Here, on the 11th of February, there suddenly arose the cry of “Land!” and in the extreme horizon, right ahead, where land had never been before, it was true enough that a shore was distinctly to be seen. What could it be? It could not be the coast of Tripoli; for not only would that low-lying shore be quite invisible at such a distance, but it was certain, moreover, that it lay two degrees at least still further south. It was soon observed that this newly discovered land was of very irregular elevation9, that it extended due east and west across the horizon, thus dividing the gulf into two separate sections and completely concealing10 the island of Jerba, which must lie behind. Its position was duly traced on the Dobryna‘s chart.
“How strange,” exclaimed Hector Servadac, “that after sailing all this time over sea where we expected to find land, we have at last come upon land where we thought to find sea!”
“Strange, indeed,” replied Lieutenant11 Procope; “and what appears to me almost as remarkable12 is that we have never once caught sight either of one of the Maltese tartans or one of the Levantine xebecs that traffic so regularly on the Mediterranean13.”
“Eastwards or westwards,” asked the count —“which shall be our course? All farther progress to the south is checked.”
“Westwards, by all means,” replied Servadac quickly. “I am longing15 to know whether anything of Algeria is left beyond the Shelif; besides, as we pass Gourbi Island we might take Ben Zoof on board, and then make away for Gibraltar, where we should be sure to learn something, at least, of European news.”
With his usual air of stately courtesy, Count Timascheff begged the captain to consider the yacht at his own disposal, and desired him to give the lieutenant instructions accordingly.
Lieutenant Procope, however, hesitated, and after revolving16 matters for a few moments in his mind, pointed17 out that as the wind was blowing directly from the west, and seemed likely to increase, if they went to the west in the teeth of the weather, the schooner would be reduced to the use of her engine only, and would have much difficulty in making any headway; on the other hand, by taking an eastward14 course, not only would they have the advantage of the wind, but, under steam and canvas, might hope in a few days to be off the coast of Egypt, and from Alexandria or some other port they would have the same opportunity of getting tidings from Europe as they would at Gibraltar.
Intensely anxious as he was to revisit the province of Oran, and eager, too, to satisfy himself of the welfare of his faithful Ben Zoof, Servadac could not but own the reasonableness of the lieutenant’s objections, and yielded to the proposal that the eastward course should be adopted. The wind gave signs only too threatening of the breeze rising to a gale18; but, fortunately, the waves did not culminate19 in breakers, but rather in a long swell20 which ran in the same direction as the vessel21.
During the last fortnight the high temperature had been gradually diminishing, until it now reached an average of 20 degrees Cent. (or 68 degrees Fahr.), and sometimes descended22 as low as 15 degrees. That this diminution23 was to be attributed to the change in the earth’s orbit was a question that admitted of little doubt. After approaching so near to the sun as to cross the orbit of Venus, the earth must now have receded24 so far from the sun that its normal distance of ninety-one millions of miles was greatly increased, and the probability was great that it was approximating to the orbit of Mars, that planet which in its physical constitution most nearly resembles our own. Nor was this supposition suggested merely by the lowering of the temperature; it was strongly corroborated25 by the reduction of the apparent diameter of the sun’s disc to the precise dimensions which it would assume to an observer actually stationed on the surface of Mars. The necessary inference that seemed to follow from these phenomena26 was that the earth had been projected into a new orbit, which had the form of a very elongated27 ellipse.
Very slight, however, in comparison was the regard which these astronomical28 wonders attracted on board the Dobryna. All interest there was too much absorbed in terrestrial matters, and in ascertaining30 what changes had taken place in the configuration32 of the earth itself, to permit much attention to be paid to its erratic33 movements through space.
The schooner kept bravely on her way, but well out to sea, at a distance of two miles from land. There was good need of this precaution, for so precipitous was the shore that a vessel driven upon it must inevitably34 have gone to pieces; it did not offer a single harbor of refuge, but, smooth and perpendicular35 as the walls of a fortress36, it rose to a height of two hundred, and occasionally of three hundred feet. The waves dashed violently against its base. Upon the general substratum rested a massive conglomerate37, the crystallizations of which rose like a forest of gigantic pyramids and obelisks38.
But what struck the explorers more than anything was the appearance of singular newness that pervaded39 the whole of the region. It all seemed so recent in its formation that the atmosphere had had no opportunity of producing its wonted effect in softening40 the hardness of its lines, in rounding the sharpness of its angles, or in modifying the color of its surface; its outline was clearly marked against the sky, and its substance, smooth and polished as though fresh from a founder’s mold, glittered with the metallic41 brilliancy that is characteristic of pyrites. It seemed impossible to come to any other conclusion but that the land before them, continent or island, had been upheaved by subterranean42 forces above the surface of the sea, and that it was mainly composed of the same metallic element as had characterized the dust so frequently uplifted from the bottom.
The extreme nakedness of the entire tract29 was likewise very extraordinary. Elsewhere, in various quarters of the globe, there may be sterile43 rocks, but there are none so adamant44 as to be altogether unfurrowed by the filaments45 engendered46 in the moist residuum of the condensed vapor47; elsewhere there may be barren steeps, but none so rigid48 as not to afford some hold to vegetation, however low and elementary may be its type; but here all was bare, and blank, and desolate49 — not a symptom of vitality50 was visible.
Such being the condition of the adjacent land, it could hardly be a matter of surprise that all the sea-birds, the albatross, the gull51, the sea-mew, sought continual refuge on the schooner; day and night they perched fearlessly upon the yards, the report of a gun failing to dislodge them, and when food of any sort was thrown upon the deck, they would dart52 down and fight with eager voracity53 for the prize. Their extreme avidity was recognized as a proof that any land where they could obtain a sustenance54 must be far remote.
Onwards thus for several days the Dobryna followed the contour of the inhospitable coast, of which the features would occasionally change, sometimes for two or three miles assuming the form of a simple arris, sharply defined as though cut by a chisel55, when suddenly the prismatic lamellae soaring in rugged56 confusion would again recur57; but all along there was the same absence of beach or tract of sand to mark its base, neither were there any of those shoals of rock that are ordinarily found in shallow water. At rare intervals58 there were some narrow fissures59, but not a creek60 available for a ship to enter to replenish61 its supply of water; and the wide roadsteads were unprotected and exposed to well-nigh every point of the compass.
But after sailing two hundred and forty miles, the progress of the Dobryna was suddenly arrested. Lieutenant Procope, who had sedulously62 inserted the outline of the newly revealed shore upon the maps, announced that it had ceased to run east and west, and had taken a turn due north, thus forming a barrier to their continuing their previous direction. It was, of course, impossible to conjecture63 how far this barrier extended; it coincided pretty nearly with the fourteenth meridian64 of east longitude65; and if it reached, as probably it did, beyond Sicily to Italy, it was certain that the vast basin of the Mediterranean, which had washed the shores alike of Europe, Asia, and Africa, must have been reduced to about half its original area.
It was resolved to proceed upon the same plan as heretofore, following the boundary of the land at a safe distance. Accordingly, the head of the Dobryna was pointed north, making straight, as it was presumed, for the south of Europe. A hundred miles, or somewhat over, in that direction, and it was to be anticipated she would come in sight of Malta, if only that ancient island, the heritage in succession of Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Sicilians, Romans, Vandals, Greeks, Arabians, and the knights66 of Rhodes, should still be undestroyed.
But Malta, too, was gone; and when, upon the 14th, the sounding-line was dropped upon its site, it was only with the same result so oftentimes obtained before.
“The devastation67 is not limited to Africa,” observed the count.
“Assuredly not,” assented68 the lieutenant; adding, “and I confess I am almost in despair whether we shall ever ascertain31 its limits. To what quarter of Europe, if Europe still exists, do you propose that I should now direct your course?”
“To Sicily, Italy, France!” ejaculated Servadac, eagerly — “anywhere where we can learn the truth of what has befallen us.”
“How if we are the sole survivors69?” said the count, gravely.
Hector Servadac was silent; his own secret presentiment70 so thoroughly71 coincided with the doubts expressed by the count, that he refrained from saying another word.
The coast, without deviation72, still tended towards the north. No alternative, therefore, remained than to take a westerly course and to attempt to reach the northern shores of the Mediterranean. On the l6th the Dobryna essayed to start upon her altered way, but it seemed as if the elements had conspired73 to obstruct74 her progress. A furious tempest arose; the wind beat dead in the direction of the coast, and the danger incurred75 by a vessel of a tonnage so light was necessarily very great.
Lieutenant Procope was extremely uneasy. He took in all sail, struck his topmasts, and resolved to rely entirely76 on his engine. But the peril77 seemed only to increase. Enormous waves caught the schooner and carried her up to their crests78, whence again she was plunged79 deep into the abysses that they left. The screw failed to keep its hold upon the water, but continually revolved80 with useless speed in the vacant air; and thus, although the steam was forced on to the extremest limit consistent with safety, the vessel held her way with the utmost difficulty, and recoiled81 before the hurricane.
Still, not a single resort for refuge did the inaccessible82 shore present. Again and again the lieutenant asked himself what would become of him and his comrades, even if they should survive the peril of shipwreck83, and gain a footing upon the cliff. What resources could they expect to find upon that scene of desolation? What hope could they entertain that any portion of the old continent still existed beyond that dreary84 barrier?
It was a trying time, but throughout it all the crew behaved with the greatest courage and composure; confident in the skill of their commander, and in the stability of their ship, they performed their duties with steadiness and unquestioning obedience85.
But neither skill, nor courage, nor obedience could avail; all was in vain. Despite the strain put upon her engine, the schooner, bare of canvas (for not even the smallest stay-sail could have withstood the violence of the storm), was drifting with terrific speed towards the menacing precipices86, which were only a. few short miles to leeward87. Fully88 alive to the hopelessness of their situation, the crew were all on deck.
“All over with us, sir!” said Procope to the count. “I have done everything that man could do; but our case is desperate. Nothing short of a miracle can save us now. Within an hour we must go to pieces upon yonder rocks.”
“Let us, then, commend ourselves to the providence89 of Him to Whom nothing is impossible,” replied the count, in a calm, clear voice that could be distinctly heard by all; and as he spoke90, he reverently91 uncovered, an example in which he was followed by all the rest.
The destruction of the vessel seeming thus inevitable92, Lieutenant Procope took the best measures he could to insure a few days’ supply of food for any who might escape ashore93. He ordered several cases of provisions and kegs of water to be brought on deck, and saw that they were securely lashed94 to some empty barrels, to make them float after the ship had gone down.
Less and less grew the distance from the shore, but no creek, no inlet, could be discerned in the towering wall of cliff, which seemed about to topple over and involve them in annihilation. Except a change of wind or, as Procope observed, a supernatural rifting of the rock, nothing could bring deliverance now. But the wind did not veer95, and in a few minutes more the schooner was hardly three cables’ distance from the fatal land. All were aware that their last moment had arrived. Servadac and the count grasped each other’s hands for a long farewell; and, tossed by the tremendous waves, the schooner was on the very point of being hurled96 upon the cliff, when a ringing shout was heard. “Quick, boys, quick! Hoist97 the jib, and right the tiller!”
Sudden and startling as the unexpected orders were, they were executed as if by magic.
The lieutenant, who had shouted from the bow, rushed astern and took the helm, and before anyone had time to speculate upon the object of his maneuvers98, he shouted again, “Look out! sharp! watch the sheets!”
An involuntary cry broke forth99 from all on board. But it was no cry of terror. Right ahead was a narrow opening in the solid rock; it was hardly forty feet wide. Whether it was a passage or no, it mattered little; it was at least a refuge; and, driven by wind and wave, the Dobryna, under the dexterous100 guidance of the lieutenant, dashed in between its perpendicular walls.
Had she not immured101 herself in a perpetual prison?
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1
cormorants
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| 鸬鹚，贪婪的人( cormorant的名词复数 ) | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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17
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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culminate
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| v.到绝顶，达于极点，达到高潮 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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25
corroborated
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| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的过去式 ) | |
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phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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elongated
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| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
astronomical
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| adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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configuration
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| n.结构，布局，形态，(计算机)配置 | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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36
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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conglomerate
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| n.综合商社，多元化集团公司 | |
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38
obelisks
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| n.方尖石塔，短剑号，疑问记号( obelisk的名词复数 ) | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
softening
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| 变软，软化 | |
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41
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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42
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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43
sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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adamant
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| adj.坚硬的，固执的 | |
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45
filaments
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| n.（电灯泡的）灯丝( filament的名词复数 )；丝极；细丝；丝状物 | |
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46
engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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48
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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49
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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50
vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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51
gull
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| n.鸥；受骗的人；v.欺诈 | |
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52
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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53
voracity
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| n.贪食，贪婪 | |
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54
sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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55
chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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56
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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57
recur
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| vi.复发，重现，再发生 | |
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58
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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59
fissures
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| n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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60
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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61
replenish
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| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
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sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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63
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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64
meridian
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| adj.子午线的；全盛期的 | |
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longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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66
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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67
devastation
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| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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70
presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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71
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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72
deviation
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| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
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conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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74
obstruct
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| v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物 | |
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75
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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76
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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77
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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78
crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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shipwreck
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| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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veer
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| vt.转向，顺时针转，改变；n.转向 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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maneuvers
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| n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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immured
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| v.禁闭，监禁( immure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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