An Invitation

The next day was the 9th of November. I awoke after a long sleep of twelve hours. Conseil came, according to custom, to know “how I had passed the night,” and to offer his services. He had left his friend the Canadian sleeping like a man who had never done anything else all his life. I let the worthy fellow chatter as he pleased, without caring to answer him. I was pre-occupied by the absence of the Captain during our sitting of the day before, and hoping to see him to-day.

The next day was November 9. I woke after a long sleep of twelve hours. As usual, Conseil came to ask “how I had slept” and offer his services. He had left his friend the Canadian sleeping like a man who had never done anything else in his life. I let the good fellow chatter as he pleased, without bothering to answer him. I was preoccupied by the Captain's absence from our meeting the day before, and I hoped to see him today.

As soon as I was dressed I went into the saloon. It was deserted.

As soon as I was dressed, I went into the saloon. It was empty.

I plunged into the study of the shell treasures hidden behind the glasses. I revelled also in great herbals filled with the rarest marine plants, which, although dried up, retained their lovely colours. Amongst these precious hydrophytes I remarked some vorticellæ, pavonariæ, delicate ceramies with scarlet tints, some fan-shaped agari, and some natabuli like flat mushrooms, which at one time used to be classed as zoophytes; in short, a perfect series of algæ.

I plunged into studying the shell treasures displayed behind glass. I also delighted in large collections of the rarest marine plants. Though dried, the plants had kept their lovely colors. Among these precious aquatic plants, I noticed some vorticellæ, pavonariæ, and delicate scarlet ceramies. There were also some fan-shaped agari and some natabuli, which looked like flat mushrooms. These had once been classified as zoophytes. In short, it was a perfect collection of algae.

The whole day passed without my being honoured by a visit from Captain Nemo. The panels of the saloon did not open. Perhaps they did not wish us to tire of these beautiful things.

The whole day passed without a visit from Captain Nemo. The saloon panels did not open. Perhaps they did not want us to tire of these beautiful things.

The course of the Nautilus was E.N.E., her speed twelve knots, the depth below the surface between twenty-five and thirty fathoms.

The Nautilus was heading east-northeast at twelve knots, between twenty-five and thirty fathoms below the surface.

The next day, 10th of November, the same desertion, the same solitude. I did not see one of the ship’s crew: Ned and Conseil spent the greater part of the day with me. They were astonished at the inexplicable absence of the Captain. Was this singular man ill?—had he altered his intentions with regard to us?

The next day, November 10, the ship was just as deserted and lonely. I did not see a single crew member. Ned and Conseil spent most of the day with me. They were amazed by the Captain’s unexplained absence. Was this strange man ill? Had he changed his plans for us?

After all, as Conseil said, we enjoyed perfect liberty, we were delicately and abundantly fed. Our host kept to his terms of the treaty. We could not complain, and, indeed, the singularity of our fate reserved such wonderful compensation for us, that we had no right to accuse it as yet.

After all, as Conseil said, we had complete freedom and were given plenty of excellent food. Our host had kept to the terms of our agreement. We could not complain. Indeed, our unusual fate promised such wonderful rewards that we had no right to complain about it yet.

That day I commenced the journal of these adventures which has enabled me to relate them with more scrupulous exactitude and minute detail. I wrote it on paper made from the zostera marina.

That day I began a journal of these adventures. It has allowed me to recount them with greater accuracy and detail. I wrote it on paper made from zostera marina.

11th November, early in the morning. The fresh air spreading over the interior of the Nautilus told me that we had come to the surface of the ocean to renew our supply of oxygen. I directed my steps to the central staircase, and mounted the platform.

November 11, early in the morning. Fresh air filled the Nautilus, telling me we had surfaced to replenish our oxygen supply. I went to the central staircase and climbed up to the platform.

It was six o’clock, the weather was cloudy, the sea grey but calm. Scarcely a billow. Captain Nemo, whom I hoped to meet, would he be there? I saw no one but the steersman imprisoned in his glass cage. Seated upon the projection formed by the hull of the pinnace, I inhaled the salt breeze with delight.

It was six o’clock. The sky was cloudy, and the sea was gray but calm, with hardly a wave. Would Captain Nemo be there? I hoped to see him, but I saw only the steersman, shut inside his glass cage. Sitting on the raised section formed by the small boat’s hull, I breathed in the salty breeze with delight.

By degrees the fog disappeared under the action of the sun’s rays, the radiant orb rose from behind the eastern horizon. The sea flamed under its glance like a train of gunpowder. The clouds scattered in the heights were coloured with lively tints of beautiful shades, and numerous “mare’s tails,” which betokened wind for that day. But what was wind to this Nautilus which tempests could not frighten!

Gradually, the sun’s rays burned away the fog as the radiant sun rose above the eastern horizon. The sea flamed in its light like a trail of gunpowder. Clouds scattered high overhead glowed in vivid, beautiful colors. Many were “mare’s tails,” a sign of wind that day. But what was wind to the Nautilus, which even storms could not frighten!

I was admiring this joyous rising of the sun, so gay, and so lifegiving, when I heard steps approaching the platform. I was prepared to salute Captain Nemo, but it was his second (whom I had already seen on the Captain’s first visit) who appeared. He advanced on the platform, not seeming to see me. With his powerful glass to his eye he scanned every point of the horizon with great attention. This examination over, he approached the panel and pronounced a sentence in exactly these terms. I have remembered it, for every morning it was repeated under exactly the same conditions. It was thus worded—

I was admiring the joyful sunrise, so bright and full of life, when I heard footsteps approaching the platform. I was ready to greet Captain Nemo, but his second-in-command appeared instead. I had already seen him on the Captain’s first visit. He came onto the platform without seeming to notice me. He raised his powerful telescope to his eye and carefully scanned every point on the horizon. When he had finished, he approached the hatch and spoke a sentence in these exact words. I remembered it because he repeated it every morning under exactly the same conditions. This is what he said:

“Nautron respoc lorni virch.”

“Nautron respoc lorni virch.”

What it meant I could not say.

I couldn't say what it meant.

These words pronounced, the second descended. I thought that the Nautilus was about to return to its submarine navigation. I regained the panel and returned to my chamber.

After saying these words, the second officer went below. I thought the Nautilus was about to travel underwater again. I returned to the hatch and went back to my cabin.

Five days sped thus, without any change in our situation. Every morning I mounted the platform. The same phrase was pronounced by the same individual. But Captain Nemo did not appear.

Five days passed like this, with no change in our situation. Every morning I went up to the platform. The same person said the same phrase. But Captain Nemo did not appear.

I had made up my mind that I should never see him again, when, on the 16th November, on returning to my room with Ned and Conseil, I found upon my table a note addressed to me. I opened it impatiently. It was written in a bold, clear hand, the characters rather pointed, recalling the German type. The note was worded as follows—

I had decided I would never see him again. Then, on November 16, I returned to my room with Ned and Conseil. On my table, I found a note addressed to me. I opened it eagerly. It was written in a bold, clear hand, with rather pointed letters that reminded me of German type. The note read as follows:

16th of November, 1867.

November 16, 1867.

CAPTAIN NEMO, Commander of the Nautilus.

CAPTAIN NEMO, Commander of the Nautilus.

“A hunt!” exclaimed Ned.

“A hunt!” exclaimed Ned.

“And in the forests of the island of Crespo!” added Conseil.

“And in the forests of Crespo Island!” added Conseil.

“Oh! then the gentleman is going on terra firma?” replied Ned Land.

“Oh! So the gentleman is going onto dry land?” replied Ned Land.

“That seems to me to be clearly indicated,” said I, reading the letter once more.

“That seems clear to me,” I said, reading the letter again.

“Well, we must accept,” said the Canadian. “But once more on dry ground, we shall know what to do. Indeed, I shall not be sorry to eat a piece of fresh venison.”

“Well, we have to accept,” said the Canadian. “But once we’re back on dry land, we’ll know what to do. And I wouldn’t mind eating some fresh venison.”

Without seeking to reconcile what was contradictory between Captain Nemo’s manifest aversion to islands and continents, and his invitation to hunt in a forest, I contented myself with replying—

I did not try to reconcile Captain Nemo’s obvious dislike of islands and continents with his invitation to hunt in a forest. I simply replied:

“Let us first see where the island of Crespo is.”

“First, let’s see where the island of Crespo is.”

I consulted the planisphere, and in 32° 40′ north lat. and 157° 50′ west long., I found a small island, recognised in 1801 by Captain Crespo, and marked in the ancient Spanish maps as Rocca de la Plata, the meaning of which is “The Silver Rock.” We were then about eighteen hundred miles from our starting-point, and the course of the Nautilus, a little changed, was bringing it back towards the south-east.

I checked the world map and found a small island at 32° 40′ north latitude and 157° 50′ west longitude. Captain Crespo had identified it in 1801. Old Spanish maps marked it as Rocca de la Plata, meaning “The Silver Rock.” We were about eighteen hundred miles from our starting point. The Nautilus had changed course slightly and was heading back toward the southeast.

I showed this little rock lost in the midst of the North Pacific to my companions.

I showed my companions this small rock, lost in the middle of the North Pacific.

“If Captain Nemo does sometimes go on dry ground,” said I, “he at least chooses desert islands.”

“If Captain Nemo sometimes goes ashore,” I said, “at least he chooses deserted islands.”

Ned Land shrugged his shoulders without speaking, and Conseil and he left me.

Ned Land shrugged without speaking, and he and Conseil left me.

After supper, which was served by the steward mute and impassive, I went to bed, not without some anxiety.

After supper, served by the silent, expressionless steward, I went to bed feeling somewhat anxious.

The next morning, the 17th of November, on awakening, I felt that the Nautilus was perfectly still. I dressed quickly and entered the saloon.

When I woke the next morning, November 17, I felt that the Nautilus was completely still. I dressed quickly and entered the saloon.

Captain Nemo was there, waiting for me. He rose, bowed, and asked me if it was convenient for me to accompany him. As he made no allusion to his absence during the last eight days, I did not mention it, and simply answered that my companions and myself were ready to follow him.

Captain Nemo was there, waiting for me. He stood, bowed, and asked if I could accompany him. He said nothing about his absence over the past eight days, so I did not mention it either. I simply replied that my companions and I were ready to follow him.

We entered the dining-room, where breakfast was served.

We entered the dining room, where breakfast was served.

“M. Aronnax,” said the Captain, “pray, share my breakfast without ceremony; we will chat as we eat. For though I promised you a walk in the forest, I did not undertake to find hotels there. So breakfast as a man who will most likely not have his dinner till very late.”

“M. Aronnax,” said the Captain, “please join me for breakfast. Make yourself at home. We can chat while we eat. I promised you a walk in the forest, but I did not promise to find hotels there. So eat as though you will most likely have a very late dinner.”

I did honour to the repast. It was composed of several kinds of fish, and slices of holothuridæ (excellent zoophytes), and different sorts of sea-weed. Our drink consisted of pure water, to which the Captain added some drops of a fermented liquor, extracted by the Kamschatcha method from a sea-weed known under the name of Rhodomenia palmata. Captain Nemo ate at first without saying a word. Then he began—

I enjoyed the meal. It consisted of several kinds of fish, slices of sea cucumber (excellent zoophytes), and different kinds of seaweed. We drank pure water. The Captain added a few drops of fermented liquor, extracted from a seaweed called Rhodomenia palmata using the Kamschatcha method. At first, Captain Nemo ate without saying a word. Then he began to speak:

“Sir, when I proposed to you to hunt in my submarine forest of Crespo, you evidently thought me mad. Sir, you should never judge lightly of any man.”

“Sir, when I suggested that we hunt in my underwater forest of Crespo, you clearly thought I was mad. Sir, you should never judge anyone too quickly.”

“But Captain, believe me——”

“But Captain, believe me...”

“Be kind enough to listen, and you will then see whether you have any cause to accuse me of folly and contradiction.”

“Please listen, and then you will see whether you have any reason to accuse me of being foolish and contradicting myself.”

“I listen.”

“I’m listening.”

“You know as well as I do, Professor, that man can live under water, providing he carries with him a sufficient supply of breathable air. In submarine works, the workman, clad in an impervious dress, with his head in a metal helmet, receives air from above by means of forcing pumps and regulators.”

“You know as well as I do, Professor, that a person can live underwater if they carry enough breathable air. In underwater work, a worker wears a waterproof suit and a metal helmet. Pumps and regulators supply air from above.”

“That is a diving apparatus,” said I.

“That is diving equipment,” I said.

“Just so, but under these conditions the man is not at liberty; he is attached to the pump which sends him air through an india-rubber tube, and if we were obliged to be thus held to the Nautilus, we could not go far.”

“Exactly, but under these conditions, the man cannot move freely. He is connected to a pump that sends him air through a rubber tube. If we had to be connected to the Nautilus in the same way, we could not go far.”

“And the means of getting free?” I asked.

“And how do we get free?” I asked.

“It is to use the Rouquayrol apparatus, invented by two of your own countrymen, which I have brought to perfection for my own use, and which will allow you to risk yourself under these new physiological conditions without any organ whatever suffering. It consists of a reservoir of thick iron plates, in which I store the air under a pressure of fifty atmospheres. This reservoir is fixed on the back by means of braces, like a soldier’s knapsack. Its upper part forms a box in which the air is kept by means of a bellows, and therefore cannot escape unless at its normal tension. In the Rouquayrol apparatus such as we use, two india-rubber pipes leave this box and join a sort of tent which holds the nose and mouth; one is to introduce fresh air, the other to let out the foul, and the tongue closes one or the other according to the wants of the respirator. But I, in encountering great pressures at the bottom of the sea, was obliged to shut my head, like that of a diver in a ball of copper; and it is to this ball of copper that the two pipes, the inspirator and the expirator, open.”

“It uses the Rouquayrol apparatus, invented by two of your own countrymen. I have perfected it for my own use. It will let you venture into these new conditions without harm to any of your organs. It consists of a tank made of thick iron plates, in which I store air at fifty atmospheres of pressure. The tank is strapped to the back like a soldier’s knapsack. Its upper part forms a box where bellows hold the air. The air can escape only at its normal pressure. In the Rouquayrol apparatus we use, two rubber tubes run from the box to a kind of mask covering the nose and mouth. One brings in fresh air, and the other lets out used air. The person breathing closes one or the other with their tongue, as needed. But I had to face great pressure at the bottom of the sea. So I had to enclose my head in a copper sphere, like a diver’s. The two tubes, one for inhaling and one for exhaling, open into this copper sphere.”

“Perfectly, Captain Nemo; but the air that you carry with you must soon be used; when it only contains fifteen per cent. of oxygen it is no longer fit to breathe.”

“Perfectly, Captain Nemo. But the air you carry with you will soon be used up. When it contains only fifteen percent oxygen, it is no longer fit to breathe.”

“Right! but I told you, M. Aronnax, that the pumps of the Nautilus allow me to store the air under considerable pressure, and on these conditions the reservoir of the apparatus can furnish breathable air for nine or ten hours.”

“Right! But I told you, M. Aronnax, that the Nautilus pumps let me store air under considerable pressure. Under those conditions, the apparatus’s reservoir can supply breathable air for nine or ten hours.”

“I have no further objections to make,” I answered; “I will only ask you one thing, Captain—how can you light your road at the bottom of the sea?”

“I have no more objections,” I answered. “I just have one question, Captain. How can you light your way at the bottom of the sea?”

“With the Ruhmkorff apparatus, M. Aronnax; one is carried on the back, the other is fastened to the waist. It is composed of a Bunsen pile, which I do not work with bichromate of potash, but with sodium. A wire is introduced which collects the electricity produced, and directs it towards a particularly made lantern. In this lantern is a spiral glass which contains a small quantity of carbonic gas. When the apparatus is at work this gas becomes luminous, giving out a white and continuous light. Thus provided, I can breathe and I can see.”

“With the Ruhmkorff apparatus, M. Aronnax. One is carried on the back, the other is fastened to the waist. It consists of a Bunsen battery, which I operate with sodium instead of potassium bichromate. A wire collects the electricity produced and carries it to a specially made lantern. Inside the lantern is a glass spiral containing a small amount of carbon dioxide. When the apparatus is working, the gas glows with a steady white light. Equipped this way, I can breathe and see.”

“Captain Nemo, to all my objections you make such crushing answers, that I dare no longer doubt. But if I am forced to admit the Rouquayrol and Ruhmkorff apparatus, I must be allowed some reservations with regard to the gun I am to carry.”

“Captain Nemo, your answers to all my objections are so convincing that I no longer dare doubt you. But if I must accept the Rouquayrol and Ruhmkorff apparatus, I must be allowed some reservations about the gun I am to carry.”

“But it is not a gun for powder,” answered the Captain.

“But it isn't a gun that uses gunpowder,” the Captain replied.

“Then it is an air-gun.”

“Then it's an air gun.”

“Doubtless! How would you have me manufacture gunpowder on board, without either saltpetre, sulphur, or charcoal?”

“Of course! How could I make gunpowder on board without saltpeter, sulfur, or charcoal?”

“Besides,” I added, “to fire under water in a medium eight hundred and fifty-five times denser than the air, we must conquer very considerable resistance.”

“Besides,” I added, “water is eight hundred and fifty-five times denser than air. To fire underwater, we must overcome considerable resistance.”

“That would be no difficulty. There exist guns, according to Fulton, perfected in England by Philip Coles and Burley, in France by Furcy, and in Italy by Landi, which are furnished with a peculiar system of closing, which can fire under these conditions. But I repeat, having no powder, I use air under great pressure, which the pumps of the Nautilus furnish abundantly.”

“That would be no problem. According to Fulton, there are guns with a special closing mechanism that can fire under these conditions. They were perfected in England by Philip Coles and Burley, in France by Furcy, and in Italy by Landi. But as I said, I have no gunpowder. Instead, I use highly compressed air, which the pumps of the Nautilus supply in abundance.”

“But this air must be rapidly used?”

“But this air must get used up quickly?”

“Well, have I not my Rouquayrol reservoir, which can furnish it at need? A tap is all that is required. Besides, M. Aronnax, you must see yourself that, during our submarine hunt, we can spend but little air and but few balls.”

“Well, don't I have my Rouquayrol reservoir to supply it if needed? All I need to do is turn a tap. Besides, M. Aronnax, surely you can see that we will use very little air and few bullets during our underwater hunt.”

“But it seems to me that in this twilight, and in the midst of this fluid, which is very dense compared with the atmosphere, shots could not go far, nor easily prove mortal.”

“But it seems to me that in this dim light, and in a fluid much denser than air, shots could not travel far or easily kill.”

“Sir, on the contrary, with this gun every blow is mortal; and however lightly the animal is touched, it falls as if struck by a thunderbolt.”

“Sir, on the contrary, every shot from this gun is deadly. Even if it only touches the animal lightly, the animal falls as if struck by lightning.”

“Why?”

“Why?”

“Because the balls sent by this gun are not ordinary balls, but little cases of glass (invented by Leniebroek, an Austrian chemist), of which I have a large supply. These glass cases are covered with a case of steel, and weighted with a pellet of lead; they are real Leyden bottles, into which the electricity is forced to a very high tension. With the slightest shock they are discharged, and the animal, however strong it may be, falls dead. I must tell you that these cases are size number four, and that the charge for an ordinary gun would be ten.”

“Because this gun does not fire ordinary bullets. It fires small glass cases invented by Leniebroek, an Austrian chemist. I have a large supply of them. These glass cases are covered in steel and weighted with a lead pellet. They are actually Leyden bottles, charged with electricity at very high voltage. The slightest impact discharges them, and the animal falls dead, no matter how strong it is. I should tell you that these cases are size number four. An ordinary gun would use a charge of ten.”

“I will argue no longer,” I replied, rising from the table; “I have nothing left me but to take my gun. At all events, I will go where you go.”

“I won’t argue anymore,” I replied, getting up from the table. “I have no choice but to take my gun. In any case, I’ll go wherever you go.”

Captain Nemo then led me aft; and in passing before Ned’s and Conseil’s cabin, I called my two companions, who followed immediately. We then came to a kind of cell near the machinery-room, in which we were to put on our walking-dress.

Captain Nemo then led me toward the back of the ship. As we passed Ned and Conseil’s cabin, I called my two companions. They followed us immediately. We came to a small room near the machinery room, where we were to put on our walking clothes.