I think I'm dying. (Calling) George! George! George!

(Her voice trails away and she falls unconscious. At this point, behind the rocks upstage and on the sides, the wild inhabitants of this subterranean region reappear. They advance cautiously. One of them, who is their leader; guides them to center stage, where the unconscious young woman is lying. They approach her and watch her with the keenest surprise. They bend over her The leader kneels, lifts her head, lets down her hair, touches her face and hands, then listens to see whether she is still breathing. He looks around, signals to his companions to move aside, then lifts her up and is about to carry her off. Eva regains consciousness, notices the monsters all around her, and utters a cry of horror)

Eva: Oh!

(Eva manages to break free and is about to run away when the leader seizes her again)

Eva (struggling): Help!

he leader picks her up in his arms and rushes upstage)

(Enter George, running in from stage left.)

George: Those cries! (noticing Eva in the hands of the natives) Eva!

Eva: Help! Help!

George: I'll save you, Eva. I'll save you or die with you!

(He rushes at the leader, but the others seize him and throw him to the ground.)

(Enter Dr. Ox, stage right, then Valdemar, Volsius, and Tartelet, stage left)

Tartelet: Ah! My God!

Valdemar: Those horrible monsters!

Ox (coldly): They're doomed!

he natives turn toward them, then grip George and Eva by the throat.)

Eva and George: Ah!

George: Save her! Save Eva!

Tartelet: Let's run!

Volsius: Silence! (He seizes the violin that Tartelet is carrying)

Ox: But her ... Eva.

Volsius: Stand still, everyone!

(From the violin he produces sounds of a strange intensity. The natives stop, listen, and seem fascinated. Volsius continues to play. The leader has released his grip on Eva. He slowly approaches Volsius, listening intently. He listens more closely. He brings his head up to the instrument. His companions also creep close; as if chained to the bow. Volsius goes offstage again, followed by the natives, while the sound of the violin is still heard in the distance)

George (runs to Eva and takes her in his arms): Ah! Eva! My dear Eva!

Eva: Let's get away from this cursed place. Take me away. Take me away, please.

Valdemar: Ah yes. Let's get away from here!

Tartelet: Ah! That Master Lidenbrok. I would never have played like that.

Valdemar: My friend, my dear friend, listen to me. Let's get out of here.

George: Yes, yes, they're right. Let's go back the way we came. Eva, I want to take you far away from here. I don't want to expose you to any more such dangers. Let's go.

Ox: Go? When at any moment the obstacle that lies between us and our goal may disappear?

George: What did you say?

Eva: Don't listen to that man, George. Don't listen to him.

(A rumbling is heard.)

Ox: Wait a minute.