第7章

InsteadofdiggingroundtheNautiluswhichwouldhaveinvolvedgreaterdifficulty,CaptainNemohadanimmensetrenchmadeateightyardsfromtheport-quarter.Thenthemensettoworksimultaneouslywiththeirscrewsonseveralpointsofitscircumference.

Presentlythepickaxeattackedthiscompactmattervigorously,andlargeblocksweredetachedfromthemass.Byacuriouseffectofspecificgravity,theseblocks,lighterthanwater,fled,sotospeak,tothevaultofthetunnel,thatincreasedinthicknessatthetopinproportionasitdiminishedatthebase.

Butthatmatteredlittle,solongasthelowerpartgrewthinner.

Aftertwohours"hardwork,NedLandcameinexhausted.Heandhiscomradeswerereplacedbynewworkers,whomConseilandIjoined.

ThesecondlieutenantoftheNautilussuperintendedus.

Thewaterseemedsingularlycold,butIsoongotwarmhandlingthepickaxe.Mymovementswerefreeenough,althoughtheyweremadeunderapressureofthirtyatmospheres.

WhenIre-entered,afterworkingtwohours,totakesomefoodandrest,IfoundaperceptibledifferencebetweenthepurefluidwithwhichtheRouquayrolenginesuppliedmeandtheatmosphereoftheNautilus,alreadychargedwithcarbonicacid.

Theairhadnotbeenrenewedforforty-eighthours,anditsvivifyingqualitieswereconsiderablyenfeebled.However,afteralapseoftwelvehours,wehadonlyraisedablockoficeoneyardthick,onthemarkedsurface,whichwasabout600cubicyards!

Reckoningthatittooktwelvehourstoaccomplishthismuchitwouldtakefivenightsandfourdaystobringthisenterprisetoasatisfactoryconclusion.Fivenightsandfourdays!

Andwehaveonlyairenoughfortwodaysinthereservoirs!

"Withouttakingintoaccount,"saidNed,"that,evenifwegetoutofthisinfernalprison,weshallalsobeimprisonedundertheiceberg,shutoutfromallpossiblecommunicationwiththeatmosphere."

Trueenough!Whocouldthenforeseetheminimumoftimenecessaryforourdeliverance?WemightbesuffocatedbeforetheNautiluscouldregainthesurfaceofthewaves?Wasitdestinedtoperishinthisice-tomb,withallthoseitenclosed?

Thesituationwasterrible.Buteveryonehadlookedthedangerintheface,andeachwasdeterminedtodohisdutytothelast.

AsIexpected,duringthenightanewblockayardsquarewascarriedaway,andstillfurthersanktheimmensehollow.

Butinthemorningwhen,dressedinmycork-jacket,Itraversedtheslushymassatatemperatureofsixorsevendegreesbelowzero,Iremarkedthatthesidewallsweregraduallyclosingin.

Thebedsofwaterfarthestfromthetrench,thatwerenotwarmedbythemen"swork,showedatendencytosolidification.Inpresenceofthisnewandimminentdanger,whatwouldbecomeofourchancesofsafety,andhowhinderthesolidificationofthisliquidmedium,thatwouldburstthepartitionsoftheNautiluslikeglass?

Ididnottellmycompanionsofthisnewdanger.

Whatwasthegoodofdampingtheenergytheydisplayedinthepainfulworkofescape?ButwhenIwentonboardagain,ItoldCaptainNemoofthisgravecomplication.

"Iknowit,"hesaid,inthatcalmtonewhichcouldcounteractthemostterribleapprehensions."Itisonedangermore;

butIseenowayofescapingit;theonlychanceofsafetyistogoquickerthansolidification.Wemustbebeforehandwithit,thatisall."

OnthisdayforseveralhoursIusedmypickaxevigorously.

Theworkkeptmeup.Besides,toworkwastoquittheNautilus,andbreathedirectlythepureairdrawnfromthereservoirs,andsuppliedbyourapparatus,andtoquittheimpoverishedandvitiatedatmosphere.Towardseveningthetrenchwasdugoneyarddeeper.

WhenIreturnedonboard,Iwasnearlysuffocatedbythecarbonicacidwithwhichtheairwasfilled——ah!ifwehadonlythechemicalmeanstodriveawaythisdeleteriousgas.Wehadplentyofoxygen;

allthiswatercontainedaconsiderablequantity,andbydissolvingitwithourpowerfulpiles,itwouldrestorethevivifyingfluid.

Ihadthoughtwelloverit;butofwhatgoodwasthat,sincethecarbonicacidproducedbyourrespirationhadinvadedeverypartofthevessel?Toabsorbit,itwasnecessarytofillsomejarswithcausticpotash,andtoshakethemincessantly.

Nowthissubstancewaswantingonboard,andnothingcouldreplaceit.

Onthatevening,CaptainNemooughttoopenthetapsofhisreservoirs,andletsomepureairintotheinterioroftheNautilus;withoutthisprecautionwecouldnotgetridofthesenseofsuffocation.Thenextday,March26th,Iresumedmyminer"sworkinbeginningthefifthyard.

Thesidewallsandthelowersurfaceoftheicebergthickenedvisibly.

ItwasevidentthattheywouldmeetbeforetheNautiluswasabletodisengageitself.Despairseizedmeforaninstant;

mypickaxenearlyfellfrommyhands.WhatwasthegoodofdiggingifImustbesuffocated,crushedbythewaterthatwasturningintostone?——apunishmentthattheferocityofthesavagesevenwouldnothaveinvented!JustthenCaptainNemopassednearme.

Itouchedhishandandshowedhimthewallsofourprison.

ThewalltoporthadadvancedtoatleastfouryardsfromthehulloftheNautilus.TheCaptainunderstoodme,andsignedmetofollowhim.

Wewentonboard.Itookoffmycork-jacketandaccompaniedhimintothedrawing-room.

"M.Aronnax,wemustattemptsomedesperatemeans,orweshallbesealedupinthissolidifiedwaterasincement."

"Yes;butwhatistobedone?"

"Ah!ifmyNautiluswerestrongenoughtobearthispressurewithoutbeingcrushed!"

"Well?"Iasked,notcatchingtheCaptain"sidea.

"Doyounotunderstand,"hereplied,"thatthiscongelationofwaterwillhelpus?Doyounotseethatbyitssolidification,itwouldburstthroughthisfieldoficethatimprisonsus,as,whenitfreezes,itburststhehardeststones?Doyounotperceivethatitwouldbeanagentofsafetyinsteadofdestruction?"

"Yes,Captain,perhaps.But,whateverresistancetocrushingtheNautiluspossesses,itcouldnotsupportthisterriblepressure,andwouldbeflattenedlikeanironplate."

"Iknowit,sir.Thereforewemustnotreckonontheaidofnature,butonourownexertions.Wemuststopthissolidification.

Notonlywillthesidewallsbepressedtogether;butthereisnottenfeetofwaterbeforeorbehindtheNautilus.

Thecongelationgainsonusonallsides."

"Howlongwilltheairinthereservoirslastforustobreatheonboard?"

TheCaptainlookedinmyface."Afterto-morrowtheywillbeempty!"

Acoldsweatcameoverme.However,oughtItohavebeenastonishedattheanswer?OnMarch22,theNautiluswasintheopenpolarseas.

Wewereat26@.Forfivedayswehadlivedonthereserveonboard.

Andwhatwasleftoftherespirableairmustbekeptfortheworkers.

Evennow,asIwrite,myrecollectionisstillsovividthataninvoluntaryterrorseizesmeandmylungsseemtobewithoutair.

Meanwhile,CaptainNemoreflectedsilently,andevidentlyanideahadstruckhim;butheseemedtorejectit.Atlast,thesewordsescapedhislips:

"Boilingwater!"hemuttered.

"Boilingwater?"Icried.

"Yes,sir.Weareenclosedinaspacethatisrelativelyconfined.

Wouldnotjetsofboilingwater,constantlyinjectedbythepumps,raisethetemperatureinthispartandstaythecongelation?"

"Letustryit,"Isaidresolutely.

"Letustryit,Professor."

Thethermometerthenstoodat7@outside.CaptainNemotookmetothegalleys,wherethevastdistillatorymachinesstoodthatfurnishedthedrinkablewaterbyevaporation.

Theyfilledthesewithwater,andalltheelectricheatfromthepileswasthrownthroughthewormsbathedintheliquid.

Inafewminutesthiswaterreached100@.Itwasdirectedtowardsthepumps,whilefreshwaterreplaceditinproportion.

Theheatdevelopedbythetroughswassuchthatcoldwater,drawnupfromtheseaafteronlyhavinggonethroughthemachines,cameboilingintothebodyofthepump.Theinjectionwasbegun,andthreehoursafterthethermometermarked6@belowzerooutside.

Onedegreewasgained.Twohourslaterthethermometeronlymarked4@.

"Weshallsucceed,"IsaidtotheCaptain,afterhavinganxiouslywatchedtheresultoftheoperation.

"Ithink,"heanswered,"thatweshallnotbecrushed.

Wehavenomoresuffocationtofear."

Duringthenightthetemperatureofthewaterroseto1@belowzero.

Theinjectionscouldnotcarryittoahigherpoint.But,asthecongelationofthesea-waterproducesatleast2@,Iwasatleastreassuredagainstthedangersofsolidification.

Thenextday,March27th,sixyardsoficehadbeencleared,twelvefeetonlyremainingtobeclearedaway.Therewasyetforty-eighthours"work.

TheaircouldnotberenewedintheinterioroftheNautilus.

Andthisdaywouldmakeitworse.Anintolerableweightoppressedme.

Towardsthreeo"clockintheeveningthisfeelingrosetoaviolentdegree.

Yawnsdislocatedmyjaws.Mylungspantedastheyinhaledthisburningfluid,whichbecamerarefiedmoreandmore.Amoraltorportookholdofme.

Iwaspowerless,almostunconscious.MybraveConseil,thoughexhibitingthesamesymptomsandsufferinginthesamemanner,neverleftme.

Hetookmyhandandencouragedme,andIheardhimmurmur,"Oh!ifIcouldonlynotbreathe,soastoleavemoreairformymaster!"

Tearscameintomyeyesonhearinghimspeakthus.Ifoursituationtoallwasintolerableintheinterior,withwhathasteandgladnesswouldweputonourcork-jacketstoworkinourturn!

Pickaxessoundedonthefrozenice-beds.Ourarmsached,theskinwastornoffourhands.Butwhatwerethesefatigues,whatdidthewoundsmatter?Vitalaircametothelungs!

Webreathed!webreathed!

Allthistimenooneprolongedhisvoluntarytaskbeyondtheprescribedtime.

Histaskaccomplished,eachonehandedinturntohispantingcompanionstheapparatusthatsuppliedhimwithlife.CaptainNemosettheexample,andsubmittedfirsttothisseverediscipline.Whenthetimecame,hegaveuphisapparatustoanotherandreturnedtothevitiatedaironboard,calm,unflinching,unmurmuring.

Onthatdaytheordinaryworkwasaccomplishedwithunusualvigour.

Onlytwoyardsremainedtoberaisedfromthesurface.

Twoyardsonlyseparatedusfromtheopensea.Butthereservoirswerenearlyemptiedofair.Thelittlethatremainedoughttobekeptfortheworkers;notaparticlefortheNautilus.

WhenIwentbackonboard,Iwashalfsuffocated.Whatanight!

Iknownothowtodescribeit.Thenextdaymybreathingwasoppressed.Dizzinessaccompaniedthepaininmyheadandmademelikeadrunkenman.Mycompanionsshowedthesamesymptoms.

Someofthecrewhadrattlinginthethroat.

Onthatday,thesixthofourimprisonment,CaptainNemo,findingthepickaxesworktooslowly,resolvedtocrushtheice-bedthatstillseparatedusfromtheliquidsheet.

Thisman"scoolnessandenergyneverforsookhim.Hesubduedhisphysicalpainsbymoralforce.

Byhisordersthevesselwaslightened,thatistosay,raisedfromtheice-bedbyachangeofspecificgravity.

Whenitfloatedtheytoweditsoastobringitabovetheimmensetrenchmadeonthelevelofthewater-line.Then,fillinghisreservoirsofwater,hedescendedandshuthimselfupinthehole.

Justthenallthecrewcameonboard,andthedoubledoorofcommunicationwasshut.TheNautilusthenrestedonthebedofice,whichwasnotoneyardthick,andwhichthesoundingleadshadperforatedinathousandplaces.

Thetapsofthereservoirswerethenopened,andahundredcubicyardsofwaterwasletin,increasingtheweightoftheNautilusto1,800tons.

Wewaited,welistened,forgettingoursufferingsinhope.Oursafetydependedonthislastchance.Notwithstandingthebuzzinginmyhead,IsoonheardthehummingsoundunderthehulloftheNautilus.Theicecrackedwithasingularnoise,liketearingpaper,andtheNautilussank.

"Weareoff!"murmuredConseilinmyear.

Icouldnotanswerhim.Iseizedhishand,andpresseditconvulsively.

Allatonce,carriedawaybyitsfrightfulovercharge,theNautilussanklikeabulletunderthewaters,thatistosay,itfellasifitwasinavacuum.

Thenalltheelectricforcewasputonthepumps,thatsoonbegantoletthewateroutofthereservoirs.Aftersomeminutes,ourfallwasstopped.

Soon,too,themanometerindicatedanascendingmovement.Thescrew,goingatfullspeed,madetheironhulltrembletoitsveryboltsanddrewustowardsthenorth.Butifthisfloatingundertheicebergistolastanotherdaybeforewereachtheopensea,Ishallbedeadfirst.

Halfstretcheduponadivaninthelibrary,Iwassuffocating.

Myfacewaspurple,mylipsblue,myfacultiessuspended.

Ineithersawnorheard.Allnotionoftimehadgonefrommymind.

Mymusclescouldnotcontract.Idonotknowhowmanyhourspassedthus,butIwasconsciousoftheagonythatwascomingoverme.

IfeltasifIwasgoingtodie.SuddenlyIcameto.

Somebreathsofairpenetratedmylungs.Hadwerisentothesurfaceofthewaves?Werewefreeoftheiceberg?No!NedandConseil,mytwobravefriends,weresacrificingthemselvestosaveme.

Someparticlesofairstillremainedatthebottomofoneapparatus.

Insteadofusingit,theyhadkeptitforme,and,whiletheywerebeingsuffocated,theygavemelife,dropbydrop.

Iwantedtopushbackthething;theyheldmyhands,andforsomemomentsIbreathedfreely.Ilookedattheclock;

itwaseleveninthemorning.Itoughttobethe28thofMarch.

TheNautiluswentatafrightfulpace,fortymilesanhour.Itliterallytorethroughthewater.WherewasCaptainNemo?Hadhesuccumbed?

Werehiscompanionsdeadwithhim?Atthemomentthemanometerindicatedthatwewerenotmorethantwentyfeetfromthesurface.

Amereplateoficeseparatedusfromtheatmosphere.Couldwenotbreakit?Perhaps.InanycasetheNautiluswasgoingtoattemptit.

Ifeltthatitwasinanobliqueposition,loweringthestern,andraisingthebows.Theintroductionofwaterhadbeenthemeansofdisturbingitsequilibrium.Then,impelledbyitspowerfulscrew,itattackedtheice-fieldfrombeneathlikeaformidablebattering-ram.

Itbrokeitbybackingandthenrushingforwardagainstthefield,whichgraduallygaveway;andatlast,dashingsuddenlyagainstit,shotforwardsontheice-field,thatcrushedbeneathitsweight.

Thepanelwasopened——onemightsaytornoff——andthepureaircameininabundancetoallpartsoftheNautilus.

CHAPTERXVII

FROMCAPEHORNTOTHEAMAZON

HowIgotontotheplatform,Ihavenoidea;perhapstheCanadianhadcarriedmethere.ButIbreathed,Iinhaledthevivifyingsea-air.

Mytwocompanionsweregettingdrunkwiththefreshparticles.

Theotherunhappymenhadbeensolongwithoutfood,thattheycouldnotwithimpunityindulgeinthesimplestalimentsthatweregiventhem.We,onthecontrary,hadnoendtorestrainourselves;

wecoulddrawthisairfreelyintoourlungs,anditwasthebreeze,thebreezealone,thatfilleduswiththiskeenenjoyment.

"Ah!"saidConseil,"howdelightfulthisoxygenis!

Masterneednotfeartobreatheit.Thereisenoughforeverybody."

NedLanddidnotspeak,butheopenedhisjawswideenoughtofrightenashark.Ourstrengthsoonreturned,and,whenI

lookedroundme,Isawwewerealoneontheplatform.

TheforeignseamenintheNautiluswerecontentedwiththeairthatcirculatedintheinterior;noneofthemhadcometodrinkintheopenair.

ThefirstwordsIspokewerewordsofgratitudeandthankfulnesstomytwocompanions.NedandConseilhadprolongedmylifeduringthelasthoursofthislongagony.

Allmygratitudecouldnotrepaysuchdevotion.

"Myfriends,"saidI,"weareboundonetotheotherforever,andIamunderinfiniteobligationstoyou."

"WhichIshalltakeadvantageof,"exclaimedtheCanadian.

"Whatdoyoumean?"saidConseil.

"ImeanthatIshalltakeyouwithmewhenIleavethisinfernalNautilus."

"Well,"saidConseil,"afterallthis,arewegoingright?"

"Yes,"Ireplied,"forwearegoingthewayofthesun,andherethesunisinthenorth."

"Nodoubt,"saidNedLand;"butitremainstobeseenwhetherhewillbringtheshipintothePacificortheAtlanticOcean,thatis,intofrequentedordesertedseas."

Icouldnotanswerthatquestion,andIfearedthatCaptainNemowouldrathertakeustothevastoceanthattouchesthecoastsofAsiaandAmericaatthesametime.Hewouldthuscompletethetourroundthesubmarineworld,andreturntothosewatersinwhichtheNautiluscouldsailfreely.Weought,beforelong,tosettlethisimportantpoint.TheNautiluswentatarapidpace.

Thepolarcirclewassoonpassed,andthecourseshapedforCapeHorn.

WewereofftheAmericanpoint,March31st,atseveno"clockintheevening.Thenallourpastsufferingswereforgotten.

Theremembranceofthatimprisonmentintheicewaseffacedfromourminds.Weonlythoughtofthefuture.CaptainNemodidnotappearagaineitherinthedrawing-roomorontheplatform.

Thepointshowneachdayontheplanisphere,and,markedbythelieutenant,showedmetheexactdirectionoftheNautilus.

Now,onthatevening,itwasevident,to,mygreatsatisfaction,thatweweregoingbacktotheNorthbytheAtlantic.

Thenextday,April1st,whentheNautilusascendedtothesurfacesomeminutesbeforenoon,wesightedlandtothewest.

ItwasTerradelFuego,whichthefirstnavigatorsnamedthusfromseeingthequantityofsmokethatrosefromthenatives"huts.

Thecoastseemedlowtome,butinthedistancerosehighmountains.

IeventhoughtIhadaglimpseofMountSarmiento,thatrises2,070

yardsabovethelevelofthesea,withaverypointedsummit,which,accordingasitismistyorclear,isasignoffineorofwetweather.

Atthismomentthepeakwasclearlydefinedagainstthesky.

TheNautilus,divingagainunderthewater,approachedthecoast,whichwasonlysomefewmilesoff.Fromtheglasswindowsinthedrawing-room,Isawlongseaweedsandgiganticfuciandvarech,ofwhichtheopenpolarseacontainssomanyspecimens,withtheirsharppolishedfilaments;theymeasuredabout300yardsinlength——

realcables,thickerthanone"sthumb;and,havinggreattenacity,theyareoftenusedasropesforvessels.Anotherweedknownasvelp,withleavesfourfeetlong,buriedinthecoralconcretions,hungatthebottom.Itservedasnestandfoodformyriadsofcrustaceaandmolluscs,crabs,andcuttlefish.

Theresealsandottershadsplendidrepasts,eatingthefleshoffishwithsea-vegetables,accordingtotheEnglishfashion.

OverthisfertileandluxuriantgroundtheNautiluspassedwithgreatrapidity.TowardseveningitapproachedtheFalklandgroup,theroughsummitsofwhichIrecognisedthefollowingday.

Thedepthoftheseawasmoderate.Ontheshoresournetsbroughtinbeautifulspecimensofseaweed,andparticularlyacertainfucus,therootsofwhichwerefilledwiththebestmusselsintheworld.

Geeseandducksfellbydozensontheplatform,andsoontooktheirplacesinthepantryonboard.

WhenthelastheightsoftheFalklandshaddisappearedfromthehorizon,theNautilussanktobetweentwentyandtwenty-fiveyards,andfollowedtheAmericancoast.

CaptainNemodidnotshowhimself.Untilthe3rdofAprilwedidnotquittheshoresofPatagonia,sometimesundertheocean,sometimesatthesurface.TheNautiluspassedbeyondthelargeestuaryformedbytheUraguay.Itsdirectionwasnorthwards,andfollowedthelongwindingsofthecoastofSouthAmerica.

Wehadthenmade1,600milessinceourembarkationintheseasofJapan.Abouteleveno"clockinthemorningtheTropicofCapricornwascrossedonthethirty-seventhmeridian,andwepassedCapeFriostandingouttosea.CaptainNemo,toNedLand"sgreatdispleasure,didnotliketheneighbourhoodoftheinhabitedcoastsofBrazil,forwewentatagiddyspeed.

Notafish,notabirdoftheswiftestkindcouldfollowus,andthenaturalcuriositiesoftheseseasescapedallobservation.

Thisspeedwaskeptupforseveraldays,andintheeveningofthe9thofAprilwesightedthemostwesterlypointofSouthAmericathatformsCapeSanRoque.ButthentheNautilusswervedagain,andsoughtthelowestdepthofasubmarinevalleywhichisbetweenthisCapeandSierraLeoneontheAfricancoast.

ThisvalleybifurcatestotheparalleloftheAntilles,andterminatesatthemouthbytheenormousdepressionof9,000yards.

Inthisplace,thegeologicalbasinoftheoceanforms,asfarastheLesserAntilles,aclifftothreeandahalfmilesperpendicularinheight,and,attheparalleloftheCapeVerdeIslands,anotherwallnotlessconsiderable,thatenclosesthusallthesunkcontinentoftheAtlantic.

Thebottomofthisimmensevalleyisdottedwithsomemountains,thatgivetothesesubmarineplacesapicturesqueaspect.

Ispeak,moreover,fromthemanuscriptchartsthatwereinthelibraryoftheNautilus——chartsevidentlyduetoCaptainNemo"shand,andmadeafterhispersonalobservations.Fortwodaysthedesertanddeepwaterswerevisitedbymeansoftheinclinedplanes.

TheNautiluswasfurnishedwithlongdiagonalbroadsideswhichcarriedittoallelevations.Butonthe11thofAprilitrosesuddenly,andlandappearedatthemouthoftheAmazonRiver,avastestuary,theembouchureofwhichissoconsiderablethatitfreshensthesea-waterforthedistanceofseveralleagues.

CHAPTERXVIII

THEPOULPS

ForseveraldaystheNautiluskeptofffromtheAmericancoast.

EvidentlyitdidnotwishtoriskthetidesoftheGulfofMexicooroftheseaoftheAntilles.April16th,wesightedMartiniqueandGuadaloupefromadistanceofaboutthirtymiles.

Isawtheirtallpeaksforaninstant.TheCanadian,whocountedoncarryingouthisprojectsintheGulf,byeitherlandingorhailingoneofthenumerousboatsthatcoastfromoneislandtoanother,wasquitedisheartened.

Flightwouldhavebeenquitepracticable,ifNedLandhadbeenabletotakepossessionoftheboatwithouttheCaptain"sknowledge.

Butintheopenseaitcouldnotbethoughtof.TheCanadian,Conseil,andIhadalongconversationonthissubject.

ForsixmonthswehadbeenprisonersonboardtheNautilus.

Wehadtravelled17,000leagues;and,asNedLandsaid,therewasnoreasonwhyitshouldcometoanend.WecouldhopenothingfromtheCaptainoftheNautilus,butonlyfromourselves.

Besides,forsometimepasthehadbecomegraver,moreretired,lesssociable.Heseemedtoshunme.Imethimrarely.

Formerlyhewaspleasedtoexplainthesubmarinemarvelstome;

nowheleftmetomystudies,andcamenomoretothesaloon.

Whatchangehadcomeoverhim?Forwhatcause?Formypart,Ididnotwishtoburywithmemycuriousandnovelstudies.

Ihadnowthepowertowritethetruebookofthesea;

andthisbook,soonerorlater,Iwishedtoseedaylight.

ThelandnearestuswasthearchipelagooftheBahamas.Thererosehighsubmarinecliffscoveredwithlargeweeds.Itwasabouteleveno"clockwhenNedLanddrewmyattentiontoaformidablepricking,likethestingofanant,whichwasproducedbymeansoflargeseaweeds.

"Well,"Isaid,"thesearepropercavernsforpoulps,andI

shouldnotbeastonishedtoseesomeofthesemonsters."

"What!"saidConseil;"cuttlefish,realcuttlefishofthecephalopodclass?"

"No,"Isaid,"poulpsofhugedimensions."

"Iwillneverbelievethatsuchanimalsexist,"saidNed.

"Well,"saidConseil,withthemostseriousairintheworld,"Irememberperfectlytohaveseenalargevesseldrawnunderthewavesbyanoctopus"sarm."

"Yousawthat?"saidtheCanadian.

"Yes,Ned."

"Withyourowneyes?"

"Withmyowneyes."

"Where,pray,mightthatbe?"

"AtSt.Malo,"answeredConseil.

"Intheport?"saidNed,ironically.

"No;inachurch,"repliedConseil.

"Inachurch!"criedtheCanadian.

"Yes;friendNed.Inapicturerepresentingthepoulpinquestion."

"Good!"saidNedLand,burstingoutlaughing.

"Heisquiteright,"Isaid."Ihaveheardofthispicture;

butthesubjectrepresentedistakenfromalegend,andyouknowwhattothinkoflegendsinthematterofnaturalhistory.

Besides,whenitisaquestionofmonsters,theimaginationisapttorunwild.Notonlyisitsupposedthatthesepoulpscandrawdownvessels,butacertainOlausMagnusspeaksofanoctopusamilelongthatismorelikeanislandthanananimal.

ItisalsosaidthattheBishopofNidroswasbuildinganaltaronanimmenserock.Massfinished,therockbegantowalk,andreturnedtothesea.Therockwasapoulp.

AnotherBishop,Pontoppidan,speaksalsoofapoulponwhicharegimentofcavalrycouldmanoeuvre.Lastly,theancientnaturalistsspeakofmonsterswhosemouthswerelikegulfs,andwhichweretoolargetopassthroughtheStraitsofGibraltar."

"Buthowmuchistrueofthesestories?"askedConseil.

"Nothing,myfriends;atleastofthatwhichpassesthelimitoftruthtogettofableorlegend.Nevertheless,theremustbesomegroundfortheimaginationofthestory-tellers.Onecannotdenythatpoulpsandcuttlefishexistofalargespecies,inferior,however,tothecetaceans.

Aristotlehasstatedthedimensionsofacuttlefishasfivecubits,orninefeettwoinches.Ourfishermenfrequentlyseesomethataremorethanfourfeetlong.SomeskeletonsofpoulpsarepreservedinthemuseumsofTriesteandMontpelier,thatmeasuretwoyardsinlength.

Besides,accordingtothecalculationsofsomenaturalists,oneoftheseanimalsonlysixfeetlongwouldhavetentaclestwenty-sevenfeetlong.

Thatwouldsufficetomakeaformidablemonster."

"Dotheyfishfortheminthesedays?"askedNed.

"Iftheydonotfishforthem,sailorsseethematleast.

Oneofmyfriends,CaptainPaulBosofHavre,hasoftenaffirmedthathemetoneofthesemonstersofcolossaldimensionsintheIndianseas.Butthemostastonishingfact,andwhichdoesnotpermitofthedenialoftheexistenceofthesegiganticanimals,happenedsomeyearsago,in1861."

"Whatisthefact?"askedNedLand.

"Thisisit.In1861,tothenorth-eastofTeneriffe,verynearlyinthesamelatitudeweareinnow,thecrewofthedespatch-boatAlectorperceivedamonstrouscuttlefishswimminginthewaters.

CaptainBouguerwentneartotheanimal,andattackeditwithharpoonandguns,withoutmuchsuccess,forballsandharpoonsglidedoverthesoftflesh.Afterseveralfruitlessattemptsthecrewtriedtopassaslip-knotroundthebodyofthemollusc.

Thenooseslippedasfarasthetailfinsandtherestopped.

Theytriedthentohaulitonboard,butitsweightwassoconsiderablethatthetightnessofthecordseparatedthetailfromthebody,and,deprivedofthisornament,hedisappearedunderthewater."

"Indeed!isthatafact?"

"Anindisputablefact,mygoodNed.Theyproposedtonamethispoulp`Bouguer"scuttlefish.""

"Whatlengthwasit?"askedtheCanadian.

"Diditnotmeasureaboutsixyards?"saidConseil,who,postedatthewindow,wasexaminingagaintheirregularwindingsofthecliff.

"Precisely,"Ireplied.

"Itshead,"rejoinedConseil,"wasitnotcrownedwitheighttentacles,thatbeatthewaterlikeanestofserpents?"

"Precisely."

"Hadnotitseyes,placedatthebackofitshead,considerabledevelopment?"

"Yes,Conseil."

"Andwasnotitsmouthlikeaparrot"sbeak?"

"Exactly,Conseil."

"Verywell!nooffencetomaster,"hereplied,quietly;"ifthisisnotBouguer"scuttlefish,itis,atleast,oneofitsbrothers."

IlookedatConseil.NedLandhurriedtothewindow.

"Whatahorriblebeast!"hecried.

Ilookedinmyturn,andcouldnotrepressagestureofdisgust.

Beforemyeyeswasahorriblemonsterworthytofigureinthelegendsofthemarvellous.Itwasanimmensecuttlefish,beingeightyardslong.

ItswamcrosswaysinthedirectionoftheNautiluswithgreatspeed,watchinguswithitsenormousstaringgreeneyes.Itseightarms,orratherfeet,fixedtoitshead,thathavegiventhenameofcephalopodtotheseanimals,weretwiceaslongasitsbody,andweretwistedlikethefuries"hair.Onecouldseethe250airholesontheinnersideofthetentacles.Themonster"smouth,ahornedbeaklikeaparrot"s,openedandshutvertically.

Itstongue,ahornedsubstance,furnishedwithseveralrowsofpointedteeth,cameoutquiveringfromthisveritablepairofshears.Whatafreakofnature,abird"sbeakonamollusc!

Itsspindle-likebodyformedafleshymassthatmightweigh4,000

to5,000lb.;the,varyingcolourchangingwithgreatrapidity,accordingtotheirritationoftheanimal,passedsuccessivelyfromlividgreytoreddishbrown.Whatirritatedthismollusc?

NodoubtthepresenceoftheNautilus,moreformidablethanitself,andonwhichitssuckersoritsjawshadnohold.Yet,whatmonstersthesepoulpsare!whatvitalitytheCreatorhasgiventhem!

whatvigourintheirmovements!andtheypossessthreehearts!

Chancehadbroughtusinpresenceofthiscuttlefish,andIdidnotwishtolosetheopportunityofcarefullystudyingthisspecimenofcephalopods.

Iovercamethehorrorthatinspiredme,and,takingapencil,begantodrawit.

"PerhapsthisisthesamewhichtheAlectorsaw,"saidConseil.

"No,"repliedtheCanadian;"forthisiswhole,andtheotherhadlostitstail."

"Thatisnoreason,"Ireplied."Thearmsandtailsoftheseanimalsarere-formedbyrenewal;andinsevenyearsthetailofBouguer"scuttlefishhasnodoubthadtimetogrow."

Bythistimeotherpoulpsappearedattheportlight.Icountedseven.

TheyformedaprocessionaftertheNautilus,andIheardtheirbeaksgnashingagainsttheironhull.Icontinuedmywork.Thesemonsterskeptinthewaterwithsuchprecisionthattheyseemedimmovable.

SuddenlytheNautilusstopped.Ashockmadeittrembleineveryplate.

"Havewestruckanything?"Iasked.

"Inanycase,"repliedtheCanadian,"weshallbefree,forwearefloating."

TheNautiluswasfloating,nodoubt,butitdidnotmove.

Aminutepassed.CaptainNemo,followedbyhislieutenant,enteredthedrawing-room.Ihadnotseenhimforsometime.

Heseemeddull.Withoutnoticingorspeakingtous,hewenttothepanel,lookedatthepoulps,andsaidsomethingtohislieutenant.Thelatterwentout.Soonthepanelswereshut.

Theceilingwaslighted.IwenttowardstheCaptain.

"Acuriouscollectionofpoulps?"Isaid.

"Yes,indeed,Mr.Naturalist,"hereplied;"andwearegoingtofightthem,mantobeast."

Ilookedathim.IthoughtIhadnotheardaright.

"Mantobeast?"Irepeated.

"Yes,sir.Thescrewisstopped.Ithinkthatthehornyjawsofoneofthecuttlefishisentangledintheblades.

Thatiswhatpreventsourmoving."

"Whatareyougoingtodo?"

"Risetothesurface,andslaughterthisvermin."

"Adifficultenterprise."

"Yes,indeed.Theelectricbulletsarepowerlessagainstthesoftflesh,wheretheydonotfindresistanceenoughtogooff.

Butweshallattackthemwiththehatchet."

"Andtheharpoon,sir,"saidtheCanadian,"ifyoudonotrefusemyhelp."

"Iwillacceptit,MasterLand."

"Wewillfollowyou,"Isaid,and,followingCaptainNemo,wewenttowardsthecentralstaircase.

There,abouttenmenwithboarding-hatchetswerereadyfortheattack.

ConseilandItooktwohatchets;NedLandseizedaharpoon.

TheNautilushadthenrisentothesurface.Oneofthesailors,postedonthetopladderstep,unscrewedtheboltsofthepanels.

Buthardlywerethescrewsloosed,whenthepanelrosewithgreatviolence,evidentlydrawnbythesuckersofapoulp"sarm.

Immediatelyoneofthesearmsslidlikeaserpentdowntheopeningandtwentyotherswereabove.Withoneblowoftheaxe,CaptainNemocutthisformidabletentacle,thatslidwrigglingdowntheladder.

Justaswewerepressingoneontheothertoreachtheplatform,twootherarms,lashingtheair,camedownontheseamanplacedbeforeCaptainNemo,andliftedhimupwithirresistiblepower.

CaptainNemoutteredacry,andrushedout.Wehurriedafterhim.

Whatascene!Theunhappyman,seizedbythetentacleandfixedtothesuckers,wasbalancedintheairatthecapriceofthisenormoustrunk.Herattledinhisthroat,hewasstifled,hecried,"Help!help!"Thesewords,spokeninFrench,startledme!

Ihadafellow-countrymanonboard,perhapsseveral!

Thatheart-rendingcry!Ishallhearitallmylife.

Theunfortunatemanwaslost.Whocouldrescuehimfromthatpowerfulpressure?However,CaptainNemohadrushedtothepoulp,andwithoneblowoftheaxehadcutthroughonearm.

HislieutenantstruggledfuriouslyagainstothermonstersthatcreptontheflanksoftheNautilus.Thecrewfoughtwiththeiraxes.

TheCanadian,Conseil,andIburiedourweaponsinthefleshymasses;

astrongsmellofmuskpenetratedtheatmosphere.

Itwashorrible!

Foroneinstant,Ithoughttheunhappyman,entangledwiththepoulp,wouldbetornfromitspowerfulsuction.Sevenoftheeightarmshadbeencutoff.

Oneonlywriggledintheair,brandishingthevictimlikeafeather.ButjustasCaptainNemoandhislieutenantthrewthemselvesonit,theanimalejectedastreamofblackliquid.Wewereblindedwithit.Whentheclouddispersed,thecuttlefishhaddisappeared,andmyunfortunatecountrymanwithit.

TenortwelvepoulpsnowinvadedtheplatformandsidesoftheNautilus.

Werolledpell-mellintothemidstofthisnestofserpents,thatwriggledontheplatforminthewavesofbloodandink.Itseemedasthoughtheseslimytentaclesspranguplikethehydra"sheads.NedLand"sharpoon,ateachstroke,wasplungedintothestaringeyesofthecuttlefish.

Butmyboldcompanionwassuddenlyoverturnedbythetentaclesofamonsterhehadnotbeenabletoavoid.

Ah!howmyheartbeatwithemotionandhorror!

TheformidablebeakofacuttlefishwasopenoverNedLand.

Theunhappymanwouldbecutintwo.Irushedtohissuccour.

ButCaptainNemowasbeforeme;hisaxedisappearedbetweenthetwoenormousjaws,and,miraculouslysaved,theCanadian,rising,plungedhisharpoondeepintothetripleheartofthepoulp.

"Iowedmyselfthisrevenge!"saidtheCaptaintotheCanadian.

Nedbowedwithoutreplying.Thecombathadlastedaquarterofanhour.

Themonsters,vanquishedandmutilated,leftusatlast,anddisappearedunderthewaves.CaptainNemo,coveredwithblood,nearlyexhausted,gazedupontheseathathadswalloweduponeofhiscompanions,andgreattearsgatheredinhiseyes.

CHAPTERXIX

THEGULFSTREAM

Thisterriblesceneofthe20thofAprilnoneofuscaneverforget.

Ihavewrittenitundertheinfluenceofviolentemotion.SincethenI

haverevisedtherecital;IhavereadittoConseilandtotheCanadian.

Theyfounditexactastofacts,butinsufficientastoeffect.

Topaintsuchpictures,onemusthavethepenofthemostillustriousofourpoets,theauthorofTheToilersoftheDeep.

IhavesaidthatCaptainNemoweptwhilewatchingthewaves;

hisgriefwasgreat.Itwasthesecondcompanionhehadlostsinceourarrivalonboard,andwhatadeath!

Thatfriend,crushed,stifled,bruisedbythedreadfularmsofapoulp,poundedbyhisironjaws,wouldnotrestwithhiscomradesinthepeacefulcoralcemetery!

Inthemidstofthestruggle,itwasthedespairingcryutteredbytheunfortunatemanthathadtornmyheart.