Conclusion

Thus ends the voyage under the seas. What passed during that night—how the boat escaped from the eddies of the maelstrom—how Ned Land, Conseil, and myself ever came out of the gulf, I cannot tell.

Thus ends the voyage under the seas. I cannot say what happened that night or how the boat escaped the maelstrom's whirlpools. Nor can I say how Ned Land, Conseil, and I ever escaped the gulf.

But when I returned to consciousness, I was lying in a fisherman’s hut, on the Loffoden Isles. My two companions, safe and sound, were near me holding my hands. We embraced each other heartily.

But when I woke up, I was lying in a fisherman’s hut on the Loffoden Isles. My two companions were safe and sound, holding my hands. We embraced warmly.

At that moment we could not think of returning to France. The means of communication between the north of Norway and the south are rare. And I am therefore obliged to wait for the steamboat running monthly from Cape North.

At that moment, we could not think of returning to France. Travel between northern and southern Norway is difficult. So I have to wait for the steamboat that leaves Cape North once a month.

And, among the worthy people who have so kindly received us, I revise my record of these adventures once more. Not a fact has been omitted, not a detail exaggerated. It is a faithful narrative of this incredible expedition in an element inaccessible to man, but to which Progress will one day open a road.

And among the good people who have welcomed us so kindly, I revise my account of these adventures once more. Not a fact has been left out, and not a detail exaggerated. It is a faithful account of this incredible expedition into a realm inaccessible to humans. But Progress will one day open a path into it.

Shall I be believed? I do not know. And it matters little, after all. What I now affirm is, that I have a right to speak of these seas, under which, in less than ten months, I have crossed 20,000 leagues in that submarine tour of the world, which has revealed so many wonders.

Will anyone believe me? I do not know. But it hardly matters, after all. What I can say is that I have a right to speak about these seas. In less than ten months, I traveled 20,000 leagues beneath them on a submarine journey around the world. That journey revealed so many wonders.

But what has become of the Nautilus? Did it resist the pressure of the maelstrom? Does Captain Nemo still live? And does he still follow under the ocean those frightful retaliations? Or, did he stop after the last hecatomb?

But what happened to the Nautilus? Did it withstand the pressure of the maelstrom? Is Captain Nemo still alive? Does he still carry out those terrible acts of revenge beneath the ocean? Or did he stop after the last massacre?

Will the waves one day carry to him this manuscript containing the history of his life? Shall I ever know the name of this man? Will the missing vessel tell us by its nationality that of Captain Nemo?

Will the waves one day carry this manuscript, which tells the story of his life, to him? Will I ever learn this man’s name? Will the nationality of the missing ship tell us Captain Nemo’s nationality?

I hope so. And I also hope that his powerful vessel has conquered the sea at its most terrible gulf, and that the Nautilus has survived where so many other vessels have been lost! If it be so—if Captain Nemo still inhabits the ocean, his adopted country, may hatred be appeased in that savage heart! May the contemplation of so many wonders extinguish for ever the spirit of vengeance! May the judge disappear, and the philosopher continue the peaceful exploration of the sea! If his destiny be strange, it is also sublime. Have I not understood it myself? Have I not lived ten months of this unnatural life? And to the question asked by Ecclesiastes three thousand years ago, “That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?” two men alone of all now living have the right to give an answer——

I hope so. I also hope his powerful vessel has conquered the sea in its most terrible gulf. I hope the Nautilus has survived where so many other vessels have been lost! If so, if Captain Nemo still lives in the ocean, his adopted country, may the hatred in his savage heart be soothed! May the sight of so many wonders extinguish his desire for vengeance forever! May the judge disappear, and may the philosopher continue his peaceful exploration of the sea! His destiny is strange, but it is also sublime. Have I not understood it myself? Have I not lived this unnatural life for ten months? Three thousand years ago, Ecclesiastes asked, “What is far away and exceedingly deep, who can discover it?” Of all those now living, only two men have the right to answer that question...

CAPTAIN NEMO AND MYSELF.

CAPTAIN NEMO AND ME.