The Nautilus was steadily1 pursuing its southerly course, following the fiftieth meridian2 with considerable speed. Did he wish to reach the pole? I did not think so, for every attempt to reach that point had hitherto failed. Again, the season was far advanced, for in the Antarctic regions the 13th of March corresponds with the 13th of September of northern regions, which begin at the equinoctial season. On the 14th of March I saw floating ice in latitude3 55", merely pale bits of debris4 from twenty to twenty-five feet long, forming banks over which the sea curled. The Nautilus remained on the surface of the ocean. Ned Land, who had fished in the Arctic Seas, was familiar with its icebergs6; but Conseil and I admired them for the first time. In the atmosphere towards the southern horizon stretched a white dazzling band. English whalers have given it the name of "ice blink." However thick the clouds may be, it is always visible, and announces the presence of an ice pack or bank. Accordingly, larger blocks soon appeared, whose brilliancy changed with the caprices of the fog. Some of these masses showed green veins7, as if long undulating lines had been traced with sulphate of copper8; others resembled enormous amethysts9 with the light shining through them. Some reflected the light of day upon a thousand crystal facets10. Others shaded with vivid calcareous reflections resembled a perfect town of marble. The more we neared the south the more these floating islands increased both in number and importance. At 60" lat. every pass had disappeared. But, seeking carefully, Captain Nemo soon found a narrow opening, through which he boldly slipped, knowing, however, that it would close behind him. Thus, guided by this clever hand, the Nautilus passed through all the ice with a precision which quite charmed Conseil; icebergs or mountains, ice-fields or smooth plains, seeming to have no limits, drift-ice or floating ice-packs, plains broken up, called palchs when they are circular, and streams when they are made up of long s
trips. The temperature was very low; the thermometer exposed to the air marked 2" or 3" below zero, but we were warmly clad with fur, at the expense of the sea-bear and seal. The interior of the Nautilus, warmed regularly by its electric apparatus11, defied the most intense cold. Besides, it would only have been necessary to go some yards beneath the waves to find a more bearable temperature. Two months earlier we should have had perpetual daylight in these latitudes12; but already we had had three or four hours of night, and by and by there would be six months of darkness in these circumpolar regions. On the 15th of March we were in the latitude of New Shetland and South Orkney. The Captain told me that formerly13 numerous tribes of seals inhabited them; but that English and American whalers, in their rage for destruction, massacred both old and young; thus, where there was once life and animation14, they had left silence and death.
About eight o'clock on the morning of the 16th of March the Nautilus, following the fifty-fifth meridian, cut the Antarctic polar circle. Ice surrounded us on all sides, and closed the horizon. But Captain Nemo went from one opening to another, still going higher. I cannot express my astonishment15 at the beauties of these new regions. The ice took most surprising forms. Here the grouping formed an oriental town, with innumerable mosques16 and minarets17; there a fallen city thrown to the earth, as it were, by some convulsion of nature. The whole aspect was constantly changed by the oblique18 rays of the sun, or lost in the greyish fog amidst hurricanes of snow. Detonations19 and falls were heard on all sides, great overthrows20 of icebergs, which altered the whole landscape like a diorama. Often seeing no exit, I thought we were definitely prisoners; but, instinct guiding him at the slightest indication, Captain Nemo would discover a new pass. He was never mistaken when he saw the thin threads of bluish water trickling22 along the ice-fields; and I had no doubt that he had already ventured into the midst of these Antarctic seas before. On the 16th of March, however, the ice-fields absolutely blocked our road. It was not the iceberg5 itself, as yet, but vast fields cemented by the cold. But this obstacle could not stop Captain Nemo: he hurled23 himself against it with frightful24 violence. The Nautilus entered the brittle25 mass like a wedge, and split it with frightful crackings. It was the battering26 ram21 of the ancients hurled by infinite strength. The ice, thrown high in the air, fell like hail around us. By its own power of impulsion our apparatus made a canal for itself; some times carried away by its own impetus27, it lodged28 on the ice-field, crushing it with its weight, and sometimes buried beneath it, dividing it by a simple pitching movement, producing large rents in it. Violent gales29 assailed30 us at this time, accompanied by thick fogs, through which, from one end of the platform to the other, we could see nothing. The win
d blew sharply from all parts of the compass, and the snow lay in such hard heaps that we had to break it with blows of a pickaxe. The temperature was always at 5" below zero; every outward part of the Nautilus was covered with ice. A rigged vessel32 would have been entangled33 in the blocked up gorges34. A vessel without sails, with electricity for its motive35 power, and wanting no coal, could alone brave such high latitudes. At length, on the 18th of March, after many useless assaults, the Nautilus was positively36 blocked. It was no longer either streams, packs, or ice-fields, but an interminable and immovable barrier, formed by mountains soldered37 together. "An iceberg!" said the Canadian to me.
I knew that to Ned Land, as well as to all other navigators who had preceded us, this was an inevitable38 obstacle. The sun appearing for an instant at noon, Captain Nemo dook an observation as near as possible, which gave our situation at 51" 30' long. and 67" 39' of S. lat. We had advanced one degree more in this Antarctic region. Of the liquid surface of the sea there was no longer a glimpse. Under the spur of the Nautilus lay stretched a vast plain, entangled with confused blocks. Here and there sharp points and slender needles rising to a height of 200 feet; further on a steep shore, hewn as it were with an axe31 and clothed with greyish tints39; huge mirrors, reflecting a few rays of sunshine, half drowned in the fog. And over this desolate40 face of nature a stern silence reigned41, scarcely broken by the flapping of the wings of petrels and puffins. Everything was frozen--even the noise. The Nautilus was then obliged to stop in its adventurous42 course amid these fields of ice. In spite of our efforts, in spite of the powerful means employed to break up the ice, the Nautilus remained immovable. Generally, when we can proceed no further, we have return still open to us; but here return was as impossible as advance, for every pass had closed behind us; and for the few moments when we were stationary43, we were likely to be entirely44 blocked, which did indeed happen about two o'clock in the afternoon, the fresh ice forming around its sides with astonishing rapidity. I was obliged to admit that Captain Nemo was more than imprudent. I was on the platform at that moment. The Captain had been observing our situation for some time past, when he said to me: "Well, sir, what do you think of this?" "I think that we are caught, Captain." "So, M. Aronnax, you really think that the Nautilus cannot disengage itself?" "With difficulty, Captain; for the season is already too far advanced for you to reckon on the breaking of the ice." "Ah! sir," said Captain Nemo, in an ironical45 tone, "you will always be the same. You see nothing
but difficulties and obstacles. I affirm that not only can the Nautilus disengage itself, but also that it can go further still." "Further to the South?" I asked, looking at the Captain. "Yes, sir; it shall go to the pole." "To the pole!" I exclaimed, unable to repress a gesture of incredulity. "Yes," replied the Captain, coldly, "to the Antarctic pole-to that unknown point from whence springs every meridian of the globe. You know whether I can do as I please with the Nautilus!" Yes, I knew that. I knew that this man was bold, even to rashness. But to conquer those obstacles which bristled46 round the South Pole, rendering47 it more inaccessible48 than the North, which had not yet been reached by the boldest navigators--was it not a mad enterprise, one which only a maniac49 would have conceived? It then came into my head to ask Captain Nemo if he had ever discovered that pole which had never yet been trodden by a human creature? "No, sir," he replied; "but we will discover it together. Where others have failed, I will not fail. I have never yet led my Nautilus so far into southern seas; but, I repeat, it shall go further yet." "I can well believe you, Captain," said I, in a slightly ironical tone. "I believe you! Let us go ahead! There are no obstacles for us! Let us smash this iceberg! Let us blow it up; and, if it resists, let us give the Nautilus wings to fly over it!" "Over it, sir!" said Captain Nemo, quietly; "no, not over it, but under it!" "Under it!" I exclaimed, a sudden idea of the Captain's projects flashing upon my mind. I understood; the wonderful qualities of the Nautilus were going to serve us in this superhuman enterprise. "I see we are beginning to understand one another, sir," said the Captain, half smiling. "You begin to see the possibility--I should say the success-of this attempt. That which is impossible for an ordinary vessel is easy to the Nautilus. If a continent lies before the pole, it must stop before the continent; but if, on the contrary, the pole is washed by open sea, it will
go even to the pole." "Certainly," said I, carried away by the Captain's reasoning; "if the surface of the sea is solidified50 by the ice, the lower depths are free by the Providential law which has placed the maximum of density51 of the waters of the ocean one degree higher than freezing-point; and, if I am not mistaken, the portion of this iceberg which is above the water is as one to four to that which is below." "Very nearly, sir; for one foot of iceberg above the sea there are three below it. If these ice mountains are not more than 300 feet above the surface, they are not more than 900 beneath. And what are 900 feet to the Nautilus?" "Nothing, sir." "It could even seek at greater depths that uniform temperature of sea-water, and there brave with impunity52 the thirty or forty degrees of surface cold." "Just so, sir--just so," I replied, getting animated53. "The only difficulty," continued Captain Nemo, "is that of remaining several days without renewing our provision of air." "Is that all? The Nautilus has vast reservoirs; we can fill them, and they will supply us with all the oxygen we want." "Well thought of, M. Aronnax," replied the Captain, smiling. "But, not wishing you to accuse me of rashness, I will first give you all my objections." "Have you any more to make?" "Only one. It is possible, if the sea exists at the South Pole, that it may be covered; and, consequently, we shall be unable to come to the surface." "Good, sir! but do you forget that the Nautilus is armed with a powerful spur, and could we not send it diagonally against these fields of ice, which would open at the shocks." "Ah! sir, you are full of ideas to-day." "Besides, Captain," I added, enthusiastically, "why should we not find the sea open at the South Pole as well as at the North? The frozen poles of the earth do not coincide, either in the southern or in the northern regions; and, until it is proved to the contrary, we may suppose either a continent or an ocean free from ice at these two points of the globe." "I think so too, M. Aronn
ax," replied Captain Nemo. "I only wish you to observe that, after having made so many objections to my project, you are now crushing me with arguments in its favour!" The preparations for this audacious attempt now began. The powerful pumps of the Nautilus were working air into the reservoirs and storing it at high pressure. About four o'clock, Captain Nemo announced the closing of the panels on the platform. I threw one last look at the massive iceberg which we were going to cross. The weather was clear, the atmosphere pure enough, the cold very great, being 12" below zero; but, the wind having gone down, this temperature was not so unbearable54. About ten men mounted the sides of the Nautilus, armed with pickaxes to break the ice around the vessel, which was soon free. The operation was quickly performed, for the fresh ice was still very thin. We all went below. The usual reservoirs were filled with the newly-liberated water, and the Nautilus soon descended55. I had taken my place with Conseil in the saloon; through the open window we could see the lower beds of the Southern Ocean. The thermometer went up, the needle of the compass deviated56 on the dial. At about 900 feet, as Captain Nemo had foreseen, we were floating beneath the undulating bottom of the iceberg. But the Nautilus went lower still--it went to the depth of four hundred fathoms57. The temperature of the water at the surface showed twelve degrees, it was now only ten; we had gained two. I need not say the temperature of the Nautilus was raised by its heating apparatus to a much higher degree; every manoeuvre58 was accomplished59 with wonderful precision. "We shall pass it, if you please, sir," said Conseil. "I believe we shall," I said, in a tone of firm conviction. In this open sea, the Nautilus had taken its course direct to the pole, without leaving the fifty-second meridian. From 67" 30' to 90", twenty-two degrees and a half of latitude remained to travel; that is, about five hundred leagues. The Nautilus kept up a mean speed of twenty-six miles a
n hour-the speed of an express train. If that was kept up, in forty hours we should reach the pole.
For a part of the night the novelty of the situation kept us at the window. The sea was lit with the electric lantern; but it was deserted60; fishes did not sojourn61 in these imprisoned62 waters; they only found there a passage to take them from the Antarctic Ocean to the open polar sea. Our pace was rapid; we could feel it by the quivering of the long steel body. About two in the morning I took some hours' repose63, and Conseil did the same. In crossing the waist I did not meet Captain Nemo: I supposed him to be in the pilot's cage. The next morning, the 19th of March, I took my post once more in the saloon. The electric log told me that the speed of the Nautilus had been slackened. It was then going towards the surface; but prudently64 emptying its reservoirs very slowly. My heart beat fast. Were we going to emerge and regain65 the open polar atmosphere? No! A shock told me that the Nautilus had struck the bottom of the iceberg, still very thick, judging from the deadened sound. We had in deed "struck," to use a sea expression, but in an inverse66 sense, and at a thousand feet deep. This would give three thousand feet of ice above us; one thousand being above the water-mark. The iceberg was then higher than at its borders--not a very reassuring67 fact. Several times that day the Nautilus tried again, and every time it struck the wall which lay like a ceiling above it. Sometimes it met with but 900 yards, only 200 of which rose above the surface. It was twice the height it was when the Nautilus had gone under the waves. I carefully noted68 the different depths, and thus obtained a submarine profile of the chain as it was developed under the water. That night no change had taken place in our situation. Still ice between four and five hundred yards in depth! It was evidently diminishing, but, still, what a thickness between us and the surface of the ocean! It was then eight. According to the daily custom on board the Nautilus, its air should have been renewed four hours ago; but I did not suffer much, although Captain
Nemo had not yet made any demand upon his reserve of oxygen. My sleep was painful that night; hope and fear besieged69 me by turns: I rose several times. The groping of the Nautilus continued. About three in the morning, I noticed that the lower surface of the iceberg was only about fifty feet deep. One hundred and fifty feet now separated us from the surface of the waters. The iceberg was by degrees becoming an ice-field, the mountain a plain. My eyes never left the manometer. We were still rising diagonally to the surface, which sparkled under the electric rays. The iceberg was stretching both above and beneath into lengthening70 slopes; mile after mile it was getting thinner. At length, at six in the morning of that memorable71 day, the 19th of March, the door of the saloon opened, and Captain Nemo appeared. "The sea is open!!" was all he said.
大西洋：广阔的水面，面积共有二千五百万平方海里。
长九千海里，宽平均二千七百海里，是很重要的大海，在古代除了迎太基人②，可以说几乎没有人知道这个海。迎大基人是古代的荷兰人，他们因为贸易的关系，曾沿着欧洲和非洲的西部海岸往来航行！洋洋大观的水面，有各国的船只往来其间，船荫蔽在世界上所有的旗帜下面，西头终点为两个尖角，就是航海家所害怕的合恩角和暴风角！诺第留斯号推动它前头的冲角，冲破大西洋的海浪，向前驶去。在三个半月的期间，它走了近一万里了，超过绕地球一周的大圈了。现在我们上哪里去呢？将来有什么可以给我。们看的呢？诺第留斯号从直布罗陀海峡出来，驶到大西洋面上。
它又浮上水面来，我们每天在平台上的散步现在又恢复了。
我立即上平台去，尼德·兰和康塞尔陪着我。在距离十二海里的地方，隐约现出圣文孙特角，那就是西班牙半岛的最西南的尖角。当时起了相当厉害的南风。海面波涛汹桶，海水滚滚打来，使诺第留斯号发生激烈的颠簸。在平台上简直不可能呆下去，因为时刻都有大浪打来。所以我们呼吸了几下新鲜空气后，就回到船中。我回到我的房中，康塞尔也回到他的舱房。但是加拿大人像心中有事的样子，跟着我来。我们过地中海时的飞快速度，不容许他实行他的计划，他很显然地表示了他的失望。
当我的房门关上了，他坐下，不作声，望着我。
“尼德朋友，”我对他说，“我了解您，您没有什么可以责备自己的地方。当诺第留斯号行驶时，在那样的条件下，想要离开它，简直就是发疯！”
尼德·兰不回答。他紧闭的嘴唇，他紧蹙的眉毛，表示他心中有一个坚定的思想死死纠缠着他。
“瞧着吧，”我又说，“事情并不是完全没有希望。我们现在沿葡萄牙海岸上溯了。不远就是法国、英国，我们可以很容易找到一个逃走的地方。啊！如果诺第留斯号从直布罗陀海峡出来，往南方驶去，如果它把我们带到没有陆地的那些区域去，那我心中跟您一样，感到烦恼。但是，我们现在知道尼摩船长并不躲避有文化的海面，我想在几天内，您可以比较安全地来执行您的计划。”
尼德·兰的眼睛更盯得我厉害，最后，张开嘴巴，他说：“实行我的计划就在今夜。”
我突然站起来。我但白地承认，我一点也没有料到他会告诉我这个消息。我要回答加拿大人，但又找不出什么话来说。
“我们曾经约定等待一个好机会，”尼德·兰接着说，这个好机会现在在我手中了。今天夜间，我们距离西班牙海岸只有几海里，夜间很阴暗，海面上吹着风。您既有言在先，阿龙纳斯先生，我完全相信您。
因为我老不作声，加拿大人就站起，走近前来，对我说：“今晚九点。我通知了康塞尔。那时候，尼摩船长关在他房中了，可能睡下来了。机械师、船上人员都不可能看见我们。康塞尔和我，我们走到中央楼梯去。阿龙纳斯先生，您就留在离我们两步远的图书室中，等待我的信号。桨、桅和帆都在小艇中。并且我还弄到了一些食物。我又得了一把英国螺丝搬头，可以把小艇钉在诺第留斯号船身上的螺丝钉取下来。所以一切都准备好了。今天夜里见。”
“海上风浪很大呢。”我说。
“我知道风浪大，”加拿大人回答，“但必须冒险了。自由是值得付出代价的。而且，小艇很结实，有些风浪，走几海里：算不了什么。推知道明天我们也许就跑到百里外的海面上了呢？愿我们一切顺利，十点至十一点间我们可能在陆地的某处登陆了，或者是送了性命，所以，只有依靠上帝的恩典，今天夜里见！”
说完这话，加拿大人就退出去，让我～人不知所措地呆在房中；我也想过，机会来了，我可以有时间来考虑，来讨论。但我那性情固执的同伴不让我这样做。到底，我还能对他说什么话呢？尼德·兰十分对。他现在要利用的，的确是一个好机会。我可以食言反悔吗？我能为了完全个人的利益，损害我的同伴们的将来吗？我负得了这种责任吗？
明天，尼摩船长不是很可以把我们带到离开所有陆地的大海中去吗？
这时候，发出相当响的啸声，我晓得船上储水池盛满水了，诺第留斯号潜入大茵洋水底下去了。
我留在我的房中。我要躲开船长，使他的眼睛看不到我心中激动的情绪。我就这样度过这很愁闷的一天，一方面想走，恢复我的自由，另一方面又惋惜，丢开这只神奇的“诺第留斯号，使我的海底研究不能完成！这样离开这海洋，像我喜欢说的，这样离开“我的大西洋”，并没有观察它的最深水层，并没有从它取得印度洋和太平洋曾给我揭露的秘密！我的小说刚翻完第一章就从手中掉下去了，我的梦正在最美好的时候就被打断了！多少苦闷的时间就这样过去，有时看见自己跟同伴们安全逃在陆地上，有时又不顾自己的理性，希望有意夕）的机会，阻止尼德·兰的计划不；：实现！我两次到客厅中去。我要看罗盘。我要看诺第留斯号的方向是不是接近或离开海岸。不，诺第留斯号总是在葡萄牙沿岸海水中行驶。它沿着大西洋海岸向北开行。所以，这时候必须打定主意，准备逃走。我的行李并不重，只有我的笔记，没有什么别的了。至于尼摩船长，我心中问，他对于我们的逃走将怎样想，使他心中有怎样的苦恼，或者使他有多少的损害，以及当逃走或被发觉或不成功的两种情况下，他将怎么办！当然我没有什么可以埋怨他，与此相反，待客的态度，从没有像他那么但白真诚。我离开他，我不能说是忘恩负义。没有什么誓言把我们跟他束缚在一起。他相信把我们永远拉在他身边的，只是客观环境的力量，而不是我们的约言。但他的这种公然承认，永远把我们留在船上作囚人的想法，正能说明所有我们的逃走企图都是合理的。
我自从在桑多林岛附近跟船长会见以来，就没有再看见他。在我们出走之前，是不是有机会使我再见他一面呢？
我同时又想见他，又怕见他，我注意听，我是不是可以听到他在隔壁的房中走动呢。没有什么声响传到我的耳边来。
那房中想是没有人了。我于是心中又问，这个古怪的人是不是在船上。自从那一夜，小艇离开了诺第留斯号执行一个神秘的使命，我对于这个人的思想，略为改变了一些。我想，不管他怎么说，尼摩船长跟陆地一定还保留某一种关系。难道他从不离开诺第留斯号吗？有时候，整整几个星期过去了，我都碰不见他。在这个期间他做什么事呢？我以为他是愤世嫉俗，心存厌世，不愿见人，是不是他到远处去，完成某种我一直不知道内容性质的秘密行动呢？
所有这些思想，以及其它无数的想法，同时涌到我心中来。在我们所处的奇特情况中，胡乱猜测是无穷无尽的。
我感到一种不可忍受的不安。这一天的等待好象是无止境的由于心中烦躁，时间实在是过得太慢了。我的晚饭像往常一样，还是在我的房中吃的。我心中有事，吃得很马虎。
我七点离开餐桌。我心中计算，距我要跟尼德。兰约定相会的时候，还有一百二十分钟。我心中的激动更增加了。
我的脉搏激烈跳动，我自己不能静下来。我走来走去，希望运动可以把我心中的烦乱镇静一下。我想到我们要在这次大胆逃走中不幸死亡，我并不怎么难过，但是，想到我们的计划在离开诺第留斯号之前就被发觉，想到我们被带到激怒的尼摩船长面前，或者，更为糟糕，他因为我的抛弃他而很痛苦，我的心就怦怦地跳起来了。
我要最后看一次客厅。我从长廊走过去，我到了我不知度过了多少快意和有益的时间的那间陈列室。我两眼叮者所有这些财富，所有这些宝藏，就像一个人要永远流亡，走后不再回来的前夜中一样。这些自然界的神奇品，这些艺术上的杰作，这许多日子来，我的生命力全部集中在它门那里，现在我要永远抛开它们了。我又要通过客厅的玻璃，把我的眼光潜入大西洋的水底下，可是嵌板紧闭着，一块铁板把我隔开了我还不认识的这个大洋。
在客厅中这样走来走去，我走近门边，这门在屋角墙上，是通船长的舱房的。我很惊异，这门半开着。我自然而外地退回来。如果尼摩船长在里面，他可能看见我。同时我听不见声响，我走近前去，但房中没有人。我推开门，走进几步，房中还是那朴实严肃的情景，隐士僧家的风味。这时候，房中墙上挂着的几幅我第一次进来没有留心到的铜版画引起我眼光的注意，那是肖像画，历史上伟大人物的：｛j像画，他门一生是永远忠诚于献身人类这个伟大思想的：他是：哥修斯哥①，听到“波兰完了”的喊声就跌倒的英雄；波查里斯②，近代希腊的列盎尼达斯③；俄康乃尔④，爱尔兰独立的保卫者：华盛顿，北美合众国的创始人；马宁⑤，意大利的爱国志士；林肯，被拥护奴隶制的人所刺杀的美国总统；最后，那位主张黑人解放的殉道者约翰·布朗①，吊在绞架上，就像维克多·雨果用铅笔画出来的那个很可怕的样子。在这些英雄人物的心灵和尼摩船长的心灵中间有什么联系呢？究竟从这一群肖像画中，我可能找出他生平的秘密来吗？他是被压迫人民的保护者，奴隶种族的解放者吗？他是现世纪最近政治的或社会动荡中的一位人物吗？他是这次可悲的和永远是光荣的、美洲可怕内战中的一位英雄吗卜…忽然大钟响八下了。大钟的锤子第一下敲在铃上，把我从梦中吵醒，我全身抖起来，好像有一只无形的眼贿穿透我思想的最秘密的地方，我急急走出这个房间。到客厅中，我的眼睛就盯在罗盘上面。我们的方向总是往北。测程器指的是平常的速度，压力表指出船在六十米左右深的水层。所以周围的环境对加拿大人的计划都有利。
我回到我的房中。我多穿了一些衣服，使身上暖和，海靴、水獭帽、海豹皮里子的贝足丝织的外衣都穿戴上了。我准备好了，我等着。只有推进器的震动打断了船上的沉寂。
我用心听，我竖起耳朵来。是不是有些喊叫声，向我说明尼德·兰的逃走计划突然被发觉了吗？我感觉十分惶恐不安。
差几分就要到九点钟了。我把耳朵贴着船长的房门。
听不出声音来。我走出我的房间，我回到厅中，厅中半黑不明，没有人。
我打开跟图书室相通的门，室内光线同样黯淡，同样是冷清清的。我到挨近门的地方站着，这门对着中央楼梯的笼间。我等待尼德·兰的信号。
这时候，推进机的震动显然减低了，一会儿就完全没有响声了。诺第留斯号的行动为什么有变化呢？船这次停住对于尼德·兰的计划是顺当或是不利，那我可不能说。这时的沉寂只有被我的心脏的跳动打断了。忽然，我感到一下轻微的冲撞。我明白，诺第留斯号是停在大洋底下的地上了。我心中更加不安起来。加拿大人的信号不给我发出来。我很想出去找他，要他改期执行他的计划。我感觉到，我们的航行不是在平常的情况中进行的……这时候，客厅的门开了，尼摩船长进来。他看见了我，没有什么寒暄客套话，池用亲热的语气说：“啊！教授，我正找您哩。您知道西班牙的历史吗？”
就算是一个很熟悉自己本国的历史的人，但在我所处的情况中，心中恍饱，头脑昏乱，他也不可能说出一句话来。
“那么，”尼摩船长立即又说，“您听到了我提出的问题吗？您知道西班牙的历史吗？”
“知道得很少。”我回答。
“许多学者都是这样，他们不知道，”船长说，“那么，您请坐，”他又说，“我要告诉您这个国家历史的一段新奇事件。”
船长躺在一张安乐椅上，我机械地坐在他近边淡淡的阴影中。
“教授，”他列·我说，“请您听我说。这历史在某一方面可以使您很感兴趣，因为它回答了您不能解决的一个问题。”
“船长，我听您说。”我说。我不知道我的对话人要说什么，我心中想，这件事是不是跟我们的逃走计划有关系。
“教授，”尼摩船长又说，“请您注意，我们现在要回溯到 1702年了。您知道，在这个时期，您的法国国王路易十四以为专制君主做一下手势，比利牛斯山就得缩人地下去，他一定要西班牙人接受他的孙子一～安儒公爵做他们的国王。这国王在菲力五世的称号下，统治了西班牙。可是统治得不高明。他对外有了问题，跟强大的敌人发生争执①。
就在一年前，荷兰、奥地利和英国王室在海牙订了同盟协定，目的要把菲力五世的王冠摘下来，戴在奥地利某亲王的头上，它们过早地又把查理三世的称号给了这位亲王。
“西班牙当然要抵抗这个同盟，可是它很缺乏士兵和海员，不过金钱是有的。但是有一个条件，那就是要装过美洲金银的船只能够进入它的海港中来。就是在1702年终。
西班牙政府正在等着一队载有大量全钱的运输船，由法国派二十三艘战舰护送，指挥宫是夏都·雷诺海军大将①，冈为，这时候有敌人们联合的海军在大西洋上巡逻。
“这队运输船本来要开到加的斯港，但法国海军司令接到英国舰队在这一带海域巡逻的情报，就决定把这队船开万吨呢。”
“不错，不过提炼这些银，所花的费用比所得的利益还大。在这湾中就不同了，我只需捡拾人们所丢掉的就行了。
还不仅在这维哥湾中，在其他千百处的失事地点也一样，这都由我的海底地图标记下来了。您现在明白了我是有无穷亿万的财富吗？”
“我明白了，船长。但请您让我说一句，就是您来捞打维哥湾金银的事，您不过比跟您竞争的一个会社的工作先走一步罢了。”
“什么会社呢？”
“是一个获得西班牙政府的特许，来打捞这些沉没的运输船只的会社。会社的股东们因为有巨大利润可图，大家都受到诱惑，兴致很高，因为人们估计这些沉没的财宝有五万万的巨大价值呢。”
“五万万！”尼摩船长回答，“从前是在湾里，现在却不在了。”
“正是，”我说，“所以对这些股东发出一个通知，可能是一阵好事。恐怕通知要很受欢迎呢。通常，赌博的人所最悔恨的，主要是他们的疯狂希望的毁灭，金钱的损失还在其次呢。不过，我并不惋惜这些股东们，我想到的是千千万万的苦难人，把这许多的财富好好地分配给他们将有多少的好处，可是现在这些财富对他们是没有用处了！”
我本来不想表示这个惋惜的意思，我感觉到这要伤了尼摩船长的感情。
“没有用处！”他激动地回答，“那么，先生，您认为由我收集起来，这些财富是丢了吗？照您来看，我车辛苦苦打扮这些财物是为我自己吗？谁告诉您我不是好仔地正当使用它们呢？您以为我不知道世上有无数受苦的人，有被压迫的种族吗？有无数要救济的穷人，要报仇的牺牲者吗，您不明白吗。…”尼摩船长说到最后几句就停住了，是不是心中后悔说了过多的话呢？我精对了。不论是什么动机，要他到海底下来寻求独立自主，他首先还是一个人！我于是明白了，当诺第留斯号航行在起义反抗的克里特岛海中的时候，尼摩船长送出去的数百万金子是给谁的！
收听单词发音 |
1
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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meridian
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| adj.子午线的；全盛期的 | |
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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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debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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iceberg
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| n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人 | |
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icebergs
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| n.冰山，流冰( iceberg的名词复数 ) | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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amethysts
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| n.紫蓝色宝石( amethyst的名词复数 )；紫晶；紫水晶；紫色 | |
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facets
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| n.（宝石或首饰的）小平面( facet的名词复数 )；（事物的）面；方面 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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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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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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mosques
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| 清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 ) | |
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minarets
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| n.（清真寺旁由报告祈祷时刻的人使用的）光塔( minaret的名词复数 ) | |
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oblique
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| adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的 | |
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detonations
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| n.爆炸 （声）( detonation的名词复数 ) | |
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overthrows
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| n.推翻，终止，结束( overthrow的名词复数 )v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的第三人称单数 )；使终止 | |
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ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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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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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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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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entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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soldered
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| v.（使）焊接，焊合( solder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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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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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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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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stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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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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ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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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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maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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50
solidified
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| （使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的过去式和过去分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化 | |
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density
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| n.密集，密度，浓度 | |
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impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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53
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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54
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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deviated
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| v.偏离，越轨( deviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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58
manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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inverse
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| adj.相反的，倒转的，反转的；n.相反之物；v.倒转 | |
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reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lengthening
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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