An Unknown Whale Species

This unexpected fall so stunned me that I have no clear recollection of my sensations at the time. I was at first drawn down to a depth of about twenty feet. I am a good swimmer (though without pretending to rival Byron or Edgar Poe, who were masters of the art), and in that plunge I did not lose my presence of mind. Two vigorous strokes brought me to the surface of the water. My first care was to look for the frigate. Had the crew seen me disappear? Had the Abraham Lincoln veered round? Would the captain put out a boat? Might I hope to be saved?

The unexpected fall stunned me so much that I do not clearly remember how I felt at the time. At first, I was pulled about twenty feet underwater. I am a good swimmer, though I do not claim to rival Byron or Edgar Poe, who were masters of the art. I did not lose my presence of mind as I plunged into the water. Two strong strokes brought me to the surface. My first thought was to look for the frigate. Had the crew seen me disappear? Had the Abraham Lincoln turned around? Would the captain send out a boat? Could I hope to be saved?

The darkness was intense. I caught a glimpse of a black mass disappearing in the east, its beacon lights dying out in the distance. It was the frigate! I was lost.

It was pitch-dark. I glimpsed a black shape disappearing to the east. Its beacon lights faded in the distance. It was the frigate! I was lost.

“Help, help!” I shouted, swimming towards the Abraham Lincoln in desperation.

“Help, help!” I shouted, swimming desperately toward the Abraham Lincoln.

My clothes encumbered me; they seemed glued to my body, and paralysed my movements.

My clothes weighed me down. They seemed glued to my body and made it impossible to move.

I was sinking! I was suffocating!

I was sinking! I couldn't breathe!

“Help!”

“Help!”

This was my last cry. My mouth filled with water; I struggled against being drawn down the abyss. Suddenly my clothes were seized by a strong hand, and I felt myself quickly drawn up to the surface of the sea; and I heard, yes, I heard these words pronounced in my ear—

This was my last cry. My mouth filled with water, and I struggled against being pulled down into the depths. Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my clothes, and I felt myself being quickly pulled up to the surface. Then I heard, yes, I heard these words spoken in my ear:

“If master would be so good as to lean on my shoulder, master would swim with much greater ease.”

“If master would lean on my shoulder, master would find it much easier to swim.”

I seized with one hand my faithful Conseil’s arm.

I grabbed my faithful Conseil’s arm with one hand.

“Is it you?” said I, “you?”

“Is it you?” I said. “You?”

“Myself,” answered Conseil; “and waiting master’s orders.”

“Me,” answered Conseil, “waiting for my master’s orders.”

“That shock threw you as well as me into the sea?”

“Did that shock throw you into the sea too?”

“No; but being in my master’s service, I followed him.”

“No, but I followed him because I worked for him.”

The worthy fellow thought that was but natural.

The good fellow thought that was only natural.

“And the frigate?” I asked.

“And the frigate?” I asked.

“The frigate?” replied Conseil, turning on his back; “I think that master had better not count too much on her.”

“The frigate?” replied Conseil, turning onto his back. “I think master had better not count on her too much.”

“You think so?”

“You think so?”

“I say that, at the time I threw myself into the sea, I heard the men at the wheel say, ‘The screw and the rudder are broken.’”

“I’m saying that when I jumped into the sea, I heard the men at the wheel say, ‘The propeller and the rudder are broken.’”

“Broken?”

“Broken?”

“Yes, broken by the monster’s teeth. It is the only injury the Abraham Lincoln has sustained. But it is a bad look out for us—she no longer answers her helm.”

“Yes, broken by the monster’s teeth. It is the only damage the Abraham Lincoln has suffered. But we’re in trouble. The ship no longer responds to the helm.”

“Then we are lost!”

“Then we're lost!”

“Perhaps so,” calmly answered Conseil. “However, we have still several hours before us, and one can do a good deal in some hours.”

“Perhaps so,” Conseil answered calmly. “But we still have several hours, and a lot can be done in that time.”

Conseil’s imperturbable coolness set me up again. I swam more vigorously; but, cramped by my clothes, which stuck to me like a leaden weight, I felt great difficulty in bearing up. Conseil saw this.

Conseil’s unshakable calm restored my strength. I swam harder, but my clothes clung to me like a lead weight. They restricted my movements, and I struggled to stay afloat. Conseil saw this.

“Will master let me make a slit?” said he; and, slipping an open knife under my clothes, he ripped them up from top to bottom very rapidly. Then he cleverly slipped them off me, while I swam for both of us.

“Will master let me make a slit?” he asked. He slipped an open knife under my clothes and quickly cut them from top to bottom. Then he skillfully slipped them off me while I swam for both of us.

Then I did the same for Conseil, and we continued to swim near to each other.

Then I did the same for Conseil, and we kept swimming close to each other.

Nevertheless, our situation was no less terrible. Perhaps our disappearance had not been noticed; and if it had been, the frigate could not tack, being without its helm. Conseil argued on this supposition, and laid his plans accordingly. This phlegmatic boy was perfectly self-possessed. We then decided that, as our only chance of safety was being picked up by the Abraham Lincoln’s boats, we ought to manage so as to wait for them as long as possible. I resolved then to husband our strength, so that both should not be exhausted at the same time; and this is how we managed: while one of us lay on our back, quite still, with arms crossed, and legs stretched out, the other would swim and push the other on in front. This towing business did not last more than ten minutes each; and relieving each other thus, we could swim on for some hours, perhaps till daybreak. Poor chance! but hope is so firmly rooted in the heart of man! Moreover, there were two of us. Indeed I declare (though it may seem improbable) if I sought to destroy all hope,—if I wished to despair, I could not.

Nevertheless, our situation was no less terrible. Perhaps no one had noticed that we were missing. And even if they had, the frigate could not turn without its helm. Conseil reasoned on that assumption and made his plans accordingly. This calm boy was completely in control of himself. We decided that our only chance of survival was to be picked up by the Abraham Lincoln’s boats. So we had to stay afloat and wait for them as long as possible. I decided we should conserve our strength so that we would not both become exhausted at once. Here is how we managed it: one of us lay still on his back, arms crossed and legs stretched out. The other swam behind him, pushing him along. We each took a turn towing the other for no more than ten minutes. By taking turns, we could swim for some hours, perhaps until daybreak. It was a poor chance, but hope is so firmly rooted in the human heart! Besides, there were two of us. Indeed, though it may seem unlikely, I declare that I could not destroy all hope, even if I tried. I could not despair, even if I wanted to.

The collision of the frigate with the cetacean had occurred about eleven o’clock the evening before. I reckoned then we should have eight hours to swim before sunrise, an operation quite practicable if we relieved each other. The sea, very calm, was in our favour. Sometimes I tried to pierce the intense darkness that was only dispelled by the phosphorescence caused by our movements. I watched the luminous waves that broke over my hand, whose mirror-like surface was spotted with silvery rings. One might have said that we were in a bath of quicksilver.

The frigate had collided with the whale at about eleven o’clock the previous evening. I calculated that we would have to swim for eight hours before sunrise. That was quite possible if we took turns supporting each other. The sea was very calm, which helped us. At times, I tried to see through the deep darkness. Only the phosphorescence from our movements broke the darkness. I watched the glowing waves break over my hand. Their mirror-like surface was dotted with silvery rings. It was as if we were bathing in mercury.

Near one o’clock in the morning, I was seized with dreadful fatigue. My limbs stiffened under the strain of violent cramp. Conseil was obliged to keep me up, and our preservation devolved on him alone. I heard the poor boy pant; his breathing became short and hurried. I found that he could not keep up much longer.

Around one in the morning, I was overcome by terrible exhaustion. My limbs stiffened from severe cramps. Conseil had to hold me up, and our survival depended on him alone. I heard the poor boy panting. His breathing grew short and rapid. I realized he could not keep going much longer.

“Leave me! leave me!” I said to him.

“Leave me! Leave me!” I said to him.

“Leave my master? Never!” replied he. “I would drown first.”

“Leave my master? Never!” he replied. “I would drown first.”

Just then the moon appeared through the fringes of a thick cloud that the wind was driving to the east. The surface of the sea glittered with its rays. This kindly light reanimated us. My head got better again. I looked at all points of the horizon. I saw the frigate! She was five miles from us, and looked like a dark mass, hardly discernible. But no boats!

Just then, the moon appeared through the edges of a thick cloud that the wind was blowing east. The sea glittered in the moonlight. Its gentle light revived us. My head felt better again. I looked in every direction along the horizon. I saw the frigate! It was five miles away and looked like a dark mass, barely visible. But there were no boats!

I would have cried out. But what good would it have been at such a distance! My swollen lips could utter no sounds. Conseil could articulate some words, and I heard him repeat at intervals, “Help! help!”

I would have called out. But what good would that have done at such a distance! My swollen lips could make no sound. Conseil could say a few words, and I heard him call out from time to time, “Help! help!”

Our movements were suspended for an instant; we listened. It might be only a singing in the ear, but it seemed to me as if a cry answered the cry from Conseil.

We stopped moving for a moment and listened. It might have been a ringing in my ears, but I thought I heard a cry answer Conseil’s cry.

“Did you hear?” I murmured.

“Did you hear?” I murmured.

“Yes! Yes!”

“Yes! Yes!”

And Conseil gave one more despairing call.

And Conseil called out once more in despair.

This time there was no mistake! A human voice responded to ours! Was it the voice of another unfortunate creature, abandoned in the middle of the ocean, some other victim of the shock sustained by the vessel? Or rather was it a boat from the frigate, that was hailing us in the darkness?

This time there was no mistake! A human voice answered ours! Was it another unfortunate soul, abandoned in the middle of the ocean, another victim of the impact on the ship? Or was a boat from the frigate calling out to us in the darkness?

Conseil made a last effort, and, leaning on my shoulder, while I struck out in a despairing effort, he raised himself half out of the water, then fell back exhausted.

Conseil made one last effort. Leaning on my shoulder as I swam desperately, he lifted himself halfway out of the water. Then he fell back, exhausted.

“What did you see?”

“What did you see?”

“I saw”—murmured he; “I saw—but do not talk—reserve all your strength!”

“I saw,” he murmured. “I saw, but don't talk. Save all your strength!”

What had he seen? Then, I know not why, the thought of the monster came into my head for the first time! But that voice! The time is past for Jonahs to take refuge in whales’ bellies! However, Conseil was towing me again. He raised his head sometimes, looked before us, and uttered a cry of recognition, which was responded to by a voice that came nearer and nearer. I scarcely heard it. My strength was exhausted; my fingers stiffened; my hand afforded me support no longer; my mouth, convulsively opening, filled with salt water. Cold crept over me. I raised my head for the last time, then I sank.

What had he seen? Then, for the first time, I thought of the monster. I don’t know why! But that voice! The days when Jonahs could take refuge in whales’ bellies are over! Meanwhile, Conseil was towing me again. From time to time, he raised his head and looked ahead. He cried out in recognition, and a voice answered, coming closer and closer. I could barely hear the voice. My strength was gone. My fingers stiffened, and my hand could no longer support me. My mouth opened involuntarily and filled with salt water. Cold crept over me. I raised my head one last time, then sank.

At this moment a hard body struck me. I clung to it: then I felt that I was being drawn up, that I was brought to the surface of the water, that my chest collapsed:—I fainted.

At that moment, something hard struck me. I clung to it. Then I felt myself being pulled up to the surface. My chest collapsed, and I fainted.

It is certain that I soon came to, thanks to the vigorous rubbings that I received. I half opened my eyes.

I soon came to, thanks to the vigorous rubbing I received. I half opened my eyes.

“Conseil!” I murmured.

“Conseil!” I whispered.

“Does master call me?” asked Conseil.

“Did you call me, master?” asked Conseil.

Just then, by the waning light of the moon which was sinking down to the horizon, I saw a face which was not Conseil’s and which I immediately recognised.

Just then, in the fading light of the moon as it sank toward the horizon, I saw a face. It was not Conseil’s, and I recognized it immediately.

“Ned!” I cried.

“Ned!” I shouted.

“The same, sir, who is seeking his prize!” replied the Canadian.

“The same one, sir, who is looking for his prize!” replied the Canadian.

“Were you thrown into the sea by the shock to the frigate?”

“Were you thrown into the sea when the frigate was struck?”

“Yes, Professor; but more fortunate than you, I was able to find a footing almost directly upon a floating island.”

“Yes, Professor, but I was luckier than you. I managed to find my footing on a floating island almost immediately.”

“An island?”

“An island?”

“Or, more correctly speaking, on our gigantic narwhal.”

“Or, more accurately, on our giant narwhal.”

“Explain yourself, Ned!”

“Explain what you mean, Ned!”

“Only I soon found out why my harpoon had not entered its skin and was blunted.”

“But I soon found out why my harpoon had failed to pierce its skin and had become blunt.”

“Why, Ned, why?”

“Why, Ned, why?”

“Because, Professor, that beast is made of sheet iron.”

“Because, Professor, that beast is made of sheet iron.”

The Canadian’s last words produced a sudden revolution in my brain. I wriggled myself quickly to the top of the being, or object, half out of the water, which served us for a refuge. I kicked it. It was evidently a hard impenetrable body, and not the soft substance that forms the bodies of the great marine mammalia. But this hard body might be a bony carapace, like that of the antediluvian animals; and I should be free to class this monster among amphibious reptiles, such as tortoises or alligators.

The Canadian’s last words suddenly changed my thinking. I quickly scrambled onto the top of the being, or object, that was half out of the water and sheltering us. I kicked it. It was clearly a hard, impenetrable body, not the soft flesh of a large marine mammal. But the hard surface might be a bony shell, like those of prehistoric animals. In that case, I could classify the monster as an amphibious reptile, such as a tortoise or an alligator.

Well, no! the blackish back that supported me was smooth, polished, without scales. The blow produced a metallic sound; and incredible though it may be, it seemed, I might say, as if it was made of riveted plates.

Well, no! The blackish back supporting me was smooth and polished, with no scales. The blow made a metallic sound. Incredible as it seemed, the back appeared to be made of riveted plates.

There was no doubt about it! This monster, this natural phenomenon that had puzzled the learned world, and overthrown and misled the imagination of seamen of both hemispheres, it must be owned, a still more astonishing phenomenon, inasmuch as it was a simply human construction.

There was no doubt about it! This monster, this natural phenomenon, had puzzled scholars and stirred and misled sailors’ imaginations in both hemispheres. It had to be admitted that the phenomenon was even more astonishing because it was simply a human creation.

We had no time to lose, however. We were lying upon the back of a sort of submarine boat, which appeared (as far as I could judge) like a huge fish of steel. Ned Land’s mind was made up on this point. Conseil and I could only agree with him.

However, we had no time to lose. We were lying on the back of some kind of submarine. As far as I could tell, it looked like a huge steel fish. Ned Land was certain of it. Conseil and I could only agree with him.

Just then a bubbling began at the back of this strange thing (which was evidently propelled by a screw), and it began to move. We had only just time to seize hold of the upper part, which rose about seven feet out of the water, and happily its speed was not great.

Just then, bubbles appeared at the back of the strange thing. It was clearly powered by a propeller. Then it began to move. We had just enough time to grab the upper part, which rose about seven feet above the water. Luckily, it was not moving fast.

“As long as it sails horizontally,” muttered Ned Land, “I do not mind; but if it takes a fancy to dive, I would not give two straws for my life.”

“As long as it travels horizontally,” muttered Ned Land, “I don’t mind. But if it decides to dive, I wouldn’t give much for my chances of survival.”

The Canadian might have said still less. It became really necessary to communicate with the beings, whatever they were, shut up inside the machine. I searched all over the outside for an aperture, a panel, or a man-hole, to use a technical expression; but the lines of the iron rivets, solidly driven into the joints of the iron plates, were clear and uniform. Besides, the moon disappeared then, and left us in total darkness.

The Canadian could have said even less. We really needed to communicate with the beings locked inside the machine, whatever they were. I searched the entire outside for an opening, a panel, or a manhole, to use the technical term. But the rows of iron rivets were even and unbroken, firmly driven into the joints between the iron plates. Then the moon disappeared, leaving us in complete darkness.

At last this long night passed. My indistinct remembrance prevents my describing all the impressions it made. I can only recall one circumstance. During some lulls of the wind and sea, I fancied I heard several times vague sounds, a sort of fugitive harmony produced by words of command. What was then the mystery of this submarine craft, of which the whole world vainly sought an explanation? What kind of beings existed in this strange boat? What mechanical agent caused its prodigious speed?

At last, the long night passed. My memories are too vague for me to describe all the impressions it made on me. I can recall only one thing. When the wind and sea grew calm at times, I thought I heard faint sounds several times. They were a fleeting kind of harmony made by voices giving commands. What was the mystery of this underwater craft, which the whole world had tried in vain to explain? What kind of beings lived in this strange boat? What machinery made it move at such incredible speed?

Daybreak appeared. The morning mists surrounded us, but they soon cleared off. I was about to examine the hull, which formed on deck a kind of horizontal platform, when I felt it gradually sinking.

Day broke. Morning mist surrounded us, but it soon cleared. The hull formed a kind of flat platform on deck. I was about to examine it when I felt it slowly sinking.

“Oh! confound it!” cried Ned Land, kicking the resounding plate. “Open, you inhospitable rascals!”

“Oh, damn it!” cried Ned Land, kicking the plate and making it ring. “Open up, you unwelcoming scoundrels!”

Happily the sinking movement ceased. Suddenly a noise, like iron works violently pushed aside, came from the interior of the boat. One iron plate was moved, a man appeared, uttered an odd cry, and disappeared immediately.

Fortunately, the boat stopped sinking. Suddenly, a noise came from inside the boat, like iron being violently pushed aside. An iron plate moved, and a man appeared. He let out a strange cry and immediately disappeared.

Some moments after, eight strong men, with masked faces, appeared noiselessly, and drew us down into their formidable machine.

A few moments later, eight strong men with masked faces appeared silently. They pulled us down into their fearsome machine.