InsteadofdiggingroundtheNautiluswhichwouldhaveinvolvedgreaterdifficulty,CaptainNemohadanimmensetrenchmadeateightyardsfromtheport-quarter.Thenthemensettoworksimultaneouslywiththeirscrewsonseveralpointsofitscircumference.
Presentlythepickaxeattackedthiscompactmattervigorously,andlargeblocksweredetachedfromthemass.Byacuriouseffectofspecificgravity,theseblocks,lighterthanwater,fled,sotospeak,tothevaultofthetunnel,thatincreasedinthicknessatthetopinproportionasitdiminishedatthebase.
Butthatmatteredlittle,solongasthelowerpartgrewthinner.
Aftertwohours\'hardwork,NedLandcameinexhausted.Heandhiscomradeswerereplacedbynewworkers,whomConseilandIjoined.
ThesecondlieutenantoftheNautilussuperintendedus.
Thewaterseemedsingularlycold,butIsoongotwarmhandlingthepickaxe.Mymovementswerefreeenough,althoughtheyweremadeunderapressureofthirtyatmospheres.
WhenIre-entered,afterworkingtwohours,totakesomefoodandrest,IfoundaperceptibledifferencebetweenthepurefluidwithwhichtheRouquayrolenginesuppliedmeandtheatmosphereoftheNautilus,alreadychargedwithcarbonicacid.
Theairhadnotbeenrenewedforforty-eighthours,anditsvivifyingqualitieswereconsiderablyenfeebled.However,afteralapseoftwelvehours,wehadonlyraisedablockoficeoneyardthick,onthemarkedsurface,whichwasabout600cubicyards!
Reckoningthatittooktwelvehourstoaccomplishthismuchitwouldtakefivenightsandfourdaystobringthisenterprisetoasatisfactoryconclusion.Fivenightsandfourdays!
Andwehaveonlyairenoughfortwodaysinthereservoirs!
\"Withouttakingintoaccount,\"saidNed,\"that,evenifwegetoutofthisinfernalprison,weshallalsobeimprisonedundertheiceberg,shutoutfromallpossiblecommunicationwiththeatmosphere.\"
Trueenough!Whocouldthenforeseetheminimumoftimenecessaryforourdeliverance?WemightbesuffocatedbeforetheNautiluscouldregainthesurfaceofthewaves?Wasitdestinedtoperishinthisice-tomb,withallthoseitenclosed?
Thesituationwasterrible.Buteveryonehadlookedthedangerintheface,andeachwasdeterminedtodohisdutytothelast.
AsIexpected,duringthenightanewblockayardsquarewascarriedaway,andstillfurthersanktheimmensehollow.
Butinthemorningwhen,dressedinmycork-jacket,Itraversedtheslushymassatatemperatureofsixorsevendegreesbelowzero,Iremarkedthatthesidewallsweregraduallyclosingin.
Thebedsofwaterfarthestfromthetrench,thatwerenotwarmedbythemen\'swork,showedatendencytosolidification.Inpresenceofthisnewandimminentdanger,whatwouldbecomeofourchancesofsafety,andhowhinderthesolidificationofthisliquidmedium,thatwouldburstthepartitionsoftheNautiluslikeglass?
Ididnottellmycompanionsofthisnewdanger.
Whatwasthegoodofdampingtheenergytheydisplayedinthepainfulworkofescape?ButwhenIwentonboardagain,ItoldCaptainNemoofthisgravecomplication.
\"Iknowit,\"hesaid,inthatcalmtonewhichcouldcounteractthemostterribleapprehensions.\"Itisonedangermore;
butIseenowayofescapingit;theonlychanceofsafetyistogoquickerthansolidification.Wemustbebeforehandwithit,thatisall.\"
OnthisdayforseveralhoursIusedmypickaxevigorously.
Theworkkeptmeup.Besides,toworkwastoquittheNautilus,andbreathedirectlythepureairdrawnfromthereservoirs,andsuppliedbyourapparatus,andtoquittheimpoverishedandvitiatedatmosphere.Towardseveningthetrenchwasdugoneyarddeeper.
WhenIreturnedonboard,Iwasnearlysuffocatedbythecarbonicacidwithwhichtheairwasfilled——ah!ifwehadonlythechemicalmeanstodriveawaythisdeleteriousgas.Wehadplentyofoxygen;
allthiswatercontainedaconsiderablequantity,andbydissolvingitwithourpowerfulpiles,itwouldrestorethevivifyingfluid.
Ihadthoughtwelloverit;butofwhatgoodwasthat,sincethecarbonicacidproducedbyourrespirationhadinvadedeverypartofthevessel?Toabsorbit,itwasnecessarytofillsomejarswithcausticpotash,andtoshakethemincessantly.
Nowthissubstancewaswantingonboard,andnothingcouldreplaceit.
Onthatevening,CaptainNemooughttoopenthetapsofhisreservoirs,andletsomepureairintotheinterioroftheNautilus;withoutthisprecautionwecouldnotgetridofthesenseofsuffocation.Thenextday,March26th,Iresumedmyminer\'sworkinbeginningthefifthyard.
Thesidewallsandthelowersurfaceoftheicebergthickenedvisibly.
ItwasevidentthattheywouldmeetbeforetheNautiluswasabletodisengageitself.Despairseizedmeforaninstant;
mypickaxenearlyfellfrommyhands.WhatwasthegoodofdiggingifImustbesuffocated,crushedbythewaterthatwasturningintostone?——apunishmentthattheferocityofthesavagesevenwouldnothaveinvented!JustthenCaptainNemopassednearme.
Itouchedhishandandshowedhimthewallsofourprison.
ThewalltoporthadadvancedtoatleastfouryardsfromthehulloftheNautilus.TheCaptainunderstoodme,andsignedmetofollowhim.
Wewentonboard.Itookoffmycork-jacketandaccompaniedhimintothedrawing-room.
\"M.Aronnax,wemustattemptsomedesperatemeans,orweshallbesealedupinthissolidifiedwaterasincement.\"
\"Yes;butwhatistobedone?\"
\"Ah!ifmyNautiluswerestrongenoughtobearthispressurewithoutbeingcrushed!\"
\"Well?\"Iasked,notcatchingtheCaptain\'sidea.
\"Doyounotunderstand,\"hereplied,\"thatthiscongelationofwaterwillhelpus?Doyounotseethatbyitssolidification,itwouldburstthroughthisfieldoficethatimprisonsus,as,whenitfreezes,itburststhehardeststones?Doyounotperceivethatitwouldbeanagentofsafetyinsteadofdestruction?\"
\"Yes,Captain,perhaps.But,whateverresistancetocrushingtheNautiluspossesses,itcouldnotsupportthisterriblepressure,andwouldbeflattenedlikeanironplate.\"
\"Iknowit,sir.Thereforewemustnotreckonontheaidofnature,butonourownexertions.Wemuststopthissolidification.
Notonlywillthesidewallsbepressedtogether;butthereisnottenfeetofwaterbeforeorbehindtheNautilus.
Thecongelationgainsonusonallsides.\"
\"Howlongwilltheairinthereservoirslastforustobreatheonboard?\"
TheCaptainlookedinmyface.\"Afterto-morrowtheywillbeempty!\"
Acoldsweatcameoverme.However,oughtItohavebeenastonishedattheanswer?OnMarch22,theNautiluswasintheopenpolarseas.
Wewereat26@.Forfivedayswehadlivedonthereserveonboard.
Andwhatwasleftoftherespirableairmustbekeptfortheworkers.
Evennow,asIwrite,myrecollectionisstillsovividthataninvoluntaryterrorseizesmeandmylungsseemtobewithoutair.
Meanwhile,CaptainNemoreflectedsilently,andevidentlyanideahadstruckhim;butheseemedtorejectit.Atlast,thesewordsescapedhislips:
\"Boilingwater!\"hemuttered.
\"Boilingwater?\"Icried.
\"Yes,sir.Weareenclosedinaspacethatisrelativelyconfined.
Wouldnotjetsofboilingwater,constantlyinjectedbythepumps,raisethetemperatureinthispartandstaythecongelation?\"
\"Letustryit,\"Isaidresolutely.
\"Letustryit,Professor.\"
Thethermometerthenstoodat7@outside.CaptainNemotookmetothegalleys,wherethevastdistillatorymachinesstoodthatfurnishedthedrinkablewaterbyevaporation.
Theyfilledthesewithwater,andalltheelectricheatfromthepileswasthrownthroughthewormsbathedintheliquid.
Inafewminutesthiswaterreached100@.Itwasdirectedtowardsthepumps,whilefreshwaterreplaceditinproportion.
Theheatdevelopedbythetroughswassuchthatcoldwater,drawnupfromtheseaafteronlyhavinggonethroughthemachines,cameboilingintothebodyofthepump.Theinjectionwasbegun,andthreehoursafterthethermometermarked6@belowzerooutside.
Onedegreewasgained.Twohourslaterthethermometeronlymarked4@.
\"Weshallsucceed,\"IsaidtotheCaptain,afterhavinganxiouslywatchedtheresultoftheoperation.
\"Ithink,\"heanswered,\"thatweshallnotbecrushed.
Wehavenomoresuffocationtofear.\"
Duringthenightthetemperatureofthewaterroseto1@belowzero.
Theinjectionscouldnotcarryittoahigherpoint.But,asthecongelationofthesea-waterproducesatleast2@,Iwasatleastreassuredagainstthedangersofsolidification.
Thenextday,March27th,sixyardsoficehadbeencleared,twelvefeetonlyremainingtobeclearedaway.Therewasyetforty-eighthours\'work.
TheaircouldnotberenewedintheinterioroftheNautilus.
Andthisdaywouldmakeitworse.Anintolerableweightoppressedme.
Towardsthreeo\'clockintheeveningthisfeelingrosetoaviolentdegree.
Yawnsdislocatedmyjaws.Mylungspantedastheyinhaledthisburningfluid,whichbecamerarefiedmoreandmore.Amoraltorportookholdofme.
Iwaspowerless,almostunconscious.MybraveConseil,thoughexhibitingthesamesymptomsandsufferinginthesamemanner,neverleftme.
Hetookmyhandandencouragedme,andIheardhimmurmur,\"Oh!ifIcouldonlynotbreathe,soastoleavemoreairformymaster!\"
Tearscameintomyeyesonhearinghimspeakthus.Ifoursituationtoallwasintolerableintheinterior,withwhathasteandgladnesswouldweputonourcork-jacketstoworkinourturn!
Pickaxessoundedonthefrozenice-beds.Ourarmsached,theskinwastornoffourhands.Butwhatwerethesefatigues,whatdidthewoundsmatter?Vitalaircametothelungs!
Webreathed!webreathed!
Allthistimenooneprolongedhisvoluntarytaskbeyondtheprescribedtime.
Histaskaccomplished,eachonehandedinturntohispantingcompanionstheapparatusthatsuppliedhimwithlife.CaptainNemosettheexample,andsubmittedfirsttothisseverediscipline.Whenthetimecame,hegaveuphisapparatustoanotherandreturnedtothevitiatedaironboard,calm,unflinching,unmurmuring.
Onthatdaytheordinaryworkwasaccomplishedwithunusualvigour.
Onlytwoyardsremainedtoberaisedfromthesurface.
Twoyardsonlyseparatedusfromtheopensea.Butthereservoirswerenearlyemptiedofair.Thelittlethatremainedoughttobekeptfortheworkers;notaparticlefortheNautilus.
WhenIwentbackonboard,Iwashalfsuffocated.Whatanight!
Iknownothowtodescribeit.Thenextdaymybreathingwasoppressed.Dizzinessaccompaniedthepaininmyheadandmademelikeadrunkenman.Mycompanionsshowedthesamesymptoms.
Someofthecrewhadrattlinginthethroat.
Onthatday,thesixthofourimprisonment,CaptainNemo,findingthepickaxesworktooslowly,resolvedtocrushtheice-bedthatstillseparatedusfromtheliquidsheet.
Thisman\'scoolnessandenergyneverforsookhim.Hesubduedhisphysicalpainsbymoralforce.
Byhisordersthevesselwaslightened,thatistosay,raisedfromtheice-bedbyachangeofspecificgravity.
Whenitfloatedtheytoweditsoastobringitabovetheimmensetrenchmadeonthelevelofthewater-line.Then,fillinghisreservoirsofwater,hedescendedandshuthimselfupinthehole.
Justthenallthecrewcameonboard,andthedoubledoorofcommunicationwasshut.TheNautilusthenrestedonthebedofice,whichwasnotoneyardthick,andwhichthesoundingleadshadperforatedinathousandplaces.
Thetapsofthereservoirswerethenopened,andahundredcubicyardsofwaterwasletin,increasingtheweightoftheNautilusto1,800tons.
Wewaited,welistened,forgettingoursufferingsinhope.Oursafetydependedonthislastchance.Notwithstandingthebuzzinginmyhead,IsoonheardthehummingsoundunderthehulloftheNautilus.Theicecrackedwithasingularnoise,liketearingpaper,andtheNautilussank.
\"Weareoff!\"murmuredConseilinmyear.
Icouldnotanswerhim.Iseizedhishand,andpresseditconvulsively.
Allatonce,carriedawaybyitsfrightfulovercharge,theNautilussanklikeabulletunderthewaters,thatistosay,itfellasifitwasinavacuum.
Thenalltheelectricforcewasputonthepumps,thatsoonbegantoletthewateroutofthereservoirs.Aftersomeminutes,ourfallwasstopped.
Soon,too,themanometerindicatedanascendingmovement.Thescrew,goingatfullspeed,madetheironhulltrembletoitsveryboltsanddrewustowardsthenorth.Butifthisfloatingundertheicebergistolastanotherdaybeforewereachtheopensea,Ishallbedeadfirst.
Halfstretcheduponadivaninthelibrary,Iwassuffocating.
Myfacewaspurple,mylipsblue,myfacultiessuspended.
Ineithersawnorheard.Allnotionoftimehadgonefrommymind.
Mymusclescouldnotcontract.Idonotknowhowmanyhourspassedthus,butIwasconsciousoftheagonythatwascomingoverme.
IfeltasifIwasgoingtodie.SuddenlyIcameto.
Somebreathsofairpenetratedmylungs.Hadwerisentothesurfaceofthewaves?Werewefreeoftheiceberg?No!NedandConseil,mytwobravefriends,weresacrificingthemselvestosaveme.
Someparticlesofairstillremainedatthebottomofoneapparatus.
Insteadofusingit,theyhadkeptitforme,and,whiletheywerebeingsuffocated,theygavemelife,dropbydrop.
Iwantedtopushbackthething;theyheldmyhands,andforsomemomentsIbreathedfreely.Ilookedattheclock;
itwaseleveninthemorning.Itoughttobethe28thofMarch.
TheNautiluswentatafrightfulpace,fortymilesanhour.Itliterallytorethroughthewater.WherewasCaptainNemo?Hadhesuccumbed?
Werehiscompanionsdeadwithhim?Atthemomentthemanometerindicatedthatwewerenotmorethantwentyfeetfromthesurface.
Amereplateoficeseparatedusfromtheatmosphere.Couldwenotbreakit?Perhaps.InanycasetheNautiluswasgoingtoattemptit.
Ifeltthatitwasinanobliqueposition,loweringthestern,andraisingthebows.Theintroductionofwaterhadbeenthemeansofdisturbingitsequilibrium.Then,impelledbyitspowerfulscrew,itattackedtheice-fieldfrombeneathlikeaformidablebattering-ram.
Itbrokeitbybackingandthenrushingforwardagainstthefield,whichgraduallygaveway;andatlast,dashingsuddenlyagainstit,shotforwardsontheice-field,thatcrushedbeneathitsweight.
Thepanelwasopened——onemightsaytornoff——andthepureaircameininabundancetoallpartsoftheNautilus.
CHAPTERXVII
FROMCAPEHORNTOTHEAMAZON
HowIgotontotheplatform,Ihavenoidea;perhapstheCanadianhadcarriedmethere.ButIbreathed,Iinhaledthevivifyingsea-air.
Mytwocompanionsweregettingdrunkwiththefreshparticles.
Theotherunhappymenhadbeensolongwithoutfood,thattheycouldnotwithimpunityindulgeinthesimplestalimentsthatweregiventhem.We,onthecontrary,hadnoendtorestrainourselves;
wecoulddrawthisairfreelyintoourlungs,anditwasthebreeze,thebreezealone,thatfilleduswiththiskeenenjoyment.
\"Ah!\"saidConseil,\"howdelightfulthisoxygenis!
Masterneednotfeartobreatheit.Thereisenoughforeverybody.\"
NedLanddidnotspeak,butheopenedhisjawswideenoughtofrightenashark.Ourstrengthsoonreturned,and,whenI
lookedroundme,Isawwewerealoneontheplatform.
TheforeignseamenintheNautiluswerecontentedwiththeairthatcirculatedintheinterior;noneofthemhadcometodrinkintheopenair.
ThefirstwordsIspokewerewordsofgratitudeandthankfulnesstomytwocompanions.NedandConseilhadprolongedmylifeduringthelasthoursofthislongagony.
Allmygratitudecouldnotrepaysuchdevotion.
\"Myfriends,\"saidI,\"weareboundonetotheotherforever,andIamunderinfiniteobligationstoyou.\"
\"WhichIshalltakeadvantageof,\"exclaimedtheCanadian.
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"saidConseil.
\"ImeanthatIshalltakeyouwithmewhenIleavethisinfernalNautilus.\"
\"Well,\"saidConseil,\"afterallthis,arewegoingright?\"
\"Yes,\"Ireplied,\"forwearegoingthewayofthesun,andherethesunisinthenorth.\"
\"Nodoubt,\"saidNedLand;\"butitremainstobeseenwhetherhewillbringtheshipintothePacificortheAtlanticOcean,thatis,intofrequentedordesertedseas.\"
Icouldnotanswerthatquestion,andIfearedthatCaptainNemowouldrathertakeustothevastoceanthattouchesthecoastsofAsiaandAmericaatthesametime.Hewouldthuscompletethetourroundthesubmarineworld,andreturntothosewatersinwhichtheNautiluscouldsailfreely.Weought,beforelong,tosettlethisimportantpoint.TheNautiluswentatarapidpace.
Thepolarcirclewassoonpassed,andthecourseshapedforCapeHorn.
WewereofftheAmericanpoint,March31st,atseveno\'clockintheevening.Thenallourpastsufferingswereforgotten.
Theremembranceofthatimprisonmentintheicewaseffacedfromourminds.Weonlythoughtofthefuture.CaptainNemodidnotappearagaineitherinthedrawing-roomorontheplatform.
Thepointshowneachdayontheplanisphere,and,markedbythelieutenant,showedmetheexactdirectionoftheNautilus.
Now,onthatevening,itwasevident,to,mygreatsatisfaction,thatweweregoingbacktotheNorthbytheAtlantic.
Thenextday,April1st,whentheNautilusascendedtothesurfacesomeminutesbeforenoon,wesightedlandtothewest.
ItwasTerradelFuego,whichthefirstnavigatorsnamedthusfromseeingthequantityofsmokethatrosefromthenatives\'huts.
Thecoastseemedlowtome,butinthedistancerosehighmountains.
IeventhoughtIhadaglimpseofMountSarmiento,thatrises2,070
yardsabovethelevelofthesea,withaverypointedsummit,which,accordingasitismistyorclear,isasignoffineorofwetweather.
Atthismomentthepeakwasclearlydefinedagainstthesky.
TheNautilus,divingagainunderthewater,approachedthecoast,whichwasonlysomefewmilesoff.Fromtheglasswindowsinthedrawing-room,Isawlongseaweedsandgiganticfuciandvarech,ofwhichtheopenpolarseacontainssomanyspecimens,withtheirsharppolishedfilaments;theymeasuredabout300yardsinlength——
realcables,thickerthanone\'sthumb;and,havinggreattenacity,theyareoftenusedasropesforvessels.Anotherweedknownasvelp,withleavesfourfeetlong,buriedinthecoralconcretions,hungatthebottom.Itservedasnestandfoodformyriadsofcrustaceaandmolluscs,crabs,andcuttlefish.
Theresealsandottershadsplendidrepasts,eatingthefleshoffishwithsea-vegetables,accordingtotheEnglishfashion.
OverthisfertileandluxuriantgroundtheNautiluspassedwithgreatrapidity.TowardseveningitapproachedtheFalklandgroup,theroughsummitsofwhichIrecognisedthefollowingday.
Thedepthoftheseawasmoderate.Ontheshoresournetsbroughtinbeautifulspecimensofseaweed,andparticularlyacertainfucus,therootsofwhichwerefilledwiththebestmusselsintheworld.
Geeseandducksfellbydozensontheplatform,andsoontooktheirplacesinthepantryonboard.
WhenthelastheightsoftheFalklandshaddisappearedfromthehorizon,theNautilussanktobetweentwentyandtwenty-fiveyards,andfollowedtheAmericancoast.
CaptainNemodidnotshowhimself.Untilthe3rdofAprilwedidnotquittheshoresofPatagonia,sometimesundertheocean,sometimesatthesurface.TheNautiluspassedbeyondthelargeestuaryformedbytheUraguay.Itsdirectionwasnorthwards,andfollowedthelongwindingsofthecoastofSouthAmerica.
Wehadthenmade1,600milessinceourembarkationintheseasofJapan.Abouteleveno\'clockinthemorningtheTropicofCapricornwascrossedonthethirty-seventhmeridian,andwepassedCapeFriostandingouttosea.CaptainNemo,toNedLand\'sgreatdispleasure,didnotliketheneighbourhoodoftheinhabitedcoastsofBrazil,forwewentatagiddyspeed.
Notafish,notabirdoftheswiftestkindcouldfollowus,andthenaturalcuriositiesoftheseseasescapedallobservation.
Thisspeedwaskeptupforseveraldays,andintheeveningofthe9thofAprilwesightedthemostwesterlypointofSouthAmericathatformsCapeSanRoque.ButthentheNautilusswervedagain,andsoughtthelowestdepthofasubmarinevalleywhichisbetweenthisCapeandSierraLeoneontheAfricancoast.
ThisvalleybifurcatestotheparalleloftheAntilles,andterminatesatthemouthbytheenormousdepressionof9,000yards.
Inthisplace,thegeologicalbasinoftheoceanforms,asfarastheLesserAntilles,aclifftothreeandahalfmilesperpendicularinheight,and,attheparalleloftheCapeVerdeIslands,anotherwallnotlessconsiderable,thatenclosesthusallthesunkcontinentoftheAtlantic.
Thebottomofthisimmensevalleyisdottedwithsomemountains,thatgivetothesesubmarineplacesapicturesqueaspect.
Ispeak,moreover,fromthemanuscriptchartsthatwereinthelibraryoftheNautilus——chartsevidentlyduetoCaptainNemo\'shand,andmadeafterhispersonalobservations.Fortwodaysthedesertanddeepwaterswerevisitedbymeansoftheinclinedplanes.
TheNautiluswasfurnishedwithlongdiagonalbroadsideswhichcarriedittoallelevations.Butonthe11thofAprilitrosesuddenly,andlandappearedatthemouthoftheAmazonRiver,avastestuary,theembouchureofwhichissoconsiderablethatitfreshensthesea-waterforthedistanceofseveralleagues.
CHAPTERXVIII
THEPOULPS
ForseveraldaystheNautiluskeptofffromtheAmericancoast.
EvidentlyitdidnotwishtoriskthetidesoftheGulfofMexicooroftheseaoftheAntilles.April16th,wesightedMartiniqueandGuadaloupefromadistanceofaboutthirtymiles.
Isawtheirtallpeaksforaninstant.TheCanadian,whocountedoncarryingouthisprojectsintheGulf,byeitherlandingorhailingoneofthenumerousboatsthatcoastfromoneislandtoanother,wasquitedisheartened.
Flightwouldhavebeenquitepracticable,ifNedLandhadbeenabletotakepossessionoftheboatwithouttheCaptain\'sknowledge.
Butintheopenseaitcouldnotbethoughtof.TheCanadian,Conseil,andIhadalongconversationonthissubject.
ForsixmonthswehadbeenprisonersonboardtheNautilus.
Wehadtravelled17,000leagues;and,asNedLandsaid,therewasnoreasonwhyitshouldcometoanend.WecouldhopenothingfromtheCaptainoftheNautilus,butonlyfromourselves.
Besides,forsometimepasthehadbecomegraver,moreretired,lesssociable.Heseemedtoshunme.Imethimrarely.
Formerlyhewaspleasedtoexplainthesubmarinemarvelstome;
nowheleftmetomystudies,andcamenomoretothesaloon.
Whatchangehadcomeoverhim?Forwhatcause?Formypart,Ididnotwishtoburywithmemycuriousandnovelstudies.
Ihadnowthepowertowritethetruebookofthesea;
andthisbook,soonerorlater,Iwishedtoseedaylight.
ThelandnearestuswasthearchipelagooftheBahamas.Thererosehighsubmarinecliffscoveredwithlargeweeds.Itwasabouteleveno\'clockwhenNedLanddrewmyattentiontoaformidablepricking,likethestingofanant,whichwasproducedbymeansoflargeseaweeds.
\"Well,\"Isaid,\"thesearepropercavernsforpoulps,andI
shouldnotbeastonishedtoseesomeofthesemonsters.\"
\"What!\"saidConseil;\"cuttlefish,realcuttlefishofthecephalopodclass?\"
\"No,\"Isaid,\"poulpsofhugedimensions.\"
\"Iwillneverbelievethatsuchanimalsexist,\"saidNed.
\"Well,\"saidConseil,withthemostseriousairintheworld,\"Irememberperfectlytohaveseenalargevesseldrawnunderthewavesbyanoctopus\'sarm.\"
\"Yousawthat?\"saidtheCanadian.
\"Yes,Ned.\"
\"Withyourowneyes?\"
\"Withmyowneyes.\"
\"Where,pray,mightthatbe?\"
\"AtSt.Malo,\"answeredConseil.
\"Intheport?\"saidNed,ironically.
\"No;inachurch,\"repliedConseil.
\"Inachurch!\"criedtheCanadian.
\"Yes;friendNed.Inapicturerepresentingthepoulpinquestion.\"
\"Good!\"saidNedLand,burstingoutlaughing.
\"Heisquiteright,\"Isaid.\"Ihaveheardofthispicture;
butthesubjectrepresentedistakenfromalegend,andyouknowwhattothinkoflegendsinthematterofnaturalhistory.
Besides,whenitisaquestionofmonsters,theimaginationisapttorunwild.Notonlyisitsupposedthatthesepoulpscandrawdownvessels,butacertainOlausMagnusspeaksofanoctopusamilelongthatismorelikeanislandthanananimal.
ItisalsosaidthattheBishopofNidroswasbuildinganaltaronanimmenserock.Massfinished,therockbegantowalk,andreturnedtothesea.Therockwasapoulp.
AnotherBishop,Pontoppidan,speaksalsoofapoulponwhicharegimentofcavalrycouldmanoeuvre.Lastly,theancientnaturalistsspeakofmonsterswhosemouthswerelikegulfs,andwhichweretoolargetopassthroughtheStraitsofGibraltar.\"
\"Buthowmuchistrueofthesestories?\"askedConseil.
\"Nothing,myfriends;atleastofthatwhichpassesthelimitoftruthtogettofableorlegend.Nevertheless,theremustbesomegroundfortheimaginationofthestory-tellers.Onecannotdenythatpoulpsandcuttlefishexistofalargespecies,inferior,however,tothecetaceans.
Aristotlehasstatedthedimensionsofacuttlefishasfivecubits,orninefeettwoinches.Ourfishermenfrequentlyseesomethataremorethanfourfeetlong.SomeskeletonsofpoulpsarepreservedinthemuseumsofTriesteandMontpelier,thatmeasuretwoyardsinlength.
Besides,accordingtothecalculationsofsomenaturalists,oneoftheseanimalsonlysixfeetlongwouldhavetentaclestwenty-sevenfeetlong.
Thatwouldsufficetomakeaformidablemonster.\"
\"Dotheyfishfortheminthesedays?\"askedNed.
\"Iftheydonotfishforthem,sailorsseethematleast.
Oneofmyfriends,CaptainPaulBosofHavre,hasoftenaffirmedthathemetoneofthesemonstersofcolossaldimensionsintheIndianseas.Butthemostastonishingfact,andwhichdoesnotpermitofthedenialoftheexistenceofthesegiganticanimals,happenedsomeyearsago,in1861.\"
\"Whatisthefact?\"askedNedLand.
\"Thisisit.In1861,tothenorth-eastofTeneriffe,verynearlyinthesamelatitudeweareinnow,thecrewofthedespatch-boatAlectorperceivedamonstrouscuttlefishswimminginthewaters.
CaptainBouguerwentneartotheanimal,andattackeditwithharpoonandguns,withoutmuchsuccess,forballsandharpoonsglidedoverthesoftflesh.Afterseveralfruitlessattemptsthecrewtriedtopassaslip-knotroundthebodyofthemollusc.
Thenooseslippedasfarasthetailfinsandtherestopped.
Theytriedthentohaulitonboard,butitsweightwassoconsiderablethatthetightnessofthecordseparatedthetailfromthebody,and,deprivedofthisornament,hedisappearedunderthewater.\"
\"Indeed!isthatafact?\"
\"Anindisputablefact,mygoodNed.Theyproposedtonamethispoulp`Bouguer\'scuttlefish.\'\"
\"Whatlengthwasit?\"askedtheCanadian.
\"Diditnotmeasureaboutsixyards?\"saidConseil,who,postedatthewindow,wasexaminingagaintheirregularwindingsofthecliff.
\"Precisely,\"Ireplied.
\"Itshead,\"rejoinedConseil,\"wasitnotcrownedwitheighttentacles,thatbeatthewaterlikeanestofserpents?\"
\"Precisely.\"
\"Hadnotitseyes,placedatthebackofitshead,considerabledevelopment?\"
\"Yes,Conseil.\"
\"Andwasnotitsmouthlikeaparrot\'sbeak?\"
\"Exactly,Conseil.\"
\"Verywell!nooffencetomaster,\"hereplied,quietly;\"ifthisisnotBouguer\'scuttlefish,itis,atleast,oneofitsbrothers.\"
IlookedatConseil.NedLandhurriedtothewindow.
\"Whatahorriblebeast!\"hecried.
Ilookedinmyturn,andcouldnotrepressagestureofdisgust.
Beforemyeyeswasahorriblemonsterworthytofigureinthelegendsofthemarvellous.Itwasanimmensecuttlefish,beingeightyardslong.
ItswamcrosswaysinthedirectionoftheNautiluswithgreatspeed,watchinguswithitsenormousstaringgreeneyes.Itseightarms,orratherfeet,fixedtoitshead,thathavegiventhenameofcephalopodtotheseanimals,weretwiceaslongasitsbody,andweretwistedlikethefuries\'hair.Onecouldseethe250airholesontheinnersideofthetentacles.Themonster\'smouth,ahornedbeaklikeaparrot\'s,openedandshutvertically.
Itstongue,ahornedsubstance,furnishedwithseveralrowsofpointedteeth,cameoutquiveringfromthisveritablepairofshears.Whatafreakofnature,abird\'sbeakonamollusc!
Itsspindle-likebodyformedafleshymassthatmightweigh4,000
to5,000lb.;the,varyingcolourchangingwithgreatrapidity,accordingtotheirritationoftheanimal,passedsuccessivelyfromlividgreytoreddishbrown.Whatirritatedthismollusc?
NodoubtthepresenceoftheNautilus,moreformidablethanitself,andonwhichitssuckersoritsjawshadnohold.Yet,whatmonstersthesepoulpsare!whatvitalitytheCreatorhasgiventhem!
whatvigourintheirmovements!andtheypossessthreehearts!
Chancehadbroughtusinpresenceofthiscuttlefish,andIdidnotwishtolosetheopportunityofcarefullystudyingthisspecimenofcephalopods.
Iovercamethehorrorthatinspiredme,and,takingapencil,begantodrawit.
\"PerhapsthisisthesamewhichtheAlectorsaw,\"saidConseil.
\"No,\"repliedtheCanadian;\"forthisiswhole,andtheotherhadlostitstail.\"
\"Thatisnoreason,\"Ireplied.\"Thearmsandtailsoftheseanimalsarere-formedbyrenewal;andinsevenyearsthetailofBouguer\'scuttlefishhasnodoubthadtimetogrow.\"
Bythistimeotherpoulpsappearedattheportlight.Icountedseven.
TheyformedaprocessionaftertheNautilus,andIheardtheirbeaksgnashingagainsttheironhull.Icontinuedmywork.Thesemonsterskeptinthewaterwithsuchprecisionthattheyseemedimmovable.
SuddenlytheNautilusstopped.Ashockmadeittrembleineveryplate.
\"Havewestruckanything?\"Iasked.
\"Inanycase,\"repliedtheCanadian,\"weshallbefree,forwearefloating.\"
TheNautiluswasfloating,nodoubt,butitdidnotmove.
Aminutepassed.CaptainNemo,followedbyhislieutenant,enteredthedrawing-room.Ihadnotseenhimforsometime.
Heseemeddull.Withoutnoticingorspeakingtous,hewenttothepanel,lookedatthepoulps,andsaidsomethingtohislieutenant.Thelatterwentout.Soonthepanelswereshut.
Theceilingwaslighted.IwenttowardstheCaptain.
\"Acuriouscollectionofpoulps?\"Isaid.
\"Yes,indeed,Mr.Naturalist,\"hereplied;\"andwearegoingtofightthem,mantobeast.\"
Ilookedathim.IthoughtIhadnotheardaright.
\"Mantobeast?\"Irepeated.
\"Yes,sir.Thescrewisstopped.Ithinkthatthehornyjawsofoneofthecuttlefishisentangledintheblades.
Thatiswhatpreventsourmoving.\"
\"Whatareyougoingtodo?\"
\"Risetothesurface,andslaughterthisvermin.\"
\"Adifficultenterprise.\"
\"Yes,indeed.Theelectricbulletsarepowerlessagainstthesoftflesh,wheretheydonotfindresistanceenoughtogooff.
Butweshallattackthemwiththehatchet.\"
\"Andtheharpoon,sir,\"saidtheCanadian,\"ifyoudonotrefusemyhelp.\"
\"Iwillacceptit,MasterLand.\"
\"Wewillfollowyou,\"Isaid,and,followingCaptainNemo,wewenttowardsthecentralstaircase.
There,abouttenmenwithboarding-hatchetswerereadyfortheattack.
ConseilandItooktwohatchets;NedLandseizedaharpoon.
TheNautilushadthenrisentothesurface.Oneofthesailors,postedonthetopladderstep,unscrewedtheboltsofthepanels.
Buthardlywerethescrewsloosed,whenthepanelrosewithgreatviolence,evidentlydrawnbythesuckersofapoulp\'sarm.
Immediatelyoneofthesearmsslidlikeaserpentdowntheopeningandtwentyotherswereabove.Withoneblowoftheaxe,CaptainNemocutthisformidabletentacle,thatslidwrigglingdowntheladder.
Justaswewerepressingoneontheothertoreachtheplatform,twootherarms,lashingtheair,camedownontheseamanplacedbeforeCaptainNemo,andliftedhimupwithirresistiblepower.
CaptainNemoutteredacry,andrushedout.Wehurriedafterhim.
Whatascene!Theunhappyman,seizedbythetentacleandfixedtothesuckers,wasbalancedintheairatthecapriceofthisenormoustrunk.Herattledinhisthroat,hewasstifled,hecried,\"Help!help!\"Thesewords,spokeninFrench,startledme!
Ihadafellow-countrymanonboard,perhapsseveral!
Thatheart-rendingcry!Ishallhearitallmylife.
Theunfortunatemanwaslost.Whocouldrescuehimfromthatpowerfulpressure?However,CaptainNemohadrushedtothepoulp,andwithoneblowoftheaxehadcutthroughonearm.
HislieutenantstruggledfuriouslyagainstothermonstersthatcreptontheflanksoftheNautilus.Thecrewfoughtwiththeiraxes.
TheCanadian,Conseil,andIburiedourweaponsinthefleshymasses;
astrongsmellofmuskpenetratedtheatmosphere.
Itwashorrible!
Foroneinstant,Ithoughttheunhappyman,entangledwiththepoulp,wouldbetornfromitspowerfulsuction.Sevenoftheeightarmshadbeencutoff.
Oneonlywriggledintheair,brandishingthevictimlikeafeather.ButjustasCaptainNemoandhislieutenantthrewthemselvesonit,theanimalejectedastreamofblackliquid.Wewereblindedwithit.Whentheclouddispersed,thecuttlefishhaddisappeared,andmyunfortunatecountrymanwithit.
TenortwelvepoulpsnowinvadedtheplatformandsidesoftheNautilus.
Werolledpell-mellintothemidstofthisnestofserpents,thatwriggledontheplatforminthewavesofbloodandink.Itseemedasthoughtheseslimytentaclesspranguplikethehydra\'sheads.NedLand\'sharpoon,ateachstroke,wasplungedintothestaringeyesofthecuttlefish.
Butmyboldcompanionwassuddenlyoverturnedbythetentaclesofamonsterhehadnotbeenabletoavoid.
Ah!howmyheartbeatwithemotionandhorror!
TheformidablebeakofacuttlefishwasopenoverNedLand.
Theunhappymanwouldbecutintwo.Irushedtohissuccour.
ButCaptainNemowasbeforeme;hisaxedisappearedbetweenthetwoenormousjaws,and,miraculouslysaved,theCanadian,rising,plungedhisharpoondeepintothetripleheartofthepoulp.
\"Iowedmyselfthisrevenge!\"saidtheCaptaintotheCanadian.
Nedbowedwithoutreplying.Thecombathadlastedaquarterofanhour.
Themonsters,vanquishedandmutilated,leftusatlast,anddisappearedunderthewaves.CaptainNemo,coveredwithblood,nearlyexhausted,gazedupontheseathathadswalloweduponeofhiscompanions,andgreattearsgatheredinhiseyes.
CHAPTERXIX
THEGULFSTREAM
Thisterriblesceneofthe20thofAprilnoneofuscaneverforget.
Ihavewrittenitundertheinfluenceofviolentemotion.SincethenI
haverevisedtherecital;IhavereadittoConseilandtotheCanadian.
Theyfounditexactastofacts,butinsufficientastoeffect.
Topaintsuchpictures,onemusthavethepenofthemostillustriousofourpoets,theauthorofTheToilersoftheDeep.
IhavesaidthatCaptainNemoweptwhilewatchingthewaves;
hisgriefwasgreat.Itwasthesecondcompanionhehadlostsinceourarrivalonboard,andwhatadeath!
Thatfriend,crushed,stifled,bruisedbythedreadfularmsofapoulp,poundedbyhisironjaws,wouldnotrestwithhiscomradesinthepeacefulcoralcemetery!
Inthemidstofthestruggle,itwasthedespairingcryutteredbytheunfortunatemanthathadtornmyheart.
