\"InwhatdirectionistheNautilusgoing?\"Iasked.
\"Idonotknow,\"repliedNed.
\"Well,atnoonweshallseethepoint.\"
TheCanadianreturnedtoConseil.AssoonasIwasdressed,Iwentintothesaloon.Thecompasswasnotreassuring.
ThecourseoftheNautiluswasS.S.W.WewereturningourbacksonEurope.
Iwaitedwithsomeimpatiencetilltheship\'splacewasprickedonthechart.Atabouthalf-pasteleventhereservoirswereemptied,andourvesselrosetothesurfaceoftheocean.
Irushedtowardstheplatform.NedLandhadprecededme.
Nomorelandinsight.Nothingbutanimmensesea.
Somesailsonthehorizon,doubtlessthosegoingtoSanRoqueinsearchoffavourablewindsfordoublingtheCapeofGoodHope.
Theweatherwascloudy.Agaleofwindwaspreparing.
Nedraved,andtriedtopiercethecloudyhorizon.
Hestillhopedthatbehindallthatfogstretchedthelandhesolongedfor.
Atnoonthesunshoweditselfforaninstant.Thesecondprofitedbythisbrightnesstotakeitsheight.Then,theseabecomingmorebillowy,wedescended,andthepanelclosed.
Anhourafter,uponconsultingthechart,IsawthepositionoftheNautiluswasmarkedat16@17\'long.,and33@22\'
lat.,at150leaguesfromthenearestcoast.Therewasnomeansofflight,andIleaveyoutoimaginetherageoftheCanadianwhenIinformedhimofoursituation.
Formyself,Iwasnotparticularlysorry.Ifeltlightenedoftheloadwhichhadoppressedme,andwasabletoreturnwithsomedegreeofcalmnesstomyaccustomedwork.
Thatnight,abouteleveno\'clock,IreceivedamostunexpectedvisitfromCaptainNemo.HeaskedmeverygraciouslyifIfeltfatiguedfrommywatchoftheprecedingnight.
Iansweredinthenegative.
\"Then,M.Aronnax,Iproposeacuriousexcursion.\"
\"Propose,Captain?\"
\"Youhavehithertoonlyvisitedthesubmarinedepthsbydaylight,underthebrightnessofthesun.Woulditsuityoutoseetheminthedarknessofthenight?\"
\"Mostwillingly.\"
\"Iwarnyou,thewaywillbetiring.Weshallhavefartowalk,andmustclimbamountain.Theroadsarenotwellkept.\"
\"Whatyousay,Captain,onlyheightensmycuriosity;
Iamreadytofollowyou.\"
\"Comethen,sir,wewillputonourdiving-dresses.\"
Arrivedattherobing-room,Isawthatneitherofmycompanionsnoranyoftheship\'screwweretofollowusonthisexcursion.
CaptainNemohadnotevenproposedmytakingwithmeeitherNedorConseil.
Inafewmomentswehadputonourdiving-dresses;theyplacedonourbacksthereservoirs,abundantlyfilledwithair,butnoelectriclampswereprepared.IcalledtheCaptain\'sattentiontothefact.
\"Theywillbeuseless,\"hereplied.
IthoughtIhadnotheardaright,butIcouldnotrepeatmyobservation,fortheCaptain\'sheadhadalreadydisappearedinitsmetalcase.
Ifinishedharnessingmyself.Ifeltthemputaniron-pointedstickintomyhand,andsomeminuteslater,aftergoingthroughtheusualform,wesetfootonthebottomoftheAtlanticatadepthof150fathoms.
Midnightwasnear.Thewaterswereprofoundlydark,butCaptainNemopointedoutinthedistanceareddishspot,asortoflargelightshiningbrilliantlyabouttwomilesfromtheNautilus.Whatthisfiremightbe,whatcouldfeedit,whyandhowitlituptheliquidmass,Icouldnotsay.
Inanycase,itdidlightourway,vaguely,itistrue,butIsoonaccustomedmyselftothepeculiardarkness,andIunderstood,undersuchcircumstances,theuselessnessoftheRuhmkorffapparatus.
Asweadvanced,Iheardakindofpatteringabovemyhead.
Thenoiseredoubling,sometimesproducingacontinualshower,Isoonunderstoodthecause.Itwasrainfallingviolently,andcrispingthesurfaceofthewaves.InstinctivelythethoughtflashedacrossmymindthatIshouldbewetthrough!
Bythewater!inthemidstofthewater!Icouldnothelplaughingattheoddidea.But,indeed,inthethickdiving-dress,theliquidelementisnolongerfelt,andoneonlyseemstobeinanatmospheresomewhatdenserthantheterrestrialatmosphere.
Nothingmore.
Afterhalfanhour\'swalkthesoilbecamestony.
Medusae,microscopiccrustacea,andpennatuleslititslightlywiththeirphosphorescentgleam.Icaughtaglimpseofpiecesofstonecoveredwithmillionsofzoophytesandmassesofseaweed.
Myfeetoftenslippeduponthisstickycarpetofseaweed,andwithoutmyiron-tippedstickIshouldhavefallenmorethanonce.
Inturninground,IcouldstillseethewhitishlanternoftheNautilusbeginningtopaleinthedistance.
Buttherosylightwhichguidedusincreasedandlitupthehorizon.
Thepresenceofthisfireunderwaterpuzzledmeinthehighestdegree.
WasIgoingtowardsanaturalphenomenonasyetunknowntothesavantsoftheearth?Oreven(forthisthoughtcrossedmybrain)hadthehandofmanaughttodowiththisconflagration?Hadhefannedthisflame?
WasItomeetinthesedepthscompanionsandfriendsofCaptainNemowhomhewasgoingtovisit,andwho,likehim,ledthisstrangeexistence?
ShouldIfinddownthereawholecolonyofexileswho,wearyofthemiseriesofthisearth,hadsoughtandfoundindependenceinthedeepocean?
Allthesefoolishandunreasonableideaspursuedme.Andinthisconditionofmind,over-excitedbythesuccessionofwonderscontinuallypassingbeforemyeyes,IshouldnothavebeensurprisedtomeetatthebottomoftheseaoneofthosesubmarinetownsofwhichCaptainNemodreamed.
Ourroadgrewlighterandlighter.Thewhiteglimmercameinraysfromthesummitofamountainabout800feethigh.ButwhatIsawwassimplyareflection,developedbytheclearnessofthewaters.
Thesourceofthisinexplicablelightwasafireontheoppositesideofthemountain.
InthemidstofthisstonymazefurrowingthebottomoftheAtlantic,CaptainNemoadvancedwithouthesitation.Heknewthisdrearyroad.
Doubtlesshehadoftentravelledoverit,andcouldnotlosehimself.
Ifollowedhimwithunshakenconfidence.Heseemedtomelikeagenieofthesea;and,ashewalkedbeforeme,Icouldnothelpadmiringhisstature,whichwasoutlinedinblackontheluminoushorizon.
Itwasoneinthemorningwhenwearrivedatthefirstslopesofthemountain;
buttogainaccesstothemwemustventurethroughthedifficultpathsofavastcopse.
Yes;acopseofdeadtrees,withoutleaves,withoutsap,treespetrifiedbytheactionofthewaterandhereandthereovertoppedbygiganticpines.Itwaslikeacoal-pitstillstanding,holdingbytherootstothebrokensoil,andwhosebranches,likefineblackpapercuttings,showeddistinctlyonthewateryceiling.
PicturetoyourselfaforestintheHartzhangingontothesidesofthemountain,butaforestswallowedup.Thepathswereencumberedwithseaweedandfucus,betweenwhichgrovelledawholeworldofcrustacea.Iwentalong,climbingtherocks,stridingoverextendedtrunks,breakingtheseabind-weedwhichhungfromonetreetotheother;andfrighteningthefishes,whichflewfrombranchtobranch.Pressingonward,Ifeltnofatigue.
Ifollowedmyguide,whowasnevertired.Whataspectacle!
HowcanIexpressit?howpainttheaspectofthosewoodsandrocksinthismedium——theirunderpartsdarkandwild,theuppercolouredwithredtints,bythatlightwhichthereflectingpowersofthewatersdoubled?Weclimbedrockswhichfelldirectlyafterwithgiganticboundsandthelowgrowlingofanavalanche.
Torightandleftranlong,darkgalleries,wheresightwaslost.
Hereopenedvastgladeswhichthehandofmanseemedtohaveworked;
andIsometimesaskedmyselfifsomeinhabitantofthesesubmarineregionswouldnotsuddenlyappeartome.
ButCaptainNemowasstillmounting.Icouldnotstaybehind.
Ifollowedboldly.Mystickgavemegoodhelp.Afalsestepwouldhavebeendangerousonthenarrowpassesslopingdowntothesidesofthegulfs;butIwalkedwithfirmstep,withoutfeelinganygiddiness.NowIjumpedacrevice,thedepthofwhichwouldhavemademehesitatehaditbeenamongtheglaciersontheland;
nowIventuredontheunsteadytrunkofatreethrownacrossfromoneabysstotheother,withoutlookingundermyfeet,havingonlyeyestoadmirethewildsitesofthisregion.
There,monumentalrocks,leaningontheirregularly-cutbases,seemedtodefyalllawsofequilibrium.Frombetweentheirstonykneestreessprang,likeajetunderheavypressure,andupheldotherswhichupheldthem.
Naturaltowers,largescarps,cutperpendicularly,likea\"curtain,\"inclinedatananglewhichthelawsofgravitationcouldneverhavetoleratedinterrestrialregions.
TwohoursafterquittingtheNautiluswehadcrossedthelineoftrees,andahundredfeetaboveourheadsrosethetopofthemountain,whichcastashadowonthebrilliantirradiationoftheoppositeslope.
Somepetrifiedshrubsranfantasticallyhereandthere.Fishesgotupunderourfeetlikebirdsinthelonggrass.Themassiverockswererentwithimpenetrablefractures,deepgrottos,andunfathomableholes,atthebottomofwhichformidablecreaturesmightbeheardmoving.
MybloodcurdledwhenIsawenormousantennaeblockingmyroad,orsomefrightfulclawclosingwithanoiseintheshadowofsomecavity.
Millionsofluminousspotsshonebrightlyinthemidstofthedarkness.
Theyweretheeyesofgiantcrustaceacrouchedintheirholes;
giantlobsterssettingthemselvesuplikehalberdiers,andmovingtheirclawswiththeclickingsoundofpincers;titaniccrabs,pointedlikeagunonitscarriage;andfrightful-lookingpoulps,interweavingtheirtentacleslikealivingnestofserpents.
Wehadnowarrivedonthefirstplatform,whereothersurprisesawaitedme.
Beforeuslaysomepicturesqueruins,whichbetrayedthehandofmanandnotthatoftheCreator.Therewerevastheapsofstone,amongstwhichmightbetracedthevagueandshadowyformsofcastlesandtemples,clothedwithaworldofblossomingzoophytes,andoverwhich,insteadofivy,sea-weedandfucusthrewathickvegetablemantle.Butwhatwasthisportionoftheglobewhichhadbeenswallowedbycataclysms?
Whohadplacedthoserocksandstoneslikecromlechsofprehistorictimes?
WherewasI?WhitherhadCaptainNemo\'sfancyhurriedme?
Iwouldfainhaveaskedhim;notbeingableto,Istoppedhim——
Iseizedhisarm.But,shakinghishead,andpointingtothehighestpointofthemountain,heseemedtosay:
\"Come,comealong;comehigher!\"
Ifollowed,andinafewminutesIhadclimbedtothetop,whichforacircleoftenyardscommandedthewholemassofrock.
Ilookeddownthesidewehadjustclimbed.Themountaindidnotrisemorethansevenoreighthundredfeetabovetheleveloftheplain;butontheoppositesideitcommandedfromtwicethatheightthedepthsofthispartoftheAtlantic.
Myeyesrangedfaroveralargespacelitbyaviolentfulguration.
Infact,themountainwasavolcano.
Atfiftyfeetabovethepeak,inthemidstofarainofstonesandscoriae,alargecraterwasvomitingforthtorrentsoflavawhichfellinacascadeoffireintothebosomoftheliquidmass.
Thussituated,thisvolcanolitthelowerplainlikeanimmensetorch,eventotheextremelimitsofthehorizon.
Isaidthatthesubmarinecraterthrewuplava,butnoflames.
Flamesrequiretheoxygenoftheairtofeeduponandcannotbedevelopedunderwater;butstreamsoflava,havinginthemselvestheprinciplesoftheirincandescence,canattainawhiteheat,fightvigorouslyagainsttheliquidelement,andturnittovapourbycontact.
RapidcurrentsbearingallthesegasesindiffusionandtorrentsoflavaslidtothebottomofthemountainlikeaneruptionofVesuviusonanotherTerradelGreco.
Thereindeedundermyeyes,ruined,destroyed,layatown——
itsroofsopentothesky,itstemplesfallen,itsarchesdislocated,itscolumnslyingontheground,fromwhichonewouldstillrecognisethemassivecharacterofTuscanarchitecture.
Furtheron,someremainsofagiganticaqueduct;herethehighbaseofanAcropolis,withthefloatingoutlineofaParthenon;
theretracesofaquay,asifanancientporthadformerlyabuttedonthebordersoftheocean,anddisappearedwithitsmerchantvesselsanditswar-galleys.Fartheronagain,longlinesofsunkenwallsandbroad,desertedstreets——
aperfectPompeiiescapedbeneaththewaters.SuchwasthesightthatCaptainNemobroughtbeforemyeyes!
WherewasI?WherewasI?Imustknowatanycost.
Itriedtospeak,butCaptainNemostoppedmebyagesture,and,pickingupapieceofchalk-stone,advancedtoarockofblackbasalt,andtracedtheoneword:
ATLANTIS
Whatalightshotthroughmymind!Atlantis!theAtlantisofPlato,thatcontinentdeniedbyOrigenandHumbolt,whoplaceditsdisappearanceamongstthelegendarytales.
Ihadittherenowbeforemyeyes,bearinguponittheunexceptionabletestimonyofitscatastrophe.
TheregionthusengulfedwasbeyondEurope,Asia,andLybia,beyondthecolumnsofHercules,wherethosepowerfulpeople,theAtlantides,lived,againstwhomthefirstwarsofancientGreekswerewaged.
Thus,ledbythestrangestdestiny,Iwastreadingunderfootthemountainsofthiscontinent,touchingwithmyhandthoseruinsathousandgenerationsoldandcontemporarywiththegeologicalepochs.
Iwaswalkingontheveryspotwherethecontemporariesofthefirstmanhadwalked.
WhilstIwastryingtofixinmymindeverydetailofthisgrandlandscape,CaptainNemoremainedmotionless,asifpetrifiedinmuteecstasy,leaningonamossystone.
Washedreamingofthosegenerationslongsincedisappeared?
Washeaskingthemthesecretofhumandestiny?Wasitherethisstrangemancametosteephimselfinhistoricalrecollections,andliveagainthisancientlife——hewhowantednomodernone?
WhatwouldInothavegiventoknowhisthoughts,tosharethem,tounderstandthem!Weremainedforanhouratthisplace,contemplatingthevastplainsunderthebrightnessofthelava,whichwassometimeswonderfullyintense.Rapidtremblingsranalongthemountaincausedbyinternalbubblings,deepnoise,distinctlytransmittedthroughtheliquidmediumwereechoedwithmajesticgrandeur.Atthismomentthemoonappearedthroughthemassofwatersandthrewherpaleraysontheburiedcontinent.
Itwasbutagleam,butwhatanindescribableeffect!
TheCaptainrose,castonelastlookontheimmenseplain,andthenbademefollowhim.
Wedescendedthemountainrapidly,and,themineralforestoncepassed,IsawthelanternoftheNautilusshininglikeastar.
TheCaptainwalkedstraighttoit,andwegotonboardasthefirstraysoflightwhitenedthesurfaceoftheocean.
CHAPTERX
THESUBMARINECOAL-MINES
Thenextday,the20thofFebruary,Iawokeverylate:thefatiguesofthepreviousnighthadprolongedmysleepuntileleveno\'clock.I
dressedquickly,andhastenedtofindthecoursetheNautiluswastaking.
Theinstrumentsshowedittobestilltowardthesouth,withaspeedoftwentymilesanhourandadepthoffiftyfathoms.
Thespeciesoffishesheredidnotdiffermuchfromthosealreadynoticed.
Therewereraysofgiantsize,fiveyardslong,andendowedwithgreatmuscularstrength,whichenabledthemtoshootabovethewaves;
sharksofmanykinds;amongstothers,onefifteenfeetlong,withtriangularsharpteeth,andwhosetransparencyrendereditalmostinvisibleinthewater.
AmongstbonyfishConseilnoticedsomeaboutthreeyardslong,armedattheupperjawwithapiercingsword;otherbright-colouredcreatures,knowninthetimeofAristotlebythenameofthesea-dragon,whicharedangeroustocaptureonaccountofthespikesontheirback.
Aboutfouro\'clock,thesoil,generallycomposedofathickmudmixedwithpetrifiedwood,changedbydegrees,anditbecamemorestony,andseemedstrewnwithconglomerateandpiecesofbasalt,withasprinklingoflava.
Ithoughtthatamountainousregionwassucceedingthelongplains;
andaccordingly,afterafewevolutionsoftheNautilus,Isawthesoutherlyhorizonblockedbyahighwallwhichseemedtocloseallexit.
Itssummitevidentlypassedtheleveloftheocean.Itmustbeacontinent,oratleastanisland——oneoftheCanaries,oroftheCapeVerdeIslands.
Thebearingsnotbeingyettaken,perhapsdesignedly,Iwasignorantofourexactposition.Inanycase,suchawallseemedtometomarkthelimitsofthatAtlantis,ofwhichwehadinrealitypassedoveronlythesmallestpart.
MuchlongershouldIhaveremainedatthewindowadmiringthebeautiesofseaandsky,butthepanelsclosed.AtthismomenttheNautilusarrivedatthesideofthishigh,perpendicularwall.
Whatitwoulddo,Icouldnotguess.Ireturnedtomyroom;
itnolongermoved.Ilaidmyselfdownwiththefullintentionofwakingafterafewhours\'sleep;butitwaseighto\'clockthenextdaywhenIenteredthesaloon.Ilookedatthemanometer.
IttoldmethattheNautiluswasfloatingonthesurfaceoftheocean.
Besides,Iheardstepsontheplatform.Iwenttothepanel.
Itwasopen;but,insteadofbroaddaylight,asIexpected,Iwassurroundedbyprofounddarkness.Wherewerewe?
WasImistaken?Wasitstillnight?No;notastarwasshiningandnighthasnotthatutterdarkness.
Iknewnotwhattothink,whenavoicenearmesaid:
\"Isthatyou,Professor?\"
\"Ah!Captain,\"Ianswered,\"wherearewe?\"
\"Underground,sir.\"
\"Underground!\"Iexclaimed.\"AndtheNautilusfloatingstill?\"
\"Italwaysfloats.\"
\"ButIdonotunderstand.\"
\"Waitafewminutes,ourlanternwillbelit,and,ifyoulikelightplaces,youwillbesatisfied.\"
Istoodontheplatformandwaited.ThedarknesswassocompletethatIcouldnotevenseeCaptainNemo;but,lookingtothezenith,exactlyabovemyhead,Iseemedtocatchanundecidedgleam,akindoftwilightfillingacircularhole.Atthisinstantthelanternwaslit,anditsvividnessdispelledthefaintlight.
Iclosedmydazzledeyesforaninstant,andthenlookedagain.
TheNautiluswasstationary,floatingnearamountainwhichformedasortofquay.Thelake,then,supportingitwasalakeimprisonedbyacircleofwalls,measuringtwomilesindiameterandsixincircumference.Itslevel(themanometershowed)
couldonlybethesameastheoutsidelevel,fortheremustnecessarilybeacommunicationbetweenthelakeandthesea.
Thehighpartitions,leaningforwardontheirbase,grewintoavaultedroofbearingtheshapeofanimmensefunnelturnedupsidedown,theheightbeingaboutfiveorsixhundredyards.
Atthesummitwasacircularorifice,bywhichIhadcaughttheslightgleamoflight,evidentlydaylight.
\"Wherearewe?\"Iasked.
\"Intheveryheartofanextinctvolcano,theinteriorofwhichhasbeeninvadedbythesea,aftersomegreatconvulsionoftheearth.
Whilstyouweresleeping,Professor,theNautiluspenetratedtothislagoonbyanaturalcanal,whichopensabouttenyardsbeneaththesurfaceoftheocean.Thisisitsharbourofrefuge,asure,commodious,andmysteriousone,shelteredfromallgales.
Showme,ifyoucan,onthecoastsofanyofyourcontinentsorislands,aroadwhichcangivesuchperfectrefugefromallstorms.\"
\"Certainly,\"Ireplied,\"youareinsafetyhere,CaptainNemo.
Whocouldreachyouintheheartofavolcano?ButdidInotseeanopeningatitssummit?\"
\"Yes;itscrater,formerlyfilledwithlava,vapour,andflames,andwhichnowgivesentrancetothelife-givingairwebreathe.\"
\"Butwhatisthisvolcanicmountain?\"
\"Itbelongstooneofthenumerousislandswithwhichthisseaisstrewn——tovesselsasimplesandbank——tousanimmensecavern.
Chanceledmetodiscoverit,andchanceservedmewell.\"
\"Butofwhatuseisthisrefuge,Captain?TheNautiluswantsnoport.\"
\"No,sir;butitwantselectricitytomakeitmove,andthewherewithaltomaketheelectricity——sodiumtofeedtheelements,coalfromwhichtogetthesodium,andacoal-minetosupplythecoal.
Andexactlyonthisspottheseacoversentireforestsembeddedduringthegeologicalperiods,nowmineralisedandtransformedintocoal;
formetheyareaninexhaustiblemine.\"
\"Yourmenfollowthetradeofminershere,then,Captain?\"
\"Exactlyso.TheseminesextendunderthewavesliketheminesofNewcastle.
Here,intheirdiving-dresses,pickaxeandshovelinhand,mymenextractthecoal,whichIdonotevenaskfromtheminesoftheearth.
WhenIburnthiscombustibleforthemanufactureofsodium,thesmoke,escapingfromthecraterofthemountain,givesittheappearanceofastill-activevolcano.\"
\"Andweshallseeyourcompanionsatwork?\"
\"No;notthistimeatleast;forIaminahurrytocontinueoursubmarinetouroftheearth.SoIshallcontentmyselfwithdrawingfromthereserveofsodiumIalreadypossess.
Thetimeforloadingisonedayonly,andwecontinueourvoyage.
So,ifyouwishtogooverthecavernandmaketheroundofthelagoon,youmusttakeadvantageofto-day,M.Aronnax.\"
IthankedtheCaptainandwenttolookformycompanions,whohadnotyetlefttheircabin.Iinvitedthemtofollowmewithoutsayingwherewewere.
Theymountedtheplatform.Conseil,whowasastonishedatnothing,seemedtolookuponitasquitenaturalthatheshouldwakeunderamountain,afterhavingfallenasleepunderthewaves.ButNedLandthoughtofnothingbutfindingwhetherthecavernhadanyexit.
Afterbreakfast,aboutteno\'clock,wewentdownontothemountain.
\"Hereweare,oncemoreonland,\"saidConseil.
\"Idonotcallthisland,\"saidtheCanadian.\"Andbesides,wearenotonit,butbeneathit.\"
Betweenthewallsofthemountainsandthewatersofthelakelayasandyshorewhich,atitsgreatestbreadth,measuredfivehundredfeet.
Onthissoilonemighteasilymakethetourofthelake.Butthebaseofthehighpartitionswasstonyground,withvolcaniclocksandenormouspumice-stoneslyinginpicturesqueheaps.Allthesedetachedmasses,coveredwithenamel,polishedbytheactionofthesubterraneousfires,shoneresplendentbythelightofourelectriclantern.Themicadustfromtheshore,risingunderourfeet,flewlikeacloudofsparks.
Thebottomnowrosesensibly,andwesoonarrivedatlongcircuitousslopes,orinclinedplanes,whichtookushigherbydegrees;butwewereobligedtowalkcarefullyamongtheseconglomerates,boundbynocement,thefeetslippingontheglassycrystal,felspar,andquartz.
Thevolcanicnatureofthisenormousexcavationwasconfirmedonallsides,andIpointeditouttomycompanions.
\"Picturetoyourselves,\"saidI,\"whatthiscratermusthavebeenwhenfilledwithboilinglava,andwhentheleveloftheincandescentliquidrosetotheorificeofthemountain,asthoughmeltedonthetopofahotplate.\"
\"Icanpictureitperfectly,\"saidConseil.\"But,sir,willyoutellmewhytheGreatArchitecthassuspendedoperations,andhowitisthatthefurnaceisreplacedbythequietwatersofthelake?\"
\"Mostprobably,Conseil,becausesomeconvulsionbeneaththeoceanproducedthatveryopeningwhichhasservedasapassagefortheNautilus.
ThenthewatersoftheAtlanticrushedintotheinteriorofthemountain.
Theremusthavebeenaterriblestrugglebetweenthetwoelements,astrugglewhichendedinthevictoryofNeptune.Butmanyageshaverunoutsincethen,andthesubmergedvolcanoisnowapeaceablegrotto.\"
\"Verywell,\"repliedNedLand;\"Iaccepttheexplanation,sir;but,inourowninterests,Iregretthattheopeningofwhichyouspeakwasnotmadeabovethelevelofthesea.\"
\"But,friendNed,\"saidConseil,\"ifthepassagehadnotbeenunderthesea,theNautiluscouldnothavegonethroughit.\"
Wecontinuedascending.Thestepsbecamemoreandmoreperpendicularandnarrow.Deepexcavations,whichwewereobligedtocross,cutthemhereandthere;slopingmasseshadtobeturned.
Wesliduponourkneesandcrawledalong.ButConseil\'sdexterityandtheCanadian\'sstrengthsurmountedallobstacles.
Ataheightofabout31feetthenatureofthegroundchangedwithoutbecomingmorepracticable.Totheconglomerateandtrachytesucceededblackbasalt,thefirstdispreadinlayersfullofbubbles,thelatterformingregularprisms,placedlikeacolonnadesupportingthespringoftheimmensevault,anadmirablespecimenofnaturalarchitecture.Betweentheblocksofbasaltwoundlongstreamsoflava,longsincegrowncold,encrustedwithbituminousrays;
andinsomeplacestherewerespreadlargecarpetsofsulphur.
Amorepowerfullightshonethroughtheuppercrater,sheddingavagueglimmeroverthesevolcanicdepressionsforeverburiedinthebosomofthisextinguishedmountain.Butourupwardmarchwassoonstoppedataheightofabouttwohundredandfiftyfeetbyimpassableobstacles.Therewasacompletevaultedarchoverhangingus,andourascentwaschangedtoacircularwalk.
Atthelastchangevegetablelifebegantostrugglewiththemineral.
Someshrubs,andevensometrees,grewfromthefracturesofthewalls.
Irecognisedsomeeuphorbias,withthecausticsugarcomingfromthem;heliotropes,quiteincapableofjustifyingtheirname,sadlydroopedtheirclustersofflowers,boththeircolourandperfumehalfgone.Hereandtheresomechrysanthemumsgrewtimidlyatthefootofanaloewithlong,sickly-lookingleaves.
Butbetweenthestreamsoflava,Isawsomelittlevioletsstillslightlyperfumed,andIadmitthatIsmeltthemwithdelight.
Perfumeisthesouloftheflower,andsea-flowershavenosoul.
Wehadarrivedatthefootofsomesturdydragon-trees,whichhadpushedasidetherockswiththeirstrongroots,whenNedLandexclaimed:
\"Ah!sir,ahive!ahive!\"
\"Ahive!\"Ireplied,withagestureofincredulity.
\"Yes,ahive,\"repeatedtheCanadian,\"andbeeshummingroundit.\"
Iapproached,andwasboundtobelievemyowneyes.Thereataholeboredinoneofthedragon-treesweresomethousandsoftheseingeniousinsects,socommoninalltheCanaries,andwhoseproduceissomuchesteemed.
Naturallyenough,theCanadianwishedtogatherthehoney,andIcouldnotwellopposehiswish.Aquantityofdryleaves,mixedwithsulphur,helitwithasparkfromhisflint,andhebegantosmokeoutthebees.
Thehummingceasedbydegrees,andthehiveeventuallyyieldedseveralpoundsofthesweetesthoney,withwhichNedLandfilledhishaversack.
\"WhenIhavemixedthishoneywiththepasteofthebread-fruit,\"
saidhe,\"Ishallbeabletoofferyouasucculentcake.\"
{`bread-fruit\'hasbeensubstitutedfor`artocarpus\'inthised.}
\"\'Ponmyword,\"saidConseil,\"itwillbegingerbread.\"
\"Nevermindthegingerbread,\"saidI;\"letuscontinueourinterestingwalk.\"
Ateveryturnofthepathwewerefollowing,thelakeappearedinallitslengthandbreadth.Thelanternlitupthewholeofitspeaceablesurface,whichknewneitherripplenorwave.
TheNautilusremainedperfectlyimmovable.Ontheplatform,andonthemountain,theship\'screwwereworkinglikeblackshadowsclearlycarvedagainsttheluminousatmosphere.
Wewerenowgoingroundthehighestcrestofthefirstlayersofrockwhichupheldtheroof.Ithensawthatbeeswerenottheonlyrepresentativesoftheanimalkingdomintheinteriorofthisvolcano.
Birdsofpreyhoveredhereandthereintheshadows,orfledfromtheirnestsonthetopoftherocks.Thereweresparrowhawks,withwhitebreasts,andkestrels,anddowntheslopesscampered,withtheirlonglegs,severalfinefatbustards.IleaveanyonetoimaginethecovetousnessoftheCanadianatthesightofthissavourygame,andwhetherhedidnotregrethavingnogun.
Buthedidhisbesttoreplacetheleadbystones,and,afterseveralfruitlessattempts,hesucceededinwoundingamagnificentbird.
Tosaythatheriskedhislifetwentytimesbeforereachingitisbutthetruth;buthemanagedsowellthatthecreaturejoinedthehoney-cakesinhisbag.Wewerenowobligedtodescendtowardtheshore,thecrestbecomingimpracticable.
Aboveusthecraterseemedtogapelikethemouthofawell.
Fromthisplacetheskycouldbeclearlyseen,andclouds,dissipatedbythewestwind,leavingbehindthem,evenonthesummitofthemountain,theirmistyremnants——certainproofthattheywereonlymoderatelyhigh,forthevolcanodidnotrisemorethaneighthundredfeetabovetheleveloftheocean.HalfanhouraftertheCanadian\'slastexploitwehadregainedtheinnershore.
Heretheflorawasrepresentedbylargecarpetsofmarinecrystal,alittleumbelliferousplantverygoodtopickle,whichalsobearsthenameofpierce-stoneandsea-fennel.Conseilgatheredsomebundlesofit.
Astothefauna,itmightbecountedbythousandsofcrustaceaofallsorts,lobsters,crabs,spider-crabs,chameleonshrimps,andalargenumberofshells,rockfish,andlimpets.Three-quartersofanhourlaterwehadfinishedourcircuitouswalkandwereonboard.
Thecrewhadjustfinishedloadingthesodium,andtheNautiluscouldhaveleftthatinstant.ButCaptainNemogavenoorder.
Didhewishtowaituntilnight,andleavethesubmarinepassagesecretly?
Perhapsso.Whateveritmightbe,thenextday,theNautilus,havingleftitsport,steeredclearofalllandatafewyardsbeneaththewavesoftheAtlantic.
CHAPTERXI
THESARGASSOSEA
ThatdaytheNautiluscrossedasingularpartoftheAtlanticOcean.
NoonecanbeignorantoftheexistenceofacurrentofwarmwaterknownbythenameoftheGulfStream.AfterleavingtheGulfofFlorida,wewentinthedirectionofSpitzbergen.
ButbeforeenteringtheGulfofMexico,about45@ofN.lat.,thiscurrentdividesintotwoarms,theprincipalonegoingtowardsthecoastofIrelandandNorway,whilstthesecondbendstothesouthabouttheheightoftheAzores;then,touchingtheAfricanshore,anddescribingalengthenedoval,returnstotheAntilles.
Thissecondarm——itisratheracollarthananarm——surroundswithitscirclesofwarmwaterthatportionofthecold,quiet,immovableoceancalledtheSargassoSea,aperfectlakeintheopenAtlantic:
ittakesnolessthanthreeyearsforthegreatcurrenttopassroundit.
SuchwastheregiontheNautiluswasnowvisiting,aperfectmeadow,aclosecarpetofseaweed,fucus,andtropicalberries,sothickandsocompactthatthestemofavesselcouldhardlytearitswaythroughit.
AndCaptainNemo,notwishingtoentanglehisscrewinthisherbaceousmass,keptsomeyardsbeneaththesurfaceofthewaves.ThenameSargassocomesfromtheSpanishword\"sargazzo\"whichsignifieskelp.
Thiskelp,orberry-plant,istheprincipalformationofthisimmensebank.
AndthisisthereasonwhytheseplantsuniteinthepeacefulbasinoftheAtlantic.Theonlyexplanationwhichcanbegiven,hesays,seemstometoresultfromtheexperienceknowntoalltheworld.
Placeinavasesomefragmentsofcorkorotherfloatingbody,andgivetothewaterinthevaseacircularmovement,thescatteredfragmentswilluniteinagroupinthecentreoftheliquidsurface,thatistosay,inthepartleastagitated.
Inthephenomenonweareconsidering,theAtlanticisthevase,theGulfStreamthecircularcurrent,andtheSargassoSeathecentralpointatwhichthefloatingbodiesunite.
IshareMaury\'sopinion,andIwasabletostudythephenomenonintheverymidst,wherevesselsrarelypenetrate.Aboveusfloatedproductsofallkinds,heapedupamongthesebrownishplants;
trunksoftreestornfromtheAndesortheRockyMountains,andfloatedbytheAmazonortheMississippi;numerouswrecks,remainsofkeels,orships\'bottoms,side-planksstovein,andsoweightedwithshellsandbarnaclesthattheycouldnotagainrisetothesurface.
AndtimewillonedayjustifyMaury\'sotheropinion,thatthesesubstancesthusaccumulatedforageswillbecomepetrifiedbytheactionofthewaterandwillthenforminexhaustiblecoal-mines——
apreciousreservepreparedbyfar-seeingNatureforthemomentwhenmenshallhaveexhaustedtheminesofcontinents.
Inthemidstofthisinextricablemassofplantsandseaweed,Inoticedsomecharmingpinkhalcyonsandactiniae,withtheirlongtentaclestrailingafterthem,andmedusae,green,red,andblue.
Allthedayofthe22ndofFebruarywepassedintheSargassoSea,wheresuchfishasarepartialtomarineplantsfindabundantnourishment.
Thenext,theoceanhadreturnedtoitsaccustomedaspect.
Fromthistimefornineteendays,fromthe23rdofFebruarytothe12thofMarch,theNautiluskeptinthemiddleoftheAtlantic,carryingusataconstantspeedofahundredleaguesintwenty-fourhours.
CaptainNemoevidentlyintendedaccomplishinghissubmarineprogramme,andIimaginedthatheintended,afterdoublingCapeHorn,toreturntotheAustralianseasofthePacific.NedLandhadcauseforfear.
Intheselargeseas,voidofislands,wecouldnotattempttoleavetheboat.NorhadweanymeansofopposingCaptainNemo\'swill.
Ouronlycoursewastosubmit;butwhatwecouldneithergainbyforcenorcunning,Ilikedtothinkmightbeobtainedbypersuasion.
Thisvoyageended,wouldhenotconsenttorestoreourliberty,underanoathnevertorevealhisexistence?——anoathofhonourwhichweshouldhavereligiouslykept.ButwemustconsiderthatdelicatequestionwiththeCaptain.ButwasIfreetoclaimthisliberty?
Hadhenothimselfsaidfromthebeginning,inthefirmestmanner,thatthesecretofhislifeexactedfromhimourlastingimprisonmentonboardtheNautilus?Andwouldnotmyfourmonths\'silenceappeartohimatacitacceptanceofoursituation?Andwouldnotareturntothesubjectresultinraisingsuspicionswhichmightbehurtfultoourprojects,ifatsomefuturetimeafavourableopportunityofferedtoreturntothem?
Duringthenineteendaysmentionedabove,noincidentofanykindhappenedtosignaliseourvoyage.IsawlittleoftheCaptain;hewasatwork.InthelibraryIoftenfoundhisbooksleftopen,especiallythoseonnaturalhistory.
Myworkonsubmarinedepths,connedoverbyhim,wascoveredwithmarginalnotes,oftencontradictingmytheoriesandsystems;
buttheCaptaincontentedhimselfwiththuspurgingmywork;
itwasveryrareforhimtodiscussitwithme.
SometimesIheardthemelancholytonesofhisorgan;
butonlyatnight,inthemidstofthedeepestobscurity,whentheNautilussleptuponthedesertedocean.Duringthispartofourvoyagewesailedwholedaysonthesurfaceofthewaves.
Theseaseemedabandoned.Afewsailing-vessels,ontheroadtoIndia,weremakingfortheCapeofGoodHope.
Onedaywewerefollowedbytheboatsofawhaler,who,nodoubt,tookusforsomeenormouswhaleofgreatprice;butCaptainNemodidnotwishtheworthyfellowstolosetheirtimeandtrouble,soendedthechasebyplungingunderthewater.
