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TheAtlantic!Avastexpanseofwaterwhosesurfaceareais25,000,000squaremiles,withalengthof9,000milesandanaveragewidthof2,700.
Amajorseanearlyunknowntotheancients,exceptperhapstheCarthaginians,thoseDutchmenofantiquitywhowentalongthewestcoastsofEuropeandAfricaontheircommercialjunkets!
Anoceanwhoseparallelwindingshoresformanimmenseperimeterfedbytheworld'sgreatestrivers:theSt.Lawrence,Mississippi,Amazon,Plata,Orinoco,Niger,Senegal,Elbe,Loire,andRhine,whichbringitwatersfromthemostcivilizedcountriesaswellasthemostundevelopedareas!
Amagnificentplainofwavesplowedcontinuouslybyshipsofeverynation,shadedbyeveryflagintheworld,andendinginthosetwodreadfulheadlandssofearedbynavigators,CapeHornandtheCapeofTempests!
TheNautilusbrokethesewaterswiththeedgeofitsspurafterdoingnearly10,000leaguesinthreeandahalfmonths,atracklongerthanagreatcircleoftheearth.
Wherewereweheadingnow,andwhatdidthefuturehaveinstoreforus?
EmergingfromtheStraitofGibraltar,theNautilustooktothehighseas.Itreturnedtothesurfaceofthewaves,soourdailystrollsontheplatformwererestoredtous.
Iclimbedontoitinstantly,NedLandandConseilalongwithme.
Twelvemilesaway,CapeSt.Vincentwashazilyvisible,thesouthwesterntipoftheHispanicpeninsula.
Thewindwasblowingaprettystronggustfromthesouth.Theseawasswellingandsurging.
ItswavesmadetheNautilusrollandjerkviolently.
Itwasnearlyimpossibletostandupontheplatform,whichwascontinuouslybuffetedbythisenormouslyheavysea.
Afterinhalingafewbreathsofair,wewentbelowoncemore.
Irepairedtomystateroom.Conseilreturnedtohiscabin;buttheCanadian,lookingratherworried,followedme.
OurquicktripthroughtheMediterraneanhadn'tallowedhimtoputhisplansintoexecution,andhecouldbarelyconcealhisdisappointment.
Afterthedoortomystateroomwasclosed,hesatandstaredatmesilently.
"Nedmyfriend,"Itoldhim,"Iknowhowyoufeel,butyoumustn'tblameyourself.GiventhewaytheNautiluswasnavigating,itwouldhavebeensheerinsanitytothinkofescaping!"
NedLanddidn'treply.Hispursedlipsandfrowningbrowindicatedthathewasinthegripofhismonomania.
"Lookhere,"Iwenton,"asyetthere'snocausefordespair.We'regoingupthecoastofPortugal.
FranceandEnglandaren'tfaroff,andtherewe'lleasilyfindrefuge.
Oh,Igrantyou,iftheNautilushademergedfromtheStraitofGibraltarandmadeforthatcapeinthesouth,ifitweretakingustowardthoseregionsthathavenocontinents,thenI'dshareyouralarm.
ButwenowknowthatCaptainNemodoesn'tavoidtheseasofcivilization,andinafewdaysIthinkwecansafelytakeaction."
NedLandstaredatmestillmoreintentlyandfinallyunpursedhislips:
"We'lldoitthisevening,"hesaid.
Istraightenedsuddenly.IadmitthatIwaslessthanreadyforthisannouncement.IwantedtoreplytotheCanadian,butwordsfailedme.
"Weagreedtowaitfortherightcircumstances,"NedLandwenton."Nowwe'vegotthosecircumstances.
Thiseveningwe'llbejustafewmilesoffthecoastofSpain.It'llbecloudytonight.Thewind'sblowingtowardshore.
Yougavemeyourpromise,ProfessorAronnax,andI'mcountingonyou."
SinceIdidn'tsayanything,theCanadianstoodupandapproachedme:
"We'lldoitthiseveningatnineo'clock,"hesaid."I'vealertedConseil.
BythattimeCaptainNemowillbelockedinhisroomandprobablyinbed.
Neitherthemechanicsorthecrewmenwillbeabletoseeus.
ConseilandIwillgotothecentralcompanionway.
Asforyou,ProfessorAronnax,you'llstayinthelibrarytwostepsawayandwaitformysignal.
Theoars,mast,andsailareintheskiff.
I'veevenmanagedtostowsomeprovisionsinside.
I'vegottenholdofamonkeywrenchtounscrewthenutsboltingtheskifftotheNautilus'shull.Soeverything'sready.I'llseeyouthisevening."
"Theseaisrough,"Isaid.
"Admitted,"theCanadianreplied,"butwe'vegottoriskit.Freedomisworthpayingfor.
Besides,thelongboat'ssolidlybuilt,andafewmileswiththewindbehindusisnobigdeal.
Bytomorrow,whoknowsifthisshipwon'tbe100leaguesouttosea?
Ifcircumstancesareinourfavor,betweentenandeleventhiseveningwe'llbelandingonsomepieceofsolidground,orwe'llbedead.
Sowe'reinGod'shands,andI'llseeyouthisevening!"
Thissaid,theCanadianwithdrew,leavingmeclosetodumbfounded.
Ihadimaginedthatifitcametothis,Iwouldhavetimetothinkaboutit,totalkitover.
Mystubborncompanionhadn'tgrantedmethiscourtesy.
Butafterall,whatwouldIhavesaidtohim?
NedLandwasrightahundredtimesover.
Thesewerenear–idealcircumstances,andhewastakingfulladvantageofthem.
Inmyselfishpersonalinterests,couldIgobackonmywordandberesponsibleforruiningthefuturelivesofmycompanions?
Tomorrow,mightnotCaptainNemotakeusfarawayfromanyshore?
Justthenafairlyloudhissingtoldmethattheballasttankswerefilling,andtheNautilussankbeneaththewavesoftheAtlantic.
Istayedinmystateroom.Iwantedtoavoidthecaptain,tohidefromhiseyestheagitationoverwhelmingme.
WhatanagonizingdayIspent,tornbetweenmydesiretoregainmyfreewillandmyregretatabandoningthismarvelousNautilus,leavingmyunderwaterresearchincomplete!
HowcouldIrelinquishthisocean—"myownAtlantic,"asIlikedtocallit—withoutobservingitslowerstrata,withoutwrestingfromitthekindsofsecretsthathadbeenrevealedtomebytheseasoftheEastIndiesandthePacific!
Iwasputtingdownmynovelhalfread,Iwaswakingupasmydreamneareditsclimax!
Howpainfullythehourspassed,asIsometimesenvisionedmyselfsafeonshorewithmycompanions,or,despitemybetterjudgment,asIsometimeswishedthatsomeunforeseencircumstanceswouldpreventNedLandfromcarryingouthisplans.
TwiceIwenttothelounge.Iwantedtoconsultthecompass.
IwantedtoseeiftheNautilus'sheadingwasactuallytakingusclosertothecoastorspiritingusfartheraway.Butno.
TheNautiluswasstillinPortuguesewaters.
Headingnorth,itwascruisingalongtheocean'sbeaches.
SoIhadtoresignmyselftomyfateandgetreadytoescape.Mybaggagewasn'theavy.Mynotes,nothingmore.
AsforCaptainNemo,Iwonderedwhathewouldmakeofourescaping,whatconcernorperhapswhatdistressitmightcausehim,andwhathewoulddointhetwofoldeventofourattempteitherfailingorbeingfoundout!
CertainlyIhadnocomplaintstoregisterwithhim,onthecontrary.
Neverwashospitalitymorewholeheartedthanhis.
YetinleavinghimIcouldn'tbeaccusedofingratitude.Nosolemnpromisesboundustohim.
Inordertokeepuscaptive,hehadcountedonlyontheforceofcircumstancesandnotonourwordofhonor.
Buthisavowedintentiontoimprisonusforeveronhisshipjustifiedoureveryeffort.
Ihadn'tseenthecaptainsinceourvisittotheislandofSantorini.
Wouldfatebringmeintohispresencebeforeourdeparture?Ibothdesiredanddreadedit.
Ilistenedforfootstepsinthestateroomadjoiningmine.Notasoundreachedmyear.Hisstateroomhadtobedeserted.
ThenIbegantowonderifthiseccentricindividualwasevenonboard.
SincethatnightwhentheskiffhadlefttheNautilusonsomemysteriousmission,myideasabouthimhadsubtlychanged.
Inspiteofeverything,IthoughtthatCaptainNemomusthavekeptupsometypeofrelationshipwiththeshore.
DidhehimselfneverleavetheNautilus?
Wholeweekshadoftengonebywithoutmyencounteringhim.Whatwashedoingallthewhile?
DuringallthosetimesI'dthoughthewasconvalescinginthegripofsomemisanthropicfit,washeinsteadfarawayfromtheship,involvedinsomesecretactivitywhosenaturestilleludedme?
Alltheseideasandathousandothersassaultedmeatthesametime.
Inthesestrangecircumstancesthescopeforconjecturewasunlimited.Ifeltanunbearablequeasiness.Thisdayofwaitingseemedendless.
Thehoursstrucktooslowlytokeepupwithmyimpatience.
Asusual,dinnerwasservedmeinmystateroom.Fullofanxiety,Iatelittle.Ileftthetableatseveno'clock.
120minutes—Iwaskeepingtrackofthem—stillseparatedmefromthemomentIwastorejoinNedLand.Myagitationincreased.Mypulsewasthrobbingviolently.Icouldn'tstandstill.
Iwalkedupanddown,hopingtocalmmytroubledmindwithmovement.
Thepossibilityofperishinginourrecklessundertakingwastheleastofmyworries;myheartwaspoundingatthethoughtthatourplansmightbediscoveredbeforewehadlefttheNautilus,atthethoughtofbeinghauledinfrontofCaptainNemoandfindinghimangered,orworse,saddenedbymydesertinghim.
Iwantedtoseetheloungeonelasttime.
IwentdownthegangwaysandarrivedatthemuseumwhereIhadspentsomanypleasantandproductivehours.
Istaredatallitswealth,allitstreasures,likeamanontheeveofhiseternalexile,amandepartingtoreturnnomore.
Forsomanydaysnow,thesenaturalwondersandartisticmasterworkshadbeencentraltomylife,andIwasabouttoleavethembehindforever.
IwantedtoplungemyeyesthroughtheloungewindowandintotheseAtlanticwaters;butthepanelswerehermeticallysealed,andamantleofsheetironseparatedmefromthisoceanwithwhichIwasstillunfamiliar.
Crossingthroughthelounge,Iarrivedatthedoor,contrivedinoneofthecantedcorners,thatopenedintothecaptain'sstateroom.
Muchtomyastonishment,thisdoorwasajar.Iinstinctivelyrecoiled.
IfCaptainNemowasinhisstateroom,hemightseeme.
But,nothearinganysounds,Iapproached.Thestateroomwasdeserted.Ipushedthedooropen.Itookafewstepsinside.
Stillthesameaustere,monasticappearance.
Justthenmyeyewascaughtbysomeetchingshangingonthewall,whichIhadn'tnoticedduringmyfirstvisit.
Theywereportraitsofgreatmenofhistorywhohadspenttheirlivesinperpetualdevotiontoagreathumanideal:ThaddeusKosciusko,theherowhosedyingwordshadbeenFinisPoloniae;*MarkosBotzaris,formodernGreecethereincarnationofSparta'sKingLeonidas;DanielO'Connell,Ireland'sdefender;GeorgeWashington,founderoftheAmericanUnion;DanieleManin,theItalianpatriot;AbrahamLincoln,deadfromthebulletofabelieverinslavery;andfinally,thatmartyrfortheredemptionoftheblackrace,JohnBrown,hangingfromhisgallowsasVictorHugo'spencilhassoterrifyinglydepicted.
*Latin:"SavePoland'sborders."Ed.
WhatwasthebondbetweentheseheroicsoulsandthesoulofCaptainNemo?
FromthiscollectionofportraitscouldIfinallyunravelthemysteryofhisexistence?
Washeafighterforoppressedpeoples,aliberatorofenslavedraces?
Hadhefiguredintherecentpoliticalorsocialupheavalsofthiscentury?
WasheaheroofthatdreadfulcivilwarinAmerica,awarlamentableyetforeverglorious...?
Suddenlytheclockstruckeight.Thefirststrokeofitshammeronthechimesnappedmeoutofmymusings.
Ishudderedasifsomeinvisibleeyehadplungedintomyinnermostthoughts,andIrushedoutsidethestateroom.
Theremyeyesfellonthecompass.Ourheadingwasstillnortherly.
Thelogindicatedamoderatespeed,thepressuregaugeadepthofaboutsixtyfeet.
SocircumstanceswereinfavoroftheCanadian'splans.
Istayedinmystateroom.Idressedwarmly:fishingboots,ottercap,coatoffan–musselfabriclinedwithsealskin.Iwasready.Iwaswaiting.
Onlythepropeller'svibrationsdisturbedthedeepsilencereigningonboard.Icockedanearandlistened.
WouldasuddenoutburstofvoicestellmethatNedLand'sescapeplanshadjustbeendetected?Aghastlyuneasinessstolethroughme.
Itriedinvaintorecovermycomposure.
Afewminutesbeforenineo'clock,Igluedmyeartothecaptain'sdoor.Notasound.Ileftmystateroomandreturnedtothelounge,whichwasdesertedandplungedinneardarkness.
Iopenedthedoorleadingtothelibrary.
Thesameinadequatelight,thesamesolitude.
Iwenttomanmypostnearthedooropeningintothewellofthecentralcompanionway.IwaitedforNedLand'ssignal.
Atthispointthepropeller'svibrationssloweddownappreciably,thentheydiedoutaltogether.WhywastheNautilusstopping?
WhetherthislayoverwouldhelporhinderNedLand'sschemesIcouldn'thavesaid.
Thesilencewasfurtherdisturbedonlybythepoundingofmyheart.
SuddenlyIfeltamildjolt.IrealizedtheNautilushadcometorestontheoceanfloor.Myalarmincreased.
TheCanadian'ssignalhadn'treachedme.
IlongedtorejoinNedLandandurgehimtopostponehisattempt.
Isensedthatwewerenolongernavigatingundernormalconditions.
JustthenthedoortothemainloungeopenedandCaptainNemoappeared.Hesawme,andwithoutfurtherpreamble:
"Ah,Professor,"hesaidinanaffabletone,"I'vebeenlookingforyou.DoyouknowyourSpanishhistory?"
Evenifheknewitbyheart,amaninmydisturbed,befuddledconditioncouldn'thavequotedasyllableofhisowncountry'shistory.
"Well?"CaptainNemowenton."Didyouhearmyquestion?DoyouknowthehistoryofSpain?"
"Verylittleofit,"Ireplied.
"Themostlearnedmen,"thecaptainsaid,"stillhavemuchtolearn.Haveaseat,"headded,"andI'lltellyouaboutanunusualepisodeinthisbodyofhistory."
Thecaptainstretchedoutonacouch,andImechanicallytookaseatnearhim,buthalfintheshadows.
"Professor,"hesaid,"listencarefully.Thispieceofhistoryconcernsyouinonedefiniterespect,becauseitwillansweraquestionyou'venodoubtbeenunabletoresolve."
"I'mlistening,Captain,"Isaid,notknowingwhatmypartnerinthisdialoguewasdrivingat,andwonderingifthisincidentrelatedtoourescapeplans.
"Professor,"CaptainNemowenton,"ifyou'reamenable,we'llgobackintimeto1702.
You'reawareofthefactthatinthosedaysyourKingLouisXIVthoughtanimperialgesturewouldsufficetohumblethePyreneesinthedust,soheinflictedhisgrandson,theDukeofAnjou,ontheSpaniards.
ReigningmoreorlesspoorlyunderthenameKingPhilipV,thisaristocrathadtodealwithmightyopponentsabroad.
"Inessence,theyearbefore,theroyalhousesofHolland,Austria,andEnglandhadsignedatreatyofallianceatTheHague,aimingtowresttheSpanishcrownfromKingPhilipVandtoplaceitontheheadofanarchdukewhomtheyprematurelydubbedKingCharlesIII.
"Spainhadtowithstandtheseallies.Butthecountryhadpracticallynoarmyornavy.
Yetitwasn'tshortofmoney,providedthatitsgalleons,ladenwithgoldandsilverfromAmerica,couldenteritsports.
Nowthen,latein1702Spainwasexpectingarichconvoy,whichFranceventuredtoescortwithafleetoftwenty–threevesselsunderthecommandofAdmiraldeChateau–Renault,becausebythattimethealliednavieswererovingtheAtlantic.
"ThisconvoywassupposedtoputintoCadiz,butafterlearningthattheEnglishfleetlayacrossthosewaterways,theadmiraldecidedtomakeforaFrenchport.
"TheSpanishcommandersintheconvoyobjectedtothisdecision.
TheywantedtobetakentoaSpanishport,ifnottoCadiz,thentotheBayofVigo,locatedonSpain'snorthwestcoastandnotblockaded.
"AdmiraldeChateau–Renaultwassoindecisiveastoobeythisdirective,andthegalleonsenteredtheBayofVigo.
"Unfortunatelythisbayformsanopen,offshoremooringthat'simpossibletodefend.
Soitwasessentialtohurryandemptythegalleonsbeforethealliedfleetsarrived,andtherewouldhavebeenampletimeforthisunloading,ifawretchedquestionoftradeagreementshadn'tsuddenlycomeup.
"Areyouclearonthechainofevents?"CaptainNemoaskedme.
"Perfectlyclear,"Isaid,notyetknowingwhyIwasbeinggiventhishistorylesson.
"ThenI'llcontinue.Here'swhatcametopass.
ThetradesmenofCadizhadnegotiatedacharterwherebytheyweretoreceiveallmerchandisecomingfromtheWestIndies.
Nowthen,unloadingtheingotsfromthosegalleonsattheportofVigowouldhavebeenaviolationoftheirrights.
SotheylodgedacomplaintinMadrid,andtheyobtainedanorderfromtheindecisiveKingPhilipV:withoutunloading,theconvoywouldstayincustodyattheoffshoremooringofVigountiltheenemyfleetshadretreated.
"Nowthen,justasthisdecisionwasbeinghandeddown,EnglishvesselsarrivedintheBayofVigoonOctober22,1702.
Despitehisinferiorforces,AdmiraldeChateau–Renaultfoughtcourageously.
Butwhenhesawthattheconvoy'swealthwasabouttofallintoenemyhands,heburnedandscuttledthegalleons,whichwenttothebottomwiththeirimmensetreasures."
CaptainNemostopped.Iadmitit:Istillcouldn'tseehowthispieceofhistoryconcernedme.
"Well?"Iaskedhim.
"Well,ProfessorAronnax,"CaptainNemoansweredme,"we'reactuallyinthatBayofVigo,andallthat'sleftisforyoutoprobethemysteriesoftheplace."
Thecaptainstoodupandinvitedmetofollowhim.I'dhadtimetocollectmyself.Ididso.Theloungewasdark,butthesea'swavessparkledthroughthetransparentwindows.Istared.
AroundtheNautilusforahalf–mileradius,thewatersseemedsaturatedwithelectriclight.Thesandybottomwasclearandbright.
Dressedindivingsuits,crewmenwerebusyclearingawayhalf–rottedbarrelsanddisemboweledtrunksinthemidstofthedingyhulksofships.
Outofthesetrunksandkegsspilledingotsofgoldandsilver,cascadesofjewels,piecesofeight.Thesandwasheapedwiththem.
Then,ladenwiththesevaluablespoils,themenreturnedtotheNautilus,droppedofftheirburdensinside,andwenttoresumethisinexhaustiblefishingforsilverandgold.
Iunderstood.ThiswasthesettingofthatbattleonOctober22,1702.
Here,inthisveryplace,thosegalleonscarryingtreasuretotheSpanishgovernmenthadgonetothebottom.
Here,wheneverheneeded,CaptainNemocametowithdrawthesemillionstoballasthisNautilus.
Itwasforhim,forhimalone,thatAmericahadyieldedupitspreciousmetals.
Hewasthedirect,soleheirtothesetreasureswrestedfromtheIncasandthosepeoplesconqueredbyHernandoCortez!
"Didyouknow,professor,"heaskedmewithasmile,"thattheseacontainedsuchwealth?"
"Iknowit'sestimated,"Ireplied,"thatthereare2,000,000metrictonsofsilverheldinsuspensioninseawater."
"Surely,butinextractingthatsilver,yourexpenseswouldoutweighyourprofits.
Here,bycontrast,Ihaveonlytopickupwhatothermenhavelost,andnotonlyinthisBayofVigobutatathousandothersiteswhereshipshavegonedown,whosepositionsaremarkedonmyunderwaterchart.
DoyouunderstandnowthatI'mrichtothetuneofbillions?"
"Iunderstand,Captain.Nevertheless,allowmetoinformyouthatbyharvestingthisveryBayofVigo,you'resimplyforestallingtheeffortsofarivalorganization."
"Whatorganization?"
"AcompanycharteredbytheSpanishgovernmenttosearchforthesesunkengalleons.
Thecompany'sinvestorswereluredbythebaitofenormousgains,becausethisscuttledtreasureisestimatedtobeworth₣500,000,000."
"Itwas500,000,000francs,"CaptainNemoreplied,"butnomore!"
"Right,"Isaid."Henceatimelywarningtothoseinvestorswouldbeanactofcharity.
Yetwhoknowsifitwouldbewellreceived?
Usuallywhatgamblersregretthemostisn'tthelossoftheirmoneysomuchasthelossoftheirinsanehopes.
ButultimatelyIfeellesssorryforthemthanforthethousandsofunfortunatepeoplewhowouldhavebenefitedfromafairdistributionofthiswealth,whereasnowitwillbeofnohelptothem!"
NosoonerhadIvoicedthisregretthanIfeltitmusthavewoundedCaptainNemo.
"Nohelp!"herepliedwithgrowinganimation.
"Sir,whatmakesyouassumethiswealthgoestowastewhenI'mtheoneamassingit?
DoyouthinkItoiltogatherthistreasureoutofselfishness?WhosaysIdon'tputittogooduse?
DoyouthinkI'munawareofthesufferingbeingsandoppressedraceslivingonthisearth,poorpeopletocomfort,victimstoavenge?Don'tyouunderstand...?"
CaptainNemostoppedontheselastwords,perhapssorrythathehadsaidtoomuch.ButIhadguessed.
Whatevermotiveshaddrivenhimtoseekindependenceundertheseas,heremainedahumanbeingbeforeallelse!
Hisheartstillthrobbedforsufferinghumanity,andhisimmensephilanthropywentoutbothtodowntroddenracesandtoindividuals!
AndnowIknewwhereCaptainNemohaddeliveredthosemillions,whentheNautilusnavigatedthewaterswhereCretewasinrebellionagainsttheOttomanEmpire!
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