Chapter 14 Uncle Lidenbrock and Hans to the Rescue I have no idea how long I was out.
It could have been fifteen minutes or fifteen hours.
With no light and no chronometer, I had no way to tell.
When I woke, my face was still wet with tears.
I could feel blood on my forehead from the fall.
I felt dizzy.
I was not sure if I had the strength to get up.
What should I do?
Is there even a point in trying to go on?
I thought in despair.
Then I heard a loud bang.
I struggled to sit up.
The noise had shaken my whole body.
Where could it have come from?
Was it an explosion of gases down below?
I listened carefully.
I heard voices.
I moved along the tunnel toward the voices.
They were talking low and mumbling, but I could make out an occasional word.
Hello, I screamed.
Can you hear me?
I'm here.
I waited and listened, but there was no reply.
I leaned my ear against the rock.
I tried to feel for vibrations.
I continued to move toward where I had heard the sound come from.
Low voices were still coming my way.
Eventually, I heard my name.
I was on the right track.
I realized that the sound was traveling best along the rocks.
Leaning in close, I shouted as loudly as I could, Uncle Edenbrock!
Then I put my ear against the wall and waited.
After a few moments, I heard a reply.
"'Axel, my boy,' he said.
"'Is that you?'
It must have taken some time for the sound to travel back and forth.
This meant we were separated by a thick wall of rock.
The following conversation took several minutes.
We had to wait for each other's replies.
"'Where are you, my boy?'
Uncle Edenbrock said.
"'Lost,' I replied.
"'In complete darkness.' felt a great mix of despair and relief.
We had found each other, but I was not safe.
"'Listen to my voice, Axel,' he said.
"'Try to conserve your energy.
We have been searching for you for some time.
I have been worried sick.
We traveled back and forth along this tunnel several times.
We shot our flare guns, hoping you would hear us.
I am glad that worked.
Now we just have to find each other by following voices.'
Axel, I want you to say my name, then start to count.
I will repeat your name as soon as I hear it.
Stop counting when the sound of my voice reaches you.
I did as he asked.
I called Uncle Lidenbrock and started counting.
When my uncle's voice returned to me, I stopped.
Forty seconds, I called.
Good, Uncle Lidenbrock said.
This means that we are about four miles apart.
Don't despair, Axel.
We can easily cover this ground.
Hans and I have found an open space that is the end of many tunnels.
Your tunnel must lead here, too.
Start walking down and you will find us.
Now, off you go, like a good fellow.
I did just as my uncle said.
I felt my way along the wall of the tunnel. walking downhill all the way.
The slope started to get steeper.
Eventually, I sat and let myself slide down.
This made the journey much easier.
Then I started to gain too much speed.
I could not grip the walls to make myself slow down.
Suddenly, the tunnel turned straight down and I dropped.
I landed on the hard rock below and immediately passed out.
When I woke up, I was covered in warm blankets.
My uncle was watching me.
When he saw that I was awake, he let out a cry of joy.
He's alive, he's alive, he howled.
Yes, I said in a weak voice.
My uncle hugged me tightly.
My boy, he said, I was so worried.
I tried to look around me.
I was tucked into a little nook where I could stay warm.
My uncle put his hand to my chest when I tried to sit up.
No, Axel, you must rest a while longer, he said gently.
You have had a terrible fall.
Take another day to feel better.
I can explain everything to you then.
We have many wonderful things to show you.
And with that, I went back to sleep.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt strong enough to sit up.
I looked around.
We were in another cave.
This one was much bigger and more impressive than the first.
Then I noticed the strangest thing.
I could feel a breeze on my face.
At first I thought I was still dreaming.
How could there be a breeze so far underground?
Also, the cave was letting in a little light.
It was more light than one lamp could provide.
I was very confused.
My uncle, seeing that I was awake, came to me.
I imagine that you are very curious about your surroundings, he said, smiling.
Yes, I replied.
Are we still underground?
Did I sleep so long that we returned to the surface?
My uncle laughed.
Heavens no, my boy, he chuckled.
Nothing of the sort has happened.
I don't understand.
Nor do I, he said.
I can give you no explanation.
You can see it for yourself when you're feeling stronger.
I think you should wait till then to go out into the open air.
Open air, I exclaimed.
How can there be open air?
I started to stand up, but my uncle tried to stop me.
No, my boy, he said.
The wind is quite strong.
It might be too much for you.
I insisted he show me what he was talking about at once.
He saw I would not take no for an answer, so he wrapped me in an extra blanket and we stepped out of the cave.
