Ournavigationcontinueduntilthe13thofMarch;
thatdaytheNautiluswasemployedintakingsoundings,whichgreatlyinterestedme.Wehadthenmadeabout13,000
leaguessinceourdeparturefromthehighseasofthePacific.
Thebearingsgaveus45@37\'S.lat.,and37@53\'W.long.
ItwasthesamewaterinwhichCaptainDenhamoftheHeraldsounded7,000fathomswithoutfindingthebottom.
There,too,LieutenantParker,oftheAmericanfrigateCongress,couldnottouchthebottomwith15,140fathoms.
CaptainNemointendedseekingthebottomoftheoceanbyadiagonalsufficientlylengthenedbymeansoflateralplanesplacedatanangleof45@withthewater-lineoftheNautilus.
Thenthescrewsettoworkatitsmaximumspeed,itsfourbladesbeatingthewaveswithindescribableforce.
Underthispowerfulpressure,thehulloftheNautilusquiveredlikeasonorouschordandsankregularlyunderthewater.
At7,000fathomsIsawsomeblackishtopsrisingfromthemidstofthewaters;
butthesesummitsmightbelongtohighmountainsliketheHimalayasorMontBlanc,evenhigher;andthedepthoftheabyssremainedincalculable.
TheNautilusdescendedstilllower,inspiteofthegreatpressure.
Ifeltthesteelplatestrembleatthefasteningsofthebolts;
itsbarsbent,itspartitionsgroaned;thewindowsofthesaloonseemedtocurveunderthepressureofthewaters.Andthisfirmstructurewoulddoubtlesshaveyielded,if,asitsCaptainhadsaid,ithadnotbeencapableofresistancelikeasolidblock.Wehadattainedadepthof16,000yardsfourleagues,andthesidesoftheNautilusthenboreapressureof1,600atmospheres,thatistosay,3,200lb.
toeachsquaretwo-fifthsofaninchofitssurface.
\"Whatasituationtobein!\"Iexclaimed.\"Tooverrunthesedeepregionswheremanhasnevertrod!Look,Captain,lookatthesemagnificentrocks,theseuninhabitedgrottoes,theselowestreceptaclesoftheglobe,wherelifeisnolongerpossible!Whatunknownsightsarehere!
Whyshouldwebeunabletopreservearemembranceofthem?\"
\"Wouldyouliketocarryawaymorethantheremembrance?\"
saidCaptainNemo.
\"Whatdoyoumeanbythosewords?\"
\"Imeantosaythatnothingiseasierthantomakeaphotographicviewofthissubmarineregion.\"
Ihadnottimetoexpressmysurpriseatthisnewproposition,when,atCaptainNemo\'scall,anobjectivewasbroughtintothesaloon.
Throughthewidely-openedpanel,theliquidmasswasbrightwithelectricity,whichwasdistributedwithsuchuniformitythatnotashadow,notagradation,wastobeseeninourmanufacturedlight.TheNautilusremainedmotionless,theforceofitsscrewsubduedbytheinclinationofitsplanes:
theinstrumentwasproppedonthebottomoftheoceanicsite,andinafewsecondswehadobtainedaperfectnegative.
But,theoperationbeingover,CaptainNemosaid,\"Letusgoup;
wemustnotabuseourposition,norexposetheNautilustoolongtosuchgreatpressure.\"
\"Goupagain!\"Iexclaimed.
\"Holdwellon.\"
IhadnottimetounderstandwhytheCaptaincautionedmethus,whenI
wasthrownforwardontothecarpet.AtasignalfromtheCaptain,itsscrewwasshipped,anditsbladesraisedvertically;theNautilusshotintotheairlikeaballoon,risingwithstunningrapidity,andcuttingthemassofwaterswithasonorousagitation.
Nothingwasvisible;andinfourminutesithadshotthroughthefourleagueswhichseparateditfromtheocean,and,afteremerginglikeaflying-fish,fell,makingthewavesreboundtoanenormousheight.
CHAPTERXII
CACHALOTSANDWHALES
Duringthenightsofthe13thand14thofMarch,theNautilusreturnedtoitssoutherlycourse.Ifanciedthat,whenonalevelwithCapeHorn,hewouldturnthehelmwestward,inordertobeatthePacificseas,andsocompletethetouroftheworld.Hedidnothingofthekind,butcontinuedonhiswaytothesouthernregions.Wherewashegoingto?
Tothepole?Itwasmadness!IbegantothinkthattheCaptain\'stemerityjustifiedNedLand\'sfears.ForsometimepasttheCanadianhadnotspokentomeofhisprojectsofflight;hewaslesscommunicative,almostsilent.Icouldseethatthislengthenedimprisonmentwasweighinguponhim,andIfeltthatragewasburningwithinhim.
WhenhemettheCaptain,hiseyeslitupwithsuppressedanger;
andIfearedthathisnaturalviolencewouldleadhimintosomeextreme.
Thatday,the14thofMarch,Conseilandhecametomeinmyroom.
Iinquiredthecauseoftheirvisit.
\"Asimplequestiontoaskyou,sir,\"repliedtheCanadian.
\"Speak,Ned.\"
\"HowmanymenarethereonboardtheNautilus,doyouthink?\"
\"Icannottell,myfriend.\"
\"Ishouldsaythatitsworkingdoesnotrequirealargecrew.\"
\"Certainly,underexistingconditions,tenmen,atthemost,oughttobeenough.\"
\"Well,whyshouldtherebeanymore?\"
\"Why?\"Ireplied,lookingfixedlyatNedLand,whosemeaningwaseasytoguess.\"Because,\"Iadded,\"ifmysurmisesarecorrect,andifIhavewellunderstoodtheCaptain\'sexistence,theNautilusisnotonlyavessel:
itisalsoaplaceofrefugeforthosewho,likeitscommander,havebrokeneverytieuponearth.\"
\"Perhapsso,\"saidConseil;\"but,inanycase,theNautiluscanonlycontainacertainnumberofmen.Couldnotyou,sir,estimatetheirmaximum?\"
\"How,Conseil?\"
\"Bycalculation;giventhesizeofthevessel,whichyouknow,sir,andconsequentlythequantityofairitcontains,knowingalsohowmucheachmanexpendsatabreath,andcomparingtheseresultswiththefactthattheNautilusisobligedtogotothesurfaceeverytwenty-fourhours.\"
ConseilhadnotfinishedthesentencebeforeIsawwhathewasdrivingat.
\"Iunderstand,\"saidI;\"butthatcalculation,thoughsimpleenough,cangivebutaveryuncertainresult.\"
\"Nevermind,\"saidNedLandurgently.
\"Hereitis,then,\"saidI.\"Inonehoureachmanconsumestheoxygencontainedintwentygallonsofair;andintwenty-four,thatcontainedin480gallons.Wemust,thereforefindhowmanytimes480gallonsofairtheNautiluscontains.\"
\"Justso,\"saidConseil.
\"Or,\"Icontinued,\"thesizeoftheNautilusbeing1,500tons;
andonetonholding200gallons,itcontains300,000gallonsofair,which,dividedby480,givesaquotientof625.
Whichmeanstosay,strictlyspeaking,thattheaircontainedintheNautiluswouldsufficefor625menfortwenty-fourhours.\"
\"Sixhundredandtwenty-five!\"repeatedNed.
\"Butrememberthatallofus,passengers,sailors,andofficersincluded,wouldnotformatenthpartofthatnumber.\"
\"Stilltoomanyforthreemen,\"murmuredConseil.
TheCanadianshookhishead,passedhishandacrosshisforehead,andlefttheroomwithoutanswering.
\"Willyouallowmetomakeoneobservation,sir?\"saidConseil.
\"PoorNedislongingforeverythingthathecannothave.Hispastlifeisalwayspresenttohim;everythingthatweareforbiddenheregrets.
Hisheadisfullofoldrecollections.Andwemustunderstandhim.
Whathashetodohere?Nothing;heisnotlearnedlikeyou,sir;
andhasnotthesametasteforthebeautiesoftheseathatwehave.
Hewouldriskeverythingtobeabletogooncemoreintoataverninhisowncountry.\"
CertainlythemonotonyonboardmustseemintolerabletotheCanadian,accustomedashewastoalifeoflibertyandactivity.
Eventswererarewhichcouldrousehimtoanyshowofspirit;butthatdayaneventdidhappenwhichrecalledthebrightdaysoftheharpooner.
Abouteleveninthemorning,beingonthesurfaceoftheocean,theNautilusfellinwithatroopofwhales——anencounterwhichdidnotastonishme,knowingthatthesecreatures,huntedtodeath,hadtakenrefugeinhighlatitudes.
Wewereseatedontheplatform,withaquietsea.ThemonthofOctoberinthoselatitudesgaveussomelovelyautumnaldays.ItwastheCanadian——
hecouldnotbemistaken——whosignalledawhaleontheeasternhorizon.
Lookingattentively,onemightseeitsblackbackriseandfallwiththewavesfivemilesfromtheNautilus.
\"Ah!\"exclaimedNedLand,\"ifIwasonboardawhaler,nowsuchameetingwouldgivemepleasure.Itisoneoflargesize.
Seewithwhatstrengthitsblow-holesthrowupcolumnsofairansteam!
Confoundit,whyamIboundtothesesteelplates?\"
\"What,Ned,\"saidI,\"youhavenotforgottenyouroldideasoffishing?\"
\"Canawhale-fishereverforgethisoldtrade,sir?Canheevertireoftheemotionscausedbysuchachase?\"
\"Youhaveneverfishedintheseseas,Ned?\"
\"Never,sir;inthenorthernonly,andasmuchinBehringasinDavisStraits.\"
\"Thenthesouthernwhaleisstillunknowntoyou.ItistheGreenlandwhaleyouhavehunteduptothistime,andthatwouldnotriskpassingthroughthewarmwatersoftheequator.Whalesarelocalised,accordingtotheirkinds,incertainseaswhichtheyneverleave.
AndifoneofthesecreatureswentfromBehringtoDavisStraits,itmustbesimplybecausethereisapassagefromoneseatotheother,eitherontheAmericanortheAsiaticside.\"
\"Inthatcase,asIhaveneverfishedintheseseas,Idonotknowthekindofwhalefrequentingthem!\"
\"Ihavetoldyou,Ned.\"
\"Agreaterreasonformakingtheiracquaintance,\"saidConseil.
\"Look!look!\"exclaimedtheCanadian,\"theyapproach:
theyaggravateme;theyknowthatIcannotgetatthem!\"
Nedstampedhisfeet.Hishandtrembled,ashegraspedanimaginaryharpoon.
\"Arethesecetaceansaslargeasthoseofthenorthernseas?\"askedhe.
\"Verynearly,Ned.\"
\"BecauseIhaveseenlargewhales,sir,whalesmeasuringahundredfeet.
IhaveevenbeentoldthatthoseofHullamochandUmgallick,oftheAleutianIslands,aresometimesahundredandfiftyfeetlong.\"
\"Thatseemstomeexaggeration.ThesecreaturesaregenerallymuchsmallerthantheGreenlandwhale.\"{thisparagraphhasbeenedited}
\"Ah!\"exclaimedtheCanadian,whoseeyeshadneverlefttheocean,\"theyarecomingnearer;theyareinthesamewaterastheNautilus.\"
Then,returningtotheconversation,hesaid:
\"Youspokeofthecachalotasasmallcreature.
Ihaveheardofgiganticones.Theyareintelligentcetacea.
Itissaidofsomethattheycoverthemselveswithseaweedandfucus,andthenaretakenforislands.Peopleencampuponthem,andsettlethere;lightsafire——\"
\"Andbuildhouses,\"saidConseil.
\"Yes,joker,\"saidNedLand.\"Andonefinedaythecreatureplunges,carryingwithitalltheinhabitantstothebottomofthesea.\"
\"SomethinglikethetravelsofSinbadtheSailor,\"Ireplied,laughing.
\"Ah!\"suddenlyexclaimedNedLand,\"itisnotonewhale;
thereareten——therearetwenty——itisawholetroop!
AndInotabletodoanything!handsandfeettied!\"
\"But,friendNed,\"saidConseil,\"whydoyounotaskCaptainNemo\'spermissiontochasethem?\"
ConseilhadnotfinishedhissentencewhenNedLandhadloweredhimselfthroughthepaneltoseektheCaptain.
Afewminutesafterwardsthetwoappearedtogetherontheplatform.
CaptainNemowatchedthetroopofcetaceaplayingonthewatersaboutamilefromtheNautilus.
\"Theyaresouthernwhales,\"saidhe;\"theregoesthefortuneofawholefleetofwhalers.\"
\"Well,sir,\"askedtheCanadian,\"canInotchasethem,ifonlytoremindmeofmyoldtradeofharpooner?\"
\"Andtowhatpurpose?\"repliedCaptainNemo;\"onlytodestroy!
Wehavenothingtodowiththewhale-oilonboard.\"
\"But,sir,\"continuedtheCanadian,\"intheRedSeayouallowedustofollowthedugong.\"
\"Thenitwastoprocurefreshmeatformycrew.Hereitwouldbekillingforkilling\'ssake.Iknowthatisaprivilegereservedforman,butIdonotapproveofsuchmurderouspastime.
IndestroyingthesouthernwhaleliketheGreenlandwhale,aninoffensivecreature,yourtradersdoaculpableaction,MasterLand.TheyhavealreadydepopulatedthewholeofBaffin\'sBay,andareannihilatingaclassofusefulanimals.
Leavetheunfortunatecetaceaalone.Theyhaveplentyofnaturalenemies——cachalots,swordfish,andsawfish——
withoutyoutroublingthem.\"
TheCaptainwasright.Thebarbarousandinconsiderategreedofthesefishermenwillonedaycausethedisappearanceofthelastwhaleintheocean.NedLandwhistled\"Yankee-doodle\"betweenhisteeth,thrusthishandsintohispockets,andturnedhisbackuponus.
ButCaptainNemowatchedthetroopofcetacea,and,addressingme,said:
\"Iwasrightinsayingthatwhaleshadnaturalenemiesenough,withoutcountingman.Thesewillhaveplentytodobeforelong.
Doyousee,M.Aronnax,abouteightmilestoleeward,thoseblackishmovingpoints?\"
\"Yes,Captain,\"Ireplied.
\"Thosearecachalots——terribleanimals,whichIhavemetintroopsoftwoorthreehundred.Astothose,theyarecruel,mischievouscreatures;
theywouldberightinexterminatingthem.\"
TheCanadianturnedquicklyatthelastwords.
\"Well,Captain,\"saidhe,\"itisstilltime,intheinterestofthewhales.\"
\"Itisuselesstoexposeone\'sself,Professor.TheNautiluswilldispersethem.ItisarmedwithasteelspurasgoodasMasterLand\'sharpoon,Iimagine.\"
TheCanadiandidnotputhimselfoutenoughtoshrughisshoulders.
Attackcetaceawithblowsofaspur!Whohadeverheardofsuchathing?
\"Wait,M.Aronnax,\"saidCaptainNemo.\"Wewillshowyousomethingyouhaveneveryetseen.Wehavenopityfortheseferociouscreatures.
Theyarenothingbutmouthandteeth.\"
Mouthandteeth!Noonecouldbetterdescribethemacrocephalouscachalot,whichissometimesmorethanseventy-fivefeetlong.
Itsenormousheadoccupiesone-thirdofitsentirebody.
Betterarmedthanthewhale,whoseupperjawisfurnishedonlywithwhalebone,itissuppliedwithtwenty-fivelargetusks,abouteightincheslong,cylindricalandconicalatthetop,eachweighingtwopounds.Itisintheupperpartofthisenormoushead,ingreatcavitiesdividedbycartilages,thatistobefoundfromsixtoeighthundredpoundsofthatpreciousoilcalledspermaceti.Thecachalotisadisagreeablecreature,moretadpolethanfish,accordingtoFredol\'sdescription.
Itisbadlyformed,thewholeofitsleftsidebeingifwemaysayit,a\"failure,\"andbeingonlyabletoseewithitsrighteye.Buttheformidabletroopwasnearingus.
Theyhadseenthewhalesandwerepreparingtoattackthem.
Onecouldjudgebeforehandthatthecachalotswouldbevictorious,notonlybecausetheywerebetterbuiltforattackthantheirinoffensiveadversaries,butalsobecausetheycouldremainlongerunderwaterwithoutcomingtothesurface.
Therewasonlyjusttimetogotothehelpofthewhales.
TheNautiluswentunderwater.Conseil,NedLand,andItookourplacesbeforethewindowinthesaloon,andCaptainNemojoinedthepilotinhiscagetoworkhisapparatusasanengineofdestruction.SoonIfeltthebeatingsofthescrewquicken,andourspeedincreased.
ThebattlebetweenthecachalotsandthewhaleshadalreadybegunwhentheNautilusarrived.Theydidnotatfirstshowanyfearatthesightofthisnewmonsterjoiningintheconflict.
Buttheysoonhadtoguardagainstitsblows.Whatabattle!
TheNautiluswasnothingbutaformidableharpoon,brandishedbythehandofitsCaptain.Ithurleditselfagainstthefleshymass,passingthroughfromoneparttotheother,leavingbehindittwoquiveringhalvesoftheanimal.
Itcouldnotfeeltheformidableblowsfromtheirtailsuponitssides,northeshockwhichitproduceditself,muchmore.
Onecachalotkilled,itranatthenext,tackedonthespotthatitmightnotmissitsprey,goingforwardsandbackwards,answeringtoitshelm,plungingwhenthecetaceandivedintothedeepwaters,comingupwithitwhenitreturnedtothesurface,strikingitfrontorsideways,cuttingortearinginalldirectionsandatanypace,piercingitwithitsterriblespur.
Whatcarnage!Whatanoiseonthesurfaceofthewaves!
Whatsharphissing,andwhatsnortingpeculiartotheseenragedanimals!Inthemidstofthesewaters,generallysopeaceful,theirtailsmadeperfectbillows.
Foronehourthiswholesalemassacrecontinued,fromwhichthecachalotscouldnotescape.SeveraltimestenortwelveunitedtriedtocrushtheNautilusbytheirweight.Fromthewindowwecouldseetheirenormousmouths,studdedwithtusks,andtheirformidableeyes.NedLandcouldnotcontainhimself;
hethreatenedandsworeatthem.Wecouldfeelthemclingingtoourvessellikedogsworryingawildboarinacopse.
ButtheNautilus,workingitsscrew,carriedthemhereandthere,ortotheupperlevelsoftheocean,withoutcaringfortheirenormousweight,northepowerfulstrainonthevessel.
Atlengththemassofcachalotsbrokeup,thewavesbecamequiet,andIfeltthatwewererisingtothesurface.
Thepanelopened,andwehurriedontotheplatform.
Theseawascoveredwithmutilatedbodies.Aformidableexplosioncouldnothavedividedandtornthisfleshymasswithmoreviolence.
Wewerefloatingamidgiganticbodies,bluishonthebackandwhiteunderneath,coveredwithenormousprotuberances.
Someterrifiedcachalotswereflyingtowardsthehorizon.
Thewavesweredyedredforseveralmiles,andtheNautilusfloatedinaseaofblood:CaptainNemojoinedus.
\"Well,MasterLand?\"saidhe.
\"Well,sir,\"repliedtheCanadian,whoseenthusiasmhadsomewhatcalmed;
\"itisaterriblespectacle,certainly.ButIamnotabutcher.
Iamahunter,andIcallthisabutchery.\"
\"Itisamassacreofmischievouscreatures,\"repliedtheCaptain;
\"andtheNautilusisnotabutcher\'sknife.\"
\"Ilikemyharpoonbetter,\"saidtheCanadian.
\"Everyonetohisown,\"answeredtheCaptain,lookingfixedlyatNedLand.
Ifearedhewouldcommitsomeactofviolence,whichwouldendinsadconsequences.ButhisangerwasturnedbythesightofawhalewhichtheNautilushadjustcomeupwith.
Thecreaturehadnotquiteescapedfromthecachalot\'steeth.
Irecognisedthesouthernwhalebyitsflathead,whichisentirelyblack.Anatomically,itisdistinguishedfromthewhitewhaleandtheNorthCapewhalebythesevencervicalvertebrae,andithastwomoreribsthanitscongeners.
Theunfortunatecetaceanwaslyingonitsside,riddledwithholesfromthebites,andquitedead.
Fromitsmutilatedfinstillhungayoungwhalewhichitcouldnotsavefromthemassacre.Itsopenmouthletthewaterflowinandout,murmuringlikethewavesbreakingontheshore.
CaptainNemosteeredclosetothecorpseofthecreature.
Twoofhismenmounteditsside,andIsaw,notwithoutsurprise,thattheyweredrawingfromitsbreastsallthemilkwhichtheycontained,thatistosay,abouttwoorthreetons.
TheCaptainofferedmeacupofthemilk,whichwasstillwarm.
Icouldnothelpshowingmyrepugnancetothedrink;
butheassuredmethatitwasexcellent,andnottobedistinguishedfromcow\'smilk.Itastedit,andwasofhisopinion.
Itwasausefulreservetous,forintheshapeofsaltbutterorcheeseitwouldformanagreeablevarietyfromourordinaryfood.
FromthatdayInoticedwithuneasinessthatNedLand\'sill-willtowardsCaptainNemoincreased,andIresolvedtowatchtheCanadian\'sgesturesclosely.
CHAPTERVIII
THEICEBERG
TheNautiluswassteadilypursuingitssoutherlycourse,followingthefiftiethmeridianwithconsiderablespeed.
Didhewishtoreachthepole?Ididnotthinkso,foreveryattempttoreachthatpointhadhithertofailed.
Again,theseasonwasfaradvanced,forintheAntarcticregionsthe13thofMarchcorrespondswiththe13thofSeptemberofnorthernregions,whichbeginattheequinoctialseason.
Onthe14thofMarchIsawfloatingiceinlatitude55@,merelypalebitsofdebrisfromtwentytotwenty-fivefeetlong,formingbanksoverwhichtheseacurled.
TheNautilusremainedonthesurfaceoftheocean.
NedLand,whohadfishedintheArcticSeas,wasfamiliarwithitsicebergs;butConseilandIadmiredthemforthefirsttime.
Intheatmospheretowardsthesouthernhorizonstretchedawhitedazzlingband.Englishwhalershavegivenitthenameof\"iceblink.\"Howeverthickthecloudsmaybe,itisalwaysvisible,andannouncesthepresenceofanicepackorbank.Accordingly,largerblockssoonappeared,whosebrilliancychangedwiththecapricesofthefog.
Someofthesemassesshowedgreenveins,asiflongundulatinglineshadbeentracedwithsulphateofcopper;othersresembledenormousamethystswiththelightshiningthroughthem.
Somereflectedthelightofdayuponathousandcrystalfacets.
Othersshadedwithvividcalcareousreflectionsresembledaperfecttownofmarble.Themorewenearedthesouththemorethesefloatingislandsincreasedbothinnumberandimportance.
At60@lat.everypasshaddisappeared.But,seekingcarefully,CaptainNemosoonfoundanarrowopening,throughwhichheboldlyslipped,knowing,however,thatitwouldclosebehindhim.Thus,guidedbythiscleverhand,theNautiluspassedthroughalltheicewithaprecisionwhichquitecharmedConseil;icebergsormountains,ice-fieldsorsmoothplains,seemingtohavenolimits,drift-iceorfloatingice-packs,plainsbrokenup,calledpalchswhentheyarecircular,andstreamswhentheyaremadeupoflongstrips.Thetemperaturewasverylow;
thethermometerexposedtotheairmarked2@or3@belowzero,butwewerewarmlycladwithfur,attheexpenseofthesea-bearandseal.
TheinterioroftheNautilus,warmedregularlybyitselectricapparatus,defiedthemostintensecold.Besides,itwouldonlyhavebeennecessarytogosomeyardsbeneaththewavestofindamorebearabletemperature.
Twomonthsearlierweshouldhavehadperpetualdaylightintheselatitudes;
butalreadywehadhadthreeorfourhoursofnight,andbyandbytherewouldbesixmonthsofdarknessinthesecircumpolarregions.Onthe15thofMarchwewereinthelatitudeofNewShetlandandSouthOrkney.
TheCaptaintoldmethatformerlynumeroustribesofsealsinhabitedthem;
butthatEnglishandAmericanwhalers,intheirragefordestruction,massacredbotholdandyoung;thus,wheretherewasoncelifeandanimation,theyhadleftsilenceanddeath.
Abouteighto\'clockonthemorningofthe16thofMarchtheNautilus,followingthefifty-fifthmeridian,cuttheAntarcticpolarcircle.
Icesurroundedusonallsides,andclosedthehorizon.
ButCaptainNemowentfromoneopeningtoanother,stillgoinghigher.
Icannotexpressmyastonishmentatthebeautiesofthesenewregions.
Theicetookmostsurprisingforms.Herethegroupingformedanorientaltown,withinnumerablemosquesandminarets;thereafallencitythrowntotheearth,asitwere,bysomeconvulsionofnature.
Thewholeaspectwasconstantlychangedbytheobliqueraysofthesun,orlostinthegreyishfogamidsthurricanesofsnow.
Detonationsandfallswereheardonallsides,greatoverthrowsoficebergs,whichalteredthewholelandscapelikeadiorama.Oftenseeingnoexit,Ithoughtweweredefinitelyprisoners;but,instinctguidinghimattheslightestindication,CaptainNemowoulddiscoveranewpass.
Hewasnevermistakenwhenhesawthethinthreadsofbluishwatertricklingalongtheice-fields;andIhadnodoubtthathehadalreadyventuredintothemidstoftheseAntarcticseasbefore.
Onthe16thofMarch,however,theice-fieldsabsolutelyblockedourroad.
Itwasnottheicebergitself,asyet,butvastfieldscementedbythecold.ButthisobstaclecouldnotstopCaptainNemo:
hehurledhimselfagainstitwithfrightfulviolence.TheNautilusenteredthebrittlemasslikeawedge,andsplititwithfrightfulcrackings.
Itwasthebatteringramoftheancientshurledbyinfinitestrength.
Theice,thrownhighintheair,felllikehailaroundus.
Byitsownpowerofimpulsionourapparatusmadeacanalforitself;
sometimescarriedawaybyitsownimpetus,itlodgedontheice-field,crushingitwithitsweight,andsometimesburiedbeneathit,dividingitbyasimplepitchingmovement,producinglargerentsinit.
Violentgalesassailedusatthistime,accompaniedbythickfogs,throughwhich,fromoneendoftheplatformtotheother,wecouldseenothing.Thewindblewsharplyfromallpartsofthecompass,andthesnowlayinsuchhardheapsthatwehadtobreakitwithblowsofapickaxe.Thetemperaturewasalwaysat5@belowzero;
everyoutwardpartoftheNautiluswascoveredwithice.
Ariggedvesselwouldhavebeenentangledintheblockedupgorges.
Avesselwithoutsails,withelectricityforitsmotivepower,andwantingnocoal,couldalonebravesuchhighlatitudes.Atlength,onthe18thofMarch,aftermanyuselessassaults,theNautiluswaspositivelyblocked.Itwasnolongereitherstreams,packs,orice-fields,butaninterminableandimmovablebarrier,formedbymountainssolderedtogether.
\"Aniceberg!\"saidtheCanadiantome.
IknewthattoNedLand,aswellastoallothernavigatorswhohadprecededus,thiswasaninevitableobstacle.Thesunappearingforaninstantatnoon,CaptainNemotookanobservationasnearaspossible,whichgaveoursituationat51@30\'long.and67@39\'ofS.lat.
WehadadvancedonedegreemoreinthisAntarcticregion.
Oftheliquidsurfaceoftheseatherewasnolongeraglimpse.
UnderthespuroftheNautiluslaystretchedavastplain,entangledwithconfusedblocks.Hereandtheresharppointsandslenderneedlesrisingtoaheightof200feet;furtheronasteepshore,hewnasitwerewithanaxeandclothedwithgreyishtints;
hugemirrors,reflectingafewraysofsunshine,halfdrownedinthefog.
Andoverthisdesolatefaceofnatureasternsilencereigned,scarcelybrokenbytheflappingofthewingsofpetrelsandpuffins.
Everythingwasfrozen——eventhenoise.TheNautiluswasthenobligedtostopinitsadventurouscourseamidthesefieldsofice.
Inspiteofourefforts,inspiteofthepowerfulmeansemployedtobreakuptheice,theNautilusremainedimmovable.
Generally,whenwecanproceednofurther,wehavereturnstillopentous;butherereturnwasasimpossibleasadvance,foreverypasshadclosedbehindus;andforthefewmomentswhenwewerestationary,wewerelikelytobeentirelyblocked,whichdidindeedhappenabouttwoo\'clockintheafternoon,thefreshiceformingarounditssideswithastonishingrapidity.
IwasobligedtoadmitthatCaptainNemowasmorethanimprudent.
Iwasontheplatformatthatmoment.TheCaptainhadbeenobservingoursituationforsometimepast,whenhesaidtome:
\"Well,sir,whatdoyouthinkofthis?\"
\"Ithinkthatwearecaught,Captain.\"
\"So,M.Aronnax,youreallythinkthattheNautiluscannotdisengageitself?\"
\"Withdifficulty,Captain;fortheseasonisalreadytoofaradvancedforyoutoreckononthebreakingoftheice.\"
\"Ah!sir,\"saidCaptainNemo,inanironicaltone,\"youwillalwaysbethesame.Youseenothingbutdifficultiesandobstacles.
IaffirmthatnotonlycantheNautilusdisengageitself,butalsothatitcangofurtherstill.\"
\"FurthertotheSouth?\"Iasked,lookingattheCaptain.
\"Yes,sir;itshallgotothepole.\"
\"Tothepole!\"Iexclaimed,unabletorepressagestureofincredulity.
\"Yes,\"repliedtheCaptain,coldly,\"totheAntarcticpole——
tothatunknownpointfromwhencespringseverymeridianoftheglobe.
YouknowwhetherIcandoasIpleasewiththeNautilus!\"
Yes,Iknewthat.Iknewthatthismanwasbold,eventorashness.
ButtoconquerthoseobstacleswhichbristledroundtheSouthPole,renderingitmoreinaccessiblethantheNorth,whichhadnotyetbeenreachedbytheboldestnavigators——wasitnotamadenterprise,onewhichonlyamaniacwouldhaveconceived?ItthencameintomyheadtoaskCaptainNemoifhehadeverdiscoveredthatpolewhichhadneveryetbeentroddenbyahumancreature?
\"No,sir,\"hereplied;\"butwewilldiscoverittogether.
Whereothershavefailed,Iwillnotfail.IhaveneveryetledmyNautilussofarintosouthernseas;but,Irepeat,itshallgofurtheryet.\"
\"Icanwellbelieveyou,Captain,\"saidI,inaslightlyironicaltone.
\"Ibelieveyou!Letusgoahead!Therearenoobstaclesforus!
Letussmashthisiceberg!Letusblowitup;and,ifitresists,letusgivetheNautiluswingstoflyoverit!\"
\"Overit,sir!\"saidCaptainNemo,quietly;\"no,notoverit,butunderit!\"
\"Underit!\"Iexclaimed,asuddenideaoftheCaptain\'sprojectsflashinguponmymind.Iunderstood;thewonderfulqualitiesoftheNautilusweregoingtoserveusinthissuperhumanenterprise.
\"Iseewearebeginningtounderstandoneanother,sir,\"saidtheCaptain,halfsmiling.\"Youbegintoseethepossibility——Ishouldsaythesuccess——
ofthisattempt.ThatwhichisimpossibleforanordinaryvesseliseasytotheNautilus.Ifacontinentliesbeforethepole,itmuststopbeforethecontinent;butif,onthecontrary,thepoleiswashedbyopensea,itwillgoeventothepole.\"
\"Certainly,\"saidI,carriedawaybytheCaptain\'sreasoning;
\"ifthesurfaceoftheseaissolidifiedbytheice,thelowerdepthsarefreebytheProvidentiallawwhichhasplacedthemaximumofdensityofthewatersoftheoceanonedegreehigherthanfreezing-point;and,ifIamnotmistaken,theportionofthisicebergwhichisabovethewaterisasonetofourtothatwhichisbelow.\"
\"Verynearly,sir;foronefootoficebergabovetheseatherearethreebelowit.Iftheseicemountainsarenotmorethan300
feetabovethesurface,theyarenotmorethan900beneath.
Andwhatare900feettotheNautilus?\"
\"Nothing,sir.\"
\"Itcouldevenseekatgreaterdepthsthatuniformtemperatureofsea-water,andtherebravewithimpunitythethirtyorfortydegreesofsurfacecold.\"
\"Justso,sir——justso,\"Ireplied,gettinganimated.
\"Theonlydifficulty,\"continuedCaptainNemo,\"isthatofremainingseveraldayswithoutrenewingourprovisionofair.\"
\"Isthatall?TheNautilushasvastreservoirs;wecanfillthem,andtheywillsupplyuswithalltheoxygenwewant.\"
\"Wellthoughtof,M.Aronnax,\"repliedtheCaptain,smiling.
\"But,notwishingyoutoaccusemeofrashness,Iwillfirstgiveyouallmyobjections.\"
\"Haveyouanymoretomake?\"
\"Onlyone.Itispossible,iftheseaexistsattheSouthPole,thatitmaybecovered;and,consequently,weshallbeunabletocometothesurface.\"
\"Good,sir!butdoyouforgetthattheNautilusisarmedwithapowerfulspur,andcouldwenotsenditdiagonallyagainstthesefieldsofice,whichwouldopenattheshocks.\"
\"Ah!sir,youarefullofideasto-day.\"
\"Besides,Captain,\"Iadded,enthusiastically,\"whyshouldwenotfindtheseaopenattheSouthPoleaswellasattheNorth?
Thefrozenpolesoftheearthdonotcoincide,eitherinthesouthernorinthenorthernregions;and,untilitisprovedtothecontrary,wemaysupposeeitheracontinentoranoceanfreefromiceatthesetwopointsoftheglobe.\"
\"Ithinksotoo,M.Aronnax,\"repliedCaptainNemo.
\"Ionlywishyoutoobservethat,afterhavingmadesomanyobjectionstomyproject,youarenowcrushingmewithargumentsinitsfavour!\"
Thepreparationsforthisaudaciousattemptnowbegan.
ThepowerfulpumpsoftheNautiluswereworkingairintothereservoirsandstoringitathighpressure.Aboutfouro\'clock,CaptainNemoannouncedtheclosingofthepanelsontheplatform.
Ithrewonelastlookatthemassiveicebergwhichweweregoingtocross.Theweatherwasclear,theatmospherepureenough,thecoldverygreat,being12@belowzero;but,thewindhavinggonedown,thistemperaturewasnotsounbearable.
AbouttenmenmountedthesidesoftheNautilus,armedwithpickaxestobreaktheicearoundthevessel,whichwassoonfree.
Theoperationwasquicklyperformed,forthefreshicewasstillverythin.Weallwentbelow.Theusualreservoirswerefilledwiththenewly-liberatedwater,andtheNautilussoondescended.
IhadtakenmyplacewithConseilinthesaloon;throughtheopenwindowwecouldseethelowerbedsoftheSouthernOcean.
Thethermometerwentup,theneedleofthecompassdeviatedonthedial.Atabout900feet,asCaptainNemohadforeseen,wewerefloatingbeneaththeundulatingbottomoftheiceberg.
ButtheNautiluswentlowerstill——itwenttothedepthoffourhundredfathoms.Thetemperatureofthewateratthesurfaceshowedtwelvedegrees,itwasnowonlyten;wehadgainedtwo.
IneednotsaythetemperatureoftheNautiluswasraisedbyitsheatingapparatustoamuchhigherdegree;everymanoeuvrewasaccomplishedwithwonderfulprecision.
\"Weshallpassit,ifyouplease,sir,\"saidConseil.
\"Ibelieveweshall,\"Isaid,inatoneoffirmconviction.
Inthisopensea,theNautilushadtakenitscoursedirecttothepole,withoutleavingthefifty-secondmeridian.
From67@30\'to90@,twenty-twodegreesandahalfoflatituderemainedtotravel;thatis,aboutfivehundredleagues.
TheNautiluskeptupameanspeedoftwenty-sixmilesanhour——
thespeedofanexpresstrain.Ifthatwaskeptup,infortyhoursweshouldreachthepole.
Forapartofthenightthenoveltyofthesituationkeptusatthewindow.Theseawaslitwiththeelectriclantern;butitwasdeserted;fishesdidnotsojournintheseimprisonedwaters;
theyonlyfoundthereapassagetotakethemfromtheAntarcticOceantotheopenpolarsea.Ourpacewasrapid;
wecouldfeelitbythequiveringofthelongsteelbody.
AbouttwointhemorningItooksomehours\'repose,andConseildidthesame.IncrossingthewaistIdidnotmeetCaptainNemo:
Isupposedhimtobeinthepilot\'scage.Thenextmorning,the19thofMarch,Itookmypostoncemoreinthesaloon.
TheelectriclogtoldmethatthespeedoftheNautilushadbeenslackened.Itwasthengoingtowardsthesurface;
butprudentlyemptyingitsreservoirsveryslowly.
Myheartbeatfast.Werewegoingtoemergeandregaintheopenpolaratmosphere?No!AshocktoldmethattheNautilushadstruckthebottomoftheiceberg,stillverythick,judgingfromthedeadenedsound.Wehadindeed\"struck,\"touseaseaexpression,butinaninversesense,andatathousandfeetdeep.Thiswouldgivethreethousandfeetoficeaboveus;