THEINDIANOCEAN
　　Wenowcometothesecondpartofourjourneyunderthesea.
　　Thefirstendedwiththemovingsceneinthecoralcemeterywhichleftsuchadeepimpressiononmymind.Thus,inthemidstofthisgreatsea,CaptainNemo'slifewaspassing,eventohisgrave,whichhehadpreparedinoneofitsdeepestabysses.There,notoneoftheocean'smonsterscouldtroublethelastsleepofthecrewoftheNautilus,ofthosefriendsrivetedtoeachotherindeathasinlife.
　　"Noranyman,either,"hadaddedtheCaptain.Stillthesamefierce,implacabledefiancetowardshumansociety!
　　IcouldnolongercontentmyselfwiththetheorywhichsatisfiedConseil.
　　ThatworthyfellowpersistedinseeingintheCommanderoftheNautilusoneofthoseunknownservantswhoreturnmankindcontemptforindifference.Forhim,hewasamisunderstoodgeniuswho,tiredofearth'sdeceptions,hadtakenrefugeinthisinaccessiblemedium,wherehemightfollowhisinstinctsfreely.
　　Tomymind,thisexplainsbutonesideofCaptainNemo'scharacter.
　　Indeed,themysteryofthatlastnightduringwhichwehadbeenchainedinprison,thesleep,andtheprecautionsoviolentlytakenbytheCaptainofsnatchingfrommyeyestheglassI
　　hadraisedtosweepthehorizon,themortalwoundoftheman,duetoanunaccountableshockoftheNautilus,allputmeonanewtrack.No;CaptainNemowasnotsatisfiedwithshunningman.
　　Hisformidableapparatusnotonlysuitedhisinstinctoffreedom,butperhapsalsothedesignofsometerribleretaliation.
　　Atthismomentnothingiscleartome;Icatchbutaglimpseoflightamidstallthedarkness,andImustconfinemyselftowritingaseventsshalldictate.
　　Thatday,the24thofJanuary,1868,atnoon,thesecondofficercametotakethealtitudeofthesun.Imountedtheplatform,litacigar,andwatchedtheoperation.ItseemedtomethatthemandidnotunderstandFrench;
　　forseveraltimesImaderemarksinaloudvoice,whichmusthavedrawnfromhimsomeinvoluntarysignofattention,ifhehadunderstoodthem;
　　butheremainedundisturbedanddumb.
　　Ashewastakingobservationswiththesextant,oneofthesailorsoftheNautilusthestrongmanwhohadaccompaniedusonourfirstsubmarineexcursiontotheIslandofCrespo
　　cametocleantheglassesofthelantern.Iexaminedthefittingsoftheapparatus,thestrengthofwhichwasincreasedahundredfoldbylenticularrings,placedsimilartothoseinalighthouse,andwhichprojectedtheirbrillianceinahorizontalplane.
　　Theelectriclampwascombinedinsuchawayastogiveitsmostpowerfullight.Indeed,itwasproducedinvacuo,whichinsuredbothitssteadinessanditsintensity.
　　Thisvacuumeconomisedthegraphitepointsbetweenwhichtheluminousarcwasdeveloped——animportantpointofeconomyforCaptainNemo,whocouldnoteasilyhavereplacedthem;
　　andundertheseconditionstheirwastewasimperceptible.
　　WhentheNautiluswasreadytocontinueitssubmarinejourney,Iwentdowntothesaloon.Thepanelwasclosed,andthecoursemarkeddirectwest.
　　WewerefurrowingthewatersoftheIndianOcean,avastliquidplain,withasurfaceof1,200,000,000ofacres,andwhosewatersaresoclearandtransparentthatanyoneleaningoverthemwouldturngiddy.
　　TheNautilususuallyfloatedbetweenfiftyandahundredfathomsdeep.
　　Wewentonsoforsomedays.Toanyonebutmyself,whohadagreatloveforthesea,thehourswouldhaveseemedlongandmonotonous;
　　butthedailywalksontheplatform,whenIsteepedmyselfintherevivingairoftheocean,thesightoftherichwatersthroughthewindowsofthesaloon,thebooksinthelibrary,thecompilingofmymemoirs,tookupallmytime,andleftmenotamomentofennuiorweariness.
　　Forsomedayswesawagreatnumberofaquaticbirds,sea-mewsorgulls.
　　Somewerecleverlykilledand,preparedinacertainway,madeveryacceptablewater-game.Amongstlarge-wingedbirds,carriedalongdistancefromalllandsandrestinguponthewavesfromthefatigueoftheirflight,Isawsomemagnificentalbatrosses,utteringdiscordantcrieslikethebrayingofanass,andbirdsbelongingtothefamilyofthelong-wings.
　　Astothefish,theyalwaysprovokedouradmirationwhenwesurprisedthesecretsoftheiraquaticlifethroughtheopenpanels.
　　IsawmanykindswhichIneverbeforehadachanceofobserving.
　　{3paragraphsaremissing}
　　Fromthe21sttothe23rdofJanuarytheNautiluswentattherateoftwohundredandfiftyleaguesintwenty-fourhours,beingfivehundredandfortymiles,ortwenty-twomilesanhour.
　　Ifwerecognisedsomanydifferentvarietiesoffish,itwasbecause,attractedbytheelectriclight,theytriedtofollowus;
　　thegreaterpart,however,weresoondistancedbyourspeed,thoughsomekepttheirplaceinthewatersoftheNautilusforatime.
　　Themorningofthe24th,in12@5'S.lat.,and94@33'
　　long.,weobservedKeelingIsland,acoralformation,plantedwithmagnificentcocos,andwhichhadbeenvisitedbyMr.DarwinandCaptainFitzroy.TheNautilusskirtedtheshoresofthisdesertislandforalittledistance.Itsnetsbroughtupnumerousspecimensofpolypiandcuriousshellsofmollusca.
　　{onesentencestrippedhere}
　　SoonKeelingIslanddisappearedfromthehorizon,andourcoursewasdirectedtothenorth-westinthedirectionoftheIndianPeninsula.
　　FromKeelingIslandourcoursewasslowerandmorevariable,oftentakingusintogreatdepths.Severaltimestheymadeuseoftheinclinedplanes,whichcertaininternalleversplacedobliquelytothewaterline.Inthatwaywewentabouttwomiles,butwithouteverobtainingthegreatestdepthsoftheIndianSea,whichsoundingsofseventhousandfathomshaveneverreached.
　　Astothetemperatureofthelowerstrata,thethermometerinvariablyindicated4@abovezero.Ionlyobservedthatintheupperregionsthewaterwasalwayscolderinthehighlevelsthanatthesurfaceofthesea.
　　Onthe25thofJanuarytheoceanwasentirelydeserted;theNautiluspassedthedayonthesurface,beatingthewaveswithitspowerfulscrewandmakingthemreboundtoagreatheight.Whoundersuchcircumstanceswouldnothavetakenitforagiganticcetacean?
　　ThreepartsofthisdayIspentontheplatform.Iwatchedthesea.
　　Nothingonthehorizon,tillaboutfouro'clockasteamerrunningwestonourcounter.Hermastswerevisibleforaninstant,butshecouldnotseetheNautilus,beingtoolowinthewater.
　　IfanciedthissteamboatbelongedtotheP.O.Company,whichrunsfromCeylontoSydney,touchingatKingGeorge'sPointandMelbourne.
　　Atfiveo'clockintheevening,beforethatfleetingtwilightwhichbindsnighttodayintropicalzones,ConseilandI
　　wereastonishedbyacuriousspectacle.
　　Itwasashoalofargonautstravellingalongonthesurfaceoftheocean.
　　Wecouldcountseveralhundreds.TheybelongedtothetuberclekindwhicharepeculiartotheIndianseas.
　　Thesegracefulmolluscsmovedbackwardsbymeansoftheirlocomotivetube,throughwhichtheypropelledthewateralreadydrawnin.Oftheireighttentacles,sixwereelongated,andstretchedoutfloatingonthewater,whilsttheothertwo,rolledupflat,werespreadtothewinglikealightsail.
　　Isawtheirspiral-shapedandflutedshells,whichCuvierjustlycomparestoanelegantskiff.Aboatindeed!
　　Itbearsthecreaturewhichsecretesitwithoutitsadheringtoit.
　　FornearlyanhourtheNautilusfloatedinthemidstofthisshoalofmolluscs.ThenIknownotwhatsuddenfrighttheytook.
　　Butasifatasignaleverysailwasfurled,thearmsfolded,thebodydrawnin,theshellsturnedover,changingtheircentreofgravity,andthewholefleetdisappearedunderthewaves.
　　Neverdidtheshipsofasquadronmanoeuvrewithmoreunity.
　　Atthatmomentnightfellsuddenly,andthereeds,scarcelyraisedbythebreeze,laypeaceablyunderthesidesoftheNautilus.
　　Thenextday,26thofJanuary,wecuttheequatorattheeighty-secondmeridianandenteredthenorthernhemisphere.
　　Duringthedayaformidabletroopofsharksaccompaniedus,terriblecreatures,whichmultiplyintheseseasandmakethemverydangerous.Theywere"cestraciophilippi"sharks,withbrownbacksandwhitishbellies,armedwithelevenrowsofteeth——
　　eyedsharks——theirthroatbeingmarkedwithalargeblackspotsurroundedwithwhitelikeaneye.TherewerealsosomeIsabellasharks,withroundedsnoutsmarkedwithdarkspots.
　　Thesepowerfulcreaturesoftenhurledthemselvesatthewindowsofthesaloonwithsuchviolenceastomakeusfeelveryinsecure.
　　AtsuchtimesNedLandwasnolongermasterofhimself.
　　Hewantedtogotothesurfaceandharpoonthemonsters,particularlycertainsmooth-houndsharks,whosemouthisstuddedwithteethlikeamosaic;andlargetiger-sharksnearlysixyardslong,thelastnamedofwhichseemedtoexcitehimmoreparticularly.
　　ButtheNautilus,acceleratingherspeed,easilyleftthemostrapidofthembehind.
　　The27thofJanuary,attheentranceofthevastBayofBengal,wemetrepeatedlyaforbiddingspectacle,deadbodiesfloatingonthesurfaceofthewater.TheywerethedeadoftheIndianvillages,carriedbytheGangestothelevelofthesea,andwhichthevultures,theonlyundertakersofthecountry,hadnotbeenabletodevour.
　　Butthesharksdidnotfailtohelpthemattheirfuneralwork.
　　Aboutseveno'clockintheevening,theNautilus,half-immersed,wassailinginaseaofmilk.Atfirstsighttheoceanseemedlactified.
　　Wasittheeffectofthelunarrays?No;forthemoon,scarcelytwodaysold,wasstilllyinghiddenunderthehorizonintheraysofthesun.
　　Thewholesky,thoughlitbythesiderealrays,seemedblackbycontrastwiththewhitenessofthewaters.
　　Conseilcouldnotbelievehiseyes,andquestionedmeastothecauseofthisstrangephenomenon.HappilyIwasabletoanswerhim.
　　"Itiscalledamilksea,"Iexplained."AlargeextentofwhitewaveletsoftentobeseenonthecoastsofAmboyna,andinthesepartsofthesea."
　　"But,sir,"saidConseil,"canyoutellmewhatcausessuchaneffect?
　　forIsupposethewaterisnotreallyturnedintomilk."
　　"No,myboy;andthewhitenesswhichsurprisesyouiscausedonlybythepresenceofmyriadsofinfusoria,asortofluminouslittleworm,gelatinousandwithoutcolour,ofthethicknessofahair,andwhoselengthisnotmorethanseven-thousandthsofaninch.
　　Theseinsectsadheretooneanothersometimesforseveralleagues."
　　"Severalleagues!"exclaimedConseil.
　　"Yes,myboy;andyouneednottrytocomputethenumberoftheseinfusoria.
　　Youwillnotbeable,for,ifIamnotmistaken,shipshavefloatedonthesemilkseasformorethanfortymiles."
　　Towardsmidnighttheseasuddenlyresumeditsusualcolour;
　　butbehindus,eventothelimitsofthehorizon,theskyreflectedthewhitenedwaves,andforalongtimeseemedimpregnatedwiththevagueglimmeringsofanauroraborealis.
　　CHAPTERII
　　ANOVELPROPOSALOFCAPTAINNEMO'S
　　Onthe28thofFebruary,whenatnoontheNautiluscametothesurfaceofthesea,in9@4'N.lat.,therewaslandinsightabouteightmilestowestward.ThefirstthingInoticedwasarangeofmountainsabouttwothousandfeethigh,theshapesofwhichweremostcapricious.
　　Ontakingthebearings,IknewthatwewerenearingtheislandofCeylon,thepearlwhichhangsfromthelobeoftheIndianPeninsula.
　　CaptainNemoandhissecondappearedatthismoment.
　　TheCaptainglancedatthemap.Thenturningtome,said:
　　"TheIslandofCeylon,notedforitspearl-fisheries.Wouldyouliketovisitoneofthem,M.Aronnax?"
　　"Certainly,Captain."
　　"Well,thethingiseasy.Though,ifweseethefisheries,weshallnotseethefishermen.Theannualexportationhasnotyetbegun.
　　Nevermind,IwillgiveorderstomakefortheGulfofManaar,whereweshallarriveinthenight."
　　TheCaptainsaidsomethingtohissecond,whoimmediatelywentout.
　　SoontheNautilusreturnedtohernativeelement,andthemanometershowedthatshewasaboutthirtyfeetdeep.
　　"Well,sir,"saidCaptainNemo,"youandyourcompanionsshallvisittheBankofManaar,andifbychancesomefishermanshouldbethere,weshallseehimatwork."
　　"Agreed,Captain!"
　　"Bythebye,M.Aronnaxyouarenotafraidofsharks?"
　　"Sharks!"exclaimedI.
　　Thisquestionseemedaveryhardone.
　　"Well?"continuedCaptainNemo.
　　"Iadmit,Captain,thatIamnotyetveryfamiliarwiththatkindoffish."
　　"Weareaccustomedtothem,"repliedCaptainNemo,"andintimeyouwillbetoo.However,weshallbearmed,andontheroadwemaybeabletohuntsomeofthetribe.
　　Itisinteresting.So,tillto-morrow,sir,andearly."
　　Thissaidinacarelesstone,CaptainNemoleftthesaloon.
　　Now,ifyouwereinvitedtohuntthebearinthemountainsofSwitzerland,whatwouldyousay?
　　"Verywell!to-morrowwewillgoandhuntthebear."
　　IfyouwereaskedtohuntthelionintheplainsofAtlas,orthetigerintheIndianjungles,whatwouldyousay?
　　"Ha!ha!itseemswearegoingtohuntthetigerorthelion!"
　　Butwhenyouareinvitedtohuntthesharkinitsnaturalelement,youwouldperhapsreflectbeforeacceptingtheinvitation.
　　Asformyself,Ipassedmyhandovermyforehead,onwhichstoodlargedropsofcoldperspiration."Letusreflect,"saidI,"andtakeourtime.
　　Huntingottersinsubmarineforests,aswedidintheIslandofCrespo,willpass;butgoingupanddownatthebottomofthesea,whereoneisalmostcertaintomeetsharks,isquiteanotherthing!
　　Iknowwellthatincertaincountries,particularlyintheAndamanIslands,thenegroesneverhesitatetoattackthemwithadaggerinonehandandarunningnooseintheother;butIalsoknowthatfewwhoaffrontthosecreatureseverreturnalive.However,Iamnotanegro,andifIwereIthinkalittlehesitationinthiscasewouldnotbeill-timed."
　　AtthismomentConseilandtheCanadianentered,quitecomposed,andevenjoyous.Theyknewnotwhatawaitedthem.
　　"Faith,sir,"saidNedLand,"yourCaptainNemo——thedeviltakehim!——
　　hasjustmadeusaverypleasantoffer."
　　"Ah!"saidI,"youknow?"
　　"Ifagreeabletoyou,sir,"interruptedConseil,"thecommanderoftheNautilushasinvitedustovisitthemagnificentCeylonfisheriesto-morrow,inyourcompany;hediditkindly,andbehavedlikearealgentleman."
　　"Hesaidnothingmore?"
　　"Nothingmore,sir,exceptthathehadalreadyspokentoyouofthislittlewalk."
　　"Sir,"saidConseil,"wouldyougiveussomedetailsofthepearlfishery?"
　　"Astothefishingitself,"Iasked,"ortheincidents,which?"
　　"Onthefishing,"repliedtheCanadian;"beforeenteringupontheground,itisaswelltoknowsomethingaboutit."
　　"Verywell;sitdown,myfriends,andIwillteachyou."
　　NedandConseilseatedthemselvesonanottoman,andthefirstthingtheCanadianaskedwas:
　　"Sir,whatisapearl?"
　　"MyworthyNed,"Ianswered,"tothepoet,apearlisatearofthesea;
　　totheOrientals,itisadropofdewsolidified;totheladies,itisajewelofanoblongshape,ofabrilliancyofmother-of-pearlsubstance,whichtheywearontheirfingers,theirnecks,ortheirears;forthechemistitisamixtureofphosphateandcarbonateoflime,withalittlegelatine;
　　andlastly,fornaturalists,itissimplyamorbidsecretionoftheorganthatproducesthemother-of-pearlamongstcertainbivalves."
　　"Branchofmolluscs,"saidConseil.
　　"Preciselyso,mylearnedConseil;and,amongstthesetestaceatheearshell,thetridacnae,theturbots,inaword,allthosewhichsecretemother-of-pearl,thatis,theblue,bluish,violet,orwhitesubstancewhichlinestheinterioroftheirshells,arecapableofproducingpearls."
　　"Musselstoo?"askedtheCanadian.
　　"Yes,musselsofcertainwatersinScotland,Wales,Ireland,Saxony,Bohemia,andFrance."
　　"Good!ForthefutureIshallpayattention,"repliedtheCanadian.
　　"But,"Icontinued,"theparticularmolluscwhichsecretesthepearlisthepearl-oyster.Thepearlisnothingbutaformationdepositedinaglobularform,eitheradheringtotheoyster-shellorburiedinthefoldsofthecreature.
　　Ontheshellitisfast:inthefleshitisloose;butalwayshasforakernelasmallhardsubstance,maybeabarrenegg,maybeagrainofsand,aroundwhichthepearlymatterdepositsitselfyearafteryearsuccessively,andbythinconcentriclayers."
　　{thisparagraphisedited}
　　"Aremanypearlsfoundinthesameoyster?"askedConseil.
　　"Yes,myboy.Someareaperfectcasket.Oneoysterhasbeenmentioned,thoughIallowmyselftodoubtit,ashavingcontainednolessthanahundredandfiftysharks."
　　"Ahundredandfiftysharks!"exclaimedNedLand.
　　"DidIsaysharks?"saidIhurriedly."Imeanttosayahundredandfiftypearls.Sharkswouldnotbesense."
　　"Certainlynot,"saidConseil;"butwillyoutellusnowbywhatmeanstheyextractthesepearls?"
　　"Theyproceedinvariousways.Whentheyadheretotheshell,thefishermenoftenpullthemoffwithpincers;butthemostcommonwayistolaytheoystersonmatsoftheseaweedwhichcoversthebanks.Thustheydieintheopenair;andattheendoftendaystheyareinaforwardstateofdecomposition.
　　Theyarethenplungedintolargereservoirsofsea-water;
　　thentheyareopenedandwashed."
　　"Thepriceofthesepearlsvariesaccordingtotheirsize?"askedConseil.
　　"Notonlyaccordingtotheirsize,"Ianswered,"butalsoaccordingtotheirshape,theirwaterthatis,theircolour,andtheirlustre:
　　thatis,thatbrightanddiaperedsparklewhichmakesthemsocharmingtotheeye.Themostbeautifularecalledvirginpearls,orparagons.
　　Theyareformedaloneinthetissueofthemollusc,arewhite,oftenopaque,andsometimeshavethetransparencyofanopal;
　　theyaregenerallyroundoroval.Theroundaremadeintobracelets,theovalintopendants,and,beingmoreprecious,aresoldsingly.
　　Thoseadheringtotheshelloftheoysteraremoreirregularinshape,andaresoldbyweight.Lastly,inalowerorderareclassedthosesmallpearlsknownunderthenameofseed-pearls;theyaresoldbymeasure,andareespeciallyusedinembroideryforchurchornaments."
　　"But,"saidConseil,"isthispearl-fisherydangerous?"
　　"No,"Ianswered,quickly;"particularlyifcertainprecautionsaretaken."
　　"Whatdoesoneriskinsuchacalling?"saidNedLand,"theswallowingofsomemouthfulsofsea-water?"
　　"Asyousay,Ned.Bythebye,"saidI,tryingtotakeCaptainNemo'scarelesstone,"areyouafraidofsharks,braveNed?"
　　"I!"repliedtheCanadian;"aharpoonerbyprofession?
　　Itismytradetomakelightofthem."
　　"But,"saidI,"itisnotaquestionoffishingforthemwithaniron-swivel,hoistingthemintothevessel,cuttingofftheirtailswithablowofachopper,rippingthemup,andthrowingtheirheartintothesea!"
　　"Then,itisaquestionof——"
　　"Precisely."
　　"Inthewater?"
　　"Inthewater."
　　"Faith,withagoodharpoon!Youknow,sir,thesesharksareill-fashionedbeasts.Theyturnontheirbelliestoseizeyou,andinthattime——"
　　NedLandhadawayofsaying"seize"whichmademybloodruncold.
　　"Well,andyou,Conseil,whatdoyouthinkofsharks?"
　　"Me!"saidConseil."Iwillbefrank,sir."
　　"Somuchthebetter,"thoughtI.
　　"Ifyou,sir,meantofacethesharks,Idonotseewhyyourfaithfulservantshouldnotfacethemwithyou."
　　CHAPTERIII
　　APEARLOFTENMILLIONS
　　Thenextmorningatfouro'clockIwasawakenedbythestewardwhomCaptainNemohadplacedatmyservice.
　　Irosehurriedly,dressed,andwentintothesaloon.
　　CaptainNemowasawaitingme.
　　"M.Aronnax,"saidhe,"areyoureadytostart?"
　　"Iamready."
　　"Thenpleasetofollowme."
　　"Andmycompanions,Captain?"
　　"Theyhavebeentoldandarewaiting."
　　"Arewenottoputonourdiver'sdresses?"askedI.
　　"Notyet.IhavenotallowedtheNautilustocometoonearthiscoast,andwearesomedistancefromtheManaarBank;buttheboatisready,andwilltakeustotheexactpointofdisembarking,whichwillsaveusalongway.
　　Itcarriesourdivingapparatus,whichwewillputonwhenwebeginoursubmarinejourney."
　　CaptainNemoconductedmetothecentralstaircase,whichledontheplatform.NedandConseilwerealreadythere,delightedattheideaofthe"pleasureparty"whichwaspreparing.
　　FivesailorsfromtheNautilus,withtheiroars,waitedintheboat,whichhadbeenmadefastagainsttheside.
　　Thenightwasstilldark.Layersofcloudscoveredthesky,allowingbutfewstarstobeseen.Ilookedonthesidewherethelandlay,andsawnothingbutadarklineenclosingthreepartsofthehorizon,fromsouth-westtonorthwest.
　　TheNautilus,havingreturnedduringthenightupthewesterncoastofCeylon,wasnowwestofthebay,orrathergulf,formedbythemainlandandtheIslandofManaar.
　　There,underthedarkwaters,stretchedthepintadinebank,aninexhaustiblefieldofpearls,thelengthofwhichismorethantwentymiles.
　　CaptainNemo,NedLand,Conseil,andItookourplacesinthesternoftheboat.Themasterwenttothetiller;
　　hisfourcompanionsleanedontheiroars,thepainterwascastoff,andwesheeredoff.
　　Theboatwenttowardsthesouth;theoarsmendidnothurry.Inoticedthattheirstrokes,stronginthewater,onlyfollowedeachothereverytenseconds,accordingtothemethodgenerallyadoptedinthenavy.
　　Whilstthecraftwasrunningbyitsownvelocity,theliquiddropsstruckthedarkdepthsofthewavescrisplylikespatsofmeltedlead.
　　Alittlebillow,spreadingwide,gaveaslightrolltotheboat,andsomesamphirereedsflappedbeforeit.
　　Weweresilent.WhatwasCaptainNemothinkingof?Perhapsofthelandhewasapproaching,andwhichhefoundtooneartohim,contrarytotheCanadian'sopinion,whothoughtittoofaroff.
　　AstoConseil,hewasmerelytherefromcuriosity.
　　Abouthalf-pastfivethefirsttintsonthehorizonshowedtheupperlineofcoastmoredistinctly.Flatenoughintheeast,itrosealittletothesouth.Fivemilesstilllaybetweenus,anditwasindistinctowingtothemistonthewater.
　　Atsixo'clockitbecamesuddenlydaylight,withthatrapiditypeculiartotropicalregions,whichknowneitherdawnnortwilight.
　　Thesolarrayspiercedthecurtainofclouds,piledupontheeasternhorizon,andtheradiantorbroserapidly.
　　Isawlanddistinctly,withafewtreesscatteredhereandthere.
　　TheboatnearedManaarIsland,whichwasroundedtothesouth.
　　CaptainNemorosefromhisseatandwatchedthesea.
　　Atasignfromhimtheanchorwasdropped,butthechainscarcelyran,foritwaslittlemorethanayarddeep,andthisspotwasoneofthehighestpointsofthebankofpintadines.
　　"Hereweare,M.Aronnax,"saidCaptainNemo.
　　"Youseethatenclosedbay?Here,inamonthwillbeassembledthenumerousfishingboatsoftheexporters,andthesearethewaterstheirdiverswillransacksoboldly.
　　Happily,thisbayiswellsituatedforthatkindoffishing.
　　Itisshelteredfromthestrongestwinds;theseaisneververyroughhere,whichmakesitfavourableforthediver'swork.
　　Wewillnowputonourdresses,andbeginourwalk."
　　Ididnotanswer,and,whilewatchingthesuspectedwaves,beganwiththehelpofthesailorstoputonmyheavysea-dress.CaptainNemoandmycompanionswerealsodressing.
　　NoneoftheNautilusmenweretoaccompanyusonthisnewexcursion.
　　Soonwewereenvelopedtothethroatinindia-rubberclothing;
　　theairapparatusfixedtoourbacksbybraces.
　　AstotheRuhmkorffapparatus,therewasnonecessityforit.
　　Beforeputtingmyheadintothecoppercap,IhadaskedthequestionoftheCaptain.
　　"Theywouldbeuseless,"hereplied."Wearegoingtonogreatdepth,andthesolarrayswillbeenoughtolightourwalk.Besides,itwouldnotbeprudenttocarrytheelectriclightinthesewaters;
　　itsbrilliancymightattractsomeofthedangerousinhabitantsofthecoastmostinopportunely."
　　AsCaptainNemopronouncedthesewords,IturnedtoConseilandNedLand.
　　Butmytwofriendshadalreadyencasedtheirheadsinthemetalcap,andtheycouldneitherhearnoranswer.
　　OnelastquestionremainedtoaskofCaptainNemo.
　　"Andourarms?"askedI;"ourguns?"
　　"Guns!Whatfor?Donotmountaineersattackthebearwithadaggerintheirhand,andisnotsteelsurerthanlead?
　　Hereisastrongblade;putitinyourbelt,andwestart."
　　Ilookedatmycompanions;theywerearmedlikeus,and,morethanthat,NedLandwasbrandishinganenormousharpoon,whichhehadplacedintheboatbeforeleavingtheNautilus.
　　Then,followingtheCaptain'sexample,Iallowedmyselftobedressedintheheavycopperhelmet,andourreservoirsofairwereatonceinactivity.Aninstantafterwewerelanded,oneaftertheother,inabouttwoyardsofwateruponanevensand.
　　CaptainNemomadeasignwithhishand,andwefollowedhimbyagentledeclivitytillwedisappearedunderthewaves.
　　{3paragraphsmissing}
　　Ataboutseveno'clockwefoundourselvesatlastsurveyingtheoyster-banksonwhichthepearl-oystersarereproducedbymillions.
　　CaptainNemopointedwithhishandtotheenormousheapofoysters;
　　andIcouldwellunderstandthatthisminewasinexhaustible,forNature'screativepowerisfarbeyondman'sinstinctofdestruction.
　　NedLand,faithfultohisinstinct,hastenedtofillanetwhichhecarriedbyhissidewithsomeofthefinestspecimens.
　　Butwecouldnotstop.WemustfollowtheCaptain,whoseemedtoguidehimselfbypathsknownonlytohimself.
　　Thegroundwassensiblyrising,andsometimes,onholdingupmyarm,itwasabovethesurfaceofthesea.
　　Thenthelevelofthebankwouldsinkcapriciously.
　　Oftenweroundedhighrocksscarpedintopyramids.
　　Intheirdarkfractureshugecrustacea,perchedupontheirhighclawslikesomewar-machine,watcheduswithfixedeyes,andunderourfeetcrawledvariouskindsofannelides.
　　Atthismomentthereopenedbeforeusalargegrottoduginapicturesqueheapofrocksandcarpetedwithallthethickwarpofthesubmarineflora.
　　Atfirstitseemedverydarktome.Thesolarraysseemedtobeextinguishedbysuccessivegradations,untilitsvaguetransparencybecamenothingmorethandrownedlight.CaptainNemoentered;wefollowed.
　　Myeyessoonaccustomedthemselvestothisrelativestateofdarkness.
　　Icoulddistinguishthearchesspringingcapriciouslyfromnaturalpillars,standingbroadupontheirgranitebase,liketheheavycolumnsofTuscanarchitecture.Whyhadourincomprehensibleguideledustothebottomofthissubmarinecrypt?Iwassoontoknow.Afterdescendingarathersharpdeclivity,ourfeettrodthebottomofakindofcircularpit.
　　ThereCaptainNemostopped,andwithhishandindicatedanobjectI
　　hadnotyetperceived.Itwasanoysterofextraordinarydimensions,agigantictridacne,agobletwhichcouldhavecontainedawholelakeofholy-water,abasinthebreadthofwhichwasmorethantwoyardsandahalf,andconsequentlylargerthanthatornamentingthesaloonoftheNautilus.
　　Iapproachedthisextraordinarymollusc.Itadheredbyitsfilamentstoatableofgranite,andthere,isolated,itdevelopeditselfinthecalmwatersofthegrotto.Iestimatedtheweightofthistridacneat600lb.
　　Suchanoysterwouldcontain30lb.ofmeat;andonemusthavethestomachofaGargantuatodemolishsomedozensofthem.
　　CaptainNemowasevidentlyacquaintedwiththeexistenceofthisbivalve,andseemedtohaveaparticularmotiveinverifyingtheactualstateofthistridacne.Theshellswerealittleopen;theCaptaincamenearandputhisdaggerbetweentopreventthemfromclosing;thenwithhishandheraisedthemembranewithitsfringededges,whichformedacloakforthecreature.There,betweenthefoldedplaits,Isawaloosepearl,whosesizeequalledthatofacoco-nut.Itsglobularshape,perfectclearness,andadmirablelustremadeitaltogetherajewelofinestimablevalue.
　　Carriedawaybymycuriosity,Istretchedoutmyhandtoseizeit,weighit,andtouchit;buttheCaptainstoppedme,madeasignofrefusal,andquicklywithdrewhisdagger,andthetwoshellsclosedsuddenly.
　　IthenunderstoodCaptainNemo'sintention.Inleavingthispearlhiddeninthemantleofthetridacnehewasallowingittogrowslowly.
　　Eachyearthesecretionsofthemolluscwouldaddnewconcentriccircles.
　　IestimateditsvalueatL500,000atleast.
　　AftertenminutesCaptainNemostoppedsuddenly.
　　Ithoughthehadhaltedpreviouslytoreturning.No;byagesturehebadeuscrouchbesidehiminadeepfractureoftherock,hishandpointedtoonepartoftheliquidmass,whichIwatchedattentively.
　　Aboutfiveyardsfrommeashadowappeared,andsanktotheground.
　　Thedisquietingideaofsharksshotthroughmymind,butIwasmistaken;
　　andonceagainitwasnotamonsteroftheoceanthatwehadanythingtodowith.
　　Itwasaman,alivingman,anIndian,afisherman,apoordevilwho,Isuppose,hadcometogleanbeforetheharvest.
　　Icouldseethebottomofhiscanoeanchoredsomefeetabovehishead.
　　Hedivedandwentupsuccessively.Astoneheldbetweenhisfeet,cutintheshapeofasugarloaf,whilstaropefastenedhimtohisboat,helpedhimtodescendmorerapidly.Thiswasallhisapparatus.
　　Reachingthebottom,aboutfiveyardsdeep,hewentonhiskneesandfilledhisbagwithoysterspickedupatrandom.Thenhewentup,emptiedit,pulleduphisstone,andbegantheoperationoncemore,whichlastedthirtyseconds.
　　Thediverdidnotseeus.Theshadowoftherockhidusfromsight.
　　AndhowshouldthispoorIndianeverdreamthatmen,beingslikehimself,shouldbethereunderthewaterwatchinghismovementsandlosingnodetailofthefishing?Severaltimeshewentupinthisway,anddivedagain.
　　Hedidnotcarryawaymorethantenateachplunge,forhewasobligedtopullthemfromthebanktowhichtheyadheredbymeansoftheirstrongbyssus.
　　Andhowmanyofthoseoystersforwhichheriskedhislifehadnopearlinthem!Iwatchedhimclosely;hismanoeuvreswereregular;andforthespaceofhalfanhournodangerappearedtothreatenhim.
　　Iwasbeginningtoaccustommyselftothesightofthisinterestingfishing,whensuddenly,astheIndianwasontheground,Isawhimmakeagestureofterror,rise,andmakeaspringtoreturntothesurfaceofthesea.
　　Iunderstoodhisdread.Agiganticshadowappearedjustabovetheunfortunatediver.Itwasasharkofenormoussizeadvancingdiagonally,hiseyesonfire,andhisjawsopen.
　　Iwasmutewithhorrorandunabletomove.
　　ThevoraciouscreatureshottowardstheIndian,whothrewhimselfononesidetoavoidtheshark'sfins;butnotitstail,foritstruckhischestandstretchedhimontheground.
　　Thisscenelastedbutafewseconds:thesharkreturned,and,turningonhisback,preparedhimselfforcuttingtheIndianintwo,whenIsawCaptainNemorisesuddenly,andthen,daggerinhand,walkstraighttothemonster,readytofightfacetofacewithhim.
　　Theverymomentthesharkwasgoingtosnaptheunhappyfishermanintwo,heperceivedhisnewadversary,and,turningover,madestraighttowardshim.
　　IcanstillseeCaptainNemo'sposition.Holdinghimselfwelltogether,hewaitedforthesharkwithadmirablecoolness;and,whenitrushedathim,threwhimselfononesidewithwonderfulquickness,avoidingtheshock,andburyinghisdaggerdeepintoitsside.Butitwasnotallover.
　　Aterriblecombatensued.
　　Thesharkhadseemedtoroar,ifImightsayso.Thebloodrushedintorrentsfromitswound.Theseawasdyedred,andthroughtheopaqueliquidIcoulddistinguishnothingmore.
　　Nothingmoreuntilthemomentwhen,likelightning,IsawtheundauntedCaptainhangingontooneofthecreature'sfins,struggling,asitwere,handtohandwiththemonster,anddealingsuccessiveblowsathisenemy,yetstillunabletogiveadecisiveone.
　　Theshark'sstrugglesagitatedthewaterwithsuchfurythattherockingthreatenedtoupsetme.
　　IwantedtogototheCaptain'sassistance,but,nailedtothespotwithhorror,Icouldnotstir.
　　Isawthehaggardeye;Isawthedifferentphasesofthefight.
　　TheCaptainfelltotheearth,upsetbytheenormousmasswhichleantuponhim.Theshark'sjawsopenedwide,likeapairoffactoryshears,anditwouldhavebeenalloverwiththeCaptain;but,quickasthought,harpooninhand,NedLandrushedtowardsthesharkandstruckitwithitssharppoint.
　　Thewaveswereimpregnatedwithamassofblood.Theyrockedundertheshark'smovements,whichbeatthemwithindescribablefury.
　　NedLandhadnotmissedhisaim.Itwasthemonster'sdeath-rattle.
　　Strucktotheheart,itstruggledindreadfulconvulsions,theshockofwhichoverthrewConseil.
　　ButNedLandhaddisentangledtheCaptain,who,gettingupwithoutanywound,wentstraighttotheIndian,quicklycutthecordwhichheldhimtohisstone,tookhiminhisarms,and,withasharpblowofhisheel,mountedtothesurface.
　　Weallthreefollowedinafewseconds,savedbyamiracle,andreachedthefisherman'sboat.
　　CaptainNemo'sfirstcarewastorecalltheunfortunatemantolifeagain.Ididnotthinkhecouldsucceed.
　　Ihopedso,forthepoorcreature'simmersionwasnotlong;
　　buttheblowfromtheshark'stailmighthavebeenhisdeath-blow.
　　Happily,withtheCaptain'sandConseil'ssharpfriction,Isawconsciousnessreturnbydegrees.Heopenedhiseyes.
　　Whatwashissurprise,histerroreven,atseeingfourgreatcopperheadsleaningoverhim!And,aboveall,whatmusthehavethoughtwhenCaptainNemo,drawingfromthepocketofhisdressabagofpearls,placeditinhishand!
　　ThismunificentcharityfromthemanofthewaterstothepoorCingalesewasacceptedwithatremblinghand.Hiswonderingeyesshowedthatheknewnottowhatsuper-humanbeingsheowedbothfortuneandlife.
　　AtasignfromtheCaptainweregainedthebank,and,followingtheroadalreadytraversed,cameinabouthalfanhourtotheanchorwhichheldthecanoeoftheNautilustotheearth.
　　Onceonboard,weeach,withthehelpofthesailors,gotridoftheheavycopperhelmet.
　　CaptainNemo'sfirstwordwastotheCanadian.
　　"Thankyou,MasterLand,"saidhe.
　　"Itwasinrevenge,Captain,"repliedNedLand.
　　"Iowedyouthat."
　　AghastlysmilepassedacrosstheCaptain'slips,andthatwasall.
　　"TotheNautilus,"saidhe.
　　Theboatflewoverthewaves.Someminutesafterwemettheshark'sdeadbodyfloating.Bytheblackmarkingoftheextremityofitsfins,IrecognisedtheterriblemelanopteronoftheIndianSeas,ofthespeciesofsharksoproperlycalled.Itwasmorethantwenty-fivefeetlong;
　　itsenormousmouthoccupiedone-thirdofitsbody.Itwasanadult,aswasknownbyitssixrowsofteethplacedinanisoscelestriangleintheupperjaw.
　　WhilstIwascontemplatingthisinertmass,adozenofthesevoraciousbeastsappearedroundtheboat;and,withoutnoticingus,threwthemselvesuponthedeadbodyandfoughtwithoneanotherforthepieces.
　　Athalf-pasteightwewereagainonboardtheNautilus.
　　ThereIreflectedontheincidentswhichhadtakenplaceinourexcursiontotheManaarBank.
　　TwoconclusionsImustinevitablydrawfromit——onebearingupontheunparalleledcourageofCaptainNemo,theotheruponhisdevotiontoahumanbeing,arepresentativeofthatracefromwhichhefledbeneaththesea.Whateverhemightsay,thisstrangemanhadnotyetsucceededinentirelycrushinghisheart.
　　WhenImadethisobservationtohim,heansweredinaslightlymovedtone:
　　"ThatIndian,sir,isaninhabitantofanoppressedcountry;
　　andIamstill,andshallbe,tomylastbreath,oneofthem!"
　　CHAPTERIV
　　THEREDSEA
　　Inthecourseofthedayofthe29thofJanuary,theislandofCeylondisappearedunderthehorizon,andtheNautilus,ataspeedoftwentymilesanhour,slidintothelabyrinthofcanalswhichseparatetheMaldivesfromtheLaccadives.
　　ItcoastedeventheIslandofKiltan,alandoriginallycoraline,discoveredbyVascodaGamain1499,andoneofthenineteenprincipalislandsoftheLaccadiveArchipelago,situatedbetween10@and14@30'N.lat.,and69@50'72"E.long.
　　Wehadmade16,220miles,or7,500Frenchleaguesfromourstarting-pointintheJapaneseSeas.
　　Thenextday30thJanuary,whentheNautiluswenttothesurfaceoftheoceantherewasnolandinsight.
　　ItscoursewasN.N.E.,inthedirectionoftheSeaofOman,betweenArabiaandtheIndianPeninsula,whichservesasanoutlettothePersianGulf.Itwasevidentlyablockwithoutanypossibleegress.WherewasCaptainNemotakingusto?
　　Icouldnotsay.This,however,didnotsatisfytheCanadian,whothatdaycametomeaskingwhereweweregoing.
　　"WearegoingwhereourCaptain'sfancytakesus,MasterNed."
　　"Hisfancycannottakeusfar,then,"saidtheCanadian.
　　"ThePersianGulfhasnooutlet:and,ifwedogoin,itwillnotbelongbeforeweareoutagain."
　　"Verywell,then,wewillcomeoutagain,MasterLand;andif,afterthePersianGulf,theNautiluswouldliketovisittheRedSea,theStraitsofBab-el-mandebaretheretogiveusentrance."