ThepoorFrenchman,forgettinghisconventionallanguage,hadtakentohisownmothertongue,toutteralastappeal!
AmongstthecrewoftheNautilus,associatedwiththebodyandsouloftheCaptain,recoilinglikehimfromallcontactwithmen,Ihadafellow-countryman.DidhealonerepresentFranceinthismysteriousassociation,evidentlycomposedofindividualsofdiversnationalities?
Itwasoneoftheseinsolubleproblemsthatroseupunceasinglybeforemymind!
CaptainNemoenteredhisroom,andIsawhimnomoreforsometime.
ButthathewassadandirresoluteIcouldseebythevessel,ofwhichhewasthesoul,andwhichreceivedallhisimpressions.
TheNautilusdidnotkeeponinitssettledcourse;itfloatedaboutlikeacorpseatthewillofthewaves.Itwentatrandom.
Hecouldnottearhimselfawayfromthesceneofthelaststruggle,fromthisseathathaddevouredoneofhismen.Tendayspassedthus.
Itwasnottillthe1stofMaythattheNautilusresumeditsnortherlycourse,afterhavingsightedtheBahamasatthemouthoftheBahamaCanal.
Wewerethenfollowingthecurrentfromthelargestrivertothesea,thathasitsbanks,itsfish,anditspropertemperatures.ImeantheGulfStream.Itisreallyariver,thatflowsfreelytothemiddleoftheAtlantic,andwhosewatersdonotmixwiththeoceanwaters.
Itisasaltriver,salterthanthesurroundingsea.Itsmeandepthis1,500fathoms,itsmeanbreadthtenmiles.Incertainplacesthecurrentflowswiththespeedoftwomilesandahalfanhour.Thebodyofitswatersismoreconsiderablethanthatofalltheriversintheglobe.
ItwasonthisoceanriverthattheNautilusthensailed.
Imustaddthat,duringthenight,thephosphorescentwatersoftheGulfStreamrivalledtheelectricpowerofourwatch-light,especiallyinthestormyweatherthatthreatenedussofrequently.
May8th,wewerestillcrossingCapeHatteras,attheheightoftheNorthCaroline.ThewidthoftheGulfStreamthereisseventy-fivemiles,anditsdepth210yards.TheNautilusstillwentatrandom;allsupervisionseemedabandoned.
Ithoughtthat,underthesecircumstances,escapewouldbepossible.
Indeed,theinhabitedshoresofferedanywhereaneasyrefuge.
TheseawasincessantlyploughedbythesteamersthatplybetweenNewYorkorBostonandtheGulfofMexico,andoverrundayandnightbythelittleschoonerscoastingabouttheseveralpartsoftheAmericancoast.Wecouldhopetobepickedup.
Itwasafavourableopportunity,notwithstandingthethirtymilesthatseparatedtheNautilusfromthecoastsoftheUnion.
OneunfortunatecircumstancethwartedtheCanadian\'splans.
Theweatherwasverybad.Wewerenearingthoseshoreswheretempestsaresofrequent,thatcountryofwaterspoutsandcyclonesactuallyengenderedbythecurrentoftheGulfStream.
Totempttheseainafrailboatwascertaindestruction.NedLandownedthishimself.Hefretted,seizedwithnostalgiathatflightonlycouldcure.
\"Master,\"hesaidthatdaytome,\"thismustcometoanend.Imustmakeacleanbreastofit.ThisNemoisleavinglandandgoinguptothenorth.
ButIdeclaretoyouthatIhavehadenoughoftheSouthPole,andIwillnotfollowhimtotheNorth.\"
\"Whatistobedone,Ned,sinceflightisimpracticablejustnow?\"
\"WemustspeaktotheCaptain,\"saidhe;\"yousaidnothingwhenwewereinyournativeseas.Iwillspeak,nowweareinmine.
WhenIthinkthatbeforelongtheNautiluswillbebyNovaScotia,andthattherenearNewfoundlandisalargebay,andintothatbaytheSt.Lawrenceemptiesitself,andthattheSt.Lawrenceismyriver,theriverbyQuebec,mynativetown——whenIthinkofthis,Ifeelfurious,itmakesmyhairstandonend.Sir,Iwouldratherthrowmyselfintothesea!Iwillnotstayhere!
Iamstifled!\"
TheCanadianwasevidentlylosingallpatience.
Hisvigorousnaturecouldnotstandthisprolongedimprisonment.
Hisfacealtereddaily;histemperbecamemoresurly.Iknewwhathemustsuffer,forIwasseizedwithhome-sicknessmyself.
Nearlysevenmonthshadpassedwithoutourhavinghadanynewsfromland;CaptainNemo\'sisolation,hisalteredspirits,especiallysincethefightwiththepoulps,histaciturnity,allmademeviewthingsinadifferentlight.
\"Well,sir?\"saidNed,seeingIdidnotreply.
\"Well,Ned,doyouwishmetoaskCaptainNemohisintentionsconcerningus?\"
\"Yes,sir.\"
\"Althoughhehasalreadymadethemknown?\"
\"Yes;Iwishitsettledfinally.Speakforme,inmynameonly,ifyoulike.\"
\"ButIsoseldommeethim.Heavoidsme.\"
\"Thatisallthemorereasonforyoutogotoseehim.\"
Iwenttomyroom.FromthenceImeanttogotoCaptainNemo\'s.
Itwouldnotdotoletthisopportunityofmeetinghimslip.
Iknockedatthedoor.Noanswer.Iknockedagain,thenturnedthehandle.Thedooropened,Iwentin.TheCaptainwasthere.
Bendingoverhiswork-table,hehadnotheardme.
Resolvednottogowithouthavingspoken,Iapproachedhim.
Heraisedhisheadquickly,frowned,andsaidroughly,\"Youhere!
Whatdoyouwant?\"
\"Tospeaktoyou,Captain.\"
\"ButIambusy,sir;Iamworking.Ileaveyouatlibertytoshutyourselfup;cannotIbeallowedthesame?\"
Thisreceptionwasnotencouraging;butIwasdeterminedtohearandanswereverything.
\"Sir,\"Isaidcoldly,\"Ihavetospeaktoyouonamatterthatadmitsofnodelay.\"
\"Whatisthat,sir?\"hereplied,ironically.\"Haveyoudiscoveredsomethingthathasescapedme,orhastheseadeliveredupanynewsecrets?\"
Wewereatcross-purposes.But,beforeIcouldreply,heshowedmeanopenmanuscriptonhistable,andsaid,inamoreserioustone,\"Here,M.Aronnax,isamanuscriptwritteninseverallanguages.
Itcontainsthesumofmystudiesofthesea;and,ifitpleaseGod,itshallnotperishwithme.Thismanuscript,signedwithmyname,completewiththehistoryofmylife,willbeshutupinalittlefloatingcase.ThelastsurvivorofallofusonboardtheNautiluswillthrowthiscaseintothesea,anditwillgowhitheritisbornebythewaves.\"
Thisman\'sname!hishistorywrittenbyhimself!
Hismysterywouldthenberevealedsomeday.
\"Captain,\"Isaid,\"Icanbutapproveoftheideathatmakesyouactthus.
Theresultofyourstudiesmustnotbelost.Butthemeansyouemployseemtometobeprimitive.Whoknowswherethewindswillcarrythiscase,andinwhosehandsitwillfall?Couldyounotusesomeothermeans?
Couldnotyou,oroneofyours——\"
\"Never,sir!\"hesaid,hastilyinterruptingme.
\"ButIandmycompanionsarereadytokeepthismanuscriptinstore;and,ifyouwillputusatliberty——\"
\"Atliberty?\"saidtheCaptain,rising.
\"Yes,sir;thatisthesubjectonwhichIwishtoquestionyou.
Forsevenmonthswehavebeenhereonboard,andIaskyouto-day,inthenameofmycompanionsandinmyown,ifyourintentionistokeepusherealways?\"
\"M.Aronnax,Iwillansweryouto-dayasIdidsevenmonthsago:
WhoeverenterstheNautilus,mustneverquitit.\"
\"Youimposeactualslaveryuponus!\"
\"Giveitwhatnameyouplease.\"
\"Buteverywheretheslavehastherighttoregainhisliberty.\"
\"Whodeniesyouthisright?HaveIevertriedtochainyouwithanoath?\"
Helookedatmewithhisarmscrossed.
\"Sir,\"Isaid,\"toreturnasecondtimetothissubjectwillbeneithertoyournortomytaste;but,aswehaveentereduponit,letusgothroughwithit.Irepeat,itisnotonlymyselfwhomitconcerns.
Studyistomearelief,adiversion,apassionthatcouldmakemeforgeteverything.Likeyou,Iamwillingtoliveobscure,inthefrailhopeofbequeathingoneday,tofuturetime,theresultofmylabours.ButitisotherwisewithNedLand.
Everyman,worthyofthename,deservessomeconsideration.
Haveyouthoughtthatloveofliberty,hatredofslavery,cangiverisetoschemesofrevengeinanatureliketheCanadian\'s;
thathecouldthink,attempt,andtry——\"
Iwassilenced;CaptainNemorose.
\"WhateverNedLandthinksof,attempts,ortries,whatdoesitmattertome?
Ididnotseekhim!ItisnotformypleasurethatIkeephimonboard!
Asforyou,M.Aronnax,youareoneofthosewhocanunderstandeverything,evensilence.Ihavenothingmoretosaytoyou.Letthisfirsttimeyouhavecometotreatofthissubjectbethelast,forasecondtimeIwillnotlistentoyou.\"
Iretired.Oursituationwascritical.Irelatedmyconversationtomytwocompanions.
\"Weknownow,\"saidNed,\"thatwecanexpectnothingfromthisman.
TheNautilusisnearingLongIsland.Wewillescape,whatevertheweathermaybe.\"
Buttheskybecamemoreandmorethreatening.Symptomsofahurricanebecamemanifest.Theatmospherewasbecomingwhiteandmisty.
Onthehorizonfinestreaksofcirrhouscloudsweresucceededbymassesofcumuli.Otherlowcloudspassedswiftlyby.
Theswollensearoseinhugebillows.Thebirdsdisappearedwiththeexceptionofthepetrels,thosefriendsofthestorm.
Thebarometerfellsensibly,andindicatedanextremeextensionofthevapours.Themixtureofthestormglasswasdecomposedundertheinfluenceoftheelectricitythatpervadedtheatmosphere.
Thetempestburstonthe18thofMay,justastheNautiluswasfloatingoffLongIsland,somemilesfromtheportofNewYork.
Icandescribethisstrifeoftheelements!for,insteadoffleeingtothedepthsofthesea,CaptainNemo,byanunaccountablecaprice,wouldbraveitatthesurface.
Thewindblewfromthesouth-westatfirst.CaptainNemo,duringthesqualls,hadtakenhisplaceontheplatform.
Hehadmadehimselffast,topreventbeingwashedoverboardbythemonstrouswaves.Ihadhoistedmyselfup,andmademyselffastalso,dividingmyadmirationbetweenthetempestandthisextraordinarymanwhowascopingwithit.Theragingseawassweptbyhugecloud-drifts,whichwereactuallysaturatedwiththewaves.
TheNautilus,sometimeslyingonitsside,sometimesstandinguplikeamast,rolledandpitchedterribly.Aboutfiveo\'clockatorrentofrainfell,thatlulledneitherseanorwind.
Thehurricaneblewnearlyfortyleaguesanhour.Itisundertheseconditionsthatitoverturnshouses,breaksirongates,displacestwenty-fourpounders.However,theNautilus,inthemidstofthetempest,confirmedthewordsofacleverengineer,\"Thereisnowell-constructedhullthatcannotdefythesea.\"
Thiswasnotaresistingrock;itwasasteelspindle,obedientandmovable,withoutriggingormasts,thatbraveditsfurywithimpunity.However,Iwatchedtheseragingwavesattentively.
Theymeasuredfifteenfeetinheight,and150to175yardslong,andtheirspeedofpropagationwasthirtyfeetpersecond.
Theirbulkandpowerincreasedwiththedepthofthewater.
Suchwavesasthese,attheHebrides,havedisplacedamassweighing8,400lb.Theyaretheywhich,inthetempestofDecember23rd,1864,afterdestroyingthetownofYeddo,inJapan,brokethesamedayontheshoresofAmerica.Theintensityofthetempestincreasedwiththenight.Thebarometer,asin1860
atReunionduringacyclone,fellseven-tenthsatthecloseofday.
Isawalargevesselpassthehorizonstrugglingpainfully.
Shewastryingtolietounderhalfsteam,tokeepupabovethewaves.
ItwasprobablyoneofthesteamersofthelinefromNewYorktoLiverpool,orHavre.Itsoondisappearedinthegloom.
Atteno\'clockintheeveningtheskywasonfire.
Theatmospherewasstreakedwithvividlightning.
Icouldnotbearthebrightnessofit;whilethecaptain,lookingatit,seemedtoenvythespiritofthetempest.
Aterriblenoisefilledtheair,acomplexnoise,madeupofthehowlsofthecrushedwaves,theroaringofthewind,andtheclapsofthunder.Thewindveeredsuddenlytoallpointsofthehorizon;andthecyclone,risingintheeast,returnedafterpassingbythenorth,west,andsouth,intheinversecoursepursuedbythecircularstormofthesouthernhemisphere.
Ah,thatGulfStream!ItdeservesitsnameoftheKingofTempests.
Itisthatwhichcausesthoseformidablecyclones,bythedifferenceoftemperaturebetweenitsairanditscurrents.
Ashoweroffirehadsucceededtherain.Thedropsofwaterwerechangedtosharpspikes.OnewouldhavethoughtthatCaptainNemowascourtingadeathworthyofhimself,adeathbylightning.
AstheNautilus,pitchingdreadfully,raiseditssteelspurintheair,itseemedtoactasaconductor,andIsawlongsparksburstfromit.
CrushedandwithoutstrengthIcrawledtothepanel,openedit,anddescendedtothesaloon.Thestormwasthenatitsheight.
ItwasimpossibletostanduprightintheinterioroftheNautilus.
CaptainNemocamedownabouttwelve.Iheardthereservoirsfillingbydegrees,andtheNautilussankslowlybeneaththewaves.
ThroughtheopenwindowsinthesaloonIsawlargefishterrified,passinglikephantomsinthewater.Somewerestruckbeforemyeyes.
TheNautiluswasstilldescending.Ithoughtthatatabouteightfathomsdeepweshouldfindacalm.Butno!theupperbedsweretooviolentlyagitatedforthat.Wehadtoseekreposeatmorethantwenty-fivefathomsinthebowelsofthedeep.
Butthere,whatquiet,whatsilence,whatpeace!Whocouldhavetoldthatsuchahurricanehadbeenletlooseonthesurfaceofthatocean?
CHAPTERXX
FROMLATITUDE47@24\'TOLONGITUDE17@28\'
Inconsequenceofthestorm,wehadbeenthrowneastwardoncemore.
AllhopeofescapeontheshoresofNewYorkorSt.Lawrencehadfadedaway;
andpoorNed,indespair,hadisolatedhimselflikeCaptainNemo.
ConseilandI,however,neverlefteachother.IsaidthattheNautilushadgoneasidetotheeast.Ishouldhavesaidtobemoreexact
thenorth-east.Forsomedays,itwanderedfirstonthesurface,andthenbeneathit,amidthosefogssodreadedbysailors.
Whataccidentsareduetothesethickfogs!Whatshocksuponthesereefswhenthewinddrownsthebreakingofthewaves!
Whatcollisionsbetweenvessels,inspiteoftheirwarninglights,whistles,andalarmbells!Andthebottomsoftheseseaslooklikeafieldofbattle,wherestillliealltheconqueredoftheocean;
someoldandalreadyencrusted,othersfreshandreflectingfromtheirironbandsandcopperplatesthebrilliancyofourlantern.
Onthe15thofMaywewereattheextremesouthoftheBankofNewfoundland.
Thisbankconsistsofalluvia,orlargeheapsoforganicmatter,broughteitherfromtheEquatorbytheGulfStream,orfromtheNorthPolebythecounter-currentofcoldwaterwhichskirtstheAmericancoast.
Therealsoareheapedupthoseerraticblockswhicharecarriedalongbythebrokenice;andcloseby,avastcharnel-houseofmolluscs,whichperishherebymillions.ThedepthoftheseaisnotgreatatNewfoundland——notmorethansomehundredsoffathoms;buttowardsthesouthisadepressionof1,500fathoms.TheretheGulfStreamwidens.
Itlosessomeofitsspeedandsomeofitstemperature,butitbecomesasea.
Itwasonthe17thofMay,about500milesfromHeart\'sContent,atadepthofmorethan1,400fathoms,thatIsawtheelectriccablelyingonthebottom.Conseil,towhomIhadnotmentionedit,thoughtatfirstthatitwasagiganticsea-serpent.ButIundeceivedtheworthyfellow,andbywayofconsolationrelatedseveralparticularsinthelayingofthiscable.Thefirstonewaslaidintheyears1857and1858;
but,aftertransmittingabout400telegrams,wouldnotactanylonger.
In1863theengineersconstructedanotherone,measuring2,000milesinlength,andweighing4,500tons,whichwasembarkedontheGreatEastern.
Thisattemptalsofailed.
Onthe25thofMaytheNautilus,beingatadepthofmorethan1,918fathoms,wasontheprecisespotwheretheruptureoccurredwhichruinedtheenterprise.Itwaswithin638milesofthecoastofIreland;andathalf-pasttwointheafternoontheydiscoveredthatcommunicationwithEuropehadceased.
Theelectriciansonboardresolvedtocutthecablebeforefishingitup,andateleveno\'clockatnighttheyhadrecoveredthedamagedpart.Theymadeanotherpointandsplicedit,anditwasoncemoresubmerged.Butsomedaysafteritbrokeagain,andinthedepthsoftheoceancouldnotberecaptured.
TheAmericans,however,werenotdiscouraged.CyrusField,theboldpromoteroftheenterprise,ashehadsunkallhisownfortune,setanewsubscriptiononfoot,whichwasatonceanswered,andanothercablewasconstructedonbetterprinciples.
Thebundlesofconductingwireswereeachenvelopedingutta-percha,andprotectedbyawaddingofhemp,containedinametalliccovering.
TheGreatEasternsailedonthe13thofJuly,1866.Theoperationworkedwell.Butoneincidentoccurred.Severaltimesinunrollingthecabletheyobservedthatnailshadrecentlybeenforcedintoit,evidentlywiththemotiveofdestroyingit.
CaptainAnderson,theofficers,andengineersconsultedtogether,andhaditpostedupthat,iftheoffenderwassurprisedonboard,hewouldbethrownwithoutfurthertrialintothesea.
Fromthattimethecriminalattemptwasneverrepeated.
Onthe23rdofJulytheGreatEasternwasnotmorethan500milesfromNewfoundland,whentheytelegraphedfromIrelandthenewsofthearmisticeconcludedbetweenPrussiaandAustriaafterSadowa.
Onthe27th,inthemidstofheavyfogs,theyreachedtheportofHeart\'sContent.Theenterprisewassuccessfullyterminated;
andforitsfirstdespatch,youngAmericaaddressedoldEuropeinthesewordsofwisdom,sorarelyunderstood:\"GlorytoGodinthehighest,andonearthpeace,goodwilltowardsmen.\"
Ididnotexpecttofindtheelectriccableinitsprimitivestate,suchasitwasonleavingthemanufactory.
Thelongserpent,coveredwiththeremainsofshells,bristlingwithforaminiferae,wasencrustedwithastrongcoatingwhichservedasaprotectionagainstallboringmolluscs.
Itlayquietlyshelteredfromthemotionsofthesea,andunderafavourablepressureforthetransmissionoftheelectricsparkwhichpassesfromEuropetoAmericain.32ofasecond.
Doubtlessthiscablewilllastforagreatlengthoftime,fortheyfindthatthegutta-perchacoveringisimprovedbythesea-water.Besides,onthislevel,sowellchosen,thecableisneversodeeplysubmergedastocauseittobreak.
TheNautilusfollowedittothelowestdepth,whichwasmorethan2,212fathoms,andthereitlaywithoutanyanchorage;andthenwereachedthespotwheretheaccidenthadtakenplacein1863.
Thebottomoftheoceanthenformedavalleyabout100
milesbroad,inwhichMontBlancmighthavebeenplacedwithoutitssummitappearingabovethewaves.Thisvalleyisclosedattheeastbyaperpendicularwallmorethan2,000yardshigh.
Wearrivedthereonthe28thofMay,andtheNautiluswasthennotmorethan120milesfromIreland.
WasCaptainNemogoingtolandontheBritishIsles?
No.Tomygreatsurprisehemadeforthesouth,oncemorecomingbacktowardsEuropeanseas.InroundingtheEmeraldIsle,foroneinstantIcaughtsightofCapeClear,andthelightwhichguidesthethousandsofvesselsleavingGlasgoworLiverpool.
Animportantquestionthenaroseinmymind.DidtheNautilusdareentangleitselfintheManche?NedLand,whohadre-appearedsincewehadbeennearingland,didnotceasetoquestionme.
HowcouldIanswer?CaptainNemoremindedinvisible.
AfterhavingshowntheCanadianaglimpseofAmericanshores,washegoingtoshowmethecoastofFrance?
ButtheNautiluswasstillgoingsouthward.Onthe30thofMay,itpassedinsightofLand\'sEnd,betweentheextremepointofEnglandandtheScillyIsles,whichwerelefttostarboard.
IfwewishedtoentertheManche,hemustgostraighttotheeast.
Hedidnotdoso.
Duringthewholeofthe31stofMay,theNautilusdescribedaseriesofcirclesonthewater,whichgreatlyinterestedme.
Itseemedtobeseekingaspotithadsometroubleinfinding.
Atnoon,CaptainNemohimselfcametoworktheship\'slog.
Hespokenowordtome,butseemedgloomierthanever.Whatcouldsaddenhimthus?WasithisproximitytoEuropeanshores?
Hadhesomerecollectionsofhisabandonedcountry?
Ifnot,whatdidhefeel?Remorseorregret?
Foralongwhilethisthoughthauntedmymind,andIhadakindofpresentimentthatbeforelongchancewouldbetraythecaptain\'ssecrets.
Thenextday,the1stofJune,theNautiluscontinuedthesameprocess.
Itwasevidentlyseekingsomeparticularspotintheocean.
CaptainNemotookthesun\'saltitudeashehaddonethedaybefore.
Theseawasbeautiful,theskyclear.Abouteightmilestotheeast,alargesteamvesselcouldbediscernedonthehorizon.
Noflagflutteredfromitsmast,andIcouldnotdiscoveritsnationality.Someminutesbeforethesunpassedthemeridian,CaptainNemotookhissextant,andwatchedwithgreatattention.
Theperfectrestofthewatergreatlyhelpedtheoperation.
TheNautiluswasmotionless;itneitherrollednorpitched.
Iwasontheplatformwhenthealtitudewastaken,andtheCaptainpronouncedthesewords:\"Itishere.\"
Heturnedandwentbelow.Hadheseenthevesselwhichwaschangingitscourseandseemedtobenearingus?
Icouldnottell.Ireturnedtothesaloon.Thepanelsclosed,Iheardthehissingofthewaterinthereservoirs.
TheNautilusbegantosink,followingaverticalline,foritsscrewcommunicatednomotiontoit.Someminuteslateritstoppedatadepthofmorethan420fathoms,restingontheground.
Theluminousceilingwasdarkened,thenthepanelswereopened,andthroughtheglassIsawtheseabrilliantlyilluminatedbytheraysofourlanternforatleasthalfamileroundus.
Ilookedtotheportside,andsawnothingbutanimmensityofquietwaters.Buttostarboard,onthebottomappearedalargeprotuberance,whichatonceattractedmyattention.
Onewouldhavethoughtitaruinburiedunderacoatingofwhiteshells,muchresemblingacoveringofsnow.
Uponexaminingthemassattentively,Icouldrecognisetheever-thickeningformofavesselbareofitsmasts,whichmusthavesunk.Itcertainlybelongedtopasttimes.
Thiswreck,tobethusencrustedwiththelimeofthewater,mustalreadybeabletocountmanyyearspassedatthebottomoftheocean.
Whatwasthisvessel?WhydidtheNautilusvisititstomb?
Couldithavebeenaughtbutashipwreckwhichhaddrawnitunderthewater?
Iknewnotwhattothink,whennearmeinaslowvoiceIheardCaptainNemosay:
\"AtonetimethisshipwascalledtheMarseillais.Itcarriedseventy-fourguns,andwaslaunchedin1762.In1778,the13thofAugust,commandedbyLaPoype-Vertrieux,itfoughtboldlyagainstthePreston.
In1779,onthe4thofJuly,itwasatthetakingofGrenada,withthesquadronofAdmiralEstaing.In1781,onthe5thofSeptember,ittookpartinthebattleofComtedeGrasse,inChesapeakeBay.
In1794,theFrenchRepublicchangeditsname.Onthe16thofApril,inthesameyear,itjoinedthesquadronofVillaretJoyeuse,atBrest,beingentrustedwiththeescortofacargoofcorncomingfromAmerica,underthecommandofAdmiralVanStebel.Onthe11thand12thPrairalofthesecondyear,thissquadronfellinwithanEnglishvessel.
Sir,to-dayisthe13thPrairal,thefirstofJune,1868.Itisnowseventy-fouryearsago,dayfordayonthisveryspot,inlatitude47@
24\',longitude17@28\',thatthisvessel,afterfightingheroically,losingitsthreemasts,withthewaterinitshold,andthethirdofitscrewdisabled,preferredsinkingwithits356sailorstosurrendering;
and,nailingitscolourstothepoop,disappearedunderthewavestothecryof`LonglivetheRepublic!\'\"
\"TheAvenger!\"Iexclaimed.
\"Yes,sir,theAvenger!Agoodname!\"mutteredCaptainNemo,crossinghisarms.
CHAPTERXXI
AHECATOMB
Thewayofdescribingthisunlooked-forscene,thehistoryofthepatriotship,toldatfirstsocoldly,andtheemotionwithwhichthisstrangemanpronouncedthelastwords,thenameoftheAvenger,thesignificanceofwhichcouldnotescapeme,allimpresseditselfdeeplyonmymind.
MyeyesdidnotleavetheCaptain,who,withhishandstretchedouttosea,waswatchingwithaglowingeyethegloriouswreck.
PerhapsIwasnevertoknowwhohewas,fromwhencehecame,orwherehewasgoingto,butIsawthemanmove,andapartfromthesavant.ItwasnocommonmisanthropywhichhadshutCaptainNemoandhiscompanionswithintheNautilus,butahatred,eithermonstrousorsublime,whichtimecouldneverweaken.Didthishatredstillseekforvengeance?
Thefuturewouldsoonteachmethat.ButtheNautiluswasrisingslowlytothesurfaceofthesea,andtheformoftheAvengerdisappearedbydegreesfrommysight.
Soonaslightrollingtoldmethatwewereintheopenair.
Atthatmomentadullboomwasheard.IlookedattheCaptain.
Hedidnotmove.
\"Captain?\"saidI.
Hedidnotanswer.Ilefthimandmountedtheplatform.
ConseilandtheCanadianwerealreadythere.
\"Wheredidthatsoundcomefrom?\"Iasked.
\"Itwasagunshot,\"repliedNedLand.
IlookedinthedirectionofthevesselIhadalreadyseen.
ItwasnearingtheNautilus,andwecouldseethatitwasputtingonsteam.
Itwaswithinsixmilesofus.
\"Whatisthatship,Ned?\"
\"Byitsrigging,andtheheightofitslowermasts,\"saidtheCanadian,\"Ibetsheisaship-of-war.Mayitreachus;and,ifnecessary,sinkthiscursedNautilus.\"
\"FriendNed,\"repliedConseil,\"whatharmcanitdototheNautilus?
Canitattackitbeneaththewaves?Canitscannonadeusatthebottomofthesea?\"
\"Tellme,Ned,\"saidI,\"canyourecognisewhatcountryshebelongsto?\"
TheCanadianknittedhiseyebrows,droppedhiseyelids,andscrewedupthecornersofhiseyes,andforafewmomentsfixedapiercinglookuponthevessel.
\"No,sir,\"hereplied;\"Icannottellwhatnationshebelongsto,forsheshowsnocolours.ButIcandeclaresheisaman-of-war,foralongpennantfluttersfromhermainmast.\"
Foraquarterofanhourwewatchedtheshipwhichwassteamingtowardsus.Icouldnot,however,believethatshecouldseetheNautilusfromthatdistance;andstilllessthatshecouldknowwhatthissubmarineenginewas.SoontheCanadianinformedmethatshewasalarge,armoured,two-deckerram.
Athickblacksmokewaspouringfromhertwofunnels.
Herclosely-furledsailswerestoppedtoheryards.
Shehoistednoflagathermizzen-peak.Thedistancepreventedusfromdistinguishingthecoloursofherpennant,whichfloatedlikeathinribbon.Sheadvancedrapidly.
IfCaptainNemoallowedhertoapproach,therewasachanceofsalvationforus.
\"Sir,\"saidNedLand,\"ifthatvesselpasseswithinamileofusIshallthrowmyselfintothesea,andIshouldadviseyoutodothesame.\"
IdidnotreplytotheCanadian\'ssuggestion,butcontinuedwatchingtheship.WhetherEnglish,French,American,orRussian,shewouldbesuretotakeusinifwecouldonlyreachher.
Presentlyawhitesmokeburstfromtheforepartofthevessel;
somesecondsafter,thewater,agitatedbythefallofaheavybody,splashedthesternoftheNautilus,andshortlyafterwardsaloudexplosionstruckmyear.
\"What!theyarefiringatus!\"Iexclaimed.
\"Sopleaseyou,sir,\"saidNed,\"theyhaverecognisedtheunicorn,andtheyarefiringatus.\"
\"But,\"Iexclaimed,\"surelytheycanseethattherearemeninthecase?\"
\"Itis,perhaps,becauseofthat,\"repliedNedLand,lookingatme.
Awholefloodoflightburstuponmymind.Doubtlesstheyknewnowhowtobelievethestoriesofthepretendedmonster.Nodoubt,onboardtheAbrahamLincoln,whentheCanadianstruckitwiththeharpoon,CommanderFarraguthadrecognisedinthesupposednarwhalasubmarinevessel,moredangerousthanasupernaturalcetacean.Yes,itmusthavebeenso;
andoneveryseatheywerenowseekingthisengineofdestruction.
Terribleindeed!if,aswesupposed,CaptainNemoemployedtheNautilusinworksofvengeance.Onthenightwhenwewereimprisonedinthatcell,inthemidstoftheIndianOcean,hadhenotattackedsomevessel?
Themanburiedinthecoralcemetery,hadhenotbeenavictimtotheshockcausedbytheNautilus?Yes,Irepeatit,itmustbeso.
OnepartofthemysteriousexistenceofCaptainNemohadbeenunveiled;
and,ifhisidentityhadnotbeenrecognised,atleast,thenationsunitedagainsthimwerenolongerhuntingachimericalcreature,butamanwhohadvowedadeadlyhatredagainstthem.
Alltheformidablepastrosebeforeme.Insteadofmeetingfriendsonboardtheapproachingship,wecouldonlyexpectpitilessenemies.
Buttheshotrattledaboutus.Someofthemstrucktheseaandricochetted,losingthemselvesinthedistance.ButnonetouchedtheNautilus.Thevesselwasnotmorethanthreemilesfromus.
Inspiteoftheseriouscannonade,CaptainNemodidnotappearontheplatform;but,ifoneoftheconicalprojectileshadstrucktheshelloftheNautilus,itwouldhavebeenfatal.TheCanadianthensaid,\"Sir,wemustdoallwecantogetoutofthisdilemma.
Letussignalthem.Theywillthen,perhaps,understandthatwearehonestfolks.\"
NedLandtookhishandkerchieftowaveintheair;buthehadscarcelydisplayedit,whenhewasstruckdownbyanironhand,andfell,inspiteofhisgreatstrength,uponthedeck.
\"Fool!\"exclaimedtheCaptain,\"doyouwishtobepiercedbythespuroftheNautilusbeforeitishurledatthisvessel?\"
CaptainNemowasterribletohear;hewasstillmoreterribletosee.
Hisfacewasdeadlypale,withaspasmathisheart.Foraninstantitmusthaveceasedtobeat.Hispupilswerefearfullycontracted.
Hedidnotspeak,heroared,as,withhisbodythrownforward,hewrungtheCanadian\'sshoulders.Then,leavinghim,andturningtotheshipofwar,whoseshotwasstillrainingaroundhim,heexclaimed,withapowerfulvoice,\"Ah,shipofanaccursednation,youknowwhoIam!Idonotwantyourcolourstoknowyouby!
Look!andIwillshowyoumine!\"
AndontheforepartoftheplatformCaptainNemounfurledablackflag,similartotheonehehadplacedattheSouthPole.
AtthatmomentashotstrucktheshelloftheNautilusobliquely,withoutpiercingit;and,reboundingneartheCaptain,waslostinthesea.
Heshruggedhisshoulders;and,addressingme,saidshortly,\"Godown,youandyourcompanions,godown!\"
\"Sir,\"Icried,\"areyougoingtoattackthisvessel?\"
\"Sir,Iamgoingtosinkit.\"
\"Youwillnotdothat?\"
\"Ishalldoit,\"herepliedcoldly.\"AndIadviseyounottojudgeme,sir.Fatehasshownyouwhatyououghtnottohaveseen.
Theattackhasbegun;godown.\"
\"Whatisthisvessel?\"
\"Youdonotknow?Verywell!somuchthebetter!
Itsnationalitytoyou,atleast,willbeasecret.Godown!\"
Wecouldbutobey.AboutfifteenofthesailorssurroundedtheCaptain,lookingwithimplacablehatredatthevesselnearingthem.
Onecouldfeelthatthesamedesireofvengeanceanimatedeverysoul.
IwentdownatthemomentanotherprojectilestrucktheNautilus,andI
heardtheCaptainexclaim:
\"Strike,madvessel!Showeryouruselessshot!Andthen,youwillnotescapethespuroftheNautilus.Butitisnotherethatyoushallperish!
IwouldnothaveyourruinsminglewiththoseoftheAvenger!\"
Ireachedmyroom.TheCaptainandhissecondhadremainedontheplatform.
Thescrewwassetinmotion,andtheNautilus,movingwithspeed,wassoonbeyondthereachoftheship\'sguns.Butthepursuitcontinued,andCaptainNemocontentedhimselfwithkeepinghisdistance.
Aboutfourintheafternoon,beingnolongerabletocontainmyimpatience,Iwenttothecentralstaircase.
Thepanelwasopen,andIventuredontotheplatform.
TheCaptainwasstillwalkingupanddownwithanagitatedstep.
Hewaslookingattheship,whichwasfiveorsixmilestoleeward.
Hewasgoingrounditlikeawildbeast,and,drawingiteastward,heallowedthemtopursue.Buthedidnotattack.
Perhapshestillhesitated?Iwishedtomediateoncemore.
ButIhadscarcelyspoken,whenCaptainNemoimposedsilence,saying:
\"Iamthelaw,andIamthejudge!Iamtheoppressed,andthereistheoppressor!ThroughhimIhavelostallthatIloved,cherished,andvenerated——country,wife,children,father,andmother.
Isawallperish!AllthatIhateisthere!Saynomore!\"
Icastalastlookattheman-of-war,whichwasputtingonsteam,andrejoinedNedandConseil.
\"Wewillfly!\"Iexclaimed.
\"Good!\"saidNed.\"Whatisthisvessel?\"
\"Idonotknow;but,whateveritis,itwillbesunkbeforenight.
Inanycase,itisbettertoperishwithit,thanbemadeaccomplicesinaretaliationthejusticeofwhichwecannotjudge.\"
\"Thatismyopiniontoo,\"saidNedLand,coolly.\"Letuswaitfornight.\"
Nightarrived.Deepsilencereignedonboard.
ThecompassshowedthattheNautilushadnotaltereditscourse.
Itwasonthesurface,rollingslightly.MycompanionsandI
resolvedtoflywhenthevesselshouldbenearenougheithertohearusortoseeus;forthemoon,whichwouldbefullintwoorthreedays,shonebrightly.Onceonboardtheship,ifwecouldnotpreventtheblowwhichthreatenedit,wecould,atleastwewould,doallthatcircumstanceswouldallow.
SeveraltimesIthoughttheNautiluswaspreparingforattack;
butCaptainNemocontentedhimselfwithallowinghisadversarytoapproach,andthenfledoncemorebeforeit.
Partofthenightpassedwithoutanyincident.Wewatchedtheopportunityforaction.Wespokelittle,forweweretoomuchmoved.
NedLandwouldhavethrownhimselfintothesea,butIforcedhimtowait.
Accordingtomyidea,theNautiluswouldattacktheshipatherwaterline,andthenitwouldnotonlybepossible,buteasytofly.
Atthreeinthemorning,fullofuneasiness,Imountedtheplatform.
CaptainNemohadnotleftit.Hewasstandingattheforepartnearhisflag,whichaslightbreezedisplayedabovehishead.Hedidnottakehiseyesfromthevessel.Theintensityofhislookseemedtoattract,andfascinate,anddrawitonwardmoresurelythanifhehadbeentowingit.
Themoonwasthenpassingthemeridian.Jupiterwasrisingintheeast.
Amidthispeacefulsceneofnature,skyandoceanrivalledeachotherintranquillity,theseaofferingtotheorbsofnightthefinestmirrortheycouldeverhaveinwhichtoreflecttheirimage.AsIthoughtofthedeepcalmoftheseelements,comparedwithallthosepassionsbroodingimperceptiblywithintheNautilus,Ishuddered.
Thevesselwaswithintwomilesofus.ItwasevernearingthatphosphorescentlightwhichshowedthepresenceoftheNautilus.