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Chapter 9. A Lost Continent

           WasIgoingtowardsanaturalphenomenonasyetunknowntothesavantsoftheearth?Oreven(forthisthoughtcrossedmybrain)hadthehandofmanaughttodowiththisconflagration?Hadhefannedthisflame?WasItomeetinthesedepthscompanionsandfriendsofCaptainNemowhomhewasgoingtovisit,andwho,likehim,ledthisstrangeexistence?ShouldIfinddownthereawholecolonyofexileswho,wearyofthemiseriesofthisearth,hadsoughtandfoundindependenceinthedeepocean?Allthesefoolishandunreasonableideaspursuedme.Andinthisconditionofmind,over-excitedbythesuccessionofwonderscontinuallypassingbeforemyeyes,IshouldnothavebeensurprisedtomeetatthebottomoftheseaoneofthosesubmarinetownsofwhichCaptainNemodreamed.

           Ourroadgrewlighterandlighter.Thewhiteglimmercameinraysfromthesummitofamountainabout800feethigh.ButwhatIsawwassimplyareflection,developedbytheclearnessofthewaters.Thesourceofthisinexplicablelightwasafireontheoppositesideofthemountain.

           InthemidstofthisstonymazefurrowingthebottomoftheAtlantic,CaptainNemoadvancedwithouthesitation.Heknewthisdrearyroad.Doubtlesshehadoftentravelledoverit,andcouldnotlosehimself.Ifollowedhimwithunshakenconfidence.Heseemedtomelikeagenieofthesea;and,ashewalkedbeforeme,Icouldnothelpadmiringhisstature,whichwasoutlinedinblackontheluminoushorizon.

           Itwasoneinthemorningwhenwearrivedatthefirstslopesofthemountain;buttogainaccesstothemwemustventurethroughthedifficultpathsofavastcopse.

           Yes;acopseofdeadtrees,withoutleaves,withoutsap,treespetrifiedbytheactionofthewaterandhereandthereovertoppedbygiganticpines.

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