第8章

ThepoorFrenchman,forgettinghisconventionallanguage,hadtakentohisownmothertongue,toutteralastappeal!

AmongstthecrewoftheNautilus,associatedwiththebodyandsouloftheCaptain,recoilinglikehimfromallcontactwithmen,Ihadafellow-countryman.DidhealonerepresentFranceinthismysteriousassociation,evidentlycomposedofindividualsofdiversnationalities?

Itwasoneoftheseinsolubleproblemsthatroseupunceasinglybeforemymind!

CaptainNemoenteredhisroom,andIsawhimnomoreforsometime.

ButthathewassadandirresoluteIcouldseebythevessel,ofwhichhewasthesoul,andwhichreceivedallhisimpressions.

TheNautilusdidnotkeeponinitssettledcourse;itfloatedaboutlikeacorpseatthewillofthewaves.Itwentatrandom.

Hecouldnottearhimselfawayfromthesceneofthelaststruggle,fromthisseathathaddevouredoneofhismen.Tendayspassedthus.

Itwasnottillthe1stofMaythattheNautilusresumeditsnortherlycourse,afterhavingsightedtheBahamasatthemouthoftheBahamaCanal.

Wewerethenfollowingthecurrentfromthelargestrivertothesea,thathasitsbanks,itsfish,anditspropertemperatures.ImeantheGulfStream.Itisreallyariver,thatflowsfreelytothemiddleoftheAtlantic,andwhosewatersdonotmixwiththeoceanwaters.

Itisasaltriver,salterthanthesurroundingsea.Itsmeandepthis1,500fathoms,itsmeanbreadthtenmiles.Incertainplacesthecurrentflowswiththespeedoftwomilesandahalfanhour.Thebodyofitswatersismoreconsiderablethanthatofalltheriversintheglobe.

ItwasonthisoceanriverthattheNautilusthensailed.

Imustaddthat,duringthenight,thephosphorescentwatersoftheGulfStreamrivalledtheelectricpowerofourwatch-light,especiallyinthestormyweatherthatthreatenedussofrequently.

May8th,wewerestillcrossingCapeHatteras,attheheightoftheNorthCaroline.ThewidthoftheGulfStreamthereisseventy-fivemiles,anditsdepth210yards.TheNautilusstillwentatrandom;allsupervisionseemedabandoned.

Ithoughtthat,underthesecircumstances,escapewouldbepossible.

Indeed,theinhabitedshoresofferedanywhereaneasyrefuge.

TheseawasincessantlyploughedbythesteamersthatplybetweenNewYorkorBostonandtheGulfofMexico,andoverrundayandnightbythelittleschoonerscoastingabouttheseveralpartsoftheAmericancoast.Wecouldhopetobepickedup.

Itwasafavourableopportunity,notwithstandingthethirtymilesthatseparatedtheNautilusfromthecoastsoftheUnion.

OneunfortunatecircumstancethwartedtheCanadian"splans.

Theweatherwasverybad.Wewerenearingthoseshoreswheretempestsaresofrequent,thatcountryofwaterspoutsandcyclonesactuallyengenderedbythecurrentoftheGulfStream.

Totempttheseainafrailboatwascertaindestruction.NedLandownedthishimself.Hefretted,seizedwithnostalgiathatflightonlycouldcure.

"Master,"hesaidthatdaytome,"thismustcometoanend.Imustmakeacleanbreastofit.ThisNemoisleavinglandandgoinguptothenorth.

ButIdeclaretoyouthatIhavehadenoughoftheSouthPole,andIwillnotfollowhimtotheNorth."

"Whatistobedone,Ned,sinceflightisimpracticablejustnow?"

"WemustspeaktotheCaptain,"saidhe;"yousaidnothingwhenwewereinyournativeseas.Iwillspeak,nowweareinmine.

WhenIthinkthatbeforelongtheNautiluswillbebyNovaScotia,andthattherenearNewfoundlandisalargebay,andintothatbaytheSt.Lawrenceemptiesitself,andthattheSt.Lawrenceismyriver,theriverbyQuebec,mynativetown——whenIthinkofthis,Ifeelfurious,itmakesmyhairstandonend.Sir,Iwouldratherthrowmyselfintothesea!Iwillnotstayhere!

Iamstifled!"

TheCanadianwasevidentlylosingallpatience.

Hisvigorousnaturecouldnotstandthisprolongedimprisonment.

Hisfacealtereddaily;histemperbecamemoresurly.Iknewwhathemustsuffer,forIwasseizedwithhome-sicknessmyself.

Nearlysevenmonthshadpassedwithoutourhavinghadanynewsfromland;CaptainNemo"sisolation,hisalteredspirits,especiallysincethefightwiththepoulps,histaciturnity,allmademeviewthingsinadifferentlight.

"Well,sir?"saidNed,seeingIdidnotreply.

"Well,Ned,doyouwishmetoaskCaptainNemohisintentionsconcerningus?"

"Yes,sir."

"Althoughhehasalreadymadethemknown?"

"Yes;Iwishitsettledfinally.Speakforme,inmynameonly,ifyoulike."

"ButIsoseldommeethim.Heavoidsme."

"Thatisallthemorereasonforyoutogotoseehim."

Iwenttomyroom.FromthenceImeanttogotoCaptainNemo"s.

Itwouldnotdotoletthisopportunityofmeetinghimslip.

Iknockedatthedoor.Noanswer.Iknockedagain,thenturnedthehandle.Thedooropened,Iwentin.TheCaptainwasthere.

Bendingoverhiswork-table,hehadnotheardme.

Resolvednottogowithouthavingspoken,Iapproachedhim.

Heraisedhisheadquickly,frowned,andsaidroughly,"Youhere!

Whatdoyouwant?"

"Tospeaktoyou,Captain."

"ButIambusy,sir;Iamworking.Ileaveyouatlibertytoshutyourselfup;cannotIbeallowedthesame?"

Thisreceptionwasnotencouraging;butIwasdeterminedtohearandanswereverything.

"Sir,"Isaidcoldly,"Ihavetospeaktoyouonamatterthatadmitsofnodelay."

"Whatisthat,sir?"hereplied,ironically."Haveyoudiscoveredsomethingthathasescapedme,orhastheseadeliveredupanynewsecrets?"

Wewereatcross-purposes.But,beforeIcouldreply,heshowedmeanopenmanuscriptonhistable,andsaid,inamoreserioustone,"Here,M.Aronnax,isamanuscriptwritteninseverallanguages.

Itcontainsthesumofmystudiesofthesea;and,ifitpleaseGod,itshallnotperishwithme.Thismanuscript,signedwithmyname,completewiththehistoryofmylife,willbeshutupinalittlefloatingcase.ThelastsurvivorofallofusonboardtheNautiluswillthrowthiscaseintothesea,anditwillgowhitheritisbornebythewaves."

Thisman"sname!hishistorywrittenbyhimself!

Hismysterywouldthenberevealedsomeday.

"Captain,"Isaid,"Icanbutapproveoftheideathatmakesyouactthus.

Theresultofyourstudiesmustnotbelost.Butthemeansyouemployseemtometobeprimitive.Whoknowswherethewindswillcarrythiscase,andinwhosehandsitwillfall?Couldyounotusesomeothermeans?

Couldnotyou,oroneofyours——"

"Never,sir!"hesaid,hastilyinterruptingme.

"ButIandmycompanionsarereadytokeepthismanuscriptinstore;and,ifyouwillputusatliberty——"

"Atliberty?"saidtheCaptain,rising.

"Yes,sir;thatisthesubjectonwhichIwishtoquestionyou.

Forsevenmonthswehavebeenhereonboard,andIaskyouto-day,inthenameofmycompanionsandinmyown,ifyourintentionistokeepusherealways?"

"M.Aronnax,Iwillansweryouto-dayasIdidsevenmonthsago:

WhoeverenterstheNautilus,mustneverquitit."

"Youimposeactualslaveryuponus!"

"Giveitwhatnameyouplease."

"Buteverywheretheslavehastherighttoregainhisliberty."

"Whodeniesyouthisright?HaveIevertriedtochainyouwithanoath?"

Helookedatmewithhisarmscrossed.

"Sir,"Isaid,"toreturnasecondtimetothissubjectwillbeneithertoyournortomytaste;but,aswehaveentereduponit,letusgothroughwithit.Irepeat,itisnotonlymyselfwhomitconcerns.

Studyistomearelief,adiversion,apassionthatcouldmakemeforgeteverything.Likeyou,Iamwillingtoliveobscure,inthefrailhopeofbequeathingoneday,tofuturetime,theresultofmylabours.ButitisotherwisewithNedLand.

Everyman,worthyofthename,deservessomeconsideration.

Haveyouthoughtthatloveofliberty,hatredofslavery,cangiverisetoschemesofrevengeinanatureliketheCanadian"s;

thathecouldthink,attempt,andtry——"

Iwassilenced;CaptainNemorose.

"WhateverNedLandthinksof,attempts,ortries,whatdoesitmattertome?

Ididnotseekhim!ItisnotformypleasurethatIkeephimonboard!

Asforyou,M.Aronnax,youareoneofthosewhocanunderstandeverything,evensilence.Ihavenothingmoretosaytoyou.Letthisfirsttimeyouhavecometotreatofthissubjectbethelast,forasecondtimeIwillnotlistentoyou."

Iretired.Oursituationwascritical.Irelatedmyconversationtomytwocompanions.

"Weknownow,"saidNed,"thatwecanexpectnothingfromthisman.

TheNautilusisnearingLongIsland.Wewillescape,whatevertheweathermaybe."

Buttheskybecamemoreandmorethreatening.Symptomsofahurricanebecamemanifest.Theatmospherewasbecomingwhiteandmisty.

Onthehorizonfinestreaksofcirrhouscloudsweresucceededbymassesofcumuli.Otherlowcloudspassedswiftlyby.

Theswollensearoseinhugebillows.Thebirdsdisappearedwiththeexceptionofthepetrels,thosefriendsofthestorm.

Thebarometerfellsensibly,andindicatedanextremeextensionofthevapours.Themixtureofthestormglasswasdecomposedundertheinfluenceoftheelectricitythatpervadedtheatmosphere.

Thetempestburstonthe18thofMay,justastheNautiluswasfloatingoffLongIsland,somemilesfromtheportofNewYork.

Icandescribethisstrifeoftheelements!for,insteadoffleeingtothedepthsofthesea,CaptainNemo,byanunaccountablecaprice,wouldbraveitatthesurface.

Thewindblewfromthesouth-westatfirst.CaptainNemo,duringthesqualls,hadtakenhisplaceontheplatform.

Hehadmadehimselffast,topreventbeingwashedoverboardbythemonstrouswaves.Ihadhoistedmyselfup,andmademyselffastalso,dividingmyadmirationbetweenthetempestandthisextraordinarymanwhowascopingwithit.Theragingseawassweptbyhugecloud-drifts,whichwereactuallysaturatedwiththewaves.

TheNautilus,sometimeslyingonitsside,sometimesstandinguplikeamast,rolledandpitchedterribly.Aboutfiveo"clockatorrentofrainfell,thatlulledneitherseanorwind.

Thehurricaneblewnearlyfortyleaguesanhour.Itisundertheseconditionsthatitoverturnshouses,breaksirongates,displacestwenty-fourpounders.However,theNautilus,inthemidstofthetempest,confirmedthewordsofacleverengineer,"Thereisnowell-constructedhullthatcannotdefythesea."

Thiswasnotaresistingrock;itwasasteelspindle,obedientandmovable,withoutriggingormasts,thatbraveditsfurywithimpunity.However,Iwatchedtheseragingwavesattentively.

Theymeasuredfifteenfeetinheight,and150to175yardslong,andtheirspeedofpropagationwasthirtyfeetpersecond.

Theirbulkandpowerincreasedwiththedepthofthewater.

Suchwavesasthese,attheHebrides,havedisplacedamassweighing8,400lb.Theyaretheywhich,inthetempestofDecember23rd,1864,afterdestroyingthetownofYeddo,inJapan,brokethesamedayontheshoresofAmerica.Theintensityofthetempestincreasedwiththenight.Thebarometer,asin1860

atReunionduringacyclone,fellseven-tenthsatthecloseofday.

Isawalargevesselpassthehorizonstrugglingpainfully.

Shewastryingtolietounderhalfsteam,tokeepupabovethewaves.

ItwasprobablyoneofthesteamersofthelinefromNewYorktoLiverpool,orHavre.Itsoondisappearedinthegloom.

Atteno"clockintheeveningtheskywasonfire.

Theatmospherewasstreakedwithvividlightning.

Icouldnotbearthebrightnessofit;whilethecaptain,lookingatit,seemedtoenvythespiritofthetempest.

Aterriblenoisefilledtheair,acomplexnoise,madeupofthehowlsofthecrushedwaves,theroaringofthewind,andtheclapsofthunder.Thewindveeredsuddenlytoallpointsofthehorizon;andthecyclone,risingintheeast,returnedafterpassingbythenorth,west,andsouth,intheinversecoursepursuedbythecircularstormofthesouthernhemisphere.

Ah,thatGulfStream!ItdeservesitsnameoftheKingofTempests.

Itisthatwhichcausesthoseformidablecyclones,bythedifferenceoftemperaturebetweenitsairanditscurrents.

Ashoweroffirehadsucceededtherain.Thedropsofwaterwerechangedtosharpspikes.OnewouldhavethoughtthatCaptainNemowascourtingadeathworthyofhimself,adeathbylightning.

AstheNautilus,pitchingdreadfully,raiseditssteelspurintheair,itseemedtoactasaconductor,andIsawlongsparksburstfromit.

CrushedandwithoutstrengthIcrawledtothepanel,openedit,anddescendedtothesaloon.Thestormwasthenatitsheight.

ItwasimpossibletostanduprightintheinterioroftheNautilus.

CaptainNemocamedownabouttwelve.Iheardthereservoirsfillingbydegrees,andtheNautilussankslowlybeneaththewaves.

ThroughtheopenwindowsinthesaloonIsawlargefishterrified,passinglikephantomsinthewater.Somewerestruckbeforemyeyes.

TheNautiluswasstilldescending.Ithoughtthatatabouteightfathomsdeepweshouldfindacalm.Butno!theupperbedsweretooviolentlyagitatedforthat.Wehadtoseekreposeatmorethantwenty-fivefathomsinthebowelsofthedeep.

Butthere,whatquiet,whatsilence,whatpeace!Whocouldhavetoldthatsuchahurricanehadbeenletlooseonthesurfaceofthatocean?

CHAPTERXX

FROMLATITUDE47@24"TOLONGITUDE17@28"

Inconsequenceofthestorm,wehadbeenthrowneastwardoncemore.

AllhopeofescapeontheshoresofNewYorkorSt.Lawrencehadfadedaway;

andpoorNed,indespair,hadisolatedhimselflikeCaptainNemo.

ConseilandI,however,neverlefteachother.IsaidthattheNautilushadgoneasidetotheeast.Ishouldhavesaid(tobemoreexact)

thenorth-east.Forsomedays,itwanderedfirstonthesurface,andthenbeneathit,amidthosefogssodreadedbysailors.

Whataccidentsareduetothesethickfogs!Whatshocksuponthesereefswhenthewinddrownsthebreakingofthewaves!

Whatcollisionsbetweenvessels,inspiteoftheirwarninglights,whistles,andalarmbells!Andthebottomsoftheseseaslooklikeafieldofbattle,wherestillliealltheconqueredoftheocean;

someoldandalreadyencrusted,othersfreshandreflectingfromtheirironbandsandcopperplatesthebrilliancyofourlantern.

Onthe15thofMaywewereattheextremesouthoftheBankofNewfoundland.

Thisbankconsistsofalluvia,orlargeheapsoforganicmatter,broughteitherfromtheEquatorbytheGulfStream,orfromtheNorthPolebythecounter-currentofcoldwaterwhichskirtstheAmericancoast.

Therealsoareheapedupthoseerraticblockswhicharecarriedalongbythebrokenice;andcloseby,avastcharnel-houseofmolluscs,whichperishherebymillions.ThedepthoftheseaisnotgreatatNewfoundland——notmorethansomehundredsoffathoms;buttowardsthesouthisadepressionof1,500fathoms.TheretheGulfStreamwidens.

Itlosessomeofitsspeedandsomeofitstemperature,butitbecomesasea.

Itwasonthe17thofMay,about500milesfromHeart"sContent,atadepthofmorethan1,400fathoms,thatIsawtheelectriccablelyingonthebottom.Conseil,towhomIhadnotmentionedit,thoughtatfirstthatitwasagiganticsea-serpent.ButIundeceivedtheworthyfellow,andbywayofconsolationrelatedseveralparticularsinthelayingofthiscable.Thefirstonewaslaidintheyears1857and1858;

but,aftertransmittingabout400telegrams,wouldnotactanylonger.

In1863theengineersconstructedanotherone,measuring2,000milesinlength,andweighing4,500tons,whichwasembarkedontheGreatEastern.

Thisattemptalsofailed.

Onthe25thofMaytheNautilus,beingatadepthofmorethan1,918fathoms,wasontheprecisespotwheretheruptureoccurredwhichruinedtheenterprise.Itwaswithin638milesofthecoastofIreland;andathalf-pasttwointheafternoontheydiscoveredthatcommunicationwithEuropehadceased.

Theelectriciansonboardresolvedtocutthecablebeforefishingitup,andateleveno"clockatnighttheyhadrecoveredthedamagedpart.Theymadeanotherpointandsplicedit,anditwasoncemoresubmerged.Butsomedaysafteritbrokeagain,andinthedepthsoftheoceancouldnotberecaptured.

TheAmericans,however,werenotdiscouraged.CyrusField,theboldpromoteroftheenterprise,ashehadsunkallhisownfortune,setanewsubscriptiononfoot,whichwasatonceanswered,andanothercablewasconstructedonbetterprinciples.

Thebundlesofconductingwireswereeachenvelopedingutta-percha,andprotectedbyawaddingofhemp,containedinametalliccovering.

TheGreatEasternsailedonthe13thofJuly,1866.Theoperationworkedwell.Butoneincidentoccurred.Severaltimesinunrollingthecabletheyobservedthatnailshadrecentlybeenforcedintoit,evidentlywiththemotiveofdestroyingit.

CaptainAnderson,theofficers,andengineersconsultedtogether,andhaditpostedupthat,iftheoffenderwassurprisedonboard,hewouldbethrownwithoutfurthertrialintothesea.

Fromthattimethecriminalattemptwasneverrepeated.

Onthe23rdofJulytheGreatEasternwasnotmorethan500milesfromNewfoundland,whentheytelegraphedfromIrelandthenewsofthearmisticeconcludedbetweenPrussiaandAustriaafterSadowa.

Onthe27th,inthemidstofheavyfogs,theyreachedtheportofHeart"sContent.Theenterprisewassuccessfullyterminated;

andforitsfirstdespatch,youngAmericaaddressedoldEuropeinthesewordsofwisdom,sorarelyunderstood:"GlorytoGodinthehighest,andonearthpeace,goodwilltowardsmen."

Ididnotexpecttofindtheelectriccableinitsprimitivestate,suchasitwasonleavingthemanufactory.

Thelongserpent,coveredwiththeremainsofshells,bristlingwithforaminiferae,wasencrustedwithastrongcoatingwhichservedasaprotectionagainstallboringmolluscs.

Itlayquietlyshelteredfromthemotionsofthesea,andunderafavourablepressureforthetransmissionoftheelectricsparkwhichpassesfromEuropetoAmericain.32ofasecond.

Doubtlessthiscablewilllastforagreatlengthoftime,fortheyfindthatthegutta-perchacoveringisimprovedbythesea-water.Besides,onthislevel,sowellchosen,thecableisneversodeeplysubmergedastocauseittobreak.

TheNautilusfollowedittothelowestdepth,whichwasmorethan2,212fathoms,andthereitlaywithoutanyanchorage;andthenwereachedthespotwheretheaccidenthadtakenplacein1863.

Thebottomoftheoceanthenformedavalleyabout100

milesbroad,inwhichMontBlancmighthavebeenplacedwithoutitssummitappearingabovethewaves.Thisvalleyisclosedattheeastbyaperpendicularwallmorethan2,000yardshigh.

Wearrivedthereonthe28thofMay,andtheNautiluswasthennotmorethan120milesfromIreland.

WasCaptainNemogoingtolandontheBritishIsles?

No.Tomygreatsurprisehemadeforthesouth,oncemorecomingbacktowardsEuropeanseas.InroundingtheEmeraldIsle,foroneinstantIcaughtsightofCapeClear,andthelightwhichguidesthethousandsofvesselsleavingGlasgoworLiverpool.

Animportantquestionthenaroseinmymind.DidtheNautilusdareentangleitselfintheManche?NedLand,whohadre-appearedsincewehadbeennearingland,didnotceasetoquestionme.

HowcouldIanswer?CaptainNemoremindedinvisible.

AfterhavingshowntheCanadianaglimpseofAmericanshores,washegoingtoshowmethecoastofFrance?

ButtheNautiluswasstillgoingsouthward.Onthe30thofMay,itpassedinsightofLand"sEnd,betweentheextremepointofEnglandandtheScillyIsles,whichwerelefttostarboard.

IfwewishedtoentertheManche,hemustgostraighttotheeast.

Hedidnotdoso.

Duringthewholeofthe31stofMay,theNautilusdescribedaseriesofcirclesonthewater,whichgreatlyinterestedme.

Itseemedtobeseekingaspotithadsometroubleinfinding.

Atnoon,CaptainNemohimselfcametoworktheship"slog.

Hespokenowordtome,butseemedgloomierthanever.Whatcouldsaddenhimthus?WasithisproximitytoEuropeanshores?

Hadhesomerecollectionsofhisabandonedcountry?

Ifnot,whatdidhefeel?Remorseorregret?

Foralongwhilethisthoughthauntedmymind,andIhadakindofpresentimentthatbeforelongchancewouldbetraythecaptain"ssecrets.

Thenextday,the1stofJune,theNautiluscontinuedthesameprocess.

Itwasevidentlyseekingsomeparticularspotintheocean.

CaptainNemotookthesun"saltitudeashehaddonethedaybefore.

Theseawasbeautiful,theskyclear.Abouteightmilestotheeast,alargesteamvesselcouldbediscernedonthehorizon.

Noflagflutteredfromitsmast,andIcouldnotdiscoveritsnationality.Someminutesbeforethesunpassedthemeridian,CaptainNemotookhissextant,andwatchedwithgreatattention.

Theperfectrestofthewatergreatlyhelpedtheoperation.

TheNautiluswasmotionless;itneitherrollednorpitched.

Iwasontheplatformwhenthealtitudewastaken,andtheCaptainpronouncedthesewords:"Itishere."

Heturnedandwentbelow.Hadheseenthevesselwhichwaschangingitscourseandseemedtobenearingus?

Icouldnottell.Ireturnedtothesaloon.Thepanelsclosed,Iheardthehissingofthewaterinthereservoirs.

TheNautilusbegantosink,followingaverticalline,foritsscrewcommunicatednomotiontoit.Someminuteslateritstoppedatadepthofmorethan420fathoms,restingontheground.

Theluminousceilingwasdarkened,thenthepanelswereopened,andthroughtheglassIsawtheseabrilliantlyilluminatedbytheraysofourlanternforatleasthalfamileroundus.

Ilookedtotheportside,andsawnothingbutanimmensityofquietwaters.Buttostarboard,onthebottomappearedalargeprotuberance,whichatonceattractedmyattention.

Onewouldhavethoughtitaruinburiedunderacoatingofwhiteshells,muchresemblingacoveringofsnow.

Uponexaminingthemassattentively,Icouldrecognisetheever-thickeningformofavesselbareofitsmasts,whichmusthavesunk.Itcertainlybelongedtopasttimes.

Thiswreck,tobethusencrustedwiththelimeofthewater,mustalreadybeabletocountmanyyearspassedatthebottomoftheocean.

Whatwasthisvessel?WhydidtheNautilusvisititstomb?

Couldithavebeenaughtbutashipwreckwhichhaddrawnitunderthewater?

Iknewnotwhattothink,whennearmeinaslowvoiceIheardCaptainNemosay:

"AtonetimethisshipwascalledtheMarseillais.Itcarriedseventy-fourguns,andwaslaunchedin1762.In1778,the13thofAugust,commandedbyLaPoype-Vertrieux,itfoughtboldlyagainstthePreston.

In1779,onthe4thofJuly,itwasatthetakingofGrenada,withthesquadronofAdmiralEstaing.In1781,onthe5thofSeptember,ittookpartinthebattleofComtedeGrasse,inChesapeakeBay.

In1794,theFrenchRepublicchangeditsname.Onthe16thofApril,inthesameyear,itjoinedthesquadronofVillaretJoyeuse,atBrest,beingentrustedwiththeescortofacargoofcorncomingfromAmerica,underthecommandofAdmiralVanStebel.Onthe11thand12thPrairalofthesecondyear,thissquadronfellinwithanEnglishvessel.

Sir,to-dayisthe13thPrairal,thefirstofJune,1868.Itisnowseventy-fouryearsago,dayfordayonthisveryspot,inlatitude47@

24",longitude17@28",thatthisvessel,afterfightingheroically,losingitsthreemasts,withthewaterinitshold,andthethirdofitscrewdisabled,preferredsinkingwithits356sailorstosurrendering;

and,nailingitscolourstothepoop,disappearedunderthewavestothecryof`LonglivetheRepublic!""

"TheAvenger!"Iexclaimed.

"Yes,sir,theAvenger!Agoodname!"mutteredCaptainNemo,crossinghisarms.

CHAPTERXXI

AHECATOMB

Thewayofdescribingthisunlooked-forscene,thehistoryofthepatriotship,toldatfirstsocoldly,andtheemotionwithwhichthisstrangemanpronouncedthelastwords,thenameoftheAvenger,thesignificanceofwhichcouldnotescapeme,allimpresseditselfdeeplyonmymind.

MyeyesdidnotleavetheCaptain,who,withhishandstretchedouttosea,waswatchingwithaglowingeyethegloriouswreck.

PerhapsIwasnevertoknowwhohewas,fromwhencehecame,orwherehewasgoingto,butIsawthemanmove,andapartfromthesavant.ItwasnocommonmisanthropywhichhadshutCaptainNemoandhiscompanionswithintheNautilus,butahatred,eithermonstrousorsublime,whichtimecouldneverweaken.Didthishatredstillseekforvengeance?

Thefuturewouldsoonteachmethat.ButtheNautiluswasrisingslowlytothesurfaceofthesea,andtheformoftheAvengerdisappearedbydegreesfrommysight.

Soonaslightrollingtoldmethatwewereintheopenair.

Atthatmomentadullboomwasheard.IlookedattheCaptain.

Hedidnotmove.

"Captain?"saidI.

Hedidnotanswer.Ilefthimandmountedtheplatform.

ConseilandtheCanadianwerealreadythere.

"Wheredidthatsoundcomefrom?"Iasked.

"Itwasagunshot,"repliedNedLand.

IlookedinthedirectionofthevesselIhadalreadyseen.

ItwasnearingtheNautilus,andwecouldseethatitwasputtingonsteam.

Itwaswithinsixmilesofus.

"Whatisthatship,Ned?"

"Byitsrigging,andtheheightofitslowermasts,"saidtheCanadian,"Ibetsheisaship-of-war.Mayitreachus;and,ifnecessary,sinkthiscursedNautilus."

"FriendNed,"repliedConseil,"whatharmcanitdototheNautilus?

Canitattackitbeneaththewaves?Canitscannonadeusatthebottomofthesea?"

"Tellme,Ned,"saidI,"canyourecognisewhatcountryshebelongsto?"

TheCanadianknittedhiseyebrows,droppedhiseyelids,andscrewedupthecornersofhiseyes,andforafewmomentsfixedapiercinglookuponthevessel.

"No,sir,"hereplied;"Icannottellwhatnationshebelongsto,forsheshowsnocolours.ButIcandeclaresheisaman-of-war,foralongpennantfluttersfromhermainmast."

Foraquarterofanhourwewatchedtheshipwhichwassteamingtowardsus.Icouldnot,however,believethatshecouldseetheNautilusfromthatdistance;andstilllessthatshecouldknowwhatthissubmarineenginewas.SoontheCanadianinformedmethatshewasalarge,armoured,two-deckerram.

Athickblacksmokewaspouringfromhertwofunnels.

Herclosely-furledsailswerestoppedtoheryards.

Shehoistednoflagathermizzen-peak.Thedistancepreventedusfromdistinguishingthecoloursofherpennant,whichfloatedlikeathinribbon.Sheadvancedrapidly.

IfCaptainNemoallowedhertoapproach,therewasachanceofsalvationforus.

"Sir,"saidNedLand,"ifthatvesselpasseswithinamileofusIshallthrowmyselfintothesea,andIshouldadviseyoutodothesame."

IdidnotreplytotheCanadian"ssuggestion,butcontinuedwatchingtheship.WhetherEnglish,French,American,orRussian,shewouldbesuretotakeusinifwecouldonlyreachher.

Presentlyawhitesmokeburstfromtheforepartofthevessel;

somesecondsafter,thewater,agitatedbythefallofaheavybody,splashedthesternoftheNautilus,andshortlyafterwardsaloudexplosionstruckmyear.

"What!theyarefiringatus!"Iexclaimed.

"Sopleaseyou,sir,"saidNed,"theyhaverecognisedtheunicorn,andtheyarefiringatus."

"But,"Iexclaimed,"surelytheycanseethattherearemeninthecase?"

"Itis,perhaps,becauseofthat,"repliedNedLand,lookingatme.

Awholefloodoflightburstuponmymind.Doubtlesstheyknewnowhowtobelievethestoriesofthepretendedmonster.Nodoubt,onboardtheAbrahamLincoln,whentheCanadianstruckitwiththeharpoon,CommanderFarraguthadrecognisedinthesupposednarwhalasubmarinevessel,moredangerousthanasupernaturalcetacean.Yes,itmusthavebeenso;

andoneveryseatheywerenowseekingthisengineofdestruction.

Terribleindeed!if,aswesupposed,CaptainNemoemployedtheNautilusinworksofvengeance.Onthenightwhenwewereimprisonedinthatcell,inthemidstoftheIndianOcean,hadhenotattackedsomevessel?

Themanburiedinthecoralcemetery,hadhenotbeenavictimtotheshockcausedbytheNautilus?Yes,Irepeatit,itmustbeso.

OnepartofthemysteriousexistenceofCaptainNemohadbeenunveiled;

and,ifhisidentityhadnotbeenrecognised,atleast,thenationsunitedagainsthimwerenolongerhuntingachimericalcreature,butamanwhohadvowedadeadlyhatredagainstthem.

Alltheformidablepastrosebeforeme.Insteadofmeetingfriendsonboardtheapproachingship,wecouldonlyexpectpitilessenemies.

Buttheshotrattledaboutus.Someofthemstrucktheseaandricochetted,losingthemselvesinthedistance.ButnonetouchedtheNautilus.Thevesselwasnotmorethanthreemilesfromus.

Inspiteoftheseriouscannonade,CaptainNemodidnotappearontheplatform;but,ifoneoftheconicalprojectileshadstrucktheshelloftheNautilus,itwouldhavebeenfatal.TheCanadianthensaid,"Sir,wemustdoallwecantogetoutofthisdilemma.

Letussignalthem.Theywillthen,perhaps,understandthatwearehonestfolks."

NedLandtookhishandkerchieftowaveintheair;buthehadscarcelydisplayedit,whenhewasstruckdownbyanironhand,andfell,inspiteofhisgreatstrength,uponthedeck.

"Fool!"exclaimedtheCaptain,"doyouwishtobepiercedbythespuroftheNautilusbeforeitishurledatthisvessel?"

CaptainNemowasterribletohear;hewasstillmoreterribletosee.

Hisfacewasdeadlypale,withaspasmathisheart.Foraninstantitmusthaveceasedtobeat.Hispupilswerefearfullycontracted.

Hedidnotspeak,heroared,as,withhisbodythrownforward,hewrungtheCanadian"sshoulders.Then,leavinghim,andturningtotheshipofwar,whoseshotwasstillrainingaroundhim,heexclaimed,withapowerfulvoice,"Ah,shipofanaccursednation,youknowwhoIam!Idonotwantyourcolourstoknowyouby!

Look!andIwillshowyoumine!"

AndontheforepartoftheplatformCaptainNemounfurledablackflag,similartotheonehehadplacedattheSouthPole.

AtthatmomentashotstrucktheshelloftheNautilusobliquely,withoutpiercingit;and,reboundingneartheCaptain,waslostinthesea.

Heshruggedhisshoulders;and,addressingme,saidshortly,"Godown,youandyourcompanions,godown!"

"Sir,"Icried,"areyougoingtoattackthisvessel?"

"Sir,Iamgoingtosinkit."

"Youwillnotdothat?"

"Ishalldoit,"herepliedcoldly."AndIadviseyounottojudgeme,sir.Fatehasshownyouwhatyououghtnottohaveseen.

Theattackhasbegun;godown."

"Whatisthisvessel?"

"Youdonotknow?Verywell!somuchthebetter!

Itsnationalitytoyou,atleast,willbeasecret.Godown!"

Wecouldbutobey.AboutfifteenofthesailorssurroundedtheCaptain,lookingwithimplacablehatredatthevesselnearingthem.

Onecouldfeelthatthesamedesireofvengeanceanimatedeverysoul.

IwentdownatthemomentanotherprojectilestrucktheNautilus,andI

heardtheCaptainexclaim:

"Strike,madvessel!Showeryouruselessshot!Andthen,youwillnotescapethespuroftheNautilus.Butitisnotherethatyoushallperish!

IwouldnothaveyourruinsminglewiththoseoftheAvenger!"

Ireachedmyroom.TheCaptainandhissecondhadremainedontheplatform.

Thescrewwassetinmotion,andtheNautilus,movingwithspeed,wassoonbeyondthereachoftheship"sguns.Butthepursuitcontinued,andCaptainNemocontentedhimselfwithkeepinghisdistance.

Aboutfourintheafternoon,beingnolongerabletocontainmyimpatience,Iwenttothecentralstaircase.

Thepanelwasopen,andIventuredontotheplatform.

TheCaptainwasstillwalkingupanddownwithanagitatedstep.

Hewaslookingattheship,whichwasfiveorsixmilestoleeward.

Hewasgoingrounditlikeawildbeast,and,drawingiteastward,heallowedthemtopursue.Buthedidnotattack.

Perhapshestillhesitated?Iwishedtomediateoncemore.

ButIhadscarcelyspoken,whenCaptainNemoimposedsilence,saying:

"Iamthelaw,andIamthejudge!Iamtheoppressed,andthereistheoppressor!ThroughhimIhavelostallthatIloved,cherished,andvenerated——country,wife,children,father,andmother.

Isawallperish!AllthatIhateisthere!Saynomore!"

Icastalastlookattheman-of-war,whichwasputtingonsteam,andrejoinedNedandConseil.

"Wewillfly!"Iexclaimed.

"Good!"saidNed."Whatisthisvessel?"

"Idonotknow;but,whateveritis,itwillbesunkbeforenight.

Inanycase,itisbettertoperishwithit,thanbemadeaccomplicesinaretaliationthejusticeofwhichwecannotjudge."

"Thatismyopiniontoo,"saidNedLand,coolly."Letuswaitfornight."

Nightarrived.Deepsilencereignedonboard.

ThecompassshowedthattheNautilushadnotaltereditscourse.

Itwasonthesurface,rollingslightly.MycompanionsandI

resolvedtoflywhenthevesselshouldbenearenougheithertohearusortoseeus;forthemoon,whichwouldbefullintwoorthreedays,shonebrightly.Onceonboardtheship,ifwecouldnotpreventtheblowwhichthreatenedit,wecould,atleastwewould,doallthatcircumstanceswouldallow.

SeveraltimesIthoughttheNautiluswaspreparingforattack;

butCaptainNemocontentedhimselfwithallowinghisadversarytoapproach,andthenfledoncemorebeforeit.

Partofthenightpassedwithoutanyincident.Wewatchedtheopportunityforaction.Wespokelittle,forweweretoomuchmoved.

NedLandwouldhavethrownhimselfintothesea,butIforcedhimtowait.

Accordingtomyidea,theNautiluswouldattacktheshipatherwaterline,andthenitwouldnotonlybepossible,buteasytofly.

Atthreeinthemorning,fullofuneasiness,Imountedtheplatform.

CaptainNemohadnotleftit.Hewasstandingattheforepartnearhisflag,whichaslightbreezedisplayedabovehishead.Hedidnottakehiseyesfromthevessel.Theintensityofhislookseemedtoattract,andfascinate,anddrawitonwardmoresurelythanifhehadbeentowingit.

Themoonwasthenpassingthemeridian.Jupiterwasrisingintheeast.

Amidthispeacefulsceneofnature,skyandoceanrivalledeachotherintranquillity,theseaofferingtotheorbsofnightthefinestmirrortheycouldeverhaveinwhichtoreflecttheirimage.AsIthoughtofthedeepcalmoftheseelements,comparedwithallthosepassionsbroodingimperceptiblywithintheNautilus,Ishuddered.

Thevesselwaswithintwomilesofus.ItwasevernearingthatphosphorescentlightwhichshowedthepresenceoftheNautilus.