Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea

length of which is nine thousand miles, with a mean breadth of two thousand seven hundred-an ocean whose p

the most civilised, as well as from the most savage, countries! Magnificent field of water, incessantly ploughed by vessels of every nation, she

distance greater than the great circle of the earth. Where were we going now, and what was reserved for the future? The Nautilus, leaving t

point of the Spanish peninsula. A strong southerly gale was blowing. The sea was swollen and billowy; it made the Nautilus rock violently. It was almost impos

id passage across the Mediterranean had not allowed him to put his project into execution, and he could not

t reproach yourself. To have attempted to leave the Na

nd frowning brow showed with him the violent p

nd 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 contine

y; at length his fixed lips parted

le prepared for this communication. I wanted to

has arrived. This night we shall be but a few miles from the Spanish coast. It is

t, the Canadia

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 cano

sea i

s 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

inate 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. C

that the reservoirs were filling, and that the Na

y liberty of action and of abandoning the wonderful N

s safely landed, sometimes wishing, in spite of my reason, that some unf

e if the direction the Nautilus was taking was bringing us nearer or taking

prepare for flight. My luggage was

s discovery or failure. Certainly I had no cause to complain of him; on the contrary, never was hospitality freer than his. In leaving him I could n

wished it, and I feared it at the same time. I listened if I could hear him walking the room contiguous to mine. No sound reached

oin Ned Land. My agitation redoubled. My pulse beat violently. I could not remain quiet. I went and came, hoping to calm my troubled spirit by constant movement. The idea of failure in our bold enterprise was the least

eum, where I had passed so many useful and agreeable hours. I looked at all its riches, all

to abandon them for ever! I should like to have taken a last look through the windows of the saloon into the waters of the Atl

this door was ajar. I drew back involuntarily. If Captain Nemo should be in his room, he could see me. But, hearing no sound, I d

e bell awoke me from my dreams. I trembled as if an invisible eye h

was still north. The log indicated moderate s

ng. The vibration of the screw alone broke the deep silence which reigned on board. I listened attentively. Would no loud voice suddenly inform

n's door. No noise. I left my room and returned to t

ient light, the same solitude. I placed myself near the door leadin

heart. Suddenly a slight shock was felt; and I knew that the Nautilus had stopped at the bottom of the ocean. My uneasiness increased. The Canadian's

and Captain Nemo appeared. He saw me, and without

oking for you. Do you kn

rt; but in the condition I was at the time, with troubled m

, "you heard my question! Do y

ghtly," I

you a curious episode in this history. Sir, listen well," said he; "this history will interest

interlocutor was driving at, and asking myself if

f Anjou, his grandson, on the Spaniards. This prince reigned more or less badly under the name of Philip V, and had a strong party against him abroad. Indeed, the preceding year, the royal houses of Holland, Austria, and En

om America, once entered their ports. And about the end of 1702 they expected a rich convoy which France was escorting with a fleet of twenty-three vessels, commanded by Admiral Chateau-Renaud, for the

anted to be taken to a Spanish port, and, if not to Cadiz, into Vigo Ba

ashness to obey this injunction,

t therefore hasten to unload the galleons before the arrival of the combined fleet; and

he chain of events?"

knowing the end proposed

est Indies. Now, to disembark these ingots at the port of Vigo was depriving them of their rights. They complained at Madrid, and obtained the consent o

n Admiral Chateau-Renaud, in spite of inferior forces, fought bravely. But, seeing that the treasure must fall

t I could not see yet why th

?" I

are in that Vigo Bay; and it rests with your

e to recover. I obeyed. The saloon was dark, but through

half-rotten barrels and empty cases from the midst of the blackened wrecks. From these cases and from these barrels escaped ingots of gold and silver, cascades of piastres and jewels. The

nk. Here Captain Nemo came, according to his wants, to pack up those millions with which he burdened the Nautilus. It was for him and him alone America had

sked, smiling, "that the

value money held in suspension

but to pick up what man has lost-and not only in Vigo Bay, but in a thousand other ports where shipwrecks have h

ll you that in exploring Vigo Bay you have

whi

ing those buried galleons. The shareholders are led on by the allurement of an

were," answered Captain Nemo

mblers usually regret above all is less the loss of their money than of their foolish hopes. After all, I pity them less than the thous

s regret than I felt that it

ding to your idea, that I take the trouble to collect these treasures? Who told you that I did not make a good use of it? Do you think I am igno

ndence under the sea, it had left him still a man, that his heart still beat for the sufferings of humanity, and that his immense charity was for oppressed races as wel