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Wehadfinallyarrivedontheoutskirtsofthisforest,surelyoneofthefinestinCaptainNemo'simmensedomains.
Heregardeditashisownandhadlaidthesameclaimtoitthat,inthefirstdaysoftheworld,thefirstmenhadtotheirforestsonland.
Besides,whoelsecoulddisputehisownershipofthisunderwaterproperty?
Whatother,bolderpioneerwouldcome,axinhand,toclearawayitsdarkunderbrush?
Thisforestwasmadeupofbigtreelikeplants,andwhenweenteredbeneaththeirhugearches,myeyeswereinstantlystruckbytheuniquearrangementoftheirbranches—anarrangementthatIhadneverbeforeencountered.
Noneoftheweedscarpetingtheseafloor,noneofthebranchesbristlingfromtheshrubbery,crept,orleaned,orstretchedonahorizontalplane.
Theyallroserightuptowardthesurfaceoftheocean.
Everyfilamentorribbon,nomatterhowthin,stoodramrodstraight.
Fucusplantsandcreepersweregrowinginstiffperpendicularlines,governedbythedensityoftheelementthatgeneratedthem.
AfterIpartedthemwithmyhands,theseotherwisemotionlessplantswouldshootrightbacktotheiroriginalpositions.Itwastheregimeofverticality.
Isoongrewaccustomedtothisbizarrearrangement,likewisetothecomparativedarknesssurroundingus.
Theseafloorinthisforestwasstrewnwithsharpchunksofstonethatwerehardtoavoid.
Heretherangeofunderwaterfloraseemedprettycomprehensivetome,aswellasmoreabundantthanitmighthavebeeninthearcticortropicalzones,wheresuchexhibitsarelesscommon.
ButforafewminutesIkeptaccidentallyconfusingthetwokingdoms,mistakingzoophytesforwaterplants,animalsforvegetables.Andwhohasn'tmadethesameblunder?
Floraandfaunaaresocloselyassociatedintheunderwaterworld!
Iobservedthatalltheseexhibitsfromthevegetablekingdomwereattachedtotheseafloorbyonlythemostmakeshiftmethods.
Theyhadnorootsanddidn'tcarewhichsolidobjectssecuredthem,sand,shells,husks,orpebbles;theydidn'tasktheirhostsforsustenance,justapointofpurchase.
Theseplantsareentirelyself–propagating,andtheprincipleoftheirexistenceliesinthewaterthatsustainsandnourishesthem.
Inplaceofleaves,mostofthemsproutedbladesofunpredictableshape,whichwereconfinedtoanarrowgamutofcolorsconsistingonlyofpink,crimson,green,olive,tan,andbrown.
ThereIsawagain,butnotyetpressedanddriedliketheNautilus'sspecimens,somepeacock'stailsspreadopenlikefanstostirupacoolingbreeze,scarletrosetangle,seatanglestretchingouttheiryoungandedibleshoots,twistingstringsofkelpfromthegenusNereocystisthatbloomedtoaheightoffifteenmeters,bouquetsofmermaid'scupswhosestemsgrewwideratthetop,andanumberofotheropen–seaplants,allwithoutflowers.
"It'sanoddanomalyinthisbizarreelement!"asonewittynaturalistputsit.
"Theanimalkingdomblossoms,andthevegetablekingdomdoesn't!"
Thesevarioustypesofshrubberywereasbigastreesinthetemperatezones;inthedampshadebetweenthem,therewereclusteredactualbushesofmovingflowers,hedgesofzoophytesinwhichtheregrewstonycoralstripedwithtwistingfurrows,yellowishseaanemonefromthegenusCaryophyliawithtranslucenttentacles,plusanemonewithgrassytuftsfromthegenusZoantharia;andtocompletetheillusion,minnowsflittedfrombranchtobranchlikeaswarmofhummingbirds,whilethereroseunderfoot,likeacoveyofsnipe,yellowfishfromthegenusLepisocanthuswithbristlingjawsandsharpscales,flyinggurnards,andpineconefish.
Nearoneo'clock,CaptainNemogavethesignaltohalt.Speakingformyself,Iwasgladtooblige,andwestretchedoutbeneathanarborofwingedkelp,whoselongthintendrilsstooduplikearrows.
Thisshortbreakwasadelight.Itlackedonlythecharmofconversation.
Butitwasimpossibletospeak,impossibletoreply.
IsimplynudgedmybigcopperheadpieceagainstConseil'sheadpiece.
Isawahappygleaminthegallantlad'seyes,andtocommunicatehispleasure,hejiggledaroundinsidehiscarapaceintheworld'ssilliestway.
Afterfourhoursofstrolling,Iwasquiteastonishednottofeelanyintensehunger.
WhatkeptmystomachinsuchagoodmoodI'munabletosay.
But,inexchange,Iexperiencedthatirresistibledesireforsleepthatcomesovereverydiver.
Accordingly,myeyessoonclosedbehindtheirheavyglasswindowsandIfellintoanuncontrollabledoze,whichuntilthenIhadbeenabletofightoffonlythroughthemovementsofourwalking.
CaptainNemoandhismuscularcompanionwerealreadystretchedoutinthisclearcrystal,settingusafinenaptimeexample.
HowlongIwassunkinthistorporIcannotestimate;butwhenIawoke,itseemedasifthesunweresettlingtowardthehorizon.
CaptainNemowasalreadyup,andIhadstartedtostretchmylimbs,whenanunexpectedapparitionbroughtmesharplytomyfeet.
Afewpacesaway,amonstrous,meter–highseaspiderwasstaringatmewithbeadyeyes,poisedtospringatme.
Althoughmydivingsuitwasheavyenoughtoprotectmefromthisanimal'sbites,Icouldn'tkeepbackashudderofhorror.
JustthenConseilwokeup,togetherwiththeNautilus'ssailor.
CaptainNemoalertedhiscompaniontothishideouscrustacean,whichaswingoftheriflebuttquicklybroughtdown,andIwatchedthemonster'shorriblelegswrithingindreadfulconvulsions.
Thisencounterremindedmethatother,moredauntinganimalsmustbelurkinginthesedarkreaches,andmydivingsuitmightnotbeadequateprotectionagainsttheirattacks.
Suchthoughtshadn'tpreviouslycrossedmymind,andIwasdeterminedtokeeponmyguard.
MeanwhileIhadassumedthisrestperiodwouldbetheturningpointinourstroll,butIwasmistaken;andinsteadofheadingbacktotheNautilus,CaptainNemocontinuedhisdaringexcursion.
Theseafloorkeptsinking,anditssignificantlysteeperslopetookustogreaterdepths.
Itmusthavebeennearlythreeo'clockwhenwereachedanarrowvalleygougedbetweenhigh,verticalwallsandlocated150metersdown.
Thankstotheperfectionofourequipment,wehadthusgoneninetymetersbelowthelimitthatnaturehad,untilthen,setonman'sunderwaterexcursions.
Isay150meters,althoughIhadnoinstrumentsforestimatingthisdistance.
ButIknewthatthesun'srays,evenintheclearestseas,couldreachnodeeper.
Soatpreciselythispointthedarknessbecameprofound.
Notasingleobjectwasvisiblepasttenpaces.
Consequently,IhadbeguntogropemywaywhensuddenlyIsawtheglowofanintensewhitelight.
CaptainNemohadjustactivatedhiselectricdevice.Hiscompaniondidlikewise.ConseilandIfollowedsuit.
Byturningaswitch,Iestablishedcontactbetweentheinductioncoilandtheglassspiral,andthesea,litupbyourfourlanterns,wasilluminatedforaradiusoftwenty–fivemeters.
CaptainNemocontinuedtoplummetintothedarkdepthsofthisforest,whoseshrubberygrewevermoresparse.
Iobservedthatvegetablelifewasdisappearingmorequicklythananimallife.
Theopen–seaplantshadalreadyleftbehindtheincreasinglyaridseafloor,whereaprodigiousnumberofanimalswerestillswarming:zoophytes,articulates,mollusks,andfish.
Whilewewerewalking,IthoughtthelightsofourRuhmkorffdeviceswouldautomaticallyattractsomeinhabitantsofthesedarkstrata.
Butiftheydidapproachus,atleasttheykeptatadistanceregrettablefromthehunter'sstandpoint.
SeveraltimesIsawCaptainNemostopandtakeaimwithhisrifle;then,aftersightingdownitsbarrelforafewseconds,hewouldstraightenupandresumehiswalk.
Finally,ataroundfouro'clock,thismarvelousexcursioncametoanend.
Awallofsuperbrocksstoodbeforeus,imposinginitssheermass:apileofgiganticstoneblocks,anenormousgranitecliffsidepittedwithdarkcavesbutnotofferingasinglegradientwecouldclimbup.
ThiswastheunderpinningofCrespoIsland.Thiswasland.
Thecaptainstoppedsuddenly.Agesturefromhimbroughtustoahalt,andhowevermuchIwantedtoclearthiswall,Ihadtostop.HereendedthedomainsofCaptainNemo.Hehadnodesiretopassbeyondthem.
Fartheronlayapartoftheglobehewouldnolongertreadunderfoot.
Ourreturnjourneybegan.CaptainNemoresumedtheleadinourlittleband,alwaysheadingforwardwithouthesitation.
Inotedthatwedidn'tfollowthesamepathinreturningtotheNautilus.
Thisnewroute,verysteepandhenceveryarduous,quicklytookusclosetothesurfaceofthesea.
Butthisreturntotheupperstratawasn'tsosuddenthatdecompressiontookplacetooquickly,whichcouldhaveledtoseriousorganicdisordersandgivenusthoseinternalinjuriessofataltodivers.
Withgreatpromptness,thelightreappearedandgrewstronger;andtherefractionofthesun,alreadylowonthehorizon,againringedtheedgesofvariousobjectswiththeentirecolorspectrum.
Atadepthoftenmeters,wewalkedamidaswarmofsmallfishfromeveryspecies,morenumerousthanbirdsintheair,moreagiletoo;butnoaquaticgameworthyofagunshothadyetbeenofferedtooureyes.
JustthenIsawthecaptain'sweaponspringtohisshoulderandtrackamovingobjectthroughthebushes.
Ashotwentoff,Iheardafainthissing,andananimaldroppedafewpacesaway,literallystruckbylightning.
ItwasamagnificentseaotterfromthegenusEnhydra,theonlyexclusivelymarinequadruped.
Oneandahalfmeterslong,thisotterhadtobeworthagoodhighprice.
Itscoat,chestnutbrownaboveandsilverbelow,wouldhavemadeoneofthosewonderfulfurpiecessomuchindemandintheRussianandChinesemarkets;thefinenessandlusterofitspeltguaranteedthatitwouldgoforatleast₣2,000.
Iwasfullofwondermentatthisunusualmammal,withitscircularheadadornedbyshortears,itsroundeyes,itswhitewhiskerslikethoseonacat,itswebbedandclawedfeet,itsbushytail.
Huntedandtrappedbyfishermen,thisvaluablecarnivorehasbecomeextremelyrare,andittakesrefugechieflyinthenorthernmostpartsofthePacific,whereinalllikelihooditsspecieswillsoonbefacingextinction.
CaptainNemo'scompanionpickeduptheanimal,loadeditonhisshoulder,andwetooktothetrailagain.
Foranhourplainsofsandunrolledbeforeoursteps.
Oftentheseafloorrosetowithintwometersofthesurfaceofthewater.
Icouldthenseeourimagesclearlymirroredontheundersideofthewaves,butreflectedupsidedown:aboveusthereappearedanidenticalbandthatduplicatedoureverymovementandgesture;inshort,aperfectlikenessofthequartetnearwhichitwalked,butwithheadsdownandfeetintheair.
Anotherunusualeffect.Heavycloudspassedaboveus,formingandfadingswiftly.
Butafterthinkingitover,Irealizedthattheseso–calledcloudswerecausedsimplybythechangingdensitiesofthelonggroundswells,andIevenspottedthefoaming"whitecaps"thattheirbreakingcrestswereproliferatingoverthesurfaceofthewater.
Lastly,Icouldn'thelpseeingtheactualshadowsoflargebirdspassingoverourheads,swiftlyskimmingthesurfaceofthesea.
OnthisoccasionIwitnessedoneofthefinestgunshotsevertothrillthemarrowofahunter.
Alargebirdwithawidewingspan,quiteclearlyvisible,approachedandhoveredoverus.
Whenitwasjustafewmetersabovethewaves,CaptainNemo'scompaniontookaimandfired.
Theanimaldropped,electrocuted,anditsdescentbroughtitwithinreachofouradroithunter,whopromptlytookpossessionofit.
Itwasanalbatrossofthefinestspecies,awonderfulspecimenoftheseopen–seafowl.
Thisincidentdidnotinterruptourwalk.
Fortwohoursweweresometimesledoverplainsofsand,sometimesoverprairiesofseaweedthatwerequitearduoustocross.
Inallhonesty,IwasdeadtiredbythetimeIspottedahazyglowhalfamileaway,cuttingthroughthedarknessofthewaters.ItwastheNautilus'sbeacon.
Withintwentyminuteswewouldbeonboard,andthereIcouldbreatheeasyagain—becausemytank'scurrentairsupplyseemedtobequitelowinoxygen.
ButIwasreckoningwithoutanencounterthatslightlydelayedourarrival.
IwaslaggingbehindsometwentypaceswhenIsawCaptainNemosuddenlycomebacktowardme.
Withhispowerfulhandshesentmebucklingtotheground,whilehiscompaniondidthesametoConseil.
AtfirstIdidn'tknowwhattomakeofthissuddenassault,butIwasreassuredtoobservethecaptainlyingmotionlessbesideme.
Iwasstretchedoutontheseafloordirectlybeneathsomebushesofalgae,whenIraisedmyheadandspiedtwoenormousmasseshurtlingby,throwingoffphosphorescentglimmers.
Mybloodturnedcoldinmyveins!Isawthatwewereunderthreatfromafearsomepairofsharks.
Theywerebluesharks,dreadfulman–eaterswithenormoustails,dull,glassystares,andphosphorescentmatteroozingfromholesaroundtheirsnouts.
Theywerelikemonstrousfirefliesthatcouldthoroughlypulverizeamanintheirironjaws!
Idon'tknowifConseilwasbusywiththeirclassification,butasforme,Ilookedattheirsilverbellies,theirfearsomemouthsbristlingwithteeth,fromaviewpointlessthanscientific—moreasavictimthanasaprofessorofnaturalhistory.
Luckilythesevoraciousanimalshavepooreyesight.
Theywentbywithoutnoticingus,grazinguswiththeirbrownishfins;andmiraculously,weescapedadangergreaterthanencounteringatigerdeepinthejungle.
Halfanhourlater,guidedbyitselectrictrail,wereachedtheNautilus.
Theoutsidedoorhadbeenleftopen,andCaptainNemocloseditafterwereenteredthefirstcell.Thenhepressedabutton.
Iheardpumpsoperatingwithintheship,Ifeltthewaterloweringaroundme,andinafewmomentsthecellwascompletelyempty.
Theinsidedooropened,andwepassedintothewardrobe.
Thereourdivingsuitswereremoved,notwithoutdifficulty;andutterlyexhausted,faintfromlackoffoodandrest,Irepairedtomystateroom,fullofwonderatthisstartlingexcursiononthebottomofthesea.
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