第5章

Ournavigationcontinueduntilthe13thofMarch;

thatdaytheNautiluswasemployedintakingsoundings,whichgreatlyinterestedme.Wehadthenmadeabout13,000

leaguessinceourdeparturefromthehighseasofthePacific.

Thebearingsgaveus45@37"S.lat.,and37@53"W.long.

ItwasthesamewaterinwhichCaptainDenhamoftheHeraldsounded7,000fathomswithoutfindingthebottom.

There,too,LieutenantParker,oftheAmericanfrigateCongress,couldnottouchthebottomwith15,140fathoms.

CaptainNemointendedseekingthebottomoftheoceanbyadiagonalsufficientlylengthenedbymeansoflateralplanesplacedatanangleof45@withthewater-lineoftheNautilus.

Thenthescrewsettoworkatitsmaximumspeed,itsfourbladesbeatingthewaveswithindescribableforce.

Underthispowerfulpressure,thehulloftheNautilusquiveredlikeasonorouschordandsankregularlyunderthewater.

At7,000fathomsIsawsomeblackishtopsrisingfromthemidstofthewaters;

butthesesummitsmightbelongtohighmountainsliketheHimalayasorMontBlanc,evenhigher;andthedepthoftheabyssremainedincalculable.

TheNautilusdescendedstilllower,inspiteofthegreatpressure.

Ifeltthesteelplatestrembleatthefasteningsofthebolts;

itsbarsbent,itspartitionsgroaned;thewindowsofthesaloonseemedtocurveunderthepressureofthewaters.Andthisfirmstructurewoulddoubtlesshaveyielded,if,asitsCaptainhadsaid,ithadnotbeencapableofresistancelikeasolidblock.Wehadattainedadepthof16,000yards(fourleagues),andthesidesoftheNautilusthenboreapressureof1,600atmospheres,thatistosay,3,200lb.

toeachsquaretwo-fifthsofaninchofitssurface.

"Whatasituationtobein!"Iexclaimed."Tooverrunthesedeepregionswheremanhasnevertrod!Look,Captain,lookatthesemagnificentrocks,theseuninhabitedgrottoes,theselowestreceptaclesoftheglobe,wherelifeisnolongerpossible!Whatunknownsightsarehere!

Whyshouldwebeunabletopreservearemembranceofthem?"

"Wouldyouliketocarryawaymorethantheremembrance?"

saidCaptainNemo.

"Whatdoyoumeanbythosewords?"

"Imeantosaythatnothingiseasierthantomakeaphotographicviewofthissubmarineregion."

Ihadnottimetoexpressmysurpriseatthisnewproposition,when,atCaptainNemo"scall,anobjectivewasbroughtintothesaloon.

Throughthewidely-openedpanel,theliquidmasswasbrightwithelectricity,whichwasdistributedwithsuchuniformitythatnotashadow,notagradation,wastobeseeninourmanufacturedlight.TheNautilusremainedmotionless,theforceofitsscrewsubduedbytheinclinationofitsplanes:

theinstrumentwasproppedonthebottomoftheoceanicsite,andinafewsecondswehadobtainedaperfectnegative.

But,theoperationbeingover,CaptainNemosaid,"Letusgoup;

wemustnotabuseourposition,norexposetheNautilustoolongtosuchgreatpressure."

"Goupagain!"Iexclaimed.

"Holdwellon."

IhadnottimetounderstandwhytheCaptaincautionedmethus,whenI

wasthrownforwardontothecarpet.AtasignalfromtheCaptain,itsscrewwasshipped,anditsbladesraisedvertically;theNautilusshotintotheairlikeaballoon,risingwithstunningrapidity,andcuttingthemassofwaterswithasonorousagitation.

Nothingwasvisible;andinfourminutesithadshotthroughthefourleagueswhichseparateditfromtheocean,and,afteremerginglikeaflying-fish,fell,makingthewavesreboundtoanenormousheight.

CHAPTERXII

CACHALOTSANDWHALES

Duringthenightsofthe13thand14thofMarch,theNautilusreturnedtoitssoutherlycourse.Ifanciedthat,whenonalevelwithCapeHorn,hewouldturnthehelmwestward,inordertobeatthePacificseas,andsocompletethetouroftheworld.Hedidnothingofthekind,butcontinuedonhiswaytothesouthernregions.Wherewashegoingto?

Tothepole?Itwasmadness!IbegantothinkthattheCaptain"stemerityjustifiedNedLand"sfears.ForsometimepasttheCanadianhadnotspokentomeofhisprojectsofflight;hewaslesscommunicative,almostsilent.Icouldseethatthislengthenedimprisonmentwasweighinguponhim,andIfeltthatragewasburningwithinhim.

WhenhemettheCaptain,hiseyeslitupwithsuppressedanger;

andIfearedthathisnaturalviolencewouldleadhimintosomeextreme.

Thatday,the14thofMarch,Conseilandhecametomeinmyroom.

Iinquiredthecauseoftheirvisit.

"Asimplequestiontoaskyou,sir,"repliedtheCanadian.

"Speak,Ned."

"HowmanymenarethereonboardtheNautilus,doyouthink?"

"Icannottell,myfriend."

"Ishouldsaythatitsworkingdoesnotrequirealargecrew."

"Certainly,underexistingconditions,tenmen,atthemost,oughttobeenough."

"Well,whyshouldtherebeanymore?"

"Why?"Ireplied,lookingfixedlyatNedLand,whosemeaningwaseasytoguess."Because,"Iadded,"ifmysurmisesarecorrect,andifIhavewellunderstoodtheCaptain"sexistence,theNautilusisnotonlyavessel:

itisalsoaplaceofrefugeforthosewho,likeitscommander,havebrokeneverytieuponearth."

"Perhapsso,"saidConseil;"but,inanycase,theNautiluscanonlycontainacertainnumberofmen.Couldnotyou,sir,estimatetheirmaximum?"

"How,Conseil?"

"Bycalculation;giventhesizeofthevessel,whichyouknow,sir,andconsequentlythequantityofairitcontains,knowingalsohowmucheachmanexpendsatabreath,andcomparingtheseresultswiththefactthattheNautilusisobligedtogotothesurfaceeverytwenty-fourhours."

ConseilhadnotfinishedthesentencebeforeIsawwhathewasdrivingat.

"Iunderstand,"saidI;"butthatcalculation,thoughsimpleenough,cangivebutaveryuncertainresult."

"Nevermind,"saidNedLandurgently.

"Hereitis,then,"saidI."Inonehoureachmanconsumestheoxygencontainedintwentygallonsofair;andintwenty-four,thatcontainedin480gallons.Wemust,thereforefindhowmanytimes480gallonsofairtheNautiluscontains."

"Justso,"saidConseil.

"Or,"Icontinued,"thesizeoftheNautilusbeing1,500tons;

andonetonholding200gallons,itcontains300,000gallonsofair,which,dividedby480,givesaquotientof625.

Whichmeanstosay,strictlyspeaking,thattheaircontainedintheNautiluswouldsufficefor625menfortwenty-fourhours."

"Sixhundredandtwenty-five!"repeatedNed.

"Butrememberthatallofus,passengers,sailors,andofficersincluded,wouldnotformatenthpartofthatnumber."

"Stilltoomanyforthreemen,"murmuredConseil.

TheCanadianshookhishead,passedhishandacrosshisforehead,andlefttheroomwithoutanswering.

"Willyouallowmetomakeoneobservation,sir?"saidConseil.

"PoorNedislongingforeverythingthathecannothave.Hispastlifeisalwayspresenttohim;everythingthatweareforbiddenheregrets.

Hisheadisfullofoldrecollections.Andwemustunderstandhim.

Whathashetodohere?Nothing;heisnotlearnedlikeyou,sir;

andhasnotthesametasteforthebeautiesoftheseathatwehave.

Hewouldriskeverythingtobeabletogooncemoreintoataverninhisowncountry."

CertainlythemonotonyonboardmustseemintolerabletotheCanadian,accustomedashewastoalifeoflibertyandactivity.

Eventswererarewhichcouldrousehimtoanyshowofspirit;butthatdayaneventdidhappenwhichrecalledthebrightdaysoftheharpooner.

Abouteleveninthemorning,beingonthesurfaceoftheocean,theNautilusfellinwithatroopofwhales——anencounterwhichdidnotastonishme,knowingthatthesecreatures,huntedtodeath,hadtakenrefugeinhighlatitudes.

Wewereseatedontheplatform,withaquietsea.ThemonthofOctoberinthoselatitudesgaveussomelovelyautumnaldays.ItwastheCanadian——

hecouldnotbemistaken——whosignalledawhaleontheeasternhorizon.

Lookingattentively,onemightseeitsblackbackriseandfallwiththewavesfivemilesfromtheNautilus.

"Ah!"exclaimedNedLand,"ifIwasonboardawhaler,nowsuchameetingwouldgivemepleasure.Itisoneoflargesize.

Seewithwhatstrengthitsblow-holesthrowupcolumnsofairansteam!

Confoundit,whyamIboundtothesesteelplates?"

"What,Ned,"saidI,"youhavenotforgottenyouroldideasoffishing?"

"Canawhale-fishereverforgethisoldtrade,sir?Canheevertireoftheemotionscausedbysuchachase?"

"Youhaveneverfishedintheseseas,Ned?"

"Never,sir;inthenorthernonly,andasmuchinBehringasinDavisStraits."

"Thenthesouthernwhaleisstillunknowntoyou.ItistheGreenlandwhaleyouhavehunteduptothistime,andthatwouldnotriskpassingthroughthewarmwatersoftheequator.Whalesarelocalised,accordingtotheirkinds,incertainseaswhichtheyneverleave.

AndifoneofthesecreatureswentfromBehringtoDavisStraits,itmustbesimplybecausethereisapassagefromoneseatotheother,eitherontheAmericanortheAsiaticside."

"Inthatcase,asIhaveneverfishedintheseseas,Idonotknowthekindofwhalefrequentingthem!"

"Ihavetoldyou,Ned."

"Agreaterreasonformakingtheiracquaintance,"saidConseil.

"Look!look!"exclaimedtheCanadian,"theyapproach:

theyaggravateme;theyknowthatIcannotgetatthem!"

Nedstampedhisfeet.Hishandtrembled,ashegraspedanimaginaryharpoon.

"Arethesecetaceansaslargeasthoseofthenorthernseas?"askedhe.

"Verynearly,Ned."

"BecauseIhaveseenlargewhales,sir,whalesmeasuringahundredfeet.

IhaveevenbeentoldthatthoseofHullamochandUmgallick,oftheAleutianIslands,aresometimesahundredandfiftyfeetlong."

"Thatseemstomeexaggeration.ThesecreaturesaregenerallymuchsmallerthantheGreenlandwhale."{thisparagraphhasbeenedited}

"Ah!"exclaimedtheCanadian,whoseeyeshadneverlefttheocean,"theyarecomingnearer;theyareinthesamewaterastheNautilus."

Then,returningtotheconversation,hesaid:

"Youspokeofthecachalotasasmallcreature.

Ihaveheardofgiganticones.Theyareintelligentcetacea.

Itissaidofsomethattheycoverthemselveswithseaweedandfucus,andthenaretakenforislands.Peopleencampuponthem,andsettlethere;lightsafire——"

"Andbuildhouses,"saidConseil.

"Yes,joker,"saidNedLand."Andonefinedaythecreatureplunges,carryingwithitalltheinhabitantstothebottomofthesea."

"SomethinglikethetravelsofSinbadtheSailor,"Ireplied,laughing.

"Ah!"suddenlyexclaimedNedLand,"itisnotonewhale;

thereareten——therearetwenty——itisawholetroop!

AndInotabletodoanything!handsandfeettied!"

"But,friendNed,"saidConseil,"whydoyounotaskCaptainNemo"spermissiontochasethem?"

ConseilhadnotfinishedhissentencewhenNedLandhadloweredhimselfthroughthepaneltoseektheCaptain.

Afewminutesafterwardsthetwoappearedtogetherontheplatform.

CaptainNemowatchedthetroopofcetaceaplayingonthewatersaboutamilefromtheNautilus.

"Theyaresouthernwhales,"saidhe;"theregoesthefortuneofawholefleetofwhalers."

"Well,sir,"askedtheCanadian,"canInotchasethem,ifonlytoremindmeofmyoldtradeofharpooner?"

"Andtowhatpurpose?"repliedCaptainNemo;"onlytodestroy!

Wehavenothingtodowiththewhale-oilonboard."

"But,sir,"continuedtheCanadian,"intheRedSeayouallowedustofollowthedugong."

"Thenitwastoprocurefreshmeatformycrew.Hereitwouldbekillingforkilling"ssake.Iknowthatisaprivilegereservedforman,butIdonotapproveofsuchmurderouspastime.

Indestroyingthesouthernwhale(liketheGreenlandwhale,aninoffensivecreature),yourtradersdoaculpableaction,MasterLand.TheyhavealreadydepopulatedthewholeofBaffin"sBay,andareannihilatingaclassofusefulanimals.

Leavetheunfortunatecetaceaalone.Theyhaveplentyofnaturalenemies——cachalots,swordfish,andsawfish——

withoutyoutroublingthem."

TheCaptainwasright.Thebarbarousandinconsiderategreedofthesefishermenwillonedaycausethedisappearanceofthelastwhaleintheocean.NedLandwhistled"Yankee-doodle"betweenhisteeth,thrusthishandsintohispockets,andturnedhisbackuponus.

ButCaptainNemowatchedthetroopofcetacea,and,addressingme,said:

"Iwasrightinsayingthatwhaleshadnaturalenemiesenough,withoutcountingman.Thesewillhaveplentytodobeforelong.

Doyousee,M.Aronnax,abouteightmilestoleeward,thoseblackishmovingpoints?"

"Yes,Captain,"Ireplied.

"Thosearecachalots——terribleanimals,whichIhavemetintroopsoftwoorthreehundred.Astothose,theyarecruel,mischievouscreatures;

theywouldberightinexterminatingthem."

TheCanadianturnedquicklyatthelastwords.

"Well,Captain,"saidhe,"itisstilltime,intheinterestofthewhales."

"Itisuselesstoexposeone"sself,Professor.TheNautiluswilldispersethem.ItisarmedwithasteelspurasgoodasMasterLand"sharpoon,Iimagine."

TheCanadiandidnotputhimselfoutenoughtoshrughisshoulders.

Attackcetaceawithblowsofaspur!Whohadeverheardofsuchathing?

"Wait,M.Aronnax,"saidCaptainNemo."Wewillshowyousomethingyouhaveneveryetseen.Wehavenopityfortheseferociouscreatures.

Theyarenothingbutmouthandteeth."

Mouthandteeth!Noonecouldbetterdescribethemacrocephalouscachalot,whichissometimesmorethanseventy-fivefeetlong.

Itsenormousheadoccupiesone-thirdofitsentirebody.

Betterarmedthanthewhale,whoseupperjawisfurnishedonlywithwhalebone,itissuppliedwithtwenty-fivelargetusks,abouteightincheslong,cylindricalandconicalatthetop,eachweighingtwopounds.Itisintheupperpartofthisenormoushead,ingreatcavitiesdividedbycartilages,thatistobefoundfromsixtoeighthundredpoundsofthatpreciousoilcalledspermaceti.Thecachalotisadisagreeablecreature,moretadpolethanfish,accordingtoFredol"sdescription.

Itisbadlyformed,thewholeofitsleftsidebeing(ifwemaysayit),a"failure,"andbeingonlyabletoseewithitsrighteye.Buttheformidabletroopwasnearingus.

Theyhadseenthewhalesandwerepreparingtoattackthem.

Onecouldjudgebeforehandthatthecachalotswouldbevictorious,notonlybecausetheywerebetterbuiltforattackthantheirinoffensiveadversaries,butalsobecausetheycouldremainlongerunderwaterwithoutcomingtothesurface.

Therewasonlyjusttimetogotothehelpofthewhales.

TheNautiluswentunderwater.Conseil,NedLand,andItookourplacesbeforethewindowinthesaloon,andCaptainNemojoinedthepilotinhiscagetoworkhisapparatusasanengineofdestruction.SoonIfeltthebeatingsofthescrewquicken,andourspeedincreased.

ThebattlebetweenthecachalotsandthewhaleshadalreadybegunwhentheNautilusarrived.Theydidnotatfirstshowanyfearatthesightofthisnewmonsterjoiningintheconflict.

Buttheysoonhadtoguardagainstitsblows.Whatabattle!

TheNautiluswasnothingbutaformidableharpoon,brandishedbythehandofitsCaptain.Ithurleditselfagainstthefleshymass,passingthroughfromoneparttotheother,leavingbehindittwoquiveringhalvesoftheanimal.

Itcouldnotfeeltheformidableblowsfromtheirtailsuponitssides,northeshockwhichitproduceditself,muchmore.

Onecachalotkilled,itranatthenext,tackedonthespotthatitmightnotmissitsprey,goingforwardsandbackwards,answeringtoitshelm,plungingwhenthecetaceandivedintothedeepwaters,comingupwithitwhenitreturnedtothesurface,strikingitfrontorsideways,cuttingortearinginalldirectionsandatanypace,piercingitwithitsterriblespur.

Whatcarnage!Whatanoiseonthesurfaceofthewaves!

Whatsharphissing,andwhatsnortingpeculiartotheseenragedanimals!Inthemidstofthesewaters,generallysopeaceful,theirtailsmadeperfectbillows.

Foronehourthiswholesalemassacrecontinued,fromwhichthecachalotscouldnotescape.SeveraltimestenortwelveunitedtriedtocrushtheNautilusbytheirweight.Fromthewindowwecouldseetheirenormousmouths,studdedwithtusks,andtheirformidableeyes.NedLandcouldnotcontainhimself;

hethreatenedandsworeatthem.Wecouldfeelthemclingingtoourvessellikedogsworryingawildboarinacopse.

ButtheNautilus,workingitsscrew,carriedthemhereandthere,ortotheupperlevelsoftheocean,withoutcaringfortheirenormousweight,northepowerfulstrainonthevessel.

Atlengththemassofcachalotsbrokeup,thewavesbecamequiet,andIfeltthatwewererisingtothesurface.

Thepanelopened,andwehurriedontotheplatform.

Theseawascoveredwithmutilatedbodies.Aformidableexplosioncouldnothavedividedandtornthisfleshymasswithmoreviolence.

Wewerefloatingamidgiganticbodies,bluishonthebackandwhiteunderneath,coveredwithenormousprotuberances.

Someterrifiedcachalotswereflyingtowardsthehorizon.

Thewavesweredyedredforseveralmiles,andtheNautilusfloatedinaseaofblood:CaptainNemojoinedus.

"Well,MasterLand?"saidhe.

"Well,sir,"repliedtheCanadian,whoseenthusiasmhadsomewhatcalmed;

"itisaterriblespectacle,certainly.ButIamnotabutcher.

Iamahunter,andIcallthisabutchery."

"Itisamassacreofmischievouscreatures,"repliedtheCaptain;

"andtheNautilusisnotabutcher"sknife."

"Ilikemyharpoonbetter,"saidtheCanadian.

"Everyonetohisown,"answeredtheCaptain,lookingfixedlyatNedLand.

Ifearedhewouldcommitsomeactofviolence,whichwouldendinsadconsequences.ButhisangerwasturnedbythesightofawhalewhichtheNautilushadjustcomeupwith.

Thecreaturehadnotquiteescapedfromthecachalot"steeth.

Irecognisedthesouthernwhalebyitsflathead,whichisentirelyblack.Anatomically,itisdistinguishedfromthewhitewhaleandtheNorthCapewhalebythesevencervicalvertebrae,andithastwomoreribsthanitscongeners.

Theunfortunatecetaceanwaslyingonitsside,riddledwithholesfromthebites,andquitedead.

Fromitsmutilatedfinstillhungayoungwhalewhichitcouldnotsavefromthemassacre.Itsopenmouthletthewaterflowinandout,murmuringlikethewavesbreakingontheshore.

CaptainNemosteeredclosetothecorpseofthecreature.

Twoofhismenmounteditsside,andIsaw,notwithoutsurprise,thattheyweredrawingfromitsbreastsallthemilkwhichtheycontained,thatistosay,abouttwoorthreetons.

TheCaptainofferedmeacupofthemilk,whichwasstillwarm.

Icouldnothelpshowingmyrepugnancetothedrink;

butheassuredmethatitwasexcellent,andnottobedistinguishedfromcow"smilk.Itastedit,andwasofhisopinion.

Itwasausefulreservetous,forintheshapeofsaltbutterorcheeseitwouldformanagreeablevarietyfromourordinaryfood.

FromthatdayInoticedwithuneasinessthatNedLand"sill-willtowardsCaptainNemoincreased,andIresolvedtowatchtheCanadian"sgesturesclosely.

CHAPTERVIII

THEICEBERG

TheNautiluswassteadilypursuingitssoutherlycourse,followingthefiftiethmeridianwithconsiderablespeed.

Didhewishtoreachthepole?Ididnotthinkso,foreveryattempttoreachthatpointhadhithertofailed.

Again,theseasonwasfaradvanced,forintheAntarcticregionsthe13thofMarchcorrespondswiththe13thofSeptemberofnorthernregions,whichbeginattheequinoctialseason.

Onthe14thofMarchIsawfloatingiceinlatitude55@,merelypalebitsofdebrisfromtwentytotwenty-fivefeetlong,formingbanksoverwhichtheseacurled.

TheNautilusremainedonthesurfaceoftheocean.

NedLand,whohadfishedintheArcticSeas,wasfamiliarwithitsicebergs;butConseilandIadmiredthemforthefirsttime.

Intheatmospheretowardsthesouthernhorizonstretchedawhitedazzlingband.Englishwhalershavegivenitthenameof"iceblink."Howeverthickthecloudsmaybe,itisalwaysvisible,andannouncesthepresenceofanicepackorbank.Accordingly,largerblockssoonappeared,whosebrilliancychangedwiththecapricesofthefog.

Someofthesemassesshowedgreenveins,asiflongundulatinglineshadbeentracedwithsulphateofcopper;othersresembledenormousamethystswiththelightshiningthroughthem.

Somereflectedthelightofdayuponathousandcrystalfacets.

Othersshadedwithvividcalcareousreflectionsresembledaperfecttownofmarble.Themorewenearedthesouththemorethesefloatingislandsincreasedbothinnumberandimportance.

At60@lat.everypasshaddisappeared.But,seekingcarefully,CaptainNemosoonfoundanarrowopening,throughwhichheboldlyslipped,knowing,however,thatitwouldclosebehindhim.Thus,guidedbythiscleverhand,theNautiluspassedthroughalltheicewithaprecisionwhichquitecharmedConseil;icebergsormountains,ice-fieldsorsmoothplains,seemingtohavenolimits,drift-iceorfloatingice-packs,plainsbrokenup,calledpalchswhentheyarecircular,andstreamswhentheyaremadeupoflongstrips.Thetemperaturewasverylow;

thethermometerexposedtotheairmarked2@or3@belowzero,butwewerewarmlycladwithfur,attheexpenseofthesea-bearandseal.

TheinterioroftheNautilus,warmedregularlybyitselectricapparatus,defiedthemostintensecold.Besides,itwouldonlyhavebeennecessarytogosomeyardsbeneaththewavestofindamorebearabletemperature.

Twomonthsearlierweshouldhavehadperpetualdaylightintheselatitudes;

butalreadywehadhadthreeorfourhoursofnight,andbyandbytherewouldbesixmonthsofdarknessinthesecircumpolarregions.Onthe15thofMarchwewereinthelatitudeofNewShetlandandSouthOrkney.

TheCaptaintoldmethatformerlynumeroustribesofsealsinhabitedthem;

butthatEnglishandAmericanwhalers,intheirragefordestruction,massacredbotholdandyoung;thus,wheretherewasoncelifeandanimation,theyhadleftsilenceanddeath.

Abouteighto"clockonthemorningofthe16thofMarchtheNautilus,followingthefifty-fifthmeridian,cuttheAntarcticpolarcircle.

Icesurroundedusonallsides,andclosedthehorizon.

ButCaptainNemowentfromoneopeningtoanother,stillgoinghigher.

Icannotexpressmyastonishmentatthebeautiesofthesenewregions.

Theicetookmostsurprisingforms.Herethegroupingformedanorientaltown,withinnumerablemosquesandminarets;thereafallencitythrowntotheearth,asitwere,bysomeconvulsionofnature.

Thewholeaspectwasconstantlychangedbytheobliqueraysofthesun,orlostinthegreyishfogamidsthurricanesofsnow.

Detonationsandfallswereheardonallsides,greatoverthrowsoficebergs,whichalteredthewholelandscapelikeadiorama.Oftenseeingnoexit,Ithoughtweweredefinitelyprisoners;but,instinctguidinghimattheslightestindication,CaptainNemowoulddiscoveranewpass.

Hewasnevermistakenwhenhesawthethinthreadsofbluishwatertricklingalongtheice-fields;andIhadnodoubtthathehadalreadyventuredintothemidstoftheseAntarcticseasbefore.

Onthe16thofMarch,however,theice-fieldsabsolutelyblockedourroad.

Itwasnottheicebergitself,asyet,butvastfieldscementedbythecold.ButthisobstaclecouldnotstopCaptainNemo:

hehurledhimselfagainstitwithfrightfulviolence.TheNautilusenteredthebrittlemasslikeawedge,andsplititwithfrightfulcrackings.

Itwasthebatteringramoftheancientshurledbyinfinitestrength.

Theice,thrownhighintheair,felllikehailaroundus.

Byitsownpowerofimpulsionourapparatusmadeacanalforitself;

sometimescarriedawaybyitsownimpetus,itlodgedontheice-field,crushingitwithitsweight,andsometimesburiedbeneathit,dividingitbyasimplepitchingmovement,producinglargerentsinit.

Violentgalesassailedusatthistime,accompaniedbythickfogs,throughwhich,fromoneendoftheplatformtotheother,wecouldseenothing.Thewindblewsharplyfromallpartsofthecompass,andthesnowlayinsuchhardheapsthatwehadtobreakitwithblowsofapickaxe.Thetemperaturewasalwaysat5@belowzero;

everyoutwardpartoftheNautiluswascoveredwithice.

Ariggedvesselwouldhavebeenentangledintheblockedupgorges.

Avesselwithoutsails,withelectricityforitsmotivepower,andwantingnocoal,couldalonebravesuchhighlatitudes.Atlength,onthe18thofMarch,aftermanyuselessassaults,theNautiluswaspositivelyblocked.Itwasnolongereitherstreams,packs,orice-fields,butaninterminableandimmovablebarrier,formedbymountainssolderedtogether.

"Aniceberg!"saidtheCanadiantome.

IknewthattoNedLand,aswellastoallothernavigatorswhohadprecededus,thiswasaninevitableobstacle.Thesunappearingforaninstantatnoon,CaptainNemotookanobservationasnearaspossible,whichgaveoursituationat51@30"long.and67@39"ofS.lat.

WehadadvancedonedegreemoreinthisAntarcticregion.

Oftheliquidsurfaceoftheseatherewasnolongeraglimpse.

UnderthespuroftheNautiluslaystretchedavastplain,entangledwithconfusedblocks.Hereandtheresharppointsandslenderneedlesrisingtoaheightof200feet;furtheronasteepshore,hewnasitwerewithanaxeandclothedwithgreyishtints;

hugemirrors,reflectingafewraysofsunshine,halfdrownedinthefog.

Andoverthisdesolatefaceofnatureasternsilencereigned,scarcelybrokenbytheflappingofthewingsofpetrelsandpuffins.

Everythingwasfrozen——eventhenoise.TheNautiluswasthenobligedtostopinitsadventurouscourseamidthesefieldsofice.

Inspiteofourefforts,inspiteofthepowerfulmeansemployedtobreakuptheice,theNautilusremainedimmovable.

Generally,whenwecanproceednofurther,wehavereturnstillopentous;butherereturnwasasimpossibleasadvance,foreverypasshadclosedbehindus;andforthefewmomentswhenwewerestationary,wewerelikelytobeentirelyblocked,whichdidindeedhappenabouttwoo"clockintheafternoon,thefreshiceformingarounditssideswithastonishingrapidity.

IwasobligedtoadmitthatCaptainNemowasmorethanimprudent.

Iwasontheplatformatthatmoment.TheCaptainhadbeenobservingoursituationforsometimepast,whenhesaidtome:

"Well,sir,whatdoyouthinkofthis?"

"Ithinkthatwearecaught,Captain."

"So,M.Aronnax,youreallythinkthattheNautiluscannotdisengageitself?"

"Withdifficulty,Captain;fortheseasonisalreadytoofaradvancedforyoutoreckononthebreakingoftheice."

"Ah!sir,"saidCaptainNemo,inanironicaltone,"youwillalwaysbethesame.Youseenothingbutdifficultiesandobstacles.

IaffirmthatnotonlycantheNautilusdisengageitself,butalsothatitcangofurtherstill."

"FurthertotheSouth?"Iasked,lookingattheCaptain.

"Yes,sir;itshallgotothepole."

"Tothepole!"Iexclaimed,unabletorepressagestureofincredulity.

"Yes,"repliedtheCaptain,coldly,"totheAntarcticpole——

tothatunknownpointfromwhencespringseverymeridianoftheglobe.

YouknowwhetherIcandoasIpleasewiththeNautilus!"

Yes,Iknewthat.Iknewthatthismanwasbold,eventorashness.

ButtoconquerthoseobstacleswhichbristledroundtheSouthPole,renderingitmoreinaccessiblethantheNorth,whichhadnotyetbeenreachedbytheboldestnavigators——wasitnotamadenterprise,onewhichonlyamaniacwouldhaveconceived?ItthencameintomyheadtoaskCaptainNemoifhehadeverdiscoveredthatpolewhichhadneveryetbeentroddenbyahumancreature?

"No,sir,"hereplied;"butwewilldiscoverittogether.

Whereothershavefailed,Iwillnotfail.IhaveneveryetledmyNautilussofarintosouthernseas;but,Irepeat,itshallgofurtheryet."

"Icanwellbelieveyou,Captain,"saidI,inaslightlyironicaltone.

"Ibelieveyou!Letusgoahead!Therearenoobstaclesforus!

Letussmashthisiceberg!Letusblowitup;and,ifitresists,letusgivetheNautiluswingstoflyoverit!"

"Overit,sir!"saidCaptainNemo,quietly;"no,notoverit,butunderit!"

"Underit!"Iexclaimed,asuddenideaoftheCaptain"sprojectsflashinguponmymind.Iunderstood;thewonderfulqualitiesoftheNautilusweregoingtoserveusinthissuperhumanenterprise.

"Iseewearebeginningtounderstandoneanother,sir,"saidtheCaptain,halfsmiling."Youbegintoseethepossibility——Ishouldsaythesuccess——

ofthisattempt.ThatwhichisimpossibleforanordinaryvesseliseasytotheNautilus.Ifacontinentliesbeforethepole,itmuststopbeforethecontinent;butif,onthecontrary,thepoleiswashedbyopensea,itwillgoeventothepole."

"Certainly,"saidI,carriedawaybytheCaptain"sreasoning;

"ifthesurfaceoftheseaissolidifiedbytheice,thelowerdepthsarefreebytheProvidentiallawwhichhasplacedthemaximumofdensityofthewatersoftheoceanonedegreehigherthanfreezing-point;and,ifIamnotmistaken,theportionofthisicebergwhichisabovethewaterisasonetofourtothatwhichisbelow."

"Verynearly,sir;foronefootoficebergabovetheseatherearethreebelowit.Iftheseicemountainsarenotmorethan300

feetabovethesurface,theyarenotmorethan900beneath.

Andwhatare900feettotheNautilus?"

"Nothing,sir."

"Itcouldevenseekatgreaterdepthsthatuniformtemperatureofsea-water,andtherebravewithimpunitythethirtyorfortydegreesofsurfacecold."

"Justso,sir——justso,"Ireplied,gettinganimated.

"Theonlydifficulty,"continuedCaptainNemo,"isthatofremainingseveraldayswithoutrenewingourprovisionofair."

"Isthatall?TheNautilushasvastreservoirs;wecanfillthem,andtheywillsupplyuswithalltheoxygenwewant."

"Wellthoughtof,M.Aronnax,"repliedtheCaptain,smiling.

"But,notwishingyoutoaccusemeofrashness,Iwillfirstgiveyouallmyobjections."

"Haveyouanymoretomake?"

"Onlyone.Itispossible,iftheseaexistsattheSouthPole,thatitmaybecovered;and,consequently,weshallbeunabletocometothesurface."

"Good,sir!butdoyouforgetthattheNautilusisarmedwithapowerfulspur,andcouldwenotsenditdiagonallyagainstthesefieldsofice,whichwouldopenattheshocks."

"Ah!sir,youarefullofideasto-day."

"Besides,Captain,"Iadded,enthusiastically,"whyshouldwenotfindtheseaopenattheSouthPoleaswellasattheNorth?

Thefrozenpolesoftheearthdonotcoincide,eitherinthesouthernorinthenorthernregions;and,untilitisprovedtothecontrary,wemaysupposeeitheracontinentoranoceanfreefromiceatthesetwopointsoftheglobe."

"Ithinksotoo,M.Aronnax,"repliedCaptainNemo.

"Ionlywishyoutoobservethat,afterhavingmadesomanyobjectionstomyproject,youarenowcrushingmewithargumentsinitsfavour!"

Thepreparationsforthisaudaciousattemptnowbegan.

ThepowerfulpumpsoftheNautiluswereworkingairintothereservoirsandstoringitathighpressure.Aboutfouro"clock,CaptainNemoannouncedtheclosingofthepanelsontheplatform.

Ithrewonelastlookatthemassiveicebergwhichweweregoingtocross.Theweatherwasclear,theatmospherepureenough,thecoldverygreat,being12@belowzero;but,thewindhavinggonedown,thistemperaturewasnotsounbearable.

AbouttenmenmountedthesidesoftheNautilus,armedwithpickaxestobreaktheicearoundthevessel,whichwassoonfree.

Theoperationwasquicklyperformed,forthefreshicewasstillverythin.Weallwentbelow.Theusualreservoirswerefilledwiththenewly-liberatedwater,andtheNautilussoondescended.

IhadtakenmyplacewithConseilinthesaloon;throughtheopenwindowwecouldseethelowerbedsoftheSouthernOcean.

Thethermometerwentup,theneedleofthecompassdeviatedonthedial.Atabout900feet,asCaptainNemohadforeseen,wewerefloatingbeneaththeundulatingbottomoftheiceberg.

ButtheNautiluswentlowerstill——itwenttothedepthoffourhundredfathoms.Thetemperatureofthewateratthesurfaceshowedtwelvedegrees,itwasnowonlyten;wehadgainedtwo.

IneednotsaythetemperatureoftheNautiluswasraisedbyitsheatingapparatustoamuchhigherdegree;everymanoeuvrewasaccomplishedwithwonderfulprecision.

"Weshallpassit,ifyouplease,sir,"saidConseil.

"Ibelieveweshall,"Isaid,inatoneoffirmconviction.

Inthisopensea,theNautilushadtakenitscoursedirecttothepole,withoutleavingthefifty-secondmeridian.

From67@30"to90@,twenty-twodegreesandahalfoflatituderemainedtotravel;thatis,aboutfivehundredleagues.

TheNautiluskeptupameanspeedoftwenty-sixmilesanhour——

thespeedofanexpresstrain.Ifthatwaskeptup,infortyhoursweshouldreachthepole.

Forapartofthenightthenoveltyofthesituationkeptusatthewindow.Theseawaslitwiththeelectriclantern;butitwasdeserted;fishesdidnotsojournintheseimprisonedwaters;

theyonlyfoundthereapassagetotakethemfromtheAntarcticOceantotheopenpolarsea.Ourpacewasrapid;

wecouldfeelitbythequiveringofthelongsteelbody.

AbouttwointhemorningItooksomehours"repose,andConseildidthesame.IncrossingthewaistIdidnotmeetCaptainNemo:

Isupposedhimtobeinthepilot"scage.Thenextmorning,the19thofMarch,Itookmypostoncemoreinthesaloon.

TheelectriclogtoldmethatthespeedoftheNautilushadbeenslackened.Itwasthengoingtowardsthesurface;

butprudentlyemptyingitsreservoirsveryslowly.

Myheartbeatfast.Werewegoingtoemergeandregaintheopenpolaratmosphere?No!AshocktoldmethattheNautilushadstruckthebottomoftheiceberg,stillverythick,judgingfromthedeadenedsound.Wehadindeed"struck,"touseaseaexpression,butinaninversesense,andatathousandfeetdeep.Thiswouldgivethreethousandfeetoficeaboveus;