Icouldseeitsgreenandredlights,anditswhitelanternhangingfromthelargeforemast.Anindistinctvibrationquiveredthroughitsrigging,showingthatthefurnaceswereheatedtotheuttermost.
Sheavesofsparksandredashesflewfromthefunnels,shiningintheatmospherelikestars.
Iremainedthusuntilsixinthemorning,withoutCaptainNemonoticingme.
Theshipstoodaboutamileandahalffromus,andwiththefirstdawnofdaythefiringbeganafresh.Themomentcouldnotbefaroffwhen,theNautilusattackingitsadversary,mycompanionsandmyselfshouldforeverleavethisman.Iwaspreparingtogodowntoremindthem,whenthesecondmountedtheplatform,accompaniedbyseveralsailors.
CaptainNemoeitherdidnotorwouldnotseethem.Somestepsweretakenwhichmightbecalledthesignalforaction.Theywereverysimple.
Theironbalustradearoundtheplatformwaslowered,andthelanternandpilotcageswerepushedwithintheshelluntiltheywereflushwiththedeck.
Thelongsurfaceofthesteelcigarnolongerofferedasinglepointtocheckitsmanoeuvres.Ireturnedtothesaloon.TheNautilusstillfloated;
somestreaksoflightwerefilteringthroughtheliquidbeds.
Withtheundulationsofthewavesthewindowswerebrightenedbytheredstreaksoftherisingsun,andthisdreadfuldayofthe2ndofJunehaddawned.
Atfiveo\'clock,thelogshowedthatthespeedoftheNautiluswasslackening,andIknewthatitwasallowingthemtodrawnearer.Besides,thereportswereheardmoredistinctly,andtheprojectiles,labouringthroughtheambientwater,wereextinguishedwithastrangehissingnoise.
\"Myfriends,\"saidI,\"themomentiscome.Onegraspofthehand,andmayGodprotectus!\"
NedLandwasresolute,Conseilcalm,myselfsonervousthatIknewnothowtocontainmyself.Weallpassedintothelibrary;butthemomentIpushedthedooropeningontothecentralstaircase,Iheardtheupperpanelclosesharply.
TheCanadianrushedontothestairs,butIstoppedhim.
Awell-knownhissingnoisetoldmethatthewaterwasrunningintothereservoirs,andinafewminutestheNautiluswassomeyardsbeneaththesurfaceofthewaves.
Iunderstoodthemanoeuvre.Itwastoolatetoact.
TheNautilusdidnotwishtostrikeattheimpenetrablecuirass,butbelowthewater-line,wherethemetalliccoveringnolongerprotectedit.
Wewereagainimprisoned,unwillingwitnessesofthedreadfuldramathatwaspreparing.Wehadscarcelytimetoreflect;
takingrefugeinmyroom,welookedateachotherwithoutspeaking.
Adeepstuporhadtakenholdofmymind:thoughtseemedtostandstill.
Iwasinthatpainfulstateofexpectationprecedingadreadfulreport.
Iwaited,Ilistened,everysensewasmergedinthatofhearing!
ThespeedoftheNautiluswasaccelerated.Itwaspreparingtorush.
Thewholeshiptrembled.SuddenlyIscreamed.Ifelttheshock,butcomparativelylight.Ifeltthepenetratingpowerofthesteelspur.
Iheardrattlingsandscrapings.ButtheNautilus,carriedalongbyitspropellingpower,passedthroughthemassofthevessellikeaneedlethroughsailcloth!
Icouldstanditnolonger.Mad,outofmymind,Irushedfrommyroomintothesaloon.CaptainNemowasthere,mute,gloomy,implacable;hewaslookingthroughtheportpanel.
Alargemasscastashadowonthewater;and,thatitmightlosenothingofheragony,theNautiluswasgoingdownintotheabysswithher.TenyardsfrommeIsawtheopenshell,throughwhichthewaterwasrushingwiththenoiseofthunder,thenthedoublelineofgunsandthenetting.Thebridgewascoveredwithblack,agitatedshadows.
Thewaterwasrising.Thepoorcreatureswerecrowdingtheratlines,clingingtothemasts,strugglingunderthewater.Itwasahumanant-heapovertakenbythesea.Paralysed,stiffenedwithanguish,myhairstandingonend,witheyeswideopen,panting,withoutbreath,andwithoutvoice,Itoowaswatching!Anirresistibleattractiongluedmetotheglass!
Suddenlyanexplosiontookplace.Thecompressedairblewupherdecks,asifthemagazineshadcaughtfire.Thentheunfortunatevesselsankmorerapidly.Hertopmast,ladenwithvictims,nowappeared;thenherspars,bendingundertheweightofmen;and,lastofall,thetopofhermainmast.
Thenthedarkmassdisappeared,andwithitthedeadcrew,drawndownbythestrongeddy.
IturnedtoCaptainNemo.Thatterribleavenger,aperfectarchangelofhatred,wasstilllooking.Whenallwasover,heturnedtohisroom,openedthedoor,andentered.
Ifollowedhimwithmyeyes.Ontheendwallbeneathhisheroes,Isawtheportraitofawoman,stillyoung,andtwolittlechildren.
CaptainNemolookedatthemforsomemoments,stretchedhisarmstowardsthem,and,kneelingdown,burstintodeepsobs.
CHAPTERXXII
THELASTWORDSOFCAPTAINNEMO
Thepanelshadclosedonthisdreadfulvision,butlighthadnotreturnedtothesaloon:allwassilenceanddarknesswithintheNautilus.
Atwonderfulspeed,ahundredfeetbeneaththewater,itwasleavingthisdesolatespot.Whitherwasitgoing?Tothenorthorsouth?
Wherewasthemanflyingtoaftersuchdreadfulretaliation?
Ihadreturnedtomyroom,whereNedandConseilhadremainedsilentenough.
IfeltaninsurmountablehorrorforCaptainNemo.Whateverhehadsufferedatthehandsofthesemen,hehadnorighttopunishthus.
Hehadmademe,ifnotanaccomplice,atleastawitnessofhisvengeance.
Ateleventheelectriclightreappeared.Ipassedintothesaloon.
Itwasdeserted.Iconsultedthedifferentinstruments.TheNautiluswasflyingnorthwardattherateoftwenty-fivemilesanhour,nowonthesurface,andnowthirtyfeetbelowit.Ontakingthebearingsbythechart,IsawthatwewerepassingthemouthoftheManche,andthatourcoursewashurryingustowardsthenorthernseasatafrightfulspeed.ThatnightwehadcrossedtwohundredleaguesoftheAtlantic.Theshadowsfell,andtheseawascoveredwithdarknessuntiltherisingofthemoon.Iwenttomyroom,butcouldnotsleep.Iwastroubledwithdreadfulnightmare.
Thehorriblesceneofdestructionwascontinuallybeforemyeyes.
Fromthatday,whocouldtellintowhatpartoftheNorthAtlanticbasintheNautiluswouldtakeus?Stillwithunaccountablespeed.
Stillinthemidstofthesenorthernfogs.WouldittouchatSpitzbergen,orontheshoresofNovaZembla?Shouldweexplorethoseunknownseas,theWhiteSea,theSeaofKara,theGulfofObi,theArchipelagoofLiarrov,andtheunknowncoastofAsia?Icouldnotsay.Icouldnolongerjudgeofthetimethatwaspassing.Theclockshadbeenstoppedonboard.
Itseemed,asinpolarcountries,thatnightanddaynolongerfollowedtheirregularcourse.IfeltmyselfbeingdrawnintothatstrangeregionwherethefounderedimaginationofEdgarPoeroamedatwill.
LikethefabulousGordonPym,ateverymomentIexpectedtosee\"thatveiledhumanfigure,oflargerproportionsthanthoseofanyinhabitantoftheearth,thrownacrossthecataractwhichdefendstheapproachtothepole.\"
Iestimatedthough,perhaps,Imaybemistaken——IestimatedthisadventurouscourseoftheNautilustohavelastedfifteenortwentydays.
AndIknownothowmuchlongeritmighthavelasted,haditnotbeenforthecatastrophewhichendedthisvoyage.OfCaptainNemoIsawnothingwhatevernow,norofhissecond.Notamanofthecrewwasvisibleforaninstant.TheNautiluswasalmostincessantlyunderwater.Whenwecametothesurfacetorenewtheair,thepanelsopenedandshutmechanically.
Therewerenomoremarksontheplanisphere.Iknewnotwherewewere.
AndtheCanadian,too,hisstrengthandpatienceatanend,appearednomore.
Conseilcouldnotdrawawordfromhim;and,fearingthat,inadreadfulfitofmadness,hemightkillhimself,watchedhimwithconstantdevotion.
OnemorningwhatdateitwasIcouldnotsayIhadfallenintoaheavysleeptowardstheearlyhours,asleepbothpainfulandunhealthy,whenI
suddenlyawoke.NedLandwasleaningoverme,saying,inalowvoice,\"Wearegoingtofly.\"Isatup.
\"Whenshallwego?\"Iasked.
\"To-night.AllinspectiononboardtheNautilusseemstohaveceased.
Allappeartobestupefied.Youwillbeready,sir?\"
\"Yes;wherearewe?\"
\"Insightofland.Itookthereckoningthismorninginthefog——
twentymilestotheeast.\"
\"Whatcountryisit?\"
\"Idonotknow;but,whateveritis,wewilltakerefugethere.\"
\"Yes,Ned,yes.Wewillflyto-night,eveniftheseashouldswallowusup.\"
\"Theseaisbad,thewindviolent,buttwentymilesinthatlightboatoftheNautilusdoesnotfrightenme.Unknowntothecrew,Ihavebeenabletoprocurefoodandsomebottlesofwater.\"
\"Iwillfollowyou.\"
\"But,\"continuedtheCanadian,\"ifIamsurprised,Iwilldefendmyself;
Iwillforcethemtokillme.\"
\"Wewilldietogether,friendNed.\"
Ihadmadeupmymindtoall.TheCanadianleftme.
Ireachedtheplatform,onwhichIcouldwithdifficultysupportmyselfagainsttheshockofthewaves.Theskywasthreatening;
but,aslandwasinthosethickbrownshadows,wemustfly.
Ireturnedtothesaloon,fearingandyethopingtoseeCaptainNemo,wishingandyetnotwishingtoseehim.WhatcouldIhavesaidtohim?
CouldIhidetheinvoluntaryhorrorwithwhichheinspiredme?
No.ItwasbetterthatIshouldnotmeethimfacetoface;
bettertoforgethim.Andyet——Howlongseemedthatday,thelastthatIshouldpassintheNautilus.Iremainedalone.NedLandandConseilavoidedspeaking,forfearofbetrayingthemselves.
AtsixIdined,butIwasnothungry;Iforcedmyselftoeatinspiteofmydisgust,thatImightnotweakenmyself.Athalf-pastsixNedLandcametomyroom,saying,\"Weshallnotseeeachotheragainbeforeourdeparture.Attenthemoonwillnotberisen.
Wewillprofitbythedarkness.Cometotheboat;ConseilandI
willwaitforyou.\"
TheCanadianwentoutwithoutgivingmetimetoanswer.
WishingtoverifythecourseoftheNautilus,Iwenttothesaloon.
WewererunningN.N.E.atfrightfulspeed,andmorethanfiftyyardsdeep.
Icastalastlookonthesewondersofnature,ontherichesofartheapedupinthismuseum,upontheunrivalledcollectiondestinedtoperishatthebottomofthesea,withhimwhohadformedit.
Iwishedtofixanindelibleimpressionofitinmymind.
Iremainedanhourthus,bathedinthelightofthatluminousceiling,andpassinginreviewthosetreasuresshiningundertheirglasses.
ThenIreturnedtomyroom.
Idressedmyselfinstrongseaclothing.Icollectedmynotes,placingthemcarefullyaboutme.Myheartbeatloudly.
Icouldnotcheckitspulsations.CertainlymytroubleandagitationwouldhavebetrayedmetoCaptainNemo\'seyes.Whatwashedoingatthismoment?Ilistenedatthedoorofhisroom.Iheardsteps.
CaptainNemowasthere.Hehadnotgonetorest.AteverymomentIexpectedtoseehimappear,andaskmewhyIwishedtofly.
Iwasconstantlyonthealert.Myimaginationmagnifiedeverything.
TheimpressionbecameatlastsopoignantthatIaskedmyselfifitwouldnotbebettertogototheCaptain\'sroom,seehimfacetoface,andbravehimwithlookandgesture.
Itwastheinspirationofamadman;fortunatelyIresistedthedesire,andstretchedmyselfonmybedtoquietmybodilyagitation.
Mynervesweresomewhatcalmer,butinmyexcitedbrainIsawoveragainallmyexistenceonboardtheNautilus;everyincident,eitherhappyorunfortunate,whichhadhappenedsincemydisappearancefromtheAbrahamLincoln——thesubmarinehunt,theTorresStraits,thesavagesofPapua,therunningashore,thecoralcemetery,thepassageofSuez,theIslandofSantorin,theCretandiver,VigoBay,Atlantis,theiceberg,theSouthPole,theimprisonmentintheice,thefightamongthepoulps,thestormintheGulfStream,theAvenger,andthehorriblesceneofthevesselsunkwithallhercrew.
Alltheseeventspassedbeforemyeyeslikescenesinadrama.
ThenCaptainNemoseemedtogrowenormously,hisfeaturestoassumesuperhumanproportions.Hewasnolongermyequal,butamanofthewaters,thegenieofthesea.
Itwasthenhalf-pastnine.Iheldmyheadbetweenmyhandstokeepitfrombursting.Iclosedmyeyes;Iwouldnotthinkanylonger.
Therewasanotherhalf-hourtowait,anotherhalf-hourofanightmare,whichmightdrivememad.
AtthatmomentIheardthedistantstrainsoftheorgan,asadharmonytoanundefinablechant,thewailofasoullongingtobreaktheseearthlybonds.
Ilistenedwitheverysense,scarcelybreathing;plunged,likeCaptainNemo,inthatmusicalecstasy,whichwasdrawinghiminspirittotheendoflife.
Thenasuddenthoughtterrifiedme.CaptainNemohadlefthisroom.
Hewasinthesaloon,whichImustcrosstofly.ThereIshouldmeethimforthelasttime.Hewouldseeme,perhapsspeaktome.
Agestureofhismightdestroyme,asinglewordchainmeonboard.
Buttenwasabouttostrike.Themomenthadcomeformetoleavemyroom,andjoinmycompanions.
Imustnothesitate,evenifCaptainNemohimselfshouldrisebeforeme.
Iopenedmydoorcarefully;andeventhen,asitturnedonitshinges,itseemedtometomakeadreadfulnoise.Perhapsitonlyexistedinmyownimagination.
IcreptalongthedarkstairsoftheNautilus,stoppingateachsteptocheckthebeatingofmyheart.Ireachedthedoorofthesaloon,andopeneditgently.Itwasplungedinprofounddarkness.
Thestrainsoftheorgansoundedfaintly.CaptainNemowasthere.
Hedidnotseeme.InthefulllightIdonotthinkhewouldhavenoticedme,soentirelywasheabsorbedintheecstasy.
Icreptalongthecarpet,avoidingtheslightestsoundwhichmightbetraymypresence.Iwasatleastfiveminutesreachingthedoor,attheoppositeside,openingintothelibrary.
Iwasgoingtoopenit,whenasighfromCaptainNemonailedmetothespot.
Iknewthathewasrising.Icouldevenseehim,forthelightfromthelibrarycamethroughtothesaloon.Hecametowardsmesilently,withhisarmscrossed,glidinglikeaspectreratherthanwalking.
Hisbreastwasswellingwithsobs;andIheardhimmurmurthesewordsthelastwhicheverstruckmyear:
\"AlmightyGod!enough!enough!\"
Wasitaconfessionofremorsewhichthusescapedfromthisman\'sconscience?
Indesperation,Irushedthroughthelibrary,mountedthecentralstaircase,and,followingtheupperflight,reachedtheboat.
Icreptthroughtheopening,whichhadalreadyadmittedmytwocompanions.
\"Letusgo!letusgo!\"Iexclaimed.
\"Directly!\"repliedtheCanadian.
TheorificeintheplatesoftheNautiluswasfirstclosed,andfasteneddownbymeansofafalsekey,withwhichNedLandhadprovidedhimself;theopeningintheboatwasalsoclosed.
TheCanadianbegantoloosentheboltswhichstillheldustothesubmarineboat.
Suddenlyanoisewasheard.Voiceswereansweringeachotherloudly.
Whatwasthematter?Hadtheydiscoveredourflight?
IfeltNedLandslippingadaggerintomyhand.
\"Yes,\"Imurmured,\"weknowhowtodie!\"
TheCanadianhadstoppedinhiswork.Butonewordmanytimesrepeated,adreadfulword,revealedthecauseoftheagitationspreadingonboardtheNautilus.Itwasnotwethecrewwerelookingafter!
\"Themaelstrom!themaelstrom!\"Couldamoredreadfulwordinamoredreadfulsituationhavesoundedinourears!WewerethenuponthedangerouscoastofNorway.WastheNautilusbeingdrawnintothisgulfatthemomentourboatwasgoingtoleaveitssides?
Weknewthatatthetidethepent-upwatersbetweentheislandsofFerroeandLoffodenrushwithirresistibleviolence,formingawhirlpoolfromwhichnovesseleverescapes.
Fromeverypointofthehorizonenormouswavesweremeeting,formingagulfjustlycalledthe\"NaveloftheOcean,\"
whosepowerofattractionextendstoadistanceoftwelvemiles.
There,notonlyvessels,butwhalesaresacrificed,aswellaswhitebearsfromthenorthernregions.
ItisthitherthattheNautilus,voluntarilyorinvoluntarily,hadbeenrunbytheCaptain.
Itwasdescribingaspiral,thecircumferenceofwhichwaslesseningbydegrees,andtheboat,whichwasstillfastenedtoitsside,wascarriedalongwithgiddyspeed.Ifeltthatsicklygiddinesswhicharisesfromlong-continuedwhirlinground.
Wewereindread.Ourhorrorwasatitsheight,circulationhadstopped,allnervousinfluencewasannihilated,andwewerecoveredwithcoldsweat,likeasweatofagony!Andwhatnoisearoundourfrailbark!
Whatroaringsrepeatedbytheechomilesaway!Whatanuproarwasthatofthewatersbrokenonthesharprocksatthebottom,wherethehardestbodiesarecrushed,andtreeswornaway,\"withallthefurrubbedoff,\"
accordingtotheNorwegianphrase!
Whatasituationtobein!Werockedfrightfully.TheNautilusdefendeditselflikeahumanbeing.Itssteelmusclescracked.
Sometimesitseemedtostandupright,andwewithit!
\"Wemustholdon,\"saidNed,\"andlookafterthebolts.
WemaystillbesavedifwesticktotheNautilus.\"
Hehadnotfinishedthewords,whenweheardacrashingnoise,theboltsgaveway,andtheboat,tornfromitsgroove,washurledlikeastonefromaslingintothemidstofthewhirlpool.
Myheadstruckonapieceofiron,andwiththeviolentshockIlostallconsciousness.
CHAPTERXXIII
CONCLUSION
Thusendsthevoyageundertheseas.Whatpassedduringthatnight——
howtheboatescapedfromtheeddiesofthemaelstrom——
howNedLand,Conseil,andmyselfevercameoutofthegulf,Icannottell.
ButwhenIreturnedtoconsciousness,Iwaslyinginafisherman\'shut,ontheLoffodenIsles.Mytwocompanions,safeandsound,werenearmeholdingmyhands.Weembracedeachotherheartily.
AtthatmomentwecouldnotthinkofreturningtoFrance.ThemeansofcommunicationbetweenthenorthofNorwayandthesoutharerare.
AndIamthereforeobligedtowaitforthesteamboatrunningmonthlyfromCapeNorth.
And,amongtheworthypeoplewhohavesokindlyreceivedus,Irevisemyrecordoftheseadventuresoncemore.
Notafacthasbeenomitted,notadetailexaggerated.
Itisafaithfulnarrativeofthisincredibleexpeditioninanelementinaccessibletoman,buttowhichProgresswillonedayopenaroad.
ShallIbebelieved?Idonotknow.Anditmatterslittle,afterall.
WhatInowaffirmis,thatIhavearighttospeakoftheseseas,underwhich,inlessthantenmonths,Ihavecrossed20,000leaguesinthatsubmarinetouroftheworld,whichhasrevealedsomanywonders.
ButwhathasbecomeoftheNautilus?Diditresistthepressureofthemaelstrom?DoesCaptainNemostilllive?Anddoeshestillfollowundertheoceanthosefrightfulretaliations?
Or,didhestopafterthelasthecatomb?
Willthewavesonedaycarrytohimthismanuscriptcontainingthehistoryofhislife?ShallIeverknowthenameofthisman?
WillthemissingvesseltellusbyitsnationalitythatofCaptainNemo?
Ihopeso.AndIalsohopethathispowerfulvesselhasconqueredtheseaatitsmostterriblegulf,andthattheNautilushassurvivedwheresomanyothervesselshavebeenlost!Ifitbeso——ifCaptainNemostillinhabitstheocean,hisadoptedcountry,mayhatredbeappeasedinthatsavageheart!Maythecontemplationofsomanywondersextinguishforeverthespiritofvengeance!Maythejudgedisappear,andthephilosophercontinuethepeacefulexplorationofthesea!
Ifhisdestinybestrange,itisalsosublime.HaveInotunderstooditmyself?HaveInotlivedtenmonthsofthisunnaturallife?
AndtothequestionaskedbyEcclesiastesthreethousandyearsago,\"Thatwhichisfaroffandexceedingdeep,whocanfinditout?\"
twomenaloneofallnowlivinghavetherighttogiveananswer——
CAPTAINNEMOANDMYSELF.