onethousandbeingabovethewater-mark.Theicebergwasthenhigherthanatitsborders——notaveryreassuringfact.
　　SeveraltimesthatdaytheNautilustriedagain,andeverytimeitstruckthewallwhichlaylikeaceilingaboveit.
　　Sometimesitmetwithbut900yards,only200ofwhichroseabovethesurface.ItwastwicetheheightitwaswhentheNautilushadgoneunderthewaves.Icarefullynotedthedifferentdepths,andthusobtainedasubmarineprofileofthechainasitwasdevelopedunderthewater.
　　Thatnightnochangehadtakenplaceinoursituation.
　　Stillicebetweenfourandfivehundredyardsindepth!
　　Itwasevidentlydiminishing,but,still,whatathicknessbetweenusandthesurfaceoftheocean!Itwastheneight.
　　AccordingtothedailycustomonboardtheNautilus,itsairshouldhavebeenrenewedfourhoursago;
　　butIdidnotsuffermuch,althoughCaptainNemohadnotyetmadeanydemanduponhisreserveofoxygen.Mysleepwaspainfulthatnight;hopeandfearbesiegedmebyturns:
　　Iroseseveraltimes.ThegropingoftheNautiluscontinued.
　　Aboutthreeinthemorning,Inoticedthatthelowersurfaceoftheicebergwasonlyaboutfiftyfeetdeep.Onehundredandfiftyfeetnowseparatedusfromthesurfaceofthewaters.
　　Theicebergwasbydegreesbecominganice-field,themountainaplain.Myeyesneverleftthemanometer.Wewerestillrisingdiagonallytothesurface,whichsparkledundertheelectricrays.
　　Theicebergwasstretchingbothaboveandbeneathintolengtheningslopes;mileaftermileitwasgettingthinner.
　　Atlength,atsixinthemorningofthatmemorableday,the19thofMarch,thedoorofthesaloonopened,andCaptainNemoappeared.
　　"Theseaisopen!!"wasallhesaid.
　　CHAPTERXIV
　　THESOUTHPOLE
　　Irushedontotheplatform.Yes!theopensea,withbutafewscatteredpiecesoficeandmovingicebergs——alongstretchofsea;
　　aworldofbirdsintheair,andmyriadsoffishesunderthosewaters,whichvariedfromintensebluetoolivegreen,accordingtothebottom.
　　Thethermometermarked3@C.abovezero.Itwascomparativelyspring,shutupaswewerebehindthisiceberg,whoselengthenedmasswasdimlyseenonournorthernhorizon.
　　"Areweatthepole?"IaskedtheCaptain,withabeatingheart.
　　"Idonotknow,"hereplied."AtnoonIwilltakeourbearings."
　　"Butwillthesunshowhimselfthroughthisfog?"saidI,lookingattheleadensky.
　　"Howeverlittleitshows,itwillbeenough,"repliedtheCaptain.
　　Abouttenmilessouthasolitaryislandrosetoaheightofonehundredandfouryards.Wemadeforit,butcarefully,fortheseamightbestrewnwithbanks.Onehourafterwardswehadreachedit,twohourslaterwehadmadetheroundofit.
　　Itmeasuredfourorfivemilesincircumference.
　　Anarrowcanalseparateditfromaconsiderablestretchofland,perhapsacontinent,forwecouldnotseeitslimits.
　　TheexistenceofthislandseemedtogivesomecolourtoMaury'stheory.
　　TheingeniousAmericanhasremarkedthat,betweentheSouthPoleandthesixtiethparallel,theseaiscoveredwithfloatingiceofenormoussize,whichisnevermetwithintheNorthAtlantic.
　　FromthisfacthehasdrawntheconclusionthattheAntarcticCircleenclosesconsiderablecontinents,asicebergscannotforminopensea,butonlyonthecoasts.Accordingtothesecalculations,themassoficesurroundingthesouthernpoleformsavastcap,thecircumferenceofwhichmustbe,atleast,2,500miles.
　　ButtheNautilus,forfearofrunningaground,hadstoppedaboutthreecable-lengthsfromastrandoverwhichrearedasuperbheapofrocks.Theboatwaslaunched;theCaptain,twoofhismen,bearinginstruments,Conseil,andmyselfwereinit.
　　Itwasteninthemorning.IhadnotseenNedLand.
　　DoubtlesstheCanadiandidnotwishtoadmitthepresenceoftheSouthPole.Afewstrokesoftheoarbroughtustothesand,whereweranashore.Conseilwasgoingtojumpontotheland,whenIheldhimback.
　　"Sir,"saidItoCaptainNemo,"toyoubelongsthehonouroffirstsettingfootonthisland."
　　"Yes,sir,"saidtheCaptain,"andifIdonothesitatetotreadthisSouthPole,itisbecause,uptothistime,nohumanbeinghasleftatracethere."
　　Sayingthis,hejumpedlightlyontothesand.Hisheartbeatwithemotion.Heclimbedarock,slopingtoalittlepromontory,andthere,withhisarmscrossed,muteandmotionless,andwithaneagerlook,heseemedtotakepossessionofthesesouthernregions.
　　Afterfiveminutespassedinthisecstasy,heturnedtous.
　　"Whenyoulike,sir."
　　Ilanded,followedbyConseil,leavingthetwomenintheboat.
　　Foralongwaythesoilwascomposedofareddishsandystone,somethinglikecrushedbrick,scoriae,streamsoflava,andpumice-stones.Onecouldnotmistakeitsvolcanicorigin.
　　Insomeparts,slightcurlsofsmokeemittedasulphuroussmell,provingthattheinternalfireshadlostnothingoftheirexpansivepowers,though,havingclimbedahighacclivity,Icouldseenovolcanoforaradiusofseveralmiles.
　　WeknowthatinthoseAntarcticcountries,JamesRossfoundtwocraters,theErebusandTerror,infullactivity,onthe167thmeridian,latitude77@32'.Thevegetationofthisdesolatecontinentseemedtomemuchrestricted.
　　Somelichenslayupontheblackrocks;somemicroscopicplants,rudimentarydiatomas,akindofcellsplacedbetweentwoquartzshells;
　　longpurpleandscarletweed,supportedonlittleswimmingbladders,whichthebreakingofthewavesbroughttotheshore.
　　Theseconstitutedthemeagrefloraofthisregion.
　　Theshorewasstrewnwithmolluscs,littlemussels,andlimpets.
　　Ialsosawmyriadsofnorthernclios,one-and-a-quarterincheslong,ofwhichawhalewouldswallowawholeworldatamouthful;
　　andsomeperfectsea-butterflies,animatingthewatersontheskirtsoftheshore.
　　Thereappearedonthehighbottomssomecoralshrubs,ofthekindwhich,accordingtoJamesRoss,liveintheAntarcticseastothedepthofmorethan1,000yards.
　　Thentherewerelittlekingfishersandstarfishstuddingthesoil.
　　Butwherelifeaboundedmostwasintheair.Therethousandsofbirdsflutteredandflewofallkinds,deafeninguswiththeircries;otherscrowdedtherock,lookingatusaswepassedbywithoutfear,andpressingfamiliarlyclosebyourfeet.
　　Therewerepenguins,soagileinthewater,heavyandawkwardastheyareontheground;theywereutteringharshcries,alargeassembly,soberingesture,butextravagantinclamour.
　　Albatrossespassedintheair,theexpanseoftheirwingsbeingatleastfouryardsandahalf,andjustlycalledthevulturesoftheocean;somegiganticpetrels,andsomedamiers,akindofsmallduck,theunderpartofwhosebodyisblackandwhite;
　　thentherewereawholeseriesofpetrels,somewhitish,withbrown-borderedwings,othersblue,peculiartotheAntarcticseas,andsooily,asItoldConseil,thattheinhabitantsoftheFerroeIslandshadnothingtodobeforelightingthembuttoputawickin.
　　"Alittlemore,"saidConseil,"andtheywouldbeperfectlamps!
　　Afterthat,wecannotexpectNaturetohavepreviouslyfurnishedthemwithwicks!"
　　Abouthalfamilefartheronthesoilwasriddledwithruffs'
　　nests,asortoflaying-ground,outofwhichmanybirdswereissuing.
　　CaptainNemohadsomehundredshunted.Theyutteredacrylikethebrayingofanass,wereaboutthesizeofagoose,slate-colouronthebody,whitebeneath,withayellowlineroundtheirthroats;theyallowedthemselvestobekilledwithastone,nevertryingtoescape.
　　Butthefogdidnotlift,andateleventhesunhadnotyetshownitself.
　　Itsabsencemademeuneasy.Withoutitnoobservationswerepossible.
　　How,then,couldwedecidewhetherwehadreachedthepole?WhenIrejoinedCaptainNemo,Ifoundhimleaningonapieceofrock,silentlywatchingthesky.Heseemedimpatientandvexed.Butwhatwastobedone?
　　Thisrashandpowerfulmancouldnotcommandthesunashedidthesea.
　　Noonarrivedwithouttheorbofdayshowingitselfforaninstant.
　　Wecouldnoteventellitspositionbehindthecurtainoffog;andsoonthefogturnedtosnow.
　　"Tillto-morrow,"saidtheCaptain,quietly,andwereturnedtotheNautilusamidtheseatmosphericdisturbances.
　　Thetempestofsnowcontinuedtillthenextday.
　　Itwasimpossibletoremainontheplatform.Fromthesaloon,whereIwastakingnotesofincidentshappeningduringthisexcursiontothepolarcontinent,Icouldhearthecriesofpetrelsandalbatrossessportinginthemidstofthisviolentstorm.
　　TheNautilusdidnotremainmotionless,butskirtedthecoast,advancingtenmilesmoretothesouthinthehalf-lightleftbythesunasitskirtedtheedgeofthehorizon.
　　Thenextday,the20thofMarch,thesnowhadceased.
　　Thecoldwasalittlegreater,thethermometershowing2@
　　belowzero.Thefogwasrising,andIhopedthatthatdayourobservationsmightbetaken.CaptainNemonothavingyetappeared,theboattookConseilandmyselftoland.
　　Thesoilwasstillofthesamevolcanicnature;
　　everywhereweretracesoflava,scoriae,andbasalt;
　　butthecraterwhichhadvomitedthemIcouldnotsee.
　　Here,aslowerdown,thiscontinentwasalivewithmyriadsofbirds.Buttheirrulewasnowdividedwithlargetroopsofsea-mammals,lookingatuswiththeirsofteyes.
　　Therewereseveralkindsofseals,somestretchedontheearth,someonflakesofice,manygoinginandoutofthesea.Theydidnotfleeatourapproach,neverhavinghadanythingtodowithman;
　　andIreckonedthattherewereprovisionsthereforhundredsofvessels.
　　"Sir,"saidConseil,"willyoutellmethenamesofthesecreatures?"
　　"Theyaresealsandmorses."
　　Itwasnoweightinthemorning.Fourhoursremainedtousbeforethesuncouldbeobservedwithadvantage.Idirectedourstepstowardsavastbaycutinthesteepgraniteshore.There,Icanaverthatearthandicewerelosttosightbythenumbersofsea-mammalscoveringthem,andIinvoluntarilysoughtforoldProteus,themythologicalshepherdwhowatchedtheseimmenseflocksofNeptune.
　　Thereweremoresealsthananythingelse,formingdistinctgroups,maleandfemale,thefatherwatchingoverhisfamily,themothersucklingherlittleones,somealreadystrongenoughtogoafewsteps.
　　Whentheywishedtochangetheirplace,theytooklittlejumps,madebythecontractionoftheirbodies,andhelpedawkwardlyenoughbytheirimperfectfin,which,aswiththelamantin,theircousins,formsaperfectforearm.Ishouldsaythat,inthewater,whichistheirelement——thespineofthesecreaturesisflexible;
　　withsmoothandcloseskinandwebbedfeet——theyswimadmirably.
　　Inrestingontheearththeytakethemostgracefulattitudes.
　　Thustheancients,observingtheirsoftandexpressivelooks,whichcannotbesurpassedbythemostbeautifullookawomancangive,theirclearvoluptuouseyes,theircharmingpositions,andthepoetryoftheirmanners,metamorphosedthem,themaleintoatritonandthefemaleintoamermaid.ImadeConseilnoticetheconsiderabledevelopmentofthelobesofthebrainintheseinterestingcetaceans.
　　Nomammal,exceptman,hassuchaquantityofbrainmatter;
　　theyarealsocapableofreceivingacertainamountofeducation,areeasilydomesticated,andIthink,withothernaturalists,thatifproperlytaughttheywouldbeofgreatserviceasfishing-dogs.
　　Thegreaterpartofthemsleptontherocksoronthesand.
　　Amongsttheseseals,properlysocalled,whichhavenoexternalearsinwhichtheydifferfromtheotter,whoseearsareprominent,Inoticedseveralvarietiesofsealsaboutthreeyardslong,withawhitecoat,bulldogheads,armedwithteethinbothjaws,fourincisorsatthetopandfouratthebottom,andtwolargecanineteethintheshapeofafleur-de-lis.Amongstthemglidedsea-elephants,akindofseal,withshort,flexibletrunks.
　　Thegiantsofthisspeciesmeasuredtwentyfeetroundandtenyardsandahalfinlength;buttheydidnotmoveasweapproached.
　　"Thesecreaturesarenotdangerous?"askedConseil.
　　"No;notunlessyouattackthem.Whentheyhavetodefendtheiryoungtheirrageisterrible,anditisnotuncommonforthemtobreakthefishing-boatstopieces."
　　"Theyarequiteright,"saidConseil.
　　"Idonotsaytheyarenot."
　　Twomilesfartheronwewerestoppedbythepromontorywhichsheltersthebayfromthesoutherlywinds.Beyonditweheardloudbellowingssuchasatroopofruminantswouldproduce.
　　"Good!"saidConseil;"aconcertofbulls!"
　　"No;aconcertofmorses."
　　"Theyarefighting!"
　　"Theyareeitherfightingorplaying."
　　Wenowbegantoclimbtheblackishrocks,amidunforeseenstumbles,andoverstoneswhichtheicemadeslippery.MorethanonceIrolledoverattheexpenseofmyloins.Conseil,moreprudentormoresteady,didnotstumble,andhelpedmeup,saying:
　　"If,sir,youwouldhavethekindnesstotakewidersteps,youwouldpreserveyourequilibriumbetter."
　　Arrivedattheupperridgeofthepromontory,Isawavastwhiteplaincoveredwithmorses.Theywereplayingamongstthemselves,andwhatweheardwerebellowingsofpleasure,notofanger.
　　AsIpassedthesecuriousanimalsIcouldexaminethemleisurely,fortheydidnotmove.Theirskinswerethickandrugged,ofayellowishtint,approachingtored;theirhairwasshortandscant.Someofthemwerefouryardsandaquarterlong.
　　Quieterandlesstimidthantheircousinsofthenorth,theydidnot,likethem,placesentinelsroundtheoutskirtsoftheirencampment.
　　Afterexaminingthiscityofmorses,Ibegantothinkofreturning.
　　Itwaseleveno'clock,and,ifCaptainNemofoundtheconditionsfavourableforobservations,Iwishedtobepresentattheoperation.
　　Wefollowedanarrowpathwayrunningalongthesummitofthesteepshore.
　　Athalf-pastelevenwehadreachedtheplacewherewelanded.
　　Theboathadrunaground,bringingtheCaptain.Isawhimstandingonablockofbasalt,hisinstrumentsnearhim,hiseyesfixedonthenorthernhorizon,nearwhichthesunwasthendescribingalengthenedcurve.Itookmyplacebesidehim,andwaitedwithoutspeaking.Noonarrived,and,asbefore,thesundidnotappear.Itwasafatality.Observationswerestillwanting.
　　Ifnotaccomplishedto-morrow,wemustgiveupallideaoftakingany.
　　Wewereindeedexactlyatthe20thofMarch.To-morrow,the21st,wouldbetheequinox;thesunwoulddisappearbehindthehorizonforsixmonths,andwithitsdisappearancethelongpolarnightwouldbegin.
　　SincetheSeptemberequinoxithademergedfromthenorthernhorizon,risingbylengthenedspiralsuptothe21stofDecember.Atthisperiod,thesummersolsticeofthenorthernregions,ithadbeguntodescend;
　　andto-morrowwastosheditslastraysuponthem.IcommunicatedmyfearsandobservationstoCaptainNemo.
　　"Youareright,M.Aronnax,"saidhe;"ifto-morrowIcannottakethealtitudeofthesun,Ishallnotbeabletodoitforsixmonths.
　　Butpreciselybecausechancehasledmeintotheseseasonthe21stofMarch,mybearingswillbeeasytotake,ifattwelvewecanseethesun."
　　"Why,Captain?"
　　"Becausethentheorbofdaydescribedsuchlengthenedcurvesthatitisdifficulttomeasureexactlyitsheightabovethehorizon,andgraveerrorsmaybemadewithinstruments."
　　"Whatwillyoudothen?"
　　"Ishallonlyusemychronometer,"repliedCaptainNemo.
　　"Ifto-morrow,the21stofMarch,thediscofthesun,allowingforrefraction,isexactlycutbythenorthernhorizon,itwillshowthatIamattheSouthPole."
　　"Justso,"saidI."Butthisstatementisnotmathematicallycorrect,becausetheequinoxdoesnotnecessarilybeginatnoon."
　　"Verylikely,sir;buttheerrorwillnotbeahundredyardsandwedonotwantmore.Tillto-morrow,then!"
　　CaptainNemoreturnedonboard.ConseilandIremainedtosurveytheshore,observingandstudyinguntilfiveo'clock.ThenI
　　wenttobed,not,however,withoutinvoking,liketheIndian,thefavouroftheradiantorb.Thenextday,the21stofMarch,atfiveinthemorning,Imountedtheplatform.
　　IfoundCaptainNemothere.
　　"Theweatherislighteningalittle,"saidhe."Ihavesomehope.
　　Afterbreakfastwewillgoonshoreandchooseapostforobservation."
　　Thatpointsettled,IsoughtNedLand.Iwantedtotakehimwithme.
　　ButtheobstinateCanadianrefused,andIsawthathistaciturnityandhisbadhumourgrewdaybyday.Afterall,Iwasnotsorryforhisobstinacyunderthecircumstances.Indeed,thereweretoomanysealsonshore,andweoughtnottolaysuchtemptationinthisunreflectingfisherman'sway.
　　Breakfastover,wewentonshore.TheNautilushadgonesomemilesfurtherupinthenight.Itwasawholeleaguefromthecoast,abovewhichrearedasharppeakaboutfivehundredyardshigh.
　　TheboattookwithmeCaptainNemo,twomenofthecrew,andtheinstruments,whichconsistedofachronometer,atelescope,andabarometer.
　　Whilecrossing,Isawnumerouswhalesbelongingtothethreekindspeculiartothesouthernseas;thewhale,ortheEnglish"rightwhale,"
　　whichhasnodorsalfin;the"humpback,"withreevedchestandlarge,whitishfins,which,inspiteofitsname,donotformwings;
　　andthefin-back,ofayellowishbrown,theliveliestofallthecetacea.
　　Thispowerfulcreatureisheardalongwayoffwhenhethrowstoagreatheightcolumnsofairandvapour,whichlooklikewhirlwindsofsmoke.
　　Thesedifferentmammalsweredisportingthemselvesintroopsinthequietwaters;andIcouldseethatthisbasinoftheAntarcticPoleservesasaplaceofrefugetothecetaceatoocloselytrackedbythehunters.
　　Ialsonoticedlargemedusaefloatingbetweenthereeds.
　　Atninewelanded;theskywasbrightening,thecloudswereflyingtothesouth,andthefogseemedtobeleavingthecoldsurfaceofthewaters.
　　CaptainNemowenttowardsthepeak,whichhedoubtlessmeanttobehisobservatory.Itwasapainfulascentoverthesharplavaandthepumice-stones,inanatmosphereoftenimpregnatedwithasulphuroussmellfromthesmokingcracks.Foramanunaccustomedtowalkonland,theCaptainclimbedthesteepslopeswithanagilityIneversawequalledandwhichahunterwouldhaveenvied.
　　Weweretwohoursgettingtothesummitofthispeak,whichwashalfporphyryandhalfbasalt.Fromthencewelookeduponavastseawhich,towardsthenorth,distinctlytraceditsboundarylineuponthesky.
　　Atourfeetlayfieldsofdazzlingwhiteness.Overourheadsapaleazure,freefromfog.Tothenorththediscofthesunseemedlikeaballoffire,alreadyhornedbythecuttingofthehorizon.
　　Fromthebosomofthewaterrosesheavesofliquidjetsbyhundreds.
　　InthedistancelaytheNautiluslikeacetaceanasleeponthewater.
　　Behindus,tothesouthandeast,animmensecountryandachaoticheapofrocksandice,thelimitsofwhichwerenotvisible.
　　OnarrivingatthesummitCaptainNemocarefullytookthemeanheightofthebarometer,forhewouldhavetoconsiderthatintakinghisobservations.Ataquartertotwelvethesun,thenseenonlybyrefraction,lookedlikeagoldendiscsheddingitslastraysuponthisdesertedcontinentandseaswhichnevermanhadyetploughed.
　　CaptainNemo,furnishedwithalenticularglasswhich,bymeansofamirror,correctedtherefraction,watchedtheorbsinkingbelowthehorizonbydegrees,followingalengtheneddiagonal.
　　Iheldthechronometer.Myheartbeatfast.Ifthedisappearanceofthehalf-discofthesuncoincidedwithtwelveo'clockonthechronometer,wewereatthepoleitself.
　　"Twelve!"Iexclaimed.
　　"TheSouthPole!"repliedCaptainNemo,inagravevoice,handingmetheglass,whichshowedtheorbcutinexactlyequalpartsbythehorizon.
　　Ilookedatthelastrayscrowningthepeak,andtheshadowsmountingbydegreesupitsslopes.AtthatmomentCaptainNemo,restingwithhishandonmyshoulder,said:
　　"I,CaptainNemo,onthis21stdayofMarch,1868,havereachedtheSouthPoleontheninetiethdegree;andItakepossessionofthispartoftheglobe,equaltoone-sixthoftheknowncontinents."
　　"Inwhosename,Captain?"
　　"Inmyown,sir!"
　　Sayingwhich,CaptainNemounfurledablackbanner,bearingan"N"
　　ingoldquarteredonitsbunting.Then,turningtowardstheorbofday,whoselastrayslappedthehorizonofthesea,heexclaimed:
　　"Adieu,sun!Disappear,thouradiantorb!restbeneaththisopensea,andletanightofsixmonthsspreaditsshadowsovermynewdomains!"
　　CHAPTERXV
　　ACCIDENTORINCIDENT?
　　Thenextday,the22ndofMarch,atsixinthemorning,preparationsfordeparturewerebegun.Thelastgleamsoftwilightweremeltingintonight.Thecoldwasgreat,theconstellationsshonewithwonderfulintensity.
　　InthezenithglitteredthatwondrousSouthernCross——
　　thepolarbearofAntarcticregions.Thethermometershowed120
　　belowzero,andwhenthewindfresheneditwasmostbiting.
　　Flakesoficeincreasedontheopenwater.Theseaseemedeverywherealike.Numerousblackishpatchesspreadonthesurface,showingtheformationoffreshice.Evidentlythesouthernbasin,frozenduringthesixwintermonths,wasabsolutelyinaccessible.
　　Whatbecameofthewhalesinthattime?Doubtlesstheywentbeneaththeicebergs,seekingmorepracticableseas.
　　Astothesealsandmorses,accustomedtoliveinahardclimate,theyremainedontheseicyshores.Thesecreatureshavetheinstincttobreakholesintheice-fieldandtokeepthemopen.
　　Totheseholestheycomeforbreath;whenthebirds,drivenawaybythecold,haveemigratedtothenorth,theseseamammalsremainsolemastersofthepolarcontinent.
　　Butthereservoirswerefillingwithwater,andtheNautiluswasslowlydescending.At1,000feetdeepitstopped;
　　itsscrewbeatthewaves,anditadvancedstraighttowardsthenorthataspeedoffifteenmilesanhour.Towardsnightitwasalreadyfloatingundertheimmensebodyoftheiceberg.
　　AtthreeinthemorningIwasawakenedbyaviolentshock.
　　Isatupinmybedandlistenedinthedarkness,whenIwasthrownintothemiddleoftheroom.
　　TheNautilus,afterhavingstruck,hadreboundedviolently.
　　Igropedalongthepartition,andbythestaircasetothesaloon,whichwaslitbytheluminousceiling.Thefurniturewasupset.
　　Fortunatelythewindowswerefirmlyset,andhadheldfast.
　　Thepicturesonthestarboardside,frombeingnolongervertical,wereclingingtothepaper,whilstthoseoftheportsidewerehangingatleastafootfromthewall.TheNautiluswaslyingonitsstarboardsideperfectlymotionless.
　　Iheardfootsteps,andaconfusionofvoices;butCaptainNemodidnotappear.AsIwasleavingthesaloon,NedLandandConseilentered.
　　"Whatisthematter?"saidI,atonce.
　　"Icametoaskyou,sir,"repliedConseil.
　　"Confoundit!"exclaimedtheCanadian,"Iknowwellenough!
　　TheNautilushasstruck;and,judgingbythewayshelies,IdonotthinkshewillrightherselfasshedidthefirsttimeinTorresStraits."
　　"But,"Iasked,"hassheatleastcometothesurfaceofthesea?"
　　"Wedonotknow,"saidConseil.
　　"Itiseasytodecide,"Ianswered.Iconsultedthemanometer.
　　Tomygreatsurprise,itshowedadepthofmorethan180fathoms.
　　"Whatdoesthatmean?"Iexclaimed.
　　"WemustaskCaptainNemo,"saidConseil.
　　"Butwhereshallwefindhim?"saidNedLand.
　　"Followme,"saidI,tomycompanions.
　　Weleftthesaloon.Therewasnooneinthelibrary.
　　Atthecentrestaircase,bytheberthsoftheship'screw,therewasnoone.IthoughtthatCaptainNemomustbeinthepilot'scage.
　　Itwasbesttowait.Weallreturnedtothesaloon.Fortwentyminutesweremainedthus,tryingtoheartheslightestnoisewhichmightbemadeonboardtheNautilus,whenCaptainNemoentered.
　　Heseemednottoseeus;hisface,generallysoimpassive,showedsignsofuneasiness.Hewatchedthecompasssilently,thenthemanometer;and,goingtotheplanisphere,placedhisfingeronaspotrepresentingthesouthernseas.
　　Iwouldnotinterrupthim;but,someminuteslater,whenheturnedtowardsme,Isaid,usingoneofhisownexpressionsintheTorresStraits:
　　"Anincident,Captain?"
　　"No,sir;anaccidentthistime."
　　"Serious?"
　　"Perhaps."
　　"Isthedangerimmediate?"
　　"No."
　　"TheNautilushasstranded?"
　　"Yes."
　　"Andthishashappened——how?"
　　"Fromacapriceofnature,notfromtheignoranceofman.
　　Notamistakehasbeenmadeintheworking.Butwecannotpreventequilibriumfromproducingitseffects.Wemaybravehumanlaws,butwecannotresistnaturalones."
　　CaptainNemohadchosenastrangemomentforutteringthisphilosophicalreflection.Onthewhole,hisanswerhelpedmelittle.
　　"MayIask,sir,thecauseofthisaccident?"
　　"Anenormousblockofice,awholemountain,hasturnedover,"hereplied.
　　"Whenicebergsareunderminedattheirbasebywarmerwaterorreiteratedshockstheircentreofgravityrises,andthewholethingturnsover.
　　Thisiswhathashappened;oneoftheseblocks,asitfell,strucktheNautilus,then,glidingunderitshull,raiseditwithirresistibleforce,bringingitintobedswhicharenotsothick,whereitislyingonitsside."
　　"ButcanwenotgettheNautilusoffbyemptyingitsreservoirs,thatitmightregainitsequilibrium?"
　　"That,sir,isbeingdoneatthismoment.Youcanhearthepumpworking.
　　Lookattheneedleofthemanometer;itshowsthattheNautilusisrising,buttheblockoficeisfloatingwithit;and,untilsomeobstaclestopsitsascendingmotion,ourpositioncannotbealtered."
　　Indeed,theNautilusstillheldthesamepositiontostarboard;
　　doubtlessitwouldrightitselfwhentheblockstopped.
　　Butatthismomentwhoknowsifwemaynotbefrightfullycrushedbetweenthetwoglassysurfaces?Ireflectedonalltheconsequencesofourposition.CaptainNemonevertookhiseyesoffthemanometer.Sincethefalloftheiceberg,theNautilushadrisenaboutahundredandfiftyfeet,butitstillmadethesameanglewiththeperpendicular.
　　Suddenlyaslightmovementwasfeltinthehold.
　　Evidentlyitwasrightingalittle.Thingshanginginthesaloonweresensiblyreturningtotheirnormalposition.
　　Thepartitionswerenearingtheupright.Noonespoke.
　　Withbeatingheartswewatchedandfeltthestraightening.
　　Theboardsbecamehorizontalunderourfeet.
　　Tenminutespassed.
　　"Atlastwehaverighted!"Iexclaimed.
　　"Yes,"saidCaptainNemo,goingtothedoorofthesaloon.
　　"Butarewefloating?"Iasked.
　　"Certainly,"hereplied;"sincethereservoirsarenotempty;and,whenempty,theNautilusmustrisetothesurfaceofthesea."
　　Wewereinopensea;butatadistanceofabouttenyards,oneithersideoftheNautilus,roseadazzlingwallofice.
　　Aboveandbeneaththesamewall.Above,becausethelowersurfaceoftheicebergstretchedoveruslikeanimmenseceiling.
　　Beneath,becausetheoverturnedblock,havingslidbydegrees,hadfoundaresting-placeonthelateralwalls,whichkeptitinthatposition.
　　TheNautiluswasreallyimprisonedinaperfecttunneloficemorethantwentyyardsinbreadth,filledwithquietwater.
　　Itwaseasytogetoutofitbygoingeitherforwardorbackward,andthenmakeafreepassageundertheiceberg,somehundredsofyardsdeeper.Theluminousceilinghadbeenextinguished,butthesaloonwasstillresplendentwithintenselight.
　　Itwasthepowerfulreflectionfromtheglasspartitionsentviolentlybacktothesheetsofthelantern.Icannotdescribetheeffectofthevoltaicraysuponthegreatblockssocapriciouslycut;
　　uponeveryangle,everyridge,everyfacetwasthrownadifferentlight,accordingtothenatureoftheveinsrunningthroughtheice;
　　adazzlingmineofgems,particularlyofsapphires,theirbluerayscrossingwiththegreenoftheemerald.Hereandtherewereopalshadesofwonderfulsoftness,runningthroughbrightspotslikediamondsoffire,thebrilliancyofwhichtheeyecouldnotbear.
　　Thepowerofthelanternseemedincreasedahundredfold,likealampthroughthelenticularplatesofafirst-classlighthouse.
　　"Howbeautiful!howbeautiful!"criedConseil.
　　"Yes,"Isaid,"itisawonderfulsight.Isitnot,Ned?"
　　"Yes,confoundit!Yes,"answeredNedLand,"itissuperb!
　　Iammadatbeingobligedtoadmitit.Noonehaseverseenanythinglikeit;butthesightmaycostusdear.And,ifImustsayall,IthinkweareseeingherethingswhichGodneverintendedmantosee."
　　Nedwasright,itwastoobeautiful.SuddenlyacryfromConseilmademeturn.
　　"Whatisit?"Iasked.
　　"Shutyoureyes,sir!Donotlook,sir!"Sayingwhich,Conseilclappedhishandsoverhiseyes.
　　"Butwhatisthematter,myboy?"
　　"Iamdazzled,blinded."
　　Myeyesturnedinvoluntarilytowardstheglass,butIcouldnotstandthefirewhichseemedtodevourthem.Iunderstoodwhathadhappened.
　　TheNautilushadputonfullspeed.Allthequietlustreoftheice-wallswasatoncechangedintoflashesoflightning.Thefirefromthesemyriadsofdiamondswasblinding.Itrequiredsometimetocalmourtroubledlooks.
　　Atlastthehandsweretakendown.
　　"Faith,Ishouldneverhavebelievedit,"saidConseil.
　　Itwasthenfiveinthemorning;andatthatmomentashockwasfeltatthebowsoftheNautilus.Iknewthatitsspurhadstruckablockofice.Itmusthavebeenafalsemanoeuvre,forthissubmarinetunnel,obstructedbyblocks,wasnotveryeasynavigation.
　　IthoughtthatCaptainNemo,bychanginghiscourse,wouldeitherturntheseobstaclesorelsefollowthewindingsofthetunnel.
　　Inanycase,theroadbeforeuscouldnotbeentirelyblocked.
　　But,contrarytomyexpectations,theNautilustookadecidedretrogrademotion.
　　"Wearegoingbackwards?"saidConseil.
　　"Yes,"Ireplied."Thisendofthetunnelcanhavenoegress."
　　"Andthen?"
　　"Then,"saidI,"theworkingiseasy.Wemustgobackagain,andgooutatthesouthernopening.Thatisall."
　　Inspeakingthus,IwishedtoappearmoreconfidentthanIreallywas.
　　ButtheretrogrademotionoftheNautiluswasincreasing;and,reversingthescrew,itcarriedusatgreatspeed.
　　"Itwillbeahindrance,"saidNed.
　　"Whatdoesitmatter,somehoursmoreorless,providedwegetoutatlast?"
　　"Yes,"repeatedNedLand,"providedwedogetoutatlast!"
　　ForashorttimeIwalkedfromthesaloontothelibrary.
　　Mycompanionsweresilent.Isoonthrewmyselfonanottoman,andtookabook,whichmyeyesoverranmechanically.Aquarterofanhourafter,Conseil,approachingme,said,"Iswhatyouarereadingveryinteresting,sir?"
　　"Veryinteresting!"Ireplied.
　　"Ishouldthinkso,sir.Itisyourownbookyouarereading."
　　"Mybook?"
　　AndindeedIwasholdinginmyhandtheworkontheGreatSubmarineDepths.
　　Ididnotevendreamofit.Iclosedthebookandreturnedtomywalk.
　　NedandConseilrosetogo.
　　"Stayhere,myfriends,"saidI,detainingthem.
　　"Letusremaintogetheruntilweareoutofthisblock."
　　"Asyouplease,sir,"Conseilreplied.
　　Somehourspassed.Ioftenlookedattheinstrumentshangingfromthepartition.ThemanometershowedthattheNautiluskeptataconstantdepthofmorethanthreehundredyards;thecompassstillpointedtosouth;thelogindicatedaspeedoftwentymilesanhour,which,insuchacrampedspace,wasverygreat.
　　ButCaptainNemoknewthathecouldnothastentoomuch,andthatminuteswereworthagestous.Attwenty-fiveminutespasteightasecondshocktookplace,thistimefrombehind.
　　Iturnedpale.Mycompanionswereclosebymyside.
　　IseizedConseil'shand.Ourlooksexpressedourfeelingsbetterthanwords.AtthismomenttheCaptainenteredthesaloon.
　　Iwentuptohim.
　　"Ourcourseisbarredsouthward?"Iasked.
　　"Yes,sir.Theiceberghasshiftedandclosedeveryoutlet."
　　"Weareblockedupthen?"
　　"Yes."
　　CHAPTERXVI
　　WANTOFAIR
　　ThusaroundtheNautilus,aboveandbelow,wasanimpenetrablewallofice.Wewereprisonerstotheiceberg.IwatchedtheCaptain.
　　Hiscountenancehadresumeditshabitualimperturbability.
　　"Gentlemen,"hesaidcalmly,"therearetwowaysofdyinginthecircumstancesinwhichweareplaced."Thispuzzlingpersonhadtheairofamathematicalprofessorlecturingtohispupils.
　　"Thefirstistobecrushed;thesecondistodieofsuffocation.
　　Idonotspeakofthepossibilityofdyingofhunger,forthesupplyofprovisionsintheNautiluswillcertainlylastlongerthanweshall.
　　Letus,then,calculateourchances."
　　"Astosuffocation,Captain,"Ireplied,"thatisnottobefeared,becauseourreservoirsarefull."
　　"Justso;buttheywillonlyyieldtwodays'supplyofair.
　　Now,forthirty-sixhourswehavebeenhiddenunderthewater,andalreadytheheavyatmosphereoftheNautilusrequiresrenewal.
　　Inforty-eighthoursourreservewillbeexhausted."
　　"Well,Captain,canwebedeliveredbeforeforty-eighthours?"
　　"Wewillattemptit,atleast,bypiercingthewallthatsurroundsus."
　　"Onwhichside?"
　　"Soundwilltellus.IamgoingtoruntheNautilusagroundonthelowerbank,andmymenwillattacktheicebergonthesidethatisleastthick."
　　CaptainNemowentout.SoonIdiscoveredbyahissingnoisethatthewaterwasenteringthereservoirs.TheNautilussankslowly,andrestedontheiceatadepthof350yards,thedepthatwhichthelowerbankwasimmersed.
　　"Myfriends,"Isaid,"oursituationisserious,butIrelyonyourcourageandenergy."
　　"Sir,"repliedtheCanadian,"Iamreadytodoanythingforthegeneralsafety."
　　"Good!Ned,"andIheldoutmyhandtotheCanadian.
　　"Iwilladd,"hecontinued,"that,beingashandywiththepickaxeaswiththeharpoon,ifIcanbeusefultotheCaptain,hecancommandmyservices."
　　"Hewillnotrefuseyourhelp.Come,Ned!"
　　IledhimtotheroomwherethecrewoftheNautiluswereputtingontheircork-jackets.ItoldtheCaptainofNed'sproposal,whichheaccepted.TheCanadianputonhissea-costume,andwasreadyassoonashiscompanions.
　　WhenNedwasdressed,Ire-enteredthedrawing-room,wherethepanesofglasswereopen,and,postednearConseil,IexaminedtheambientbedsthatsupportedtheNautilus.
　　Someinstantsafter,wesawadozenofthecrewsetfootonthebankofice,andamongthemNedLand,easilyknownbyhisstature.
　　CaptainNemowaswiththem.Beforeproceedingtodigthewalls,hetookthesoundings,tobesureofworkingintherightdirection.
　　Longsoundinglinesweresunkinthesidewalls,butafterfifteenyardstheywereagainstoppedbythethickwall.
　　Itwasuselesstoattackitontheceiling-likesurface,sincetheicebergitselfmeasuredmorethan400yardsinheight.
　　CaptainNemothensoundedthelowersurface.Theretenyardsofwallseparatedusfromthewater,sogreatwasthethicknessoftheice-field.Itwasnecessary,therefore,tocutfromitapieceequalinextenttothewaterlineoftheNautilus.
　　Therewereabout6,000cubicyardstodetach,soastodigaholebywhichwecoulddescendtotheice-field.Theworkhadbegunimmediatelyandcarriedonwithindefatigableenergy.