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Chapter 10. The Underwater Coalfields

           Atthisinstantthelanternwaslit,anditsvividnessdispelledthefaintlight.Iclosedmydazzledeyesforaninstant,andthenlookedagain.TheNautiluswasstationary,floatingnearamountainwhichformedasortofquay.Thelake,then,supportingitwasalakeimprisonedbyacircleofwalls,measuringtwomilesindiameterandsixincircumference.Itslevel(themanometershowed)couldonlybethesameastheoutsidelevel,fortheremustnecessarilybeacommunicationbetweenthelakeandthesea.Thehighpartitions,leaningforwardontheirbase,grewintoavaultedroofbearingtheshapeofanimmensefunnelturnedupsidedown,theheightbeingaboutfiveorsixhundredyards.Atthesummitwasacircularorifice,bywhichIhadcaughttheslightgleamoflight,evidentlydaylight.

           "Wherearewe?"Iasked.

           "Intheveryheartofanextinctvolcano,theinteriorofwhichhasbeeninvadedbythesea,aftersomegreatconvulsionoftheearth.Whilstyouweresleeping,Professor,theNautiluspenetratedtothislagoonbyanaturalcanal,whichopensabouttenyardsbeneaththesurfaceoftheocean.Thisisitsharbourofrefuge,asure,commodious,andmysteriousone,shelteredfromallgales.Showme,ifyoucan,onthecoastsofanyofyourcontinentsorislands,aroadwhichcangivesuchperfectrefugefromallstorms."

           "Certainly,"Ireplied,"youareinsafetyhere,CaptainNemo.Whocouldreachyouintheheartofavolcano?ButdidInotseeanopeningatitssummit?"

           "Yes;itscrater,formerlyfilledwithlava,vapour,andflames,andwhichnowgivesentrancetothelife-givingairwebreathe."

           "Butwhatisthisvolcanicmountain?"

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