onethousandbeingabovethewater-mark.Theicebergwasthenhigherthanatitsborders——notaveryreassuringfact.
SeveraltimesthatdaytheNautilustriedagain,andeverytimeitstruckthewallwhichlaylikeaceilingaboveit.
Sometimesitmetwithbut900yards,only200ofwhichroseabovethesurface.ItwastwicetheheightitwaswhentheNautilushadgoneunderthewaves.Icarefullynotedthedifferentdepths,andthusobtainedasubmarineprofileofthechainasitwasdevelopedunderthewater.
Thatnightnochangehadtakenplaceinoursituation.
Stillicebetweenfourandfivehundredyardsindepth!
Itwasevidentlydiminishing,but,still,whatathicknessbetweenusandthesurfaceoftheocean!Itwastheneight.
AccordingtothedailycustomonboardtheNautilus,itsairshouldhavebeenrenewedfourhoursago;
butIdidnotsuffermuch,althoughCaptainNemohadnotyetmadeanydemanduponhisreserveofoxygen.Mysleepwaspainfulthatnight;hopeandfearbesiegedmebyturns:
Iroseseveraltimes.ThegropingoftheNautiluscontinued.
Aboutthreeinthemorning,Inoticedthatthelowersurfaceoftheicebergwasonlyaboutfiftyfeetdeep.Onehundredandfiftyfeetnowseparatedusfromthesurfaceofthewaters.
Theicebergwasbydegreesbecominganice-field,themountainaplain.Myeyesneverleftthemanometer.Wewerestillrisingdiagonallytothesurface,whichsparkledundertheelectricrays.
Theicebergwasstretchingbothaboveandbeneathintolengtheningslopes;mileaftermileitwasgettingthinner.
Atlength,atsixinthemorningofthatmemorableday,the19thofMarch,thedoorofthesaloonopened,andCaptainNemoappeared.
\"Theseaisopen!!\"wasallhesaid.
CHAPTERXIV
THESOUTHPOLE
Irushedontotheplatform.Yes!theopensea,withbutafewscatteredpiecesoficeandmovingicebergs——alongstretchofsea;
aworldofbirdsintheair,andmyriadsoffishesunderthosewaters,whichvariedfromintensebluetoolivegreen,accordingtothebottom.
Thethermometermarked3@C.abovezero.Itwascomparativelyspring,shutupaswewerebehindthisiceberg,whoselengthenedmasswasdimlyseenonournorthernhorizon.
\"Areweatthepole?\"IaskedtheCaptain,withabeatingheart.
\"Idonotknow,\"hereplied.\"AtnoonIwilltakeourbearings.\"
\"Butwillthesunshowhimselfthroughthisfog?\"saidI,lookingattheleadensky.
\"Howeverlittleitshows,itwillbeenough,\"repliedtheCaptain.
Abouttenmilessouthasolitaryislandrosetoaheightofonehundredandfouryards.Wemadeforit,butcarefully,fortheseamightbestrewnwithbanks.Onehourafterwardswehadreachedit,twohourslaterwehadmadetheroundofit.
Itmeasuredfourorfivemilesincircumference.
Anarrowcanalseparateditfromaconsiderablestretchofland,perhapsacontinent,forwecouldnotseeitslimits.
TheexistenceofthislandseemedtogivesomecolourtoMaury\'stheory.
TheingeniousAmericanhasremarkedthat,betweentheSouthPoleandthesixtiethparallel,theseaiscoveredwithfloatingiceofenormoussize,whichisnevermetwithintheNorthAtlantic.
FromthisfacthehasdrawntheconclusionthattheAntarcticCircleenclosesconsiderablecontinents,asicebergscannotforminopensea,butonlyonthecoasts.Accordingtothesecalculations,themassoficesurroundingthesouthernpoleformsavastcap,thecircumferenceofwhichmustbe,atleast,2,500miles.
ButtheNautilus,forfearofrunningaground,hadstoppedaboutthreecable-lengthsfromastrandoverwhichrearedasuperbheapofrocks.Theboatwaslaunched;theCaptain,twoofhismen,bearinginstruments,Conseil,andmyselfwereinit.
Itwasteninthemorning.IhadnotseenNedLand.
DoubtlesstheCanadiandidnotwishtoadmitthepresenceoftheSouthPole.Afewstrokesoftheoarbroughtustothesand,whereweranashore.Conseilwasgoingtojumpontotheland,whenIheldhimback.
\"Sir,\"saidItoCaptainNemo,\"toyoubelongsthehonouroffirstsettingfootonthisland.\"
\"Yes,sir,\"saidtheCaptain,\"andifIdonothesitatetotreadthisSouthPole,itisbecause,uptothistime,nohumanbeinghasleftatracethere.\"
Sayingthis,hejumpedlightlyontothesand.Hisheartbeatwithemotion.Heclimbedarock,slopingtoalittlepromontory,andthere,withhisarmscrossed,muteandmotionless,andwithaneagerlook,heseemedtotakepossessionofthesesouthernregions.
Afterfiveminutespassedinthisecstasy,heturnedtous.
\"Whenyoulike,sir.\"
Ilanded,followedbyConseil,leavingthetwomenintheboat.
Foralongwaythesoilwascomposedofareddishsandystone,somethinglikecrushedbrick,scoriae,streamsoflava,andpumice-stones.Onecouldnotmistakeitsvolcanicorigin.
Insomeparts,slightcurlsofsmokeemittedasulphuroussmell,provingthattheinternalfireshadlostnothingoftheirexpansivepowers,though,havingclimbedahighacclivity,Icouldseenovolcanoforaradiusofseveralmiles.
WeknowthatinthoseAntarcticcountries,JamesRossfoundtwocraters,theErebusandTerror,infullactivity,onthe167thmeridian,latitude77@32\'.Thevegetationofthisdesolatecontinentseemedtomemuchrestricted.
Somelichenslayupontheblackrocks;somemicroscopicplants,rudimentarydiatomas,akindofcellsplacedbetweentwoquartzshells;
longpurpleandscarletweed,supportedonlittleswimmingbladders,whichthebreakingofthewavesbroughttotheshore.
Theseconstitutedthemeagrefloraofthisregion.
Theshorewasstrewnwithmolluscs,littlemussels,andlimpets.
Ialsosawmyriadsofnorthernclios,one-and-a-quarterincheslong,ofwhichawhalewouldswallowawholeworldatamouthful;
andsomeperfectsea-butterflies,animatingthewatersontheskirtsoftheshore.
Thereappearedonthehighbottomssomecoralshrubs,ofthekindwhich,accordingtoJamesRoss,liveintheAntarcticseastothedepthofmorethan1,000yards.
Thentherewerelittlekingfishersandstarfishstuddingthesoil.
Butwherelifeaboundedmostwasintheair.Therethousandsofbirdsflutteredandflewofallkinds,deafeninguswiththeircries;otherscrowdedtherock,lookingatusaswepassedbywithoutfear,andpressingfamiliarlyclosebyourfeet.
Therewerepenguins,soagileinthewater,heavyandawkwardastheyareontheground;theywereutteringharshcries,alargeassembly,soberingesture,butextravagantinclamour.
Albatrossespassedintheair,theexpanseoftheirwingsbeingatleastfouryardsandahalf,andjustlycalledthevulturesoftheocean;somegiganticpetrels,andsomedamiers,akindofsmallduck,theunderpartofwhosebodyisblackandwhite;
thentherewereawholeseriesofpetrels,somewhitish,withbrown-borderedwings,othersblue,peculiartotheAntarcticseas,andsooily,asItoldConseil,thattheinhabitantsoftheFerroeIslandshadnothingtodobeforelightingthembuttoputawickin.
\"Alittlemore,\"saidConseil,\"andtheywouldbeperfectlamps!
Afterthat,wecannotexpectNaturetohavepreviouslyfurnishedthemwithwicks!\"
Abouthalfamilefartheronthesoilwasriddledwithruffs\'
nests,asortoflaying-ground,outofwhichmanybirdswereissuing.
CaptainNemohadsomehundredshunted.Theyutteredacrylikethebrayingofanass,wereaboutthesizeofagoose,slate-colouronthebody,whitebeneath,withayellowlineroundtheirthroats;theyallowedthemselvestobekilledwithastone,nevertryingtoescape.
Butthefogdidnotlift,andateleventhesunhadnotyetshownitself.
Itsabsencemademeuneasy.Withoutitnoobservationswerepossible.
How,then,couldwedecidewhetherwehadreachedthepole?WhenIrejoinedCaptainNemo,Ifoundhimleaningonapieceofrock,silentlywatchingthesky.Heseemedimpatientandvexed.Butwhatwastobedone?
Thisrashandpowerfulmancouldnotcommandthesunashedidthesea.
Noonarrivedwithouttheorbofdayshowingitselfforaninstant.
Wecouldnoteventellitspositionbehindthecurtainoffog;andsoonthefogturnedtosnow.
\"Tillto-morrow,\"saidtheCaptain,quietly,andwereturnedtotheNautilusamidtheseatmosphericdisturbances.
Thetempestofsnowcontinuedtillthenextday.
Itwasimpossibletoremainontheplatform.Fromthesaloon,whereIwastakingnotesofincidentshappeningduringthisexcursiontothepolarcontinent,Icouldhearthecriesofpetrelsandalbatrossessportinginthemidstofthisviolentstorm.
TheNautilusdidnotremainmotionless,butskirtedthecoast,advancingtenmilesmoretothesouthinthehalf-lightleftbythesunasitskirtedtheedgeofthehorizon.
Thenextday,the20thofMarch,thesnowhadceased.
Thecoldwasalittlegreater,thethermometershowing2@
belowzero.Thefogwasrising,andIhopedthatthatdayourobservationsmightbetaken.CaptainNemonothavingyetappeared,theboattookConseilandmyselftoland.
Thesoilwasstillofthesamevolcanicnature;
everywhereweretracesoflava,scoriae,andbasalt;
butthecraterwhichhadvomitedthemIcouldnotsee.
Here,aslowerdown,thiscontinentwasalivewithmyriadsofbirds.Buttheirrulewasnowdividedwithlargetroopsofsea-mammals,lookingatuswiththeirsofteyes.
Therewereseveralkindsofseals,somestretchedontheearth,someonflakesofice,manygoinginandoutofthesea.Theydidnotfleeatourapproach,neverhavinghadanythingtodowithman;
andIreckonedthattherewereprovisionsthereforhundredsofvessels.
\"Sir,\"saidConseil,\"willyoutellmethenamesofthesecreatures?\"
\"Theyaresealsandmorses.\"
Itwasnoweightinthemorning.Fourhoursremainedtousbeforethesuncouldbeobservedwithadvantage.Idirectedourstepstowardsavastbaycutinthesteepgraniteshore.There,Icanaverthatearthandicewerelosttosightbythenumbersofsea-mammalscoveringthem,andIinvoluntarilysoughtforoldProteus,themythologicalshepherdwhowatchedtheseimmenseflocksofNeptune.
Thereweremoresealsthananythingelse,formingdistinctgroups,maleandfemale,thefatherwatchingoverhisfamily,themothersucklingherlittleones,somealreadystrongenoughtogoafewsteps.
Whentheywishedtochangetheirplace,theytooklittlejumps,madebythecontractionoftheirbodies,andhelpedawkwardlyenoughbytheirimperfectfin,which,aswiththelamantin,theircousins,formsaperfectforearm.Ishouldsaythat,inthewater,whichistheirelement——thespineofthesecreaturesisflexible;
withsmoothandcloseskinandwebbedfeet——theyswimadmirably.
Inrestingontheearththeytakethemostgracefulattitudes.
Thustheancients,observingtheirsoftandexpressivelooks,whichcannotbesurpassedbythemostbeautifullookawomancangive,theirclearvoluptuouseyes,theircharmingpositions,andthepoetryoftheirmanners,metamorphosedthem,themaleintoatritonandthefemaleintoamermaid.ImadeConseilnoticetheconsiderabledevelopmentofthelobesofthebrainintheseinterestingcetaceans.
Nomammal,exceptman,hassuchaquantityofbrainmatter;
theyarealsocapableofreceivingacertainamountofeducation,areeasilydomesticated,andIthink,withothernaturalists,thatifproperlytaughttheywouldbeofgreatserviceasfishing-dogs.
Thegreaterpartofthemsleptontherocksoronthesand.
Amongsttheseseals,properlysocalled,whichhavenoexternalearsinwhichtheydifferfromtheotter,whoseearsareprominent,Inoticedseveralvarietiesofsealsaboutthreeyardslong,withawhitecoat,bulldogheads,armedwithteethinbothjaws,fourincisorsatthetopandfouratthebottom,andtwolargecanineteethintheshapeofafleur-de-lis.Amongstthemglidedsea-elephants,akindofseal,withshort,flexibletrunks.
Thegiantsofthisspeciesmeasuredtwentyfeetroundandtenyardsandahalfinlength;buttheydidnotmoveasweapproached.
\"Thesecreaturesarenotdangerous?\"askedConseil.
\"No;notunlessyouattackthem.Whentheyhavetodefendtheiryoungtheirrageisterrible,anditisnotuncommonforthemtobreakthefishing-boatstopieces.\"
\"Theyarequiteright,\"saidConseil.
\"Idonotsaytheyarenot.\"
Twomilesfartheronwewerestoppedbythepromontorywhichsheltersthebayfromthesoutherlywinds.Beyonditweheardloudbellowingssuchasatroopofruminantswouldproduce.
\"Good!\"saidConseil;\"aconcertofbulls!\"
\"No;aconcertofmorses.\"
\"Theyarefighting!\"
\"Theyareeitherfightingorplaying.\"
Wenowbegantoclimbtheblackishrocks,amidunforeseenstumbles,andoverstoneswhichtheicemadeslippery.MorethanonceIrolledoverattheexpenseofmyloins.Conseil,moreprudentormoresteady,didnotstumble,andhelpedmeup,saying:
\"If,sir,youwouldhavethekindnesstotakewidersteps,youwouldpreserveyourequilibriumbetter.\"
Arrivedattheupperridgeofthepromontory,Isawavastwhiteplaincoveredwithmorses.Theywereplayingamongstthemselves,andwhatweheardwerebellowingsofpleasure,notofanger.
AsIpassedthesecuriousanimalsIcouldexaminethemleisurely,fortheydidnotmove.Theirskinswerethickandrugged,ofayellowishtint,approachingtored;theirhairwasshortandscant.Someofthemwerefouryardsandaquarterlong.
Quieterandlesstimidthantheircousinsofthenorth,theydidnot,likethem,placesentinelsroundtheoutskirtsoftheirencampment.
Afterexaminingthiscityofmorses,Ibegantothinkofreturning.
Itwaseleveno\'clock,and,ifCaptainNemofoundtheconditionsfavourableforobservations,Iwishedtobepresentattheoperation.
Wefollowedanarrowpathwayrunningalongthesummitofthesteepshore.
Athalf-pastelevenwehadreachedtheplacewherewelanded.
Theboathadrunaground,bringingtheCaptain.Isawhimstandingonablockofbasalt,hisinstrumentsnearhim,hiseyesfixedonthenorthernhorizon,nearwhichthesunwasthendescribingalengthenedcurve.Itookmyplacebesidehim,andwaitedwithoutspeaking.Noonarrived,and,asbefore,thesundidnotappear.Itwasafatality.Observationswerestillwanting.
Ifnotaccomplishedto-morrow,wemustgiveupallideaoftakingany.
Wewereindeedexactlyatthe20thofMarch.To-morrow,the21st,wouldbetheequinox;thesunwoulddisappearbehindthehorizonforsixmonths,andwithitsdisappearancethelongpolarnightwouldbegin.
SincetheSeptemberequinoxithademergedfromthenorthernhorizon,risingbylengthenedspiralsuptothe21stofDecember.Atthisperiod,thesummersolsticeofthenorthernregions,ithadbeguntodescend;
andto-morrowwastosheditslastraysuponthem.IcommunicatedmyfearsandobservationstoCaptainNemo.
\"Youareright,M.Aronnax,\"saidhe;\"ifto-morrowIcannottakethealtitudeofthesun,Ishallnotbeabletodoitforsixmonths.
Butpreciselybecausechancehasledmeintotheseseasonthe21stofMarch,mybearingswillbeeasytotake,ifattwelvewecanseethesun.\"
\"Why,Captain?\"
\"Becausethentheorbofdaydescribedsuchlengthenedcurvesthatitisdifficulttomeasureexactlyitsheightabovethehorizon,andgraveerrorsmaybemadewithinstruments.\"
\"Whatwillyoudothen?\"
\"Ishallonlyusemychronometer,\"repliedCaptainNemo.
\"Ifto-morrow,the21stofMarch,thediscofthesun,allowingforrefraction,isexactlycutbythenorthernhorizon,itwillshowthatIamattheSouthPole.\"
\"Justso,\"saidI.\"Butthisstatementisnotmathematicallycorrect,becausetheequinoxdoesnotnecessarilybeginatnoon.\"
\"Verylikely,sir;buttheerrorwillnotbeahundredyardsandwedonotwantmore.Tillto-morrow,then!\"
CaptainNemoreturnedonboard.ConseilandIremainedtosurveytheshore,observingandstudyinguntilfiveo\'clock.ThenI
wenttobed,not,however,withoutinvoking,liketheIndian,thefavouroftheradiantorb.Thenextday,the21stofMarch,atfiveinthemorning,Imountedtheplatform.
IfoundCaptainNemothere.
\"Theweatherislighteningalittle,\"saidhe.\"Ihavesomehope.
Afterbreakfastwewillgoonshoreandchooseapostforobservation.\"
Thatpointsettled,IsoughtNedLand.Iwantedtotakehimwithme.
ButtheobstinateCanadianrefused,andIsawthathistaciturnityandhisbadhumourgrewdaybyday.Afterall,Iwasnotsorryforhisobstinacyunderthecircumstances.Indeed,thereweretoomanysealsonshore,andweoughtnottolaysuchtemptationinthisunreflectingfisherman\'sway.
Breakfastover,wewentonshore.TheNautilushadgonesomemilesfurtherupinthenight.Itwasawholeleaguefromthecoast,abovewhichrearedasharppeakaboutfivehundredyardshigh.
TheboattookwithmeCaptainNemo,twomenofthecrew,andtheinstruments,whichconsistedofachronometer,atelescope,andabarometer.
Whilecrossing,Isawnumerouswhalesbelongingtothethreekindspeculiartothesouthernseas;thewhale,ortheEnglish\"rightwhale,\"
whichhasnodorsalfin;the\"humpback,\"withreevedchestandlarge,whitishfins,which,inspiteofitsname,donotformwings;
andthefin-back,ofayellowishbrown,theliveliestofallthecetacea.
Thispowerfulcreatureisheardalongwayoffwhenhethrowstoagreatheightcolumnsofairandvapour,whichlooklikewhirlwindsofsmoke.
Thesedifferentmammalsweredisportingthemselvesintroopsinthequietwaters;andIcouldseethatthisbasinoftheAntarcticPoleservesasaplaceofrefugetothecetaceatoocloselytrackedbythehunters.
Ialsonoticedlargemedusaefloatingbetweenthereeds.
Atninewelanded;theskywasbrightening,thecloudswereflyingtothesouth,andthefogseemedtobeleavingthecoldsurfaceofthewaters.
CaptainNemowenttowardsthepeak,whichhedoubtlessmeanttobehisobservatory.Itwasapainfulascentoverthesharplavaandthepumice-stones,inanatmosphereoftenimpregnatedwithasulphuroussmellfromthesmokingcracks.Foramanunaccustomedtowalkonland,theCaptainclimbedthesteepslopeswithanagilityIneversawequalledandwhichahunterwouldhaveenvied.
Weweretwohoursgettingtothesummitofthispeak,whichwashalfporphyryandhalfbasalt.Fromthencewelookeduponavastseawhich,towardsthenorth,distinctlytraceditsboundarylineuponthesky.
Atourfeetlayfieldsofdazzlingwhiteness.Overourheadsapaleazure,freefromfog.Tothenorththediscofthesunseemedlikeaballoffire,alreadyhornedbythecuttingofthehorizon.
Fromthebosomofthewaterrosesheavesofliquidjetsbyhundreds.
InthedistancelaytheNautiluslikeacetaceanasleeponthewater.
Behindus,tothesouthandeast,animmensecountryandachaoticheapofrocksandice,thelimitsofwhichwerenotvisible.
OnarrivingatthesummitCaptainNemocarefullytookthemeanheightofthebarometer,forhewouldhavetoconsiderthatintakinghisobservations.Ataquartertotwelvethesun,thenseenonlybyrefraction,lookedlikeagoldendiscsheddingitslastraysuponthisdesertedcontinentandseaswhichnevermanhadyetploughed.
CaptainNemo,furnishedwithalenticularglasswhich,bymeansofamirror,correctedtherefraction,watchedtheorbsinkingbelowthehorizonbydegrees,followingalengtheneddiagonal.
Iheldthechronometer.Myheartbeatfast.Ifthedisappearanceofthehalf-discofthesuncoincidedwithtwelveo\'clockonthechronometer,wewereatthepoleitself.
\"Twelve!\"Iexclaimed.
\"TheSouthPole!\"repliedCaptainNemo,inagravevoice,handingmetheglass,whichshowedtheorbcutinexactlyequalpartsbythehorizon.
Ilookedatthelastrayscrowningthepeak,andtheshadowsmountingbydegreesupitsslopes.AtthatmomentCaptainNemo,restingwithhishandonmyshoulder,said:
\"I,CaptainNemo,onthis21stdayofMarch,1868,havereachedtheSouthPoleontheninetiethdegree;andItakepossessionofthispartoftheglobe,equaltoone-sixthoftheknowncontinents.\"
\"Inwhosename,Captain?\"
\"Inmyown,sir!\"
Sayingwhich,CaptainNemounfurledablackbanner,bearingan\"N\"
ingoldquarteredonitsbunting.Then,turningtowardstheorbofday,whoselastrayslappedthehorizonofthesea,heexclaimed:
\"Adieu,sun!Disappear,thouradiantorb!restbeneaththisopensea,andletanightofsixmonthsspreaditsshadowsovermynewdomains!\"
CHAPTERXV
ACCIDENTORINCIDENT?
Thenextday,the22ndofMarch,atsixinthemorning,preparationsfordeparturewerebegun.Thelastgleamsoftwilightweremeltingintonight.Thecoldwasgreat,theconstellationsshonewithwonderfulintensity.
InthezenithglitteredthatwondrousSouthernCross——
thepolarbearofAntarcticregions.Thethermometershowed120
belowzero,andwhenthewindfresheneditwasmostbiting.
Flakesoficeincreasedontheopenwater.Theseaseemedeverywherealike.Numerousblackishpatchesspreadonthesurface,showingtheformationoffreshice.Evidentlythesouthernbasin,frozenduringthesixwintermonths,wasabsolutelyinaccessible.
Whatbecameofthewhalesinthattime?Doubtlesstheywentbeneaththeicebergs,seekingmorepracticableseas.
Astothesealsandmorses,accustomedtoliveinahardclimate,theyremainedontheseicyshores.Thesecreatureshavetheinstincttobreakholesintheice-fieldandtokeepthemopen.
Totheseholestheycomeforbreath;whenthebirds,drivenawaybythecold,haveemigratedtothenorth,theseseamammalsremainsolemastersofthepolarcontinent.
Butthereservoirswerefillingwithwater,andtheNautiluswasslowlydescending.At1,000feetdeepitstopped;
itsscrewbeatthewaves,anditadvancedstraighttowardsthenorthataspeedoffifteenmilesanhour.Towardsnightitwasalreadyfloatingundertheimmensebodyoftheiceberg.
AtthreeinthemorningIwasawakenedbyaviolentshock.
Isatupinmybedandlistenedinthedarkness,whenIwasthrownintothemiddleoftheroom.
TheNautilus,afterhavingstruck,hadreboundedviolently.
Igropedalongthepartition,andbythestaircasetothesaloon,whichwaslitbytheluminousceiling.Thefurniturewasupset.
Fortunatelythewindowswerefirmlyset,andhadheldfast.
Thepicturesonthestarboardside,frombeingnolongervertical,wereclingingtothepaper,whilstthoseoftheportsidewerehangingatleastafootfromthewall.TheNautiluswaslyingonitsstarboardsideperfectlymotionless.
Iheardfootsteps,andaconfusionofvoices;butCaptainNemodidnotappear.AsIwasleavingthesaloon,NedLandandConseilentered.
\"Whatisthematter?\"saidI,atonce.
\"Icametoaskyou,sir,\"repliedConseil.
\"Confoundit!\"exclaimedtheCanadian,\"Iknowwellenough!
TheNautilushasstruck;and,judgingbythewayshelies,IdonotthinkshewillrightherselfasshedidthefirsttimeinTorresStraits.\"
\"But,\"Iasked,\"hassheatleastcometothesurfaceofthesea?\"
\"Wedonotknow,\"saidConseil.
\"Itiseasytodecide,\"Ianswered.Iconsultedthemanometer.
Tomygreatsurprise,itshowedadepthofmorethan180fathoms.
\"Whatdoesthatmean?\"Iexclaimed.
\"WemustaskCaptainNemo,\"saidConseil.
\"Butwhereshallwefindhim?\"saidNedLand.
\"Followme,\"saidI,tomycompanions.
Weleftthesaloon.Therewasnooneinthelibrary.
Atthecentrestaircase,bytheberthsoftheship\'screw,therewasnoone.IthoughtthatCaptainNemomustbeinthepilot\'scage.
Itwasbesttowait.Weallreturnedtothesaloon.Fortwentyminutesweremainedthus,tryingtoheartheslightestnoisewhichmightbemadeonboardtheNautilus,whenCaptainNemoentered.
Heseemednottoseeus;hisface,generallysoimpassive,showedsignsofuneasiness.Hewatchedthecompasssilently,thenthemanometer;and,goingtotheplanisphere,placedhisfingeronaspotrepresentingthesouthernseas.
Iwouldnotinterrupthim;but,someminuteslater,whenheturnedtowardsme,Isaid,usingoneofhisownexpressionsintheTorresStraits:
\"Anincident,Captain?\"
\"No,sir;anaccidentthistime.\"
\"Serious?\"
\"Perhaps.\"
\"Isthedangerimmediate?\"
\"No.\"
\"TheNautilushasstranded?\"
\"Yes.\"
\"Andthishashappened——how?\"
\"Fromacapriceofnature,notfromtheignoranceofman.
Notamistakehasbeenmadeintheworking.Butwecannotpreventequilibriumfromproducingitseffects.Wemaybravehumanlaws,butwecannotresistnaturalones.\"
CaptainNemohadchosenastrangemomentforutteringthisphilosophicalreflection.Onthewhole,hisanswerhelpedmelittle.
\"MayIask,sir,thecauseofthisaccident?\"
\"Anenormousblockofice,awholemountain,hasturnedover,\"hereplied.
\"Whenicebergsareunderminedattheirbasebywarmerwaterorreiteratedshockstheircentreofgravityrises,andthewholethingturnsover.
Thisiswhathashappened;oneoftheseblocks,asitfell,strucktheNautilus,then,glidingunderitshull,raiseditwithirresistibleforce,bringingitintobedswhicharenotsothick,whereitislyingonitsside.\"
\"ButcanwenotgettheNautilusoffbyemptyingitsreservoirs,thatitmightregainitsequilibrium?\"
\"That,sir,isbeingdoneatthismoment.Youcanhearthepumpworking.
Lookattheneedleofthemanometer;itshowsthattheNautilusisrising,buttheblockoficeisfloatingwithit;and,untilsomeobstaclestopsitsascendingmotion,ourpositioncannotbealtered.\"
Indeed,theNautilusstillheldthesamepositiontostarboard;
doubtlessitwouldrightitselfwhentheblockstopped.
Butatthismomentwhoknowsifwemaynotbefrightfullycrushedbetweenthetwoglassysurfaces?Ireflectedonalltheconsequencesofourposition.CaptainNemonevertookhiseyesoffthemanometer.Sincethefalloftheiceberg,theNautilushadrisenaboutahundredandfiftyfeet,butitstillmadethesameanglewiththeperpendicular.
Suddenlyaslightmovementwasfeltinthehold.
Evidentlyitwasrightingalittle.Thingshanginginthesaloonweresensiblyreturningtotheirnormalposition.
Thepartitionswerenearingtheupright.Noonespoke.
Withbeatingheartswewatchedandfeltthestraightening.
Theboardsbecamehorizontalunderourfeet.
Tenminutespassed.
\"Atlastwehaverighted!\"Iexclaimed.
\"Yes,\"saidCaptainNemo,goingtothedoorofthesaloon.
\"Butarewefloating?\"Iasked.
\"Certainly,\"hereplied;\"sincethereservoirsarenotempty;and,whenempty,theNautilusmustrisetothesurfaceofthesea.\"
Wewereinopensea;butatadistanceofabouttenyards,oneithersideoftheNautilus,roseadazzlingwallofice.
Aboveandbeneaththesamewall.Above,becausethelowersurfaceoftheicebergstretchedoveruslikeanimmenseceiling.
Beneath,becausetheoverturnedblock,havingslidbydegrees,hadfoundaresting-placeonthelateralwalls,whichkeptitinthatposition.
TheNautiluswasreallyimprisonedinaperfecttunneloficemorethantwentyyardsinbreadth,filledwithquietwater.
Itwaseasytogetoutofitbygoingeitherforwardorbackward,andthenmakeafreepassageundertheiceberg,somehundredsofyardsdeeper.Theluminousceilinghadbeenextinguished,butthesaloonwasstillresplendentwithintenselight.
Itwasthepowerfulreflectionfromtheglasspartitionsentviolentlybacktothesheetsofthelantern.Icannotdescribetheeffectofthevoltaicraysuponthegreatblockssocapriciouslycut;
uponeveryangle,everyridge,everyfacetwasthrownadifferentlight,accordingtothenatureoftheveinsrunningthroughtheice;
adazzlingmineofgems,particularlyofsapphires,theirbluerayscrossingwiththegreenoftheemerald.Hereandtherewereopalshadesofwonderfulsoftness,runningthroughbrightspotslikediamondsoffire,thebrilliancyofwhichtheeyecouldnotbear.
Thepowerofthelanternseemedincreasedahundredfold,likealampthroughthelenticularplatesofafirst-classlighthouse.
\"Howbeautiful!howbeautiful!\"criedConseil.
\"Yes,\"Isaid,\"itisawonderfulsight.Isitnot,Ned?\"
\"Yes,confoundit!Yes,\"answeredNedLand,\"itissuperb!
Iammadatbeingobligedtoadmitit.Noonehaseverseenanythinglikeit;butthesightmaycostusdear.And,ifImustsayall,IthinkweareseeingherethingswhichGodneverintendedmantosee.\"
Nedwasright,itwastoobeautiful.SuddenlyacryfromConseilmademeturn.
\"Whatisit?\"Iasked.
\"Shutyoureyes,sir!Donotlook,sir!\"Sayingwhich,Conseilclappedhishandsoverhiseyes.
\"Butwhatisthematter,myboy?\"
\"Iamdazzled,blinded.\"
Myeyesturnedinvoluntarilytowardstheglass,butIcouldnotstandthefirewhichseemedtodevourthem.Iunderstoodwhathadhappened.
TheNautilushadputonfullspeed.Allthequietlustreoftheice-wallswasatoncechangedintoflashesoflightning.Thefirefromthesemyriadsofdiamondswasblinding.Itrequiredsometimetocalmourtroubledlooks.
Atlastthehandsweretakendown.
\"Faith,Ishouldneverhavebelievedit,\"saidConseil.
Itwasthenfiveinthemorning;andatthatmomentashockwasfeltatthebowsoftheNautilus.Iknewthatitsspurhadstruckablockofice.Itmusthavebeenafalsemanoeuvre,forthissubmarinetunnel,obstructedbyblocks,wasnotveryeasynavigation.
IthoughtthatCaptainNemo,bychanginghiscourse,wouldeitherturntheseobstaclesorelsefollowthewindingsofthetunnel.
Inanycase,theroadbeforeuscouldnotbeentirelyblocked.
But,contrarytomyexpectations,theNautilustookadecidedretrogrademotion.
\"Wearegoingbackwards?\"saidConseil.
\"Yes,\"Ireplied.\"Thisendofthetunnelcanhavenoegress.\"
\"Andthen?\"
\"Then,\"saidI,\"theworkingiseasy.Wemustgobackagain,andgooutatthesouthernopening.Thatisall.\"
Inspeakingthus,IwishedtoappearmoreconfidentthanIreallywas.
ButtheretrogrademotionoftheNautiluswasincreasing;and,reversingthescrew,itcarriedusatgreatspeed.
\"Itwillbeahindrance,\"saidNed.
\"Whatdoesitmatter,somehoursmoreorless,providedwegetoutatlast?\"
\"Yes,\"repeatedNedLand,\"providedwedogetoutatlast!\"
ForashorttimeIwalkedfromthesaloontothelibrary.
Mycompanionsweresilent.Isoonthrewmyselfonanottoman,andtookabook,whichmyeyesoverranmechanically.Aquarterofanhourafter,Conseil,approachingme,said,\"Iswhatyouarereadingveryinteresting,sir?\"
\"Veryinteresting!\"Ireplied.
\"Ishouldthinkso,sir.Itisyourownbookyouarereading.\"
\"Mybook?\"
AndindeedIwasholdinginmyhandtheworkontheGreatSubmarineDepths.
Ididnotevendreamofit.Iclosedthebookandreturnedtomywalk.
NedandConseilrosetogo.
\"Stayhere,myfriends,\"saidI,detainingthem.
\"Letusremaintogetheruntilweareoutofthisblock.\"
\"Asyouplease,sir,\"Conseilreplied.
Somehourspassed.Ioftenlookedattheinstrumentshangingfromthepartition.ThemanometershowedthattheNautiluskeptataconstantdepthofmorethanthreehundredyards;thecompassstillpointedtosouth;thelogindicatedaspeedoftwentymilesanhour,which,insuchacrampedspace,wasverygreat.
ButCaptainNemoknewthathecouldnothastentoomuch,andthatminuteswereworthagestous.Attwenty-fiveminutespasteightasecondshocktookplace,thistimefrombehind.
Iturnedpale.Mycompanionswereclosebymyside.
IseizedConseil\'shand.Ourlooksexpressedourfeelingsbetterthanwords.AtthismomenttheCaptainenteredthesaloon.
Iwentuptohim.
\"Ourcourseisbarredsouthward?\"Iasked.
\"Yes,sir.Theiceberghasshiftedandclosedeveryoutlet.\"
\"Weareblockedupthen?\"
\"Yes.\"
CHAPTERXVI
WANTOFAIR
ThusaroundtheNautilus,aboveandbelow,wasanimpenetrablewallofice.Wewereprisonerstotheiceberg.IwatchedtheCaptain.
Hiscountenancehadresumeditshabitualimperturbability.
\"Gentlemen,\"hesaidcalmly,\"therearetwowaysofdyinginthecircumstancesinwhichweareplaced.\"Thispuzzlingpersonhadtheairofamathematicalprofessorlecturingtohispupils.
\"Thefirstistobecrushed;thesecondistodieofsuffocation.
Idonotspeakofthepossibilityofdyingofhunger,forthesupplyofprovisionsintheNautiluswillcertainlylastlongerthanweshall.
Letus,then,calculateourchances.\"
\"Astosuffocation,Captain,\"Ireplied,\"thatisnottobefeared,becauseourreservoirsarefull.\"
\"Justso;buttheywillonlyyieldtwodays\'supplyofair.
Now,forthirty-sixhourswehavebeenhiddenunderthewater,andalreadytheheavyatmosphereoftheNautilusrequiresrenewal.
Inforty-eighthoursourreservewillbeexhausted.\"
\"Well,Captain,canwebedeliveredbeforeforty-eighthours?\"
\"Wewillattemptit,atleast,bypiercingthewallthatsurroundsus.\"
\"Onwhichside?\"
\"Soundwilltellus.IamgoingtoruntheNautilusagroundonthelowerbank,andmymenwillattacktheicebergonthesidethatisleastthick.\"
CaptainNemowentout.SoonIdiscoveredbyahissingnoisethatthewaterwasenteringthereservoirs.TheNautilussankslowly,andrestedontheiceatadepthof350yards,thedepthatwhichthelowerbankwasimmersed.
\"Myfriends,\"Isaid,\"oursituationisserious,butIrelyonyourcourageandenergy.\"
\"Sir,\"repliedtheCanadian,\"Iamreadytodoanythingforthegeneralsafety.\"
\"Good!Ned,\"andIheldoutmyhandtotheCanadian.
\"Iwilladd,\"hecontinued,\"that,beingashandywiththepickaxeaswiththeharpoon,ifIcanbeusefultotheCaptain,hecancommandmyservices.\"
\"Hewillnotrefuseyourhelp.Come,Ned!\"
IledhimtotheroomwherethecrewoftheNautiluswereputtingontheircork-jackets.ItoldtheCaptainofNed\'sproposal,whichheaccepted.TheCanadianputonhissea-costume,andwasreadyassoonashiscompanions.
WhenNedwasdressed,Ire-enteredthedrawing-room,wherethepanesofglasswereopen,and,postednearConseil,IexaminedtheambientbedsthatsupportedtheNautilus.
Someinstantsafter,wesawadozenofthecrewsetfootonthebankofice,andamongthemNedLand,easilyknownbyhisstature.
CaptainNemowaswiththem.Beforeproceedingtodigthewalls,hetookthesoundings,tobesureofworkingintherightdirection.
Longsoundinglinesweresunkinthesidewalls,butafterfifteenyardstheywereagainstoppedbythethickwall.
Itwasuselesstoattackitontheceiling-likesurface,sincetheicebergitselfmeasuredmorethan400yardsinheight.
CaptainNemothensoundedthelowersurface.Theretenyardsofwallseparatedusfromthewater,sogreatwasthethicknessoftheice-field.Itwasnecessary,therefore,tocutfromitapieceequalinextenttothewaterlineoftheNautilus.
Therewereabout6,000cubicyardstodetach,soastodigaholebywhichwecoulddescendtotheice-field.Theworkhadbegunimmediatelyandcarriedonwithindefatigableenergy.