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ForsomedaystheNautiluskeptveeringawayfromtheAmericancoast.
Itobviouslydidn'twanttofrequentthewavesoftheGulfofMexicoortheCaribbeanSea.
Yettherewasnoshortageofwaterunderitskeel,sincetheaveragedepthoftheseseasis1,800meters;butthesewaterways,strewnwithislandsandplowedbysteamers,probablydidn'tagreewithCaptainNemo.
OnApril16weraisedMartiniqueandGuadalupefromadistanceofaboutthirtymiles.ForoneinstantIcouldseetheirloftypeaks.
TheCanadianwasquitedisheartened,havingcountedonputtinghisplansintoexecutioninthegulf,eitherbyreachingshoreorbypullingalongsideoneofthemanyboatsplyingacoastaltradefromoneislandtoanother.
Anescapeattemptwouldhavebeenquitefeasible,assumingNedLandmanagedtoseizetheskiffwithoutthecaptain'sknowledge.Butinmidoceanitwasunthinkable.
TheCanadian,Conseil,andIhadaprettylongconversationonthissubject.
ForsixmonthswehadbeenprisonersaboardtheNautilus.
Wehadfared17,000leagues,andasNedLandputit,therewasnoendinsight.
SohemademeapropositionIhadn'tanticipated.
WeweretoaskCaptainNemothisquestionstraightout:didthecaptainmeantokeepusonboardhisvesselpermanently?
Thismeasurewasdistastefultome.Tomyminditwouldleadnowhere.
WecouldhopefornothingfromtheNautilus'scommanderbutcoulddependonlyonourselves.
Besides,forsometimenowthemanhadbeengloomier,morewithdrawn,lesssociable.Heseemedtobeavoidingme.
Iencounteredhimonlyatrareintervals.
Heusedtotakepleasureinexplainingtheunderwaterwonderstome;nowheleftmetomyresearchandnolongerenteredthelounge.
Whatchangeshadcomeoverhim?Fromwhatcause?Ihadnoreasontoblamemyself.Wasourpresenceonboardperhapsaburdentohim?Evenso,Icherishednohopesthatthemanwouldsetusfree.
SoIbeggedNedtoletmethinkaboutitbeforetakingaction.
Ifthismeasureprovedfruitless,itcouldarousethecaptain'ssuspicions,makeourcircumstancesevenmorearduous,andjeopardizetheCanadian'splans.
ImightaddthatIcouldhardlyuseourstateofhealthasanargument.
ExceptforthatgruelingordealundertheIceBankattheSouthPole,wehadneverfeltbetter,neitherNed,Conseil,norI.
Thenutritiousfood,life–givingair,regularroutine,anduniformtemperaturekeptillnessatbay;andforamanwhodidn'tmisshispastexistenceonland,foraCaptainNemowhowasathomehere,whowentwherehewished,whotookpathsmysterioustoothersifnothimselfinattaininghisends,Icouldunderstandsuchalife.
Butweourselveshadn'tseveredalltieswithhumanity.
Formypart,Ididn'twantmynewandunusualresearchtobeburiedwithmybones.
Ihadnowearnedtherighttopenthedefinitivebookonthesea,andsoonerorlaterIwantedthatbooktoseethelightofday.
Thereoncemore,throughthepanelsopeningintotheseCaribbeanwaterstenmetersbelowthesurfaceofthewaves,Ifoundsomanyfascinatingexhibitstodescribeinmydailynotes!
AmongotherzoophytestherewerePortuguesemen–of–warknownbythenamePhysaliapelagica,likebig,oblongbladderswithapearlysheen,spreadingtheirmembranestothewind,lettingtheirbluetentaclesdriftlikesilkenthreads;totheeyedelightfuljellyfish,tothetouchactualnettlesthatoozeacorrosiveliquid.
Amongthearticulatestherewereannelidwormsoneandahalfmeterslong,furnishedwithapinkproboscis,equippedwith1,700organsoflocomotion,snakingthroughthewaters,andastheywent,throwingoffeverygleaminthesolarspectrum.
Fromthefishbranchthereweremantarays,enormouscartilaginousfishtenfeetlongandweighing600pounds,theirpectoralfintriangular,theirmidbackslightlyarched,theireyesattachedtotheedgesofthefaceatthefrontofthehead;theyfloatedlikewreckagefromaship,sometimesfasteningontoourwindowslikeopaqueshutters.
TherewereAmericantriggerfishforwhichnaturehasgroundonlyblackandwhitepigments,feather–shapedgobiesthatwerelongandplumpwithyellowfinsandjuttingjaws,sixteen–decimetermackerelwithshort,sharpteeth,coveredwithsmallscales,andrelatedtothealbacorespecies.
Nextcameswarmsofredmulletcorsetedingoldstripesfromheadtotail,theirshiningfinsallaquiver,genuinemasterpiecesofjewelry,formerlysacredtothegoddessDiana,muchindemandbyrichRomans,andaboutwhichtheoldsayinggoes:"Hewhocatchesthemdoesn'teatthem!"
Finally,adornedwithemeraldribbonsanddressedinvelvetandsilk,goldenangelfishpassedbeforeoureyeslikecourtiersinthepaintingsofVeronese;spurredgiltheadstolebywiththeirswiftthoracicfins;threadherringfifteenincheslongwerewrappedintheirphosphorescentglimmers;graymulletthrashedtheseawiththeirbigfleshytails;redsalmonseemedtomowthewaveswiththeirslicingpectorals;andsilvermoonfish,worthyoftheirname,roseonthehorizonofthewaterslikethewhitishreflectionsofmanymoons.
HowmanyothermarvelousnewspecimensIstillcouldhaveobservedif,littlebylittle,theNautilushadn'tsettledtothelowerstrata!
Itsslantingfinsdrewittodepthsof2,000and3,500meters.
Thereanimallifewasrepresentedbynothingmorethansealilies,starfish,delightfulcrinoidswithbell–shapedheadslikelittlechalicesonstraightstems,top–shellsnails,blood–redtoothshells,andfissurellasnails,alargespeciesofcoastalmollusk.
ByApril20wehadrisentoanaveragelevelof1,500meters.
ThenearestlandwastheislandgroupoftheBahamas,scatteredlikeabatchofcobblestonesoverthesurfaceofthewater.
Therehighunderwatercliffsrearedup,straightwallsmadeofcraggychunksarrangedlikebigstonefoundations,amongwhichtheregapedblackcavessodeepourelectricrayscouldn'tlightthemtothefarends.
Theserockswerehungwithhugeweeds,immenseseatangle,giganticfucus—agenuinetrellisofwaterplantsfitforaworldofgiants.
Indiscussingthesecolossalplants,Conseil,Ned,andIwerenaturallyledintomentioningthesea'sgiganticanimals.
Theformerwereobviouslymeanttofeedthelatter.
However,throughthewindowsofouralmostmotionlessNautilus,IcouldseenothingamongtheselongfilamentsotherthanthechiefarticulatesofthedivisionBrachyura:long–leggedspidercrabs,violetcrabs,andspongecrabsuniquetothewatersoftheCaribbean.
Itwasabouteleveno'clockwhenNedLanddrewmyattentiontoafearsomecommotionoutinthishugeseaweed.
"Well,"Isaid,"thesearerealdevilfishcaverns,andIwouldn'tbesurprisedtoseesomeofthosemonstershereabouts."
"What!"Conseilputin."Squid,ordinarysquidfromtheclassCephalopoda?"
"No,"Isaid,"devilfishoflargedimensions.ButfriendLandisnodoubtmistaken,becauseIdon'tseeathing."
"That'sregrettable,"Conseilanswered."I'dliketocomefacetofacewithoneofthosedevilfishI'veheardsomuchabout,whichcandragshipsdownintothedepths.Thosebeastsgobythenameofkrake—"
"Fakeismorelikeit,"theCanadianrepliedsarcastically.
"Krakens!"Conseilshotback,finishinghiswordwithoutwincingathiscompanion'switticism.
"Nobodywillevermakemebelieve,"NedLandsaid,"thatsuchanimalsexist."
"Whynot?"Conseilreplied."WesincerelybelievedinMaster'snarwhale."
"Wewerewrong,Conseil."
"Nodoubt,butthereareotherswithnodoubtswhobelievetothisday!"
"Probably,Conseil.Butasforme,I'mboundanddeterminednottoaccepttheexistenceofanysuchmonstertillI'vedissecteditwithmyowntwohands."
"Yet,"Conseilaskedme,"doesn'tMasterbelieveingiganticdevilfish?"
"Yikes!WhoinHadeseverbelievedinthem?"theCanadianexclaimed.
"Manypeople,Nedmyfriend,"Isaid.
"Nofishermen.Scientistsmaybe!"
"Pardonme,Ned.Fishermenandscientists!"
"Why,Itowhomyouspeak,"Conseilsaidwiththeworld'sstraightestface,"Irecallperfectlyseeingalargeboatdraggedunderthewavesbythearmsofacephalopod."
"Yousawthat?"theCanadianasked.
"Yes,Ned."
"Withyourowntwoeyes?"
"Withmyowntwoeyes."
"Where,mayIask?"
"InSaint–Malo,"Conseilreturnedunflappably.
"Intheharbor?"NedLandsaidsarcastically.
"No,inachurch,"Conseilreplied.
"Inachurch!"theCanadianexclaimed.
"Yes,Nedmyfriend.Ithadapicturethatportrayedthedevilfishinquestion."
"Ohgood!"NedLandexclaimedwithaburstoflaughter."Mr.Conseilputoneoveronme!"
"Actuallyhe'sright,"Isaid."I'veheardaboutthatpicture.
Butthesubjectitportraysistakenfromalegend,andyouknowhowtoratelegendsinmattersofnaturalhistory!
Besides,whenit'sanissueofmonsters,thehumanimaginationalwaystendstorunwild.
Peoplenotonlyclaimedthesedevilfishcoulddragshipsunder,butacertainOlausMagnustellsofacephalopodamilelongthatlookedmorelikeanislandthanananimal.
There'salsothestoryofhowtheBishopofTrondheimsetupanaltaronedayonanimmenserock.
Afterhefinishedsayingmass,thisrockstartedmovingandwentbackintothesea.Therockwasadevilfish."
"Andthat'severythingweknow?"theCanadianasked.
"No,"Ireplied,"anotherbishop,PontoppidanofBergen,alsotellsofadevilfishsolargeawholecavalryregimentcouldmaneuveronit."
"Theysuredidgoon,thoseoldtimebishops!"NedLandsaid.
"Finally,thenaturalistsofantiquitymentionsomemonsterswithmouthsasbigasagulf,whichweretoohugetogetthroughtheStraitofGibraltar."
"Goodwork,men!"theCanadianputin.
"Butinallthesestories,isthereanytruth?"Conseilasked.
"Noneatall,myfriends,atleastinthosethatgobeyondtheboundsofcredibilityandflyoffintofableorlegend.
Yetfortheimaginingsofthesestorytellerstherehadtobe,ifnotacause,atleastanexcuse.
Itcan'tbedeniedthatsomespeciesofsquidandotherdevilfisharequitelarge,thoughstillsmallerthancetaceans.
Aristotleputthedimensionsofonesquidatfivecubits,or3.1meters.
Ourfishermenfrequentlyseespecimensover1.8meterslong.
ThemuseumsinTriesteandMontpellierhavepreservedsomedevilfishcarcassesmeasuringtwometers.
Besides,accordingtothecalculationsofnaturalists,oneoftheseanimalsonlysixfeetlongwouldhavetentaclesaslongastwenty–seven.
Whichisenoughtomakeafearsomemonster."
"Doesanybodyfishfor'emnowadays?"theCanadianasked.
"Iftheydon'tfishforthem,sailorsatleastsightthem.
Afriendofmine,CaptainPaulBosofLeHavre,hasoftensworntomethatheencounteredoneofthesemonstersofcolossalsizeintheseasoftheEastIndies.
Butthemostastonishingevent,whichprovesthatthesegiganticanimalsundeniablyexist,tookplaceafewyearsagoin1861."
"Whateventwasthat?"NedLandasked.
"Justthis.In1861,tothenortheastofTenerifeandfairlynearthelatitudewherewearerightnow,thecrewofthegunboatAlectospottedamonstroussquidswimmingintheirwaters.
CommanderBouguerapproachedtheanimalandattackeditwithblowsfromharpoonsandblastsfromrifles,butwithoutmuchsuccessbecausebulletsandharpoonscrosseditssoftfleshasifitweresemiliquidjelly.
Afterseveralfruitlessattempts,thecrewmanagedtoslipanoosearoundthemollusk'sbody.
Thisnooseslidasfarasthecaudalfinsandcametoahalt.
Thentheytriedtohaulthemonsteronboard,butitsweightwassoconsiderablethatwhentheytuggedontherope,theanimalpartedcompanywithitstail;anddeprivedofthisadornment,itdisappearedbeneaththewaters."
"Finally,anactualevent,"NedLandsaid.
"Anindisputableevent,mygallantNed.Accordingly,peoplehaveproposednamingthisdevilfishBouguer'sSquid."
"Andhowlongwasit?"theCanadianasked.
"Didn'titmeasureaboutsixmeters?"saidConseil,whowasstationedatthewindowandexamininganewthecrevicesinthecliff.
"Precisely,"Ireplied.
"Wasn'titshead,"Conseilwenton,"crownedbyeighttentaclesthatquiveredinthewaterlikeanestofsnakes?"
"Precisely."
"Weren'titseyesprominentlyplacedandconsiderablyenlarged?"
"Yes,Conseil."
"Andwasn'titsmoutharealparrot'sbeakbutoffearsomesize?"
"Correct,Conseil."
"Well,withallduerespecttoMaster,"Conseilrepliedserenely,"ifthisisn'tBouguer'sSquid,it'satleastoneofhiscloserelatives!"
IstaredatConseil.NedLandrushedtothewindow.
"Whatanawfulanimal!"heexclaimed.
Istaredinmyturnandcouldn'tkeepbackamovementofrevulsion.Beforemyeyestherequiveredahorriblemonsterworthyofaplaceamongthemostfarfetchedteratologicallegends.
Itwasasquidofcolossaldimensions,fullyeightmeterslong.
ItwastravelingbackwardwithtremendousspeedinthesamedirectionastheNautilus.
Itgazedwithenormous,staringeyesthatweretintedseagreen.
Itseightarms(ormoreaccurately,feet)wererootedinitshead,whichhasearnedtheseanimalsthenamecephalopod;itsarmsstretchedadistancetwicethelengthofitsbodyandwerewrithingliketheserpentinehairoftheFuries.
Youcouldplainlyseeits250suckers,arrangedovertheinnersidesofitstentaclesandshapedlikesemisphericcapsules.
Sometimesthesesuckersfastenedontotheloungewindowbycreatingvacuumsagainstit.
Themonster'smouth—abeakmadeofhornandshapedlikethatofaparrot—openedandclosedvertically.
Itstongue,alsoofhornsubstanceandarmedwithseveralrowsofsharpteeth,wouldflickeroutfrombetweenthesegenuineshears.Whatafreakofnature!Abird'sbeakonamollusk!
Itsbodywasspindle–shapedandswolleninthemiddle,afleshymassthatmusthaveweighed20,000to25,000kilograms.
Itsunstablecolorwouldchangewithtremendousspeedastheanimalgrewirritated,passingsuccessivelyfrombluishgraytoreddishbrown.
Whatwasirritatingthismollusk?NodoubtthepresenceoftheNautilus,evenmorefearsomethanitself,andwhichitcouldn'tgripwithitsmandiblesorthesuckersonitsarms.
Andyetwhatmonstersthesedevilfishare,whatvitalityourCreatorhasgiventhem,whatvigorintheirmovements,thankstotheirowningatripleheart!
Sheerchancehadplacedusinthepresenceofthissquid,andIdidn'twanttolosethisopportunitytometiculouslystudysuchacephalopodspecimen.
Iovercamethehorrorthatitsappearanceinspiredinme,pickedupapencil,andbegantosketchit.
"PerhapsthisisthesameastheAlecto's,"Conseilsaid.
"Can'tbe,"theCanadianreplied,"becausethisone'scompletewhiletheotheronelostitstail!"
"Thatdoesn'tnecessarilyfollow,"Isaid."Thearmsandtailsoftheseanimalsgrowbackthroughregeneration,andinsevenyearsthetailonBouguer'sSquidhassurelyhadtimetosproutagain."
"Anyhow,"Nedshotback,"ifitisn'tthisfellow,maybeit'soneofthose!"
Indeed,otherdevilfishhadappearedatthestarboardwindow.Icountedsevenofthem.
TheyprovidedtheNautiluswithanescort,andIcouldheartheirbeaksgnashingonthesheet–ironhull.
Wecouldn'thaveaskedforamoredevotedfollowing.
Icontinuedsketching.Thesemonsterskeptpaceinourwaterswithsuchprecision,theyseemedtobestandingstill,andIcouldhavetracedtheiroutlinesinminiatureonthewindow.Butweweremovingatamoderatespeed.
AllatoncetheNautilusstopped.Ajoltmadeittremblethroughitsentireframework.
"Didwestrikebottom?"Iasked.
"Inanyeventwe'realreadyclear,"theCanadianreplied,"becausewe'reafloat."
TheNautiluswascertainlyafloat,butitwasnolongerinmotion.
Thebladesofitspropellerweren'tchurningthewaves.Aminutepassed.
Followedbyhischiefofficer,CaptainNemoenteredthelounge.
Ihadn'tseenhimforagoodwhile.Helookedgloomytome.
Withoutspeakingtous,withoutevenseeingusperhaps,hewenttothepanel,staredatthedevilfish,andsaidafewwordstohischiefofficer.
Thelatterwentout.Soonthepanelsclosed.Theceilinglitup.
Iwentovertothecaptain.
"Anunusualassortmentofdevilfish,"Itoldhim,ascarefreeasacollectorinfrontofanaquarium.
"Correct,Mr.Naturalist,"heansweredme,"andwe'regoingtofightthematclosequarters."
Igapedatthecaptain.Ithoughtmyhearinghadgonebad.
"Atclosequarters?"Irepeated.
"Yes,sir.Ourpropellerisjammed.Ithinkthehorn–coveredmandiblesofoneofthesesquidareentangledintheblades.That'swhywearen'tmoving."
"Andwhatareyougoingtodo?"
"Risetothesurfaceandslaughterthevermin."
"Adifficultundertaking."
"Correct.Ourelectricbulletsareineffectiveagainstsuchsoftflesh,wheretheydon'tmeetenoughresistancetogooff.Butwe'llattackthebeastswithaxes."
"Andharpoons,sir,"theCanadiansaid,"ifyoudon'tturndownmyhelp."
"Iacceptit,Mr.Land."
"We'llgowithyou,"Isaid.AndwefollowedCaptainNemo,headingtothecentralcompanionway.
Theresometenmenwerestandingbyfortheassault,armedwithboardingaxes.ConseilandIpickeduptwomoreaxes.NedLandseizedaharpoon.
BythentheNautilushadreturnedtothesurfaceofthewaves.
Stationedonthetopsteps,oneoftheseamenundidtheboltsofthehatch.
Buthehadscarcelyunscrewedthenutswhenthehatchflewupwithtremendousviolence,obviouslypulledopenbythesuckersonadevilfish'sarm.
Instantlyoneofthoselongarmsglidedlikeasnakeintotheopening,andtwentyotherswerequiveringabove.
Withasweepoftheax,CaptainNemochoppedoffthisfearsometentacle,whichslidwrithingdownthesteps.
Justaswewerecrowdingeachothertoreachtheplatform,twomorearmslashedtheair,swoopedontheseamanstationedinfrontofCaptainNemo,andcarriedthefellowawaywithirresistibleviolence.
CaptainNemogaveashoutandleapedoutside.Werushedafterhim.
Whatascene!Seizedbythetentacleandgluedtoitssuckers,theunfortunatemanwasswingingintheairatthemercyofthisenormousappendage.Hegasped,hechoked,heyelled:"Help!Help!"
Thesewords,pronouncedinFrench,leftmedeeplystunned!
SoIhadafellowcountrymanonboard,perhapsseveral!
I'llhearhisharrowingpleatherestofmylife!
Thepoorfellowwasdonefor.Whocouldtearhimfromsuchapowerfulgrip?
Evenso,CaptainNemorushedatthedevilfishandwithasweepoftheaxhewedonemoreofitsarms.
HischiefofficerstruggledfuriouslywithothermonsterscrawlinguptheNautilus'ssides.Thecrewbattledwithflailingaxes.
TheCanadian,Conseil,andIsankourweaponsintothesefleshymasses.Anintense,muskyodorfilledtheair.Itwashorrible.
ForaninstantIthoughtthepoormanentwinedbythedevilfishmightbetornloosefromitspowerfulsuction.
Sevenarmsoutofeighthadbeenchoppedoff.
Brandishingitsvictimlikeafeather,onelonetentaclewaswrithingintheair.
ButjustasCaptainNemoandhischiefofficerrushedatit,theanimalshotoffaspoutofblackishliquid,secretedbyapouchlocatedinitsabdomen.Itblindedus.
Whenthiscloudhaddispersed,thesquidwasgone,andsowasmypoorfellowcountryman!
Whatragethendroveusagainstthesemonsters!Welostallself–control.
TenortwelvedevilfishhadoverruntheNautilus'splatformandsides.
Wepiledhelter–skelterintothethickofthesesawed–offsnakes,whichdartedovertheplatformamidwavesofbloodandsepiaink.
ItseemedasiftheseviscoustentaclesgrewbacklikethemanyheadsofHydra.
AteverythrustNedLand'sharpoonwouldplungeintoasquid'ssea–greeneyeandburstit.
Butmydaringcompanionwassuddenlytoppledbythetentaclesofamonsterhecouldnotavoid.
Oh,myheartnearlyexplodedwithexcitementandhorror!
Thesquid'sfearsomebeakwaswideopenoverNedLand.
Thepoormanwasabouttobecutinhalf.Irantohisrescue.ButCaptainNemogottherefirst.
Hisaxdisappearedbetweenthetwoenormousmandibles,andtheCanadian,miraculouslysaved,stoodandplungedhisharpoonallthewayintothedevilfish'stripleheart.
"Titfortat,"CaptainNemotoldtheCanadian."Iowedittomyself!"
Nedbowedwithoutansweringhim.
Thisstrugglehadlastedaquarterofanhour.Defeated,mutilated,batteredtodeath,themonstersfinallyyieldedtousanddisappearedbeneaththewaves.
Redwithblood,motionlessbythebeacon,CaptainNemostaredattheseathathadswallowedoneofhiscompanions,andlargetearsstreamedfromhiseyes.
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