Who could have Foreseen it?

           Adreadfulthinghashappenedtous.Whocouldhaveforeseenit?Icannotforeseeanyendtoourtroubles.Itmaybethatwearecondemnedtospendourwholelivesinthisstrange,inaccessibleplace.IamstillsoconfusedthatIcanhardlythinkclearlyofthefactsofthepresentorofthechancesofthefuture.Tomyastoundedsensestheoneseemsmostterribleandtheotherasblackasnight.

           Nomenhaveeverfoundthemselvesinaworseposition;noristhereanyuseindisclosingtoyouourexactgeographicalsituationandaskingourfriendsforareliefparty.Eveniftheycouldsendone,ourfatewillinallhumanprobabilitybedecidedlongbeforeitcouldarriveinSouthAmerica.

           Weare,intruth,asfarfromanyhumanaidasifwewereinthemoon.Ifwearetowinthrough,itisonlyourownqualitieswhichcansaveus.Ihaveascompanionsthreeremarkablemen,menofgreatbrain-powerandofunshakencourage.Thereliesouroneandonlyhope.ItisonlywhenIlookupontheuntroubledfacesofmycomradesthatIseesomeglimmerthroughthedarkness.OutwardlyItrustthatIappearasunconcernedasthey.InwardlyIamfilledwithapprehension.

           Letmegiveyou,withasmuchdetailasIcan,thesequenceofeventswhichhaveledustothiscatastrophe.

           WhenIfinishedmylastletterIstatedthatwewerewithinsevenmilesfromanenormouslineofruddycliffs,whichencircled,beyondalldoubt,theplateauofwhichProfessorChallengerspoke.