Icouldseeitsgreenandredlights,anditswhitelanternhangingfromthelargeforemast.Anindistinctvibrationquiveredthroughitsrigging,showingthatthefurnaceswereheatedtotheuttermost.
　　Sheavesofsparksandredashesflewfromthefunnels,shiningintheatmospherelikestars.
　　Iremainedthusuntilsixinthemorning,withoutCaptainNemonoticingme.
　　Theshipstoodaboutamileandahalffromus,andwiththefirstdawnofdaythefiringbeganafresh.Themomentcouldnotbefaroffwhen,theNautilusattackingitsadversary,mycompanionsandmyselfshouldforeverleavethisman.Iwaspreparingtogodowntoremindthem,whenthesecondmountedtheplatform,accompaniedbyseveralsailors.
　　CaptainNemoeitherdidnotorwouldnotseethem.Somestepsweretakenwhichmightbecalledthesignalforaction.Theywereverysimple.
　　Theironbalustradearoundtheplatformwaslowered,andthelanternandpilotcageswerepushedwithintheshelluntiltheywereflushwiththedeck.
　　Thelongsurfaceofthesteelcigarnolongerofferedasinglepointtocheckitsmanoeuvres.Ireturnedtothesaloon.TheNautilusstillfloated;
　　somestreaksoflightwerefilteringthroughtheliquidbeds.
　　Withtheundulationsofthewavesthewindowswerebrightenedbytheredstreaksoftherisingsun,andthisdreadfuldayofthe2ndofJunehaddawned.
　　Atfiveo'clock,thelogshowedthatthespeedoftheNautiluswasslackening,andIknewthatitwasallowingthemtodrawnearer.Besides,thereportswereheardmoredistinctly,andtheprojectiles,labouringthroughtheambientwater,wereextinguishedwithastrangehissingnoise.
　　"Myfriends,"saidI,"themomentiscome.Onegraspofthehand,andmayGodprotectus!"
　　NedLandwasresolute,Conseilcalm,myselfsonervousthatIknewnothowtocontainmyself.Weallpassedintothelibrary;butthemomentIpushedthedooropeningontothecentralstaircase,Iheardtheupperpanelclosesharply.
　　TheCanadianrushedontothestairs,butIstoppedhim.
　　Awell-knownhissingnoisetoldmethatthewaterwasrunningintothereservoirs,andinafewminutestheNautiluswassomeyardsbeneaththesurfaceofthewaves.
　　Iunderstoodthemanoeuvre.Itwastoolatetoact.
　　TheNautilusdidnotwishtostrikeattheimpenetrablecuirass,butbelowthewater-line,wherethemetalliccoveringnolongerprotectedit.
　　Wewereagainimprisoned,unwillingwitnessesofthedreadfuldramathatwaspreparing.Wehadscarcelytimetoreflect;
　　takingrefugeinmyroom,welookedateachotherwithoutspeaking.
　　Adeepstuporhadtakenholdofmymind:thoughtseemedtostandstill.
　　Iwasinthatpainfulstateofexpectationprecedingadreadfulreport.
　　Iwaited,Ilistened,everysensewasmergedinthatofhearing!
　　ThespeedoftheNautiluswasaccelerated.Itwaspreparingtorush.
　　Thewholeshiptrembled.SuddenlyIscreamed.Ifelttheshock,butcomparativelylight.Ifeltthepenetratingpowerofthesteelspur.
　　Iheardrattlingsandscrapings.ButtheNautilus,carriedalongbyitspropellingpower,passedthroughthemassofthevessellikeaneedlethroughsailcloth!
　　Icouldstanditnolonger.Mad,outofmymind,Irushedfrommyroomintothesaloon.CaptainNemowasthere,mute,gloomy,implacable;hewaslookingthroughtheportpanel.
　　Alargemasscastashadowonthewater;and,thatitmightlosenothingofheragony,theNautiluswasgoingdownintotheabysswithher.TenyardsfrommeIsawtheopenshell,throughwhichthewaterwasrushingwiththenoiseofthunder,thenthedoublelineofgunsandthenetting.Thebridgewascoveredwithblack,agitatedshadows.
　　Thewaterwasrising.Thepoorcreatureswerecrowdingtheratlines,clingingtothemasts,strugglingunderthewater.Itwasahumanant-heapovertakenbythesea.Paralysed,stiffenedwithanguish,myhairstandingonend,witheyeswideopen,panting,withoutbreath,andwithoutvoice,Itoowaswatching!Anirresistibleattractiongluedmetotheglass!
　　Suddenlyanexplosiontookplace.Thecompressedairblewupherdecks,asifthemagazineshadcaughtfire.Thentheunfortunatevesselsankmorerapidly.Hertopmast,ladenwithvictims,nowappeared;thenherspars,bendingundertheweightofmen;and,lastofall,thetopofhermainmast.
　　Thenthedarkmassdisappeared,andwithitthedeadcrew,drawndownbythestrongeddy.
　　IturnedtoCaptainNemo.Thatterribleavenger,aperfectarchangelofhatred,wasstilllooking.Whenallwasover,heturnedtohisroom,openedthedoor,andentered.
　　Ifollowedhimwithmyeyes.Ontheendwallbeneathhisheroes,Isawtheportraitofawoman,stillyoung,andtwolittlechildren.
　　CaptainNemolookedatthemforsomemoments,stretchedhisarmstowardsthem,and,kneelingdown,burstintodeepsobs.
　　CHAPTERXXII
　　THELASTWORDSOFCAPTAINNEMO
　　Thepanelshadclosedonthisdreadfulvision,butlighthadnotreturnedtothesaloon:allwassilenceanddarknesswithintheNautilus.
　　Atwonderfulspeed,ahundredfeetbeneaththewater,itwasleavingthisdesolatespot.Whitherwasitgoing?Tothenorthorsouth?
　　Wherewasthemanflyingtoaftersuchdreadfulretaliation?
　　Ihadreturnedtomyroom,whereNedandConseilhadremainedsilentenough.
　　IfeltaninsurmountablehorrorforCaptainNemo.Whateverhehadsufferedatthehandsofthesemen,hehadnorighttopunishthus.
　　Hehadmademe,ifnotanaccomplice,atleastawitnessofhisvengeance.
　　Ateleventheelectriclightreappeared.Ipassedintothesaloon.
　　Itwasdeserted.Iconsultedthedifferentinstruments.TheNautiluswasflyingnorthwardattherateoftwenty-fivemilesanhour,nowonthesurface,andnowthirtyfeetbelowit.Ontakingthebearingsbythechart,IsawthatwewerepassingthemouthoftheManche,andthatourcoursewashurryingustowardsthenorthernseasatafrightfulspeed.ThatnightwehadcrossedtwohundredleaguesoftheAtlantic.Theshadowsfell,andtheseawascoveredwithdarknessuntiltherisingofthemoon.Iwenttomyroom,butcouldnotsleep.Iwastroubledwithdreadfulnightmare.
　　Thehorriblesceneofdestructionwascontinuallybeforemyeyes.
　　Fromthatday,whocouldtellintowhatpartoftheNorthAtlanticbasintheNautiluswouldtakeus?Stillwithunaccountablespeed.
　　Stillinthemidstofthesenorthernfogs.WouldittouchatSpitzbergen,orontheshoresofNovaZembla?Shouldweexplorethoseunknownseas,theWhiteSea,theSeaofKara,theGulfofObi,theArchipelagoofLiarrov,andtheunknowncoastofAsia?Icouldnotsay.Icouldnolongerjudgeofthetimethatwaspassing.Theclockshadbeenstoppedonboard.
　　Itseemed,asinpolarcountries,thatnightanddaynolongerfollowedtheirregularcourse.IfeltmyselfbeingdrawnintothatstrangeregionwherethefounderedimaginationofEdgarPoeroamedatwill.
　　LikethefabulousGordonPym,ateverymomentIexpectedtosee"thatveiledhumanfigure,oflargerproportionsthanthoseofanyinhabitantoftheearth,thrownacrossthecataractwhichdefendstheapproachtothepole."
　　Iestimatedthough,perhaps,Imaybemistaken——IestimatedthisadventurouscourseoftheNautilustohavelastedfifteenortwentydays.
　　AndIknownothowmuchlongeritmighthavelasted,haditnotbeenforthecatastrophewhichendedthisvoyage.OfCaptainNemoIsawnothingwhatevernow,norofhissecond.Notamanofthecrewwasvisibleforaninstant.TheNautiluswasalmostincessantlyunderwater.Whenwecametothesurfacetorenewtheair,thepanelsopenedandshutmechanically.
　　Therewerenomoremarksontheplanisphere.Iknewnotwherewewere.
　　AndtheCanadian,too,hisstrengthandpatienceatanend,appearednomore.
　　Conseilcouldnotdrawawordfromhim;and,fearingthat,inadreadfulfitofmadness,hemightkillhimself,watchedhimwithconstantdevotion.
　　OnemorningwhatdateitwasIcouldnotsayIhadfallenintoaheavysleeptowardstheearlyhours,asleepbothpainfulandunhealthy,whenI
　　suddenlyawoke.NedLandwasleaningoverme,saying,inalowvoice,"Wearegoingtofly."Isatup.
　　"Whenshallwego?"Iasked.
　　"To-night.AllinspectiononboardtheNautilusseemstohaveceased.
　　Allappeartobestupefied.Youwillbeready,sir?"
　　"Yes;wherearewe?"
　　"Insightofland.Itookthereckoningthismorninginthefog——
　　twentymilestotheeast."
　　"Whatcountryisit?"
　　"Idonotknow;but,whateveritis,wewilltakerefugethere."
　　"Yes,Ned,yes.Wewillflyto-night,eveniftheseashouldswallowusup."
　　"Theseaisbad,thewindviolent,buttwentymilesinthatlightboatoftheNautilusdoesnotfrightenme.Unknowntothecrew,Ihavebeenabletoprocurefoodandsomebottlesofwater."
　　"Iwillfollowyou."
　　"But,"continuedtheCanadian,"ifIamsurprised,Iwilldefendmyself;
　　Iwillforcethemtokillme."
　　"Wewilldietogether,friendNed."
　　Ihadmadeupmymindtoall.TheCanadianleftme.
　　Ireachedtheplatform,onwhichIcouldwithdifficultysupportmyselfagainsttheshockofthewaves.Theskywasthreatening;
　　but,aslandwasinthosethickbrownshadows,wemustfly.
　　Ireturnedtothesaloon,fearingandyethopingtoseeCaptainNemo,wishingandyetnotwishingtoseehim.WhatcouldIhavesaidtohim?
　　CouldIhidetheinvoluntaryhorrorwithwhichheinspiredme?
　　No.ItwasbetterthatIshouldnotmeethimfacetoface;
　　bettertoforgethim.Andyet——Howlongseemedthatday,thelastthatIshouldpassintheNautilus.Iremainedalone.NedLandandConseilavoidedspeaking,forfearofbetrayingthemselves.
　　AtsixIdined,butIwasnothungry;Iforcedmyselftoeatinspiteofmydisgust,thatImightnotweakenmyself.Athalf-pastsixNedLandcametomyroom,saying,"Weshallnotseeeachotheragainbeforeourdeparture.Attenthemoonwillnotberisen.
　　Wewillprofitbythedarkness.Cometotheboat;ConseilandI
　　willwaitforyou."
　　TheCanadianwentoutwithoutgivingmetimetoanswer.
　　WishingtoverifythecourseoftheNautilus,Iwenttothesaloon.
　　WewererunningN.N.E.atfrightfulspeed,andmorethanfiftyyardsdeep.
　　Icastalastlookonthesewondersofnature,ontherichesofartheapedupinthismuseum,upontheunrivalledcollectiondestinedtoperishatthebottomofthesea,withhimwhohadformedit.
　　Iwishedtofixanindelibleimpressionofitinmymind.
　　Iremainedanhourthus,bathedinthelightofthatluminousceiling,andpassinginreviewthosetreasuresshiningundertheirglasses.
　　ThenIreturnedtomyroom.
　　Idressedmyselfinstrongseaclothing.Icollectedmynotes,placingthemcarefullyaboutme.Myheartbeatloudly.
　　Icouldnotcheckitspulsations.CertainlymytroubleandagitationwouldhavebetrayedmetoCaptainNemo'seyes.Whatwashedoingatthismoment?Ilistenedatthedoorofhisroom.Iheardsteps.
　　CaptainNemowasthere.Hehadnotgonetorest.AteverymomentIexpectedtoseehimappear,andaskmewhyIwishedtofly.
　　Iwasconstantlyonthealert.Myimaginationmagnifiedeverything.
　　TheimpressionbecameatlastsopoignantthatIaskedmyselfifitwouldnotbebettertogototheCaptain'sroom,seehimfacetoface,andbravehimwithlookandgesture.
　　Itwastheinspirationofamadman;fortunatelyIresistedthedesire,andstretchedmyselfonmybedtoquietmybodilyagitation.
　　Mynervesweresomewhatcalmer,butinmyexcitedbrainIsawoveragainallmyexistenceonboardtheNautilus;everyincident,eitherhappyorunfortunate,whichhadhappenedsincemydisappearancefromtheAbrahamLincoln——thesubmarinehunt,theTorresStraits,thesavagesofPapua,therunningashore,thecoralcemetery,thepassageofSuez,theIslandofSantorin,theCretandiver,VigoBay,Atlantis,theiceberg,theSouthPole,theimprisonmentintheice,thefightamongthepoulps,thestormintheGulfStream,theAvenger,andthehorriblesceneofthevesselsunkwithallhercrew.
　　Alltheseeventspassedbeforemyeyeslikescenesinadrama.
　　ThenCaptainNemoseemedtogrowenormously,hisfeaturestoassumesuperhumanproportions.Hewasnolongermyequal,butamanofthewaters,thegenieofthesea.
　　Itwasthenhalf-pastnine.Iheldmyheadbetweenmyhandstokeepitfrombursting.Iclosedmyeyes;Iwouldnotthinkanylonger.
　　Therewasanotherhalf-hourtowait,anotherhalf-hourofanightmare,whichmightdrivememad.
　　AtthatmomentIheardthedistantstrainsoftheorgan,asadharmonytoanundefinablechant,thewailofasoullongingtobreaktheseearthlybonds.
　　Ilistenedwitheverysense,scarcelybreathing;plunged,likeCaptainNemo,inthatmusicalecstasy,whichwasdrawinghiminspirittotheendoflife.
　　Thenasuddenthoughtterrifiedme.CaptainNemohadlefthisroom.
　　Hewasinthesaloon,whichImustcrosstofly.ThereIshouldmeethimforthelasttime.Hewouldseeme,perhapsspeaktome.
　　Agestureofhismightdestroyme,asinglewordchainmeonboard.
　　Buttenwasabouttostrike.Themomenthadcomeformetoleavemyroom,andjoinmycompanions.
　　Imustnothesitate,evenifCaptainNemohimselfshouldrisebeforeme.
　　Iopenedmydoorcarefully;andeventhen,asitturnedonitshinges,itseemedtometomakeadreadfulnoise.Perhapsitonlyexistedinmyownimagination.
　　IcreptalongthedarkstairsoftheNautilus,stoppingateachsteptocheckthebeatingofmyheart.Ireachedthedoorofthesaloon,andopeneditgently.Itwasplungedinprofounddarkness.
　　Thestrainsoftheorgansoundedfaintly.CaptainNemowasthere.
　　Hedidnotseeme.InthefulllightIdonotthinkhewouldhavenoticedme,soentirelywasheabsorbedintheecstasy.
　　Icreptalongthecarpet,avoidingtheslightestsoundwhichmightbetraymypresence.Iwasatleastfiveminutesreachingthedoor,attheoppositeside,openingintothelibrary.
　　Iwasgoingtoopenit,whenasighfromCaptainNemonailedmetothespot.
　　Iknewthathewasrising.Icouldevenseehim,forthelightfromthelibrarycamethroughtothesaloon.Hecametowardsmesilently,withhisarmscrossed,glidinglikeaspectreratherthanwalking.
　　Hisbreastwasswellingwithsobs;andIheardhimmurmurthesewordsthelastwhicheverstruckmyear:
　　"AlmightyGod!enough!enough!"
　　Wasitaconfessionofremorsewhichthusescapedfromthisman'sconscience?
　　Indesperation,Irushedthroughthelibrary,mountedthecentralstaircase,and,followingtheupperflight,reachedtheboat.
　　Icreptthroughtheopening,whichhadalreadyadmittedmytwocompanions.
　　"Letusgo!letusgo!"Iexclaimed.
　　"Directly!"repliedtheCanadian.
　　TheorificeintheplatesoftheNautiluswasfirstclosed,andfasteneddownbymeansofafalsekey,withwhichNedLandhadprovidedhimself;theopeningintheboatwasalsoclosed.
　　TheCanadianbegantoloosentheboltswhichstillheldustothesubmarineboat.
　　Suddenlyanoisewasheard.Voiceswereansweringeachotherloudly.
　　Whatwasthematter?Hadtheydiscoveredourflight?
　　IfeltNedLandslippingadaggerintomyhand.
　　"Yes,"Imurmured,"weknowhowtodie!"
　　TheCanadianhadstoppedinhiswork.Butonewordmanytimesrepeated,adreadfulword,revealedthecauseoftheagitationspreadingonboardtheNautilus.Itwasnotwethecrewwerelookingafter!
　　"Themaelstrom!themaelstrom!"Couldamoredreadfulwordinamoredreadfulsituationhavesoundedinourears!WewerethenuponthedangerouscoastofNorway.WastheNautilusbeingdrawnintothisgulfatthemomentourboatwasgoingtoleaveitssides?
　　Weknewthatatthetidethepent-upwatersbetweentheislandsofFerroeandLoffodenrushwithirresistibleviolence,formingawhirlpoolfromwhichnovesseleverescapes.
　　Fromeverypointofthehorizonenormouswavesweremeeting,formingagulfjustlycalledthe"NaveloftheOcean,"
　　whosepowerofattractionextendstoadistanceoftwelvemiles.
　　There,notonlyvessels,butwhalesaresacrificed,aswellaswhitebearsfromthenorthernregions.
　　ItisthitherthattheNautilus,voluntarilyorinvoluntarily,hadbeenrunbytheCaptain.
　　Itwasdescribingaspiral,thecircumferenceofwhichwaslesseningbydegrees,andtheboat,whichwasstillfastenedtoitsside,wascarriedalongwithgiddyspeed.Ifeltthatsicklygiddinesswhicharisesfromlong-continuedwhirlinground.
　　Wewereindread.Ourhorrorwasatitsheight,circulationhadstopped,allnervousinfluencewasannihilated,andwewerecoveredwithcoldsweat,likeasweatofagony!Andwhatnoisearoundourfrailbark!
　　Whatroaringsrepeatedbytheechomilesaway!Whatanuproarwasthatofthewatersbrokenonthesharprocksatthebottom,wherethehardestbodiesarecrushed,andtreeswornaway,"withallthefurrubbedoff,"
　　accordingtotheNorwegianphrase!
　　Whatasituationtobein!Werockedfrightfully.TheNautilusdefendeditselflikeahumanbeing.Itssteelmusclescracked.
　　Sometimesitseemedtostandupright,andwewithit!
　　"Wemustholdon,"saidNed,"andlookafterthebolts.
　　WemaystillbesavedifwesticktotheNautilus."
　　Hehadnotfinishedthewords,whenweheardacrashingnoise,theboltsgaveway,andtheboat,tornfromitsgroove,washurledlikeastonefromaslingintothemidstofthewhirlpool.
　　Myheadstruckonapieceofiron,andwiththeviolentshockIlostallconsciousness.
　　CHAPTERXXIII
　　CONCLUSION
　　Thusendsthevoyageundertheseas.Whatpassedduringthatnight——
　　howtheboatescapedfromtheeddiesofthemaelstrom——
　　howNedLand,Conseil,andmyselfevercameoutofthegulf,Icannottell.
　　ButwhenIreturnedtoconsciousness,Iwaslyinginafisherman'shut,ontheLoffodenIsles.Mytwocompanions,safeandsound,werenearmeholdingmyhands.Weembracedeachotherheartily.
　　AtthatmomentwecouldnotthinkofreturningtoFrance.ThemeansofcommunicationbetweenthenorthofNorwayandthesoutharerare.
　　AndIamthereforeobligedtowaitforthesteamboatrunningmonthlyfromCapeNorth.
　　And,amongtheworthypeoplewhohavesokindlyreceivedus,Irevisemyrecordoftheseadventuresoncemore.
　　Notafacthasbeenomitted,notadetailexaggerated.
　　Itisafaithfulnarrativeofthisincredibleexpeditioninanelementinaccessibletoman,buttowhichProgresswillonedayopenaroad.
　　ShallIbebelieved?Idonotknow.Anditmatterslittle,afterall.
　　WhatInowaffirmis,thatIhavearighttospeakoftheseseas,underwhich,inlessthantenmonths,Ihavecrossed20,000leaguesinthatsubmarinetouroftheworld,whichhasrevealedsomanywonders.
　　ButwhathasbecomeoftheNautilus?Diditresistthepressureofthemaelstrom?DoesCaptainNemostilllive?Anddoeshestillfollowundertheoceanthosefrightfulretaliations?
　　Or,didhestopafterthelasthecatomb?
　　Willthewavesonedaycarrytohimthismanuscriptcontainingthehistoryofhislife?ShallIeverknowthenameofthisman?
　　WillthemissingvesseltellusbyitsnationalitythatofCaptainNemo?
　　Ihopeso.AndIalsohopethathispowerfulvesselhasconqueredtheseaatitsmostterriblegulf,andthattheNautilushassurvivedwheresomanyothervesselshavebeenlost!Ifitbeso——ifCaptainNemostillinhabitstheocean,hisadoptedcountry,mayhatredbeappeasedinthatsavageheart!Maythecontemplationofsomanywondersextinguishforeverthespiritofvengeance!Maythejudgedisappear,andthephilosophercontinuethepeacefulexplorationofthesea!
　　Ifhisdestinybestrange,itisalsosublime.HaveInotunderstooditmyself?HaveInotlivedtenmonthsofthisunnaturallife?
　　AndtothequestionaskedbyEcclesiastesthreethousandyearsago,"Thatwhichisfaroffandexceedingdeep,whocanfinditout?"
　　twomenaloneofallnowlivinghavetherighttogiveananswer——
　　CAPTAINNEMOANDMYSELF.