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Chapter 13. The Ice Bank

           Oftenseeingnoexit,Ithoughtweweredefinitelyprisoners;but,instinctguidinghimattheslightestindication,CaptainNemowoulddiscoveranewpass.Hewasnevermistakenwhenhesawthethinthreadsofbluishwatertricklingalongtheice-fields;andIhadnodoubtthathehadalreadyventuredintothemidstoftheseAntarcticseasbefore.Onthe16thofMarch,however,theice-fieldsabsolutelyblockedourroad.Itwasnottheicebergitself,asyet,butvastfieldscementedbythecold.ButthisobstaclecouldnotstopCaptainNemo:hehurledhimselfagainstitwithfrightfulviolence.TheNautilusenteredthebrittlemasslikeawedge,andsplititwithfrightfulcrackings.Itwasthebatteringramoftheancientshurledbyinfinitestrength.Theice,thrownhighintheair,felllikehailaroundus.Byitsownpowerofimpulsionourapparatusmadeacanalforitself;sometimescarriedawaybyitsownimpetus,itlodgedontheice-field,crushingitwithitsweight,andsometimesburiedbeneathit,dividingitbyasimplepitchingmovement,producinglargerentsinit.Violentgalesassailedusatthistime,accompaniedbythickfogs,throughwhich,fromoneendoftheplatformtotheother,wecouldseenothing.Thewindblewsharplyfromallpartsofthecompass,andthesnowlayinsuchhardheapsthatwehadtobreakitwithblowsofapickaxe.Thetemperaturewasalwaysatbelowzero;everyoutwardpartoftheNautiluswascoveredwithice.Ariggedvesselwouldhavebeenentangledintheblockedupgorges.Avesselwithoutsails,withelectricityforitsmotivepower,andwantingnocoal,couldalonebravesuchhighlatitudes.Atlength,onthe18thofMarch,aftermanyuselessassaults,theNautiluswaspositivelyblocked.Itwasnolongereitherstreams,packs,orice-fields,butaninterminableandimmovablebarrier,formedbymountainssolderedtogether.

           "Aniceberg!"saidtheCanadiantome.

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