This terrible scene of the 20th of April none of us can ever forget. I have written it under the influence of violent emotion. Since then I have revised the recital1; I have read it to Conseil and to the Canadian. They found it exact as to facts, but insufficient2 as to effect. To paint such pictures, one must have the pen of the most illustrious of our poets, the author of The Toilers of the Deep. I have said that Captain Nemo wept while watching the waves; his grief was great. It was the second companion he had lost since our arrival on board, and what a death! That friend, crushed, stifled3, bruised4 by the dreadful arms of a poulp, pounded by his iron jaws5, would not rest with his comrades in the peaceful coral cemetery6! In the midst of the struggle, it was the despairing cry uttered by the unfortunate man that had torn my heart. The poor Frenchman, forgetting his conventional language, had taken to his own mother tongue, to utter a last appeal! Amongst the crew of the Nautilus, associated with the body and soul of the Captain, recoiling7 like him from all contact with men, I had a fellow-countryman. Did he alone represent France in this mysterious association, evidently composed of individuals of divers8 nationalities? It was one of these insoluble problems that rose up unceasingly before my mind!
Captain Nemo entered his room, and I saw him no more for some time. But that he was sad and irresolute9 I could see by the vessel10, of which he was the soul, and which received all his impressions. The Nautilus did not keep on in its settled course; it floated about like a corpse11 at the will of the waves. It went at random12. He could not tear himself away from the scene of the last struggle, from this sea that had devoured13 one of his men. Ten days passed thus. It was not till the 1st of May that the Nautilus resumed its northerly course, after having sighted the Bahamas at the mouth of the Bahama Canal. We were then following the current from the largest river to the sea, that has its banks, its fish, and its proper temperatures. I mean the Gulf14 Stream. It is really a river, that flows freely to the middle of the Atlantic, and whose waters do not mix with the ocean waters. It is a salt river, salter than the surrounding sea. Its mean depth is 1,500 fathoms15, its mean breadth ten miles. In certain places the current flows with the speed of two miles and a half an hour. The body of its waters is more considerable than that of all the rivers in the globe. It was on this ocean river that the Nautilus then sailed. I must add that, during the night, the phosphorescent waters of the Gulf Stream rivalled the electric power of our watch-light, especially in the stormy weather that threatened us so frequently. May 8th, we were still crossing Cape16 Hatteras, at the height of the North Caroline. The width of the Gulf Stream there is seventy-five miles, and its depth 210 yards. The Nautilus still went at random; all supervision17 seemed abandoned. I thought that, under these circumstances, escape would be possible. Indeed, the inhabited shores offered anywhere an easy refuge. The sea was incessantly18 ploughed by the steamers that ply19 between New York or Boston and the Gulf of Mexico, and overrun day and night by the little schooners20 coasting about the several parts of the American coast. We could hope to be picked up. It w
as a favourable21 opportunity, notwithstanding the thirty miles that separated the Nautilus from the coasts of the Union. One unfortunate circumstance thwarted23 the Canadian's plans. The weather was very bad. We were nearing those shores where tempests are so frequent, that country of waterspouts and cyclones25 actually engendered26 by the current of the Gulf Stream. To tempt27 the sea in a frail28 boat was certain destruction. Ned Land owned this himself. He fretted29, seized with nostalgia30 that flight only could cure. "Master," he said that day to me, "this must come to an end. I must make a clean breast of it. This Nemo is leaving land and going up to the north. But I declare to you that I have had enough of the South Pole, and I will not follow him to the North." "What is to be done, Ned, since flight is impracticable just now?" "We must speak to the Captain," said he; "you said nothing when we were in your native seas. I will speak, now we are in mine. When I think that before long the Nautilus will be by Nova Scotia, and that there near New foundland is a large bay, and into that bay the St. Lawrence empties itself, and that the St. Lawrence is my river, the river by Quebec, my native town--when I think of this, I feel furious, it makes my hair stand on end. Sir, I would rather throw myself into the sea! I will not stay here! I am stifled!" The Canadian was evidently losing all patience. His vigorous nature could not stand this prolonged imprisonment31. His face altered daily; his temper became more surly. I knew what he must suffer, for I was seized with home-sickness myself. Nearly seven months had passed without our having had any news from land; Captain Nemo's isolation32, his altered spirits, especially since the fight with the poulps, his taciturnity, all made me view things in a different light. "Well, sir?" said Ned, seeing I did not reply. "Well, Ned, do you wish me to ask Captain Nemo his intentions concerning us?" "Yes, sir." "Although he has already made them known?" "Yes; I wish it settled finally. Sp
eak for me, in my name only, if you like." "But I so seldom meet him. He avoids me." "That is all the more reason for you to go to see him." I went to my room. From thence I meant to go to Captain Nemo's. It would not do to let this opportunity of meeting him slip. I knocked at the door. No answer. I knocked again, then turned the handle. The door opened, I went in. The Captain was there. Bending over his work-table, he had not heard me. Resolved not to go without having spoken, I approached him. He raised his head quickly, frowned, and said roughly, "You here! What do you want?" "To speak to you, Captain." "But I am busy, sir; I am working. I leave you at liberty to shut yourself up; cannot I be allowed the same?" This reception was not encouraging; but I was determined33 to hear and answer everything. "Sir," I said coldly, "I have to speak to you on a matter that admits of no delay." "What is that, sir?" he replied, ironically. "Have you discovered something that has escaped me, or has the sea delivered up any new secrets?" We were at cross-purposes. But, before I could reply, he showed me an open manuscript on his table, and said, in a more serious tone, "Here, M. Aronnax, is a manuscript written in several languages. It contains the sum of my studies of the sea; and, if it please God, it shall not perish with me. This manuscript, signed with my name, complete with the history of my life, will be shut up in a little floating case. The last survivor34 of all of us on board the Nautilus will throw this case into the sea, and it will go whither it is borne by the waves." This man's name! his history written by himself! His mystery would then be revealed some day. "Captain," I said, "I can but approve of the idea that makes you act thus. The result of your studies must not be lost. But the means you employ seem to me to be primitive35. Who knows where the winds will carry this case, and in whose hands it will fall? Could you not use some other means? Could not you, or one of yours----" "Never, sir!" he said
, hastily interrupting me. "But I and my companions are ready to keep this manuscript in store; and, if you will put us at liberty----" "At liberty?" said the Captain, rising. "Yes, sir; that is the subject on which I wish to question you. For seven months we have been here on board, and I ask you to-day, in the name of my companions and in my own, if your intention is to keep us here always?" "M. Aronnax, I will answer you to-day as I did seven months ago: Whoever enters the Nautilus, must never quit it." "You impose actual slavery upon us!" "Give it what name you please." "But everywhere the slave has the right to regain36 his liberty." "Who denies you this right? Have I ever tried to chain you with an oath?" He looked at me with his arms crossed. "Sir," I said, "to return a second time to this subject will be neither to your nor to my taste; but, as we have entered upon it, let us go through with it. I repeat, it is not only myself whom it concerns. Study is to me a relief, a diversion, a passion that could make me forget everything. Like you, I am willing to live obscure, in the frail hope of bequeathing one day, to future time, the result of my labours. But it is otherwise with Ned Land. Every man, worthy37 of the name, deserves some consideration. Have you thought that love of liberty, hatred38 of slavery, can give rise to schemes of revenge in a nature like the Canadian's; that he could think, attempt, and try----" I was silenced; Captain Nemo rose. "Whatever Ned Land thinks of, attempts, or tries, what does it matter to me? I did not seek him! It is not for my pleasure that I keep him on board! As for you, M. Aronnax, you are one of those who can understand everything, even silence. I have nothing more to say to you. Let this first time you have come to treat of this subject be the last, for a second time I will not listen to you." I retired39. Our situation was critical. I related my conversation to my two companions. "We know now," said Ned, "that we can expect nothing from this man. The Nautilus is ne
aring Long Island. We will escape, whatever the weather may be." But the sky became more and more threatening. Symptoms of a hurricane became manifest. The atmosphere was becoming white and misty41. On the horizon fine streaks42 of cirrhous clouds were succeeded by masses of cumuli. Other low clouds passed swiftly by. The swollen43 sea rose in huge billows. The birds disappeared with the exception of the petrels, those friends of the storm. The barometer44 fell sensibly, and indicated an extreme extension of the vapours. The mixture of the storm glass was decomposed45 under the influence of the electricity that pervaded46 the atmosphere. The tempest burst on the 18th of May, just as the Nautilus was floating off Long Island, some miles from the port of New York. I can describe this strife47 of the elements! for, instead of fleeing to the depths of the sea, Captain Nemo, by an unaccountable caprice, would brave it at the surface. The wind blew from the south-west at first. Captain Nemo, during the squalls, had taken his place on the platform. He had made himself fast, to prevent being washed overboard by the monstrous48 waves. I had hoisted49 myself up, and made myself fast also, dividing my admiration50 between the tempest and this extraordinary man who was coping with it. The raging sea was swept by huge cloud-drifts, which were actually saturated51 with the waves. The Nautilus, sometimes lying on its side, sometimes standing22 up like a mast, rolled and pitched terribly. About five o'clock a torrent52 of rain fell, that lulled53 neither sea nor wind. The hurri cane40 blew nearly forty leagues an hour. It is under these conditions that it overturns houses, breaks iron gates, displaces twenty-four pounders. However, the Nautilus, in the midst of the tempest, confirmed the words of a clever engineer, "There is no well-constructed hull54 that cannot defy the sea." This was not a resisting rock; it was a steel spindle, obedient and movable, without rigging or masts, that braved its fury with impunity55. However, I watched these raging w
aves attentively56. They measured fifteen feet in height, and 150 to 175 yards long, and their speed of propagation was thirty feet per second. Their bulk and power increased with the depth of the water. Such waves as these, at the Hebrides, have displaced a mass weighing 8,400 lb. They are they which, in the tempest of December 23rd, 1864, after destroying the town of Yeddo, in Japan, broke the same day on the shores of America. The intensity57 of the tempest increased with the night. The barometer, as in 1860 at Reunion during a cyclone24, fell seven-tenths at the close of day. I saw a large vessel pass the horizon struggling painfully. She was trying to lie to under half steam, to keep up above the waves. It was probably one of the steamers of the line from New York to Liverpool, or Havre. It soon disappeared in the gloom. At ten o'clock in the evening the sky was on fire. The atmosphere was streaked58 with vivid lightning. I could not bear the brightness of it; while the captain, looking at it, seemed to envy the spirit of the tempest. A terrible noise filled the air, a complex noise, made up of the howls of the crushed waves, the roaring of the wind, and the claps of thunder. The wind veered59 suddenly to all points of the horizon; and the cyclone, rising in the east, returned after passing by the north, west, and south, in the inverse60 course pursued by the circular storm of the southern hemisphere. Ah, that Gulf Stream! It deserves its name of the King of Tempests. It is that which causes those formidable cyclones, by the difference of temperature between its air and its currents. A shower of fire had succeeded the rain. The drops of water were changed to sharp spikes61. One would have thought that Captain Nemo was courting a death worthy of himself, a death by lightning. As the Nautilus, pitching dreadfully, raised its steel spur in the air, it seemed to act as a conductor, and I saw long sparks burst from it. Crushed and without strength I crawled to the panel, opened it, and descended62 to the saloon. The sto
rm was then at its height. It was impossible to stand upright in the interior of the Nautilus. Captain Nemo came down about twelve. I heard the reservoirs filling by degrees, and the Nautilus sank slowly beneath the waves. Through the open windows in the saloon I saw large fish terrified, passing like phantoms63 in the water. Some were struck before my eyes. The Nautilus was still descending64. I thought that at about eight fathoms deep we should find a calm. But no! the upper beds were too violently agitated65 for that. We had to seek repose66 at more than twenty-five fathoms in the bowels67 of the deep. But there, what quiet, what silence, what peace! Who could have told that such a hurricane had been let loose on the surface of that ocean?
4月20日的惊人场面在我们中间永远没有一人能忘记，我是在强烈的情绪下把它写下来的。以后我又把这个叙述重读一遍，我把它念给康塞尔和尼德·兰听。他们觉得我所写的很正确，跟实际情形一样，但产生的效果还不够强烈。想描绘这类图画，必须我们诗人中最有名的一位。
《海上劳工》的作者的妙笔①，才能表达出来。
我上面说过，尼摩船长眼盯着水波流消。他的痛苦是大得了不得的。自我们到船上来，这是他损失的第二个同伴。“这个同伴死得多么可怕！这个朋友被一条章鱼的粗大胳膊压扁，室息，扭断，被它的铁牙床研碎，不能跟他的同伴们一样地在珊瑚墓地的安静水底长眠！
对我个人来说，在这次战斗中，那个不幸的人发出的最后绝望的呼喊把我的心肠撕碎了。这个可怜的法国人，忘记他在船上约定的语言，又说出祖国和母亲的话来，发出最后一次的呼救！诺第留斯号所有的船员，他们全是身心跟尼摩船长还结在一起的，他们是跟他一样躲避人类的；那么，其中有一个是我的同胞！在这个神秘的团体中一这个团体显然由不同国籍的人组成一～代表法国的只是他一个人吗？这又是不断横在我心头的不可解的一个问题！
尼摩船长回他的房中去了，我有好些时候看不见他。
如果我从诺第留斯号来判断——因为他是船的灵魂，船完全受他的感应，他应该是愁闷、失望和踌躇，诺第留斯号并不保持一定的方向。它走来走去，像一具死尸，随波上下。
它的推进器已经松开，自由了，它几乎用不着这个推进器了。它没有固定方向地漂流着。它又不忍离开它最后一次斗争·的场所，那个吞噬了他的一个亲人的海面！
这样过了十天。一直到了5月：日，诺第留斯号在巴哈麻水道口望见留加衣群岛后，又驶向往北方去的水道。
我们于是沿着海中最大河流的潮水行驶，这河有它自己的边岸，自己的鱼类和自己的温度。我称这河为大西洋暖流。
是的，这是一条河流，它在大西洋中自由流动，它的水跟大西洋的水互不相混。它是一条成水河，比周围的海水更成。它的平均深度是三千英尺，平均宽度是六十海里。
在某几处，它的水流速度是每小时四公里。它的水的不变积量比地球上任何的河水积量都大。
大西洋暖流的真正水源，它的出发点，由莫利船长指出来的，可以说，是在嘉斯贡尼海湾①。它的水在这湾中，温度和颜色还不很强，但已经开始形成了。它向南流，沿赤道非洲走，水流受热带地区阳光的蒸晒，日益变得温热起来，横过大西洋，到达巴西海岸的三罗格罗，然后分成两个支流，一个支流流入安的列斯群岛海中，尽量吸取温热水分。这时候，大西洋暖流担任恢复海上温度的平衡，以及把热带海水跟北极海水混和起来，开始它的保持均衡的作用。在墨西哥湾中，它被晒至白热程度，沿北美海岸奔向北方，一直前进到纽芬兰岛。然后受台维斯海峡寒流的推送，转折向西，又流入大西洋中，在地球这一处的一个大圈上沿斜航曲线流去。到北纬43度，暖流又分为两支，其中一支受东北季候风的帮助，回到嘉斯贡尼湾和阿梭尔群岛，另一支使爱尔兰和挪威海岸获得温暖后，直流至斯勃齐堡，在斯勃齐堡一带，它的温度降至四度，形成北极自由流动的海。
这时诺第留斯号航行的就是大西洋的这条河流。从巴哈麻水道口出来，在十四里宽，三百五十米深的地方，暖流行动的速度是每小时八公里。这种速度越向北去越慢；这种规律性是有其存在必要的，因为有人已经指出，如果暖流的速度和方向改变了，欧洲的气候就将变幻莫测。
到中午左右，我跟康塞尔在平台上。我告诉他关于大西洋暖流的一些特殊性。当我把话说完时，我要他把手放到水流里面去。
康塞尔照我的话做，把手放下去，他很惊异，他没有丝毫冷热的感觉。
“这因为，”我对他说，“大西洋暖流从墨西哥湾出来，它的水温跟人的体温没有什么差别。暖流是巨大的暖气炉，使欧洲沿海气候温和，永远有青草绿叶。并且，如果我们要相信莫利说的活，把暖流的热力全部利用起来，供应的热量：可以使一条亚马逊河或密苏里河一般大的铁的河流，永远保持熔点温度。"在这时候，暖流的速度是每秒两米二十五厘米。它的水流跟周围的水流很不同，它的受压挤的水在洋面上特别浮出，使它的暖水和海中冷水之间造成不同的水平。另外，暖流的水很沉黑，富于盐质，它的纯蓝靛色在周围的绿波上截然分开。当诺第留斯号跟嘉、罗林群岛在同一纬度上，船冲角进入了暖流，它的推进器还在海水中搅动的计，候，这两种水流的分界线就有很明显的划分了。一个整个的生物世界被带进这水流里。在地中海很常见的肛鱼，成群地在暖流中游行。
在夜间，大西洋暖流的磷光海水跟我们探照灯的电光相竞赛，特别在天气变化、有暴风雨威胁我们的时候。
5月8日，跟北加罗林群岛在同一纬度上，我们还是与哈提拉斯角侧面遥遥相对。这时，大西洋暖流的宽度是七千五海里，它的深度是二百一十米。诺第留斯号继续随意冒险行驶。在船上好像没有什么管理和监督了。我要承认，在这种情况下，逃走的计划很可能实现，是的，有人居住的海岸到处都给人们以方便的藏身处。海上有许多汽船不断往来行驶，它们是从纽约或从波士顿到墨西哥湾的定期船只，又有那些小的二桅帆船在美洲沿海各地担任沿岸航行的工作。我们对很有希望能得到这些船只的接待。所以，现在是一个很好的机会。就是诺第留斯号离美洲联邦海岸有三十海里，也没有什么关系。
但突然的险恶情势完全打破了加拿大人的计划。天气很坏。我们走近了这带常有暴风的海，就是台风和旋风产生的地方，产生的原因，正是由于大西洋暖流。在一只脆弱的小艇上，冒险与时常狂吼的波涛搏斗，那一定是白送性命。尼德·兰本人也同意这种看法。所以，对于他的发狂的思乡病，虽然只有逃走才能治疗，但现在，他也只能咬紧牙关，再忍耐一些时候了。
“事情必须结束了，”那一天他对我说，“我想对于这事必须有明确的决定。您的尼摩离开陆地，往上溯，向北开行了。但我公开对您说，南极我已经受够了，我决不跟他到北极去。”
“怎么办，尼德？这时候，逃走是不可能呢！”
“我还是我从前的那个主意。必须跟船长谈一下。当我们在您的祖国沿海中的时候，您并没有跟他说。现在到我的祖国沿海中了，我要跟他说了。当我想到，没有几天，诺第留斯号就要跟新苏格兰在同一纬度上，在那边，近纽芬兰岛，现出阔大的海湾，圣劳伦斯河流入这湾中，圣劳伦斯河是我的河，是我生长的城市魁北克所在的河，当我想到这事时，我的愤怒完全露在我脸上了，我的头发竖起来了。您瞧，先生，我情愿跳到海中去！我不愿留在这里！我闷死了！”
加拿大人显然是忍无可忍了。他的坚强天性不可能跟这无期延长的监牢生活相适应。他的容貌一天一天改变。
他的性格愈来愈忧郁。我感觉到他所忍受的苦恼，因为我也一样，心中有了思乡玻差不多七个月过去了，一点陆地上的消息也得不到。还有，尼摩船长的孤独，他脾气的改变——特别自从那一次跟章鱼战斗后，他的沉默，都使我在不同的角度下来看这些问题。我感到臼己心中没有那开始时期的热情了。在这专给鲸科动物和其他海中生物生活的环境中，只有像康塞尔这样的一个佛兰蒙人才能安心接受。
真是，如果这个老实人没有肺而有腮，我想他很可以做一条了不得的好鱼！
“先生，怎么样？”尼德·兰看见我不回答，立即又说。
“尼德，那么，您要我去问尼摩船长，他对于我们是怀着怎样的意图吗？”
“是的，先生。”
“虽然他已经说过了，也还要问一下吗？”
“是的。我希望最后一次把这件事搞明白，请你特别为我同他说吧，单单以我的名义同他说吧。”
，‘可是我很难碰见他。而且他也在躲我呢“那就更多一个理由，必须去看他了。”
“尼德，我不久一定问他，”
“什么时候？”加拿大人坚持地问。
“当我碰见他的时候。…
“阿龙纳斯先生，您让我找他去好吗？”
“不，我找他去。明天……”
“今天。"尼德·兰说。
“好。今天，我就去看他。"我回答加拿大人说。要是他自己去的话，一定会把整个事情搞糟了。
我独自留在那里。我决定去问船长了，我打定主意立即把事情办完，我喜欢办完的事，不喜欢待办的事。
我回到我房中。从我房中，我听到尼摩船长的房中有脚步声，那就不应该放过这个碰见他的机会了。我敲敲他的门，我得不到回答。我又敲一下，然后我用手转动门扣。
环境中，只有像康塞尔这样的一个佛兰蒙人才能安心接受。
真是，如果这个老实人没有肺而有腮，我想他很可以做一条了不得的好鱼！
“先生，怎么样？”尼德·兰看见我不回答，立即又说。
“尼德，那么，您要我去问尼摩船长，他对于我们是怀着怎样的意图吗？”
“是的，先生。”
“虽然他已经说过了，也还要问一下吗？”
“是的。我希望最后一次把这件事搞明白，请你特别为我同他说吧，单单以我的名义同他说吧。”
，‘可是我很难碰见他。而且他也在躲我呢“那就更多一个理由，必须去看他了。”
“尼德，我不久一定问他，”
“什么时候？”加拿大人坚持地问。
“当我碰见他的时候。…
“阿龙纳斯先生，您让我找他去好吗？”
“不，我找他去。明天……”
“今天。"尼德·兰说。
“好。今天，我就去看他。"我回答加拿大人说。要是他自己去的话，一定会把整个事情搞糟了。
我独自留在那里。我决定去问船长了，我打定主意立即把事情办完，我喜欢办完的事，不喜欢待办的事。
我回到我房中。从我房中，我听到尼摩船长的房中有脚步声，那就不应该放过这个碰见他的机会了。我敲敲他的门，我得不到回答。我又敲一下，然后我用手转动门扣。
决不能让它损失，但您用来执行您的计划的，是很原始粗糙的方法。谁知道大凤把这盒子吹到哪里去？它将落到什么人的手中？您不能找出更好的办法吗？您，或你们中的一位，不可以……？”
“永不能，先生。”尼摩船长打断我的话，急促地说。
“就是我，我的同伴们，我们愿意保存这特别藏起来的手稿，如果您能恢复我们的自由……”“自由！”尼摩船长站起来说。
“是的，先生，就是这个问题，我现在要来问问您。我们在您船上有七个月了，我今天用我的同伴和我的名义来问您，您的意图是不是要把我们永远留在这船上。”
“阿龙纳斯先生，”尼摩船长说，“我今天要回答您的话，就是七个月前我回答过您的：谁进了诺第留斯号就不能离开它。”
“您要我们接受的简直是奴隶制了！”
“随便您喜欢给它川·么名称吧。”
“可是，奴隶随时随地保留有要恢复他的自由的权利：不管哪种机会来到，他都会认为是好的，都要加以利用！
“这个权利，”尼摩船长回答，“谁否认您有？我曾想过要您们发誓把您们束缚住吗？"船长两手交叉在胸前，眼盯着我。
“先生，”我对他说，“第二次再来谈这个问题，不是您所高兴，也不是我所愿意的。不过我们既然说到了，我们就尽情地谈一下。我再重复一遍，这不是单单关于我个人的问题。对我来说，研究是一种帮助，一种有力的转移，一种吸引，一种热情，可以使我忘记一切。跟您一样，我生活不求人知，我只有一种微小的希望，想把自己工作的结果，有一天利用一个靠不住的盒子，随风浪的漂流，遗赠给将来的人。总之，我在我了解您这个人的某些方面上。我可以佩服您，跟着您，没有什么苦恼和不快。但您的生活有其他的方面，使我觉得它是很复杂和很神秘，就是这一部分，一直到现在，我的同伴和我，丝毫不了解。我们的心时常为您而跳动，为您的某些痛苦而感动，或为您的天才或勇敢行为而鼓舞：但是，我们同时又看到，不论是从朋友或从敌人方面发出来的美和善，哪怕是出于人类同情心的最细微的表示，我们也必须把它压抑在心中，不能露出来，那么，就是这种感觉，我们对于所有牵涉到您的全是陌生的这种感觉，也就使得我们的处境有些不能忍受下去；甚至对我来说也是这样。
特别对尼德·兰来说，更是这样。对自由的热爱，对奴役的憎恨：在天性跟加拿大人一般的人心中可以生出的报复计划，他可能思想的，可能企图的，可能要做的……您心中曾想过一下吗？"我停声不说了。尼摩船长站起来说：“尼德·兰思索的，企图的，要做的是什么，随他的意思去，那跟我有什么关系？并不是我把他找来的呀！并不是我高兴把他留在船上啊！至于您，阿龙纳斯先生，您是能了解一切的人，就是不说出来您也能了解的人，我没有什么话可以回答您的了。希望您来谈这个问题的第一次也就是最后一次了，因为第二次我就是听都不听您了。”
我退出来。
自这一天起，我们的情形很是紧张。我把谈话报告给我的两个同伴听了。
“我们现在知道，”尼德·兰说，“对于这个人我们不能有什么期待了。诺第留斯号现在接近长岛，不管天气怎样，我们逃吧。"但是天气愈来愈坏，有迹象预告大风暴就要到来。空中大气变成灰白的牛奶色。在天际，接着一阵一阵疏散的淡云来的，是那朵朵的浓密乌云了。别的低垂的层云很快地在空中飞过。海水高涨，鼓起阔大的波涛。除了喜欢跟风暴做朋友的那一种：海燕外，所有的鸟都不见了。风雨表显著下降，表示空中的温度很高，水蒸气很多。暴风镜受了大气中饱和的电力，内部物质分解了。风雨的猛烈斗争很快就要展开了。
大风暴在5月8日那一天爆发，正当诺第留斯号跟长岛在同一纬度上，距纽约水道只有几海里远的时候。我可以描写这次风雨的激烈斗争，因为，不知由于哪种古怪的情绪，尼摩船长不让船潜入海底，而要它在水而上乘风破浪。
凤从西南方吹来，首先是一阵一阵的凉凤，就是说，每秒的速度为十五米，到下午二点左右，速度就达到每秒二十五米。这是暴风的速度了。
尼摩船长站在平台上，在猛烈的暴风下屹立不动。他腰间用绳子捆住，可以抵抗阵阵冲来的大浪。我也站在平台上，也用绳子把自己捆起来，欣赏这风暴，同时又赞美这不怕风暴的无与伦比的人。波涛汹涌的海面被浸在水中的片片巨大浓云扫过。我再也看不见大漩涡中形成的中间小浪。只有煤黑色的长波大浪，浪尖并不汹涌，因为它们紧凑环境中，只有像康塞尔这样的一个佛兰蒙人才能安心接受。
真是，如果这个老实人没有肺而有腮，我想他很可以做一条了不得的好鱼！
“先生，怎么样？”尼德·兰看见我不回答，立即又说。
“尼德，那么，您要我去问尼摩船长，他对于我们是怀着怎样的意图吗？”
“是的，先生。”
“虽然他已经说过了，也还要问一下吗？”
“是的。我希望最后一次把这件事搞明白，请你特别为我同他说吧，单单以我的名义同他说吧。”
，‘可是我很难碰见他。而且他也在躲我呢“那就更多一个理由，必须去看他了。”
“尼德，我不久一定问他，”
“什么时候？”加拿大人坚持地问。
“当我碰见他的时候。…
“阿龙纳斯先生，您让我找他去好吗？”
“不，我找他去。明天……”
“今天。"尼德·兰说。
“好。今天，我就去看他。"我回答加拿大人说。要是他自己去的话，一定会把整个事情搞糟了。
我独自留在那里。我决定去问船长了，我打定主意立即把事情办完，我喜欢办完的事，不喜欢待办的事。
我回到我房中。从我房中，我听到尼摩船长的房中有脚步声，那就不应该放过这个碰见他的机会了。我敲敲他的门，我得不到回答。我又敲一下，然后我用手转动门扣。
划为条纹。
我受不了闪电的光辉，但尼摩船长正视着它，好像要把风暴的灵魂吸取过来。隆隆可怕的响声布满空中，这是很复杂的声响，由互相击打的波浪怒吼声，大风的呼啸声，雷电的爆裂声所组成。凤从夭际各处吹来，台风臼东方出发，经过北方、西方和南方，又回到东方，跟北半球的回旋风暴的方向正相反。
啊：这大西洋暖流！它被称为风暴王，真有道理！由于在它水流上面，备层空气的温度不同，使它造成厉害强大的台风。
接着大雨，就是一阵烈火。雨点变为轰掣闪电的羽饰了。真使人要说，尼摩船长想求得一种配得上他身份的死。
是要让雷来轰自己呢。受到了一次可怕的颠簸震动，诺第留斯号把它前头的冲角竖起在空中，像避雷针那样，我看见从冲角上发出很长的火花。疲乏了，力尽了，我爬在台上滚到嵌板边去。我把嵌板弄开，下到客厅中，这时候，狂风暴雨，雷电交加，猛烈达到了最高点。想在诺第留斯号内部站立起来，简直不可能。
尼摩船长到半夜左右才回船中，我听到储水池渐渐装满水，诺第留斯号轻轻地沉到海水下面去。
通过客厅中打开的玻璃窗，我看见好些惊慌的大鱼，像幽灵一样，在火光照耀的水中走过。有一些鱼就在我眼前叭雷轰死了。诺第留斯号老是下降。我想它在十五米深的地方又可以得到安静。出乎意料之外，上部水层受到了过度激烈的搅动。一直要到五十个米深，在海的深处，它才找到安宁水底是多么安定，多么寂静，多么和平的环境！谁能说这时在大洋面上没有可怕的狂风暴雨呢？
收听单词发音 |
1
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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cemetery
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| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
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recoiling
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| v.畏缩( recoil的现在分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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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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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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schooners
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| n.（有两个以上桅杆的）纵帆船( schooner的名词复数 ) | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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cyclone
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| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
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cyclones
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| n.气旋( cyclone的名词复数 )；旋风；飓风；暴风 | |
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engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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nostalgia
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| n.怀乡病，留恋过去，怀旧 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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survivor
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| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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barometer
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| n.气压表，睛雨表，反应指标 | |
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decomposed
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| 已分解的，已腐烂的 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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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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impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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58
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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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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61
spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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62
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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63
phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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64
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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65
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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66
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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67
bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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