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.