55
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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56
baboon
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| n.狒狒 | |
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57
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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58
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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59
vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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60
brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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61
projections
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| 预测( projection的名词复数 )； 投影； 投掷； 突起物 | |
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62
grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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63
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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64
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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65
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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66
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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67
rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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68
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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69
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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70
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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71
relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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72
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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73
dissertation
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| n.（博士学位）论文，学术演讲，专题论文 | |
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74
coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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75
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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76
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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77
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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78
fissure
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| n.裂缝；裂伤 | |
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79
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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80
slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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