October 24, 2025 • 13 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter sixteen, The Eastern Tunnel. The next day was Tuesday,
the thirtieth 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 plains which in
(00:22):
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 have
reached the end of the shaft. I looked wonderingly about me.
(00:45):
We were in the center of forecrooth, past somber and
narrow tunnels. The question now arose as to which it
was wise to take, and this of itself was no
small difficulty. My uncle, who did not wish to appear
to have any hesitation about the matter before myself or
the guide, at once made up his mind. He pointed
(01:09):
quietly to the Eastern Tunnel, and without delay we entered
within its gloomy recesses. Besides, had he entertained any feeling
of hesitation, it might have been prolonged indefinitely, for there
was no indication by which to determine on a choice.
It was absolutely necessary to trust to chance and good fortune.
(01:32):
The descent of this obscure and narrow gallery was very gradual, unwinding.
Sometimes we gazed through a succession of arches, its course
very like the aells of a Gothic cathedral. The great
artistic sculptors and builders of the Middle Ages might have
here completed their studies with advantage. Many most beautiful and
(01:56):
suggestive ideas of architectural beauty would have been discussed by them.
After passing through this face of the cavernous way, we
suddenly came about a mile farther on upon a square
system of arch adopted by the early Romans. Projecting from
the solid rock and keeping up the weight of the roof,
(02:17):
suddenly we would come upon a serious of low subterranean tunnels,
which looked like beaver holes or the work of foxes,
through whose narrow and winding ways we had literally to crawl.
The heat still remained at quite a supportable degree. With
an involuntarily shudder, I reflected on what the heat must
(02:39):
have been when the volcano of Sneffels was pouring its smoke,
flames and streams of boiling lava, all of which must
have come up by the road we were now following.
I could imagine the torrents of hot, seething stone darting on,
bubbling up with accompaniments of smoke, steam, and sulfurous stenchh
(03:01):
only to think of the consequences, I mused, if the
old volcano were once more to set to work. I
did not communicate these rather unpleasant reflections to my uncle.
He not only would not have understood them, but would
have been intensely disgusted. His only idea was to go ahead.
(03:22):
He walked his slid, He clambered over piles of fragments,
He rolled down heaps of broken lava with an earnestness
and conviction. It was impossible not to admire. At six
o'clock in the evening, after a very wearisome journey, but
one not so fatiguing as before, we had made six
miles towards the southward, but had not gone more than
(03:45):
a mile downwards. My uncle, as usual, gave the signal
to halt. We ate our meal in thoughtful silence, and
then retired to sleep. Our arrangements for the night were
very primitive and simple. A traveling rug in which each
rolled himself was all our bedding. We had no necessity
(04:07):
to fear cold or any unpleasant visit. Travelers who bury
themselves in the wilds and depths of the African desert,
who seek profit and pleasures in the forests of the
New World, are compelled to take it in turn to
watch during the hours of sleep. But in this reading
of the earth, absolute solitude and complete security reigned supreme.
(04:31):
We had nothing to fear, either from savages or from
wild beasts. After a night's sweet repose, we woke fresh
and ready for action. There being nothing to detain us,
we started on our journey. We continued to burrow through
the lava tunnel. As before, it was impossible to make
(04:53):
out through what soil we were making way. The tunnel. Moreover,
instead of going down into the bar of the earth,
became absolutely horizontal. I even thought, after some examination, that
we were actually tending upwards. About ten o'clock in the day,
this state of things became so clear that, finding the
(05:15):
change very fatiguing, I was obliged to slacken my pace
and finally come to a halt well, said the professor quickly.
What is the matter. The fact is I am dreadfully tired,
was my earnest reply. What, cried my uncle? Tired after
(05:36):
a three hours walk and by so easy a road,
Easy enough, I dare say, but very fatiguing. But how
can that be when all we have to do is
to go downwards? I beg your pardon, sir, for some
time I have noticed that we are going upwards. Upwards,
cried my uncle, shrugging his shoulders. How can that be?
(05:58):
There can be no doubt about For the last half
hour the slopes had been upward, and if we go
on in this way much longer, we shall find ourselves
back in Iceland. My uncle shook his head with the
air of a man who does not want to be convinced.
I tried to continue the conversation. He would not answer me,
(06:19):
but once more gave the signal for departure. His silence,
I thought, was only caused by concentrated ill temper, however
this might be, I once more took up my load
and boldly and resolutely followed Hans, who was now in
advance of my uncle. I did not like to be
(06:39):
beaten or even distanced, I was naturally anxious not to
lose sight of my companions. The very idea of being
left behind, lost in that terrible labyrinth made me shiver,
as with the agge. Besides, if the ascending path was
more arduous and painful to Clamber, I had once source
(07:00):
of secret, consolation and delight. It was to all appearance,
taking us back to the surface of the earth, that
of itself was hopeful. Every step I took confirmed me
in my belief, and I began already to build castles
in the air in relation to my marriage with my
pretty little cousin. About twelve o'clock there was a great
(07:24):
and sudden change in the aspect of the rocky sides
of the gallery. I first noticed it from the diminution
of the rays of light, which cast back the reflection
of the lamp. From being coated with shining and replendant lava,
it became living rock. The sides were sloping walls, which
sometimes became quite vertical. We were now in what the
(07:47):
geological professors call a state of transition in the period
of Silurian stones, so called because this specimen of early
formation is very common in England, in the countries formerly
inhabited by the Celtic nation known as Silures. I can
see clearly now, I cried, the sediment from the waters
(08:10):
which once covered the whole earth formed during the second
period of its existence. These schists and these caulcerous rocks.
We are turning our backs on the Grannite rocks, and
are like people from Hamburg who would go to Liebeck
by way of an offer. I might just as well
have kept my observations to myself. My geological enthusiasm got
(08:33):
the better however, of my cooler judgment, and Professor Hartwick
heard my observations. What is the matter now? He said,
in a tone of great gravity, Well, cried I, do
you not see these different layers of calcerous rocks and
the first indication of slate strata? Well? What then, we
(08:56):
have arrived at that period of the world's existence when
the first plants and the first animals made their appearance.
You think so, yes, Look examine and judge for yourself.
I induced the professor, with some difficulty to cast the
light of his lamp on the sides of the long
winding gallery. I expected some exclamation to burst from his lips.
(09:21):
I was very much mistaken. The worthy professor never spoke
a word. It was impossible to say whether he understood
me or not. Perhaps it was possible that, in his
pride my uncle and a learned professor, he did not
like to own that he was wrong in having chosen
(09:41):
the Eastern tunnel, or was he determined at any price
to go to the end of it. It was quite
evident we had left the region of Lava, and that
the road by which we were going could not take
us back to the great crater of mounts Neeffeld's. As
as we went along, I could not help ruminating on
(10:02):
the whole question, and asked myself if I did not
lay too great a stress on these sudden and peculiar
modifications of the Earth's crust. After all, I was very
likely to be mistaken, and it was within the range
of probability and possibility that we were not making our
way through the strata rocks which I believed I recognized
(10:25):
piled on the lower layer of Granitiq formation. At all events,
if I am right, I thought to myself, I must
certainly find some remains of primitive plants, and it will
be absolutely necessary to give way to such indubitable evidence.
Let us have a good search. I accordingly lost no
(10:47):
opportunity of searching, and had not gone more than about
a hundred yards when the evidence I sought for cropped
up in the most incontestable manner before my eyes. It
was quite natural that I should expect to find these signs,
for during the Silurian period the seas contained a fewer
(11:08):
than fifteen hundred different animal and vegetable species. My feet,
so long accustomed to the hard and arid lava soil,
suddenly found themselves treading on a kind of soft dust.
The remains of plants and shells upon the walls themselves.
I could clearly make out the outline as plain as
(11:28):
the sun picture of the fucus and the liquepods. The
worthy and excellent Professor Hartwick could not, of course, make
any mistake about the matter. But I believe he deliberately
closed his eyes and continued on his way with a
firm and unalterable step. I began to think that he
(11:49):
was carrying his obstinacy a great deal too far. I
could no longer act with prudence or composure. I stooped
on a sudden and picked up an almost effect shell
which had undoubtedly belonged to some animal very much resembling
some of the present day. Having secured the price, I
(12:09):
followed in the wake of my uncle. Do you see this,
I said, Well, said the professor, with the most imperturbable tranquility.
It is the shell of a crustaceus, animal of the
distinct order of the trilobites. Nothing more, I assure you,
But cried I, much troubled at his coolness. Do you
(12:31):
not draw any conclusion from it? Well? If I may ask,
what conclusion do you draw from it yourself? Well? I thought,
I know, my boy, what you would say. And you
are right, perfectly and incontestably right. We have finally abandoned
the crust of lava and the road by which the
lava ascended. It is quite possible that I may have
(12:53):
been mistaken, but I shall be unable to discover my
error until I get to the end of this gallery.
You are quite right as far as that is concerned,
I replied, And I should highly prove of your decision
if we had not to fear the greatest of all dangers.
And what is that want of water? Well, my dear Henry,
(13:17):
it can't be helped. We must put ourselves on rations,
and on he went. End of Chapter sixteen,
Chapter sixteen, The Eastern Tunnel. The next day was Tuesday,
the thirtieth 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 plains which in
(00:22):
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 have
reached the end of the shaft. I looked wonderingly about me.
(00:45):
We were in the center of forecrooth, past somber and
narrow tunnels. The question now arose as to which it
was wise to take, and this of itself was no
small difficulty. My uncle, who did not wish to appear
to have any hesitation about the matter before myself or
the guide, at once made up his mind. He pointed
(01:09):
quietly to the Eastern Tunnel, and without delay we entered
within its gloomy recesses. Besides, had he entertained any feeling
of hesitation, it might have been prolonged indefinitely, for there
was no indication by which to determine on a choice.
It was absolutely necessary to trust to chance and good fortune.
(01:32):
The descent of this obscure and narrow gallery was very gradual, unwinding.
Sometimes we gazed through a succession of arches, its course
very like the aells of a Gothic cathedral. The great
artistic sculptors and builders of the Middle Ages might have
here completed their studies with advantage. Many most beautiful and
(01:56):
suggestive ideas of architectural beauty would have been discussed by them.
After passing through this face of the cavernous way, we
suddenly came about a mile farther on upon a square
system of arch adopted by the early Romans. Projecting from
the solid rock and keeping up the weight of the roof,
(02:17):
suddenly we would come upon a serious of low subterranean tunnels,
which looked like beaver holes or the work of foxes,
through whose narrow and winding ways we had literally to crawl.
The heat still remained at quite a supportable degree. With
an involuntarily shudder, I reflected on what the heat must
(02:39):
have been when the volcano of Sneffels was pouring its smoke,
flames and streams of boiling lava, all of which must
have come up by the road we were now following.
I could imagine the torrents of hot, seething stone darting on,
bubbling up with accompaniments of smoke, steam, and sulfurous stenchh
(03:01):
only to think of the consequences, I mused, if the
old volcano were once more to set to work. I
did not communicate these rather unpleasant reflections to my uncle.
He not only would not have understood them, but would
have been intensely disgusted. His only idea was to go ahead.
(03:22):
He walked his slid, He clambered over piles of fragments,
He rolled down heaps of broken lava with an earnestness
and conviction. It was impossible not to admire. At six
o'clock in the evening, after a very wearisome journey, but
one not so fatiguing as before, we had made six
miles towards the southward, but had not gone more than
(03:45):
a mile downwards. My uncle, as usual, gave the signal
to halt. We ate our meal in thoughtful silence, and
then retired to sleep. Our arrangements for the night were
very primitive and simple. A traveling rug in which each
rolled himself was all our bedding. We had no necessity
(04:07):
to fear cold or any unpleasant visit. Travelers who bury
themselves in the wilds and depths of the African desert,
who seek profit and pleasures in the forests of the
New World, are compelled to take it in turn to
watch during the hours of sleep. But in this reading
of the earth, absolute solitude and complete security reigned supreme.
(04:31):
We had nothing to fear, either from savages or from
wild beasts. After a night's sweet repose, we woke fresh
and ready for action. There being nothing to detain us,
we started on our journey. We continued to burrow through
the lava tunnel. As before, it was impossible to make
(04:53):
out through what soil we were making way. The tunnel. Moreover,
instead of going down into the bar of the earth,
became absolutely horizontal. I even thought, after some examination, that
we were actually tending upwards. About ten o'clock in the day,
this state of things became so clear that, finding the
(05:15):
change very fatiguing, I was obliged to slacken my pace
and finally come to a halt well, said the professor quickly.
What is the matter. The fact is I am dreadfully tired,
was my earnest reply. What, cried my uncle? Tired after
(05:36):
a three hours walk and by so easy a road,
Easy enough, I dare say, but very fatiguing. But how
can that be when all we have to do is
to go downwards? I beg your pardon, sir, for some
time I have noticed that we are going upwards. Upwards,
cried my uncle, shrugging his shoulders. How can that be?
(05:58):
There can be no doubt about For the last half
hour the slopes had been upward, and if we go
on in this way much longer, we shall find ourselves
back in Iceland. My uncle shook his head with the
air of a man who does not want to be convinced.
I tried to continue the conversation. He would not answer me,
(06:19):
but once more gave the signal for departure. His silence,
I thought, was only caused by concentrated ill temper, however
this might be, I once more took up my load
and boldly and resolutely followed Hans, who was now in
advance of my uncle. I did not like to be
(06:39):
beaten or even distanced, I was naturally anxious not to
lose sight of my companions. The very idea of being
left behind, lost in that terrible labyrinth made me shiver,
as with the agge. Besides, if the ascending path was
more arduous and painful to Clamber, I had once source
(07:00):
of secret, consolation and delight. It was to all appearance,
taking us back to the surface of the earth, that
of itself was hopeful. Every step I took confirmed me
in my belief, and I began already to build castles
in the air in relation to my marriage with my
pretty little cousin. About twelve o'clock there was a great
(07:24):
and sudden change in the aspect of the rocky sides
of the gallery. I first noticed it from the diminution
of the rays of light, which cast back the reflection
of the lamp. From being coated with shining and replendant lava,
it became living rock. The sides were sloping walls, which
sometimes became quite vertical. We were now in what the
(07:47):
geological professors call a state of transition in the period
of Silurian stones, so called because this specimen of early
formation is very common in England, in the countries formerly
inhabited by the Celtic nation known as Silures. I can
see clearly now, I cried, the sediment from the waters
(08:10):
which once covered the whole earth formed during the second
period of its existence. These schists and these caulcerous rocks.
We are turning our backs on the Grannite rocks, and
are like people from Hamburg who would go to Liebeck
by way of an offer. I might just as well
have kept my observations to myself. My geological enthusiasm got
(08:33):
the better however, of my cooler judgment, and Professor Hartwick
heard my observations. What is the matter now? He said,
in a tone of great gravity, Well, cried I, do
you not see these different layers of calcerous rocks and
the first indication of slate strata? Well? What then, we
(08:56):
have arrived at that period of the world's existence when
the first plants and the first animals made their appearance.
You think so, yes, Look examine and judge for yourself.
I induced the professor, with some difficulty to cast the
light of his lamp on the sides of the long
winding gallery. I expected some exclamation to burst from his lips.
(09:21):
I was very much mistaken. The worthy professor never spoke
a word. It was impossible to say whether he understood
me or not. Perhaps it was possible that, in his
pride my uncle and a learned professor, he did not
like to own that he was wrong in having chosen
(09:41):
the Eastern tunnel, or was he determined at any price
to go to the end of it. It was quite
evident we had left the region of Lava, and that
the road by which we were going could not take
us back to the great crater of mounts Neeffeld's. As
as we went along, I could not help ruminating on
(10:02):
the whole question, and asked myself if I did not
lay too great a stress on these sudden and peculiar
modifications of the Earth's crust. After all, I was very
likely to be mistaken, and it was within the range
of probability and possibility that we were not making our
way through the strata rocks which I believed I recognized
(10:25):
piled on the lower layer of Granitiq formation. At all events,
if I am right, I thought to myself, I must
certainly find some remains of primitive plants, and it will
be absolutely necessary to give way to such indubitable evidence.
Let us have a good search. I accordingly lost no
(10:47):
opportunity of searching, and had not gone more than about
a hundred yards when the evidence I sought for cropped
up in the most incontestable manner before my eyes. It
was quite natural that I should expect to find these signs,
for during the Silurian period the seas contained a fewer
(11:08):
than fifteen hundred different animal and vegetable species. My feet,
so long accustomed to the hard and arid lava soil,
suddenly found themselves treading on a kind of soft dust.
The remains of plants and shells upon the walls themselves.
I could clearly make out the outline as plain as
(11:28):
the sun picture of the fucus and the liquepods. The
worthy and excellent Professor Hartwick could not, of course, make
any mistake about the matter. But I believe he deliberately
closed his eyes and continued on his way with a
firm and unalterable step. I began to think that he
(11:49):
was carrying his obstinacy a great deal too far. I
could no longer act with prudence or composure. I stooped
on a sudden and picked up an almost effect shell
which had undoubtedly belonged to some animal very much resembling
some of the present day. Having secured the price, I
(12:09):
followed in the wake of my uncle. Do you see this,
I said, Well, said the professor, with the most imperturbable tranquility.
It is the shell of a crustaceus, animal of the
distinct order of the trilobites. Nothing more, I assure you,
But cried I, much troubled at his coolness. Do you
(12:31):
not draw any conclusion from it? Well? If I may ask,
what conclusion do you draw from it yourself? Well? I thought,
I know, my boy, what you would say. And you
are right, perfectly and incontestably right. We have finally abandoned
the crust of lava and the road by which the
lava ascended. It is quite possible that I may have
(12:53):
been mistaken, but I shall be unable to discover my
error until I get to the end of this gallery.
You are quite right as far as that is concerned,
I replied, And I should highly prove of your decision
if we had not to fear the greatest of all dangers.
And what is that want of water? Well, my dear Henry,
(13:17):
it can't be helped. We must put ourselves on rations,
and on he went. End of Chapter sixteen,
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