              ,,*APT] #CH
       ,NO ,\TLET--,BLA/+ ! ,ROCK

  ,,"E S9CE ! -M;E;T ( \R M>VEL\S
J\RNEY1 ,I _H EXP]I;ED _M SURPRISES1 _H
SU6]$ F _M ILLU.NS4 ,I ?"\ T ,I 0 CASE-
H>D5$ AG/ ALL SURPRISES & CD NEI SEE NOR
HE> ANY?+ 6AMAZE ME AG4
  ,I 0 L A _M :O1 HAV+ BE5 R.D ! _W1
F9DS HMF :OLLY BLASE & PRO( AG/ !
M>VEL\S4
  ,:51 H["E1 ,I SAW ^! TWO LRS1 : _H BE5
5GRAV5 ?REE HUNDR$ YE>S 2F1 ,I /OOD FIX$
9 AN ATTITUDE ( MUTE SURPRISE4
  ,N ONLY 0 "! ! SIGNATURE (! LE>N$ &
5T]PRIS+ AL*EMI/ WRITT5 9 ! ROCK1 B ,IHELD 9 MY H& ! V ID5TICAL 9/RU;T    #CFC
) : HE _H LABORI\SLY 5GRAV$ X4
  ,X 0 IMPOSSI#1 )\T %[+ AN AM.T (
9CR$UL;Y SC>CELY 2COM+ A SANE MAN1 6D5Y
! EXI/;E (! TRAVEL]1 &! R1L;Y ( T VOYAGE
: ,I 2LIEV$ ALL AL;G 6H BE5 A MY?- !
MY/IFIC,N ( "S F]TILE BRA94
  ,:ILE ^! REFLEC;NS 7 PASS+ "? MY M9D1
MY UNCLE1 ! ,PROFESSOR1 GAVE WAY 6AN
A3ESS ( FEV]I% & POETICAL EXCITE;T4
  8,WOND];L & GLORI\S G5IUS1 GRT
,SAKNUSSEMM01 HE CRI$1 8Y H LEFT NO /"O
UNTURN$1 NO RES\RCE OMITT$1 6%[ 6O!R
MORTALS ! WAY 96! 9T]IOR ( \R MI<TY
GLOBE1 & YR FELL[ CR1TURES C F9D ! TRAIL
LEFT 0YR ILLU/RI\S FOOT/EPS1 ?REE HUNDR$
YE>S AGO1 AT ! BOTTOM ( ^! OBSCURE
SUBT]RAN1N ABODES4 ,Y H BE5 C>E;L
6SECURE = O!RS ! 3TEMPL,N ( ^! WOND]S &
M>VELS ( CRE,N4 ,YR "N 5GRAV$ AT E
IMPORTANT /AGE ( YR GLORI\S J\RNEY L1DS
! HOPE;L TRAVEL] DIRECT 6! GRT & MI<TY
4COV]Y 6: Y DEVOT$ S* 5]GY & C\RAGE4 ,!
AUDACI\S TRAVEL]1 :O % FOLL[ YR FOOT/EPS
6! LA/1 W D\BT.S F9D YR 9ITIALS 5GRAV$ )YR [N H& ^U ! C5T] (! E>?4 ,I W 2   #CFD
T AUDACI\S TRAVEL]- ,I1 TOO1 W SIGN MY
"N ^U ! V SAME SPOT1 ^U ! C5TRAL GRANITE
/"O ( ? WONDR\S "W (! ,CR1TOR4 ,B 9
JU/ICE 6YR DEVO;N1 6YR C\RAGE1 & 6YR 2+
! F/ 69DICATE ! ROAD1 LET ? CAPE1 SE5 0Y
^U ! %ORES ( ? SEA 4COV]$ 0Y1 2 CALL$1 (
ALL "T1 ,CAPE ,SAKNUSSEMM40
  ,? IS :AT ,I HE>D1 & ,I 2GAN 6BE R\S$
6! PIT* ( 5?USIASM 9DICAT$ 0^? ^WS4 ,A
FI]CE EXCITE;T R\S$ ME4 ,I =GOT "EY?+4
,! DANG]S (! VOYAGE &! P]ILS (! RETURN
J\RNEY 7 N[ Z NO?+6
  ,:AT ANO!R MAN _H D"O 9 AGES PA/ CD1
,I FELT1 2 D"O AG2 ,I 0 DET]M9$ 6D X
MYF1 & N[ NO?+ T MAN _H A3OMPLI%$ APPE>$
6ME IMPOSSI#4
  8,=W>D- =W>D10 ,I CRI$ 9 A BUR/ (
G5U9E & HE>TY 5?USIASM4
  ,I _H ALR />T$ 9 ! DIREC;N (! SOMB] &
GLOOMY GALL]Y :5 ! ,PROFESSOR /OPP$ ME2
HE1 ! MAN S RA% & HA/Y1 HE1 ! MAN S
EASILY R\S$ 6! HI<E/ PIT* ( 5?USIASM1
*ECK$ ME1 & ASK$ ME 6BE PATI5T & %[ M
CALM4  8,LET U RETURN 6\R GD FR1         #CFE
,HANS10 HE SD2 8WE W !N BR+ ! RAFT D[N
6? PLACE40
  ,I M/ SAY T ?\< ,I AT ONCE YIELD$ 6MY
UNCLE'S REQUE/1 X 0 N )\T 4SATISFAC;N1 &
,I HA/5$ AL;G ! ROCKS ( T WOND];L COA/4
  8,D Y "K1 MY DE> UNCLE10 ,I SD1 Z WE
WALK$ AL;G1 8T WE H BE5 S+UL>LY HELP$ 0A
3CURR;E ( CIRCUM/.ES1 "R UP 6? V MO;T40
  8,S Y 2G9 6SEE X1 D Y1 ,H>RY80 SD !
,PROFESSOR )A SMILE4
  8,D\BT.S10 ,I RESPOND$1 8& /RANGELY
5\<1 EV5 ! TEMPE/ HAS BE5 ! M1NS ( PUTT+
U ON ! "R ROAD4 ,B.S+S ON ! TEMPE/6 ,X
BR"\ U SAFELY BACK 6! V SPOT F : F9E
W1!R WD H DRIV5 U ="E4 ,SUPPOS+ WE _H
SU3E$$ 9 R1*+ ! S\!RN & 4TANT %ORES ( ?
EXTRAORD9>Y SEA1 :AT WD H 2COME ( U8 ,!
"N ( ,SAKNUSSEMM WD N"E H APPE>$ 6U1 &
AT ? MO;T WE %D H BE5 CA/ AWAY ^U AN
9HOSPITA# COA/1 PROBABLY )\T AN \TLET40
  8,YES1 ,H>RY1 MY BOY1 "! IS C]TA9LY
"S?+ PROVID5TIAL 9 T W&]+ AT ! M]CY (
W9D & WAVES T[>DS ! S\?3 WE H -E BACK
EXACTLY NOR?2 & :AT IS BETT] /1 WE FALL^U ? GRT 4COV]Y ( ,CAPE             #CFF
,SAKNUSSEMM4 ,I M1N 6SAY1 T X IS M ?AN
SURPRIS+2 "! IS "S?+ 9 X : IS F> 2Y MY
-PREH5.N4 ,! CO9CID;E IS UNHE>D (1
M>VEL\S60
  8,:AT MATT]6 ,X IS N \R DUTY 6EXPLA9
FACTS1 B 6MAKE ! BE/ POSSI# USE ( !M40
  8,D\BT.S1 MY BOY2 B IF Y W ALL[ ME-0
SD ! RE,Y DELI<T$ ,PROFESSOR4
  8,EXCUSE ME1 SIR1 B ,I SEE EXACTLY H[
X W BE2 WE % TAKE ! NOR!RN R\TE2 WE %
PASS "U ! NOR!RN REGIONS ( ,EUROPE1 "U
,SW$51 "U ,RUSSIA1 "U ,SIB]IA1 & :O "KS
":- 9/1D ( BURY+ \RVS "U ! BURN+ PLA9S &
DES]TS ( ,AFRICA1 OR 2N ! MI<TY WAVES (!
OC1N2 & T IS ALL1 AT ? /AGE ( \R J\RNEY1
T ,I C>E 6"K4 ,LET U ADV.E1 & ,H1V5 W 2
\R GUIDE60
  8,YES1 ,H>RY1 Y >E "R1 Q "R2 ALL IS =!
BE/4 ,LET U AB&ON ? HORIZONTAL SEA1 : CD
N"E H L$ 6ANY?+ SATISFACTORY4 ,WE %
DESC5D1 DESC5D1 & "ELA/+LY DESC5D4 ,D Y
"K1 MY DE> BOY1 T 6R1* ! 9T]IOR (! E>?
WE H ONLY FIVE ?\S& MILES 6TRAVEL60
  8,BAH60 ,I CRI$1 C>RI$ AWAY 0A BUR/ (5?USIASM1 8! 4T.E IS SC>CELY WOR?   #CFG
SP1K+ AB4 ,! ?+ IS 6MAKE A />T40
  ,MY WILD1 MAD1 & 9COH]5T SPEE*ES 3T9U$
UNTIL WE REJO9$ \R PATI5T & PHLEGMATIC
GUIDE4 ,ALL WAS1 WE F.D1 PREP>$ = AN IMM
DE"PURE4 ,"! 0 N A S+LE P>CEL B :AT 0 9
XS PROP] PLACE4 ,WE ALL TOOK UP \R PO/S
ON ! RAFT1 &! SAIL 2+ HOI/$1 ,HANS RCVD
8 DIREC;NS1 & GUID$ ! FRAIL B>K T[>DS
,CAPE ,SAKNUSSEMM1 Z WE _H DEF9ITELY "ND
X4
  ,! W9D 0 V UNFAVORA# 6A CRAFT T 0 UNA#
6SAIL CLOSE 6! W9D4 ,X 0 3/RUCT$ 6G 2F !
BLA/4 ,WE 7 3T9U,Y REDUC$ 6PU%+ \RVS
=W>D 0M1NS ( POLES4 ,ON S"EAL O3A.NS !
ROCKS RAN F> \ 96DEEP WAT] & WE 7 -PELL$
6MAKE A L;G R.D4 ,AT LA/1 AF ?REE L;G &
WE>Y H\RS ( NAVIG,N1 T IS 6SAY1 AB SIX
O'C 9 ! EV5+1 WE F.D A PLACE AT : WE CD
L&4
  ,I JUMP$ ON %ORE F/4 ,9 MY PRES5T /ATE
( EXCITE;T & 5?USIASM1 ,I 0 ALW F/4 ,MY
UNCLE &! ,ICEL&] FOLL[$4 ,! VOYAGE F !
PORT 6? PO9T (! SEA _H 0NO M1NS CALM$
ME4 ,X _H R PRODUC$ ! OPPOSITE E6ECT4 ,IEV5 PROPOS$ 6BURN \R VESSEL1 T      #CFH
IS1 6DE/ROY \R RAFT1 9 ORD] 6-PLETELY
CUT (F \R RETR1T4 ,B MY UNCLE /]NLY
OPPOS$ ? WILD PROJECT4 ,I 2GAN 6?9K HM
"PICUL>LY LUKEW>M & UN5?USIA/IC4
  8,AT ANY RATE1 MY DE> UNCLE10 ,I SD1
8LET U />T )\T DELAY40
  8,YES1 MY BOY1 ,I AM Q Z EAG] 6D S Z Y
C BE4 ,B1 9 ! F/ PLACE1 LET U EXAM9E ?
MY/]I\S GALL]Y1 9 ORD] 6F9D IF WE % NE$
6PREP>E & M5D \R LA4]S40
  ,MY UNCLE N[ 2GAN 6SEE 6! E6ICI5CY (
\R ,RUHMKORFF COIL1 : WD D\BT.S SOON 2
NE$$2 ! RAFT1 SECURELY FA/5$ 6A ROCK1 0
LEFT AL"O4 ,MOREOV]1 ! OP5+ 96! NEW
GALL]Y 0 N TW5TY PACES 4TANT F ! SPOT4
,\R LL TROOP1 ) MYF AT ! H1D1 ADV.ED4
  ,! ORIFICE1 : 0 ALM CIRCUL>1 PRES5T$ A
DIAMET] ( AB FIVE FEET2 ! SOMB] TUNNEL 0
CUT 9 ! LIV+ ROCK1 & COAT$ ON ! 9SIDE 0!
DI6]5T MAT]IAL : _H ONCE PASS$ "? X 9 A
/ATE ( FU.N4 ,! L[] "P 0 AB LEVEL )!
WAT]1 S T WE 7 A# 6P5ETRATE 6! 9T]IOR
)\T DI6ICULTY4
  ,WE FOLL[$ AN ALM HORIZONTAL DIREC;N2:51 AT ! 5D ( AB A DOZ5 PACES1 \R   #CFI
FUR!R ADV.E 0 *ECK$ 0! 9T]POSI;N ( AN
ENORM\S BLOCK ( GRANITE ROCK4
  8,A3URS$ /"O60 ,I CRI$ FURI\SLY1 ON
P]CVG T WE 7 /OPP$ 0:AT SEEM$ AN
9SURM.TA# OB/ACLE4
  ,9 VA9 WE LOOK$ 6! "R1 9 VA9 WE LOOK$
6! LEFT2 9 VA9 EXAM9$ X ABV & 2L4 ,"!
EXI/$ NO PASSAGE1 NO SIGN ( ANY O!R
TUNNEL4 ,I EXP]I;ED ! MO/ BITT] & PA9;L
4APPO9T;T4 ,S 5RAG$ 0 ,I T ,I WD N ADMIT
! R1L;Y ( ANY OB/ACLE4 ,I /OOP$ 6MY
KNEES2 ,I LOOK$ "U ! MASS ( /"O4 ,NO
HOLE1 NO 9T]/ICE4 ,I !N LOOK$ ABV4 ,!
SAME B>RI] ( GRANITE6 ,HANS1 )! LAMP1
EXAM9$ ! SIDES (! TUNNEL 9 E DIREC;N4
  ,B ALL 9 VA96 ,X 0 NEC 6REN\NCE ALL
HOPE ( PASS+ "?4
  ,I _H S1T$ MYF ^U ! GR.D4 ,MY UNCLE
WALK$ ANGRILY & HOPE.SLY UP & D[N4 ,HE 0
EVID5TLY DESP]ATE4
  8,B10 ,I CRI$1 AF "S MO;TS' ?"\1 8:AT
AB ,>NE ,SAKNUSSEMM80
  8,Y >E "R10 REPLI$ MY UNCLE1 8HE C N"E
H BE5 *ECK$ 0A LUMP ( ROCK40  8,NO- T5 ?\S& "TS NO10 ,I CRI$1   #CGJ
) EXTREME VIVAC;Y4 8,? HUGE LUMP ( ROCK1
9 3SEQU;E ( "S S+UL> 3CUS.N1 OR PROCESS1
"O ( ^? MAGNETIC PH5OM5A : H S (T5 %AK5
! T]RE/RIAL CRU/1 HAS 9 "S UNEXPECT$ WAY
CLOS$ UP ! PASSAGE4 ,_M & _M YE>S H
PASS$ AWAY S9CE ! RETURN ( ,SAKNUSSEMM1
&! FALL ( ? HUGE BLOCK ( GRANITE4 ,IS X
N Q EVID5T T ? GALL]Y 0 =M]LY ! \TLET =!
P5T-UP LAVA 9 ! 9T]IOR (! E>?1 & T ^!
ERUPTIVE MATT]S !N CIRCULAT$ FREELY8
,LOOK AT ^! REC5T FISSURES 9 ! GRANITE
RO(2 X IS EVID5TLY =M$ ( PIECES (
ENORM\S /"O1 PLAC$ "H Z IF 0! H& (A
GIANT1 :O _H "W$ 6MAKE A /R;G &
SUB/ANTIAL >*4 ,"O "D1 AF AN UNUSU,Y
/R;G %OCK1 ! VA/ ROCK : /&S 9 \R WAY1 &
: 0 D\BT.S ! KEY (A K9D ( >*1 FELL "? 6A
LEVEL )! SOIL & HAS B>R$ \R FUR!R
PROGRESS4 ,WE >E "R1 !N1 9 ?9K+ T ? IS
AN UNEXPECT$ OB/ACLE1 ) : ,SAKNUSSEMM
DID N MEET2 & IF WE D N UPSET X 9 "S
WAY1 WE >E UNWOR?Y ( FOLL[+ 9 ! FOOT/EPS
(! GRT 4COV]]2 & 9CAPA# ( F9D+ \R WAY 6!
C5T] (! E>?60  ,9 ? WILD WAY ,I A4RESS$ MY       #CGA
UNCLE4 ,! Z1L (! ,PROFESSOR1 8 E>NE/
L;G+ = SU3ESS1 _H 2COME "P & P>CEL ( MY
2+4 ,I :OLLY =GOT ! PA/2 ,I UTT]LY
DESPIS$ ! FUTURE4 ,NO?+ EXI/$ = ME ^U !
SURFACE ( ? SPH]OID 9 ! BOSOM ( : ,I 0
5GULF$1 NO T[NS1 NO C.TRY1 NO ,HAMBURG1
NO ,KOENIG/RASSE1 N EV5 MY POOR ,GRET*51
:O 0? "T WD 2LIEVE ME UTT]LY LO/ 9 !
9T]IOR (! E>?6
  8,WELL10 CRI$ MY UNCLE1 R\S$ 65?USIASM
0MY ^WS1 8,LET U G 6"W ) PICKAXES1 )
CR[B>S1 ) ANY?+ T -ES 6H&- B D[N ) ^!
T]RI# WALLS40
  8,X IS F> TOO T\< & TOO BIG 6BE
DE/ROY$ 0A PICKAX OR CR[B>10 ,I REPLI$4
  8,:AT !N80
  8,Z ,I SD1 X IS USE.S 6?9K ( OV]COM+
S* A DI6ICULTY 0M1NS ( ORD9>Y TOOLS40
  8,:AT !N80
  8,:AT ELSE B GUNP[D]1 A SUBT]RAN1N
M9E8 ,LET U BL[ UP ! OB/ACLE T /&S 9 \R
WAY40
  8,GUNP[D]60
  8,YES2 ALL WE H 6D IS 6GET RID ( ?PALTRY OB/ACLE40                    #CGB
  8,6"W1 ,HANS1 6"W60 CRI$ ! ,PROFESSOR4
  ,! ,ICEL&] W5T BACK 6! RAFT1 & SOON
RETURN$ )A HUGE CR[B>1 ) : HE 2GAN 6DIG
A HOLE 9 ! ROCK1 : 0 6S]VE Z A M9E4 ,X 0
0NO M1NS A SLI<T TASK4 ,X 0 NEC = \R
PURPOSE 6MAKE A CAV;Y L>GE 5 6HOLD FIFTY
P.DS ( FULM9AT+ GUN COTTON1 ! EXPANSIVE
P[] ( : IS F\R "TS Z GRT Z T ( ORD9>Y
GUNP[D]4
  ,I _H N[ R\S$ MYF 6AN ALM MIRACUL\S
/ATE ( EXCITE;T4 ,:ILE ,HANS 0 AT "W1 ,I
ACTIVELY ASSI/$ MY UNCLE 6PREP>E A L;G
WICK1 MADE F DAMP GUNP[D]1 ! MASS ( : WE
F9,Y 5CLOS$ 9 A BAG ( L954
  8,WE >E B.D 6G "?10 ,I CRI$1
5?USIA/IC,Y4
  8,WE >E B.D 6G "?10 RESPOND$ !
,PROFESSOR1 TAPP+ ME ON ! BACK4
  ,AT MIDNI<T1 \R "W Z M9]S 0 -PLETELY
F9I%$2 ! *>GE ( FULM9AT+ COTTON 0 ?RU/
96! HOLL[1 &! MAT*1 : WE _H MADE (
3SID]A# L5G?1 0 R1DY4
  ,A SP>K 0 N[ SU6ICI5T 6IGNITE ? =MIDA#
5G9E1 & 6BL[ ! ROCK 6ATOMS6  8,WE W N[ RE/ UNTIL TM40          #CGC
  ,X 0 ABSOLUTELY NEC 6RESIGN MYF 6MY
FATE1 & 63S5T 6WAIT =! EXPLO.N = SIX
WE>Y H\RS6 