ThepoorFrenchman,forgettinghisconventionallanguage,hadtakentohisownmothertongue,toutteralastappeal!
　　AmongstthecrewoftheNautilus,associatedwiththebodyandsouloftheCaptain,recoilinglikehimfromallcontactwithmen,Ihadafellow-countryman.DidhealonerepresentFranceinthismysteriousassociation,evidentlycomposedofindividualsofdiversnationalities?
　　Itwasoneoftheseinsolubleproblemsthatroseupunceasinglybeforemymind!
　　CaptainNemoenteredhisroom,andIsawhimnomoreforsometime.
　　ButthathewassadandirresoluteIcouldseebythevessel,ofwhichhewasthesoul,andwhichreceivedallhisimpressions.
　　TheNautilusdidnotkeeponinitssettledcourse;itfloatedaboutlikeacorpseatthewillofthewaves.Itwentatrandom.
　　Hecouldnottearhimselfawayfromthesceneofthelaststruggle,fromthisseathathaddevouredoneofhismen.Tendayspassedthus.
　　Itwasnottillthe1stofMaythattheNautilusresumeditsnortherlycourse,afterhavingsightedtheBahamasatthemouthoftheBahamaCanal.
　　Wewerethenfollowingthecurrentfromthelargestrivertothesea,thathasitsbanks,itsfish,anditspropertemperatures.ImeantheGulfStream.Itisreallyariver,thatflowsfreelytothemiddleoftheAtlantic,andwhosewatersdonotmixwiththeoceanwaters.
　　Itisasaltriver,salterthanthesurroundingsea.Itsmeandepthis1,500fathoms,itsmeanbreadthtenmiles.Incertainplacesthecurrentflowswiththespeedoftwomilesandahalfanhour.Thebodyofitswatersismoreconsiderablethanthatofalltheriversintheglobe.
　　ItwasonthisoceanriverthattheNautilusthensailed.
　　Imustaddthat,duringthenight,thephosphorescentwatersoftheGulfStreamrivalledtheelectricpowerofourwatch-light,especiallyinthestormyweatherthatthreatenedussofrequently.
　　May8th,wewerestillcrossingCapeHatteras,attheheightoftheNorthCaroline.ThewidthoftheGulfStreamthereisseventy-fivemiles,anditsdepth210yards.TheNautilusstillwentatrandom;allsupervisionseemedabandoned.
　　Ithoughtthat,underthesecircumstances,escapewouldbepossible.
　　Indeed,theinhabitedshoresofferedanywhereaneasyrefuge.
　　TheseawasincessantlyploughedbythesteamersthatplybetweenNewYorkorBostonandtheGulfofMexico,andoverrundayandnightbythelittleschoonerscoastingabouttheseveralpartsoftheAmericancoast.Wecouldhopetobepickedup.
　　Itwasafavourableopportunity,notwithstandingthethirtymilesthatseparatedtheNautilusfromthecoastsoftheUnion.
　　OneunfortunatecircumstancethwartedtheCanadian'splans.
　　Theweatherwasverybad.Wewerenearingthoseshoreswheretempestsaresofrequent,thatcountryofwaterspoutsandcyclonesactuallyengenderedbythecurrentoftheGulfStream.
　　Totempttheseainafrailboatwascertaindestruction.NedLandownedthishimself.Hefretted,seizedwithnostalgiathatflightonlycouldcure.
　　"Master,"hesaidthatdaytome,"thismustcometoanend.Imustmakeacleanbreastofit.ThisNemoisleavinglandandgoinguptothenorth.
　　ButIdeclaretoyouthatIhavehadenoughoftheSouthPole,andIwillnotfollowhimtotheNorth."
　　"Whatistobedone,Ned,sinceflightisimpracticablejustnow?"
　　"WemustspeaktotheCaptain,"saidhe;"yousaidnothingwhenwewereinyournativeseas.Iwillspeak,nowweareinmine.
　　WhenIthinkthatbeforelongtheNautiluswillbebyNovaScotia,andthattherenearNewfoundlandisalargebay,andintothatbaytheSt.Lawrenceemptiesitself,andthattheSt.Lawrenceismyriver,theriverbyQuebec,mynativetown——whenIthinkofthis,Ifeelfurious,itmakesmyhairstandonend.Sir,Iwouldratherthrowmyselfintothesea!Iwillnotstayhere!
　　Iamstifled!"
　　TheCanadianwasevidentlylosingallpatience.
　　Hisvigorousnaturecouldnotstandthisprolongedimprisonment.
　　Hisfacealtereddaily;histemperbecamemoresurly.Iknewwhathemustsuffer,forIwasseizedwithhome-sicknessmyself.
　　Nearlysevenmonthshadpassedwithoutourhavinghadanynewsfromland;CaptainNemo'sisolation,hisalteredspirits,especiallysincethefightwiththepoulps,histaciturnity,allmademeviewthingsinadifferentlight.
　　"Well,sir?"saidNed,seeingIdidnotreply.
　　"Well,Ned,doyouwishmetoaskCaptainNemohisintentionsconcerningus?"
　　"Yes,sir."
　　"Althoughhehasalreadymadethemknown?"
　　"Yes;Iwishitsettledfinally.Speakforme,inmynameonly,ifyoulike."
　　"ButIsoseldommeethim.Heavoidsme."
　　"Thatisallthemorereasonforyoutogotoseehim."
　　Iwenttomyroom.FromthenceImeanttogotoCaptainNemo's.
　　Itwouldnotdotoletthisopportunityofmeetinghimslip.
　　Iknockedatthedoor.Noanswer.Iknockedagain,thenturnedthehandle.Thedooropened,Iwentin.TheCaptainwasthere.
　　Bendingoverhiswork-table,hehadnotheardme.
　　Resolvednottogowithouthavingspoken,Iapproachedhim.
　　Heraisedhisheadquickly,frowned,andsaidroughly,"Youhere!
　　Whatdoyouwant?"
　　"Tospeaktoyou,Captain."
　　"ButIambusy,sir;Iamworking.Ileaveyouatlibertytoshutyourselfup;cannotIbeallowedthesame?"
　　Thisreceptionwasnotencouraging;butIwasdeterminedtohearandanswereverything.
　　"Sir,"Isaidcoldly,"Ihavetospeaktoyouonamatterthatadmitsofnodelay."
　　"Whatisthat,sir?"hereplied,ironically."Haveyoudiscoveredsomethingthathasescapedme,orhastheseadeliveredupanynewsecrets?"
　　Wewereatcross-purposes.But,beforeIcouldreply,heshowedmeanopenmanuscriptonhistable,andsaid,inamoreserioustone,"Here,M.Aronnax,isamanuscriptwritteninseverallanguages.
　　Itcontainsthesumofmystudiesofthesea;and,ifitpleaseGod,itshallnotperishwithme.Thismanuscript,signedwithmyname,completewiththehistoryofmylife,willbeshutupinalittlefloatingcase.ThelastsurvivorofallofusonboardtheNautiluswillthrowthiscaseintothesea,anditwillgowhitheritisbornebythewaves."
　　Thisman'sname!hishistorywrittenbyhimself!
　　Hismysterywouldthenberevealedsomeday.
　　"Captain,"Isaid,"Icanbutapproveoftheideathatmakesyouactthus.
　　Theresultofyourstudiesmustnotbelost.Butthemeansyouemployseemtometobeprimitive.Whoknowswherethewindswillcarrythiscase,andinwhosehandsitwillfall?Couldyounotusesomeothermeans?
　　Couldnotyou,oroneofyours——"
　　"Never,sir!"hesaid,hastilyinterruptingme.
　　"ButIandmycompanionsarereadytokeepthismanuscriptinstore;and,ifyouwillputusatliberty——"
　　"Atliberty?"saidtheCaptain,rising.
　　"Yes,sir;thatisthesubjectonwhichIwishtoquestionyou.
　　Forsevenmonthswehavebeenhereonboard,andIaskyouto-day,inthenameofmycompanionsandinmyown,ifyourintentionistokeepusherealways?"
　　"M.Aronnax,Iwillansweryouto-dayasIdidsevenmonthsago:
　　WhoeverenterstheNautilus,mustneverquitit."
　　"Youimposeactualslaveryuponus!"
　　"Giveitwhatnameyouplease."
　　"Buteverywheretheslavehastherighttoregainhisliberty."
　　"Whodeniesyouthisright?HaveIevertriedtochainyouwithanoath?"
　　Helookedatmewithhisarmscrossed.
　　"Sir,"Isaid,"toreturnasecondtimetothissubjectwillbeneithertoyournortomytaste;but,aswehaveentereduponit,letusgothroughwithit.Irepeat,itisnotonlymyselfwhomitconcerns.
　　Studyistomearelief,adiversion,apassionthatcouldmakemeforgeteverything.Likeyou,Iamwillingtoliveobscure,inthefrailhopeofbequeathingoneday,tofuturetime,theresultofmylabours.ButitisotherwisewithNedLand.
　　Everyman,worthyofthename,deservessomeconsideration.
　　Haveyouthoughtthatloveofliberty,hatredofslavery,cangiverisetoschemesofrevengeinanatureliketheCanadian's;
　　thathecouldthink,attempt,andtry——"
　　Iwassilenced;CaptainNemorose.
　　"WhateverNedLandthinksof,attempts,ortries,whatdoesitmattertome?
　　Ididnotseekhim!ItisnotformypleasurethatIkeephimonboard!
　　Asforyou,M.Aronnax,youareoneofthosewhocanunderstandeverything,evensilence.Ihavenothingmoretosaytoyou.Letthisfirsttimeyouhavecometotreatofthissubjectbethelast,forasecondtimeIwillnotlistentoyou."
　　Iretired.Oursituationwascritical.Irelatedmyconversationtomytwocompanions.
　　"Weknownow,"saidNed,"thatwecanexpectnothingfromthisman.
　　TheNautilusisnearingLongIsland.Wewillescape,whatevertheweathermaybe."
　　Buttheskybecamemoreandmorethreatening.Symptomsofahurricanebecamemanifest.Theatmospherewasbecomingwhiteandmisty.
　　Onthehorizonfinestreaksofcirrhouscloudsweresucceededbymassesofcumuli.Otherlowcloudspassedswiftlyby.
　　Theswollensearoseinhugebillows.Thebirdsdisappearedwiththeexceptionofthepetrels,thosefriendsofthestorm.
　　Thebarometerfellsensibly,andindicatedanextremeextensionofthevapours.Themixtureofthestormglasswasdecomposedundertheinfluenceoftheelectricitythatpervadedtheatmosphere.
　　Thetempestburstonthe18thofMay,justastheNautiluswasfloatingoffLongIsland,somemilesfromtheportofNewYork.
　　Icandescribethisstrifeoftheelements!for,insteadoffleeingtothedepthsofthesea,CaptainNemo,byanunaccountablecaprice,wouldbraveitatthesurface.
　　Thewindblewfromthesouth-westatfirst.CaptainNemo,duringthesqualls,hadtakenhisplaceontheplatform.
　　Hehadmadehimselffast,topreventbeingwashedoverboardbythemonstrouswaves.Ihadhoistedmyselfup,andmademyselffastalso,dividingmyadmirationbetweenthetempestandthisextraordinarymanwhowascopingwithit.Theragingseawassweptbyhugecloud-drifts,whichwereactuallysaturatedwiththewaves.
　　TheNautilus,sometimeslyingonitsside,sometimesstandinguplikeamast,rolledandpitchedterribly.Aboutfiveo'clockatorrentofrainfell,thatlulledneitherseanorwind.
　　Thehurricaneblewnearlyfortyleaguesanhour.Itisundertheseconditionsthatitoverturnshouses,breaksirongates,displacestwenty-fourpounders.However,theNautilus,inthemidstofthetempest,confirmedthewordsofacleverengineer,"Thereisnowell-constructedhullthatcannotdefythesea."
　　Thiswasnotaresistingrock;itwasasteelspindle,obedientandmovable,withoutriggingormasts,thatbraveditsfurywithimpunity.However,Iwatchedtheseragingwavesattentively.
　　Theymeasuredfifteenfeetinheight,and150to175yardslong,andtheirspeedofpropagationwasthirtyfeetpersecond.
　　Theirbulkandpowerincreasedwiththedepthofthewater.
　　Suchwavesasthese,attheHebrides,havedisplacedamassweighing8,400lb.Theyaretheywhich,inthetempestofDecember23rd,1864,afterdestroyingthetownofYeddo,inJapan,brokethesamedayontheshoresofAmerica.Theintensityofthetempestincreasedwiththenight.Thebarometer,asin1860
　　atReunionduringacyclone,fellseven-tenthsatthecloseofday.
　　Isawalargevesselpassthehorizonstrugglingpainfully.
　　Shewastryingtolietounderhalfsteam,tokeepupabovethewaves.
　　ItwasprobablyoneofthesteamersofthelinefromNewYorktoLiverpool,orHavre.Itsoondisappearedinthegloom.
　　Atteno'clockintheeveningtheskywasonfire.
　　Theatmospherewasstreakedwithvividlightning.
　　Icouldnotbearthebrightnessofit;whilethecaptain,lookingatit,seemedtoenvythespiritofthetempest.
　　Aterriblenoisefilledtheair,acomplexnoise,madeupofthehowlsofthecrushedwaves,theroaringofthewind,andtheclapsofthunder.Thewindveeredsuddenlytoallpointsofthehorizon;andthecyclone,risingintheeast,returnedafterpassingbythenorth,west,andsouth,intheinversecoursepursuedbythecircularstormofthesouthernhemisphere.
　　Ah,thatGulfStream!ItdeservesitsnameoftheKingofTempests.
　　Itisthatwhichcausesthoseformidablecyclones,bythedifferenceoftemperaturebetweenitsairanditscurrents.
　　Ashoweroffirehadsucceededtherain.Thedropsofwaterwerechangedtosharpspikes.OnewouldhavethoughtthatCaptainNemowascourtingadeathworthyofhimself,adeathbylightning.
　　AstheNautilus,pitchingdreadfully,raiseditssteelspurintheair,itseemedtoactasaconductor,andIsawlongsparksburstfromit.
　　CrushedandwithoutstrengthIcrawledtothepanel,openedit,anddescendedtothesaloon.Thestormwasthenatitsheight.
　　ItwasimpossibletostanduprightintheinterioroftheNautilus.
　　CaptainNemocamedownabouttwelve.Iheardthereservoirsfillingbydegrees,andtheNautilussankslowlybeneaththewaves.
　　ThroughtheopenwindowsinthesaloonIsawlargefishterrified,passinglikephantomsinthewater.Somewerestruckbeforemyeyes.
　　TheNautiluswasstilldescending.Ithoughtthatatabouteightfathomsdeepweshouldfindacalm.Butno!theupperbedsweretooviolentlyagitatedforthat.Wehadtoseekreposeatmorethantwenty-fivefathomsinthebowelsofthedeep.
　　Butthere,whatquiet,whatsilence,whatpeace!Whocouldhavetoldthatsuchahurricanehadbeenletlooseonthesurfaceofthatocean?
　　CHAPTERXX
　　FROMLATITUDE47@24'TOLONGITUDE17@28'
　　Inconsequenceofthestorm,wehadbeenthrowneastwardoncemore.
　　AllhopeofescapeontheshoresofNewYorkorSt.Lawrencehadfadedaway;
　　andpoorNed,indespair,hadisolatedhimselflikeCaptainNemo.
　　ConseilandI,however,neverlefteachother.IsaidthattheNautilushadgoneasidetotheeast.Ishouldhavesaidtobemoreexact
　　thenorth-east.Forsomedays,itwanderedfirstonthesurface,andthenbeneathit,amidthosefogssodreadedbysailors.
　　Whataccidentsareduetothesethickfogs!Whatshocksuponthesereefswhenthewinddrownsthebreakingofthewaves!
　　Whatcollisionsbetweenvessels,inspiteoftheirwarninglights,whistles,andalarmbells!Andthebottomsoftheseseaslooklikeafieldofbattle,wherestillliealltheconqueredoftheocean;
　　someoldandalreadyencrusted,othersfreshandreflectingfromtheirironbandsandcopperplatesthebrilliancyofourlantern.
　　Onthe15thofMaywewereattheextremesouthoftheBankofNewfoundland.
　　Thisbankconsistsofalluvia,orlargeheapsoforganicmatter,broughteitherfromtheEquatorbytheGulfStream,orfromtheNorthPolebythecounter-currentofcoldwaterwhichskirtstheAmericancoast.
　　Therealsoareheapedupthoseerraticblockswhicharecarriedalongbythebrokenice;andcloseby,avastcharnel-houseofmolluscs,whichperishherebymillions.ThedepthoftheseaisnotgreatatNewfoundland——notmorethansomehundredsoffathoms;buttowardsthesouthisadepressionof1,500fathoms.TheretheGulfStreamwidens.
　　Itlosessomeofitsspeedandsomeofitstemperature,butitbecomesasea.
　　Itwasonthe17thofMay,about500milesfromHeart'sContent,atadepthofmorethan1,400fathoms,thatIsawtheelectriccablelyingonthebottom.Conseil,towhomIhadnotmentionedit,thoughtatfirstthatitwasagiganticsea-serpent.ButIundeceivedtheworthyfellow,andbywayofconsolationrelatedseveralparticularsinthelayingofthiscable.Thefirstonewaslaidintheyears1857and1858;
　　but,aftertransmittingabout400telegrams,wouldnotactanylonger.
　　In1863theengineersconstructedanotherone,measuring2,000milesinlength,andweighing4,500tons,whichwasembarkedontheGreatEastern.
　　Thisattemptalsofailed.
　　Onthe25thofMaytheNautilus,beingatadepthofmorethan1,918fathoms,wasontheprecisespotwheretheruptureoccurredwhichruinedtheenterprise.Itwaswithin638milesofthecoastofIreland;andathalf-pasttwointheafternoontheydiscoveredthatcommunicationwithEuropehadceased.
　　Theelectriciansonboardresolvedtocutthecablebeforefishingitup,andateleveno'clockatnighttheyhadrecoveredthedamagedpart.Theymadeanotherpointandsplicedit,anditwasoncemoresubmerged.Butsomedaysafteritbrokeagain,andinthedepthsoftheoceancouldnotberecaptured.
　　TheAmericans,however,werenotdiscouraged.CyrusField,theboldpromoteroftheenterprise,ashehadsunkallhisownfortune,setanewsubscriptiononfoot,whichwasatonceanswered,andanothercablewasconstructedonbetterprinciples.
　　Thebundlesofconductingwireswereeachenvelopedingutta-percha,andprotectedbyawaddingofhemp,containedinametalliccovering.
　　TheGreatEasternsailedonthe13thofJuly,1866.Theoperationworkedwell.Butoneincidentoccurred.Severaltimesinunrollingthecabletheyobservedthatnailshadrecentlybeenforcedintoit,evidentlywiththemotiveofdestroyingit.
　　CaptainAnderson,theofficers,andengineersconsultedtogether,andhaditpostedupthat,iftheoffenderwassurprisedonboard,hewouldbethrownwithoutfurthertrialintothesea.
　　Fromthattimethecriminalattemptwasneverrepeated.
　　Onthe23rdofJulytheGreatEasternwasnotmorethan500milesfromNewfoundland,whentheytelegraphedfromIrelandthenewsofthearmisticeconcludedbetweenPrussiaandAustriaafterSadowa.
　　Onthe27th,inthemidstofheavyfogs,theyreachedtheportofHeart'sContent.Theenterprisewassuccessfullyterminated;
　　andforitsfirstdespatch,youngAmericaaddressedoldEuropeinthesewordsofwisdom,sorarelyunderstood:"GlorytoGodinthehighest,andonearthpeace,goodwilltowardsmen."
　　Ididnotexpecttofindtheelectriccableinitsprimitivestate,suchasitwasonleavingthemanufactory.
　　Thelongserpent,coveredwiththeremainsofshells,bristlingwithforaminiferae,wasencrustedwithastrongcoatingwhichservedasaprotectionagainstallboringmolluscs.
　　Itlayquietlyshelteredfromthemotionsofthesea,andunderafavourablepressureforthetransmissionoftheelectricsparkwhichpassesfromEuropetoAmericain.32ofasecond.
　　Doubtlessthiscablewilllastforagreatlengthoftime,fortheyfindthatthegutta-perchacoveringisimprovedbythesea-water.Besides,onthislevel,sowellchosen,thecableisneversodeeplysubmergedastocauseittobreak.
　　TheNautilusfollowedittothelowestdepth,whichwasmorethan2,212fathoms,andthereitlaywithoutanyanchorage;andthenwereachedthespotwheretheaccidenthadtakenplacein1863.
　　Thebottomoftheoceanthenformedavalleyabout100
　　milesbroad,inwhichMontBlancmighthavebeenplacedwithoutitssummitappearingabovethewaves.Thisvalleyisclosedattheeastbyaperpendicularwallmorethan2,000yardshigh.
　　Wearrivedthereonthe28thofMay,andtheNautiluswasthennotmorethan120milesfromIreland.
　　WasCaptainNemogoingtolandontheBritishIsles?
　　No.Tomygreatsurprisehemadeforthesouth,oncemorecomingbacktowardsEuropeanseas.InroundingtheEmeraldIsle,foroneinstantIcaughtsightofCapeClear,andthelightwhichguidesthethousandsofvesselsleavingGlasgoworLiverpool.
　　Animportantquestionthenaroseinmymind.DidtheNautilusdareentangleitselfintheManche?NedLand,whohadre-appearedsincewehadbeennearingland,didnotceasetoquestionme.
　　HowcouldIanswer?CaptainNemoremindedinvisible.
　　AfterhavingshowntheCanadianaglimpseofAmericanshores,washegoingtoshowmethecoastofFrance?
　　ButtheNautiluswasstillgoingsouthward.Onthe30thofMay,itpassedinsightofLand'sEnd,betweentheextremepointofEnglandandtheScillyIsles,whichwerelefttostarboard.
　　IfwewishedtoentertheManche,hemustgostraighttotheeast.
　　Hedidnotdoso.
　　Duringthewholeofthe31stofMay,theNautilusdescribedaseriesofcirclesonthewater,whichgreatlyinterestedme.
　　Itseemedtobeseekingaspotithadsometroubleinfinding.
　　Atnoon,CaptainNemohimselfcametoworktheship'slog.
　　Hespokenowordtome,butseemedgloomierthanever.Whatcouldsaddenhimthus?WasithisproximitytoEuropeanshores?
　　Hadhesomerecollectionsofhisabandonedcountry?
　　Ifnot,whatdidhefeel?Remorseorregret?
　　Foralongwhilethisthoughthauntedmymind,andIhadakindofpresentimentthatbeforelongchancewouldbetraythecaptain'ssecrets.
　　Thenextday,the1stofJune,theNautiluscontinuedthesameprocess.
　　Itwasevidentlyseekingsomeparticularspotintheocean.
　　CaptainNemotookthesun'saltitudeashehaddonethedaybefore.
　　Theseawasbeautiful,theskyclear.Abouteightmilestotheeast,alargesteamvesselcouldbediscernedonthehorizon.
　　Noflagflutteredfromitsmast,andIcouldnotdiscoveritsnationality.Someminutesbeforethesunpassedthemeridian,CaptainNemotookhissextant,andwatchedwithgreatattention.
　　Theperfectrestofthewatergreatlyhelpedtheoperation.
　　TheNautiluswasmotionless;itneitherrollednorpitched.
　　Iwasontheplatformwhenthealtitudewastaken,andtheCaptainpronouncedthesewords:"Itishere."
　　Heturnedandwentbelow.Hadheseenthevesselwhichwaschangingitscourseandseemedtobenearingus?
　　Icouldnottell.Ireturnedtothesaloon.Thepanelsclosed,Iheardthehissingofthewaterinthereservoirs.
　　TheNautilusbegantosink,followingaverticalline,foritsscrewcommunicatednomotiontoit.Someminuteslateritstoppedatadepthofmorethan420fathoms,restingontheground.
　　Theluminousceilingwasdarkened,thenthepanelswereopened,andthroughtheglassIsawtheseabrilliantlyilluminatedbytheraysofourlanternforatleasthalfamileroundus.
　　Ilookedtotheportside,andsawnothingbutanimmensityofquietwaters.Buttostarboard,onthebottomappearedalargeprotuberance,whichatonceattractedmyattention.
　　Onewouldhavethoughtitaruinburiedunderacoatingofwhiteshells,muchresemblingacoveringofsnow.
　　Uponexaminingthemassattentively,Icouldrecognisetheever-thickeningformofavesselbareofitsmasts,whichmusthavesunk.Itcertainlybelongedtopasttimes.
　　Thiswreck,tobethusencrustedwiththelimeofthewater,mustalreadybeabletocountmanyyearspassedatthebottomoftheocean.
　　Whatwasthisvessel?WhydidtheNautilusvisititstomb?
　　Couldithavebeenaughtbutashipwreckwhichhaddrawnitunderthewater?
　　Iknewnotwhattothink,whennearmeinaslowvoiceIheardCaptainNemosay:
　　"AtonetimethisshipwascalledtheMarseillais.Itcarriedseventy-fourguns,andwaslaunchedin1762.In1778,the13thofAugust,commandedbyLaPoype-Vertrieux,itfoughtboldlyagainstthePreston.
　　In1779,onthe4thofJuly,itwasatthetakingofGrenada,withthesquadronofAdmiralEstaing.In1781,onthe5thofSeptember,ittookpartinthebattleofComtedeGrasse,inChesapeakeBay.
　　In1794,theFrenchRepublicchangeditsname.Onthe16thofApril,inthesameyear,itjoinedthesquadronofVillaretJoyeuse,atBrest,beingentrustedwiththeescortofacargoofcorncomingfromAmerica,underthecommandofAdmiralVanStebel.Onthe11thand12thPrairalofthesecondyear,thissquadronfellinwithanEnglishvessel.
　　Sir,to-dayisthe13thPrairal,thefirstofJune,1868.Itisnowseventy-fouryearsago,dayfordayonthisveryspot,inlatitude47@
　　24',longitude17@28',thatthisvessel,afterfightingheroically,losingitsthreemasts,withthewaterinitshold,andthethirdofitscrewdisabled,preferredsinkingwithits356sailorstosurrendering;
　　and,nailingitscolourstothepoop,disappearedunderthewavestothecryof`LonglivetheRepublic!'"
　　"TheAvenger!"Iexclaimed.
　　"Yes,sir,theAvenger!Agoodname!"mutteredCaptainNemo,crossinghisarms.
　　CHAPTERXXI
　　AHECATOMB
　　Thewayofdescribingthisunlooked-forscene,thehistoryofthepatriotship,toldatfirstsocoldly,andtheemotionwithwhichthisstrangemanpronouncedthelastwords,thenameoftheAvenger,thesignificanceofwhichcouldnotescapeme,allimpresseditselfdeeplyonmymind.
　　MyeyesdidnotleavetheCaptain,who,withhishandstretchedouttosea,waswatchingwithaglowingeyethegloriouswreck.
　　PerhapsIwasnevertoknowwhohewas,fromwhencehecame,orwherehewasgoingto,butIsawthemanmove,andapartfromthesavant.ItwasnocommonmisanthropywhichhadshutCaptainNemoandhiscompanionswithintheNautilus,butahatred,eithermonstrousorsublime,whichtimecouldneverweaken.Didthishatredstillseekforvengeance?
　　Thefuturewouldsoonteachmethat.ButtheNautiluswasrisingslowlytothesurfaceofthesea,andtheformoftheAvengerdisappearedbydegreesfrommysight.
　　Soonaslightrollingtoldmethatwewereintheopenair.
　　Atthatmomentadullboomwasheard.IlookedattheCaptain.
　　Hedidnotmove.
　　"Captain?"saidI.
　　Hedidnotanswer.Ilefthimandmountedtheplatform.
　　ConseilandtheCanadianwerealreadythere.
　　"Wheredidthatsoundcomefrom?"Iasked.
　　"Itwasagunshot,"repliedNedLand.
　　IlookedinthedirectionofthevesselIhadalreadyseen.
　　ItwasnearingtheNautilus,andwecouldseethatitwasputtingonsteam.
　　Itwaswithinsixmilesofus.
　　"Whatisthatship,Ned?"
　　"Byitsrigging,andtheheightofitslowermasts,"saidtheCanadian,"Ibetsheisaship-of-war.Mayitreachus;and,ifnecessary,sinkthiscursedNautilus."
　　"FriendNed,"repliedConseil,"whatharmcanitdototheNautilus?
　　Canitattackitbeneaththewaves?Canitscannonadeusatthebottomofthesea?"
　　"Tellme,Ned,"saidI,"canyourecognisewhatcountryshebelongsto?"
　　TheCanadianknittedhiseyebrows,droppedhiseyelids,andscrewedupthecornersofhiseyes,andforafewmomentsfixedapiercinglookuponthevessel.
　　"No,sir,"hereplied;"Icannottellwhatnationshebelongsto,forsheshowsnocolours.ButIcandeclaresheisaman-of-war,foralongpennantfluttersfromhermainmast."
　　Foraquarterofanhourwewatchedtheshipwhichwassteamingtowardsus.Icouldnot,however,believethatshecouldseetheNautilusfromthatdistance;andstilllessthatshecouldknowwhatthissubmarineenginewas.SoontheCanadianinformedmethatshewasalarge,armoured,two-deckerram.
　　Athickblacksmokewaspouringfromhertwofunnels.
　　Herclosely-furledsailswerestoppedtoheryards.
　　Shehoistednoflagathermizzen-peak.Thedistancepreventedusfromdistinguishingthecoloursofherpennant,whichfloatedlikeathinribbon.Sheadvancedrapidly.
　　IfCaptainNemoallowedhertoapproach,therewasachanceofsalvationforus.
　　"Sir,"saidNedLand,"ifthatvesselpasseswithinamileofusIshallthrowmyselfintothesea,andIshouldadviseyoutodothesame."
　　IdidnotreplytotheCanadian'ssuggestion,butcontinuedwatchingtheship.WhetherEnglish,French,American,orRussian,shewouldbesuretotakeusinifwecouldonlyreachher.
　　Presentlyawhitesmokeburstfromtheforepartofthevessel;
　　somesecondsafter,thewater,agitatedbythefallofaheavybody,splashedthesternoftheNautilus,andshortlyafterwardsaloudexplosionstruckmyear.
　　"What!theyarefiringatus!"Iexclaimed.
　　"Sopleaseyou,sir,"saidNed,"theyhaverecognisedtheunicorn,andtheyarefiringatus."
　　"But,"Iexclaimed,"surelytheycanseethattherearemeninthecase?"
　　"Itis,perhaps,becauseofthat,"repliedNedLand,lookingatme.
　　Awholefloodoflightburstuponmymind.Doubtlesstheyknewnowhowtobelievethestoriesofthepretendedmonster.Nodoubt,onboardtheAbrahamLincoln,whentheCanadianstruckitwiththeharpoon,CommanderFarraguthadrecognisedinthesupposednarwhalasubmarinevessel,moredangerousthanasupernaturalcetacean.Yes,itmusthavebeenso;
　　andoneveryseatheywerenowseekingthisengineofdestruction.
　　Terribleindeed!if,aswesupposed,CaptainNemoemployedtheNautilusinworksofvengeance.Onthenightwhenwewereimprisonedinthatcell,inthemidstoftheIndianOcean,hadhenotattackedsomevessel?
　　Themanburiedinthecoralcemetery,hadhenotbeenavictimtotheshockcausedbytheNautilus?Yes,Irepeatit,itmustbeso.
　　OnepartofthemysteriousexistenceofCaptainNemohadbeenunveiled;
　　and,ifhisidentityhadnotbeenrecognised,atleast,thenationsunitedagainsthimwerenolongerhuntingachimericalcreature,butamanwhohadvowedadeadlyhatredagainstthem.
　　Alltheformidablepastrosebeforeme.Insteadofmeetingfriendsonboardtheapproachingship,wecouldonlyexpectpitilessenemies.
　　Buttheshotrattledaboutus.Someofthemstrucktheseaandricochetted,losingthemselvesinthedistance.ButnonetouchedtheNautilus.Thevesselwasnotmorethanthreemilesfromus.
　　Inspiteoftheseriouscannonade,CaptainNemodidnotappearontheplatform;but,ifoneoftheconicalprojectileshadstrucktheshelloftheNautilus,itwouldhavebeenfatal.TheCanadianthensaid,"Sir,wemustdoallwecantogetoutofthisdilemma.
　　Letussignalthem.Theywillthen,perhaps,understandthatwearehonestfolks."
　　NedLandtookhishandkerchieftowaveintheair;buthehadscarcelydisplayedit,whenhewasstruckdownbyanironhand,andfell,inspiteofhisgreatstrength,uponthedeck.
　　"Fool!"exclaimedtheCaptain,"doyouwishtobepiercedbythespuroftheNautilusbeforeitishurledatthisvessel?"
　　CaptainNemowasterribletohear;hewasstillmoreterribletosee.
　　Hisfacewasdeadlypale,withaspasmathisheart.Foraninstantitmusthaveceasedtobeat.Hispupilswerefearfullycontracted.
　　Hedidnotspeak,heroared,as,withhisbodythrownforward,hewrungtheCanadian'sshoulders.Then,leavinghim,andturningtotheshipofwar,whoseshotwasstillrainingaroundhim,heexclaimed,withapowerfulvoice,"Ah,shipofanaccursednation,youknowwhoIam!Idonotwantyourcolourstoknowyouby!
　　Look!andIwillshowyoumine!"
　　AndontheforepartoftheplatformCaptainNemounfurledablackflag,similartotheonehehadplacedattheSouthPole.
　　AtthatmomentashotstrucktheshelloftheNautilusobliquely,withoutpiercingit;and,reboundingneartheCaptain,waslostinthesea.
　　Heshruggedhisshoulders;and,addressingme,saidshortly,"Godown,youandyourcompanions,godown!"
　　"Sir,"Icried,"areyougoingtoattackthisvessel?"
　　"Sir,Iamgoingtosinkit."
　　"Youwillnotdothat?"
　　"Ishalldoit,"herepliedcoldly."AndIadviseyounottojudgeme,sir.Fatehasshownyouwhatyououghtnottohaveseen.
　　Theattackhasbegun;godown."
　　"Whatisthisvessel?"
　　"Youdonotknow?Verywell!somuchthebetter!
　　Itsnationalitytoyou,atleast,willbeasecret.Godown!"
　　Wecouldbutobey.AboutfifteenofthesailorssurroundedtheCaptain,lookingwithimplacablehatredatthevesselnearingthem.
　　Onecouldfeelthatthesamedesireofvengeanceanimatedeverysoul.
　　IwentdownatthemomentanotherprojectilestrucktheNautilus,andI
　　heardtheCaptainexclaim:
　　"Strike,madvessel!Showeryouruselessshot!Andthen,youwillnotescapethespuroftheNautilus.Butitisnotherethatyoushallperish!
　　IwouldnothaveyourruinsminglewiththoseoftheAvenger!"
　　Ireachedmyroom.TheCaptainandhissecondhadremainedontheplatform.
　　Thescrewwassetinmotion,andtheNautilus,movingwithspeed,wassoonbeyondthereachoftheship'sguns.Butthepursuitcontinued,andCaptainNemocontentedhimselfwithkeepinghisdistance.
　　Aboutfourintheafternoon,beingnolongerabletocontainmyimpatience,Iwenttothecentralstaircase.
　　Thepanelwasopen,andIventuredontotheplatform.
　　TheCaptainwasstillwalkingupanddownwithanagitatedstep.
　　Hewaslookingattheship,whichwasfiveorsixmilestoleeward.
　　Hewasgoingrounditlikeawildbeast,and,drawingiteastward,heallowedthemtopursue.Buthedidnotattack.
　　Perhapshestillhesitated?Iwishedtomediateoncemore.
　　ButIhadscarcelyspoken,whenCaptainNemoimposedsilence,saying:
　　"Iamthelaw,andIamthejudge!Iamtheoppressed,andthereistheoppressor!ThroughhimIhavelostallthatIloved,cherished,andvenerated——country,wife,children,father,andmother.
　　Isawallperish!AllthatIhateisthere!Saynomore!"
　　Icastalastlookattheman-of-war,whichwasputtingonsteam,andrejoinedNedandConseil.
　　"Wewillfly!"Iexclaimed.
　　"Good!"saidNed."Whatisthisvessel?"
　　"Idonotknow;but,whateveritis,itwillbesunkbeforenight.
　　Inanycase,itisbettertoperishwithit,thanbemadeaccomplicesinaretaliationthejusticeofwhichwecannotjudge."
　　"Thatismyopiniontoo,"saidNedLand,coolly."Letuswaitfornight."
　　Nightarrived.Deepsilencereignedonboard.
　　ThecompassshowedthattheNautilushadnotaltereditscourse.
　　Itwasonthesurface,rollingslightly.MycompanionsandI
　　resolvedtoflywhenthevesselshouldbenearenougheithertohearusortoseeus;forthemoon,whichwouldbefullintwoorthreedays,shonebrightly.Onceonboardtheship,ifwecouldnotpreventtheblowwhichthreatenedit,wecould,atleastwewould,doallthatcircumstanceswouldallow.
　　SeveraltimesIthoughttheNautiluswaspreparingforattack;
　　butCaptainNemocontentedhimselfwithallowinghisadversarytoapproach,andthenfledoncemorebeforeit.
　　Partofthenightpassedwithoutanyincident.Wewatchedtheopportunityforaction.Wespokelittle,forweweretoomuchmoved.
　　NedLandwouldhavethrownhimselfintothesea,butIforcedhimtowait.
　　Accordingtomyidea,theNautiluswouldattacktheshipatherwaterline,andthenitwouldnotonlybepossible,buteasytofly.
　　Atthreeinthemorning,fullofuneasiness,Imountedtheplatform.
　　CaptainNemohadnotleftit.Hewasstandingattheforepartnearhisflag,whichaslightbreezedisplayedabovehishead.Hedidnottakehiseyesfromthevessel.Theintensityofhislookseemedtoattract,andfascinate,anddrawitonwardmoresurelythanifhehadbeentowingit.
　　Themoonwasthenpassingthemeridian.Jupiterwasrisingintheeast.
　　Amidthispeacefulsceneofnature,skyandoceanrivalledeachotherintranquillity,theseaofferingtotheorbsofnightthefinestmirrortheycouldeverhaveinwhichtoreflecttheirimage.AsIthoughtofthedeepcalmoftheseelements,comparedwithallthosepassionsbroodingimperceptiblywithintheNautilus,Ishuddered.
　　Thevesselwaswithintwomilesofus.ItwasevernearingthatphosphorescentlightwhichshowedthepresenceoftheNautilus.