I’mnotayoungman,andIcan’tswimwell.Istartedtogounderwater.Butthentherewasastronghandonmyback.Ilookedbehindme.Myservantwasthere! ‘Conseil!Whyareyouinthewater?’Iasked. ‘YouwereintheseaandIwantedtostaywithyou.That’smyjob,MrAronnax,’Conseilsaid.‘There’saproblemwiththeAbrahamLincoln.Itcan’tcomebackforus.Let’sswim,andwaitformorning.’ Beforemorning,mylegsstoppedworking.‘Go,Conseil,’Isaid.‘I’madeadman,butyou’reyoungandstrong.Youcanfindaboat...’Thenwatercameintomymouth,andmyeyesclosed. Theyopenedashorttimelater.IwaswithConseil,andNedLandtoo. ‘Idon’tunderstand.We’renotswimming.Wherearewe?’Iasked. ‘Onthebackofthegiantwhale,’Nedsaid.Thenhesmiled.‘Butit’snotawhale.’ Ilooked,andhewasright.Wewereonasubmarine! ‘YouandIwentintotheseaatthesametime,MrAronnax,’Nedsaid.‘Afterthat,Iwaitedhere.We’reOKnow,butthisboatcangounderwater.Whatarewegoingtodothen?’ Suddenly,thesubmarinestartedtomove.‘Quickly!’Isaid.‘Makesomenoise.Hittheboatwithyourhands.’ Adooropenedandeightmencameout.Wewentwiththemintothesubmarine. ‘Whereareyoutakingus?’weaskedthemen,buttheydidn’tanswer.Wearrivedinadarkroom.Themenwentawayandclosedthedoorbehindthem.Nedtriedthedoor,butitdidn’topen.‘We’renevergoingtoescape!’hesaid.‘Thosemenaregoingtokillus!’ Wewaitedforalongtimeinthedarkroom.Thenthelightscameonandamanwalkedintotheroom.Perhapshewasthirty-five,orperhapsfifty.Hewastall,withblackeyesandaninteresting,openface. InFrench,Isaidournamesandaskedforfoodanddrink.Helistenedquietly,buthedidn’tanswer. ‘Hedoesn’tunderstandFrench,’Isaid.‘Youtry,Ned.PerhapsheunderstandsEnglish.’ NedtalkedinEnglish.ThenConseiltriedinGerman.Buttheyhadthesameproblem. ‘Whatcanwedonow?’Iaskedmyfriends.Butthemanwalkedawayandclosedthedoor. Againwewaited.Nedwasveryangry.Hedidn’tlikethemenonthesubmarine.Hedidn’tlikeourroom.Andhedidn’tlikewaiting.‘I’mgoingtoescapefromthissubmarine,’hesaid. Amancameintotheroom,andNedstartedtohithimintheface.ConseilandIwantedtostopNed,buthewasverystrong.Suddenly,ourfirstvisitorwaswithusagain. ‘Stop,MrLand!’hesaid,inverygoodFrench.‘Andpleaselistentome,allofyou.MynameisCaptainNemo,andthisismyboat,theNautilus. ‘Ididn’ttalktoyouonmyfirstvisit.I’msorryaboutthat.Butyou’reaproblemforme.WhatcanIdowithyou?MymenandIarenevergoingbacktoourcountries;we’realwaysgoingtoliveontheNautilus.Youcanlivewithus,too,butyoucan’tgobacktoyourcountriesafterthat.Wedon’twantstoriesinthenewspapersaboutus.’ ‘Whatareyousaying?’Iasked.‘Wewanttogohome.’ ‘Youcangonow,’heanswered.‘Butit’sgoingtobedifficultforyou,becauseyouhaven’tgotaboat.You’reunderwaterandyouaren’tnearthecoast.Staywithusnow,andyoucanseealotofinterestingthings.Butyoucannevergohome.’ 
