English
Thenextday,February20,Ioverslept.Iwassoexhaustedfromthenightbefore,Ididn'tgetupuntileleveno'clock.Idressedquickly.
IhurriedtofindouttheNautilus'sheading.
Theinstrumentsindicatedthatitwasrunningsouthwardataspeedoftwentymilesperhourandadepthof100meters.
Conseilentered.Idescribedournocturnalexcursiontohim,andsincethepanelswereopen,hecouldstillcatchaglimpseofthissubmergedcontinent.
Infact,theNautiluswasskimmingonlytenmetersoverthesoiloftheseAtlantisplains.
Theshipscuddedalonglikeanairballoonbornebythewindoversomeprairieonland;butitwouldbemoreaccuratetosaythatwesatintheloungeasifwewereridinginacoachonanexpresstrain.
Asfortheforegroundspassingbeforeoureyes,theywerefantasticallycarvedrocks,forestsoftreesthathadcrossedoverfromthevegetablekingdomintothemineralkingdom,theirmotionlesssilhouettessprawlingbeneaththewaves.
Therealsowerestonymassesburiedbeneathcarpetsofaxidiaandseaanemone,bristlingwithlong,verticalwaterplants,thenstrangelycontouredblocksoflavathattestifiedtoallthefuryofthoseplutonicdevelopments.
Whilethisbizarrescenerywasglitteringunderourelectricbeams,ItoldConseilthestoryoftheAtlanteans,whohadinspiredtheoldFrenchscientistJeanBaillytowritesomanyentertaining—albeitutterlyfictitious—pages.
*Itoldtheladaboutthewarsoftheseheroicpeople.
IdiscussedthequestionofAtlantiswiththefervorofamanwhonolongerhadanydoubts.
ButConseilwassodistractedhebarelyheardme,andhislackofinterestinanycommentaryonthishistoricaltopicwassoonexplained.
*BaillybelievedthatAtlantiswaslocatedattheNorthPole!Ed.
Inessence,numerousfishhadcaughthiseye,andwhenfishpassby,Conseilvanishesintohisworldofclassifyingandleavesreallifebehind.
InwhichcaseIcouldonlytagalongandresumeourichthyologicalresearch.
Evenso,theseAtlanticfishwerenotnoticeablydifferentfromthosewehadobservedearlier.
Therewereraysofgiganticsize,fivemeterslongandwithmusclessopowerfultheycouldleapabovethewaves,sharksofvariousspeciesincludingafifteen–footglaucoussharkwithsharptriangularteethandsotransparentitwasalmostinvisibleamidthewaters,brownlanternsharks,prism–shapedhumantinsharksarmoredwithprotuberanthides,sturgeonsresemblingtheirrelativesintheMediterranean,trumpet–snoutedpipefishafootandahalflong,yellowishbrownwithsmallgrayfinsandnoteethortongue,unreelinglikeslim,supplesnakes.
Amongbonyfish,Conseilnoticedsomeblackishmarlinthreemeterslongwithasharpswordjuttingfromtheupperjaw,bright–coloredweeversknowninAristotle'sdayasseadragonsandwhosedorsalstingersmakethemquitedangeroustopickup,thendolphinfishwithbrownbacksstripedinblueandedgedingold,handsomedorados,moonlikeopahsthatlooklikeazuredisksbutwhichthesun'sraysturnintospotsofsilver,finallyeight–meterswordfishfromthegenusXiphias,swimminginschools,sportingyellowishsickle–shapedfinsandsix–footbroadswords,stalwartanimals,planteatersratherthanfisheaters,obeyingthetiniestsignalsfromtheirfemaleslikehenpeckedhusbands.
Butwhileobservingthesedifferentspecimensofmarinefauna,Ididn'tstopexaminingthelongplainsofAtlantis.
SometimesanunpredictableirregularityintheseafloorwouldforcetheNautilustoslowdown,andthenitwouldglideintothenarrowchannelsbetweenthehillswithacetacean'sdexterity.
Ifthelabyrinthbecamehopelesslytangled,thesubmersiblewouldriseaboveitlikeanairship,andafterclearingtheobstacle,itwouldresumeitsspeedycoursejustafewmetersabovetheoceanfloor.
Itwasanenjoyableandimpressivewayofnavigatingthatdidindeedrecallthemaneuversofanairshipride,withthemajordifferencethattheNautilusfaithfullyobeyedthehandsofitshelmsman.
Theterrainconsistedmostlyofthickslimemixedwithpetrifiedbranches,butitchangedlittlebylittlenearfouro'clockintheafternoon;itgrewrockierandseemedtobestrewnwithpuddingstonesandabasalticgravelcalled"tuff,"togetherwithbitsoflavaandsulfurousobsidian.
Iexpectedtheselongplainstochangeintomountainregions,andinfact,astheNautiluswasexecutingcertainturns,Inoticedthatthesoutherlyhorizonwasblockedbyahighwallthatseemedtocloseoffeveryexit.
Itssummitobviouslypokedabovetheleveloftheocean.
Ithadtobeacontinentoratleastanisland,eitheroneoftheCanariesoroneoftheCapeVerdeIslands.
Ourbearingshadn'tbeenmarkedonthechart—perhapsdeliberately—andIhadnoideawhatourpositionwas.
InanycasethiswallseemedtosignaltheendofAtlantis,ofwhich,allinall,wehadcrossedonlyasmallpart.
Nightfalldidn'tinterruptmyobservations.Iwaslefttomyself.Conseilhadrepairedtohiscabin.
TheNautilussloweddown,hoveringabovethemuddledmassesontheseafloor,sometimesgrazingthemasifwantingtocometorest,sometimesrisingunpredictablytothesurfaceofthewaves.
ThenIglimpsedafewbrightconstellationsthroughthecrystalwaters,specificallyfiveorsixofthosezodiacalstarstrailingfromthetailendofOrion.
Iwouldhavestayedlongeratmywindow,marvelingatthesebeautiesofseaandsky,butthepanelsclosed.
JustthentheNautilushadarrivedattheperpendicularfaceofthathighwall.
HowtheshipwouldmaneuverIhadn'taguess.Irepairedtomystateroom.TheNautilusdidnotstir.
Ifellasleepwiththefirmintentionofwakingupinjustafewhours.
Butitwaseighto'clockthenextdaywhenIreturnedtothelounge.Istaredatthepressuregauge.
IttoldmethattheNautiluswasafloatonthesurfaceoftheocean.
Furthermore,Iheardthesoundoffootstepsontheplatform.
Yettherewerenorollingmovementstoindicatethepresenceofwavesundulatingaboveme.
Iclimbedasfarasthehatch.Itwasopen.
ButinsteadofthebroaddaylightIwasexpecting,IfoundthatIwassurroundedbytotaldarkness.Wherewerewe?HadIbeenmistaken?Wasitstillnight?No!
Notonestarwastwinkling,andnighttimeisneversoutterlyblack.
Iwasn'tsurewhattothink,whenavoicesaidtome:
"Isthatyou,Professor?"
"Ah,CaptainNemo!"Ireplied."Wherearewe?"
"Underground,Professor."
"Underground!"Iexclaimed."AndtheNautilusisstillfloating?"
"Italwaysfloats."
"ButIdon'tunderstand!"
"Waitalittlewhile.Ourbeaconisabouttogoon,andifyouwantsomelightonthesubject,you'llbesatisfied."
Isetfootontheplatformandwaited.ThedarknesswassoprofoundIcouldn'tseeevenCaptainNemo.
However,lookingatthezenithdirectlyoverhead,IthoughtIcaughtsightofafeebleglimmer,asortoftwilightfilteringthroughacircularhole.
Justthenthebeaconsuddenlywenton,anditsintensebrightnessmadethathazylightvanish.
Thisstreamofelectricitydazzledmyeyes,andaftermomentarilyshuttingthem,Ilookedaround.TheNautiluswasstationary.
Itwasfloatingnexttoanembankmentshapedlikeawharf.
Asforthewaternowbuoyingtheship,itwasalakecompletelyencircledbyaninnerwallabouttwomilesindiameter,hencesixmilesaround.
Itslevel—asindicatedbythepressuregauge—wouldbethesameastheoutsidelevel,becausesomeconnectionhadtoexistbetweenthislakeandthesea.
Slantinginwardovertheirbase,thesehighwallsconvergedtoformavaultshapedlikeanimmenseupside–downfunnelthatmeasured500or600metersinheight.
AtitssummittheregapedthecircularopeningthroughwhichIhaddetectedthatfaintglimmer,obviouslydaylight.
Beforemorecarefullyexaminingtheinteriorfeaturesofthisenormouscavern,andbeforedecidingifitwastheworkofnatureorhumankind,IwentovertoCaptainNemo.
"Wherearewe?"Isaid.
"Intheveryheartofanextinctvolcano,"thecaptainansweredme,"avolcanowhoseinteriorwasinvadedbytheseaaftersomeconvulsionintheearth.
Whileyouweresleeping,professor,theNautilusenteredthislagoonthroughanaturalchannelthatopenstenmetersbelowthesurfaceoftheocean.
Thisisourhomeport,secure,convenient,secret,andshelteredagainstwindsfromanydirection!
Alongthecoastsofyourcontinentsorislands,showmeanyoffshoremooringthatcanequalthissaferefugeforwithstandingthefuryofhurricanes."
"Indeed,"Ireplied,"hereyou'reinperfectsafety,CaptainNemo.Whocouldreachyouintheheartofavolcano?Butdon'tIseeanopeningatitssummit?"
"Yes,itscrater,acraterformerlyfilledwithlava,steam,andflames,butwhichnowletsinthislife–givingairwe'rebreathing."
"Butwhichvolcanicmountainisthis?"Iasked.
"It'soneofthemanyisletswithwhichthisseaisstrewn.Forshipsamerereef,forusanimmensecavern.Idiscovereditbychance,andchanceservedmewell."
"Butcouldn'tsomeoneenterthroughthemouthofitscrater?"
"NomorethanIcouldexitthroughit.Youcanclimbabout100feetuptheinnerbaseofthismountain,butthenthewallsoverhang,theyleantoofarintobescaled."
"Icansee,Captain,thatnatureisyourobedientservant,anytimeoranyplace.
You'resafeonthislake,andnobodyelsecanvisititswaters.Butwhat'sthepurposeofthisrefuge?TheNautilusdoesn'tneedaharbor."
"No,professor,butitneedselectricitytorun,batteriestogenerateitselectricity,sodiumtofeeditsbatteries,coaltomakeitssodium,andcoalfieldsfromwhichtodigitscoal.
Nowthen,rightatthisspottheseacoversentireforeststhatsankunderwaterinprehistorictimes;today,turnedtostone,transformedintocarbonfuel,theyoffermeinexhaustiblecoalmines."
"So,Captain,yourmenpracticethetradeofminershere?"
"Precisely.TheseminesextendunderthewaveslikethecoalfieldsatNewcastle.
Here,dressedindivingsuits,pickandmattockinhand,mymengooutanddigthiscarbonfuelforwhichIdon'tneedasinglemineonland.
WhenIburnthiscombustibletoproducesodium,thesmokeescapingfromthemountain'scratergivesittheappearanceofastill–activevolcano."
"Andwillweseeyourcompanionsatwork?"
"No,atleastnotthistime,becauseI'meagertocontinueourunderwatertouroftheworld.
Accordingly,I'llrestcontentwithdrawingonmyreservestockofsodium.
We'llstayherelongenoughtoloaditonboard,inotherwords,asingleworkday,thenwe'llresumeourvoyage.
So,ProfessorAronnax,ifyou'dliketoexplorethiscavernandcircleitslagoon,seizetheday."
Ithankedthecaptainandwenttolookformytwocompanions,whohadn'tyetlefttheircabin.Iinvitedthemtofollowme,nottellingthemwherewewere.
Theyclimbedontotheplatform.Conseil,whomnothingcouldstartle,sawitasaperfectlynaturalthingtofallasleepunderthewavesandwakeupunderamountain.
ButNedLandhadnoideainhisheadotherthantoseeifthiscavernofferedsomewayout.
Afterbreakfastnearteno'clock,wewentdownontotheembankment.
"Sohereweare,backonshore,"Conseilsaid.
"I'dhardlycallthisshore,"theCanadianreplied."Andbesides,wearen'tonitbutunderit."
Asandybeachunfoldedbeforeus,measuring500feetatitswidestpointbetweenthewatersofthelakeandthefootofthemountain'swalls.
Viathisstrandyoucouldeasilycirclethelake.
Butthebaseofthesehighwallsconsistedofbrokensoiloverwhichtherelaypicturesquepilesofvolcanicblocksandenormouspumicestones.
Allthesecrumblingmasseswerecoveredwithanenamelpolishedbytheactionofundergroundfires,andtheyglistenedunderthestreamofelectriclightfromourbeacon.
Stirredupbyourfootsteps,themica–richdustonthisbeachflewintotheairlikeacloudofsparks.
Thegroundroseappreciablyasitmovedawayfromthesandflatsbythewaves,andwesoonarrivedatsomelong,windinggradients,genuinelysteeppathsthatallowedustoclimblittlebylittle;butwehadtotreadcautiouslyinthemidstofpuddingstonesthatweren'tcementedtogether,andourfeetkeptskiddingonglassytrachyte,madeoffeldsparandquartzcrystals.
Thevolcanicnatureofthisenormouspitwasapparentallaroundus.Iventuredtocommentonittomycompanions.
"Canyoupicture,"Iaskedthem,"whatthisfunnelmusthavebeenlikewhenitwasfilledwithboilinglava,andthelevelofthatincandescentliquidroserighttothemountain'smouth,likecastironuptheinsidesofafurnace?"
"Icanpictureitperfectly,"Conseilreplied."ButwillMastertellmewhythishugesmeltersuspendedoperations,andhowitisthatanovenwasreplacedbythetranquilwatersofalake?"
"Inalllikelihood,Conseil,becausesomeconvulsioncreatedanopeningbelowthesurfaceoftheocean,theopeningthatservesasapassagewayfortheNautilus.
ThenthewatersoftheAtlanticrushedinsidethemountain.
Thereensuedadreadfulstrugglebetweentheelementsoffireandwater,astruggleendinginKingNeptune'sfavor.
Butmanycenturieshavepassedsincethen,andthissubmergedvolcanohaschangedintoapeacefulcavern."
"That'sfine,"NedLandanswered."Iaccepttheexplanation,butinourpersonalinterests,I'msorrythisopeningtheprofessormentionswasn'tmadeabovesealevel."
"ButNedmyfriend,"Conseilanswered,"ifitweren'tanunderwaterpassageway,theNautiluscouldn'tenterit!"
"AndImightadd,Mr.Land,"Isaid,"thatthewaterswouldn'thaverushedunderthemountain,andthevolcanowouldstillbeavolcano.Soyouhavenothingtobesorryabout."
Ourclimbcontinued.Thegradientsgotsteeperandnarrower.
Sometimestheywerecutacrossbydeeppitsthathadtobecleared.
Massesofoverhangingrockhadtobegottenaround.
Youslidonyourknees,youcreptonyourbelly.
ButhelpedbytheCanadian'sstrengthandConseil'sdexterity,weovercameeveryobstacle.
Atanelevationofaboutthirtymeters,thenatureoftheterrainchangedwithoutbecominganyeasier.
Puddingstonesandtrachytegavewaytoblackbasalticrock:here,lyinginslabsallswollenwithblisters;there,shapedlikeactualprismsandarrangedintoaseriesofcolumnsthatsupportedthespringingsofthisimmensevault,awonderfulsampleofnaturalarchitecture.
Then,amongthisbasalticrock,theresnakedlong,hardenedlavaflowsinlaidwithveinsofbituminouscoalandinplacescoveredbywidecarpetsofsulfur.
Thesunshinecomingthroughthecraterhadgrownstronger,sheddingahazylightoverallthevolcanicwasteforeverburiedintheheartofthisextinctmountain.
Butwhenwehadascendedtoanelevationofabout250feet,wewerestoppedbyinsurmountableobstacles.
Theconverginginsidewallschangedintooverhangs,andourclimbintoacircularstroll.
Atthistopmostlevelthevegetablekingdombegantochallengethemineralkingdom.
Shrubs,andevenafewtrees,emergedfromcrevicesinthewalls.
Irecognizedsomespurgesthatlettheircaustic,purgativesaptrickleout.
Therewereheliotropes,veryremissatlivinguptotheirsun–worshippingreputationssincenosunlighteverreachedthem;theirclustersofflowersdroopedsadly,theircolorsandscentswerefaded.
Hereandtherechrysanthemumssproutedtimidlyatthefeetofaloeswithlong,sad,sicklyleaves.
ButbetweentheselavaflowsIspottedlittlevioletsthatstillgaveoffasubtlefragrance,andIconfessthatIinhaleditwithdelight.
Thesoulofaflowerisitsscent,andthosesplendidwaterplants,flowersofthesea,havenosouls!
Wehadarrivedatthefootofasturdyclumpofdragontrees,whichweresplittingtherockswithexertionsoftheirmuscularroots,whenNedLandexclaimed:
"Oh,sir,ahive!"
"Ahive?"Ianswered,withagestureofutterdisbelief.
"Yes,ahive,"theCanadianrepeated,"withbeesbuzzingaround!"
Iwentcloserandwasforcedtorecognizetheobvious.
Atthemouthofaholecutinthetrunkofadragontree,thereswarmedthousandsoftheseingeniousinsectssocommontoalltheCanaryIslands,wheretheiroutputisespeciallyprized.
Naturallyenough,theCanadianwantedtolayinasupplyofhoney,anditwouldhavebeenill–manneredofmetosayno.
Hemixedsulfurwithsomedryleaves,setthemonfirewithasparkfromhistinderbox,andproceededtosmokethebeesout.
Littlebylittlethebuzzingdieddownandthedisemboweledhiveyieldedseveralpoundsofsweethoney.NedLandstuffedhishaversackwithit.
"WhenI'vemixedthishoneywithourbreadfruitbatter,"hetoldus,"I'llbereadytoserveyouadelectablepieceofcake."
"Butofcourse,"Conseilputin,"itwillbegingerbread!"
"I'mallforgingerbread,"Isaid,"butlet'sresumethisfascinatingstroll."
Atcertainturnsinthetrailweweregoingalong,thelakeappearedinitsfullexpanse.
Theship'sbeaconlitupthatwholeplacidsurface,whichexperiencedneitherripplesnorundulations.TheNautiluslayperfectlystill.
Onitsplatformandontheembankment,crewmenwerebustlingaround,blackshadowsthatstoodoutclearlyinthemidstoftheluminousair.
Justthenwewentaroundthehighestridgeoftheserockyfoothillsthatsupportedthevault.
ThenIsawthatbeesweren'ttheanimalkingdom'sonlyrepresentativesinsidethisvolcano.
Hereandintheshadows,birdsofpreysoaredandwhirled,flyingawayfromnestsperchedontipsofrock.
Thereweresparrowhawkswithwhitebellies,andscreechingkestrels.
Withallthespeedtheirstiltlikelegscouldmuster,finefatbustardsscamperedovertheslopes.
I'llletthereaderdecidewhethertheCanadian'sappetitewasarousedbythesightofthistastygame,andwhetherheregrettedhavingnorifleinhishands.
Hetriedtomakestonesdotheworkofbullets,andafterseveralfruitlessattempts,hemanagedtowoundoneofthesemagnificentbustards.
Tosayheriskedhislifetwentytimesinordertocapturethisbirdissimplytheunadulteratedtruth;buthefaredsowell,theanimalwentintohissacktojointhehoneycombs.
Bythenwewereforcedtogobackdowntothebeachbecausetheridgehadbecomeimpossible.
Aboveus,theyawningcraterlookedlikethewidemouthofawell.
Fromwherewestood,theskywasprettyeasytosee,andIwatchedcloudsraceby,disheveledbythewestwind,lettingtattersofmisttrailoverthemountain'ssummit.
Proofpositivethatthosecloudskeptatamoderatealtitude,becausethisvolcanodidn'trisemorethan1,800feetabovetheleveloftheocean.
HalfanhouraftertheCanadian'slatestexploits,wewerebackontheinnerbeach.
Therethelocalflorawasrepresentedbyawidecarpetofsamphire,asmallumbelliferousplantthatkeepsquitenicely,whichalsoboaststhenamesglasswort,saxifrage,andseafennel.Conseilpickedacouplebunches.
Asforthelocalfauna,itincludedthousandsofcrustaceansofeverytype:lobsters,hermitcrabs,prawns,mysidshrimps,daddylonglegs,rockcrabs,andaprodigiousnumberofseashells,suchascowries,murexsnails,andlimpets.
Inthislocalitytheregapedthemouthofamagnificentcave.
MycompanionsandItookgreatpleasureinstretchingoutonitsfine–grainedsand.
Firehadpolishedthesparklingenamelofitsinnerwalls,sprinkledalloverwithmica–richdust.
NedLandtappedthesewallsandtriedtoprobetheirthickness.Icouldn'thelpsmiling.
Ourconversationthenturnedtohiseverlastingescapeplans,andwithoutgoingtoofar,IfeltIcouldofferhimthishope:CaptainNemohadgonedownsouthonlytoreplenishhissodiumsupplies.
SoIhopedhewouldnowhugthecoastsofEuropeandAmerica,whichwouldallowtheCanadiantotryagainwithagreaterchanceofsuccess.
Wewerestretchedoutinthisdelightfulcaveforanhour.
Ourconversation,livelyattheoutset,thenlanguished.Adefinitedrowsinessovercameus.
SinceIsawnogoodreasontoresistthecallofsleep,Ifellintoaheavydoze.
Idreamed—onedoesn'tchoosehisdreams—thatmylifehadbeenreducedtothevegetatingexistenceofasimplemollusk.
Itseemedtomethatthiscavemadeupmydouble–valvedshell....
SuddenlyConseil'svoicestartledmeawake.
"Getup!Getup!"shoutedthefinelad.
"Whatisit?"Iasked,inasittingposition.
"Thewater'scominguptous!"
Igotbackonmyfeet.Likeatorrenttheseawasrushingintoourretreat,andsincewedefinitelywerenotmollusks,wehadtoclearout.
Inafewsecondsweweresafeontopofthecave.
"Whathappened?"Conseilasked."Somenewphenomenon?"
"Notquite,myfriends!"Ireplied.
"Itwasthetide,merelythetide,whichwellnighcaughtusbysurprisejustasitdidSirWalterScott'shero!
Theoceanoutsideisrising,andbyaperfectlynaturallawofbalance,thelevelofthislakeisalsorising.We'vegottenoffwithamilddunking.
Let'sgochangeclothesontheNautilus."
Three–quartersofanhourlater,wehadcompletedourcircularstrollandwerebackonboard.
Justthenthecrewmenfinishedloadingthesodiumsupplies,andtheNautiluscouldhavedepartedimmediately.
ButCaptainNemogavenoorders.Wouldhewaitfornightfallandexitthroughhisunderwaterpassagewayinsecrecy?Perhaps.
Bethatasitmay,bythenextdaytheNautilushadleftitshomeportandwasnavigatingwelloutfromanyshore,afewmetersbeneaththewavesoftheAtlantic.
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