              ,,*APT] #CA
             ,! ,SEA ,MON/]

  ,,W$NES"D1 ,AUGU/ #AI?4 ,=TUNATELY !
W9D1 : =! PRES5T BL[S ) "S VIOL;E1 HAS
ALL[$ U 6ESCAPE F ! SC5E (! UNP>ALLEL$ &
EXTRAORD9>Y /RU7LE4 ,HANS ) 8 USUAL
IMP]TURBA# CALM REMA9$ AT ! HELM4 ,MY
UNCLE1 :O =A %ORT "T _H BE5 )DRAWN F 8
ABSORB+ R"EIES 0! NOVEL 9CID5TS ( ? SEA
FI<T1 FELL BACK AG APP>5TLY 96A BR[N
/UDY4 ,8 EYES 7 FIX$ IMPATI5TLY ON !
WIDESPR1D OC1N4
  ,\R VOYAGE N[ 2CAME MONOTON\S & UNI=M4
,DULL Z X HAS 2COME1 ,I H NO DESIRE 6H X
BROK5 0ANY REPETI;N (! P]ILS & ADV5TURES
( YE/]"D4
  ,?URS"D1 ,AUGU/ #BJ?4 ,! W9D IS N[ ,N4
,N4 ,E41 & BL[S V IRREGUL>LY4 ,X HAS
*ANG$ 6FIT;L GU/S4 ,! TEMP]ATURE IS
EXCE$+LY HI<4 ,WE >E N[ PROGRESS+ AT !AV]AGE RATE ( AB T5 MILES &A HALF   #BIE
P] H\R4
  ,AB TWELVE O'C A 4TANT S.D Z ( ?"U
FELL ^U \R E>S4 ,I MAKE A NOTE (! FACT
)\T EV5 V5TUR+ A SU7ES;N Z 6XS CAUSE4 ,X
0 "O 3T9U$ RO> Z (A SEA FALL+ OV] MI<TY
ROCKS4
  8,F> (F 9 ! 4T.E10 SD ! ,PROFESSOR
DOGMATIC,Y1 8"! IS "S ROCK OR "S ISL&
AG/ : ! S1L LA%$ 6FURY 0! W9D1 IS BR1K+
VIOL5TLY40
  ,HANS1 )\T SAY+ A ^W1 CLAMB]$ 6! TOP (
! MA/1 B CD MAKE \ NO?+4 ,! OC1N 0 LEVEL
9 E DIREC;N Z F> Z ! EYE CD R1*4
  ,?REE H\RS PASS$ AWAY )\T ANY SIGN
69DICATE :AT MI<T 2 2F U4 ,! S.D 2GAN
6ASSUME T (A MI<TY CAT>ACT4
  ,I EXPRESS$ MY OP9ION ON ? PO9T /R;GLY
6MY UNCLE4 ,HE M]ELY %OOK 8 H1D4 ,I1
H["E1 AM /R;GLY IMPRESS$ 0A 3VIC;N T ,I
AM N WR;G4 ,>E WE ADVANC+ T[>DS "S MI<TY
WAT]FALL : % CA/ U 96! ABYSS8 ,PROBABLY
? MODE ( DESC5D+ 96! ABYSS MAY 2 AGREEA#
6! ,PROFESSOR1 2C X WD 2 "S?+ L !
V]TICAL DESC5T HE IS S EAG] 6MAKE4 ,I5T]TA9 A V DI6]5T OP9ION4           #BIF
  ,:AT"E 2 ! TRU?1 X IS C]TA9 T N _M
L1GUES 4TANT "! M/ 2 "S V EXTRAORD9>Y
PH5OM5ON1 = Z WE ADV.E ! RO> 2COMES "S?+
MI<TY & /UP5D\S4 ,IS X 9 ! WAT]1 OR 9 !
AIR8
  ,I CA/ HA/Y GL.ES AL(T AT ! SUSP5D$
VAPORS1 & ,I SEEK 6P5ETRATE _! MI<TY
DEP?S4 ,B ! VAULT ABV IS TRANQUIL4 ,!
CL\DS1 : >E N[ ELEVAT$ 6! V SUMMIT1
APPE> UTT]LY / & MO;N.S1 & -PLETELY LO/
9 ! IRRADI,N ( ELECTRIC LI<T4 ,X IS NEC1
"!=E1 6SEEK =! CAUSE ( ? PH5OM5ON
ELSE":4
  ,I EXAM9E ! HORIZON1 N[ P]FECTLY CALM1
PURE1 & FREE F ALL HAZE4 ,XS ASPECT /
REMA9S UN*ANG$4 ,B IF ? AW;L NOISE
PROCE$S F A CAT>ACT- IF1 S 6SP1K 9 PLA9
,5GLI%1 ? VA/ 9T]IOR OC1N IS PRECIPITAT$
96A L[] BAS9- IF ^! TREM5D\S RO>S >E
PRODUC$ 0! NOISE ( FALL+ WAT]S1 ! CURR5T
WD 9CR1SE 9 ACTIV;Y1 & XS 9CR1S+ SWIFT;S
WD GIVE ME "S IDEA (! EXT5T (! P]IL ) :
WE >E M5AC$4 ,I 3SULT ! CURR5T4 ,X
SIMPLY DOES N EXI/3 "! IS NO S* ?+4 ,ANEMPTY BOTTLE CA/ 96! WAT] LIES      #BIG
6LEEW>D )\T MO;N4
  ,AB F\R O'C ,HANS RISES1 CLAMB]S UP !
MA/1 & R1*ES ! TRUCK XF4 ,F ? ELEVAT$
POSI;N 8 LOOKS >E CA/ >.D4 ,!Y TAKE 9 A
VA/ CIRCUMF];E (! OC1N4 ,AT LA/1 8 EYES
REMA9 FIX$4 ,8 FACE EXPRESSES NO
A/ONI%;T1 B 8 EYES SLI<TLY DILATE4
  8,HE HAS SE5 "S?+ AT LA/10 CRI$ MY
UNCLE4
  8,I ?9K S01 ,I REPLI$4
  ,HANS CAME D[N1 /OOD 2S U1 & PO9T$ ) 8
"R H& 6! S\?4
  8,D] N]E10 HE SD4
  8,"!10 REPLI$ MY UNCLE4
  ,& SEIZ+ 8 TELESCOPE1 HE LOOK$ AT X )
GRT ATT5;N = AB A M9UTE1 : 6ME APPE>$ AN
AGE4 ,I KNEW N :AT 6?9K OR EXPECT4
  8,YES1 YES10 HE CRI$ 9 A T"O ( 3SID]A#
SURPRISE1 8"! X IS40
  8,:AT80 ,I ASK$4
  8,A TREM5D\S SPURT ( WAT] RIS+ \ (!
WAVES40
  8,"S O!R M>9E MON/]1 ,I CRI$1 ALR
AL>M$4  8,P]H40                           #BIH
  8,!N LET U /E] M 6! WE/W>D1 = WE "K
:AT WE H 6EXPECT F ANTEDILUVIAN
ANIMALS10 0 MY EAG] REPLY4
  8,G AH1D10 SD MY UNCLE4
  ,I TURN$ T[>DS ,HANS4 ,HANS 0 AT !
TILL] /E]+ ) 8 USUAL IMP]TURBA# CALM4
  ,N"E!.S1 IF F ! 4T.E : SEP>AT$ U F ?
CR1TURE1 A 4T.E : M/ 2 E/IMAT$ AT N LESS
?AN A DOZ5 L1GUES1 "O CD SEE ! COLUMN (
WAT] SPURT+ F ! BL[-HOLE (! GRT ANIMAL1
8 DIM5.NS M/ 2 "S?+ PRET]NATURAL4 ,6FLY
IS1 "!=E1 ! C\RSE 6BE SU7E/$ 0ORD9>Y
PRUD;E4 ,B WE H N -E 96T "P (! _W 6BE
PRUD5T4 ,S* IS MY UNCLE'S DET]M9,N4
  ,WE1 ACLY1 3T9U$ 6ADV.E4 ,! NE>] WE
-E1 ! L(TI] IS ! SP\T+ WAT]4 ,:AT MON/]
C FILL HMF ) S* HUGE VOLUMES ( WAT]1 &
!N UNC1S+LY SP\T !M \ 9 S* L(TY JETS8
  ,AT EI<T O'C 9 ! EV5+1 RECKON+ Z ABV
GR.D1 ": "! IS "D & NI<T1 WE >E N M ?AN
TWO L1GUES F ! MI<TY B1/4 ,XS L;G1
BLACK1 ENORM\S1 M.TA9\S BODY1 LIES ON !
TOP (! WAT] L AN ISL&4 ,B !N SAILORS H
BE5 SD 6H G"O A%ORE ON SLEEP+ :ALES1MISTAK+ !M = L&4 ,IS X ILLU.N1 OR   #BII
IS X FE>8 ,XS L5G? _C 2 LESS ?AN A ?\S&
FA?OMS4 ,:AT1 !N1 IS ? CETACE\S MON/] (
: NO ,CUVI] "E ?"\8
  ,X IS Q MO;N.S & PRES5TS ! APPE>.E (
SLEEP4 ,! SEA SEEMS UNA# 6LIFT HM
UPW>DS2 X IS R ! WAVES : BR1K ON 8 HUGE
& GIGANTIC FRAME4 ,! WAT]SP\T1 RIS+ 6A
HEI<T ( FIVE HUNDR$ FEET1 BR1KS 9 SPRAY
)A DULL1 SULL5 RO>4
  ,WE ADV.E1 L S5SE.S LUNATICS1 T[>DS ?
MI<TY MASS4
  ,I H"O/LY 3FESS T ,I 0 ABJECTLY
AFRAID4 ,I DCLD T ,I WD G NO F>!R4 ,I
?R1T5$ 9 MY T]ROR 6CUT ! %EET (! SAIL4
,I ATTACK$ ! ,PROFESSOR ) 3SID]A#
ACRIMONY1 CALL+ HM FOOLH>DY1 MAD1 ,I "K
N :AT4 ,HE MADE NO ANSW]4
  ,SU45LY ! IMP]TURBA# ,HANS ONCE M
PO9T$ 8 F+] 6! M5AC+ OBJECT3 8,HOLME60
  8,AN ISL&60 CRI$ MY UNCLE4
  8,AN ISL&80 ,I REPLI$1 %RU7+ MY %\LD]S
AT ? POOR ATTEMPT AT DECEP;N4
  8,( C\RSE X IS10 CRI$ MY UNCLE1 BUR/+
96A L\D & JOY\S LAU<4  8,B ! WAT]SP\T80                  #CJJ
  8,GEYS]10 SD ,HANS4
  8,YES1 ( C\RSE- A GEYS]10 REPLI$ MY
UNCLE1 / LAU<+1 8A GEYS] L ^? -MON 9
,ICEL&4 ,JETS L ? >E ! GRT WOND]S (!
C.TRY40
  ,AT F/ ,I WD N ALL[ T ,I _H BE5 S
GROSSLY DCVD4 ,:AT CD 2 M RIDICUL\S ?AN
6H TAK5 AN ISL& =A M>9E MON/]8 ,B KICK Z
"O MAY1 "O M/ YIELD 6EVID;E1 & ,I 0 F9,Y
3V9C$ ( MY ]ROR4 ,X 0 NO?+1 AF ALL1 B A
NATURAL PH5OM5ON4
  ,Z WE APPROA*$ NE>] & NE>]1 ! DIM5.NS
(! LIQUID %1F ( WAT]S 2CAME TRULY GR& &
/UP5D\S4 ,! ISL& _H1 AT A 4T.E1 PRES5T$
! APPE>.E ( AN ENORM\S :ALE1 ^: H1D ROSE
HI< ABV ! WAT]S4 ,! GEYS]1 A ^W !
,ICEL&]S PRON\NCE GEYSIR1 & : SIGNIFIES
FURY1 ROSE MAJE/IC,Y F XS SUMMIT4 ,DULL
DETON,NS >E HE>D E N[ & !N1 &! ENORM\S
JET1 TAK5 Z X 7 ) SU45 FURY1 %AKES XS
PLUME ( VAPOR1 & B.DS 96! F/ LAY] (!
CL\DS4 ,X IS AL"O4 ,NEI SPURTS ( VAPOR
NOR HOT SPR+S SURR.D X1 &! :OLE VOLCANIC
P[] ( T REGION IS 3C5TRAT$ 9 "O SUBLIMECOLUMN4 ,! RAYS ( ELECTRIC LI<T     #CJA
MIX ) ? DAZZL+ %1F1 E DROP Z X FALLS
ASSUM+ ! PRISMATIC COLORS (! RA9B[4
  8,LET U G ON %ORE10 SD ! ,PROFESSOR1
AF "S M9UTES ( SIL;E4
  ,X IS NEC1 H["E1 6TAKE GRT PRECAU;N1 9
ORD] 6AVOID ! WEI<T ( FALL+ WAT]S1 : WD
CAUSE ! RAFT 6F.D] 9 AN 9/ANT4 ,HANS1
H["E1 /E]S ADMIRABLY1 & BR+S U 6! O!R
EXTREM;Y (! ISL&4
  ,I 0 ! F/ 6L1P ON ! ROCK4 ,MY UNCLE
FOLL[$1 :ILE ! EID]-DUCK HUNT] REMA9$ /1
L A MAN ABV ANY *ILDI% S\RCES (
A/ONI%;T4 ,WE 7 N[ WALK+ ON GRANITE MIX$
) SILICE\S S&/"O2 ! SOIL %IV]$ "U \R
FEET L ! SIDES ( BOIL]S 9 : OV]-H1T$ /1M
IS =CIBLY 3F9$4 ,X IS BURN+4 ,WE SOON
CAME 9 SI<T (! LL C5TRAL BAS9 F : ROSE !
GEYS]4 ,I PLUNG$ A !RMOMET] 96! WAT] :
RAN BU2L+ F ! C5T]1 & X M>K$ A H1T (A
HUNDR$ & SIXTY-?REE DEGREES6
  ,? WAT]1 "!=E1 CAME F "S PLACE ": !
H1T 0 9T5SE4 ,? 0 S+UL>LY 9 3TRADIC;N )!
!ORIES ( ,PROFESSOR ,H>DWIGG4 ,I CD N
HELP TELL+ HM MY OP9ION ON ! SUBJECT4  8,WELL10 SD HE %>PLY1 8& :AT      #CJB
DOES ? PROVE AG/ MY DOCTR9E8
  8,NO?+10 REPLI$ ,I DRYLY1 SEE+ T ,I 0
RUNN+ MY H1D AG/ A =EG"O 3CLU.N4
  ,N"E!.S1 ,I AM -PELL$ 63FESS T UNTIL
N[ WE H BE5 MO/ REM>KABLY =TUNATE1 & T ?
VOYAGE IS 2+ A3OMPLI%$ 9 MO/ FAVORA#
3DI;NS ( TEMP]ATURE2 B X APPE>S EVID5T1
9 FACT1 C]TA91 T WE % SOON] OR LAT]
>RIVE AT "O ( ^? REGIONS ": ! C5TRAL H1T
W R1* XS UTMO/ LIMITS1 & W G F> 2Y ALL !
POSSI# GRAD,NS ( !RMOMET]S4
  ,VI.NS (! ,HADES (! ANCI5TS1 2LIEV$
6BE 9 ! C5T] (! E>?1 FLOAT$ "? MY
IMAG9,N4
  ,WE %1 H["E1 SEE :AT WE % SEE4 ,T IS !
,PROFESSOR'S FAVORITE PHRASE N[4 ,HAV+
*RI/5$ ! VOLCANIC ISL& 0! "N ( 8 NEPHEW1
! L1D] (! EXP$I;N TURN$ AWAY & GAVE !
SIGNAL = EMB>K,N4
  ,I /OOD /1 H["E1 = "S M9UTES1 GAZ+ ^U
! MAGNIFIC5T GEYS]4 ,I SOON 0 A# 6P]CV T
! UPW>D T5D5CY (! WAT] 0 IRREGUL>2 N[ X
DIM9I%$ 9 9T5S;Y1 & !N1 SU45LY1 X REGA9$
NEW VIGOR1 : ,I ATTRIBUT$ 6! V>I,N (!PRESSURE (! A3UMULAT$ VAPORS 9 XS   #CJC
RES]VOIR4
  ,AT LA/ WE TOOK \R DE"PURE1 GO+
C>E;LLY R.D ! PROJECT+1 & R DANG]\S1
ROCKS (! S\!RN SIDE4 ,HANS _H TAK5
ADVANTAGE ( ? BRIEF HALT 6REPAIR ! RAFT4
  ,2F WE TOOK \R F9AL DE"PURE F ! ISL&1
H["E1 ,I MADE "S OBS]V,NS 6CALCULATE !
4T.E WE _H G"O OV]1 & ,I PUT !M D[N 9 MY
J\RNAL4 ,S9CE WE LEFT ,PORT ,GRET*51 WE
_H TRAVEL$ TWO HUNDR$ & SEV5TY L1GUES- M
?AN EI<T HUNDR$ MILES- ON ? GRT 9L& SEA2
WE W]E1 "!=E1 SIX HUNDR$ & TW5TY L1GUES
F ,ICEL&1 & EXACTLY "U ,5GL&4

