第1章

THEINDIANOCEAN

Wenowcometothesecondpartofourjourneyunderthesea.

Thefirstendedwiththemovingsceneinthecoralcemeterywhichleftsuchadeepimpressiononmymind.Thus,inthemidstofthisgreatsea,CaptainNemo"slifewaspassing,eventohisgrave,whichhehadpreparedinoneofitsdeepestabysses.There,notoneoftheocean"smonsterscouldtroublethelastsleepofthecrewoftheNautilus,ofthosefriendsrivetedtoeachotherindeathasinlife.

"Noranyman,either,"hadaddedtheCaptain.Stillthesamefierce,implacabledefiancetowardshumansociety!

IcouldnolongercontentmyselfwiththetheorywhichsatisfiedConseil.

ThatworthyfellowpersistedinseeingintheCommanderoftheNautilusoneofthoseunknownservantswhoreturnmankindcontemptforindifference.Forhim,hewasamisunderstoodgeniuswho,tiredofearth"sdeceptions,hadtakenrefugeinthisinaccessiblemedium,wherehemightfollowhisinstinctsfreely.

Tomymind,thisexplainsbutonesideofCaptainNemo"scharacter.

Indeed,themysteryofthatlastnightduringwhichwehadbeenchainedinprison,thesleep,andtheprecautionsoviolentlytakenbytheCaptainofsnatchingfrommyeyestheglassI

hadraisedtosweepthehorizon,themortalwoundoftheman,duetoanunaccountableshockoftheNautilus,allputmeonanewtrack.No;CaptainNemowasnotsatisfiedwithshunningman.

Hisformidableapparatusnotonlysuitedhisinstinctoffreedom,butperhapsalsothedesignofsometerribleretaliation.

Atthismomentnothingiscleartome;Icatchbutaglimpseoflightamidstallthedarkness,andImustconfinemyselftowritingaseventsshalldictate.

Thatday,the24thofJanuary,1868,atnoon,thesecondofficercametotakethealtitudeofthesun.Imountedtheplatform,litacigar,andwatchedtheoperation.ItseemedtomethatthemandidnotunderstandFrench;

forseveraltimesImaderemarksinaloudvoice,whichmusthavedrawnfromhimsomeinvoluntarysignofattention,ifhehadunderstoodthem;

butheremainedundisturbedanddumb.

Ashewastakingobservationswiththesextant,oneofthesailorsoftheNautilus(thestrongmanwhohadaccompaniedusonourfirstsubmarineexcursiontotheIslandofCrespo)

cametocleantheglassesofthelantern.Iexaminedthefittingsoftheapparatus,thestrengthofwhichwasincreasedahundredfoldbylenticularrings,placedsimilartothoseinalighthouse,andwhichprojectedtheirbrillianceinahorizontalplane.

Theelectriclampwascombinedinsuchawayastogiveitsmostpowerfullight.Indeed,itwasproducedinvacuo,whichinsuredbothitssteadinessanditsintensity.

Thisvacuumeconomisedthegraphitepointsbetweenwhichtheluminousarcwasdeveloped——animportantpointofeconomyforCaptainNemo,whocouldnoteasilyhavereplacedthem;

andundertheseconditionstheirwastewasimperceptible.

WhentheNautiluswasreadytocontinueitssubmarinejourney,Iwentdowntothesaloon.Thepanelwasclosed,andthecoursemarkeddirectwest.

WewerefurrowingthewatersoftheIndianOcean,avastliquidplain,withasurfaceof1,200,000,000ofacres,andwhosewatersaresoclearandtransparentthatanyoneleaningoverthemwouldturngiddy.

TheNautilususuallyfloatedbetweenfiftyandahundredfathomsdeep.

Wewentonsoforsomedays.Toanyonebutmyself,whohadagreatloveforthesea,thehourswouldhaveseemedlongandmonotonous;

butthedailywalksontheplatform,whenIsteepedmyselfintherevivingairoftheocean,thesightoftherichwatersthroughthewindowsofthesaloon,thebooksinthelibrary,thecompilingofmymemoirs,tookupallmytime,andleftmenotamomentofennuiorweariness.

Forsomedayswesawagreatnumberofaquaticbirds,sea-mewsorgulls.

Somewerecleverlykilledand,preparedinacertainway,madeveryacceptablewater-game.Amongstlarge-wingedbirds,carriedalongdistancefromalllandsandrestinguponthewavesfromthefatigueoftheirflight,Isawsomemagnificentalbatrosses,utteringdiscordantcrieslikethebrayingofanass,andbirdsbelongingtothefamilyofthelong-wings.

Astothefish,theyalwaysprovokedouradmirationwhenwesurprisedthesecretsoftheiraquaticlifethroughtheopenpanels.

IsawmanykindswhichIneverbeforehadachanceofobserving.

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Fromthe21sttothe23rdofJanuarytheNautiluswentattherateoftwohundredandfiftyleaguesintwenty-fourhours,beingfivehundredandfortymiles,ortwenty-twomilesanhour.

Ifwerecognisedsomanydifferentvarietiesoffish,itwasbecause,attractedbytheelectriclight,theytriedtofollowus;

thegreaterpart,however,weresoondistancedbyourspeed,thoughsomekepttheirplaceinthewatersoftheNautilusforatime.

Themorningofthe24th,in12@5"S.lat.,and94@33"

long.,weobservedKeelingIsland,acoralformation,plantedwithmagnificentcocos,andwhichhadbeenvisitedbyMr.DarwinandCaptainFitzroy.TheNautilusskirtedtheshoresofthisdesertislandforalittledistance.Itsnetsbroughtupnumerousspecimensofpolypiandcuriousshellsofmollusca.

{onesentencestrippedhere}

SoonKeelingIslanddisappearedfromthehorizon,andourcoursewasdirectedtothenorth-westinthedirectionoftheIndianPeninsula.

FromKeelingIslandourcoursewasslowerandmorevariable,oftentakingusintogreatdepths.Severaltimestheymadeuseoftheinclinedplanes,whichcertaininternalleversplacedobliquelytothewaterline.Inthatwaywewentabouttwomiles,butwithouteverobtainingthegreatestdepthsoftheIndianSea,whichsoundingsofseventhousandfathomshaveneverreached.

Astothetemperatureofthelowerstrata,thethermometerinvariablyindicated4@abovezero.Ionlyobservedthatintheupperregionsthewaterwasalwayscolderinthehighlevelsthanatthesurfaceofthesea.

Onthe25thofJanuarytheoceanwasentirelydeserted;theNautiluspassedthedayonthesurface,beatingthewaveswithitspowerfulscrewandmakingthemreboundtoagreatheight.Whoundersuchcircumstanceswouldnothavetakenitforagiganticcetacean?

ThreepartsofthisdayIspentontheplatform.Iwatchedthesea.

Nothingonthehorizon,tillaboutfouro"clockasteamerrunningwestonourcounter.Hermastswerevisibleforaninstant,butshecouldnotseetheNautilus,beingtoolowinthewater.

IfanciedthissteamboatbelongedtotheP.O.Company,whichrunsfromCeylontoSydney,touchingatKingGeorge"sPointandMelbourne.

Atfiveo"clockintheevening,beforethatfleetingtwilightwhichbindsnighttodayintropicalzones,ConseilandI

wereastonishedbyacuriousspectacle.

Itwasashoalofargonautstravellingalongonthesurfaceoftheocean.

Wecouldcountseveralhundreds.TheybelongedtothetuberclekindwhicharepeculiartotheIndianseas.

Thesegracefulmolluscsmovedbackwardsbymeansoftheirlocomotivetube,throughwhichtheypropelledthewateralreadydrawnin.Oftheireighttentacles,sixwereelongated,andstretchedoutfloatingonthewater,whilsttheothertwo,rolledupflat,werespreadtothewinglikealightsail.

Isawtheirspiral-shapedandflutedshells,whichCuvierjustlycomparestoanelegantskiff.Aboatindeed!

Itbearsthecreaturewhichsecretesitwithoutitsadheringtoit.

FornearlyanhourtheNautilusfloatedinthemidstofthisshoalofmolluscs.ThenIknownotwhatsuddenfrighttheytook.

Butasifatasignaleverysailwasfurled,thearmsfolded,thebodydrawnin,theshellsturnedover,changingtheircentreofgravity,andthewholefleetdisappearedunderthewaves.

Neverdidtheshipsofasquadronmanoeuvrewithmoreunity.

Atthatmomentnightfellsuddenly,andthereeds,scarcelyraisedbythebreeze,laypeaceablyunderthesidesoftheNautilus.

Thenextday,26thofJanuary,wecuttheequatorattheeighty-secondmeridianandenteredthenorthernhemisphere.

Duringthedayaformidabletroopofsharksaccompaniedus,terriblecreatures,whichmultiplyintheseseasandmakethemverydangerous.Theywere"cestraciophilippi"sharks,withbrownbacksandwhitishbellies,armedwithelevenrowsofteeth——

eyedsharks——theirthroatbeingmarkedwithalargeblackspotsurroundedwithwhitelikeaneye.TherewerealsosomeIsabellasharks,withroundedsnoutsmarkedwithdarkspots.

Thesepowerfulcreaturesoftenhurledthemselvesatthewindowsofthesaloonwithsuchviolenceastomakeusfeelveryinsecure.

AtsuchtimesNedLandwasnolongermasterofhimself.

Hewantedtogotothesurfaceandharpoonthemonsters,particularlycertainsmooth-houndsharks,whosemouthisstuddedwithteethlikeamosaic;andlargetiger-sharksnearlysixyardslong,thelastnamedofwhichseemedtoexcitehimmoreparticularly.

ButtheNautilus,acceleratingherspeed,easilyleftthemostrapidofthembehind.

The27thofJanuary,attheentranceofthevastBayofBengal,wemetrepeatedlyaforbiddingspectacle,deadbodiesfloatingonthesurfaceofthewater.TheywerethedeadoftheIndianvillages,carriedbytheGangestothelevelofthesea,andwhichthevultures,theonlyundertakersofthecountry,hadnotbeenabletodevour.

Butthesharksdidnotfailtohelpthemattheirfuneralwork.

Aboutseveno"clockintheevening,theNautilus,half-immersed,wassailinginaseaofmilk.Atfirstsighttheoceanseemedlactified.

Wasittheeffectofthelunarrays?No;forthemoon,scarcelytwodaysold,wasstilllyinghiddenunderthehorizonintheraysofthesun.

Thewholesky,thoughlitbythesiderealrays,seemedblackbycontrastwiththewhitenessofthewaters.

Conseilcouldnotbelievehiseyes,andquestionedmeastothecauseofthisstrangephenomenon.HappilyIwasabletoanswerhim.

"Itiscalledamilksea,"Iexplained."AlargeextentofwhitewaveletsoftentobeseenonthecoastsofAmboyna,andinthesepartsofthesea."

"But,sir,"saidConseil,"canyoutellmewhatcausessuchaneffect?

forIsupposethewaterisnotreallyturnedintomilk."

"No,myboy;andthewhitenesswhichsurprisesyouiscausedonlybythepresenceofmyriadsofinfusoria,asortofluminouslittleworm,gelatinousandwithoutcolour,ofthethicknessofahair,andwhoselengthisnotmorethanseven-thousandthsofaninch.

Theseinsectsadheretooneanothersometimesforseveralleagues."

"Severalleagues!"exclaimedConseil.

"Yes,myboy;andyouneednottrytocomputethenumberoftheseinfusoria.

Youwillnotbeable,for,ifIamnotmistaken,shipshavefloatedonthesemilkseasformorethanfortymiles."

Towardsmidnighttheseasuddenlyresumeditsusualcolour;

butbehindus,eventothelimitsofthehorizon,theskyreflectedthewhitenedwaves,andforalongtimeseemedimpregnatedwiththevagueglimmeringsofanauroraborealis.

CHAPTERII

ANOVELPROPOSALOFCAPTAINNEMO"S

Onthe28thofFebruary,whenatnoontheNautiluscametothesurfaceofthesea,in9@4"N.lat.,therewaslandinsightabouteightmilestowestward.ThefirstthingInoticedwasarangeofmountainsabouttwothousandfeethigh,theshapesofwhichweremostcapricious.

Ontakingthebearings,IknewthatwewerenearingtheislandofCeylon,thepearlwhichhangsfromthelobeoftheIndianPeninsula.

CaptainNemoandhissecondappearedatthismoment.

TheCaptainglancedatthemap.Thenturningtome,said:

"TheIslandofCeylon,notedforitspearl-fisheries.Wouldyouliketovisitoneofthem,M.Aronnax?"

"Certainly,Captain."

"Well,thethingiseasy.Though,ifweseethefisheries,weshallnotseethefishermen.Theannualexportationhasnotyetbegun.

Nevermind,IwillgiveorderstomakefortheGulfofManaar,whereweshallarriveinthenight."

TheCaptainsaidsomethingtohissecond,whoimmediatelywentout.

SoontheNautilusreturnedtohernativeelement,andthemanometershowedthatshewasaboutthirtyfeetdeep.

"Well,sir,"saidCaptainNemo,"youandyourcompanionsshallvisittheBankofManaar,andifbychancesomefishermanshouldbethere,weshallseehimatwork."

"Agreed,Captain!"

"Bythebye,M.Aronnaxyouarenotafraidofsharks?"

"Sharks!"exclaimedI.

Thisquestionseemedaveryhardone.

"Well?"continuedCaptainNemo.

"Iadmit,Captain,thatIamnotyetveryfamiliarwiththatkindoffish."

"Weareaccustomedtothem,"repliedCaptainNemo,"andintimeyouwillbetoo.However,weshallbearmed,andontheroadwemaybeabletohuntsomeofthetribe.

Itisinteresting.So,tillto-morrow,sir,andearly."

Thissaidinacarelesstone,CaptainNemoleftthesaloon.

Now,ifyouwereinvitedtohuntthebearinthemountainsofSwitzerland,whatwouldyousay?

"Verywell!to-morrowwewillgoandhuntthebear."

IfyouwereaskedtohuntthelionintheplainsofAtlas,orthetigerintheIndianjungles,whatwouldyousay?

"Ha!ha!itseemswearegoingtohuntthetigerorthelion!"

Butwhenyouareinvitedtohuntthesharkinitsnaturalelement,youwouldperhapsreflectbeforeacceptingtheinvitation.

Asformyself,Ipassedmyhandovermyforehead,onwhichstoodlargedropsofcoldperspiration."Letusreflect,"saidI,"andtakeourtime.

Huntingottersinsubmarineforests,aswedidintheIslandofCrespo,willpass;butgoingupanddownatthebottomofthesea,whereoneisalmostcertaintomeetsharks,isquiteanotherthing!

Iknowwellthatincertaincountries,particularlyintheAndamanIslands,thenegroesneverhesitatetoattackthemwithadaggerinonehandandarunningnooseintheother;butIalsoknowthatfewwhoaffrontthosecreatureseverreturnalive.However,Iamnotanegro,andifIwereIthinkalittlehesitationinthiscasewouldnotbeill-timed."

AtthismomentConseilandtheCanadianentered,quitecomposed,andevenjoyous.Theyknewnotwhatawaitedthem.

"Faith,sir,"saidNedLand,"yourCaptainNemo——thedeviltakehim!——

hasjustmadeusaverypleasantoffer."

"Ah!"saidI,"youknow?"

"Ifagreeabletoyou,sir,"interruptedConseil,"thecommanderoftheNautilushasinvitedustovisitthemagnificentCeylonfisheriesto-morrow,inyourcompany;hediditkindly,andbehavedlikearealgentleman."

"Hesaidnothingmore?"

"Nothingmore,sir,exceptthathehadalreadyspokentoyouofthislittlewalk."

"Sir,"saidConseil,"wouldyougiveussomedetailsofthepearlfishery?"

"Astothefishingitself,"Iasked,"ortheincidents,which?"

"Onthefishing,"repliedtheCanadian;"beforeenteringupontheground,itisaswelltoknowsomethingaboutit."

"Verywell;sitdown,myfriends,andIwillteachyou."

NedandConseilseatedthemselvesonanottoman,andthefirstthingtheCanadianaskedwas:

"Sir,whatisapearl?"

"MyworthyNed,"Ianswered,"tothepoet,apearlisatearofthesea;

totheOrientals,itisadropofdewsolidified;totheladies,itisajewelofanoblongshape,ofabrilliancyofmother-of-pearlsubstance,whichtheywearontheirfingers,theirnecks,ortheirears;forthechemistitisamixtureofphosphateandcarbonateoflime,withalittlegelatine;

andlastly,fornaturalists,itissimplyamorbidsecretionoftheorganthatproducesthemother-of-pearlamongstcertainbivalves."

"Branchofmolluscs,"saidConseil.

"Preciselyso,mylearnedConseil;and,amongstthesetestaceatheearshell,thetridacnae,theturbots,inaword,allthosewhichsecretemother-of-pearl,thatis,theblue,bluish,violet,orwhitesubstancewhichlinestheinterioroftheirshells,arecapableofproducingpearls."

"Musselstoo?"askedtheCanadian.

"Yes,musselsofcertainwatersinScotland,Wales,Ireland,Saxony,Bohemia,andFrance."

"Good!ForthefutureIshallpayattention,"repliedtheCanadian.

"But,"Icontinued,"theparticularmolluscwhichsecretesthepearlisthepearl-oyster.Thepearlisnothingbutaformationdepositedinaglobularform,eitheradheringtotheoyster-shellorburiedinthefoldsofthecreature.

Ontheshellitisfast:inthefleshitisloose;butalwayshasforakernelasmallhardsubstance,maybeabarrenegg,maybeagrainofsand,aroundwhichthepearlymatterdepositsitselfyearafteryearsuccessively,andbythinconcentriclayers."

{thisparagraphisedited}

"Aremanypearlsfoundinthesameoyster?"askedConseil.

"Yes,myboy.Someareaperfectcasket.Oneoysterhasbeenmentioned,thoughIallowmyselftodoubtit,ashavingcontainednolessthanahundredandfiftysharks."

"Ahundredandfiftysharks!"exclaimedNedLand.

"DidIsaysharks?"saidIhurriedly."Imeanttosayahundredandfiftypearls.Sharkswouldnotbesense."

"Certainlynot,"saidConseil;"butwillyoutellusnowbywhatmeanstheyextractthesepearls?"

"Theyproceedinvariousways.Whentheyadheretotheshell,thefishermenoftenpullthemoffwithpincers;butthemostcommonwayistolaytheoystersonmatsoftheseaweedwhichcoversthebanks.Thustheydieintheopenair;andattheendoftendaystheyareinaforwardstateofdecomposition.

Theyarethenplungedintolargereservoirsofsea-water;

thentheyareopenedandwashed."

"Thepriceofthesepearlsvariesaccordingtotheirsize?"askedConseil.

"Notonlyaccordingtotheirsize,"Ianswered,"butalsoaccordingtotheirshape,theirwater(thatis,theircolour),andtheirlustre:

thatis,thatbrightanddiaperedsparklewhichmakesthemsocharmingtotheeye.Themostbeautifularecalledvirginpearls,orparagons.

Theyareformedaloneinthetissueofthemollusc,arewhite,oftenopaque,andsometimeshavethetransparencyofanopal;

theyaregenerallyroundoroval.Theroundaremadeintobracelets,theovalintopendants,and,beingmoreprecious,aresoldsingly.

Thoseadheringtotheshelloftheoysteraremoreirregularinshape,andaresoldbyweight.Lastly,inalowerorderareclassedthosesmallpearlsknownunderthenameofseed-pearls;theyaresoldbymeasure,andareespeciallyusedinembroideryforchurchornaments."

"But,"saidConseil,"isthispearl-fisherydangerous?"

"No,"Ianswered,quickly;"particularlyifcertainprecautionsaretaken."

"Whatdoesoneriskinsuchacalling?"saidNedLand,"theswallowingofsomemouthfulsofsea-water?"

"Asyousay,Ned.Bythebye,"saidI,tryingtotakeCaptainNemo"scarelesstone,"areyouafraidofsharks,braveNed?"

"I!"repliedtheCanadian;"aharpoonerbyprofession?

Itismytradetomakelightofthem."

"But,"saidI,"itisnotaquestionoffishingforthemwithaniron-swivel,hoistingthemintothevessel,cuttingofftheirtailswithablowofachopper,rippingthemup,andthrowingtheirheartintothesea!"

"Then,itisaquestionof——"

"Precisely."

"Inthewater?"

"Inthewater."

"Faith,withagoodharpoon!Youknow,sir,thesesharksareill-fashionedbeasts.Theyturnontheirbelliestoseizeyou,andinthattime——"

NedLandhadawayofsaying"seize"whichmademybloodruncold.

"Well,andyou,Conseil,whatdoyouthinkofsharks?"

"Me!"saidConseil."Iwillbefrank,sir."

"Somuchthebetter,"thoughtI.

"Ifyou,sir,meantofacethesharks,Idonotseewhyyourfaithfulservantshouldnotfacethemwithyou."

CHAPTERIII

APEARLOFTENMILLIONS

Thenextmorningatfouro"clockIwasawakenedbythestewardwhomCaptainNemohadplacedatmyservice.

Irosehurriedly,dressed,andwentintothesaloon.

CaptainNemowasawaitingme.

"M.Aronnax,"saidhe,"areyoureadytostart?"

"Iamready."

"Thenpleasetofollowme."

"Andmycompanions,Captain?"

"Theyhavebeentoldandarewaiting."

"Arewenottoputonourdiver"sdresses?"askedI.

"Notyet.IhavenotallowedtheNautilustocometoonearthiscoast,andwearesomedistancefromtheManaarBank;buttheboatisready,andwilltakeustotheexactpointofdisembarking,whichwillsaveusalongway.

Itcarriesourdivingapparatus,whichwewillputonwhenwebeginoursubmarinejourney."

CaptainNemoconductedmetothecentralstaircase,whichledontheplatform.NedandConseilwerealreadythere,delightedattheideaofthe"pleasureparty"whichwaspreparing.

FivesailorsfromtheNautilus,withtheiroars,waitedintheboat,whichhadbeenmadefastagainsttheside.

Thenightwasstilldark.Layersofcloudscoveredthesky,allowingbutfewstarstobeseen.Ilookedonthesidewherethelandlay,andsawnothingbutadarklineenclosingthreepartsofthehorizon,fromsouth-westtonorthwest.

TheNautilus,havingreturnedduringthenightupthewesterncoastofCeylon,wasnowwestofthebay,orrathergulf,formedbythemainlandandtheIslandofManaar.

There,underthedarkwaters,stretchedthepintadinebank,aninexhaustiblefieldofpearls,thelengthofwhichismorethantwentymiles.

CaptainNemo,NedLand,Conseil,andItookourplacesinthesternoftheboat.Themasterwenttothetiller;

hisfourcompanionsleanedontheiroars,thepainterwascastoff,andwesheeredoff.

Theboatwenttowardsthesouth;theoarsmendidnothurry.Inoticedthattheirstrokes,stronginthewater,onlyfollowedeachothereverytenseconds,accordingtothemethodgenerallyadoptedinthenavy.

Whilstthecraftwasrunningbyitsownvelocity,theliquiddropsstruckthedarkdepthsofthewavescrisplylikespatsofmeltedlead.

Alittlebillow,spreadingwide,gaveaslightrolltotheboat,andsomesamphirereedsflappedbeforeit.

Weweresilent.WhatwasCaptainNemothinkingof?Perhapsofthelandhewasapproaching,andwhichhefoundtooneartohim,contrarytotheCanadian"sopinion,whothoughtittoofaroff.

AstoConseil,hewasmerelytherefromcuriosity.

Abouthalf-pastfivethefirsttintsonthehorizonshowedtheupperlineofcoastmoredistinctly.Flatenoughintheeast,itrosealittletothesouth.Fivemilesstilllaybetweenus,anditwasindistinctowingtothemistonthewater.

Atsixo"clockitbecamesuddenlydaylight,withthatrapiditypeculiartotropicalregions,whichknowneitherdawnnortwilight.

Thesolarrayspiercedthecurtainofclouds,piledupontheeasternhorizon,andtheradiantorbroserapidly.

Isawlanddistinctly,withafewtreesscatteredhereandthere.

TheboatnearedManaarIsland,whichwasroundedtothesouth.

CaptainNemorosefromhisseatandwatchedthesea.

Atasignfromhimtheanchorwasdropped,butthechainscarcelyran,foritwaslittlemorethanayarddeep,andthisspotwasoneofthehighestpointsofthebankofpintadines.

"Hereweare,M.Aronnax,"saidCaptainNemo.

"Youseethatenclosedbay?Here,inamonthwillbeassembledthenumerousfishingboatsoftheexporters,andthesearethewaterstheirdiverswillransacksoboldly.

Happily,thisbayiswellsituatedforthatkindoffishing.

Itisshelteredfromthestrongestwinds;theseaisneververyroughhere,whichmakesitfavourableforthediver"swork.

Wewillnowputonourdresses,andbeginourwalk."

Ididnotanswer,and,whilewatchingthesuspectedwaves,beganwiththehelpofthesailorstoputonmyheavysea-dress.CaptainNemoandmycompanionswerealsodressing.

NoneoftheNautilusmenweretoaccompanyusonthisnewexcursion.

Soonwewereenvelopedtothethroatinindia-rubberclothing;

theairapparatusfixedtoourbacksbybraces.

AstotheRuhmkorffapparatus,therewasnonecessityforit.

Beforeputtingmyheadintothecoppercap,IhadaskedthequestionoftheCaptain.

"Theywouldbeuseless,"hereplied."Wearegoingtonogreatdepth,andthesolarrayswillbeenoughtolightourwalk.Besides,itwouldnotbeprudenttocarrytheelectriclightinthesewaters;

itsbrilliancymightattractsomeofthedangerousinhabitantsofthecoastmostinopportunely."

AsCaptainNemopronouncedthesewords,IturnedtoConseilandNedLand.

Butmytwofriendshadalreadyencasedtheirheadsinthemetalcap,andtheycouldneitherhearnoranswer.

OnelastquestionremainedtoaskofCaptainNemo.

"Andourarms?"askedI;"ourguns?"

"Guns!Whatfor?Donotmountaineersattackthebearwithadaggerintheirhand,andisnotsteelsurerthanlead?

Hereisastrongblade;putitinyourbelt,andwestart."

Ilookedatmycompanions;theywerearmedlikeus,and,morethanthat,NedLandwasbrandishinganenormousharpoon,whichhehadplacedintheboatbeforeleavingtheNautilus.

Then,followingtheCaptain"sexample,Iallowedmyselftobedressedintheheavycopperhelmet,andourreservoirsofairwereatonceinactivity.Aninstantafterwewerelanded,oneaftertheother,inabouttwoyardsofwateruponanevensand.

CaptainNemomadeasignwithhishand,andwefollowedhimbyagentledeclivitytillwedisappearedunderthewaves.

{3paragraphsmissing}

Ataboutseveno"clockwefoundourselvesatlastsurveyingtheoyster-banksonwhichthepearl-oystersarereproducedbymillions.

CaptainNemopointedwithhishandtotheenormousheapofoysters;

andIcouldwellunderstandthatthisminewasinexhaustible,forNature"screativepowerisfarbeyondman"sinstinctofdestruction.

NedLand,faithfultohisinstinct,hastenedtofillanetwhichhecarriedbyhissidewithsomeofthefinestspecimens.

Butwecouldnotstop.WemustfollowtheCaptain,whoseemedtoguidehimselfbypathsknownonlytohimself.

Thegroundwassensiblyrising,andsometimes,onholdingupmyarm,itwasabovethesurfaceofthesea.

Thenthelevelofthebankwouldsinkcapriciously.

Oftenweroundedhighrocksscarpedintopyramids.

Intheirdarkfractureshugecrustacea,perchedupontheirhighclawslikesomewar-machine,watcheduswithfixedeyes,andunderourfeetcrawledvariouskindsofannelides.

Atthismomentthereopenedbeforeusalargegrottoduginapicturesqueheapofrocksandcarpetedwithallthethickwarpofthesubmarineflora.

Atfirstitseemedverydarktome.Thesolarraysseemedtobeextinguishedbysuccessivegradations,untilitsvaguetransparencybecamenothingmorethandrownedlight.CaptainNemoentered;wefollowed.

Myeyessoonaccustomedthemselvestothisrelativestateofdarkness.

Icoulddistinguishthearchesspringingcapriciouslyfromnaturalpillars,standingbroadupontheirgranitebase,liketheheavycolumnsofTuscanarchitecture.Whyhadourincomprehensibleguideledustothebottomofthissubmarinecrypt?Iwassoontoknow.Afterdescendingarathersharpdeclivity,ourfeettrodthebottomofakindofcircularpit.

ThereCaptainNemostopped,andwithhishandindicatedanobjectI

hadnotyetperceived.Itwasanoysterofextraordinarydimensions,agigantictridacne,agobletwhichcouldhavecontainedawholelakeofholy-water,abasinthebreadthofwhichwasmorethantwoyardsandahalf,andconsequentlylargerthanthatornamentingthesaloonoftheNautilus.

Iapproachedthisextraordinarymollusc.Itadheredbyitsfilamentstoatableofgranite,andthere,isolated,itdevelopeditselfinthecalmwatersofthegrotto.Iestimatedtheweightofthistridacneat600lb.

Suchanoysterwouldcontain30lb.ofmeat;andonemusthavethestomachofaGargantuatodemolishsomedozensofthem.

CaptainNemowasevidentlyacquaintedwiththeexistenceofthisbivalve,andseemedtohaveaparticularmotiveinverifyingtheactualstateofthistridacne.Theshellswerealittleopen;theCaptaincamenearandputhisdaggerbetweentopreventthemfromclosing;thenwithhishandheraisedthemembranewithitsfringededges,whichformedacloakforthecreature.There,betweenthefoldedplaits,Isawaloosepearl,whosesizeequalledthatofacoco-nut.Itsglobularshape,perfectclearness,andadmirablelustremadeitaltogetherajewelofinestimablevalue.

Carriedawaybymycuriosity,Istretchedoutmyhandtoseizeit,weighit,andtouchit;buttheCaptainstoppedme,madeasignofrefusal,andquicklywithdrewhisdagger,andthetwoshellsclosedsuddenly.

IthenunderstoodCaptainNemo"sintention.Inleavingthispearlhiddeninthemantleofthetridacnehewasallowingittogrowslowly.

Eachyearthesecretionsofthemolluscwouldaddnewconcentriccircles.

IestimateditsvalueatL500,000atleast.

AftertenminutesCaptainNemostoppedsuddenly.

Ithoughthehadhaltedpreviouslytoreturning.No;byagesturehebadeuscrouchbesidehiminadeepfractureoftherock,hishandpointedtoonepartoftheliquidmass,whichIwatchedattentively.

Aboutfiveyardsfrommeashadowappeared,andsanktotheground.

Thedisquietingideaofsharksshotthroughmymind,butIwasmistaken;

andonceagainitwasnotamonsteroftheoceanthatwehadanythingtodowith.

Itwasaman,alivingman,anIndian,afisherman,apoordevilwho,Isuppose,hadcometogleanbeforetheharvest.

Icouldseethebottomofhiscanoeanchoredsomefeetabovehishead.

Hedivedandwentupsuccessively.Astoneheldbetweenhisfeet,cutintheshapeofasugarloaf,whilstaropefastenedhimtohisboat,helpedhimtodescendmorerapidly.Thiswasallhisapparatus.

Reachingthebottom,aboutfiveyardsdeep,hewentonhiskneesandfilledhisbagwithoysterspickedupatrandom.Thenhewentup,emptiedit,pulleduphisstone,andbegantheoperationoncemore,whichlastedthirtyseconds.

Thediverdidnotseeus.Theshadowoftherockhidusfromsight.

AndhowshouldthispoorIndianeverdreamthatmen,beingslikehimself,shouldbethereunderthewaterwatchinghismovementsandlosingnodetailofthefishing?Severaltimeshewentupinthisway,anddivedagain.

Hedidnotcarryawaymorethantenateachplunge,forhewasobligedtopullthemfromthebanktowhichtheyadheredbymeansoftheirstrongbyssus.

Andhowmanyofthoseoystersforwhichheriskedhislifehadnopearlinthem!Iwatchedhimclosely;hismanoeuvreswereregular;andforthespaceofhalfanhournodangerappearedtothreatenhim.

Iwasbeginningtoaccustommyselftothesightofthisinterestingfishing,whensuddenly,astheIndianwasontheground,Isawhimmakeagestureofterror,rise,andmakeaspringtoreturntothesurfaceofthesea.

Iunderstoodhisdread.Agiganticshadowappearedjustabovetheunfortunatediver.Itwasasharkofenormoussizeadvancingdiagonally,hiseyesonfire,andhisjawsopen.

Iwasmutewithhorrorandunabletomove.

ThevoraciouscreatureshottowardstheIndian,whothrewhimselfononesidetoavoidtheshark"sfins;butnotitstail,foritstruckhischestandstretchedhimontheground.

Thisscenelastedbutafewseconds:thesharkreturned,and,turningonhisback,preparedhimselfforcuttingtheIndianintwo,whenIsawCaptainNemorisesuddenly,andthen,daggerinhand,walkstraighttothemonster,readytofightfacetofacewithhim.

Theverymomentthesharkwasgoingtosnaptheunhappyfishermanintwo,heperceivedhisnewadversary,and,turningover,madestraighttowardshim.

IcanstillseeCaptainNemo"sposition.Holdinghimselfwelltogether,hewaitedforthesharkwithadmirablecoolness;and,whenitrushedathim,threwhimselfononesidewithwonderfulquickness,avoidingtheshock,andburyinghisdaggerdeepintoitsside.Butitwasnotallover.

Aterriblecombatensued.

Thesharkhadseemedtoroar,ifImightsayso.Thebloodrushedintorrentsfromitswound.Theseawasdyedred,andthroughtheopaqueliquidIcoulddistinguishnothingmore.

Nothingmoreuntilthemomentwhen,likelightning,IsawtheundauntedCaptainhangingontooneofthecreature"sfins,struggling,asitwere,handtohandwiththemonster,anddealingsuccessiveblowsathisenemy,yetstillunabletogiveadecisiveone.

Theshark"sstrugglesagitatedthewaterwithsuchfurythattherockingthreatenedtoupsetme.

IwantedtogototheCaptain"sassistance,but,nailedtothespotwithhorror,Icouldnotstir.

Isawthehaggardeye;Isawthedifferentphasesofthefight.

TheCaptainfelltotheearth,upsetbytheenormousmasswhichleantuponhim.Theshark"sjawsopenedwide,likeapairoffactoryshears,anditwouldhavebeenalloverwiththeCaptain;but,quickasthought,harpooninhand,NedLandrushedtowardsthesharkandstruckitwithitssharppoint.

Thewaveswereimpregnatedwithamassofblood.Theyrockedundertheshark"smovements,whichbeatthemwithindescribablefury.

NedLandhadnotmissedhisaim.Itwasthemonster"sdeath-rattle.

Strucktotheheart,itstruggledindreadfulconvulsions,theshockofwhichoverthrewConseil.

ButNedLandhaddisentangledtheCaptain,who,gettingupwithoutanywound,wentstraighttotheIndian,quicklycutthecordwhichheldhimtohisstone,tookhiminhisarms,and,withasharpblowofhisheel,mountedtothesurface.

Weallthreefollowedinafewseconds,savedbyamiracle,andreachedthefisherman"sboat.

CaptainNemo"sfirstcarewastorecalltheunfortunatemantolifeagain.Ididnotthinkhecouldsucceed.

Ihopedso,forthepoorcreature"simmersionwasnotlong;

buttheblowfromtheshark"stailmighthavebeenhisdeath-blow.

Happily,withtheCaptain"sandConseil"ssharpfriction,Isawconsciousnessreturnbydegrees.Heopenedhiseyes.

Whatwashissurprise,histerroreven,atseeingfourgreatcopperheadsleaningoverhim!And,aboveall,whatmusthehavethoughtwhenCaptainNemo,drawingfromthepocketofhisdressabagofpearls,placeditinhishand!

ThismunificentcharityfromthemanofthewaterstothepoorCingalesewasacceptedwithatremblinghand.Hiswonderingeyesshowedthatheknewnottowhatsuper-humanbeingsheowedbothfortuneandlife.

AtasignfromtheCaptainweregainedthebank,and,followingtheroadalreadytraversed,cameinabouthalfanhourtotheanchorwhichheldthecanoeoftheNautilustotheearth.

Onceonboard,weeach,withthehelpofthesailors,gotridoftheheavycopperhelmet.

CaptainNemo"sfirstwordwastotheCanadian.

"Thankyou,MasterLand,"saidhe.

"Itwasinrevenge,Captain,"repliedNedLand.

"Iowedyouthat."

AghastlysmilepassedacrosstheCaptain"slips,andthatwasall.

"TotheNautilus,"saidhe.

Theboatflewoverthewaves.Someminutesafterwemettheshark"sdeadbodyfloating.Bytheblackmarkingoftheextremityofitsfins,IrecognisedtheterriblemelanopteronoftheIndianSeas,ofthespeciesofsharksoproperlycalled.Itwasmorethantwenty-fivefeetlong;

itsenormousmouthoccupiedone-thirdofitsbody.Itwasanadult,aswasknownbyitssixrowsofteethplacedinanisoscelestriangleintheupperjaw.

WhilstIwascontemplatingthisinertmass,adozenofthesevoraciousbeastsappearedroundtheboat;and,withoutnoticingus,threwthemselvesuponthedeadbodyandfoughtwithoneanotherforthepieces.

Athalf-pasteightwewereagainonboardtheNautilus.

ThereIreflectedontheincidentswhichhadtakenplaceinourexcursiontotheManaarBank.

TwoconclusionsImustinevitablydrawfromit——onebearingupontheunparalleledcourageofCaptainNemo,theotheruponhisdevotiontoahumanbeing,arepresentativeofthatracefromwhichhefledbeneaththesea.Whateverhemightsay,thisstrangemanhadnotyetsucceededinentirelycrushinghisheart.

WhenImadethisobservationtohim,heansweredinaslightlymovedtone:

"ThatIndian,sir,isaninhabitantofanoppressedcountry;

andIamstill,andshallbe,tomylastbreath,oneofthem!"

CHAPTERIV

THEREDSEA

Inthecourseofthedayofthe29thofJanuary,theislandofCeylondisappearedunderthehorizon,andtheNautilus,ataspeedoftwentymilesanhour,slidintothelabyrinthofcanalswhichseparatetheMaldivesfromtheLaccadives.

ItcoastedeventheIslandofKiltan,alandoriginallycoraline,discoveredbyVascodaGamain1499,andoneofthenineteenprincipalislandsoftheLaccadiveArchipelago,situatedbetween10@and14@30"N.lat.,and69@50"72"E.long.

Wehadmade16,220miles,or7,500(French)leaguesfromourstarting-pointintheJapaneseSeas.

Thenextday(30thJanuary),whentheNautiluswenttothesurfaceoftheoceantherewasnolandinsight.

ItscoursewasN.N.E.,inthedirectionoftheSeaofOman,betweenArabiaandtheIndianPeninsula,whichservesasanoutlettothePersianGulf.Itwasevidentlyablockwithoutanypossibleegress.WherewasCaptainNemotakingusto?

Icouldnotsay.This,however,didnotsatisfytheCanadian,whothatdaycametomeaskingwhereweweregoing.

"WearegoingwhereourCaptain"sfancytakesus,MasterNed."

"Hisfancycannottakeusfar,then,"saidtheCanadian.

"ThePersianGulfhasnooutlet:and,ifwedogoin,itwillnotbelongbeforeweareoutagain."

"Verywell,then,wewillcomeoutagain,MasterLand;andif,afterthePersianGulf,theNautiluswouldliketovisittheRedSea,theStraitsofBab-el-mandebaretheretogiveusentrance."