English
AlthoughIwasstartledbythisunexpecteddescent,Iatleasthaveaveryclearrecollectionofmysensationsduringit.
AtfirstIwasdraggedabouttwentyfeetunder.
I'magoodswimmer,withoutclaimingtoequalsuchotherauthorsasByronandEdgarAllanPoe,whoweremasterdivers,andIdidn'tlosemyheadonthewaydown.
Withtwovigorouskicksoftheheel,Icamebacktothesurfaceofthesea.
Myfirstconcernwastolookforthefrigate.Hadthecrewseenmegooverboard?WastheAbrahamLincolntackingabout?WouldCommanderFarragutputalongboattosea?CouldIhopetoberescued?
Thegloomwasprofound.Iglimpsedablackmassdisappearingeastward,whereitsrunninglightswerefadingoutinthedistance.Itwasthefrigate.IfeltIwasdonefor.
"Help!Help!"Ishouted,swimmingdesperatelytowardtheAbrahamLincoln.
Myclotheswereweighingmedown.Thewatergluedthemtomybody,theywereparalyzingmymovements.Iwassinking!Iwassuffocating...!
"Help!"
ThiswasthelastshoutIgave.Mymouthwasfillingwithwater.Istruggledagainstbeingdraggedintothedepths....
Suddenlymyclotheswereseizedbyenergetichands,Ifeltmyselfpulledabruptlybacktothesurfaceofthesea,andyes,Iheardthesewordspronouncedinmyear:
"Ifmasterwouldobligemebyleaningonmyshoulder,masterwillswimwithmuchgreaterease."
WithonehandIseizedthearmofmyloyalConseil.
"You!"Isaid."You!"
"Myself,"Conseilreplied,"andatmaster'scommand."
"Thatcollisionthrewyouoverboardalongwithme?"
"Notatall.Butbeinginmaster'semploy,Ifollowedmaster."
Thefineladthoughtthisonlynatural!
"Whataboutthefrigate?"Iasked.
"Thefrigate?"Conseilreplied,rollingoveronhisback."Ithinkmasterhadbestnotdependonittoanygreatextent!"
"Whatareyousaying?"
"I'msayingthatjustasIjumpedoverboard,Iheardthemenatthehelmshout,'Ourpropellerandrudderaresmashed!'"
"Smashed?"
"Yes,smashedbythemonster'stusk!Ibelieveit'sthesoleinjurytheAbrahamLincolnhassustained.Butmostinconvenientlyforus,theshipcannolongersteer."
"Thenwe'redonefor!"
"Perhaps,"Conseilrepliedserenely."However,westillhaveafewhoursbeforeus,andinafewhoursonecandoagreatmanythings!"
Conseil'sunflappablecomposurecheeredmeup.
Iswammorevigorously,buthamperedbyclothesthatwereasrestrictingasacloakmadeoflead,Iwasmanagingwithonlythegreatestdifficulty.Conseilnoticedasmuch.
"Masterwillallowmetomakeanincision,"hesaid.
Andheslippedanopenclaspknifeundermyclothes,slittingthemfromtoptobottomwithoneswiftstroke.ThenhebrisklyundressedmewhileIswamforusboth.
IthendidConseilthesamefavor,andwecontinuedto"navigate"sidebyside.
Butourcircumstanceswerenolessdreadful.
Perhapstheyhadn'tseenusgooverboard;andeveniftheyhad,thefrigate—beingundonebyitsrudder—couldn'treturntoleewardafterus.
Sowecouldcountonlyonitslongboats.
Conseilhadcoollyreasonedoutthishypothesisandlaidhisplansaccordingly.Anamazingcharacter,thisboy;inmidocean,thisstoicladseemedrightathome!
So,havingconcludedthatoursolechanceforsalvationlayinbeingpickedupbytheAbrahamLincoln'slongboats,wehadtotakestepstowaitforthemaslongaspossible.
Consequently,Idecidedtodivideourenergiessowewouldn'tbothbewornoutatthesametime,andthiswasthearrangement:whileoneofuslayonhisback,stayingmotionlesswitharmscrossedandlegsoutstretched,theotherwouldswimandpropelhispartnerforward.
Thistowingrolewastolastnolongerthantenminutes,andbyrelievingeachotherinthisway,wecouldstayafloatforhours,perhapsevenuntildaybreak.
Slimchance,buthopespringseternalinthehumanbreast!Besides,thereweretwoofus.
Lastly,Icanvouch—asimprobableasitseems—thatevenifIhadwantedtodestroyallmyillusions,evenifIhadbeenwillingto"giveintodespair,"Icouldnothavedoneso!
Thecetaceanhadrammedourfrigateatabouteleveno'clockintheevening.
Ithereforecalculatedoneighthoursofswimminguntilsunrise.
Astrenuoustask,butfeasible,thankstoourrelievingeachother.
Theseawasprettysmoothandbarelytiredus.
SometimesItriedtopeerthroughthedensegloom,whichwasbrokenonlybythephosphorescentflickerscomingfromourmovements.
Istaredattheluminousripplesbreakingovermyhands,shimmeringsheetsspatteredwithblotchesofbluishgray.
Itseemedasifwe'dplungedintoapoolofquicksilver.
Nearoneo'clockinthemorning,Iwasovercomewithtremendousexhaustion.
Mylimbsstiffenedinthegripofintensecramps.
Conseilhadtokeepmegoing,andattendingtoourself–preservationbecamehissoleresponsibility.
Isoonheardthepoorladgasping;hisbreathingbecameshallowandquick.
Ididn'tthinkhecouldstandsuchexertionsformuchlonger.
"Goon!Goon!"Itoldhim.
"Leavemasterbehind?"hereplied."Never!I'lldrownbeforehedoes!"
Justthen,pastthefringesofalargecloudthatthewindwasdrivingeastward,themoonappeared.
Thesurfaceoftheseaglistenedunderitsrays.
Thatkindlylightrekindledourstrength.Iheldupmyheadagain.
Myeyesdartedtoeverypointofthehorizon.Ispottedthefrigate.
Itwasfivemilesfromusandformednomorethanadark,barelyperceptiblemass.
Butasforlongboats,notaoneinsight!
Itriedtocallout.Whatwastheuseatsuchadistance!Myswollenlipswouldn'tletasinglesoundthrough.Conseilcouldstillarticulateafewwords,andIheardhimrepeatatintervals:
"Help!Help!"
Ceasingallmovementforaninstant,welistened.
Anditmayhavebeenaringinginmyear,fromthisorganfillingwithimpededblood,butitseemedtomethatConseil'sshouthadreceivedananswerback.
"Didyouhearthat?"Imuttered.
"Yes,yes!"
AndConseilhurledanotherdesperatepleaintospace.
Thistimetherecouldbenomistake!Ahumanvoicehadansweredus!
Wasitthevoiceofsomepoordevilleftbehindinmidocean,someothervictimofthatcollisionsufferedbyourship?
Orwasitoneofthefrigate'slongboats,hailingusoutofthegloom?
Conseilmadeonefinaleffort,andbracinghishandsonmyshoulders,whileIofferedresistancewithonesupremeexertion,heraisedhimselfhalfoutofthewater,thenfellbackexhausted.
"Whatdidyousee?"
"Isaw...,"hemuttered,"Isaw...butwemustn'ttalk...saveourstrength...!"
Whathadheseen?Then,lordknowswhy,thethoughtofthemonstercameintomyheadforthefirsttime...!Butevenso,thatvoice...?
GonearethedayswhenJonahstookrefugeinthebelliesofwhales!
Nevertheless,Conseilkepttowingme.Sometimeshelookedup,staredstraightahead,andshoutedarequestfordirections,whichwasansweredbyavoicethatwasgettingcloserandcloser.Icouldbarelyhearit.
Iwasattheendofmystrength;myfingersgaveout;myhandswerenohelptome;mymouthopenedconvulsively,fillingwithbrine;itscoldnessranthroughme;Iraisedmyheadonelasttime,thenIcollapsed....
Justthensomethinghardbangedagainstme.Iclungtoit.ThenIfeltmyselfbeingpulledupward,backtothesurfaceofthewater;mychestcavedin,andIfainted....
Forcertain,Icametoquickly,becausesomeonewasmassagingmesovigorouslyitleftfurrowsinmyflesh.Ihalfopenedmyeyes....
"Conseil!"Imuttered.
"Didmasterringforme?"Conseilreplied.
Justthen,inthelastlightofamoonsettlingonthehorizon,Ispottedafacethatwasn'tConseil'sbutwhichIrecognizedatonce.
"Ned!"Iexclaimed.
"Inperson,sir,andstillafterhisprize!"theCanadianreplied.
"Youwerethrownoverboardafterthefrigate'scollision?"
"Yes,professor,butIwasluckierthanyou,andrightawayIwasabletosetfootonthisfloatingislet."
"Islet?"
"Orinotherwords,onourgiganticnarwhale."
"Explainyourself,Ned."
"It'sjustthatIsoonrealizedwhymyharpoongotbluntedandcouldn'tpunctureitshide."
"Why,Ned,why?"
"Because,professor,thisbeastismadeofboilerplatesteel!"
Atthispointinmystory,Ineedtogetagriponmyself,reconstructexactlywhatIexperienced,andmakedoublysureofeverythingIwrite.
TheCanadian'slastwordscausedasuddenupheavalinmybrain.
Iswiftlyhoistedmyselftothesummitofthishalf–submergedcreatureorobjectthatwasservingasourrefuge.Itesteditwithmyfoot.
Obviouslyitwassomehard,impenetrablesubstance,notthesoftmatterthatmakesupthebodiesofourbigmarinemammals.
Butthishardsubstancecouldhavebeenabonycarapace,likethosethatcoveredsomeprehistoricanimals,andImighthaveleftitatthatandclassifiedthismonsteramongsuchamphibiousreptilesasturtlesoralligators.
Well,no.Theblackishbacksupportingmewassmoothandpolishedwithnooverlappingscales.
Onimpact,itgaveoffametallicsonority,andasincredibleasthissounds,itseemed,Iswear,tobemadeofrivetedplates.
Nodoubtswerepossible!Thisanimal,thismonster,thisnaturalphenomenonthathadpuzzledthewholescientificworld,thathadmuddledandmisledthemindsofseameninbothhemispheres,was,therecouldbenoescapingit,anevenmoreastonishingphenomenon—aphenomenonmadebythehandofman.
EvenifIhaddiscoveredthatsomefabulous,mythologicalcreaturereallyexisted,itwouldn'thavegivenmesuchaterrificmentaljolt.
It'seasyenoughtoacceptthatprodigiousthingscancomefromourCreator.
Buttofind,allatonce,rightbeforeyoureyes,thattheimpossiblehadbeenmysteriouslyachievedbymanhimself:thisstaggersthemind!
Buttherewasnoquestionnow.Wewerestretchedoutonthebackofsomekindofunderwaterboatthat,asfarasIcouldjudge,boastedtheshapeofanimmensesteelfish.NedLandhadclearviewsontheissue.
ConseilandIcouldonlylineupbehindhim.
"Butthen,"Isaid,"doesthiscontraptioncontainsomesortoflocomotivemechanism,andacrewtorunit?"
"Apparently,"theharpoonerreplied."AndyetforthethreehoursI'velivedonthisfloatingisland,ithasn'tshownasignoflife."
"Thisboathasn'tmovedatall?"
"No,ProfessorAronnax.Itjustrideswiththewaves,butotherwiseithasn'tstirred."
"Butweknowthatit'scertainlygiftedwithgreatspeed.Nowthen,sinceanengineisneededtogeneratethatspeed,andamechanictorunthatengine,Iconclude:we'resaved."
"Humph!"NedLandputin,histonedenotingreservations.
Justthen,asiftotakemysideintheargument,abubblingbeganasternofthisstrangesubmersible—whosedrivemechanismwasobviouslyapropeller—andtheboatstartedtomove.
Webarelyhadtimetohangontoitstopside,whichemergedabouteightycentimetersabovewater.
Fortunatelyitsspeedwasnotexcessive.
"Solongasitnavigateshorizontally,"NedLandmuttered,"I'venocomplaints.Butifitgetstheurgetodive,Iwouldn'tgive$2.00formyhide!"
TheCanadianmighthavequotedamuchlowerprice.
Soitwasimperativetomakecontactwithwhateverbeingswereconfinedinsidetheplatingofthismachine.
Isearcheditssurfaceforanopeningorahatch,a"manhole,"tousetheofficialterm;butthelinesofrivetshadbeenfirmlydrivenintothesheet–ironjoinsandwerestraightanduniform.
Moreover,themoonthendisappearedandleftusinprofounddarkness.Wehadtowaitfordaylighttofindsomewayofgettinginsidethisunderwaterboat.
Sooursalvationlaytotallyinthehandsofthemysterioushelmsmensteeringthissubmersible,andifitmadeadive,weweredonefor!
Butasidefromthisoccurring,Ididn'tdoubtthepossibilityofourmakingcontactwiththem.
Infact,iftheydidn'tproducetheirownair,theyinevitablyhadtomakeperiodicvisitstothesurfaceoftheoceantoreplenishtheiroxygensupply.
Hencetheneedforsomeopeningthatputtheboat'sinteriorincontactwiththeatmosphere.
AsforanyhopeofbeingrescuedbyCommanderFarragut,thathadtoberenouncedcompletely.
Wewerebeingsweptwestward,andIestimatethatourcomparativelymoderatespeedreachedtwelvemilesperhour.
Thepropellerchurnedthewaveswithmathematicalregularity,sometimesemergingabovethesurfaceandthrowingphosphorescentspraytogreatheights.
Nearfouro'clockinthemorning,thesubmersiblepickedupspeed.
Wecouldbarelycopewiththisdizzyingrush,andthewavesbatteredusatcloserange.
FortunatelyNed'shandscameacrossabigmooringringfastenedtothetopsideofthissheet–ironback,andweallheldonfordearlife.
Finallythislongnightwasover.Myimperfectmemorieswon'tletmerecallmyeveryimpressionofit.Asingledetailcomesbacktome.
Severaltimes,duringvariouslullsofwindandsea,IthoughtIheardindistinctsounds,asortofelusiveharmonyproducedbydistantmusicalchords.
Whatwasthesecretbehindthisunderwaternavigating,whoseexplanationthewholeworldhadsoughtinvain?
Whatbeingslivedinsidethisstrangeboat?
Whatmechanicalforceallowedittomoveaboutwithsuchprodigiousspeed?
Daylightappeared.Themorningmistssurroundedus,buttheysoonbrokeup.
Iwasabouttoproceedwithacarefulexaminationofthehull,whosetopsideformedasortofhorizontalplatform,whenIfeltitsinkinglittlebylittle.
"Oh,damnation!"NedLandshouted,stampinghisfootontheresonantsheetiron."Openupthere,youantisocialnavigators!"
Butitwasdifficulttomakeyourselfheardabovethedeafeningbeatsofthepropeller.Fortunatelythissubmergingmovementstopped.
Frominsidetheboat,theresuddenlycamenoisesofironfasteningspushedroughlyaside.Oneofthesteelplatesflewup,amanappeared,gaveabizarreyell,andinstantlydisappeared.
Afewmomentslater,eightstrappingfellowsappearedsilently,theirfaceslikemasks,anddraggedusdownintotheirfearsomemachine.
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