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ThisdreadfulsceneonApril20noneofuswilleverbeabletoforget.
Iwroteitupinastateofintenseexcitement.LaterIreviewedmynarrative.IreadittoConseilandtheCanadian.
Theyfounditaccurateindetailbutdeficientinimpact.
Toconveysuchsights,itwouldtakethepenofourmostfamouspoet,VictorHugo,authorofTheToilersoftheSea.
AsIsaid,CaptainNemoweptwhilestaringatthewaves.Hisgriefwasimmense.
Thiswasthesecondcompanionhehadlostsincewehadcomeaboard.Andwhatawaytodie!
Smashed,strangled,crushedbythefearsomearmsofadevilfish,groundbetweenitsironmandibles,thisfriendwouldneverrestwithhiscompanionsintheplacidwatersoftheircoralcemetery!
Asforme,whathadharrowedmyheartinthethickofthisstrugglewasthedespairingyellgivenbythisunfortunateman.
Forgettinghisregulationlanguage,thispoorFrenchmanhadrevertedtospeakinghisownmothertonguetoflingoutonesupremeplea!
AmongtheNautilus'screw,alliedbodyandsoulwithCaptainNemoandlikewisefleeingfromhumancontact,Ihadfoundafellowcountryman!
WashetheonlyrepresentativeofFranceinthismysteriousalliance,obviouslymadeupofindividualsfromdifferentnationalities?
Thiswasjustonemoreofthoseinsolubleproblemsthatkeptwellingupinmymind!
CaptainNemoreenteredhisstateroom,andIsawnomoreofhimforagoodwhile.
Buthowsad,despairing,andirresolutehemusthavefelt,tojudgefromthisshipwhosesoulhewas,whichreflectedhiseverymood!
TheNautilusnolongerkepttoafixedheading.
Itdriftedbackandforth,ridingwiththewaveslikeacorpse.
Itspropellerhadbeendisentangledbutwasbarelyputtouse.Itwasnavigatingatrandom.
Itcouldn'ttearitselfawayfromthesettingofthislaststruggle,fromthisseathathaddevouredoneofitsown!
Tendayswentbyinthisway.ItwasonlyonMay1thattheNautilusopenlyresumeditsnorthboundcourse,afterraisingtheBahamasatthemouthofOldBahamaChannel.
Wethenwentwiththecurrentofthesea'sgreatestriver,whichhasitsownbanks,fish,andtemperature.ImeantheGulfStream.
ItisindeedariverthatrunsindependentlythroughthemiddleoftheAtlantic,itswatersnevermixingwiththeocean'swaters.
It'sasaltyriver,saltierthantheseasurroundingit.
Itsaveragedepthis3,000feet,itsaveragewidthsixtymiles.
Incertainlocalitiesitscurrentmovesataspeedoffourkilometersperhour.
Theunchangingvolumeofitswatersisgreaterthanthatofalltheworld'sriverscombined.
AsdiscoveredbyCommanderMaury,thetruesourceoftheGulfStream,itsstartingpoint,ifyouprefer,islocatedintheBayofBiscay.
Thereitswaters,stillweakintemperatureandcolor,begintoform.
Itgoesdownsouth,skirtsequatorialAfrica,warmsitswavesintheraysoftheTorridZone,crossestheAtlantic,reachesCapeSãoRoqueonthecoastofBrazil,andforksintotwobranches,onegoingtotheCaribbeanSeaforfurthersaturationwithheatparticles.
Then,entrustedwithrestoringthebalancebetweenhotandcoldtemperaturesandwithmixingtropicalandnorthernwaters,theGulfStreambeginstoplayitsstabilizingrole.
AttainingawhiteheatintheGulfofMexico,itheadsnorthuptheAmericancoast,advancesasfarasNewfoundland,swervesawayunderthethrustofacoldcurrentfromtheDavisStrait,andresumesitsoceancoursebygoingalongagreatcircleoftheearthonarhumbline;itthendividesintotwoarmsnearthe43rdparallel;one,helpedbythenortheasttradewinds,returnstotheBayofBiscayandtheAzores;theotherwashestheshoresofIrelandandNorwaywithlukewarmwater,goesbeyondSpitzbergen,whereitstemperaturefallsto4°centigrade,andfashionstheopenseaatthepole.
ItwasonthisoceanicriverthattheNautiluswasthennavigating.
LeavingOldBahamaChannel,whichisfourteenleagueswideby350metersdeep,theGulfStreammovesattherateofeightkilometersperhour.
Itsspeedsteadilydecreasesasitadvancesnorthward,andwemustpraythatthissteadinesscontinues,because,asexpertsagree,ifitsspeedanddirectionweretochange,theclimatesofEuropewouldundergodisturbanceswhoseconsequencesareincalculable.
NearnoonIwasontheplatformwithConseil.IsharedwithhimtherelevantdetailsontheGulfStream.Whenmyexplanationwasover,Iinvitedhimtodiphishandsintoitscurrent.
Conseildidso,andhewasquiteastonishedtoexperiencenosensationofeitherhotorcold.
"Thatcomes,"Itoldhim,"fromthewatertemperatureoftheGulfStream,which,asitleavestheGulfofMexico,isbarelydifferentfromyourbloodtemperature.
ThisGulfStreamisahugeheatgeneratorthatenablesthecoastsofEuropetobedeckedineternalgreenery.
AndifCommanderMauryiscorrect,wereonetoharnessthefullwarmthofthiscurrent,itwouldsupplyenoughheattokeepmoltenariverofironsolderasbigastheAmazonortheMissouri."
JustthentheGulfStream'sspeedwas2.25meterspersecond.
Sodistinctisitscurrentfromthesurroundingsea,itsconfinedwatersstandoutagainsttheoceanandoperateonadifferentlevelfromthecolderwaters.
Murkyaswell,andveryrichinsalinematerial,theirpureindigocontrastswiththegreenwavessurroundingthem.
Moreover,theirlineofdemarcationissoclearthatabreastoftheCarolinas,theNautilus'sspurcutthewavesoftheGulfStreamwhileitspropellerwasstillchurningthosebelongingtotheocean.
Thiscurrentsweptalongwithitawholehostofmovingcreatures.
Argonauts,socommonintheMediterranean,voyagedhereinschoolsoflargenumbers.
Amongcartilaginousfish,themostremarkablewererayswhoseultraslendertailsmadeupnearlyathirdofthebody,whichwasshapedlikeahugediamondtwenty–fivefeetlong;thenlittleone–metersharks,theheadlarge,thesnoutshortandrounded,theteethsharpandarrangedinseveralrows,thebodyseeminglycoveredwithscales.
Amongbonyfish,Inotedgrizzledwrasseuniquetotheseseas,deep–watergiltheadwhoseirishasafierygleam,one–metercroakerswhoselargemouthsbristlewithsmallteethandwhichletoutthincries,blackrudderfishlikethoseI'vealreadydiscussed,bluedoradosaccentedwithgoldandsilver,rainbow–huedparrotfishthatcanrivaltheloveliesttropicalbirdsincoloring,bandedblennieswithtriangularheads,bluishflounderwithoutscales,toadfishcoveredwithacrosswiseyellowbandintheshapeofaΤ,swarmsoflittlefreckledgobiesstippledwithbrownspots,lungfishwithsilverheadsandyellowtails,variousspecimensofsalmon,mulletwithslimfiguresandasoftlyglowingradiancethatLacépèdededicatedtothememoryofhiswife,andfinallytheAmericancavalla,ahandsomefishdecoratedbyeveryhonoraryorder,bedizenedwiththeireveryribbon,frequentingtheshoresofthisgreatnationwhereribbonsandordersareheldinsuchlowesteem.
Imightaddthatduringthenight,theGulfStream'sphosphorescentwatersrivaledtheelectricglowofourbeacon,especiallyinthestormyweatherthatfrequentlythreatenedus.
OnMay8,whileabreastofNorthCarolina,wewereacrossfromCapeHatterasoncemore.
TheretheGulfStreamisseventy–fivemileswideand210metersdeep.
TheNautiluscontinuedtowanderatrandom.
Seemingly,allsupervisionhadbeenjettisoned.
UndertheseconditionsIadmitthatwecouldeasilyhavegottenaway.
Infact,thepopulousshoresofferedreadyrefugeeverywhere.
TheseawasplowedcontinuouslybythemanysteamersprovidingservicebetweentheGulfofMexicoandNewYorkorBoston,anditwascrossednightanddaybylittleschoonersengagedincoastaltradeovervariouspointsontheAmericanshore.Wecouldhopetobepickedup.
Soitwasapromisingopportunity,despitethethirtymilesthatseparatedtheNautilusfromtheseUnioncoasts.
ButonedistressingcircumstancetotallythwartedtheCanadian'splans.Theweatherwasthoroughlyfoul.
Wewereapproachingwaterwayswherestormsarecommonplace,theveryhomelandoftornadoesandcyclonesspecificallyengenderedbytheGulfStream'scurrent.
Tofaceafrequentlyragingseainafrailskiffwasaracetocertaindisaster.NedLandconcededthishimself.
Sohechampedatthebit,inthegripofanintensehomesicknessthatcouldbecuredonlybyourescape.
"Sir,"hetoldmethatday,"it'sgottostop.Iwanttogettothebottomofthis.
YourNemo'sveeringawayfromshoreandheadingupnorth.
Butbelieveyoume,IhadmyfillattheSouthPoleandI'mnotgoingwithhimtotheNorthPole."
"Whatcanwedo,Ned,sinceitisn'tfeasibletoescaperightnow?"
"Ikeepcomingbacktomyidea.We'vegottotalktothecaptain.
Whenwewereinyourowncountry'sseas,youdidn'tsayaword.
Nowthatwe'reinmine,Iintendtospeakup.
Beforeafewdaysareout,IfiguretheNautiluswilllieabreastofNovaScotia,andfromtheretoNewfoundlandisthemouthofalargegulf,andtheSt.Lawrenceemptiesintothatgulf,andtheSt.Lawrenceismyownriver,theriverrunningbyQuebec,myhometown—andwhenIthinkaboutallthis,mygorgerisesandmyhairstandsonend!
Honestly,sir,I'dratherjumpoverboard!Ican'tstayhereanylonger!I'msuffocating!"
TheCanadianwasobviouslyattheendofhispatience.
Hisvigorousnaturecouldn'tadapttothisprotractedimprisonment.
Hisfacialappearancewaschangingbytheday.Hismoodsgrewgloomierandgloomier.
IhadasenseofwhathewassufferingbecauseIalsowasgrippedbyhomesickness.
Nearlysevenmonthshadgonebywithoutourhavinganynewsfromshore.
Moreover,CaptainNemo'sreclusiveness,hischangeddisposition,andespeciallyhistotalsilencesincethebattlewiththedevilfishallmademeseethingsinadifferentlight.
Inolongerfelttheenthusiasmofourfirstdaysonboard.
YouneededtobeFlemishlikeConseiltoacceptthesecircumstances,livinginahabitatdesignedforcetaceansandotherdenizensofthedeep.
Truly,ifthatgallantladhadownedgillsinsteadoflungs,Ithinkhewouldhavemadeanoutstandingfish!
"Well,sir?"NedLandwenton,seeingthatIhadn'treplied.
"Well,Ned,youwantmetoaskCaptainNemowhatheintendstodowithus?"
"Yes,sir."
"Eventhoughhehasalreadymadethatclear?"
"Yes.Iwantitsettledonceandforall.Speakjustforme,strictlyonmybehalf,ifyouwant."
"ButIrarelyencounterhim.Hepositivelyavoidsme."
"Allthemorereasonyoushouldgolookhimup."
"I'llconferwithhim,Ned."
"When?"theCanadianaskedinsistently.
"WhenIencounterhim."
"ProfessorAronnax,wouldyoulikemetogofindhimmyself?"
"No,letmedoit.Tomorrow—"
"Today,"NedLandsaid.
"Sobeit.I'llseehimtoday,"IansweredtheCanadian,who,ifhetookactionhimself,wouldcertainlyhaveruinedeverything.
Iwaslefttomyself.Hisrequestgranted,Idecidedtodisposeofitimmediately.Ilikethingsoveranddonewith.
Ireenteredmystateroom.FromthereIcouldhearmovementsinsideCaptainNemo'squarters.
Icouldn'tpassupthischanceforanencounter.Iknockedonhisdoor.Ireceivednoreply.Iknockedagain,thentriedtheknob.Thedooropened.
Ientered.Thecaptainwasthere.
Hewasbendingoverhisworktableandhadn'theardme.
Determinednottoleavewithoutquestioninghim,Idrewcloser.
Helookedupsharply,withafrowningbrow,andsaidinaprettysterntone:
"Oh,it'syou!Whatdoyouwant?"
"Tospeakwithyou,Captain."
"ButI'mbusy,sir,I'matwork.Igiveyouthefreedomtoenjoyyourprivacy,can'tIhavethesameformyself?"
Thisreceptionwaslessthanencouraging.ButIwasdeterminedtogiveasgoodasIgot.
"Sir,"Isaidcoolly,"Ineedtospeakwithyouonamatterthatsimplycan'twait."
"Whatevercouldthatbe,sir?"herepliedsarcastically."Haveyoumadesomediscoverythathasescapedme?Hastheseayieldedupsomenovelsecrettoyou?"
Weweremilesapart.ButbeforeIcouldreply,heshowedmeamanuscriptopenonthetableandtoldmeinamoreserioustone:
"Here,ProfessorAronnax,isamanuscriptwritteninseverallanguages.
Itcontainsasummaryofmyresearchunderthesea,andGodwilling,itwon'tperishwithme.
Signedwithmyname,completewithmylifestory,thismanuscriptwillbeenclosedinasmall,unsinkablecontrivance.
ThelastsurvivingmanontheNautiluswillthrowthiscontrivanceintothesea,anditwillgowhereverthewavescarryit."
Theman'sname!Hislifestorywrittenbyhimself!Sothesecretofhisexistencemightsomedaybeunveiled?ButjustthenIsawthisannouncementonlyasalead–intomytopic.
"Captain,"Ireplied,"I'mallpraiseforthisideayou'reputtingintoeffect.
Thefruitsofyourresearchmustnotbelost.
Butthemethodsyou'reusingstrikemeasprimitive.
Whoknowswherethewindswilltakethatcontrivance,intowhosehandsitmayfall?Can'tyoufindsomethingbetter?Can'tyouoroneofyourmen—"
"Never,sir,"thecaptainsaid,swiftlyinterruptingme.
"ButmycompanionsandIwouldbewillingtosafeguardthismanuscript,andifyougiveusbackourfreedom—"
"Yourfreedom!"CaptainNemoputin,standingup.
"Yes,sir,andthat'sthesubjectonwhichIwantedtoconferwithyou.
Forsevenmonthswe'vebeenaboardyourvessel,andIaskyoutoday,inthenameofmycompanionsaswellasmyself,ifyouintendtokeepushereforever."
"ProfessorAronnax,"CaptainNemosaid,"I'llansweryoutodayjustasIdidsevenmonthsago:whomeverboardstheNautilusmustneverleaveit."
"Whatyou'reinflictingonusisoutrightslavery!"
"Callitanythingyoulike."
"Buteveryslavehastherighttorecoverhisfreedom!Byanyworthwhile,availablemeans!"
"Whohasdeniedyouthatright?"CaptainNemoreplied."DidIevertrytobindyouwithyourwordofhonor?"
Thecaptainstaredatme,crossinghisarms.
"Sir,"Itoldhim,"totakeupthissubjectasecondtimewouldbedistastefultobothofus.Solet'sfinishwhatwe'vestarted.
Irepeat:itisn'tjustformyselfthatIraisethisissue.
Tome,researchisarelief,apotentdiversion,anenticement,apassionthatcanmakemeforgeteverythingelse.
Likeyou,I'mamanneglectedandunknown,livinginthefainthopethatsomedayIcanpassontofuturegenerationsthefruitsofmylabors—figurativelyspeaking,bymeansofsomecontrivancelefttotheluckofwindsandwaves.
Inshort,IcanadmireyouandcomfortablygowithyouwhileplayingaroleIonlypartlyunderstand;butIstillcatchglimpsesofotheraspectsofyourlifethataresurroundedbyinvolvementsandsecretsthat,aloneonboard,mycompanionsandIcan'tshare.
Andevenwhenourheartscouldbeatwithyours,movedbysomeofyourgriefsorstirredbyyourdeedsofcourageandgenius,we'vehadtostifleeventheslightesttokenofthatsympathythatarisesatthesightofsomethingfineandgood,whetheritcomesfromfriendorenemy.Allrightthen!
It'sthisfeelingofbeingalientoyourdeepestconcernsthatmakesoursituationunacceptable,impossible,evenimpossibleformebutespeciallyforNedLand.
Everyman,byvirtueofhisveryhumanity,deservesfairtreatment.
HaveyouconsideredhowaloveoffreedomandhatredofslaverycouldleadtoplansofvengeanceinatemperamentliketheCanadian's,whathemightthink,attempt,endeavor...?"
Ifellsilent.CaptainNemostoodup.
"NedLandcanthink,attempt,orendeavoranythinghewants,whatdifferenceisittome?Ididn'tgolookingforhim!
Idon'tkeephimonboardformypleasure!
Asforyou,ProfessorAronnax,you'reamanabletounderstandanything,evensilence.Ihavenothingmoretosaytoyou.
Letthisfirsttimeyou'vecometodiscussthissubjectalsobethelast,becauseasecondtimeIwon'tevenlisten."
Iwithdrew.Fromthatdayforwardourpositionwasverystrained.Ireportedthisconversationtomytwocompanions.
"Nowweknow,"Nedsaid,"thatwecan'texpectathingfromthisman.TheNautilusisnearingLongIsland.We'llescape,nomatterwhattheweather."
Buttheskiesbecamemoreandmorethreatening.
Therewereconspicuoussignsofahurricaneontheway.
Theatmospherewasturningwhiteandmilky.
Slendersheavesofcirruscloudswerefollowedonthehorizonbylayersofnimbocumulus.Otherlowcloudsfledswiftly.
Theseagrewtowering,inflatedbylongswells.
Everybirdhaddisappearedexceptafewpetrels,friendsofthestorms.
Thebarometerfellsignificantly,indicatingatremendoustensioninthesurroundinghaze.
Themixtureinourstormglassdecomposedundertheinfluenceoftheelectricitychargingtheair.
Astruggleoftheelementswasapproaching.
ThestormburstduringthedaytimeofMay13,justastheNautiluswascruisingabreastofLongIsland,afewmilesfromthenarrowstoUpperNewYorkBay.
I'mabletodescribethisstruggleoftheelementsbecauseCaptainNemodidn'tfleeintotheoceandepths;instead,fromsomeinexplicablewhim,hedecidedtobraveitoutonthesurface.
Thewindwasblowingfromthesouthwest,initiallyastiffbreeze,inotherwords,withaspeedoffifteenmeterspersecond,whichbuilttotwenty–fivemetersnearthreeo'clockintheafternoon.Thisisthefigureformajorstorms.
Unshakenbythesesqualls,CaptainNemostationedhimselfontheplatform.
Hewaslashedaroundthewaisttowithstandthemonstrousbreakersfoamingoverthedeck.
Ihoistedandattachedmyselftothesameplace,dividingmywondermentbetweenthestormandthisincomparablemanwhofacedithead–on.
Theragingseawassweptwithhugetatteredcloudsdrenchedbythewaves.
Isawnomoreofthesmallinterveningbillowsthatforminthetroughsofthebigcrests.
Justlong,soot–coloredundulationswithcrestssocompacttheydidn'tfoam.Theykeptgrowingtaller.Theywerespurringeachotheron.
TheNautilus,sometimeslyingonitsside,sometimesstandingonendlikeamast,rolledandpitchedfrightfully.
Nearfiveo'clockatorrentialrainfell,butitlulledneitherwindnorsea.
Thehurricanewasunleashedataspeedofforty–fivemeterspersecond,hencealmostfortyleaguesperhour.
Undertheseconditionshousestopple,rooftilespuncturedoors,ironrailingssnapintwo,andtwenty–four–poundercannonsrelocate.
Andyetinthemidstofthisturmoil,theNautilusliveduptothatsayingofanexpertengineer:"Awell–constructedhullcandefyanysea!"
Thissubmersiblewasnoresistingrockthatwavescoulddemolish;itwasasteelspindle,obedientlyinmotion,withoutriggingormasting,andabletobravetheirfurywithimpunity.
MeanwhileIwascarefullyexaminingtheseunleashedbreakers.
Theymeasureduptofifteenmetersinheightoveralengthof150to175meters,andthespeedoftheirpropagation(halfthatofthewind)wasfifteenmeterspersecond.
Theirvolumeandpowerincreasedwiththedepthofthewaters.
Ithenunderstoodtheroleplayedbythesewaves,whichtrapairintheirflanksandreleaseitinthedepthsoftheseawhereitsoxygenbringslife.
Theirutmostpressure—ithasbeencalculated—canbuildto3,000kilogramsoneverysquarefootofsurfacetheystrike.
ItwassuchwavesintheHebridesthatrepositionedastoneblockweighing84,000pounds.
ItwastheirrelativesinthetidalwaveonDecember23,1854,thattoppledpartoftheJapanesecityofTokyo,thenwentthatsamedayat700kilometersperhourtobreakonthebeachesofAmerica.
Afternightfallthestormgrewinintensity.
Asinthe1860cycloneonRéunionIsland,thebarometerfellto710millimeters.
Atthecloseofday,Isawabigshippassingonthehorizon,strugglingpainfully.
Itlaytoathalfsteaminanefforttoholdsteadyonthewaves.
ItmusthavebeenasteamerononeofthoselinesoutofNewYorktoLiverpoolorLeHavre.Itsoonvanishedintotheshadows.
Atteno'clockintheevening,theskiescaughtonfire.
Theairwasstreakedwithviolentflashesoflightning.
Icouldn'tstandthisbrightness,butCaptainNemostaredstraightatit,asiftoinhalethespiritofthestorm.
Adreadfulnoisefilledtheair,acomplicatednoisemadeupoftheroarofcrashingbreakers,thehowlofthewind,clapsofthunder.
Thewindshiftedtoeverypointofthehorizon,andthecyclonelefttheeasttoreturnthereafterpassingthroughnorth,west,andsouth,movingintheoppositedirectionofrevolvingstormsinthesouthernhemisphere.
Oh,thatGulfStream!Ittrulylivesuptoitsnickname,theLordofStorms!
Allbyitselfitcreatesthesefearsomecyclonesthroughthedifferenceintemperaturebetweenitscurrentsandthesuperimposedlayersofair.
Therainwasfollowedbyadownpouroffire.
Dropletsofwaterchangedintoexplodingtufts.
YouwouldhavethoughtCaptainNemowascourtingadeathworthyofhimself,seekingtobestruckbylightning.
Inonehideouspitchingmovement,theNautilusreareditssteelspurintotheairlikealightningrod,andIsawlongsparksshootdownit.
Shattered,attheendofmystrength,Islidflatonmybellytothehatch.
Iopeneditandwentbelowtothelounge.
Bythenthestormhadreacheditsmaximumintensity.
ItwasimpossibletostanduprightinsidetheNautilus.
CaptainNemoreenterednearmidnight.Icouldheartheballasttanksfillinglittlebylittle,andtheNautilussankgentlybeneaththesurfaceofthewaves.
Throughthelounge'sopenwindows,Isawlarge,frightenedfishpassinglikephantomsinthefierywaters.Somewerestruckbylightningrightbeforemyeyes!
TheNautiluskeptdescending.Ithoughtitwouldfindcalmagainatfifteenmetersdown.No.
Theupperstrataweretooviolentlyagitated.
Itneededtosinktofiftymeters,searchingforarestingplaceinthebowelsofthesea.
Butoncethere,whattranquilitywefound,whatsilence,whatpeaceallaroundus!Whowouldhaveknownthatadreadfulhurricanewasthenunleashedonthesurfaceofthisocean?
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