The Atlantic!a vast sheet of water whose superficial area covers twenty-five millions of square miles,the length of which is nine thousand miles,with a mean breadth of two thousand seven hundred--an ocean whose parallel winding shores embrace an immense circumference,watered by the largest rivers of the world,the St.Lawrence,the Mississippi,the Amazon,the Plata,the Orinoco,the Niger,the Senegal,the Elbe,the Loire,and the Rhine,which carry water from the most civilised,as well as from the most savage,countries!
Magnificent field of water,incessantly ploughed by vessels of every nation,sheltered by the flags of every nation,and which terminates in those two terrible points so dreaded by mariners,Cape Horn and the Cape of Tempests.
The Nautilus was piercing the water with its sharp spur,after having accomplished nearly ten thousand leagues in three months and a half,a distance greater than the great circle of the earth.
Where were we going now,and what was reserved for the future?
The Nautilus,leaving the Straits of Gibraltar,had gone far out.
It returned to the surface of the waves,and our daily walks on the platform were restored to us.
I mounted at once,accompanied by Ned Land and Conseil.
At a distance of about twelve miles,Cape St.Vincent was dimly to be seen,forming the south-western point of the Spanish peninsula.Astrong southerly gale was blowing.
The sea was swollen and billowy;it made the Nautilus rock violently.
It was almost impossible to keep one's foot on the platform,which the heavy rolls of the sea beat over every instant.
So we descended after inhaling some mouthfuls of fresh air.
I returned to my room,Conseil to his cabin;but the Canadian,with a preoccupied air,followed me.Our rapid passage across the Mediterranean had not allowed him to put his project into execution,and he could not help showing his disappointment.
When the door of my room was shut,he sat down and looked at me silently.
"Friend Ned,"said I ,"I understand you;but you cannot reproach yourself.
To have attempted to leave the Nautilus under the circumstances would have been folly."Ned Land did not answer;his compressed lips and frowning brow showed with him the violent possession this fixed idea had taken of his mind.
"Let us see,"I continued;"we need not despair yet.
We are going up the coast of Portugal again;France and England are not far off,where we can easily find refuge.
Now if the Nautilus,on leaving the Straits of Gibraltar,had gone to the south,if it had carried us towards regions where there were no continents,I should share your uneasiness.
But we know now that Captain Nemo does not fly from civilised seas,and in some days I think you can act with security."Ned Land still looked at me fixedly;at length his fixed lips parted,and he said,"I t is for to-night."I drew myself up suddenly.I was,I admit,little prepared for this communication.I wanted to answer the Canadian,but words would not come.
"We agreed to wait for an opportunity,"continued Ned Land,"and the opportunity has arrived.This night we shall be but a few miles from the Spanish coast.I t is cloudy.
The wind blows freely.I have your word,M.Aronnax,and I rely upon you."
As I was silent,the Canadian approached me.
"To-night,at nine o'clock,"said he."I have warned Conseil.
At that moment Captain Nemo will be shut up in his room,probably in bed.
Neither the engineers nor the ship's crew can see us.
Conseil and I will gain the central staircase,and you,M.Aronnax,will remain in the library,two steps from us,waiting my signal.
The oars,the mast,and the sail are in the canoe.I have even succeeded in getting some provisions.I have procured an English wrench,to unfasten the bolts which attach it to the shell of the Nautilus.
So all is ready,till to-night."
"The sea is bad."
"That I allow,"replied the Canadian;"but we must risk that.
Liberty is worth paying for;besides,the boat is strong,and a few miles with a fair wind to carry us is no great thing.
Who knows but by to-morrow we may be a hundred leagues away?
Let circumstances only favour us,and by ten or eleven o'clock we shall have landed on some spot of terra firma,alive or dead.
But adieu now till to-night."
With these words the Canadian withdrew,leaving me almost dumb.
I had imagined that,the chance gone,I should have time to reflect and discuss the matter.My obstinate companion had given me no time;and,after all,what could I have said to him?
Ned Land was perfectly right.There was almost the opportunity to profit by.Could I retract my word,and take upon myself the responsibility of compromising the future of my companions?
To-morrow Captain Nemo might take us far from all land.
At that moment a rather loud hissing noise told me that the reservoirs were filling,and that the Nautilus was sinking under the waves of the Atlantic.
Asad day I passed,between the desire of regaining my liberty of action and of abandoning the wonderful Nautilus,and leaving my submarine studies incomplete.
What dreadful hours I passed thus!Sometimes seeing myself and companions safely landed,sometimes wishing,in spite of my reason,that some unforeseen circumstance,would prevent the realisation of Ned Land's project.
Twice I went to the saloon.I wished to consult the compass.
I wished to see if the direction the Nautilus was taking was bringing us nearer or taking us farther from the coast.
But no;the Nautilus kept in Portuguese waters.
I must therefore take my part and prepare for flight.
My luggage was not heavy;my notes,nothing more.
As to Captain Nemo,I asked myself what he would think of our escape;what trouble,what wrong it might cause him and what he might do in case of its discovery or failure.Certainly I had no cause to complain of him;on the contrary,never was hospitality freer than his.I n leaving him I could not be taxed with ingratitude.No oath bound us to him.
It was on the strength of circumstances he relied,and not upon our word,to fix us for ever.
