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.
诺第留斯号又朝着它固定不移的方向，；往南驶去。它速度特别快，沿着西经50度行驶。它是要到南极圈去？我想不是，因为直到现在，所有打算达到地球这个顶点的企图都失败了。并且，季节也相当晚了，因为南冰洋地区的3月 13日相当于北冰洋地区的9月13日，是开放春秋分的时期了。
3月14日，我在南纬55度望见了漂流的冰块。那仅仅是一些二十至二十五英尺的灰白碎片，形成许多暗礁，海波汹涌冲上去。诺第留斯号行驶在南冰洋面上。，尼德，兰昏经在北冰洋海中打过鱼，对于这种冰山的：景象是熟悉的。
康塞尔和我都是第一次欣赏它。在大气中，南面的天边，展开令人眼花目眩的一片雪白大带。英国打鲸人称它为“眩目冰带。不论云彩怎么浓厚，都不能使它沉黑。它预告前面有成群的冰堆或冰层了。
果然，不久就有更大的冰块出现，雪白的光辉随着云雾的任意变换而不同。有些冰块现出绿色脉管，就象那硫酸铜在上面画的波纹线条一样。别的冰块类似巨大紫色水晶，又让米线穿逐里面去。后者映着阳光，在它们晶体的无数切面上反映出闪闪光芒。前者带有石灰石强烈辐射的无限色度，可能足够建筑整整一座大理石的城市。
我们愈往南，这些漂流的冰岛就愈来愈多，而且愈来愈大，南极的鸟类千百成群地在岛上营巢，这是海燕、棋鸟和海鸭，它们吱吱喳喳的叫声震得我们耳聋。有些鸟把诺第留斯号当作鲸鱼的尸体，飞到上面来，拿嘴啄那钢板，发出响声。
当船在冰块中间航行的时候，尼摩船长时常在乎台上。
他很留心观察这一带人迹不到的海面。
我看见他的镇定眼光有时候激动起来。他心中是不是说，在这些人迹不能到达的南极海中，他是在自己家中了。
他是这些不可超越的空间的主人吗？或者是。但他不说。
他留在那里不动，只是当他意识到自己是船的驾驶人的时候，他心神才回复过来。他于是巧妙无比地指挥着他的诺第留斯号，很灵便地躲开了那些大冰块的冲击，有些冰块是长到几海里，高七十至八十米不等。前面天边有时看来是完全封闭不能通行。在南纬60度海面上，什么通路都没有。但尼摩船长小心找寻，不久就发现一条窄口，他驾驶着船，大胆从窄口进去，同时他又很知道，这窄口在他过后便要封闭的。诺第留斯号由这只妙手指挥，就这样走过了所有这些大冰块：按照冰块的式样大小，康塞尔可以很高兴地正确把它们分类，那就是：像山的冰山，冰田或无边际的平坦田场，浮冰或漂流的冰，层冰或碎裂的冰田，圆形环弯的称为冰圈，拉长一块一块的称为冰流。温度相当的低，温度表放在外面，指着零下二度至三度。但我们穿着皮的衣服。
很暖和。这些皮是海豹和海熊供应我们的。诺第留斯号内部经常有电气机发热，不怕严寒；并且，要得到使人可以受得住的温度，到达不太寒不太热的所在，那它只需潜下水底几米深就成了。
早两个月，在这纬度内，可能永远是白天，但现在已经有三至四小时的黑夜了，再迟一些，黑：夜就要：长到六个月。
把它的阴影遮盖这些环极圈地方。
3月15日，南设德兰群岛和南奥克内群岛的纬度走过了。
8月16日早晨八点，诺第留斯号沿着西经55度行驶。
切过南极圈驶去。这里处处都是冰块围绕着我们，四边封起，无路可通。可是，尼摩船长总能找到一条又一条通路，老是往上驶。、“他究竟要到哪里去呢？”我问。
·到前面去，”康塞尔回答，“总之，到了他不能再往前走的时候，他也就只好停止了。”
“我可不敢肯定这样说！”我回答
但白说，我承认这种冒险的游历使我觉得痛快。这些新鲜地方的奇美让我迷醉惊异到怎样的程度、那我无法可以表示。冰群的姿态变得更雄伟壮丽了。这边，是一大群冰块形成一座东方城市，中有无数的清真寺院和尖塔。那里，是一座倒塌的城，因为地震动了，被推倒在地下。阳光斜照；它们现出变换不停的形色，这些形色又迷失在雪花飞舞的大风暴中的灰色云雾里面。其次、处处都是爆炸、崩裂，冰山大翻筋斗，把这里的整个布景都改变了，像一幅透光风景油画一样。
当这些冰群的平衡破坏了的时候，诺第留斯号便潜入水中；声音传到下面，强烈惊人，冰群下沉，造成深而阔的可怕的水涡；力量直到冰洋很深的水层。诺第留斯号于是乱滚乱摇，把持不住，像被疯狂的水流所卷走的一样。有时看不见通路了，我想我们是定作了俘虏了；可是本能领导着他，根据一些轻微的迹象，足摩船长就可以发现新的通路。
他注视那在冰田上显出来的一条一条淡蓝色细水纹，他决不至搞错。所以，我心中并不怀疑他是已经驾驶诺第留斯号，在这南极海水中探过险的、但是，在8月15日那天，层层的冰群完全把我们的路挡住了。这还不是真正的冰山，只是寒冷冻结起来的阔大冰地。这种障碍物不能阻止尼摩船长，诺第留斯号用猛烈怕人的力量向冰地冲去。像楔子一般穿进这粉未的块团中，响得伯人的破裂声把冰块划开了。那是古代的攻城机，被无穷大的力量推动一样。冰的碎片投射到高空，像雹子那样在我们周围落下。单单由于它本身所有的推动力，我们的船就挖出一条水路。有时，由于它力量的凶猛，它爬到冰田上来，它的重量压碎了冰地，或偶然套在冰地下，它就用简单的摇摆动作，把冰分开，造成阔大的裂口。
在这些日子里，猛烈的冰屑时常来袭击我们。由于有浓厚的云雾，乎台的这一端到那一端都不可能看清楚。暴风从罗盘针指的各个方向突然刮起。白雪堆成十分坚硬的冰层，简直要用尖利铁锨来弄开它。仅仅在零下五度的温变，诺第留斯号外部全被冰层封住了。一只平常的船可能是没有法子行驶，囚为所有的绞辅绳索都冰在滑车沟中了。
只有这艘没有帆而装有可以不用煤的电动机的船才能冒险跑到这样高的纬度中来。
在这种情形下，风雨表大体上是很低的，有时且降低到匕十三度五分。罗盘的指示也没有准确的保证。它那乱摇乱晃的针，当船上近不能跟地球的南方相混同的南磁极圈的时候，指出矛盾相反的方向。本来，根据汗斯敦①的说法，这磁极圈差不多是位于南纬70度、东经130度·，根据杜北未②的观察，是在东经135度、南纬70度30分。所以，这样就必要对于挪到船上各部分的罗盘做很多的观察，拿一个平均数作标准。不过拿这标准来估量走过水路的方位，在这些标志点不断变化的弯拆的水路中间，总是很难今人满意的方法，后来在3月18日，经过几十次无结果的冲击，诺第留斯号看来是完全没办法了。在周围的不是冰流、冰圈、冰田，而是接合在一起、无穷无劲屹立不动的一片冰山。
“冰山！”加拿大人对我说。
我明白，对尼德·兰和对所有我们以前的航海家来说，冰山是不可超越的障碍。太阳在中午左右，有一会儿现出来，尼摩船长做了一次相当正确的观察，指明船是在西经 51度30分，南纬67度39分。这已经是：南冰洋地区相当深入的一点了。
大海呀，流动的水面呀，这时在我们眼前看来完全不像了。对着诺第留斯号的冲角，展开一片崎岖不平的广大平原，夹杂了混乱不清的大冰群，再加上那种乱七八糟、凌舌：无序的景象，就像在解冻前不久的时候，河面所显出来的一样，不过面积是十分巨大罢了。到处都有峭削的尖峰，像直升到二百英尺高的细针，远一点，削戍尖峰的一连串悬崖，带着灰白的色泽，像一面一面的大镜，反映出一些半浸在云雾中的阳光。其次，在这凄绝荒凉的自然界中，是那野得可怕的寂静，就是那海燕和海鸭的振翅声也没有能把它打破。
一切都是冰冻了，连声音也冰冻了。所以，诺第留斯号就在冰场中间停止了它的冒险行动。
“先生，”那一天尼德·兰对我说，“如果您的船长能再走远一点！”
“那么？"
“那么，他便是杰出的人。”
“尼德，为什么呢？”
“因为没有人能走过冰山。您的船长有力量，可是，好啊！他不能比大自然更有力量。大自然划下界限的地方。
不管愿意不愿意，他总得停住。"
“对的，尼德，不过我很想知道冰山后面是什么呢！面前一道围墙，最使我难受！”
“先生说得对，”康塞尔说，“围墙发明出来，只是为激怒学者们的。无论什么地方都不应该有围墙。"“对！”加拿大人说，“在这座冰山后面，人们早已知道有些什么东西了。"““是什么呢？”我问。
“是冰，永远悬冰！
“尼德，这点您说得很肯定，”我回答，“但是，我可不敢肯定。所以我要去看看 ."那么，教授，加拿大人回答，"您要放弃这个思想。您到了冰山，那已经够了，您不能再前进，您的尼摩般长和他的诺第留斯号也不能再前进，不管他愿意不愿意，我们是要回过来往北走了，就是说，回到老实人居住的国土。
我必须承认尼德，兰说的话对，当船还不是造来在冰场中行驶的时候，当然在冰山面前就得停住了。的确，不管它怎样努力，不管它用来冲破冰块的力量有多强大，诺第留斯号终归弄得纹丝不动。平常，要是不能前进，那就可以退回去。但现在，后退跟前进～样不可能，因为水路在我们走过后就封闭了，只要我们的船略为停一下不动，它就立刻被抓挡住，寸步都不能移动。下午两点左右发生这样的一种情形，新的冰层惊人迅速地在船两边冻给起来。我现在要承认，尼摩船长是太粗率、太不谨慎了。我正在乎台上，船长已经在那里观察形势有一些时候了，他对我说：“那么，教授，您想怎样？”
“我想；船长，我们是被困住了。"
“被困住了！您这话怎么说？”
“我是说，我们不能前进，不能后退，不能向任何一方行动。我想，．这就是叫做‘被困住了’，至少对于居住在陆地上的人来说是这样。”
“阿龙纳斯先生，您就是这样想，诺第留斯号不可能脱身吗？”
“很不容易，船长，因为季候已经相当晚，解冻，我们是。
不能指望的了 .
“啊！教授，”尼摩船长带讥讽的语气回答，您老是这一套！您只看见困难和障碍！我现在向您肯定说，不仅诺第留斯号可以脱身，而且它还要前进。
“再向南方前进吗？"我眼钉着船长问 .“对，先生，它要到南极去 ."“到南极去！”我喊道，同时禁不住表示我的不信和怀疑。
“是的！”船长冷冷地回答"到南极去、到地球上所有的子午线相交的、以前没有人到过的那一点去您知道我可以使诺第留斯号做我想要做的事。
那时我忽然想问一问尼摩船长，我问他是不是已经发现过了那从没有人类足迹踩过的南极。
没有，先生，”他回答我，“我们现在一齐发现去。别人失败的地方、我决不至失败。我从没有把诺第留斯号开到这么远的南极海上来，但我再跟您说，它还要往前进。"“我愿意相信您，船长，”我带着讥讽语气又说，"我相信您！我们前进！对我们来说是没有什么障碍的！冲开这座冰山！我们把它炸破，如果它反抗，我们就给诺第留斯号安上翅膀，从上面飞过去！”
c教授，从上面过去吗？”尼摩船长安静地回答；“不是从上面过去，是从下面过去。”
"从下面过去！”我喊道。
船长的计划突然给了我启示，使我心中雪亮，我明白了。诺第留斯号的神奇本质又在这一次的超人事业中为他服务，成全他了。
"我看到、我们彼此开始了解了，教授，”船长微笑地对我说，“您现在已经看到这个企图的可能——我个人，我要说这个企图的成功。在一只平常的船是办不到的，在诺第留斯号就容易办到9如果在南极浮出一个大陆，它是要在它面前停住的。但是相反，如果南极是自由的海，它就要到南极点上去！
“是的，”我说，受船长论证力量的提示，“如果海面被冰冻结凝固了，它的下层是自由通行的，因为下面有天从人愿的自然理由，那就是海水的极大密度是比冰冻时高出一度。
如果我没有错的话，那就是冰山的沉人部分对它的浮出部分之比是四比一？！" "差不多是这样，教授。冰山在海面上有一英尺，在下面就有三英尺。并且，因为这些冰山不超过一百米高，它们当然不至于深入到三百米。三百米对诺第留斯号来说算什么呢？" "不算什么，先生。"“它并且可以潜入更深的水层厂到那海水中温度一律不变的所在，在那里，我们可以安全支持海面的零下三十度或四十度的寒冷。”
“对，先生，很对。”我很激动地回答。
“唯一的用难是潜入水底好几天，”尼摩船长立即又说。
“不能调换我们船上储藏的空气。”
“就是这个吗？，我回答，“诺第留斯号有广大的储藏库，我们把储藏库全装满，我们有我们需要的氧气。”
“想得不错，阿龙纳斯先生。"船长微笑着回答“我不愿意您责备我过于大胆，我现在先提出我所有的反对意见来。
请您考虑一下。”
“您还有反对意见吗？"
“只有一个。很可能，如果南极是海，这海或者完全冰冻了，那么，我们就不可能浮出水面上来了。”
“对，先生，不过您忘记了诺第留斯号装有厉害的冲角，我们不是可以沿对角线的方向向冰田直冲上去、冰田遭到冲击就要迸裂了吗？”
“暖！教授，您今天真有不少的主意呢！”
“并且，船长，”我愈来愈兴奋地接着说，“在南极；人们为什么不能跟在北极一样，碰见自由通行的海呢？冰冷的两极和陆地的两极，无论在南半球和北半球内，都不能混同起来，在还没有反面的证据之前，我们可以假定在这两个地、的极端或者有陆地，或者有跟冰层分开的海洋。"“我也这样想，阿龙纳斯先生，”尼摩船长回答，"不过：我单单要您注意这点，就是您提出了许多反对我计划的意见后，您现在又把许多赞成的理由来顶住我了尼摩船长说的是真的。我甚至要大胆他说服他了！是我把他拉到南极去了！我走在他前面了，我比他走得更远了……完全不是：可怜的傻瓜。尼摩船长对这个问题的反对和赞成的意见比你更知道得多呢，”他不过让你在这些不可能的梦想中高兴发疯，看来好玩罢了。
可是，他一点时间也不白丢。他发出信号，船副上来了。两人用那不可懂的语言，迅速地谈了一下，或者船副预先就得到了通知，或者他看到这计划可以实行，他一点也不使人看出有惊异的表示。即使如此，他的冷谈也比不上康塞尔。当我告诉这个老实人，我们一直要走到南极的企图的时候，他所表示出的那种神情真可以说是冷淡极了。他听了我的话，就只拿一句“随您先生的便”来回答我，我也只好满足了。至于尼德·兰，如果问谁的两肩耸得最高，那就是加拿大人的两肩了。他对我说： "您瞧，先生，您和您的尼摩船长真使我觉得十分可怜！”
“尼德师傅，我们是要到南极呢。”
“可以去的，但你们不能回来了！"
他回他的舱房去。“为的是不要弄出人命。"他离开我的时候这样说。
但是，这个大胆企图的准备工作开始执行了。诺第留斯号的强大抽气机把空气吸人储藏库，用高压力装到库里面去。四点左右，尼摩船长告诉我，平台上的嵌板要关起来了。我两眼最后看一下我们就要穿过去的深厚冰山白天色晴朗，大气鲜洁，很冷，温度零下十二度，但风停下来了，这种温度并不使人觉得很难受。
十来个船员走到诺第留斯号两旁，他们拿着尖镐，凿开船身周围的冰，船身不久就松开。这种工作很迅速地做好，因为新结的冰还是相当的保我们全体回到船中。通常使用的储水池装满了浮标线周围的自由海水。储第留斯号不久就潜下去。
我跟康塞尔到客厅坐下。通过打开的玻璃，我们可以看到南冰洋中的下层。温度表上升。压力表的针在表盘上移动。
到了三百米左右，像尼摩船长所说过的一样，我们就浮在冰山下层的波纹水面上了。但诺第留斯号再往下沉，它直到深八百米的水层。水的温度，刚才在上面是十二度，现在不超过十一度，那就是说我们已经争取了两度。不用说，诺第留斯号的温度因为有它的热气机管，保持着很高的温度。船的这些动作都特别准确地完成。
"请先生原谅我说一句，”康塞尔对我说，“我们一定可以过去。”
“我也是这样想！”我带着深信不疑的语气回答。
在这自由通行的海底下，诺第留斯号不离开西经 52度，沿着向南极的路线一直驶去。从67度30分到90度，还要走过22度半的纬度，就是说，还要走五百多里。诺第留斯号这时的速度是每小时二十六海里的中常速度，即特别快车的速度。如果它保持这个速度行驶，那么四十小时就足够它驶到南极了。
’夜间一部分时间，由于所在环境的新奇，使康塞尔和我留在客厅的玻璃边，大海受探照灯电光的照耀，晶莹雪亮，但水中荒凉，看不见什么踪影。鱼类不居留在这种监牢般的海水中；它们要从南冰洋到南极那个自由通行的海，这里只有一条通路。我们的船行驶很迅速；我们从长形钢铁船壳的振动可以感觉出来。
早晨两点左右，我要回房中休息几小时。康塞尔也和我一样，要回房休息，穿行过道的时候，我没有碰见尼摩船长，我想他一定在那领航人的笼间中了。
第二天，3月19日，早晨五点的时候，我又在客厅中。
电力侧程器给我指出，诺第留斯号的速度慢了一些，这时，它是很小心的，慢慢排出储水池中的水，往水而上升。
我的心在跳动。我们是要浮起来，找到南极的自由空气吗？不。一次冲击，从发出了不爽朗的声音来判断，使我知道诺第留斯号碰上了冰山的下层冰面，这冰面还是很厚，的确，用航海的语言来说，我们是“撞上了”，不过现在是方向倒转过来，在三千英尺的深处“撞上了”。这就是，在我们头上有四千英尺的冰层，有～千英尺是浮出在水面。这时冰层所有的高度，是超过我们在它边岸所记录的高度。情形有些使人不安呢。在这一天内，诺第留斯号做了好几次试验，它总是碰着盖在它上面的天花板一样的冰墙。有时候，它在九百米的地方碰到了，那就是冰山有一千二百米厚，有三百米是浮在冰洋的而上。跟诺第留斯号潜入水底的时候相比，冰山的高度现在是增加了一倍。我小心地记下这些不同的深度，这样，我就获得了罗列在海水下面的这条冰山脉的海底面影。
晚上，我们所处的情况没有发现什么变化。在四百和五百米深度的中间老是有冰。冰显然是减少了，但在我们和洋面之间，冰层还厚得很呢！时间是晚八点。按照每天的习惯，诺第留斯号内部空气早在四小时以前就应该调涣了。不过，虽然尼摩船长没有要储藏库放出一些补充的氧气来，但我并不觉得怎样难过。这一夜我的睡眠很不好。
希望和恐惧轮流地在我心中转来转去。我起来好几次。诺第留斯号探索性的上升仍然继续进行。早晨三点左右，我看见冰山的下层冰面只在五十米的深度才碰到了、这时把我们和水面隔开的只是一百五千英尺的冰层。冰山渐渐变成冰田了。山又成平原了 .我的两眼不离开压力表；总是盯着一我们沿对角线，向着电光下闪闪发亮的光辉冰面，老是上升。冰山像腕蜒伸长的栏杆，上下两方减低了；它一海里一海里地变薄了。最后可纪念的8月19日那天，早晨六点，客厅门打开。尼摩船长进来，他对我说： "到自由通行的海了！
收听单词发音 |
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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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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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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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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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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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