Ournavigationcontinueduntilthe13thofMarch;
　　thatdaytheNautiluswasemployedintakingsoundings,whichgreatlyinterestedme.Wehadthenmadeabout13,000
　　leaguessinceourdeparturefromthehighseasofthePacific.
　　Thebearingsgaveus45@37'S.lat.,and37@53'W.long.
　　ItwasthesamewaterinwhichCaptainDenhamoftheHeraldsounded7,000fathomswithoutfindingthebottom.
　　There,too,LieutenantParker,oftheAmericanfrigateCongress,couldnottouchthebottomwith15,140fathoms.
　　CaptainNemointendedseekingthebottomoftheoceanbyadiagonalsufficientlylengthenedbymeansoflateralplanesplacedatanangleof45@withthewater-lineoftheNautilus.
　　Thenthescrewsettoworkatitsmaximumspeed,itsfourbladesbeatingthewaveswithindescribableforce.
　　Underthispowerfulpressure,thehulloftheNautilusquiveredlikeasonorouschordandsankregularlyunderthewater.
　　At7,000fathomsIsawsomeblackishtopsrisingfromthemidstofthewaters;
　　butthesesummitsmightbelongtohighmountainsliketheHimalayasorMontBlanc,evenhigher;andthedepthoftheabyssremainedincalculable.
　　TheNautilusdescendedstilllower,inspiteofthegreatpressure.
　　Ifeltthesteelplatestrembleatthefasteningsofthebolts;
　　itsbarsbent,itspartitionsgroaned;thewindowsofthesaloonseemedtocurveunderthepressureofthewaters.Andthisfirmstructurewoulddoubtlesshaveyielded,if,asitsCaptainhadsaid,ithadnotbeencapableofresistancelikeasolidblock.Wehadattainedadepthof16,000yardsfourleagues,andthesidesoftheNautilusthenboreapressureof1,600atmospheres,thatistosay,3,200lb.
　　toeachsquaretwo-fifthsofaninchofitssurface.
　　"Whatasituationtobein!"Iexclaimed."Tooverrunthesedeepregionswheremanhasnevertrod!Look,Captain,lookatthesemagnificentrocks,theseuninhabitedgrottoes,theselowestreceptaclesoftheglobe,wherelifeisnolongerpossible!Whatunknownsightsarehere!
　　Whyshouldwebeunabletopreservearemembranceofthem?"
　　"Wouldyouliketocarryawaymorethantheremembrance?"
　　saidCaptainNemo.
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbythosewords?"
　　"Imeantosaythatnothingiseasierthantomakeaphotographicviewofthissubmarineregion."
　　Ihadnottimetoexpressmysurpriseatthisnewproposition,when,atCaptainNemo'scall,anobjectivewasbroughtintothesaloon.
　　Throughthewidely-openedpanel,theliquidmasswasbrightwithelectricity,whichwasdistributedwithsuchuniformitythatnotashadow,notagradation,wastobeseeninourmanufacturedlight.TheNautilusremainedmotionless,theforceofitsscrewsubduedbytheinclinationofitsplanes:
　　theinstrumentwasproppedonthebottomoftheoceanicsite,andinafewsecondswehadobtainedaperfectnegative.
　　But,theoperationbeingover,CaptainNemosaid,"Letusgoup;
　　wemustnotabuseourposition,norexposetheNautilustoolongtosuchgreatpressure."
　　"Goupagain!"Iexclaimed.
　　"Holdwellon."
　　IhadnottimetounderstandwhytheCaptaincautionedmethus,whenI
　　wasthrownforwardontothecarpet.AtasignalfromtheCaptain,itsscrewwasshipped,anditsbladesraisedvertically;theNautilusshotintotheairlikeaballoon,risingwithstunningrapidity,andcuttingthemassofwaterswithasonorousagitation.
　　Nothingwasvisible;andinfourminutesithadshotthroughthefourleagueswhichseparateditfromtheocean,and,afteremerginglikeaflying-fish,fell,makingthewavesreboundtoanenormousheight.
　　CHAPTERXII
　　CACHALOTSANDWHALES
　　Duringthenightsofthe13thand14thofMarch,theNautilusreturnedtoitssoutherlycourse.Ifanciedthat,whenonalevelwithCapeHorn,hewouldturnthehelmwestward,inordertobeatthePacificseas,andsocompletethetouroftheworld.Hedidnothingofthekind,butcontinuedonhiswaytothesouthernregions.Wherewashegoingto?
　　Tothepole?Itwasmadness!IbegantothinkthattheCaptain'stemerityjustifiedNedLand'sfears.ForsometimepasttheCanadianhadnotspokentomeofhisprojectsofflight;hewaslesscommunicative,almostsilent.Icouldseethatthislengthenedimprisonmentwasweighinguponhim,andIfeltthatragewasburningwithinhim.
　　WhenhemettheCaptain,hiseyeslitupwithsuppressedanger;
　　andIfearedthathisnaturalviolencewouldleadhimintosomeextreme.
　　Thatday,the14thofMarch,Conseilandhecametomeinmyroom.
　　Iinquiredthecauseoftheirvisit.
　　"Asimplequestiontoaskyou,sir,"repliedtheCanadian.
　　"Speak,Ned."
　　"HowmanymenarethereonboardtheNautilus,doyouthink?"
　　"Icannottell,myfriend."
　　"Ishouldsaythatitsworkingdoesnotrequirealargecrew."
　　"Certainly,underexistingconditions,tenmen,atthemost,oughttobeenough."
　　"Well,whyshouldtherebeanymore?"
　　"Why?"Ireplied,lookingfixedlyatNedLand,whosemeaningwaseasytoguess."Because,"Iadded,"ifmysurmisesarecorrect,andifIhavewellunderstoodtheCaptain'sexistence,theNautilusisnotonlyavessel:
　　itisalsoaplaceofrefugeforthosewho,likeitscommander,havebrokeneverytieuponearth."
　　"Perhapsso,"saidConseil;"but,inanycase,theNautiluscanonlycontainacertainnumberofmen.Couldnotyou,sir,estimatetheirmaximum?"
　　"How,Conseil?"
　　"Bycalculation;giventhesizeofthevessel,whichyouknow,sir,andconsequentlythequantityofairitcontains,knowingalsohowmucheachmanexpendsatabreath,andcomparingtheseresultswiththefactthattheNautilusisobligedtogotothesurfaceeverytwenty-fourhours."
　　ConseilhadnotfinishedthesentencebeforeIsawwhathewasdrivingat.
　　"Iunderstand,"saidI;"butthatcalculation,thoughsimpleenough,cangivebutaveryuncertainresult."
　　"Nevermind,"saidNedLandurgently.
　　"Hereitis,then,"saidI."Inonehoureachmanconsumestheoxygencontainedintwentygallonsofair;andintwenty-four,thatcontainedin480gallons.Wemust,thereforefindhowmanytimes480gallonsofairtheNautiluscontains."
　　"Justso,"saidConseil.
　　"Or,"Icontinued,"thesizeoftheNautilusbeing1,500tons;
　　andonetonholding200gallons,itcontains300,000gallonsofair,which,dividedby480,givesaquotientof625.
　　Whichmeanstosay,strictlyspeaking,thattheaircontainedintheNautiluswouldsufficefor625menfortwenty-fourhours."
　　"Sixhundredandtwenty-five!"repeatedNed.
　　"Butrememberthatallofus,passengers,sailors,andofficersincluded,wouldnotformatenthpartofthatnumber."
　　"Stilltoomanyforthreemen,"murmuredConseil.
　　TheCanadianshookhishead,passedhishandacrosshisforehead,andlefttheroomwithoutanswering.
　　"Willyouallowmetomakeoneobservation,sir?"saidConseil.
　　"PoorNedislongingforeverythingthathecannothave.Hispastlifeisalwayspresenttohim;everythingthatweareforbiddenheregrets.
　　Hisheadisfullofoldrecollections.Andwemustunderstandhim.
　　Whathashetodohere?Nothing;heisnotlearnedlikeyou,sir;
　　andhasnotthesametasteforthebeautiesoftheseathatwehave.
　　Hewouldriskeverythingtobeabletogooncemoreintoataverninhisowncountry."
　　CertainlythemonotonyonboardmustseemintolerabletotheCanadian,accustomedashewastoalifeoflibertyandactivity.
　　Eventswererarewhichcouldrousehimtoanyshowofspirit;butthatdayaneventdidhappenwhichrecalledthebrightdaysoftheharpooner.
　　Abouteleveninthemorning,beingonthesurfaceoftheocean,theNautilusfellinwithatroopofwhales——anencounterwhichdidnotastonishme,knowingthatthesecreatures,huntedtodeath,hadtakenrefugeinhighlatitudes.
　　Wewereseatedontheplatform,withaquietsea.ThemonthofOctoberinthoselatitudesgaveussomelovelyautumnaldays.ItwastheCanadian——
　　hecouldnotbemistaken——whosignalledawhaleontheeasternhorizon.
　　Lookingattentively,onemightseeitsblackbackriseandfallwiththewavesfivemilesfromtheNautilus.
　　"Ah!"exclaimedNedLand,"ifIwasonboardawhaler,nowsuchameetingwouldgivemepleasure.Itisoneoflargesize.
　　Seewithwhatstrengthitsblow-holesthrowupcolumnsofairansteam!
　　Confoundit,whyamIboundtothesesteelplates?"
　　"What,Ned,"saidI,"youhavenotforgottenyouroldideasoffishing?"
　　"Canawhale-fishereverforgethisoldtrade,sir?Canheevertireoftheemotionscausedbysuchachase?"
　　"Youhaveneverfishedintheseseas,Ned?"
　　"Never,sir;inthenorthernonly,andasmuchinBehringasinDavisStraits."
　　"Thenthesouthernwhaleisstillunknowntoyou.ItistheGreenlandwhaleyouhavehunteduptothistime,andthatwouldnotriskpassingthroughthewarmwatersoftheequator.Whalesarelocalised,accordingtotheirkinds,incertainseaswhichtheyneverleave.
　　AndifoneofthesecreatureswentfromBehringtoDavisStraits,itmustbesimplybecausethereisapassagefromoneseatotheother,eitherontheAmericanortheAsiaticside."
　　"Inthatcase,asIhaveneverfishedintheseseas,Idonotknowthekindofwhalefrequentingthem!"
　　"Ihavetoldyou,Ned."
　　"Agreaterreasonformakingtheiracquaintance,"saidConseil.
　　"Look!look!"exclaimedtheCanadian,"theyapproach:
　　theyaggravateme;theyknowthatIcannotgetatthem!"
　　Nedstampedhisfeet.Hishandtrembled,ashegraspedanimaginaryharpoon.
　　"Arethesecetaceansaslargeasthoseofthenorthernseas?"askedhe.
　　"Verynearly,Ned."
　　"BecauseIhaveseenlargewhales,sir,whalesmeasuringahundredfeet.
　　IhaveevenbeentoldthatthoseofHullamochandUmgallick,oftheAleutianIslands,aresometimesahundredandfiftyfeetlong."
　　"Thatseemstomeexaggeration.ThesecreaturesaregenerallymuchsmallerthantheGreenlandwhale."{thisparagraphhasbeenedited}
　　"Ah!"exclaimedtheCanadian,whoseeyeshadneverlefttheocean,"theyarecomingnearer;theyareinthesamewaterastheNautilus."
　　Then,returningtotheconversation,hesaid:
　　"Youspokeofthecachalotasasmallcreature.
　　Ihaveheardofgiganticones.Theyareintelligentcetacea.
　　Itissaidofsomethattheycoverthemselveswithseaweedandfucus,andthenaretakenforislands.Peopleencampuponthem,andsettlethere;lightsafire——"
　　"Andbuildhouses,"saidConseil.
　　"Yes,joker,"saidNedLand."Andonefinedaythecreatureplunges,carryingwithitalltheinhabitantstothebottomofthesea."
　　"SomethinglikethetravelsofSinbadtheSailor,"Ireplied,laughing.
　　"Ah!"suddenlyexclaimedNedLand,"itisnotonewhale;
　　thereareten——therearetwenty——itisawholetroop!
　　AndInotabletodoanything!handsandfeettied!"
　　"But,friendNed,"saidConseil,"whydoyounotaskCaptainNemo'spermissiontochasethem?"
　　ConseilhadnotfinishedhissentencewhenNedLandhadloweredhimselfthroughthepaneltoseektheCaptain.
　　Afewminutesafterwardsthetwoappearedtogetherontheplatform.
　　CaptainNemowatchedthetroopofcetaceaplayingonthewatersaboutamilefromtheNautilus.
　　"Theyaresouthernwhales,"saidhe;"theregoesthefortuneofawholefleetofwhalers."
　　"Well,sir,"askedtheCanadian,"canInotchasethem,ifonlytoremindmeofmyoldtradeofharpooner?"
　　"Andtowhatpurpose?"repliedCaptainNemo;"onlytodestroy!
　　Wehavenothingtodowiththewhale-oilonboard."
　　"But,sir,"continuedtheCanadian,"intheRedSeayouallowedustofollowthedugong."
　　"Thenitwastoprocurefreshmeatformycrew.Hereitwouldbekillingforkilling'ssake.Iknowthatisaprivilegereservedforman,butIdonotapproveofsuchmurderouspastime.
　　IndestroyingthesouthernwhaleliketheGreenlandwhale,aninoffensivecreature,yourtradersdoaculpableaction,MasterLand.TheyhavealreadydepopulatedthewholeofBaffin'sBay,andareannihilatingaclassofusefulanimals.
　　Leavetheunfortunatecetaceaalone.Theyhaveplentyofnaturalenemies——cachalots,swordfish,andsawfish——
　　withoutyoutroublingthem."
　　TheCaptainwasright.Thebarbarousandinconsiderategreedofthesefishermenwillonedaycausethedisappearanceofthelastwhaleintheocean.NedLandwhistled"Yankee-doodle"betweenhisteeth,thrusthishandsintohispockets,andturnedhisbackuponus.
　　ButCaptainNemowatchedthetroopofcetacea,and,addressingme,said:
　　"Iwasrightinsayingthatwhaleshadnaturalenemiesenough,withoutcountingman.Thesewillhaveplentytodobeforelong.
　　Doyousee,M.Aronnax,abouteightmilestoleeward,thoseblackishmovingpoints?"
　　"Yes,Captain,"Ireplied.
　　"Thosearecachalots——terribleanimals,whichIhavemetintroopsoftwoorthreehundred.Astothose,theyarecruel,mischievouscreatures;
　　theywouldberightinexterminatingthem."
　　TheCanadianturnedquicklyatthelastwords.
　　"Well,Captain,"saidhe,"itisstilltime,intheinterestofthewhales."
　　"Itisuselesstoexposeone'sself,Professor.TheNautiluswilldispersethem.ItisarmedwithasteelspurasgoodasMasterLand'sharpoon,Iimagine."
　　TheCanadiandidnotputhimselfoutenoughtoshrughisshoulders.
　　Attackcetaceawithblowsofaspur!Whohadeverheardofsuchathing?
　　"Wait,M.Aronnax,"saidCaptainNemo."Wewillshowyousomethingyouhaveneveryetseen.Wehavenopityfortheseferociouscreatures.
　　Theyarenothingbutmouthandteeth."
　　Mouthandteeth!Noonecouldbetterdescribethemacrocephalouscachalot,whichissometimesmorethanseventy-fivefeetlong.
　　Itsenormousheadoccupiesone-thirdofitsentirebody.
　　Betterarmedthanthewhale,whoseupperjawisfurnishedonlywithwhalebone,itissuppliedwithtwenty-fivelargetusks,abouteightincheslong,cylindricalandconicalatthetop,eachweighingtwopounds.Itisintheupperpartofthisenormoushead,ingreatcavitiesdividedbycartilages,thatistobefoundfromsixtoeighthundredpoundsofthatpreciousoilcalledspermaceti.Thecachalotisadisagreeablecreature,moretadpolethanfish,accordingtoFredol'sdescription.
　　Itisbadlyformed,thewholeofitsleftsidebeingifwemaysayit,a"failure,"andbeingonlyabletoseewithitsrighteye.Buttheformidabletroopwasnearingus.
　　Theyhadseenthewhalesandwerepreparingtoattackthem.
　　Onecouldjudgebeforehandthatthecachalotswouldbevictorious,notonlybecausetheywerebetterbuiltforattackthantheirinoffensiveadversaries,butalsobecausetheycouldremainlongerunderwaterwithoutcomingtothesurface.
　　Therewasonlyjusttimetogotothehelpofthewhales.
　　TheNautiluswentunderwater.Conseil,NedLand,andItookourplacesbeforethewindowinthesaloon,andCaptainNemojoinedthepilotinhiscagetoworkhisapparatusasanengineofdestruction.SoonIfeltthebeatingsofthescrewquicken,andourspeedincreased.
　　ThebattlebetweenthecachalotsandthewhaleshadalreadybegunwhentheNautilusarrived.Theydidnotatfirstshowanyfearatthesightofthisnewmonsterjoiningintheconflict.
　　Buttheysoonhadtoguardagainstitsblows.Whatabattle!
　　TheNautiluswasnothingbutaformidableharpoon,brandishedbythehandofitsCaptain.Ithurleditselfagainstthefleshymass,passingthroughfromoneparttotheother,leavingbehindittwoquiveringhalvesoftheanimal.
　　Itcouldnotfeeltheformidableblowsfromtheirtailsuponitssides,northeshockwhichitproduceditself,muchmore.
　　Onecachalotkilled,itranatthenext,tackedonthespotthatitmightnotmissitsprey,goingforwardsandbackwards,answeringtoitshelm,plungingwhenthecetaceandivedintothedeepwaters,comingupwithitwhenitreturnedtothesurface,strikingitfrontorsideways,cuttingortearinginalldirectionsandatanypace,piercingitwithitsterriblespur.
　　Whatcarnage!Whatanoiseonthesurfaceofthewaves!
　　Whatsharphissing,andwhatsnortingpeculiartotheseenragedanimals!Inthemidstofthesewaters,generallysopeaceful,theirtailsmadeperfectbillows.
　　Foronehourthiswholesalemassacrecontinued,fromwhichthecachalotscouldnotescape.SeveraltimestenortwelveunitedtriedtocrushtheNautilusbytheirweight.Fromthewindowwecouldseetheirenormousmouths,studdedwithtusks,andtheirformidableeyes.NedLandcouldnotcontainhimself;
　　hethreatenedandsworeatthem.Wecouldfeelthemclingingtoourvessellikedogsworryingawildboarinacopse.
　　ButtheNautilus,workingitsscrew,carriedthemhereandthere,ortotheupperlevelsoftheocean,withoutcaringfortheirenormousweight,northepowerfulstrainonthevessel.
　　Atlengththemassofcachalotsbrokeup,thewavesbecamequiet,andIfeltthatwewererisingtothesurface.
　　Thepanelopened,andwehurriedontotheplatform.
　　Theseawascoveredwithmutilatedbodies.Aformidableexplosioncouldnothavedividedandtornthisfleshymasswithmoreviolence.
　　Wewerefloatingamidgiganticbodies,bluishonthebackandwhiteunderneath,coveredwithenormousprotuberances.
　　Someterrifiedcachalotswereflyingtowardsthehorizon.
　　Thewavesweredyedredforseveralmiles,andtheNautilusfloatedinaseaofblood:CaptainNemojoinedus.
　　"Well,MasterLand?"saidhe.
　　"Well,sir,"repliedtheCanadian,whoseenthusiasmhadsomewhatcalmed;
　　"itisaterriblespectacle,certainly.ButIamnotabutcher.
　　Iamahunter,andIcallthisabutchery."
　　"Itisamassacreofmischievouscreatures,"repliedtheCaptain;
　　"andtheNautilusisnotabutcher'sknife."
　　"Ilikemyharpoonbetter,"saidtheCanadian.
　　"Everyonetohisown,"answeredtheCaptain,lookingfixedlyatNedLand.
　　Ifearedhewouldcommitsomeactofviolence,whichwouldendinsadconsequences.ButhisangerwasturnedbythesightofawhalewhichtheNautilushadjustcomeupwith.
　　Thecreaturehadnotquiteescapedfromthecachalot'steeth.
　　Irecognisedthesouthernwhalebyitsflathead,whichisentirelyblack.Anatomically,itisdistinguishedfromthewhitewhaleandtheNorthCapewhalebythesevencervicalvertebrae,andithastwomoreribsthanitscongeners.
　　Theunfortunatecetaceanwaslyingonitsside,riddledwithholesfromthebites,andquitedead.
　　Fromitsmutilatedfinstillhungayoungwhalewhichitcouldnotsavefromthemassacre.Itsopenmouthletthewaterflowinandout,murmuringlikethewavesbreakingontheshore.
　　CaptainNemosteeredclosetothecorpseofthecreature.
　　Twoofhismenmounteditsside,andIsaw,notwithoutsurprise,thattheyweredrawingfromitsbreastsallthemilkwhichtheycontained,thatistosay,abouttwoorthreetons.
　　TheCaptainofferedmeacupofthemilk,whichwasstillwarm.
　　Icouldnothelpshowingmyrepugnancetothedrink;
　　butheassuredmethatitwasexcellent,andnottobedistinguishedfromcow'smilk.Itastedit,andwasofhisopinion.
　　Itwasausefulreservetous,forintheshapeofsaltbutterorcheeseitwouldformanagreeablevarietyfromourordinaryfood.
　　FromthatdayInoticedwithuneasinessthatNedLand'sill-willtowardsCaptainNemoincreased,andIresolvedtowatchtheCanadian'sgesturesclosely.
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　THEICEBERG
　　TheNautiluswassteadilypursuingitssoutherlycourse,followingthefiftiethmeridianwithconsiderablespeed.
　　Didhewishtoreachthepole?Ididnotthinkso,foreveryattempttoreachthatpointhadhithertofailed.
　　Again,theseasonwasfaradvanced,forintheAntarcticregionsthe13thofMarchcorrespondswiththe13thofSeptemberofnorthernregions,whichbeginattheequinoctialseason.
　　Onthe14thofMarchIsawfloatingiceinlatitude55@,merelypalebitsofdebrisfromtwentytotwenty-fivefeetlong,formingbanksoverwhichtheseacurled.
　　TheNautilusremainedonthesurfaceoftheocean.
　　NedLand,whohadfishedintheArcticSeas,wasfamiliarwithitsicebergs;butConseilandIadmiredthemforthefirsttime.
　　Intheatmospheretowardsthesouthernhorizonstretchedawhitedazzlingband.Englishwhalershavegivenitthenameof"iceblink."Howeverthickthecloudsmaybe,itisalwaysvisible,andannouncesthepresenceofanicepackorbank.Accordingly,largerblockssoonappeared,whosebrilliancychangedwiththecapricesofthefog.
　　Someofthesemassesshowedgreenveins,asiflongundulatinglineshadbeentracedwithsulphateofcopper;othersresembledenormousamethystswiththelightshiningthroughthem.
　　Somereflectedthelightofdayuponathousandcrystalfacets.
　　Othersshadedwithvividcalcareousreflectionsresembledaperfecttownofmarble.Themorewenearedthesouththemorethesefloatingislandsincreasedbothinnumberandimportance.
　　At60@lat.everypasshaddisappeared.But,seekingcarefully,CaptainNemosoonfoundanarrowopening,throughwhichheboldlyslipped,knowing,however,thatitwouldclosebehindhim.Thus,guidedbythiscleverhand,theNautiluspassedthroughalltheicewithaprecisionwhichquitecharmedConseil;icebergsormountains,ice-fieldsorsmoothplains,seemingtohavenolimits,drift-iceorfloatingice-packs,plainsbrokenup,calledpalchswhentheyarecircular,andstreamswhentheyaremadeupoflongstrips.Thetemperaturewasverylow;
　　thethermometerexposedtotheairmarked2@or3@belowzero,butwewerewarmlycladwithfur,attheexpenseofthesea-bearandseal.
　　TheinterioroftheNautilus,warmedregularlybyitselectricapparatus,defiedthemostintensecold.Besides,itwouldonlyhavebeennecessarytogosomeyardsbeneaththewavestofindamorebearabletemperature.
　　Twomonthsearlierweshouldhavehadperpetualdaylightintheselatitudes;
　　butalreadywehadhadthreeorfourhoursofnight,andbyandbytherewouldbesixmonthsofdarknessinthesecircumpolarregions.Onthe15thofMarchwewereinthelatitudeofNewShetlandandSouthOrkney.
　　TheCaptaintoldmethatformerlynumeroustribesofsealsinhabitedthem;
　　butthatEnglishandAmericanwhalers,intheirragefordestruction,massacredbotholdandyoung;thus,wheretherewasoncelifeandanimation,theyhadleftsilenceanddeath.
　　Abouteighto'clockonthemorningofthe16thofMarchtheNautilus,followingthefifty-fifthmeridian,cuttheAntarcticpolarcircle.
　　Icesurroundedusonallsides,andclosedthehorizon.
　　ButCaptainNemowentfromoneopeningtoanother,stillgoinghigher.
　　Icannotexpressmyastonishmentatthebeautiesofthesenewregions.
　　Theicetookmostsurprisingforms.Herethegroupingformedanorientaltown,withinnumerablemosquesandminarets;thereafallencitythrowntotheearth,asitwere,bysomeconvulsionofnature.
　　Thewholeaspectwasconstantlychangedbytheobliqueraysofthesun,orlostinthegreyishfogamidsthurricanesofsnow.
　　Detonationsandfallswereheardonallsides,greatoverthrowsoficebergs,whichalteredthewholelandscapelikeadiorama.Oftenseeingnoexit,Ithoughtweweredefinitelyprisoners;but,instinctguidinghimattheslightestindication,CaptainNemowoulddiscoveranewpass.
　　Hewasnevermistakenwhenhesawthethinthreadsofbluishwatertricklingalongtheice-fields;andIhadnodoubtthathehadalreadyventuredintothemidstoftheseAntarcticseasbefore.
　　Onthe16thofMarch,however,theice-fieldsabsolutelyblockedourroad.
　　Itwasnottheicebergitself,asyet,butvastfieldscementedbythecold.ButthisobstaclecouldnotstopCaptainNemo:
　　hehurledhimselfagainstitwithfrightfulviolence.TheNautilusenteredthebrittlemasslikeawedge,andsplititwithfrightfulcrackings.
　　Itwasthebatteringramoftheancientshurledbyinfinitestrength.
　　Theice,thrownhighintheair,felllikehailaroundus.
　　Byitsownpowerofimpulsionourapparatusmadeacanalforitself;
　　sometimescarriedawaybyitsownimpetus,itlodgedontheice-field,crushingitwithitsweight,andsometimesburiedbeneathit,dividingitbyasimplepitchingmovement,producinglargerentsinit.
　　Violentgalesassailedusatthistime,accompaniedbythickfogs,throughwhich,fromoneendoftheplatformtotheother,wecouldseenothing.Thewindblewsharplyfromallpartsofthecompass,andthesnowlayinsuchhardheapsthatwehadtobreakitwithblowsofapickaxe.Thetemperaturewasalwaysat5@belowzero;
　　everyoutwardpartoftheNautiluswascoveredwithice.
　　Ariggedvesselwouldhavebeenentangledintheblockedupgorges.
　　Avesselwithoutsails,withelectricityforitsmotivepower,andwantingnocoal,couldalonebravesuchhighlatitudes.Atlength,onthe18thofMarch,aftermanyuselessassaults,theNautiluswaspositivelyblocked.Itwasnolongereitherstreams,packs,orice-fields,butaninterminableandimmovablebarrier,formedbymountainssolderedtogether.
　　"Aniceberg!"saidtheCanadiantome.
　　IknewthattoNedLand,aswellastoallothernavigatorswhohadprecededus,thiswasaninevitableobstacle.Thesunappearingforaninstantatnoon,CaptainNemotookanobservationasnearaspossible,whichgaveoursituationat51@30'long.and67@39'ofS.lat.
　　WehadadvancedonedegreemoreinthisAntarcticregion.
　　Oftheliquidsurfaceoftheseatherewasnolongeraglimpse.
　　UnderthespuroftheNautiluslaystretchedavastplain,entangledwithconfusedblocks.Hereandtheresharppointsandslenderneedlesrisingtoaheightof200feet;furtheronasteepshore,hewnasitwerewithanaxeandclothedwithgreyishtints;
　　hugemirrors,reflectingafewraysofsunshine,halfdrownedinthefog.
　　Andoverthisdesolatefaceofnatureasternsilencereigned,scarcelybrokenbytheflappingofthewingsofpetrelsandpuffins.
　　Everythingwasfrozen——eventhenoise.TheNautiluswasthenobligedtostopinitsadventurouscourseamidthesefieldsofice.
　　Inspiteofourefforts,inspiteofthepowerfulmeansemployedtobreakuptheice,theNautilusremainedimmovable.
　　Generally,whenwecanproceednofurther,wehavereturnstillopentous;butherereturnwasasimpossibleasadvance,foreverypasshadclosedbehindus;andforthefewmomentswhenwewerestationary,wewerelikelytobeentirelyblocked,whichdidindeedhappenabouttwoo'clockintheafternoon,thefreshiceformingarounditssideswithastonishingrapidity.
　　IwasobligedtoadmitthatCaptainNemowasmorethanimprudent.
　　Iwasontheplatformatthatmoment.TheCaptainhadbeenobservingoursituationforsometimepast,whenhesaidtome:
　　"Well,sir,whatdoyouthinkofthis?"
　　"Ithinkthatwearecaught,Captain."
　　"So,M.Aronnax,youreallythinkthattheNautiluscannotdisengageitself?"
　　"Withdifficulty,Captain;fortheseasonisalreadytoofaradvancedforyoutoreckononthebreakingoftheice."
　　"Ah!sir,"saidCaptainNemo,inanironicaltone,"youwillalwaysbethesame.Youseenothingbutdifficultiesandobstacles.
　　IaffirmthatnotonlycantheNautilusdisengageitself,butalsothatitcangofurtherstill."
　　"FurthertotheSouth?"Iasked,lookingattheCaptain.
　　"Yes,sir;itshallgotothepole."
　　"Tothepole!"Iexclaimed,unabletorepressagestureofincredulity.
　　"Yes,"repliedtheCaptain,coldly,"totheAntarcticpole——
　　tothatunknownpointfromwhencespringseverymeridianoftheglobe.
　　YouknowwhetherIcandoasIpleasewiththeNautilus!"
　　Yes,Iknewthat.Iknewthatthismanwasbold,eventorashness.
　　ButtoconquerthoseobstacleswhichbristledroundtheSouthPole,renderingitmoreinaccessiblethantheNorth,whichhadnotyetbeenreachedbytheboldestnavigators——wasitnotamadenterprise,onewhichonlyamaniacwouldhaveconceived?ItthencameintomyheadtoaskCaptainNemoifhehadeverdiscoveredthatpolewhichhadneveryetbeentroddenbyahumancreature?
　　"No,sir,"hereplied;"butwewilldiscoverittogether.
　　Whereothershavefailed,Iwillnotfail.IhaveneveryetledmyNautilussofarintosouthernseas;but,Irepeat,itshallgofurtheryet."
　　"Icanwellbelieveyou,Captain,"saidI,inaslightlyironicaltone.
　　"Ibelieveyou!Letusgoahead!Therearenoobstaclesforus!
　　Letussmashthisiceberg!Letusblowitup;and,ifitresists,letusgivetheNautiluswingstoflyoverit!"
　　"Overit,sir!"saidCaptainNemo,quietly;"no,notoverit,butunderit!"
　　"Underit!"Iexclaimed,asuddenideaoftheCaptain'sprojectsflashinguponmymind.Iunderstood;thewonderfulqualitiesoftheNautilusweregoingtoserveusinthissuperhumanenterprise.
　　"Iseewearebeginningtounderstandoneanother,sir,"saidtheCaptain,halfsmiling."Youbegintoseethepossibility——Ishouldsaythesuccess——
　　ofthisattempt.ThatwhichisimpossibleforanordinaryvesseliseasytotheNautilus.Ifacontinentliesbeforethepole,itmuststopbeforethecontinent;butif,onthecontrary,thepoleiswashedbyopensea,itwillgoeventothepole."
　　"Certainly,"saidI,carriedawaybytheCaptain'sreasoning;
　　"ifthesurfaceoftheseaissolidifiedbytheice,thelowerdepthsarefreebytheProvidentiallawwhichhasplacedthemaximumofdensityofthewatersoftheoceanonedegreehigherthanfreezing-point;and,ifIamnotmistaken,theportionofthisicebergwhichisabovethewaterisasonetofourtothatwhichisbelow."
　　"Verynearly,sir;foronefootoficebergabovetheseatherearethreebelowit.Iftheseicemountainsarenotmorethan300
　　feetabovethesurface,theyarenotmorethan900beneath.
　　Andwhatare900feettotheNautilus?"
　　"Nothing,sir."
　　"Itcouldevenseekatgreaterdepthsthatuniformtemperatureofsea-water,andtherebravewithimpunitythethirtyorfortydegreesofsurfacecold."
　　"Justso,sir——justso,"Ireplied,gettinganimated.
　　"Theonlydifficulty,"continuedCaptainNemo,"isthatofremainingseveraldayswithoutrenewingourprovisionofair."
　　"Isthatall?TheNautilushasvastreservoirs;wecanfillthem,andtheywillsupplyuswithalltheoxygenwewant."
　　"Wellthoughtof,M.Aronnax,"repliedtheCaptain,smiling.
　　"But,notwishingyoutoaccusemeofrashness,Iwillfirstgiveyouallmyobjections."
　　"Haveyouanymoretomake?"
　　"Onlyone.Itispossible,iftheseaexistsattheSouthPole,thatitmaybecovered;and,consequently,weshallbeunabletocometothesurface."
　　"Good,sir!butdoyouforgetthattheNautilusisarmedwithapowerfulspur,andcouldwenotsenditdiagonallyagainstthesefieldsofice,whichwouldopenattheshocks."
　　"Ah!sir,youarefullofideasto-day."
　　"Besides,Captain,"Iadded,enthusiastically,"whyshouldwenotfindtheseaopenattheSouthPoleaswellasattheNorth?
　　Thefrozenpolesoftheearthdonotcoincide,eitherinthesouthernorinthenorthernregions;and,untilitisprovedtothecontrary,wemaysupposeeitheracontinentoranoceanfreefromiceatthesetwopointsoftheglobe."
　　"Ithinksotoo,M.Aronnax,"repliedCaptainNemo.
　　"Ionlywishyoutoobservethat,afterhavingmadesomanyobjectionstomyproject,youarenowcrushingmewithargumentsinitsfavour!"
　　Thepreparationsforthisaudaciousattemptnowbegan.
　　ThepowerfulpumpsoftheNautiluswereworkingairintothereservoirsandstoringitathighpressure.Aboutfouro'clock,CaptainNemoannouncedtheclosingofthepanelsontheplatform.
　　Ithrewonelastlookatthemassiveicebergwhichweweregoingtocross.Theweatherwasclear,theatmospherepureenough,thecoldverygreat,being12@belowzero;but,thewindhavinggonedown,thistemperaturewasnotsounbearable.
　　AbouttenmenmountedthesidesoftheNautilus,armedwithpickaxestobreaktheicearoundthevessel,whichwassoonfree.
　　Theoperationwasquicklyperformed,forthefreshicewasstillverythin.Weallwentbelow.Theusualreservoirswerefilledwiththenewly-liberatedwater,andtheNautilussoondescended.
　　IhadtakenmyplacewithConseilinthesaloon;throughtheopenwindowwecouldseethelowerbedsoftheSouthernOcean.
　　Thethermometerwentup,theneedleofthecompassdeviatedonthedial.Atabout900feet,asCaptainNemohadforeseen,wewerefloatingbeneaththeundulatingbottomoftheiceberg.
　　ButtheNautiluswentlowerstill——itwenttothedepthoffourhundredfathoms.Thetemperatureofthewateratthesurfaceshowedtwelvedegrees,itwasnowonlyten;wehadgainedtwo.
　　IneednotsaythetemperatureoftheNautiluswasraisedbyitsheatingapparatustoamuchhigherdegree;everymanoeuvrewasaccomplishedwithwonderfulprecision.
　　"Weshallpassit,ifyouplease,sir,"saidConseil.
　　"Ibelieveweshall,"Isaid,inatoneoffirmconviction.
　　Inthisopensea,theNautilushadtakenitscoursedirecttothepole,withoutleavingthefifty-secondmeridian.
　　From67@30'to90@,twenty-twodegreesandahalfoflatituderemainedtotravel;thatis,aboutfivehundredleagues.
　　TheNautiluskeptupameanspeedoftwenty-sixmilesanhour——
　　thespeedofanexpresstrain.Ifthatwaskeptup,infortyhoursweshouldreachthepole.
　　Forapartofthenightthenoveltyofthesituationkeptusatthewindow.Theseawaslitwiththeelectriclantern;butitwasdeserted;fishesdidnotsojournintheseimprisonedwaters;
　　theyonlyfoundthereapassagetotakethemfromtheAntarcticOceantotheopenpolarsea.Ourpacewasrapid;
　　wecouldfeelitbythequiveringofthelongsteelbody.
　　AbouttwointhemorningItooksomehours'repose,andConseildidthesame.IncrossingthewaistIdidnotmeetCaptainNemo:
　　Isupposedhimtobeinthepilot'scage.Thenextmorning,the19thofMarch,Itookmypostoncemoreinthesaloon.
　　TheelectriclogtoldmethatthespeedoftheNautilushadbeenslackened.Itwasthengoingtowardsthesurface;
　　butprudentlyemptyingitsreservoirsveryslowly.
　　Myheartbeatfast.Werewegoingtoemergeandregaintheopenpolaratmosphere?No!AshocktoldmethattheNautilushadstruckthebottomoftheiceberg,stillverythick,judgingfromthedeadenedsound.Wehadindeed"struck,"touseaseaexpression,butinaninversesense,andatathousandfeetdeep.Thiswouldgivethreethousandfeetoficeaboveus;