Jules Verne ...............................................................................................................................................1

The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which

doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention rumours which agitated the maritime population and

excited the public mind, even in the interior of continents, seafaring men were particularly excited.

Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, both of Europe and America, naval officers of all

countries, and the Governments of several States on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter.

For some time past vessels had been met by "an enormous thing," a long object, spindleshaped, occasionally

phosphorescent, and infinitely larger and more rapid in its movements than a whale.

The facts relating to this apparition (entered in various logbooks) agreed in most respects as to the shape of

the object or creature in question, the untiring rapidity of its movements, its surprising power of locomotion,

and the peculiar life with which it seemed endowed. If it was a whale, it surpassed in size all those hitherto

classified in science. Taking into consideration the mean of observations made at divers times rejecting the

timid estimate of those who assigned to this object a length of two hundred feet, equally with the exaggerated

opinions which set it down as a mile in width and three in lengthwe might fairly conclude that this

mysterious being surpassed greatly all dimensions admitted by the learned ones of the day, if it existed at all.

And that it DID exist was an undeniable fact; and, with that tendency which disposes the human mind in

favour of the marvellous, we can understand the excitement produced in the entire world by this supernatural

apparition. As to classing it in the list of fables, the idea was out of the question.

On the 20th of July, 1866, the steamer Governor Higginson, of the Calcutta and Burnach Steam Navigation

Company, had met this moving mass five miles off the east coast of Australia. Captain Baker thought at first

that he was in the presence of an unknown sandbank; he even prepared to determine its exact position when

two columns of water, projected by the mysterious object, shot with a hissing noise a hundred and fifty feet

up into the air. Now, unless the sandbank had been submitted to the intermittent eruption of a geyser, the

Governor Higginson had to do neither more nor less than with an aquatic mammal, unknown till then, which

Similar facts were observed on the 23rd of July in the same year, in the Pacific Ocean, by the Columbus, of

the West India and Pacific Steam Navigation Company. But this extraordinary creature could transport itself

from one place to another with surprising velocity; as, in an interval of three days, the Governor Higginson

and the Columbus had observed it at two different points of the chart, separated by a distance of more than

Fifteen days later, two thousand miles farther off, the Helvetia, of the CompagnieNationale, and the

Shannon, of the Royal Mail Steamship Company, sailing to windward in that portion of the Atlantic lying

between the United States and Europe, respectively signalled the monster to each other in 42@ 15' N. lat. and

60@ 35' W. long. In these simultaneous observations they thought themselves justified in estimating the

minimum length of the mammal at more than three hundred and fifty feet, as the Shannon and Helvetia were

of smaller dimensions than it, though they measured three hundred feet over all.

Now the largest whales, those which frequent those parts of the sea round the Aleutian, Kulammak, and

Umgullich islands, have never exceeded the length of sixty yards, if they attain that.

In every place of great resort the monster was the fashion. They sang of it in the cafes, ridiculed it in the

papers, and represented it on the stage. All kinds of stories were circulated regarding it. There appeared in the

papers caricatures of every gigantic and imaginary creature, from the white whale, the terrible "Moby Dick"

of subarctic regions, to the immense kraken, whose tentacles could entangle a ship of five hundred tons and

hurry it into the abyss of the ocean. The legends of ancient times were even revived.

Then burst forth the unending argument between the believers and the unbelievers in the societies of the wise

and the scientific journals. "The question of the monster" inflamed all minds. Editors of scientific journals,

quarrelling with believers in the supernatural, spilled seas of ink during this memorable campaign, some even

During the first months of the year 1867 the question seemed buried, never to revive, when new facts were

brought before the public. It was then no longer a scientific problem to be solved, but a real danger seriously

to be avoided. The question took quite another shape. The monster became a small island, a rock, a reef, but a

On the 5th of March, 1867, the Moravian, of the Montreal Ocean Company, finding herself during the night

in 27@ 30' lat. and 72@ 15' long., struck on her starboard quarter a rock, marked in no chart for that part of

the sea. Under the combined efforts of the wind and its four hundred horse power, it was going at the rate of

thirteen knots. Had it not been for the superior strength of the hull of the Moravian, she would have been

broken by the shock and gone down with the 237 passengers she was bringing home from Canada.

The accident happened about five o'clock in the morning, as the day was breaking. The officers of the

quarterdeck hurried to the afterpart of the vessel. They examined the sea with the most careful attention.

They saw nothing but a strong eddy about three cables' length distant, as if the surface had been violently

agitated. The bearings of the place were taken exactly, and the Moravian continued its route without apparent

damage. Had it struck on a submerged rock, or on an enormous wreck? They could not tell; but, on

examination of the ship's bottom when undergoing repairs, it was found that part of her keel was broken.

This fact, so grave in itself, might perhaps have been forgotten like many others if, three weeks after, it had

not been reenacted under similar circumstances. But, thanks to the nationality of the victim of the shock,

thanks to the reputation of the company to which the vessel belonged, the circumstance became extensively

The 13th of April, 1867, the sea being beautiful, the breeze favourable, the Scotia, of the Cunard Company's

line, found herself in 15@ 12' long. and 45@ 37' lat. She was going at the speed of thirteen knots and a half.

At seventeen minutes past four in the afternoon, whilst the passengers were assembled at lunch in the great

saloon, a slight shock was felt on the hull of the Scotia, on her quarter, a little aft of the portpaddle.

The Scotia had not struck, but she had been struck, and seemingly by something rather sharp and penetrating

than blunt. The shock had been so slight that no one had been alarmed, had it not been for the shouts of the

carpenter's watch, who rushed on to the bridge, exclaiming, "We are sinking! we are sinking!" At first the

passengers were much frightened, but Captain Anderson hastened to reassure them. The danger could not be

imminent. The Scotia, divided into seven compartments by strong partitions, could brave with impunity any

leak. Captain Anderson went down immediately into the hold. He found that the sea was pouring into the

fifth compartment; and the rapidity of the influx proved that the force of the water was considerable.

Fortunately this compartment did not hold the boilers, or the fires would have been immediately

extinguished. Captain Anderson ordered the engines to be stopped at once, and one of the men went down to

ascertain the extent of the injury. Some minutes afterwards they discovered the existence of a large hole, two

yards in diameter, in the ship's bottom. Such a leak could not be stopped; and the Scotia, her paddles half

submerged, was obliged to continue her course. She was then three hundred miles from Cape Clear, and, after

three days' delay, which caused great uneasiness in Liverpool, she entered the basin of the company.

The engineers visited the Scotia, which was put in dry dock. They could scarcely believe it possible; at two

yards and a half below watermark was a regular rent, in the form of an isosceles triangle. The broken place

in the iron plates was so perfectly defined that it could not have been more neatly done by a punch. It was

clear, then, that the instrument producing the perforation was not of a common stamp and, after having been

driven with prodigious strength, and piercing an iron plate 1 3/8 inches thick, had withdrawn itself by a

Such was the last fact, which resulted in exciting once more the torrent of public opinion. From this moment

all unlucky casualties which could not be otherwise accounted for were put down to the monster.

Upon this imaginary creature rested the responsibility of all these shipwrecks, which unfortunately were

considerable; for of three thousand ships whose loss was annually recorded at Lloyd's, the number of sailing

and steamships supposed to be totally lost, from the absence of all news, amounted to not less than two

Now, it was the "monster" who, justly or unjustly, was accused of their disappearance, and, thanks to it,

communication between the different continents became more and more dangerous. The public demanded

sharply that the seas should at any price be relieved from this formidable cetacean. [1]

At the period when these events took place, I had just returned from a scientific research in the disagreeable

territory of Nebraska, in the United States. In virtue of my office as Assistant Professor in the Museum of

Natural History in Paris, the French Government had attached me to that expedition. After six months in

Nebraska, I arrived in New York towards the end of March, laden with a precious collection. My departure

for France was fixed for the first days in May. Meanwhile I was occupying myself in classifying my

mineralogical, botanical, and zoological riches, when the accident happened to the Scotia.

I was perfectly up in the subject which was the question of the day. How could I be otherwise? I had read and

reread all the American and European papers without being any nearer a conclusion. This mystery puzzled

me. Under the impossibility of forming an opinion, I jumped from one extreme to the other. That there really

was something could not be doubted, and the incredulous were invited to put their finger on the wound of the

On my arrival at New York the question was at its height. The theory of the floating island, and the

unapproachable sandbank, supported by minds little competent to form a judgment, was abandoned. And,

indeed, unless this shoal had a machine in its stomach, how could it change its position with such astonishing

From the same cause, the idea of a floating hull of an enormous wreck was given up.

There remained, then, only two possible solutions of the question, which created two distinct parties: on one

side, those who were for a monster of colossal strength; on the other, those who were for a submarine vessel

But this last theory, plausible as it was, could not stand against inquiries made in both worlds. That a private

gentleman should have such a machine at his command was not likely. Where, when, and how was it built?

and how could its construction have been kept secret? Certainly a Government might possess such a

destructive machine. And in these disastrous times, when the ingenuity of man has multiplied the power of

weapons of war, it was possible that, without the knowledge of others, a State might try to work such a

But the idea of a war machine fell before the declaration of Governments. As public interest was in question,

and transatlantic communications suffered, their veracity could not be doubted. But how admit that the

construction of this submarine boat had escaped the public eye? For a private gentleman to keep the secret

under such circumstances would be very difficult, and for a State whose every act is persistently watched by

Upon my arrival in New York several persons did me the honour of consulting me on the phenomenon in

question. I had published in France a work in quarto, in two volumes, entitled Mysteries of the Great

Submarine Grounds. This book, highly approved of in the learned world, gained for me a special reputation

in this rather obscure branch of Natural History. My advice was asked. As long as I could deny the reality of

the fact, I confined myself to a decided negative. But soon, finding myself driven into a corner, I was obliged

to explain myself point by point. I discussed the question in all its forms, politically and scientifically; and I

give here an extract from a carefullystudied article which I published in the number of the 30th of April. It

"After examining one by one the different theories, rejecting all other suggestions, it becomes necessary to

"The great depths of the ocean are entirely unknown to us. Soundings cannot reach them. What passes in

those remote depths what beings live, or can live, twelve or fifteen miles beneath the surface of the

waterswhat is the organisation of these animals, we can scarcely conjecture. However, the solution of the

problem submitted to me may modify the form of the dilemma. Either we do know all the varieties of beings

which people our planet, or we do not. If we do NOT know them allif Nature has still secrets in the deeps

for us, nothing is more conformable to reason than to admit the existence of fishes, or cetaceans of other

kinds, or even of new species, of an organisation formed to inhabit the strata inaccessible to soundings, and

which an accident of some sort has brought at long intervals to the upper level of the ocean.

"If, on the contrary, we DO know all living kinds, we must necessarily seek for the animal in question

amongst those marine beings already classed; and, in that case, I should be disposed to admit the existence of

"The common narwhal, or unicorn of the sea, often attains a length of sixty feet. Increase its size fivefold or

tenfold, give it strength proportionate to its size, lengthen its destructive weapons, and you obtain the animal

required. It will have the proportions determined by the officers of the Shannon, the instrument required by

the perforation of the Scotia, and the power necessary to pierce the hull of the steamer.

"Indeed, the narwhal is armed with a sort of ivory sword, a halberd, according to the expression of certain

naturalists. The principal tusk has the hardness of steel. Some of these tusks have been found buried in the

bodies of whales, which the unicorn always attacks with success. Others have been drawn out, not without

trouble, from the bottoms of ships, which they had pierced through and through, as a gimlet pierces a barrel.

The Museum of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris possesses one of these defensive weapons, two yards and a

"Very well! suppose this weapon to be six times stronger and the animal ten times more powerful; launch it at

the rate of twenty miles an hour, and you obtain a shock capable of producing the catastrophe required. Until

further information, therefore, I shall maintain it to be a seaunicorn of colossal dimensions, armed not with a

halberd, but with a real spur, as the armoured frigates, or the `rams' of war, whose massiveness and motive

power it would possess at the same time. Thus may this puzzling phenomenon be explained, unless there be

something over and above all that one has ever conjectured, seen, perceived, or experienced; which is just

These last words were cowardly on my part; but, up to a certain point, I wished to shelter my dignity as

professor, and not give too much cause for laughter to the Americans, who laugh well when they do laugh. I

reserved for myself a way of escape. In effect, however, I admitted the existence of the "monster." My article

was warmly discussed, which procured it a high reputation. It rallied round it a certain number of partisans.

The solution it proposed gave, at least, full liberty to the imagination. The human mind delights in grand

conceptions of supernatural beings. And the sea is precisely their best vehicle, the only medium through

which these giants (against which terrestrial animals, such as elephants or rhinoceroses, are as nothing) can

The industrial and commercial papers treated the question chiefly from this point of view. The Shipping and

Mercantile Gazette, the Lloyd's List, the PacketBoat, and the Maritime and Colonial Review, all papers

devoted to insurance companies which threatened to raise their rates of premium, were unanimous on this

point. Public opinion had been pronounced. The United States were the first in the field; and in New York

they made preparations for an expedition destined to pursue this narwhal. A frigate of great speed, the

Abraham Lincoln, was put in commission as soon as possible. The arsenals were opened to Commander

Farragut, who hastened the arming of his frigate; but, as it always happens, the moment it was decided to

pursue the monster, the monster did not appear. For two months no one heard it spoken of. No ship met with

it. It seemed as if this unicorn knew of the plots weaving around it. It had been so much talked of, even

through the Atlantic cable, that jesters pretended that this slender fly had stopped a telegram on its passage

So when the frigate had been armed for a long campaign, and provided with formidable fishing apparatus, no

one could tell what course to pursue. Impatience grew apace, when, on the 2nd of July, they learned that a

steamer of the line of San Francisco, from California to Shanghai, had seen the animal three weeks before in

the North Pacific Ocean. The excitement caused by this news was extreme. The ship was revictualled and

Three hours before the Abraham Lincoln left Brooklyn pier, I received a letter worded as follows:

SIR,If you will consent to join the Abraham Lincoln in this expedition, the Government of the United

States will with pleasure see France represented in the enterprise. Commander Farragut has a cabin at your

Three seconds before the arrival of J. B. Hobson's letter I no more thought of pursuing the unicorn than of

attempting the passage of the North Sea. Three seconds after reading the letter of the honourable Secretary of

Marine, I felt that my true vocation, the sole end of my life, was to chase this disturbing monster and purge it

But I had just returned from a fatiguing journey, weary and longing for repose. I aspired to nothing more than

again seeing my country, my friends, my little lodging by the Jardin des Plantes, my dear and precious

collectionsbut nothing could keep me back! I forgot allfatigue, friends and collectionsand accepted

"Besides," thought I, "all roads lead back to Europe; and the unicorn may be amiable enough to hurry me

towards the coast of France. This worthy animal may allow itself to be caught in the seas of Europe (for my

particular benefit), and I will not bring back less than half a yard of his ivory halberd to the Museum of

Natural History." But in the meanwhile I must seek this narwhal in the North Pacific Ocean, which, to return

Conseil was my servant, a true, devoted Flemish boy, who had accompanied me in all my travels. I liked him,

and he returned the liking well. He was quiet by nature, regular from principle, zealous from habit, evincing

little disturbance at the different surprises of life, very quick with his hands, and apt at any service required of

Conseil had followed me for the last ten years wherever science led. Never once did he complain of the

length or fatigue of a journey, never make an objection to pack his portmanteau for whatever country it might

be, or however far away, whether China or Congo. Besides all this, he had good health, which defied all

sickness, and solid muscles, but no nerves; good morals are understood. This boy was thirty years old, and his

age to that of his master as fifteen to twenty. May I be excused for saying that I was forty years old?

But Conseil had one fault: he was ceremonious to a degree, and would never speak to me but in the third

"Conseil," said I again, beginning with feverish hands to make preparations for my departure.

Certainly I was sure of this devoted boy. As a rule, I never asked him if it were convenient for him or not to

follow me in my travels; but this time the expedition in question might be prolonged, and the enterprise might

be hazardous in pursuit of an animal capable of sinking a frigate as easily as a nutshell. Here there was matter

for reflection even to the most impassive man in the world. What would Conseil say?

"Yes, my boy; make preparations for me and yourself too. We leave in two hours."

"Not an instant to lose; lock in my trunk all travelling utensils, coats, shirts, and stockingswithout

"Oh! it will be nothing; not quite so direct a road, that is all. We take our passage in the Abraham, Lincoln."

"You see, my friend, it has to do with the monster the famous narwhal. We are going to purge it from the

seas. A glorious mission, but a dangerous one! We cannot tell where we may go; these animals can be very

capricious. But we will go whether or no; we have got a captain who is pretty wideawake."

Our luggage was transported to the deck of the frigate immediately. I hastened on board and asked for

Commander Farragut. One of the sailors conducted me to the poop, where I found myself in the presence of a

The Abraham Lincoln had been well chosen and equipped for her new destination. She was a frigate of great

speed, fitted with highpressure engines which admitted a pressure of seven atmospheres. Under this the

Abraham Lincoln attained the mean speed of nearly eighteen knots and a third an hour a considerable

The interior arrangements of the frigate corresponded to its nautical qualities. I was well satisfied with my

"As well, by your honour's leave, as a hermitcrab in the shell of a whelk," said Conseil.

I left Conseil to stow our trunks conveniently away, and remounted the poop in order to survey the

At that moment Commander Farragut was ordering the last moorings to be cast loose which held the

Abraham Lincoln to the pier of Brooklyn. So in a quarter of an hour, perhaps less, the frigate would have

sailed without me. I should have missed this extraordinary, supernatural, and incredible expedition, the recital

But Commander Farragut would not lose a day nor an hour in scouring the seas in which the animal had been

Captain Farragut was a good seaman, worthy of the frigate he commanded. His vessel and he were one. He

was the soul of it. On the question of the monster there was no doubt in his mind, and he would not allow the

existence of the animal to be disputed on board. He believed in it, as certain good women believe in the

leviathanby faith, not by reason. The monster did exist, and he had sworn to rid the seas of it. Either

Captain Farragut would kill the narwhal, or the narwhal would kill the captain. There was no third course.

The officers on board shared the opinion of their chief. They were ever chatting, discussing, and calculating

the various chances of a meeting, watching narrowly the vast surface of the ocean. More than one took up his

quarters voluntarily in the crosstrees, who would have cursed such a berth under any other circumstances.

As long as the sun described its daily course, the rigging was crowded with sailors, whose feet were burnt to

such an extent by the heat of the deck as to render it unbearable; still the Abraham Lincoln had not yet

breasted the suspected waters of the Pacific. As to the ship's company, they desired nothing better than to

meet the unicorn, to harpoon it, hoist it on board, and despatch it. They watched the sea with eager attention.

Besides, Captain Farragut had spoken of a certain sum of two thousand dollars, set apart for whoever should

For my own part I was not behind the others, and, left to no one my share of daily observations. The frigate

might have been called the Argus, for a hundred reasons. Only one amongst us, Conseil, seemed to protest by

his indifference against the question which so interested us all, and seemed to be out of keeping with the

I have said that Captain Farragut had carefully provided his ship with every apparatus for catching the

gigantic cetacean. No whaler had ever been better armed. We possessed every known engine, from the

harpoon thrown by the hand to the barbed arrows of the blunderbuss, and the explosive balls of the

duckgun. On the forecastle lay the perfection of a breechloading gun, very thick at the breech, and very

narrow in the bore, the model of which had been in the Exhibition of 1867. This precious weapon of

American origin could throw with ease a conical projectile of nine pounds to a mean distance of ten miles.

Thus the Abraham Lincoln wanted for no means of destruction; and, what was better still she had on board

Ned Land was a Canadian, with an uncommon quickness of hand, and who knew no equal in his dangerous

occupation. Skill, coolness, audacity, and cunning he possessed in a superior degree, and it must be a cunning

Ned Land was about forty years of age; he was a tall man (more than six feet high), strongly built, grave and

taciturn, occasionally violent, and very passionate when contradicted. His person attracted attention, but

above all the boldness of his look, which gave a singular expression to his face.

Who calls himself Canadian calls himself French; and, little communicative as Ned Land was, I must admit

that he took a certain liking for me. My nationality drew him to me, no doubt. It was an opportunity for him

to talk, and for me to hear, that old language of Rabelais, which is still in use in some Canadian provinces.

The harpooner's family was originally from Quebec, and was already a tribe of hardy fishermen when this

Little by little, Ned Land acquired a taste for chatting, and I loved to hear the recital of his adventures in the

polar seas. He related his fishing, and his combats, with natural poetry of expression; his recital took the form

of an epic poem, and I seemed to be listening to a Canadian Homer singing the Iliad of the regions of the

I am portraying this hardy companion as I really knew him. We are old friends now, united in that

unchangeable friendship which is born and cemented amidst extreme dangers. Ah, brave Ned! I ask no more

than to live a hundred years longer, that I may have more time to dwell the longer on your memory.

Now, what was Ned Land's opinion upon the question of the marine monster? I must admit that he did not

believe in the unicorn, and was the only one on board who did not share that universal conviction. He even

avoided the subject, which I one day thought it my duty to press upon him. One magnificent evening, the

30th July (that is to say, three weeks after our departure), the frigate was abreast of Cape Blanc, thirty miles

to leeward of the coast of Patagonia. We had crossed the tropic of Capricorn, and the Straits of Magellan

opened less than seven hundred miles to the south. Before eight days were over the Abraham Lincoln would

Seated on the poop, Ned Land and I were chatting of one thing and another as we looked at this mysterious

sea, whose great depths had up to this time been inaccessible to the eye of man. I naturally led up the

conversation to the giant unicorn, and examined the various chances of success or failure of the expedition.

But, seeing that Ned Land let me speak without saying too much himself, I pressed him more closely.

"Well, Ned," said I, "is it possible that you are not convinced of the existence of this cetacean that we are

The harpooner looked at me fixedly for some moments before answering, struck his broad forehead with his

hand (a habit of his), as if to collect himself, and said at last, "Perhaps I have, Mr. Aronnax."

"But, Ned, you, a whaler by profession, familiarised with all the great marine mammaliaYOU ought to be

"That is just what deceives you, Professor," replied Ned. "As a whaler I have followed many a cetacean,

harpooned a great number, and killed several; but, however strong or wellarmed they may have been,

neither their tails nor their weapons would have been able even to scratch the iron plates of a steamer."

"But, Ned, they tell of ships which the teeth of the narwhal have pierced through and through."

"Wooden shipsthat is possible," replied the Canadian, "but I have never seen it done; and, until further

proof, I deny that whales, cetaceans, or seaunicorns could ever produce the effect you describe."

"Well, Ned, I repeat it with a conviction resting on the logic of facts. I believe in the existence of a mammal

power fully organised, belonging to the branch of vertebrata, like the whales, the cachalots, or the dolphins,

"Hum!" said the harpooner, shaking his head with the air of a man who would not be convinced.

"Notice one thing, my worthy Canadian," I resumed. "If such an animal is in existence, if it inhabits the

depths of the ocean, if it frequents the strata lying miles below the surface of the water, it must necessarily

"Because it requires incalculable strength to keep one's self in these strata and resist their pressure. Listen to

me. Let us admit that the pressure of the atmosphere is represented by the weight of a column of water

thirtytwo feet high. In reality the column of water would be shorter, as we are speaking of sea water, the

density of which is greater than that of fresh water. Very well, when you dive, Ned, as many times 32 feet of

water as there are above you, so many times does your body bear a pressure equal to that of the atmosphere,

that is to say, 15 lb. for each square inch of its surface. It follows, then, that at 320 feet this pressure equals

that of 10 atmospheres, of 100 atmospheres at 3,200 feet, and of 1,000 atmospheres at 32,000 feet, that is,

about 6 miles; which is equivalent to saying that if you could attain this depth in the ocean, each square

threeeighths of an inch of the surface of your body would bear a pressure of 5,600 lb. Ah! my brave Ned, do

"About 6,500; and as in reality the atmospheric pressure is about 15 lb. to the square inch, your 6,500 square

"Without your perceiving it. And if you are not crushed by such a pressure, it is because the air penetrates the

interior of your body with equal pressure. Hence perfect equilibrium between the interior and exterior

pressure, which thus neutralise each other, and which allows you to bear it without inconvenience. But in the

"Yes, I understand," replied Ned, becoming more attentive; "because the water surrounds me, but does not

"Precisely, Ned: so that at 32 feet beneath the surface of the sea you would undergo a pressure of 97,500 lb.;

at 320 feet, ten times that pressure; at 3,200 feet, a hundred times that pressure; lastly, at 32,000 feet, a

thousand times that pressure would be 97,500,000 lb.that is to say, that you would be flattened as if you

"Very well, my worthy harpooner, if some vertebrate, several hundred yards long, and large in proportion,

can maintain itself in such depths of those whose surface is represented by millions of square inches, that

is by tens of millions of pounds, we must estimate the pressure they undergo. Consider, then, what must be

the resistance of their bony structure, and the strength of their organisation to withstand such pressure!"

"Why!" exclaimed Ned Land, "they must be made of iron plates eight inches thick, like the armoured

"As you say, Ned. And think what destruction such a mass would cause, if hurled with the speed of an

"Yescertainlyperhaps," replied the Canadian, shaken by these figures, but not yet willing to give in.

"You have convinced me of one thing, sir, which is that, if such animals do exist at the bottom of the seas,

"But if they do not exist, mine obstinate harpooner, how explain the accident to the Scotia?"

The voyage of the Abraham Lincoln was for a long time marked by no special incident. But one circumstance

happened which showed the wonderful dexterity of Ned Land, and proved what confidence we might place in

The 30th of June, the frigate spoke some American whalers, from whom we learned that they knew nothing

about the narwhal. But one of them, the captain of the Monroe, knowing that Ned Land had shipped on board

the Abraham Lincoln, begged for his help in chasing a whale they had in sight. Commander Farragut,

desirous of seeing Ned Land at work, gave him permission to go on board the Monroe. And fate served our

Canadian so well that, instead of one whale, he harpooned two with a double blow, striking one straight to the

Decidedly, if the monster ever had to do with Ned Land's harpoon, I would not bet in its favour.

The frigate skirted the southeast coast of America with great rapidity. The 3rd of July we were at the

opening of the Straits of Magellan, level with Cape Vierges. But Commander Farragut would not take a

The ship's crew agreed with him. And certainly it was possible that they might meet the narwhal in this

narrow pass. Many of the sailors affirmed that the monster could not pass there, "that he was too big for

The 6th of July, about three o'clock in the afternoon, the Abraham Lincoln, at fifteen miles to the south,

doubled the solitary island, this lost rock at the extremity of the American continent, to which some Dutch

sailors gave the name of their native town, Cape Horn. The course was taken towards the northwest, and the

next day the screw of the frigate was at last beating the waters of the Pacific.

And they were opened widely. Both eyes and glasses, a little dazzled, it is true, by the prospect of two

I myself, for whom money had no charms, was not the least attentive on board. Giving but few minutes to my

meals, but a few hours to sleep, indifferent to either rain or sunshine, I did not leave the poop of the vessel.

Now leaning on the netting of the forecastle, now on the taffrail, I devoured with eagerness the soft foam

which whitened the sea as far as the eye could reach; and how often have I shared the emotion of the majority

of the crew, when some capricious whale raised its black back above the waves! The poop of the vessel was

crowded on a moment. The cabins poured forth a torrent of sailors and officers, each with heaving breast and

troubled eye watching the course of the cetacean. I looked and looked till I was nearly blind, whilst Conseil

But vain excitement! The Abraham Lincoln checked its speed and made for the animal signalled, a simple

But the weather was good. The voyage was being accomplished under the most favourable auspices. It was

then the bad season in Australia, the July of that zone corresponding to our January in Europe, but the sea

The 20th of July, the tropic of Capricorn was cut by 105d of longitude, and the 27th of the same month we

crossed the Equator on the 110th meridian. This passed, the frigate took a more decided westerly direction,

and scoured the central waters of the Pacific. Commander Farragut thought, and with reason, that it was

better to remain in deep water, and keep clear of continents or islands, which the beast itself seemed to shun

(perhaps because there was not enough water for him! suggested the greater part of the crew). The frigate

passed at some distance from the Marquesas and the Sandwich Islands, crossed the tropic of Cancer, and

made for the China Seas. We were on the theatre of the last diversions of the monster: and, to say truth, we no

longer LIVED on board. The entire ship's crew were undergoing a nervous excitement, of which I can give

no idea: they could not eat, they could not sleeptwenty times a day, a misconception or an optical illusion

of some sailor seated on the taffrail, would cause dreadful perspirations, and these emotions, twenty times

repeated, kept us in a state of excitement so violent that a reaction was unavoidable.

And truly, reaction soon showed itself. For three months, during which a day seemed an age, the Abraham

Lincoln furrowed all the waters of the Northern Pacific, running at whales, making sharp deviations from her

course, veering suddenly from one tack to another, stopping suddenly, putting on steam, and backing ever

and anon at the risk of deranging her machinery, and not one point of the Japanese or American coast was left

The warmest partisans of the enterprise now became its most ardent detractors. Reaction mounted from the

crew to the captain himself, and certainly, had it not been for the resolute determination on the part of Captain

Farragut, the frigate would have headed due southward. This useless search could not last much longer. The

Abraham Lincoln had nothing to reproach herself with, she had done her best to succeed. Never had an

American ship's crew shown more zeal or patience; its failure could not be placed to their chargethere

This was represented to the commander. The sailors could not hide their discontent, and the service suffered.

I will not say there was a mutiny on board, but after a reasonable period of obstinacy, Captain Farragut (as

Columbus did) asked for three days' patience. If in three days the monster did not appear, the man at the helm

should give three turns of the wheel, and the Abraham Lincoln would make for the European seas.

This promise was made on the 2nd of November. It had the effect of rallying the ship's crew. The ocean was

watched with renewed attention. Each one wished for a last glance in which to sum up his remembrance.

Glasses were used with feverish activity. It was a grand defiance given to the giant narwhal, and he could

Two days passed, the steam was at half pressure; a thousand schemes were tried to attract the attention and

stimulate the apathy of the animal in case it should be met in those parts. Large quantities of bacon were

trailed in the wake of the ship, to the great satisfaction (I must say) of the sharks. Small craft radiated in all

directions round the Abraham Lincoln as she lay to, and did not leave a spot of the sea unexplored. But the

night of the 4th of November arrived without the unveiling of this submarine mystery.

The next day, the 5th of November, at twelve, the delay would (morally speaking) expire; after that time,

Commander Farragut, faithful to his promise, was to turn the course to the southeast and abandon for ever

The frigate was then in 31@ 15' N. lat. and 136@ 42' E. long. The coast of Japan still remained less than two

hundred miles to leeward. Night was approaching. They had just struck eight bells; large clouds veiled the

face of the moon, then in its first quarter. The sea undulated peaceably under the stern of the vessel.

At that moment I was leaning forward on the starboard netting. Conseil, standing near me, was looking

straight before him. The crew, perched in the ratlines, examined the horizon which contracted and darkened

by degrees. Officers with their night glasses scoured the growing darkness: sometimes the ocean sparkled

under the rays of the moon, which darted between two clouds, then all trace of light was lost in the darkness.

In looking at Conseil, I could see he was undergoing a little of the general influence. At least I thought so.

"Come, Conseil," said I, "this is the last chance of pocketing the two thousand dollars."

"May I be permitted to say, sir," replied Conseil, "that I never reckoned on getting the prize; and, had the

government of the Union offered a hundred thousand dollars, it would have been none the poorer."

"You are right, Conseil. It is a foolish affair after all, and one upon which we entered too lightly. What time

lost, what useless emotions! We should have been back in France six months ago."

"In your little room, sir," replied Conseil, "and in your museum, sir; and I should have already classed all

your fossils, sir. And the Babiroussa would have been installed in its cage in the Jardin des Plantes, and have

"As you say, Conseil. I fancy we shall run a fair chance of being laughed at for our pains."

"That's tolerably certain," replied Conseil, quietly; "I think they will make fun of you, sir. And, must I say

"When one has the honour of being a savant as you are, sir, one should not expose one's self to"

Conseil had not time to finish his compliment. In the midst of general silence a voice had just been heard. It

At this cry the whole ship's crew hurried towards the harpooner commander, officers, masters, sailors,

cabin boys; even the engineers left their engines, and the stokers their furnaces.

The order to stop her had been given, and the frigate now simply went on by her own momentum. The

darkness was then profound, and, however good the Canadian's eyes were, I asked myself how he had

managed to see, and what he had been able to see. My heart beat as if it would break. But Ned Land was not

mistaken, and we all perceived the object he pointed to. At two cables' length from the Abraham Lincoln, on

the starboard quarter, the sea seemed to be illuminated all over. It was not a mere phosphoric phenomenon.

The monster emerged some fathoms from the water, and then threw out that very intense but mysterious light

mentioned in the report of several captains. This magnificent irradiation must have been produced by an

agent of great SHINING power. The luminous part traced on the sea an immense oval, much elongated, the

centre of which condensed a burning heat, whose overpowering brilliancy died out by successive gradations.

"No, sir, certainly not," I replied. "That brightness is of an essentially electrical nature. Besides, see, see! it

The steam was shut off, and the Abraham Lincoln, beating to port, described a semicircle.

These orders were executed, and the frigate moved rapidly from the burning light.

I was mistaken. She tried to sheer off, but the supernatural animal approached with a velocity double her

We gasped for breath. Stupefaction more than fear made us dumb and motionless. The animal gained on us,

sporting with the waves. It made the round of the frigate, which was then making fourteen knots, and

Then it moved away two or three miles, leaving a phosphorescent track, like those volumes of steam that the

express trains leave behind. All at once from the dark line of the horizon whither it retired to gain its

momentum, the monster rushed suddenly towards the Abraham Lincoln with alarming rapidity, stopped

suddenly about twenty feet from the hull, and died outnot diving under the water, for its brilliancy did not

abatebut suddenly, and as if the source of this brilliant emanation was exhausted. Then it reappeared on the

other side of the vessel, as if it had turned and slid under the hull. Any moment a collision might have

occurred which would have been fatal to us. However, I was astonished at the manoeuvres of the frigate. She

On the captain's face, generally so impassive, was an expression of unaccountable astonishment.

"Mr. Aronnax," he said, "I do not know with what formidable being I have to deal, and I will not imprudently

risk my frigate in the midst of this darkness. Besides, how attack this unknown thing, how defend one's self

"Undoubtedly," replied the captain, "if it possesses such dreadful power, it is the most terrible animal that

The crew were on their feet all night. No one thought of sleep. The Abraham Lincoln, not being able to

struggle with such velocity, had moderated its pace, and sailed at half speed. For its part, the narwhal,

imitating the frigate, let the waves rock it at will, and seemed decided not to leave the scene of the struggle.

Towards midnight, however, it disappeared, or, to use a more appropriate term, it "died out" like a large

glowworm. Had it fled? One could only fear, not hope it. But at seven minutes to one o'clock in the morning

a deafening whistling was heard, like that produced by a body of water rushing with great violence.

The captain, Ned Land, and I were then on the poop, eagerly peering through the profound darkness.

"Often, sir; but never such whales the sight of which brought me in two thousand dollars. If I can only

"But to approach it," said the commander, "I ought to put a whaler at your disposal?"

Towards two o'clock in the morning, the burning light reappeared, not less intense, about five miles to

windward of the Abraham Lincoln. Notwithstanding the distance, and the noise of the wind and sea, one

heard distinctly the loud strokes of the animal's tail, and even its panting breath. It seemed that, at the moment

that the enormous narwhal had come to take breath at the surface of the water, the air was engulfed in its

lungs, like the steam in the vast cylinders of a machine of two thousand horsepower.

"Hum!" thought I, "a whale with the strength of a cavalry regiment would be a pretty whale!"

We were on the qui vive till daylight, and prepared for the combat. The fishing implements were laid along

the hammock nettings. The second lieutenant loaded the blunder busses, which could throw harpoons to the

distance of a mile, and long duckguns, with explosive bullets, which inflicted mortal wounds even to the

most terrible animals. Ned Land contented himself with sharpening his harpoona terrible weapon in his

At six o'clock day began to break; and, with the first glimmer of light, the electric light of the narwhal

disappeared. At seven o'clock the day was sufficiently advanced, but a very thick sea fog obscured our view,

and the best spy glasses could not pierce it. That caused disappointment and anger.

I climbed the mizzenmast. Some officers were already perched on the mastheads. At eight o'clock the fog

lay heavily on the waves, and its thick scrolls rose little by little. The horizon grew wider and clearer at the

Every eye was turned towards the point indicated. There, a mile and a half from the frigate, a long blackish

body emerged a yard above the waves. Its tail, violently agitated, produced a considerable eddy. Never did a

tail beat the sea with such violence. An immense track, of dazzling whiteness, marked the passage of the

The reports of the Shannon and of the Helvetia had rather exaggerated its size, and I estimated its length at

only two hundred and fifty feet. As to its dimensions, I could only conjecture them to be admirably

proportioned. While I watched this phenomenon, two jets of steam and water were ejected from its vents, and

rose to the height of 120 feet; thus I ascertained its way of breathing. I concluded definitely that it belonged to

The crew waited impatiently for their chief's orders. The latter, after having observed the animal attentively,

Three hurrahs greeted this order. The time for the struggle had arrived. Some moments after, the two funnels

of the frigate vomited torrents of black smoke, and the bridge quaked under the trembling of the boilers.

The Abraham Lincoln, propelled by her wonderful screw, went straight at the animal. The latter allowed it to

come within half a cable's length; then, as if disdaining to dive, it took a little turn, and stopped a short

This pursuit lasted nearly threequarters of an hour, without the frigate gaining two yards on the cetacean. It

"Well, Mr. Land," asked the captain, "do you advise me to put the boats out to sea?"

"Put on more steam if you can, sir. With your leave, I mean to post myself under the bowsprit, and, if we get

Ned Land went to his post. The fires were increased, the screw revolved fortythree times a minute, and the

steam poured out of the valves. We heaved the log, and calculated that the Abraham Lincoln was going at the

For a whole hour the frigate kept up this pace, without gaining six feet. It was humiliating for one of the

swiftest sailers in the American navy. A stubborn anger seized the crew; the sailors abused the monster, who,

as before, disdained to answer them; the captain no longer contented himself with twisting his beardhe

The speed of the Abraham Lincoln increased. Its masts trembled down to their stepping holes, and the clouds

The engineer obeyed. The manometer showed ten degrees. But the cetacean grew warm itself, no doubt; for

What a pursuit! No, I cannot describe the emotion that vibrated through me. Ned Land kept his post, harpoon

in hand. Several times the animal let us gain upon it."We shall catch it! we shall catch it!" cried the

Canadian. But just as he was going to strike, the cetacean stole away with a rapidity that could not be

estimated at less than thirty miles an hour, and even during our maximum of speed, it bullied the frigate,

"Ah!" said he, "that animal goes quicker than the Abraham Lincoln. Very well! we will see whether it will

The forecastle gun was immediately loaded and slewed round. But the shot passed some feet above the

"Another, more to the right," cried the commander, "and five dollars to whoever will hit that infernal beast."

An old gunner with a grey beardthat I can see nowwith steady eye and grave face, went up to the gun

and took a long aim. A loud report was heard, with which were mingled the cheers of the crew.

The bullet did its work; it hit the animal, and, sliding off the rounded surface, was lost in two miles depth of

I wished the beast would exhaust itself, and not be insensible to fatigue like a steam engine. But it was of no

However, it must be said in praise of the Abraham Lincoln that she struggled on indefatigably. I cannot

reckon the distance she made under three hundred miles during this unlucky day, November the 6th. But

Now I thought our expedition was at an end, and that we should never again see the extraordinary animal. I

was mistaken. At ten minutes to eleven in the evening, the electric light reappeared three miles to windward

The narwhal seemed motionless; perhaps, tired with its day's work, it slept, letting itself float with the

undulation of the waves. Now was a chance of which the captain resolved to take advantage.

He gave his orders. The Abraham Lincoln kept up half steam, and advanced cautiously so as not to awake its

adversary. It is no rare thing to meet in the middle of the ocean whales so sound asleep that they can be

successfully attacked, and Ned Land had harpooned more than one during its sleep. The Canadian went to

The frigate approached noiselessly, stopped at two cables' lengths from the animal, and following its track.

No one breathed; a deep silence reigned on the bridge. We were not a hundred feet from the burning focus,

At this moment, leaning on the forecastle bulwark, I saw below me Ned Land grappling the martingale in one

hand, brandishing his terrible harpoon in the other, scarcely twenty feet from the motionless animal.

Suddenly his arm straightened, and the harpoon was thrown; I heard the sonorous stroke of the weapon,

which seemed to have struck a hard body. The electric light went out suddenly, and two enormous

waterspouts broke over the bridge of the frigate, rushing like a torrent from stem to stern, overthrowing men,

and breaking the lashings of the spars. A fearful shock followed, and, thrown over the rail without having

This unexpected fall so stunned me that I have no clear recollection of my sensations at the time. I was at first

drawn down to a depth of about twenty feet. I am a good swimmer (though without pretending to rival Byron

or Edgar Poe, who were masters of the art), and in that plunge I did not lose my presence of mind. Two

vigorous strokes brought me to the surface of the water. My first care was to look for the frigate. Had the

crew seen me disappear? Had the Abraham Lincoln veered round? Would the captain put out a boat? Might I

The darkness was intense. I caught a glimpse of a black mass disappearing in the east, its beacon lights dying

My clothes encumbered me; they seemed glued to my body, and paralysed my movements.

This was my last cry. My mouth filled with water; I struggled against being drawn down the abyss. Suddenly

my clothes were seized by a strong hand, and I felt myself quickly drawn up to the surface of the sea; and I

"If master would be so good as to lean on my shoulder, master would swim with much greater ease."

"The frigate?" replied Conseil, turning on his back; "I think that master had better not count too much on

"I say that, at the time I threw myself into the sea, I heard the men at the wheel say, `The screw and the

"Yes, broken by the monster's teeth. It is the only injury the Abraham Lincoln has sustained. But it is a bad

"Perhaps so," calmly answered Conseil. "However, we have still several hours before us, and one can do a

Conseil's imperturbable coolness set me up again. I swam more vigorously; but, cramped by my clothes,

which stuck to me like a leaden weight, I felt great difficulty in bearing up. Conseil saw this.

"Will master let me make a slit?" said he; and, slipping an open knife under my clothes, he ripped them up

from top to bottom very rapidly. Then he cleverly slipped them off me, while I swam for both of us.

Nevertheless, our situation was no less terrible. Perhaps our disappearance had not been noticed; and, if it had

been, the frigate could not tack, being without its helm. Conseil argued on this supposition, and laid his plans

accordingly. This quiet boy was perfectly selfpossessed. We then decided that, as our only chance of safety

was being picked up by the Abraham Lincoln's boats, we ought to manage so as to wait for them as long as

possible. I resolved then to husband our strength, so that both should not be exhausted at the same time; and

this is how we managed: while one of us lay on our back, quite still, with arms crossed, and legs stretched

out, the other would swim and push the other on in front. This towing business did not last more than ten

minutes each; and relieving each other thus, we could swim on for some hours, perhaps till daybreak. Poor

chance! but hope is so firmly rooted in the heart of man! Moreover, there were two of us. Indeed I declare

(though it may seem improbable) if I sought to destroy all hopeif I wished to despair, I could not.

The collision of the frigate with the cetacean had occurred about eleven o'clock in the evening before. I

reckoned then we should have eight hours to swim before sunrise, an operation quite practicable if we

relieved each other. The sea, very calm, was in our favour. Sometimes I tried to pierce the intense darkness

that was only dispelled by the phosphorescence caused by our movements. I watched the luminous waves that

broke over my hand, whose mirrorlike surface was spotted with silvery rings. One might have said that we

Near one o'clock in the morning, I was seized with dreadful fatigue. My limbs stiffened under the strain of

violent cramp. Conseil was obliged to keep me up, and our preservation devolved on him alone. I heard the

poor boy pant; his breathing became short and hurried. I found that he could not keep up much longer.

Just then the moon appeared through the fringes of a thick cloud that the wind was driving to the east. The

surface of the sea glittered with its rays. This kindly light reanimated us. My head got better again. I looked at

all points of the horizon. I saw the frigate! She was five miles from us, and looked like a dark mass, hardly

I would have cried out. But what good would it have been at such a distance! My swollen lips could utter no

sounds. Conseil could articulate some words, and I heard him repeat at intervals, "Help! help!"

Our movements were suspended for an instant; we listened. It might be only a singing in the ear, but it

This time there was no mistake! A human voice responded to ours! Was it the voice of another unfortunate

creature, abandoned in the middle of the ocean, some other victim of the shock sustained by the vessel? Or

Conseil made a last effort, and, leaning on my shoulder, while I struck out in a desperate effort, he raised

What had he seen? Then, I know not why, the thought of the monster came into my head for the first time!

But that voice! The time is past for Jonahs to take refuge in whales' bellies! However, Conseil was towing me

again. He raised his head sometimes, looked before us, and uttered a cry of recognition, which was responded

to by a voice that came nearer and nearer. I scarcely heard it. My strength was exhausted; my fingers

stiffened; my hand afforded me support no longer; my mouth, convulsively opening, filled with salt water.

At this moment a hard body struck me. I clung to it: then I felt that I was being drawn up, that I was brought

It is certain that I soon came to, thanks to the vigorous rubbings that I received. I half opened my eyes.

Just then, by the waning light of the moon which was sinking down to the horizon, I saw a face which was

"Yes, Professor; but more fortunate than you, I was able to find a footing almost directly upon a floating

"Only I soon found out why my harpoon had not entered its skin and was blunted."

The Canadian's last words produced a sudden revolution in my brain. I wriggled myself quickly to the top of

the being, or object, half out of the water, which served us for a refuge. I kicked it. It was evidently a hard,

impenetrable body, and not the soft substance that forms the bodies of the great marine mammalia. But this

hard body might be a bony covering, like that of the antediluvian animals; and I should be free to class this

Well, no! the blackish back that supported me was smooth, polished, without scales. The blow produced a

metallic sound; and, incredible though it may be, it seemed, I might say, as if it was made of riveted plates.

There was no doubt about it! This monster, this natural phenomenon that had puzzled the learned world, and

over thrown and misled the imagination of seamen of both hemispheres, it must be owned was a still more

We had no time to lose, however. We were lying upon the back of a sort of submarine boat, which appeared

(as far as I could judge) like a huge fish of steel. Ned Land's mind was made up on this point. Conseil and I

Just then a bubbling began at the back of this strange thing (which was evidently propelled by a screw), and it

began to move. We had only just time to seize hold of the upper part, which rose about seven feet out of the

"As long as it sails horizontally," muttered Ned Land, "I do not mind; but, if it takes a fancy to dive, I would

The Canadian might have said still less. It became really necessary to communicate with the beings, whatever

they were, shut up inside the machine. I searched all over the outside for an aperture, a panel, or a manhole,

to use a technical expression; but the lines of the iron rivets, solidly driven into the joints of the iron plates,

were clear and uniform. Besides, the moon disappeared then, and left us in total darkness.

At last this long night passed. My indistinct remembrance prevents my describing all the impressions it made.

I can only recall one circumstance. During some lulls of the wind and sea, I fancied I heard several times

vague sounds, a sort of fugitive harmony produced by words of command. What was, then, the mystery of

this submarine craft, of which the whole world vainly sought an explanation? What kind of beings existed in

Daybreak appeared. The morning mists surrounded us, but they soon cleared off. I was about to examine the

hull, which formed on deck a kind of horizontal platform, when I felt it gradually sinking.

"Oh! confound it!" cried Ned Land, kicking the resounding plate. "Open, you inhospitable rascals!"

Happily the sinking movement ceased. Suddenly a noise, like iron works violently pushed aside, came from

the interior of the boat. One iron plate was moved, a man appeared, uttered an odd cry, and disappeared

Some moments after, eight strong men, with masked faces, appeared noiselessly, and drew us down into their

This forcible abduction, so roughly carried out, was accomplished with the rapidity of lightning. I shivered all

over. Whom had we to deal with? No doubt some new sort of pirates, who explored the sea in their own way.

Hardly had the narrow panel closed upon me, when I was enveloped in darkness. My eyes, dazzled with the

outer light, could distinguish nothing. I felt my naked feet cling to the rungs of an iron ladder. Ned Land and

Conseil, firmly seized, followed me. At the bottom of the ladder, a door opened, and shut after us

We were alone. Where, I could not say, hardly imagine. All was black, and such a dense black that, after

Meanwhile, Ned Land, furious at these proceedings, gave free vent to his indignation.

"Confound it!" cried he, "here are people who come up to the Scotch for hospitality. They only just miss

being cannibals. I should not be surprised at it, but I declare that they shall not eat me without my protesting."

"Calm yourself, friend Ned, calm yourself," replied Conseil, quietly. "Do not cry out before you are hurt. We

"Not quite," sharply replied the Canadian, "but pretty near, at all events. Things look black. Happily, my

bowie knife I have still, and I can always see well enough to use it. The first of these pirates who lays a hand

"Do not excite yourself, Ned," I said to the harpooner, "and do not compromise us by useless violence. Who

knows that they will not listen to us? Let us rather try to find out where we are."

I groped about. In five steps I came to an iron wall, made of plates bolted together. Then turning back I struck

against a wooden table, near which were ranged several stools. The boards of this prison were concealed

under a thick mat, which deadened the noise of the feet. The bare walls revealed no trace of window or door.

Conseil, going round the reverse way, met me, and we went back to the middle of the cabin, which measured

about twenty feet by ten. As to its height, Ned Land, in spite of his own great height, could not measure it.

Half an hour had already passed without our situation being bettered, when the dense darkness suddenly gave

way to extreme light. Our prison was suddenly lighted, that is to say, it became filled with a luminous matter,

so strong that I could not bear it at first. In its whiteness and intensity I recognised that electric light which

played round the submarine boat like a magnificent phenomenon of phosphorescence. After shutting my eyes

involuntarily, I opened them, and saw that this luminous agent came from a half globe, unpolished, placed in

"At last one can see," cried Ned Land, who, knife in hand, stood on the defensive.

The sudden lighting of the cabin enabled me to examine it minutely. It only contained a table and five stools.

The invisible door might be hermetically sealed. No noise was heard. All seemed dead in the interior of this

boat. Did it move, did it float on the surface of the ocean, or did it dive into its depths? I could not guess.

One was short, very muscular, broadshouldered, with robust limbs, strong head, an abundance of black hair,

thick moustache, a quick penetrating look, and the vivacity which characterises the population of Southern

The second stranger merits a more detailed description. I made out his prevailing qualities directly:

selfconfidencebecause his head was well set on his shoulders, and his black eyes looked around with cold

assurance; calmnessfor his skin, rather pale, showed his coolness of blood; energyevinced by the rapid

contraction of his lofty brows; and couragebecause his deep breathing denoted great power of lungs.

Whether this person was thirtyfive or fifty years of age, I could not say. He was tall, had a large forehead,

straight nose, a clearly cut mouth, beautiful teeth, with fine taper hands, indicative of a highly nervous

temperament. This man was certainly the most admirable specimen I had ever met. One particular feature

was his eyes, rather far from each other, and which could take in nearly a quarter of the horizon at once.

This faculty(I verified it later)gave him a range of vision far superior to Ned Land's. When this stranger

fixed upon an object, his eyebrows met, his large eyelids closed around so as to contract the range of his

vision, and he looked as if he magnified the objects lessened by distance, as if he pierced those sheets of

The two strangers, with caps made from the fur of the sea otter, and shod with sea boots of seal's skin, were

dressed in clothes of a particular texture, which allowed free movement of the limbs. The taller of the two,

evidently the chief on board, examined us with great attention, without saying a word; then, turning to his

companion, talked with him in an unknown tongue. It was a sonorous, harmonious, and flexible dialect, the

The other replied by a shake of the head, and added two or three perfectly incomprehensible words. Then he

I replied in good French that I did not know his language; but he seemed not to understand me, and my

"If master were to tell our story," said Conseil, "perhaps these gentlemen may understand some words."

I began to tell our adventures, articulating each syllable clearly, and without omitting one single detail. I

announced our names and rank, introducing in person Professor Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and master

The man with the soft calm eyes listened to me quietly, even politely, and with extreme attention; but nothing

in his countenance indicated that he had understood my story. When I finished, he said not a word.

There remained one resource, to speak English. Perhaps they would know this almost universal language. I

knew itas well as the German languagewell enough to read it fluently, but not to speak it correctly. But,

"Go on in your turn," I said to the harpooner; "speak your best AngloSaxon, and try to do better than I."

To his great disgust, the harpooner did not seem to have made himself more intelligible than I had. Our

visitors did not stir. They evidently understood neither the language of England nor of France.

Very much embarrassed, after having vainly exhausted our speaking resources, I knew not what part to take,

But in spite of the elegant terms and good accent of the narrator, the German language had no success. At

last, nonplussed, I tried to remember my first lessons, and to narrate our adventures in Latin, but with no

better success. This last attempt being of no avail, the two strangers exchanged some words in their unknown

"It is an infamous shame," cried Ned Land, who broke out for the twentieth time. "We speak to those rogues

in French, English, German, and Latin, and not one of them has the politeness to answer!"

"But do you see, Professor," replied our irascible companion, "that we shall absolutely die of hunger in this

"My friends," I said, "we must not despair. We have been worse off than this. Do me the favour to wait a

"My brave Ned, that country is not clearly indicated on the map of the world; but I admit that the nationality

of the two strangers is hard to determine. Neither English, French, nor German, that is quite certain.

However, I am inclined to think that the commander and his companion were born in low latitudes. There is

southern blood in them. But I cannot decide by their appearance whether they are Spaniards, Turks, Arabians,

"There is the disadvantage of not knowing all languages," said Conseil, "or the disadvantage of not having

As he said these words, the door opened. A steward entered. He brought us clothes, coats and trousers, made

of a stuff I did not know. I hastened to dress myself, and my companions followed my example. During that

time, the stewarddumb, perhaps deafhad arranged the table, and laid three plates.

"Bah!" said the angry harpooner, "what do you suppose they eat here? Tortoise liver, filleted shark, and beef

The dishes, of bell metal, were placed on the table, and we took our places. Undoubtedly we had to do with

civilised people, and, had it not been for the electric light which flooded us, I could have fancied I was in the

diningroom of the Adelphi Hotel at Liverpool, or at the Grand Hotel in Paris. I must say, however, that there

was neither bread nor wine. The water was fresh and clear, but it was water and did not suit Ned Land's taste.

Amongst the dishes which were brought to us, I recognised several fish delicately dressed; but of some,

although excellent, I could give no opinion, neither could I tell to what kingdom they belonged, whether

animal or vegetable. As to the dinnerservice, it was elegant, and in perfect taste. Each utensilspoon, fork,

knife, platehad a letter engraved on it, with a motto above it, of which this is an exact facsimile:

The letter N was no doubt the initial of the name of the enigmatical person who commanded at the bottom of

Ned and Conseil did not reflect much. They devoured the food, and I did likewise. I was, besides, reassured

as to our fate; and it seemed evident that our hosts would not let us die of want.

However, everything has an end, everything passes away, even the hunger of people who have not eaten for

My two companions stretched themselves on the cabin carpet, and were soon sound asleep. For my own part,

too many thoughts crowded my brain, too many insoluble questions pressed upon me, too many fancies kept

my eyes half open. Where were we? What strange power carried us on? I feltor rather fancied I felt the

machine sinking down to the lowest beds of the sea. Dreadful nightmares beset me; I saw in these mysterious

asylums a world of unknown animals, amongst which this submarine boat seemed to be of the same kind,

living, moving, and formidable as they. Then my brain grew calmer, my imagination wandered into vague

How long we slept I do not know; but our sleep must have lasted long, for it rested us completely from our

fatigues. I woke first. My companions had not moved, and were still stretched in their corner.

Hardly roused from my somewhat hard couch, I felt my brain freed, my mind clear. I then began an attentive

examination of our cell. Nothing was changed inside. The prison was still a prison the prisoners, prisoners.

However, the steward, during our sleep, had cleared the table. I breathed with difficulty. The heavy air

seemed to oppress my lungs. Although the cell was large, we had evidently consumed a great part of the

oxygen that it contained. Indeed, each man consumes, in one hour, the oxygen contained in more than 176

pints of air, and this air, charged (as then) with a nearly equal quantity of carbonic acid, becomes

It became necessary to renew the atmosphere of our prison, and no doubt the whole in the submarine boat.

That gave rise to a question in my mind. How would the commander of this floating dwellingplace proceed?

Would he obtain air by chemical means, in getting by heat the oxygen contained in chlorate of potash, and in

absorbing carbonic acid by caustic potash? Ora more convenient, economical, and consequently more

probable alternative would he be satisfied to rise and take breath at the surface of the water, like a whale,

In fact, I was already obliged to increase my respirations to eke out of this cell the little oxygen it contained,

when suddenly I was refreshed by a current of pure air, and perfumed with saline emanations. It was an

invigorating sea breeze, charged with iodine. I opened my mouth wide, and my lungs saturated themselves

At the same time I felt the boat rolling. The ironplated monster had evidently just risen to the surface of the

ocean to breathe, after the fashion of whales. I found out from that the mode of ventilating the boat.

When I had inhaled this air freely, I sought the conduit pipe, which conveyed to us the beneficial whiff, and I

was not long in finding it. Above the door was a ventilator, through which volumes of fresh air renewed the

I was making my observations, when Ned and Conseil awoke almost at the same time, under the influence of

this reviving air. They rubbed their eyes, stretched themselves, and were on their feet in an instant.

"Soundly, Professor. But, I don't know if I am right or not, there seems to be a sea breeze!"

A seaman could not be mistaken, and I told the Canadian all that had passed during his sleep.

"Good!" said he. "That accounts for those roarings we heard, when the supposed narwhal sighted the

"Only, Mr. Aronnax, I have no idea what o'clock it is, unless it is dinnertime."

"Dinnertime! my good fellow? Say rather breakfasttime, for we certainly have begun another day."

"I will not contradict you," replied Ned Land. "But, dinner or breakfast, the steward will be welcome,

"Master Land, we must conform to the rules on board, and I suppose our appetites are in advance of the

"That is just like you, friend Conseil," said Ned, impatiently. "You are never out of temper, always calm; you

Time was getting on, and we were fearfully hungry; and this time the steward did not appear. It was rather

too long to leave us, if they really had good intentions towards us. Ned Land, tormented by the cravings of

hunger, got still more angry; and, notwithstanding his promise, I dreaded an explosion when he found himself

For two hours more Ned Land's temper increased; he cried, he shouted, but in vain. The walls were deaf.

There was no sound to be heard in the boat; all was still as death. It did not move, for I should have felt the

trembling motion of the hull under the influence of the screw. Plunged in the depths of the waters, it belonged

Just then a noise was heard outside. Steps sounded on the metal flags. The locks were turned, the door

Before I could rush forward to stop him, the Canadian had thrown him down, and held him by the throat. The

Conseil was already trying to unclasp the harpooner's hand from his halfsuffocated victim, and I was going

to fly to the rescue, when suddenly I was nailed to the spot by hearing these words in French:

"Be quiet, Master Land; and you, Professor, will you be so good as to listen to me?"

At these words, Ned Land rose suddenly. The steward, nearly strangled, tottered out on a sign from his

master. But such was the power of the commander on board, that not a gesture betrayed the resentment which

this man must have felt towards the Canadian. Conseil interested in spite of himself, I stupefied, awaited in

The commander, leaning against the corner of a table with his arms folded, scanned us with profound

attention. Did he hesitate to speak? Did he regret the words which he had just spoken in French? One might

After some moments of silence, which not one of us dreamed of breaking, "Gentlemen," said he, in a calm

and penetrating voice, "I speak French, English, German, and Latin equally well. I could, therefore, have

answered you at our first interview, but I wished to know you first, then to reflect. The story told by each one,

entirely agreeing in the main points, convinced me of your identity. I know now that chance has brought

before me M. Pierre Aronnax, Professor of Natural History at the Museum of Paris, entrusted with a scientific

mission abroad, Conseil, his servant, and Ned Land, of Canadian origin, harpooner on board the frigate

I bowed assent. It was not a question that the commander put to me. Therefore there was no answer to be

made. This man expressed himself with perfect ease, without any accent. His sentences were well turned, his

words clear, and his fluency of speech remarkable. Yet, I did not recognise in him a fellowcountryman.

"You have doubtless thought, sir, that I have delayed long in paying you this second visit. The reason is that,

your identity recognised, I wished to weigh maturely what part to act towards you. I have hesitated much.

Most annoying circumstances have brought you into the presence of a man who has broken all the ties of

"Unintentionally?" replied the stranger, raising his voice a little. "Was it unintentionally that the Abraham

Lincoln pursued me all over the seas? Was it unintentionally that you took passage in this frigate? Was it

unintentionally that your cannonballs rebounded off the plating of my vessel? Was it unintentionally that

I detected a restrained irritation in these words. But to these recriminations I had a very natural answer to

"Sir," said I, "no doubt you are ignorant of the discussions which have taken place concerning you in

America and Europe. You do not know that divers accidents, caused by collisions with your submarine

machine, have excited public feeling in the two continents. I omit the theories without number by which it

was sought to explain that of which you alone possess the secret. But you must understand that, in pursuing

you over the high seas of the Pacific, the Abraham Lincoln believed itself to be chasing some powerful

"M. Aronnax," he replied, "dare you affirm that your frigate would not as soon have pursued and cannonaded

This question embarrassed me, for certainly Captain Farragut might not have hesitated. He might have

thought it his duty to destroy a contrivance of this kind, as he would a gigantic narwhal.

"You understand then, sir," continued the stranger, "that I have the right to treat you as enemies?"

I answered nothing, purposely. For what good would it be to discuss such a proposition, when force could

"I have hesitated some time," continued the commander; "nothing obliged me to show you hospitality. If I

chose to separate myself from you, I should have no interest in seeing you again; I could place you upon the

deck of this vessel which has served you as a refuge, I could sink beneath the waters, and forget that you had

"It might be the right of a savage," I answered, "but not that of a civilised man."

"Professor," replied the commander, quickly, "I am not what you call a civilised man! I have done with

society entirely, for reasons which I alone have the right of appreciating. I do not, therefore, obey its laws,

This was said plainly. A flash of anger and disdain kindled in the eyes of the Unknown, and I had a glimpse

of a terrible past in the life of this man. Not only had he put himself beyond the pale of human laws, but he

had made himself independent of them, free in the strictest acceptation of the word, quite beyond their reach!

Who then would dare to pursue him at the bottom of the sea, when, on its surface, he defied all attempts made

What vessel could resist the shock of his submarine monitor? What cuirass, however thick, could withstand

the blows of his spur? No man could demand from him an account of his actions; God, if he believed in

onehis conscience, if he had one were the sole judges to whom he was answerable.

These reflections crossed my mind rapidly, whilst the stranger personage was silent, absorbed, and as if

wrapped up in himself. I regarded him with fear mingled with interest, as, doubtless, OEdiphus regarded the

"I have hesitated," said he, "but I have thought that my interest might be reconciled with that pity to which

every human being has a right. You will remain on board my vessel, since fate has cast you there. You will

be free; and, in exchange for this liberty, I shall only impose one single condition. Your word of honour to

"Speak, sir," I answered. "I suppose this condition is one which a man of honour may accept?"

"Yes, sir; it is this: It is possible that certain events, unforeseen, may oblige me to consign you to your cabins

for some hours or some days, as the case may be. As I desire never to use violence, I expect from you, more

than all the others, a passive obedience. In thus acting, I take all the responsibility: I acquit you entirely, for I

make it an impossibility for you to see what ought not to be seen. Do you accept this condition?"

Then things took place on board which, to say the least, were singular, and which ought not to be seen by

people who were not placed beyond the pale of social laws. Amongst the surprises which the future was

"We accept," I answered; "only I will ask your permission, sir, to address one question to youone only."

"Just the liberty to go, to come, to see, to observe even all that passes here save under rare

circumstancesthe liberty, in short, which we enjoy ourselves, my companions and I."

"Pardon me, sir," I resumed, "but this liberty is only what every prisoner has of pacing his prison. It cannot

"What! we must renounce for ever seeing our country, our friends, our relations again?"

"Yes, sir. But to renounce that unendurable worldly yoke which men believe to be liberty is not perhaps so

"Well," exclaimed Ned Land, "never will I give my word of honour not to try to escape."

"I did not ask you for your word of honour, Master Land," answered the commander, coldly.

"Sir," I replied, beginning to get angry in spite of my self, "you abuse your situation towards us; it is cruelty."

"No, sir, it is clemency. You are my prisoners of war. I keep you, when I could, by a word, plunge you into

the depths of the ocean. You attacked me. You came to surprise a secret which no man in the world must

penetratethe secret of my whole existence. And you think that I am going to send you back to that world

which must know me no more? Never! In retaining you, it is not you whom I guard it is myself."

These words indicated a resolution taken on the part of the commander, against which no arguments would

"My friends," said I, "to a question thus put, there is nothing to answer. But no word of honour binds us to the

"Now, permit me to finish what I have to say to you. I know you, M. Aronnax. You and your companions

will not, perhaps, have so much to complain of in the chance which has bound you to my fate. You will find

amongst the books which are my favourite study the work which you have published on `the depths of the

sea.' I have often read it. You have carried out your work as far as terrestrial science permitted you. But you

do not know allyou have not seen all. Let me tell you then, Professor, that you will not regret the time

These words of the commander had a great effect upon me. I cannot deny it. My weak point was touched; and

I forgot, for a moment, that the contemplation of these sublime subjects was not worth the loss of liberty.

Besides, I trusted to the future to decide this grave question. So I contented myself with saying:

"Sir," replied the commander, "I am nothing to you but Captain Nemo; and you and your companions are

Captain Nemo called. A steward appeared. The captain gave him his orders in that strange language which I

"A repast awaits you in your cabin," said he. "Be so good as to follow this man.

I followed Captain Nemo; and as soon as I had passed through the door, I found myself in a kind of passage

lighted by electricity, similar to the waist of a ship. After we had proceeded a dozen yards, a second door

I then entered a diningroom, decorated and furnished in severe taste. High oaken sideboards, inlaid with

ebony, stood at the two extremities of the room, and upon their shelves glittered china, porcelain, and glass of

inestimable value. The plate on the table sparkled in the rays which the luminous ceiling shed around, while

In the centre of the room was a table richly laid out. Captain Nemo indicated the place I was to occupy.

The breakfast consisted of a certain number of dishes, the contents of which were furnished by the sea alone;

and I was ignorant of the nature and mode of preparation of some of them. I acknowledged that they were

good, but they had a peculiar flavour, which I easily became accustomed to. These different aliments

appeared to me to be rich in phosphorus, and I thought they must have a marine origin.

Captain Nemo looked at me. I asked him no questions, but he guessed my thoughts, and answered of his own

"The greater part of these dishes are unknown to you," he said to me. "However, you may partake of them

without fear. They are wholesome and nourishing. For a long time I have renounced the food of the earth, and

"Yes, Professor, the sea supplies all my wants. Sometimes I cast my nets in tow, and I draw them in ready to

break. Sometimes I hunt in the midst of this element, which appears to be inaccessible to man, and quarry the

game which dwells in my submarine forests. My flocks, like those of Neptune's old shepherds, graze

fearlessly in the immense prairies of the ocean. I have a vast property there, which I cultivate myself, and

"I can understand perfectly, sir, that your nets furnish excellent fish for your table; I can understand also that

you hunt aquatic game in your submarine forests; but I cannot understand at all how a particle of meat, no

"This, which you believe to be meat, Professor, is nothing else than fillet of turtle. Here are also some

dolphins' livers, which you take to be ragout of pork. My cook is a clever fellow, who excels in dressing these

various products of the ocean. Taste all these dishes. Here is a preserve of seacucumber, which a Malay

would declare to be unrivalled in the world; here is a cream, of which the milk has been furnished by the

cetacea, and the sugar by the great fucus of the North Sea; and, lastly, permit me to offer you some preserve

I tasted, more from curiosity than as a connoisseur, whilst Captain Nemo enchanted me with his

"Yes; I love it! The sea is everything. It covers seven tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and

healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides. The sea is

only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the

`Living Infinite,' as one of your poets has said. In fact, Professor, Nature manifests herself in it by her three

kingdomsmineral, vegetable, and animal. The sea is the vast reservoir of Nature. The globe began with

sea, so to speak; and who knows if it will not end with it? In it is supreme tranquillity. The sea does not

belong to despots. Upon its surface men can still exercise unjust laws, fight, tear one another to pieces, and be

carried away with terrestrial horrors. But at thirty feet below its level, their reign ceases, their influence is

quenched, and their power disappears. Ah! sir, livelive in the bosom of the waters! There only is

Captain Nemo suddenly became silent in the midst of this enthusiasm, by which he was quite carried away.

For a few moments he paced up and down, much agitated. Then he became more calm, regained his

"Now, Professor," said he, "if you wish to go over the Nautilus, I am at your service."

Captain Nemo rose. I followed him. A double door, contrived at the back of the diningroom, opened, and I

It was a library. High pieces of furniture, of black violet ebony inlaid with brass, supported upon their wide

shelves a great number of books uniformly bound. They followed the shape of the room, terminating at the

lower part in huge divans, covered with brown leather, which were curved, to afford the greatest comfort.

Light movable desks, made to slide in and out at will, allowed one to rest one's book while reading. In the

centre stood an immense table, covered with pamphlets, amongst which were some newspapers, already of

old date. The electric light flooded everything; it was shed from four unpolished globes half sunk in the

volutes of the ceiling. I looked with real admiration at this room, so ingeniously fitted up, and I could

"Captain Nemo," said I to my host, who had just thrown himself on one of the divans, "this is a library which

would do honour to more than one of the continental palaces, and I am absolutely astounded when I consider

"Where could one find greater solitude or silence, Professor?" replied Captain Nemo. "Did your study in the

"No, sir; and I must confess that it is a very poor one after yours. You must have six or seven thousand

"Twelve thousand, M. Aronnax. These are the only ties which bind me to the earth. But I had done with the

world on the day when my Nautilus plunged for the first time beneath the waters. That day I bought my last

volumes, my last pamphlets, my last papers, and from that time I wish to think that men no longer think or

write. These books, Professor, are at your service besides, and you can make use of them freely."

I thanked Captain Nemo, and went up to the shelves of the library. Works on science, morals, and literature

abounded in every language; but I did not see one single work on political economy; that subject appeared to

be strictly proscribed. Strange to say, all these books were irregularly arranged, in whatever language they

were written; and this medley proved that the Captain of the Nautilus must have read indiscriminately the

"Sir," said I to the Captain, "I thank you for having placed this library at my disposal. It contains treasures of

"This room is not only a library," said Captain Nemo, "it is also a smokingroom."

"Then, sir, I am forced to believe that you have kept up a communication with Havannah."

"Not any," answered the Captain. "Accept this cigar, M. Aronnax; and, though it does not come from

I took the cigar which was offered me; its shape recalled the London ones, but it seemed to be made of leaves

of gold. I lighted it at a little brazier, which was supported upon an elegant bronze stem, and drew the first

"No!" answered the Captain, "this tobacco comes neither from Havannah nor from the East. It is a kind of

seaweed, rich in nicotine, with which the sea provides me, but somewhat sparingly."

At that moment Captain Nemo opened a door which stood opposite to that by which I had entered the library,

It was a vast, foursided room, thirty feet long, eighteen wide, and fifteen high. A luminous ceiling,

decorated with light arabesques, shed a soft clear light over all the marvels accumulated in this museum. For

it was in fact a museum, in which an intelligent and prodigal hand had gathered all the treasures of nature and

Thirty firstrate pictures, uniformly framed, separated by bright drapery, ornamented the walls, which were

hung with tapestry of severe design. I saw works of great value, the greater part of which I had admired in the

Some admirable statues in marble and bronze, after the finest antique models, stood upon pedestals in the

corners of this magnificent museum. Amazement, as the Captain of the Nautilus had predicted, had already

"Professor," said this strange man, "you must excuse the unceremonious way in which I receive you, and the

"Sir," I answered, "without seeking to know who you are, I recognise in you an artist."

"An amateur, nothing more, sir. Formerly I loved to collect these beautiful works created by the hand of man.

I sought them greedily, and ferreted them out indefatigably, and I have been able to bring together some

objects of great value. These are my last souvenirs of that world which is dead to me. In my eyes, your

modern artists are already old; they have two or three thousand years of existence; I confound them in my

{4 paragraphs seem to be missing from this omnibus text here they have to do with musical composers, a

Under elegant glass cases, fixed by copper rivets, were classed and labelled the most precious productions of

the sea which had ever been presented to the eye of a naturalist. My delight as a professor may be conceived.

Apart, in separate compartments, were spread out chaplets of pearls of the greatest beauty, which reflected

the electric light in little sparks of fire; pink pearls, torn from the pinnamarina of the Red Sea; green pearls,

yellow, blue, and black pearls, the curious productions of the divers molluscs of every ocean, and certain

mussels of the water courses of the North; lastly, several specimens of inestimable value. Some of these

Therefore, to estimate the value of this collection was simply impossible. Captain Nemo must have expended

millions in the acquirement of these various specimens, and I was thinking what source he could have drawn

from, to have been able thus to gratify his fancy for collecting, when I was interrupted by these words:

"You are examining my shells, Professor? Unquestionably they must be interesting to a naturalist; but for me

they have a far greater charm, for I have collected them all with my own hand, and there is not a sea on the

"I can understand, Captain, the delight of wandering about in the midst of such riches. You are one of those

who have collected their treasures themselves. No museum in Europe possesses such a collection of the

produce of the ocean. But if I exhaust all my admiration upon it, I shall have none left for the vessel which

carries it. I do not wish to pry into your secrets: but I must confess that this Nautilus, with the motive power

which is confined in it, the contrivances which enable it to be worked, the powerful agent which propels it, all

excite my curiosity to the highest pitch. I see suspended on the walls of this room instruments of whose use I

"You will find these same instruments in my own room, Professor, where I shall have much pleasure in

explaining their use to you. But first come and inspect the cabin which is set apart for your own use. You

I followed Captain Nemo who, by one of the doors opening from each panel of the drawingroom, regained

the waist. He conducted me towards the bow, and there I found, not a cabin, but an elegant room, with a bed,

"Your room adjoins mine," said he, opening a door, "and mine opens into the drawingroom that we have

I entered the Captain's room: it had a severe, almost a monkish aspect. A small iron bedstead, a table, some

articles for the toilet; the whole lighted by a skylight. No comforts, the strictest necessaries only.

"Sir," said Captain Nemo, showing me the instruments hanging on the walls of his room, "here are the

contrivances required for the navigation of the Nautilus. Here, as in the drawingroom, I have them always

under my eyes, and they indicate my position and exact direction in the middle of the ocean. Some are known

to you, such as the thermometer, which gives the internal temperature of the Nautilus; the barometer, which

indicates the weight of the air and foretells the changes of the weather; the hygrometer, which marks the

dryness of the atmosphere; the stormglass, the contents of which, by decomposing, announce the approach

of tempests; the compass, which guides my course; the sextant, which shows the latitude by the altitude of the

sun; chronometers, by which I calculate the longitude; and glasses for day and night, which I use to examine

the points of the horizon, when the Nautilus rises to the surface of the waves."

"These are the usual nautical instruments," I replied, "and I know the use of them. But these others, no doubt,

answer to the particular requirements of the Nautilus. This dial with movable needle is a manometer, is it

"It is actually a manometer. But by communication with the water, whose external pressure it indicates, it

"Here, Professor, I ought to give you some explanations. Will you be kind enough to listen to me?"

"There is a powerful agent, obedient, rapid, easy, which conforms to every use, and reigns supreme on board

my vessel. Everything is done by means of it. It lights, warms it, and is the soul of my mechanical apparatus.

"Nevertheless, Captain, you possess an extreme rapidity of movement, which does not agree well with the

power of electricity. Until now, its dynamic force has remained under restraint, and has only been able to

"Professor," said Captain Nemo, "my electricity is not everybody's. You know what seawater is composed

of. In a thousand grammes are found 96 1/2 per cent. of water, and about 2 2/3 per cent. of chloride of

sodium; then, in a smaller quantity, chlorides of magnesium and of potassium, bromide of magnesium,

sulphate of magnesia, sulphate and carbonate of lime. You see, then, that chloride of sodium forms a large

part of it. So it is this sodium that I extract from the seawater, and of which I compose my ingredients. I owe

all to the ocean; it produces electricity, and electricity gives heat, light, motion, and, in a word, life to the

"Oh! I could manufacture the air necessary for my consumption, but it is useless, because I go up to the

surface of the water when I please. However, if electricity does not furnish me with air to breathe, it works at

least the powerful pumps that are stored in spacious reservoirs, and which enable me to prolong at need, and

as long as I will, my stay in the depths of the sea. It gives a uniform and unintermittent light, which the sun

does not. Now look at this clock; it is electrical, and goes with a regularity that defies the best chronometers. I

have divided it into twentyfour hours, like the Italian clocks, because for me there is neither night nor day,

sun nor moon, but only that factitious light that I take with me to the bottom of the sea. Look! just now, it is

"Another application of electricity. This dial hanging in front of us indicates the speed of the Nautilus. An

electric thread puts it in communication with the screw, and the needle indicates the real speed. Look! now

"It is marvelous! And I see, Captain, you were right to make use of this agent that takes the place of wind,

"We have not finished, M. Aronnax," said Captain Nemo, rising. "If you will allow me, we will examine the

Really, I knew already the anterior part of this submarine boat, of which this is the exact division, starting

from the ship's head: the diningroom, five yards long, separated from the library by a watertight partition;

the library, five yards long; the large drawingroom, ten yards long, separated from the Captain's room by a

second watertight partition; the said room, five yards in length; mine, two and a half yards; and, lastly a

reservoir of air, seven and a half yards, that extended to the bows. Total length thirty five yards, or one

hundred and five feet. The partitions had doors that were shut hermetically by means of indiarubber

I followed Captain Nemo through the waist, and arrived at the centre of the boat. There was a sort of well that

opened between two partitions. An iron ladder, fastened with an iron hook to the partition, led to the upper

"Of course; an excellent vessel, light and insubmersible, that serves either as a fishing or as a pleasure boat."

"But then, when you wish to embark, you are obliged to come to the surface of the water?"

"Not at all. This boat is attached to the upper part of the hull of the Nautilus, and occupies a cavity made for

it. It is decked, quite watertight, and held together by solid bolts. This ladder leads to a manhole made in

the hull of the Nautilus, that corresponds with a similar hole made in the side of the boat. By this double

opening I get into the small vessel. They shut the one belonging to the Nautilus; I shut the other by means of

screw pressure. I undo the bolts, and the little boat goes up to the surface of the sea with prodigious rapidity. I

then open the panel of the bridge, carefully shut till then; I mast it, hoist my sail, take my oars, and I'm off."

"By my orders. An electric thread connects us. I telegraph to it, and that is enough."

After having passed by the cage of the staircase that led to the platform, I saw a cabin six feet long, in which

Conseil and Ned Land, enchanted with their repast, were devouring it with avidity. Then a door opened into a

kitchen nine feet long, situated between the large storerooms. There electricity, better than gas itself, did all

the cooking. The streams under the furnaces gave out to the sponges of platina a heat which was regularly

kept up and distributed. They also heated a distilling apparatus, which, by evaporation, furnished excellent

drinkable water. Near this kitchen was a bathroom comfortably furnished, with hot and cold water taps.

Next to the kitchen was the berthroom of the vessel, sixteen feet long. But the door was shut, and I could not

see the management of it, which might have given me an idea of the number of men employed on board the

At the bottom was a fourth partition that separated this office from the engineroom. A door opened, and I

found myself in the compartment where Captain Nemocertainly an engineer of a very high orderhad

arranged his locomotive machinery. This engineroom, clearly lighted, did not measure less than sixtyfive

feet in length. It was divided into two parts; the first contained the materials for producing electricity, and the

second the machinery that connected it with the screw. I examined it with great interest, in order to

"You see," said the Captain, "I use Bunsen's contrivances, not Ruhmkorff's. Those would not have been

powerful enough. Bunsen's are fewer in number, but strong and large, which experience proves to be the best.

The electricity produced passes forward, where it works, by electromagnets of great size, on a system of

levers and cogwheels that transmit the movement to the axle of the screw. This one, the diameter of which

is nineteen feet, and the thread twentythree feet, performs about 120 revolutions in a second."

"I have seen the Nautilus manoeuvre before the Abraham Lincoln, and I have my own ideas as to its speed.

But this is not enough. We must see where we go. We must be able to direct it to the right, to the left, above,

below. How do you get to the great depths, where you find an increasing resistance, which is rated by

hundreds of atmospheres? How do you return to the surface of the ocean? And how do you maintain

"Not at all, Professor," replied the Captain, with some hesitation; "since you may never leave this submarine

boat. Come into the saloon, it is our usual study, and there you will learn all you want to know about the

A moment after we were seated on a divan in the saloon smoking. The Captain showed me a sketch that gave

the plan, section, and elevation of the Nautilus. Then he began his description in these words:

"Here, M. Aronnax, are the several dimensions of the boat you are in. It is an elongated cylinder with conical

ends. It is very like a cigar in shape, a shape already adopted in London in several constructions of the same

sort. The length of this cylinder, from stem to stern, is exactly 232 feet, and its maximum breadth is

twentysix feet. It is not built quite like your longvoyage steamers, but its lines are sufficiently long, and its

curves prolonged enough, to allow the water to slide off easily, and oppose no obstacle to its passage. These

two dimensions enable you to obtain by a simple calculation the surface and cubic contents of the Nautilus.

Its area measures 6,032 feet; and its contents about 1,500 cubic yards; that is to say, when completely

"When I made the plans for this submarine vessel, I meant that ninetenths should be submerged:

consequently it ought only to displace ninetenths of its bulk, that is to say, only to weigh that number of

tons. I ought not, therefore, to have exceeded that weight, constructing it on the aforesaid dimensions.

"The Nautilus is composed of two hulls, one inside, the other outside, joined by Tshaped irons, which

render it very strong. Indeed, owing to this cellular arrangement it resists like a block, as if it were solid. Its

sides cannot yield; it coheres spontaneously, and not by the closeness of its rivets; and its perfect union of the

"These two hulls are composed of steel plates, whose density is from .7 to .8 that of water. The first is not less

than two inches and a half thick and weighs 394 tons. The second envelope, the keel, twenty inches high and

ten thick, weighs only sixtytwo tons. The engine, the ballast, the several accessories and apparatus

appendages, the partitions and bulkheads, weigh 961.62 tons. Do you follow all this?"

"Then, when the Nautilus is afloat under these circumstances, onetenth is out of the water. Now, if I have

made reservoirs of a size equal to this tenth, or capable of holding 150 tons, and if I fill them with water, the

boat, weighing then 1,507 tons, will be completely immersed. That would happen, Professor. These

reservoirs are in the lower part of the Nautilus. I turn on taps and they fill, and the vessel sinks that had just

"Well, Captain, but now we come to the real difficulty. I can understand your rising to the surface; but, diving

below the surface, does not your submarine contrivance encounter a pressure, and consequently undergo an

upward thrust of one atmosphere for every thirty feet of water, just about fifteen pounds per square inch?"

"Then, unless you quite fill the Nautilus, I do not see how you can draw it down to those depths."

"Professor, you must not confound statics with dynamics or you will be exposed to grave errors. There is very

little labour spent in attaining the lower regions of the ocean, for all bodies have a tendency to sink. When I

wanted to find out the necessary increase of weight required to sink the Nautilus, I had only to calculate the

"Now, if water is not absolutely incompressible, it is at least capable of very slight compression. Indeed, after

the most recent calculations this reduction is only .000436 of an atmosphere for each thirty feet of depth. If

we want to sink 3,000 feet, I should keep account of the reduction of bulk under a pressure equal to that of a

column of water of a thousand feet. The calculation is easily verified. Now, I have supplementary reservoirs

capable of holding a hundred tons. Therefore I can sink to a considerable depth. When I wish to rise to the

level of the sea, I only let off the water, and empty all the reservoirs if I want the Nautilus to emerge from the

"I admit your calculations, Captain," I replied; "I should be wrong to dispute them since daily experience

"When you are about 1,000 feet deep, the walls of the Nautilus bear a pressure of 100 atmospheres. If, then,

just now you were to empty the supplementary reservoirs, to lighten the vessel, and to go up to the surface,

the pumps must overcome the pressure of 100 atmospheres, which is 1,500 lbs. per square inch. From that a

"That electricity alone can give," said the Captain, hastily. "I repeat, sir, that the dynamic power of my

engines is almost infinite. The pumps of the Nautilus have an enormous power, as you must have observed

when their jets of water burst like a torrent upon the Abraham Lincoln. Besides, I use subsidiary reservoirs

only to attain a mean depth of 750 to 1,000 fathoms, and that with a view of managing my machines. Also,

when I have a mind to visit the depths of the ocean five or six mlles below the surface, I make use of slower

"To steer this boat to starboard or port, to turn, in a word, following a horizontal plan, I use an ordinary

rudder fixed on the back of the sternpost, and with one wheel and some tackle to steer by. But I can also

make the Nautilus rise and sink, and sink and rise, by a vertical movement by means of two inclined planes

fastened to its sides, opposite the centre of flotation, planes that move in every direction, and that are worked

by powerful levers from the interior. If the planes are kept parallel with the boat, it moves horizontally. If

slanted, the Nautilus, according to this inclination, and under the influence of the screw, either sinks

diagonally or rises diagonally as it suits me. And even if I wish to rise more quickly to the surface, I ship the

screw, and the pressure of the water causes the Nautilus to rise vertically like a balloon filled with hydrogen."

"Bravo, Captain! But how can the steersman follow the route in the middle of the waters?"

"The steersman is placed in a glazed box, that is raised about the hull of the Nautilus, and furnished with

"Perfectly. Glass, which breaks at a blow, is, nevertheless, capable of offering considerable resistance. During

some experiments of fishing by electric light in 1864 in the Northern Seas, we saw plates less than a third of

an inch thick resist a pressure of sixteen atmospheres. Now, the glass that I use is not less than thirty times

"Granted. But, after all, in order to see, the light must exceed the darkness, and in the midst of the darkness in

"Behind the steersman's cage is placed a powerful electric reflector, the rays from which light up the sea for

"Ah! bravo, bravo, Captain! Now I can account for this phosphorescence in the supposed narwhal that

puzzled us so. I now ask you if the boarding of the Nautilus and of the Scotia, that has made such a noise, has

"Quite accidental, sir. I was sailing only one fathom below the surface of the water when the shock came. It

"Professor, I am sorry for one of the best vessels in the American navy; but they attacked me, and I was

bound to defend myself. I contented myself, however, with putting the frigate hors de combat; she will not

"Yes, Professor; and I love it as if it were part of myself. If danger threatens one of your vessels on the ocean,

the first impression is the feeling of an abyss above and below. On the Nautilus men's hearts never fail them.

No defects to be afraid of, for the double shell is as firm as iron; no rigging to attend to; no sails for the wind

to carry away; no boilers to burst; no fire to fear, for the vessel is made of iron, not of wood; no coal to run

short, for electricity is the only mechanical agent; no collision to fear, for it alone swims in deep water; no

tempest to brave, for when it dives below the water it reaches absolute tranquillity. There, sir! that is the

perfection of vessels! And if it is true that the engineer has more confidence in the vessel than the builder, and

the builder than the captain himself, you understand the trust I repose in my Nautilus; for I am at once

"Each separate portion, M. Aronnax, was brought from different parts of the globe."

"Professor, I had set up my workshops upon a desert island in the ocean. There my workmen, that is to say,

the brave men that I instructed and educated, and myself have put together our Nautilus. Then, when the work

was finished, fire destroyed all trace of our proceedings on this island, that I could have jumped over if I had

"M. Aronnax, an iron vessel costs L145 per ton. Now the Nautilus weighed 1,500. It came therefore to

L67,500, and L80,000 more for fitting it up, and about L200,000, with the works of art and the collections it

"Immensely rich, sir; and I could, without missing it, pay the national debt of France."

I stared at the singular person who spoke thus. Was he playing upon my credulity? The future would decide

The portion of the terrestrial globe which is covered by water is estimated at upwards of eighty millions of

acres. This fluid mass comprises two billions two hundred and fifty millions of cubic miles, forming a

spherical body of a diameter of sixty leagues, the weight of which would be three quintillions of tons. To

comprehend the meaning of these figures, it is necessary to observe that a quintillion is to a billion as a

billion is to unity; in other words, there are as many billions in a quintillion as there are units in a billion. This

mass of fluid is equal to about the quantity of water which would be discharged by all the rivers of the earth

During the geological epochs the ocean originally prevailed everywhere. Then by degrees, in the silurian

period, the tops of the mountains began to appear, the islands emerged, then disappeared in partial deluges,

reappeared, became settled, formed continents, till at length the earth became geographically arranged, as we

see in the present day. The solid had wrested from the liquid thirtyseven million six hundred and fiftyseven

square miles, equal to twelve billions nine hundred and sixty millions of acres.

The shape of continents allows us to divide the waters into five great portions: the Arctic or Frozen Ocean,

the Antarctic, or Frozen Ocean, the Indian, the Atlantic, and the Pacific Oceans.

The Pacific Ocean extends from north to south between the two Polar Circles, and from east to west between

Asia and America, over an extent of 145 degrees of longitude. It is the quietest of seas; its currents are broad

and slow, it has medium tides, and abundant rain. Such was the ocean that my fate destined me first to travel

"Sir," said Captain Nemo, "we will, if you please, take our bearings and fix the startingpoint of this voyage.

The Captain pressed an electric clock three times. The pumps began to drive the water from the tanks; the

needle of the manometer marked by a different pressure the ascent of the Nautilus, then it stopped.

I went to the central staircase which opened on to the platform, clambered up the iron steps, and found myself

The platform was only three feet out of water. The front and back of the Nautilus was of that spindleshape

which caused it justly to be compared to a cigar. I noticed that its iron plates, slightly overlaying each other,

resembled the shell which clothes the bodies of our large terrestrial reptiles. It explained to me how natural it

was, in spite of all glasses, that this boat should have been taken for a marine animal.

Toward the middle of the platform the longboat, half buried in the hull of the vessel, formed a slight

excrescence. Fore and aft rose two cages of medium height with inclined sides, and partly closed by thick

lenticular glasses; one destined for the steersman who directed the Nautilus, the other containing a brilliant

The sea was beautiful, the sky pure. Scarcely could the long vehicle feel the broad undulations of the ocean.

A light breeze from the east rippled the surface of the waters. The horizon, free from fog, made observation

Captain Nemo, by the help of his sextant, took the altitude of the sun, which ought also to give the latitude.

He waited for some moments till its disc touched the horizon. Whilst taking observations not a muscle

I cast a last look upon the sea, slightly yellowed by the Japanese coast, and descended to the saloon.

"And now, sir, I leave you to your studies," added the Captain; "our course is E.N.E., our depth is twentysix

fathoms. Here are maps on a large scale by which you may follow it. The saloon is at your disposal, and, with

your permission, I will retire." Captain Nemo bowed, and I remained alone, lost in thoughts all bearing on the

For a whole hour was I deep in these reflections, seeking to pierce this mystery so interesting to me. Then my

eyes fell upon the vast planisphere spread upon the table, and I placed my finger on the very spot where the

The sea has its large rivers like the continents. They are special currents known by their temperature and their

colour. The most remarkable of these is known by the name of the Gulf Stream. Science has decided on the

globe the direction of five principal currents: one in the North Atlantic, a second in the South, a third in the

North Pacific, a fourth in the South, and a fifth in the Southern Indian Ocean. It is even probable that a sixth

current existed at one time or another in the Northern Indian Ocean, when the Caspian and Aral Seas formed

At this point indicated on the planisphere one of these currents was rolling, the KuroScivo of the Japanese,

the Black River, which, leaving the Gulf of Bengal, where it is warmed by the perpendicular rays of a tropical

sun, crosses the Straits of Malacca along the coast of Asia, turns into the North Pacific to the Aleutian

Islands, carrying with it trunks of camphortrees and other indigenous productions, and edging the waves of

the ocean with the pure indigo of its warm water. It was this current that the Nautilus was to follow. I

followed it with my eye; saw it lose itself in the vastness of the Pacific, and felt myself drawn with it, when

My two brave companions remained petrified at the sight of the wonders spread before them.

"Where are we, where are we?" exclaimed the Canadian. "In the museum at Quebec?"

"My friends," I answered, making a sign for them to enter, "you are not in Canada, but on board the Nautilus,

"But, M. Aronnax," said Ned Land, "can you tell me how many men there are on board? Ten, twenty, fifty, a

"I cannot answer you, Mr. Land; it is better to abandon for a time all idea of seizing the Nautilus or escaping

from it. This ship is a masterpiece of modern industry, and I should be sorry not to have seen it. Many people

would accept the situation forced upon us, if only to move amongst such wonders. So be quiet and let us try

"See!" exclaimed the harpooner, "but we can see nothing in this iron prison! We are walkingwe are

Ned Land had scarcely pronounced these words when all was suddenly darkness. The luminous ceiling was

We remained mute, not stirring, and not knowing what surprise awaited us, whether agreeable or

disagreeable. A sliding noise was heard: one would have said that panels were working at the sides of the

Suddenly light broke at each side of the saloon, through two oblong openings. The liquid mass appeared

vividly lit up by the electric gleam. Two crystal plates separated us from the sea. At first I trembled at the

thought that this frail partition might break, but strong bands of copper bound them, giving an almost infinite

The sea was distinctly visible for a mile all round the Nautilus. What a spectacle! What pen can describe it?

Who could paint the effects of the light through those transparent sheets of water, and the softness of the

We know the transparency of the sea and that its clearness is far beyond that of rockwater. The mineral and

organic substances which it holds in suspension heightens its transparency. In certain parts of the ocean at the

Antilles, under seventyfive fathoms of water, can be seen with surprising clearness a bed of sand. The

penetrating power of the solar rays does not seem to cease for a depth of one hundred and fifty fathoms. But

in this middle fluid travelled over by the Nautilus, the electric brightness was produced even in the bosom of

On each side a window opened into this unexplored abyss. The obscurity of the saloon showed to advantage

the brightness outside, and we looked out as if this pure crystal had been the glass of an immense aquarium.

"Curious! curious!" muttered the Canadian, who, forgetting his illtemper, seemed to submit to some

irresistible attraction; "and one would come further than this to admire such a sight!"

"Ah!" thought I to myself, "I understand the life of this man; he has made a world apart for himself, in which

For two whole hours an aquatic army escorted the Nautilus. During their games, their bounds, while rivalling

each other in beauty, brightness, and velocity, I distinguished the green labre; the banded mullet, marked by a

double line of black; the roundtailed goby, of a white colour, with violet spots on the back; the Japanese

scombrus, a beautiful mackerel of these seas, with a blue body and silvery head; the brilliant azurors, whose

name alone defies description; some banded spares, with variegated fins of blue and yellow; the W.s

of the seas, some specimens of which attain a yard in length; Japanese salamanders, spider lampreys, serpents

six feet long, with eyes small and lively, and a huge mouth bristling with teeth; with many other species.

Our imagination was kept at its height, interjections followed quickly on each other. Ned named the fish, and

Conseil classed them. I was in ecstasies with the vivacity of their movements and the beauty of their forms.

Never had it been given to me to surprise these animals, alive and at liberty, in their natural element. I will

not mention all the varieties which passed before my dazzled eyes, all the collection of the seas of China and

Japan. These fish, more numerous than the birds of the air, came, attracted, no doubt, by the brilliant focus of

Suddenly there was daylight in the saloon, the iron panels closed again, and the enchanting vision

disappeared. But for a long time I dreamt on, till my eyes fell on the instruments hanging on the partition.

The compass still showed the course to be E.N.E., the manometer indicated a pressure of five atmospheres,

equivalent to a depth of twenty five fathoms, and the electric log gave a speed of fifteen miles an hour. I

expected Captain Nemo, but he did not appear. The clock marked the hour of five.

Ned Land and Conseil returned to their cabin, and I retired to my chamber. My dinner was ready. It was

composed of turtle soup made of the most delicate hawks bills, of a surmullet served with puff paste (the liver

of which, prepared by itself, was most delicious), and fillets of the emperorholocanthus, the savour of which

I passed the evening reading, writing, and thinking. Then sleep overpowered me, and I stretched myself on

my couch of zostera, and slept profoundly, whilst the Nautilus was gliding rapidly through the current of the

The next day was the 9th of November. I awoke after a long sleep of twelve hours. Conseil came, according

to custom, to know "how I passed the night," and to offer his services. He had left his friend the Canadian

sleeping like a man who had never done anything else all his life. I let the worthy fellow chatter as he

pleased, without caring to answer him. I was preoccupied by the absence of the Captain during our sitting of

As soon as I was dressed I went into the saloon. It was deserted. I plunged into the study of the shell treasures

The whole day passed without my being honoured by a visit from Captain Nemo. The panels of the saloon

The course of the Nautilus was E.N.E., her speed twelve knots, the depth below the surface between

The next day, 10th of November, the same desertion, the same solitude. I did not see one of the ship's crew:

Ned and Conseil spent the greater part of the day with me. They were astonished at the puzzling absence of

the Captain. Was this singular man ill?had he altered his intentions with regard to us?

After all, as Conseil said, we enjoyed perfect liberty, we were delicately and abundantly fed. Our host kept to

his terms of the treaty. We could not complain, and, indeed, the singularity of our fate reserved such

That day I commenced the journal of these adventures which has enabled me to relate them with more

11th November, early in the morning. The fresh air spreading over the interior of the Nautilus told me that we

had come to the surface of the ocean to renew our supply of oxygen. I directed my steps to the central

It was six o'clock, the weather was cloudy, the sea grey, but calm. Scarcely a billow. Captain Nemo, whom I

hoped to meet, would he be there? I saw no one but the steersman imprisoned in his glass cage. Seated upon

the projection formed by the hull of the pinnace, I inhaled the salt breeze with delight.

By degrees the fog disappeared under the action of the sun's rays, the radiant orb rose from behind the eastern

horizon. The sea flamed under its glance like a train of gunpowder. The clouds scattered in the heights were

coloured with lively tints of beautiful shades, and numerous "mare's tails," which betokened wind for that

I was admiring this joyous rising of the sun, so gay, and so lifegiving, when I heard steps approaching the

platform. I was prepared to salute Captain Nemo, but it was his second (whom I had already seen on the

Captain's first visit) who appeared. He advanced on the platform, not seeming to see me. With his powerful

glass to his eye, he scanned every point of the horizon with great attention. This examination over, he

approached the panel and pronounced a sentence in exactly these terms. I have remembered it, for every

These words pronounced, the second descended. I thought that the Nautilus was about to return to its

Five days sped thus, without any change in our situation. Every morning I mounted the platform. The same

I had made up my mind that I should never see him again, when, on the 16th November, on returning to my

room with Ned and Conseil, I found upon my table a note addressed to me. I opened it impatiently. It was

written in a bold, clear hand, the characters rather pointed, recalling the German type. The note was worded

Captain Nemo invites Professor Aronnax to a huntingparty, which will take place tomorrow morning in

the forests of the Island of Crespo. He hopes that nothing will prevent the Professor from being present, and

"That seems to me to be clearly indicated," said I, reading the letter once more.

"Well, we must accept," said the Canadian. "But once more on dry ground, we shall know what to do. Indeed,

Without seeking to reconcile what was contradictory between Captain Nemo's manifest aversion to islands

and continents, and his invitation to hunt in a forest, I contented myself with replying:

I consulted the planisphere, and in 32@ 40' N. lat. and 157@ 50' W. long., I found a small island, recognised

in 1801 by Captain Crespo, and marked in the ancient Spanish maps as Rocca de la Plata, the meaning of

which is The Silver Rock. We were then about eighteen hundred miles from our startingpoint, and the

course of the Nautilus, a little changed, was bringing it back towards the southeast.

I showed this little rock, lost in the midst of the North Pacific, to my companions.

"If Captain Nemo does sometimes go on dry ground," said I, "he at least chooses desert islands."

After supper, which was served by the steward, mute and impassive, I went to bed, not without some anxiety.

The next morning, the 17th of November, on awakening, I felt that the Nautilus was perfectly still. I dressed

Captain Nemo was there, waiting for me. He rose, bowed, and asked me if it was convenient for me to

accompany him. As he made no allusion to his absence during the last eight days, I did not mention it, and

"M. Aronnax," said the Captain, "pray, share my breakfast without ceremony; we will chat as we eat. For,

though I promised you a walk in the forest, I did not undertake to find hotels there. So breakfast as a man

I did honour to the repast. It was composed of several kinds of fish, and slices of seacucumber, and different

sorts of seaweed. Our drink consisted of pure water, to which the Captain added some drops of a fermented

liquor, extracted by the Kamschatcha method from a seaweed known under the name of Rhodomenia

"Sir, when I proposed to you to hunt in my submarine forest of Crespo, you evidently thought me mad. Sir,

"Be kind enough to listen, and you will then see whether you have any cause to accuse me of folly and

"You know as well as I do, Professor, that man can live under water, providing he carries with him a

sufficient supply of breathable air. In submarine works, the workman, clad in an impervious dress, with his

head in a metal helmet, receives air from above by means of forcing pumps and regulators."

"Just so, but under these conditions the man is not at liberty; he is attached to the pump which sends him air

through an indiarubber tube, and if we were obliged to be thus held to the Nautilus, we could not go far."

"It is to use the Rouquayrol apparatus, invented by two of your own countrymen, which I have brought to

perfection for my own use, and which will allow you to risk yourself under these new physiological

conditions without any organ whatever suffering. It consists of a reservoir of thick iron plates, in which I

store the air under a pressure of fifty atmospheres. This reservoir is fixed on the back by means of braces, like

a soldier's knapsack. Its upper part forms a box in which the air is kept by means of a bellows, and therefore

cannot escape unless at its normal tension. In the Rouquayrol apparatus such as we use, two india rubber

pipes leave this box and join a sort of tent which holds the nose and mouth; one is to introduce fresh air, the

other to let out the foul, and the tongue closes one or the other according to the wants of the respirator. But I,

in encountering great pressures at the bottom of the sea, was obliged to shut my head, like that of a diver in a

ball of copper; and it is to this ball of copper that the two pipes, the inspirator and the expirator, open."

"Perfectly, Captain Nemo; but the air that you carry with you must soon be used; when it only contains

"Right! But I told you, M. Aronnax, that the pumps of the Nautilus allow me to store the air under

considerable pressure, and on those conditions the reservoir of the apparatus can furnish breathable air for

"I have no further objections to make," I answered. "I will only ask you one thing, Captainhow can you

"With the Ruhmkorff apparatus, M. Aronnax; one is carried on the back, the other is fastened to the waist. It

is composed of a Bunsen pile, which I do not work with bichromate of potash, but with sodium. A wire is

introduced which collects the electricity produced, and directs it towards a particularly made lantern. In this

lantern is a spiral glass which contains a small quantity of carbonic gas. When the apparatus is at work this

gas becomes luminous, giving out a white and continuous light. Thus provided, I can breathe and I can see."

"Captain Nemo, to all my objections you make such crushing answers that I dare no longer doubt. But, if I

am forced to admit the Rouquayrol and Ruhmkorff apparatus, I must be allowed some reservations with

"Doubtless! How would you have me manufacture gun powder on board, without either saltpetre, sulphur, or

"Besides," I added, "to fire under water in a medium eight hundred and fiftyfive times denser than the air,

"That would be no difficulty. There exist guns, according to Fulton, perfected in England by Philip Coles and

Burley, in France by Furcy, and in Italy by Landi, which are furnished with a peculiar system of closing,

which can fire under these conditions. But I repeat, having no powder, I use air under great pressure, which

"Well, have I not my Rouquayrol reservoir, which can furnish it at need? A tap is all that is required. Besides

M. Aronnax, you must see yourself that, during our submarine hunt, we can spend but little air and but few

"But it seems to me that in this twilight, and in the midst of this fluid, which is very dense compared with the

"Sir, on the contrary, with this gun every blow is mortal; and, however lightly the animal is touched, it falls as

"Because the balls sent by this gun are not ordinary balls, but little cases of glass. These glass cases are

covered with a case of steel, and weighted with a pellet of lead; they are real Leyden bottles, into which the

electricity is forced to a very high tension. With the slightest shock they are discharged, and the animal,

however strong it may be, falls dead. I must tell you that these cases are size number four, and that the charge

"I will argue no longer," I replied, rising from the table. "I have nothing left me but to take my gun. At all

Captain Nemo then led me aft; and in passing before Ned's and Conseil's cabin, I called my two companions,

who followed promptly. We then came to a cell near the machineryroom, in which we put on our

This cell was, to speak correctly, the arsenal and wardrobe of the Nautilus. A dozen diving apparatuses hung

"But, my worthy Ned, the forests of the Island of Crespo are nothing but submarine forests."

"Good!" said the disappointed harpooner, who saw his dreams of fresh meat fade away. "And you, M.

"As you please, sir," replied the harpooner, shrugging his shoulders; "but, as for me, unless I am forced, I will

At the Captain's call two of the ship's crew came to help us dress in these heavy and impervious clothes,

made of indiarubber without seam, and constructed expressly to resist considerable pressure. One would

have thought it a suit of armour, both supple and resisting. This suit formed trousers and waistcoat. The

trousers were finished off with thick boots, weighted with heavy leaden soles. The texture of the waistcoat

was held together by bands of copper, which crossed the chest, protecting it from the great pressure of the

water, and leaving the lungs free to act; the sleeves ended in gloves, which in no way restrained the

movement of the hands. There was a vast difference noticeable between these consummate apparatuses and

the old cork breastplates, jackets, and other contrivances in vogue during the eighteenth century.

Captain Nemo and one of his companions (a sort of Hercules, who must have possessed great strength),

Conseil and myself were soon enveloped in the dresses. There remained nothing more to be done but to

enclose our heads in the metal box. But, before proceeding to this operation, I asked the Captain's permission

One of the Nautilus men gave me a simple gun, the butt end of which, made of steel, hollow in the centre,

was rather large. It served as a reservoir for compressed air, which a valve, worked by a spring, allowed to

escape into a metal tube. A box of projectiles in a groove in the thickness of the butt end contained about

twenty of these electric balls, which, by means of a spring, were forced into the barrel of the gun. As soon as

"Captain Nemo," said I, "this arm is perfect, and easily handled: I only ask to be allowed to try it. But how

"At this moment, Professor, the Nautilus is stranded in five fathoms, and we have nothing to do but to start."

Captain Nemo thrust his head into the helmet, Conseil and I did the same, not without hearing an ironical

"Good sport!" from the Canadian. The upper part of our dress terminated in a copper collar upon which was

screwed the metal helmet. Three holes, protected by thick glass, allowed us to see in all directions, by simply

turning our head in the interior of the headdress. As soon as it was in position, the Rouquayrol apparatus on

With the Ruhmkorff lamp hanging from my belt, and the gun in my hand, I was ready to set out. But to speak

the truth, imprisoned in these heavy garments, and glued to the deck by my leaden soles, it was impossible

But this state of things was provided for. I felt myself being pushed into a little room contiguous to the

wardrobe room. My companions followed, towed along in the same way. I heard a watertight door,

furnished with stopper plates, close upon us, and we were wrapped in profound darkness.

After some minutes, a loud hissing was heard. I felt the cold mount from my feet to my chest. Evidently from

some part of the vessel they had, by means of a tap, given entrance to the water, which was invading us, and

with which the room was soon filled. A second door cut in the side of the Nautilus then opened. We saw a

And now, how can I retrace the impression left upon me by that walk under the waters? Words are impotent

to relate such wonders! Captain Nemo walked in front, his companion followed some steps behind. Conseil

and I remained near each other, as if an exchange of words had been possible through our metallic cases. I no

longer felt the weight of my clothing, or of my shoes, of my reservoir of air, or my thick helmet, in the midst

The light, which lit the soil thirty feet below the surface of the ocean, astonished me by its power. The solar

rays shone through the watery mass easily, and dissipated all colour, and I clearly distinguished objects at a

distance of a hundred and fifty yards. Beyond that the tints darkened into fine gradations of ultramarine, and

faded into vague obscurity. Truly this water which surrounded me was but another air denser than the

terrestrial atmosphere, but almost as transparent. Above me was the calm surface of the sea. We were

walking on fine, even sand, not wrinkled, as on a flat shore, which retains the impression of the billows. This

dazzling carpet, really a reflector, repelled the rays of the sun with wonderful intensity, which accounted for

the vibration which penetrated every atom of liquid. Shall I be believed when I say that, at the depth of thirty

For a quarter of an hour I trod on this sand, sown with the impalpable dust of shells. The hull of the Nautilus,

resembling a long shoal, disappeared by degrees; but its lantern, when darkness should overtake us in the

Soon forms of objects outlined in the distance were discernible. I recognised magnificent rocks, hung with a

tapestry of zoophytes of the most beautiful kind, and I was at first struck by the peculiar effect of this

It was then ten in the morning; the rays of the sun struck the surface of the waves at rather an oblique angle,

and at the touch of their light, decomposed by refraction as through a prism, flowers, rocks, plants, shells, and

polypi were shaded at the edges by the seven solar colours. It was marvellous, a feast for the eyes, this

complication of coloured tints, a perfect kaleidoscope of green, yellow, orange, violet, indigo, and blue; in

one word, the whole palette of an enthusiastic colourist! Why could I not communicate to Conseil the lively

sensations which were mounting to my brain, and rival him in expressions of admiration? For aught I knew,

Captain Nemo and his companion might be able to exchange thoughts by means of signs previously agreed

upon. So, for want of better, I talked to myself; I declaimed in the copper box which covered my head,

Various kinds of isis, clusters of pure tuftcoral, prickly fungi, and anemones formed a brilliant garden of

flowers, decked with their collarettes of blue tentacles, seastars studding the sandy bottom. It was a real

grief to me to crush under my feet the brilliant specimens of molluscs which strewed the ground by

thousands, of hammerheads, donaciae (veritable bounding shells), of staircases, and red helmetshells,

angelwings, and many others produced by this inexhaustible ocean. But we were bound to walk, so we went

on, whilst above our heads waved medusae whose umbrellas of opal or rosepink, escalloped with a band of

blue, sheltered us from the rays of the sun and fiery pelagiae, which, in the darkness, would have strewn our

All these wonders I saw in the space of a quarter of a mile, scarcely stopping, and following Captain Nemo,

who beckoned me on by signs. Soon the nature of the soil changed; to the sandy plain succeeded an extent of

slimy mud which the Americans call "ooze," composed of equal parts of silicious and calcareous shells. We

then travelled over a plain of seaweed of wild and luxuriant vegetation. This sward was of close texture, and

soft to the feet, and rivalled the softest carpet woven by the hand of man. But whilst verdure was spread at

our feet, it did not abandon our heads. A light network of marine plants, of that inexhaustible family of

seaweeds of which more than two thousand kinds are known, grew on the surface of the water.

I noticed that the green plants kept nearer the top of the sea, whilst the red were at a greater depth, leaving to

the black or brown the care of forming gardens and parterres in the remote beds of the ocean.

We had quitted the Nautilus about an hour and a half. It was near noon; I knew by the perpendicularity of the

sun's rays, which were no longer refracted. The magical colours disappeared by degrees, and the shades of

emerald and sapphire were effaced. We walked with a regular step, which rang upon the ground with

astonishing intensity; the slightest noise was transmitted with a quickness to which the ear is unaccustomed

on the earth; indeed, water is a better conductor of sound than air, in the ratio of four to one. At this period

the earth sloped downwards; the light took a uniform tint. We were at a depth of a hundred and five yards and

At this depth I could still see the rays of the sun, though feebly; to their intense brilliancy had succeeded a

reddish twilight, the lowest state between day and night; but we could still see well enough; it was not

necessary to resort to the Ruhmkorff apparatus as yet. At this moment Captain Nemo stopped; he waited till I

joined him, and then pointed to an obscure mass, looming in the shadow, at a short distance.

We had at last arrived on the borders of this forest, doubtless one of the finest of Captain Nemo's immense

domains. He looked upon it as his own, and considered he had the same right over it that the first men had in

the first days of the world. And, indeed, who would have disputed with him the possession of this submarine

property? What other hardier pioneer would come, hatchet in hand, to cut down the dark copses?

This forest was composed of large treeplants; and the moment we penetrated under its vast arcades, I was

struck by the singular position of their branchesa position I had not yet observed.

Not an herb which carpeted the ground, not a branch which clothed the trees, was either broken or bent, nor

did they extend horizontally; all stretched up to the surface of the ocean. Not a filament, not a ribbon,

however thin they might be, but kept as straight as a rod of iron. The fuci and llianas grew in rigid

perpendicular lines, due to the density of the element which had produced them. Motionless yet, when bent to

one side by the hand, they directly resumed their former position. Truly it was the region of perpendicularity!

I soon accustomed myself to this fantastic position, as well as to the comparative darkness which surrounded

us. The soil of the forest seemed covered with sharp blocks, difficult to avoid. The submarine flora struck me

as being very perfect, and richer even than it would have been in the arctic or tropical zones, where these

productions are not so plentiful. But for some minutes I involuntarily confounded the genera, taking animals

for plants; and who would not have been mistaken? The fauna and the flora are too closely allied in this

These plants are selfpropagated, and the principle of their existence is in the water, which upholds and

nourishes them. The greater number, instead of leaves, shoot forth blades of capricious shapes, comprised

"Curious anomaly, fantastic element!" said an ingenious naturalist, "in which the animal kingdom blossoms,

In about an hour Captain Nemo gave the signal to halt; I, for my part, was not sorry, and we stretched

ourselves under an arbour of alariae, the long thin blades of which stood up like arrows.

This short rest seemed delicious to me; there was nothing wanting but the charm of conversation; but,

impossible to speak, impossible to answer, I only put my great copper head to Conseil's. I saw the worthy

fellow's eyes glistening with delight, and, to show his satisfaction, he shook himself in his breastplate of air,

After four hours of this walking, I was surprised not to find myself dreadfully hungry. How to account for

this state of the stomach I could not tell. But instead I felt an insurmountable desire to sleep, which happens

to all divers. And my eyes soon closed behind the thick glasses, and I fell into a heavy slumber, which the

movement alone had prevented before. Captain Nemo and his robust companion, stretched in the clear

How long I remained buried in this drowsiness I cannot judge, but, when I woke, the sun seemed sinking

towards the horizon. Captain Nemo had already risen, and I was beginning to stretch my limbs, when an

A few steps off, a monstrous seaspider, about thirtyeight inches high, was watching me with squinting

eyes, ready to spring upon me. Though my diver's dress was thick enough to defend me from the bite of this

animal, I could not help shuddering with horror. Conseil and the sailor of the Nautilus awoke at this moment.

Captain Nemo pointed out the hideous crustacean, which a blow from the butt end of the gun knocked over,

and I saw the horrible claws of the monster writhe in terrible convulsions. This incident reminded me that

other animals more to be feared might haunt these obscure depths, against whose attacks my divingdress

would not protect me. I had never thought of it before, but I now resolved to be upon my guard. Indeed, I

thought that this halt would mark the termination of our walk; but I was mistaken, for, instead of returning to

the Nautilus, Captain Nemo continued his bold excursion. The ground was still on the incline, its declivity

seemed to be getting greater, and to be leading us to greater depths. It must have been about three o'clock

when we reached a narrow valley, between high perpendicular walls, situated about seventyfive fathoms

deep. Thanks to the perfection of our apparatus, we were fortyfive fathoms below the limit which nature

I say seventyfive fathoms, though I had no instrument by which to judge the distance. But I knew that even

in the clearest waters the solar rays could not penetrate further. And accordingly the darkness deepened. At

ten paces not an object was visible. I was groping my way, when I suddenly saw a brilliant white light.

Captain Nemo had just put his electric apparatus into use; his companion did the same, and Conseil and I

followed their example. By turning a screw I established a communication between the wire and the spiral

glass, and the sea, lit by our four lanterns, was illuminated for a circle of thirtysix yards.

As we walked I thought the light of our Ruhmkorff apparatus could not fail to draw some inhabitant from its

dark couch. But if they did approach us, they at least kept at a respectful distance from the hunters. Several

times I saw Captain Nemo stop, put his gun to his shoulder, and after some moments drop it and walk on. At

last, after about four hours, this marvellous excursion came to an end. A wall of superb rocks, in an imposing

mass, rose before us, a heap of gigantic blocks, an enormous, steep granite shore, forming dark grottos, but

which presented no practicable slope; it was the prop of the Island of Crespo. It was the earth! Captain Nemo

stopped suddenly. A gesture of his brought us all to a halt; and, however desirous I might be to scale the wall,

I was obliged to stop. Here ended Captain Nemo's domains. And he would not go beyond them. Further on

The return began. Captain Nemo had returned to the head of his little band, directing their course without

hesitation. I thought we were not following the same road to return to the Nautilus. The new road was very

steep, and consequently very painful. We approached the surface of the sea rapidly. But this return to the

upper strata was not so sudden as to cause relief from the pressure too rapidly, which might have produced

serious disorder in our organisation, and brought on internal lesions, so fatal to divers. Very soon light

reappeared and grew, and, the sun being low on the horizon, the refraction edged the different objects with a

spectral ring. At ten yards and a half deep, we walked amidst a shoal of little fishes of all kinds, more

numerous than the birds of the air, and also more agile; but no aquatic game worthy of a shot had as yet met

our gaze, when at that moment I saw the Captain shoulder his gun quickly, and follow a moving object into

the shrubs. He fired; I heard a slight hissing, and a creature fell stunned at some distance from us. It was a

magnificent seaotter, an enhydrus, the only exclusively marine quadruped. This otter was five feet long, and

must have been very valuable. Its skin, chestnutbrown above and silvery underneath, would have made one

of those beautiful furs so sought after in the Russian and Chinese markets: the fineness and the lustre of its

coat would certainly fetch L80. I admired this curious mammal, with its rounded head ornamented with short

ears, its round eyes, and white whiskers like those of a cat, with webbed feet and nails, and tufted tail. This

precious animal, hunted and tracked by fishermen, has now become very rare, and taken refuge chiefly in the

Captain Nemo's companion took the beast, threw it over his shoulder, and we continued our journey. For one

hour a plain of sand lay stretched before us. Sometimes it rose to within two yards and some inches of the

surface of the water. I then saw our image clearly reflected, drawn inversely, and above us appeared an

identical group reflecting our movements and our actions; in a word, like us in every point, except that they

Another effect I noticed, which was the passage of thick clouds which formed and vanished rapidly; but on

reflection I understood that these seeming clouds were due to the varying thickness of the reeds at the bottom,

and I could even see the fleecy foam which their broken tops multiplied on the water, and the shadows of

large birds passing above our heads, whose rapid flight I could discern on the surface of the sea.

On this occasion I was witness to one of the finest gun shots which ever made the nerves of a hunter thrill. A

large bird of great breadth of wing, clearly visible, approached, hovering over us. Captain Nemo's companion

shouldered his gun and fired, when it was only a few yards above the waves. The creature fell stunned, and

the force of its fall brought it within the reach of dexterous hunter's grasp. It was an albatross of the finest

Our march had not been interrupted by this incident. For two hours we followed these sandy plains, then

fields of algae very disagreeable to cross. Candidly, I could do no more when I saw a glimmer of light,

which, for a half mile, broke the darkness of the waters. It was the lantern of the Nautilus. Before twenty

minutes were over we should be on board, and I should be able to breathe with ease, for it seemed that my

reservoir supplied air very deficient in oxygen. But I did not reckon on an accidental meeting which delayed

I had remained some steps behind, when I presently saw Captain Nemo coming hurriedly towards me. With

his strong hand he bent me to the ground, his companion doing the same to Conseil. At first I knew not what

to think of this sudden attack, but I was soon reassured by seeing the Captain lie down beside me, and remain

I was stretched on the ground, just under the shelter of a bush of algae, when, raising my head, I saw some

My blood froze in my veins as I recognised two formidable sharks which threatened us. It was a couple of

tintoreas, terrible creatures, with enormous tails and a dull glassy stare, the phosphorescent matter ejected

from holes pierced around the muzzle. Monstrous brutes! which would crush a whole man in their iron jaws.

I did not know whether Conseil stopped to classify them; for my part, I noticed their silver bellies, and their

huge mouths bristling with teeth, from a very unscientific point of view, and more as a possible victim than

Happily the voracious creatures do not see well. They passed without seeing us, brushing us with their

brownish fins, and we escaped by a miracle from a danger certainly greater than meeting a tiger fullface in

the forest. Half an hour after, guided by the electric light we reached the Nautilus. The outside door had been

left open, and Captain Nemo closed it as soon as we had entered the first cell. He then pressed a knob. I heard

the pumps working in the midst of the vessel, I felt the water sinking from around me, and in a few moments

the cell was entirely empty. The inside door then opened, and we entered the vestry.

There our divingdress was taken off, not without some trouble, and, fairly worn out from want of food and

sleep, I returned to my room, in great wonder at this surprising excursion at the bottom of the sea.

The next morning, the 18th of November, I had quite recovered from my fatigues of the day before, and I

went up on to the platform, just as the second lieutenant was uttering his daily phrase.

I was admiring the magnificent aspect of the ocean when Captain Nemo appeared. He did not seem to be

aware of my presence, and began a series of astronomical observations. Then, when he had finished, he went

and leant on the cage of the watchlight, and gazed abstractedly on the ocean. In the meantime, a number of

the sailors of the Nautilus, all strong and healthy men, had come up onto the platform. They came to draw up

the nets that had been laid all night. These sailors were evidently of different nations, although the European

type was visible in all of them. I recognised some unmistakable Irishmen, Frenchmen, some Sclaves, and a

Greek, or a Candiote. They were civil, and only used that odd language among themselves, the origin of

The nets were hauled in. They were a large kind of "chaluts," like those on the Normandy coasts, great

pockets that the waves and a chain fixed in the smaller meshes kept open. These pockets, drawn by iron

poles, swept through the water, and gathered in everything in their way. That day they brought up curious

I reckoned that the haul had brought in more than nine hundredweight of fish. It was a fine haul, but not to be

wondered at. Indeed, the nets are let down for several hours, and enclose in their meshes an infinite variety.

We had no lack of excellent food, and the rapidity of the Nautilus and the attraction of the electric light could

always renew our supply. These several productions of the sea were immediately lowered through the panel

The fishing ended, the provision of air renewed, I thought that the Nautilus was about to continue its

submarine excursion, and was preparing to return to my room, when, without further preamble, the Captain

"Professor, is not this ocean gifted with real life? It has its tempers and its gentle moods. Yesterday it slept as

we did, and now it has woke after a quiet night. Look!" he continued, "it wakes under the caresses of the sun.

It is going to renew its diurnal existence. It is an interesting study to watch the play of its organisation. It has

a pulse, arteries, spasms; and I agree with the learned Maury, who discovered in it a circulation as real as the

"Yes, the ocean has indeed circulation, and to promote it, the Creator has caused things to multiply in

When Captain Nemo spoke thus, he seemed altogether changed, and aroused an extraordinary emotion in me.

"Also," he added, "true existence is there; and I can imagine the foundations of nautical towns, clusters of

submarine houses, which, like the Nautilus, would ascend every morning to breathe at the surface of the

Captain Nemo finished his sentence with a violent gesture. Then, addressing me as if to chase away some

"These are some," I replied, "that I remember. If I am not mistaken, a depth of 8,000 yards has been found in

the North Atlantic, and 2,500 yards in the Mediterranean. The most remarkable soundings have been made in

the South Atlantic, near the thirtyfifth parallel, and they gave 12,000 yards, 14,000 yards, and 15,000 yards.

To sum up all, it is reckoned that if the bottom of the sea were levelled, its mean depth would be about one

"Well, Professor," replied the Captain, "we shall show you better than that I hope. As to the mean depth of

Having said this, Captain Nemo went towards the panel, and disappeared down the ladder. I followed him,

and went into the large drawingroom. The screw was immediately put in motion, and the log gave twenty

During the days and weeks that passed, Captain Nemo was very sparing of his visits. I seldom saw him. The

lieutenant pricked the ship's course regularly on the chart, so I could always tell exactly the route of the

Nearly every day, for some time, the panels of the drawingroom were opened, and we were never tired of

The general direction of the Nautilus was southeast, and it kept between 100 and 150 yards of depth. One

day, however, I do not know why, being drawn diagonally by means of the inclined planes, it touched the bed

of the sea. The thermometer indicated a temperature of 4.25 (cent.): a temperature that at this depth seemed

At three o'clock in the morning of the 26th of November the Nautilus crossed the tropic of Cancer at 172@

long. On 27th instant it sighted the Sandwich Islands, where Cook died, February 14, 1779. We had then

gone 4,860 leagues from our startingpoint. In the morning, when I went on the platform, I saw two miles to

windward, Hawaii, the largest of the seven islands that form the group. I saw clearly the cultivated ranges,

and the several mountainchains that run parallel with the side, and the volcanoes that overtop MounaRea,

which rise 5,000 yards above the level of the sea. Besides other things the nets brought up, were several

flabellariae and graceful polypi, that are peculiar to that part of the ocean. The direction of the Nautilus was

still to the southeast. It crossed the equator December 1, in 142@ long.; and on the 4th of the same month,

after crossing rapidly and without anything in particular occurring, we sighted the Marquesas group. I saw,

three miles off, Martin's peak in NoukaHiva, the largest of the group that belongs to France. I only saw the

woody mountains against the horizon, because Captain Nemo did not wish to bring the ship to the wind.

There the nets brought up beautiful specimens of fish: some with azure fins and tails like gold, the flesh of

which is unrivalled; some nearly destitute of scales, but of exquisite flavour; others, with bony jaws, and

yellowtinged gills, as good as bonitos; all fish that would be of use to us. After leaving these charming

islands protected by the French flag, from the 4th to the 11th of December the Nautilus sailed over about

During the daytime of the 11th of December I was busy reading in the large drawingroom. Ned Land and

Conseil watched the luminous water through the halfopen panels. The Nautilus was immovable. While its

reservoirs were filled, it kept at a depth of 1,000 yards, a region rarely visited in the ocean, and in which large

I was then reading a charming book by Jean Mace, The Slaves of the Stomach, and I was learning some

In a full electric light, an enormous black mass, quite immovable, was suspended in the midst of the waters. I

watched it attentively, seeking to find out the nature of this gigantic cetacean. But a sudden thought crossed

Ned Land was right; we were close to a vessel of which the tattered shrouds still hung from their chains. The

keel seemed to be in good order, and it had been wrecked at most some few hours. Three stumps of masts,

broken off about two feet above the bridge, showed that the vessel had had to sacrifice its masts. But, lying

on its side, it had filled, and it was heeling over to port. This skeleton of what it had once been was a sad

spectacle as it lay lost under the waves, but sadder still was the sight of the bridge, where some corpses,

bound with ropes, were still lying. I counted fivefour men, one of whom was standing at the helm, and a

woman standing by the poop, holding an infant in her arms. She was quite young. I could distinguish her

features, which the water had not decomposed, by the brilliant light from the Nautilus. In one despairing

effort, she had raised her infant above her head poor little thing!whose arms encircled its mother's neck.

The attitude of the four sailors was frightful, distorted as they were by their convulsive movements, whilst

making a last effort to free themselves from the cords that bound them to the vessel. The steersman alone,

calm, with a grave, clear face, his grey hair glued to his forehead, and his hand clutching the wheel of the

helm, seemed even then to be guiding the three broken masts through the depths of the ocean.

What a scene! We were dumb; our hearts beat fast before this shipwreck, taken as it were from life and

photographed in its last moments. And I saw already, coming towards it with hungry eyes, enormous sharks,

However, the Nautilus, turning, went round the submerged vessel, and in one instant I read on the

This terrible spectacle was the forerunner of the series of maritime catastrophes that the Nautilus was

destined to meet with in its route. As long as it went through more frequented waters, we often saw the hulls

of shipwrecked vessels that were rotting in the depths, and deeper down cannons, bullets, anchors, chains,

and a thousand other iron materials eaten up by rust. However, on the 11th of December we sighted the

Pomotou Islands, the old "dangerous group" of Bougainville, that extend over a space of 500 leagues at

E.S.E. to W.N.W., from the Island Ducie to that of Lazareff. This group covers an area of 370 square leagues,

and it is formed of sixty groups of islands, among which the Gambier group is remarkable, over which France

exercises sway. These are coral islands, slowly raised, but continuous, created by the daily work of polypi.

Then this new island will be joined later on to the neighboring groups, and a fifth continent will stretch from

On 15th of December, we left to the east the bewitching group of the Societies and the graceful Tahiti, queen

of the Pacific. I saw in the morning, some miles to the windward, the elevated summits of the island. These

waters furnished our table with excellent fish, mackerel, bonitos, and some varieties of a seaserpent.

On the 25th of December the Nautilus sailed into the midst of the New Hebrides, discovered by Quiros in

1606, and that Bougainville explored in 1768, and to which Cook gave its present name in 1773. This group

is composed principally of nine large islands, that form a band of 120 leagues N.N.S. to S.S.W., between

15@ and 2@ S. lat., and 164@ and 168@ long. We passed tolerably near to the Island of Aurou, that at noon

That day being Christmas Day, Ned Land seemed to regret sorely the noncelebration of "Christmas," the

family fete of which Protestants are so fond. I had not seen Captain Nemo for a week, when, on the morning

of the 27th, he came into the large drawingroom, always seeming as if he had seen you five minutes before.

I was busily tracing the route of the Nautilus on the planisphere. The Captain came up to me, put his finger on

The effect was magical! It was the name of the islands on which La Perouse had been lost! I rose suddenly.

"And I can visit the celebrated islands where the Boussole and the Astrolabe struck?"

Followed by Captain Nemo, I went up on to the platform, and greedily scanned the horizon.

To the N.E. two volcanic islands emerged of unequal size, surrounded by a coral reef that measured forty

miles in circumference. We were close to Vanikoro, really the one to which Dumont d'Urville gave the name

of Isle de la Recherche, and exactly facing the little harbour of Vanou, situated in 16@ 4' S. lat., and 164@

32' E. long. The earth seemed covered with verdure from the shore to the summits in the interior, that were

crowned by Mount Kapogo, 476 feet high. The Nautilus, having passed the outer belt of rocks by a narrow

strait, found itself among breakers where the sea was from thirty to forty fathoms deep. Under the verdant

shade of some mangroves I perceived some savages, who appeared greatly surprised at our approach. In the

long black body, moving between wind and water, did they not see some formidable cetacean that they

I related to him all that the last works of Dumont d'Urville had made known works from which the

La Perouse, and his second, Captain de Langle, were sent by Louis XVI, in 1785, on a voyage of

circumnavigation. They embarked in the corvettes Boussole and the Astrolabe, neither of which were again

heard of. In 1791, the French Government, justly uneasy as to the fate of these two sloops, manned two large

merchantmen, the Recherche and the Esperance, which left Brest the 28th of September under the command

Two months after, they learned from Bowen, commander of the Albemarle, that the debris of shipwrecked

vessels had been seen on the coasts of New Georgia. But D'Entrecasteaux, ignoring this communication

rather uncertain, besidesdirected his course towards the Admiralty Islands, mentioned in a report of

They sought in vain. The Esperance and the Recherche passed before Vanikoro without stopping there, and,

in fact, this voyage was most disastrous, as it cost D'Entrecasteaux his life, and those of two of his

Captain Dillon, a shrewd old Pacific sailor, was the first to find unmistakable traces of the wrecks. On the

15th of May, 1824, his vessel, the St. Patrick, passed close to Tikopia, one of the New Hebrides. There a

Lascar came alongside in a canoe, sold him the handle of a sword in silver that bore the print of characters

engraved on the hilt. The Lascar pretended that six years before, during a stay at Vanikoro, he had seen two

Europeans that belonged to some vessels that had run aground on the reefs some years ago.

Dillon guessed that he meant La Perouse, whose disappearance had troubled the whole world. He tried to get

on to Vanikoro, where, according to the Lascar, he would find numerous debris of the wreck, but winds and

Dillon returned to Calcutta. There he interested the Asiatic Society and the Indian Company in his discovery.

A vessel, to which was given the name of the Recherche, was put at his disposal, and he set out, 23rd

The Recherche, after touching at several points in the Pacific, cast anchor before Vanikoro, 7th July, 1827, in

There it collected numerous relics of the wreck iron utensils, anchors, pulleystrops, swivelguns, an 18

lb. shot, fragments of astronomical instruments, a piece of crown work, and a bronze clock, bearing this

inscription"Bazin m'a fait," the mark of the foundry of the arsenal at Brest about 1785. There could be no

Dillon, having made all inquiries, stayed in the unlucky place till October. Then he quitted Vanikoro, and

directed his course towards New Zealand; put into Calcutta, 7th April, 1828, and returned to France, where he

But at the same time, without knowing Dillon's movements, Dumont d'Urville had already set out to find the

scene of the wreck. And they had learned from a whaler that some medals and a cross of St. Louis had been

found in the hands of some savages of Louisiade and New Caledonia. Dumont d'Urville, commander of the

Astrolabe, had then sailed, and two months after Dillon had left Vanikoro he put into Hobart Town. There he

learned the results of Dillon's inquiries, and found that a certain James Hobbs, second lieutenant of the Union

of Calcutta, after landing on an island situated 8@ 18' S. lat., and 156@ 30' E. long., had seen some iron bars

and red stuffs used by the natives of these parts. Dumont d'Urville, much perplexed, and not knowing how to

On the 10th of February, 1828, the Astrolabe appeared off Tikopia, and took as guide and interpreter a

deserter found on the island; made his way to Vanikoro, sighted it on the 12th inst., lay among the reefs until

the 14th, and not until the 20th did he cast anchor within the barrier in the harbour of Vanou.

On the 23rd, several officers went round the island and brought back some unimportant trifles. The natives,

adopting a system of denials and evasions, refused to take them to the unlucky place. This ambiguous

conduct led them to believe that the natives had illtreated the castaways, and indeed they seemed to fear that

However, on the 26th, appeased by some presents, and understanding that they had no reprisals to fear, they

There, in three or four fathoms of water, between the reefs of Pacou and Vanou, lay anchors, cannons, pigs of

lead and iron, embedded in the limy concretions. The large boat and the whaler belonging to the Astrolabe

were sent to this place, and, not without some difficulty, their crews hauled up an anchor weighing 1,800 lbs.,

Dumont d'Urville, questioning the natives, learned too that La Perouse, after losing both his vessels on the

reefs of this island, had constructed a smaller boat, only to be lost a second time. Where, no one knew.

But the French Government, fearing that Dumont d'Urville was not acquainted with Dillon's movements, had

sent the sloop Bayonnaise, commanded by Legoarant de Tromelin, to Vanikoro, which had been stationed on

the west coast of America. The Bayonnaise cast her anchor before Vanikoro some months after the departure

of the Astrolabe, but found no new document; but stated that the savages had respected the monument to La

"So," he said, "no one knows now where the third vessel perished that was constructed by the castaways on

Captain Nemo said nothing, but signed to me to follow him into the large saloon. The Nautilus sank several

I hastened to the aperture, and under the crustations of coral, covered with fungi, I recognised certain debris

that the drags had not been able to tear upiron stirrups, anchors, cannons, bullets, capstan fittings, the stem

of a ship, all objects clearly proving the wreck of some vessel, and now carpeted with living flowers. While I

"Commander La Perouse set out 7th December, 1785, with his vessels La Boussole and the Astrolabe. He

first cast anchor at Botany Bay, visited the Friendly Isles, New Caledonia, then directed his course towards

Santa Cruz, and put into Namouka, one of the Hapai group. Then his vessels struck on the unknown reefs of

Vanikoro. The Boussole, which went first, ran aground on the southerly coast. The Astrolabe went to its help,

and ran aground too. The first vessel was destroyed almost immediately. The second, stranded under the

wind, resisted some days. The natives made the castaways welcome. They installed themselves in the island,

and constructed a smaller boat with the debris of the two large ones. Some sailors stayed willingly at

Vanikoro; the others, weak and ill, set out with La Perouse. They directed their course towards the Solomon

Islands, and there perished, with everything, on the westerly coast of the chief island of the group, between

Captain Nemo showed me a tinplate box, stamped with the French arms, and corroded by the salt water. He

They were the instructions of the naval minister to Commander La Perouse, annotated in the margin in Louis

"Ah! it is a fine death for a sailor!" said Captain Nemo, at last. "A coral tomb makes a quiet grave; and I trust

During the night of the 27th or 28th of December, the Nautilus left the shores of Vanikoro with great speed.

Her course was southwesterly, and in three days she had gone over the 750 leagues that separated it from La

"What! Conseil; exactly as if I was at Paris in my study at the Jardin des Plantes? Well, I accept your good

wishes, and thank you for them. Only, I will ask you what you mean by a `Happy New Year' under our

circumstances? Do you mean the year that will bring us to the end of our imprisonment, or the year that sees

"Really, I do not know how to answer, master. We are sure to see curious things, and for the last two months

we have not had time for dullness. The last marvel is always the most astonishing; and, if we continue this

progression, I do not know how it will end. It is my opinion that we shall never again see the like. I think

then, with no offence to master, that a happy year would be one in which we could see everything."

On 2nd January we had made 11,340 miles, or 5,250 French leagues, since our startingpoint in the Japan

Seas. Before the ship's head stretched the dangerous shores of the coral sea, on the northeast coast of

Australia. Our boat lay along some miles from the redoubtable bank on which Cook's vessel was lost, 10th

June, 1770. The boat in which Cook was struck on a rock, and, if it did not sink, it was owing to a piece of

I had wished to visit the reef, 360 leagues long, against which the sea, always rough, broke with great

violence, with a noise like thunder. But just then the inclined planes drew the Nautilus down to a great depth,

and I could see nothing of the high coral walls. I had to content myself with the different specimens of fish

brought up by the nets. I remarked, among others, some germons, a species of mackerel as large as a tunny,

with bluish sides, and striped with transverse bands, that disappear with the animal's life. These fish followed

us in shoals, and furnished us with very delicate food. We took also a large number of giltheads, about one

and a half inches long, tasting like dorys; and flying firefish like submarine swallows, which, in dark nights,

light alternately the air and water with their phosphorescent light.{2 sentences missing here}

Two days after crossing the coral sea, 4th January, we sighted the Papuan coasts. On this occasion, Captain

Nemo informed me that his intention was to get into the Indian Ocean by the Strait of Torres. His

The Torres Straits are nearly thirtyfour leagues wide; but they are obstructed by an innumerable quantity of

islands, islets, breakers, and rocks, that make its navigation almost impracticable; so that Captain Nemo took

all needful precautions to cross them. The Nautilus, floating betwixt wind and water, went at a moderate

Profiting by this, I and my two companions went up on to the deserted platform. Before us was the

steersman's cage, and I expected that Captain Nemo was there directing the course of the Nautilus. I had

before me the excellent charts of the Straits of Torres, and I consulted them attentively. Round the Nautilus

the sea dashed furiously. The course of the waves, that went from southeast to northwest at the rate of two

"The Captain must be very sure of his route, for I see there pieces of coral that would do for its keel if it only

Indeed the situation was dangerous, but the Nautilus seemed to slide like magic off these rocks. It did not

follow the routes of the Astrolabe and the Zelee exactly, for they proved fatal to Dumont d'Urville. It bore

more northwards, coasted the Islands of Murray, and came back to the southwest towards Cumberland

Passage. I thought it was going to pass it by, when, going back to northwest, it went through a large quantity

I wondered if Captain Nemo, foolishly imprudent, would steer his vessel into that pass where Dumont

d'Urville's two corvettes touched; when, swerving again, and cutting straight through to the west, he steered

It was then three in the afternoon. The tide began to recede, being quite full. The Nautilus approached the

island, that I still saw, with its remarkable border of screwpines. He stood off it at about two miles distant.

Suddenly a shock overthrew me. The Nautilus just touched a rock, and stayed immovable, laying lightly to

When I rose, I perceived Captain Nemo and his lieutenant on the platform. They were examining the situation

She was situated thus: Two miles, on the starboard side, appeared Gilboa, stretching from north to west like

an immense arm. Towards the south and east some coral showed itself, left by the ebb. We had run aground,

and in one of those seas where the tides are middlinga sorry matter for the floating of the Nautilus.

However, the vessel had not suffered, for her keel was solidly joined. But, if she could neither glide off nor

move, she ran the risk of being for ever fastened to these rocks, and then Captain Nemo's submarine vessel

I was reflecting thus, when the Captain, cool and calm, always master of himself, approached me.

"But an incident that will oblige you perhaps to become an inhabitant of this land from which you flee?"

Captain Nemo looked at me curiously, and made a negative gesture, as much as to say that nothing would

"Besides, M. Aronnax, the Nautilus is not lost; it will carry you yet into the midst of the marvels of the ocean.

Our voyage is only begun, and I do not wish to be deprived so soon of the honour of your company."

"However, Captain Nemo," I replied, without noticing the ironical turn of his phrase, "the Nautilus ran

aground in open sea. Now the tides are not strong in the Pacific; and, if you cannot lighten the Nautilus, I do

"The tides are not strong in the Pacific: you are right there, Professor; but in Torres Straits one finds still a

difference of a yard and a half between the level of high and low seas. Today is 4th January, and in five

days the moon will be full. Now, I shall be very much astonished if that satellite does not raise these masses

of water sufficiently, and render me a service that I should be indebted to her for."

Having said this, Captain Nemo, followed by his lieutenant, redescended to the interior of the Nautilus. As to

the vessel, it moved not, and was immovable, as if the coralline polypi had already walled it up with their in

"Well, sir?" said Ned Land, who came up to me after the departure of the Captain.

"Well, friend Ned, we will wait patiently for the tide on the 9th instant; for it appears that the moon will have

"And this Captain is not going to cast anchor at all since the tide will suffice?" said Conseil, simply.

"Sir, you may believe me when I tell you that this piece of iron will navigate neither on nor under the sea

again; it is only fit to be sold for its weight. I think, therefore, that the time has come to part company with

"Friend Ned, I do not despair of this stout Nautilus, as you do; and in four days we shall know what to hold to

on the Pacific tides. Besides, flight might be possible if we were in sight of the English or Provencal coast;

but on the Papuan shores, it is another thing; and it will be time enough to come to that extremity if the

"But do they know, at least, how to act circumspectly? There is an island; on that island there are trees; under

those trees, terrestrial animals, bearers of cutlets and roast beef, to which I would willingly give a trial."

"In this, friend Ned is right," said Conseil, "and I agree with him. Could not master obtain permission from

his friend Captain Nemo to put us on land, if only so as not to lose the habit of treading on the solid parts of

"Will master risk it?" asked Conseil, "and we shall know how to rely upon the Captain's amiability."

To my great surprise, Captain Nemo gave me the permission I asked for, and he gave it very agreeably,

without even exacting from me a promise to return to the vessel; but flight across New Guinea might be very

perilous, and I should not have counselled Ned Land to attempt it. Better to be a prisoner on board the

At eight o'clock, armed with guns and hatchets, we got off the Nautilus. The sea was pretty calm; a slight

breeze blew on land. Conseil and I rowing, we sped along quickly, and Ned steered in the straight passage

that the breakers left between them. The boat was well handled, and moved rapidly.

Ned Land could not restrain his joy. He was like a prisoner that had escaped from prison, and knew not that it

"Meat! We are going to eat some meat; and what meat!" he replied. "Real game! no, bread, indeed."

"I do not say that fish is not good; we must not abuse it; but a piece of fresh venison, grilled on live coals,

"It remains to be seen," I said, "if these forests are full of game, and if the game is not such as will hunt the

"Well said, M. Aronnax," replied the Canadian, whose teeth seemed sharpened like the edge of a hatchet;

"but I will eat tiger loin of tigerif there is no other quadruped on this island."

"Whatever it may be," continued Ned Land, "every animal with four paws without feathers, or with two paws

"Never fear, M. Aronnax," replied the Canadian; "I do not want twentyfive minutes to offer you a dish, of

At halfpast eight the Nautilus boat ran softly aground on a heavy sand, after having happily passed the coral

I was much impressed on touching land. Ned Land tried the soil with his feet, as if to take possession of it.

However, it was only two months before that we had become, according to Captain Nemo, "passengers on

In a few minutes we were within musketshot of the coast. The whole horizon was hidden behind a beautiful

curtain of forests. Enormous trees, the trunks of which attained a height of 200 feet, were tied to each other

by garlands of bindweed, real natural hammocks, which a light breeze rocked. They were mimosas, figs,

hibisci, and palm trees, mingled together in profusion; and under the shelter of their verdant vault grew

But, without noticing all these beautiful specimens of Papuan flora, the Canadian abandoned the agreeable for

the useful. He discovered a cocotree, beat down some of the fruit, broke them, and we drunk the milk and

ate the nut with a satisfaction that protested against the ordinary food on the Nautilus.

"And I do not think," said the Canadian, "that he would object to our introducing a cargo of coconuts on

"One word only, Master Land," I said to the harpooner, who was beginning to ravage another coconut tree.

"Coconuts are good things, but before filling the canoe with them it would be wise to reconnoitre and see if

the island does not produce some substance not less useful. Fresh vegetables would be welcome on board the

"Master is right," replied Conseil; "and I propose to reserve three places in our vessel, one for fruits, the other

for vegetables, and the third for the venison, of which I have not yet seen the smallest specimen."

"Let us continue," I returned, "and lie in wait. Although the island seems uninhabited, it might still contain

"My word!" returned the Canadian, "I begin to understand the charms of anthropophagy."

"Ned! Ned! what are you saying? You, a maneater? I should not feel safe with you, especially as I share

"I would not trust you," replied Conseil. "But enough. We must absolutely bring down some game to satisfy

this cannibal, or else one of these fine mornings, master will find only pieces of his servant to serve him."

While we were talking thus, we were penetrating the sombre arches of the forest, and for two hours we

Chance rewarded our search for eatable vegetables, and one of the most useful products of the tropical zones

furnished us with precious food that we missed on board. I would speak of the breadfruit tree, very abundant

in the island of Gilboa; and I remarked chiefly the variety destitute of seeds, which bears in Malaya the name

Ned Land knew these fruits well. He had already eaten many during his numerous voyages, and he knew how

to prepare the eatable substance. Moreover, the sight of them excited him, and he could contain himself no

"Master," he said, "I shall die if I do not taste a little of this breadfruit pie."

"Taste it, friend Nedtaste it as you want. We are here to make experimentsmake them."

And, provided with a lentil, he lighted a fire of dead wood that crackled joyously. During this time, Conseil

and I chose the best fruits of the breadfruit. Some had not then attained a sufficient degree of maturity; and

their thick skin covered a white but rather fibrous pulp. Others, the greater number yellow and gelatinous,

These fruits enclosed no kernel. Conseil brought a dozen to Ned Land, who placed them on a coal fire, after

"You will see, master, how good this bread is. More so when one has been deprived of it so long. It is not

"Very well, prepare yourself for a juicy thing. If you do not come for more, I am no longer the king of

After some minutes, the part of the fruits that was exposed to the fire was completely roasted. The interior

looked like a white pasty, a sort of soft crumb, the flavour of which was like that of an artichoke.

It must be confessed this bread was excellent, and I ate of it with great relish.

We returned through the forest, and completed our collection by a raid upon the cabbagepalms, that we

gathered from the tops of the trees, little beans that I recognised as the "abrou" of the Malays, and yams of a

We were loaded when we reached the boat. But Ned Land did not find his provisions sufficient. Fate,

however, favoured us. Just as we were pushing off, he perceived several trees, from twentyfive to thirty feet

At last, at five o'clock in the evening, loaded with our riches, we quitted the shore, and half an hour after we

hailed the Nautilus. No one appeared on our arrival. The enormous ironplated cylinder seemed deserted.

The provisions embarked, I descended to my chamber, and after supper slept soundly.

The next day, 6th January, nothing new on board. Not a sound inside, not a sign of life. The boat rested along

the edge, in the same place in which we had left it. We resolved to return to the island. Ned Land hoped to be

more fortunate than on the day before with regard to the hunt, and wished to visit another part of the forest.

At dawn we set off. The boat, carried on by the waves that flowed to shore, reached the island in a few

We landed, and, thinking that it was better to give in to the Canadian, we followed Ned Land, whose long

limbs threatened to distance us. He wound up the coast towards the west: then, fording some torrents, he

gained the high plain that was bordered with admirable forests. Some kingfishers were rambling along the

watercourses, but they would not let themselves be approached. Their circumspection proved to me that

these birds knew what to expect from bipeds of our species, and I concluded that, if the island was not

After crossing a rather large prairie, we arrived at the skirts of a little wood that was enlivened by the songs

"Friend Conseil," said Ned, gravely, "the parrot is like pheasant to those who have nothing else."

Indeed, under the thick foliage of this wood, a world of parrots were flying from branch to branch, only

needing a careful education to speak the human language. For the moment, they were chattering with parrots

of all colours, and grave cockatoos, who seemed to meditate upon some philosophical problem, whilst

brilliant red lories passed like a piece of bunting carried away by the breeze, papuans, with the finest azure

colours, and in all a variety of winged things most charming to behold, but few eatable.

However, a bird peculiar to these lands, and which has never passed the limits of the Arrow and Papuan

islands, was wanting in this collection. But fortune reserved it for me before long.

After passing through a moderately thick copse, we found a plain obstructed with bushes. I saw then those

magnificent birds, the disposition of whose long feathers obliges them to fly against the wind. Their

undulating flight, graceful aerial curves, and the shading of their colours, attracted and charmed one's looks. I

The Malays, who carry on a great trade in these birds with the Chinese, have several means that we could not

employ for taking them. Sometimes they put snares on the top of high trees that the birds of paradise prefer to

frequent. Sometimes they catch them with a viscous birdlime that paralyses their movements. They even go

so far as to poison the fountains that the birds generally drink from. But we were obliged to fire at them

during flight, which gave us few chances to bring them down; and, indeed, we vainly exhausted one half our

About eleven o'clock in the morning, the first range of mountains that form the centre of the island was

traversed, and we had killed nothing. Hunger drove us on. The hunters had relied on the products of the

chase, and they were wrong. Happily Conseil, to his great surprise, made a double shot and secured breakfast.

He brought down a white pigeon and a woodpigeon, which, cleverly plucked and suspended from a skewer,

was roasted before a red fire of dead wood. While these interesting birds were cooking, Ned prepared the

fruit of the breadtree. Then the woodpigeons were devoured to the bones, and declared excellent. The

nutmeg, with which they are in the habit of stuffing their crops, flavours their flesh and renders it delicious

"Some fourfooted game, M. Aronnax. All these pigeons are only sidedishes and trifles; and until I have

"Let us continue hunting," replied Conseil. "Let us go towards the sea. We have arrived at the first declivities

That was sensible advice, and was followed out. After walking for one hour we had attained a forest of

sagotrees. Some inoffensive serpents glided away from us. The birds of paradise fled at our approach, and

truly I despaired of getting near one when Conseil, who was walking in front, suddenly bent down, uttered a

"No, my boy; you have made an excellent stroke. Take one of these living birds, and carry it in your hand."

"Yes, sir; drunk with the nutmegs that it devoured under the nutmegtree, under which I found it. See, friend

"By Jove!" exclaimed the Canadian, "because I have drunk gin for two months, you must needs reproach

However, I examined the curious bird. Conseil was right. The bird, drunk with the juice, was quite powerless.

This bird belonged to the most beautiful of the eight species that are found in Papua and in the neighbouring

islands. It was the "large emerald bird, the most rare kind." It measured three feet in length. Its head was

comparatively small, its eyes placed near the opening of the beak, and also small. But the shades of colour

were beautiful, having a yellow beak, brown feet and claws, nutcoloured wings with purple tips, pale yellow

at the back of the neck and head, and emerald colour at the throat, chestnut on the breast and belly. Two

horned, downy nets rose from below the tail, that prolonged the long light feathers of admirable fineness, and

they completed the whole of this marvellous bird, that the natives have poetically named the "bird of the

But if my wishes were satisfied by the possession of the bird of paradise, the Canadian's were not yet.

Happily, about two o'clock, Ned Land brought down a magnificent hog; from the brood of those the natives

call "barioutang." The animal came in time for us to procure real quadruped meat, and he was well received.

Ned Land was very proud of his shot. The hog, hit by the electric ball, fell stone dead. The Canadian skinned

and cleaned it properly, after having taken half a dozen cutlets, destined to furnish us with a grilled repast in

the evening. Then the hunt was resumed, which was still more marked by Ned and Conseil's exploits.

Indeed, the two friends, beating the bushes, roused a herd of kangaroos that fled and bounded along on their

elastic paws. But these animals did not take to flight so rapidly but what the electric capsule could stop their

"Ah, Professor!" cried Ned Land, who was carried away by the delights of the chase, "what excellent game,

and stewed, too! What a supply for the Nautilus! Two! three! five down! And to think that we shall eat that

I think that, in the excess of his joy, the Canadian, if he had not talked so much, would have killed them all.

But he contented himself with a single dozen of these interesting marsupians. These animals were small.

They were a species of those "kangaroo rabbits" that live habitually in the hollows of trees, and whose speed

is extreme; but they are moderately fat, and furnish, at least, estimable food. We were very satisfied with the

results of the hunt. Happy Ned proposed to return to this enchanting island the next day, for he wished to

depopulate it of all the eatable quadrupeds. But he had reckoned without his host.

At six o'clock in the evening we had regained the shore; our boat was moored to the usual place. The

Nautilus, like a long rock, emerged from the waves two miles from the beach. Ned Land, without waiting,

occupied himself about the important dinner business. He understood all about cooking well. The

"barioutang," grilled on the coals, soon scented the air with a delicious odour.

Indeed, the dinner was excellent. Two woodpigeons completed this extraordinary menu. The sago pasty, the

artocarpus bread, some mangoes, half a dozen pineapples, and the liquor fermented from some coconuts,

overjoyed us. I even think that my worthy companions' ideas had not all the plainness desirable.

We looked at the edge of the forest without rising, my hand stopping in the action of putting it to my mouth,

"Stones do not fall from the sky," remarked Conseil, "or they would merit the name aerolites."

A second stone, carefully aimed, that made a savoury pigeon's leg fall from Conseil's hand, gave still more

weight to his observation. We all three arose, shouldered our guns, and were ready to reply to any attack.

It was indeed necessary to beat a retreat, for about twenty natives armed with bows and slings appeared on

the skirts of a copse that masked the horizon to the right, hardly a hundred steps from us.

Our boat was moored about sixty feet from us. The savages approached us, not running, but making hostile

Ned Land had not wished to leave his provisions; and, in spite of his imminent danger, his pig on one side

and kangaroos on the other, he went tolerably fast. In two minutes we were on the shore. To load the boat

with provisions and arms, to push it out to sea, and ship the oars, was the work of an instant. We had not gone

two cablelengths, when a hundred savages, howling and gesticulating, entered the water up to their waists. I

watched to see if their apparition would attract some men from the Nautilus on to the platform. But no. The

Twenty minutes later we were on board. The panels were open. After making the boat fast, we entered into

I descended to the drawingroom, from whence I heard some chords. Captain Nemo was there, bending over

He shuddered, and, turning round, said, "Ah! it is you, Professor? Well, have you had a good hunt, have you

"Yes Captain; but we have unfortunately brought a troop of bipeds, whose vicinity troubles me."

"Savages!" he echoed, ironically. "So you are astonished, Professor, at having set foot on a strange land and

finding savages? Savages! where are there not any? Besides, are they worse than others, these whom you call

"M. Aronnax," replied Captain Nemo, placing his fingers on the organ stops, "when all the natives of Papua

are assembled on this shore, the Nautilus will have nothing to fear from their attacks."

The Captain's fingers were then running over the keys of the instrument, and I remarked that he touched only

the black keys, which gave his melodies an essentially Scotch character. Soon he had forgotten my presence,

and had plunged into a reverie that I did not disturb. I went up again on to the platform: night had already

fallen; for, in this low latitude, the sun sets rapidly and without twilight. I could only see the island

indistinctly; but the numerous fires, lighted on the beach, showed that the natives did not think of leaving it. I

was alone for several hours, sometimes thinking of the natives but without any dread of them, for the

imperturbable confidence of the Captain was catchingsometimes forgetting them to admire the splendours

of the night in the tropics. My remembrances went to France in the train of those zodiacal stars that would

shine in some hours' time. The moon shone in the midst of the constellations of the zenith.

The night slipped away without any mischance, the islanders frightened no doubt at the sight of a monster

aground in the bay. The panels were open, and would have offered an easy access to the interior of the

At six o'clock in the morning of the 8th January I went up on to the platform. The dawn was breaking. The

island soon showed itself through the dissipating fogs, first the shore, then the summits.

The natives were there, more numerous than on the day before five or six hundred perhapssome of

them, profiting by the low water, had come on to the coral, at less than two cablelengths from the Nautilus. I

distinguished them easily; they were true Papuans, with athletic figures, men of good race, large high

foreheads, large, but not broad and flat, and white teeth. Their woolly hair, with a reddish tinge, showed off

on their black shining bodies like those of the Nubians. From the lobes of their ears, cut and distended, hung

chaplets of bones. Most of these savages were naked. Amongst them, I remarked some women, dressed from

the hips to knees in quite a crinoline of herbs, that sustained a vegetable waistband. Some chiefs had

ornamented their necks with a crescent and collars of glass beads, red and white; nearly all were armed with

bows, arrows, and shields and carried on their shoulders a sort of net containing those round stones which

they cast from their slings with great skill. One of these chiefs, rather near to the Nautilus, examined it

attentively. He was, perhaps, a "mado" of high rank, for he was draped in a mat of bananaleaves, notched

I could easily have knocked down this native, who was within a short length; but I thought that it was better

to wait for real hostile demonstrations. Between Europeans and savages, it is proper for the Europeans to

During low water the natives roamed about near the Nautilus, but were not troublesome; I heard them

frequently repeat the word "Assai," and by their gestures I understood that they invited me to go on land, an

So that, on that day, the boat did not push off, to the great displeasure of Master Land, who could not

This adroit Canadian employed his time in preparing the viands and meat that he had brought off the island.

As for the savages, they returned to the shore about eleven o'clock in the morning, as soon as the coral tops

began to disappear under the rising tide; but I saw their numbers had increased considerably on the shore.

Probably they came from the neighbouring islands, or very likely from Papua. However, I had not seen a

single native canoe. Having nothing better to do, I thought of dragging these beautiful limpid waters, under

which I saw a profusion of shells, zoophytes, and marine plants. Moreover, it was the last day that the

Nautilus would pass in these parts, if it float in open sea the next day, according to Captain Nemo's promise.

I therefore called Conseil, who brought me a little light drag, very like those for the oyster fishery. Now to

work! For two hours we fished unceasingly, but without bringing up any rarities. The drag was filled with

midasears, harps, melames, and particularly the most beautiful hammers I have ever seen. We also brought

up some seaslugs, pearloysters, and a dozen little turtles that were reserved for the pantry on board.

But just when I expected it least, I put my hand on a wonder, I might say a natural deformity, very rarely met

with. Conseil was just dragging, and his net came up filled with divers ordinary shells, when, all at once, he

saw me plunge my arm quickly into the net, to draw out a shell, and heard me utter a cry.

"Yes, Conseil; but, instead of being rolled from right to left, this olive turns from left to right."

Shells are all righthanded, with rare exceptions; and, when by chance their spiral is left, amateurs are ready

Conseil and I were absorbed in the contemplation of our treasure, and I was promising myself to enrich the

museum with it, when a stone unfortunately thrown by a native struck against, and broke, the precious object

in Conseil's hand. I uttered a cry of despair! Conseil took up his gun, and aimed at a savage who was poising

his sling at ten yards from him. I would have stopped him, but his blow took effect and broke the bracelet of

Conseil was in earnest, but I was not of his opinion. However, the situation had changed some minutes

before, and we had not perceived. A score of canoes surrounded the Nautilus. These canoes, scooped out of

the trunk of a tree, long, narrow, well adapted for speed, were balanced by means of a long bamboo pole,

which floated on the water. They were managed by skilful, halfnaked paddlers, and I watched their advance

with some uneasiness. It was evident that these Papuans had already had dealings with the Europeans and

knew their ships. But this long iron cylinder anchored in the bay, without masts or chimneys, what could they

think of it? Nothing good, for at first they kept at a respectful distance. However, seeing it motionless, by

degrees they took courage, and sought to familiarise themselves with it. Now this familiarity was precisely

what it was necessary to avoid. Our arms, which were noiseless, could only produce a moderate effect on the

savages, who have little respect for aught but blustering things. The thunderbolt without the reverberations of

thunder would frighten man but little, though the danger lies in the lightning, not in the noise.

At this moment the canoes approached the Nautilus, and a shower of arrows alighted on her.

I went down to the saloon, but found no one there. I ventured to knock at the door that opened into the

I entered, and found Captain Nemo deep in algebraical calculations of _x_ and other quantities.

"That is true, M. Aronnax," replied the Captain; "but I think you have serious reasons for wishing to see me?"

"Very grave ones; the natives are surrounding us in their canoes, and in a few minutes we shall certainly be

"Nothing can be more simple," said Captain Nemo. And, pressing an electric button, he transmitted an order

"It is all done, sir," said he, after some moments. "The pinnace is ready, and the hatches are closed. You do

not fear, I imagine, that these gentlemen could stave in walls on which the balls of your frigate have had no

"It is that tomorrow, at about this hour, we must open the hatches to renew the air of the Nautilus. Now, if,

at this moment, the Papuans should occupy the platform, I do not see how you could prevent them from

"Well, sir, let them come. I see no reason for hindering them. After all, these Papuans are poor creatures, and

I am unwilling that my visit to the island should cost the life of a single one of these wretches."

Upon that I was going away; But Captain Nemo detained me, and asked me to sit down by him. He

questioned me with interest about our excursions on shore, and our hunting; and seemed not to understand the

craving for meat that possessed the Canadian. Then the conversation turned on various subjects, and, without

Amongst other things, we happened to speak of the situation of the Nautilus, run aground in exactly the same

"This D'Urville was one of your great sailors," said the Captain to me, "one of your most intelligent

navigators. He is the Captain Cook of you Frenchmen. Unfortunate man of science, after having braved the

icebergs of the South Pole, the coral reefs of Oceania, the cannibals of the Pacific, to perish miserably in a

railway train! If this energetic man could have reflected during the last moments of his life, what must have

So speaking, Captain Nemo seemed moved, and his emotion gave me a better opinion of him. Then, chart in

hand, we reviewed the travels of the French navigator, his voyages of circumnavigation, his double detention

at the South Pole, which led to the discovery of Adelaide and Louis Philippe, and fixing the hydrographical

"That which your D'Urville has done on the surface of the seas," said Captain Nemo, "that have I done under

them, and more easily, more completely than he. The Astrolabe and the Zelee, incessantly tossed about by the

hurricane, could not be worth the Nautilus, quiet repository of labour that she is, truly motionless in the midst

"Tomorrow," added the Captain, rising, "tomorrow, at twenty minutes to three p.m., the Nautilus shall

Having curtly pronounced these words, Captain Nemo bowed slightly. This was to dismiss me, and I went

There I found Conseil, who wished to know the result of my interview with the Captain.

"My boy," said I, "when I feigned to believe that his Nautilus was threatened by the natives of Papua, the

Captain answered me very sarcastically. I have but one thing to say to you: Have confidence in him, and go

"If you will excuse me, sir," answered Conseil, "friend Ned is busy making a kangaroopie which will be a

I remained alone and went to bed, but slept indifferently. I heard the noise of the savages, who stamped on

the platform, uttering deafening cries. The night passed thus, without disturbing the ordinary repose of the

crew. The presence of these cannibals affected them no more than the soldiers of a masked battery care for

At six in the morning I rose. The hatches had not been opened. The inner air was not renewed, but the

reservoirs, filled ready for any emergency, were now resorted to, and discharged several cubic feet of oxygen

I worked in my room till noon, without having seen Captain Nemo, even for an instant. On board no

I waited still some time, then went into the large saloon. The clock marked halfpast two. In ten minutes it

would be hightide: and, if Captain Nemo had not made a rash promise, the Nautilus would be immediately

However, some warning vibrations began to be felt in the vessel. I heard the keel grating against the rough

"M. Aronnax," quietly answered Captain Nemo, "they will not enter the hatches of the Nautilus in that way,

I directed my steps towards the central staircase. There Ned Land and Conseil were slyly watching some of

the ship's crew, who were opening the hatches, while cries of rage and fearful vociferations resounded

The port lids were pulled down outside. Twenty horrible faces appeared. But the first native who placed his

hand on the stairrail, struck from behind by some invisible force, I know not what, fled, uttering the most

Conseil was in ecstasy. Ned Land, carried away by his violent instincts, rushed on to the staircase. But the

This explained all. It was no rail; but a metallic cable charged with electricity from the deck communicating

with the platform. Whoever touched it felt a powerful shock and this shock would have been mortal if

Captain Nemo had discharged into the conductor the whole force of the current. It might truly be said that

between his assailants and himself he had stretched a network of electricity which none could pass with

Meanwhile, the exasperated Papuans had beaten a retreat paralysed with terror. As for us, half laughing, we

But at this moment the Nautilus, raised by the last waves of the tide, quitted her coral bed exactly at the

fortieth minute fixed by the Captain. Her screw swept the waters slowly and majestically. Her speed

increased gradually, and, sailing on the surface of the ocean, she quitted safe and sound the dangerous passes

The following day 10th January, the Nautilus continued her course between two seas, but with such

remarkable speed that I could not estimate it at less than thirtyfive miles an hour. The rapidity of her screw

was such that I could neither follow nor count its revolutions. When I reflected that this marvellous electric

agent, after having afforded motion, heat, and light to the Nautilus, still protected her from outward attack,

and transformed her into an ark of safety which no profane hand might touch without being thunderstricken,

my admiration was unbounded, and from the structure it extended to the engineer who had called it into

Our course was directed to the west, and on the 11th of January we doubled Cape Wessel, situation in 135@

long. and 10@ S. lat., which forms the east point of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The reefs were still numerous,

but more equalised, and marked on the chart with extreme precision. The Nautilus easily avoided the breakers

of Money to port and the Victoria reefs to starboard, placed at 130@ long. and on the 10th parallel, which we

On the 13th of January, Captain Nemo arrived in the Sea of Timor, and recognised the island of that name in

From this point the direction of the Nautilus inclined towards the southwest. Her head was set for the Indian

Ocean. Where would the fancy of Captain Nemo carry us next? Would he return to the coast of Asia or would

he approach again the shores of Europe? Improbable conjectures both, to a man who fled from inhabited

continents. Then would he descend to the south? Was he going to double the Cape of Good Hope, then Cape

Horn, and finally go as far as the Antarctic pole? Would he come back at last to the Pacific, where his

After having skirted the sands of Cartier, of Hibernia, Seringapatam, and Scott, last efforts of the solid against

the liquid element, on the 14th of January we lost sight of land altogether. The speed of the Nautilus was

considerably abated, and with irregular course she sometimes swam in the bosom of the waters, sometimes

During this period of the voyage, Captain Nemo made some interesting experiments on the varied

temperature of the sea, in different beds. Under ordinary conditions these observations are made by means of

rather complicated instruments, and with somewhat doubtful results, by means of thermometrical

soundingleads, the glasses often breaking under the pressure of the water, or an apparatus grounded on the

variations of the resistance of metals to the electric currents. Results so obtained could not be correctly

calculated. On the contrary, Captain Nemo went himself to test the temperature in the depths of the sea, and

his thermometer, placed in communication with the different sheets of water, gave him the required degree

It was thus that, either by overloading her reservoirs or by descending obliquely by means of her inclined

planes, the Nautilus successively attained the depth of three, four, five, seven, nine, and ten thousand yards,

and the definite result of this experience was that the sea preserved an average temperature of four degrees

On the 16th of January, the Nautilus seemed becalmed only a few yards beneath the surface of the waves. Her

electric apparatus remained inactive and her motionless screw left her to drift at the mercy of the currents. I

supposed that the crew was occupied with interior repairs, rendered necessary by the violence of the

My companions and I then witnessed a curious spectacle. The hatches of the saloon were open, and, as the

beacon light of the Nautilus was not in action, a dim obscurity reigned in the midst of the waters. I observed

the state of the sea, under these conditions, and the largest fish appeared to me no more than scarcely defined

shadows, when the Nautilus found herself suddenly transported into full light. I thought at first that the

beacon had been lighted, and was casting its electric radiance into the liquid mass. I was mistaken, and after a

The Nautilus floated in the midst of a phosphorescent bed which, in this obscurity, became quite dazzling. It

was produced by myriads of luminous animalculae, whose brilliancy was increased as they glided over the

metallic hull of the vessel. I was surprised by lightning in the midst of these luminous sheets, as though they

bad been rivulets of lead melted in an ardent furnace or metallic masses brought to a white heat, so that, by

force of contrast, certain portions of light appeared to cast a shade in the midst of the general ignition, from

which all shade seemed banished. No; this was not the calm irradiation of our ordinary lightning. There was

In reality, it was an infinite agglomeration of coloured infusoria, of veritable globules of jelly, provided with

a threadlike tentacle, and of which as many as twentyfive thousand have been counted in less than two cubic

During several hours the Nautilus floated in these brilliant waves, and our admiration increased as we

watched the marine monsters disporting themselves like salamanders. I saw there in the midst of this fire that

burns not the swift and elegant porpoise (the indefatigable clown of the ocean), and some swordfish ten feet

long, those prophetic heralds of the hurricane whose formidable sword would now and then strike the glass of

the saloon. Then appeared the smaller fish, the balista, the leaping mackerel, wolfthorntails, and a hundred

others which striped the luminous atmosphere as they swam. This dazzling spectacle was enchanting!

Perhaps some atmospheric condition increased the intensity of this phenomenon. Perhaps some storm

agitated the surface of the waves. But at this depth of some yards, the Nautilus was unmoved by its fury and

So we progressed, incessantly charmed by some new marvel. The days passed rapidly away, and I took no

account of them. Ned, according to habit, tried to vary the diet on board. Like snails, we were fixed to our

Thus this life seemed easy and natural, and we thought no longer of the life we led on land; but something

On the 18th of January, the Nautilus was in 105@ long. and 15@ S. lat. The weather was threatening, the sea

rough and rolling. There was a strong east wind. The barometer, which had been going down for some days,

foreboded a coming storm. I went up on to the platform just as the second lieutenant was taking the measure

of the horary angles, and waited, according to habit till the daily phrase was said. But on this day it was

exchanged for another phrase not less incomprehensible. Almost directly, I saw Captain Nemo appear with a

For some minutes he was immovable, without taking his eye off the point of observation. Then he lowered

his glass and exchanged a few words with his lieutenant. The latter seemed to be a victim to some emotion

that he tried in vain to repress. Captain Nemo, having more command over himself, was cool. He seemed,

too, to be making some objections to which the lieutenant replied by formal assurances. At least I concluded

so by the difference of their tones and gestures. For myself, I had looked carefully in the direction indicated

without seeing anything. The sky and water were lost in the clear line of the horizon.

However, Captain Nemo walked from one end of the platform to the other, without looking at me, perhaps

without seeing me. His step was firm, but less regular than usual. He stopped sometimes, crossed his arms,

The lieutenant had taken up the glass and examined the horizon steadfastly, going and coming, stamping his

foot and showing more nervous agitation than his superior officer. Besides, this mystery must necessarily be

solved, and before long; for, upon an order from Captain Nemo, the engine, increasing its propelling power,

Just then the lieutenant drew the Captain's attention again. The latter stopped walking and directed his glass

towards the place indicated. He looked long. I felt very much puzzled, and descended to the drawingroom,

and took out an excellent telescope that I generally used. Then, leaning on the cage of the watchlight that

jutted out from the front of the platform, set myself to look over all the line of the sky and sea.

But my eye was no sooner applied to the glass than it was quickly snatched out of my hands.

I turned round. Captain Nemo was before me, but I did not know him. His face was transfigured. His eyes

flashed sullenly; his teeth were set; his stiff body, clenched fists, and head shrunk between his shoulders,

betrayed the violent agitation that pervaded his whole frame. He did not move. My glass, fallen from his

Had I unwittingly provoked this fit of anger? Did this incomprehensible person imagine that I had discovered

some forbidden secret? No; I was not the object of this hatred, for he was not looking at me; his eye was

steadily fixed upon the impenetrable point of the horizon. At last Captain Nemo recovered himself. His

agitation subsided. He addressed some words in a foreign language to his lieutenant, then turned to me. "M.

Aronnax," he said, in rather an imperious tone, "I require you to keep one of the conditions that bind you to

"You are the master," I replied, looking steadily at him. "But may I ask you one question?"

There was no resisting this imperious command, it would have been useless. I went down to the cabin

occupied by Ned Land and Conseil, and told them the Captain's determination. You may judge how this

But there was not time for altercation. Four of the crew waited at the door, and conducted us to that cell

I told my companions what had passed. They were as much astonished as I, and equally at a loss how to

Meanwhile, I was absorbed in my own reflections, and could think of nothing but the strange fear depicted in

the Captain's countenance. I was utterly at a loss to account for it, when my cogitations were disturbed by

And indeed the table was laid. Evidently Captain Nemo had given this order at the same time that he had

"Well, it is that master breakfasts. It is prudent, for we do not know what may happen."

"Friend Ned," asked Conseil, "what would you have said if the breakfast had been entirely forgotten?"

Just then the luminous globe that lighted the cell went out, and left us in total darkness. Ned Land was soon

asleep, and what astonished me was that Conseil went off into a heavy slumber. I was thinking what could

have caused his irresistible drowsiness, when I felt my brain becoming stupefied. In spite of my efforts to

keep my eyes open, they would close. A painful suspicion seized me. Evidently soporific substances had been

mixed with the food we had just taken. Imprisonment was not enough to conceal Captain Nemo's projects

from us, sleep was more necessary. I then heard the panels shut. The undulations of the sea, which caused a

slight rolling motion, ceased. Had the Nautilus quitted the surface of the ocean? Had it gone back to the

motionless bed of water? I tried to resist sleep. It was impossible. My breathing grew weak. I felt a mortal

cold freeze my stiffened and halfparalysed limbs. My eye lids, like leaden caps, fell over my eyes. I could

not raise them; a morbid sleep, full of hallucinations, bereft me of my being. Then the visions disappeared,

The next day I woke with my head singularly clear. To my great surprise, I was in my own room. My

companions, no doubt, had been reinstated in their cabin, without having perceived it any more than I. Of

what had passed during the night they were as ignorant as I was, and to penetrate this mystery I only

I then thought of quitting my room. Was I free again or a prisoner? Quite free. I opened the door, went to the

halfdeck, went up the central stairs. The panels, shut the evening before, were open. I went on to the

Ned Land and Conseil waited there for me. I questioned them; they knew nothing. Lost in a heavy sleep in

which they had been totally unconscious, they had been astonished at finding themselves in their cabin.

As for the Nautilus, it seemed quiet and mysterious as ever. It floated on the surface of the waves at a

The second lieutenant then came on to the platform, and gave the usual order below.

Of the people on board, I only saw the impassive steward, who served me with his usual dumb regularity.

About two o'clock, I was in the drawingroom, busied in arranging my notes, when the Captain opened the

door and appeared. I bowed. He made a slight inclination in return, without speaking. I resumed my work,

hoping that he would perhaps give me some explanation of the events of the preceding night. He made none.

I looked at him. He seemed fatigued; his heavy eyes had not been refreshed by sleep; his face looked very

sorrowful. He walked to and fro, sat down and got up again, took a chance book, put it down, consulted his

instruments without taking his habitual notes, and seemed restless and uneasy. At last, he came up to me, and

I so little expected such a question that I stared some time at him without answering.

"Are you a doctor?" he repeated. "Several of your colleagues have studied medicine."

"Well," said I, "I am a doctor and resident surgeon to the hospital. I practised several years before entering

My answer had evidently satisfied the Captain. But, not knowing what he would say next, I waited for other

I own my heart beat, I do not know why. I saw certain connection between the illness of one of the crew and

the events of the day before; and this mystery interested me at least as much as the sick man.

Captain Nemo conducted me to the poop of the Nautilus, and took me into a cabin situated near the sailors'

There, on a bed, lay a man about forty years of age, with a resolute expression of countenance, a true type of

I leant over him. He was not only ill, he was wounded. His head, swathed in bandages covered with blood,

lay on a pillow. I undid the bandages, and the wounded man looked at me with his large eyes and gave no

sign of pain as I did it. It was a horrible wound. The skull, shattered by some deadly weapon, left the brain

exposed, which was much injured. Clots of blood had formed in the bruised and broken mass, in colour like

There was both contusion and suffusion of the brain. His breathing was slow, and some spasmodic

movements of the muscles agitated his face. I felt his pulse. It was intermittent. The extremities of the body

were growing cold already, and I saw death must inevitably ensue. After dressing the unfortunate man's

"What does it signify?" he replied, evasively. "A shock has broken one of the levers of the engine, which

Captain Nemo's hand contracted, and some tears glistened in his eyes, which I thought incapable of shedding

For some moments I still watched the dying man, whose life ebbed slowly. His pallor increased under the

electric light that was shed over his deathbed. I looked at his intelligent forehead, furrowed with premature

wrinkles, produced probably by misfortune and sorrow. I tried to learn the secret of his life from the last

I left him in the dying man's cabin, and returned to my room much affected by this scene. During the whole

day, I was haunted by uncomfortable suspicions, and at night I slept badly, and between my broken dreams I

fancied I heard distant sighs like the notes of a funeral psalm. Were they the prayers of the dead, murmured in

The next morning I went on to the bridge. Captain Nemo was there before me. As soon as he perceived me he

It was not a question of dead or dying. I rejoined Ned Land and Conseil, and told them of Captain Nemo's

proposition. Conseil hastened to accept it, and this time the Canadian seemed quite willing to follow our

It was eight o'clock in the morning. At halfpast eight we were equipped for this new excursion, and

provided with two contrivances for light and breathing. The double door was open; and, accompanied by

Captain Nemo, who was followed by a dozen of the crew, we set foot, at a depth of about thirty feet, on the

A slight declivity ended in an uneven bottom, at fifteen fathoms depth. This bottom differed entirely from the

one I had visited on my first excursion under the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Here, there was no fine sand,

no submarine prairies, no seaforest. I immediately recognised that marvellous region in which, on that day,

The light produced a thousand charming varieties, playing in the midst of the branches that were so vividly

coloured. I seemed to see the membraneous and cylindrical tubes tremble beneath the undulation of the

waters. I was tempted to gather their fresh petals, ornamented with delicate tentacles, some just blown, the

others budding, while a small fish, swimming swiftly, touched them slightly, like flights of birds. But if my

hand approached these living flowers, these animated, sensitive plants, the whole colony took alarm. The

white petals reentered their red cases, the flowers faded as I looked, and the bush changed into a block of

Chance had thrown me just by the most precious specimens of the zoophyte. This coral was more valuable

than that found in the Mediterranean, on the coasts of France, Italy and Barbary. Its tints justified the poetical

names of "Flower of Blood," and "Froth of Blood," that trade has given to its most beautiful productions.

Coral is sold for L20 per ounce; and in this place the watery beds would make the fortunes of a company of

coraldivers. This precious matter, often confused with other polypi, formed then the inextricable plots called

{opening sentence missing} Real petrified thickets, long joints of fantastic architecture, were disclosed before

us. Captain Nemo placed himself under a dark gallery, where by a slight declivity we reached a depth of a

hundred yards. The light from our lamps produced sometimes magical effects, following the rough outlines of

the natural arches and pendants disposed like lustres, that were tipped with points of fire.

At last, after walking two hours, we had attained a depth of about three hundred yards, that is to say, the

extreme limit on which coral begins to form. But there was no isolated bush, nor modest brushwood, at the

bottom of lofty trees. It was an immense forest of large mineral vegetations, enormous petrified trees, united

by garlands of elegant seabindweed, all adorned with clouds and reflections. We passed freely under their

Captain Nemo had stopped. I and my companions halted, and, turning round, I saw his men were forming a

semicircle round their chief. Watching attentively, I observed that four of them carried on their shoulders an

We occupied, in this place, the centre of a vast glade surrounded by the lofty foliage of the submarine forest.

Our lamps threw over this place a sort of clear twilight that singularly elongated the shadows on the ground.

At the end of the glade the darkness increased, and was only relieved by little sparks reflected by the points of

Ned Land and Conseil were near me. We watched, and I thought I was going to witness a strange scene. On

observing the ground, I saw that it was raised in certain places by slight excrescences encrusted with limy

In the midst of the glade, on a pedestal of rocks roughly piled up, stood a cross of coral that extended its long

arms that one might have thought were made of petrified blood. Upon a sign from Captain Nemo one of the

men advanced; and at some feet from the cross he began to dig a hole with a pickaxe that he took from his

belt. I understood all! This glade was a cemetery, this hole a tomb, this oblong object the body of the man

who had died in the night! The Captain and his men had come to bury their companion in this general

The grave was being dug slowly; the fish fled on all sides while their retreat was being thus disturbed; I heard

the strokes of the pickaxe, which sparkled when it hit upon some flint lost at the bottom of the waters. The

hole was soon large and deep enough to receive the body. Then the bearers approached; the body, enveloped

in a tissue of white linen, was lowered into the damp grave. Captain Nemo, with his arms crossed on his

The grave was then filled in with the rubbish taken from the ground, which formed a slight mound. When this

was done, Captain Nemo and his men rose; then, approaching the grave, they knelt again, and all extended

their hands in sign of a last adieu. Then the funeral procession returned to the Nautilus, passing under the

arches of the forest, in the midst of thickets, along the coral bushes, and still on the ascent. At last the light of

the ship appeared, and its luminous track guided us to the Nautilus. At one o'clock we had returned.

As soon as I had changed my clothes I went up on to the platform, and, a prey to conflicting emotions, I sat

"Yes, forgotten by all else, but not by us. We dug the grave, and the polypi undertake to seal our dead for

eternity." And, burying his face quickly in his hands, he tried in vain to suppress a sob. Then he added: "Our

We now come to the second part of our journey under the sea. The first ended with the moving scene in the

coral cemetery which left such a deep impression on my mind. Thus, in the midst of this great sea, Captain

Nemo's life was passing, even to his grave, which he had prepared in one of its deepest abysses. There, not

one of the ocean's monsters could trouble the last sleep of the crew of the Nautilus, of those friends riveted to

each other in death as in life. "Nor any man, either," had added the Captain. Still the same fierce, implacable

That worthy fellow persisted in seeing in the Commander of the Nautilus one of those unknown servants who

return mankind contempt for indifference. For him, he was a misunderstood genius who, tired of earth's

deceptions, had taken refuge in this inaccessible medium, where he might follow his instincts freely. To my

mind, this explains but one side of Captain Nemo's character. Indeed, the mystery of that last night during

which we had been chained in prison, the sleep, and the precaution so violently taken by the Captain of

snatching from my eyes the glass I had raised to sweep the horizon, the mortal wound of the man, due to an

unaccountable shock of the Nautilus, all put me on a new track. No; Captain Nemo was not satisfied with

shunning man. His formidable apparatus not only suited his instinct of freedom, but perhaps also the design

At this moment nothing is clear to me; I catch but a glimpse of light amidst all the darkness, and I must

That day, the 24th of January, 1868, at noon, the second officer came to take the altitude of the sun. I

mounted the platform, lit a cigar, and watched the operation. It seemed to me that the man did not understand

French; for several times I made remarks in a loud voice, which must have drawn from him some involuntary

sign of attention, if he had understood them; but he remained undisturbed and dumb.

As he was taking observations with the sextant, one of the sailors of the Nautilus (the strong man who had

accompanied us on our first submarine excursion to the Island of Crespo) came to clean the glasses of the

lantern. I examined the fittings of the apparatus, the strength of which was increased a hundredfold by

lenticular rings, placed similar to those in a lighthouse, and which projected their brilliance in a horizontal

plane. The electric lamp was combined in such a way as to give its most powerful light. Indeed, it was

produced in vacuo, which insured both its steadiness and its intensity. This vacuum economised the graphite

points between which the luminous arc was developedan important point of economy for Captain Nemo,

who could not easily have replaced them; and under these conditions their waste was imperceptible. When

the Nautilus was ready to continue its submarine journey, I went down to the saloon. The panel was closed,

We were furrowing the waters of the Indian Ocean, a vast liquid plain, with a surface of 1,200,000,000 of

acres, and whose waters are so clear and transparent that any one leaning over them would turn giddy. The

Nautilus usually floated between fifty and a hundred fathoms deep. We went on so for some days. To anyone

but myself, who had a great love for the sea, the hours would have seemed long and monotonous; but the

daily walks on the platform, when I steeped myself in the reviving air of the ocean, the sight of the rich

waters through the windows of the saloon, the books in the library, the compiling of my memoirs, took up all

For some days we saw a great number of aquatic birds, seamews or gulls. Some were cleverly killed and,

prepared in a certain way, made very acceptable watergame. Amongst largewinged birds, carried a long

distance from all lands and resting upon the waves from the fatigue of their flight, I saw some magnificent

albatrosses, uttering discordant cries like the braying of an ass, and birds belonging to the family of the

As to the fish, they always provoked our admiration when we surprised the secrets of their aquatic life

through the open panels. I saw many kinds which I never before had a chance of observing.

From the 21st to the 23rd of January the Nautilus went at the rate of two hundred and fifty leagues in

twentyfour hours, being five hundred and forty miles, or twentytwo miles an hour. If we recognised so

many different varieties of fish, it was because, attracted by the electric light, they tried to follow us; the

greater part, however, were soon distanced by our speed, though some kept their place in the waters of the

Nautilus for a time. The morning of the 24th, in 12@ 5' S. lat., and 94@ 33' long., we observed Keeling

Island, a coral formation, planted with magnificent cocos, and which had been visited by Mr. Darwin and

Captain Fitzroy. The Nautilus skirted the shores of this desert island for a little distance. Its nets brought up

numerous specimens of polypi and curious shells of mollusca. {one sentence stripped here}

Soon Keeling Island disappeared from the horizon, and our course was directed to the northwest in the

From Keeling Island our course was slower and more variable, often taking us into great depths. Several

times they made use of the inclined planes, which certain internal levers placed obliquely to the waterline. In

that way we went about two miles, but without ever obtaining the greatest depths of the Indian Sea, which

soundings of seven thousand fathoms have never reached. As to the temperature of the lower strata, the

thermometer invariably indicated 4@ above zero. I only observed that in the upper regions the water was

On the 25th of January the ocean was entirely deserted; the Nautilus passed the day on the surface, beating

the waves with its powerful screw and making them rebound to a great height. Who under such

circumstances would not have taken it for a gigantic cetacean? Three parts of this day I spent on the platform.

I watched the sea. Nothing on the horizon, till about four o'clock a steamer running west on our counter. Her

masts were visible for an instant, but she could not see the Nautilus, being too low in the water. I fancied this

steamboat belonged to the P.O. Company, which runs from Ceylon to Sydney, touching at King George's

At five o'clock in the evening, before that fleeting twilight which binds night to day in tropical zones, Conseil

It was a shoal of argonauts travelling along on the surface of the ocean. We could count several hundreds.

These graceful molluscs moved backwards by means of their locomotive tube, through which they propelled

the water already drawn in. Of their eight tentacles, six were elongated, and stretched out floating on the

water, whilst the other two, rolled up flat, were spread to the wing like a light sail. I saw their spiralshaped

and fluted shells, which Cuvier justly compares to an elegant skiff. A boat indeed! It bears the creature which

For nearly an hour the Nautilus floated in the midst of this shoal of molluscs. Then I know not what sudden

fright they took. But as if at a signal every sail was furled, the arms folded, the body drawn in, the shells

turned over, changing their centre of gravity, and the whole fleet disappeared under the waves. Never did the

At that moment night fell suddenly, and the reeds, scarcely raised by the breeze, lay peaceably under the sides

The next day, 26th of January, we cut the equator at the eightysecond meridian and entered the northern

hemisphere. During the day a formidable troop of sharks accompanied us, terrible creatures, which multiply

in these seas and make them very dangerous. They were "cestracio philippi" sharks, with brown backs and

whitish bellies, armed with eleven rows of teeth eyed sharkstheir throat being marked with a large black

spot surrounded with white like an eye. There were also some Isabella sharks, with rounded snouts marked

with dark spots. These powerful creatures often hurled themselves at the windows of the saloon with such

violence as to make us feel very insecure. At such times Ned Land was no longer master of himself. He

wanted to go to the surface and harpoon the monsters, particularly certain smoothhound sharks, whose

mouth is studded with teeth like a mosaic; and large tigersharks nearly six yards long, the last named of

which seemed to excite him more particularly. But the Nautilus, accelerating her speed, easily left the most

The 27th of January, at the entrance of the vast Bay of Bengal, we met repeatedly a forbidding spectacle,

dead bodies floating on the surface of the water. They were the dead of the Indian villages, carried by the

Ganges to the level of the sea, and which the vultures, the only undertakers of the country, had not been able

About seven o'clock in the evening, the Nautilus, halfimmersed, was sailing in a sea of milk. At first sight

the ocean seemed lactified. Was it the effect of the lunar rays? No; for the moon, scarcely two days old, was

still lying hidden under the horizon in the rays of the sun. The whole sky, though lit by the sidereal rays,

Conseil could not believe his eyes, and questioned me as to the cause of this strange phenomenon. Happily I

"It is called a milk sea," I explained. "A large extent of white wavelets often to be seen on the coasts of

"But, sir," said Conseil, "can you tell me what causes such an effect? for I suppose the water is not really

"No, my boy; and the whiteness which surprises you is caused only by the presence of myriads of infusoria, a

sort of luminous little worm, gelatinous and without colour, of the thickness of a hair, and whose length is not

more than seventhousandths of an inch. These insects adhere to one another sometimes for several leagues."

"Yes, my boy; and you need not try to compute the number of these infusoria. You will not be able, for, if I

am not mistaken, ships have floated on these milk seas for more than forty miles."

Towards midnight the sea suddenly resumed its usual colour; but behind us, even to the limits of the horizon,

the sky reflected the whitened waves, and for a long time seemed impregnated with the vague glimmerings of

On the 28th of February, when at noon the Nautilus came to the surface of the sea, in 9@ 4' N. lat., there was

land in sight about eight miles to westward. The first thing I noticed was a range of mountains about two

thousand feet high, the shapes of which were most capricious. On taking the bearings, I knew that we were

nearing the island of Ceylon, the pearl which hangs from the lobe of the Indian Peninsula.

Captain Nemo and his second appeared at this moment. The Captain glanced at the map. Then turning to me,

"The Island of Ceylon, noted for its pearlfisheries. Would you like to visit one of them, M. Aronnax?"

"Well, the thing is easy. Though, if we see the fisheries, we shall not see the fishermen. The annual

exportation has not yet begun. Never mind, I will give orders to make for the Gulf of Manaar, where we shall

The Captain said something to his second, who immediately went out. Soon the Nautilus returned to her

"Well, sir," said Captain Nemo, "you and your companions shall visit the Bank of Manaar, and if by chance

"We are accustomed to them," replied Captain Nemo, "and in time you will be too. However, we shall be

armed, and on the road we may be able to hunt some of the tribe. It is interesting. So, till tomorrow, sir, and

This said in a careless tone, Captain Nemo left the saloon. Now, if you were invited to hunt the bear in the

"Very well! tomorrow we will go and hunt the bear." If you were asked to hunt the lion in the plains of

"Ha! ha! it seems we are going to hunt the tiger or the lion!" But when you are invited to hunt the shark in its

natural element, you would perhaps reflect before accepting the invitation. As for myself, I passed my hand

over my forehead, on which stood large drops of cold perspiration. "Let us reflect," said I, "and take our time.

Hunting otters in submarine forests, as we did in the Island of Crespo, will pass; but going up and down at the

bottom of the sea, where one is almost certain to meet sharks, is quite another thing! I know well that in

certain countries, particularly in the Andaman Islands, the negroes never hesitate to attack them with a dagger

in one hand and a running noose in the other; but I also know that few who affront those creatures ever return

alive. However, I am not a negro, and if I were I think a little hesitation in this case would not be illtimed."

At this moment Conseil and the Canadian entered, quite composed, and even joyous. They knew not what

"Faith, sir," said Ned Land, "your Captain Nemothe devil take him! has just made us a very pleasant

"If agreeable to you, sir," interrupted Conseil, "the commander of the Nautilus has invited us to visit the

magnificent Ceylon fisheries tomorrow, in your company; he did it kindly, and behaved like a real

"Nothing more, sir, except that he had already spoken to you of this little walk."

"On the fishing," replied the Canadian; "before entering upon the ground, it is as well to know something

Ned and Conseil seated themselves on an ottoman, and the first thing the Canadian asked was:

"My worthy Ned," I answered, "to the poet, a pearl is a tear of the sea; to the Orientals, it is a drop of dew

solidified; to the ladies, it is a jewel of an oblong shape, of a brilliancy of motherofpearl substance, which

they wear on their fingers, their necks, or their ears; for the chemist it is a mixture of phosphate and carbonate

of lime, with a little gelatine; and lastly, for naturalists, it is simply a morbid secretion of the organ that

"Precisely so, my learned Conseil; and, amongst these testacea the earshell, the tridacnae, the turbots, in a

word, all those which secrete motherofpearl, that is, the blue, bluish, violet, or white substance which lines

"Yes, mussels of certain waters in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Saxony, Bohemia, and France."

"But," I continued, "the particular mollusc which secretes the pearl is the pearloyster. The pearl is nothing

but a formation deposited in a globular form, either adhering to the oystershell or buried in the folds of the

creature. On the shell it is fast: in the flesh it is loose; but always has for a kernel a small hard substance,

maybe a barren egg, maybe a grain of sand, around which the pearly matter deposits itself year after year

"Yes, my boy. Some are a perfect casket. One oyster has been mentioned, though I allow myself to doubt it,

"Did I say sharks?" said I hurriedly. "I meant to say a hundred and fifty pearls. Sharks would not be sense."

"Certainly not," said Conseil; "but will you tell us now by what means they extract these pearls?"

"They proceed in various ways. When they adhere to the shell, the fishermen often pull them off with pincers;

but the most common way is to lay the oysters on mats of the seaweed which covers the banks. Thus they die

in the open air; and at the end of ten days they are in a forward state of decomposition. They are then plunged

"Not only according to their size," I answered, "but also according to their shape, their water (that is, their

colour), and their lustre: that is, that bright and diapered sparkle which makes them so charming to the eye.

The most beautiful are called virgin pearls, or paragons. They are formed alone in the tissue of the mollusc,

are white, often opaque, and sometimes have the transparency of an opal; they are generally round or oval.

The round are made into bracelets, the oval into pendants, and, being more precious, are sold singly. Those

adhering to the shell of the oyster are more irregular in shape, and are sold by weight. Lastly, in a lower order

are classed those small pearls known under the name of seedpearls; they are sold by measure, and are

"What does one risk in such a calling?" said Ned Land, "the swallowing of some mouthfuls of seawater?"

"As you say, Ned. By the bye," said I, trying to take Captain Nemo's careless tone, "are you afraid of sharks,

"I!" replied the Canadian; "a harpooner by profession? It is my trade to make light of them."

"But," said I, "it is not a question of fishing for them with an ironswivel, hoisting them into the vessel,

cutting off their tails with a blow of a chopper, ripping them up, and throwing their heart into the sea!"

"Faith, with a good harpoon! You know, sir, these sharks are illfashioned beasts. They turn on their bellies

"If you, sir, mean to face the sharks, I do not see why your faithful servant should not face them with you."

The next morning at four o'clock I was awakened by the steward whom Captain Nemo had placed at my

"Not yet. I have not allowed the Nautilus to come too near this coast, and we are some distance from the

Manaar Bank; but the boat is ready, and will take us to the exact point of disembarking, which will save us a

long way. It carries our diving apparatus, which we will put on when we begin our submarine journey."

Captain Nemo conducted me to the central staircase, which led on the platform. Ned and Conseil were

already there, delighted at the idea of the "pleasure party" which was preparing. Five sailors from the

Nautilus, with their oars, waited in the boat, which had been made fast against the side.

The night was still dark. Layers of clouds covered the sky, allowing but few stars to be seen. I looked on the

side where the land lay, and saw nothing but a dark line enclosing three parts of the horizon, from southwest

to north west. The Nautilus, having returned during the night up the western coast of Ceylon, was now west

of the bay, or rather gulf, formed by the mainland and the Island of Manaar. There, under the dark waters,

stretched the pintadine bank, an inexhaustible field of pearls, the length of which is more than twenty miles.

Captain Nemo, Ned Land, Conseil, and I took our places in the stern of the boat. The master went to the tiller;

his four companions leaned on their oars, the painter was cast off, and we sheered off.

The boat went towards the south; the oarsmen did not hurry. I noticed that their strokes, strong in the water,

only followed each other every ten seconds, according to the method generally adopted in the navy. Whilst

the craft was running by its own velocity, the liquid drops struck the dark depths of the waves crisply like

spats of melted lead. A little billow, spreading wide, gave a slight roll to the boat, and some samphire reeds

We were silent. What was Captain Nemo thinking of? Perhaps of the land he was approaching, and which he

found too near to him, contrary to the Canadian's opinion, who thought it too far off. As to Conseil, he was

About halfpast five the first tints on the horizon showed the upper line of coast more distinctly. Flat enough

in the east, it rose a little to the south. Five miles still lay between us, and it was indistinct owing to the mist

on the water. At six o'clock it became suddenly daylight, with that rapidity peculiar to tropical regions, which

know neither dawn nor twilight. The solar rays pierced the curtain of clouds, piled up on the eastern horizon,

and the radiant orb rose rapidly. I saw land distinctly, with a few trees scattered here and there. The boat

neared Manaar Island, which was rounded to the south. Captain Nemo rose from his seat and watched the sea.

At a sign from him the anchor was dropped, but the chain scarcely ran, for it was little more than a yard deep,

"Here we are, M. Aronnax," said Captain Nemo. "You see that enclosed bay? Here, in a month will be

assembled the numerous fishing boats of the exporters, and these are the waters their divers will ransack so

boldly. Happily, this bay is well situated for that kind of fishing. It is sheltered from the strongest winds; the

sea is never very rough here, which makes it favourable for the diver's work. We will now put on our dresses,

I did not answer, and, while watching the suspected waves, began with the help of the sailors to put on my

heavy seadress. Captain Nemo and my companions were also dressing. None of the Nautilus men were to

Soon we were enveloped to the throat in indiarubber clothing; the air apparatus fixed to our backs by braces.

As to the Ruhmkorff apparatus, there was no necessity for it. Before putting my head into the copper cap, I

"They would be useless," he replied. "We are going to no great depth, and the solar rays will be enough to

light our walk. Besides, it would not be prudent to carry the electric light in these waters; its brilliancy might

As Captain Nemo pronounced these words, I turned to Conseil and Ned Land. But my two friends had

already encased their heads in the metal cap, and they could neither hear nor answer.

"Guns! What for? Do not mountaineers attack the bear with a dagger in their hand, and is not steel surer than

I looked at my companions; they were armed like us, and, more than that, Ned Land was brandishing an

Then, following the Captain's example, I allowed myself to be dressed in the heavy copper helmet, and our

reservoirs of air were at once in activity. An instant after we were landed, one after the other, in about two

yards of water upon an even sand. Captain Nemo made a sign with his hand, and we followed him by a gentle

At about seven o'clock we found ourselves at last surveying the oysterbanks on which the pearloysters are

Captain Nemo pointed with his hand to the enormous heap of oysters; and I could well understand that this

mine was inexhaustible, for Nature's creative power is far beyond man's instinct of destruction. Ned Land,

faithful to his instinct, hastened to fill a net which he carried by his side with some of the finest specimens.

But we could not stop. We must follow the Captain, who seemed to guide him self by paths known only to

himself. The ground was sensibly rising, and sometimes, on holding up my arm, it was above the surface of

the sea. Then the level of the bank would sink capriciously. Often we rounded high rocks scarped into

pyramids. In their dark fractures huge crustacea, perched upon their high claws like some warmachine,

watched us with fixed eyes, and under our feet crawled various kinds of annelides.

At this moment there opened before us a large grotto dug in a picturesque heap of rocks and carpeted with all

the thick warp of the submarine flora. At first it seemed very dark to me. The solar rays seemed to be

extinguished by successive gradations, until its vague transparency became nothing more than drowned light.

Captain Nemo entered; we followed. My eyes soon accustomed themselves to this relative state of darkness. I

could distinguish the arches springing capriciously from natural pillars, standing broad upon their granite

base, like the heavy columns of Tuscan architecture. Why had our incomprehensible guide led us to the

bottom of this submarine crypt? I was soon to know. After descending a rather sharp declivity, our feet trod

the bottom of a kind of circular pit. There Captain Nemo stopped, and with his hand indicated an object I had

not yet perceived. It was an oyster of extraordinary dimensions, a gigantic tridacne, a goblet which could

have contained a whole lake of holywater, a basin the breadth of which was more than two yards and a half,

and consequently larger than that ornamenting the saloon of the Nautilus. I approached this extraordinary

mollusc. It adhered by its filaments to a table of granite, and there, isolated, it developed itself in the calm

waters of the grotto. I estimated the weight of this tridacne at 600 lb. Such an oyster would contain 30 lb. of

meat; and one must have the stomach of a Gargantua to demolish some dozens of them.

Captain Nemo was evidently acquainted with the existence of this bivalve, and seemed to have a particular

motive in verifying the actual state of this tridacne. The shells were a little open; the Captain came near and

put his dagger between to prevent them from closing; then with his hand he raised the membrane with its

fringed edges, which formed a cloak for the creature. There, between the folded plaits, I saw a loose pearl,

whose size equalled that of a coconut. Its globular shape, perfect clearness, and admirable lustre made it

altogether a jewel of inestimable value. Carried away by my curiosity, I stretched out my hand to seize it,

weigh it, and touch it; but the Captain stopped me, made a sign of refusal, and quickly withdrew his dagger,

and the two shells closed suddenly. I then understood Captain Nemo's intention. In leaving this pearl hidden

in the mantle of the tridacne he was allowing it to grow slowly. Each year the secretions of the mollusc would

After ten minutes Captain Nemo stopped suddenly. I thought he had halted previously to returning. No; by a

gesture he bade us crouch beside him in a deep fracture of the rock, his hand pointed to one part of the liquid

About five yards from me a shadow appeared, and sank to the ground. The disquieting idea of sharks shot

through my mind, but I was mistaken; and once again it was not a monster of the ocean that we had anything

It was a man, a living man, an Indian, a fisherman, a poor devil who, I suppose, had come to glean before the

harvest. I could see the bottom of his canoe anchored some feet above his head. He dived and went up

successively. A stone held between his feet, cut in the shape of a sugar loaf, whilst a rope fastened him to his

boat, helped him to descend more rapidly. This was all his apparatus. Reaching the bottom, about five yards

deep, he went on his knees and filled his bag with oysters picked up at random. Then he went up, emptied it,

pulled up his stone, and began the operation once more, which lasted thirty seconds.

The diver did not see us. The shadow of the rock hid us from sight. And how should this poor Indian ever

dream that men, beings like himself, should be there under the water watching his movements and losing no

detail of the fishing? Several times he went up in this way, and dived again. He did not carry away more than

ten at each plunge, for he was obliged to pull them from the bank to which they adhered by means of their

strong byssus. And how many of those oysters for which he risked his life had no pearl in them! I watched

him closely; his manoeuvres were regular; and for the space of half an hour no danger appeared to threaten

I was beginning to accustom myself to the sight of this interesting fishing, when suddenly, as the Indian was

on the ground, I saw him make a gesture of terror, rise, and make a spring to return to the surface of the sea.

I understood his dread. A gigantic shadow appeared just above the unfortunate diver. It was a shark of

enormous size advancing diagonally, his eyes on fire, and his jaws open. I was mute with horror and unable

The voracious creature shot towards the Indian, who threw himself on one side to avoid the shark's fins; but

This scene lasted but a few seconds: the shark returned, and, turning on his back, prepared himself for cutting

the Indian in two, when I saw Captain Nemo rise suddenly, and then, dagger in hand, walk straight to the

monster, ready to fight face to face with him. The very moment the shark was going to snap the unhappy

fisherman in two, he perceived his new adversary, and, turning over, made straight towards him.

I can still see Captain Nemo's position. Holding himself well together, he waited for the shark with admirable

coolness; and, when it rushed at him, threw himself on one side with wonderful quickness, avoiding the

shock, and burying his dagger deep into its side. But it was not all over. A terrible combat ensued.

The shark had seemed to roar, if I might say so. The blood rushed in torrents from its wound. The sea was

dyed red, and through the opaque liquid I could distinguish nothing more. Nothing more until the moment

when, like lightning, I saw the undaunted Captain hanging on to one of the creature's fins, struggling, as it

were, hand to hand with the monster, and dealing successive blows at his enemy, yet still unable to give a

The shark's struggles agitated the water with such fury that the rocking threatened to upset me.

I wanted to go to the Captain's assistance, but, nailed to the spot with horror, I could not stir.

I saw the haggard eye; I saw the different phases of the fight. The Captain fell to the earth, upset by the

enormous mass which leant upon him. The shark's jaws opened wide, like a pair of factory shears, and it

would have been all over with the Captain; but, quick as thought, harpoon in hand, Ned Land rushed towards

The waves were impregnated with a mass of blood. They rocked under the shark's movements, which beat

them with indescribable fury. Ned Land had not missed his aim. It was the monster's deathrattle. Struck to

the heart, it struggled in dreadful convulsions, the shock of which overthrew Conseil.

But Ned Land had disentangled the Captain, who, getting up without any wound, went straight to the Indian,

quickly cut the cord which held him to his stone, took him in his arms, and, with a sharp blow of his heel,

We all three followed in a few seconds, saved by a miracle, and reached the fisherman's boat.

Captain Nemo's first care was to recall the unfortunate man to life again. I did not think he could succeed. I

hoped so, for the poor creature's immersion was not long; but the blow from the shark's tail might have been

Happily, with the Captain's and Conseil's sharp friction, I saw consciousness return by degrees. He opened

his eyes. What was his surprise, his terror even, at seeing four great copper heads leaning over him! And,

above all, what must he have thought when Captain Nemo, drawing from the pocket of his dress a bag of

pearls, placed it in his hand! This munificent charity from the man of the waters to the poor Cingalese was

accepted with a trembling hand. His wondering eyes showed that he knew not to what superhuman beings

At a sign from the Captain we regained the bank, and, following the road already traversed, came in about

Once on board, we each, with the help of the sailors, got rid of the heavy copper helmet.

The boat flew over the waves. Some minutes after we met the shark's dead body floating. By the black

marking of the extremity of its fins, I recognised the terrible melanopteron of the Indian Seas, of the species

of shark so properly called. It was more than twentyfive feet long; its enormous mouth occupied onethird

of its body. It was an adult, as was known by its six rows of teeth placed in an isosceles triangle in the upper

Whilst I was contemplating this inert mass, a dozen of these voracious beasts appeared round the boat; and,

without noticing us, threw themselves upon the dead body and fought with one another for the pieces.

At halfpast eight we were again on board the Nautilus. There I reflected on the incidents which had taken

Two conclusions I must inevitably draw from itone bearing upon the unparalleled courage of Captain

Nemo, the other upon his devotion to a human being, a representative of that race from which he fled beneath

the sea. Whatever he might say, this strange man had not yet succeeded in entirely crushing his heart.

"That Indian, sir, is an inhabitant of an oppressed country; and I am still, and shall be, to my last breath, one

In the course of the day of the 29th of January, the island of Ceylon disappeared under the horizon, and the

Nautilus, at a speed of twenty miles an hour, slid into the labyrinth of canals which separate the Maldives

from the Laccadives. It coasted even the Island of Kiltan, a land originally coraline, discovered by Vasco da

Gama in 1499, and one of the nineteen principal islands of the Laccadive Archipelago, situated between 10@

We had made 16,220 miles, or 7,500 (French) leagues from our startingpoint in the Japanese Seas.

The next day (30th January), when the Nautilus went to the surface of the ocean there was no land in sight. Its

course was N.N.E., in the direction of the Sea of Oman, between Arabia and the Indian Peninsula, which

serves as an outlet to the Persian Gulf. It was evidently a block without any possible egress. Where was

Captain Nemo taking us to? I could not say. This, however, did not satisfy the Canadian, who that day came

"His fancy cannot take us far, then," said the Canadian. "The Persian Gulf has no outlet: and, if we do go in,

"Very well, then, we will come out again, Master Land; and if, after the Persian Gulf, the Nautilus would like

to visit the Red Sea, the Straits of Babelmandeb are there to give us entrance."

"I need not tell you, sir," said Ned Land, "that the Red Sea is as much closed as the Gulf, as the Isthmus of

Suez is not yet cut; and, if it was, a boat as mysterious as ours would not risk itself in a canal cut with sluices.

"I suppose that, after visiting the curious coasts of Arabia and Egypt, the Nautilus will go down the Indian

Ocean again, perhaps cross the Channel of Mozambique, perhaps off the Mascarenhas, so as to gain the Cape

"And once at the Cape of Good Hope?" asked the Canadian, with peculiar emphasis.

"Well, we shall penetrate into that Atlantic which we do not yet know. Ah! friend Ned, you are getting tired

of this journey under the sea; you are surfeited with the incessantly varying spectacle of submarine wonders.

For my part, I shall be sorry to see the end of a voyage which it is given to so few men to make."

For four days, till the 3rd of February, the Nautilus scoured the Sea of Oman, at various speeds and at various

depths. It seemed to go at random, as if hesitating as to which road it should follow, but we never passed the

In quitting this sea we sighted Muscat for an instant, one of the most important towns of the country of

Oman. I admired its strange aspect, surrounded by black rocks upon which its white houses and forts stood in

relief. I saw the rounded domes of its mosques, the elegant points of its minarets, its fresh and verdant

terraces. But it was only a vision! The Nautilus soon sank under the waves of that part of the sea.

We passed along the Arabian coast of Mahrah and Hadramaut, for a distance of six miles, its undulating line

of mountains being occasionally relieved by some ancient ruin. The 5th of February we at last entered the

Gulf of Aden, a perfect funnel introduced into the neck of Babelmandeb, through which the Indian waters

The 6th of February, the Nautilus floated in sight of Aden, perched upon a promontory which a narrow

isthmus joins to the mainland, a kind of inaccessible Gibraltar, the fortifications of which were rebuilt by the

English after taking possession in 1839. I caught a glimpse of the octagon minarets of this town, which was at

I certainly thought that Captain Nemo, arrived at this point, would back out again; but I was mistaken, for he

The next day, the 7th of February, we entered the Straits of Babelmandeb, the name of which, in the Arab

To twenty miles in breadth, it is only thirtytwo in length. And for the Nautilus, starting at full speed, the

crossing was scarcely the work of an hour. But I saw nothing, not even the Island of Perim, with which the

British Government has fortified the position of Aden. There were too many English or French steamers of

the line of Suez to Bombay, Calcutta to Melbourne, and from Bourbon to the Mauritius, furrowing this

narrow passage, for the Nautilus to venture to show itself. So it remained prudently below. At last about

I would not even seek to understand the caprice which had decided Captain Nemo upon entering the gulf. But

I quite approved of the Nautilus entering it. Its speed was lessened: sometimes it kept on the surface,

sometimes it dived to avoid a vessel, and thus I was able to observe the upper and lower parts of this curious

The 8th of February, from the first dawn of day, Mocha came in sight, now a ruined town, whose walls would

fall at a gunshot, yet which shelters here and there some verdant datetrees; once an important city,

containing six public markets, and twentysix mosques, and whose walls, defended by fourteen forts, formed

The Nautilus then approached the African shore, where the depth of the sea was greater. There, between two

waters clear as crystal, through the open panels we were allowed to contemplate the beautiful bushes of

brilliant coral and large blocks of rock clothed with a splendid fur of green variety of sites and landscapes

along these sandbanks and algae and fuci. What an indescribable spectacle, and what variety of sites and

landscapes along these sandbanks and volcanic islands which bound the Libyan coast! But where these

shrubs appeared in all their beauty was on the eastern coast, which the Nautilus soon gained. It was on the

coast of Tehama, for there not only did this display of zoophytes flourish beneath the level of the sea, but

they also formed picturesque interlacings which unfolded themselves about sixty feet above the surface, more

capricious but less highly coloured than those whose freshness was kept up by the vital power of the waters.

What charming hours I passed thus at the window of the saloon! What new specimens of submarine flora and

The 9th of February the Nautilus floated in the broadest part of the Red Sea, which is comprised between

Souakin, on the west coast, and Komfidah, on the east coast, with a diameter of ninety miles.

That day at noon, after the bearings were taken, Captain Nemo mounted the platform, where I happened to

be, and I was determined not to let him go down again without at least pressing him regarding his ulterior

"Well, sir, does this Red Sea please you? Have you sufficiently observed the wonders it covers, its fishes, its

zoophytes, its parterres of sponges, and its forests of coral? Did you catch a glimpse of the towns on its

"Yes, Captain Nemo," I replied; "and the Nautilus is wonderfully fitted for such a study. Ah! it is an

"Yes, sir, intelligent and invulnerable. It fears neither the terrible tempests of the Red Sea, nor its currents,

"Certainly," said I, "this sea is quoted as one of the worst, and in the time of the ancients, if I am not

"Detestable, M. Aronnax. The Greek and Latin historians do not speak favourably of it, and Strabo says it is

very dangerous during the Etesian winds and in the rainy season. The Arabian Edrisi portrays it under the

name of the Gulf of Colzoum, and relates that vessels perished there in great numbers on the sandbanks and

that no one would risk sailing in the night. It is, he pretends, a sea subject to fearful hurricanes, strewn with

inhospitable islands, and `which offers nothing good either on its surface or in its depths.'"

"One may see," I replied, "that these historians never sailed on board the Nautilus."

"Just so," replied the Captain, smiling; "and in that respect moderns are not more advanced than the ancients.

It required many ages to find out the mechanical power of steam. Who knows if, in another hundred years,

"It is true," I answered; "your boat is at least a century before its time, perhaps an era. What a misfortune that

"You were speaking of the opinions of ancient historians upon the dangerous navigation of the Red Sea."

"Yes and no, M. Aronnax," replied Captain Nemo, who seemed to know the Red Sea by heart. "That which is

no longer dangerous for a modern vessel, well rigged, strongly built, and master of its own course, thanks to

obedient steam, offered all sorts of perils to the ships of the ancients. Picture to yourself those first navigators

venturing in ships made of planks sewn with the cords of the palmtree, saturated with the grease of the

seadog, and covered with powdered resin! They had not even instruments wherewith to take their bearings,

and they went by guess amongst currents of which they scarcely knew anything. Under such conditions

shipwrecks were, and must have been, numerous. But in our time, steamers running between Suez and the

South Seas have nothing more to fear from the fury of this gulf, in spite of contrary tradewinds. The captain

and passengers do not prepare for their departure by offering propitiatory sacrifices; and, on their return, they

no longer go ornamented with wreaths and gilt fillets to thank the gods in the neighbouring temple."

"I agree with you," said I; "and steam seems to have killed all gratitude in the hearts of sailors. But, Captain,

since you seem to have especially studied this sea, can you tell me the origin of its name?"

"There exist several explanations on the subject, M. Aronnax. Would you like to know the opinion of a

"This fanciful writer pretends that its name was given to it after the passage of the Israelites, when Pharaoh

"A poet's explanation, Captain Nemo," I replied; "but I cannot content myself with that. I ask you for your

"Here it is, M. Aronnax. According to my idea, we must see in this appellation of the Red Sea a translation of

the Hebrew word `Edom'; and if the ancients gave it that name, it was on account of the particular colour of

"But up to this time I have seen nothing but transparent waves and without any particular colour."

"Very likely; but as we advance to the bottom of the gulf, you will see this singular appearance. I remember

"So, Captain Nemo, it is not the first time you have overrun the Red Sea on board the Nautilus?"

"As you spoke a while ago of the passage of the Israelites and of the catastrophe to the Egyptians, I will ask

whether you have met with the traces under the water of this great historical fact?"

"It is that the spot where Moses and his people passed is now so blocked up with sand that the camels can

barely bathe their legs there. You can well understand that there would not be water enough for my Nautilus."

"The spot is situated a little above the Isthmus of Suez, in the arm which formerly made a deep estuary, when

the Red Sea extended to the Salt Lakes. Now, whether this passage were miraculous or not, the Israelites,

nevertheless, crossed there to reach the Promised Land, and Pharaoh's army perished precisely on that spot;

and I think that excavations made in the middle of the sand would bring to light a large number of arms and

"That is evident," I replied; "and for the sake of archaeologists let us hope that these excavations will be made

sooner or later, when new towns are established on the isthmus, after the construction of the Suez Canal; a

"Very likely; but useful to the whole world," said Captain Nemo. "The ancients well understood the utility of

a communication between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean for their commercial affairs: but they did not

think of digging a canal direct, and took the Nile as an intermediate. Very probably the canal which united the

Nile to the Red Sea was begun by Sesostris, if we may believe tradition. One thing is certain, that in the year

615 before Jesus Christ, Necos undertook the works of an alimentary canal to the waters of the Nile across

the plain of Egypt, looking towards Arabia. It took four days to go up this canal, and it was so wide that two

triremes could go abreast. It was carried on by Darius, the son of Hystaspes, and probably finished by

Ptolemy II. Strabo saw it navigated: but its decline from the point of departure, near Bubastes, to the Red Sea

was so slight that it was only navigable for a few months in the year. This canal answered all commercial

purposes to the age of Antonius, when it was abandoned and blocked up with sand. Restored by order of the

Caliph Omar, it was definitely destroyed in 761 or 762 by Caliph AlMansor, who wished to prevent the

arrival of provisions to MohammedbenAbdallah, who had revolted against him. During the expedition into

Egypt, your General Bonaparte discovered traces of the works in the Desert of Suez; and, surprised by the

tide, he nearly perished before regaining Hadjaroth, at the very place where Moses had encamped three

"Well, Captain, what the ancients dared not undertake, this junction between the two seas, which will shorten

the road from Cadiz to India, M. Lesseps has succeeded in doing; and before long he will have changed

"Yes, M. Aronnax; you have the right to be proud of your countryman. Such a man brings more honour to a

nation than great captains. He began, like so many others, with disgust and rebuffs; but he has triumphed, for

he has the genius of will. And it is sad to think that a work like that, which ought to have been an

international work and which would have sufficed to make a reign illustrious, should have succeeded by the

"Yes! honour to the great citizen," I replied, surprised by the manner in which Captain Nemo had just spoken.

"Unfortunately," he continued, "I cannot take you through the Suez Canal; but you will be able to see the

"Yes, Captain, although by this time I ought to have accustomed myself to be surprised at nothing since I

"Well! it is the fearful speed you will have to put on the Nautilus, if the day after tomorrow she is to be in

the Mediterranean, having made the round of Africa, and doubled the Cape of Good Hope!"

"Who told you that she would make the round of Africa and double the Cape of Good Hope, sir?"

"Certainly," replied Captain Nemo quietly. "A long time ago Nature made under this tongue of land what

"Yes; a subterranean passage, which I have named the Arabian Tunnel. It takes us beneath Suez and opens

"To a certain depth. But at fiftyfive yards only there is a solid layer of rock."

"Chance and reasoning, sir; and by reasoning even more than by chance. Not only does this passage exist, but

I have profited by it several times. Without that I should not have ventured this day into the impassable Red

Sea. I noticed that in the Red Sea and in the Mediterranean there existed a certain number of fishes of a kind

perfectly identical. Certain of the fact, I asked myself was it possible that there was no communication

between the two seas? If there was, the subterranean current must necessarily run from the Red Sea to the

Mediterranean, from the sole cause of difference of level. I caught a large number of fishes in the

neighbourhood of Suez. I passed a copper ring through their tails, and threw them back into the sea. Some

months later, on the coast of Syria, I caught some of my fish ornamented with the ring. Thus the

communication between the two was proved. I then sought for it with my Nautilus; I discovered it, ventured

into it, and before long, sir, you too will have passed through my Arabian tunnel!"

That same evening, in 21@ 30' N. lat., the Nautilus floated on the surface of the sea, approaching the Arabian

coast. I saw Djeddah, the most important countinghouse of Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and India. I distinguished

clearly enough its buildings, the vessels anchored at the quays, and those whose draught of water obliged

them to anchor in the roads. The sun, rather low on the horizon, struck full on the houses of the town,

bringing out their whiteness. Outside, some wooden cabins, and some made of reeds, showed the quarter

inhabited by the Bedouins. Soon Djeddah was shut out from view by the shadows of night, and the Nautilus

The next day, the 10th of February, we sighted several ships running to windward. The Nautilus returned to

its submarine navigation; but at noon, when her bearings were taken, the sea being deserted, she rose again to

Accompanied by Ned and Conseil, I seated myself on the platform. The coast on the eastern side looked like

We were leaning on the sides of the pinnace, talking of one thing and another, when Ned Land, stretching out

"Look well," said Ned, "there, on the starboard beam, about the height of the lantern! Do you not see a mass

"Certainly," said I, after close attention; "I see something like a long black body on the top of the water."

And certainly before long the black object was not more than a mile from us. It looked like a great sandbank

Ned Land looked eagerly. His eyes shone with covetousness at the sight of the animal. His hand seemed

ready to harpoon it. One would have thought he was awaiting the moment to throw himself into the sea and

At this instant Captain Nemo appeared on the platform. He saw the dugong, understood the Canadian's

"And you would not be sorry to go back, for one day, to your trade of a fisherman and to add this cetacean to

"Only," continued the Captain, "I advise you for your own sake not to miss the creature."

"Is the dugong dangerous to attack?" I asked, in spite of the Canadian's shrug of the shoulders.

"Yes," replied the Captain; "sometimes the animal turns upon its assailants and overturns their boat. But for

At this moment seven men of the crew, mute and immovable as ever, mounted the platform. One carried a

harpoon and a line similar to those employed in catching whales. The pinnace was lifted from the bridge,

pulled from its socket, and let down into the sea. Six oarsmen took their seats, and the coxswain went to the

The boat put off, and, lifted by the six rowers, drew rapidly towards the dugong, which floated about two

Arrived some cableslength from the cetacean, the speed slackened, and the oars dipped noiselessly into the

quiet waters. Ned Land, harpoon in hand, stood in the fore part of the boat. The harpoon used for striking the

whale is generally attached to a very long cord which runs out rapidly as the wounded creature draws it after

him. But here the cord was not more than ten fathoms long, and the extremity was attached to a small barrel

I stood and carefully watched the Canadian's adversary. This dugong, which also bears the name of the

halicore, closely resembles the manatee; its oblong body terminated in a lengthened tail, and its lateral fins in

perfect fingers. Its difference from the manatee consisted in its upper jaw, which was armed with two long

This dugong which Ned Land was preparing to attack was of colossal dimensions; it was more than seven

yards long. It did not move, and seemed to be sleeping on the waves, which circumstance made it easier to

The boat approached within six yards of the animal. The oars rested on the rowlocks. I half rose. Ned Land,

Suddenly a hissing noise was heard, and the dugong disappeared. The harpoon, although thrown with great

"No," said I; "the creature is woundedlook at the blood; but your weapon has not stuck in his body."

The sailors rowed on, and the coxswain made for the floating barrel. The harpoon regained, we followed in

The latter came now and then to the surface to breathe. Its wound had not weakened it, for it shot onwards

The boat, rowed by strong arms, flew on its track. Several times it approached within some few yards, and the

Canadian was ready to strike, but the dugong made off with a sudden plunge, and it was impossible to reach

Imagine the passion which excited impatient Ned Land! He hurled at the unfortunate creature the most

energetic expletives in the English tongue. For my part, I was only vexed to see the dugong escape all our

We pursued it without relaxation for an hour, and I began to think it would prove difficult to capture, when

the animal, possessed with the perverse idea of vengeance of which he had cause to repent, turned upon the

The coxswain said some words in his outlandish tongue, doubtless warning the men to keep on their guard.

The dugong came within twenty feet of the boat, stopped, sniffed the air briskly with its large nostrils (not

pierced at the extremity, but in the upper part of its muzzle). Then, taking a spring, he threw himself upon us.

The pinnace could not avoid the shock, and half upset, shipped at least two tons of water, which had to be

emptied; but, thanks to the coxswain, we caught it sideways, not full front, so we were not quite overturned.

While Ned Land, clinging to the bows, belaboured the gigantic animal with blows from his harpoon, the

creature's teeth were buried in the gunwale, and it lifted the whole thing out of the water, as a lion does a

roebuck. We were upset over one another, and I know not how the adventure would have ended, if the

I heard its teeth grind on the iron plate, and the dugong disappeared, carrying the harpoon with him. But the

barrel soon returned to the surface, and shortly after the body of the animal, turned on its back. The boat came

It required tackle of enormous strength to hoist the dugong on to the platform. It weighed 10,000 lb.

The next day, 11th February, the larder of the Nautilus was enriched by some more delicate game. A flight of

seaswallows rested on the Nautilus. It was a species of the Sterna nilotica, peculiar to Egypt; its beak is

black, head grey and pointed, the eye surrounded by white spots, the back, wings, and tail of a greyish colour,

the belly and throat white, and claws red. They also took some dozen of Nile ducks, a wild bird of high

About five o'clock in the evening we sighted to the north the Cape of RasMohammed. This cape forms the

extremity of Arabia Petraea, comprised between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Acabah.

The Nautilus penetrated into the Straits of Jubal, which leads to the Gulf of Suez. I distinctly saw a high

mountain, towering between the two gulfs of RasMohammed. It was Mount Horeb, that Sinai at the top of

At six o'clock the Nautilus, sometimes floating, sometimes immersed, passed some distance from Tor,

situated at the end of the bay, the waters of which seemed tinted with red, an observation already made by

Captain Nemo. Then night fell in the midst of a heavy silence, sometimes broken by the cries of the pelican

and other nightbirds, and the noise of the waves breaking upon the shore, chafing against the rocks, or the

panting of some faroff steamer beating the waters of the Gulf with its noisy paddles.

From eight to nine o'clock the Nautilus remained some fathoms under the water. According to my calculation

we must have been very near Suez. Through the panel of the saloon I saw the bottom of the rocks brilliantly

lit up by our electric lamp. We seemed to be leaving the Straits behind us more and more.

At a quarterpast nine, the vessel having returned to the surface, I mounted the platform. Most impatient to

pass through Captain Nemo's tunnel, I could not stay in one place, so came to breathe the fresh night air.

Soon in the shadow I saw a pale light, half discoloured by the fog, shining about a mile from us.

"It is the floating light of Suez," he continued. "It will not be long before we gain the entrance of the tunnel."

"No, sir; for that reason I am accustomed to go into the steersman's cage and myself direct our course. And

now, if you will go down, M. Aronnax, the Nautilus is going under the waves, and will not return to the

Captain Nemo led me towards the central staircase; half way down he opened a door, traversed the upper

deck, and landed in the pilot's cage, which it may be remembered rose at the extremity of the platform. It was

a cabin measuring six feet square, very much like that occupied by the pilot on the steamboats of the

Mississippi or Hudson. In the midst worked a wheel, placed vertically, and caught to the tillerrope, which

ran to the back of the Nautilus. Four lightports with lenticular glasses, let in a groove in the partition of the

This cabin was dark; but soon my eyes accustomed themselves to the obscurity, and I perceived the pilot, a

strong man, with his hands resting on the spokes of the wheel. Outside, the sea appeared vividly lit up by the

lantern, which shed its rays from the back of the cabin to the other extremity of the platform.

Electric wires connected the pilot's cage with the machinery room, and from there the Captain could

communicate simultaneously to his Nautilus the direction and the speed. He pressed a metal knob, and at

I looked in silence at the high straight wall we were running by at this moment, the immovable base of a

Captain Nemo did not take his eye from the knob, suspended by its two concentric circles in the cabin. At a

I had placed myself at the portscuttle, and saw some magnificent substructures of coral, zoophytes,

seaweed, and fucus, agitating their enormous claws, which stretched out from the fissures of the rock.

At a quarterpast ten, the Captain himself took the helm. A large gallery, black and deep, opened before us.

The Nautilus went boldly into it. A strange roaring was heard round its sides. It was the waters of the Red

Sea, which the incline of the tunnel precipitated violently towards the Mediterranean. The Nautilus went with

the torrent, rapid as an arrow, in spite of the efforts of the machinery, which, in order to offer more effective

On the walls of the narrow passage I could see nothing but brilliant rays, straight lines, furrows of fire, traced

At thirtyfive minutes past ten, Captain Nemo quitted the helm, and, turning to me, said:

In less than twenty minutes, the Nautilus, carried along by the torrent, had passed through the Isthmus of

The next day, the 12th of February, at the dawn of day, the Nautilus rose to the surface. I hastened on to the

platform. Three miles to the south the dim outline of Pelusium was to be seen. A torrent had carried us from

"Well, Sir Naturalist," said the Canadian, in a slightly jovial tone, "and the Mediterranean?"

"Yes, this very night; in a few minutes we have passed this impassable isthmus."

"Then you are wrong, Master Land," I continued; "this low coast which rounds off to the south is the

Egyptian coast. And you who have such good eyes, Ned, you can see the jetty of Port Said stretching into the

"Certainly you are right, sir, and your Captain is a firstrate man. We are in the Mediterranean. Good! Now,

if you please, let us talk of our own little affair, but so that no one hears us."

I saw what the Canadian wanted, and, in any case, I thought it better to let him talk, as he wished it; so we all

three went and sat down near the lantern, where we were less exposed to the spray of the blades.

"What I have to tell you is very simple. We are in Europe; and before Captain Nemo's caprices drag us once

more to the bottom of the Polar Seas, or lead us into Oceania, I ask to leave the Nautilus."

I wished in no way to shackle the liberty of my companions, but I certainly felt no desire to leave Captain

Thanks to him, and thanks to his apparatus, I was each day nearer the completion of my submarine studies;

and I was rewriting my book of submarine depths in its very element. Should I ever again have such an

opportunity of observing the wonders of the ocean? No, certainly not! And I could not bring myself to the

idea of abandoning the Nautilus before the cycle of investigation was accomplished.

"Friend Ned, answer me frankly, are you tired of being on board? Are you sorry that destiny has thrown us

The Canadian remained some moments without answering. Then, crossing his arms, he said:

"Frankly, I do not regret this journey under the seas. I shall be glad to have made it; but, now that it is made,

"Where I do not knowwhen I cannot say; or, rather, I suppose it will end when these seas have nothing

"That circumstances may occur as well six months hence as now by which we may and ought to profit."

"Oh!" said Ned Land, "and where shall we be in six months, if you please, Sir Naturalist?"

"Perhaps in China; you know the Nautilus is a rapid traveller. It goes through water as swallows through the

air, or as an express on the land. It does not fear frequented seas; who can say that it may not beat the coasts

of France, England, or America, on which flight may be attempted as advantageously as here."

"M. Aronnax," replied the Canadian, "your arguments are rotten at the foundation. You speak in the future,

`We shall be there! we shall be here!' I speak in the present, `We are here, and we must profit by it.'"

Ned Land's logic pressed me hard, and I felt myself beaten on that ground. I knew not what argument would

"Sir," continued Ned, "let us suppose an impossibility: if Captain Nemo should this day offer you your

"And if," he added, "the offer made you this day was never to be renewed, would you accept it?"

"Friend Ned, this is my answer. Your reasoning is against me. We must not rely on Captain Nemo's

goodwill. Common prudence forbids him to set us at liberty. On the other side, prudence bids us profit by

"Only one observationjust one. The occasion must be serious, and our first attempt must succeed; if it fails,

"All that is true," replied the Canadian. "But your observation applies equally to all attempts at flight, whether

in two years' time, or in two days'. But the question is still this: If a favourable opportunity presents itself, it

"Agreed! And now, Ned, will you tell me what you mean by a favourable opportunity?"

"It will be that which, on a dark night, will bring the Nautilus a short distance from some European coast."

"Yes, if we were near enough to the bank, and if the vessel was floating at the time. Not if the bank was far

"In that case, I should seek to make myself master of the pinnace. I know how it is worked. We must get

inside, and the bolts once drawn, we shall come to the surface of the water, without even the pilot, who is in

"Well, Ned, watch for the opportunity; but do not forget that a hitch will ruin us."

"Well, I thinkI do not say I hopeI think that this favourable opportunity will never present itself."

"Because Captain Nemo cannot hide from himself that we have not given up all hope of regaining our liberty,

and he will be on his guard, above all, in the seas and in the sight of European coasts."

"And now, Ned Land," I added, "let us stop here. Not another word on the subject. The day that you are

Thus ended a conversation which, at no very distant time, led to such grave results. I must say here that facts

seemed to confirm my foresight, to the Canadian's great despair. Did Captain Nemo distrust us in these

frequented seas? or did he only wish to hide himself from the numerous vessels, of all nations, which

ploughed the Mediterranean? I could not tell; but we were oftener between waters and far from the coast. Or,

if the Nautilus did emerge, nothing was to be seen but the pilot's cage; and sometimes it went to great depths,

for, between the Grecian Archipelago and Asia Minor we could not touch the bottom by more than a

Thus I only knew we were near the Island of Carpathos, one of the Sporades, by Captain Nemo reciting these

It was indeed the ancient abode of Proteus, the old shepherd of Neptune's flocks, now the Island of Scarpanto,

situated between Rhodes and Crete. I saw nothing but the granite base through the glass panels of the saloon.

The next day, the 14th of February, I resolved to employ some hours in studying the fishes of the

Archipelago; but for some reason or other the panels remained hermetically sealed. Upon taking the course of

the Nautilus, I found that we were going towards Candia, the ancient Isle of Crete. At the time I embarked on

the Abraham Lincoln, the whole of this island had risen in insurrection against the despotism of the Turks.

But how the insurgents had fared since that time I was absolutely ignorant, and it was not Captain Nemo,

I made no allusion to this event when that night I found myself alone with him in the saloon. Besides, he

seemed to be taciturn and preoccupied. Then, contrary to his custom, he ordered both panels to be opened,

and, going from one to the other, observed the mass of waters attentively. To what end I could not guess; so,

In the midst of the waters a man appeared, a diver, carrying at his belt a leathern purse. It was not a body

abandoned to the waves; it was a living man, swimming with a strong hand, disappearing occasionally to take

The man had approached, and, with his face flattened against the glass, was looking at us.

To my great amazement, Captain Nemo signed to him. The diver answered with his hand, mounted

"Do not be uncomfortable," said Captain Nemo. "It is Nicholas of Cape Matapan, surnamed Pesca. He is well

known in all the Cyclades. A bold diver! water is his element, and he lives more in it than on land, going

Saying which, Captain Nemo went towards a piece of furniture standing near the left panel of the saloon.

Near this piece of furniture, I saw a chest bound with iron, on the cover of which was a copper plate, bearing

At that moment, the Captain, without noticing my presence, opened the piece of furniture, a sort of strong

They were ingots of gold. From whence came this precious metal, which represented an enormous sum?

Where did the Captain gather this gold from? and what was he going to do with it?

I did not say one word. I looked. Captain Nemo took the ingots one by one, and arranged them methodically

in the chest, which he filled entirely. I estimated the contents at more than 4,000 lb. weight of gold, that is to

The chest was securely fastened, and the Captain wrote an address on the lid, in characters which must have

This done, Captain Nemo pressed a knob, the wire of which communicated with the quarters of the crew.

Four men appeared, and, not without some trouble, pushed the chest out of the saloon. Then I heard them

I returned to my room much troubled, as one may believe. I vainly tried to sleepI sought the connecting

link between the apparition of the diver and the chest filled with gold. Soon, I felt by certain movements of

pitching and tossing that the Nautilus was leaving the depths and returning to the surface.

Then I heard steps upon the platform; and I knew they were unfastening the pinnace and launching it upon

the waves. For one instant it struck the side of the Nautilus, then all noise ceased.

Two hours after, the same noise, the same going and coming was renewed; the boat was hoisted on board,

So these millions had been transported to their address. To what point of the continent? Who was Captain

The next day I related to Conseil and the Canadian the events of the night, which had excited my curiosity to

To that there was no possible answer. I returned to the saloon after having breakfast and set to work. Till five

o'clock in the evening I employed myself in arranging my notes. At that moment(ought I to attribute it to

some peculiar idiosyncrasy) I felt so great a heat that I was obliged to take off my coat. It was strange, for

we were under low latitudes; and even then the Nautilus, submerged as it was, ought to experience no change

of temperature. I looked at the manometer; it showed a depth of sixty feet, to which atmospheric heat could

I continued my work, but the temperature rose to such a pitch as to be intolerable.

I was leaving the saloon, when Captain Nemo entered; he approached the thermometer, consulted it, and,

"I have noticed it, Captain," I replied; "and if it gets much hotter we cannot bear it."

The panels opened, and I saw the sea entirely white all round. A sulphurous smoke was curling amid the

waves, which boiled like water in a copper. I placed my hand on one of the panes of glass, but the heat was so

"Near the Island of Santorin, sir," replied the Captain. "I wished to give you a sight of the curious spectacle of

"Nothing is ever ended in the volcanic parts of the sea," replied Captain Nemo; "and the globe is always

being worked by subterranean fires. Already, in the nineteenth year of our era, according to Cassiodorus and

Pliny, a new island, Theia (the divine), appeared in the very place where these islets have recently been

formed. Then they sank under the waves, to rise again in the year 69, when they again subsided. Since that

time to our days the Plutonian work has been suspended. But on the 3rd of February, 1866, a new island,

which they named George Island, emerged from the midst of the sulphurous vapour near Nea Kamenni, and

settled again the 6th of the same month. Seven days after, the 13th of February, the Island of Aphroessa

appeared, leaving between Nea Kamenni and itself a canal ten yards broad. I was in these seas when the

phenomenon occurred, and I was able therefore to observe all the different phases. The Island of Aphroessa,

of round form, measured 300 feet in diameter, and 30 feet in height. It was composed of black and vitreous

lava, mixed with fragments of felspar. And lastly, on the 10th of March, a smaller island, called Reka,

showed itself near Nea Kamenni, and since then these three have joined together, forming but one and the

"Here it is," replied Captain Nemo, showing me a map of the Archipelago. "You see, I have marked the new

I returned to the glass. The Nautilus was no longer moving, the heat was becoming unbearable. The sea,

which till now had been white, was red, owing to the presence of salts of iron. In spite of the ship's being

hermetically sealed, an insupportable smell of sulphur filled the saloon, and the brilliancy of the electricity

was entirely extinguished by bright scarlet flames. I was in a bath, I was choking, I was broiled.

An order was given; the Nautilus tacked about and left the furnace it could not brave with impunity. A

quarter of an hour after we were breathing fresh air on the surface. The thought then struck me that, if Ned

Land had chosen this part of the sea for our flight, we should never have come alive out of this sea of fire.

The next day, the 16th of February, we left the basin which, between Rhodes and Alexandria, is reckoned

about 1,500 fathoms in depth, and the Nautilus, passing some distance from Cerigo, quitted the Grecian

The Mediterranean, the blue sea par excellence, "the great sea" of the Hebrews, "the sea" of the Greeks, the

"mare nostrum" of the Romans, bordered by orangetrees, aloes, cacti, and seapines; embalmed with the

perfume of the myrtle, surrounded by rude mountains, saturated with pure and transparent air, but incessantly

worked by underground fires; a perfect battlefield in which Neptune and Pluto still dispute the empire of the

It is upon these banks, and on these waters, says Michelet, that man is renewed in one of the most powerful

climates of the globe. But, beautiful as it was, I could only take a rapid glance at the basin whose superficial

area is two million of square yards. Even Captain Nemo's knowledge was lost to me, for this puzzling person

did not appear once during our passage at full speed. I estimated the course which the Nautilus took under the

waves of the sea at about six hundred leagues, and it was accomplished in fortyeight hours. Starting on the

morning of the 16th of February from the shores of Greece, we had crossed the Straits of Gibraltar by sunrise

It was plain to me that this Mediterranean, enclosed in the midst of those countries which he wished to avoid,

was distasteful to Captain Nemo. Those waves and those breezes brought back too many remembrances, if

not too many regrets. Here he had no longer that independence and that liberty of gait which he had when in

the open seas, and his Nautilus felt itself cramped between the close shores of Africa and Europe.

Our speed was now twentyfive miles an hour. It may be well understood that Ned Land, to his great disgust,

was obliged to renounce his intended flight. He could not launch the pinnace, going at the rate of twelve or

thirteen yards every second. To quit the Nautilus under such conditions would be as bad as jumping from a

train going at full speedan imprudent thing, to say the least of it. Besides, our vessel only mounted to the

surface of the waves at night to renew its stock of air; it was steered entirely by the compass and the log.

I saw no more of the interior of this Mediterranean than a traveller by express train perceives of the landscape

which flies before his eyes; that is to say, the distant horizon, and not the nearer objects which pass like a

We were then passing between Sicily and the coast of Tunis. In the narrow space between Cape Bon and the

Straits of Messina the bottom of the sea rose almost suddenly. There was a perfect bank, on which there was

not more than nine fathoms of water, whilst on either side the depth was ninety fathoms.

The Nautilus had to manoeuvre very carefully so as not to strike against this submarine barrier.

I showed Conseil, on the map of the Mediterranean, the spot occupied by this reef.

"But if you please, sir," observed Conseil, "it is like a real isthmus joining Europe to Africa."

"Yes, my boy, it forms a perfect bar to the Straits of Lybia, and the soundings of Smith have proved that in

"I will add," I continued, "that a similar barrier exists between Gibraltar and Ceuta, which in geological times

"What if some volcanic burst should one day raise these two barriers above the waves?"

"Well, but allow me to finish, please, sir; if this phenomenon should take place, it will be troublesome for M.

"I agree with you; but I repeat, Conseil, this phenomenon will never happen. The violence of subterranean

force is ever diminishing. Volcanoes, so plentiful in the first days of the world, are being extinguished by

degrees; the internal heat is weakened, the temperature of the lower strata of the globe is lowered by a

perceptible quantity every century to the detriment of our globe, for its heat is its life."

"Well, my friend, this earth will one day be that cold corpse; it will become uninhabitable and uninhabited

"Then," said Conseil, "we shall have time to finish our journey that is, if Ned Land does not interfere with

And Conseil, reassured, returned to the study of the bank, which the Nautilus was skirting at a moderate

During the night of the 16th and 17th February we had entered the second Mediterranean basin, the greatest

depth of which was 1,450 fathoms. The Nautilus, by the action of its crew, slid down the inclined planes and

On the 18th of February, about three o'clock in the morning, we were at the entrance of the Straits of

Gibraltar. There once existed two currents: an upper one, long since recognised, which conveys the waters of

the ocean into the basin of the Mediterranean; and a lower countercurrent, which reasoning has now shown

to exist. Indeed, the volume of water in the Mediterranean, incessantly added to by the waves of the Atlantic

and by rivers falling into it, would each year raise the level of this sea, for its evaporation is not sufficient to

restore the equilibrium. As it is not so, we must necessarily admit the existence of an undercurrent, which

empties into the basin of the Atlantic through the Straits of Gibraltar the surplus waters of the Mediterranean.

A fact indeed; and it was this countercurrent by which the Nautilus profited. It advanced rapidly by the

narrow pass. For one instant I caught a glimpse of the beautiful ruins of the temple of Hercules, buried in the

ground, according to Pliny, and with the low island which supports it; and a few minutes later we were

The Atlantic! a vast sheet of water whose superficial area covers twentyfive millions of square miles, the

length of which is nine thousand miles, with a mean breadth of two thousand seven hundred an ocean

whose parallel winding shores embrace an immense circumference, watered by the largest rivers of the world,

the St. Lawrence, the Mississippi, the Amazon, the Plata, the Orinoco, the Niger, the Senegal, the Elbe, the

Loire, and the Rhine, which carry water from the most civilised, as well as from the most savage, countries!

Magnificent field of water, incessantly ploughed by vessels of every nation, sheltered by the flags of every

nation, and which terminates in those two terrible points so dreaded by mariners, Cape Horn and the Cape of

The Nautilus was piercing the water with its sharp spur, after having accomplished nearly ten thousand

leagues in three months and a half, a distance greater than the great circle of the earth. Where were we going

now, and what was reserved for the future? The Nautilus, leaving the Straits of Gibraltar, had gone far out. It

returned to the surface of the waves, and our daily walks on the platform were restored to us.

I mounted at once, accompanied by Ned Land and Conseil. At a distance of about twelve miles, Cape St.

Vincent was dimly to be seen, forming the southwestern point of the Spanish peninsula. A strong southerly

gale was blowing. The sea was swollen and billowy; it made the Nautilus rock violently. It was almost

impossible to keep one's foot on the platform, which the heavy rolls of the sea beat over every instant. So we

I returned to my room, Conseil to his cabin; but the Canadian, with a preoccupied air, followed me. Our rapid

passage across the Mediterranean had not allowed him to put his project into execution, and he could not help

showing his disappointment. When the door of my room was shut, he sat down and looked at me silently.

"Friend Ned," said I, "I understand you; but you cannot reproach yourself. To have attempted to leave the

Ned Land did not answer; his compressed lips and frowning brow showed with him the violent possession

"Let us see," I continued; "we need not despair yet. We are going up the coast of Portugal again; France and

England are not far off, where we can easily find refuge. Now if the Nautilus, on leaving the Straits of

Gibraltar, had gone to the south, if it had carried us towards regions where there were no continents, I should

share your uneasiness. But we know now that Captain Nemo does not fly from civilised seas, and in some

Ned Land still looked at me fixedly; at length his fixed lips parted, and he said, "It is for tonight."

I drew myself up suddenly. I was, I admit, little prepared for this communication. I wanted to answer the

"We agreed to wait for an opportunity," continued Ned Land, "and the opportunity has arrived. This night we

shall be but a few miles from the Spanish coast. It is cloudy. The wind blows freely. I have your word, M.

"Tonight, at nine o'clock," said he. "I have warned Conseil. At that moment Captain Nemo will be shut up

in his room, probably in bed. Neither the engineers nor the ship's crew can see us. Conseil and I will gain the

central staircase, and you, M. Aronnax, will remain in the library, two steps from us, waiting my signal. The

oars, the mast, and the sail are in the canoe. I have even succeeded in getting some provisions. I have

procured an English wrench, to unfasten the bolts which attach it to the shell of the Nautilus. So all is ready,

"That I allow," replied the Canadian; "but we must risk that. Liberty is worth paying for; besides, the boat is

strong, and a few miles with a fair wind to carry us is no great thing. Who knows but by tomorrow we may

be a hundred leagues away? Let circumstances only favour us, and by ten or eleven o'clock we shall have

With these words the Canadian withdrew, leaving me almost dumb. I had imagined that, the chance gone, I

should have time to reflect and discuss the matter. My obstinate companion had given me no time; and, after

all, what could I have said to him? Ned Land was perfectly right. There was almost the opportunity to profit

by. Could I retract my word, and take upon myself the responsibility of compromising the future of my

At that moment a rather loud hissing noise told me that the reservoirs were filling, and that the Nautilus was

A sad day I passed, between the desire of regaining my liberty of action and of abandoning the wonderful

What dreadful hours I passed thus! Sometimes seeing myself and companions safely landed, sometimes

wishing, in spite of my reason, that some unforeseen circumstance, would prevent the realisation of Ned

Twice I went to the saloon. I wished to consult the compass. I wished to see if the direction the Nautilus was

taking was bringing us nearer or taking us farther from the coast. But no; the Nautilus kept in Portuguese

I must therefore take my part and prepare for flight. My luggage was not heavy; my notes, nothing more.

As to Captain Nemo, I asked myself what he would think of our escape; what trouble, what wrong it might

cause him and what he might do in case of its discovery or failure. Certainly I had no cause to complain of

him; on the contrary, never was hospitality freer than his. In leaving him I could not be taxed with

ingratitude. No oath bound us to him. It was on the strength of circumstances he relied, and not upon our

I had not seen the Captain since our visit to the Island of Santorin. Would chance bring me to his presence

before our departure? I wished it, and I feared it at the same time. I listened if I could hear him walking the

room contiguous to mine. No sound reached my ear. I felt an unbearable uneasiness. This day of waiting

My dinner was served in my room as usual. I ate but little; I was too preoccupied. I left the table at seven

o'clock. A hundred and twenty minutes (I counted them) still separated me from the moment in which I was

to join Ned Land. My agitation redoubled. My pulse beat violently. I could not remain quiet. I went and

came, hoping to calm my troubled spirit by constant movement. The idea of failure in our bold enterprise was

the least painful of my anxieties; but the thought of seeing our project discovered before leaving the Nautilus,

of being brought before Captain Nemo, irritated, or (what was worse) saddened, at my desertion, made my

I wanted to see the saloon for the last time. I descended the stairs and arrived in the museum, where I had

passed so many useful and agreeable hours. I looked at all its riches, all its treasures, like a man on the eve of

These wonders of Nature, these masterpieces of art, amongst which for so many days my life had been

concentrated, I was going to abandon them for ever! I should like to have taken a last look through the

windows of the saloon into the waters of the Atlantic: but the panels were hermetically closed, and a cloak of

In passing through the saloon, I came near the door let into the angle which opened into the Captain's room.

To my great surprise, this door was ajar. I drew back involuntarily. If Captain Nemo should be in his room,

he could see me. But, hearing no sound, I drew nearer. The room was deserted. I pushed open the door and

Suddenly the clock struck eight. The first beat of the hammer on the bell awoke me from my dreams. I

trembled as if an invisible eye had plunged into my most secret thoughts, and I hurried from the room.

There my eye fell upon the compass. Our course was still north. The log indicated moderate speed, the

I returned to my room, clothed myself warmlysea boots, an otterskin cap, a great coat of byssus, lined with

sealskin; I was ready, I was waiting. The vibration of the screw alone broke the deep silence which reigned

on board. I listened attentively. Would no loud voice suddenly inform me that Ned Land had been surprised

in his projected flight. A mortal dread hung over me, and I vainly tried to regain my accustomed coolness.

At a few minutes to nine, I put my ear to the Captain's door. No noise. I left my room and returned to the

I opened the door communicating with the library. The same insufficient light, the same solitude. I placed

myself near the door leading to the central staircase, and there waited for Ned Land's signal.

At that moment the trembling of the screw sensibly diminished, then it stopped entirely. The silence was now

only disturbed by the beatings of my own heart. Suddenly a slight shock was felt; and I knew that the

Nautilus had stopped at the bottom of the ocean. My uneasiness increased. The Canadian's signal did not

come. I felt inclined to join Ned Land and beg of him to put off his attempt. I felt that we were not sailing

At this moment the door of the large saloon opened, and Captain Nemo appeared. He saw me, and without

Now, one might know the history of one's own country by heart; but in the condition I was at the time, with

"Well," continued Captain Nemo, "you heard my question! Do you know the history of Spain?"

"Well, here are learned men having to learn," said the Captain. "Come, sit down, and I will tell you a curious

episode in this history. Sir, listen well," said he; "this history will interest you on one side, for it will answer a

"I listen, Captain," said I, not knowing what my interlocutor was driving at, and asking myself if this incident

"Sir, if you have no objection, we will go back to 1702. You cannot be ignorant that your king, Louis XIV,

thinking that the gesture of a potentate was sufficient to bring the Pyrenees under his yoke, had imposed the

Duke of Anjou, his grandson, on the Spaniards. This prince reigned more or less badly under the name of

Philip V, and had a strong party against him abroad. Indeed, the preceding year, the royal houses of Holland,

Austria, and England had concluded a treaty of alliance at the Hague, with the intention of plucking the

crown of Spain from the head of Philip V, and placing it on that of an archduke to whom they prematurely

"Spain must resist this coalition; but she was almost entirely unprovided with either soldiers or sailors.

However, money would not fail them, provided that their galleons, laden with gold and silver from America,

once entered their ports. And about the end of 1702 they expected a rich convoy which France was escorting

with a fleet of twentythree vessels, commanded by Admiral ChateauRenaud, for the ships of the coalition

were already beating the Atlantic. This convoy was to go to Cadiz, but the Admiral, hearing that an English

"The Spanish commanders of the convoy objected to this decision. They wanted to be taken to a Spanish port,

and, if not to Cadiz, into Vigo Bay, situated on the northwest coast of Spain, and which was not blocked.

"Admiral ChateauRenaud had the rashness to obey this injunction, and the galleons entered Vigo Bay.

"Unfortunately, it formed an open road which could not be defended in any way. They must therefore hasten

to unload the galleons before the arrival of the combined fleet; and time would not have failed them had not a

"I will continue. This is what passed. The merchants of Cadiz had a privilege by which they had the right of

receiving all merchandise coming from the West Indies. Now, to disembark these ingots at the port of Vigo

was depriving them of their rights. They complained at Madrid, and obtained the consent of the

weakminded Philip that the convoy, without discharging its cargo, should remain sequestered in the roads of

"But whilst coming to this decision, on the 22nd of October, 1702, the English vessels arrived in Vigo Bay,

when Admiral ChateauRenaud, in spite of inferior forces, fought bravely. But, seeing that the treasure must

fall into the enemy's hands, he burnt and scuttled every galleon, which went to the bottom with their immense

Captain Nemo stopped. I admit I could not see yet why this history should interest me.

"Well, M. Aronnax," replied Captain Nemo, "we are in that Vigo Bay; and it rests with yourself whether you

The Captain rose, telling me to follow him. I had had time to recover. I obeyed. The saloon was dark, but

For half a mile around the Nautilus, the waters seemed bathed in electric light. The sandy bottom was clean

and bright. Some of the ship's crew in their divingdresses were clearing away halfrotten barrels and empty

cases from the midst of the blackened wrecks. From these cases and from these barrels escaped ingots of gold

and silver, cascades of piastres and jewels. The sand was heaped up with them. Laden with their precious

booty, the men returned to the Nautilus, disposed of their burden, and went back to this inexhaustible fishery

I understood now. This was the scene of the battle of the 22nd of October, 1702. Here on this very spot the

galleons laden for the Spanish Government had sunk. Here Captain Nemo came, according to his wants, to

pack up those millions with which he burdened the Nautilus. It was for him and him alone America had given

up her precious metals. He was heir direct, without anyone to share, in those treasures torn from the Incas and

"I knew," I answered, "that they value money held in suspension in these waters at two millions."

"Doubtless; but to extract this money the expense would be greater than the profit. Here, on the contrary, I

have but to pick up what man has lostand not only in Vigo Bay, but in a thousand other ports where

shipwrecks have happened, and which are marked on my submarine map. Can you understand now the

"I understand, Captain. But allow me to tell you that in exploring Vigo Bay you have only been beforehand

"A society which has received from the Spanish Government the privilege of seeking those buried galleons.

The shareholders are led on by the allurement of an enormous bounty, for they value these rich shipwrecks at

"Five hundred millions they were," answered Captain Nemo, "but they are so no longer."

"Just so," said I; "and a warning to those shareholders would be an act of charity. But who knows if it would

be well received? What gamblers usually regret above all is less the loss of their money than of their foolish

hopes. After all, I pity them less than the thousands of unfortunates to whom so much riches welldistributed

I had no sooner expressed this regret than I felt that it must have wounded Captain Nemo.

"Barren!" he exclaimed, with animation. "Do you think then, sir, that these riches are lost because I gather

them? Is it for myself alone, according to your idea, that I take the trouble to collect these treasures? Who

told you that I did not make a good use of it? Do you think I am ignorant that there are suffering beings and

oppressed races on this earth, miserable creatures to console, victims to avenge? Do you not understand?"

Captain Nemo stopped at these last words, regretting perhaps that he had spoken so much. But I had guessed

that, whatever the motive which had forced him to seek independence under the sea, it had left him still a

man, that his heart still beat for the sufferings of humanity, and that his immense charity was for oppressed

races as well as individuals. And I then understood for whom those millions were destined which were

forwarded by Captain Nemo when the Nautilus was cruising in the waters of Crete.

The next morning, the 19th of February, I saw the Canadian enter my room. I expected this visit. He looked

"Yes; that Captain must needs stop exactly at the hour we intended leaving his vessel."

"Or rather his bankinghouse; by that I mean the ocean, where his riches are safer than in the chests of the

I then related to the Canadian the incidents of the preceding night, hoping to bring him back to the idea of not

abandoning the Captain; but my recital had no other result than an energetically expressed regret from Ned

that he had not been able to take a walk on the battlefield of Vigo on his own account.

"However," said he, "all is not ended. It is only a blow of the harpoon lost. Another time we must succeed;

The Canadian returned to Conseil. As soon as I was dressed, I went into the saloon. The compass was not

reassuring. The course of the Nautilus was S.S.W. We were turning our backs on Europe.

I waited with some impatience till the ship's place was pricked on the chart. At about halfpast eleven the

reservoirs were emptied, and our vessel rose to the surface of the ocean. I rushed towards the platform. Ned

Land had preceded me. No more land in sight. Nothing but an immense sea. Some sails on the horizon,

doubtless those going to San Roque in search of favourable winds for doubling the Cape of Good Hope. The

weather was cloudy. A gale of wind was preparing. Ned raved, and tried to pierce the cloudy horizon. He still

At noon the sun showed itself for an instant. The second profited by this brightness to take its height. Then,

An hour after, upon consulting the chart, I saw the position of the Nautilus was marked at 16@ 17' long., and

33@ 22' lat., at 150 leagues from the nearest coast. There was no means of flight, and I leave you to imagine

For myself, I was not particularly sorry. I felt lightened of the load which had oppressed me, and was able to

That night, about eleven o'clock, I received a most unexpected visit from Captain Nemo. He asked me very

graciously if I felt fatigued from my watch of the preceding night. I answered in the negative.

"You have hitherto only visited the submarine depths by daylight, under the brightness of the sun. Would it

"I warn you, the way will be tiring. We shall have far to walk, and must climb a mountain. The roads are not

Arrived at the robingroom, I saw that neither of my companions nor any of the ship's crew were to follow us

on this excursion. Captain Nemo had not even proposed my taking with me either Ned or Conseil.

In a few moments we had put on our divingdresses; they placed on our backs the reservoirs, abundantly

filled with air, but no electric lamps were prepared. I called the Captain's attention to the fact.

I thought I had not heard aright, but I could not repeat my observation, for the Captain's head had already

disappeared in its metal case. I finished harnessing myself. I felt them put an ironpointed stick into my hand,

and some minutes later, after going through the usual form, we set foot on the bottom of the Atlantic at a

depth of 150 fathoms. Midnight was near. The waters were profoundly dark, but Captain Nemo pointed out in

the distance a reddish spot, a sort of large light shining brilliantly about two miles from the Nautilus. What

this fire might be, what could feed it, why and how it lit up the liquid mass, I could not say. In any case, it did

light our way, vaguely, it is true, but I soon accustomed myself to the peculiar darkness, and I understood,

As we advanced, I heard a kind of pattering above my head. The noise redoubling, sometimes producing a

continual shower, I soon understood the cause. It was rain falling violently, and crisping the surface of the

waves. Instinctively the thought flashed across my mind that I should be wet through! By the water! in the

midst of the water! I could not help laughing at the odd idea. But, indeed, in the thick divingdress, the liquid

element is no longer felt, and one only seems to be in an atmosphere somewhat denser than the terrestrial

After half an hour's walk the soil became stony. Medusae, microscopic crustacea, and pennatules lit it slightly

with their phosphorescent gleam. I caught a glimpse of pieces of stone covered with millions of zoophytes

and masses of sea weed. My feet often slipped upon this sticky carpet of sea weed, and without my

irontipped stick I should have fallen more than once. In turning round, I could still see the whitish lantern of

But the rosy light which guided us increased and lit up the horizon. The presence of this fire under water

puzzled me in the highest degree. Was I going towards a natural phenomenon as yet unknown to the savants

of the earth? Or even (for this thought crossed my brain) had the hand of man aught to do with this

conflagration? Had he fanned this flame? Was I to meet in these depths companions and friends of Captain

Nemo whom he was going to visit, and who, like him, led this strange existence? Should I find down there a

whole colony of exiles who, weary of the miseries of this earth, had sought and found independence in the

deep ocean? All these foolish and unreasonable ideas pursued me. And in this condition of mind,

overexcited by the succession of wonders continually passing before my eyes, I should not have been

surprised to meet at the bottom of the sea one of those submarine towns of which Captain Nemo dreamed.

Our road grew lighter and lighter. The white glimmer came in rays from the summit of a mountain about 800

feet high. But what I saw was simply a reflection, developed by the clearness of the waters. The source of this

In the midst of this stony maze furrowing the bottom of the Atlantic, Captain Nemo advanced without

hesitation. He knew this dreary road. Doubtless he had often travelled over it, and could not lose himself. I

followed him with unshaken confidence. He seemed to me like a genie of the sea; and, as he walked before

me, I could not help admiring his stature, which was outlined in black on the luminous horizon.

It was one in the morning when we arrived at the first slopes of the mountain; but to gain access to them we

Yes; a copse of dead trees, without leaves, without sap, trees petrified by the action of the water and here and

there overtopped by gigantic pines. It was like a coalpit still standing, holding by the roots to the broken

soil, and whose branches, like fine black paper cuttings, showed distinctly on the watery ceiling. Picture to

yourself a forest in the Hartz hanging on to the sides of the mountain, but a forest swallowed up. The paths

were encumbered with seaweed and fucus, between which grovelled a whole world of crustacea. I went

along, climbing the rocks, striding over extended trunks, breaking the sea bindweed which hung from one

tree to the other; and frightening the fishes, which flew from branch to branch. Pressing onward, I felt no

fatigue. I followed my guide, who was never tired. What a spectacle! How can I express it? how paint the

aspect of those woods and rocks in this mediumtheir under parts dark and wild, the upper coloured with

red tints, by that light which the reflecting powers of the waters doubled? We climbed rocks which fell

directly after with gigantic bounds and the low growling of an avalanche. To right and left ran long, dark

galleries, where sight was lost. Here opened vast glades which the hand of man seemed to have worked; and I

sometimes asked myself if some inhabitant of these submarine regions would not suddenly appear to me.

But Captain Nemo was still mounting. I could not stay behind. I followed boldly. My stick gave me good

help. A false step would have been dangerous on the narrow passes sloping down to the sides of the gulfs; but

I walked with firm step, without feeling any giddiness. Now I jumped a crevice, the depth of which would

have made me hesitate had it been among the glaciers on the land; now I ventured on the unsteady trunk of a

tree thrown across from one abyss to the other, without looking under my feet, having only eyes to admire the

There, monumental rocks, leaning on their regularlycut bases, seemed to defy all laws of equilibrium. From

between their stony knees trees sprang, like a jet under heavy pressure, and upheld others which upheld them.

Natural towers, large scarps, cut perpendicularly, like a "curtain," inclined at an angle which the laws of

Two hours after quitting the Nautilus we had crossed the line of trees, and a hundred feet above our heads

rose the top of the mountain, which cast a shadow on the brilliant irradiation of the opposite slope. Some

petrified shrubs ran fantastically here and there. Fishes got up under our feet like birds in the long grass. The

massive rocks were rent with impenetrable fractures, deep grottos, and unfathomable holes, at the bottom of

which formidable creatures might be heard moving. My blood curdled when I saw enormous antennae

blocking my road, or some frightful claw closing with a noise in the shadow of some cavity. Millions of

luminous spots shone brightly in the midst of the darkness. They were the eyes of giant crustacea crouched in

their holes; giant lobsters setting themselves up like halberdiers, and moving their claws with the clicking

sound of pincers; titanic crabs, pointed like a gun on its carriage; and frightfullooking poulps, interweaving

We had now arrived on the first platform, where other surprises awaited me. Before us lay some picturesque

ruins, which betrayed the hand of man and not that of the Creator. There were vast heaps of stone, amongst

which might be traced the vague and shadowy forms of castles and temples, clothed with a world of

blossoming zoophytes, and over which, instead of ivy, seaweed and fucus threw a thick vegetable mantle.

But what was this portion of the globe which had been swallowed by cataclysms? Who had placed those

rocks and stones like cromlechs of prehistoric times? Where was I? Whither had Captain Nemo's fancy

I would fain have asked him; not being able to, I stopped him I seized his arm. But, shaking his head, and

I followed, and in a few minutes I had climbed to the top, which for a circle of ten yards commanded the

I looked down the side we had just climbed. The mountain did not rise more than seven or eight hundred feet

above the level of the plain; but on the opposite side it commanded from twice that height the depths of this

part of the Atlantic. My eyes ranged far over a large space lit by a violent fulguration. In fact, the mountain

At fifty feet above the peak, in the midst of a rain of stones and scoriae, a large crater was vomiting forth

torrents of lava which fell in a cascade of fire into the bosom of the liquid mass. Thus situated, this volcano

lit the lower plain like an immense torch, even to the extreme limits of the horizon. I said that the submarine

crater threw up lava, but no flames. Flames require the oxygen of the air to feed upon and cannot be

developed under water; but streams of lava, having in themselves the principles of their incandescence, can

attain a white heat, fight vigorously against the liquid element, and turn it to vapour by contact.

Rapid currents bearing all these gases in diffusion and torrents of lava slid to the bottom of the mountain like

There indeed under my eyes, ruined, destroyed, lay a town its roofs open to the sky, its temples fallen, its

arches dislocated, its columns lying on the ground, from which one would still recognise the massive

character of Tuscan architecture. Further on, some remains of a gigantic aqueduct; here the high base of an

Acropolis, with the floating outline of a Parthenon; there traces of a quay, as if an ancient port had formerly

abutted on the borders of the ocean, and disappeared with its merchant vessels and its wargalleys. Farther on

again, long lines of sunken walls and broad, deserted streets a perfect Pompeii escaped beneath the waters.

Where was I? Where was I? I must know at any cost. I tried to speak, but Captain Nemo stopped me by a

gesture, and, picking up a piece of chalkstone, advanced to a rock of black basalt, and traced the one word:

What a light shot through my mind! Atlantis! the Atlantis of Plato, that continent denied by Origen and

Humbolt, who placed its disappearance amongst the legendary tales. I had it there now before my eyes,

bearing upon it the unexceptionable testimony of its catastrophe. The region thus engulfed was beyond

Europe, Asia, and Lybia, beyond the columns of Hercules, where those powerful people, the Atlantides,

Thus, led by the strangest destiny, I was treading under foot the mountains of this continent, touching with

my hand those ruins a thousand generations old and contemporary with the geological epochs. I was walking

Whilst I was trying to fix in my mind every detail of this grand landscape, Captain Nemo remained

motionless, as if petrified in mute ecstasy, leaning on a mossy stone. Was he dreaming of those generations

long since disappeared? Was he asking them the secret of human destiny? Was it here this strange man came

to steep himself in historical recollections, and live again this ancient lifehe who wanted no modern one?

What would I not have given to know his thoughts, to share them, to understand them! We remained for an

hour at this place, contemplating the vast plains under the brightness of the lava, which was some times

wonderfully intense. Rapid tremblings ran along the mountain caused by internal bubblings, deep noise,

distinctly transmitted through the liquid medium were echoed with majestic grandeur. At this moment the

moon appeared through the mass of waters and threw her pale rays on the buried continent. It was but a

gleam, but what an indescribable effect! The Captain rose, cast one last look on the immense plain, and then

We descended the mountain rapidly, and, the mineral forest once passed, I saw the lantern of the Nautilus

shining like a star. The Captain walked straight to it, and we got on board as the first rays of light whitened

The next day, the 20th of February, I awoke very late: the fatigues of the previous night had prolonged my

sleep until eleven o'clock. I dressed quickly, and hastened to find the course the Nautilus was taking. The

instruments showed it to be still toward the south, with a speed of twenty miles an hour and a depth of fifty

The species of fishes here did not differ much from those already noticed. There were rays of giant size, five

yards long, and endowed with great muscular strength, which enabled them to shoot above the waves; sharks

of many kinds; amongst others, one fifteen feet long, with triangular sharp teeth, and whose transparency

Amongst bony fish Conseil noticed some about three yards long, armed at the upper jaw with a piercing

sword; other brightcoloured creatures, known in the time of Aristotle by the name of the seadragon, which

About four o'clock, the soil, generally composed of a thick mud mixed with petrified wood, changed by

degrees, and it became more stony, and seemed strewn with conglomerate and pieces of basalt, with a

sprinkling of lava. I thought that a mountainous region was succeeding the long plains; and accordingly, after

a few evolutions of the Nautilus, I saw the southerly horizon blocked by a high wall which seemed to close

all exit. Its summit evidently passed the level of the ocean. It must be a continent, or at least an islandone

of the Canaries, or of the Cape Verde Islands. The bearings not being yet taken, perhaps designedly, I was

ignorant of our exact position. In any case, such a wall seemed to me to mark the limits of that Atlantis, of

Much longer should I have remained at the window admiring the beauties of sea and sky, but the panels

closed. At this moment the Nautilus arrived at the side of this high, perpendicular wall. What it would do, I

could not guess. I returned to my room; it no longer moved. I laid myself down with the full intention of

waking after a few hours' sleep; but it was eight o'clock the next day when I entered the saloon. I looked at

the manometer. It told me that the Nautilus was floating on the surface of the ocean. Besides, I heard steps on

the platform. I went to the panel. It was open; but, instead of broad daylight, as I expected, I was surrounded

by profound darkness. Where were we? Was I mistaken? Was it still night? No; not a star was shining and

"Wait a few minutes, our lantern will be lit, and, if you like light places, you will be satisfied."

I stood on the platform and waited. The darkness was so complete that I could not even see Captain Nemo;

but, looking to the zenith, exactly above my head, I seemed to catch an undecided gleam, a kind of twilight

filling a circular hole. At this instant the lantern was lit, and its vividness dispelled the faint light. I closed my

dazzled eyes for an instant, and then looked again. The Nautilus was stationary, floating near a mountain

which formed a sort of quay. The lake, then, supporting it was a lake imprisoned by a circle of walls,

measuring two miles in diameter and six in circumference. Its level (the manometer showed) could only be

the same as the outside level, for there must necessarily be a communication between the lake and the sea.

The high partitions, leaning forward on their base, grew into a vaulted roof bearing the shape of an immense

funnel turned upside down, the height being about five or six hundred yards. At the summit was a circular

"In the very heart of an extinct volcano, the interior of which has been invaded by the sea, after some great

convulsion of the earth. Whilst you were sleeping, Professor, the Nautilus penetrated to this lagoon by a

natural canal, which opens about ten yards beneath the surface of the ocean. This is its harbour of refuge, a

sure, commodious, and mysterious one, sheltered from all gales. Show me, if you can, on the coasts of any of

your continents or islands, a road which can give such perfect refuge from all storms."

"Certainly," I replied, "you are in safety here, Captain Nemo. Who could reach you in the heart of a volcano?

"Yes; its crater, formerly filled with lava, vapour, and flames, and which now gives entrance to the

"It belongs to one of the numerous islands with which this sea is strewnto vessels a simple sandbankto

"No, sir; but it wants electricity to make it move, and the wherewithal to make the electricitysodium to

feed the elements, coal from which to get the sodium, and a coalmine to supply the coal. And exactly on this

spot the sea covers entire forests embedded during the geological periods, now mineralised and transformed

"Exactly so. These mines extend under the waves like the mines of Newcastle. Here, in their divingdresses,

pick axe and shovel in hand, my men extract the coal, which I do not even ask from the mines of the earth.

When I burn this combustible for the manufacture of sodium, the smoke, escaping from the crater of the

"No; not this time at least; for I am in a hurry to continue our submarine tour of the earth. So I shall content

myself with drawing from the reserve of sodium I already possess. The time for loading is one day only, and

we continue our voyage. So, if you wish to go over the cavern and make the round of the lagoon, you must

I thanked the Captain and went to look for my companions, who had not yet left their cabin. I invited them to

follow me without saying where we were. They mounted the platform. Conseil, who was astonished at

nothing, seemed to look upon it as quite natural that he should wake under a mountain, after having fallen

asleep under the waves. But Ned Land thought of nothing but finding whether the cavern had any exit. After

"I do not call this land," said the Canadian. "And besides, we are not on it, but beneath it."

Between the walls of the mountains and the waters of the lake lay a sandy shore which, at its greatest breadth,

measured five hundred feet. On this soil one might easily make the tour of the lake. But the base of the high

partitions was stony ground, with volcanic locks and enormous pumicestones lying in picturesque heaps. All

these detached masses, covered with enamel, polished by the action of the subterraneous fires, shone

resplendent by the light of our electric lantern. The mica dust from the shore, rising under our feet, flew like a

cloud of sparks. The bottom now rose sensibly, and we soon arrived at long circuitous slopes, or inclined

planes, which took us higher by degrees; but we were obliged to walk carefully among these conglomerates,

bound by no cement, the feet slipping on the glassy crystal, felspar, and quartz.

The volcanic nature of this enormous excavation was confirmed on all sides, and I pointed it out to my

"Picture to yourselves," said I, "what this crater must have been when filled with boiling lava, and when the

level of the incandescent liquid rose to the orifice of the mountain, as though melted on the top of a hot

"I can picture it perfectly," said Conseil. "But, sir, will you tell me why the Great Architect has suspended

operations, and how it is that the furnace is replaced by the quiet waters of the lake?"

"Most probably, Conseil, because some convulsion beneath the ocean produced that very opening which has

served as a passage for the Nautilus. Then the waters of the Atlantic rushed into the interior of the mountain.

There must have been a terrible struggle between the two elements, a struggle which ended in the victory of

Neptune. But many ages have run out since then, and the submerged volcano is now a peaceable grotto."

"Very well," replied Ned Land; "I accept the explanation, sir; but, in our own interests, I regret that the

"But, friend Ned," said Conseil, "if the passage had not been under the sea, the Nautilus could not have gone

We continued ascending. The steps became more and more perpendicular and narrow. Deep excavations,

which we were obliged to cross, cut them here and there; sloping masses had to be turned. We slid upon our

knees and crawled along. But Conseil's dexterity and the Canadian's strength surmounted all obstacles. At a

height of about 31 feet the nature of the ground changed without becoming more practicable. To the

conglomerate and trachyte succeeded black basalt, the first dispread in layers full of bubbles, the latter

forming regular prisms, placed like a colonnade supporting the spring of the immense vault, an admirable

specimen of natural architecture. Between the blocks of basalt wound long streams of lava, long since grown

cold, encrusted with bituminous rays; and in some places there were spread large carpets of sulphur. A more

powerful light shone through the upper crater, shedding a vague glimmer over these volcanic depressions for

ever buried in the bosom of this extinguished mountain. But our upward march was soon stopped at a height

of about two hundred and fifty feet by impassable obstacles. There was a complete vaulted arch overhanging

us, and our ascent was changed to a circular walk. At the last change vegetable life began to struggle with the

mineral. Some shrubs, and even some trees, grew from the fractures of the walls. I recognised some

euphorbias, with the caustic sugar coming from them; heliotropes, quite incapable of justifying their name,

sadly drooped their clusters of flowers, both their colour and perfume half gone. Here and there some

chrysanthemums grew timidly at the foot of an aloe with long, sicklylooking leaves. But between the

streams of lava, I saw some little violets still slightly perfumed, and I admit that I smelt them with delight.

We had arrived at the foot of some sturdy dragontrees, which had pushed aside the rocks with their strong

I approached, and was bound to believe my own eyes. There at a hole bored in one of the dragontrees were

some thousands of these ingenious insects, so common in all the Canaries, and whose produce is so much

esteemed. Naturally enough, the Canadian wished to gather the honey, and I could not well oppose his wish.

A quantity of dry leaves, mixed with sulphur, he lit with a spark from his flint, and he began to smoke out the

bees. The humming ceased by degrees, and the hive eventually yielded several pounds of the sweetest honey,

"When I have mixed this honey with the paste of the breadfruit," said he, "I shall be able to offer you a

At every turn of the path we were following, the lake appeared in all its length and breadth. The lantern lit up

the whole of its peaceable surface, which knew neither ripple nor wave. The Nautilus remained perfectly

immovable. On the platform, and on the mountain, the ship's crew were working like black shadows clearly

carved against the luminous atmosphere. We were now going round the highest crest of the first layers of

rock which upheld the roof. I then saw that bees were not the only representatives of the animal kingdom in

the interior of this volcano. Birds of prey hovered here and there in the shadows, or fled from their nests on

the top of the rocks. There were sparrow hawks, with white breasts, and kestrels, and down the slopes

scampered, with their long legs, several fine fat bustards. I leave anyone to imagine the covetousness of the

Canadian at the sight of this savoury game, and whether he did not regret having no gun. But he did his best

to replace the lead by stones, and, after several fruitless attempts, he succeeded in wounding a magnificent

bird. To say that he risked his life twenty times before reaching it is but the truth; but he managed so well that

the creature joined the honeycakes in his bag. We were now obliged to descend toward the shore, the crest

becoming impracticable. Above us the crater seemed to gape like the mouth of a well. From this place the sky

could be clearly seen, and clouds, dissipated by the west wind, leaving behind them, even on the summit of

the mountain, their misty remnantscertain proof that they were only moderately high, for the volcano did

not rise more than eight hundred feet above the level of the ocean. Half an hour after the Canadian's last

exploit we had regained the inner shore. Here the flora was represented by large carpets of marine crystal, a

little umbelliferous plant very good to pickle, which also bears the name of piercestone and seafennel.

Conseil gathered some bundles of it. As to the fauna, it might be counted by thousands of crustacea of all

sorts, lobsters, crabs, spidercrabs, chameleon shrimps, and a large number of shells, rockfish, and limpets.

Threequarters of an hour later we had finished our circuitous walk and were on board. The crew had just

finished loading the sodium, and the Nautilus could have left that instant. But Captain Nemo gave no order.

Did he wish to wait until night, and leave the submarine passage secretly? Perhaps so. Whatever it might be,

the next day, the Nautilus, having left its port, steered clear of all land at a few yards beneath the waves of the

That day the Nautilus crossed a singular part of the Atlantic Ocean. No one can be ignorant of the existence

of a current of warm water known by the name of the Gulf Stream. After leaving the Gulf of Florida, we went

in the direction of Spitzbergen. But before entering the Gulf of Mexico, about 45@ of N. lat., this current

divides into two arms, the principal one going towards the coast of Ireland and Norway, whilst the second

bends to the south about the height of the Azores; then, touching the African shore, and describing a

lengthened oval, returns to the Antilles. This second armit is rather a collar than an armsurrounds with

its circles of warm water that portion of the cold, quiet, immovable ocean called the Sargasso Sea, a perfect

lake in the open Atlantic: it takes no less than three years for the great current to pass round it. Such was the

region the Nautilus was now visiting, a perfect meadow, a close carpet of seaweed, fucus, and tropical

berries, so thick and so compact that the stem of a vessel could hardly tear its way through it. And Captain

Nemo, not wishing to entangle his screw in this herbaceous mass, kept some yards beneath the surface of the

waves. The name Sargasso comes from the Spanish word "sargazzo" which signifies kelp. This kelp, or

berryplant, is the principal formation of this immense bank. And this is the reason why these plants unite in

the peaceful basin of the Atlantic. The only explanation which can be given, he says, seems to me to result

from the experience known to all the world. Place in a vase some fragments of cork or other floating body,

and give to the water in the vase a circular movement, the scattered fragments will unite in a group in the

centre of the liquid surface, that is to say, in the part least agitated. In the phenomenon we are considering,

the Atlantic is the vase, the Gulf Stream the circular current, and the Sargasso Sea the central point at which

I share Maury's opinion, and I was able to study the phenomenon in the very midst, where vessels rarely

penetrate. Above us floated products of all kinds, heaped up among these brownish plants; trunks of trees torn

from the Andes or the Rocky Mountains, and floated by the Amazon or the Mississippi; numerous wrecks,

remains of keels, or ships' bottoms, sideplanks stove in, and so weighted with shells and barnacles that they

could not again rise to the surface. And time will one day justify Maury's other opinion, that these substances

thus accumulated for ages will become petrified by the action of the water and will then form inexhaustible

coalmines a precious reserve prepared by farseeing Nature for the moment when men shall have

In the midst of this inextricable mass of plants and sea weed, I noticed some charming pink halcyons and

actiniae, with their long tentacles trailing after them, and medusae, green, red, and blue.

All the day of the 22nd of February we passed in the Sargasso Sea, where such fish as are partial to marine

plants find abundant nourishment. The next, the ocean had returned to its accustomed aspect. From this time

for nineteen days, from the 23rd of February to the 12th of March, the Nautilus kept in the middle of the

Atlantic, carrying us at a constant speed of a hundred leagues in twentyfour hours. Captain Nemo evidently

intended accomplishing his submarine programme, and I imagined that he intended, after doubling Cape

Horn, to return to the Australian seas of the Pacific. Ned Land had cause for fear. In these large seas, void of

islands, we could not attempt to leave the boat. Nor had we any means of opposing Captain Nemo's will. Our

only course was to submit; but what we could neither gain by force nor cunning, I liked to think might be

obtained by persuasion. This voyage ended, would he not consent to restore our liberty, under an oath never

to reveal his existence?an oath of honour which we should have religiously kept. But we must consider

that delicate question with the Captain. But was I free to claim this liberty? Had he not himself said from the

beginning, in the firmest manner, that the secret of his life exacted from him our lasting imprisonment on

board the Nautilus? And would not my four months' silence appear to him a tacit acceptance of our situation?

And would not a return to the subject result in raising suspicions which might be hurtful to our projects, if at

During the nineteen days mentioned above, no incident of any kind happened to signalise our voyage. I saw

little of the Captain; he was at work. In the library I often found his books left open, especially those on

natural history. My work on submarine depths, conned over by him, was covered with marginal notes, often

contradicting my theories and systems; but the Captain contented himself with thus purging my work; it was

very rare for him to discuss it with me. Sometimes I heard the melancholy tones of his organ; but only at

night, in the midst of the deepest obscurity, when the Nautilus slept upon the deserted ocean. During this part

of our voyage we sailed whole days on the surface of the waves. The sea seemed abandoned. A few

sailingvessels, on the road to India, were making for the Cape of Good Hope. One day we were followed by

the boats of a whaler, who, no doubt, took us for some enormous whale of great price; but Captain Nemo did

not wish the worthy fellows to lose their time and trouble, so ended the chase by plunging under the water.

Our navigation continued until the 13th of March; that day the Nautilus was employed in taking soundings,

which greatly interested me. We had then made about 13,000 leagues since our departure from the high seas

of the Pacific. The bearings gave us 45@ 37' S. lat., and 37@ 53' W. long. It was the same water in which

Captain Denham of the Herald sounded 7,000 fathoms without finding the bottom. There, too, Lieutenant

Parker, of the American frigate Congress, could not touch the bottom with 15,140 fathoms. Captain Nemo

intended seeking the bottom of the ocean by a diagonal sufficiently lengthened by means of lateral planes

placed at an angle of 45@ with the waterline of the Nautilus. Then the screw set to work at its maximum

speed, its four blades beating the waves with in describable force. Under this powerful pressure, the hull of

At 7,000 fathoms I saw some blackish tops rising from the midst of the waters; but these summits might

belong to high mountains like the Himalayas or Mont Blanc, even higher; and the depth of the abyss

remained incalculable. The Nautilus descended still lower, in spite of the great pressure. I felt the steel plates

tremble at the fastenings of the bolts; its bars bent, its partitions groaned; the windows of the saloon seemed

to curve under the pressure of the waters. And this firm structure would doubtless have yielded, if, as its

Captain had said, it had not been capable of resistance like a solid block. We had attained a depth of 16,000

yards (four leagues), and the sides of the Nautilus then bore a pressure of 1,600 atmospheres, that is to say,

"What a situation to be in!" I exclaimed. "To overrun these deep regions where man has never trod! Look,

Captain, look at these magnificent rocks, these uninhabited grottoes, these lowest receptacles of the globe,

where life is no longer possible! What unknown sights are here! Why should we be unable to preserve a

"I mean to say that nothing is easier than to make a photographic view of this submarine region."

I had not time to express my surprise at this new proposition, when, at Captain Nemo's call, an objective was

brought into the saloon. Through the widelyopened panel, the liquid mass was bright with electricity, which

was distributed with such uniformity that not a shadow, not a gradation, was to be seen in our manufactured

light. The Nautilus remained motionless, the force of its screw subdued by the inclination of its planes: the

instrument was propped on the bottom of the oceanic site, and in a few seconds we had obtained a perfect

But, the operation being over, Captain Nemo said, "Let us go up; we must not abuse our position, nor expose

I had not time to understand why the Captain cautioned me thus, when I was thrown forward on to the carpet.

At a signal from the Captain, its screw was shipped, and its blades raised vertically; the Nautilus shot into the

air like a balloon, rising with stunning rapidity, and cutting the mass of waters with a sonorous agitation.

Nothing was visible; and in four minutes it had shot through the four leagues which separated it from the

ocean, and, after emerging like a flyingfish, fell, making the waves rebound to an enormous height.

During the nights of the 13th and 14th of March, the Nautilus returned to its southerly course. I fancied that,

when on a level with Cape Horn, he would turn the helm westward, in order to beat the Pacific seas, and so

complete the tour of the world. He did nothing of the kind, but continued on his way to the southern regions.

Where was he going to? To the pole? It was madness! I began to think that the Captain's temerity justified

Ned Land's fears. For some time past the Canadian had not spoken to me of his projects of flight; he was less

communicative, almost silent. I could see that this lengthened imprisonment was weighing upon him, and I

felt that rage was burning within him. When he met the Captain, his eyes lit up with suppressed anger; and I

feared that his natural violence would lead him into some extreme. That day, the 14th of March, Conseil and

"Certainly, under existing conditions, ten men, at the most, ought to be enough."

"Why?" I replied, looking fixedly at Ned Land, whose meaning was easy to guess. "Because," I added, "if my

surmises are correct, and if I have well understood the Captain's existence, the Nautilus is not only a vessel: it

is also a place of refuge for those who, like its commander, have broken every tie upon earth."

"Perhaps so," said Conseil; "but, in any case, the Nautilus can only contain a certain number of men. Could

"By calculation; given the size of the vessel, which you know, sir, and consequently the quantity of air it

contains, knowing also how much each man expends at a breath, and comparing these results with the fact

"I understand," said I; "but that calculation, though simple enough, can give but a very uncertain result."

"Here it is, then," said I. "In one hour each man consumes the oxygen contained in twenty gallons of air; and

in twentyfour, that contained in 480 gallons. We must, therefore find how many times 480 gallons of air the

"Or," I continued, "the size of the Nautilus being 1,500 tons; and one ton holding 200 gallons, it contains

300,000 gallons of air, which, divided by 480, gives a quotient of 625. Which means to say, strictly speaking,

that the air contained in the Nautilus would suffice for 625 men for twentyfour hours."

"But remember that all of us, passengers, sailors, and officers included, would not form a tenth part of that

The Canadian shook his head, passed his hand across his forehead, and left the room without answering.

"Will you allow me to make one observation, sir?" said Conseil. "Poor Ned is longing for everything that he

can not have. His past life is always present to him; everything that we are forbidden he regrets. His head is

full of old recollections. And we must understand him. What has he to do here? Nothing; he is not learned

like you, sir; and has not the same taste for the beauties of the sea that we have. He would risk everything to

Certainly the monotony on board must seem intolerable to the Canadian, accustomed as he was to a life of

liberty and activity. Events were rare which could rouse him to any show of spirit; but that day an event did

happen which recalled the bright days of the harpooner. About eleven in the morning, being on the surface of

the ocean, the Nautilus fell in with a troop of whalesan encounter which did not astonish me, knowing that

We were seated on the platform, with a quiet sea. The month of October in those latitudes gave us some

lovely autumnal days. It was the Canadian he could not be mistakenwho signalled a whale on the

eastern horizon. Looking attentively, one might see its black back rise and fall with the waves five miles from

"Ah!" exclaimed Ned Land, "if I was on board a whaler, now such a meeting would give me pleasure. It is

one of large size. See with what strength its blowholes throw up columns of air an steam! Confound it, why

"Can a whalefisher ever forget his old trade, sir? Can he ever tire of the emotions caused by such a chase?"

"Then the southern whale is still unknown to you. It is the Greenland whale you have hunted up to this time,

and that would not risk passing through the warm waters of the equator. Whales are localised, according to

their kinds, in certain seas which they never leave. And if one of these creatures went from Behring to Davis

Straits, it must be simply because there is a passage from one sea to the other, either on the American or the

"In that case, as I have never fished in these seas, I do not know the kind of whale frequenting them!"

"Look! look!" exclaimed the Canadian, "they approach: they aggravate me; they know that I cannot get at

"Because I have seen large whales, sir, whales measuring a hundred feet. I have even been told that those of

Hullamoch and Umgallick, of the Aleutian Islands, are sometimes a hundred and fifty feet long."

"That seems to me exaggeration. These creatures are generally much smaller than the Greenland whale."

"Ah!" exclaimed the Canadian, whose eyes had never left the ocean, "they are coming nearer; they are in the

"You spoke of the cachalot as a small creature. I have heard of gigantic ones. They are intelligent cetacea. It

is said of some that they cover themselves with seaweed and fucus, and then are taken for islands. People

"Yes, joker," said Ned Land. "And one fine day the creature plunges, carrying with it all the inhabitants to the

"Ah!" suddenly exclaimed Ned Land, "it is not one whale; there are tenthere are twentyit is a whole

"But, friend Ned," said Conseil, "why do you not ask Captain Nemo's permission to chase them?"

Conseil had not finished his sentence when Ned Land had lowered himself through the panel to seek the

Captain Nemo watched the troop of cetacea playing on the waters about a mile from the Nautilus.

"They are southern whales," said he; "there goes the fortune of a whole fleet of whalers."

"Well, sir," asked the Canadian, "can I not chase them, if only to remind me of my old trade of harpooner?"

"And to what purpose?" replied Captain Nemo; "only to destroy! We have nothing to do with the whaleoil

"But, sir," continued the Canadian, "in the Red Sea you allowed us to follow the dugong."

"Then it was to procure fresh meat for my crew. Here it would be killing for killing's sake. I know that is a

privilege reserved for man, but I do not approve of such murderous pastime. In destroying the southern whale

(like the Greenland whale, an inoffensive creature), your traders do a culpable action, Master Land. They

have already depopulated the whole of Baffin's Bay, and are annihilating a class of useful animals. Leave the

unfortunate cetacea alone. They have plenty of natural enemiescachalots, swordfish, and sawfish

The Captain was right. The barbarous and inconsiderate greed of these fishermen will one day cause the

disappearance of the last whale in the ocean. Ned Land whistled "Yankeedoodle" between his teeth, thrust

his hands into his pockets, and turned his back upon us. But Captain Nemo watched the troop of cetacea, and,

"I was right in saying that whales had natural enemies enough, without counting man. These will have plenty

to do before long. Do you see, M. Aronnax, about eight miles to leeward, those blackish moving points?"

"Those are cachalotsterrible animals, which I have met in troops of two or three hundred. As to those, they

"It is useless to expose one's self, Professor. The Nautilus will disperse them. It is armed with a steel spur as

The Canadian did not put himself out enough to shrug his shoulders. Attack cetacea with blows of a spur!

"Wait, M. Aronnax," said Captain Nemo. "We will show you something you have never yet seen. We have

Mouth and teeth! No one could better describe the macrocephalous cachalot, which is sometimes more than

seventyfive feet long. Its enormous head occupies onethird of its entire body. Better armed than the whale,

whose upper jaw is furnished only with whalebone, it is supplied with twentyfive large tusks, about eight

inches long, cylindrical and conical at the top, each weighing two pounds. It is in the upper part of this

enormous head, in great cavities divided by cartilages, that is to be found from six to eight hundred pounds of

that precious oil called spermaceti. The cachalot is a disagreeable creature, more tadpole than fish, according

to Fredol's description. It is badly formed, the whole of its left side being (if we may say it), a "failure," and

being only able to see with its right eye. But the formidable troop was nearing us. They had seen the whales

and were preparing to attack them. One could judge beforehand that the cachalots would be victorious, not

only because they were better built for attack than their inoffensive adversaries, but also because they could

remain longer under water without coming to the surface. There was only just time to go to the help of the

whales. The Nautilus went under water. Conseil, Ned Land, and I took our places before the window in the

saloon, and Captain Nemo joined the pilot in his cage to work his apparatus as an engine of destruction. Soon

I felt the beatings of the screw quicken, and our speed increased. The battle between the cachalots and the

whales had already begun when the Nautilus arrived. They did not at first show any fear at the sight of this

new monster joining in the conflict. But they soon had to guard against its blows. What a battle! The Nautilus

was nothing but a formidable harpoon, brandished by the hand of its Captain. It hurled itself against the

fleshy mass, passing through from one part to the other, leaving behind it two quivering halves of the animal.

It could not feel the formidable blows from their tails upon its sides, nor the shock which it produced itself,

much more. One cachalot killed, it ran at the next, tacked on the spot that it might not miss its prey, going

forwards and backwards, answering to its helm, plunging when the cetacean dived into the deep waters,

coming up with it when it returned to the surface, striking it front or sideways, cutting or tearing in all

directions and at any pace, piercing it with its terrible spur. What carnage! What a noise on the surface of the

waves! What sharp hissing, and what snorting peculiar to these enraged animals! In the midst of these waters,

generally so peaceful, their tails made perfect billows. For one hour this wholesale massacre continued, from

which the cachalots could not escape. Several times ten or twelve united tried to crush the Nautilus by their

weight. From the window we could see their enormous mouths, studded with tusks, and their formidable

eyes. Ned Land could not contain himself; he threatened and swore at them. We could feel them clinging to

our vessel like dogs worrying a wild boar in a copse. But the Nautilus, working its screw, carried them here

and there, or to the upper levels of the ocean, without caring for their enormous weight, nor the powerful

strain on the vessel. At length the mass of cachalots broke up, the waves became quiet, and I felt that we were

rising to the surface. The panel opened, and we hurried on to the platform. The sea was covered with

mutilated bodies. A formidable explosion could not have divided and torn this fleshy mass with more

violence. We were floating amid gigantic bodies, bluish on the back and white underneath, covered with

enormous protuberances. Some terrified cachalots were flying towards the horizon. The waves were dyed red

for several miles, and the Nautilus floated in a sea of blood: Captain Nemo joined us.

"Well, sir," replied the Canadian, whose enthusiasm had somewhat calmed; "it is a terrible spectacle,

"It is a massacre of mischievous creatures," replied the Captain; "and the Nautilus is not a butcher's knife."

I feared he would commit some act of violence, which would end in sad consequences. But his anger was

turned by the sight of a whale which the Nautilus had just come up with. The creature had not quite escaped

from the cachalot's teeth. I recognised the southern whale by its flat head, which is entirely black.

Anatomically, it is distinguished from the white whale and the North Cape whale by the seven cervical

vertebrae, and it has two more ribs than its congeners. The unfortunate cetacean was lying on its side, riddled

with holes from the bites, and quite dead. From its mutilated fin still hung a young whale which it could not

save from the massacre. Its open mouth let the water flow in and out, murmuring like the waves breaking on

the shore. Captain Nemo steered close to the corpse of the creature. Two of his men mounted its side, and I

saw, not without surprise, that they were drawing from its breasts all the milk which they contained, that is to

say, about two or three tons. The Captain offered me a cup of the milk, which was still warm. I could not help

showing my repugnance to the drink; but he assured me that it was excellent, and not to be distinguished

from cow's milk. I tasted it, and was of his opinion. It was a useful reserve to us, for in the shape of salt butter

or cheese it would form an agreeable variety from our ordinary food. From that day I noticed with uneasiness

that Ned Land's illwill towards Captain Nemo increased, and I resolved to watch the Canadian's gestures

The Nautilus was steadily pursuing its southerly course, following the fiftieth meridian with considerable

speed. Did he wish to reach the pole? I did not think so, for every attempt to reach that point had hitherto

failed. Again, the season was far advanced, for in the Antarctic regions the 13th of March corresponds with

the 13th of September of northern regions, which begin at the equinoctial season. On the 14th of March I saw

floating ice in latitude 55@, merely pale bits of debris from twenty to twentyfive feet long, forming banks

over which the sea curled. The Nautilus remained on the surface of the ocean. Ned Land, who had fished in

the Arctic Seas, was familiar with its icebergs; but Conseil and I admired them for the first time. In the

atmosphere towards the southern horizon stretched a white dazzling band. English whalers have given it the

name of "ice blink." However thick the clouds may be, it is always visible, and announces the presence of an

ice pack or bank. Accordingly, larger blocks soon appeared, whose brilliancy changed with the caprices of

the fog. Some of these masses showed green veins, as if long undulating lines had been traced with sulphate

of copper; others resembled enormous amethysts with the light shining through them. Some reflected the

light of day upon a thousand crystal facets. Others shaded with vivid calcareous reflections resembled a

perfect town of marble. The more we neared the south the more these floating islands increased both in

At 60@ lat. every pass had disappeared. But, seeking carefully, Captain Nemo soon found a narrow opening,

through which he boldly slipped, knowing, however, that it would close behind him. Thus, guided by this

clever hand, the Nautilus passed through all the ice with a precision which quite charmed Conseil; icebergs or

mountains, icefields or smooth plains, seeming to have no limits, driftice or floating icepacks, plains

broken up, called palchs when they are circular, and streams when they are made up of long strips. The

temperature was very low; the thermometer exposed to the air marked 2@ or 3@ below zero, but we were

warmly clad with fur, at the expense of the seabear and seal. The interior of the Nautilus, warmed regularly

by its electric apparatus, defied the most intense cold. Besides, it would only have been necessary to go some

yards beneath the waves to find a more bearable temperature. Two months earlier we should have had

perpetual daylight in these latitudes; but already we had had three or four hours of night, and by and by there

would be six months of darkness in these circumpolar regions. On the 15th of March we were in the latitude

of New Shetland and South Orkney. The Captain told me that formerly numerous tribes of seals inhabited

them; but that English and American whalers, in their rage for destruction, massacred both old and young;

About eight o'clock on the morning of the 16th of March the Nautilus, following the fiftyfifth meridian, cut

the Antarctic polar circle. Ice surrounded us on all sides, and closed the horizon. But Captain Nemo went

from one opening to another, still going higher. I cannot express my astonishment at the beauties of these

new regions. The ice took most surprising forms. Here the grouping formed an oriental town, with

innumerable mosques and minarets; there a fallen city thrown to the earth, as it were, by some convulsion of

nature. The whole aspect was constantly changed by the oblique rays of the sun, or lost in the greyish fog

amidst hurricanes of snow. Detonations and falls were heard on all sides, great overthrows of icebergs, which

altered the whole landscape like a diorama. Often seeing no exit, I thought we were definitely prisoners; but,

instinct guiding him at the slightest indication, Captain Nemo would discover a new pass. He was never

mistaken when he saw the thin threads of bluish water trickling along the icefields; and I had no doubt that

he had already ventured into the midst of these Antarctic seas before. On the 16th of March, however, the

icefields absolutely blocked our road. It was not the iceberg itself, as yet, but vast fields cemented by the

cold. But this obstacle could not stop Captain Nemo: he hurled himself against it with frightful violence. The

Nautilus entered the brittle mass like a wedge, and split it with frightful crackings. It was the battering ram of

the ancients hurled by infinite strength. The ice, thrown high in the air, fell like hail around us. By its own

power of impulsion our apparatus made a canal for itself; some times carried away by its own impetus, it

lodged on the icefield, crushing it with its weight, and sometimes buried beneath it, dividing it by a simple

pitching movement, producing large rents in it. Violent gales assailed us at this time, accompanied by thick

fogs, through which, from one end of the platform to the other, we could see nothing. The wind blew sharply

from all parts of the compass, and the snow lay in such hard heaps that we had to break it with blows of a

pickaxe. The temperature was always at 5@ below zero; every outward part of the Nautilus was covered with

ice. A rigged vessel would have been entangled in the blocked up gorges. A vessel without sails, with

electricity for its motive power, and wanting no coal, could alone brave such high latitudes. At length, on the

18th of March, after many useless assaults, the Nautilus was positively blocked. It was no longer either

streams, packs, or icefields, but an interminable and immovable barrier, formed by mountains soldered

I knew that to Ned Land, as well as to all other navigators who had preceded us, this was an inevitable

obstacle. The sun appearing for an instant at noon, Captain Nemo took an observation as near as possible,

which gave our situation at 51@ 30' long. and 67@ 39' of S. lat. We had advanced one degree more in this

Antarctic region. Of the liquid surface of the sea there was no longer a glimpse. Under the spur of the

Nautilus lay stretched a vast plain, entangled with confused blocks. Here and there sharp points and slender

needles rising to a height of 200 feet; further on a steep shore, hewn as it were with an axe and clothed with

greyish tints; huge mirrors, reflecting a few rays of sunshine, half drowned in the fog. And over this desolate

face of nature a stern silence reigned, scarcely broken by the flapping of the wings of petrels and puffins.

Everything was frozeneven the noise. The Nautilus was then obliged to stop in its adventurous course

amid these fields of ice. In spite of our efforts, in spite of the powerful means employed to break up the ice,

the Nautilus remained immovable. Generally, when we can proceed no further, we have return still open to

us; but here return was as impossible as advance, for every pass had closed behind us; and for the few

moments when we were stationary, we were likely to be entirely blocked, which did indeed happen about two

o'clock in the afternoon, the fresh ice forming around its sides with astonishing rapidity. I was obliged to

admit that Captain Nemo was more than imprudent. I was on the platform at that moment. The Captain had

"With difficulty, Captain; for the season is already too far advanced for you to reckon on the breaking of the

"Ah! sir," said Captain Nemo, in an ironical tone, "you will always be the same. You see nothing but

difficulties and obstacles. I affirm that not only can the Nautilus disengage itself, but also that it can go

"Yes," replied the Captain, coldly, "to the Antarctic pole to that unknown point from whence springs every

meridian of the globe. You know whether I can do as I please with the Nautilus!"

Yes, I knew that. I knew that this man was bold, even to rashness. But to conquer those obstacles which

bristled round the South Pole, rendering it more inaccessible than the North, which had not yet been reached

by the boldest navigatorswas it not a mad enterprise, one which only a maniac would have conceived? It

then came into my head to ask Captain Nemo if he had ever discovered that pole which had never yet been

"No, sir," he replied; "but we will discover it together. Where others have failed, I will not fail. I have never

yet led my Nautilus so far into southern seas; but, I repeat, it shall go further yet."

"I can well believe you, Captain," said I, in a slightly ironical tone. "I believe you! Let us go ahead! There are

no obstacles for us! Let us smash this iceberg! Let us blow it up; and, if it resists, let us give the Nautilus

"Under it!" I exclaimed, a sudden idea of the Captain's projects flashing upon my mind. I understood; the

wonderful qualities of the Nautilus were going to serve us in this superhuman enterprise.

"I see we are beginning to understand one another, sir," said the Captain, half smiling. "You begin to see the

possibilityI should say the success of this attempt. That which is impossible for an ordinary vessel is

easy to the Nautilus. If a continent lies before the pole, it must stop before the continent; but if, on the

"Certainly," said I, carried away by the Captain's reasoning; "if the surface of the sea is solidified by the ice,

the lower depths are free by the Providential law which has placed the maximum of density of the waters of

the ocean one degree higher than freezingpoint; and, if I am not mistaken, the portion of this iceberg which

"Very nearly, sir; for one foot of iceberg above the sea there are three below it. If these ice mountains are not

more than 300 feet above the surface, they are not more than 900 beneath. And what are 900 feet to the

"It could even seek at greater depths that uniform temperature of seawater, and there brave with impunity

"The only difficulty," continued Captain Nemo, "is that of remaining several days without renewing our

"Is that all? The Nautilus has vast reservoirs; we can fill them, and they will supply us with all the oxygen we

"Well thought of, M. Aronnax," replied the Captain, smiling. "But, not wishing you to accuse me of rashness,

"Only one. It is possible, if the sea exists at the South Pole, that it may be covered; and, consequently, we

"Good, sir! but do you forget that the Nautilus is armed with a powerful spur, and could we not send it

"Besides, Captain," I added, enthusiastically, "why should we not find the sea open at the South Pole as well

as at the North? The frozen poles of the earth do not coincide, either in the southern or in the northern

regions; and, until it is proved to the contrary, we may suppose either a continent or an ocean free from ice at

"I think so too, M. Aronnax," replied Captain Nemo. "I only wish you to observe that, after having made so

many objections to my project, you are now crushing me with arguments in its favour!"

The preparations for this audacious attempt now began. The powerful pumps of the Nautilus were working

air into the reservoirs and storing it at high pressure. About four o'clock, Captain Nemo announced the

closing of the panels on the platform. I threw one last look at the massive iceberg which we were going to

cross. The weather was clear, the atmosphere pure enough, the cold very great, being 12@ below zero; but,

the wind having gone down, this temperature was not so unbearable. About ten men mounted the sides of the

Nautilus, armed with pickaxes to break the ice around the vessel, which was soon free. The operation was

quickly performed, for the fresh ice was still very thin. We all went below. The usual reservoirs were filled

with the newlyliberated water, and the Nautilus soon descended. I had taken my place with Conseil in the

saloon; through the open window we could see the lower beds of the Southern Ocean. The thermometer went

up, the needle of the compass deviated on the dial. At about 900 feet, as Captain Nemo had foreseen, we were

floating beneath the undulating bottom of the iceberg. But the Nautilus went lower stillit went to the depth

of four hundred fathoms. The temperature of the water at the surface showed twelve degrees, it was now only

ten; we had gained two. I need not say the temperature of the Nautilus was raised by its heating apparatus to a

In this open sea, the Nautilus had taken its course direct to the pole, without leaving the fiftysecond

meridian. From 67@ 30' to 90@, twentytwo degrees and a half of latitude remained to travel; that is, about

five hundred leagues. The Nautilus kept up a mean speed of twentysix miles an hour the speed of an

For a part of the night the novelty of the situation kept us at the window. The sea was lit with the electric

lantern; but it was deserted; fishes did not sojourn in these imprisoned waters; they only found there a

passage to take them from the Antarctic Ocean to the open polar sea. Our pace was rapid; we could feel it by

the quivering of the long steel body. About two in the morning I took some hours' repose, and Conseil did the

same. In crossing the waist I did not meet Captain Nemo: I supposed him to be in the pilot's cage. The next

morning, the 19th of March, I took my post once more in the saloon. The electric log told me that the speed

of the Nautilus had been slackened. It was then going towards the surface; but prudently emptying its

reservoirs very slowly. My heart beat fast. Were we going to emerge and regain the open polar atmosphere?

No! A shock told me that the Nautilus had struck the bottom of the iceberg, still very thick, judging from the

deadened sound. We had in deed "struck," to use a sea expression, but in an inverse sense, and at a thousand

feet deep. This would give three thousand feet of ice above us; one thousand being above the watermark.

The iceberg was then higher than at its bordersnot a very reassuring fact. Several times that day the

Nautilus tried again, and every time it struck the wall which lay like a ceiling above it. Sometimes it met with

but 900 yards, only 200 of which rose above the surface. It was twice the height it was when the Nautilus had

gone under the waves. I carefully noted the different depths, and thus obtained a submarine profile of the

chain as it was developed under the water. That night no change had taken place in our situation. Still ice

between four and five hundred yards in depth! It was evidently diminishing, but, still, what a thickness

between us and the surface of the ocean! It was then eight. According to the daily custom on board the

Nautilus, its air should have been renewed four hours ago; but I did not suffer much, although Captain Nemo

had not yet made any demand upon his reserve of oxygen. My sleep was painful that night; hope and fear

besieged me by turns: I rose several times. The groping of the Nautilus continued. About three in the

morning, I noticed that the lower surface of the iceberg was only about fifty feet deep. One hundred and fifty

feet now separated us from the surface of the waters. The iceberg was by degrees becoming an icefield, the

mountain a plain. My eyes never left the manometer. We were still rising diagonally to the surface, which

sparkled under the electric rays. The iceberg was stretching both above and beneath into lengthening slopes;

mile after mile it was getting thinner. At length, at six in the morning of that memorable day, the 19th of

I rushed on to the platform. Yes! the open sea, with but a few scattered pieces of ice and moving icebergsa

long stretch of sea; a world of birds in the air, and myriads of fishes under those waters, which varied from

intense blue to olive green, according to the bottom. The thermometer marked 3@ C. above zero. It was

comparatively spring, shut up as we were behind this iceberg, whose lengthened mass was dimly seen on our

"But will the sun show himself through this fog?" said I, looking at the leaden sky.

About ten miles south a solitary island rose to a height of one hundred and four yards. We made for it, but

carefully, for the sea might be strewn with banks. One hour afterwards we had reached it, two hours later we

had made the round of it. It measured four or five miles in circumference. A narrow canal separated it from a

considerable stretch of land, perhaps a continent, for we could not see its limits. The existence of this land

seemed to give some colour to Maury's theory. The ingenious American has remarked that, between the

South Pole and the sixtieth parallel, the sea is covered with floating ice of enormous size, which is never met

with in the North Atlantic. From this fact he has drawn the conclusion that the Antarctic Circle encloses

considerable continents, as icebergs cannot form in open sea, but only on the coasts. According to these

calculations, the mass of ice surrounding the southern pole forms a vast cap, the circumference of which must

be, at least, 2,500 miles. But the Nautilus, for fear of running aground, had stopped about three cablelengths

from a strand over which reared a superb heap of rocks. The boat was launched; the Captain, two of his men,

bearing instruments, Conseil, and myself were in it. It was ten in the morning. I had not seen Ned Land.

Doubtless the Canadian did not wish to admit the presence of the South Pole. A few strokes of the oar

brought us to the sand, where we ran ashore. Conseil was going to jump on to the land, when I held him back.

"Sir," said I to Captain Nemo, "to you belongs the honour of first setting foot on this land."

"Yes, sir," said the Captain, "and if I do not hesitate to tread this South Pole, it is because, up to this time, no

Saying this, he jumped lightly on to the sand. His heart beat with emotion. He climbed a rock, sloping to a

little promontory, and there, with his arms crossed, mute and motionless, and with an eager look, he seemed

to take possession of these southern regions. After five minutes passed in this ecstasy, he turned to us.

I landed, followed by Conseil, leaving the two men in the boat. For a long way the soil was composed of a

reddish sandy stone, something like crushed brick, scoriae, streams of lava, and pumicestones. One could

not mistake its volcanic origin. In some parts, slight curls of smoke emitted a sulphurous smell, proving that

the internal fires had lost nothing of their expansive powers, though, having climbed a high acclivity, I could

see no volcano for a radius of several miles. We know that in those Antarctic countries, James Ross found

two craters, the Erebus and Terror, in full activity, on the 167th meridian, latitude 77@ 32'. The vegetation of

this desolate continent seemed to me much restricted. Some lichens lay upon the black rocks; some

microscopic plants, rudimentary diatomas, a kind of cells placed between two quartz shells; long purple and

scarlet weed, supported on little swimming bladders, which the breaking of the waves brought to the shore.

These constituted the meagre flora of this region. The shore was strewn with molluscs, little mussels, and

limpets. I also saw myriads of northern clios, oneandaquarter inches long, of which a whale would

swallow a whole world at a mouthful; and some perfect seabutterflies, animating the waters on the skirts of

There appeared on the high bottoms some coral shrubs, of the kind which, according to James Ross, live in

the Antarctic seas to the depth of more than 1,000 yards. Then there were little kingfishers and starfish

studding the soil. But where life abounded most was in the air. There thousands of birds fluttered and flew of

all kinds, deafening us with their cries; others crowded the rock, looking at us as we passed by without fear,

and pressing familiarly close by our feet. There were penguins, so agile in the water, heavy and awkward as

they are on the ground; they were uttering harsh cries, a large assembly, sober in gesture, but extravagant in

clamour. Albatrosses passed in the air, the expanse of their wings being at least four yards and a half, and

justly called the vultures of the ocean; some gigantic petrels, and some damiers, a kind of small duck, the

underpart of whose body is black and white; then there were a whole series of petrels, some whitish, with

brownbordered wings, others blue, peculiar to the Antarctic seas, and so oily, as I told Conseil, that the

inhabitants of the Ferroe Islands had nothing to do before lighting them but to put a wick in.

"A little more," said Conseil, "and they would be perfect lamps! After that, we cannot expect Nature to have

About half a mile farther on the soil was riddled with ruffs' nests, a sort of layingground, out of which many

birds were issuing. Captain Nemo had some hundreds hunted. They uttered a cry like the braying of an ass,

were about the size of a goose, slatecolour on the body, white beneath, with a yellow line round their

throats; they allowed themselves to be killed with a stone, never trying to escape. But the fog did not lift, and

at eleven the sun had not yet shown itself. Its absence made me uneasy. Without it no observations were

possible. How, then, could we decide whether we had reached the pole? When I rejoined Captain Nemo, I

found him leaning on a piece of rock, silently watching the sky. He seemed impatient and vexed. But what

was to be done? This rash and powerful man could not command the sun as he did the sea. Noon arrived

without the orb of day showing itself for an instant. We could not even tell its position behind the curtain of

"Till tomorrow," said the Captain, quietly, and we returned to the Nautilus amid these atmospheric

The tempest of snow continued till the next day. It was impossible to remain on the platform. From the

saloon, where I was taking notes of incidents happening during this excursion to the polar continent, I could

hear the cries of petrels and albatrosses sporting in the midst of this violent storm. The Nautilus did not

remain motionless, but skirted the coast, advancing ten miles more to the south in the halflight left by the

sun as it skirted the edge of the horizon. The next day, the 20th of March, the snow had ceased. The cold was

a little greater, the thermometer showing 2@ below zero. The fog was rising, and I hoped that that day our

observations might be taken. Captain Nemo not having yet appeared, the boat took Conseil and myself to

land. The soil was still of the same volcanic nature; everywhere were traces of lava, scoriae, and basalt; but

the crater which had vomited them I could not see. Here, as lower down, this continent was alive with

myriads of birds. But their rule was now divided with large troops of seamammals, looking at us with their

soft eyes. There were several kinds of seals, some stretched on the earth, some on flakes of ice, many going

in and out of the sea. They did not flee at our approach, never having had anything to do with man; and I

It was now eight in the morning. Four hours remained to us before the sun could be observed with advantage.

I directed our steps towards a vast bay cut in the steep granite shore. There, I can aver that earth and ice were

lost to sight by the numbers of seamammals covering them, and I involuntarily sought for old Proteus, the

mythological shepherd who watched these immense flocks of Neptune. There were more seals than anything

else, forming distinct groups, male and female, the father watching over his family, the mother suckling her

little ones, some already strong enough to go a few steps. When they wished to change their place, they took

little jumps, made by the contraction of their bodies, and helped awkwardly enough by their imperfect fin,

which, as with the lamantin, their cousins, forms a perfect forearm. I should say that, in the water, which is

their elementthe spine of these creatures is flexible; with smooth and close skin and webbed feetthey

swim admirably. In resting on the earth they take the most graceful attitudes. Thus the ancients, observing

their soft and expressive looks, which cannot be surpassed by the most beautiful look a woman can give, their

clear voluptuous eyes, their charming positions, and the poetry of their manners, metamorphosed them, the

male into a triton and the female into a mermaid. I made Conseil notice the considerable development of the

lobes of the brain in these interesting cetaceans. No mammal, except man, has such a quantity of brain matter;

they are also capable of receiving a certain amount of education, are easily domesticated, and I think, with

other naturalists, that if properly taught they would be of great service as fishingdogs. The greater part of

them slept on the rocks or on the sand. Amongst these seals, properly so called, which have no external ears

(in which they differ from the otter, whose ears are prominent), I noticed several varieties of seals about three

yards long, with a white coat, bulldog heads, armed with teeth in both jaws, four incisors at the top and four

at the bottom, and two large canine teeth in the shape of a fleurdelis. Amongst them glided seaelephants,

a kind of seal, with short, flexible trunks. The giants of this species measured twenty feet round and ten yards

"No; not unless you attack them. When they have to defend their young their rage is terrible, and it is not

Two miles farther on we were stopped by the promontory which shelters the bay from the southerly winds.

We now began to climb the blackish rocks, amid unforeseen stumbles, and over stones which the ice made

slippery. More than once I rolled over at the expense of my loins. Conseil, more prudent or more steady, did

"If, sir, you would have the kindness to take wider steps, you would preserve your equilibrium better."

Arrived at the upper ridge of the promontory, I saw a vast white plain covered with morses. They were

playing amongst themselves, and what we heard were bellowings of pleasure, not of anger.

As I passed these curious animals I could examine them leisurely, for they did not move. Their skins were

thick and rugged, of a yellowish tint, approaching to red; their hair was short and scant. Some of them were

four yards and a quarter long. Quieter and less timid than their cousins of the north, they did not, like them,

place sentinels round the outskirts of their encampment. After examining this city of morses, I began to think

of returning. It was eleven o'clock, and, if Captain Nemo found the conditions favourable for observations, I

wished to be present at the operation. We followed a narrow pathway running along the summit of the steep

shore. At halfpast eleven we had reached the place where we landed. The boat had run aground, bringing

the Captain. I saw him standing on a block of basalt, his instruments near him, his eyes fixed on the northern

horizon, near which the sun was then describing a lengthened curve. I took my place beside him, and waited

without speaking. Noon arrived, and, as before, the sun did not appear. It was a fatality. Observations were

still wanting. If not accomplished tomorrow, we must give up all idea of taking any. We were indeed

exactly at the 20th of March. Tomorrow, the 21st, would be the equinox; the sun would disappear behind

the horizon for six months, and with its disappearance the long polar night would begin. Since the September

equinox it had emerged from the northern horizon, rising by lengthened spirals up to the 21st of December.

At this period, the summer solstice of the northern regions, it had begun to descend; and tomorrow was to

shed its last rays upon them. I communicated my fears and observations to Captain Nemo.

"You are right, M. Aronnax," said he; "if tomorrow I cannot take the altitude of the sun, I shall not be able

to do it for six months. But precisely because chance has led me into these seas on the 21st of March, my

"Because then the orb of day described such lengthened curves that it is difficult to measure exactly its height

"I shall only use my chronometer," replied Captain Nemo. "If tomorrow, the 21st of March, the disc of the

sun, allowing for refraction, is exactly cut by the northern horizon, it will show that I am at the South Pole."

"Just so," said I. "But this statement is not mathematically correct, because the equinox does not necessarily

"Very likely, sir; but the error will not be a hundred yards and we do not want more. Till tomorrow, then!"

Captain Nemo returned on board. Conseil and I remained to survey the shore, observing and studying until

five o'clock. Then I went to bed, not, however, without invoking, like the Indian, the favour of the radiant

orb. The next day, the 21st of March, at five in the morning, I mounted the platform. I found Captain Nemo

"The weather is lightening a little," said he. "I have some hope. After breakfast we will go on shore and

That point settled, I sought Ned Land. I wanted to take him with me. But the obstinate Canadian refused, and

I saw that his taciturnity and his bad humour grew day by day. After all, I was not sorry for his obstinacy

under the circumstances. Indeed, there were too many seals on shore, and we ought not to lay such temptation

in this unreflecting fisherman's way. Breakfast over, we went on shore. The Nautilus had gone some miles

further up in the night. It was a whole league from the coast, above which reared a sharp peak about five

hundred yards high. The boat took with me Captain Nemo, two men of the crew, and the instruments, which

consisted of a chronometer, a telescope, and a barometer. While crossing, I saw numerous whales belonging

to the three kinds peculiar to the southern seas; the whale, or the English "right whale," which has no dorsal

fin; the "humpback," with reeved chest and large, whitish fins, which, in spite of its name, do not form wings;

and the finback, of a yellowish brown, the liveliest of all the cetacea. This powerful creature is heard a long

way off when he throws to a great height columns of air and vapour, which look like whirlwinds of smoke.

These different mammals were disporting themselves in troops in the quiet waters; and I could see that this

basin of the Antarctic Pole serves as a place of refuge to the cetacea too closely tracked by the hunters. I also

At nine we landed; the sky was brightening, the clouds were flying to the south, and the fog seemed to be

leaving the cold surface of the waters. Captain Nemo went towards the peak, which he doubtless meant to be

his observatory. It was a painful ascent over the sharp lava and the pumicestones, in an atmosphere often

impregnated with a sulphurous smell from the smoking cracks. For a man unaccustomed to walk on land, the

Captain climbed the steep slopes with an agility I never saw equalled and which a hunter would have envied.

We were two hours getting to the summit of this peak, which was half porphyry and half basalt. From thence

we looked upon a vast sea which, towards the north, distinctly traced its boundary line upon the sky. At our

feet lay fields of dazzling whiteness. Over our heads a pale azure, free from fog. To the north the disc of the

sun seemed like a ball of fire, already horned by the cutting of the horizon. From the bosom of the water rose

sheaves of liquid jets by hundreds. In the distance lay the Nautilus like a cetacean asleep on the water. Behind

us, to the south and east, an immense country and a chaotic heap of rocks and ice, the limits of which were

not visible. On arriving at the summit Captain Nemo carefully took the mean height of the barometer, for he

would have to consider that in taking his observations. At a quarter to twelve the sun, then seen only by

refraction, looked like a golden disc shedding its last rays upon this deserted continent and seas which never

man had yet ploughed. Captain Nemo, furnished with a lenticular glass which, by means of a mirror,

corrected the refraction, watched the orb sinking below the horizon by degrees, following a lengthened

diagonal. I held the chronometer. My heart beat fast. If the disappearance of the halfdisc of the sun

"The South Pole!" replied Captain Nemo, in a grave voice, handing me the glass, which showed the orb cut in

I looked at the last rays crowning the peak, and the shadows mounting by degrees up its slopes. At that

"I, Captain Nemo, on this 21st day of March, 1868, have reached the South Pole on the ninetieth degree; and

I take possession of this part of the globe, equal to onesixth of the known continents."

Saying which, Captain Nemo unfurled a black banner, bearing an "N" in gold quartered on its bunting. Then,

turning towards the orb of day, whose last rays lapped the horizon of the sea, he exclaimed:

"Adieu, sun! Disappear, thou radiant orb! rest beneath this open sea, and let a night of six months spread its

The next day, the 22nd of March, at six in the morning, preparations for departure were begun. The last

gleams of twilight were melting into night. The cold was great, the constellations shone with wonderful

intensity. In the zenith glittered that wondrous Southern Cross the polar bear of Antarctic regions. The

thermometer showed 120 below zero, and when the wind freshened it was most biting. Flakes of ice

increased on the open water. The sea seemed everywhere alike. Numerous blackish patches spread on the

surface, showing the formation of fresh ice. Evidently the southern basin, frozen during the six winter

months, was absolutely inaccessible. What became of the whales in that time? Doubtless they went beneath

the icebergs, seeking more practicable seas. As to the seals and morses, accustomed to live in a hard climate,

they remained on these icy shores. These creatures have the instinct to break holes in the icefield and to

keep them open. To these holes they come for breath; when the birds, driven away by the cold, have

emigrated to the north, these sea mammals remain sole masters of the polar continent. But the reservoirs were

filling with water, and the Nautilus was slowly descending. At 1,000 feet deep it stopped; its screw beat the

waves, and it advanced straight towards the north at a speed of fifteen miles an hour. Towards night it was

already floating under the immense body of the iceberg. At three in the morning I was awakened by a violent

shock. I sat up in my bed and listened in the darkness, when I was thrown into the middle of the room. The

Nautilus, after having struck, had rebounded violently. I groped along the partition, and by the staircase to the

saloon, which was lit by the luminous ceiling. The furniture was upset. Fortunately the windows were firmly

set, and had held fast. The pictures on the starboard side, from being no longer vertical, were clinging to the

paper, whilst those of the port side were hanging at least a foot from the wall. The Nautilus was lying on its

starboard side perfectly motionless. I heard footsteps, and a confusion of voices; but Captain Nemo did not

"Confound it!" exclaimed the Canadian, "I know well enough! The Nautilus has struck; and, judging by the

way she lies, I do not think she will right herself as she did the first time in Torres Straits."

"It is easy to decide," I answered. I consulted the manometer. To my great surprise, it showed a depth of more

We left the saloon. There was no one in the library. At the centre staircase, by the berths of the ship's crew,

there was no one. I thought that Captain Nemo must be in the pilot's cage. It was best to wait. We all returned

to the saloon. For twenty minutes we remained thus, trying to hear the slightest noise which might be made

on board the Nautilus, when Captain Nemo entered. He seemed not to see us; his face, generally so

impassive, showed signs of uneasiness. He watched the compass silently, then the manometer; and, going to

the planisphere, placed his finger on a spot representing the southern seas. I would not interrupt him; but,

some minutes later, when he turned towards me, I said, using one of his own expressions in the Torres Straits:

"From a caprice of nature, not from the ignorance of man. Not a mistake has been made in the working. But

we cannot prevent equilibrium from producing its effects. We may brave human laws, but we cannot resist

Captain Nemo had chosen a strange moment for uttering this philosophical reflection. On the whole, his

"An enormous block of ice, a whole mountain, has turned over," he replied. "When icebergs are undermined

at their base by warmer water or reiterated shocks their centre of gravity rises, and the whole thing turns over.

This is what has happened; one of these blocks, as it fell, struck the Nautilus, then, gliding under its hull,

raised it with irresistible force, bringing it into beds which are not so thick, where it is lying on its side."

"But can we not get the Nautilus off by emptying its reservoirs, that it might regain its equilibrium?"

"That, sir, is being done at this moment. You can hear the pump working. Look at the needle of the

manometer; it shows that the Nautilus is rising, but the block of ice is floating with it; and, until some

Indeed, the Nautilus still held the same position to starboard; doubtless it would right itself when the block

stopped. But at this moment who knows if we may not be frightfully crushed between the two glassy

surfaces? I reflected on all the consequences of our position. Captain Nemo never took his eyes off the

manometer. Since the fall of the iceberg, the Nautilus had risen about a hundred and fifty feet, but it still

made the same angle with the perpendicular. Suddenly a slight movement was felt in the hold. Evidently it

was righting a little. Things hanging in the saloon were sensibly returning to their normal position. The

partitions were nearing the upright. No one spoke. With beating hearts we watched and felt the straightening.

"Certainly," he replied; "since the reservoirs are not empty; and, when empty, the Nautilus must rise to the

We were in open sea; but at a distance of about ten yards, on either side of the Nautilus, rose a dazzling wall

of ice. Above and beneath the same wall. Above, because the lower surface of the iceberg stretched over us

like an immense ceiling. Beneath, because the overturned block, having slid by degrees, had found a

restingplace on the lateral walls, which kept it in that position. The Nautilus was really imprisoned in a

perfect tunnel of ice more than twenty yards in breadth, filled with quiet water. It was easy to get out of it by

going either forward or backward, and then make a free passage under the iceberg, some hundreds of yards

deeper. The luminous ceiling had been extinguished, but the saloon was still resplendent with intense light. It

was the powerful reflection from the glass partition sent violently back to the sheets of the lantern. I cannot

describe the effect of the voltaic rays upon the great blocks so capriciously cut; upon every angle, every

ridge, every facet was thrown a different light, according to the nature of the veins running through the ice; a

dazzling mine of gems, particularly of sapphires, their blue rays crossing with the green of the emerald. Here

and there were opal shades of wonderful softness, running through bright spots like diamonds of fire, the

brilliancy of which the eye could not bear. The power of the lantern seemed increased a hundredfold, like a

"Yes, confound it! Yes," answered Ned Land, "it is superb! I am mad at being obliged to admit it. No one has

ever seen anything like it; but the sight may cost us dear. And, if I must say all, I think we are seeing here

"Shut your eyes, sir! Do not look, sir!" Saying which, Conseil clapped his hands over his eyes.

My eyes turned involuntarily towards the glass, but I could not stand the fire which seemed to devour them. I

understood what had happened. The Nautilus had put on full speed. All the quiet lustre of the icewalls was

at once changed into flashes of lightning. The fire from these myriads of diamonds was blinding. It required

It was then five in the morning; and at that moment a shock was felt at the bows of the Nautilus. I knew that

its spur had struck a block of ice. It must have been a false manoeuvre, for this submarine tunnel, obstructed

by blocks, was not very easy navigation. I thought that Captain Nemo, by changing his course, would either

turn these obstacles or else follow the windings of the tunnel. In any case, the road before us could not be

entirely blocked. But, contrary to my expectations, the Nautilus took a decided retrograde motion.

"Then," said I, "the working is easy. We must go back again, and go out at the southern opening. That is all."

In speaking thus, I wished to appear more confident than I really was. But the retrograde motion of the

Nautilus was increasing; and, reversing the screw, it carried us at great speed.

For a short time I walked from the saloon to the library. My companions were silent. I soon threw myself on

an ottoman, and took a book, which my eyes overran mechanically. A quarter of an hour after, Conseil,

And indeed I was holding in my hand the work on the Great Submarine Depths. I did not even dream of it. I

"Stay here, my friends," said I, detaining them. "Let us remain together until we are out of this block."

Some hours passed. I often looked at the instruments hanging from the partition. The manometer showed that

the Nautilus kept at a constant depth of more than three hundred yards; the compass still pointed to south; the

log indicated a speed of twenty miles an hour, which, in such a cramped space, was very great. But Captain

Nemo knew that he could not hasten too much, and that minutes were worth ages to us. At twentyfive

minutes past eight a second shock took place, this time from behind. I turned pale. My companions were

close by my side. I seized Conseil's hand. Our looks expressed our feelings better than words. At this moment

Thus around the Nautilus, above and below, was an impenetrable wall of ice. We were prisoners to the

iceberg. I watched the Captain. His countenance had resumed its habitual imperturbability.

"Gentlemen," he said calmly, "there are two ways of dying in the circumstances in which we are placed."

(This puzzling person had the air of a mathematical professor lecturing to his pupils.) "The first is to be

crushed; the second is to die of suffocation. I do not speak of the possibility of dying of hunger, for the

supply of provisions in the Nautilus will certainly last longer than we shall. Let us, then, calculate our

"As to suffocation, Captain," I replied, "that is not to be feared, because our reservoirs are full."

"Just so; but they will only yield two days' supply of air. Now, for thirtysix hours we have been hidden

under the water, and already the heavy atmosphere of the Nautilus requires renewal. In fortyeight hours our

"Sound will tell us. I am going to run the Nautilus aground on the lower bank, and my men will attack the

Captain Nemo went out. Soon I discovered by a hissing noise that the water was entering the reservoirs. The

Nautilus sank slowly, and rested on the ice at a depth of 350 yards, the depth at which the lower bank was

"My friends," I said, "our situation is serious, but I rely on your courage and energy."

"Sir," replied the Canadian, "I am ready to do anything for the general safety."

"I will add," he continued, "that, being as handy with the pickaxe as with the harpoon, if I can be useful to the

I led him to the room where the crew of the Nautilus were putting on their corkjackets. I told the Captain of

Ned's proposal, which he accepted. The Canadian put on his seacostume, and was ready as soon as his

companions. When Ned was dressed, I reentered the drawingroom, where the panes of glass were open,

and, posted near Conseil, I examined the ambient beds that supported the Nautilus. Some instants after, we

saw a dozen of the crew set foot on the bank of ice, and among them Ned Land, easily known by his stature.

Captain Nemo was with them. Before proceeding to dig the walls, he took the soundings, to be sure of

working in the right direction. Long sounding lines were sunk in the side walls, but after fifteen yards they

were again stopped by the thick wall. It was useless to attack it on the ceilinglike surface, since the iceberg

itself measured more than 400 yards in height. Captain Nemo then sounded the lower surface. There ten yards

of wall separated us from the water, so great was the thickness of the icefield. It was necessary, therefore, to

cut from it a piece equal in extent to the waterline of the Nautilus. There were about 6,000 cubic yards to

detach, so as to dig a hole by which we could descend to the icefield. The work had begun immediately and

carried on with indefatigable energy. Instead of digging round the Nautilus which would have involved

greater difficulty, Captain Nemo had an immense trench made at eight yards from the portquarter. Then the

men set to work simultaneously with their screws on several points of its circumference. Presently the

pickaxe attacked this compact matter vigorously, and large blocks were detached from the mass. By a curious

effect of specific gravity, these blocks, lighter than water, fled, so to speak, to the vault of the tunnel, that

increased in thickness at the top in proportion as it diminished at the base. But that mattered little, so long as

the lower part grew thinner. After two hours' hard work, Ned Land came in exhausted. He and his comrades

were replaced by new workers, whom Conseil and I joined. The second lieutenant of the Nautilus

superintended us. The water seemed singularly cold, but I soon got warm handling the pickaxe. My

movements were free enough, although they were made under a pressure of thirty atmospheres. When I

reentered, after working two hours, to take some food and rest, I found a perceptible difference between the

pure fluid with which the Rouquayrol engine supplied me and the atmosphere of the Nautilus, already

charged with carbonic acid. The air had not been renewed for fortyeight hours, and its vivifying qualities

were considerably enfeebled. However, after a lapse of twelve hours, we had only raised a block of ice one

yard thick, on the marked surface, which was about 600 cubic yards! Reckoning that it took twelve hours to

accomplish this much it would take five nights and four days to bring this enterprise to a satisfactory

conclusion. Five nights and four days! And we have only air enough for two days in the reservoirs! "Without

taking into account," said Ned, "that, even if we get out of this infernal prison, we shall also be imprisoned

under the iceberg, shut out from all possible communication with the atmosphere." True enough! Who could

then foresee the minimum of time necessary for our deliverance? We might be suffocated before the Nautilus

could regain the surface of the waves? Was it destined to perish in this icetomb, with all those it enclosed?

The situation was terrible. But everyone had looked the danger in the face, and each was determined to do his

As I expected, during the night a new block a yard square was carried away, and still further sank the

immense hollow. But in the morning when, dressed in my corkjacket, I traversed the slushy mass at a

temperature of six or seven degrees below zero, I remarked that the side walls were gradually closing in. The

beds of water farthest from the trench, that were not warmed by the men's work, showed a tendency to

solidification. In presence of this new and imminent danger, what would become of our chances of safety,

and how hinder the solidification of this liquid medium, that would burst the partitions of the Nautilus like

I did not tell my companions of this new danger. What was the good of damping the energy they displayed in

the painful work of escape? But when I went on board again, I told Captain Nemo of this grave complication.

"I know it," he said, in that calm tone which could counteract the most terrible apprehensions. "It is one

danger more; but I see no way of escaping it; the only chance of safety is to go quicker than solidification.

On this day for several hours I used my pickaxe vigorously. The work kept me up. Besides, to work was to

quit the Nautilus, and breathe directly the pure air drawn from the reservoirs, and supplied by our apparatus,

and to quit the impoverished and vitiated atmosphere. Towards evening the trench was dug one yard deeper.

When I returned on board, I was nearly suffocated by the carbonic acid with which the air was filledah! if

we had only the chemical means to drive away this deleterious gas. We had plenty of oxygen; all this water

contained a considerable quantity, and by dissolving it with our powerful piles, it would restore the vivifying

fluid. I had thought well over it; but of what good was that, since the carbonic acid produced by our

respiration had invaded every part of the vessel? To absorb it, it was necessary to fill some jars with caustic

potash, and to shake them incessantly. Now this substance was wanting on board, and nothing could replace

it. On that evening, Captain Nemo ought to open the taps of his reservoirs, and let some pure air into the

interior of the Nautilus; without this precaution we could not get rid of the sense of suffocation. The next day,

March 26th, I resumed my miner's work in beginning the fifth yard. The side walls and the lower surface of

the iceberg thickened visibly. It was evident that they would meet before the Nautilus was able to disengage

itself. Despair seized me for an instant; my pickaxe nearly fell from my hands. What was the good of digging

if I must be suffocated, crushed by the water that was turning into stone?a punishment that the ferocity of

the savages even would not have invented! Just then Captain Nemo passed near me. I touched his hand and

showed him the walls of our prison. The wall to port had advanced to at least four yards from the hull of the

Nautilus. The Captain understood me, and signed me to follow him. We went on board. I took off my

"M. Aronnax, we must attempt some desperate means, or we shall be sealed up in this solidified water as in

"Ah! if my Nautilus were strong enough to bear this pressure without being crushed!"

"Do you not understand," he replied, "that this congelation of water will help us? Do you not see that by its

solidification, it would burst through this field of ice that imprisons us, as, when it freezes, it bursts the

hardest stones? Do you not perceive that it would be an agent of safety instead of destruction?"

"Yes, Captain, perhaps. But, whatever resistance to crushing the Nautilus possesses, it could not support this

"I know it, sir. Therefore we must not reckon on the aid of nature, but on our own exertions. We must stop

this solidification. Not only will the side walls be pressed together; but there is not ten feet of water before or

A cold sweat came over me. However, ought I to have been astonished at the answer? On March 22, the

Nautilus was in the open polar seas. We were at 26@. For five days we had lived on the reserve on board.

And what was left of the respirable air must be kept for the workers. Even now, as I write, my recollection is

still so vivid that an involuntary terror seizes me and my lungs seem to be without air. Meanwhile, Captain

Nemo reflected silently, and evidently an idea had struck him; but he seemed to reject it. At last, these words

"Yes, sir. We are enclosed in a space that is relatively confined. Would not jets of boiling water, constantly

injected by the pumps, raise the temperature in this part and stay the congelation?"

The thermometer then stood at 7@ outside. Captain Nemo took me to the galleys, where the vast distillatory

machines stood that furnished the drinkable water by evaporation. They filled these with water, and all the

electric heat from the piles was thrown through the worms bathed in the liquid. In a few minutes this water

reached 100@. It was directed towards the pumps, while fresh water replaced it in proportion. The heat

developed by the troughs was such that cold water, drawn up from the sea after only having gone through the

machines, came boiling into the body of the pump. The injection was begun, and three hours after the

thermometer marked 6@ below zero outside. One degree was gained. Two hours later the thermometer only

"We shall succeed," I said to the Captain, after having anxiously watched the result of the operation.

"I think," he answered, "that we shall not be crushed. We have no more suffocation to fear."

During the night the temperature of the water rose to 1@ below zero. The injections could not carry it to a

higher point. But, as the congelation of the seawater produces at least 2@, I was at least reassured against

The next day, March 27th, six yards of ice had been cleared, twelve feet only remaining to be cleared away.

There was yet fortyeight hours' work. The air could not be renewed in the interior of the Nautilus. And this

day would make it worse. An intolerable weight oppressed me. Towards three o'clock in the evening this

feeling rose to a violent degree. Yawns dislocated my jaws. My lungs panted as they inhaled this burning

fluid, which became rarefied more and more. A moral torpor took hold of me. I was powerless, almost

unconscious. My brave Conseil, though exhibiting the same symptoms and suffering in the same manner,

never left me. He took my hand and encouraged me, and I heard him murmur, "Oh! if I could only not

Tears came into my eyes on hearing him speak thus. If our situation to all was intolerable in the interior, with

what haste and gladness would we put on our corkjackets to work in our turn! Pickaxes sounded on the

frozen icebeds. Our arms ached, the skin was torn off our hands. But what were these fatigues, what did the

All this time no one prolonged his voluntary task beyond the prescribed time. His task accomplished, each

one handed in turn to his panting companions the apparatus that supplied him with life. Captain Nemo set the

example, and submitted first to this severe discipline. When the time came, he gave up his apparatus to

another and returned to the vitiated air on board, calm, unflinching, unmurmuring.

On that day the ordinary work was accomplished with unusual vigour. Only two yards remained to be raised

from the surface. Two yards only separated us from the open sea. But the reservoirs were nearly emptied of

air. The little that remained ought to be kept for the workers; not a particle for the Nautilus. When I went

back on board, I was half suffocated. What a night! I know not how to describe it. The next day my breathing

was oppressed. Dizziness accompanied the pain in my head and made me like a drunken man. My

companions showed the same symptoms. Some of the crew had rattling in the throat.

On that day, the sixth of our imprisonment, Captain Nemo, finding the pickaxes work too slowly, resolved to

crush the icebed that still separated us from the liquid sheet. This man's coolness and energy never forsook

By his orders the vessel was lightened, that is to say, raised from the icebed by a change of specific gravity.

When it floated they towed it so as to bring it above the immense trench made on the level of the waterline.

Then, filling his reservoirs of water, he descended and shut himself up in the hole.

Just then all the crew came on board, and the double door of communication was shut. The Nautilus then

rested on the bed of ice, which was not one yard thick, and which the sounding leads had perforated in a

thousand places. The taps of the reservoirs were then opened, and a hundred cubic yards of water was let in,

increasing the weight of the Nautilus to 1,800 tons. We waited, we listened, forgetting our sufferings in hope.

Our safety depended on this last chance. Notwithstanding the buzzing in my head, I soon heard the humming

sound under the hull of the Nautilus. The ice cracked with a singular noise, like tearing paper, and the

I could not answer him. I seized his hand, and pressed it convulsively. All at once, carried away by its

frightful overcharge, the Nautilus sank like a bullet under the waters, that is to say, it fell as if it was in a

vacuum. Then all the electric force was put on the pumps, that soon began to let the water out of the

reservoirs. After some minutes, our fall was stopped. Soon, too, the manometer indicated an ascending

movement. The screw, going at full speed, made the iron hull tremble to its very bolts and drew us towards

the north. But if this floating under the iceberg is to last another day before we reach the open sea, I shall be

Half stretched upon a divan in the library, I was suffocating. My face was purple, my lips blue, my faculties

suspended. I neither saw nor heard. All notion of time had gone from my mind. My muscles could not

contract. I do not know how many hours passed thus, but I was conscious of the agony that was coming over

me. I felt as if I was going to die. Suddenly I came to. Some breaths of air penetrated my lungs. Had we risen

to the surface of the waves? Were we free of the iceberg? No! Ned and Conseil, my two brave friends, were

sacrificing themselves to save me. Some particles of air still remained at the bottom of one apparatus. Instead

of using it, they had kept it for me, and, while they were being suffocated, they gave me life, drop by drop. I

wanted to push back the thing; they held my hands, and for some moments I breathed freely. I looked at the

clock; it was eleven in the morning. It ought to be the 28th of March. The Nautilus went at a frightful pace,

forty miles an hour. It literally tore through the water. Where was Captain Nemo? Had he succumbed? Were

his companions dead with him? At the moment the manometer indicated that we were not more than twenty

feet from the surface. A mere plate of ice separated us from the atmosphere. Could we not break it? Perhaps.

In any case the Nautilus was going to attempt it. I felt that it was in an oblique position, lowering the stern,

and raising the bows. The introduction of water had been the means of disturbing its equilibrium. Then,

impelled by its powerful screw, it attacked the icefield from beneath like a formidable batteringram. It

broke it by backing and then rushing forward against the field, which gradually gave way; and at last, dashing

suddenly against it, shot forwards on the icefield, that crushed beneath its weight. The panel was

openedone might say torn offand the pure air came in in abundance to all parts of the Nautilus.

How I got on to the platform, I have no idea; perhaps the Canadian had carried me there. But I breathed, I

inhaled the vivifying seaair. My two companions were getting drunk with the fresh particles. The other

unhappy men had been so long without food, that they could not with impunity indulge in the simplest

aliments that were given them. We, on the contrary, had no end to restrain ourselves; we could draw this air

freely into our lungs, and it was the breeze, the breeze alone, that filled us with this keen enjoyment.

"Ah!" said Conseil, "how delightful this oxygen is! Master need not fear to breathe it. There is enough for

Ned Land did not speak, but he opened his jaws wide enough to frighten a shark. Our strength soon returned,

and, when I looked round me, I saw we were alone on the platform. The foreign seamen in the Nautilus were

contented with the air that circulated in the interior; none of them had come to drink in the open air.

The first words I spoke were words of gratitude and thankfulness to my two companions. Ned and Conseil

had prolonged my life during the last hours of this long agony. All my gratitude could not repay such

"My friends," said I, "we are bound one to the other for ever, and I am under infinite obligations to you."

"Yes," I replied, "for we are going the way of the sun, and here the sun is in the north."

"No doubt," said Ned Land; "but it remains to be seen whether he will bring the ship into the Pacific or the

I could not answer that question, and I feared that Captain Nemo would rather take us to the vast ocean that

touches the coasts of Asia and America at the same time. He would thus complete the tour round the

submarine world, and return to those waters in which the Nautilus could sail freely. We ought, before long, to

settle this important point. The Nautilus went at a rapid pace. The polar circle was soon passed, and the

course shaped for Cape Horn. We were off the American point, March 31st, at seven o'clock in the evening.

Then all our past sufferings were forgotten. The remembrance of that imprisonment in the ice was effaced

from our minds. We only thought of the future. Captain Nemo did not appear again either in the

drawingroom or on the platform. The point shown each day on the planisphere, and, marked by the

lieutenant, showed me the exact direction of the Nautilus. Now, on that evening, it was evident, to, my great

satisfaction, that we were going back to the North by the Atlantic. The next day, April 1st, when the Nautilus

ascended to the surface some minutes before noon, we sighted land to the west. It was Terra del Fuego, which

the first navigators named thus from seeing the quantity of smoke that rose from the natives' huts. The coast

seemed low to me, but in the distance rose high mountains. I even thought I had a glimpse of Mount

Sarmiento, that rises 2,070 yards above the level of the sea, with a very pointed summit, which, according as

it is misty or clear, is a sign of fine or of wet weather. At this moment the peak was clearly defined against

the sky. The Nautilus, diving again under the water, approached the coast, which was only some few miles

off. From the glass windows in the drawingroom, I saw long seaweeds and gigantic fuci and varech, of

which the open polar sea contains so many specimens, with their sharp polished filaments; they measured

about 300 yards in length real cables, thicker than one's thumb; and, having great tenacity, they are often

used as ropes for vessels. Another weed known as velp, with leaves four feet long, buried in the coral

concretions, hung at the bottom. It served as nest and food for myriads of crustacea and molluscs, crabs, and

cuttlefish. There seals and otters had splendid repasts, eating the flesh of fish with seavegetables, according

to the English fashion. Over this fertile and luxuriant ground the Nautilus passed with great rapidity. Towards

evening it approached the Falkland group, the rough summits of which I recognised the following day. The

depth of the sea was moderate. On the shores our nets brought in beautiful specimens of sea weed, and

particularly a certain fucus, the roots of which were filled with the best mussels in the world. Geese and

ducks fell by dozens on the platform, and soon took their places in the pantry on board.

When the last heights of the Falklands had disappeared from the horizon, the Nautilus sank to between

twenty and twentyfive yards, and followed the American coast. Captain Nemo did not show himself. Until

the 3rd of April we did not quit the shores of Patagonia, sometimes under the ocean, sometimes at the

surface. The Nautilus passed beyond the large estuary formed by the Uraguay. Its direction was northwards,

and followed the long windings of the coast of South America. We had then made 1,600 miles since our

embarkation in the seas of Japan. About eleven o'clock in the morning the Tropic of Capricorn was crossed

on the thirtyseventh meridian, and we passed Cape Frio standing out to sea. Captain Nemo, to Ned Land's

great displeasure, did not like the neighbourhood of the inhabited coasts of Brazil, for we went at a giddy

speed. Not a fish, not a bird of the swiftest kind could follow us, and the natural curiosities of these seas

This speed was kept up for several days, and in the evening of the 9th of April we sighted the most westerly

point of South America that forms Cape San Roque. But then the Nautilus swerved again, and sought the

lowest depth of a submarine valley which is between this Cape and Sierra Leone on the African coast. This

valley bifurcates to the parallel of the Antilles, and terminates at the mouth by the enormous depression of

9,000 yards. In this place, the geological basin of the ocean forms, as far as the Lesser Antilles, a cliff to three

and a half miles perpendicular in height, and, at the parallel of the Cape Verde Islands, an other wall not less

considerable, that encloses thus all the sunk continent of the Atlantic. The bottom of this immense valley is

dotted with some mountains, that give to these submarine places a picturesque aspect. I speak, moreover,

from the manuscript charts that were in the library of the Nautiluscharts evidently due to Captain Nemo's

hand, and made after his personal observations. For two days the desert and deep waters were visited by

means of the inclined planes. The Nautilus was furnished with long diagonal broadsides which carried it to all

elevations. But on the 11th of April it rose suddenly, and land appeared at the mouth of the Amazon River, a

vast estuary, the embouchure of which is so considerable that it freshens the seawater for the distance of

For several days the Nautilus kept off from the American coast. Evidently it did not wish to risk the tides of

the Gulf of Mexico or of the sea of the Antilles. April 16th, we sighted Martinique and Guadaloupe from a

distance of about thirty miles. I saw their tall peaks for an instant. The Canadian, who counted on carrying

out his projects in the Gulf, by either landing or hailing one of the numerous boats that coast from one island

to another, was quite disheartened. Flight would have been quite practicable, if Ned Land had been able to

take possession of the boat without the Captain's knowledge. But in the open sea it could not be thought of.

The Canadian, Conseil, and I had a long conversation on this subject. For six months we had been prisoners

on board the Nautilus. We had travelled 17,000 leagues; and, as Ned Land said, there was no reason why it

should come to an end. We could hope nothing from the Captain of the Nautilus, but only from ourselves.

Besides, for some time past he had become graver, more retired, less sociable. He seemed to shun me. I met

him rarely. Formerly he was pleased to explain the submarine marvels to me; now he left me to my studies,

and came no more to the saloon. What change had come over him? For what cause? For my part, I did not

wish to bury with me my curious and novel studies. I had now the power to write the true book of the sea;

and this book, sooner or later, I wished to see daylight. The land nearest us was the archipelago of the

Bahamas. There rose high submarine cliffs covered with large weeds. It was about eleven o'clock when Ned

Land drew my attention to a formidable pricking, like the sting of an ant, which was produced by means of

"Well," I said, "these are proper caverns for poulps, and I should not be astonished to see some of these

"Well," said Conseil, with the most serious air in the world, "I remember perfectly to have seen a large vessel

"He is quite right," I said. "I have heard of this picture; but the subject represented is taken from a legend, and

you know what to think of legends in the matter of natural history. Besides, when it is a question of monsters,

the imagination is apt to run wild. Not only is it supposed that these poulps can draw down vessels, but a

certain Olaus Magnus speaks of an octopus a mile long that is more like an island than an animal. It is also

said that the Bishop of Nidros was building an altar on an immense rock. Mass finished, the rock began to

walk, and returned to the sea. The rock was a poulp. Another Bishop, Pontoppidan, speaks also of a poulp on

which a regiment of cavalry could manoeuvre. Lastly, the ancient naturalists speak of monsters whose

mouths were like gulfs, and which were too large to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar."

"Nothing, my friends; at least of that which passes the limit of truth to get to fable or legend. Nevertheless,

there must be some ground for the imagination of the storytellers. One cannot deny that poulps and

cuttlefish exist of a large species, inferior, however, to the cetaceans. Aristotle has stated the dimensions of a

cuttlefish as five cubits, or nine feet two inches. Our fishermen frequently see some that are more than four

feet long. Some skeletons of poulps are preserved in the museums of Trieste and Montpelier, that measure

two yards in length. Besides, according to the calculations of some naturalists, one of these animals only six

feet long would have tentacles twentyseven feet long. That would suffice to make a formidable monster."

"If they do not fish for them, sailors see them at least. One of my friends, Captain Paul Bos of Havre, has

often affirmed that he met one of these monsters of colossal dimensions in the Indian seas. But the most

astonishing fact, and which does not permit of the denial of the existence of these gigantic animals, happened

"This is it. In 1861, to the northeast of Teneriffe, very nearly in the same latitude we are in now, the crew of

the despatchboat Alector perceived a monstrous cuttlefish swimming in the waters. Captain Bouguer went

near to the animal, and attacked it with harpoon and guns, without much success, for balls and harpoons

glided over the soft flesh. After several fruitless attempts the crew tried to pass a slipknot round the body of

the mollusc. The noose slipped as far as the tail fins and there stopped. They tried then to haul it on board, but

its weight was so considerable that the tightness of the cord separated the tail from the body, and, deprived of

"An indisputable fact, my good Ned. They proposed to name this poulp `Bouguer's cuttlefish.'"

"Did it not measure about six yards?" said Conseil, who, posted at the window, was examining again the

"Its head," rejoined Conseil, "was it not crowned with eight tentacles, that beat the water like a nest of

"Very well! no offence to master," he replied, quietly; "if this is not Bouguer's cuttlefish, it is, at least, one of

I looked in my turn, and could not repress a gesture of disgust. Before my eyes was a horrible monster worthy

to figure in the legends of the marvellous. It was an immense cuttlefish, being eight yards long. It swam

crossways in the direction of the Nautilus with great speed, watching us with its enormous staring green eyes.

Its eight arms, or rather feet, fixed to its head, that have given the name of cephalopod to these animals, were

twice as long as its body, and were twisted like the furies' hair. One could see the 250 air holes on the inner

side of the tentacles. The monster's mouth, a horned beak like a parrot's, opened and shut vertically. Its

tongue, a horned substance, furnished with several rows of pointed teeth, came out quivering from this

veritable pair of shears. What a freak of nature, a bird's beak on a mollusc! Its spindlelike body formed a

fleshy mass that might weigh 4,000 to 5,000 lb.; the, varying colour changing with great rapidity, according

to the irritation of the animal, passed successively from livid grey to reddish brown. What irritated this

mollusc? No doubt the presence of the Nautilus, more formidable than itself, and on which its suckers or its

jaws had no hold. Yet, what monsters these poulps are! what vitality the Creator has given them! what vigour

in their movements! and they possess three hearts! Chance had brought us in presence of this cuttlefish, and I

did not wish to lose the opportunity of carefully studying this specimen of cephalopods. I overcame the

"No," replied the Canadian; "for this is whole, and the other had lost its tail."

"That is no reason," I replied. "The arms and tails of these animals are reformed by renewal; and in seven

By this time other poulps appeared at the port light. I counted seven. They formed a procession after the

Nautilus, and I heard their beaks gnashing against the iron hull. I continued my work. These monsters kept in

the water with such precision that they seemed immovable. Suddenly the Nautilus stopped. A shock made it

The Nautilus was floating, no doubt, but it did not move. A minute passed. Captain Nemo, followed by his

lieutenant, entered the drawingroom. I had not seen him for some time. He seemed dull. Without noticing or

speaking to us, he went to the panel, looked at the poulps, and said something to his lieutenant. The latter

went out. Soon the panels were shut. The ceiling was lighted. I went towards the Captain.

"Yes, indeed, Mr. Naturalist," he replied; "and we are going to fight them, man to beast."

"Yes, sir. The screw is stopped. I think that the horny jaws of one of the cuttlefish is entangled in the blades.

"Yes, indeed. The electric bullets are powerless against the soft flesh, where they do not find resistance

"We will follow you," I said, and, following Captain Nemo, we went towards the central staircase.

There, about ten men with boardinghatchets were ready for the attack. Conseil and I took two hatchets; Ned

Land seized a harpoon. The Nautilus had then risen to the surface. One of the sailors, posted on the top

ladderstep, unscrewed the bolts of the panels. But hardly were the screws loosed, when the panel rose with

great violence, evidently drawn by the suckers of a poulp's arm. Immediately one of these arms slid like a

serpent down the opening and twenty others were above. With one blow of the axe, Captain Nemo cut this

formidable tentacle, that slid wriggling down the ladder. Just as we were pressing one on the other to reach

the platform, two other arms, lashing the air, came down on the seaman placed before Captain Nemo, and

lifted him up with irresistible power. Captain Nemo uttered a cry, and rushed out. We hurried after him.

What a scene! The unhappy man, seized by the tentacle and fixed to the suckers, was balanced in the air at

the caprice of this enormous trunk. He rattled in his throat, he was stifled, he cried, "Help! help!" These

words, spoken in French, startled me! I had a fellowcountryman on board, perhaps several! That

heartrending cry! I shall hear it all my life. The unfortunate man was lost. Who could rescue him from that

powerful pressure? However, Captain Nemo had rushed to the poulp, and with one blow of the axe had cut

through one arm. His lieutenant struggled furiously against other monsters that crept on the flanks of the

Nautilus. The crew fought with their axes. The Canadian, Conseil, and I buried our weapons in the fleshy

For one instant, I thought the unhappy man, entangled with the poulp, would be torn from its powerful

suction. Seven of the eight arms had been cut off. One only wriggled in the air, brandishing the victim like a

feather. But just as Captain Nemo and his lieutenant threw themselves on it, the animal ejected a stream of

black liquid. We were blinded with it. When the cloud dispersed, the cuttlefish had disappeared, and my

unfortunate countryman with it. Ten or twelve poulps now invaded the platform and sides of the Nautilus. We

rolled pellmell into the midst of this nest of serpents, that wriggled on the platform in the waves of blood

and ink. It seemed as though these slimy tentacles sprang up like the hydra's heads. Ned Land's harpoon, at

each stroke, was plunged into the staring eyes of the cuttle fish. But my bold companion was suddenly

Ah! how my heart beat with emotion and horror! The formidable beak of a cuttlefish was open over Ned

Land. The unhappy man would be cut in two. I rushed to his succour. But Captain Nemo was before me; his

axe disappeared between the two enormous jaws, and, miraculously saved, the Canadian, rising, plunged his

Ned bowed without replying. The combat had lasted a quarter of an hour. The monsters, vanquished and

mutilated, left us at last, and disappeared under the waves. Captain Nemo, covered with blood, nearly

exhausted, gazed upon the sea that had swallowed up one of his companions, and great tears gathered in his

This terrible scene of the 20th of April none of us can ever forget. I have written it under the influence of

violent emotion. Since then I have revised the recital; I have read it to Conseil and to the Canadian. They

found it exact as to facts, but insufficient as to effect. To paint such pictures, one must have the pen of the

I have said that Captain Nemo wept while watching the waves; his grief was great. It was the second

companion he had lost since our arrival on board, and what a death! That friend, crushed, stifled, bruised by

the dreadful arms of a poulp, pounded by his iron jaws, would not rest with his comrades in the peaceful coral

cemetery! In the midst of the struggle, it was the despairing cry uttered by the unfortunate man that had torn

my heart. The poor Frenchman, forgetting his conventional language, had taken to his own mother tongue, to

utter a last appeal! Amongst the crew of the Nautilus, associated with the body and soul of the Captain,

recoiling like him from all contact with men, I had a fellowcountryman. Did he alone represent France in

this mysterious association, evidently composed of individuals of divers nationalities? It was one of these

Captain Nemo entered his room, and I saw him no more for some time. But that he was sad and irresolute I

could see by the vessel, of which he was the soul, and which received all his impressions. The Nautilus did

not keep on in its settled course; it floated about like a corpse at the will of the waves. It went at random. He

could not tear himself away from the scene of the last struggle, from this sea that had devoured one of his

men. Ten days passed thus. It was not till the 1st of May that the Nautilus resumed its northerly course, after

having sighted the Bahamas at the mouth of the Bahama Canal. We were then following the current from the

largest river to the sea, that has its banks, its fish, and its proper temperatures. I mean the Gulf Stream. It is

really a river, that flows freely to the middle of the Atlantic, and whose waters do not mix with the ocean

waters. It is a salt river, salter than the surrounding sea. Its mean depth is 1,500 fathoms, its mean breadth ten

miles. In certain places the current flows with the speed of two miles and a half an hour. The body of its

waters is more considerable than that of all the rivers in the globe. It was on this ocean river that the Nautilus

I must add that, during the night, the phosphorescent waters of the Gulf Stream rivalled the electric power of

our watchlight, especially in the stormy weather that threatened us so frequently. May 8th, we were still

crossing Cape Hatteras, at the height of the North Caroline. The width of the Gulf Stream there is

seventyfive miles, and its depth 210 yards. The Nautilus still went at random; all supervision seemed

abandoned. I thought that, under these circumstances, escape would be possible. Indeed, the inhabited shores

offered anywhere an easy refuge. The sea was incessantly ploughed by the steamers that ply between New

York or Boston and the Gulf of Mexico, and overrun day and night by the little schooners coasting about the

several parts of the American coast. We could hope to be picked up. It was a favourable opportunity,

notwithstanding the thirty miles that separated the Nautilus from the coasts of the Union. One unfortunate

circumstance thwarted the Canadian's plans. The weather was very bad. We were nearing those shores where

tempests are so frequent, that country of waterspouts and cyclones actually engendered by the current of the

Gulf Stream. To tempt the sea in a frail boat was certain destruction. Ned Land owned this himself. He

"Master," he said that day to me, "this must come to an end. I must make a clean breast of it. This Nemo is

leaving land and going up to the north. But I declare to you that I have had enough of the South Pole, and I

"We must speak to the Captain," said he; "you said nothing when we were in your native seas. I will speak,

now we are in mine. When I think that before long the Nautilus will be by Nova Scotia, and that there near

New foundland is a large bay, and into that bay the St. Lawrence empties itself, and that the St. Lawrence is

my river, the river by Quebec, my native townwhen I think of this, I feel furious, it makes my hair stand on

end. Sir, I would rather throw myself into the sea! I will not stay here! I am stifled!"

The Canadian was evidently losing all patience. His vigorous nature could not stand this prolonged

imprisonment. His face altered daily; his temper became more surly. I knew what he must suffer, for I was

seized with homesickness myself. Nearly seven months had passed without our having had any news from

land; Captain Nemo's isolation, his altered spirits, especially since the fight with the poulps, his taciturnity, all

I went to my room. From thence I meant to go to Captain Nemo's. It would not do to let this opportunity of

meeting him slip. I knocked at the door. No answer. I knocked again, then turned the handle. The door

opened, I went in. The Captain was there. Bending over his worktable, he had not heard me. Resolved not to

go without having spoken, I approached him. He raised his head quickly, frowned, and said roughly, "You

"But I am busy, sir; I am working. I leave you at liberty to shut yourself up; cannot I be allowed the same?"

This reception was not encouraging; but I was determined to hear and answer everything.

"Sir," I said coldly, "I have to speak to you on a matter that admits of no delay."

"What is that, sir?" he replied, ironically. "Have you discovered something that has escaped me, or has the

We were at crosspurposes. But, before I could reply, he showed me an open manuscript on his table, and

said, in a more serious tone, "Here, M. Aronnax, is a manuscript written in several languages. It contains the

sum of my studies of the sea; and, if it please God, it shall not perish with me. This manuscript, signed with

my name, complete with the history of my life, will be shut up in a little floating case. The last survivor of all

of us on board the Nautilus will throw this case into the sea, and it will go whither it is borne by the waves."

This man's name! his history written by himself! His mystery would then be revealed some day.

"Captain," I said, "I can but approve of the idea that makes you act thus. The result of your studies must not

be lost. But the means you employ seem to me to be primitive. Who knows where the winds will carry this

case, and in whose hands it will fall? Could you not use some other means? Could not you, or one of

"But I and my companions are ready to keep this manuscript in store; and, if you will put us at liberty"

"Yes, sir; that is the subject on which I wish to question you. For seven months we have been here on board,

and I ask you today, in the name of my companions and in my own, if your intention is to keep us here

"M. Aronnax, I will answer you today as I did seven months ago: Whoever enters the Nautilus, must never

"Sir," I said, "to return a second time to this subject will be neither to your nor to my taste; but, as we have

entered upon it, let us go through with it. I repeat, it is not only myself whom it concerns. Study is to me a

relief, a diversion, a passion that could make me forget everything. Like you, I am willing to live obscure, in

the frail hope of bequeathing one day, to future time, the result of my labours. But it is otherwise with Ned

Land. Every man, worthy of the name, deserves some consideration. Have you thought that love of liberty,

hatred of slavery, can give rise to schemes of revenge in a nature like the Canadian's; that he could think,

"Whatever Ned Land thinks of, attempts, or tries, what does it matter to me? I did not seek him! It is not for

my pleasure that I keep him on board! As for you, M. Aronnax, you are one of those who can understand

everything, even silence. I have nothing more to say to you. Let this first time you have come to treat of this

I retired. Our situation was critical. I related my conversation to my two companions.

"We know now," said Ned, "that we can expect nothing from this man. The Nautilus is nearing Long Island.

But the sky became more and more threatening. Symptoms of a hurricane became manifest. The atmosphere

was becoming white and misty. On the horizon fine streaks of cirrhous clouds were succeeded by masses of

cumuli. Other low clouds passed swiftly by. The swollen sea rose in huge billows. The birds disappeared with

the exception of the petrels, those friends of the storm. The barometer fell sensibly, and indicated an extreme

extension of the vapours. The mixture of the storm glass was decomposed under the influence of the

electricity that pervaded the atmosphere. The tempest burst on the 18th of May, just as the Nautilus was

floating off Long Island, some miles from the port of New York. I can describe this strife of the elements!

for, instead of fleeing to the depths of the sea, Captain Nemo, by an unaccountable caprice, would brave it at

the surface. The wind blew from the southwest at first. Captain Nemo, during the squalls, had taken his

place on the platform. He had made himself fast, to prevent being washed overboard by the monstrous waves.

I had hoisted myself up, and made myself fast also, dividing my admiration between the tempest and this

extraordinary man who was coping with it. The raging sea was swept by huge clouddrifts, which were

actually saturated with the waves. The Nautilus, sometimes lying on its side, sometimes standing up like a

mast, rolled and pitched terribly. About five o'clock a torrent of rain fell, that lulled neither sea nor wind. The

hurri cane blew nearly forty leagues an hour. It is under these conditions that it overturns houses, breaks iron

gates, displaces twentyfour pounders. However, the Nautilus, in the midst of the tempest, confirmed the

words of a clever engineer, "There is no wellconstructed hull that cannot defy the sea." This was not a

resisting rock; it was a steel spindle, obedient and movable, without rigging or masts, that braved its fury with

impunity. However, I watched these raging waves attentively. They measured fifteen feet in height, and 150

to 175 yards long, and their speed of propagation was thirty feet per second. Their bulk and power increased

with the depth of the water. Such waves as these, at the Hebrides, have displaced a mass weighing 8,400 lb.

They are they which, in the tempest of December 23rd, 1864, after destroying the town of Yeddo, in Japan,

broke the same day on the shores of America. The intensity of the tempest increased with the night. The

barometer, as in 1860 at Reunion during a cyclone, fell seventenths at the close of day. I saw a large vessel

pass the horizon struggling painfully. She was trying to lie to under half steam, to keep up above the waves. It

was probably one of the steamers of the line from New York to Liverpool, or Havre. It soon disappeared in

the gloom. At ten o'clock in the evening the sky was on fire. The atmosphere was streaked with vivid

lightning. I could not bear the brightness of it; while the captain, looking at it, seemed to envy the spirit of the

tempest. A terrible noise filled the air, a complex noise, made up of the howls of the crushed waves, the

roaring of the wind, and the claps of thunder. The wind veered suddenly to all points of the horizon; and the

cyclone, rising in the east, returned after passing by the north, west, and south, in the inverse course pursued

by the circular storm of the southern hemisphere. Ah, that Gulf Stream! It deserves its name of the King of

Tempests. It is that which causes those formidable cyclones, by the difference of temperature between its air

and its currents. A shower of fire had succeeded the rain. The drops of water were changed to sharp spikes.

One would have thought that Captain Nemo was courting a death worthy of himself, a death by lightning. As

the Nautilus, pitching dreadfully, raised its steel spur in the air, it seemed to act as a conductor, and I saw

long sparks burst from it. Crushed and without strength I crawled to the panel, opened it, and descended to

the saloon. The storm was then at its height. It was impossible to stand upright in the interior of the Nautilus.

Captain Nemo came down about twelve. I heard the reservoirs filling by degrees, and the Nautilus sank

slowly beneath the waves. Through the open windows in the saloon I saw large fish terrified, passing like

phantoms in the water. Some were struck before my eyes. The Nautilus was still descending. I thought that at

about eight fathoms deep we should find a calm. But no! the upper beds were too violently agitated for that.

We had to seek repose at more than twentyfive fathoms in the bowels of the deep. But there, what quiet,

what silence, what peace! Who could have told that such a hurricane had been let loose on the surface of that

In consequence of the storm, we had been thrown eastward once more. All hope of escape on the shores of

New York or St. Lawrence had faded away; and poor Ned, in despair, had isolated himself like Captain

Nemo. Conseil and I, however, never left each other. I said that the Nautilus had gone aside to the east. I

should have said (to be more exact) the northeast. For some days, it wandered first on the surface, and then

beneath it, amid those fogs so dreaded by sailors. What accidents are due to these thick fogs! What shocks

upon these reefs when the wind drowns the breaking of the waves! What collisions between vessels, in spite

of their warning lights, whistles, and alarm bells! And the bottoms of these seas look like a field of battle,

where still lie all the conquered of the ocean; some old and already encrusted, others fresh and reflecting from

On the 15th of May we were at the extreme south of the Bank of Newfoundland. This bank consists of

alluvia, or large heaps of organic matter, brought either from the Equator by the Gulf Stream, or from the

North Pole by the countercurrent of cold water which skirts the American coast. There also are heaped up

those erratic blocks which are carried along by the broken ice; and close by, a vast charnelhouse of

molluscs, which perish here by millions. The depth of the sea is not great at Newfoundlandnot more than

some hundreds of fathoms; but towards the south is a depression of 1,500 fathoms. There the Gulf Stream

widens. It loses some of its speed and some of its temperature, but it becomes a sea.

It was on the 17th of May, about 500 miles from Heart's Content, at a depth of more than 1,400 fathoms, that

I saw the electric cable lying on the bottom. Conseil, to whom I had not mentioned it, thought at first that it

was a gigantic seaserpent. But I undeceived the worthy fellow, and by way of consolation related several

particulars in the laying of this cable. The first one was laid in the years 1857 and 1858; but, after

transmitting about 400 telegrams, would not act any longer. In 1863 the engineers constructed an other one,

measuring 2,000 miles in length, and weighing 4,500 tons, which was embarked on the Great Eastern. This

On the 25th of May the Nautilus, being at a depth of more than 1,918 fathoms, was on the precise spot where

the rupture occurred which ruined the enterprise. It was within 638 miles of the coast of Ireland; and at

halfpast two in the afternoon they discovered that communication with Europe had ceased. The electricians

on board resolved to cut the cable before fishing it up, and at eleven o'clock at night they had recovered the

damaged part. They made another point and spliced it, and it was once more submerged. But some days after

it broke again, and in the depths of the ocean could not be recaptured. The Americans, however, were not

discouraged. Cyrus Field, the bold promoter of the enterprise, as he had sunk all his own fortune, set a new

subscription on foot, which was at once answered, and another cable was constructed on better principles.

The bundles of conducting wires were each enveloped in guttapercha, and protected by a wadding of hemp,

contained in a metallic covering. The Great Eastern sailed on the 13th of July, 1866. The operation worked

well. But one incident occurred. Several times in unrolling the cable they observed that nails had recently

been forced into it, evidently with the motive of destroying it. Captain Anderson, the officers, and engineers

consulted together, and had it posted up that, if the offender was surprised on board, he would be thrown

without further trial into the sea. From that time the criminal attempt was never repeated.

On the 23rd of July the Great Eastern was not more than 500 miles from Newfoundland, when they

telegraphed from Ireland the news of the armistice concluded between Prussia and Austria after Sadowa. On

the 27th, in the midst of heavy fogs, they reached the port of Heart's Content. The enterprise was successfully

terminated; and for its first despatch, young America addressed old Europe in these words of wisdom, so

rarely understood: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."

I did not expect to find the electric cable in its primitive state, such as it was on leaving the manufactory. The

long serpent, covered with the remains of shells, bristling with foraminiferae, was encrusted with a strong

coating which served as a protection against all boring molluscs. It lay quietly sheltered from the motions of

the sea, and under a favourable pressure for the transmission of the electric spark which passes from Europe

to America in .32 of a second. Doubtless this cable will last for a great length of time, for they find that the

guttapercha covering is improved by the seawater. Besides, on this level, so well chosen, the cable is never

so deeply submerged as to cause it to break. The Nautilus followed it to the lowest depth, which was more

than 2,212 fathoms, and there it lay without any anchorage; and then we reached the spot where the accident

had taken place in 1863. The bottom of the ocean then formed a valley about 100 miles broad, in which Mont

Blanc might have been placed without its summit appearing above the waves. This valley is closed at the east

by a perpendicular wall more than 2,000 yards high. We arrived there on the 28th of May, and the Nautilus

Was Captain Nemo going to land on the British Isles? No. To my great surprise he made for the south, once

more coming back towards European seas. In rounding the Emerald Isle, for one instant I caught sight of

Cape Clear, and the light which guides the thousands of vessels leaving Glasgow or Liverpool. An important

question then arose in my mind. Did the Nautilus dare entangle itself in the Manche? Ned Land, who had

reappeared since we had been nearing land, did not cease to question me. How could I answer? Captain

Nemo reminded invisible. After having shown the Canadian a glimpse of American shores, was he going to

But the Nautilus was still going southward. On the 30th of May, it passed in sight of Land's End, between the

extreme point of England and the Scilly Isles, which were left to starboard. If we wished to enter the Manche,

During the whole of the 31st of May, the Nautilus described a series of circles on the water, which greatly

interested me. It seemed to be seeking a spot it had some trouble in finding. At noon, Captain Nemo himself

came to work the ship's log. He spoke no word to me, but seemed gloomier than ever. What could sadden

him thus? Was it his proxim ity to European shores? Had he some recollections of his abandoned country? If

not, what did he feel? Remorse or regret? For a long while this thought haunted my mind, and I had a kind of

The next day, the 1st of June, the Nautilus continued the same process. It was evidently seeking some

particular spot in the ocean. Captain Nemo took the sun's altitude as he had done the day before. The sea was

beautiful, the sky clear. About eight miles to the east, a large steam vessel could be discerned on the horizon.

No flag fluttered from its mast, and I could not discover its nationality. Some minutes before the sun passed

the meridian, Captain Nemo took his sextant, and watched with great attention. The perfect rest of the water

greatly helped the operation. The Nautilus was motionless; it neither rolled nor pitched.

I was on the platform when the altitude was taken, and the Captain pronounced these words: "It is here."

He turned and went below. Had he seen the vessel which was changing its course and seemed to be nearing

us? I could not tell. I returned to the saloon. The panels closed, I heard the hissing of the water in the

reservoirs. The Nautilus began to sink, following a vertical line, for its screw communicated no motion to it.

Some minutes later it stopped at a depth of more than 420 fathoms, resting on the ground. The luminous

ceiling was darkened, then the panels were opened, and through the glass I saw the sea brilliantly illuminated

I looked to the port side, and saw nothing but an immensity of quiet waters. But to starboard, on the bottom

appeared a large protuberance, which at once attracted my attention. One would have thought it a ruin buried

under a coating of white shells, much resembling a covering of snow. Upon examining the mass attentively, I

could recognise the everthickening form of a vessel bare of its masts, which must have sunk. It certainly

belonged to past times. This wreck, to be thus encrusted with the lime of the water, must already be able to

What was this vessel? Why did the Nautilus visit its tomb? Could it have been aught but a shipwreck which

had drawn it under the water? I knew not what to think, when near me in a slow voice I heard Captain Nemo

"At one time this ship was called the Marseillais. It carried seventyfour guns, and was launched in 1762. In

1778, the 13th of August, commanded by La PoypeVer trieux, it fought boldly against the Preston. In 1779,

on the 4th of July, it was at the taking of Grenada, with the squadron of Admiral Estaing. In 1781, on the 5th

of September, it took part in the battle of Comte de Grasse, in Chesapeake Bay. In 1794, the French Republic

changed its name. On the 16th of April, in the same year, it joined the squadron of Villaret Joyeuse, at Brest,

being entrusted with the escort of a cargo of corn coming from America, under the command of Admiral Van

Stebel. On the 11th and 12th Prairal of the second year, this squadron fell in with an English vessel. Sir,

today is the 13th Prairal, the first of June, 1868. It is now seventyfour years ago, day for day on this very

spot, in latitude 47@ 24', longitude 17@ 28', that this vessel, after fighting heroically, losing its three masts,

with the water in its hold, and the third of its crew disabled, preferred sinking with its 356 sailors to

surrendering; and, nailing its colours to the poop, disappeared under the waves to the cry of `Long live the

The way of describing this unlookedfor scene, the history of the patriot ship, told at first so coldly, and the

emotion with which this strange man pronounced the last words, the name of the Avenger, the significance of

which could not escape me, all impressed itself deeply on my mind. My eyes did not leave the Captain, who,

with his hand stretched out to sea, was watching with a glowing eye the glorious wreck. Perhaps I was never

to know who he was, from whence he came, or where he was going to, but I saw the man move, and apart

from the savant. It was no common misanthropy which had shut Captain Nemo and his companions within

the Nautilus, but a hatred, either monstrous or sublime, which time could never weaken. Did this hatred still

seek for vengeance? The future would soon teach me that. But the Nautilus was rising slowly to the surface

of the sea, and the form of the Avenger disappeared by degrees from my sight. Soon a slight rolling told me

that we were in the open air. At that moment a dull boom was heard. I looked at the Captain. He did not

He did not answer. I left him and mounted the platform. Conseil and the Canadian were already there.

I looked in the direction of the vessel I had already seen. It was nearing the Nautilus, and we could see that it

"By its rigging, and the height of its lower masts," said the Canadian, "I bet she is a shipofwar. May it

"Friend Ned," replied Conseil, "what harm can it do to the Nautilus? Can it attack it beneath the waves? Can

The Canadian knitted his eyebrows, dropped his eyelids, and screwed up the corners of his eyes, and for a

"No, sir," he replied; "I cannot tell what nation she belongs to, for she shows no colours. But I can declare she

For a quarter of an hour we watched the ship which was steaming towards us. I could not, however, believe

that she could see the Nautilus from that distance; and still less that she could know what this submarine

engine was. Soon the Canadian informed me that she was a large, armoured, twodecker ram. A thick black

smoke was pouring from her two funnels. Her closelyfurled sails were stopped to her yards. She hoisted no

flag at her mizzenpeak. The distance prevented us from distinguishing the colours of her pennant, which

floated like a thin ribbon. She advanced rapidly. If Captain Nemo allowed her to approach, there was a

"Sir," said Ned Land, "if that vessel passes within a mile of us I shall throw myself into the sea, and I should

I did not reply to the Canadian's suggestion, but continued watching the ship. Whether English, French,

American, or Russian, she would be sure to take us in if we could only reach her. Presently a white smoke

burst from the fore part of the vessel; some seconds after, the water, agitated by the fall of a heavy body,

splashed the stern of the Nautilus, and shortly afterwards a loud explosion struck my ear.

"So please you, sir," said Ned, "they have recognised the unicorn, and they are firing at us."

A whole flood of light burst upon my mind. Doubtless they knew now how to believe the stories of the

pretended monster. No doubt, on board the Abraham Lincoln, when the Canadian struck it with the harpoon,

Commander Farragut had recognised in the supposed narwhal a submarine vessel, more dangerous than a

supernatural cetacean. Yes, it must have been so; and on every sea they were now seeking this engine of

destruction. Terrible indeed! if, as we supposed, Captain Nemo employed the Nautilus in works of

vengeance. On the night when we were imprisoned in that cell, in the midst of the Indian Ocean, had he not

attacked some vessel? The man buried in the coral cemetery, had he not been a victim to the shock caused by

the Nautilus? Yes, I repeat it, it must be so. One part of the mysterious existence of Captain Nemo had been

unveiled; and, if his identity had not been recognised, at least, the nations united against him were no longer

hunting a chimerical creature, but a man who had vowed a deadly hatred against them. All the formidable

past rose before me. Instead of meeting friends on board the approaching ship, we could only expect pitiless

enemies. But the shot rattled about us. Some of them struck the sea and ricochetted, losing themselves in the

distance. But none touched the Nautilus. The vessel was not more than three miles from us. In spite of the

serious cannonade, Captain Nemo did not appear on the platform; but, if one of the conical projectiles had

struck the shell of the Nautilus, it would have been fatal. The Canadian then said, "Sir, we must do all we can

to get out of this dilemma. Let us signal them. They will then, perhaps, understand that we are honest folks."

Ned Land took his handkerchief to wave in the air; but he had scarcely displayed it, when he was struck down

"Fool!" exclaimed the Captain, "do you wish to be pierced by the spur of the Nautilus before it is hurled at

Captain Nemo was terrible to hear; he was still more terrible to see. His face was deadly pale, with a spasm at

his heart. For an instant it must have ceased to beat. His pupils were fearfully contracted. He did not speak, he

roared, as, with his body thrown forward, he wrung the Canadian's shoulders. Then, leaving him, and turning

to the ship of war, whose shot was still raining around him, he exclaimed, with a powerful voice, "Ah, ship of

an accursed nation, you know who I am! I do not want your colours to know you by! Look! and I will show

And on the fore part of the platform Captain Nemo unfurled a black flag, similar to the one he had placed at

the South Pole. At that moment a shot struck the shell of the Nautilus obliquely, without piercing it; and,

rebounding near the Captain, was lost in the sea. He shrugged his shoulders; and, addressing me, said shortly,

"I shall do it," he replied coldly. "And I advise you not to judge me, sir. Fate has shown you what you ought

"You do not know? Very well! so much the better! Its nationality to you, at least, will be a secret. Go down!"

We could but obey. About fifteen of the sailors surrounded the Captain, looking with implacable hatred at the

vessel nearing them. One could feel that the same desire of vengeance animated every soul. I went down at

the moment another projectile struck the Nautilus, and I heard the Captain exclaim:

"Strike, mad vessel! Shower your useless shot! And then, you will not escape the spur of the Nautilus. But it

is not here that you shall perish! I would not have your ruins mingle with those of the Avenger!"

I reached my room. The Captain and his second had remained on the platform. The screw was set in motion,

and the Nautilus, moving with speed, was soon beyond the reach of the ship's guns. But the pursuit continued,

About four in the afternoon, being no longer able to contain my impatience, I went to the central staircase.

The panel was open, and I ventured on to the platform. The Captain was still walking up and down with an

agitated step. He was looking at the ship, which was five or six miles to leeward.

He was going round it like a wild beast, and, drawing it eastward, he allowed them to pursue. But he did not

attack. Perhaps he still hesitated? I wished to mediate once more. But I had scarcely spoken, when Captain

"I am the law, and I am the judge! I am the oppressed, and there is the oppressor! Through him I have lost all

that I loved, cherished, and veneratedcountry, wife, children, father, and mother. I saw all perish! All that I

I cast a last look at the manofwar, which was putting on steam, and rejoined Ned and Conseil.

"I do not know; but, whatever it is, it will be sunk before night. In any case, it is better to perish with it, than

Night arrived. Deep silence reigned on board. The compass showed that the Nautilus had not altered its

course. It was on the surface, rolling slightly. My companions and I resolved to fly when the vessel should be

near enough either to hear us or to see us; for the moon, which would be full in two or three days, shone

brightly. Once on board the ship, if we could not prevent the blow which threatened it, we could, at least we

would, do all that circumstances would allow. Several times I thought the Nautilus was preparing for attack;

but Captain Nemo contented himself with allowing his adversary to approach, and then fled once more before

Part of the night passed without any incident. We watched the opportunity for action. We spoke little, for we

were too much moved. Ned Land would have thrown himself into the sea, but I forced him to wait.

According to my idea, the Nautilus would attack the ship at her waterline, and then it would not only be

At three in the morning, full of uneasiness, I mounted the platform. Captain Nemo had not left it. He was

standing at the fore part near his flag, which a slight breeze displayed above his head. He did not take his eyes

from the vessel. The intensity of his look seemed to attract, and fascinate, and draw it onward more surely

than if he had been towing it. The moon was then passing the meridian. Jupiter was rising in the east. Amid

this peaceful scene of nature, sky and ocean rivalled each other in tranquillity, the sea offering to the orbs of

night the finest mirror they could ever have in which to reflect their image. As I thought of the deep calm of

these elements, compared with all those passions brooding imperceptibly within the Nautilus, I shuddered.

The vessel was within two miles of us. It was ever nearing that phosphorescent light which showed the

presence of the Nautilus. I could see its green and red lights, and its white lantern hanging from the large

foremast. An indistinct vibration quivered through its rigging, showing that the furnaces were heated to the

uttermost. Sheaves of sparks and red ashes flew from the funnels, shining in the atmosphere like stars.

I remained thus until six in the morning, without Captain Nemo noticing me. The ship stood about a mile and

a half from us, and with the first dawn of day the firing began afresh. The moment could not be far off when,

the Nautilus attacking its adversary, my companions and myself should for ever leave this man. I was

preparing to go down to remind them, when the second mounted the platform, accompanied by several

sailors. Captain Nemo either did not or would not see them. Some steps were taken which might be called the

signal for action. They were very simple. The iron balustrade around the platform was lowered, and the

lantern and pilot cages were pushed within the shell until they were flush with the deck. The long surface of

the steel cigar no longer offered a single point to check its manoeuvres. I returned to the saloon. The Nautilus

still floated; some streaks of light were filtering through the liquid beds. With the undulations of the waves

the windows were brightened by the red streaks of the rising sun, and this dreadful day of the 2nd of June had

At five o'clock, the log showed that the speed of the Nautilus was slackening, and I knew that it was allowing

them to draw nearer. Besides, the reports were heard more distinctly, and the projectiles, labouring through

"My friends," said I, "the moment is come. One grasp of the hand, and may God protect us!"

Ned Land was resolute, Conseil calm, myself so nervous that I knew not how to contain myself. We all

passed into the library; but the moment I pushed the door opening on to the central staircase, I heard the

upper panel close sharply. The Canadian rushed on to the stairs, but I stopped him. A wellknown hissing

noise told me that the water was running into the reservoirs, and in a few minutes the Nautilus was some

yards beneath the surface of the waves. I understood the manoeuvre. It was too late to act. The Nautilus did

not wish to strike at the impenetrable cuirass, but below the waterline, where the metallic covering no

We were again imprisoned, unwilling witnesses of the dreadful drama that was preparing. We had scarcely

time to reflect; taking refuge in my room, we looked at each other without speaking. A deep stupor had taken

hold of my mind: thought seemed to stand still. I was in that painful state of expectation preceding a dreadful

report. I waited, I listened, every sense was merged in that of hearing! The speed of the Nautilus was

accelerated. It was preparing to rush. The whole ship trembled. Suddenly I screamed. I felt the shock, but

comparatively light. I felt the penetrating power of the steel spur. I heard rattlings and scrapings. But the

Nautilus, carried along by its propelling power, passed through the mass of the vessel like a needle through

I could stand it no longer. Mad, out of my mind, I rushed from my room into the saloon. Captain Nemo was

there, mute, gloomy, implacable; he was looking through the port panel. A large mass cast a shadow on the

water; and, that it might lose nothing of her agony, the Nautilus was going down into the abyss with her. Ten

yards from me I saw the open shell, through which the water was rushing with the noise of thunder, then the

double line of guns and the netting. The bridge was covered with black, agitated shadows.

The water was rising. The poor creatures were crowding the ratlines, clinging to the masts, struggling under

the water. It was a human antheap overtaken by the sea. Paralysed, stiffened with anguish, my hair standing

on end, with eyes wide open, panting, without breath, and without voice, I too was watching! An irresistible

attraction glued me to the glass! Suddenly an explosion took place. The compressed air blew up her decks, as

if the magazines had caught fire. Then the unfortunate vessel sank more rapidly. Her topmast, laden with

victims, now appeared; then her spars, bending under the weight of men; and, last of all, the top of her

mainmast. Then the dark mass disappeared, and with it the dead crew, drawn down by the strong eddy.

I turned to Captain Nemo. That terrible avenger, a perfect archangel of hatred, was still looking. When all

was over, he turned to his room, opened the door, and entered. I followed him with my eyes. On the end wall

beneath his heroes, I saw the portrait of a woman, still young, and two little children. Captain Nemo looked at

them for some moments, stretched his arms towards them, and, kneeling down, burst into deep sobs.

The panels had closed on this dreadful vision, but light had not returned to the saloon: all was silence and

darkness within the Nautilus. At wonderful speed, a hundred feet beneath the water, it was leaving this

desolate spot. Whither was it going? To the north or south? Where was the man flying to after such dreadful

retaliation? I had returned to my room, where Ned and Conseil had remained silent enough. I felt an

insurmountable horror for Captain Nemo. Whatever he had suffered at the hands of these men, he had no

right to punish thus. He had made me, if not an accomplice, at least a witness of his vengeance. At eleven the

electric light reappeared. I passed into the saloon. It was deserted. I consulted the different instruments. The

Nautilus was flying northward at the rate of twentyfive miles an hour, now on the surface, and now thirty

feet below it. On taking the bearings by the chart, I saw that we were passing the mouth of the Manche, and

that our course was hurrying us towards the northern seas at a frightful speed. That night we had crossed two

hundred leagues of the Atlantic. The shadows fell, and the sea was covered with darkness until the rising of

the moon. I went to my room, but could not sleep. I was troubled with dreadful nightmare. The horrible scene

of destruction was continually before my eyes. From that day, who could tell into what part of the North

Atlantic basin the Nautilus would take us? Still with unaccountable speed. Still in the midst of these northern

fogs. Would it touch at Spitzbergen, or on the shores of Nova Zembla? Should we explore those unknown

seas, the White Sea, the Sea of Kara, the Gulf of Obi, the Archipelago of Liarrov, and the unknown coast of

Asia? I could not say. I could no longer judge of the time that was passing. The clocks had been stopped on

board. It seemed, as in polar countries, that night and day no longer followed their regular course. I felt

myself being drawn into that strange region where the foundered imagination of Edgar Poe roamed at will.

Like the fabulous Gordon Pym, at every moment I expected to see "that veiled human figure, of larger

proportions than those of any inhabitant of the earth, thrown across the cataract which defends the approach

to the pole." I estimated (though, perhaps, I may be mistaken)I estimated this adventurous course of the

Nautilus to have lasted fifteen or twenty days. And I know not how much longer it might have lasted, had it

not been for the catastrophe which ended this voyage. Of Captain Nemo I saw nothing whatever now, nor of

his second. Not a man of the crew was visible for an instant. The Nautilus was almost incessantly under

water. When we came to the surface to renew the air, the panels opened and shut mechanically. There were

no more marks on the planisphere. I knew not where we were. And the Canadian, too, his strength and

patience at an end, appeared no more. Conseil could not draw a word from him; and, fearing that, in a

dreadful fit of madness, he might kill himself, watched him with constant devotion. One morning (what date

it was I could not say) I had fallen into a heavy sleep towards the early hours, a sleep both painful and

unhealthy, when I suddenly awoke. Ned Land was leaning over me, saying, in a low voice, "We are going to

"Tonight. All inspection on board the Nautilus seems to have ceased. All appear to be stupefied. You will be

"In sight of land. I took the reckoning this morning in the fog twenty miles to the east."

"The sea is bad, the wind violent, but twenty miles in that light boat of the Nautilus does not frighten me.

Unknown to the crew, I have been able to procure food and some bottles of water."

"But," continued the Canadian, "if I am surprised, I will defend myself; I will force them to kill me."

I had made up my mind to all. The Canadian left me. I reached the platform, on which I could with difficulty

support myself against the shock of the waves. The sky was threatening; but, as land was in those thick brown

shadows, we must fly. I returned to the saloon, fearing and yet hoping to see Captain Nemo, wishing and yet

not wishing to see him. What could I have said to him? Could I hide the involuntary horror with which he

inspired me? No. It was better that I should not meet him face to face; better to forget him. And yet

How long seemed that day, the last that I should pass in the Nautilus. I remained alone. Ned Land and

Conseil avoided speaking, for fear of betraying themselves. At six I dined, but I was not hungry; I forced

myself to eat in spite of my disgust, that I might not weaken myself. At halfpast six Ned Land came to my

room, saying, "We shall not see each other again before our departure. At ten the moon will not be risen. We

will profit by the darkness. Come to the boat; Conseil and I will wait for you."

The Canadian went out without giving me time to answer. Wishing to verify the course of the Nautilus, I

went to the saloon. We were running N.N.E. at frightful speed, and more than fifty yards deep. I cast a last

look on these wonders of nature, on the riches of art heaped up in this museum, upon the unrivalled collection

destined to perish at the bottom of the sea, with him who had formed it. I wished to fix an indelible

impression of it in my mind. I remained an hour thus, bathed in the light of that luminous ceiling, and passing

in review those treasures shining under their glasses. Then I returned to my room.

I dressed myself in strong sea clothing. I collected my notes, placing them carefully about me. My heart beat

loudly. I could not check its pulsations. Certainly my trouble and agitation would have betrayed me to

Captain Nemo's eyes. What was he doing at this moment? I listened at the door of his room. I heard steps.

Captain Nemo was there. He had not gone to rest. At every moment I expected to see him appear, and ask me

why I wished to fly. I was constantly on the alert. My imagination magnified everything. The impression

became at last so poignant that I asked myself if it would not be better to go to the Captain's room, see him

It was the inspiration of a madman; fortunately I resisted the desire, and stretched myself on my bed to quiet

my bodily agitation. My nerves were somewhat calmer, but in my excited brain I saw over again all my

existence on board the Nautilus; every incident, either happy or unfortunate, which had happened since my

disappearance from the Abraham Lincolnthe submarine hunt, the Torres Straits, the savages of Papua, the

running ashore, the coral cemetery, the passage of Suez, the Island of Santorin, the Cretan diver, Vigo Bay,

Atlantis, the iceberg, the South Pole, the imprisonment in the ice, the fight among the poulps, the storm in the

Gulf Stream, the Avenger, and the horrible scene of the vessel sunk with all her crew. All these events passed

before my eyes like scenes in a drama. Then Captain Nemo seemed to grow enormously, his features to

assume superhuman proportions. He was no longer my equal, but a man of the waters, the genie of the sea.

It was then halfpast nine. I held my head between my hands to keep it from bursting. I closed my eyes; I

would not think any longer. There was another halfhour to wait, another halfhour of a nightmare, which

At that moment I heard the distant strains of the organ, a sad harmony to an undefinable chant, the wail of a

soul longing to break these earthly bonds. I listened with every sense, scarcely breathing; plunged, like

Captain Nemo, in that musical ecstasy, which was drawing him in spirit to the end of life.

Then a sudden thought terrified me. Captain Nemo had left his room. He was in the saloon, which I must

cross to fly. There I should meet him for the last time. He would see me, perhaps speak to me. A gesture of

But ten was about to strike. The moment had come for me to leave my room, and join my companions.

I must not hesitate, even if Captain Nemo himself should rise before me. I opened my door carefully; and

even then, as it turned on its hinges, it seemed to me to make a dreadful noise. Perhaps it only existed in my

I crept along the dark stairs of the Nautilus, stopping at each step to check the beating of my heart. I reached

the door of the saloon, and opened it gently. It was plunged in profound darkness. The strains of the organ

sounded faintly. Captain Nemo was there. He did not see me. In the full light I do not think he would have

I crept along the carpet, avoiding the slightest sound which might betray my presence. I was at least five

I was going to open it, when a sigh from Captain Nemo nailed me to the spot. I knew that he was rising. I

could even see him, for the light from the library came through to the saloon. He came towards me silently,

with his arms crossed, gliding like a spectre rather than walking. His breast was swelling with sobs; and I

In desperation, I rushed through the library, mounted the central staircase, and, following the upper flight,

reached the boat. I crept through the opening, which had already admitted my two companions.

The orifice in the plates of the Nautilus was first closed, and fastened down by means of a false key, with

which Ned Land had provided himself; the opening in the boat was also closed. The Canadian began to

Suddenly a noise was heard. Voices were answering each other loudly. What was the matter? Had they

The Canadian had stopped in his work. But one word many times repeated, a dreadful word, revealed the

cause of the agitation spreading on board the Nautilus. It was not we the crew were looking after!

"The maelstrom! the maelstrom!" Could a more dreadful word in a more dreadful situation have sounded in

our ears! We were then upon the dangerous coast of Norway. Was the Nautilus being drawn into this gulf at

the moment our boat was going to leave its sides? We knew that at the tide the pentup waters between the

islands of Ferroe and Loffoden rush with irresistible violence, forming a whirlpool from which no vessel ever

escapes. From every point of the horizon enormous waves were meeting, forming a gulf justly called the

"Navel of the Ocean," whose power of attraction extends to a distance of twelve miles. There, not only

vessels, but whales are sacrificed, as well as white bears from the northern regions.

It is thither that the Nautilus, voluntarily or involuntarily, had been run by the Captain.

It was describing a spiral, the circumference of which was lessening by degrees, and the boat, which was still

fastened to its side, was carried along with giddy speed. I felt that sickly giddiness which arises from

We were in dread. Our horror was at its height, circulation had stopped, all nervous influence was

annihilated, and we were covered with cold sweat, like a sweat of agony! And what noise around our frail

bark! What roarings repeated by the echo miles away! What an uproar was that of the waters broken on the

sharp rocks at the bottom, where the hardest bodies are crushed, and trees worn away, "with all the fur rubbed

What a situation to be in! We rocked frightfully. The Nautilus defended itself like a human being. Its steel

"We must hold on," said Ned, "and look after the bolts. We may still be saved if we stick to the Nautilus."

He had not finished the words, when we heard a crashing noise, the bolts gave way, and the boat, torn from

its groove, was hurled like a stone from a sling into the midst of the whirlpool.

My head struck on a piece of iron, and with the violent shock I lost all consciousness.

Thus ends the voyage under the seas. What passed during that night how the boat escaped from the eddies

of the maelstrom how Ned Land, Conseil, and myself ever came out of the gulf, I cannot tell.

But when I returned to consciousness, I was lying in a fisherman's hut, on the Loffoden Isles. My two

companions, safe and sound, were near me holding my hands. We embraced each other heartily.

At that moment we could not think of returning to France. The means of communication between the north of

Norway and the south are rare. And I am therefore obliged to wait for the steamboat running monthly from

And, among the worthy people who have so kindly received us, I revise my record of these adventures once

more. Not a fact has been omitted, not a detail exaggerated. It is a faithful narrative of this incredible

expedition in an element inaccessible to man, but to which Progress will one day open a road.

Shall I be believed? I do not know. And it matters little, after all. What I now affirm is, that I have a right to

speak of these seas, under which, in less than ten months, I have crossed 20,000 leagues in that submarine

But what has become of the Nautilus? Did it resist the pressure of the maelstrom? Does Captain Nemo still

live? And does he still follow under the ocean those frightful retaliations? Or, did he stop after the last

Will the waves one day carry to him this manuscript containing the history of his life? Shall I ever know the

name of this man? Will the missing vessel tell us by its nationality that of Captain Nemo?

I hope so. And I also hope that his powerful vessel has conquered the sea at its most terrible gulf, and that the

Nautilus has survived where so many other vessels have been lost! If it be soif Captain Nemo still inhabits

the ocean, his adopted country, may hatred be appeased in that savage heart! May the contemplation of so

many wonders extinguish for ever the spirit of vengeance! May the judge disappear, and the philosopher

continue the peaceful exploration of the sea! If his destiny be strange, it is also sublime. Have I not

understood it myself? Have I not lived ten months of this unnatural life? And to the question asked by

Ecclesiastes three thousand years ago, "That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?" two