第3章

"WhereIdonotknow——whenIcannotsay;or,rather,Isupposeitwillendwhentheseseashavenothingmoretoteachus."

"Thenwhatdoyouhopefor?"demandedtheCanadian.

"Thatcircumstancesmayoccuraswellsixmonthshenceasnowbywhichwemayandoughttoprofit."

"Oh!"saidNedLand,"andwhereshallwebeinsixmonths,ifyouplease,SirNaturalist?"

"PerhapsinChina;youknowtheNautilusisarapidtraveller.

Itgoesthroughwaterasswallowsthroughtheair,orasanexpressontheland.Itdoesnotfearfrequentedseas;whocansaythatitmaynotbeatthecoastsofFrance,England,orAmerica,onwhichflightmaybeattemptedasadvantageouslyashere."

"M.Aronnax,"repliedtheCanadian,"yourargumentsarerottenatthefoundation.Youspeakinthefuture,`Weshallbethere!

weshallbehere!"Ispeakinthepresent,`Wearehere,andwemustprofitbyit.""

NedLand"slogicpressedmehard,andIfeltmyselfbeatenonthatground.

Iknewnotwhatargumentwouldnowtellinmyfavour.

"Sir,"continuedNed,"letussupposeanimpossibility:

ifCaptainNemoshouldthisdayofferyouyourliberty;

wouldyouacceptit?"

"Idonotknow,"Ianswered.

"Andif,"headded,"theoffermadeyouthisdaywasnevertoberenewed,wouldyouacceptit?"

"FriendNed,thisismyanswer.Yourreasoningisagainstme.

WemustnotrelyonCaptainNemo"sgood-will.Commonprudenceforbidshimtosetusatliberty.Ontheotherside,prudencebidsusprofitbythefirstopportunitytoleavetheNautilus."

"Well,M.Aronnax,thatiswiselysaid."

"Onlyoneobservation——justone.Theoccasionmustbeserious,andourfirstattemptmustsucceed;ifitfails,weshallneverfindanother,andCaptainNemowillneverforgiveus."

"Allthatistrue,"repliedtheCanadian."Butyourobservationappliesequallytoallattemptsatflight,whetherintwoyears"

time,orintwodays".Butthequestionisstillthis:

Ifafavourableopportunitypresentsitself,itmustbeseized."

"Agreed!Andnow,Ned,willyoutellmewhatyoumeanbyafavourableopportunity?"

"Itwillbethatwhich,onadarknight,willbringtheNautilusashortdistancefromsomeEuropeancoast."

"Andyouwilltryandsaveyourselfbyswimming?"

"Yes,ifwewerenearenoughtothebank,andifthevesselwasfloatingatthetime.Notifthebankwasfaraway,andtheboatwasunderthewater."

"Andinthatcase?"

"Inthatcase,Ishouldseektomakemyselfmasterofthepinnace.

Iknowhowitisworked.Wemustgetinside,andtheboltsoncedrawn,weshallcometothesurfaceofthewater,withouteventhepilot,whoisinthebows,perceivingourflight."

"Well,Ned,watchfortheopportunity;butdonotforgetthatahitchwillruinus."

"Iwillnotforget,sir."

"Andnow,Ned,wouldyouliketoknowwhatIthinkofyourproject?"

"Certainly,M.Aronnax."

"Well,Ithink——IdonotsayIhope——Ithinkthatthisfavourableopportunitywillneverpresentitself."

"Whynot?"

"BecauseCaptainNemocannothidefromhimselfthatwehavenotgivenupallhopeofregainingourliberty,andhewillbeonhisguard,aboveall,intheseasandinthesightofEuropeancoasts."

"Weshallsee,"repliedNedLand,shakinghisheaddeterminedly.

"Andnow,NedLand,"Iadded,"letusstophere.

Notanotherwordonthesubject.Thedaythatyouareready,comeandletusknow,andwewillfollowyou.

Irelyentirelyuponyou."

Thusendedaconversationwhich,atnoverydistanttime,ledtosuchgraveresults.Imustsayherethatfactsseemedtoconfirmmyforesight,totheCanadian"sgreatdespair.

DidCaptainNemodistrustusinthesefrequentedseas?ordidheonlywishtohidehimselffromthenumerousvessels,ofallnations,whichploughedtheMediterranean?

Icouldnottell;butwewereoftenerbetweenwatersandfarfromthecoast.Or,iftheNautilusdidemerge,nothingwastobeseenbutthepilot"scage;andsometimesitwenttogreatdepths,for,betweentheGrecianArchipelagoandAsiaMinorwecouldnottouchthebottombymorethanathousandfathoms.

ThusIonlyknewwewereneartheIslandofCarpathos,oneoftheSporades,byCaptainNemorecitingtheselinesfromVirgil:

"EstCarpathioNeptunigurgitevates,CaeruleusProteus,"

ashepointedtoaspotontheplanisphere.

ItwasindeedtheancientabodeofProteus,theoldshepherdofNeptune"sflocks,nowtheIslandofScarpanto,situatedbetweenRhodesandCrete.

Isawnothingbutthegranitebasethroughtheglasspanelsofthesaloon.

Thenextday,the14thofFebruary,IresolvedtoemploysomehoursinstudyingthefishesoftheArchipelago;butforsomereasonorotherthepanelsremainedhermeticallysealed.UpontakingthecourseoftheNautilus,IfoundthatweweregoingtowardsCandia,theancientIsleofCrete.

AtthetimeIembarkedontheAbrahamLincoln,thewholeofthisislandhadrisenininsurrectionagainstthedespotismoftheTurks.

ButhowtheinsurgentshadfaredsincethattimeIwasabsolutelyignorant,anditwasnotCaptainNemo,deprivedofalllandcommunications,whocouldtellme.

ImadenoallusiontothiseventwhenthatnightIfoundmyselfalonewithhiminthesaloon.Besides,heseemedtobetaciturnandpreoccupied.

Then,contrarytohiscustom,heorderedbothpanelstobeopened,and,goingfromonetotheother,observedthemassofwatersattentively.

TowhatendIcouldnotguess;so,onmyside,Iemployedmytimeinstudyingthefishpassingbeforemyeyes.

Inthemidstofthewatersamanappeared,adiver,carryingathisbeltaleathernpurse.Itwasnotabodyabandonedtothewaves;

itwasalivingman,swimmingwithastronghand,disappearingoccasionallytotakebreathatthesurface.

IturnedtowardsCaptainNemo,andinanagitatedvoiceexclaimed:

"Amanshipwrecked!Hemustbesavedatanyprice!"

TheCaptaindidnotanswerme,butcameandleanedagainstthepanel.

Themanhadapproached,and,withhisfaceflattenedagainsttheglass,waslookingatus.

Tomygreatamazement,CaptainNemosignedtohim.

Thediveransweredwithhishand,mountedimmediatelytothesurfaceofthewater,anddidnotappearagain.

"Donotbeuncomfortable,"saidCaptainNemo."ItisNicholasofCapeMatapan,surnamedPesca.HeiswellknowninalltheCyclades.

Abolddiver!waterishiselement,andhelivesmoreinitthanonland,goingcontinuallyfromoneislandtoanother,evenasfarasCrete."

"Youknowhim,Captain?"

"Whynot,M.Aronnax?"

Sayingwhich,CaptainNemowenttowardsapieceoffurniturestandingneartheleftpanelofthesaloon.Nearthispieceoffurniture,Isawachestboundwithiron,onthecoverofwhichwasacopperplate,bearingthecypheroftheNautiluswithitsdevice.

Atthatmoment,theCaptain,withoutnoticingmypresence,openedthepieceoffurniture,asortofstrongbox,whichheldagreatmanyingots.

Theywereingotsofgold.Fromwhencecamethispreciousmetal,whichrepresentedanenormoussum?WheredidtheCaptaingatherthisgoldfrom?andwhatwashegoingtodowithit?

Ididnotsayoneword.Ilooked.CaptainNemotooktheingotsonebyone,andarrangedthemmethodicallyinthechest,whichhefilledentirely.

Iestimatedthecontentsatmorethan4,000lb.weightofgold,thatistosay,nearlyL200,000.

Thechestwassecurelyfastened,andtheCaptainwroteanaddressonthelid,incharacterswhichmusthavebelongedtoModernGreece.

Thisdone,CaptainNemopressedaknob,thewireofwhichcommunicatedwiththequartersofthecrew.Fourmenappeared,and,notwithoutsometrouble,pushedthechestoutofthesaloon.ThenIheardthemhoistingituptheironstaircasebymeansofpulleys.

Atthatmoment,CaptainNemoturnedtome.

"Andyouweresaying,sir?"saidhe.

"Iwassayingnothing,Captain."

"Then,sir,ifyouwillallowme,Iwillwishyougoodnight."

Whereuponheturnedandleftthesaloon.

Ireturnedtomyroommuchtroubled,asonemaybelieve.

Ivainlytriedtosleep——Isoughttheconnectinglinkbetweentheapparitionofthediverandthechestfilledwithgold.

Soon,IfeltbycertainmovementsofpitchingandtossingthattheNautiluswasleavingthedepthsandreturningtothesurface.

ThenIheardstepsupontheplatform;andIknewtheywereunfasteningthepinnaceandlaunchingituponthewaves.

ForoneinstantitstruckthesideoftheNautilus,thenallnoiseceased.

Twohoursafter,thesamenoise,thesamegoingandcomingwasrenewed;

theboatwashoistedonboard,replacedinitssocket,andtheNautilusagainplungedunderthewaves.

Sothesemillionshadbeentransportedtotheiraddress.

Towhatpointofthecontinent?WhowasCaptainNemo"scorrespondent?

ThenextdayIrelatedtoConseilandtheCanadiantheeventsofthenight,whichhadexcitedmycuriositytothehighestdegree.

Mycompanionswerenotlesssurprisedthanmyself.

"Butwheredoeshetakehismillionsto?"askedNedLand.

Tothattherewasnopossibleanswer.Ireturnedtothesaloonafterhavingbreakfastandsettowork.Tillfiveo"clockintheeveningIemployedmyselfinarrangingmynotes.

Atthatmoment——(oughtItoattributeittosomepeculiaridiosyncrasy)——

IfeltsogreataheatthatIwasobligedtotakeoffmycoat.

Itwasstrange,forwewereunderlowlatitudes;andeventhentheNautilus,submergedasitwas,oughttoexperiencenochangeoftemperature.

Ilookedatthemanometer;itshowedadepthofsixtyfeet,towhichatmosphericheatcouldneverattain.

Icontinuedmywork,butthetemperaturerosetosuchapitchastobeintolerable.

"Couldtherebefireonboard?"Iaskedmyself.

Iwasleavingthesaloon,whenCaptainNemoentered;heapproachedthethermometer,consultedit,and,turningtome,said:

"Forty-twodegrees."

"Ihavenoticedit,Captain,"Ireplied;"andifitgetsmuchhotterwecannotbearit."

"Oh,sir,itwillnotgetbetterifwedonotwishit."

"Youcanreduceitasyouplease,then?"

"No;butIcangofartherfromthestovewhichproducesit."

"Itisoutward,then!"

"Certainly;wearefloatinginacurrentofboilingwater."

"Isitpossible!"Iexclaimed.

"Look."

Thepanelsopened,andIsawtheseaentirelywhiteallround.

Asulphuroussmokewascurlingamidthewaves,whichboiledlikewaterinacopper.Iplacedmyhandononeofthepanesofglass,buttheheatwassogreatthatIquicklytookitoffagain.

"Wherearewe?"Iasked.

"NeartheIslandofSantorin,sir,"repliedtheCaptain.

"Iwishedtogiveyouasightofthecuriousspectacleofasubmarineeruption."

"Ithought,"saidI,"thattheformationofthesenewislandswasended."

"Nothingiseverendedinthevolcanicpartsofthesea,"

repliedCaptainNemo;"andtheglobeisalwaysbeingworkedbysubterraneanfires.Already,inthenineteenthyearofourera,accordingtoCassiodorusandPliny,anewisland,Theia(thedivine),appearedintheveryplacewheretheseisletshaverecentlybeenformed.Thentheysankunderthewaves,toriseagainintheyear69,whentheyagainsubsided.

SincethattimetoourdaysthePlutonianworkhasbeensuspended.

Butonthe3rdofFebruary,1866,anewisland,whichtheynamedGeorgeIsland,emergedfromthemidstofthesulphurousvapournearNeaKamenni,andsettledagainthe6thofthesamemonth.

Sevendaysafter,the13thofFebruary,theIslandofAphroessaappeared,leavingbetweenNeaKamennianditselfacanaltenyardsbroad.Iwasintheseseaswhenthephenomenonoccurred,andIwasablethereforetoobserveallthedifferentphases.

TheIslandofAphroessa,ofroundform,measured300feetindiameter,and30feetinheight.Itwascomposedofblackandvitreouslava,mixedwithfragmentsoffelspar.

Andlastly,onthe10thofMarch,asmallerisland,calledReka,showeditselfnearNeaKamenni,andsincethenthesethreehavejoinedtogether,formingbutoneandthesameisland."

"Andthecanalinwhichweareatthismoment?"Iasked.

"Hereitis,"repliedCaptainNemo,showingmeamapoftheArchipelago.

"Yousee,Ihavemarkedthenewislands."

Ireturnedtotheglass.TheNautiluswasnolongermoving,theheatwasbecomingunbearable.Thesea,whichtillnowhadbeenwhite,wasred,owingtothepresenceofsaltsofiron.

Inspiteoftheship"sbeinghermeticallysealed,aninsupportablesmellofsulphurfilledthesaloon,andthebrilliancyoftheelectricitywasentirelyextinguishedbybrightscarletflames.

Iwasinabath,Iwaschoking,Iwasbroiled.

"Wecanremainnolongerinthisboilingwater,"saidItotheCaptain.

"Itwouldnotbeprudent,"repliedtheimpassiveCaptainNemo.

Anorderwasgiven;theNautilustackedaboutandleftthefurnaceitcouldnotbravewithimpunity.Aquarterofanhourafterwewerebreathingfreshaironthesurface.

Thethoughtthenstruckmethat,ifNedLandhadchosenthispartoftheseaforourflight,weshouldneverhavecomealiveoutofthisseaoffire.

Thenextday,the16thofFebruary,weleftthebasinwhich,betweenRhodesandAlexandria,isreckonedabout1,500fathomsindepth,andtheNautilus,passingsomedistancefromCerigo,quittedtheGrecianArchipelagoafterhavingdoubledCapeMatapan.

CHAPTERVII

THEMEDITERRANEANINFORTY-EIGHTHOURS

TheMediterranean,theblueseaparexcellence,"thegreatsea"

oftheHebrews,"thesea"oftheGreeks,the"marenostrum"

oftheRomans,borderedbyorange-trees,aloes,cacti,andsea-pines;

embalmedwiththeperfumeofthemyrtle,surroundedbyrudemountains,saturatedwithpureandtransparentair,butincessantlyworkedbyundergroundfires;aperfectbattlefieldinwhichNeptuneandPlutostilldisputetheempireoftheworld!

Itisuponthesebanks,andonthesewaters,saysMichelet,thatmanisrenewedinoneofthemostpowerfulclimatesoftheglobe.

But,beautifulasitwas,Icouldonlytakearapidglanceatthebasinwhosesuperficialareaistwomillionofsquareyards.

EvenCaptainNemo"sknowledgewaslosttome,forthispuzzlingpersondidnotappearonceduringourpassageatfullspeed.

IestimatedthecoursewhichtheNautilustookunderthewavesoftheseaataboutsixhundredleagues,anditwasaccomplishedinforty-eighthours.Startingonthemorningofthe16thofFebruaryfromtheshoresofGreece,wehadcrossedtheStraitsofGibraltarbysunriseonthe18th.

ItwasplaintomethatthisMediterranean,enclosedinthemidstofthosecountrieswhichhewishedtoavoid,wasdistastefultoCaptainNemo.

Thosewavesandthosebreezesbroughtbacktoomanyremembrances,ifnottoomanyregrets.Herehehadnolongerthatindependenceandthatlibertyofgaitwhichhehadwhenintheopenseas,andhisNautilusfeltitselfcrampedbetweenthecloseshoresofAfricaandEurope.

Ourspeedwasnowtwenty-fivemilesanhour.ItmaybewellunderstoodthatNedLand,tohisgreatdisgust,wasobligedtorenouncehisintendedflight.Hecouldnotlaunchthepinnace,goingattherateoftwelveorthirteenyardseverysecond.

ToquittheNautilusundersuchconditionswouldbeasbadasjumpingfromatraingoingatfullspeed——animprudentthing,tosaytheleastofit.Besides,ourvesselonlymountedtothesurfaceofthewavesatnighttorenewitsstockofair;

itwassteeredentirelybythecompassandthelog.

IsawnomoreoftheinteriorofthisMediterraneanthanatravellerbyexpresstrainperceivesofthelandscapewhichfliesbeforehiseyes;

thatistosay,thedistanthorizon,andnotthenearerobjectswhichpasslikeaflashoflightning.

WewerethenpassingbetweenSicilyandthecoastofTunis.

InthenarrowspacebetweenCapeBonandtheStraitsofMessinathebottomofthesearosealmostsuddenly.

Therewasaperfectbank,onwhichtherewasnotmorethanninefathomsofwater,whilstoneithersidethedepthwasninetyfathoms.

TheNautilushadtomanoeuvreverycarefullysoasnottostrikeagainstthissubmarinebarrier.

IshowedConseil,onthemapoftheMediterranean,thespotoccupiedbythisreef.

"Butifyouplease,sir,"observedConseil,"itislikearealisthmusjoiningEuropetoAfrica."

"Yes,myboy,itformsaperfectbartotheStraitsofLybia,andthesoundingsofSmithhaveprovedthatinformertimesthecontinentsbetweenCapeBocoandCapeFurinawerejoined."

"Icanwellbelieveit,"saidConseil.

"Iwilladd,"Icontinued,"thatasimilarbarrierexistsbetweenGibraltarandCeuta,whichingeologicaltimesformedtheentireMediterranean."

"Whatifsomevolcanicburstshouldonedayraisethesetwobarriersabovethewaves?"

"Itisnotprobable,Conseil."

"Well,butallowmetofinish,please,sir;ifthisphenomenonshouldtakeplace,itwillbetroublesomeforM.Lesseps,whohastakensomuchpainstopiercetheisthmus."

"Iagreewithyou;butIrepeat,Conseil,thisphenomenonwillneverhappen.Theviolenceofsubterraneanforceiseverdiminishing.

Volcanoes,soplentifulinthefirstdaysoftheworld,arebeingextinguishedbydegrees;theinternalheatisweakened,thetemperatureofthelowerstrataoftheglobeisloweredbyaperceptiblequantityeverycenturytothedetrimentofourglobe,foritsheatisitslife."

"Butthesun?"

"Thesunisnotsufficient,Conseil.Canitgiveheattoadeadbody?"

"NotthatIknowof."

"Well,myfriend,thisearthwillonedaybethatcoldcorpse;

itwillbecomeuninhabitableanduninhabitedlikethemoon,whichhaslongsincelostallitsvitalheat."

"Inhowmanycenturies?"

"Insomehundredsofthousandsofyears,myboy."

"Then,"saidConseil,"weshallhavetimetofinishourjourney——

thatis,ifNedLanddoesnotinterferewithit."

AndConseil,reassured,returnedtothestudyofthebank,whichtheNautiluswasskirtingatamoderatespeed.

Duringthenightofthe16thand17thFebruarywehadenteredthesecondMediterraneanbasin,thegreatestdepthofwhichwas1,450fathoms.

TheNautilus,bytheactionofitscrew,sliddowntheinclinedplanesandburieditselfinthelowestdepthsofthesea.

Onthe18thofFebruary,aboutthreeo"clockinthemorning,wewereattheentranceoftheStraitsofGibraltar.Thereonceexistedtwocurrents:

anupperone,longsincerecognised,whichconveysthewatersoftheoceanintothebasinoftheMediterranean;andalowercounter-current,whichreasoninghasnowshowntoexist.Indeed,thevolumeofwaterintheMediterranean,incessantlyaddedtobythewavesoftheAtlanticandbyriversfallingintoit,wouldeachyearraisethelevelofthissea,foritsevaporationisnotsufficienttorestoretheequilibrium.

Asitisnotso,wemustnecessarilyadmittheexistenceofanunder-current,whichemptiesintothebasinoftheAtlanticthroughtheStraitsofGibraltarthesurpluswatersoftheMediterranean.Afactindeed;

anditwasthiscounter-currentbywhichtheNautilusprofited.

Itadvancedrapidlybythenarrowpass.ForoneinstantIcaughtaglimpseofthebeautifulruinsofthetempleofHercules,buriedintheground,accordingtoPliny,andwiththelowislandwhichsupportsit;andafewminuteslaterwewerefloatingontheAtlantic.

CHAPTERVIII

VIGOBAY

TheAtlantic!avastsheetofwaterwhosesuperficialareacoverstwenty-fivemillionsofsquaremiles,thelengthofwhichisninethousandmiles,withameanbreadthoftwothousandsevenhundred——

anoceanwhoseparallelwindingshoresembraceanimmensecircumference,wateredbythelargestriversoftheworld,theSt.Lawrence,theMississippi,theAmazon,thePlata,theOrinoco,theNiger,theSenegal,theElbe,theLoire,andtheRhine,whichcarrywaterfromthemostcivilised,aswellasfromthemostsavage,countries!

Magnificentfieldofwater,incessantlyploughedbyvesselsofeverynation,shelteredbytheflagsofeverynation,andwhichterminatesinthosetwoterriblepointssodreadedbymariners,CapeHornandtheCapeofTempests.

TheNautiluswaspiercingthewaterwithitssharpspur,afterhavingaccomplishednearlytenthousandleaguesinthreemonthsandahalf,adistancegreaterthanthegreatcircleoftheearth.

Wherewerewegoingnow,andwhatwasreservedforthefuture?

TheNautilus,leavingtheStraitsofGibraltar,hadgonefarout.

Itreturnedtothesurfaceofthewaves,andourdailywalksontheplatformwererestoredtous.

Imountedatonce,accompaniedbyNedLandandConseil.

Atadistanceofabouttwelvemiles,CapeSt.Vincentwasdimlytobeseen,formingthesouth-westernpointoftheSpanishpeninsula.Astrongsoutherlygalewasblowing.

Theseawasswollenandbillowy;itmadetheNautilusrockviolently.

Itwasalmostimpossibletokeepone"sfootontheplatform,whichtheheavyrollsoftheseabeatovereveryinstant.

Sowedescendedafterinhalingsomemouthfulsoffreshair.

Ireturnedtomyroom,Conseiltohiscabin;buttheCanadian,withapreoccupiedair,followedme.OurrapidpassageacrosstheMediterraneanhadnotallowedhimtoputhisprojectintoexecution,andhecouldnothelpshowinghisdisappointment.

Whenthedoorofmyroomwasshut,hesatdownandlookedatmesilently.

"FriendNed,"saidI,"Iunderstandyou;butyoucannotreproachyourself.

TohaveattemptedtoleavetheNautilusunderthecircumstanceswouldhavebeenfolly."

NedLanddidnotanswer;hiscompressedlipsandfrowningbrowshowedwithhimtheviolentpossessionthisfixedideahadtakenofhismind.

"Letussee,"Icontinued;"weneednotdespairyet.

WearegoingupthecoastofPortugalagain;FranceandEnglandarenotfaroff,wherewecaneasilyfindrefuge.

NowiftheNautilus,onleavingtheStraitsofGibraltar,hadgonetothesouth,ifithadcarriedustowardsregionswheretherewerenocontinents,Ishouldshareyouruneasiness.

ButweknownowthatCaptainNemodoesnotflyfromcivilisedseas,andinsomedaysIthinkyoucanactwithsecurity."

NedLandstilllookedatmefixedly;atlengthhisfixedlipsparted,andhesaid,"Itisforto-night."

Idrewmyselfupsuddenly.Iwas,Iadmit,littlepreparedforthiscommunication.IwantedtoanswertheCanadian,butwordswouldnotcome.

"Weagreedtowaitforanopportunity,"continuedNedLand,"andtheopportunityhasarrived.ThisnightweshallbebutafewmilesfromtheSpanishcoast.Itiscloudy.

Thewindblowsfreely.Ihaveyourword,M.Aronnax,andI

relyuponyou."

AsIwassilent,theCanadianapproachedme.

"To-night,atnineo"clock,"saidhe."IhavewarnedConseil.

AtthatmomentCaptainNemowillbeshutupinhisroom,probablyinbed.

Neithertheengineersnortheship"screwcanseeus.

ConseilandIwillgainthecentralstaircase,andyou,M.Aronnax,willremaininthelibrary,twostepsfromus,waitingmysignal.

Theoars,themast,andthesailareinthecanoe.Ihaveevensucceededingettingsomeprovisions.IhaveprocuredanEnglishwrench,tounfastentheboltswhichattachittotheshelloftheNautilus.

Soallisready,tillto-night."

"Theseaisbad."

"ThatIallow,"repliedtheCanadian;"butwemustriskthat.

Libertyisworthpayingfor;besides,theboatisstrong,andafewmileswithafairwindtocarryusisnogreatthing.

Whoknowsbutbyto-morrowwemaybeahundredleaguesaway?

Letcircumstancesonlyfavourus,andbytenoreleveno"clockweshallhavelandedonsomespotofterrafirma,aliveordead.

Butadieunowtillto-night."

WiththesewordstheCanadianwithdrew,leavingmealmostdumb.

Ihadimaginedthat,thechancegone,Ishouldhavetimetoreflectanddiscussthematter.Myobstinatecompanionhadgivenmenotime;and,afterall,whatcouldIhavesaidtohim?

NedLandwasperfectlyright.Therewasalmosttheopportunitytoprofitby.CouldIretractmyword,andtakeuponmyselftheresponsibilityofcompromisingthefutureofmycompanions?

To-morrowCaptainNemomighttakeusfarfromallland.

Atthatmomentaratherloudhissingnoisetoldmethatthereservoirswerefilling,andthattheNautiluswassinkingunderthewavesoftheAtlantic.

AsaddayIpassed,betweenthedesireofregainingmylibertyofactionandofabandoningthewonderfulNautilus,andleavingmysubmarinestudiesincomplete.

WhatdreadfulhoursIpassedthus!Sometimesseeingmyselfandcompanionssafelylanded,sometimeswishing,inspiteofmyreason,thatsomeunforeseencircumstance,wouldpreventtherealisationofNedLand"sproject.

TwiceIwenttothesaloon.Iwishedtoconsultthecompass.

IwishedtoseeifthedirectiontheNautiluswastakingwasbringingusnearerortakingusfartherfromthecoast.

Butno;theNautiluskeptinPortuguesewaters.

Imustthereforetakemypartandprepareforflight.

Myluggagewasnotheavy;mynotes,nothingmore.

AstoCaptainNemo,Iaskedmyselfwhathewouldthinkofourescape;

whattrouble,whatwrongitmightcausehimandwhathemightdoincaseofitsdiscoveryorfailure.CertainlyIhadnocausetocomplainofhim;

onthecontrary,neverwashospitalityfreerthanhis.InleavinghimIcouldnotbetaxedwithingratitude.Nooathboundustohim.

Itwasonthestrengthofcircumstancesherelied,andnotuponourword,tofixusforever.

IhadnotseentheCaptainsinceourvisittotheIslandofSantorin.

Wouldchancebringmetohispresencebeforeourdeparture?

Iwishedit,andIfeareditatthesametime.IlistenedifIcouldhearhimwalkingtheroomcontiguoustomine.Nosoundreachedmyear.

Ifeltanunbearableuneasiness.Thisdayofwaitingseemedeternal.

Hoursstrucktooslowlytokeeppacewithmyimpatience.

Mydinnerwasservedinmyroomasusual.Iatebutlittle;

Iwastoopreoccupied.Ileftthetableatseveno"clock.A

hundredandtwentyminutes(Icountedthem)stillseparatedmefromthemomentinwhichIwastojoinNedLand.

Myagitationredoubled.Mypulsebeatviolently.

Icouldnotremainquiet.Iwentandcame,hopingtocalmmytroubledspiritbyconstantmovement.Theideaoffailureinourboldenterprisewastheleastpainfulofmyanxieties;

butthethoughtofseeingourprojectdiscoveredbeforeleavingtheNautilus,ofbeingbroughtbeforeCaptainNemo,irritated,or(whatwasworse)saddened,atmydesertion,mademyheartbeat.

Iwantedtoseethesaloonforthelasttime.Idescendedthestairsandarrivedinthemuseum,whereIhadpassedsomanyusefulandagreeablehours.

Ilookedatallitsriches,allitstreasures,likeamanontheeveofaneternalexile,whowasleavingnevertoreturn.

ThesewondersofNature,thesemasterpiecesofart,amongstwhichforsomanydaysmylifehadbeenconcentrated,Iwasgoingtoabandonthemforever!

IshouldliketohavetakenalastlookthroughthewindowsofthesaloonintothewatersoftheAtlantic:butthepanelswerehermeticallyclosed,andacloakofsteelseparatedmefromthatoceanwhichIhadnotyetexplored.

Inpassingthroughthesaloon,IcamenearthedoorletintotheanglewhichopenedintotheCaptain"sroom.

Tomygreatsurprise,thisdoorwasajar.Idrewbackinvoluntarily.

IfCaptainNemoshouldbeinhisroom,hecouldseeme.

But,hearingnosound,Idrewnearer.Theroomwasdeserted.

Ipushedopenthedoorandtooksomestepsforward.Stillthesamemonklikeseverityofaspect.

Suddenlytheclockstruckeight.Thefirstbeatofthehammeronthebellawokemefrommydreams.Itrembledasifaninvisibleeyehadplungedintomymostsecretthoughts,andIhurriedfromtheroom.

Theremyeyefelluponthecompass.Ourcoursewasstillnorth.

Thelogindicatedmoderatespeed,themanometeradepthofaboutsixtyfeet.

Ireturnedtomyroom,clothedmyselfwarmly——seaboots,anotterskincap,agreatcoatofbyssus,linedwithsealskin;

Iwasready,Iwaswaiting.Thevibrationofthescrewalonebrokethedeepsilencewhichreignedonboard.

Ilistenedattentively.WouldnoloudvoicesuddenlyinformmethatNedLandhadbeensurprisedinhisprojectedflight.

Amortaldreadhungoverme,andIvainlytriedtoregainmyaccustomedcoolness.

Atafewminutestonine,IputmyeartotheCaptain"sdoor.

Nonoise.Ileftmyroomandreturnedtothesaloon,whichwashalfinobscurity,butdeserted.

Iopenedthedoorcommunicatingwiththelibrary.

Thesameinsufficientlight,thesamesolitude.

Iplacedmyselfnearthedoorleadingtothecentralstaircase,andtherewaitedforNedLand"ssignal.

Atthatmomentthetremblingofthescrewsensiblydiminished,thenitstoppedentirely.Thesilencewasnowonlydisturbedbythebeatingsofmyownheart.Suddenlyaslightshockwasfelt;

andIknewthattheNautilushadstoppedatthebottomoftheocean.

Myuneasinessincreased.TheCanadian"ssignaldidnotcome.

IfeltinclinedtojoinNedLandandbegofhimtoputoffhisattempt.

Ifeltthatwewerenotsailingunderourusualconditions.

Atthismomentthedoorofthelargesaloonopened,andCaptainNemoappeared.Hesawme,andwithoutfurtherpreamblebeganinanamiabletoneofvoice:

"Ah,sir!Ihavebeenlookingforyou.DoyouknowthehistoryofSpain?"

Now,onemightknowthehistoryofone"sowncountrybyheart;

butintheconditionIwasatthetime,withtroubledmindandheadquitelost,Icouldnothavesaidawordofit.

"Well,"continuedCaptainNemo,"youheardmyquestion!

DoyouknowthehistoryofSpain?"

"Veryslightly,"Ianswered.

"Well,herearelearnedmenhavingtolearn,"saidtheCaptain.

"Come,sitdown,andIwilltellyouacuriousepisodeinthishistory.

Sir,listenwell,"saidhe;"thishistorywillinterestyouononeside,foritwillansweraquestionwhichdoubtlessyouhavenotbeenabletosolve."

"Ilisten,Captain,"saidI,notknowingwhatmyinterlocutorwasdrivingat,andaskingmyselfifthisincidentwasbearingonourprojectedflight.

"Sir,ifyouhavenoobjection,wewillgobackto1702.Youcannotbeignorantthatyourking,LouisXIV,thinkingthatthegestureofapotentatewassufficienttobringthePyreneesunderhisyoke,hadimposedtheDukeofAnjou,hisgrandson,ontheSpaniards.

ThisprincereignedmoreorlessbadlyunderthenameofPhilipV,andhadastrongpartyagainsthimabroad.Indeed,theprecedingyear,theroyalhousesofHolland,Austria,andEnglandhadconcludedatreatyofallianceattheHague,withtheintentionofpluckingthecrownofSpainfromtheheadofPhilipV,andplacingitonthatofanarchduketowhomtheyprematurelygavethetitleofCharlesIII.

"Spainmustresistthiscoalition;butshewasalmostentirelyunprovidedwitheithersoldiersorsailors.However,moneywouldnotfailthem,providedthattheirgalleons,ladenwithgoldandsilverfromAmerica,onceenteredtheirports.Andabouttheendof1702theyexpectedarichconvoywhichFrancewasescortingwithafleetoftwenty-threevessels,commandedbyAdmiralChateau-Renaud,fortheshipsofthecoalitionwerealreadybeatingtheAtlantic.ThisconvoywastogotoCadiz,buttheAdmiral,hearingthatanEnglishfleetwascruisinginthosewaters,resolvedtomakeforaFrenchport.

"TheSpanishcommandersoftheconvoyobjectedtothisdecision.

TheywantedtobetakentoaSpanishport,and,ifnottoCadiz,intoVigoBay,situatedonthenorthwestcoastofSpain,andwhichwasnotblocked.

"AdmiralChateau-Renaudhadtherashnesstoobeythisinjunction,andthegalleonsenteredVigoBay.

"Unfortunately,itformedanopenroadwhichcouldnotbedefendedinanyway.Theymustthereforehastentounloadthegalleonsbeforethearrivalofthecombinedfleet;

andtimewouldnothavefailedthemhadnotamiserablequestionofrivalrysuddenlyarisen.

"Youarefollowingthechainofevents?"askedCaptainNemo.

"Perfectly,"saidI,notknowingtheendproposedbythishistoricallesson.

"Iwillcontinue.Thisiswhatpassed.ThemerchantsofCadizhadaprivilegebywhichtheyhadtherightofreceivingallmerchandisecomingfromtheWestIndies.Now,todisembarktheseingotsattheportofVigowasdeprivingthemoftheirrights.TheycomplainedatMadrid,andobtainedtheconsentoftheweak-mindedPhilipthattheconvoy,withoutdischargingitscargo,shouldremainsequesteredintheroadsofVigountiltheenemyhaddisappeared.

"Butwhilstcomingtothisdecision,onthe22ndofOctober,1702,theEnglishvesselsarrivedinVigoBay,whenAdmiralChateau-Renaud,inspiteofinferiorforces,foughtbravely.

But,seeingthatthetreasuremustfallintotheenemy"shands,heburntandscuttledeverygalleon,whichwenttothebottomwiththeirimmenseriches."

CaptainNemostopped.IadmitIcouldnotseeyetwhythishistoryshouldinterestme.

"Well?"Iasked.

"Well,M.Aronnax,"repliedCaptainNemo,"weareinthatVigoBay;

anditrestswithyourselfwhetheryouwillpenetrateitsmysteries."

TheCaptainrose,tellingmetofollowhim.Ihadhadtimetorecover.

Iobeyed.Thesaloonwasdark,butthroughthetransparentglassthewavesweresparkling.Ilooked.

ForhalfamilearoundtheNautilus,thewatersseemedbathedinelectriclight.Thesandybottomwascleanandbright.

Someoftheship"screwintheirdiving-dresseswereclearingawayhalf-rottenbarrelsandemptycasesfromthemidstoftheblackenedwrecks.

Fromthesecasesandfromthesebarrelsescapedingotsofgoldandsilver,cascadesofpiastresandjewels.Thesandwasheapedupwiththem.

Ladenwiththeirpreciousbooty,themenreturnedtotheNautilus,disposedoftheirburden,andwentbacktothisinexhaustiblefisheryofgoldandsilver.

Iunderstoodnow.Thiswasthesceneofthebattleofthe22ndofOctober,1702.HereonthisveryspotthegalleonsladenfortheSpanishGovernmenthadsunk.HereCaptainNemocame,accordingtohiswants,topackupthosemillionswithwhichheburdenedtheNautilus.

ItwasforhimandhimaloneAmericahadgivenupherpreciousmetals.

Hewasheirdirect,withoutanyonetoshare,inthosetreasurestornfromtheIncasandfromtheconqueredofFerdinandCortez.

"Didyouknow,sir,"heasked,smiling,"thattheseacontainedsuchriches?"

"Iknew,"Ianswered,"thattheyvaluemoneyheldinsuspensioninthesewatersattwomillions."

"Doubtless;buttoextractthismoneytheexpensewouldbegreaterthantheprofit.Here,onthecontrary,Ihavebuttopickupwhatmanhaslost——andnotonlyinVigoBay,butinathousandotherportswhereshipwreckshavehappened,andwhicharemarkedonmysubmarinemap.

CanyouunderstandnowthesourceofthemillionsIamworth?"

"Iunderstand,Captain.ButallowmetotellyouthatinexploringVigoBayyouhaveonlybeenbeforehandwitharivalsociety."

"Andwhich?"

"AsocietywhichhasreceivedfromtheSpanishGovernmenttheprivilegeofseekingthoseburiedgalleons.

Theshareholdersareledonbytheallurementofanenormousbounty,fortheyvaluetheserichshipwrecksatfivehundredmillions."

"Fivehundredmillionstheywere,"answeredCaptainNemo,"buttheyaresonolonger."

"Justso,"saidI;"andawarningtothoseshareholderswouldbeanactofcharity.Butwhoknowsifitwouldbewellreceived?

Whatgamblersusuallyregretaboveallislessthelossoftheirmoneythanoftheirfoolishhopes.Afterall,Ipitythemlessthanthethousandsofunfortunatestowhomsomuchricheswell-distributedwouldhavebeenprofitable,whilstforthemtheywillbeforeverbarren."

IhadnosoonerexpressedthisregretthanIfeltthatitmusthavewoundedCaptainNemo.

"Barren!"heexclaimed,withanimation."Doyouthinkthen,sir,thattheserichesarelostbecauseIgatherthem?

Isitformyselfalone,accordingtoyouridea,thatItakethetroubletocollectthesetreasures?WhotoldyouthatI

didnotmakeagooduseofit?DoyouthinkIamignorantthattherearesufferingbeingsandoppressedracesonthisearth,miserablecreaturestoconsole,victimstoavenge?

Doyounotunderstand?"

CaptainNemostoppedattheselastwords,regrettingperhapsthathehadspokensomuch.ButIhadguessedthat,whateverthemotivewhichhadforcedhimtoseekindependenceunderthesea,ithadlefthimstillaman,thathisheartstillbeatforthesufferingsofhumanity,andthathisimmensecharitywasforoppressedracesaswellasindividuals.

AndIthenunderstoodforwhomthosemillionsweredestinedwhichwereforwardedbyCaptainNemowhentheNautiluswascruisinginthewatersofCrete.

CHAPTERIX

AVANISHEDCONTINENT

Thenextmorning,the19thofFebruary,IsawtheCanadianentermyroom.

Iexpectedthisvisit.Helookedverydisappointed.

"Well,sir?"saidhe.

"Well,Ned,fortunewasagainstusyesterday."

"Yes;thatCaptainmustneedsstopexactlyatthehourweintendedleavinghisvessel."

"Yes,Ned,hehadbusinessathisbankers."

"Hisbankers!"

"Orratherhisbanking-house;bythatImeantheocean,wherehisrichesaresaferthaninthechestsoftheState."

IthenrelatedtotheCanadiantheincidentsoftheprecedingnight,hopingtobringhimbacktotheideaofnotabandoningtheCaptain;

butmyrecitalhadnootherresultthananenergeticallyexpressedregretfromNedthathehadnotbeenabletotakeawalkonthebattlefieldofVigoonhisownaccount.

"However,"saidhe,"allisnotended.Itisonlyablowoftheharpoonlost.Anothertimewemustsucceed;

andto-night,ifnecessary——"