Chapter 28 - Page 2

surrounded by granite walls, and the loudest explosioncould never be heard here! This noise comes along the gallery. Theremust be here some remarkable exercise of acoustic laws!"

I listened again, and this time, yes this time, I did distinctly hearmy name pronounced across the wide interval.

It was my uncle's own voice! He was talking to the guide. And'_forlorad_' is a Danish word.

Then I understood it all. To make myself heard, I must speak alongthis wall, which would conduct the sound of my voice just as wireconducts electricity.

But there was no time to lose. If my companions moved but a few stepsaway, the acoustic phenomenon would cease. I therefore approached thewall, and pronounced these words as clearly as possible:

"Uncle Liedenbrock!"

I waited with the deepest anxiety. Sound does not travel with greatvelocity. Even increased density air has no effect upon its rate oftravelling; it merely augments its intensity. Seconds, which seemedages, passed away, and at last these words reached me:

"Axel! Axel! is it you?"

. . . .

"Yes, yes," I replied.

. . . .

"My boy, where are you?"

. . . .

"Lost, in the deepest darkness."

. . . .

"Where is your lamp?"

. . . .

"It is out."

. . . .

"And the stream?"

. . . .

"Disappeared."

. . . .

"Axel, Axel, take courage!"

. . . .

"Wait! I am exhausted! I can't answer. Speak to me!"

. . . .

"Courage," resumed my uncle. "Don't speak. Listen to me. We havelooked for you up the gallery and down the gallery. Could not findyou. I wept for you, my poor boy. At last, supposing you were stillon the Hansbach, we fired our guns. Our voices are audible to eachother, but our hands cannot touch. But don't despair, Axel! It is agreat thing that we can hear each other."

. . . .

During this time I had been reflecting. A vague hope was returning tomy heart. There was one thing I must know to begin with. I placed mylips close to the wall, saying:

"My uncle!"

. . . .

"My boy!" came to me after a few seconds.

. . . .

"We must know how far we are apart."

. . . .

"That is easy."

. . . .

"You have your chronometer?"

. . .

"Yes."

. . . .

"Well, take it. Pronounce my name, noting exactly the second when youspeak. I will repeat it as soon as it shall come to me, and you willobserve the exact moment when you get my answer."

"Yes; and half the time between my call and your answer will exactlyindicate that which my voice will take in coming to you."

. . . .

"Just so, my uncle."

. . . .

"Are you ready?"

. . . .