\"Ineednottellyou,sir,\"saidNedLand,\"thattheRedSeaisasmuchclosedastheGulf,astheIsthmusofSuezisnotyetcut;and,ifitwas,aboatasmysteriousasourswouldnotriskitselfinacanalcutwithsluices.
Andagain,theRedSeaisnottheroadtotakeusbacktoEurope.\"
\"ButIneversaidweweregoingbacktoEurope.\"
\"Whatdoyousuppose,then?\"
\"Isupposethat,aftervisitingthecuriouscoastsofArabiaandEgypt,theNautiluswillgodowntheIndianOceanagain,perhapscrosstheChannelofMozambique,perhapsofftheMascarenhas,soastogaintheCapeofGoodHope.\"
\"AndonceattheCapeofGoodHope?\"askedtheCanadian,withpeculiaremphasis.
\"Well,weshallpenetrateintothatAtlanticwhichwedonotyetknow.
Ah!friendNed,youaregettingtiredofthisjourneyunderthesea;youaresurfeitedwiththeincessantlyvaryingspectacleofsubmarinewonders.
Formypart,Ishallbesorrytoseetheendofavoyagewhichitisgiventosofewmentomake.\"
Forfourdays,tillthe3rdofFebruary,theNautilusscouredtheSeaofOman,atvariousspeedsandatvariousdepths.
Itseemedtogoatrandom,asifhesitatingastowhichroaditshouldfollow,butweneverpassedtheTropicofCancer.
InquittingthisseawesightedMuscatforaninstant,oneofthemostimportanttownsofthecountryofOman.
Iadmireditsstrangeaspect,surroundedbyblackrocksuponwhichitswhitehousesandfortsstoodinrelief.
Isawtheroundeddomesofitsmosques,theelegantpointsofitsminarets,itsfreshandverdantterraces.Butitwasonlyavision!TheNautilussoonsankunderthewavesofthatpartofthesea.
WepassedalongtheArabiancoastofMahrahandHadramaut,foradistanceofsixmiles,itsundulatinglineofmountainsbeingoccasionallyrelievedbysomeancientruin.
The5thofFebruaryweatlastenteredtheGulfofAden,aperfectfunnelintroducedintotheneckofBab-el-mandeb,throughwhichtheIndianwatersenteredtheRedSea.
The6thofFebruary,theNautilusfloatedinsightofAden,percheduponapromontorywhichanarrowisthmusjoinstothemainland,akindofinaccessibleGibraltar,thefortificationsofwhichwererebuiltbytheEnglishaftertakingpossessionin1839.
Icaughtaglimpseoftheoctagonminaretsofthistown,whichwasatonetimetherichestcommercialmagazineonthecoast.
IcertainlythoughtthatCaptainNemo,arrivedatthispoint,wouldbackoutagain;butIwasmistaken,forhedidnosuchthing,muchtomysurprise.
Thenextday,the7thofFebruary,weenteredtheStraitsofBab-el-mandeb,thenameofwhich,intheArabtongue,meansTheGateofTears.
Totwentymilesinbreadth,itisonlythirty-twoinlength.
AndfortheNautilus,startingatfullspeed,thecrossingwasscarcelytheworkofanhour.ButIsawnothing,noteventheIslandofPerim,withwhichtheBritishGovernmenthasfortifiedthepositionofAden.
ThereweretoomanyEnglishorFrenchsteamersofthelineofSueztoBombay,CalcuttatoMelbourne,andfromBourbontotheMauritius,furrowingthisnarrowpassage,fortheNautilustoventuretoshowitself.
Soitremainedprudentlybelow.Atlastaboutnoon,wewereinthewatersoftheRedSea.
IwouldnotevenseektounderstandthecapricewhichhaddecidedCaptainNemouponenteringthegulf.ButIquiteapprovedoftheNautilusenteringit.
Itsspeedwaslessened:sometimesitkeptonthesurface,sometimesitdivedtoavoidavessel,andthusIwasabletoobservetheupperandlowerpartsofthiscurioussea.
The8thofFebruary,fromthefirstdawnofday,Mochacameinsight,nowaruinedtown,whosewallswouldfallatagunshot,yetwhichsheltershereandtheresomeverdantdate-trees;
onceanimportantcity,containingsixpublicmarkets,andtwenty-sixmosques,andwhosewalls,defendedbyfourteenforts,formedagirdleoftwomilesincircumference.
TheNautilusthenapproachedtheAfricanshore,wherethedepthoftheseawasgreater.There,betweentwowatersclearascrystal,throughtheopenpanelswewereallowedtocontemplatethebeautifulbushesofbrilliantcoralandlargeblocksofrockclothedwithasplendidfurofgreenvarietyofsitesandlandscapesalongthesesandbanksandalgaeandfuci.
Whatanindescribablespectacle,andwhatvarietyofsitesandlandscapesalongthesesandbanksandvolcanicislandswhichboundtheLibyancoast!
Butwheretheseshrubsappearedinalltheirbeautywasontheeasterncoast,whichtheNautilussoongained.ItwasonthecoastofTehama,fortherenotonlydidthisdisplayofzoophytesflourishbeneaththelevelofthesea,buttheyalsoformedpicturesqueinterlacingswhichunfoldedthemselvesaboutsixtyfeetabovethesurface,morecapriciousbutlesshighlycolouredthanthosewhosefreshnesswaskeptupbythevitalpowerofthewaters.
WhatcharminghoursIpassedthusatthewindowofthesaloon!
WhatnewspecimensofsubmarinefloraandfaunadidIadmireunderthebrightnessofourelectriclantern!
The9thofFebruarytheNautilusfloatedinthebroadestpartoftheRedSea,whichiscomprisedbetweenSouakin,onthewestcoast,andKomfidah,ontheeastcoast,withadiameterofninetymiles.
Thatdayatnoon,afterthebearingsweretaken,CaptainNemomountedtheplatform,whereIhappenedtobe,andIwasdeterminednottolethimgodownagainwithoutatleastpressinghimregardinghisulteriorprojects.
Assoonashesawmeheapproachedandgraciouslyofferedmeacigar.
\"Well,sir,doesthisRedSeapleaseyou?Haveyousufficientlyobservedthewondersitcovers,itsfishes,itszoophytes,itsparterresofsponges,anditsforestsofcoral?
Didyoucatchaglimpseofthetownsonitsborders?\"
\"Yes,CaptainNemo,\"Ireplied;\"andtheNautilusiswonderfullyfittedforsuchastudy.Ah!itisanintelligentboat!\"
\"Yes,sir,intelligentandinvulnerable.ItfearsneithertheterribletempestsoftheRedSea,noritscurrents,noritssandbanks.\"
\"Certainly,\"saidI,\"thisseaisquotedasoneoftheworst,andinthetimeoftheancients,ifIamnotmistaken,itsreputationwasdetestable.\"
\"Detestable,M.Aronnax.TheGreekandLatinhistoriansdonotspeakfavourablyofit,andStrabosaysitisverydangerousduringtheEtesianwindsandintherainyseason.
TheArabianEdrisiportraysitunderthenameoftheGulfofColzoum,andrelatesthatvesselsperishedthereingreatnumbersonthesandbanksandthatnoonewouldrisksailinginthenight.
Itis,hepretends,aseasubjecttofearfulhurricanes,strewnwithinhospitableislands,and`whichoffersnothinggoodeitheronitssurfaceorinitsdepths.\'\"
\"Onemaysee,\"Ireplied,\"thatthesehistoriansneversailedonboardtheNautilus.\"
\"Justso,\"repliedtheCaptain,smiling;\"andinthatrespectmodernsarenotmoreadvancedthantheancients.Itrequiredmanyagestofindoutthemechanicalpowerofsteam.Whoknowsif,inanotherhundredyears,wemaynotseeasecondNautilus?
Progressisslow,M.Aronnax.\"
\"Itistrue,\"Ianswered;\"yourboatisatleastacenturybeforeitstime,perhapsanera.Whatamisfortunethatthesecretofsuchaninventionshoulddiewithitsinventor!\"
CaptainNemodidnotreply.Aftersomeminutes\'silencehecontinued:
\"YouwerespeakingoftheopinionsofancienthistoriansuponthedangerousnavigationoftheRedSea.\"
\"Itistrue,\"saidI;\"butwerenottheirfearsexaggerated?\"
\"Yesandno,M.Aronnax,\"repliedCaptainNemo,whoseemedtoknowtheRedSeabyheart.\"Thatwhichisnolongerdangerousforamodernvessel,wellrigged,stronglybuilt,andmasterofitsowncourse,thankstoobedientsteam,offeredallsortsofperilstotheshipsoftheancients.
Picturetoyourselfthosefirstnavigatorsventuringinshipsmadeofplankssewnwiththecordsofthepalmtree,saturatedwiththegreaseoftheseadog,andcoveredwithpowderedresin!
Theyhadnoteveninstrumentswherewithtotaketheirbearings,andtheywentbyguessamongstcurrentsofwhichtheyscarcelyknewanything.
Undersuchconditionsshipwreckswere,andmusthavebeen,numerous.
Butinourtime,steamersrunningbetweenSuezandtheSouthSeashavenothingmoretofearfromthefuryofthisgulf,inspiteofcontrarytrade-winds.Thecaptainandpassengersdonotpreparefortheirdeparturebyofferingpropitiatorysacrifices;and,ontheirreturn,theynolongergoornamentedwithwreathsandgiltfilletstothankthegodsintheneighbouringtemple.\"
\"Iagreewithyou,\"saidI;\"andsteamseemstohavekilledallgratitudeintheheartsofsailors.But,Captain,sinceyouseemtohaveespeciallystudiedthissea,canyoutellmetheoriginofitsname?\"
\"Thereexistseveralexplanationsonthesubject,M.Aronnax.
Wouldyouliketoknowtheopinionofachroniclerofthefourteenthcentury?\"
\"Willingly.\"
\"ThisfancifulwriterpretendsthatitsnamewasgiventoitafterthepassageoftheIsraelites,whenPharaohperishedinthewaveswhichclosedatthevoiceofMoses.\"
\"Apoet\'sexplanation,CaptainNemo,\"Ireplied;\"butIcannotcontentmyselfwiththat.Iaskyouforyourpersonalopinion.\"
\"Hereitis,M.Aronnax.Accordingtomyidea,wemustseeinthisappellationoftheRedSeaatranslationoftheHebrewword`Edom\';andiftheancientsgaveitthatname,itwasonaccountoftheparticularcolourofitswaters.\"
\"ButuptothistimeIhaveseennothingbuttransparentwavesandwithoutanyparticularcolour.\"
\"Verylikely;butasweadvancetothebottomofthegulf,youwillseethissingularappearance.IrememberseeingtheBayofTorentirelyred,likeaseaofblood.\"
\"Andyouattributethiscolourtothepresenceofamicroscopicseaweed?\"
\"Yes.\"
\"So,CaptainNemo,itisnotthefirsttimeyouhaveoverruntheRedSeaonboardtheNautilus?\"
\"No,sir.\"
\"AsyouspokeawhileagoofthepassageoftheIsraelitesandofthecatastrophetotheEgyptians,Iwillaskwhetheryouhavemetwiththetracesunderthewaterofthisgreathistoricalfact?\"
\"No,sir;andforagoodreason.\"
\"Whatisit?\"
\"ItisthatthespotwhereMosesandhispeoplepassedisnowsoblockedupwithsandthatthecamelscanbarelybathetheirlegsthere.
YoucanwellunderstandthattherewouldnotbewaterenoughformyNautilus.\"
\"Andthespot?\"Iasked.
\"ThespotissituatedalittleabovetheIsthmusofSuez,inthearmwhichformerlymadeadeepestuary,whentheRedSeaextendedtotheSaltLakes.Now,whetherthispassageweremiraculousornot,theIsraelites,nevertheless,crossedtheretoreachthePromisedLand,andPharaoh\'sarmyperishedpreciselyonthatspot;andIthinkthatexcavationsmadeinthemiddleofthesandwouldbringtolightalargenumberofarmsandinstrumentsofEgyptianorigin.\"
\"Thatisevident,\"Ireplied;\"andforthesakeofarchaeologistsletushopethattheseexcavationswillbemadesoonerorlater,whennewtownsareestablishedontheisthmus,aftertheconstructionoftheSuezCanal;
acanal,however,veryuselesstoavesselliketheNautilus.\"
\"Verylikely;butusefultothewholeworld,\"saidCaptainNemo.
\"TheancientswellunderstoodtheutilityofacommunicationbetweentheRedSeaandtheMediterraneanfortheircommercialaffairs:
buttheydidnotthinkofdiggingacanaldirect,andtooktheNileasanintermediate.VeryprobablythecanalwhichunitedtheNiletotheRedSeawasbegunbySesostris,ifwemaybelievetradition.
Onethingiscertain,thatintheyear615beforeJesusChrist,NecosundertooktheworksofanalimentarycanaltothewatersoftheNileacrosstheplainofEgypt,lookingtowardsArabia.
Ittookfourdaystogoupthiscanal,anditwassowidethattwotriremescouldgoabreast.ItwascarriedonbyDarius,thesonofHystaspes,andprobablyfinishedbyPtolemyII.
Strabosawitnavigated:butitsdeclinefromthepointofdeparture,nearBubastes,totheRedSeawassoslightthatitwasonlynavigableforafewmonthsintheyear.
ThiscanalansweredallcommercialpurposestotheageofAntonius,whenitwasabandonedandblockedupwithsand.
RestoredbyorderoftheCaliphOmar,itwasdefinitelydestroyedin761or762byCaliphAl-Mansor,whowishedtopreventthearrivalofprovisionstoMohammed-ben-Abdallah,whohadrevoltedagainsthim.
DuringtheexpeditionintoEgypt,yourGeneralBonapartediscoveredtracesoftheworksintheDesertofSuez;and,surprisedbythetide,henearlyperishedbeforeregainingHadjaroth,attheveryplacewhereMoseshadencampedthreethousandyearsbeforehim.\"
\"Well,Captain,whattheancientsdarednotundertake,thisjunctionbetweenthetwoseas,whichwillshortentheroadfromCadiztoIndia,M.Lessepshassucceededindoing;andbeforelonghewillhavechangedAfricaintoanimmenseisland.\"
\"Yes,M.Aronnax;youhavetherighttobeproudofyourcountryman.
Suchamanbringsmorehonourtoanationthangreatcaptains.
Hebegan,likesomanyothers,withdisgustandrebuffs;
buthehastriumphed,forhehasthegeniusofwill.
Anditissadtothinkthataworklikethat,whichoughttohavebeenaninternationalworkandwhichwouldhavesufficedtomakeareignillustrious,shouldhavesucceededbytheenergyofoneman.
AllhonourtoM.Lesseps!\"
\"Yes!honourtothegreatcitizen,\"Ireplied,surprisedbythemannerinwhichCaptainNemohadjustspoken.
\"Unfortunately,\"hecontinued,\"IcannottakeyouthroughtheSuezCanal;
butyouwillbeabletoseethelongjettyofPortSaidafterto-morrow,whenweshallbeintheMediterranean.\"
\"TheMediterranean!\"Iexclaimed.
\"Yes,sir;doesthatastonishyou?\"
\"Whatastonishesmeistothinkthatweshallbetherethedayafterto-morrow.\"
\"Indeed?\"
\"Yes,Captain,althoughbythistimeIoughttohaveaccustomedmyselftobesurprisedatnothingsinceIhavebeenonboardyourboat.\"
\"Butthecauseofthissurprise?\"
\"Well!itisthefearfulspeedyouwillhavetoputontheNautilus,ifthedayafterto-morrowsheistobeintheMediterranean,havingmadetheroundofAfrica,anddoubledtheCapeofGoodHope!\"
\"WhotoldyouthatshewouldmaketheroundofAfricaanddoubletheCapeofGoodHope,sir?\"
\"Well,unlesstheNautilussailsondryland,andpassesabovetheisthmus——\"
\"Orbeneathit,M.Aronnax.\"
\"Beneathit?\"
\"Certainly,\"repliedCaptainNemoquietly.\"AlongtimeagoNaturemadeunderthistongueoflandwhatmanhasthisdaymadeonitssurface.\"
\"What!suchapassageexists?\"
\"Yes;asubterraneanpassage,whichIhavenamedtheArabianTunnel.
IttakesusbeneathSuezandopensintotheGulfofPelusium.\"
\"Butthisisthmusiscomposedofnothingbutquicksands?\"
\"Toacertaindepth.Butatfifty-fiveyardsonlythereisasolidlayerofrock.\"
\"Didyoudiscoverthispassagebychance?\"Iaskedmoreandmoresurprised.
\"Chanceandreasoning,sir;andbyreasoningevenmorethanbychance.
Notonlydoesthispassageexist,butIhaveprofitedbyitseveraltimes.
WithoutthatIshouldnothaveventuredthisdayintotheimpassableRedSea.
InoticedthatintheRedSeaandintheMediterraneanthereexistedacertainnumberoffishesofakindperfectlyidentical.Certainofthefact,Iaskedmyselfwasitpossiblethattherewasnocommunicationbetweenthetwoseas?
Iftherewas,thesubterraneancurrentmustnecessarilyrunfromtheRedSeatotheMediterranean,fromthesolecauseofdifferenceoflevel.
IcaughtalargenumberoffishesintheneighbourhoodofSuez.
Ipassedacopperringthroughtheirtails,andthrewthembackintothesea.
Somemonthslater,onthecoastofSyria,Icaughtsomeofmyfishornamentedwiththering.Thusthecommunicationbetweenthetwowasproved.
IthensoughtforitwithmyNautilus;Idiscoveredit,venturedintoit,andbeforelong,sir,youtoowillhavepassedthroughmyArabiantunnel!\"
CHAPTERV
THEARABIANTUNNEL
Thatsameevening,in21@30\'N.lat.,theNautilusfloatedonthesurfaceofthesea,approachingtheArabiancoast.
IsawDjeddah,themostimportantcounting-houseofEgypt,Syria,Turkey,andIndia.Idistinguishedclearlyenoughitsbuildings,thevesselsanchoredatthequays,andthosewhosedraughtofwaterobligedthemtoanchorintheroads.Thesun,ratherlowonthehorizon,struckfullonthehousesofthetown,bringingouttheirwhiteness.Outside,somewoodencabins,andsomemadeofreeds,showedthequarterinhabitedbytheBedouins.
SoonDjeddahwasshutoutfromviewbytheshadowsofnight,andtheNautilusfoundherselfunderwaterslightlyphosphorescent.
Thenextday,the10thofFebruary,wesightedseveralshipsrunningtowindward.TheNautilusreturnedtoitssubmarinenavigation;
butatnoon,whenherbearingsweretaken,theseabeingdeserted,sheroseagaintoherwaterline.
AccompaniedbyNedandConseil,Iseatedmyselfontheplatform.
Thecoastontheeasternsidelookedlikeamassfaintlyprinteduponadampfog.
Wewereleaningonthesidesofthepinnace,talkingofonethingandanother,whenNedLand,stretchingouthishandtowardsaspotonthesea,said:
\"Doyouseeanythingthere,sir?\"
\"No,Ned,\"Ireplied;\"butIhavenotyoureyes,youknow.\"
\"Lookwell,\"saidNed,\"there,onthestarboardbeam,abouttheheightofthelantern!Doyounotseeamasswhichseemstomove?\"
\"Certainly,\"saidI,aftercloseattention;\"Iseesomethinglikealongblackbodyonthetopofthewater.\"
Andcertainlybeforelongtheblackobjectwasnotmorethanamilefromus.Itlookedlikeagreatsandbankdepositedintheopensea.
Itwasagiganticdugong!
NedLandlookedeagerly.Hiseyesshonewithcovetousnessatthesightoftheanimal.Hishandseemedreadytoharpoonit.
Onewouldhavethoughthewasawaitingthemomenttothrowhimselfintotheseaandattackitinitselement.
AtthisinstantCaptainNemoappearedontheplatform.
Hesawthedugong,understoodtheCanadian\'sattitude,and,addressinghim,said:
\"Ifyouheldaharpoonjustnow,MasterLand,woulditnotburnyourhand?\"
\"Justso,sir.\"
\"Andyouwouldnotbesorrytogoback,foroneday,toyourtradeofafishermanandtoaddthiscetaceantothelistofthoseyouhavealreadykilled?\"
\"Ishouldnot,sir.\"
\"Well,youcantry.\"
\"Thankyou,sir,\"saidNedLand,hiseyesflaming.
\"Only,\"continuedtheCaptain,\"Iadviseyouforyourownsakenottomissthecreature.\"
\"Isthedugongdangeroustoattack?\"Iasked,inspiteoftheCanadian\'sshrugoftheshoulders.
\"Yes,\"repliedtheCaptain;\"sometimestheanimalturnsuponitsassailantsandoverturnstheirboat.
ButforMasterLandthisdangerisnottobefeared.
Hiseyeisprompt,hisarmsure.\"
Atthismomentsevenmenofthecrew,muteandimmovableasever,mountedtheplatform.Onecarriedaharpoonandalinesimilartothoseemployedincatchingwhales.Thepinnacewasliftedfromthebridge,pulledfromitssocket,andletdownintothesea.
Sixoarsmentooktheirseats,andthecoxswainwenttothetiller.
Ned,Conseil,andIwenttothebackoftheboat.
\"Youarenotcoming,Captain?\"Iasked.
\"No,sir;butIwishyougoodsport.\"
Theboatputoff,and,liftedbythesixrowers,drewrapidlytowardsthedugong,whichfloatedabouttwomilesfromtheNautilus.
Arrivedsomecables-lengthfromthecetacean,thespeedslackened,andtheoarsdippednoiselesslyintothequietwaters.
NedLand,harpooninhand,stoodintheforepartoftheboat.
Theharpoonusedforstrikingthewhaleisgenerallyattachedtoaverylongcordwhichrunsoutrapidlyasthewoundedcreaturedrawsitafterhim.Butherethecordwasnotmorethantenfathomslong,andtheextremitywasattachedtoasmallbarrelwhich,byfloating,wastoshowthecoursethedugongtookunderthewater.
IstoodandcarefullywatchedtheCanadian\'sadversary.
Thisdugong,whichalsobearsthenameofthehalicore,closelyresemblesthemanatee;itsoblongbodyterminatedinalengthenedtail,anditslateralfinsinperfectfingers.
Itsdifferencefromthemanateeconsistedinitsupperjaw,whichwasarmedwithtwolongandpointedteethwhichformedoneachsidedivergingtusks.
ThisdugongwhichNedLandwaspreparingtoattackwasofcolossaldimensions;itwasmorethansevenyardslong.
Itdidnotmove,andseemedtobesleepingonthewaves,whichcircumstancemadeiteasiertocapture.
Theboatapproachedwithinsixyardsoftheanimal.
Theoarsrestedontherowlocks.Ihalfrose.NedLand,hisbodythrownalittleback,brandishedtheharpooninhisexperiencedhand.
Suddenlyahissingnoisewasheard,andthedugongdisappeared.
Theharpoon,althoughthrownwithgreatforce;hadapparentlyonlystruckthewater.
\"Curseit!\"exclaimedtheCanadianfuriously;\"Ihavemissedit!\"
\"No,\"saidI;\"thecreatureiswounded——lookattheblood;
butyourweaponhasnotstuckinhisbody.\"
\"Myharpoon!myharpoon!\"criedNedLand.
Thesailorsrowedon,andthecoxswainmadeforthefloatingbarrel.
Theharpoonregained,wefollowedinpursuitoftheanimal.
Thelattercamenowandthentothesurfacetobreathe.
Itswoundhadnotweakenedit,foritshotonwardswithgreatrapidity.
Theboat,rowedbystrongarms,flewonitstrack.Severaltimesitapproachedwithinsomefewyards,andtheCanadianwasreadytostrike,butthedugongmadeoffwithasuddenplunge,anditwasimpossibletoreachit.
ImaginethepassionwhichexcitedimpatientNedLand!HehurledattheunfortunatecreaturethemostenergeticexpletivesintheEnglishtongue.
Formypart,Iwasonlyvexedtoseethedugongescapeallourattacks.
Wepursueditwithoutrelaxationforanhour,andIbegantothinkitwouldprovedifficulttocapture,whentheanimal,possessedwiththeperverseideaofvengeanceofwhichhehadcausetorepent,turneduponthepinnaceandassailedusinitsturn.
ThismanoeuvredidnotescapetheCanadian.
\"Lookout!\"hecried.
Thecoxswainsaidsomewordsinhisoutlandishtongue,doubtlesswarningthementokeepontheirguard.
Thedugongcamewithintwentyfeetoftheboat,stopped,sniffedtheairbrisklywithitslargenostrilsnotpiercedattheextremity,butintheupperpartofitsmuzzle.Then,takingaspring,hethrewhimselfuponus.
Thepinnacecouldnotavoidtheshock,andhalfupset,shippedatleasttwotonsofwater,whichhadtobeemptied;but,thankstothecoxswain,wecaughtitsideways,notfullfront,sowewerenotquiteoverturned.
WhileNedLand,clingingtothebows,belabouredthegiganticanimalwithblowsfromhisharpoon,thecreature\'steethwereburiedinthegunwale,anditliftedthewholethingoutofthewater,asaliondoesaroebuck.
Wewereupsetoveroneanother,andIknownothowtheadventurewouldhaveended,iftheCanadian,stillenragedwiththebeast,hadnotstruckittotheheart.
Ihearditsteethgrindontheironplate,andthedugongdisappeared,carryingtheharpoonwithhim.Butthebarrelsoonreturnedtothesurface,andshortlyafterthebodyoftheanimal,turnedonitsback.
Theboatcameupwithit,tookitintow,andmadestraightfortheNautilus.
Itrequiredtackleofenormousstrengthtohoistthedugongontotheplatform.Itweighed10,000lb.
Thenextday,11thFebruary,thelarderoftheNautiluswasenrichedbysomemoredelicategame.Aflightofsea-swallowsrestedontheNautilus.
ItwasaspeciesoftheSternanilotica,peculiartoEgypt;itsbeakisblack,headgreyandpointed,theeyesurroundedbywhitespots,theback,wings,andtailofagreyishcolour,thebellyandthroatwhite,andclawsred.
TheyalsotooksomedozenofNileducks,awildbirdofhighflavour,itsthroatandupperpartoftheheadwhitewithblackspots.
Aboutfiveo\'clockintheeveningwesightedtothenorththeCapeofRas-Mohammed.ThiscapeformstheextremityofArabiaPetraea,comprisedbetweentheGulfofSuezandtheGulfofAcabah.
TheNautiluspenetratedintotheStraitsofJubal,whichleadstotheGulfofSuez.Idistinctlysawahighmountain,toweringbetweenthetwogulfsofRas-Mohammed.ItwasMountHoreb,thatSinaiatthetopofwhichMosessawGodfacetoface.
Atsixo\'clocktheNautilus,sometimesfloating,sometimesimmersed,passedsomedistancefromTor,situatedattheendofthebay,thewatersofwhichseemedtintedwithred,anobservationalreadymadebyCaptainNemo.
Thennightfellinthemidstofaheavysilence,sometimesbrokenbythecriesofthepelicanandothernight-birds,andthenoiseofthewavesbreakingupontheshore,chafingagainsttherocks,orthepantingofsomefar-offsteamerbeatingthewatersoftheGulfwithitsnoisypaddles.
Fromeighttonineo\'clocktheNautilusremainedsomefathomsunderthewater.AccordingtomycalculationwemusthavebeenverynearSuez.ThroughthepanelofthesaloonIsawthebottomoftherocksbrilliantlylitupbyourelectriclamp.
WeseemedtobeleavingtheStraitsbehindusmoreandmore.
Ataquarter-pastnine,thevesselhavingreturnedtothesurface,Imountedtheplatform.MostimpatienttopassthroughCaptainNemo\'stunnel,Icouldnotstayinoneplace,socametobreathethefreshnightair.
SoonintheshadowIsawapalelight,halfdiscolouredbythefog,shiningaboutamilefromus.
\"Afloatinglighthouse!\"saidsomeonenearme.
Iturned,andsawtheCaptain.
\"ItisthefloatinglightofSuez,\"hecontinued.
\"Itwillnotbelongbeforewegaintheentranceofthetunnel.\"
\"Theentrancecannotbeeasy?\"
\"No,sir;forthatreasonIamaccustomedtogointothesteersman\'scageandmyselfdirectourcourse.Andnow,ifyouwillgodown,M.Aronnax,theNautilusisgoingunderthewaves,andwillnotreturntothesurfaceuntilwehavepassedthroughtheArabianTunnel.\"
CaptainNemoledmetowardsthecentralstaircase;halfwaydownheopenedadoor,traversedtheupperdeck,andlandedinthepilot\'scage,whichitmayberememberedroseattheextremityoftheplatform.
Itwasacabinmeasuringsixfeetsquare,verymuchlikethatoccupiedbythepilotonthesteamboatsoftheMississippiorHudson.
Inthemidstworkedawheel,placedvertically,andcaughttothetiller-rope,whichrantothebackoftheNautilus.
Fourlight-portswithlenticularglasses,letinagrooveinthepartitionofthecabin,allowedthemanatthewheeltoseeinalldirections.
Thiscabinwasdark;butsoonmyeyesaccustomedthemselvestotheobscurity,andIperceivedthepilot,astrongman,withhishandsrestingonthespokesofthewheel.Outside,theseaappearedvividlylitupbythelantern,whichsheditsraysfromthebackofthecabintotheotherextremityoftheplatform.
\"Now,\"saidCaptainNemo,\"letustrytomakeourpassage.\"
Electricwiresconnectedthepilot\'scagewiththemachineryroom,andfromtheretheCaptaincouldcommunicatesimultaneouslytohisNautilusthedirectionandthespeed.Hepressedametalknob,andatoncethespeedofthescrewdiminished.
Ilookedinsilenceatthehighstraightwallwewererunningbyatthismoment,theimmovablebaseofamassivesandycoast.
Wefolloweditthusforanhouronlysomefewyardsoff.
CaptainNemodidnottakehiseyefromtheknob,suspendedbyitstwoconcentriccirclesinthecabin.Atasimplegesture,thepilotmodifiedthecourseoftheNautiluseveryinstant.
Ihadplacedmyselfattheport-scuttle,andsawsomemagnificentsubstructuresofcoral,zoophytes,seaweed,andfucus,agitatingtheirenormousclaws,whichstretchedoutfromthefissuresoftherock.
Ataquarter-pastten,theCaptainhimselftookthehelm.
Alargegallery,blackanddeep,openedbeforeus.TheNautiluswentboldlyintoit.Astrangeroaringwasheardrounditssides.
ItwasthewatersoftheRedSea,whichtheinclineofthetunnelprecipitatedviolentlytowardstheMediterranean.
TheNautiluswentwiththetorrent,rapidasanarrow,inspiteoftheeffortsofthemachinery,which,inordertooffermoreeffectiveresistance,beatthewaveswithreversedscrew.
OnthewallsofthenarrowpassageIcouldseenothingbutbrilliantrays,straightlines,furrowsoffire,tracedbythegreatspeed,underthebrilliantelectriclight.
Myheartbeatfast.
Atthirty-fiveminutespastten,CaptainNemoquittedthehelm,and,turningtome,said:
\"TheMediterranean!\"
Inlessthantwentyminutes,theNautilus,carriedalongbythetorrent,hadpassedthroughtheIsthmusofSuez.
CHAPTERVI
THEGRECIANARCHIPELAGO
Thenextday,the12thofFebruary,atthedawnofday,theNautilusrosetothesurface.Ihastenedontotheplatform.
ThreemilestothesouththedimoutlineofPelusiumwastobeseen.
Atorrenthadcarriedusfromoneseatoanother.
Aboutseveno\'clockNedandConseiljoinedme.
\"Well,SirNaturalist,\"saidtheCanadian,inaslightlyjovialtone,\"andtheMediterranean?\"
\"Wearefloatingonitssurface,friendNed.\"
\"What!\"saidConseil,\"thisverynight.\"
\"Yes,thisverynight;inafewminuteswehavepassedthisimpassableisthmus.\"
\"Idonotbelieveit,\"repliedtheCanadian.
\"Thenyouarewrong,MasterLand,\"Icontinued;\"thislowcoastwhichroundsofftothesouthistheEgyptiancoast.
Andyouwhohavesuchgoodeyes,Ned,youcanseethejettyofPortSaidstretchingintothesea.\"
TheCanadianlookedattentively.
\"Certainlyyouareright,sir,andyourCaptainisafirst-rateman.
WeareintheMediterranean.Good!Now,ifyouplease,letustalkofourownlittleaffair,butsothatnoonehearsus.\"
IsawwhattheCanadianwanted,and,inanycase,Ithoughtitbettertolethimtalk,ashewishedit;soweallthreewentandsatdownnearthelantern,wherewewerelessexposedtothesprayoftheblades.
\"Now,Ned,welisten;whathaveyoutotellus?\"
\"WhatIhavetotellyouisverysimple.WeareinEurope;andbeforeCaptainNemo\'scapricesdragusoncemoretothebottomofthePolarSeas,orleadusintoOceania,IasktoleavetheNautilus.\"
Iwishedinnowaytoshacklethelibertyofmycompanions,butIcertainlyfeltnodesiretoleaveCaptainNemo.
Thankstohim,andthankstohisapparatus,Iwaseachdaynearerthecompletionofmysubmarinestudies;andIwasrewritingmybookofsubmarinedepthsinitsveryelement.
ShouldIeveragainhavesuchanopportunityofobservingthewondersoftheocean?No,certainlynot!AndIcouldnotbringmyselftotheideaofabandoningtheNautilusbeforethecycleofinvestigationwasaccomplished.
\"FriendNed,answermefrankly,areyoutiredofbeingonboard?
AreyousorrythatdestinyhasthrownusintoCaptainNemo\'shands?\"
TheCanadianremainedsomemomentswithoutanswering.
Then,crossinghisarms,hesaid:
\"Frankly,Idonotregretthisjourneyundertheseas.Ishallbegladtohavemadeit;but,nowthatitismade,letushavedonewithit.
Thatismyidea.\"
\"Itwillcometoanend,Ned.\"
\"Whereandwhen?\"