Except the thirteen Englishmen who had been left at Gibraltar, every living creature had taken refuge in the dark abyss of the volcano’s crater2.
And with those Englishmen, how had it fared?
“Far better than with ourselves,” was the sentiment that would have been universally accepted in Nina’s Hive. And there was every reason to conjecture3 that so it was. The party at Gibraltar, they all agreed, would not, like themselves, have been compelled to have recourse to a stream of lava4 for their supply of heat; they, no doubt, had had abundance of fuel as well as food; and in their solid casemate, with its substantial walls, they would find ample shelter from the rigor5 of the cold. The time would have been passed at least in comfort, and perhaps in contentment; and Colonel Murphy and Major Oliphant would have had leisure more than sufficient for solving the most abstruse6 problems of the chess-board. All of them, too, would be happy in the confidence that when the time should come, England would have full meed of praise to award to the gallant7 soldiers who had adhered so well and so manfully to their post.
It did, indeed, more than once occur to the minds both of Servadac and his friends that, if their condition should become one of extreme emergency, they might, as a last resource, betake themselves to Gibraltar, and there seek a refuge; but their former reception had not been of the kindest, and they were little disposed to renew an acquaintanceship that was marked by so little cordiality. Not in the least that they would expect to meet with any inhospitable rebuff. Far from that; they knew well enough that Englishmen, whatever their faults, would be the last to abandon their fellow-creatures in the hour of distress9. Nevertheless, except the necessity became far more urgent than it had hitherto proved, they resolved to endeavor to remain in their present quarters. Up till this time no casualties had diminished their original number, but to undertake so long a journey across that unsheltered expanse of ice could scarcely fail to result in the loss of some of their party.
However great was the desire to find a retreat for every living thing in the deep hollow of the crater, it was found necessary to slaughter10 almost all the domestic animals before the removal of the community from Nina’s Hive. To have stabled them all in the cavern11 below would have been quite impossible, whilst to have left them in the upper galleries would only have been to abandon them to a cruel death; and since meat could be preserved for an indefinite time in the original store-places, now colder than ever, the expedient12 of killing13 the animals seemed to recommend itself as equally prudent14 and humane15.
Naturally the captain and Ben Zoof were most anxious that their favorite horses should be saved, and accordingly, by dint16 of the greatest care, all difficulties in the way were overcome, and Zephyr17 and Galette were conducted down the crater, where they were installed in a large hole and provided with forage18, which was still abundant.
Birds, subsisting19 only on scraps20 thrown out to them did not cease to follow the population in its migration21, and so numerous did they become that multitudes of them had repeatedly to be destroyed.
The general re-arrangement of the new residence was no easy business, and occupied so much time that the end of January arrived before they could be said to be fairly settled. And then began a life of dreary22 monotony. Then seemed to creep over everyone a kind of moral torpor23 as well as physical lassitude, which Servadac, the count, and the lieutenant24 did their best not only to combat in themselves, but to counteract25 in the general community. They provided a variety of intellectual pursuits; they instituted debates in which everybody was encouraged to take part; they read aloud, and explained extracts from the elementary manuals of science, or from the books of adventurous26 travel which their library supplied; and Russians and Spaniards, day after day, might be seen gathered round the large table, giving their best attention to instruction which should send them back to Mother Earth less ignorant than they had left her.
Selfish and morose27, Hakkabut could never be induced to be present at these social gatherings28. He was far too much occupied in his own appropriated corner, either in conning30 his accounts, or in counting his money. Altogether, with what he had before, he now possessed31 the round sum of 150,000 francs, half of which was in sterling32 gold; but nothing could give him any satisfaction while he knew that the days were passing, and that he was denied the opportunity of putting out his capital in advantageous33 investments, or securing a proper interest.
Neither did Palmyrin Rosette find leisure to take any share in the mutual34 intercourse35. His occupation was far too absorbing for him to suffer it to be interrupted, and to him, living as he did perpetually in a world of figures, the winter days seemed neither long nor wearisome. Having ascertained36 every possible particular about his comet, he was now devoting himself with equal ardor37 to the analysis of all the properties of the satellite Nerina, to which he appeared to assert the same claim of proprietorship38.
In order to investigate Nerina it was indispensable that he should make several actual observations at various points of the orbit; and for this purpose he repeatedly made his way up to the grotto39 above, where, in spite of the extreme severity of the cold, he would persevere40 in the use of his telescope till he was all but paralyzed. But what he felt more than anything was the want of some retired41 apartment, where he could pursue his studies without hindrance42 or intrusion.
It was about the beginning of February, when the professor brought his complaint to Captain Servadac, and begged him to assign him a chamber43, no matter how small, in which he should be free to carry on his task in silence and without molestation44. So readily did Servadac promise to do everything in his power to provide him with the accommodation for which he asked, that the professor was put into such a manifest good temper that the captain ventured to speak upon the matter that was ever uppermost in his mind.
“I do not mean,” he began timidly, “to cast the least imputation45 of inaccuracy upon any of your calculations, but would you allow me, my dear professor, to suggest that you should revise your estimate of the duration of Gallia’s period of revolution. It is so important, you know, so all important; the difference of one half minute, you know, would so certainly mar8 the expectation of reunion with the earth —”
And seeing a cloud gathering29 on Rosette’s face, he added:
“I am sure Lieutenant Procope would be only too happy to render you any assistance in the revision.”
“Sir,” said the professor, bridling46 up, “I want no assistant; my calculations want no revision. I never make an error. I have made my reckoning as far as Gallia is concerned. I am now making a like estimate of the elements of Nerina.”
Conscious how impolitic it would be to press this matter further, the captain casually47 remarked that he should have supposed that all the elements of Nerina had been calculated long since by astronomers49 on the earth. It was about as unlucky a speech as he could possibly have made. The professor glared at him fiercely.
“Astounding, sir!” he exclaimed. “Yes! Nerina was a planet then; everything that appertained to the planet was determined50; but Nerina is a moon now. And do you not think, sir, that we have a right to know as much about our moon as those terrestrials“— and he curled his lip as he spoke51 with a contemptuous emphasis —“know of theirs?”
“I beg pardon,” said the corrected captain.
“Well then, never mind,” replied the professor, quickly appeased52; “only will you have the goodness to get me a proper place for study?”
“I will, as I promised, do all I can,” answered Servadac.
“Very good,” said the professor. “No immediate53 hurry; an hour hence will do.”
But in spite of this condescension54 on the part of the man of science, some hours had to elapse before any place of retreat could be discovered likely to suit his requirements; but at length a little nook was found in the side of the cavern just large enough to hold an armchair and a table, and in this the astronomer48 was soon ensconced to his entire satisfaction.
Buried thus, nearly 900 feet below ground, the Gallians ought to have had unbounded mental energy to furnish an adequate reaction to the depressing monotony of their existence; but many days would often elapse without any one of them ascending56 to the surface of the soil, and had it not been for the necessity of obtaining fresh water, it seemed almost probable that there would never have been an effort made to leave the cavern at all.
A few excursions, it is true, were made in the downward direction. The three leaders, with Ben Zoof, made their way to the lower depths of the crater, not with the design of making any further examination as to the nature of the rock — for although it might be true enough that it contained thirty per cent. of gold, it was as valueless to them as granite57 — but with the intention of ascertaining58 whether the subterranean59 fire still retained its activity. Satisfied upon this point, they came to the conclusion that the eruption60 which had so suddenly ceased in one spot had certainly broken out in another.
February, March, April, May, passed wearily by; but day succeeded to day with such gloomy sameness that it was little wonder that no notice was taken of the lapse55 of time. The people seemed rather to vegetate61 than to live, and their want of vigor62 became at times almost alarming. The readings around the long table ceased to be attractive, and the debates, sustained by few, became utterly63 wanting in animation64. The Spaniards could hardly be roused to quit their beds, and seemed to have scarcely energy enough to eat. The Russians, constitutionally of more enduring temperament65, did not give way to the same extent, but the long and drear confinement66 was beginning to tell upon them all. Servadac, the count, and the lieutenant all knew well enough that it was the want of air and exercise that was the cause of much of this mental depression; but what could they do? The most serious remonstrances67 on their part were entirely68 in vain. In fact, they themselves occasionally fell a prey69 to the same lassitude both of body and mind. Long fits of drowsiness70, combined with an utter aversion to food, would come over them. It almost seemed as if their entire nature had become degenerate71, and that, like tortoises, they could sleep and fast till the return of summer.
Strange to say, little Nina bore her hardships more bravely than any of them. Flitting about, coaxing72 one to eat, another to drink, rousing Pablo as often as he seemed yielding to the common languor73, the child became the life of the party. Her merry prattle74 enlivened the gloom of the grim cavern like the sweet notes of a bird; her gay Italian songs broke the monotony of the depressing silence; and almost unconscious as the half-dormant population of Gallia were of her influence, they still would have missed her bright presence sorely. The months still glided75 on; how, it seemed impossible for the inhabitants of the living tomb to say. There was a dead level of dullness.
At the beginning of June the general torpor appeared slightly to relax its hold upon its victims. This partial revival76 was probably due to the somewhat increased influence of the sun, still far, far away. During the first half of the Gallian year, Lieutenant Procope had taken careful note of Rosette’s monthly announcements of the comet’s progress, and he was able now, without reference to the professor, to calculate the rate of advance on its way back towards the sun. He found that Gallia had re-crossed the orbit of Jupiter, but was still at the enormous distance of 197,000,000 leagues from the sun, and he reckoned that in about four months it would have entered the zone of the telescopic planets.
Gradually, but uninterruptedly, life and spirits continued to revive, and by the end of the month Servadac and his little colony had regained77 most of their ordinary physical and mental energies. Ben Zoof, in particular, roused himself with redoubled vigor, like a giant refreshed from his slumbers78. The visits, consequently, to the long-neglected galleries of Nina’s Hive became more and more frequent.
One day an excursion was made to the shore. It was still bitterly cold, but the atmosphere had lost nothing of its former stillness, and not a cloud was visible from horizon to zenith. The old footmarks were all as distinct as on the day in which they had been imprinted79, and the only portion of the shore where any change was apparent was in the little creek80. Here the elevation81 of the ice had gone on increasing, until the schooner82 and the tartan had been uplifted to a height of 150 feet, not only rendering83 them quite inaccessible84, but exposing them to all but certain destruction in the event of a thaw85.
Isaac Hakkabut, immovable from the personal oversight86 of his property in the cavern, had not accompanied the party, and consequently was in blissful ignorance of the fate that threatened his vessel87. “A good thing the old fellow wasn’t there to see,” observed Ben Zoof; “he would have screamed like a peacock. What a misfortune it is,” he added, speaking to himself, “to have a peacock’s voice, without its plumage!”
During the months of July and August, Gallia advanced 164,000,000 leagues along her orbit. At night the cold was still intense, but in the daytime the sun, here full upon the equator, caused an appreciable88 difference of 20 degrees in the temperature. Like birds, the population spent whole days exposed to its grateful warmth, rarely returning till nightfall to the shade of their gloomy home.
This spring-time, if such it may be called, had a most enlivening influence upon all. Hope and courage revived as day by day the sun’s disc expanded in the heavens, and every evening the earth assumed a greater magnitude amongst the fixed89 stars. It was distant yet, but the goal was cheeringly in view.
“I can’t believe that yonder little speck90 of light contains my mountain of Montmartre,” said Ben Zoof, one night, after he had been gazing long and steadily91 at the far-off world.
“You will, I hope, some day find out that it does,” answered his master.
“I hope so,” said the orderly, without moving his eye from the distant sphere. After meditating92 a while, he spoke again. “I suppose Professor Rosette couldn’t make his comet go straight back, could he?”
“Hush!” cried Servadac.
Ben Zoof understood the correction.
“No,” continued the captain; “it is not for man to disturb the order of the universe. That belongs to a Higher Power than ours!”
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1
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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rigor
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| n.严酷，严格，严厉 | |
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abstruse
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| adj.深奥的，难解的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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zephyr
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| n.和风，微风 | |
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forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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subsisting
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| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的现在分词 ) | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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migration
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| n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙 | |
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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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torpor
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| n.迟钝；麻木；（动物的）冬眠 | |
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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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counteract
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| vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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conning
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| v.诈骗，哄骗( con的现在分词 )；指挥操舵( conn的现在分词 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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proprietorship
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| n.所有（权）；所有权 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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molestation
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| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
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imputation
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| n.归罪，责难 | |
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bridling
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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astronomer
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| n.天文学家 | |
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astronomers
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| n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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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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52
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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53
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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55
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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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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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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vegetate
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| v.无所事事地过活 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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drowsiness
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| n.睡意；嗜睡 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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prattle
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| n.闲谈；v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话；发出连续而无意义的声音 | |
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75
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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76
revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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thaw
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| v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和 | |
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oversight
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| n.勘漏，失察，疏忽 | |
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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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appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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