Forest Scenery Lit by Electricity

For another half hour we trod upon a pavement of bones. We pushed on, impelled by our burning curiosity. What other marvels did this cavern contain? What new treasures lay here for science to unfold? I was prepared for any surprise, my imagination was ready for any astonishment however astounding.

For another half hour, we walked over a floor of bones. Burning with curiosity, we pressed on. What other wonders did this cavern hold? What new treasures for science lay here waiting to be discovered? I was ready for any surprise, and my imagination was prepared for anything, however astonishing.

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 luminous 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 emanated, that shadows no longer existed. You might have thought yourself under the rays of a vertical sun in a tropical region at noonday and the height of summer. No vapour was visible. The rocks, the distant mountains, a few isolated clumps of forest trees in the distance, presented a weird and wonderful aspect under these totally new conditions of a universal diffusion of light. We were like Hoffmann's shadowless man.

We had long since lost sight of the seashore behind the hills of bones. The reckless Professor hurried me forward, unconcerned about losing his way. We walked in silence, bathed in a luminous electric fluid. Some phenomenon I cannot explain made it light every side of every object equally. The light was so widely diffused, with no central source, that there were no shadows. You might have thought you were under the overhead sun of a tropical region at noon in midsummer. No vapor was visible. The rocks, the distant mountains, and a few isolated clumps of forest trees in the distance looked strange and wonderful. They were lit in a completely new way, with light spread everywhere. We were like Hoffmann's shadowless man.

After walking a mile we reached the outskirts of a vast forest, but not one of those forests of fungi which bordered Port Gräuben.

After walking a mile, we reached the edge of a vast forest. But it was not a forest of fungi like those bordering 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, yews, cypress trees, thujas, representatives of the conifers, were linked together by a tangled network of long climbing plants. A soft carpet of moss and hepaticas luxuriously 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 remarkable feature was the total absence of colour in all those trees, shrubs, 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 tint 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 scent.

Here was the vegetation of the Tertiary period in all its magnificent glory. Tall palms of species no longer living, splendid palmacites, firs, yews, cypresses, and thujas grew there. A tangled network of long climbing plants linked these palms and conifers together. A soft, thick carpet of moss and liverworts covered the ground. A few sparkling streams ran almost silently beneath the trees. They would have been in the trees’ shade, but there were no shadows. Tree ferns like those we grow in greenhouses grew along their banks. But one remarkable feature was the complete absence of color in all these trees, shrubs, and plants. They grew without the life-giving heat and light of the sun. Everything seemed to blend together in a uniform silver gray or light brown, like fading or faded leaves. There was not a green leaf anywhere. Flowers had first appeared in the Tertiary period, and they were abundant enough here. But they looked like brown paper flowers, with no color or scent.

My uncle Liedenbrock ventured to penetrate under this colossal grove. I followed him, not without fear. Since nature had here provided vegetable nourishment, 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, mingled 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 eucalyptus leaned against the Norwegian pine, the birch-tree of the north mingled its foliage with New Zealand kauris. It was enough to distract the most ingenious classifier of terrestrial botany.

My uncle Liedenbrock ventured into the depths of this enormous grove. I followed him, though not without fear. Since nature had provided plants for food here, why should the terrible mammals not be here too? I saw broad clearings left by trees that had fallen and decayed with age. In them grew legumes, maples, plants of the madder family, and many other edible shrubs. Ruminant animals have loved these plants in every age. Then I noticed trees from distant parts of the world growing together in a jumble. Oaks and palms grew side by side. Australian eucalyptus trees leaned against Norwegian pines, and northern birches mingled their leaves with New Zealand kauris. It was enough to bewilder even the most ingenious classifier of terrestrial plants.

Suddenly I halted. I drew back my uncle.

Suddenly, I stopped. I pulled my uncle back.

The diffused light revealed the smallest object in the dense and distant thickets. 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 herd of mastodons—not fossil remains, but living and resembling those the bones of which were found in the marshes 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 tusks boring into the old decaying trunks. The boughs cracked, and the leaves torn away by cartloads went down the cavernous throats of the vast brutes.

The scattered light revealed even the smallest objects in the dense, distant thickets. I thought I saw enormous shapes moving among the trees. No! I saw them with my own eyes. They were gigantic animals, a herd of mastodons. They were not fossils, but living animals, like those whose bones were found in the marshes of Ohio in 1801. I saw these huge elephants rooting and turning up the soil beneath the trees with their long, flexible trunks. Their trunks were like a legion of snakes. I could hear their long ivory tusks crashing as they bored into the old, rotting tree trunks. Branches cracked, and leaves were torn away by the cartload and swallowed down the vast beasts' cavernous throats.

So, then, the dream in which I had had a vision of the prehistoric world, of the tertiary and post-tertiary periods, was now realised. And there we were alone, in the bowels of the earth, at the mercy of its wild inhabitants!

So my dream of the prehistoric world, of the Tertiary and post-Tertiary periods, had come true. And there we were, alone deep inside the earth, at the mercy of its wild inhabitants!

My uncle was gazing with intense and eager interest.

My uncle was watching with intense, eager interest.

"Come on!" said he, seizing my arm. "Forward! forward!"

"Come on!" he said, grabbing 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 monstrous beasts."

"No, I won't!" I cried. "We have no guns. What could we do in the middle of a herd of these four-legged giants? Come away, uncle. Come! No human being can safely risk angering these monstrous 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!"

"No human being?" my uncle replied in a lower voice. "You're wrong, Axel. Look, look down there! I think I see a living creature like us. It's 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.

I looked, shaking my head in disbelief. But though I didn't believe it at first, I had to trust 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 subterranean regions, a new son of Neptune, watching this countless herd of mastodons.

In fact, a human being stood a quarter of a mile away, leaning against the trunk of a gigantic kauri. This Proteus of the underground regions, a new son of Neptune, was watching the countless herd of mastodons.

Immanis pecoris custos, immanior ipse.¹⁶

The keeper of a monstrous flock was even more monstrous himself.¹⁶

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 stature 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 primitive elephant. In his hand he wielded with ease an enormous bough, a staff worthy of this shepherd of the geologic period.

Yes, he himself was even larger. This was no fossilized creature like him, whose dried remains we had easily lifted in the field of bones. He was a giant, capable of controlling those monsters. He stood at least twelve feet tall. His head was huge and misshapen, like a buffalo's, and half hidden by thick, tangled, unkempt hair. His hair looked very much like the mane of a primitive elephant. In his hand, he easily carried an enormous branch, a staff worthy of this shepherd of the geological age.

We stood petrified and speechless with amazement. But he might see us! We must fly!

We stood frozen and speechless with amazement. But he might see us! We had to run!

"Come, do come!" I said to my uncle, who for once allowed himself to be persuaded.

"Come on, please come!" I said to my uncle. For once, he let me persuade him.

In another quarter of an hour our nimble heels had carried us beyond the reach of this horrible monster.

In another fifteen minutes, our quick feet 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 caverns of the globe, unknown to and unconnected with the inhabitants of its surface. It is absurd to believe it!

And yet, now I can reflect calmly. My spirit has settled, and months have passed since that strange, supernatural meeting. What am I to think? What am I to believe? I must conclude that our senses could not have deceived us. Our eyes could not have seen anything other than what we thought they saw. No human being lives in this underground world. No generations of people live in those deep caverns of the earth, unknown to and unconnected with those on the surface. It is absurd to believe otherwise!

I had rather admit that it may have been some animal whose structure resembled the human, some ape or baboon 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.

I would rather admit that it may have been an animal with a humanlike structure. It may have been an ape or baboon from the early geological ages, a protopitheca or a mesopitheca. It may have been an early or middle ape like the one Mr. Lartet discovered in the bone cave of Sansau. But this creature was taller than any known in modern paleontology. But it is impossible that a man, a living man, should be buried there in the depths of the earth. And if he were, there would doubtless be whole generations of them there too.

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 peculiar to nightmare. Instinctively we got back to the Liedenbrock sea, and I cannot say into what vagaries my mind would not have carried me but for a circumstance which brought me back to practical matters.

However, we had left the luminous forest behind us. We were speechless with astonishment, overwhelmed and stunned by terror. We kept running, afraid the horrible monster might be following us. We fled and stumbled, as if pulled and dragged along in a nightmare. Instinctively, we returned to the Liedenbrock sea. I cannot say how far my thoughts might have wandered if something had not 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. Brooks and waterfalls were tumbling everywhere from the projections in the rocks. I thought I recognised the bed of surturbrand, our faithful Hansbach, and the grotto 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.

Although I was certain we were walking on ground we had not crossed before, I often saw groups of rocks that reminded me of those near Port Gräuben. These rocks also seemed to confirm what the compass needle showed. We had returned, against our will, to the north of the Liedenbrock sea. At times we felt quite certain of it. Brooks and waterfalls tumbled everywhere from ledges in the rocks. I thought I recognized the bed of surturbrand, our faithful Hansbach, and the grotto where I had regained consciousness. But a few steps farther on, something would make me doubt again. It might be the arrangement of the cliffs, an unfamiliar stream, or the strange outline of a rock.

I communicated my doubts to my uncle. Like myself, he hesitated; he could recognise nothing again amidst this monotonous scene.

I told my uncle about my doubts. Like me, he hesitated. He could no longer recognize anything in the landscape, where everything looked the same.

"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."

"Clearly," I said, "we haven't landed back where we started. The storm has carried us a little farther up the shore. But if we follow the shore, we'll 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?"

"If that's the case, there's no point in continuing our exploration. We'd better return to our raft. But Axel, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"It is difficult to speak decidedly, uncle, for all these rocks are so very much alike. Yet I think I recognise the promontory 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 creek which I thought I recognised.

"It's hard to be sure, uncle, because all these rocks look so much alike. But I think I recognize the headland where Hans built our boat, at its base. We must be very close to the little harbor, if this isn't it," I added, examining a creek I thought I recognized.

"No, Axel, we should at least find our own traces and I see nothing—"

"No, Axel, we should at least find our own tracks, but I don't see any..."

"But I do see," I cried, darting upon an object lying on the sand.

"But I do see," I cried, rushing toward an object lying on the sand.

And I showed my uncle a rusty dagger which I had just picked up.

And I showed my uncle a rusty dagger I had just picked up.

"Come," said he, "had you this weapon with you?"

“Come,” he said, “did you have this weapon with you?”

"I! No, certainly! But you, perhaps—"

"Me! No, certainly not! But you, perhaps..."

"Not that I am aware," said the Professor. "I have never had this object in my possession."

"Not that I know of," said the Professor. "I have never owned this object."

"Well, this is strange!"

"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."

"No, Axel, it's very simple. Icelanders often carry weapons like this. This one must have belonged to Hans, and he lost it."

I shook my head. Hans had never had an object like this in his possession.

I shook my head. Hans had never owned anything like this.

"Did it not belong to some pre-adamite warrior?" I cried, "to some living man, contemporary with the huge cattle-driver? But no. This is not a relic of the stone age. It is not even of the iron age. This blade is steel—"

"Didn't it belong to some pre-Adamic warrior?" I cried. "A man who lived at the same time as the giant cattle driver? But no. This isn't a relic of the Stone Age. It isn't even from the Iron Age. This blade is steel."

My uncle stopped me abruptly on my way to a dissertation which would have taken me a long way, and said coolly:

My uncle abruptly stopped me as I was beginning an explanation that would have taken a long time. He said calmly:

"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 coup 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 rust neither a day, nor a year, nor a hundred years old."

"Be calm and reasonable, Axel. This dagger is from the sixteenth century. It is a poniard, the kind gentlemen carried in their belts to deliver the coup de grace. It is Spanish. It never belonged to you, me, or the hunter. Nor did it belong to any people who may or may not live in this inner world. Look, the blade did not become jagged from cutting men's throats. The rust coating it is far older than a day, a year, or even a hundred years."

The Professor was getting excited according to his wont, and was allowing his imagination to run away with him.

The Professor was getting excited, as he usually did, and letting his imagination run away with him.

"Axel, we are on the way towards the grand discovery. This blade has been left on the strand for from one to three hundred years, and has blunted its edge upon the rocks that fringe this subterranean sea!"

“Axel, we are on our way to the great discovery. This blade has lain on the shore for one to three hundred years. Its edge has been dulled by the rocks along this underground sea!”

"But it has not come alone. It has not twisted itself out of shape; some one has been here before us!

"But it didn't come alone. It didn't twist itself out of shape. Someone has been here before us!

"Yes—a man has."

"Yes, a man has."

"And who was that man?"

"And who was that man?"

"A man who has engraved 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!"

"A man who carved his name somewhere with that dagger. That man wanted to mark the way to the center of the earth again. Let's look around. Look around!"

And, wonderfully interested, we peered all along the high wall, peeping into every fissure which might open out into a gallery.

Deeply interested, we looked all along the high wall, peering into every crack that might open into a passage.

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.

And so we reached a place where the shore narrowed. The sea lapped at the foot of the steep cliff, leaving a passage only two yards wide. The mouth of a dark tunnel appeared between two sharply projecting rocks.

There, upon a granite slab, appeared two mysterious graven letters, half eaten away by time. They were the initials of the bold and daring traveller:

There, on a granite slab, were two mysterious carved letters, half worn away by time. They were the initials of the bold and daring traveler:

[Runic initials appear here]

[Runic initials appear here]

"A. S.," shouted my uncle. "Arne Saknussemm! Arne Saknussemm everywhere!"

"A. S.," shouted my uncle. "Arne Saknussemm! Arne Saknussemm everywhere!"