"InwhatdirectionistheNautilusgoing?"Iasked.
　　"Idonotknow,"repliedNed.
　　"Well,atnoonweshallseethepoint."
　　TheCanadianreturnedtoConseil.AssoonasIwasdressed,Iwentintothesaloon.Thecompasswasnotreassuring.
　　ThecourseoftheNautiluswasS.S.W.WewereturningourbacksonEurope.
　　Iwaitedwithsomeimpatiencetilltheship'splacewasprickedonthechart.Atabouthalf-pasteleventhereservoirswereemptied,andourvesselrosetothesurfaceoftheocean.
　　Irushedtowardstheplatform.NedLandhadprecededme.
　　Nomorelandinsight.Nothingbutanimmensesea.
　　Somesailsonthehorizon,doubtlessthosegoingtoSanRoqueinsearchoffavourablewindsfordoublingtheCapeofGoodHope.
　　Theweatherwascloudy.Agaleofwindwaspreparing.
　　Nedraved,andtriedtopiercethecloudyhorizon.
　　Hestillhopedthatbehindallthatfogstretchedthelandhesolongedfor.
　　Atnoonthesunshoweditselfforaninstant.Thesecondprofitedbythisbrightnesstotakeitsheight.Then,theseabecomingmorebillowy,wedescended,andthepanelclosed.
　　Anhourafter,uponconsultingthechart,IsawthepositionoftheNautiluswasmarkedat16@17'long.,and33@22'
　　lat.,at150leaguesfromthenearestcoast.Therewasnomeansofflight,andIleaveyoutoimaginetherageoftheCanadianwhenIinformedhimofoursituation.
　　Formyself,Iwasnotparticularlysorry.Ifeltlightenedoftheloadwhichhadoppressedme,andwasabletoreturnwithsomedegreeofcalmnesstomyaccustomedwork.
　　Thatnight,abouteleveno'clock,IreceivedamostunexpectedvisitfromCaptainNemo.HeaskedmeverygraciouslyifIfeltfatiguedfrommywatchoftheprecedingnight.
　　Iansweredinthenegative.
　　"Then,M.Aronnax,Iproposeacuriousexcursion."
　　"Propose,Captain?"
　　"Youhavehithertoonlyvisitedthesubmarinedepthsbydaylight,underthebrightnessofthesun.Woulditsuityoutoseetheminthedarknessofthenight?"
　　"Mostwillingly."
　　"Iwarnyou,thewaywillbetiring.Weshallhavefartowalk,andmustclimbamountain.Theroadsarenotwellkept."
　　"Whatyousay,Captain,onlyheightensmycuriosity;
　　Iamreadytofollowyou."
　　"Comethen,sir,wewillputonourdiving-dresses."
　　Arrivedattherobing-room,Isawthatneitherofmycompanionsnoranyoftheship'screwweretofollowusonthisexcursion.
　　CaptainNemohadnotevenproposedmytakingwithmeeitherNedorConseil.
　　Inafewmomentswehadputonourdiving-dresses;theyplacedonourbacksthereservoirs,abundantlyfilledwithair,butnoelectriclampswereprepared.IcalledtheCaptain'sattentiontothefact.
　　"Theywillbeuseless,"hereplied.
　　IthoughtIhadnotheardaright,butIcouldnotrepeatmyobservation,fortheCaptain'sheadhadalreadydisappearedinitsmetalcase.
　　Ifinishedharnessingmyself.Ifeltthemputaniron-pointedstickintomyhand,andsomeminuteslater,aftergoingthroughtheusualform,wesetfootonthebottomoftheAtlanticatadepthof150fathoms.
　　Midnightwasnear.Thewaterswereprofoundlydark,butCaptainNemopointedoutinthedistanceareddishspot,asortoflargelightshiningbrilliantlyabouttwomilesfromtheNautilus.Whatthisfiremightbe,whatcouldfeedit,whyandhowitlituptheliquidmass,Icouldnotsay.
　　Inanycase,itdidlightourway,vaguely,itistrue,butIsoonaccustomedmyselftothepeculiardarkness,andIunderstood,undersuchcircumstances,theuselessnessoftheRuhmkorffapparatus.
　　Asweadvanced,Iheardakindofpatteringabovemyhead.
　　Thenoiseredoubling,sometimesproducingacontinualshower,Isoonunderstoodthecause.Itwasrainfallingviolently,andcrispingthesurfaceofthewaves.InstinctivelythethoughtflashedacrossmymindthatIshouldbewetthrough!
　　Bythewater!inthemidstofthewater!Icouldnothelplaughingattheoddidea.But,indeed,inthethickdiving-dress,theliquidelementisnolongerfelt,andoneonlyseemstobeinanatmospheresomewhatdenserthantheterrestrialatmosphere.
　　Nothingmore.
　　Afterhalfanhour'swalkthesoilbecamestony.
　　Medusae,microscopiccrustacea,andpennatuleslititslightlywiththeirphosphorescentgleam.Icaughtaglimpseofpiecesofstonecoveredwithmillionsofzoophytesandmassesofseaweed.
　　Myfeetoftenslippeduponthisstickycarpetofseaweed,andwithoutmyiron-tippedstickIshouldhavefallenmorethanonce.
　　Inturninground,IcouldstillseethewhitishlanternoftheNautilusbeginningtopaleinthedistance.
　　Buttherosylightwhichguidedusincreasedandlitupthehorizon.
　　Thepresenceofthisfireunderwaterpuzzledmeinthehighestdegree.
　　WasIgoingtowardsanaturalphenomenonasyetunknowntothesavantsoftheearth?Orevenforthisthoughtcrossedmybrainhadthehandofmanaughttodowiththisconflagration?Hadhefannedthisflame?
　　WasItomeetinthesedepthscompanionsandfriendsofCaptainNemowhomhewasgoingtovisit,andwho,likehim,ledthisstrangeexistence?
　　ShouldIfinddownthereawholecolonyofexileswho,wearyofthemiseriesofthisearth,hadsoughtandfoundindependenceinthedeepocean?
　　Allthesefoolishandunreasonableideaspursuedme.Andinthisconditionofmind,over-excitedbythesuccessionofwonderscontinuallypassingbeforemyeyes,IshouldnothavebeensurprisedtomeetatthebottomoftheseaoneofthosesubmarinetownsofwhichCaptainNemodreamed.
　　Ourroadgrewlighterandlighter.Thewhiteglimmercameinraysfromthesummitofamountainabout800feethigh.ButwhatIsawwassimplyareflection,developedbytheclearnessofthewaters.
　　Thesourceofthisinexplicablelightwasafireontheoppositesideofthemountain.
　　InthemidstofthisstonymazefurrowingthebottomoftheAtlantic,CaptainNemoadvancedwithouthesitation.Heknewthisdrearyroad.
　　Doubtlesshehadoftentravelledoverit,andcouldnotlosehimself.
　　Ifollowedhimwithunshakenconfidence.Heseemedtomelikeagenieofthesea;and,ashewalkedbeforeme,Icouldnothelpadmiringhisstature,whichwasoutlinedinblackontheluminoushorizon.
　　Itwasoneinthemorningwhenwearrivedatthefirstslopesofthemountain;
　　buttogainaccesstothemwemustventurethroughthedifficultpathsofavastcopse.
　　Yes;acopseofdeadtrees,withoutleaves,withoutsap,treespetrifiedbytheactionofthewaterandhereandthereovertoppedbygiganticpines.Itwaslikeacoal-pitstillstanding,holdingbytherootstothebrokensoil,andwhosebranches,likefineblackpapercuttings,showeddistinctlyonthewateryceiling.
　　PicturetoyourselfaforestintheHartzhangingontothesidesofthemountain,butaforestswallowedup.Thepathswereencumberedwithseaweedandfucus,betweenwhichgrovelledawholeworldofcrustacea.Iwentalong,climbingtherocks,stridingoverextendedtrunks,breakingtheseabind-weedwhichhungfromonetreetotheother;andfrighteningthefishes,whichflewfrombranchtobranch.Pressingonward,Ifeltnofatigue.
　　Ifollowedmyguide,whowasnevertired.Whataspectacle!
　　HowcanIexpressit?howpainttheaspectofthosewoodsandrocksinthismedium——theirunderpartsdarkandwild,theuppercolouredwithredtints,bythatlightwhichthereflectingpowersofthewatersdoubled?Weclimbedrockswhichfelldirectlyafterwithgiganticboundsandthelowgrowlingofanavalanche.
　　Torightandleftranlong,darkgalleries,wheresightwaslost.
　　Hereopenedvastgladeswhichthehandofmanseemedtohaveworked;
　　andIsometimesaskedmyselfifsomeinhabitantofthesesubmarineregionswouldnotsuddenlyappeartome.
　　ButCaptainNemowasstillmounting.Icouldnotstaybehind.
　　Ifollowedboldly.Mystickgavemegoodhelp.Afalsestepwouldhavebeendangerousonthenarrowpassesslopingdowntothesidesofthegulfs;butIwalkedwithfirmstep,withoutfeelinganygiddiness.NowIjumpedacrevice,thedepthofwhichwouldhavemademehesitatehaditbeenamongtheglaciersontheland;
　　nowIventuredontheunsteadytrunkofatreethrownacrossfromoneabysstotheother,withoutlookingundermyfeet,havingonlyeyestoadmirethewildsitesofthisregion.
　　There,monumentalrocks,leaningontheirregularly-cutbases,seemedtodefyalllawsofequilibrium.Frombetweentheirstonykneestreessprang,likeajetunderheavypressure,andupheldotherswhichupheldthem.
　　Naturaltowers,largescarps,cutperpendicularly,likea"curtain,"inclinedatananglewhichthelawsofgravitationcouldneverhavetoleratedinterrestrialregions.
　　TwohoursafterquittingtheNautiluswehadcrossedthelineoftrees,andahundredfeetaboveourheadsrosethetopofthemountain,whichcastashadowonthebrilliantirradiationoftheoppositeslope.
　　Somepetrifiedshrubsranfantasticallyhereandthere.Fishesgotupunderourfeetlikebirdsinthelonggrass.Themassiverockswererentwithimpenetrablefractures,deepgrottos,andunfathomableholes,atthebottomofwhichformidablecreaturesmightbeheardmoving.
　　MybloodcurdledwhenIsawenormousantennaeblockingmyroad,orsomefrightfulclawclosingwithanoiseintheshadowofsomecavity.
　　Millionsofluminousspotsshonebrightlyinthemidstofthedarkness.
　　Theyweretheeyesofgiantcrustaceacrouchedintheirholes;
　　giantlobsterssettingthemselvesuplikehalberdiers,andmovingtheirclawswiththeclickingsoundofpincers;titaniccrabs,pointedlikeagunonitscarriage;andfrightful-lookingpoulps,interweavingtheirtentacleslikealivingnestofserpents.
　　Wehadnowarrivedonthefirstplatform,whereothersurprisesawaitedme.
　　Beforeuslaysomepicturesqueruins,whichbetrayedthehandofmanandnotthatoftheCreator.Therewerevastheapsofstone,amongstwhichmightbetracedthevagueandshadowyformsofcastlesandtemples,clothedwithaworldofblossomingzoophytes,andoverwhich,insteadofivy,sea-weedandfucusthrewathickvegetablemantle.Butwhatwasthisportionoftheglobewhichhadbeenswallowedbycataclysms?
　　Whohadplacedthoserocksandstoneslikecromlechsofprehistorictimes?
　　WherewasI?WhitherhadCaptainNemo'sfancyhurriedme?
　　Iwouldfainhaveaskedhim;notbeingableto,Istoppedhim——
　　Iseizedhisarm.But,shakinghishead,andpointingtothehighestpointofthemountain,heseemedtosay:
　　"Come,comealong;comehigher!"
　　Ifollowed,andinafewminutesIhadclimbedtothetop,whichforacircleoftenyardscommandedthewholemassofrock.
　　Ilookeddownthesidewehadjustclimbed.Themountaindidnotrisemorethansevenoreighthundredfeetabovetheleveloftheplain;butontheoppositesideitcommandedfromtwicethatheightthedepthsofthispartoftheAtlantic.
　　Myeyesrangedfaroveralargespacelitbyaviolentfulguration.
　　Infact,themountainwasavolcano.
　　Atfiftyfeetabovethepeak,inthemidstofarainofstonesandscoriae,alargecraterwasvomitingforthtorrentsoflavawhichfellinacascadeoffireintothebosomoftheliquidmass.
　　Thussituated,thisvolcanolitthelowerplainlikeanimmensetorch,eventotheextremelimitsofthehorizon.
　　Isaidthatthesubmarinecraterthrewuplava,butnoflames.
　　Flamesrequiretheoxygenoftheairtofeeduponandcannotbedevelopedunderwater;butstreamsoflava,havinginthemselvestheprinciplesoftheirincandescence,canattainawhiteheat,fightvigorouslyagainsttheliquidelement,andturnittovapourbycontact.
　　RapidcurrentsbearingallthesegasesindiffusionandtorrentsoflavaslidtothebottomofthemountainlikeaneruptionofVesuviusonanotherTerradelGreco.
　　Thereindeedundermyeyes,ruined,destroyed,layatown——
　　itsroofsopentothesky,itstemplesfallen,itsarchesdislocated,itscolumnslyingontheground,fromwhichonewouldstillrecognisethemassivecharacterofTuscanarchitecture.
　　Furtheron,someremainsofagiganticaqueduct;herethehighbaseofanAcropolis,withthefloatingoutlineofaParthenon;
　　theretracesofaquay,asifanancientporthadformerlyabuttedonthebordersoftheocean,anddisappearedwithitsmerchantvesselsanditswar-galleys.Fartheronagain,longlinesofsunkenwallsandbroad,desertedstreets——
　　aperfectPompeiiescapedbeneaththewaters.SuchwasthesightthatCaptainNemobroughtbeforemyeyes!
　　WherewasI?WherewasI?Imustknowatanycost.
　　Itriedtospeak,butCaptainNemostoppedmebyagesture,and,pickingupapieceofchalk-stone,advancedtoarockofblackbasalt,andtracedtheoneword:
　　ATLANTIS
　　Whatalightshotthroughmymind!Atlantis!theAtlantisofPlato,thatcontinentdeniedbyOrigenandHumbolt,whoplaceditsdisappearanceamongstthelegendarytales.
　　Ihadittherenowbeforemyeyes,bearinguponittheunexceptionabletestimonyofitscatastrophe.
　　TheregionthusengulfedwasbeyondEurope,Asia,andLybia,beyondthecolumnsofHercules,wherethosepowerfulpeople,theAtlantides,lived,againstwhomthefirstwarsofancientGreekswerewaged.
　　Thus,ledbythestrangestdestiny,Iwastreadingunderfootthemountainsofthiscontinent,touchingwithmyhandthoseruinsathousandgenerationsoldandcontemporarywiththegeologicalepochs.
　　Iwaswalkingontheveryspotwherethecontemporariesofthefirstmanhadwalked.
　　WhilstIwastryingtofixinmymindeverydetailofthisgrandlandscape,CaptainNemoremainedmotionless,asifpetrifiedinmuteecstasy,leaningonamossystone.
　　Washedreamingofthosegenerationslongsincedisappeared?
　　Washeaskingthemthesecretofhumandestiny?Wasitherethisstrangemancametosteephimselfinhistoricalrecollections,andliveagainthisancientlife——hewhowantednomodernone?
　　WhatwouldInothavegiventoknowhisthoughts,tosharethem,tounderstandthem!Weremainedforanhouratthisplace,contemplatingthevastplainsunderthebrightnessofthelava,whichwassometimeswonderfullyintense.Rapidtremblingsranalongthemountaincausedbyinternalbubblings,deepnoise,distinctlytransmittedthroughtheliquidmediumwereechoedwithmajesticgrandeur.Atthismomentthemoonappearedthroughthemassofwatersandthrewherpaleraysontheburiedcontinent.
　　Itwasbutagleam,butwhatanindescribableeffect!
　　TheCaptainrose,castonelastlookontheimmenseplain,andthenbademefollowhim.
　　Wedescendedthemountainrapidly,and,themineralforestoncepassed,IsawthelanternoftheNautilusshininglikeastar.
　　TheCaptainwalkedstraighttoit,andwegotonboardasthefirstraysoflightwhitenedthesurfaceoftheocean.
　　CHAPTERX
　　THESUBMARINECOAL-MINES
　　Thenextday,the20thofFebruary,Iawokeverylate:thefatiguesofthepreviousnighthadprolongedmysleepuntileleveno'clock.I
　　dressedquickly,andhastenedtofindthecoursetheNautiluswastaking.
　　Theinstrumentsshowedittobestilltowardthesouth,withaspeedoftwentymilesanhourandadepthoffiftyfathoms.
　　Thespeciesoffishesheredidnotdiffermuchfromthosealreadynoticed.
　　Therewereraysofgiantsize,fiveyardslong,andendowedwithgreatmuscularstrength,whichenabledthemtoshootabovethewaves;
　　sharksofmanykinds;amongstothers,onefifteenfeetlong,withtriangularsharpteeth,andwhosetransparencyrendereditalmostinvisibleinthewater.
　　AmongstbonyfishConseilnoticedsomeaboutthreeyardslong,armedattheupperjawwithapiercingsword;otherbright-colouredcreatures,knowninthetimeofAristotlebythenameofthesea-dragon,whicharedangeroustocaptureonaccountofthespikesontheirback.
　　Aboutfouro'clock,thesoil,generallycomposedofathickmudmixedwithpetrifiedwood,changedbydegrees,anditbecamemorestony,andseemedstrewnwithconglomerateandpiecesofbasalt,withasprinklingoflava.
　　Ithoughtthatamountainousregionwassucceedingthelongplains;
　　andaccordingly,afterafewevolutionsoftheNautilus,Isawthesoutherlyhorizonblockedbyahighwallwhichseemedtocloseallexit.
　　Itssummitevidentlypassedtheleveloftheocean.Itmustbeacontinent,oratleastanisland——oneoftheCanaries,oroftheCapeVerdeIslands.
　　Thebearingsnotbeingyettaken,perhapsdesignedly,Iwasignorantofourexactposition.Inanycase,suchawallseemedtometomarkthelimitsofthatAtlantis,ofwhichwehadinrealitypassedoveronlythesmallestpart.
　　MuchlongershouldIhaveremainedatthewindowadmiringthebeautiesofseaandsky,butthepanelsclosed.AtthismomenttheNautilusarrivedatthesideofthishigh,perpendicularwall.
　　Whatitwoulddo,Icouldnotguess.Ireturnedtomyroom;
　　itnolongermoved.Ilaidmyselfdownwiththefullintentionofwakingafterafewhours'sleep;butitwaseighto'clockthenextdaywhenIenteredthesaloon.Ilookedatthemanometer.
　　IttoldmethattheNautiluswasfloatingonthesurfaceoftheocean.
　　Besides,Iheardstepsontheplatform.Iwenttothepanel.
　　Itwasopen;but,insteadofbroaddaylight,asIexpected,Iwassurroundedbyprofounddarkness.Wherewerewe?
　　WasImistaken?Wasitstillnight?No;notastarwasshiningandnighthasnotthatutterdarkness.
　　Iknewnotwhattothink,whenavoicenearmesaid:
　　"Isthatyou,Professor?"
　　"Ah!Captain,"Ianswered,"wherearewe?"
　　"Underground,sir."
　　"Underground!"Iexclaimed."AndtheNautilusfloatingstill?"
　　"Italwaysfloats."
　　"ButIdonotunderstand."
　　"Waitafewminutes,ourlanternwillbelit,and,ifyoulikelightplaces,youwillbesatisfied."
　　Istoodontheplatformandwaited.ThedarknesswassocompletethatIcouldnotevenseeCaptainNemo;but,lookingtothezenith,exactlyabovemyhead,Iseemedtocatchanundecidedgleam,akindoftwilightfillingacircularhole.Atthisinstantthelanternwaslit,anditsvividnessdispelledthefaintlight.
　　Iclosedmydazzledeyesforaninstant,andthenlookedagain.
　　TheNautiluswasstationary,floatingnearamountainwhichformedasortofquay.Thelake,then,supportingitwasalakeimprisonedbyacircleofwalls,measuringtwomilesindiameterandsixincircumference.Itslevelthemanometershowed
　　couldonlybethesameastheoutsidelevel,fortheremustnecessarilybeacommunicationbetweenthelakeandthesea.
　　Thehighpartitions,leaningforwardontheirbase,grewintoavaultedroofbearingtheshapeofanimmensefunnelturnedupsidedown,theheightbeingaboutfiveorsixhundredyards.
　　Atthesummitwasacircularorifice,bywhichIhadcaughttheslightgleamoflight,evidentlydaylight.
　　"Wherearewe?"Iasked.
　　"Intheveryheartofanextinctvolcano,theinteriorofwhichhasbeeninvadedbythesea,aftersomegreatconvulsionoftheearth.
　　Whilstyouweresleeping,Professor,theNautiluspenetratedtothislagoonbyanaturalcanal,whichopensabouttenyardsbeneaththesurfaceoftheocean.Thisisitsharbourofrefuge,asure,commodious,andmysteriousone,shelteredfromallgales.
　　Showme,ifyoucan,onthecoastsofanyofyourcontinentsorislands,aroadwhichcangivesuchperfectrefugefromallstorms."
　　"Certainly,"Ireplied,"youareinsafetyhere,CaptainNemo.
　　Whocouldreachyouintheheartofavolcano?ButdidInotseeanopeningatitssummit?"
　　"Yes;itscrater,formerlyfilledwithlava,vapour,andflames,andwhichnowgivesentrancetothelife-givingairwebreathe."
　　"Butwhatisthisvolcanicmountain?"
　　"Itbelongstooneofthenumerousislandswithwhichthisseaisstrewn——tovesselsasimplesandbank——tousanimmensecavern.
　　Chanceledmetodiscoverit,andchanceservedmewell."
　　"Butofwhatuseisthisrefuge,Captain?TheNautiluswantsnoport."
　　"No,sir;butitwantselectricitytomakeitmove,andthewherewithaltomaketheelectricity——sodiumtofeedtheelements,coalfromwhichtogetthesodium,andacoal-minetosupplythecoal.
　　Andexactlyonthisspottheseacoversentireforestsembeddedduringthegeologicalperiods,nowmineralisedandtransformedintocoal;
　　formetheyareaninexhaustiblemine."
　　"Yourmenfollowthetradeofminershere,then,Captain?"
　　"Exactlyso.TheseminesextendunderthewavesliketheminesofNewcastle.
　　Here,intheirdiving-dresses,pickaxeandshovelinhand,mymenextractthecoal,whichIdonotevenaskfromtheminesoftheearth.
　　WhenIburnthiscombustibleforthemanufactureofsodium,thesmoke,escapingfromthecraterofthemountain,givesittheappearanceofastill-activevolcano."
　　"Andweshallseeyourcompanionsatwork?"
　　"No;notthistimeatleast;forIaminahurrytocontinueoursubmarinetouroftheearth.SoIshallcontentmyselfwithdrawingfromthereserveofsodiumIalreadypossess.
　　Thetimeforloadingisonedayonly,andwecontinueourvoyage.
　　So,ifyouwishtogooverthecavernandmaketheroundofthelagoon,youmusttakeadvantageofto-day,M.Aronnax."
　　IthankedtheCaptainandwenttolookformycompanions,whohadnotyetlefttheircabin.Iinvitedthemtofollowmewithoutsayingwherewewere.
　　Theymountedtheplatform.Conseil,whowasastonishedatnothing,seemedtolookuponitasquitenaturalthatheshouldwakeunderamountain,afterhavingfallenasleepunderthewaves.ButNedLandthoughtofnothingbutfindingwhetherthecavernhadanyexit.
　　Afterbreakfast,aboutteno'clock,wewentdownontothemountain.
　　"Hereweare,oncemoreonland,"saidConseil.
　　"Idonotcallthisland,"saidtheCanadian."Andbesides,wearenotonit,butbeneathit."
　　Betweenthewallsofthemountainsandthewatersofthelakelayasandyshorewhich,atitsgreatestbreadth,measuredfivehundredfeet.
　　Onthissoilonemighteasilymakethetourofthelake.Butthebaseofthehighpartitionswasstonyground,withvolcaniclocksandenormouspumice-stoneslyinginpicturesqueheaps.Allthesedetachedmasses,coveredwithenamel,polishedbytheactionofthesubterraneousfires,shoneresplendentbythelightofourelectriclantern.Themicadustfromtheshore,risingunderourfeet,flewlikeacloudofsparks.
　　Thebottomnowrosesensibly,andwesoonarrivedatlongcircuitousslopes,orinclinedplanes,whichtookushigherbydegrees;butwewereobligedtowalkcarefullyamongtheseconglomerates,boundbynocement,thefeetslippingontheglassycrystal,felspar,andquartz.
　　Thevolcanicnatureofthisenormousexcavationwasconfirmedonallsides,andIpointeditouttomycompanions.
　　"Picturetoyourselves,"saidI,"whatthiscratermusthavebeenwhenfilledwithboilinglava,andwhentheleveloftheincandescentliquidrosetotheorificeofthemountain,asthoughmeltedonthetopofahotplate."
　　"Icanpictureitperfectly,"saidConseil."But,sir,willyoutellmewhytheGreatArchitecthassuspendedoperations,andhowitisthatthefurnaceisreplacedbythequietwatersofthelake?"
　　"Mostprobably,Conseil,becausesomeconvulsionbeneaththeoceanproducedthatveryopeningwhichhasservedasapassagefortheNautilus.
　　ThenthewatersoftheAtlanticrushedintotheinteriorofthemountain.
　　Theremusthavebeenaterriblestrugglebetweenthetwoelements,astrugglewhichendedinthevictoryofNeptune.Butmanyageshaverunoutsincethen,andthesubmergedvolcanoisnowapeaceablegrotto."
　　"Verywell,"repliedNedLand;"Iaccepttheexplanation,sir;but,inourowninterests,Iregretthattheopeningofwhichyouspeakwasnotmadeabovethelevelofthesea."
　　"But,friendNed,"saidConseil,"ifthepassagehadnotbeenunderthesea,theNautiluscouldnothavegonethroughit."
　　Wecontinuedascending.Thestepsbecamemoreandmoreperpendicularandnarrow.Deepexcavations,whichwewereobligedtocross,cutthemhereandthere;slopingmasseshadtobeturned.
　　Wesliduponourkneesandcrawledalong.ButConseil'sdexterityandtheCanadian'sstrengthsurmountedallobstacles.
　　Ataheightofabout31feetthenatureofthegroundchangedwithoutbecomingmorepracticable.Totheconglomerateandtrachytesucceededblackbasalt,thefirstdispreadinlayersfullofbubbles,thelatterformingregularprisms,placedlikeacolonnadesupportingthespringoftheimmensevault,anadmirablespecimenofnaturalarchitecture.Betweentheblocksofbasaltwoundlongstreamsoflava,longsincegrowncold,encrustedwithbituminousrays;
　　andinsomeplacestherewerespreadlargecarpetsofsulphur.
　　Amorepowerfullightshonethroughtheuppercrater,sheddingavagueglimmeroverthesevolcanicdepressionsforeverburiedinthebosomofthisextinguishedmountain.Butourupwardmarchwassoonstoppedataheightofabouttwohundredandfiftyfeetbyimpassableobstacles.Therewasacompletevaultedarchoverhangingus,andourascentwaschangedtoacircularwalk.
　　Atthelastchangevegetablelifebegantostrugglewiththemineral.
　　Someshrubs,andevensometrees,grewfromthefracturesofthewalls.
　　Irecognisedsomeeuphorbias,withthecausticsugarcomingfromthem;heliotropes,quiteincapableofjustifyingtheirname,sadlydroopedtheirclustersofflowers,boththeircolourandperfumehalfgone.Hereandtheresomechrysanthemumsgrewtimidlyatthefootofanaloewithlong,sickly-lookingleaves.
　　Butbetweenthestreamsoflava,Isawsomelittlevioletsstillslightlyperfumed,andIadmitthatIsmeltthemwithdelight.
　　Perfumeisthesouloftheflower,andsea-flowershavenosoul.
　　Wehadarrivedatthefootofsomesturdydragon-trees,whichhadpushedasidetherockswiththeirstrongroots,whenNedLandexclaimed:
　　"Ah!sir,ahive!ahive!"
　　"Ahive!"Ireplied,withagestureofincredulity.
　　"Yes,ahive,"repeatedtheCanadian,"andbeeshummingroundit."
　　Iapproached,andwasboundtobelievemyowneyes.Thereataholeboredinoneofthedragon-treesweresomethousandsoftheseingeniousinsects,socommoninalltheCanaries,andwhoseproduceissomuchesteemed.
　　Naturallyenough,theCanadianwishedtogatherthehoney,andIcouldnotwellopposehiswish.Aquantityofdryleaves,mixedwithsulphur,helitwithasparkfromhisflint,andhebegantosmokeoutthebees.
　　Thehummingceasedbydegrees,andthehiveeventuallyyieldedseveralpoundsofthesweetesthoney,withwhichNedLandfilledhishaversack.
　　"WhenIhavemixedthishoneywiththepasteofthebread-fruit,"
　　saidhe,"Ishallbeabletoofferyouasucculentcake."
　　{`bread-fruit'hasbeensubstitutedfor`artocarpus'inthised.}
　　"'Ponmyword,"saidConseil,"itwillbegingerbread."
　　"Nevermindthegingerbread,"saidI;"letuscontinueourinterestingwalk."
　　Ateveryturnofthepathwewerefollowing,thelakeappearedinallitslengthandbreadth.Thelanternlitupthewholeofitspeaceablesurface,whichknewneitherripplenorwave.
　　TheNautilusremainedperfectlyimmovable.Ontheplatform,andonthemountain,theship'screwwereworkinglikeblackshadowsclearlycarvedagainsttheluminousatmosphere.
　　Wewerenowgoingroundthehighestcrestofthefirstlayersofrockwhichupheldtheroof.Ithensawthatbeeswerenottheonlyrepresentativesoftheanimalkingdomintheinteriorofthisvolcano.
　　Birdsofpreyhoveredhereandthereintheshadows,orfledfromtheirnestsonthetopoftherocks.Thereweresparrowhawks,withwhitebreasts,andkestrels,anddowntheslopesscampered,withtheirlonglegs,severalfinefatbustards.IleaveanyonetoimaginethecovetousnessoftheCanadianatthesightofthissavourygame,andwhetherhedidnotregrethavingnogun.
　　Buthedidhisbesttoreplacetheleadbystones,and,afterseveralfruitlessattempts,hesucceededinwoundingamagnificentbird.
　　Tosaythatheriskedhislifetwentytimesbeforereachingitisbutthetruth;buthemanagedsowellthatthecreaturejoinedthehoney-cakesinhisbag.Wewerenowobligedtodescendtowardtheshore,thecrestbecomingimpracticable.
　　Aboveusthecraterseemedtogapelikethemouthofawell.
　　Fromthisplacetheskycouldbeclearlyseen,andclouds,dissipatedbythewestwind,leavingbehindthem,evenonthesummitofthemountain,theirmistyremnants——certainproofthattheywereonlymoderatelyhigh,forthevolcanodidnotrisemorethaneighthundredfeetabovetheleveloftheocean.HalfanhouraftertheCanadian'slastexploitwehadregainedtheinnershore.
　　Heretheflorawasrepresentedbylargecarpetsofmarinecrystal,alittleumbelliferousplantverygoodtopickle,whichalsobearsthenameofpierce-stoneandsea-fennel.Conseilgatheredsomebundlesofit.
　　Astothefauna,itmightbecountedbythousandsofcrustaceaofallsorts,lobsters,crabs,spider-crabs,chameleonshrimps,andalargenumberofshells,rockfish,andlimpets.Three-quartersofanhourlaterwehadfinishedourcircuitouswalkandwereonboard.
　　Thecrewhadjustfinishedloadingthesodium,andtheNautiluscouldhaveleftthatinstant.ButCaptainNemogavenoorder.
　　Didhewishtowaituntilnight,andleavethesubmarinepassagesecretly?
　　Perhapsso.Whateveritmightbe,thenextday,theNautilus,havingleftitsport,steeredclearofalllandatafewyardsbeneaththewavesoftheAtlantic.
　　CHAPTERXI
　　THESARGASSOSEA
　　ThatdaytheNautiluscrossedasingularpartoftheAtlanticOcean.
　　NoonecanbeignorantoftheexistenceofacurrentofwarmwaterknownbythenameoftheGulfStream.AfterleavingtheGulfofFlorida,wewentinthedirectionofSpitzbergen.
　　ButbeforeenteringtheGulfofMexico,about45@ofN.lat.,thiscurrentdividesintotwoarms,theprincipalonegoingtowardsthecoastofIrelandandNorway,whilstthesecondbendstothesouthabouttheheightoftheAzores;then,touchingtheAfricanshore,anddescribingalengthenedoval,returnstotheAntilles.
　　Thissecondarm——itisratheracollarthananarm——surroundswithitscirclesofwarmwaterthatportionofthecold,quiet,immovableoceancalledtheSargassoSea,aperfectlakeintheopenAtlantic:
　　ittakesnolessthanthreeyearsforthegreatcurrenttopassroundit.
　　SuchwastheregiontheNautiluswasnowvisiting,aperfectmeadow,aclosecarpetofseaweed,fucus,andtropicalberries,sothickandsocompactthatthestemofavesselcouldhardlytearitswaythroughit.
　　AndCaptainNemo,notwishingtoentanglehisscrewinthisherbaceousmass,keptsomeyardsbeneaththesurfaceofthewaves.ThenameSargassocomesfromtheSpanishword"sargazzo"whichsignifieskelp.
　　Thiskelp,orberry-plant,istheprincipalformationofthisimmensebank.
　　AndthisisthereasonwhytheseplantsuniteinthepeacefulbasinoftheAtlantic.Theonlyexplanationwhichcanbegiven,hesays,seemstometoresultfromtheexperienceknowntoalltheworld.
　　Placeinavasesomefragmentsofcorkorotherfloatingbody,andgivetothewaterinthevaseacircularmovement,thescatteredfragmentswilluniteinagroupinthecentreoftheliquidsurface,thatistosay,inthepartleastagitated.
　　Inthephenomenonweareconsidering,theAtlanticisthevase,theGulfStreamthecircularcurrent,andtheSargassoSeathecentralpointatwhichthefloatingbodiesunite.
　　IshareMaury'sopinion,andIwasabletostudythephenomenonintheverymidst,wherevesselsrarelypenetrate.Aboveusfloatedproductsofallkinds,heapedupamongthesebrownishplants;
　　trunksoftreestornfromtheAndesortheRockyMountains,andfloatedbytheAmazonortheMississippi;numerouswrecks,remainsofkeels,orships'bottoms,side-planksstovein,andsoweightedwithshellsandbarnaclesthattheycouldnotagainrisetothesurface.
　　AndtimewillonedayjustifyMaury'sotheropinion,thatthesesubstancesthusaccumulatedforageswillbecomepetrifiedbytheactionofthewaterandwillthenforminexhaustiblecoal-mines——
　　apreciousreservepreparedbyfar-seeingNatureforthemomentwhenmenshallhaveexhaustedtheminesofcontinents.
　　Inthemidstofthisinextricablemassofplantsandseaweed,Inoticedsomecharmingpinkhalcyonsandactiniae,withtheirlongtentaclestrailingafterthem,andmedusae,green,red,andblue.
　　Allthedayofthe22ndofFebruarywepassedintheSargassoSea,wheresuchfishasarepartialtomarineplantsfindabundantnourishment.
　　Thenext,theoceanhadreturnedtoitsaccustomedaspect.
　　Fromthistimefornineteendays,fromthe23rdofFebruarytothe12thofMarch,theNautiluskeptinthemiddleoftheAtlantic,carryingusataconstantspeedofahundredleaguesintwenty-fourhours.
　　CaptainNemoevidentlyintendedaccomplishinghissubmarineprogramme,andIimaginedthatheintended,afterdoublingCapeHorn,toreturntotheAustralianseasofthePacific.NedLandhadcauseforfear.
　　Intheselargeseas,voidofislands,wecouldnotattempttoleavetheboat.NorhadweanymeansofopposingCaptainNemo'swill.
　　Ouronlycoursewastosubmit;butwhatwecouldneithergainbyforcenorcunning,Ilikedtothinkmightbeobtainedbypersuasion.
　　Thisvoyageended,wouldhenotconsenttorestoreourliberty,underanoathnevertorevealhisexistence?——anoathofhonourwhichweshouldhavereligiouslykept.ButwemustconsiderthatdelicatequestionwiththeCaptain.ButwasIfreetoclaimthisliberty?
　　Hadhenothimselfsaidfromthebeginning,inthefirmestmanner,thatthesecretofhislifeexactedfromhimourlastingimprisonmentonboardtheNautilus?Andwouldnotmyfourmonths'silenceappeartohimatacitacceptanceofoursituation?Andwouldnotareturntothesubjectresultinraisingsuspicionswhichmightbehurtfultoourprojects,ifatsomefuturetimeafavourableopportunityofferedtoreturntothem?
　　Duringthenineteendaysmentionedabove,noincidentofanykindhappenedtosignaliseourvoyage.IsawlittleoftheCaptain;hewasatwork.InthelibraryIoftenfoundhisbooksleftopen,especiallythoseonnaturalhistory.
　　Myworkonsubmarinedepths,connedoverbyhim,wascoveredwithmarginalnotes,oftencontradictingmytheoriesandsystems;
　　buttheCaptaincontentedhimselfwiththuspurgingmywork;
　　itwasveryrareforhimtodiscussitwithme.
　　SometimesIheardthemelancholytonesofhisorgan;
　　butonlyatnight,inthemidstofthedeepestobscurity,whentheNautilussleptuponthedesertedocean.Duringthispartofourvoyagewesailedwholedaysonthesurfaceofthewaves.
　　Theseaseemedabandoned.Afewsailing-vessels,ontheroadtoIndia,weremakingfortheCapeofGoodHope.
　　Onedaywewerefollowedbytheboatsofawhaler,who,nodoubt,tookusforsomeenormouswhaleofgreatprice;butCaptainNemodidnotwishtheworthyfellowstolosetheirtimeandtrouble,soendedthechasebyplungingunderthewater.