THEINDIANOCEAN
Wenowcometothesecondpartofourjourneyunderthesea.
Thefirstendedwiththemovingsceneinthecoralcemeterywhichleftsuchadeepimpressiononmymind.Thus,inthemidstofthisgreatsea,CaptainNemo\'slifewaspassing,eventohisgrave,whichhehadpreparedinoneofitsdeepestabysses.There,notoneoftheocean\'smonsterscouldtroublethelastsleepofthecrewoftheNautilus,ofthosefriendsrivetedtoeachotherindeathasinlife.
\"Noranyman,either,\"hadaddedtheCaptain.Stillthesamefierce,implacabledefiancetowardshumansociety!
IcouldnolongercontentmyselfwiththetheorywhichsatisfiedConseil.
ThatworthyfellowpersistedinseeingintheCommanderoftheNautilusoneofthoseunknownservantswhoreturnmankindcontemptforindifference.Forhim,hewasamisunderstoodgeniuswho,tiredofearth\'sdeceptions,hadtakenrefugeinthisinaccessiblemedium,wherehemightfollowhisinstinctsfreely.
Tomymind,thisexplainsbutonesideofCaptainNemo\'scharacter.
Indeed,themysteryofthatlastnightduringwhichwehadbeenchainedinprison,thesleep,andtheprecautionsoviolentlytakenbytheCaptainofsnatchingfrommyeyestheglassI
hadraisedtosweepthehorizon,themortalwoundoftheman,duetoanunaccountableshockoftheNautilus,allputmeonanewtrack.No;CaptainNemowasnotsatisfiedwithshunningman.
Hisformidableapparatusnotonlysuitedhisinstinctoffreedom,butperhapsalsothedesignofsometerribleretaliation.
Atthismomentnothingiscleartome;Icatchbutaglimpseoflightamidstallthedarkness,andImustconfinemyselftowritingaseventsshalldictate.
Thatday,the24thofJanuary,1868,atnoon,thesecondofficercametotakethealtitudeofthesun.Imountedtheplatform,litacigar,andwatchedtheoperation.ItseemedtomethatthemandidnotunderstandFrench;
forseveraltimesImaderemarksinaloudvoice,whichmusthavedrawnfromhimsomeinvoluntarysignofattention,ifhehadunderstoodthem;
butheremainedundisturbedanddumb.
Ashewastakingobservationswiththesextant,oneofthesailorsoftheNautilusthestrongmanwhohadaccompaniedusonourfirstsubmarineexcursiontotheIslandofCrespo
cametocleantheglassesofthelantern.Iexaminedthefittingsoftheapparatus,thestrengthofwhichwasincreasedahundredfoldbylenticularrings,placedsimilartothoseinalighthouse,andwhichprojectedtheirbrillianceinahorizontalplane.
Theelectriclampwascombinedinsuchawayastogiveitsmostpowerfullight.Indeed,itwasproducedinvacuo,whichinsuredbothitssteadinessanditsintensity.
Thisvacuumeconomisedthegraphitepointsbetweenwhichtheluminousarcwasdeveloped——animportantpointofeconomyforCaptainNemo,whocouldnoteasilyhavereplacedthem;
andundertheseconditionstheirwastewasimperceptible.
WhentheNautiluswasreadytocontinueitssubmarinejourney,Iwentdowntothesaloon.Thepanelwasclosed,andthecoursemarkeddirectwest.
WewerefurrowingthewatersoftheIndianOcean,avastliquidplain,withasurfaceof1,200,000,000ofacres,andwhosewatersaresoclearandtransparentthatanyoneleaningoverthemwouldturngiddy.
TheNautilususuallyfloatedbetweenfiftyandahundredfathomsdeep.
Wewentonsoforsomedays.Toanyonebutmyself,whohadagreatloveforthesea,thehourswouldhaveseemedlongandmonotonous;
butthedailywalksontheplatform,whenIsteepedmyselfintherevivingairoftheocean,thesightoftherichwatersthroughthewindowsofthesaloon,thebooksinthelibrary,thecompilingofmymemoirs,tookupallmytime,andleftmenotamomentofennuiorweariness.
Forsomedayswesawagreatnumberofaquaticbirds,sea-mewsorgulls.
Somewerecleverlykilledand,preparedinacertainway,madeveryacceptablewater-game.Amongstlarge-wingedbirds,carriedalongdistancefromalllandsandrestinguponthewavesfromthefatigueoftheirflight,Isawsomemagnificentalbatrosses,utteringdiscordantcrieslikethebrayingofanass,andbirdsbelongingtothefamilyofthelong-wings.
Astothefish,theyalwaysprovokedouradmirationwhenwesurprisedthesecretsoftheiraquaticlifethroughtheopenpanels.
IsawmanykindswhichIneverbeforehadachanceofobserving.
{3paragraphsaremissing}
Fromthe21sttothe23rdofJanuarytheNautiluswentattherateoftwohundredandfiftyleaguesintwenty-fourhours,beingfivehundredandfortymiles,ortwenty-twomilesanhour.
Ifwerecognisedsomanydifferentvarietiesoffish,itwasbecause,attractedbytheelectriclight,theytriedtofollowus;
thegreaterpart,however,weresoondistancedbyourspeed,thoughsomekepttheirplaceinthewatersoftheNautilusforatime.
Themorningofthe24th,in12@5\'S.lat.,and94@33\'
long.,weobservedKeelingIsland,acoralformation,plantedwithmagnificentcocos,andwhichhadbeenvisitedbyMr.DarwinandCaptainFitzroy.TheNautilusskirtedtheshoresofthisdesertislandforalittledistance.Itsnetsbroughtupnumerousspecimensofpolypiandcuriousshellsofmollusca.
{onesentencestrippedhere}
SoonKeelingIslanddisappearedfromthehorizon,andourcoursewasdirectedtothenorth-westinthedirectionoftheIndianPeninsula.
FromKeelingIslandourcoursewasslowerandmorevariable,oftentakingusintogreatdepths.Severaltimestheymadeuseoftheinclinedplanes,whichcertaininternalleversplacedobliquelytothewaterline.Inthatwaywewentabouttwomiles,butwithouteverobtainingthegreatestdepthsoftheIndianSea,whichsoundingsofseventhousandfathomshaveneverreached.
Astothetemperatureofthelowerstrata,thethermometerinvariablyindicated4@abovezero.Ionlyobservedthatintheupperregionsthewaterwasalwayscolderinthehighlevelsthanatthesurfaceofthesea.
Onthe25thofJanuarytheoceanwasentirelydeserted;theNautiluspassedthedayonthesurface,beatingthewaveswithitspowerfulscrewandmakingthemreboundtoagreatheight.Whoundersuchcircumstanceswouldnothavetakenitforagiganticcetacean?
ThreepartsofthisdayIspentontheplatform.Iwatchedthesea.
Nothingonthehorizon,tillaboutfouro\'clockasteamerrunningwestonourcounter.Hermastswerevisibleforaninstant,butshecouldnotseetheNautilus,beingtoolowinthewater.
IfanciedthissteamboatbelongedtotheP.O.Company,whichrunsfromCeylontoSydney,touchingatKingGeorge\'sPointandMelbourne.
Atfiveo\'clockintheevening,beforethatfleetingtwilightwhichbindsnighttodayintropicalzones,ConseilandI
wereastonishedbyacuriousspectacle.
Itwasashoalofargonautstravellingalongonthesurfaceoftheocean.
Wecouldcountseveralhundreds.TheybelongedtothetuberclekindwhicharepeculiartotheIndianseas.
Thesegracefulmolluscsmovedbackwardsbymeansoftheirlocomotivetube,throughwhichtheypropelledthewateralreadydrawnin.Oftheireighttentacles,sixwereelongated,andstretchedoutfloatingonthewater,whilsttheothertwo,rolledupflat,werespreadtothewinglikealightsail.
Isawtheirspiral-shapedandflutedshells,whichCuvierjustlycomparestoanelegantskiff.Aboatindeed!
Itbearsthecreaturewhichsecretesitwithoutitsadheringtoit.
FornearlyanhourtheNautilusfloatedinthemidstofthisshoalofmolluscs.ThenIknownotwhatsuddenfrighttheytook.
Butasifatasignaleverysailwasfurled,thearmsfolded,thebodydrawnin,theshellsturnedover,changingtheircentreofgravity,andthewholefleetdisappearedunderthewaves.
Neverdidtheshipsofasquadronmanoeuvrewithmoreunity.
Atthatmomentnightfellsuddenly,andthereeds,scarcelyraisedbythebreeze,laypeaceablyunderthesidesoftheNautilus.
Thenextday,26thofJanuary,wecuttheequatorattheeighty-secondmeridianandenteredthenorthernhemisphere.
Duringthedayaformidabletroopofsharksaccompaniedus,terriblecreatures,whichmultiplyintheseseasandmakethemverydangerous.Theywere\"cestraciophilippi\"sharks,withbrownbacksandwhitishbellies,armedwithelevenrowsofteeth——
eyedsharks——theirthroatbeingmarkedwithalargeblackspotsurroundedwithwhitelikeaneye.TherewerealsosomeIsabellasharks,withroundedsnoutsmarkedwithdarkspots.
Thesepowerfulcreaturesoftenhurledthemselvesatthewindowsofthesaloonwithsuchviolenceastomakeusfeelveryinsecure.
AtsuchtimesNedLandwasnolongermasterofhimself.
Hewantedtogotothesurfaceandharpoonthemonsters,particularlycertainsmooth-houndsharks,whosemouthisstuddedwithteethlikeamosaic;andlargetiger-sharksnearlysixyardslong,thelastnamedofwhichseemedtoexcitehimmoreparticularly.
ButtheNautilus,acceleratingherspeed,easilyleftthemostrapidofthembehind.
The27thofJanuary,attheentranceofthevastBayofBengal,wemetrepeatedlyaforbiddingspectacle,deadbodiesfloatingonthesurfaceofthewater.TheywerethedeadoftheIndianvillages,carriedbytheGangestothelevelofthesea,andwhichthevultures,theonlyundertakersofthecountry,hadnotbeenabletodevour.
Butthesharksdidnotfailtohelpthemattheirfuneralwork.
Aboutseveno\'clockintheevening,theNautilus,half-immersed,wassailinginaseaofmilk.Atfirstsighttheoceanseemedlactified.
Wasittheeffectofthelunarrays?No;forthemoon,scarcelytwodaysold,wasstilllyinghiddenunderthehorizonintheraysofthesun.
Thewholesky,thoughlitbythesiderealrays,seemedblackbycontrastwiththewhitenessofthewaters.
Conseilcouldnotbelievehiseyes,andquestionedmeastothecauseofthisstrangephenomenon.HappilyIwasabletoanswerhim.
\"Itiscalledamilksea,\"Iexplained.\"AlargeextentofwhitewaveletsoftentobeseenonthecoastsofAmboyna,andinthesepartsofthesea.\"
\"But,sir,\"saidConseil,\"canyoutellmewhatcausessuchaneffect?
forIsupposethewaterisnotreallyturnedintomilk.\"
\"No,myboy;andthewhitenesswhichsurprisesyouiscausedonlybythepresenceofmyriadsofinfusoria,asortofluminouslittleworm,gelatinousandwithoutcolour,ofthethicknessofahair,andwhoselengthisnotmorethanseven-thousandthsofaninch.
Theseinsectsadheretooneanothersometimesforseveralleagues.\"
\"Severalleagues!\"exclaimedConseil.
\"Yes,myboy;andyouneednottrytocomputethenumberoftheseinfusoria.
Youwillnotbeable,for,ifIamnotmistaken,shipshavefloatedonthesemilkseasformorethanfortymiles.\"
Towardsmidnighttheseasuddenlyresumeditsusualcolour;
butbehindus,eventothelimitsofthehorizon,theskyreflectedthewhitenedwaves,andforalongtimeseemedimpregnatedwiththevagueglimmeringsofanauroraborealis.
CHAPTERII
ANOVELPROPOSALOFCAPTAINNEMO\'S
Onthe28thofFebruary,whenatnoontheNautiluscametothesurfaceofthesea,in9@4\'N.lat.,therewaslandinsightabouteightmilestowestward.ThefirstthingInoticedwasarangeofmountainsabouttwothousandfeethigh,theshapesofwhichweremostcapricious.
Ontakingthebearings,IknewthatwewerenearingtheislandofCeylon,thepearlwhichhangsfromthelobeoftheIndianPeninsula.
CaptainNemoandhissecondappearedatthismoment.
TheCaptainglancedatthemap.Thenturningtome,said:
\"TheIslandofCeylon,notedforitspearl-fisheries.Wouldyouliketovisitoneofthem,M.Aronnax?\"
\"Certainly,Captain.\"
\"Well,thethingiseasy.Though,ifweseethefisheries,weshallnotseethefishermen.Theannualexportationhasnotyetbegun.
Nevermind,IwillgiveorderstomakefortheGulfofManaar,whereweshallarriveinthenight.\"
TheCaptainsaidsomethingtohissecond,whoimmediatelywentout.
SoontheNautilusreturnedtohernativeelement,andthemanometershowedthatshewasaboutthirtyfeetdeep.
\"Well,sir,\"saidCaptainNemo,\"youandyourcompanionsshallvisittheBankofManaar,andifbychancesomefishermanshouldbethere,weshallseehimatwork.\"
\"Agreed,Captain!\"
\"Bythebye,M.Aronnaxyouarenotafraidofsharks?\"
\"Sharks!\"exclaimedI.
Thisquestionseemedaveryhardone.
\"Well?\"continuedCaptainNemo.
\"Iadmit,Captain,thatIamnotyetveryfamiliarwiththatkindoffish.\"
\"Weareaccustomedtothem,\"repliedCaptainNemo,\"andintimeyouwillbetoo.However,weshallbearmed,andontheroadwemaybeabletohuntsomeofthetribe.
Itisinteresting.So,tillto-morrow,sir,andearly.\"
Thissaidinacarelesstone,CaptainNemoleftthesaloon.
Now,ifyouwereinvitedtohuntthebearinthemountainsofSwitzerland,whatwouldyousay?
\"Verywell!to-morrowwewillgoandhuntthebear.\"
IfyouwereaskedtohuntthelionintheplainsofAtlas,orthetigerintheIndianjungles,whatwouldyousay?
\"Ha!ha!itseemswearegoingtohuntthetigerorthelion!\"
Butwhenyouareinvitedtohuntthesharkinitsnaturalelement,youwouldperhapsreflectbeforeacceptingtheinvitation.
Asformyself,Ipassedmyhandovermyforehead,onwhichstoodlargedropsofcoldperspiration.\"Letusreflect,\"saidI,\"andtakeourtime.
Huntingottersinsubmarineforests,aswedidintheIslandofCrespo,willpass;butgoingupanddownatthebottomofthesea,whereoneisalmostcertaintomeetsharks,isquiteanotherthing!
Iknowwellthatincertaincountries,particularlyintheAndamanIslands,thenegroesneverhesitatetoattackthemwithadaggerinonehandandarunningnooseintheother;butIalsoknowthatfewwhoaffrontthosecreatureseverreturnalive.However,Iamnotanegro,andifIwereIthinkalittlehesitationinthiscasewouldnotbeill-timed.\"
AtthismomentConseilandtheCanadianentered,quitecomposed,andevenjoyous.Theyknewnotwhatawaitedthem.
\"Faith,sir,\"saidNedLand,\"yourCaptainNemo——thedeviltakehim!——
hasjustmadeusaverypleasantoffer.\"
\"Ah!\"saidI,\"youknow?\"
\"Ifagreeabletoyou,sir,\"interruptedConseil,\"thecommanderoftheNautilushasinvitedustovisitthemagnificentCeylonfisheriesto-morrow,inyourcompany;hediditkindly,andbehavedlikearealgentleman.\"
\"Hesaidnothingmore?\"
\"Nothingmore,sir,exceptthathehadalreadyspokentoyouofthislittlewalk.\"
\"Sir,\"saidConseil,\"wouldyougiveussomedetailsofthepearlfishery?\"
\"Astothefishingitself,\"Iasked,\"ortheincidents,which?\"
\"Onthefishing,\"repliedtheCanadian;\"beforeenteringupontheground,itisaswelltoknowsomethingaboutit.\"
\"Verywell;sitdown,myfriends,andIwillteachyou.\"
NedandConseilseatedthemselvesonanottoman,andthefirstthingtheCanadianaskedwas:
\"Sir,whatisapearl?\"
\"MyworthyNed,\"Ianswered,\"tothepoet,apearlisatearofthesea;
totheOrientals,itisadropofdewsolidified;totheladies,itisajewelofanoblongshape,ofabrilliancyofmother-of-pearlsubstance,whichtheywearontheirfingers,theirnecks,ortheirears;forthechemistitisamixtureofphosphateandcarbonateoflime,withalittlegelatine;
andlastly,fornaturalists,itissimplyamorbidsecretionoftheorganthatproducesthemother-of-pearlamongstcertainbivalves.\"
\"Branchofmolluscs,\"saidConseil.
\"Preciselyso,mylearnedConseil;and,amongstthesetestaceatheearshell,thetridacnae,theturbots,inaword,allthosewhichsecretemother-of-pearl,thatis,theblue,bluish,violet,orwhitesubstancewhichlinestheinterioroftheirshells,arecapableofproducingpearls.\"
\"Musselstoo?\"askedtheCanadian.
\"Yes,musselsofcertainwatersinScotland,Wales,Ireland,Saxony,Bohemia,andFrance.\"
\"Good!ForthefutureIshallpayattention,\"repliedtheCanadian.
\"But,\"Icontinued,\"theparticularmolluscwhichsecretesthepearlisthepearl-oyster.Thepearlisnothingbutaformationdepositedinaglobularform,eitheradheringtotheoyster-shellorburiedinthefoldsofthecreature.
Ontheshellitisfast:inthefleshitisloose;butalwayshasforakernelasmallhardsubstance,maybeabarrenegg,maybeagrainofsand,aroundwhichthepearlymatterdepositsitselfyearafteryearsuccessively,andbythinconcentriclayers.\"
{thisparagraphisedited}
\"Aremanypearlsfoundinthesameoyster?\"askedConseil.
\"Yes,myboy.Someareaperfectcasket.Oneoysterhasbeenmentioned,thoughIallowmyselftodoubtit,ashavingcontainednolessthanahundredandfiftysharks.\"
\"Ahundredandfiftysharks!\"exclaimedNedLand.
\"DidIsaysharks?\"saidIhurriedly.\"Imeanttosayahundredandfiftypearls.Sharkswouldnotbesense.\"
\"Certainlynot,\"saidConseil;\"butwillyoutellusnowbywhatmeanstheyextractthesepearls?\"
\"Theyproceedinvariousways.Whentheyadheretotheshell,thefishermenoftenpullthemoffwithpincers;butthemostcommonwayistolaytheoystersonmatsoftheseaweedwhichcoversthebanks.Thustheydieintheopenair;andattheendoftendaystheyareinaforwardstateofdecomposition.
Theyarethenplungedintolargereservoirsofsea-water;
thentheyareopenedandwashed.\"
\"Thepriceofthesepearlsvariesaccordingtotheirsize?\"askedConseil.
\"Notonlyaccordingtotheirsize,\"Ianswered,\"butalsoaccordingtotheirshape,theirwaterthatis,theircolour,andtheirlustre:
thatis,thatbrightanddiaperedsparklewhichmakesthemsocharmingtotheeye.Themostbeautifularecalledvirginpearls,orparagons.
Theyareformedaloneinthetissueofthemollusc,arewhite,oftenopaque,andsometimeshavethetransparencyofanopal;
theyaregenerallyroundoroval.Theroundaremadeintobracelets,theovalintopendants,and,beingmoreprecious,aresoldsingly.
Thoseadheringtotheshelloftheoysteraremoreirregularinshape,andaresoldbyweight.Lastly,inalowerorderareclassedthosesmallpearlsknownunderthenameofseed-pearls;theyaresoldbymeasure,andareespeciallyusedinembroideryforchurchornaments.\"
\"But,\"saidConseil,\"isthispearl-fisherydangerous?\"
\"No,\"Ianswered,quickly;\"particularlyifcertainprecautionsaretaken.\"
\"Whatdoesoneriskinsuchacalling?\"saidNedLand,\"theswallowingofsomemouthfulsofsea-water?\"
\"Asyousay,Ned.Bythebye,\"saidI,tryingtotakeCaptainNemo\'scarelesstone,\"areyouafraidofsharks,braveNed?\"
\"I!\"repliedtheCanadian;\"aharpoonerbyprofession?
Itismytradetomakelightofthem.\"
\"But,\"saidI,\"itisnotaquestionoffishingforthemwithaniron-swivel,hoistingthemintothevessel,cuttingofftheirtailswithablowofachopper,rippingthemup,andthrowingtheirheartintothesea!\"
\"Then,itisaquestionof——\"
\"Precisely.\"
\"Inthewater?\"
\"Inthewater.\"
\"Faith,withagoodharpoon!Youknow,sir,thesesharksareill-fashionedbeasts.Theyturnontheirbelliestoseizeyou,andinthattime——\"
NedLandhadawayofsaying\"seize\"whichmademybloodruncold.
\"Well,andyou,Conseil,whatdoyouthinkofsharks?\"
\"Me!\"saidConseil.\"Iwillbefrank,sir.\"
\"Somuchthebetter,\"thoughtI.
\"Ifyou,sir,meantofacethesharks,Idonotseewhyyourfaithfulservantshouldnotfacethemwithyou.\"
CHAPTERIII
APEARLOFTENMILLIONS
Thenextmorningatfouro\'clockIwasawakenedbythestewardwhomCaptainNemohadplacedatmyservice.
Irosehurriedly,dressed,andwentintothesaloon.
CaptainNemowasawaitingme.
\"M.Aronnax,\"saidhe,\"areyoureadytostart?\"
\"Iamready.\"
\"Thenpleasetofollowme.\"
\"Andmycompanions,Captain?\"
\"Theyhavebeentoldandarewaiting.\"
\"Arewenottoputonourdiver\'sdresses?\"askedI.
\"Notyet.IhavenotallowedtheNautilustocometoonearthiscoast,andwearesomedistancefromtheManaarBank;buttheboatisready,andwilltakeustotheexactpointofdisembarking,whichwillsaveusalongway.
Itcarriesourdivingapparatus,whichwewillputonwhenwebeginoursubmarinejourney.\"
CaptainNemoconductedmetothecentralstaircase,whichledontheplatform.NedandConseilwerealreadythere,delightedattheideaofthe\"pleasureparty\"whichwaspreparing.
FivesailorsfromtheNautilus,withtheiroars,waitedintheboat,whichhadbeenmadefastagainsttheside.
Thenightwasstilldark.Layersofcloudscoveredthesky,allowingbutfewstarstobeseen.Ilookedonthesidewherethelandlay,andsawnothingbutadarklineenclosingthreepartsofthehorizon,fromsouth-westtonorthwest.
TheNautilus,havingreturnedduringthenightupthewesterncoastofCeylon,wasnowwestofthebay,orrathergulf,formedbythemainlandandtheIslandofManaar.
There,underthedarkwaters,stretchedthepintadinebank,aninexhaustiblefieldofpearls,thelengthofwhichismorethantwentymiles.
CaptainNemo,NedLand,Conseil,andItookourplacesinthesternoftheboat.Themasterwenttothetiller;
hisfourcompanionsleanedontheiroars,thepainterwascastoff,andwesheeredoff.
Theboatwenttowardsthesouth;theoarsmendidnothurry.Inoticedthattheirstrokes,stronginthewater,onlyfollowedeachothereverytenseconds,accordingtothemethodgenerallyadoptedinthenavy.
Whilstthecraftwasrunningbyitsownvelocity,theliquiddropsstruckthedarkdepthsofthewavescrisplylikespatsofmeltedlead.
Alittlebillow,spreadingwide,gaveaslightrolltotheboat,andsomesamphirereedsflappedbeforeit.
Weweresilent.WhatwasCaptainNemothinkingof?Perhapsofthelandhewasapproaching,andwhichhefoundtooneartohim,contrarytotheCanadian\'sopinion,whothoughtittoofaroff.
AstoConseil,hewasmerelytherefromcuriosity.
Abouthalf-pastfivethefirsttintsonthehorizonshowedtheupperlineofcoastmoredistinctly.Flatenoughintheeast,itrosealittletothesouth.Fivemilesstilllaybetweenus,anditwasindistinctowingtothemistonthewater.
Atsixo\'clockitbecamesuddenlydaylight,withthatrapiditypeculiartotropicalregions,whichknowneitherdawnnortwilight.
Thesolarrayspiercedthecurtainofclouds,piledupontheeasternhorizon,andtheradiantorbroserapidly.
Isawlanddistinctly,withafewtreesscatteredhereandthere.
TheboatnearedManaarIsland,whichwasroundedtothesouth.
CaptainNemorosefromhisseatandwatchedthesea.
Atasignfromhimtheanchorwasdropped,butthechainscarcelyran,foritwaslittlemorethanayarddeep,andthisspotwasoneofthehighestpointsofthebankofpintadines.
\"Hereweare,M.Aronnax,\"saidCaptainNemo.
\"Youseethatenclosedbay?Here,inamonthwillbeassembledthenumerousfishingboatsoftheexporters,andthesearethewaterstheirdiverswillransacksoboldly.
Happily,thisbayiswellsituatedforthatkindoffishing.
Itisshelteredfromthestrongestwinds;theseaisneververyroughhere,whichmakesitfavourableforthediver\'swork.
Wewillnowputonourdresses,andbeginourwalk.\"
Ididnotanswer,and,whilewatchingthesuspectedwaves,beganwiththehelpofthesailorstoputonmyheavysea-dress.CaptainNemoandmycompanionswerealsodressing.
NoneoftheNautilusmenweretoaccompanyusonthisnewexcursion.
Soonwewereenvelopedtothethroatinindia-rubberclothing;
theairapparatusfixedtoourbacksbybraces.
AstotheRuhmkorffapparatus,therewasnonecessityforit.
Beforeputtingmyheadintothecoppercap,IhadaskedthequestionoftheCaptain.
\"Theywouldbeuseless,\"hereplied.\"Wearegoingtonogreatdepth,andthesolarrayswillbeenoughtolightourwalk.Besides,itwouldnotbeprudenttocarrytheelectriclightinthesewaters;
itsbrilliancymightattractsomeofthedangerousinhabitantsofthecoastmostinopportunely.\"
AsCaptainNemopronouncedthesewords,IturnedtoConseilandNedLand.
Butmytwofriendshadalreadyencasedtheirheadsinthemetalcap,andtheycouldneitherhearnoranswer.
OnelastquestionremainedtoaskofCaptainNemo.
\"Andourarms?\"askedI;\"ourguns?\"
\"Guns!Whatfor?Donotmountaineersattackthebearwithadaggerintheirhand,andisnotsteelsurerthanlead?
Hereisastrongblade;putitinyourbelt,andwestart.\"
Ilookedatmycompanions;theywerearmedlikeus,and,morethanthat,NedLandwasbrandishinganenormousharpoon,whichhehadplacedintheboatbeforeleavingtheNautilus.
Then,followingtheCaptain\'sexample,Iallowedmyselftobedressedintheheavycopperhelmet,andourreservoirsofairwereatonceinactivity.Aninstantafterwewerelanded,oneaftertheother,inabouttwoyardsofwateruponanevensand.
CaptainNemomadeasignwithhishand,andwefollowedhimbyagentledeclivitytillwedisappearedunderthewaves.
{3paragraphsmissing}
Ataboutseveno\'clockwefoundourselvesatlastsurveyingtheoyster-banksonwhichthepearl-oystersarereproducedbymillions.
CaptainNemopointedwithhishandtotheenormousheapofoysters;
andIcouldwellunderstandthatthisminewasinexhaustible,forNature\'screativepowerisfarbeyondman\'sinstinctofdestruction.
NedLand,faithfultohisinstinct,hastenedtofillanetwhichhecarriedbyhissidewithsomeofthefinestspecimens.
Butwecouldnotstop.WemustfollowtheCaptain,whoseemedtoguidehimselfbypathsknownonlytohimself.
Thegroundwassensiblyrising,andsometimes,onholdingupmyarm,itwasabovethesurfaceofthesea.
Thenthelevelofthebankwouldsinkcapriciously.
Oftenweroundedhighrocksscarpedintopyramids.
Intheirdarkfractureshugecrustacea,perchedupontheirhighclawslikesomewar-machine,watcheduswithfixedeyes,andunderourfeetcrawledvariouskindsofannelides.
Atthismomentthereopenedbeforeusalargegrottoduginapicturesqueheapofrocksandcarpetedwithallthethickwarpofthesubmarineflora.
Atfirstitseemedverydarktome.Thesolarraysseemedtobeextinguishedbysuccessivegradations,untilitsvaguetransparencybecamenothingmorethandrownedlight.CaptainNemoentered;wefollowed.
Myeyessoonaccustomedthemselvestothisrelativestateofdarkness.
Icoulddistinguishthearchesspringingcapriciouslyfromnaturalpillars,standingbroadupontheirgranitebase,liketheheavycolumnsofTuscanarchitecture.Whyhadourincomprehensibleguideledustothebottomofthissubmarinecrypt?Iwassoontoknow.Afterdescendingarathersharpdeclivity,ourfeettrodthebottomofakindofcircularpit.
ThereCaptainNemostopped,andwithhishandindicatedanobjectI
hadnotyetperceived.Itwasanoysterofextraordinarydimensions,agigantictridacne,agobletwhichcouldhavecontainedawholelakeofholy-water,abasinthebreadthofwhichwasmorethantwoyardsandahalf,andconsequentlylargerthanthatornamentingthesaloonoftheNautilus.
Iapproachedthisextraordinarymollusc.Itadheredbyitsfilamentstoatableofgranite,andthere,isolated,itdevelopeditselfinthecalmwatersofthegrotto.Iestimatedtheweightofthistridacneat600lb.
Suchanoysterwouldcontain30lb.ofmeat;andonemusthavethestomachofaGargantuatodemolishsomedozensofthem.
CaptainNemowasevidentlyacquaintedwiththeexistenceofthisbivalve,andseemedtohaveaparticularmotiveinverifyingtheactualstateofthistridacne.Theshellswerealittleopen;theCaptaincamenearandputhisdaggerbetweentopreventthemfromclosing;thenwithhishandheraisedthemembranewithitsfringededges,whichformedacloakforthecreature.There,betweenthefoldedplaits,Isawaloosepearl,whosesizeequalledthatofacoco-nut.Itsglobularshape,perfectclearness,andadmirablelustremadeitaltogetherajewelofinestimablevalue.
Carriedawaybymycuriosity,Istretchedoutmyhandtoseizeit,weighit,andtouchit;buttheCaptainstoppedme,madeasignofrefusal,andquicklywithdrewhisdagger,andthetwoshellsclosedsuddenly.
IthenunderstoodCaptainNemo\'sintention.Inleavingthispearlhiddeninthemantleofthetridacnehewasallowingittogrowslowly.
Eachyearthesecretionsofthemolluscwouldaddnewconcentriccircles.
IestimateditsvalueatL500,000atleast.
AftertenminutesCaptainNemostoppedsuddenly.
Ithoughthehadhaltedpreviouslytoreturning.No;byagesturehebadeuscrouchbesidehiminadeepfractureoftherock,hishandpointedtoonepartoftheliquidmass,whichIwatchedattentively.
Aboutfiveyardsfrommeashadowappeared,andsanktotheground.
Thedisquietingideaofsharksshotthroughmymind,butIwasmistaken;
andonceagainitwasnotamonsteroftheoceanthatwehadanythingtodowith.
Itwasaman,alivingman,anIndian,afisherman,apoordevilwho,Isuppose,hadcometogleanbeforetheharvest.
Icouldseethebottomofhiscanoeanchoredsomefeetabovehishead.
Hedivedandwentupsuccessively.Astoneheldbetweenhisfeet,cutintheshapeofasugarloaf,whilstaropefastenedhimtohisboat,helpedhimtodescendmorerapidly.Thiswasallhisapparatus.
Reachingthebottom,aboutfiveyardsdeep,hewentonhiskneesandfilledhisbagwithoysterspickedupatrandom.Thenhewentup,emptiedit,pulleduphisstone,andbegantheoperationoncemore,whichlastedthirtyseconds.
Thediverdidnotseeus.Theshadowoftherockhidusfromsight.
AndhowshouldthispoorIndianeverdreamthatmen,beingslikehimself,shouldbethereunderthewaterwatchinghismovementsandlosingnodetailofthefishing?Severaltimeshewentupinthisway,anddivedagain.
Hedidnotcarryawaymorethantenateachplunge,forhewasobligedtopullthemfromthebanktowhichtheyadheredbymeansoftheirstrongbyssus.
Andhowmanyofthoseoystersforwhichheriskedhislifehadnopearlinthem!Iwatchedhimclosely;hismanoeuvreswereregular;andforthespaceofhalfanhournodangerappearedtothreatenhim.
Iwasbeginningtoaccustommyselftothesightofthisinterestingfishing,whensuddenly,astheIndianwasontheground,Isawhimmakeagestureofterror,rise,andmakeaspringtoreturntothesurfaceofthesea.
Iunderstoodhisdread.Agiganticshadowappearedjustabovetheunfortunatediver.Itwasasharkofenormoussizeadvancingdiagonally,hiseyesonfire,andhisjawsopen.
Iwasmutewithhorrorandunabletomove.
ThevoraciouscreatureshottowardstheIndian,whothrewhimselfononesidetoavoidtheshark\'sfins;butnotitstail,foritstruckhischestandstretchedhimontheground.
Thisscenelastedbutafewseconds:thesharkreturned,and,turningonhisback,preparedhimselfforcuttingtheIndianintwo,whenIsawCaptainNemorisesuddenly,andthen,daggerinhand,walkstraighttothemonster,readytofightfacetofacewithhim.
Theverymomentthesharkwasgoingtosnaptheunhappyfishermanintwo,heperceivedhisnewadversary,and,turningover,madestraighttowardshim.
IcanstillseeCaptainNemo\'sposition.Holdinghimselfwelltogether,hewaitedforthesharkwithadmirablecoolness;and,whenitrushedathim,threwhimselfononesidewithwonderfulquickness,avoidingtheshock,andburyinghisdaggerdeepintoitsside.Butitwasnotallover.
Aterriblecombatensued.
Thesharkhadseemedtoroar,ifImightsayso.Thebloodrushedintorrentsfromitswound.Theseawasdyedred,andthroughtheopaqueliquidIcoulddistinguishnothingmore.
Nothingmoreuntilthemomentwhen,likelightning,IsawtheundauntedCaptainhangingontooneofthecreature\'sfins,struggling,asitwere,handtohandwiththemonster,anddealingsuccessiveblowsathisenemy,yetstillunabletogiveadecisiveone.
Theshark\'sstrugglesagitatedthewaterwithsuchfurythattherockingthreatenedtoupsetme.
IwantedtogototheCaptain\'sassistance,but,nailedtothespotwithhorror,Icouldnotstir.
Isawthehaggardeye;Isawthedifferentphasesofthefight.
TheCaptainfelltotheearth,upsetbytheenormousmasswhichleantuponhim.Theshark\'sjawsopenedwide,likeapairoffactoryshears,anditwouldhavebeenalloverwiththeCaptain;but,quickasthought,harpooninhand,NedLandrushedtowardsthesharkandstruckitwithitssharppoint.
Thewaveswereimpregnatedwithamassofblood.Theyrockedundertheshark\'smovements,whichbeatthemwithindescribablefury.
NedLandhadnotmissedhisaim.Itwasthemonster\'sdeath-rattle.
Strucktotheheart,itstruggledindreadfulconvulsions,theshockofwhichoverthrewConseil.
ButNedLandhaddisentangledtheCaptain,who,gettingupwithoutanywound,wentstraighttotheIndian,quicklycutthecordwhichheldhimtohisstone,tookhiminhisarms,and,withasharpblowofhisheel,mountedtothesurface.
Weallthreefollowedinafewseconds,savedbyamiracle,andreachedthefisherman\'sboat.
CaptainNemo\'sfirstcarewastorecalltheunfortunatemantolifeagain.Ididnotthinkhecouldsucceed.
Ihopedso,forthepoorcreature\'simmersionwasnotlong;
buttheblowfromtheshark\'stailmighthavebeenhisdeath-blow.
Happily,withtheCaptain\'sandConseil\'ssharpfriction,Isawconsciousnessreturnbydegrees.Heopenedhiseyes.
Whatwashissurprise,histerroreven,atseeingfourgreatcopperheadsleaningoverhim!And,aboveall,whatmusthehavethoughtwhenCaptainNemo,drawingfromthepocketofhisdressabagofpearls,placeditinhishand!
ThismunificentcharityfromthemanofthewaterstothepoorCingalesewasacceptedwithatremblinghand.Hiswonderingeyesshowedthatheknewnottowhatsuper-humanbeingsheowedbothfortuneandlife.
AtasignfromtheCaptainweregainedthebank,and,followingtheroadalreadytraversed,cameinabouthalfanhourtotheanchorwhichheldthecanoeoftheNautilustotheearth.
Onceonboard,weeach,withthehelpofthesailors,gotridoftheheavycopperhelmet.
CaptainNemo\'sfirstwordwastotheCanadian.
\"Thankyou,MasterLand,\"saidhe.
\"Itwasinrevenge,Captain,\"repliedNedLand.
\"Iowedyouthat.\"
AghastlysmilepassedacrosstheCaptain\'slips,andthatwasall.
\"TotheNautilus,\"saidhe.
Theboatflewoverthewaves.Someminutesafterwemettheshark\'sdeadbodyfloating.Bytheblackmarkingoftheextremityofitsfins,IrecognisedtheterriblemelanopteronoftheIndianSeas,ofthespeciesofsharksoproperlycalled.Itwasmorethantwenty-fivefeetlong;
itsenormousmouthoccupiedone-thirdofitsbody.Itwasanadult,aswasknownbyitssixrowsofteethplacedinanisoscelestriangleintheupperjaw.
WhilstIwascontemplatingthisinertmass,adozenofthesevoraciousbeastsappearedroundtheboat;and,withoutnoticingus,threwthemselvesuponthedeadbodyandfoughtwithoneanotherforthepieces.
Athalf-pasteightwewereagainonboardtheNautilus.
ThereIreflectedontheincidentswhichhadtakenplaceinourexcursiontotheManaarBank.
TwoconclusionsImustinevitablydrawfromit——onebearingupontheunparalleledcourageofCaptainNemo,theotheruponhisdevotiontoahumanbeing,arepresentativeofthatracefromwhichhefledbeneaththesea.Whateverhemightsay,thisstrangemanhadnotyetsucceededinentirelycrushinghisheart.
WhenImadethisobservationtohim,heansweredinaslightlymovedtone:
\"ThatIndian,sir,isaninhabitantofanoppressedcountry;
andIamstill,andshallbe,tomylastbreath,oneofthem!\"
CHAPTERIV
THEREDSEA
Inthecourseofthedayofthe29thofJanuary,theislandofCeylondisappearedunderthehorizon,andtheNautilus,ataspeedoftwentymilesanhour,slidintothelabyrinthofcanalswhichseparatetheMaldivesfromtheLaccadives.
ItcoastedeventheIslandofKiltan,alandoriginallycoraline,discoveredbyVascodaGamain1499,andoneofthenineteenprincipalislandsoftheLaccadiveArchipelago,situatedbetween10@and14@30\'N.lat.,and69@50\'72\"E.long.
Wehadmade16,220miles,or7,500Frenchleaguesfromourstarting-pointintheJapaneseSeas.
Thenextday30thJanuary,whentheNautiluswenttothesurfaceoftheoceantherewasnolandinsight.
ItscoursewasN.N.E.,inthedirectionoftheSeaofOman,betweenArabiaandtheIndianPeninsula,whichservesasanoutlettothePersianGulf.Itwasevidentlyablockwithoutanypossibleegress.WherewasCaptainNemotakingusto?
Icouldnotsay.This,however,didnotsatisfytheCanadian,whothatdaycametomeaskingwhereweweregoing.
\"WearegoingwhereourCaptain\'sfancytakesus,MasterNed.\"
\"Hisfancycannottakeusfar,then,\"saidtheCanadian.
\"ThePersianGulfhasnooutlet:and,ifwedogoin,itwillnotbelongbeforeweareoutagain.\"
\"Verywell,then,wewillcomeoutagain,MasterLand;andif,afterthePersianGulf,theNautiluswouldliketovisittheRedSea,theStraitsofBab-el-mandebaretheretogiveusentrance.\"