Thus around the Nautilus, above and below, was an impenetrable wall of ice. We were prisoners to the iceberg1. I watched the Captain. His countenance2 had resumed its habitual3 imperturbability4. "Gentlemen," he said calmly, "there are two ways of dying in the circumstances in which we are placed." (This puzzling person had the air of a mathematical professor lecturing to his pupils.) "The first is to be crushed; the second is to die of suffocation5. I do not speak of the possibility of dying of hunger, for the supply of provisions in the Nautilus will certainly last longer than we shall. Let us, then, calculate our chances." "As to suffocation, Captain," I replied, "that is not to be feared, because our reservoirs are full." "Just so; but they will only yield two days' supply of air. Now, for thirty-six hours we have been hidden under the water, and already the heavy atmosphere of the Nautilus requires renewal6. In forty-eight hours our reserve will be exhausted7." "Well, Captain, can we be delivered before forty-eight hours?" "We will attempt it, at least, by piercing the wall that surrounds us." "On which side?" "Sound will tell us. I am going to run the Nautilus aground on the lower bank, and my men will attack the iceberg on the side that is least thick." Captain Nemo went out. Soon I discovered by a hissing8 noise that the water was entering the reservoirs. The Nautilus sank slowly, and rested on the ice at a depth of 350 yards, the depth at which the lower bank was immersed. "My friends," I said, "our situation is serious, but I rely on your courage and energy." "Sir," replied the Canadian, "I am ready to do anything for the general safety." "Good! Ned," and I held out my hand to the Canadian. "I will add," he continued, "that, being as handy with the pickaxe as with the harpoon9, if I can be useful to the Captain, he can command my services." "He will not refuse your help. Come, Ned!" I led him to the room where the crew of the Nautilus were putting on their cork-jackets. I told the Captain of Ned's propo
sal, which he accepted. The Canadian put on his sea-costume, and was ready as soon as his companions. When Ned was dressed, I re-entered the drawing-room, where the panes10 of glass were open, and, posted near Conseil, I examined the ambient beds that supported the Nautilus. Some instants after, we saw a dozen of the crew set foot on the bank of ice, and among them Ned Land, easily known by his stature11. Captain Nemo was with them. Before proceeding12 to dig the walls, he took the soundings, to be sure of working in the right direction. Long sounding lines were sunk in the side walls, but after fifteen yards they were again stopped by the thick wall. It was useless to attack it on the ceiling-like surface, since the iceberg itself measured more than 400 yards in height. Captain Nemo then sounded the lower surface. There ten yards of wall separated us from the water, so great was the thickness of the ice-field. It was necessary, therefore, to cut from it a piece equal in extent to the waterline of the Nautilus. There were about 6,000 cubic yards to detach, so as to dig a hole by which we could descend13 to the ice-field. The work had begun immediately and carried on with indefatigable14 energy. Instead of digging round the Nautilus which would have involved greater difficulty, Captain Nemo had an immense trench15 made at eight yards from the port-quarter. Then the men set to work simultaneously16 with their screws on several points of its circumference17. Presently the pickaxe attacked this compact matter vigorously, and large blocks were detached from the mass. By a curious effect of specific gravity, these blocks, lighter18 than water, fled, so to speak, to the vault19 of the tunnel, that increased in thickness at the top in proportion as it diminished at the base. But that mattered little, so long as the lower part grew thinner. After two hours' hard work, Ned Land came in exhausted. He and his comrades were replaced by new workers, whom Conseil and I joined. The second lieutenant20 of the Nautilus superintended us. The water
seemed singularly cold, but I soon got warm handling the pickaxe. My movements were free enough, although they were made under a pressure of thirty atmospheres. When I re-entered, after working two hours, to take some food and rest, I found a perceptible difference between the pure fluid with which the Rouquayrol engine supplied me and the atmosphere of the Nautilus, already charged with carbonic acid. The air had not been renewed for forty-eight hours, and its vivifying qualities were considerably21 enfeebled. However, after a lapse22 of twelve hours, we had only raised a block of ice one yard thick, on the marked surface, which was about 600 cubic yards! Reckoning that it took twelve hours to accomplish this much it would take five nights and four days to bring this enterprise to a satisfactory conclusion. Five nights and four days! And we have only air enough for two days in the reservoirs! "Without taking into account," said Ned, "that, even if we get out of this infernal prison, we shall also be imprisoned23 under the iceberg, shut out from all possible communication with the atmosphere." True enough! Who could then foresee the minimum of time necessary for our deliverance? We might be suffocated24 before the Nautilus could regain25 the surface of the waves? Was it destined26 to perish in this ice-tomb, with all those it enclosed? The situation was terrible. But everyone had looked the danger in the face, and each was determined27 to do his duty to the last.
As I expected, during the night a new block a yard square was carried away, and still further sank the immense hollow. But in the morning when, dressed in my cork-jacket, I traversed the slushy mass at a temperature of six or seven degrees below zero, I remarked that the side walls were gradually closing in. The beds of water farthest from the trench, that were not warmed by the men's work, showed a tendency to solidification28. In presence of this new and imminent29 danger, what would become of our chances of safety, and how hinder the solidification of this liquid medium, that would burst the partitions of the Nautilus like glass? I did not tell my companions of this new danger. What was the good of damping the energy they displayed in the painful work of escape? But when I went on board again, I told Captain Nemo of this grave complication. "I know it," he said, in that calm tone which could counteract30 the most terrible apprehensions31. "It is one danger more; but I see no way of escaping it; the only chance of safety is to go quicker than solidification. We must be beforehand with it, that is all." On this day for several hours I used my pickaxe vigorously. The work kept me up. Besides, to work was to quit the Nautilus, and breathe directly the pure air drawn32 from the reservoirs, and supplied by our apparatus33, and to quit the impoverished34 and vitiated atmosphere. Towards evening the trench was dug one yard deeper. When I returned on board, I was nearly suffocated by the carbonic acid with which the air was filled--ah! if we had only the chemical means to drive away this deleterious gas. We had plenty of oxygen; all this water contained a considerable quantity, and by dissolving it with our powerful piles, it would restore the vivifying fluid. I had thought well over it; but of what good was that, since the carbonic acid produced by our respiration35 had invaded every part of the vessel36? To absorb it, it was necessary to fill some jars with caustic37 potash, and to shake them incessantly38. Now this substance was
wanting on board, and nothing could replace it. On that evening, Captain Nemo ought to open the taps of his reservoirs, and let some pure air into the interior of the Nautilus; without this precaution we could not get rid of the sense of suffocation. The next day, March 26th, I resumed my miner's work in beginning the fifth yard. The side walls and the lower surface of the iceberg thickened visibly. It was evident that they would meet before the Nautilus was able to disengage itself. Despair seized me for an instant; my pickaxe nearly fell from my hands. What was the good of digging if I must be suffocated, crushed by the water that was turning into stone?--a punishment that the ferocity of the savages39 even would not have invented! Just then Captain Nemo passed near me. I touched his hand and showed him the walls of our prison. The wall to port had advanced to at least four yards from the hull40 of the Nautilus. The Captain understood me, and signed me to follow him. We went on board. I took off my cork-jacket and accompanied him into the drawing-room. "M. Aronnax, we must attempt some desperate means, or we shall be sealed up in this solidified41 water as in cement." "Yes; but what is to be done?" "Ah! if my Nautilus were strong enough to bear this pressure without being crushed!" "Well?" I asked, not catching42 the Captain's idea. "Do you not understand," he replied, "that this congelation of water will help us? Do you not see that by its solidification, it would burst through this field of ice that imprisons43 us, as, when it freezes, it bursts the hardest stones? Do you not perceive that it would be an agent of safety instead of destruction?" "Yes, Captain, perhaps. But, whatever resistance to crushing the Nautilus possesses, it could not support this terrible pressure, and would be flattened44 like an iron plate." "I know it, sir. Therefore we must not reckon on the aid of nature, but on our own exertions45. We must stop this solidification. Not only will the side walls be pressed together; but there is not
ten feet of water before or behind the Nautilus. The congelation gains on us on all sides." "How long will the air in the reservoirs last for us to breathe on board?" The Captain looked in my face. "After to-morrow they will be empty!" A cold sweat came over me. However, ought I to have been astonished at the answer? On March 22, the Nautilus was in the open polar seas. We were at 26". For five days we had lived on the reserve on board. And what was left of the respirable air must be kept for the workers. Even now, as I write, my recollection is still so vivid that an involuntary terror seizes me and my lungs seem to be without air. Meanwhile, Captain Nemo reflected silently, and evidently an idea had struck him; but he seemed to reject it. At last, these words escaped his lips: "Boiling water!" he muttered. "Boiling water?" I cried. "Yes, sir. We are enclosed in a space that is relatively46 confined. Would not jets of boiling water, constantly injected by the pumps, raise the temperature in this part and stay the congelation?" "Let us try it," I said resolutely47. "Let us try it, Professor." The thermometer then stood at 7" outside. Captain Nemo took me to the galleys48, where the vast distillatory49 machines stood that furnished the drinkable water by evaporation50. They filled these with water, and all the electric heat from the piles was thrown through the worms bathed in the liquid. In a few minutes this water reached 100". It was directed towards the pumps, while fresh water replaced it in proportion. The heat developed by the troughs was such that cold water, drawn up from the sea after only having gone through the machines, came boiling into the body of the pump. The injection was begun, and three hours after the thermometer marked 6" below zero outside. One degree was gained. Two hours later the thermometer only marked 4". "We shall succeed," I said to the Captain, after having anxiously watched the result of the operation. "I think," he answered, "that we shall not be crushed. We have no more suffocatio
n to fear." During the night the temperature of the water rose to 1" below zero. The injections could not carry it to a higher point. But, as the congelation of the sea-water produces at least 2", I was at least reassured51 against the dangers of solidification.
The next day, March 27th, six yards of ice had been cleared, twelve feet only remaining to be cleared away. There was yet forty-eight hours' work. The air could not be renewed in the interior of the Nautilus. And this day would make it worse. An intolerable weight oppressed me. Towards three o'clock in the evening this feeling rose to a violent degree. Yawns dislocated my jaws52. My lungs panted as they inhaled53 this burning fluid, which became rarefied more and more. A moral torpor54 took hold of me. I was powerless, almost unconscious. My brave Conseil, though exhibiting the same symptoms and suffering in the same manner, never left me. He took my hand and encouraged me, and I heard him murmur55, "Oh! if I could only not breathe, so as to leave more air for my master!" Tears came into my eyes on hearing him speak thus. If our situation to all was intolerable in the interior, with what haste and gladness would we put on our cork-jackets to work in our turn! Pickaxes sounded on the frozen ice-beds. Our arms ached, the skin was torn off our hands. But what were these fatigues56, what did the wounds matter? Vital air came to the lungs! We breathed! we breathed!
All this time no one prolonged his voluntary task beyond the prescribed time. His task accomplished57, each one handed in turn to his panting companions the apparatus that supplied him with life. Captain Nemo set the example, and submitted first to this severe discipline. When the time came, he gave up his apparatus to another and returned to the vitiated air on board, calm, unflinching, unmurmuring.
On that day the ordinary work was accomplished with unusual vigour58. Only two yards remained to be raised from the surface. Two yards only separated us from the open sea. But the reservoirs were nearly emptied of air. The little that remained ought to be kept for the workers; not a particle for the Nautilus. When I went back on board, I was half suffocated. What a night! I know not how to describe it. The next day my breathing was oppressed. Dizziness accompanied the pain in my head and made me like a drunken man. My companions showed the same symptoms. Some of the crew had rattling59 in the throat. On that day, the sixth of our imprisonment60, Captain Nemo, finding the pickaxes work too slowly, resolved to crush the ice-bed that still separated us from the liquid sheet. This man's coolness and energy never forsook61 him. He subdued62 his physical pains by moral force.
By his orders the vessel was lightened, that is to say, raised from the ice-bed by a change of specific gravity. When it floated they towed it so as to bring it above the immense trench made on the level of the water-line. Then, filling his reservoirs of water, he descended63 and shut himself up in the hole.
Just then all the crew came on board, and the double door of communication was shut. The Nautilus then rested on the bed of ice, which was not one yard thick, and which the sounding leads had perforated in a thousand places. The taps of the reservoirs were then opened, and a hundred cubic yards of water was let in, increasing the weight of the Nautilus to 1,800 tons. We waited, we listened, forgetting our sufferings in hope. Our safety depended on this last chance. Notwithstanding the buzzing in my head, I soon heard the humming sound under the hull of the Nautilus. The ice cracked with a singular noise, like tearing paper, and the Nautilus sank. "We are off!" murmured Conseil in my ear.
I could not answer him. I seized his hand, and pressed it convulsively. All at once, carried away by its frightful64 overcharge, the Nautilus sank like a bullet under the waters, that is to say, it fell as if it was in a vacuum. Then all the electric force was put on the pumps, that soon began to let the water out of the reservoirs. After some minutes, our fall was stopped. Soon, too, the manometer indicated an ascending65 movement. The screw, going at full speed, made the iron hull tremble to its very bolts and drew us towards the north. But if this floating under the iceberg is to last another day before we reach the open sea, I shall be dead first. Half stretched upon a divan66 in the library, I was suffocating67. My face was purple, my lips blue, my faculties68 suspended. I neither saw nor heard. All notion of time had gone from my mind. My muscles could not contract. I do not know how many hours passed thus, but I was conscious of the agony that was coming over me. I felt as if I was going to die. Suddenly I came to. Some breaths of air penetrated69 my lungs. Had we risen to the surface of the waves? Were we free of the iceberg? No! Ned and Conseil, my two brave friends, were sacrificing themselves to save me. Some particles of air still remained at the bottom of one apparatus. Instead of using it, they had kept it for me, and, while they were being suffocated, they gave me life, drop by drop. I wanted to push back the thing; they held my hands, and for some moments I breathed freely. I looked at the clock; it was eleven in the morning. It ought to be the 28th of March. The Nautilus went at a frightful pace, forty miles an hour. It literally70 tore through the water. Where was Captain Nemo? Had he succumbed71? Were his companions dead with him? At the moment the manometer indicated that we were not more than twenty feet from the surface. A mere72 plate of ice separated us from the atmosphere. Could we not break it? Perhaps. In any case the Nautilus was going to attempt it. I felt that it was in an oblique73
position, lowering the stern, and raising the bows. The introduction of water had been the means of disturbing its equilibrium74. Then, impelled75 by its powerful screw, it attacked the ice-field from beneath like a formidable battering-ram. It broke it by backing and then rushing forward against the field, which gradually gave way; and at last, dashing suddenly against it, shot forwards on the ice-field, that crushed beneath its weight. The panel was opened--one might say torn off--and the pure air came in in abundance to all parts of the Nautilus.
这样，诺第留斯号的四周，上面下面，都是不可通过的冰墙。我们是冰山的俘虏了。加拿大人把他的粗大拳头拍打着桌子。康塞尔沉默不言。我眼盯着船长。他的面容又恢复了平常的冷淡、严肃，他两手交叉着，他心中思考。诺第留斯号不动了。船长于是发言了，他声音镇定地说：“先生们，在我们目前所处的情况下，有两种死的方式。"这个神秘人物好像一位数学教员，给他的学生作算术问题的解答。他又说：“第一种死的方式是被压死。第二种是被闷死。我不说有饿死的可能，因为诺第留斯号储藏的粮食一定比我们还能耐久一些。因此我们来考虑一下压死或闷死的可能性“船长，”我回答说。"至于闷死那是不用怕的，因为我的储藏库有满满的空气。"“对，”船长说，“可是这些空气只能使用两天，现在我潜入水中已经有三十六小时了，诺第留斯号的重浊空气经需要调换。到四十八小时，我们储藏的空气就用完“那么，船长，我们想法在四十八小时前脱身就是了。"“至少，我们要想法试一下，把围住我们的冰墙凿开。"“从哪一面凿呢？"我问。
“那探测器可以使我知道。我把诺第留斯号搁浅在下部冰层，我的船员穿上潜水衣，从冰墙最薄的地方凿开冰山。”
“可以把客厅的嵌板打开来吗？"
“没有什么不可以。船已经不行驶了。”
尼摩船长走了。不久发出哨声，我知道海水吸入储水池中。诺第留斯号慢慢下沉，停在三百五十米深的冰底下，这是冰山下部冰层潜入水底的深度。
“朋友们，”我说，“情形很是严重，但我相信你们能拿出你们的勇气和力量来。”
“先生，”加拿大人回答我，“现在不是拿责骂来惹您讨厌的时候。我准备为大家共同的安全牺牲一切。”
“好，尼德。”我伸手给加拿大人说。
“我又要说，”他补充说，“我使铁锨和使鱼叉一样灵活，如果我可能对船长有用，请他随便吩咐我吧。”
“他一定不拒绝您的帮助。请跟我来，尼德。”
我带加拿大人到诺第留斯号的船员穿潜水衣的房子中。我把尼德·兰的提议告诉船长，船长接受了。加拿大人穿上他的海中衣服，不久就跟他的工作同伴们一样准备好了。每人背上一个卢格罗尔的空气箱，由储藏库供应了大量的纯空气。对诺第留斯号的空气储藏库来说，这是大量的，然而是必要的支出。至于兰可夫灯，在这满是电光的明亮海水中间是没有用的。
当尼德装备好了，我回到客厅，厅中的嵌板都开了，我站在康塞尔旁边，细看那顶住诺第留斯号的周围冰层。
几分钟后，我们看见十多个船员下到冰地上，其中有尼德·兰，由于他的身材高大，很容易认出。尼摩船长跟他门在一起。
在进行穿凿冰墙之前，他让人先做种种探测，保证工作是向顺利方面进行。很长的探测绳放人上下两面的冰墙。
上面到了十五米，仍然被厚冰墙挡住，所以从上层冰板来厂凿是不成的，因为那就是四百米高的冰山本身。尼摩船长于是使人探测下部冰层的厚度。下部有十米厚的冰板把我们跟海水隔开。就是这片冰场有十米厚。自后就是要把冰场凿开一片，大小等于诺第留斯号从浮标线上来计算的面积。要凿开这么一个大孔，我们可以从这孔下到这冰地的下面去，那大约需挖掘六千五百立方米的冰。
工作立即开始，以十分坚持的顽强力气来进行。不是在诺第留斯号周围挖掘，这样可能带来更大的困难，尼摩船长是另外在距船左舷八米远的地方画了一个巨大的圆圈他的人员就在这圆圈的周围数处同时挖掘，不久，铁锨很有劲的打进了坚硬的冰，一块一块的冰从冰场凿开来。由于体重的新奇作用，这些冰块没有水重，它们于是飞跑到冰们顶上去了，这样一来，下面是减薄，上面就增厚了。但没关系，下层的冰总是削薄了。
经过两小时的努力工作，尼德·兰疲倦不堪地回来。
他的同伴们和他，由别的人员替代，康塞尔和我，我们这次也加入。诺第留斯号的船副来指导我们。我觉得海水特别冷，但我挥动铁锨，不久就暖和了。我的动作虽然在三十度气压下面进行，但是很轻松自在。
当我工作了两小时，回来吃点东西，休息一会儿的时候，我觉得卢格罗尔气箱供应我的纯洁空气，跟已经很多碳酸气的诺第留斯号船中的大气，很为不同。空气自四十八小时来没有调换，它的刺激兴奋力量已经很薄弱。可是，过了十二小时，我们在画出的冰面上，只挖去了厚一米的冰，就是约六百立方米的冰。假定每十二小时可以做同样工作，把这个工作好好的完成，还要五夜和四天的工夫。
“五夜和四天的工夫！”我对我的同伴们说，“但在储藏库中我们只有够用两天的空””“并且，”尼德。兰回答，“又没有算上我们脱离了这座魔鬼监牢后，我们可能还要被禁在冰山下，仍不能立即跟上面的大气相交通！”
这是正确的想法。那时谁能预料我们得救所需要的最小限度的时间是多少呢？在诺第留斯号可能回到水面之前，缺乏氧气不是就把我们窒息死了吗？难道这船是连同它载上的所有的人都注定死在这冰的坟墓中吗？看来情形十分可怕。但人人都正视它，人人都决心尽各人的责任，坚持到底。
照我的预见，在夜间，又有一片一米厚的冰从这巨大的圆圈中挖去。但是，到了早晨，当我穿上了潜水衣，在零下六、七度温度下，走过海水时，我看到旁边的冰墙渐渐地连接起来了。在水坑中远一点的水，因为人的劳力和工具的作用不能使它温热，现出要冻结的情势。面前发生了这个新的危险，我们得救的机会将是怎样呢？这种海水中间的冻结作用，可能把诺第留斯号的船壳像玻璃一样压碎，怎样加以防止呢？
我并不让我的两个同伴知道这个危险，以免他们做这种辛苦救护工作的勇气受到打击。不过，当我回到船上的时候，我向尼摩船长提出，要他注意这种严重的复杂情形。
“我知道这事，”他对我说，他总是这样，最可怕的意外也不能更改他的镇定，“这是多加了一个危险，我看不见有什么方法可以躲过。我们得救的唯一机会，就是我们的工作比冻结作用进行得更快。问题在于谁先抢在前面。”
抢在前面！我早就应该习惯于这种说法了！
这一天，在好几个钟头内，我坚持顽强地挥动铁锨。这工作支持和鼓励我。并且，工作就等于离开诺第留斯号，也就是直接呼吸那现在是从储藏库取来的、由空气箱供应的纯洁空气，就是离开那贫乏和恶浊的船上空气。
到了晚上，坑又挖去了一米。当我回到船上时，我吸了空气中饱和的碳酸气，差不多窒息了。啊！我们为什么没有方法来消除这种有害的气体呢！我们并不缺乏氧。这海水中含有大量的氧，我们的强力电池可以把它分解出来，它可能给我们把那兴奋刺激人的气体回复了原来状态。我想过这事，但有利：么用处，因为，由我们呼吸产生的碳酸气已经侵入船上各部分了。吸收碳酸气，要把氯化钾放在排气管中，不停地摇动玻璃管。可是船上缺乏氯化钾，没有别的物质可以替代。
这一晚上，尼摩船长必须打开储藏库的龙头，放出数阵纯洁空气到诺第留斯号内部。没有这种措施，也许我们早上就不能醒来。
第二夭，8月26日，我又做矿工的工作，要把第五米的冰挖出来。冰山的两侧和底层显然加厚了。很显然，这些冰块在诺第留斯号可能脱身之前，都要凝结起来。我一时感到绝望。我的铁锨差不多要从我手中掉下来了。挖有什么用处，既然我要被窒息死，被这变为石头的水所压扁，就是野蛮人的残酷也没有发明出这样的一种酷刑。好像我是夹在一个怪物的牙床里面，无法抵抗，逐渐收紧在利齿中了。
这时候，尼摩船长指挥工作，他自己也工作，从我身边走过。我手挨他，把我们冰监牢的墙壁指给他看。船右舷的冰墙挨近诺第留斯号的船身不及四米了。
船长明白我的意思，做个手势，要我跟着他走。我们回到船上。我的潜水衣脱下后，我随他到客厅中。
“阿龙纳斯先生，”他对我说，“我们要使用些特殊奇妙的方法，不然的话，我们就要被封在这凝固的冰中，像被封在洋灰中那样。”
“对！”我说，“但怎么办呢？”
“啊！”他喊道，“我的诺第留斯号是不是有足够力量，可以支持这种压力，不至被压扁呢？”
“那么将怎样呢？”我问。我不明白船长的意思。
“您不明白这水的冻结作用可以帮助我们！您没有看见因为水的凝固，它可以炸开那困住我们的冰场，就像它在冰冻的时候，它可以炸开最坚硬的石头那样！您没有觉得它并不是毁灭人的力量，而是拯救人的力量！”
“对，船长，或者是这样。但是，不管诺第留斯号有怎样的抵抗力，它不可能支持那种大得怕人的压力，”它要被压扁，像一片钢叶了。”
“先生，我知道这点。那么，我们不能指望大自然的帮助，要完全依靠我们自己了。那就得反抗这种凝固作用，就得消除它。不单是两侧的冰壁愈来愈紧了，而且诺第留斯号的前头或后面也没有剩下十英尺水了。凝固作用是从各方面向我们进攻了。”
储藏库中的空气，可以我们在船上呼吸多少时候？"我问船长跟我面面相觑地说“后天，储藏库就空了！”
我出了一身冷汗。不过，对他的回答我还用得着诧异吗？3月22日，诺第留斯号潜入南极流畅的水底下。今天是260，五天以来，我们生活的空气就完全依靠船上的储藏了！而这留下可以呼吸的空气又要保留给工作人员。就是我现在写这些事件的时候，我的印象还是十分深刻，我全身发生一种自然而然的恐怖，好像我的肺叶中是没有空气了！
可是，尼摩船长在那里思考，一言不发，站着不动。显然是他心中有了一个主意。但他好像又不接受。他自己给了否定的答复。后来，他嘴里说出这话来，他低声说：“开水？”我问。
“是的，先生。我们是被关在一个相当窄的空间里面。
开水喷射，不断从诺第留斯号的抽水机放出来，不是可以提高这空间的温度，延缓水的冻结吗？”
“这要试一试。”我坚定他说。
“我们要试一试，教授。”
那时在外面的温度表指着零下七度。尼摩船长领我到厨房中，那里有许多复杂的蒸馏器，由蒸发作用供应我们可以喝的开水。机器装满了水，电池所有的电热都投到浸在水中的螺旋管中去。几分钟后，这水就达到沸点。把开水送入抽气机中，同时就有冷水进来，补充流出去的开水。电池发出的热力达到很高的程度，从海中吸进的凉水，单单经过机器，一到抽气机中就滚开了。
开水的放射开始，三小时后，在外面的温度表指着零下六度；温度提高一度。两小时后，温度表只指在零下四度了。
我看了这种工作的进展，同时从许多地方加以检查，我对船长说：“我们一定可以成功。"“我想可以成功，”船长回答我说，“我们不至被压扁了。
我们所怕的只有被窒息了。”
在夜间，水的温度又提高了一度。开水的放射力量不能使温度再提高了。可是海水的冰冻作用要再下两度才能发生，因此我们得到保证，不至有凝固的危险了。
第二天，3月27日，六米厚的冰从这冰窝中挖去了。还剩下四米厚的冰需要挖去。还要四十八小时的工作。在诺第留斯号内部，空气不可能调换。因此这一天的情形是更坏了。
一种不可忍受的重浊空气使我难过。下午三点左右，这种痛苦感觉到了猛烈的程度。呵欠喘气把我的上下鄂都弄歪了。我的肺叶迫切寻求有活力的氧，“白是呼吸所必不可少的东西，现在愈来愈稀薄了。我的精神完全在昏沉沉的状态中。我没有气力地躺下来，差不多失去了知觉。我的忠实的康塞尔有了同样的病征，受着同样的苦府，他在我身边，再不离开我。他拉着我的手，他鼓励我，我还听到他低声说：“啊！如果我可以不呼吸，让先生可以多有些空气！”
我听到他说这话，不觉眼中满是泪水。
对我们全体来说，我们在船上都觉得难受，所以轮到自己挖冰的时候，人人都很迅速地、很高兴地穿上潜水衣，立即出去工作！铁锨在冰层上通通作响。胳膊累了，手弄破了，但这些疲倦算什么，这些伤口有什么要紧！总算有新鲜空气到肺中了！人们总可以呼吸了！人们总可以呼吸了！
可是，没有谁超出指定的时间，延长自己在水下的工作。备人工作完了，各人就将有氧气放出来的气箱交给自己的同伴。尼摩船长自己先做个榜样，他第一个遵守这种严格的纪律。时间到了，他把他的气箱给另一个人，回到船上有害的大气中，他老是那么镇定，一点不示弱，不发一句怨言。
这一天，一定的工作经常是更有力地完成了。在整个面积上，只剩下两米的冰要挖去。把我们跟自由海水分开的，只有两米的冰了。可是储藏库差不多空了。剩下的一些空气只能保留给工作人员使用。一点也不能绘诺第留斯号！
当我回到船上的时候，我是半窒息了。多么难过的夜！
我简直不能加以描写。这样的一类痛苦是木可能写出来的。第二天，我的呼吸阻塞不通。头脑疼痛又加上昏沉发晕，使我成为一个醉人。我的同伴们也感到同样的难受。
有些船员已经呼吸急促，正在发喘了。
这一天，我们的监牢剩下第六层的最后一米冰，尼摩船长觉得铁锨挖得大慢，决定用高压力来冲开那个把我们和底下水面分开的冰层。这个人仍然保持他原有的冷静和精力。他拿他的精神力量抑制他的肉体痛苦。他思想，他计划，他执行。
按照他的指示，船减轻了分量，就是说，由于重力的变化，它从冰冻的一层浮起来。当它浮起来的时候，人们就想法把它拖到照它的浮标线所画出的宽大的坑上。然后，让它的储水池装满了水，它降下，装在坑里。
这时候，所有的船员都回到船上来，跟外间交通的两重门都紧闭起。诺第留斯号这时是躺在冰层上，这冰层只有一米厚，并且有千百处被探测器钻通。
储水池的龙头于是完全打开来，一百立方米的水都流进去，把诺第留斯号的重量增加了十万公厅。
我们等着，我们听着，忘记了我们的痛苦，仍然抱着希望。我们好像赌博，得救与否，完全看这最后一着了。不管我脑子中嗡嗡作响，昏舌、不清，但不久我听到诺第留斯号船身下颤抖了。下陷的作用发生了。冰层破裂，发出新奇的声响，像撕纸的声音一样，诺第留斯号渐渐沉下去。
"我们穿过去了！”康塞尔在我耳边低声说。
我不能回答他。我抓着他的手。我完全不由自主地抽搐，紧紧握住他的手。
突然间，诺第留斯号被它的过分重量所带走，像一颗炮弹沉入水中，就是说，它掉下去，像它在真空中尽可能快地掉下去那样！
于是把所有的电力都送到抽水机上，抽水机立即把储水池中的水排出。几分钟后，我们的下降停止。并且不久，压力表就指出船是在上升。推进器全速开行，船身钢板发生震动，一直在螺丝钉上都感到，它带我们向北方驶去。但是，现在从冰山下到自由海的航行，要延长多少时候呢，还要一天吗？如果是这样的话，那我仍不免要死在前头了！
我半身躺在图书室的长沙发椅上，我不能出气了。我的脸孔发紫，我的双唇变蓝，我身体器官失灵。我看不见，我听不到。时间的概念在我心中消减了。我的肌肉不能伸缩了。这样度过的时间，我不可能估量。但我意识到我临死的痛苦开始了。我明白我是快要死了……忽然我苏醒过来。几口空气吹入我的肺中。我们是回升到了水面吗？我们是越过冰山了吗？
不是！那是尼德·兰和康塞尔，我的两个忠实朋友，他们牺牲自己来救我。还有些空气留在一个气箱里面；他们不呼吸它，他们给我保存起来，当他们窒总的时候，他们把一点一滴的生命送给我！我要把气箱推开；他们扯住我的手，于是我很快意地呼吸了一会儿空气。
我的眼光向大钟看去，正是早上十一点。这天应当是 8月28日。诺第留斯号以每小时四十海里的惊人速度行驶。它简直是在水中作痛苦的挣扎了。
尼摩船长在哪里？他丧失了生命吗？他的同伴们跟他同时牺牲了吗？这时候，压力表指出，我们距水面只有二十英尺。单单有一座冰场把我们跟大气分开。我们不可以冲开它吗？总之，诺第留斯号去做这种工作了。是的，我感到它采取倾斜的方位，把后部下降，将前面的冲角挺起来。水装进去，就足以使它不平衡。然后，由于它的强力推进器的推动，它从冰场下面，像一架强大的攻城机冲上去。“它先把冰场渐渐撞开，然后退下来，再用全速力向裂开的冰场冲去，最后，它被极大的冲击力带走，它跳上了受它的体重所憧碎的冰面。
嵌板是打开了，可以说是拔开了，纯洁空气像潮水一般涌人诺第留斯号船上所有各部分来了。
收听单词发音 |
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iceberg
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| n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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imperturbability
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| n.冷静；沉着 | |
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suffocation
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| n.窒息 | |
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renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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harpoon
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| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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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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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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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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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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suffocated
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| （使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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solidification
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| 凝固 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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counteract
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| vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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respiration
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| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
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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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caustic
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| adj.刻薄的，腐蚀性的 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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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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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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imprisons
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| v.下狱，监禁( imprison的第三人称单数 ) | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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distillatory
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| 蒸馏器 | |
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evaporation
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| n.蒸发，消失 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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torpor
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| n.迟钝；麻木；（动物的）冬眠 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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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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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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60
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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61
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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69
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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71
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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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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equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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