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Chapter 23. “Aegri Somnia”

           DuringseveralhourstheNautilusfloatedinthesebrilliantwaves,andouradmirationincreasedaswewatchedthemarinemonstersdisportingthemselveslikesalamanders.Isawthereinthemidstofthisfirethatburnsnottheswiftandelegantporpoise(theindefatigableclownoftheocean),andsomeswordfishtenfeetlong,thosepropheticheraldsofthehurricanewhoseformidableswordwouldnowandthenstriketheglassofthesaloon.Thenappearedthesmallerfish,thebalista,theleapingmackerel,wolf-thorn-tails,andahundredotherswhichstripedtheluminousatmosphereastheyswam.Thisdazzlingspectaclewasenchanting!Perhapssomeatmosphericconditionincreasedtheintensityofthisphenomenon.Perhapssomestormagitatedthesurfaceofthewaves.Butatthisdepthofsomeyards,theNautiluswasunmovedbyitsfuryandreposedpeacefullyinstillwater.

           Soweprogressed,incessantlycharmedbysomenewmarvel.Thedayspassedrapidlyaway,andItooknoaccountofthem.Ned,accordingtohabit,triedtovarythedietonboard.Likesnails,wewerefixedtoourshells,andIdeclareitiseasytoleadasnail’slife.

           Thusthislifeseemedeasyandnatural,andwethoughtnolongerofthelifeweledonland;butsomethinghappenedtorecallustothestrangenessofoursituation.

           Onthe18thofJanuary,theNautiluswasin105°long.and15°S.lat.Theweatherwasthreatening,thesearoughandrolling.Therewasastrongeastwind.Thebarometer,whichhadbeengoingdownforsomedays,forebodedacomingstorm.Iwentupontotheplatformjustasthesecondlieutenantwastakingthemeasureofthehoraryangles,andwaited,accordingtohabittillthedailyphrasewassaid.Butonthisdayitwasexchangedforanotherphrasenotlessincomprehensible.Almostdirectly,IsawCaptainNemoappearwithaglass,lookingtowardsthehorizon.

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