"Ineednottellyou,sir,"saidNedLand,"thattheRedSeaisasmuchclosedastheGulf,astheIsthmusofSuezisnotyetcut;and,ifitwas,aboatasmysteriousasourswouldnotriskitselfinacanalcutwithsluices.
　　Andagain,theRedSeaisnottheroadtotakeusbacktoEurope."
　　"ButIneversaidweweregoingbacktoEurope."
　　"Whatdoyousuppose,then?"
　　"Isupposethat,aftervisitingthecuriouscoastsofArabiaandEgypt,theNautiluswillgodowntheIndianOceanagain,perhapscrosstheChannelofMozambique,perhapsofftheMascarenhas,soastogaintheCapeofGoodHope."
　　"AndonceattheCapeofGoodHope?"askedtheCanadian,withpeculiaremphasis.
　　"Well,weshallpenetrateintothatAtlanticwhichwedonotyetknow.
　　Ah!friendNed,youaregettingtiredofthisjourneyunderthesea;youaresurfeitedwiththeincessantlyvaryingspectacleofsubmarinewonders.
　　Formypart,Ishallbesorrytoseetheendofavoyagewhichitisgiventosofewmentomake."
　　Forfourdays,tillthe3rdofFebruary,theNautilusscouredtheSeaofOman,atvariousspeedsandatvariousdepths.
　　Itseemedtogoatrandom,asifhesitatingastowhichroaditshouldfollow,butweneverpassedtheTropicofCancer.
　　InquittingthisseawesightedMuscatforaninstant,oneofthemostimportanttownsofthecountryofOman.
　　Iadmireditsstrangeaspect,surroundedbyblackrocksuponwhichitswhitehousesandfortsstoodinrelief.
　　Isawtheroundeddomesofitsmosques,theelegantpointsofitsminarets,itsfreshandverdantterraces.Butitwasonlyavision!TheNautilussoonsankunderthewavesofthatpartofthesea.
　　WepassedalongtheArabiancoastofMahrahandHadramaut,foradistanceofsixmiles,itsundulatinglineofmountainsbeingoccasionallyrelievedbysomeancientruin.
　　The5thofFebruaryweatlastenteredtheGulfofAden,aperfectfunnelintroducedintotheneckofBab-el-mandeb,throughwhichtheIndianwatersenteredtheRedSea.
　　The6thofFebruary,theNautilusfloatedinsightofAden,percheduponapromontorywhichanarrowisthmusjoinstothemainland,akindofinaccessibleGibraltar,thefortificationsofwhichwererebuiltbytheEnglishaftertakingpossessionin1839.
　　Icaughtaglimpseoftheoctagonminaretsofthistown,whichwasatonetimetherichestcommercialmagazineonthecoast.
　　IcertainlythoughtthatCaptainNemo,arrivedatthispoint,wouldbackoutagain;butIwasmistaken,forhedidnosuchthing,muchtomysurprise.
　　Thenextday,the7thofFebruary,weenteredtheStraitsofBab-el-mandeb,thenameofwhich,intheArabtongue,meansTheGateofTears.
　　Totwentymilesinbreadth,itisonlythirty-twoinlength.
　　AndfortheNautilus,startingatfullspeed,thecrossingwasscarcelytheworkofanhour.ButIsawnothing,noteventheIslandofPerim,withwhichtheBritishGovernmenthasfortifiedthepositionofAden.
　　ThereweretoomanyEnglishorFrenchsteamersofthelineofSueztoBombay,CalcuttatoMelbourne,andfromBourbontotheMauritius,furrowingthisnarrowpassage,fortheNautilustoventuretoshowitself.
　　Soitremainedprudentlybelow.Atlastaboutnoon,wewereinthewatersoftheRedSea.
　　IwouldnotevenseektounderstandthecapricewhichhaddecidedCaptainNemouponenteringthegulf.ButIquiteapprovedoftheNautilusenteringit.
　　Itsspeedwaslessened:sometimesitkeptonthesurface,sometimesitdivedtoavoidavessel,andthusIwasabletoobservetheupperandlowerpartsofthiscurioussea.
　　The8thofFebruary,fromthefirstdawnofday,Mochacameinsight,nowaruinedtown,whosewallswouldfallatagunshot,yetwhichsheltershereandtheresomeverdantdate-trees;
　　onceanimportantcity,containingsixpublicmarkets,andtwenty-sixmosques,andwhosewalls,defendedbyfourteenforts,formedagirdleoftwomilesincircumference.
　　TheNautilusthenapproachedtheAfricanshore,wherethedepthoftheseawasgreater.There,betweentwowatersclearascrystal,throughtheopenpanelswewereallowedtocontemplatethebeautifulbushesofbrilliantcoralandlargeblocksofrockclothedwithasplendidfurofgreenvarietyofsitesandlandscapesalongthesesandbanksandalgaeandfuci.
　　Whatanindescribablespectacle,andwhatvarietyofsitesandlandscapesalongthesesandbanksandvolcanicislandswhichboundtheLibyancoast!
　　Butwheretheseshrubsappearedinalltheirbeautywasontheeasterncoast,whichtheNautilussoongained.ItwasonthecoastofTehama,fortherenotonlydidthisdisplayofzoophytesflourishbeneaththelevelofthesea,buttheyalsoformedpicturesqueinterlacingswhichunfoldedthemselvesaboutsixtyfeetabovethesurface,morecapriciousbutlesshighlycolouredthanthosewhosefreshnesswaskeptupbythevitalpowerofthewaters.
　　WhatcharminghoursIpassedthusatthewindowofthesaloon!
　　WhatnewspecimensofsubmarinefloraandfaunadidIadmireunderthebrightnessofourelectriclantern!
　　The9thofFebruarytheNautilusfloatedinthebroadestpartoftheRedSea,whichiscomprisedbetweenSouakin,onthewestcoast,andKomfidah,ontheeastcoast,withadiameterofninetymiles.
　　Thatdayatnoon,afterthebearingsweretaken,CaptainNemomountedtheplatform,whereIhappenedtobe,andIwasdeterminednottolethimgodownagainwithoutatleastpressinghimregardinghisulteriorprojects.
　　Assoonashesawmeheapproachedandgraciouslyofferedmeacigar.
　　"Well,sir,doesthisRedSeapleaseyou?Haveyousufficientlyobservedthewondersitcovers,itsfishes,itszoophytes,itsparterresofsponges,anditsforestsofcoral?
　　Didyoucatchaglimpseofthetownsonitsborders?"
　　"Yes,CaptainNemo,"Ireplied;"andtheNautilusiswonderfullyfittedforsuchastudy.Ah!itisanintelligentboat!"
　　"Yes,sir,intelligentandinvulnerable.ItfearsneithertheterribletempestsoftheRedSea,noritscurrents,noritssandbanks."
　　"Certainly,"saidI,"thisseaisquotedasoneoftheworst,andinthetimeoftheancients,ifIamnotmistaken,itsreputationwasdetestable."
　　"Detestable,M.Aronnax.TheGreekandLatinhistoriansdonotspeakfavourablyofit,andStrabosaysitisverydangerousduringtheEtesianwindsandintherainyseason.
　　TheArabianEdrisiportraysitunderthenameoftheGulfofColzoum,andrelatesthatvesselsperishedthereingreatnumbersonthesandbanksandthatnoonewouldrisksailinginthenight.
　　Itis,hepretends,aseasubjecttofearfulhurricanes,strewnwithinhospitableislands,and`whichoffersnothinggoodeitheronitssurfaceorinitsdepths.'"
　　"Onemaysee,"Ireplied,"thatthesehistoriansneversailedonboardtheNautilus."
　　"Justso,"repliedtheCaptain,smiling;"andinthatrespectmodernsarenotmoreadvancedthantheancients.Itrequiredmanyagestofindoutthemechanicalpowerofsteam.Whoknowsif,inanotherhundredyears,wemaynotseeasecondNautilus?
　　Progressisslow,M.Aronnax."
　　"Itistrue,"Ianswered;"yourboatisatleastacenturybeforeitstime,perhapsanera.Whatamisfortunethatthesecretofsuchaninventionshoulddiewithitsinventor!"
　　CaptainNemodidnotreply.Aftersomeminutes'silencehecontinued:
　　"YouwerespeakingoftheopinionsofancienthistoriansuponthedangerousnavigationoftheRedSea."
　　"Itistrue,"saidI;"butwerenottheirfearsexaggerated?"
　　"Yesandno,M.Aronnax,"repliedCaptainNemo,whoseemedtoknowtheRedSeabyheart."Thatwhichisnolongerdangerousforamodernvessel,wellrigged,stronglybuilt,andmasterofitsowncourse,thankstoobedientsteam,offeredallsortsofperilstotheshipsoftheancients.
　　Picturetoyourselfthosefirstnavigatorsventuringinshipsmadeofplankssewnwiththecordsofthepalmtree,saturatedwiththegreaseoftheseadog,andcoveredwithpowderedresin!
　　Theyhadnoteveninstrumentswherewithtotaketheirbearings,andtheywentbyguessamongstcurrentsofwhichtheyscarcelyknewanything.
　　Undersuchconditionsshipwreckswere,andmusthavebeen,numerous.
　　Butinourtime,steamersrunningbetweenSuezandtheSouthSeashavenothingmoretofearfromthefuryofthisgulf,inspiteofcontrarytrade-winds.Thecaptainandpassengersdonotpreparefortheirdeparturebyofferingpropitiatorysacrifices;and,ontheirreturn,theynolongergoornamentedwithwreathsandgiltfilletstothankthegodsintheneighbouringtemple."
　　"Iagreewithyou,"saidI;"andsteamseemstohavekilledallgratitudeintheheartsofsailors.But,Captain,sinceyouseemtohaveespeciallystudiedthissea,canyoutellmetheoriginofitsname?"
　　"Thereexistseveralexplanationsonthesubject,M.Aronnax.
　　Wouldyouliketoknowtheopinionofachroniclerofthefourteenthcentury?"
　　"Willingly."
　　"ThisfancifulwriterpretendsthatitsnamewasgiventoitafterthepassageoftheIsraelites,whenPharaohperishedinthewaveswhichclosedatthevoiceofMoses."
　　"Apoet'sexplanation,CaptainNemo,"Ireplied;"butIcannotcontentmyselfwiththat.Iaskyouforyourpersonalopinion."
　　"Hereitis,M.Aronnax.Accordingtomyidea,wemustseeinthisappellationoftheRedSeaatranslationoftheHebrewword`Edom';andiftheancientsgaveitthatname,itwasonaccountoftheparticularcolourofitswaters."
　　"ButuptothistimeIhaveseennothingbuttransparentwavesandwithoutanyparticularcolour."
　　"Verylikely;butasweadvancetothebottomofthegulf,youwillseethissingularappearance.IrememberseeingtheBayofTorentirelyred,likeaseaofblood."
　　"Andyouattributethiscolourtothepresenceofamicroscopicseaweed?"
　　"Yes."
　　"So,CaptainNemo,itisnotthefirsttimeyouhaveoverruntheRedSeaonboardtheNautilus?"
　　"No,sir."
　　"AsyouspokeawhileagoofthepassageoftheIsraelitesandofthecatastrophetotheEgyptians,Iwillaskwhetheryouhavemetwiththetracesunderthewaterofthisgreathistoricalfact?"
　　"No,sir;andforagoodreason."
　　"Whatisit?"
　　"ItisthatthespotwhereMosesandhispeoplepassedisnowsoblockedupwithsandthatthecamelscanbarelybathetheirlegsthere.
　　YoucanwellunderstandthattherewouldnotbewaterenoughformyNautilus."
　　"Andthespot?"Iasked.
　　"ThespotissituatedalittleabovetheIsthmusofSuez,inthearmwhichformerlymadeadeepestuary,whentheRedSeaextendedtotheSaltLakes.Now,whetherthispassageweremiraculousornot,theIsraelites,nevertheless,crossedtheretoreachthePromisedLand,andPharaoh'sarmyperishedpreciselyonthatspot;andIthinkthatexcavationsmadeinthemiddleofthesandwouldbringtolightalargenumberofarmsandinstrumentsofEgyptianorigin."
　　"Thatisevident,"Ireplied;"andforthesakeofarchaeologistsletushopethattheseexcavationswillbemadesoonerorlater,whennewtownsareestablishedontheisthmus,aftertheconstructionoftheSuezCanal;
　　acanal,however,veryuselesstoavesselliketheNautilus."
　　"Verylikely;butusefultothewholeworld,"saidCaptainNemo.
　　"TheancientswellunderstoodtheutilityofacommunicationbetweentheRedSeaandtheMediterraneanfortheircommercialaffairs:
　　buttheydidnotthinkofdiggingacanaldirect,andtooktheNileasanintermediate.VeryprobablythecanalwhichunitedtheNiletotheRedSeawasbegunbySesostris,ifwemaybelievetradition.
　　Onethingiscertain,thatintheyear615beforeJesusChrist,NecosundertooktheworksofanalimentarycanaltothewatersoftheNileacrosstheplainofEgypt,lookingtowardsArabia.
　　Ittookfourdaystogoupthiscanal,anditwassowidethattwotriremescouldgoabreast.ItwascarriedonbyDarius,thesonofHystaspes,andprobablyfinishedbyPtolemyII.
　　Strabosawitnavigated:butitsdeclinefromthepointofdeparture,nearBubastes,totheRedSeawassoslightthatitwasonlynavigableforafewmonthsintheyear.
　　ThiscanalansweredallcommercialpurposestotheageofAntonius,whenitwasabandonedandblockedupwithsand.
　　RestoredbyorderoftheCaliphOmar,itwasdefinitelydestroyedin761or762byCaliphAl-Mansor,whowishedtopreventthearrivalofprovisionstoMohammed-ben-Abdallah,whohadrevoltedagainsthim.
　　DuringtheexpeditionintoEgypt,yourGeneralBonapartediscoveredtracesoftheworksintheDesertofSuez;and,surprisedbythetide,henearlyperishedbeforeregainingHadjaroth,attheveryplacewhereMoseshadencampedthreethousandyearsbeforehim."
　　"Well,Captain,whattheancientsdarednotundertake,thisjunctionbetweenthetwoseas,whichwillshortentheroadfromCadiztoIndia,M.Lessepshassucceededindoing;andbeforelonghewillhavechangedAfricaintoanimmenseisland."
　　"Yes,M.Aronnax;youhavetherighttobeproudofyourcountryman.
　　Suchamanbringsmorehonourtoanationthangreatcaptains.
　　Hebegan,likesomanyothers,withdisgustandrebuffs;
　　buthehastriumphed,forhehasthegeniusofwill.
　　Anditissadtothinkthataworklikethat,whichoughttohavebeenaninternationalworkandwhichwouldhavesufficedtomakeareignillustrious,shouldhavesucceededbytheenergyofoneman.
　　AllhonourtoM.Lesseps!"
　　"Yes!honourtothegreatcitizen,"Ireplied,surprisedbythemannerinwhichCaptainNemohadjustspoken.
　　"Unfortunately,"hecontinued,"IcannottakeyouthroughtheSuezCanal;
　　butyouwillbeabletoseethelongjettyofPortSaidafterto-morrow,whenweshallbeintheMediterranean."
　　"TheMediterranean!"Iexclaimed.
　　"Yes,sir;doesthatastonishyou?"
　　"Whatastonishesmeistothinkthatweshallbetherethedayafterto-morrow."
　　"Indeed?"
　　"Yes,Captain,althoughbythistimeIoughttohaveaccustomedmyselftobesurprisedatnothingsinceIhavebeenonboardyourboat."
　　"Butthecauseofthissurprise?"
　　"Well!itisthefearfulspeedyouwillhavetoputontheNautilus,ifthedayafterto-morrowsheistobeintheMediterranean,havingmadetheroundofAfrica,anddoubledtheCapeofGoodHope!"
　　"WhotoldyouthatshewouldmaketheroundofAfricaanddoubletheCapeofGoodHope,sir?"
　　"Well,unlesstheNautilussailsondryland,andpassesabovetheisthmus——"
　　"Orbeneathit,M.Aronnax."
　　"Beneathit?"
　　"Certainly,"repliedCaptainNemoquietly."AlongtimeagoNaturemadeunderthistongueoflandwhatmanhasthisdaymadeonitssurface."
　　"What!suchapassageexists?"
　　"Yes;asubterraneanpassage,whichIhavenamedtheArabianTunnel.
　　IttakesusbeneathSuezandopensintotheGulfofPelusium."
　　"Butthisisthmusiscomposedofnothingbutquicksands?"
　　"Toacertaindepth.Butatfifty-fiveyardsonlythereisasolidlayerofrock."
　　"Didyoudiscoverthispassagebychance?"Iaskedmoreandmoresurprised.
　　"Chanceandreasoning,sir;andbyreasoningevenmorethanbychance.
　　Notonlydoesthispassageexist,butIhaveprofitedbyitseveraltimes.
　　WithoutthatIshouldnothaveventuredthisdayintotheimpassableRedSea.
　　InoticedthatintheRedSeaandintheMediterraneanthereexistedacertainnumberoffishesofakindperfectlyidentical.Certainofthefact,Iaskedmyselfwasitpossiblethattherewasnocommunicationbetweenthetwoseas?
　　Iftherewas,thesubterraneancurrentmustnecessarilyrunfromtheRedSeatotheMediterranean,fromthesolecauseofdifferenceoflevel.
　　IcaughtalargenumberoffishesintheneighbourhoodofSuez.
　　Ipassedacopperringthroughtheirtails,andthrewthembackintothesea.
　　Somemonthslater,onthecoastofSyria,Icaughtsomeofmyfishornamentedwiththering.Thusthecommunicationbetweenthetwowasproved.
　　IthensoughtforitwithmyNautilus;Idiscoveredit,venturedintoit,andbeforelong,sir,youtoowillhavepassedthroughmyArabiantunnel!"
　　CHAPTERV
　　THEARABIANTUNNEL
　　Thatsameevening,in21@30'N.lat.,theNautilusfloatedonthesurfaceofthesea,approachingtheArabiancoast.
　　IsawDjeddah,themostimportantcounting-houseofEgypt,Syria,Turkey,andIndia.Idistinguishedclearlyenoughitsbuildings,thevesselsanchoredatthequays,andthosewhosedraughtofwaterobligedthemtoanchorintheroads.Thesun,ratherlowonthehorizon,struckfullonthehousesofthetown,bringingouttheirwhiteness.Outside,somewoodencabins,andsomemadeofreeds,showedthequarterinhabitedbytheBedouins.
　　SoonDjeddahwasshutoutfromviewbytheshadowsofnight,andtheNautilusfoundherselfunderwaterslightlyphosphorescent.
　　Thenextday,the10thofFebruary,wesightedseveralshipsrunningtowindward.TheNautilusreturnedtoitssubmarinenavigation;
　　butatnoon,whenherbearingsweretaken,theseabeingdeserted,sheroseagaintoherwaterline.
　　AccompaniedbyNedandConseil,Iseatedmyselfontheplatform.
　　Thecoastontheeasternsidelookedlikeamassfaintlyprinteduponadampfog.
　　Wewereleaningonthesidesofthepinnace,talkingofonethingandanother,whenNedLand,stretchingouthishandtowardsaspotonthesea,said:
　　"Doyouseeanythingthere,sir?"
　　"No,Ned,"Ireplied;"butIhavenotyoureyes,youknow."
　　"Lookwell,"saidNed,"there,onthestarboardbeam,abouttheheightofthelantern!Doyounotseeamasswhichseemstomove?"
　　"Certainly,"saidI,aftercloseattention;"Iseesomethinglikealongblackbodyonthetopofthewater."
　　Andcertainlybeforelongtheblackobjectwasnotmorethanamilefromus.Itlookedlikeagreatsandbankdepositedintheopensea.
　　Itwasagiganticdugong!
　　NedLandlookedeagerly.Hiseyesshonewithcovetousnessatthesightoftheanimal.Hishandseemedreadytoharpoonit.
　　Onewouldhavethoughthewasawaitingthemomenttothrowhimselfintotheseaandattackitinitselement.
　　AtthisinstantCaptainNemoappearedontheplatform.
　　Hesawthedugong,understoodtheCanadian'sattitude,and,addressinghim,said:
　　"Ifyouheldaharpoonjustnow,MasterLand,woulditnotburnyourhand?"
　　"Justso,sir."
　　"Andyouwouldnotbesorrytogoback,foroneday,toyourtradeofafishermanandtoaddthiscetaceantothelistofthoseyouhavealreadykilled?"
　　"Ishouldnot,sir."
　　"Well,youcantry."
　　"Thankyou,sir,"saidNedLand,hiseyesflaming.
　　"Only,"continuedtheCaptain,"Iadviseyouforyourownsakenottomissthecreature."
　　"Isthedugongdangeroustoattack?"Iasked,inspiteoftheCanadian'sshrugoftheshoulders.
　　"Yes,"repliedtheCaptain;"sometimestheanimalturnsuponitsassailantsandoverturnstheirboat.
　　ButforMasterLandthisdangerisnottobefeared.
　　Hiseyeisprompt,hisarmsure."
　　Atthismomentsevenmenofthecrew,muteandimmovableasever,mountedtheplatform.Onecarriedaharpoonandalinesimilartothoseemployedincatchingwhales.Thepinnacewasliftedfromthebridge,pulledfromitssocket,andletdownintothesea.
　　Sixoarsmentooktheirseats,andthecoxswainwenttothetiller.
　　Ned,Conseil,andIwenttothebackoftheboat.
　　"Youarenotcoming,Captain?"Iasked.
　　"No,sir;butIwishyougoodsport."
　　Theboatputoff,and,liftedbythesixrowers,drewrapidlytowardsthedugong,whichfloatedabouttwomilesfromtheNautilus.
　　Arrivedsomecables-lengthfromthecetacean,thespeedslackened,andtheoarsdippednoiselesslyintothequietwaters.
　　NedLand,harpooninhand,stoodintheforepartoftheboat.
　　Theharpoonusedforstrikingthewhaleisgenerallyattachedtoaverylongcordwhichrunsoutrapidlyasthewoundedcreaturedrawsitafterhim.Butherethecordwasnotmorethantenfathomslong,andtheextremitywasattachedtoasmallbarrelwhich,byfloating,wastoshowthecoursethedugongtookunderthewater.
　　IstoodandcarefullywatchedtheCanadian'sadversary.
　　Thisdugong,whichalsobearsthenameofthehalicore,closelyresemblesthemanatee;itsoblongbodyterminatedinalengthenedtail,anditslateralfinsinperfectfingers.
　　Itsdifferencefromthemanateeconsistedinitsupperjaw,whichwasarmedwithtwolongandpointedteethwhichformedoneachsidedivergingtusks.
　　ThisdugongwhichNedLandwaspreparingtoattackwasofcolossaldimensions;itwasmorethansevenyardslong.
　　Itdidnotmove,andseemedtobesleepingonthewaves,whichcircumstancemadeiteasiertocapture.
　　Theboatapproachedwithinsixyardsoftheanimal.
　　Theoarsrestedontherowlocks.Ihalfrose.NedLand,hisbodythrownalittleback,brandishedtheharpooninhisexperiencedhand.
　　Suddenlyahissingnoisewasheard,andthedugongdisappeared.
　　Theharpoon,althoughthrownwithgreatforce;hadapparentlyonlystruckthewater.
　　"Curseit!"exclaimedtheCanadianfuriously;"Ihavemissedit!"
　　"No,"saidI;"thecreatureiswounded——lookattheblood;
　　butyourweaponhasnotstuckinhisbody."
　　"Myharpoon!myharpoon!"criedNedLand.
　　Thesailorsrowedon,andthecoxswainmadeforthefloatingbarrel.
　　Theharpoonregained,wefollowedinpursuitoftheanimal.
　　Thelattercamenowandthentothesurfacetobreathe.
　　Itswoundhadnotweakenedit,foritshotonwardswithgreatrapidity.
　　Theboat,rowedbystrongarms,flewonitstrack.Severaltimesitapproachedwithinsomefewyards,andtheCanadianwasreadytostrike,butthedugongmadeoffwithasuddenplunge,anditwasimpossibletoreachit.
　　ImaginethepassionwhichexcitedimpatientNedLand!HehurledattheunfortunatecreaturethemostenergeticexpletivesintheEnglishtongue.
　　Formypart,Iwasonlyvexedtoseethedugongescapeallourattacks.
　　Wepursueditwithoutrelaxationforanhour,andIbegantothinkitwouldprovedifficulttocapture,whentheanimal,possessedwiththeperverseideaofvengeanceofwhichhehadcausetorepent,turneduponthepinnaceandassailedusinitsturn.
　　ThismanoeuvredidnotescapetheCanadian.
　　"Lookout!"hecried.
　　Thecoxswainsaidsomewordsinhisoutlandishtongue,doubtlesswarningthementokeepontheirguard.
　　Thedugongcamewithintwentyfeetoftheboat,stopped,sniffedtheairbrisklywithitslargenostrilsnotpiercedattheextremity,butintheupperpartofitsmuzzle.Then,takingaspring,hethrewhimselfuponus.
　　Thepinnacecouldnotavoidtheshock,andhalfupset,shippedatleasttwotonsofwater,whichhadtobeemptied;but,thankstothecoxswain,wecaughtitsideways,notfullfront,sowewerenotquiteoverturned.
　　WhileNedLand,clingingtothebows,belabouredthegiganticanimalwithblowsfromhisharpoon,thecreature'steethwereburiedinthegunwale,anditliftedthewholethingoutofthewater,asaliondoesaroebuck.
　　Wewereupsetoveroneanother,andIknownothowtheadventurewouldhaveended,iftheCanadian,stillenragedwiththebeast,hadnotstruckittotheheart.
　　Ihearditsteethgrindontheironplate,andthedugongdisappeared,carryingtheharpoonwithhim.Butthebarrelsoonreturnedtothesurface,andshortlyafterthebodyoftheanimal,turnedonitsback.
　　Theboatcameupwithit,tookitintow,andmadestraightfortheNautilus.
　　Itrequiredtackleofenormousstrengthtohoistthedugongontotheplatform.Itweighed10,000lb.
　　Thenextday,11thFebruary,thelarderoftheNautiluswasenrichedbysomemoredelicategame.Aflightofsea-swallowsrestedontheNautilus.
　　ItwasaspeciesoftheSternanilotica,peculiartoEgypt;itsbeakisblack,headgreyandpointed,theeyesurroundedbywhitespots,theback,wings,andtailofagreyishcolour,thebellyandthroatwhite,andclawsred.
　　TheyalsotooksomedozenofNileducks,awildbirdofhighflavour,itsthroatandupperpartoftheheadwhitewithblackspots.
　　Aboutfiveo'clockintheeveningwesightedtothenorththeCapeofRas-Mohammed.ThiscapeformstheextremityofArabiaPetraea,comprisedbetweentheGulfofSuezandtheGulfofAcabah.
　　TheNautiluspenetratedintotheStraitsofJubal,whichleadstotheGulfofSuez.Idistinctlysawahighmountain,toweringbetweenthetwogulfsofRas-Mohammed.ItwasMountHoreb,thatSinaiatthetopofwhichMosessawGodfacetoface.
　　Atsixo'clocktheNautilus,sometimesfloating,sometimesimmersed,passedsomedistancefromTor,situatedattheendofthebay,thewatersofwhichseemedtintedwithred,anobservationalreadymadebyCaptainNemo.
　　Thennightfellinthemidstofaheavysilence,sometimesbrokenbythecriesofthepelicanandothernight-birds,andthenoiseofthewavesbreakingupontheshore,chafingagainsttherocks,orthepantingofsomefar-offsteamerbeatingthewatersoftheGulfwithitsnoisypaddles.
　　Fromeighttonineo'clocktheNautilusremainedsomefathomsunderthewater.AccordingtomycalculationwemusthavebeenverynearSuez.ThroughthepanelofthesaloonIsawthebottomoftherocksbrilliantlylitupbyourelectriclamp.
　　WeseemedtobeleavingtheStraitsbehindusmoreandmore.
　　Ataquarter-pastnine,thevesselhavingreturnedtothesurface,Imountedtheplatform.MostimpatienttopassthroughCaptainNemo'stunnel,Icouldnotstayinoneplace,socametobreathethefreshnightair.
　　SoonintheshadowIsawapalelight,halfdiscolouredbythefog,shiningaboutamilefromus.
　　"Afloatinglighthouse!"saidsomeonenearme.
　　Iturned,andsawtheCaptain.
　　"ItisthefloatinglightofSuez,"hecontinued.
　　"Itwillnotbelongbeforewegaintheentranceofthetunnel."
　　"Theentrancecannotbeeasy?"
　　"No,sir;forthatreasonIamaccustomedtogointothesteersman'scageandmyselfdirectourcourse.Andnow,ifyouwillgodown,M.Aronnax,theNautilusisgoingunderthewaves,andwillnotreturntothesurfaceuntilwehavepassedthroughtheArabianTunnel."
　　CaptainNemoledmetowardsthecentralstaircase;halfwaydownheopenedadoor,traversedtheupperdeck,andlandedinthepilot'scage,whichitmayberememberedroseattheextremityoftheplatform.
　　Itwasacabinmeasuringsixfeetsquare,verymuchlikethatoccupiedbythepilotonthesteamboatsoftheMississippiorHudson.
　　Inthemidstworkedawheel,placedvertically,andcaughttothetiller-rope,whichrantothebackoftheNautilus.
　　Fourlight-portswithlenticularglasses,letinagrooveinthepartitionofthecabin,allowedthemanatthewheeltoseeinalldirections.
　　Thiscabinwasdark;butsoonmyeyesaccustomedthemselvestotheobscurity,andIperceivedthepilot,astrongman,withhishandsrestingonthespokesofthewheel.Outside,theseaappearedvividlylitupbythelantern,whichsheditsraysfromthebackofthecabintotheotherextremityoftheplatform.
　　"Now,"saidCaptainNemo,"letustrytomakeourpassage."
　　Electricwiresconnectedthepilot'scagewiththemachineryroom,andfromtheretheCaptaincouldcommunicatesimultaneouslytohisNautilusthedirectionandthespeed.Hepressedametalknob,andatoncethespeedofthescrewdiminished.
　　Ilookedinsilenceatthehighstraightwallwewererunningbyatthismoment,theimmovablebaseofamassivesandycoast.
　　Wefolloweditthusforanhouronlysomefewyardsoff.
　　CaptainNemodidnottakehiseyefromtheknob,suspendedbyitstwoconcentriccirclesinthecabin.Atasimplegesture,thepilotmodifiedthecourseoftheNautiluseveryinstant.
　　Ihadplacedmyselfattheport-scuttle,andsawsomemagnificentsubstructuresofcoral,zoophytes,seaweed,andfucus,agitatingtheirenormousclaws,whichstretchedoutfromthefissuresoftherock.
　　Ataquarter-pastten,theCaptainhimselftookthehelm.
　　Alargegallery,blackanddeep,openedbeforeus.TheNautiluswentboldlyintoit.Astrangeroaringwasheardrounditssides.
　　ItwasthewatersoftheRedSea,whichtheinclineofthetunnelprecipitatedviolentlytowardstheMediterranean.
　　TheNautiluswentwiththetorrent,rapidasanarrow,inspiteoftheeffortsofthemachinery,which,inordertooffermoreeffectiveresistance,beatthewaveswithreversedscrew.
　　OnthewallsofthenarrowpassageIcouldseenothingbutbrilliantrays,straightlines,furrowsoffire,tracedbythegreatspeed,underthebrilliantelectriclight.
　　Myheartbeatfast.
　　Atthirty-fiveminutespastten,CaptainNemoquittedthehelm,and,turningtome,said:
　　"TheMediterranean!"
　　Inlessthantwentyminutes,theNautilus,carriedalongbythetorrent,hadpassedthroughtheIsthmusofSuez.
　　CHAPTERVI
　　THEGRECIANARCHIPELAGO
　　Thenextday,the12thofFebruary,atthedawnofday,theNautilusrosetothesurface.Ihastenedontotheplatform.
　　ThreemilestothesouththedimoutlineofPelusiumwastobeseen.
　　Atorrenthadcarriedusfromoneseatoanother.
　　Aboutseveno'clockNedandConseiljoinedme.
　　"Well,SirNaturalist,"saidtheCanadian,inaslightlyjovialtone,"andtheMediterranean?"
　　"Wearefloatingonitssurface,friendNed."
　　"What!"saidConseil,"thisverynight."
　　"Yes,thisverynight;inafewminuteswehavepassedthisimpassableisthmus."
　　"Idonotbelieveit,"repliedtheCanadian.
　　"Thenyouarewrong,MasterLand,"Icontinued;"thislowcoastwhichroundsofftothesouthistheEgyptiancoast.
　　Andyouwhohavesuchgoodeyes,Ned,youcanseethejettyofPortSaidstretchingintothesea."
　　TheCanadianlookedattentively.
　　"Certainlyyouareright,sir,andyourCaptainisafirst-rateman.
　　WeareintheMediterranean.Good!Now,ifyouplease,letustalkofourownlittleaffair,butsothatnoonehearsus."
　　IsawwhattheCanadianwanted,and,inanycase,Ithoughtitbettertolethimtalk,ashewishedit;soweallthreewentandsatdownnearthelantern,wherewewerelessexposedtothesprayoftheblades.
　　"Now,Ned,welisten;whathaveyoutotellus?"
　　"WhatIhavetotellyouisverysimple.WeareinEurope;andbeforeCaptainNemo'scapricesdragusoncemoretothebottomofthePolarSeas,orleadusintoOceania,IasktoleavetheNautilus."
　　Iwishedinnowaytoshacklethelibertyofmycompanions,butIcertainlyfeltnodesiretoleaveCaptainNemo.
　　Thankstohim,andthankstohisapparatus,Iwaseachdaynearerthecompletionofmysubmarinestudies;andIwasrewritingmybookofsubmarinedepthsinitsveryelement.
　　ShouldIeveragainhavesuchanopportunityofobservingthewondersoftheocean?No,certainlynot!AndIcouldnotbringmyselftotheideaofabandoningtheNautilusbeforethecycleofinvestigationwasaccomplished.
　　"FriendNed,answermefrankly,areyoutiredofbeingonboard?
　　AreyousorrythatdestinyhasthrownusintoCaptainNemo'shands?"
　　TheCanadianremainedsomemomentswithoutanswering.
　　Then,crossinghisarms,hesaid:
　　"Frankly,Idonotregretthisjourneyundertheseas.Ishallbegladtohavemadeit;but,nowthatitismade,letushavedonewithit.
　　Thatismyidea."
　　"Itwillcometoanend,Ned."
　　"Whereandwhen?"