English
Ihavenoideahowlongthisslumberlasted;butitmusthavebeenagoodwhile,sincewewerecompletelyoverourexhaustion.Iwasthefirstonetowakeup.
Mycompanionsweren'tyetstirringandstilllayintheircornerslikeinanimateobjects.
IhadbarelygottenupfrommypassablyhardmattresswhenIfeltmymindclear,mybraingoonthealert.SoIbeganacarefulreexaminationofourcell.
Nothinghadchangedinitsinteriorarrangements.
Theprisonwasstillaprisonanditsprisonersstillprisoners.
But,takingadvantageofourslumber,thestewardhadclearedthetable.
Consequently,nothingindicatedanyforthcomingimprovementinoursituation,andIseriouslywonderedifweweredoomedtospendtherestofourlivesinthiscage.
Thisprospectseemedincreasinglypainfultomebecause,eventhoughmybrainwasclearofitsobsessionsfromthenightbefore,Iwasfeelinganoddshort–windednessinmychest.Itwasbecominghardformetobreathe.
Theheavyairwasnolongersufficientforthefullplayofmylungs.
Althoughourcellwaslarge,weobviouslyhadusedupmostoftheoxygenitcontained.
Inessence,overanhour'stimeasinglehumanbeingconsumesalltheoxygenfoundin100litersofair,atwhichpointthatairhasbecomechargedwithanearlyequalamountofcarbondioxideandisnolongerfitforbreathing.
Soitwasnowurgenttorenewtheairinourprison,andnodoubttheairinthiswholeunderwaterboataswell.
Hereaquestionpoppedintomyhead.Howdidthecommanderofthisaquaticresidencegoaboutit?
Didheobtainairusingchemicalmethods,releasingtheoxygencontainedinpotassiumchloratebyheatingit,meanwhileabsorbingthecarbondioxidewithpotassiumhydroxide?
Ifso,hewouldhavetokeepupsomekindofrelationshipwiththeshore,tocomebythematerialsneededforsuchanoperation.
Didhesimplylimithimselftostoringtheairinhigh–pressuretanksandthendispenseitaccordingtohiscrew'sneeds?Perhaps.
Or,proceedinginamoreconvenient,moreeconomical,andconsequentlymoreprobablefashion,washesatisfiedwithmerelyreturningtobreatheatthesurfaceofthewaterlikeacetacean,renewinghisoxygensupplyeverytwenty–fourhours?
Inanyevent,whateverhismethodwas,itseemedprudenttomethatheusethismethodwithoutdelay.
Infact,Ihadalreadyresortedtospeedingupmyinhalationsinordertoextractfromthecellwhatlittleoxygenitcontained,whensuddenlyIwasrefreshedbyacurrentofcleanair,scentedwithasaltyaroma.
Ithadtobeaseabreeze,life–givingandchargedwithiodine!
Iopenedmymouthwide,andmylungsgluttedthemselvesonthefreshparticles.
Atthesametime,Ifeltaswaying,arollingofmoderatemagnitudebutdefinitelynoticeable.
Thisboat,thissheet–ironmonster,hadobviouslyjustrisentothesurfaceoftheocean,theretobreatheingoodwhalefashion.
Sotheship'smodeofventilationwasfinallyestablished.
WhenIhadabsorbedachestfulofthiscleanair,Ilookedfortheconduit—the"aircarrier,"ifyouprefer—thatallowedthisbeneficialinfluxtoreachus,andIsoonfoundit.
Abovethedooropenedanairventthatletinafreshcurrentofoxygen,renewingthethinairinourcell.
IhadgottentothispointinmyobservationswhenNedandConseilwokeupalmostsimultaneously,undertheinfluenceofthisrevivingairpurification.
Theyrubbedtheireyes,stretchedtheirarms,andsprangtotheirfeet.
"Didmastersleepwell?"Conseilaskedmewithhisperennialgoodmanners.
"Extremelywell,mygallantlad,"Ireplied."Andhowaboutyou,Mr.NedLand?"
"Likealog,professor.ButImustbeimaginingthings,becauseitseemslikeI'mbreathingaseabreeze!"
Aseamancouldn'tbewrongonthistopic,andItoldtheCanadianwhathadgoneonwhileheslept.
"Good!"hesaid."Thatexplainsperfectlyallthatbellowingweheard,whenourso–callednarwhalelayinsightoftheAbrahamLincoln."
"Perfectly,Mr.Land.Itwascatchingitsbreath!"
"OnlyI'venoideawhattimeitis,ProfessorAronnax,unlessmaybeit'sdinnertime?"
"Dinnertime,myfineharpooner?I'dsayatleastbreakfasttime,becausewe'vecertainlywokenuptoanewday."
"Whichindicates,"Conseilreplied,"thatwe'vespenttwenty–fourhoursinslumber."
"That'smyassessment,"Ireplied.
"Iwon'targuewithyou,"NedLandanswered."Butdinnerorbreakfast,thatstewardwillbeplentywelcomewhetherhebringstheoneortheother."
"Theoneandtheother,"Conseilsaid.
"Wellput,"theCanadianreplied."Wedeservetwomeals,andspeakingformyself,I'lldojusticetothemboth."
"Allright,Ned,let'swaitandsee!"Ireplied."It'sclearthatthesestrangersdon'tintendtoletusdieofhunger,otherwiselastevening'sdinnerwouldn'tmakeanysense."
"Unlessthey'refatteningusup!"Nedshotback.
"Iobject,"Ireplied."Wehavenotfallenintothehandsofcannibals."
"Justbecausetheydon'tmakeahabitofit,"theCanadianrepliedinallseriousness,"doesn'tmeantheydon'tindulgefromtimetotime.Whoknows?
Maybethesepeoplehavegonewithoutfreshmeatforalongwhile,andinthatcasethreehealthy,well–builtspecimensliketheprofessor,hismanservant,andme—"
"Getridofthoseideas,Mr.Land,"Iansweredtheharpooner."Andaboveall,don'tletthemleadyoutoflareupagainstourhosts,whichwouldonlymakeoursituationworse."
"Anyhow,"theharpoonersaid,"I'mashungryasallHades,anddinnerorbreakfast,notonepunymealhasarrived!"
"Mr.Land,"Ianswered,"wehavetoadapttothescheduleonboard,andIimagineourstomachsarerunningaheadofthechiefcook'sdinnerbell."
"Wellthen,we'lladjustourstomachstothechef'stimetable!"Conseilrepliedserenely.
"Thereyougoagain,Conseilmyfriend!"theimpatientCanadianshotback.
"Youneverallowyourselfanydisplaysofbileorattacksofnerves!You'reeverlastinglycalm!
You'dsayyourafter–mealgraceevenifyoudidn'tgetanyfoodforyourbefore–mealblessing—andyou'dstarvetodeathratherthancomplain!"
"Whatgoodwoulditdo?"Conseilasked.
"Complainingdoesn'thavetodogood,itjustfeelsgood!
Andifthesepirates—Isaypiratesoutofconsiderationfortheprofessor'sfeelings,sincehedoesn'twantustocallthemcannibals—ifthesepiratesthinkthey'regoingtosmothermeinthiscagewithouthearingwhatcusswordsspiceupmyoutbursts,they'vegotanotherthinkcoming!
Lookhere,ProfessorAronnax,speakfrankly.
Howlongdoyoufigurethey'llkeepusinthisironbox?"
"Totellthetruth,friendLand,Iknowlittlemoreaboutitthanyoudo."
"Butinanutshell,whatdoyousupposeisgoingon?"
"Mysuppositionisthatsheerchancehasmadeusprivytoanimportantsecret.
Nowthen,ifthecrewofthisunderwaterboathaveapersonalinterestinkeepingthatsecret,andiftheirpersonalinterestismoreimportantthanthelivesofthreemen,Ibelievethatourveryexistenceisinjeopardy.
Ifsuchisnotthecase,thenatthefirstavailableopportunity,thismonsterthathasswalloweduswillreturnustotheworldinhabitedbyourownkind."
"Unlesstheyrecruitustoserveonthecrew,"Conseilsaid,"andkeepushere—"
"Tillthemoment,"NedLandanswered,"whensomefrigatethat'sfasterorsmarterthantheAbrahamLincolncapturesthisdenofbuccaneers,thenhangsallofusbytheneckfromthetipofamainmastyardarm!"
"Wellthoughtout,Mr.Land,"Ireplied.
"Butasyet,Idon'tbelievewe'vebeentenderedanyenlistmentoffers.
Consequently,it'spointlesstoargueaboutwhattacticsweshouldpursueinsuchacase.
Irepeat:let'swait,let'sbeguidedbyevents,andlet'sdonothing,sincerightnowthere'snothingwecando."
"Onthecontrary,professor,"theharpoonerreplied,notwantingtogivein."Thereissomethingwecando."
"Oh?Andwhat,Mr.Land?"
"Breakoutofhere!"
"Breakingoutofaprisononshoreisdifficultenough,butwithanunderwaterprison,itstrikesmeascompletelyunworkable."
"Comenow,Nedmyfriend,"Conseilasked,"howwouldyouanswermaster'sobjection?IrefusetobelievethatanAmericanisattheendofhistether."
Visiblybaffled,theharpoonersaidnothing.
Undertheconditionsinwhichfatehadleftus,itwasabsolutelyimpossibletoescape.
ButaCanadian'switishalfFrench,andMr.NedLandmadethisclearinhisreply.
"So,ProfessorAronnax,"hewentonafterthinkingforafewmoments,"youhaven'tfiguredoutwhatpeopledowhentheycan'tescapefromtheirprison?"
"No,myfriend."
"Easy.Theyfixthingssotheystaythere."
"Ofcourse!"Conseilputin."Sincewe'redeepintheocean,beinginsidethisboatisvastlypreferabletobeingaboveitorbelowit!"
"Butwefixthingsbykickingoutallthejailers,guards,andwardens,"NedLandadded.
"What'sthis,Ned?"Iasked."You'dseriouslyconsidertakingoverthiscraft?"
"Veryseriously,"theCanadianreplied.
"It'simpossible."
"Andwhyisthat,sir?Somepromisingopportunitymightcomeup,andIdon'tseewhatcouldstopusfromtakingadvantageofit.
Ifthereareonlyabouttwentymenonboardthismachine,Idon'tthinktheycanstaveofftwoFrenchmenandaCanadian!"
Itseemedwisertoaccepttheharpooner'spropositionthantodebateit.Accordingly,Iwascontenttoreply:
"Letsuchcircumstancescome,Mr.Land,andwe'llsee.
Butuntilthen,Ibegyoutocontrolyourimpatience.
Weneedtoactshrewdly,andyourflare–upswon'tgiverisetoanypromisingopportunities.
Sosweartomethatyou'llacceptoursituationwithoutthrowingatantrumoverit."
"Igiveyoumyword,professor,"NedLandrepliedinanunenthusiastictone.
"Novehementphraseswillleavemymouth,noviciousgestureswillgivemyfeelingsaway,notevenwhentheydon'tfeedusontime."
"Ihaveyourword,Ned,"IansweredtheCanadian.
Thenourconversationpeteredout,andeachofuswithdrewintohisownthoughts.
Formypart,despitetheharpooner'sconfidenttalk,IadmitthatIentertainednoillusions.
IhadnofaithinthosepromisingopportunitiesthatNedLandmentioned.
Tooperatewithsuchefficiency,thisunderwaterboathadtohaveasizeablecrew,soifitcametoaphysicalcontest,wewouldbefacinganoverwhelmingopponent.
Besides,beforewecoulddoanything,wehadtobefree,andthatwedefinitelywerenot.
Ididn'tseeanywayoutofthissheet–iron,hermeticallysealedcell.
Andifthestrangecommanderofthisboatdidhaveasecrettokeep—whichseemedratherlikely—hewouldnevergiveusfreedomofmovementaboardhisvessel.
Nowthen,wouldheresorttoviolenceinordertoberidofus,orwouldhedropusoffonedayonsomeremotecoast?Therelaytheunknown.
Allthesehypothesesseemedextremelyplausibletome,andtohopeforfreedomthroughuseofforce,youhadtobeaharpooner.
Irealized,moreover,thatNedLand'sbroodingwasgettinghimmadderbytheminute.
Littlebylittle,Iheardthoseaforesaidcusswordswellingupinthedepthsofhisgullet,andIsawhismovementsturnthreateningagain.
Hestoodup,pacingincircleslikeawildbeastinacage,strikingthewallswithhisfootandfist.
Meanwhilethehourspassed,ourhungernaggedunmercifully,andthistimethestewarddidnotappear.
Whichamountedtoforgettingourcastawaystatusformuchtoolong,iftheyreallyhadgoodintentionstowardus.
Torturedbythegrowlingofhiswell–builtstomach,NedLandwasgettingmoreandmoreriled,anddespitehiswordofhonor,Iwasinrealdreadofanexplosionwhenhestoodinthepresenceofoneofthemenonboard.
FortwomorehoursNedLand'srageincreased.
TheCanadianshoutedandpleaded,buttonoavail.Thesheet–ironwallsweredeaf.
Ididn'thearasinglesoundinsidethisdead–seemingboat.
Thevesselhadn'tstirred,becauseIobviouslywouldhavefeltitshullvibratingundertheinfluenceofthepropeller.
Ithadundoubtedlysunkintothewaterydeepandnolongerbelongedtotheoutsideworld.Allthisdismalsilencewasterrifying.
Asforourneglect,ourisolationinthedepthsofthiscell,Iwasafraidtoguessathowlongitmightlast.
Littlebylittle,hopesIhadentertainedafterourinterviewwiththeship'scommanderwerefadingaway.
Thegentlenessoftheman'sgaze,thegenerosityexpressedinhisfacialfeatures,thenobilityofhisbearing,allvanishedfrommymemory.
Isawthismystifyingindividualanewforwhatheinevitablymustbe:cruelandmerciless.
Iviewedhimasoutsidehumanity,beyondallfeelingsofcompassion,theimplacablefoeofhisfellowman,towardwhomhemusthaveswornanundyinghate!
Butevenso,wasthemangoingtoletusdieofstarvation,lockedupinthiscrampedprison,exposedtothosehorribletemptationstowhichpeoplearedrivenbyextremehunger?
Thisgrimpossibilitytookonadreadfulintensityinmymind,andfiredbymyimagination,Ifeltanunreasoningterrorrunthroughme.Conseilstayedcalm.NedLandbellowed.
Justthenanoisewasaudibleoutside.Footstepsrangonthemetaltiling.Thelockswereturned,thedooropened,thestewardappeared.
BeforeIcouldmakeasinglemovementtopreventhim,theCanadianrushedatthepoorman,threwhimdown,heldhimbythethroat.Thestewardwaschokinginthegripofthosepowerfulhands.
Conseilwasalreadytryingtoloosentheharpooner'shandsfromhishalf–suffocatedvictim,andIhadgonetojoinintherescue,whenIwasabruptlynailedtothespotbythesewordspronouncedinFrench:
"Calmdown,Mr.Land!Andyou,professor,kindlylistentome!"
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