第2章

"Ineednottellyou,sir,"saidNedLand,"thattheRedSeaisasmuchclosedastheGulf,astheIsthmusofSuezisnotyetcut;and,ifitwas,aboatasmysteriousasourswouldnotriskitselfinacanalcutwithsluices.

Andagain,theRedSeaisnottheroadtotakeusbacktoEurope."

"ButIneversaidweweregoingbacktoEurope."

"Whatdoyousuppose,then?"

"Isupposethat,aftervisitingthecuriouscoastsofArabiaandEgypt,theNautiluswillgodowntheIndianOceanagain,perhapscrosstheChannelofMozambique,perhapsofftheMascarenhas,soastogaintheCapeofGoodHope."

"AndonceattheCapeofGoodHope?"askedtheCanadian,withpeculiaremphasis.

"Well,weshallpenetrateintothatAtlanticwhichwedonotyetknow.

Ah!friendNed,youaregettingtiredofthisjourneyunderthesea;youaresurfeitedwiththeincessantlyvaryingspectacleofsubmarinewonders.

Formypart,Ishallbesorrytoseetheendofavoyagewhichitisgiventosofewmentomake."

Forfourdays,tillthe3rdofFebruary,theNautilusscouredtheSeaofOman,atvariousspeedsandatvariousdepths.

Itseemedtogoatrandom,asifhesitatingastowhichroaditshouldfollow,butweneverpassedtheTropicofCancer.

InquittingthisseawesightedMuscatforaninstant,oneofthemostimportanttownsofthecountryofOman.

Iadmireditsstrangeaspect,surroundedbyblackrocksuponwhichitswhitehousesandfortsstoodinrelief.

Isawtheroundeddomesofitsmosques,theelegantpointsofitsminarets,itsfreshandverdantterraces.Butitwasonlyavision!TheNautilussoonsankunderthewavesofthatpartofthesea.

WepassedalongtheArabiancoastofMahrahandHadramaut,foradistanceofsixmiles,itsundulatinglineofmountainsbeingoccasionallyrelievedbysomeancientruin.

The5thofFebruaryweatlastenteredtheGulfofAden,aperfectfunnelintroducedintotheneckofBab-el-mandeb,throughwhichtheIndianwatersenteredtheRedSea.

The6thofFebruary,theNautilusfloatedinsightofAden,percheduponapromontorywhichanarrowisthmusjoinstothemainland,akindofinaccessibleGibraltar,thefortificationsofwhichwererebuiltbytheEnglishaftertakingpossessionin1839.

Icaughtaglimpseoftheoctagonminaretsofthistown,whichwasatonetimetherichestcommercialmagazineonthecoast.

IcertainlythoughtthatCaptainNemo,arrivedatthispoint,wouldbackoutagain;butIwasmistaken,forhedidnosuchthing,muchtomysurprise.

Thenextday,the7thofFebruary,weenteredtheStraitsofBab-el-mandeb,thenameofwhich,intheArabtongue,meansTheGateofTears.

Totwentymilesinbreadth,itisonlythirty-twoinlength.

AndfortheNautilus,startingatfullspeed,thecrossingwasscarcelytheworkofanhour.ButIsawnothing,noteventheIslandofPerim,withwhichtheBritishGovernmenthasfortifiedthepositionofAden.

ThereweretoomanyEnglishorFrenchsteamersofthelineofSueztoBombay,CalcuttatoMelbourne,andfromBourbontotheMauritius,furrowingthisnarrowpassage,fortheNautilustoventuretoshowitself.

Soitremainedprudentlybelow.Atlastaboutnoon,wewereinthewatersoftheRedSea.

IwouldnotevenseektounderstandthecapricewhichhaddecidedCaptainNemouponenteringthegulf.ButIquiteapprovedoftheNautilusenteringit.

Itsspeedwaslessened:sometimesitkeptonthesurface,sometimesitdivedtoavoidavessel,andthusIwasabletoobservetheupperandlowerpartsofthiscurioussea.

The8thofFebruary,fromthefirstdawnofday,Mochacameinsight,nowaruinedtown,whosewallswouldfallatagunshot,yetwhichsheltershereandtheresomeverdantdate-trees;

onceanimportantcity,containingsixpublicmarkets,andtwenty-sixmosques,andwhosewalls,defendedbyfourteenforts,formedagirdleoftwomilesincircumference.

TheNautilusthenapproachedtheAfricanshore,wherethedepthoftheseawasgreater.There,betweentwowatersclearascrystal,throughtheopenpanelswewereallowedtocontemplatethebeautifulbushesofbrilliantcoralandlargeblocksofrockclothedwithasplendidfurofgreenvarietyofsitesandlandscapesalongthesesandbanksandalgaeandfuci.

Whatanindescribablespectacle,andwhatvarietyofsitesandlandscapesalongthesesandbanksandvolcanicislandswhichboundtheLibyancoast!

Butwheretheseshrubsappearedinalltheirbeautywasontheeasterncoast,whichtheNautilussoongained.ItwasonthecoastofTehama,fortherenotonlydidthisdisplayofzoophytesflourishbeneaththelevelofthesea,buttheyalsoformedpicturesqueinterlacingswhichunfoldedthemselvesaboutsixtyfeetabovethesurface,morecapriciousbutlesshighlycolouredthanthosewhosefreshnesswaskeptupbythevitalpowerofthewaters.

WhatcharminghoursIpassedthusatthewindowofthesaloon!

WhatnewspecimensofsubmarinefloraandfaunadidIadmireunderthebrightnessofourelectriclantern!

The9thofFebruarytheNautilusfloatedinthebroadestpartoftheRedSea,whichiscomprisedbetweenSouakin,onthewestcoast,andKomfidah,ontheeastcoast,withadiameterofninetymiles.

Thatdayatnoon,afterthebearingsweretaken,CaptainNemomountedtheplatform,whereIhappenedtobe,andIwasdeterminednottolethimgodownagainwithoutatleastpressinghimregardinghisulteriorprojects.

Assoonashesawmeheapproachedandgraciouslyofferedmeacigar.

"Well,sir,doesthisRedSeapleaseyou?Haveyousufficientlyobservedthewondersitcovers,itsfishes,itszoophytes,itsparterresofsponges,anditsforestsofcoral?

Didyoucatchaglimpseofthetownsonitsborders?"

"Yes,CaptainNemo,"Ireplied;"andtheNautilusiswonderfullyfittedforsuchastudy.Ah!itisanintelligentboat!"

"Yes,sir,intelligentandinvulnerable.ItfearsneithertheterribletempestsoftheRedSea,noritscurrents,noritssandbanks."

"Certainly,"saidI,"thisseaisquotedasoneoftheworst,andinthetimeoftheancients,ifIamnotmistaken,itsreputationwasdetestable."

"Detestable,M.Aronnax.TheGreekandLatinhistoriansdonotspeakfavourablyofit,andStrabosaysitisverydangerousduringtheEtesianwindsandintherainyseason.

TheArabianEdrisiportraysitunderthenameoftheGulfofColzoum,andrelatesthatvesselsperishedthereingreatnumbersonthesandbanksandthatnoonewouldrisksailinginthenight.

Itis,hepretends,aseasubjecttofearfulhurricanes,strewnwithinhospitableislands,and`whichoffersnothinggoodeitheronitssurfaceorinitsdepths.""

"Onemaysee,"Ireplied,"thatthesehistoriansneversailedonboardtheNautilus."

"Justso,"repliedtheCaptain,smiling;"andinthatrespectmodernsarenotmoreadvancedthantheancients.Itrequiredmanyagestofindoutthemechanicalpowerofsteam.Whoknowsif,inanotherhundredyears,wemaynotseeasecondNautilus?

Progressisslow,M.Aronnax."

"Itistrue,"Ianswered;"yourboatisatleastacenturybeforeitstime,perhapsanera.Whatamisfortunethatthesecretofsuchaninventionshoulddiewithitsinventor!"

CaptainNemodidnotreply.Aftersomeminutes"silencehecontinued:

"YouwerespeakingoftheopinionsofancienthistoriansuponthedangerousnavigationoftheRedSea."

"Itistrue,"saidI;"butwerenottheirfearsexaggerated?"

"Yesandno,M.Aronnax,"repliedCaptainNemo,whoseemedtoknowtheRedSeabyheart."Thatwhichisnolongerdangerousforamodernvessel,wellrigged,stronglybuilt,andmasterofitsowncourse,thankstoobedientsteam,offeredallsortsofperilstotheshipsoftheancients.

Picturetoyourselfthosefirstnavigatorsventuringinshipsmadeofplankssewnwiththecordsofthepalmtree,saturatedwiththegreaseoftheseadog,andcoveredwithpowderedresin!

Theyhadnoteveninstrumentswherewithtotaketheirbearings,andtheywentbyguessamongstcurrentsofwhichtheyscarcelyknewanything.

Undersuchconditionsshipwreckswere,andmusthavebeen,numerous.

Butinourtime,steamersrunningbetweenSuezandtheSouthSeashavenothingmoretofearfromthefuryofthisgulf,inspiteofcontrarytrade-winds.Thecaptainandpassengersdonotpreparefortheirdeparturebyofferingpropitiatorysacrifices;and,ontheirreturn,theynolongergoornamentedwithwreathsandgiltfilletstothankthegodsintheneighbouringtemple."

"Iagreewithyou,"saidI;"andsteamseemstohavekilledallgratitudeintheheartsofsailors.But,Captain,sinceyouseemtohaveespeciallystudiedthissea,canyoutellmetheoriginofitsname?"

"Thereexistseveralexplanationsonthesubject,M.Aronnax.

Wouldyouliketoknowtheopinionofachroniclerofthefourteenthcentury?"

"Willingly."

"ThisfancifulwriterpretendsthatitsnamewasgiventoitafterthepassageoftheIsraelites,whenPharaohperishedinthewaveswhichclosedatthevoiceofMoses."

"Apoet"sexplanation,CaptainNemo,"Ireplied;"butIcannotcontentmyselfwiththat.Iaskyouforyourpersonalopinion."

"Hereitis,M.Aronnax.Accordingtomyidea,wemustseeinthisappellationoftheRedSeaatranslationoftheHebrewword`Edom";andiftheancientsgaveitthatname,itwasonaccountoftheparticularcolourofitswaters."

"ButuptothistimeIhaveseennothingbuttransparentwavesandwithoutanyparticularcolour."

"Verylikely;butasweadvancetothebottomofthegulf,youwillseethissingularappearance.IrememberseeingtheBayofTorentirelyred,likeaseaofblood."

"Andyouattributethiscolourtothepresenceofamicroscopicseaweed?"

"Yes."

"So,CaptainNemo,itisnotthefirsttimeyouhaveoverruntheRedSeaonboardtheNautilus?"

"No,sir."

"AsyouspokeawhileagoofthepassageoftheIsraelitesandofthecatastrophetotheEgyptians,Iwillaskwhetheryouhavemetwiththetracesunderthewaterofthisgreathistoricalfact?"

"No,sir;andforagoodreason."

"Whatisit?"

"ItisthatthespotwhereMosesandhispeoplepassedisnowsoblockedupwithsandthatthecamelscanbarelybathetheirlegsthere.

YoucanwellunderstandthattherewouldnotbewaterenoughformyNautilus."

"Andthespot?"Iasked.

"ThespotissituatedalittleabovetheIsthmusofSuez,inthearmwhichformerlymadeadeepestuary,whentheRedSeaextendedtotheSaltLakes.Now,whetherthispassageweremiraculousornot,theIsraelites,nevertheless,crossedtheretoreachthePromisedLand,andPharaoh"sarmyperishedpreciselyonthatspot;andIthinkthatexcavationsmadeinthemiddleofthesandwouldbringtolightalargenumberofarmsandinstrumentsofEgyptianorigin."

"Thatisevident,"Ireplied;"andforthesakeofarchaeologistsletushopethattheseexcavationswillbemadesoonerorlater,whennewtownsareestablishedontheisthmus,aftertheconstructionoftheSuezCanal;

acanal,however,veryuselesstoavesselliketheNautilus."

"Verylikely;butusefultothewholeworld,"saidCaptainNemo.

"TheancientswellunderstoodtheutilityofacommunicationbetweentheRedSeaandtheMediterraneanfortheircommercialaffairs:

buttheydidnotthinkofdiggingacanaldirect,andtooktheNileasanintermediate.VeryprobablythecanalwhichunitedtheNiletotheRedSeawasbegunbySesostris,ifwemaybelievetradition.

Onethingiscertain,thatintheyear615beforeJesusChrist,NecosundertooktheworksofanalimentarycanaltothewatersoftheNileacrosstheplainofEgypt,lookingtowardsArabia.

Ittookfourdaystogoupthiscanal,anditwassowidethattwotriremescouldgoabreast.ItwascarriedonbyDarius,thesonofHystaspes,andprobablyfinishedbyPtolemyII.

Strabosawitnavigated:butitsdeclinefromthepointofdeparture,nearBubastes,totheRedSeawassoslightthatitwasonlynavigableforafewmonthsintheyear.

ThiscanalansweredallcommercialpurposestotheageofAntonius,whenitwasabandonedandblockedupwithsand.

RestoredbyorderoftheCaliphOmar,itwasdefinitelydestroyedin761or762byCaliphAl-Mansor,whowishedtopreventthearrivalofprovisionstoMohammed-ben-Abdallah,whohadrevoltedagainsthim.

DuringtheexpeditionintoEgypt,yourGeneralBonapartediscoveredtracesoftheworksintheDesertofSuez;and,surprisedbythetide,henearlyperishedbeforeregainingHadjaroth,attheveryplacewhereMoseshadencampedthreethousandyearsbeforehim."

"Well,Captain,whattheancientsdarednotundertake,thisjunctionbetweenthetwoseas,whichwillshortentheroadfromCadiztoIndia,M.Lessepshassucceededindoing;andbeforelonghewillhavechangedAfricaintoanimmenseisland."

"Yes,M.Aronnax;youhavetherighttobeproudofyourcountryman.

Suchamanbringsmorehonourtoanationthangreatcaptains.

Hebegan,likesomanyothers,withdisgustandrebuffs;

buthehastriumphed,forhehasthegeniusofwill.

Anditissadtothinkthataworklikethat,whichoughttohavebeenaninternationalworkandwhichwouldhavesufficedtomakeareignillustrious,shouldhavesucceededbytheenergyofoneman.

AllhonourtoM.Lesseps!"

"Yes!honourtothegreatcitizen,"Ireplied,surprisedbythemannerinwhichCaptainNemohadjustspoken.

"Unfortunately,"hecontinued,"IcannottakeyouthroughtheSuezCanal;

butyouwillbeabletoseethelongjettyofPortSaidafterto-morrow,whenweshallbeintheMediterranean."

"TheMediterranean!"Iexclaimed.

"Yes,sir;doesthatastonishyou?"

"Whatastonishesmeistothinkthatweshallbetherethedayafterto-morrow."

"Indeed?"

"Yes,Captain,althoughbythistimeIoughttohaveaccustomedmyselftobesurprisedatnothingsinceIhavebeenonboardyourboat."

"Butthecauseofthissurprise?"

"Well!itisthefearfulspeedyouwillhavetoputontheNautilus,ifthedayafterto-morrowsheistobeintheMediterranean,havingmadetheroundofAfrica,anddoubledtheCapeofGoodHope!"

"WhotoldyouthatshewouldmaketheroundofAfricaanddoubletheCapeofGoodHope,sir?"

"Well,unlesstheNautilussailsondryland,andpassesabovetheisthmus——"

"Orbeneathit,M.Aronnax."

"Beneathit?"

"Certainly,"repliedCaptainNemoquietly."AlongtimeagoNaturemadeunderthistongueoflandwhatmanhasthisdaymadeonitssurface."

"What!suchapassageexists?"

"Yes;asubterraneanpassage,whichIhavenamedtheArabianTunnel.

IttakesusbeneathSuezandopensintotheGulfofPelusium."

"Butthisisthmusiscomposedofnothingbutquicksands?"

"Toacertaindepth.Butatfifty-fiveyardsonlythereisasolidlayerofrock."

"Didyoudiscoverthispassagebychance?"Iaskedmoreandmoresurprised.

"Chanceandreasoning,sir;andbyreasoningevenmorethanbychance.

Notonlydoesthispassageexist,butIhaveprofitedbyitseveraltimes.

WithoutthatIshouldnothaveventuredthisdayintotheimpassableRedSea.

InoticedthatintheRedSeaandintheMediterraneanthereexistedacertainnumberoffishesofakindperfectlyidentical.Certainofthefact,Iaskedmyselfwasitpossiblethattherewasnocommunicationbetweenthetwoseas?

Iftherewas,thesubterraneancurrentmustnecessarilyrunfromtheRedSeatotheMediterranean,fromthesolecauseofdifferenceoflevel.

IcaughtalargenumberoffishesintheneighbourhoodofSuez.

Ipassedacopperringthroughtheirtails,andthrewthembackintothesea.

Somemonthslater,onthecoastofSyria,Icaughtsomeofmyfishornamentedwiththering.Thusthecommunicationbetweenthetwowasproved.

IthensoughtforitwithmyNautilus;Idiscoveredit,venturedintoit,andbeforelong,sir,youtoowillhavepassedthroughmyArabiantunnel!"

CHAPTERV

THEARABIANTUNNEL

Thatsameevening,in21@30"N.lat.,theNautilusfloatedonthesurfaceofthesea,approachingtheArabiancoast.

IsawDjeddah,themostimportantcounting-houseofEgypt,Syria,Turkey,andIndia.Idistinguishedclearlyenoughitsbuildings,thevesselsanchoredatthequays,andthosewhosedraughtofwaterobligedthemtoanchorintheroads.Thesun,ratherlowonthehorizon,struckfullonthehousesofthetown,bringingouttheirwhiteness.Outside,somewoodencabins,andsomemadeofreeds,showedthequarterinhabitedbytheBedouins.

SoonDjeddahwasshutoutfromviewbytheshadowsofnight,andtheNautilusfoundherselfunderwaterslightlyphosphorescent.

Thenextday,the10thofFebruary,wesightedseveralshipsrunningtowindward.TheNautilusreturnedtoitssubmarinenavigation;

butatnoon,whenherbearingsweretaken,theseabeingdeserted,sheroseagaintoherwaterline.

AccompaniedbyNedandConseil,Iseatedmyselfontheplatform.

Thecoastontheeasternsidelookedlikeamassfaintlyprinteduponadampfog.

Wewereleaningonthesidesofthepinnace,talkingofonethingandanother,whenNedLand,stretchingouthishandtowardsaspotonthesea,said:

"Doyouseeanythingthere,sir?"

"No,Ned,"Ireplied;"butIhavenotyoureyes,youknow."

"Lookwell,"saidNed,"there,onthestarboardbeam,abouttheheightofthelantern!Doyounotseeamasswhichseemstomove?"

"Certainly,"saidI,aftercloseattention;"Iseesomethinglikealongblackbodyonthetopofthewater."

Andcertainlybeforelongtheblackobjectwasnotmorethanamilefromus.Itlookedlikeagreatsandbankdepositedintheopensea.

Itwasagiganticdugong!

NedLandlookedeagerly.Hiseyesshonewithcovetousnessatthesightoftheanimal.Hishandseemedreadytoharpoonit.

Onewouldhavethoughthewasawaitingthemomenttothrowhimselfintotheseaandattackitinitselement.

AtthisinstantCaptainNemoappearedontheplatform.

Hesawthedugong,understoodtheCanadian"sattitude,and,addressinghim,said:

"Ifyouheldaharpoonjustnow,MasterLand,woulditnotburnyourhand?"

"Justso,sir."

"Andyouwouldnotbesorrytogoback,foroneday,toyourtradeofafishermanandtoaddthiscetaceantothelistofthoseyouhavealreadykilled?"

"Ishouldnot,sir."

"Well,youcantry."

"Thankyou,sir,"saidNedLand,hiseyesflaming.

"Only,"continuedtheCaptain,"Iadviseyouforyourownsakenottomissthecreature."

"Isthedugongdangeroustoattack?"Iasked,inspiteoftheCanadian"sshrugoftheshoulders.

"Yes,"repliedtheCaptain;"sometimestheanimalturnsuponitsassailantsandoverturnstheirboat.

ButforMasterLandthisdangerisnottobefeared.

Hiseyeisprompt,hisarmsure."

Atthismomentsevenmenofthecrew,muteandimmovableasever,mountedtheplatform.Onecarriedaharpoonandalinesimilartothoseemployedincatchingwhales.Thepinnacewasliftedfromthebridge,pulledfromitssocket,andletdownintothesea.

Sixoarsmentooktheirseats,andthecoxswainwenttothetiller.

Ned,Conseil,andIwenttothebackoftheboat.

"Youarenotcoming,Captain?"Iasked.

"No,sir;butIwishyougoodsport."

Theboatputoff,and,liftedbythesixrowers,drewrapidlytowardsthedugong,whichfloatedabouttwomilesfromtheNautilus.

Arrivedsomecables-lengthfromthecetacean,thespeedslackened,andtheoarsdippednoiselesslyintothequietwaters.

NedLand,harpooninhand,stoodintheforepartoftheboat.

Theharpoonusedforstrikingthewhaleisgenerallyattachedtoaverylongcordwhichrunsoutrapidlyasthewoundedcreaturedrawsitafterhim.Butherethecordwasnotmorethantenfathomslong,andtheextremitywasattachedtoasmallbarrelwhich,byfloating,wastoshowthecoursethedugongtookunderthewater.

IstoodandcarefullywatchedtheCanadian"sadversary.

Thisdugong,whichalsobearsthenameofthehalicore,closelyresemblesthemanatee;itsoblongbodyterminatedinalengthenedtail,anditslateralfinsinperfectfingers.

Itsdifferencefromthemanateeconsistedinitsupperjaw,whichwasarmedwithtwolongandpointedteethwhichformedoneachsidedivergingtusks.

ThisdugongwhichNedLandwaspreparingtoattackwasofcolossaldimensions;itwasmorethansevenyardslong.

Itdidnotmove,andseemedtobesleepingonthewaves,whichcircumstancemadeiteasiertocapture.

Theboatapproachedwithinsixyardsoftheanimal.

Theoarsrestedontherowlocks.Ihalfrose.NedLand,hisbodythrownalittleback,brandishedtheharpooninhisexperiencedhand.

Suddenlyahissingnoisewasheard,andthedugongdisappeared.

Theharpoon,althoughthrownwithgreatforce;hadapparentlyonlystruckthewater.

"Curseit!"exclaimedtheCanadianfuriously;"Ihavemissedit!"

"No,"saidI;"thecreatureiswounded——lookattheblood;

butyourweaponhasnotstuckinhisbody."

"Myharpoon!myharpoon!"criedNedLand.

Thesailorsrowedon,andthecoxswainmadeforthefloatingbarrel.

Theharpoonregained,wefollowedinpursuitoftheanimal.

Thelattercamenowandthentothesurfacetobreathe.

Itswoundhadnotweakenedit,foritshotonwardswithgreatrapidity.

Theboat,rowedbystrongarms,flewonitstrack.Severaltimesitapproachedwithinsomefewyards,andtheCanadianwasreadytostrike,butthedugongmadeoffwithasuddenplunge,anditwasimpossibletoreachit.

ImaginethepassionwhichexcitedimpatientNedLand!HehurledattheunfortunatecreaturethemostenergeticexpletivesintheEnglishtongue.

Formypart,Iwasonlyvexedtoseethedugongescapeallourattacks.

Wepursueditwithoutrelaxationforanhour,andIbegantothinkitwouldprovedifficulttocapture,whentheanimal,possessedwiththeperverseideaofvengeanceofwhichhehadcausetorepent,turneduponthepinnaceandassailedusinitsturn.

ThismanoeuvredidnotescapetheCanadian.

"Lookout!"hecried.

Thecoxswainsaidsomewordsinhisoutlandishtongue,doubtlesswarningthementokeepontheirguard.

Thedugongcamewithintwentyfeetoftheboat,stopped,sniffedtheairbrisklywithitslargenostrils(notpiercedattheextremity,butintheupperpartofitsmuzzle).Then,takingaspring,hethrewhimselfuponus.

Thepinnacecouldnotavoidtheshock,andhalfupset,shippedatleasttwotonsofwater,whichhadtobeemptied;but,thankstothecoxswain,wecaughtitsideways,notfullfront,sowewerenotquiteoverturned.

WhileNedLand,clingingtothebows,belabouredthegiganticanimalwithblowsfromhisharpoon,thecreature"steethwereburiedinthegunwale,anditliftedthewholethingoutofthewater,asaliondoesaroebuck.

Wewereupsetoveroneanother,andIknownothowtheadventurewouldhaveended,iftheCanadian,stillenragedwiththebeast,hadnotstruckittotheheart.

Ihearditsteethgrindontheironplate,andthedugongdisappeared,carryingtheharpoonwithhim.Butthebarrelsoonreturnedtothesurface,andshortlyafterthebodyoftheanimal,turnedonitsback.

Theboatcameupwithit,tookitintow,andmadestraightfortheNautilus.

Itrequiredtackleofenormousstrengthtohoistthedugongontotheplatform.Itweighed10,000lb.

Thenextday,11thFebruary,thelarderoftheNautiluswasenrichedbysomemoredelicategame.Aflightofsea-swallowsrestedontheNautilus.

ItwasaspeciesoftheSternanilotica,peculiartoEgypt;itsbeakisblack,headgreyandpointed,theeyesurroundedbywhitespots,theback,wings,andtailofagreyishcolour,thebellyandthroatwhite,andclawsred.

TheyalsotooksomedozenofNileducks,awildbirdofhighflavour,itsthroatandupperpartoftheheadwhitewithblackspots.

Aboutfiveo"clockintheeveningwesightedtothenorththeCapeofRas-Mohammed.ThiscapeformstheextremityofArabiaPetraea,comprisedbetweentheGulfofSuezandtheGulfofAcabah.

TheNautiluspenetratedintotheStraitsofJubal,whichleadstotheGulfofSuez.Idistinctlysawahighmountain,toweringbetweenthetwogulfsofRas-Mohammed.ItwasMountHoreb,thatSinaiatthetopofwhichMosessawGodfacetoface.

Atsixo"clocktheNautilus,sometimesfloating,sometimesimmersed,passedsomedistancefromTor,situatedattheendofthebay,thewatersofwhichseemedtintedwithred,anobservationalreadymadebyCaptainNemo.

Thennightfellinthemidstofaheavysilence,sometimesbrokenbythecriesofthepelicanandothernight-birds,andthenoiseofthewavesbreakingupontheshore,chafingagainsttherocks,orthepantingofsomefar-offsteamerbeatingthewatersoftheGulfwithitsnoisypaddles.

Fromeighttonineo"clocktheNautilusremainedsomefathomsunderthewater.AccordingtomycalculationwemusthavebeenverynearSuez.ThroughthepanelofthesaloonIsawthebottomoftherocksbrilliantlylitupbyourelectriclamp.

WeseemedtobeleavingtheStraitsbehindusmoreandmore.

Ataquarter-pastnine,thevesselhavingreturnedtothesurface,Imountedtheplatform.MostimpatienttopassthroughCaptainNemo"stunnel,Icouldnotstayinoneplace,socametobreathethefreshnightair.

SoonintheshadowIsawapalelight,halfdiscolouredbythefog,shiningaboutamilefromus.

"Afloatinglighthouse!"saidsomeonenearme.

Iturned,andsawtheCaptain.

"ItisthefloatinglightofSuez,"hecontinued.

"Itwillnotbelongbeforewegaintheentranceofthetunnel."

"Theentrancecannotbeeasy?"

"No,sir;forthatreasonIamaccustomedtogointothesteersman"scageandmyselfdirectourcourse.Andnow,ifyouwillgodown,M.Aronnax,theNautilusisgoingunderthewaves,andwillnotreturntothesurfaceuntilwehavepassedthroughtheArabianTunnel."

CaptainNemoledmetowardsthecentralstaircase;halfwaydownheopenedadoor,traversedtheupperdeck,andlandedinthepilot"scage,whichitmayberememberedroseattheextremityoftheplatform.

Itwasacabinmeasuringsixfeetsquare,verymuchlikethatoccupiedbythepilotonthesteamboatsoftheMississippiorHudson.

Inthemidstworkedawheel,placedvertically,andcaughttothetiller-rope,whichrantothebackoftheNautilus.

Fourlight-portswithlenticularglasses,letinagrooveinthepartitionofthecabin,allowedthemanatthewheeltoseeinalldirections.

Thiscabinwasdark;butsoonmyeyesaccustomedthemselvestotheobscurity,andIperceivedthepilot,astrongman,withhishandsrestingonthespokesofthewheel.Outside,theseaappearedvividlylitupbythelantern,whichsheditsraysfromthebackofthecabintotheotherextremityoftheplatform.

"Now,"saidCaptainNemo,"letustrytomakeourpassage."

Electricwiresconnectedthepilot"scagewiththemachineryroom,andfromtheretheCaptaincouldcommunicatesimultaneouslytohisNautilusthedirectionandthespeed.Hepressedametalknob,andatoncethespeedofthescrewdiminished.

Ilookedinsilenceatthehighstraightwallwewererunningbyatthismoment,theimmovablebaseofamassivesandycoast.

Wefolloweditthusforanhouronlysomefewyardsoff.

CaptainNemodidnottakehiseyefromtheknob,suspendedbyitstwoconcentriccirclesinthecabin.Atasimplegesture,thepilotmodifiedthecourseoftheNautiluseveryinstant.

Ihadplacedmyselfattheport-scuttle,andsawsomemagnificentsubstructuresofcoral,zoophytes,seaweed,andfucus,agitatingtheirenormousclaws,whichstretchedoutfromthefissuresoftherock.

Ataquarter-pastten,theCaptainhimselftookthehelm.

Alargegallery,blackanddeep,openedbeforeus.TheNautiluswentboldlyintoit.Astrangeroaringwasheardrounditssides.

ItwasthewatersoftheRedSea,whichtheinclineofthetunnelprecipitatedviolentlytowardstheMediterranean.

TheNautiluswentwiththetorrent,rapidasanarrow,inspiteoftheeffortsofthemachinery,which,inordertooffermoreeffectiveresistance,beatthewaveswithreversedscrew.

OnthewallsofthenarrowpassageIcouldseenothingbutbrilliantrays,straightlines,furrowsoffire,tracedbythegreatspeed,underthebrilliantelectriclight.

Myheartbeatfast.

Atthirty-fiveminutespastten,CaptainNemoquittedthehelm,and,turningtome,said:

"TheMediterranean!"

Inlessthantwentyminutes,theNautilus,carriedalongbythetorrent,hadpassedthroughtheIsthmusofSuez.

CHAPTERVI

THEGRECIANARCHIPELAGO

Thenextday,the12thofFebruary,atthedawnofday,theNautilusrosetothesurface.Ihastenedontotheplatform.

ThreemilestothesouththedimoutlineofPelusiumwastobeseen.

Atorrenthadcarriedusfromoneseatoanother.

Aboutseveno"clockNedandConseiljoinedme.

"Well,SirNaturalist,"saidtheCanadian,inaslightlyjovialtone,"andtheMediterranean?"

"Wearefloatingonitssurface,friendNed."

"What!"saidConseil,"thisverynight."

"Yes,thisverynight;inafewminuteswehavepassedthisimpassableisthmus."

"Idonotbelieveit,"repliedtheCanadian.

"Thenyouarewrong,MasterLand,"Icontinued;"thislowcoastwhichroundsofftothesouthistheEgyptiancoast.

Andyouwhohavesuchgoodeyes,Ned,youcanseethejettyofPortSaidstretchingintothesea."

TheCanadianlookedattentively.

"Certainlyyouareright,sir,andyourCaptainisafirst-rateman.

WeareintheMediterranean.Good!Now,ifyouplease,letustalkofourownlittleaffair,butsothatnoonehearsus."

IsawwhattheCanadianwanted,and,inanycase,Ithoughtitbettertolethimtalk,ashewishedit;soweallthreewentandsatdownnearthelantern,wherewewerelessexposedtothesprayoftheblades.

"Now,Ned,welisten;whathaveyoutotellus?"

"WhatIhavetotellyouisverysimple.WeareinEurope;andbeforeCaptainNemo"scapricesdragusoncemoretothebottomofthePolarSeas,orleadusintoOceania,IasktoleavetheNautilus."

Iwishedinnowaytoshacklethelibertyofmycompanions,butIcertainlyfeltnodesiretoleaveCaptainNemo.

Thankstohim,andthankstohisapparatus,Iwaseachdaynearerthecompletionofmysubmarinestudies;andIwasrewritingmybookofsubmarinedepthsinitsveryelement.

ShouldIeveragainhavesuchanopportunityofobservingthewondersoftheocean?No,certainlynot!AndIcouldnotbringmyselftotheideaofabandoningtheNautilusbeforethecycleofinvestigationwasaccomplished.

"FriendNed,answermefrankly,areyoutiredofbeingonboard?

AreyousorrythatdestinyhasthrownusintoCaptainNemo"shands?"

TheCanadianremainedsomemomentswithoutanswering.

Then,crossinghisarms,hesaid:

"Frankly,Idonotregretthisjourneyundertheseas.Ishallbegladtohavemadeit;but,nowthatitismade,letushavedonewithit.

Thatismyidea."

"Itwillcometoanend,Ned."

"Whereandwhen?"