English
Withoutstandingup,westaredinthedirectionoftheforest,myhandstoppinghalfwaytomymouth,NedLand'scompletingitsassignment.
"Stonesdon'tfallfromthesky,"Conseilsaid,"orelsetheydeservetobecalledmeteorites."
Asecondwell–polishedstoneremovedatastyringdovelegfromConseil'shand,givingstillgreaterrelevancetohisobservation.
Weallthreestoodup,riflestoourshoulders,readytoansweranyattack.
"Apesmaybe?"NedLandexclaimed.
"Nearly,"Conseilreplied."Savages."
"Headfortheskiff!"Isaid,movingtowardthesea.
Indeed,itwasessentialtobeataretreatbecausesometwentynatives,armedwithbowsandslings,appearedbarelyahundredpacesoff,ontheoutskirtsofathicketthatmaskedthehorizontoourright.
Theskiffwasagroundtenfathomsawayfromus.
Thesavagesapproachedwithoutrunning,buttheyfavoreduswithashowofthegreatesthostility.Itwasrainingstonesandarrows.
NedLandwasunwillingtoleavehisprovisionsbehind,anddespitetheimpendingdanger,heclutchedhispigononeside,hiskangaroosontheother,andscamperedoffwithrespectablespeed.
Intwominuteswewereonthestrand.Loadingprovisionsandweaponsintotheskiff,pushingittosea,andpositioningitstwooarsweretheworkofaninstant.
Wehadn'tgonetwocablelengthswhenahundredsavages,howlingandgesticulating,enteredthewateruptotheirwaists.
IlookedtoseeiftheirappearancemightdrawsomeoftheNautilus'smenontotheplatform.Butno.
Lyingwellout,thatenormousmachinestillseemedcompletelydeserted.
Twentyminuteslaterweboardedship.Thehatcheswereopen.Aftermooringtheskiff,wereenteredtheNautilus'sinterior.
Iwentbelowtothelounge,fromwhichsomechordswerewafting.CaptainNemowasthere,leaningovertheorgan,deepinamusicaltrance.
"Captain!"Isaidtohim.
Hedidn'thearme.
"Captain!"Iwenton,touchinghimwithmyhand.
Hetrembled,andturningaround:
"Ah,it'syou,professor!"hesaidtome."Well,didyouhaveahappyhunt?Wasyourherbgatheringasuccess?"
"Yes,captain,"Ireplied,"butunfortunatelywe'vebroughtbackahordeofbipedswhoseproximityworriesme."
"Whatsortofbipeds?"
"Savages."
"Savages!"CaptainNemorepliedinanironictone.
"Yousetfootononeoftheshoresofthisglobe,professor,andyou'resurprisedtofindsavagesthere?Wherearen'ttheresavages?
Andbesides,aretheyanyworsethanmenelsewhere,thesepeopleyoucallsavages?"
"ButCaptain—"
"Speakingformyself,sir,I'veencounteredthemeverywhere."
"Wellthen,"Ireplied,"ifyoudon'twanttowelcomethemaboardtheNautilus,you'dbettertakesomeprecautions!"
"Easy,professor,nocauseforalarm."
"Buttherearealargenumberofthesenatives."
"What'syourcount?"
"Atleastahundred."
"ProfessorAronnax,"repliedCaptainNemo,whosefingerstooktheirplacesagainontheorgankeys,"ifeveryislanderinPapuaweretogatheronthatbeach,theNautiluswouldstillhavenothingtofearfromtheirattacks!"
Thecaptain'sfingersthenranovertheinstrument'skeyboard,andInoticedthathetouchedonlyitsblackkeys,whichgavehismelodiesabasicallyScottishcolor.
SoonhehadforgottenmypresenceandwaslostinareveriethatInolongertriedtodispel.
Iclimbedontotheplatform.Nighthadalreadyfallen,becauseinthislowlatitudethesunsetsquickly,withoutanytwilight.IcouldseeGueboroaIslandonlydimly.
Butnumerousfireshadbeenkindledonthebeach,attestingthatthenativeshadnothoughtsofleavingit.
ForseveralhoursIwaslefttomyself,sometimesmusingontheislanders—butnolongerfearingthembecausethecaptain'sunflappableconfidencehadwonmeover—andsometimesforgettingthemtomarvelatthesplendorsofthistropicalnight.
MymemoriestookwingtowardFrance,inthewakeofthosezodiacalstarsduetotwinkleoveritinafewhours.
Themoonshoneinthemidstoftheconstellationsattheirzenith.
Ithenrememberedthatthisloyal,good–naturedsatellitewouldreturntothissameplacethedayaftertomorrow,toraisethetideandteartheNautilusfromitscoralbed.
Nearmidnight,seeingthatallwasquietoverthedarkenedwavesaswellasunderthewatersidetrees,Irepairedtomycabinandfellintoapeacefulsleep.
Thenightpassedwithoutmishap.NodoubtthePapuanshadbeenfrightenedoffbythemeresightofthismonsteragroundinthebay,becauseourhatchesstayedopen,offeringeasyaccesstotheNautilus'sinterior.
Atsixo'clockinthemorning,January8,Iclimbedontotheplatform.Themorningshadowswerelifting.Theislandwassoononviewthroughthedissolvingmists,firstitsbeaches,thenitssummits.
Theislanderswerestillthere,ingreaternumbersthanonthedaybefore,perhaps500or600ofthem.
Takingadvantageofthelowtide,someofthemhadmovedforwardovertheheadsofcoraltowithintwocablelengthsoftheNautilus.Icouldeasilydistinguishthem.
TheyobviouslyweretruePapuans,menoffinestock,athleticinbuild,foreheadhighandbroad,noselargebutnotflat,teethwhite.
Theirwoolly,red–tintedhairwasinsharpcontrasttotheirbodies,whichwereblackandglisteninglikethoseofNubians.
Beneaththeirpierced,distendedearlobestheredangledstringsofbeadsmadefrombone.Generallythesesavageswerenaked.
Inotedsomewomenamongthem,dressedfromhiptokneeingrassskirtsheldupbybeltsmadeofvegetation.
Someofthechieftainsadornedtheirneckswithcrescentsandwithnecklacesmadefrombeadsofredandwhiteglass.
Armedwithbows,arrows,andshields,nearlyallofthemcarriedfromtheirshouldersasortofnet,whichheldthosepolishedstonestheirslingshurlwithsuchdexterity.
OneofthesechieftainscamefairlyclosetotheNautilus,examiningitwithcare.
Hemusthavebeena"mado"ofhighrank,becauseheparadedinamatofbananaleavesthathadraggededgesandwasaccentedwithbrightcolors.
Icouldeasilyhavepickedoffthisislander,hestoodatsuchcloserange;butIthoughtitbesttowaitforanactualshowofhostility.
BetweenEuropeansandsavages,it'sacceptableforEuropeanstoshootbackbutnottoattackfirst.
Duringthiswholetimeoflowtide,theislanderslurkedneartheNautilus,buttheyweren'tboisterous.
Ioftenheardthemrepeattheword"assai,"andfromtheirgesturesIunderstoodtheywereinvitingmetogoashore,aninvitationIfeltobligedtodecline.
Sotheskiffdidn'tleaveshipsidethatday,muchtothedispleasureofMr.Landwhocouldn'tcompletehisprovisions.
TheadroitCanadianspenthistimepreparingthemeatandflourproductshehadbroughtfromGueboroaIsland.
Asforthesavages,theywentbacktoshoreneareleveno'clockinthemorning,whentheheadsofcoralbegantodisappearunderthewavesoftherisingtide.
ButIsawtheirnumbersswellconsiderablyonthebeach.
ItwaslikelythattheyhadcomefromneighboringislandsorfromthemainlandofPapuaproper.
However,Ididn'tseeonelocaldugoutcanoe.
Havingnothingbettertodo,Idecidedtodredgethesebeautiful,clearwaters,whichexhibitedaprofusionofshells,zoophytes,andopen–seaplants.
Besides,itwasthelastdaytheNautiluswouldspendinthesewaterways,if,tomorrow,itstillfloatedofftotheopenseaasCaptainNemohadpromised.
SoIsummonedConseil,whobroughtmeasmall,lightdragnetsimilartothoseusedinoysterfishing.
"Whataboutthesesavages?"Conseilaskedme."Withallduerespecttomaster,theydon'tstrikemeasverywicked!"
"They'recannibalsevenso,myboy."
"Apersoncanbebothacannibalandadecentman,"Conseilreplied,"justasapersoncanbebothgluttonousandhonorable.Theonedoesn'texcludetheother."
"Fine,Conseil!AndIagreethattherearehonorablecannibalswhodecentlydevourtheirprisoners.
However,I'mopposedtobeingdevoured,eveninalldecency,soI'llkeeponmyguard,especiallysincetheNautilus'scommanderseemstobetakingnoprecautions.Andnowlet'sgettowork!"
Fortwohoursourfishingproceededenergeticallybutwithoutbringingupanyrarities.
OurdragnetwasfilledwithMidasabalone,harpshells,obelisksnails,andespeciallythefinesthammershellsIhadseentothatday.
Wealsogatheredinafewseacucumbers,somepearloysters,andadozensmallturtlesthatwesavedfortheship'spantry.
ButjustwhenIleastexpectedit,Ilaidmyhandsonawonder,anaturaldeformityI'dhavetocallit,somethingveryseldomencountered.
Conseilhadjustmadeacastofthedragnet,andhisgearhadcomebackuploadedwithavarietyoffairlyordinaryseashells,whensuddenlyhesawmeplungemyarmsswiftlyintothenet,pulloutashelledanimal,andgiveaconchologicalyell,inotherwords,themostpiercingyellahumanthroatcanproduce.
"Eh?Whathappenedtomaster?"Conseilasked,verystartled."Didmastergetbitten?"
"No,myboy,butI'dgladlyhavesacrificedafingerforsuchafind!"
"Whatfind?"
"Thisshell,"Isaid,displayingthesubjectofmytriumph.
"Butthat'ssimplyanoliveshellofthe'tentolive'species,genusOliva,orderPectinibranchia,classGastropoda,branchMollusca—"
"Yes,yes,Conseil!Butinsteadofcoilingfromrighttoleft,thisoliveshellrollsfromlefttoright!"
"Itcan'tbe!"Conseilexclaimed.
"Yes,myboy,it'saleft–handedshell!"
"Aleft–handedshell!"Conseilrepeated,hisheartpounding.
"Lookatitsspiral!"
"Oh,mastercantrustmeonthis,"Conseilsaid,takingthevaluableshellintremblinghands,"butneverhaveIfeltsuchexcitement!"
Andtherewasgoodreasontobeexcited!
Infact,asnaturalistshaveventuredtoobserve,"dextrality"isawell–knownlawofnature.
Intheirrotationalandorbitalmovements,starsandtheirsatellitesgofromrighttoleft.
Manuseshisrighthandmoreoftenthanhisleft,andconsequentlyhisvariousinstrumentsandequipment(staircases,locks,watchsprings,etc.)aredesignedtobeusedinaright–to–leftmanner.
Nowthen,naturehasgenerallyobeyedthislawincoilinghershells.
They'reright–handedwithonlyrareexceptions,andwhenbychanceashell'sspiralisleft–handed,collectorswillpayitsweightingoldforit.
SoConseilandIweredeepinthecontemplationofourtreasure,andIwassolemnlypromisingmyselftoenrichtheParisMuseumwithit,whenanill–timedstone,hurledbyoneoftheislanders,whizzedoverandshatteredthevaluableobjectinConseil'shands.
Igaveayellofdespair!Conseilpouncedonhisrifleandaimedatasavageswingingaslingjusttenmetersawayfromhim.
Itriedtostophim,buthisshotwentoffandshatteredabraceletofamuletsdanglingfromtheislander'sarm.
"Conseil!"Ishouted."Conseil!"
"Eh?What?Didn'tmasterseethatthisman–eaterinitiatedtheattack?"
"Ashellisn'tworthahumanlife!"Itoldhim.
"Oh,therascal!"Conseilexclaimed."I'dratherhecrackedmyshoulder!"
Conseilwasindeadearnest,butIdidn'tsubscribetohisviews.
However,thesituationhadchangedinonlyashorttimeandwehadn'tnoticed.
NowsometwentydugoutcanoesweresurroundingtheNautilus.
Hollowedfromtreetrunks,thesedugoutswerelong,narrow,andwelldesignedforspeed,keepingtheirbalancebymeansoftwobamboopolesthatfloatedonthesurfaceofthewater.
Theyweremaneuveredbyskillful,half–nakedpaddlers,andIviewedtheiradvancewithdefinitealarm.
ItwasobviousthesePapuanshadalreadyenteredintorelationswithEuropeansandknewtheirships.
Butthislong,ironcylinderlyinginthebay,withnomastsorfunnels—whatweretheytomakeofit?
Nothinggood,becauseatfirsttheykeptitatarespectfuldistance.
However,seeingthatitstayedmotionless,theyregainedconfidencelittlebylittleandtriedtobecomemorefamiliarwithit.
Nowthen,itwaspreciselythisfamiliaritythatweneededtoprevent.
Sinceourweaponsmadenosoundwhentheywentoff,theywouldhaveonlyamoderateeffectontheseislanders,whoreputedlyrespectnothingbutnoisymechanisms.
Withoutthunderclaps,lightningboltswouldbemuchlessfrightening,althoughthedangerliesintheflash,notthenoise.
JustthenthedugoutcanoesdrewnearertotheNautilus,andacloudofarrowsburstoverus.
"Fireandbrimstone,it'shailing!"Conseilsaid."Andpoisonedhailperhaps!"
"We'vegottoalertCaptainNemo,"Isaid,reenteringthehatch.
Iwentbelowtothelounge.Ifoundnoonethere.Iventuredaknockatthedooropeningintothecaptain'sstateroom.
Theword"Enter!"answeredme.IdidsoandfoundCaptainNemobusywithcalculationsinwhichtherewasnoshortageofXandotheralgebraicsigns.
"AmIdisturbingyou?"Isaidoutofpoliteness.
"Correct,ProfessorAronnax,"thecaptainansweredme."ButIimagineyouhavepressingreasonsforlookingmeup?"
"Verypressing.Nativedugoutcanoesaresurroundingus,andinafewminuteswe'resuretobeassaultedbyseveralhundredsavages."
"Ah!"CaptainNemoputinserenely."They'vecomeintheirdugouts?"
"Yes,sir."
"Well,sir,closingthehatchesshoulddothetrick."
"Precisely,andthat'swhatIcametotellyou—"
"Nothingeasier,"CaptainNemosaid.
Andhepressedanelectricbutton,transmittinganordertothecrew'squarters.
"There,sir,allundercontrol!"hetoldmeafterafewmoments.
"Theskiffisinplaceandthehatchesareclosed.
Idon'timagineyou'reworriedthatthesegentlemenwillstaveinwallsthatshellsfromyourfrigatecouldn'tbreach?"
"No,Captain,butonedangerstillremains."
"What'sthat,sir?"
"Tomorrowataboutthistime,we'llneedtoreopenthehatchestorenewtheNautilus'sair."
"Noargument,sir,sinceourcraftbreathesinthemannerfavoredbycetaceans."
"ButifthesePapuansareoccupyingtheplatformatthatmoment,Idon'tseehowyoucanpreventthemfromentering."
"Then,sir,youassumethey'llboardtheship?"
"I'mcertainofit."
"Well,sir,letthemcomeaboard.Iseenoreasontopreventthem.
Deepdownthey'rejustpoordevils,thesePapuans,andIdon'twantmyvisittoGueboroaIslandtocostthelifeofasingleoneoftheseunfortunatepeople!"
OnthisnoteIwasabouttowithdraw;butCaptainNemodetainedmeandinvitedmetotakeaseatnexttohim.
Hequestionedmewithinterestonourexcursionsashoreandonourhunting,butseemednottounderstandtheCanadian'spassionatecravingforredmeat.
Thenourconversationskimmedvarioussubjects,andwithoutbeingmoreforthcoming,CaptainNemoprovedmoreaffable.
Amongotherthings,wecametotalkoftheNautilus'scircumstances,agroundinthesamestraitwhereCaptainDumontd'Urvillehadnearlymiscarried.Then,pertinenttothis:
"Hewasoneofyourgreatseamen,"thecaptaintoldme,"oneofyourshrewdestnavigators,thatd'Urville!HewastheFrenchman'sCaptainCook.Amanwisebutunlucky!
BravingtheicebanksoftheSouthPole,thecoralofOceania,thecannibalsofthePacific,onlytoperishwretchedlyinatrainwreck!
Ifthatenergeticmanwasabletothinkabouthislifeinitslastseconds,imaginewhathisfinalthoughtsmusthavebeen!"
Ashespoke,CaptainNemoseemeddeeplymoved,anemotionIfeltwastohiscredit.
Then,chartinhand,wereturnedtothedeedsoftheFrenchnavigator:hisvoyagestocircumnavigatetheglobe,hisdoubleattemptattheSouthPole,whichledtohisdiscoveryoftheAdélieCoastandtheLouis–PhilippePeninsula,finallyhishydrographicsurveysofthechiefislandsinOceania.
"Whatyourd'Urvilledidonthesurfaceofthesea,"CaptainNemotoldme,"I'vedoneintheocean'sinterior,butmoreeasily,morecompletelythanhe.
Constantlytossedaboutbyhurricanes,theZealousandthenewAstrolabecouldn'tcomparewiththeNautilus,aquietworkroomtrulyatrestinthemidstofthewaters!"
"Evenso,Captain,"Isaid,"thereisonemajorsimilaritybetweenDumontd'Urville'ssloopsofwarandtheNautilus."
"What'sthat,sir?"
"Likethem,theNautilushasrunaground!"
"TheNautilusisnotaground,sir,"CaptainNemorepliedicily.
"TheNautiluswasbuilttorestontheoceanfloor,andIdon'tneedtoundertakethearduouslabors,themaneuversd'Urvillehadtoattemptinordertofloatoffhissloopsofwar.
TheZealousandthenewAstrolabewellnighperished,butmyNautilusisinnodanger.
Tomorrow,onthedaystatedandatthehourstated,thetidewillpeacefullyliftitoff,anditwillresumeitsnavigatingthroughtheseas."
"Captain,"Isaid,"Idon'tdoubt—"
"Tomorrow,"CaptainNemoadded,standingup,"tomorrowat2:40intheafternoon,theNautiluswillfloatoffandexittheTorresStraitundamaged."
Pronouncingthesewordsinanextremelysharptone,CaptainNemogavemeacurtbow.Thiswasmydismissal,andIreenteredmystateroom.
ThereIfoundConseil,whowantedtoknowtheupshotofmyinterviewwiththecaptain.
"Myboy,"Ireplied,"whenIexpressedthebeliefthatthesePapuannativeswereathreattohisNautilus,thecaptainansweredmewithgreatirony.
SoI'vejustonethingtosaytoyou:havefaithinhimandsleepinpeace."
"Masterhasnoneedformyservices?"
"No,myfriend.What'sNedLandupto?"
"Beggingmaster'sindulgence,"Conseilreplied,"butourfriendNedisconcoctingakangaroopiethatwillbetheeighthwonder!"
Iwaslefttomyself;Iwenttobedbutsleptprettypoorly.
Ikepthearingnoisesfromthesavages,whowerestampingontheplatformandlettingoutdeafeningyells.
Thenightpassedinthisway,withoutthecreweveremergingfromtheirusualinertia.
Theywerenomoredisturbedbythepresenceoftheseman–eatersthansoldiersinanarmoredfortressaretroubledbyantsrunningoverthearmorplate.
Igotupatsixo'clockinthemorning.Thehatchesweren'topen.
Sotheairinsidehadn'tbeenrenewed;buttheairtankswerekeptfullforanyeventualityandwouldfunctionappropriatelytoshootafewcubicmetersofoxygenintotheNautilus'sthinatmosphere.
IworkedinmystateroomuntilnoonwithoutseeingCaptainNemoevenforaninstant.Nobodyonboardseemedtobemakinganypreparationsfordeparture.
Istillwaitedforawhile,thenImademywaytothemainlounge.Itstimepiecemarked2:30.
Intenminutesthetidewouldreachitsmaximumelevation,andifCaptainNemohadn'tmadearashpromise,theNautiluswouldimmediatelybreakfree.
Ifnot,manymonthsmightpassbeforeitcouldleaveitscoralbed.
Butsomepreliminaryvibrationscouldsoonbefeltovertheboat'shull.Ihearditsplatinggrindagainstthelimestoneroughnessofthatcoralbase.
At2:35CaptainNemoappearedinthelounge.
"We'reabouttodepart,"hesaid.
"Ah!"Iputin.
"I'vegivenorderstoopenthehatches."
"WhataboutthePapuans?"
"Whataboutthem?"CaptainNemoreplied,withalightshrugofhisshoulders.
"Won'ttheycomeinsidetheNautilus?"
"Howwilltheymanagethat?"
"Byjumpingdownthehatchesyou'reabouttoopen."
"ProfessorAronnax,"CaptainNemorepliedserenely,"theNautilus'shatchesaren'ttobeenteredinthatfashionevenwhenthey'reopen."
Igapedatthecaptain.
"Youdon'tunderstand?"hesaidtome.
"Notintheleast."
"Well,comealongandyou'llsee!"
Iheadedtothecentralcompanionway.There,verypuzzled,NedLandandConseilwatchedthecrewmenopeningthehatches,whileafrightfulclamorandfuriousshoutsresoundedoutside.
Thehatchlidsfellbackontotheouterplating.Twentyhorriblefacesappeared.
Butwhenthefirstislanderlaidhandsonthecompanionwayrailing,hewasflungbackwardbysomeinvisiblepower,lordknowswhat!
Heranoff,howlinginterrorandwildlyprancingaround.
Tenofhiscompanionsfollowedhim.Alltenmetthesamefate.
Conseilwasinecstasy.Carriedawaybyhisviolentinstincts,NedLandleapedupthecompanionway.Butassoonashishandsseizedtherailing,hewasthrownbackwardinhisturn.
"Damnation!"heexclaimed."I'vebeenstruckbyalightningbolt!"
Thesewordsexplainedeverythingtome.Itwasn'tjustarailingthatledtotheplatform,itwasametalcablefullychargedwiththeship'selectricity.
Anyonewhotoucheditgotafearsomeshock—andsuchashockwouldhavebeenfatalifCaptainNemohadthrownthefullcurrentfromhisequipmentintothisconductingcable!
Itcouldhonestlybesaidthathehadstretchedbetweenhimselfandhisassailantsanetworkofelectricitynoonecouldclearwithimpunity.
Meanwhile,crazedwithterror,theunhingedPapuansbeataretreat.Asforus,halflaughing,wemassagedandcomfortedpoorNedLand,whowasswearinglikeonepossessed.
Butjustthen,liftedoffbythetide'sfinalundulations,theNautilusleftitscoralbedatexactlythatfortiethminutepinpointedbythecaptain.
Itspropellerchurnedthewaveswithlazymajesty.
Gatheringspeedlittlebylittle,theshipnavigatedonthesurfaceoftheocean,andsafeandsound,itleftbehindthedangerousnarrowsoftheTorresStrait.
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