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Chapter 10. The Underwater Coalfields

           IthankedtheCaptainandwenttolookformycompanions,whohadnotyetlefttheircabin.Iinvitedthemtofollowmewithoutsayingwherewewere.Theymountedtheplatform.Conseil,whowasastonishedatnothing,seemedtolookuponitasquitenaturalthatheshouldwakeunderamountain,afterhavingfallenasleepunderthewaves.ButNedLandthoughtofnothingbutfindingwhetherthecavernhadanyexit.Afterbreakfast,aboutteno’clock,wewentdownontothemountain.

           "Hereweare,oncemoreonland,"saidConseil.

           "Idonotcallthisland,"saidtheCanadian."Andbesides,wearenotonit,butbeneathit."

           Betweenthewallsofthemountainsandthewatersofthelakelayasandyshorewhich,atitsgreatestbreadth,measuredfivehundredfeet.Onthissoilonemighteasilymakethetourofthelake.Butthebaseofthehighpartitionswasstonyground,withvolcaniclocksandenormouspumice-stoneslyinginpicturesqueheaps.Allthesedetachedmasses,coveredwithenamel,polishedbytheactionofthesubterraneousfires,shoneresplendentbythelightofourelectriclantern.Themicadustfromtheshore,risingunderourfeet,flewlikeacloudofsparks.Thebottomnowrosesensibly,andwesoonarrivedatlongcircuitousslopes,orinclinedplanes,whichtookushigherbydegrees;butwewereobligedtowalkcarefullyamongtheseconglomerates,boundbynocement,thefeetslippingontheglassycrystal,felspar,andquartz.

           Thevolcanicnatureofthisenormousexcavationwasconfirmedonallsides,andIpointeditouttomycompanions.

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