第6章

onethousandbeingabovethewater-mark.Theicebergwasthenhigherthanatitsborders——notaveryreassuringfact.

SeveraltimesthatdaytheNautilustriedagain,andeverytimeitstruckthewallwhichlaylikeaceilingaboveit.

Sometimesitmetwithbut900yards,only200ofwhichroseabovethesurface.ItwastwicetheheightitwaswhentheNautilushadgoneunderthewaves.Icarefullynotedthedifferentdepths,andthusobtainedasubmarineprofileofthechainasitwasdevelopedunderthewater.

Thatnightnochangehadtakenplaceinoursituation.

Stillicebetweenfourandfivehundredyardsindepth!

Itwasevidentlydiminishing,but,still,whatathicknessbetweenusandthesurfaceoftheocean!Itwastheneight.

AccordingtothedailycustomonboardtheNautilus,itsairshouldhavebeenrenewedfourhoursago;

butIdidnotsuffermuch,althoughCaptainNemohadnotyetmadeanydemanduponhisreserveofoxygen.Mysleepwaspainfulthatnight;hopeandfearbesiegedmebyturns:

Iroseseveraltimes.ThegropingoftheNautiluscontinued.

Aboutthreeinthemorning,Inoticedthatthelowersurfaceoftheicebergwasonlyaboutfiftyfeetdeep.Onehundredandfiftyfeetnowseparatedusfromthesurfaceofthewaters.

Theicebergwasbydegreesbecominganice-field,themountainaplain.Myeyesneverleftthemanometer.Wewerestillrisingdiagonallytothesurface,whichsparkledundertheelectricrays.

Theicebergwasstretchingbothaboveandbeneathintolengtheningslopes;mileaftermileitwasgettingthinner.

Atlength,atsixinthemorningofthatmemorableday,the19thofMarch,thedoorofthesaloonopened,andCaptainNemoappeared.

"Theseaisopen!!"wasallhesaid.

CHAPTERXIV

THESOUTHPOLE

Irushedontotheplatform.Yes!theopensea,withbutafewscatteredpiecesoficeandmovingicebergs——alongstretchofsea;

aworldofbirdsintheair,andmyriadsoffishesunderthosewaters,whichvariedfromintensebluetoolivegreen,accordingtothebottom.

Thethermometermarked3@C.abovezero.Itwascomparativelyspring,shutupaswewerebehindthisiceberg,whoselengthenedmasswasdimlyseenonournorthernhorizon.

"Areweatthepole?"IaskedtheCaptain,withabeatingheart.

"Idonotknow,"hereplied."AtnoonIwilltakeourbearings."

"Butwillthesunshowhimselfthroughthisfog?"saidI,lookingattheleadensky.

"Howeverlittleitshows,itwillbeenough,"repliedtheCaptain.

Abouttenmilessouthasolitaryislandrosetoaheightofonehundredandfouryards.Wemadeforit,butcarefully,fortheseamightbestrewnwithbanks.Onehourafterwardswehadreachedit,twohourslaterwehadmadetheroundofit.

Itmeasuredfourorfivemilesincircumference.

Anarrowcanalseparateditfromaconsiderablestretchofland,perhapsacontinent,forwecouldnotseeitslimits.

TheexistenceofthislandseemedtogivesomecolourtoMaury"stheory.

TheingeniousAmericanhasremarkedthat,betweentheSouthPoleandthesixtiethparallel,theseaiscoveredwithfloatingiceofenormoussize,whichisnevermetwithintheNorthAtlantic.

FromthisfacthehasdrawntheconclusionthattheAntarcticCircleenclosesconsiderablecontinents,asicebergscannotforminopensea,butonlyonthecoasts.Accordingtothesecalculations,themassoficesurroundingthesouthernpoleformsavastcap,thecircumferenceofwhichmustbe,atleast,2,500miles.

ButtheNautilus,forfearofrunningaground,hadstoppedaboutthreecable-lengthsfromastrandoverwhichrearedasuperbheapofrocks.Theboatwaslaunched;theCaptain,twoofhismen,bearinginstruments,Conseil,andmyselfwereinit.

Itwasteninthemorning.IhadnotseenNedLand.

DoubtlesstheCanadiandidnotwishtoadmitthepresenceoftheSouthPole.Afewstrokesoftheoarbroughtustothesand,whereweranashore.Conseilwasgoingtojumpontotheland,whenIheldhimback.

"Sir,"saidItoCaptainNemo,"toyoubelongsthehonouroffirstsettingfootonthisland."

"Yes,sir,"saidtheCaptain,"andifIdonothesitatetotreadthisSouthPole,itisbecause,uptothistime,nohumanbeinghasleftatracethere."

Sayingthis,hejumpedlightlyontothesand.Hisheartbeatwithemotion.Heclimbedarock,slopingtoalittlepromontory,andthere,withhisarmscrossed,muteandmotionless,andwithaneagerlook,heseemedtotakepossessionofthesesouthernregions.

Afterfiveminutespassedinthisecstasy,heturnedtous.

"Whenyoulike,sir."

Ilanded,followedbyConseil,leavingthetwomenintheboat.

Foralongwaythesoilwascomposedofareddishsandystone,somethinglikecrushedbrick,scoriae,streamsoflava,andpumice-stones.Onecouldnotmistakeitsvolcanicorigin.

Insomeparts,slightcurlsofsmokeemittedasulphuroussmell,provingthattheinternalfireshadlostnothingoftheirexpansivepowers,though,havingclimbedahighacclivity,Icouldseenovolcanoforaradiusofseveralmiles.

WeknowthatinthoseAntarcticcountries,JamesRossfoundtwocraters,theErebusandTerror,infullactivity,onthe167thmeridian,latitude77@32".Thevegetationofthisdesolatecontinentseemedtomemuchrestricted.

Somelichenslayupontheblackrocks;somemicroscopicplants,rudimentarydiatomas,akindofcellsplacedbetweentwoquartzshells;

longpurpleandscarletweed,supportedonlittleswimmingbladders,whichthebreakingofthewavesbroughttotheshore.

Theseconstitutedthemeagrefloraofthisregion.

Theshorewasstrewnwithmolluscs,littlemussels,andlimpets.

Ialsosawmyriadsofnorthernclios,one-and-a-quarterincheslong,ofwhichawhalewouldswallowawholeworldatamouthful;

andsomeperfectsea-butterflies,animatingthewatersontheskirtsoftheshore.

Thereappearedonthehighbottomssomecoralshrubs,ofthekindwhich,accordingtoJamesRoss,liveintheAntarcticseastothedepthofmorethan1,000yards.

Thentherewerelittlekingfishersandstarfishstuddingthesoil.

Butwherelifeaboundedmostwasintheair.Therethousandsofbirdsflutteredandflewofallkinds,deafeninguswiththeircries;otherscrowdedtherock,lookingatusaswepassedbywithoutfear,andpressingfamiliarlyclosebyourfeet.

Therewerepenguins,soagileinthewater,heavyandawkwardastheyareontheground;theywereutteringharshcries,alargeassembly,soberingesture,butextravagantinclamour.

Albatrossespassedintheair,theexpanseoftheirwingsbeingatleastfouryardsandahalf,andjustlycalledthevulturesoftheocean;somegiganticpetrels,andsomedamiers,akindofsmallduck,theunderpartofwhosebodyisblackandwhite;

thentherewereawholeseriesofpetrels,somewhitish,withbrown-borderedwings,othersblue,peculiartotheAntarcticseas,andsooily,asItoldConseil,thattheinhabitantsoftheFerroeIslandshadnothingtodobeforelightingthembuttoputawickin.

"Alittlemore,"saidConseil,"andtheywouldbeperfectlamps!

Afterthat,wecannotexpectNaturetohavepreviouslyfurnishedthemwithwicks!"

Abouthalfamilefartheronthesoilwasriddledwithruffs"

nests,asortoflaying-ground,outofwhichmanybirdswereissuing.

CaptainNemohadsomehundredshunted.Theyutteredacrylikethebrayingofanass,wereaboutthesizeofagoose,slate-colouronthebody,whitebeneath,withayellowlineroundtheirthroats;theyallowedthemselvestobekilledwithastone,nevertryingtoescape.

Butthefogdidnotlift,andateleventhesunhadnotyetshownitself.

Itsabsencemademeuneasy.Withoutitnoobservationswerepossible.

How,then,couldwedecidewhetherwehadreachedthepole?WhenIrejoinedCaptainNemo,Ifoundhimleaningonapieceofrock,silentlywatchingthesky.Heseemedimpatientandvexed.Butwhatwastobedone?

Thisrashandpowerfulmancouldnotcommandthesunashedidthesea.

Noonarrivedwithouttheorbofdayshowingitselfforaninstant.

Wecouldnoteventellitspositionbehindthecurtainoffog;andsoonthefogturnedtosnow.

"Tillto-morrow,"saidtheCaptain,quietly,andwereturnedtotheNautilusamidtheseatmosphericdisturbances.

Thetempestofsnowcontinuedtillthenextday.

Itwasimpossibletoremainontheplatform.Fromthesaloon,whereIwastakingnotesofincidentshappeningduringthisexcursiontothepolarcontinent,Icouldhearthecriesofpetrelsandalbatrossessportinginthemidstofthisviolentstorm.

TheNautilusdidnotremainmotionless,butskirtedthecoast,advancingtenmilesmoretothesouthinthehalf-lightleftbythesunasitskirtedtheedgeofthehorizon.

Thenextday,the20thofMarch,thesnowhadceased.

Thecoldwasalittlegreater,thethermometershowing2@

belowzero.Thefogwasrising,andIhopedthatthatdayourobservationsmightbetaken.CaptainNemonothavingyetappeared,theboattookConseilandmyselftoland.

Thesoilwasstillofthesamevolcanicnature;

everywhereweretracesoflava,scoriae,andbasalt;

butthecraterwhichhadvomitedthemIcouldnotsee.

Here,aslowerdown,thiscontinentwasalivewithmyriadsofbirds.Buttheirrulewasnowdividedwithlargetroopsofsea-mammals,lookingatuswiththeirsofteyes.

Therewereseveralkindsofseals,somestretchedontheearth,someonflakesofice,manygoinginandoutofthesea.Theydidnotfleeatourapproach,neverhavinghadanythingtodowithman;

andIreckonedthattherewereprovisionsthereforhundredsofvessels.

"Sir,"saidConseil,"willyoutellmethenamesofthesecreatures?"

"Theyaresealsandmorses."

Itwasnoweightinthemorning.Fourhoursremainedtousbeforethesuncouldbeobservedwithadvantage.Idirectedourstepstowardsavastbaycutinthesteepgraniteshore.There,Icanaverthatearthandicewerelosttosightbythenumbersofsea-mammalscoveringthem,andIinvoluntarilysoughtforoldProteus,themythologicalshepherdwhowatchedtheseimmenseflocksofNeptune.

Thereweremoresealsthananythingelse,formingdistinctgroups,maleandfemale,thefatherwatchingoverhisfamily,themothersucklingherlittleones,somealreadystrongenoughtogoafewsteps.

Whentheywishedtochangetheirplace,theytooklittlejumps,madebythecontractionoftheirbodies,andhelpedawkwardlyenoughbytheirimperfectfin,which,aswiththelamantin,theircousins,formsaperfectforearm.Ishouldsaythat,inthewater,whichistheirelement——thespineofthesecreaturesisflexible;

withsmoothandcloseskinandwebbedfeet——theyswimadmirably.

Inrestingontheearththeytakethemostgracefulattitudes.

Thustheancients,observingtheirsoftandexpressivelooks,whichcannotbesurpassedbythemostbeautifullookawomancangive,theirclearvoluptuouseyes,theircharmingpositions,andthepoetryoftheirmanners,metamorphosedthem,themaleintoatritonandthefemaleintoamermaid.ImadeConseilnoticetheconsiderabledevelopmentofthelobesofthebrainintheseinterestingcetaceans.

Nomammal,exceptman,hassuchaquantityofbrainmatter;

theyarealsocapableofreceivingacertainamountofeducation,areeasilydomesticated,andIthink,withothernaturalists,thatifproperlytaughttheywouldbeofgreatserviceasfishing-dogs.

Thegreaterpartofthemsleptontherocksoronthesand.

Amongsttheseseals,properlysocalled,whichhavenoexternalears(inwhichtheydifferfromtheotter,whoseearsareprominent),Inoticedseveralvarietiesofsealsaboutthreeyardslong,withawhitecoat,bulldogheads,armedwithteethinbothjaws,fourincisorsatthetopandfouratthebottom,andtwolargecanineteethintheshapeofafleur-de-lis.Amongstthemglidedsea-elephants,akindofseal,withshort,flexibletrunks.

Thegiantsofthisspeciesmeasuredtwentyfeetroundandtenyardsandahalfinlength;buttheydidnotmoveasweapproached.

"Thesecreaturesarenotdangerous?"askedConseil.

"No;notunlessyouattackthem.Whentheyhavetodefendtheiryoungtheirrageisterrible,anditisnotuncommonforthemtobreakthefishing-boatstopieces."

"Theyarequiteright,"saidConseil.

"Idonotsaytheyarenot."

Twomilesfartheronwewerestoppedbythepromontorywhichsheltersthebayfromthesoutherlywinds.Beyonditweheardloudbellowingssuchasatroopofruminantswouldproduce.

"Good!"saidConseil;"aconcertofbulls!"

"No;aconcertofmorses."

"Theyarefighting!"

"Theyareeitherfightingorplaying."

Wenowbegantoclimbtheblackishrocks,amidunforeseenstumbles,andoverstoneswhichtheicemadeslippery.MorethanonceIrolledoverattheexpenseofmyloins.Conseil,moreprudentormoresteady,didnotstumble,andhelpedmeup,saying:

"If,sir,youwouldhavethekindnesstotakewidersteps,youwouldpreserveyourequilibriumbetter."

Arrivedattheupperridgeofthepromontory,Isawavastwhiteplaincoveredwithmorses.Theywereplayingamongstthemselves,andwhatweheardwerebellowingsofpleasure,notofanger.

AsIpassedthesecuriousanimalsIcouldexaminethemleisurely,fortheydidnotmove.Theirskinswerethickandrugged,ofayellowishtint,approachingtored;theirhairwasshortandscant.Someofthemwerefouryardsandaquarterlong.

Quieterandlesstimidthantheircousinsofthenorth,theydidnot,likethem,placesentinelsroundtheoutskirtsoftheirencampment.

Afterexaminingthiscityofmorses,Ibegantothinkofreturning.

Itwaseleveno"clock,and,ifCaptainNemofoundtheconditionsfavourableforobservations,Iwishedtobepresentattheoperation.

Wefollowedanarrowpathwayrunningalongthesummitofthesteepshore.

Athalf-pastelevenwehadreachedtheplacewherewelanded.

Theboathadrunaground,bringingtheCaptain.Isawhimstandingonablockofbasalt,hisinstrumentsnearhim,hiseyesfixedonthenorthernhorizon,nearwhichthesunwasthendescribingalengthenedcurve.Itookmyplacebesidehim,andwaitedwithoutspeaking.Noonarrived,and,asbefore,thesundidnotappear.Itwasafatality.Observationswerestillwanting.

Ifnotaccomplishedto-morrow,wemustgiveupallideaoftakingany.

Wewereindeedexactlyatthe20thofMarch.To-morrow,the21st,wouldbetheequinox;thesunwoulddisappearbehindthehorizonforsixmonths,andwithitsdisappearancethelongpolarnightwouldbegin.

SincetheSeptemberequinoxithademergedfromthenorthernhorizon,risingbylengthenedspiralsuptothe21stofDecember.Atthisperiod,thesummersolsticeofthenorthernregions,ithadbeguntodescend;

andto-morrowwastosheditslastraysuponthem.IcommunicatedmyfearsandobservationstoCaptainNemo.

"Youareright,M.Aronnax,"saidhe;"ifto-morrowIcannottakethealtitudeofthesun,Ishallnotbeabletodoitforsixmonths.

Butpreciselybecausechancehasledmeintotheseseasonthe21stofMarch,mybearingswillbeeasytotake,ifattwelvewecanseethesun."

"Why,Captain?"

"Becausethentheorbofdaydescribedsuchlengthenedcurvesthatitisdifficulttomeasureexactlyitsheightabovethehorizon,andgraveerrorsmaybemadewithinstruments."

"Whatwillyoudothen?"

"Ishallonlyusemychronometer,"repliedCaptainNemo.

"Ifto-morrow,the21stofMarch,thediscofthesun,allowingforrefraction,isexactlycutbythenorthernhorizon,itwillshowthatIamattheSouthPole."

"Justso,"saidI."Butthisstatementisnotmathematicallycorrect,becausetheequinoxdoesnotnecessarilybeginatnoon."

"Verylikely,sir;buttheerrorwillnotbeahundredyardsandwedonotwantmore.Tillto-morrow,then!"

CaptainNemoreturnedonboard.ConseilandIremainedtosurveytheshore,observingandstudyinguntilfiveo"clock.ThenI

wenttobed,not,however,withoutinvoking,liketheIndian,thefavouroftheradiantorb.Thenextday,the21stofMarch,atfiveinthemorning,Imountedtheplatform.

IfoundCaptainNemothere.

"Theweatherislighteningalittle,"saidhe."Ihavesomehope.

Afterbreakfastwewillgoonshoreandchooseapostforobservation."

Thatpointsettled,IsoughtNedLand.Iwantedtotakehimwithme.

ButtheobstinateCanadianrefused,andIsawthathistaciturnityandhisbadhumourgrewdaybyday.Afterall,Iwasnotsorryforhisobstinacyunderthecircumstances.Indeed,thereweretoomanysealsonshore,andweoughtnottolaysuchtemptationinthisunreflectingfisherman"sway.

Breakfastover,wewentonshore.TheNautilushadgonesomemilesfurtherupinthenight.Itwasawholeleaguefromthecoast,abovewhichrearedasharppeakaboutfivehundredyardshigh.

TheboattookwithmeCaptainNemo,twomenofthecrew,andtheinstruments,whichconsistedofachronometer,atelescope,andabarometer.

Whilecrossing,Isawnumerouswhalesbelongingtothethreekindspeculiartothesouthernseas;thewhale,ortheEnglish"rightwhale,"

whichhasnodorsalfin;the"humpback,"withreevedchestandlarge,whitishfins,which,inspiteofitsname,donotformwings;

andthefin-back,ofayellowishbrown,theliveliestofallthecetacea.

Thispowerfulcreatureisheardalongwayoffwhenhethrowstoagreatheightcolumnsofairandvapour,whichlooklikewhirlwindsofsmoke.

Thesedifferentmammalsweredisportingthemselvesintroopsinthequietwaters;andIcouldseethatthisbasinoftheAntarcticPoleservesasaplaceofrefugetothecetaceatoocloselytrackedbythehunters.

Ialsonoticedlargemedusaefloatingbetweenthereeds.

Atninewelanded;theskywasbrightening,thecloudswereflyingtothesouth,andthefogseemedtobeleavingthecoldsurfaceofthewaters.

CaptainNemowenttowardsthepeak,whichhedoubtlessmeanttobehisobservatory.Itwasapainfulascentoverthesharplavaandthepumice-stones,inanatmosphereoftenimpregnatedwithasulphuroussmellfromthesmokingcracks.Foramanunaccustomedtowalkonland,theCaptainclimbedthesteepslopeswithanagilityIneversawequalledandwhichahunterwouldhaveenvied.

Weweretwohoursgettingtothesummitofthispeak,whichwashalfporphyryandhalfbasalt.Fromthencewelookeduponavastseawhich,towardsthenorth,distinctlytraceditsboundarylineuponthesky.

Atourfeetlayfieldsofdazzlingwhiteness.Overourheadsapaleazure,freefromfog.Tothenorththediscofthesunseemedlikeaballoffire,alreadyhornedbythecuttingofthehorizon.

Fromthebosomofthewaterrosesheavesofliquidjetsbyhundreds.

InthedistancelaytheNautiluslikeacetaceanasleeponthewater.

Behindus,tothesouthandeast,animmensecountryandachaoticheapofrocksandice,thelimitsofwhichwerenotvisible.

OnarrivingatthesummitCaptainNemocarefullytookthemeanheightofthebarometer,forhewouldhavetoconsiderthatintakinghisobservations.Ataquartertotwelvethesun,thenseenonlybyrefraction,lookedlikeagoldendiscsheddingitslastraysuponthisdesertedcontinentandseaswhichnevermanhadyetploughed.

CaptainNemo,furnishedwithalenticularglasswhich,bymeansofamirror,correctedtherefraction,watchedtheorbsinkingbelowthehorizonbydegrees,followingalengtheneddiagonal.

Iheldthechronometer.Myheartbeatfast.Ifthedisappearanceofthehalf-discofthesuncoincidedwithtwelveo"clockonthechronometer,wewereatthepoleitself.

"Twelve!"Iexclaimed.

"TheSouthPole!"repliedCaptainNemo,inagravevoice,handingmetheglass,whichshowedtheorbcutinexactlyequalpartsbythehorizon.

Ilookedatthelastrayscrowningthepeak,andtheshadowsmountingbydegreesupitsslopes.AtthatmomentCaptainNemo,restingwithhishandonmyshoulder,said:

"I,CaptainNemo,onthis21stdayofMarch,1868,havereachedtheSouthPoleontheninetiethdegree;andItakepossessionofthispartoftheglobe,equaltoone-sixthoftheknowncontinents."

"Inwhosename,Captain?"

"Inmyown,sir!"

Sayingwhich,CaptainNemounfurledablackbanner,bearingan"N"

ingoldquarteredonitsbunting.Then,turningtowardstheorbofday,whoselastrayslappedthehorizonofthesea,heexclaimed:

"Adieu,sun!Disappear,thouradiantorb!restbeneaththisopensea,andletanightofsixmonthsspreaditsshadowsovermynewdomains!"

CHAPTERXV

ACCIDENTORINCIDENT?

Thenextday,the22ndofMarch,atsixinthemorning,preparationsfordeparturewerebegun.Thelastgleamsoftwilightweremeltingintonight.Thecoldwasgreat,theconstellationsshonewithwonderfulintensity.

InthezenithglitteredthatwondrousSouthernCross——

thepolarbearofAntarcticregions.Thethermometershowed120

belowzero,andwhenthewindfresheneditwasmostbiting.

Flakesoficeincreasedontheopenwater.Theseaseemedeverywherealike.Numerousblackishpatchesspreadonthesurface,showingtheformationoffreshice.Evidentlythesouthernbasin,frozenduringthesixwintermonths,wasabsolutelyinaccessible.

Whatbecameofthewhalesinthattime?Doubtlesstheywentbeneaththeicebergs,seekingmorepracticableseas.

Astothesealsandmorses,accustomedtoliveinahardclimate,theyremainedontheseicyshores.Thesecreatureshavetheinstincttobreakholesintheice-fieldandtokeepthemopen.

Totheseholestheycomeforbreath;whenthebirds,drivenawaybythecold,haveemigratedtothenorth,theseseamammalsremainsolemastersofthepolarcontinent.

Butthereservoirswerefillingwithwater,andtheNautiluswasslowlydescending.At1,000feetdeepitstopped;

itsscrewbeatthewaves,anditadvancedstraighttowardsthenorthataspeedoffifteenmilesanhour.Towardsnightitwasalreadyfloatingundertheimmensebodyoftheiceberg.

AtthreeinthemorningIwasawakenedbyaviolentshock.

Isatupinmybedandlistenedinthedarkness,whenIwasthrownintothemiddleoftheroom.

TheNautilus,afterhavingstruck,hadreboundedviolently.

Igropedalongthepartition,andbythestaircasetothesaloon,whichwaslitbytheluminousceiling.Thefurniturewasupset.

Fortunatelythewindowswerefirmlyset,andhadheldfast.

Thepicturesonthestarboardside,frombeingnolongervertical,wereclingingtothepaper,whilstthoseoftheportsidewerehangingatleastafootfromthewall.TheNautiluswaslyingonitsstarboardsideperfectlymotionless.

Iheardfootsteps,andaconfusionofvoices;butCaptainNemodidnotappear.AsIwasleavingthesaloon,NedLandandConseilentered.

"Whatisthematter?"saidI,atonce.

"Icametoaskyou,sir,"repliedConseil.

"Confoundit!"exclaimedtheCanadian,"Iknowwellenough!

TheNautilushasstruck;and,judgingbythewayshelies,IdonotthinkshewillrightherselfasshedidthefirsttimeinTorresStraits."

"But,"Iasked,"hassheatleastcometothesurfaceofthesea?"

"Wedonotknow,"saidConseil.

"Itiseasytodecide,"Ianswered.Iconsultedthemanometer.

Tomygreatsurprise,itshowedadepthofmorethan180fathoms.

"Whatdoesthatmean?"Iexclaimed.

"WemustaskCaptainNemo,"saidConseil.

"Butwhereshallwefindhim?"saidNedLand.

"Followme,"saidI,tomycompanions.

Weleftthesaloon.Therewasnooneinthelibrary.

Atthecentrestaircase,bytheberthsoftheship"screw,therewasnoone.IthoughtthatCaptainNemomustbeinthepilot"scage.

Itwasbesttowait.Weallreturnedtothesaloon.Fortwentyminutesweremainedthus,tryingtoheartheslightestnoisewhichmightbemadeonboardtheNautilus,whenCaptainNemoentered.

Heseemednottoseeus;hisface,generallysoimpassive,showedsignsofuneasiness.Hewatchedthecompasssilently,thenthemanometer;and,goingtotheplanisphere,placedhisfingeronaspotrepresentingthesouthernseas.

Iwouldnotinterrupthim;but,someminuteslater,whenheturnedtowardsme,Isaid,usingoneofhisownexpressionsintheTorresStraits:

"Anincident,Captain?"

"No,sir;anaccidentthistime."

"Serious?"

"Perhaps."

"Isthedangerimmediate?"

"No."

"TheNautilushasstranded?"

"Yes."

"Andthishashappened——how?"

"Fromacapriceofnature,notfromtheignoranceofman.

Notamistakehasbeenmadeintheworking.Butwecannotpreventequilibriumfromproducingitseffects.Wemaybravehumanlaws,butwecannotresistnaturalones."

CaptainNemohadchosenastrangemomentforutteringthisphilosophicalreflection.Onthewhole,hisanswerhelpedmelittle.

"MayIask,sir,thecauseofthisaccident?"

"Anenormousblockofice,awholemountain,hasturnedover,"hereplied.

"Whenicebergsareunderminedattheirbasebywarmerwaterorreiteratedshockstheircentreofgravityrises,andthewholethingturnsover.

Thisiswhathashappened;oneoftheseblocks,asitfell,strucktheNautilus,then,glidingunderitshull,raiseditwithirresistibleforce,bringingitintobedswhicharenotsothick,whereitislyingonitsside."

"ButcanwenotgettheNautilusoffbyemptyingitsreservoirs,thatitmightregainitsequilibrium?"

"That,sir,isbeingdoneatthismoment.Youcanhearthepumpworking.

Lookattheneedleofthemanometer;itshowsthattheNautilusisrising,buttheblockoficeisfloatingwithit;and,untilsomeobstaclestopsitsascendingmotion,ourpositioncannotbealtered."

Indeed,theNautilusstillheldthesamepositiontostarboard;

doubtlessitwouldrightitselfwhentheblockstopped.

Butatthismomentwhoknowsifwemaynotbefrightfullycrushedbetweenthetwoglassysurfaces?Ireflectedonalltheconsequencesofourposition.CaptainNemonevertookhiseyesoffthemanometer.Sincethefalloftheiceberg,theNautilushadrisenaboutahundredandfiftyfeet,butitstillmadethesameanglewiththeperpendicular.

Suddenlyaslightmovementwasfeltinthehold.

Evidentlyitwasrightingalittle.Thingshanginginthesaloonweresensiblyreturningtotheirnormalposition.

Thepartitionswerenearingtheupright.Noonespoke.

Withbeatingheartswewatchedandfeltthestraightening.

Theboardsbecamehorizontalunderourfeet.

Tenminutespassed.

"Atlastwehaverighted!"Iexclaimed.

"Yes,"saidCaptainNemo,goingtothedoorofthesaloon.

"Butarewefloating?"Iasked.

"Certainly,"hereplied;"sincethereservoirsarenotempty;and,whenempty,theNautilusmustrisetothesurfaceofthesea."

Wewereinopensea;butatadistanceofabouttenyards,oneithersideoftheNautilus,roseadazzlingwallofice.

Aboveandbeneaththesamewall.Above,becausethelowersurfaceoftheicebergstretchedoveruslikeanimmenseceiling.

Beneath,becausetheoverturnedblock,havingslidbydegrees,hadfoundaresting-placeonthelateralwalls,whichkeptitinthatposition.

TheNautiluswasreallyimprisonedinaperfecttunneloficemorethantwentyyardsinbreadth,filledwithquietwater.

Itwaseasytogetoutofitbygoingeitherforwardorbackward,andthenmakeafreepassageundertheiceberg,somehundredsofyardsdeeper.Theluminousceilinghadbeenextinguished,butthesaloonwasstillresplendentwithintenselight.

Itwasthepowerfulreflectionfromtheglasspartitionsentviolentlybacktothesheetsofthelantern.Icannotdescribetheeffectofthevoltaicraysuponthegreatblockssocapriciouslycut;

uponeveryangle,everyridge,everyfacetwasthrownadifferentlight,accordingtothenatureoftheveinsrunningthroughtheice;

adazzlingmineofgems,particularlyofsapphires,theirbluerayscrossingwiththegreenoftheemerald.Hereandtherewereopalshadesofwonderfulsoftness,runningthroughbrightspotslikediamondsoffire,thebrilliancyofwhichtheeyecouldnotbear.

Thepowerofthelanternseemedincreasedahundredfold,likealampthroughthelenticularplatesofafirst-classlighthouse.

"Howbeautiful!howbeautiful!"criedConseil.

"Yes,"Isaid,"itisawonderfulsight.Isitnot,Ned?"

"Yes,confoundit!Yes,"answeredNedLand,"itissuperb!

Iammadatbeingobligedtoadmitit.Noonehaseverseenanythinglikeit;butthesightmaycostusdear.And,ifImustsayall,IthinkweareseeingherethingswhichGodneverintendedmantosee."

Nedwasright,itwastoobeautiful.SuddenlyacryfromConseilmademeturn.

"Whatisit?"Iasked.

"Shutyoureyes,sir!Donotlook,sir!"Sayingwhich,Conseilclappedhishandsoverhiseyes.

"Butwhatisthematter,myboy?"

"Iamdazzled,blinded."

Myeyesturnedinvoluntarilytowardstheglass,butIcouldnotstandthefirewhichseemedtodevourthem.Iunderstoodwhathadhappened.

TheNautilushadputonfullspeed.Allthequietlustreoftheice-wallswasatoncechangedintoflashesoflightning.Thefirefromthesemyriadsofdiamondswasblinding.Itrequiredsometimetocalmourtroubledlooks.

Atlastthehandsweretakendown.

"Faith,Ishouldneverhavebelievedit,"saidConseil.

Itwasthenfiveinthemorning;andatthatmomentashockwasfeltatthebowsoftheNautilus.Iknewthatitsspurhadstruckablockofice.Itmusthavebeenafalsemanoeuvre,forthissubmarinetunnel,obstructedbyblocks,wasnotveryeasynavigation.

IthoughtthatCaptainNemo,bychanginghiscourse,wouldeitherturntheseobstaclesorelsefollowthewindingsofthetunnel.

Inanycase,theroadbeforeuscouldnotbeentirelyblocked.

But,contrarytomyexpectations,theNautilustookadecidedretrogrademotion.

"Wearegoingbackwards?"saidConseil.

"Yes,"Ireplied."Thisendofthetunnelcanhavenoegress."

"Andthen?"

"Then,"saidI,"theworkingiseasy.Wemustgobackagain,andgooutatthesouthernopening.Thatisall."

Inspeakingthus,IwishedtoappearmoreconfidentthanIreallywas.

ButtheretrogrademotionoftheNautiluswasincreasing;and,reversingthescrew,itcarriedusatgreatspeed.

"Itwillbeahindrance,"saidNed.

"Whatdoesitmatter,somehoursmoreorless,providedwegetoutatlast?"

"Yes,"repeatedNedLand,"providedwedogetoutatlast!"

ForashorttimeIwalkedfromthesaloontothelibrary.

Mycompanionsweresilent.Isoonthrewmyselfonanottoman,andtookabook,whichmyeyesoverranmechanically.Aquarterofanhourafter,Conseil,approachingme,said,"Iswhatyouarereadingveryinteresting,sir?"

"Veryinteresting!"Ireplied.

"Ishouldthinkso,sir.Itisyourownbookyouarereading."

"Mybook?"

AndindeedIwasholdinginmyhandtheworkontheGreatSubmarineDepths.

Ididnotevendreamofit.Iclosedthebookandreturnedtomywalk.

NedandConseilrosetogo.

"Stayhere,myfriends,"saidI,detainingthem.

"Letusremaintogetheruntilweareoutofthisblock."

"Asyouplease,sir,"Conseilreplied.

Somehourspassed.Ioftenlookedattheinstrumentshangingfromthepartition.ThemanometershowedthattheNautiluskeptataconstantdepthofmorethanthreehundredyards;thecompassstillpointedtosouth;thelogindicatedaspeedoftwentymilesanhour,which,insuchacrampedspace,wasverygreat.

ButCaptainNemoknewthathecouldnothastentoomuch,andthatminuteswereworthagestous.Attwenty-fiveminutespasteightasecondshocktookplace,thistimefrombehind.

Iturnedpale.Mycompanionswereclosebymyside.

IseizedConseil"shand.Ourlooksexpressedourfeelingsbetterthanwords.AtthismomenttheCaptainenteredthesaloon.

Iwentuptohim.

"Ourcourseisbarredsouthward?"Iasked.

"Yes,sir.Theiceberghasshiftedandclosedeveryoutlet."

"Weareblockedupthen?"

"Yes."

CHAPTERXVI

WANTOFAIR

ThusaroundtheNautilus,aboveandbelow,wasanimpenetrablewallofice.Wewereprisonerstotheiceberg.IwatchedtheCaptain.

Hiscountenancehadresumeditshabitualimperturbability.

"Gentlemen,"hesaidcalmly,"therearetwowaysofdyinginthecircumstancesinwhichweareplaced."(Thispuzzlingpersonhadtheairofamathematicalprofessorlecturingtohispupils.)

"Thefirstistobecrushed;thesecondistodieofsuffocation.

Idonotspeakofthepossibilityofdyingofhunger,forthesupplyofprovisionsintheNautiluswillcertainlylastlongerthanweshall.

Letus,then,calculateourchances."

"Astosuffocation,Captain,"Ireplied,"thatisnottobefeared,becauseourreservoirsarefull."

"Justso;buttheywillonlyyieldtwodays"supplyofair.

Now,forthirty-sixhourswehavebeenhiddenunderthewater,andalreadytheheavyatmosphereoftheNautilusrequiresrenewal.

Inforty-eighthoursourreservewillbeexhausted."

"Well,Captain,canwebedeliveredbeforeforty-eighthours?"

"Wewillattemptit,atleast,bypiercingthewallthatsurroundsus."

"Onwhichside?"

"Soundwilltellus.IamgoingtoruntheNautilusagroundonthelowerbank,andmymenwillattacktheicebergonthesidethatisleastthick."

CaptainNemowentout.SoonIdiscoveredbyahissingnoisethatthewaterwasenteringthereservoirs.TheNautilussankslowly,andrestedontheiceatadepthof350yards,thedepthatwhichthelowerbankwasimmersed.

"Myfriends,"Isaid,"oursituationisserious,butIrelyonyourcourageandenergy."

"Sir,"repliedtheCanadian,"Iamreadytodoanythingforthegeneralsafety."

"Good!Ned,"andIheldoutmyhandtotheCanadian.

"Iwilladd,"hecontinued,"that,beingashandywiththepickaxeaswiththeharpoon,ifIcanbeusefultotheCaptain,hecancommandmyservices."

"Hewillnotrefuseyourhelp.Come,Ned!"

IledhimtotheroomwherethecrewoftheNautiluswereputtingontheircork-jackets.ItoldtheCaptainofNed"sproposal,whichheaccepted.TheCanadianputonhissea-costume,andwasreadyassoonashiscompanions.

WhenNedwasdressed,Ire-enteredthedrawing-room,wherethepanesofglasswereopen,and,postednearConseil,IexaminedtheambientbedsthatsupportedtheNautilus.

Someinstantsafter,wesawadozenofthecrewsetfootonthebankofice,andamongthemNedLand,easilyknownbyhisstature.

CaptainNemowaswiththem.Beforeproceedingtodigthewalls,hetookthesoundings,tobesureofworkingintherightdirection.

Longsoundinglinesweresunkinthesidewalls,butafterfifteenyardstheywereagainstoppedbythethickwall.

Itwasuselesstoattackitontheceiling-likesurface,sincetheicebergitselfmeasuredmorethan400yardsinheight.

CaptainNemothensoundedthelowersurface.Theretenyardsofwallseparatedusfromthewater,sogreatwasthethicknessoftheice-field.Itwasnecessary,therefore,tocutfromitapieceequalinextenttothewaterlineoftheNautilus.

Therewereabout6,000cubicyardstodetach,soastodigaholebywhichwecoulddescendtotheice-field.Theworkhadbegunimmediatelyandcarriedonwithindefatigableenergy.