Chapter 15. Accident or Incident?

           Thenextday,the22ndofMarch,atsixinthemorning,preparationsfordeparturewerebegun.Thelastgleamsoftwilightweremeltingintonight.Thecoldwasgreat,theconstellationsshonewithwonderfulintensity.InthezenithglitteredthatwondrousSouthernCross—thepolarbearofAntarcticregions.Thethermometershowed120belowzero,andwhenthewindfresheneditwasmostbiting.Flakesoficeincreasedontheopenwater.Theseaseemedeverywherealike.Numerousblackishpatchesspreadonthesurface,showingtheformationoffreshice.Evidentlythesouthernbasin,frozenduringthesixwintermonths,wasabsolutelyinaccessible.Whatbecameofthewhalesinthattime?Doubtlesstheywentbeneaththeicebergs,seekingmorepracticableseas.Astothesealsandmorses,accustomedtoliveinahardclimate,theyremainedontheseicyshores.Thesecreatureshavetheinstincttobreakholesintheice-fieldandtokeepthemopen.Totheseholestheycomeforbreath;whenthebirds,drivenawaybythecold,haveemigratedtothenorth,theseseamammalsremainsolemastersofthepolarcontinent.Butthereservoirswerefillingwithwater,andtheNautiluswasslowlydescending.At1,000feetdeepitstopped;itsscrewbeatthewaves,anditadvancedstraighttowardsthenorthataspeedoffifteenmilesanhour.Towardsnightitwasalreadyfloatingundertheimmensebodyoftheiceberg.AtthreeinthemorningIwasawakenedbyaviolentshock.Isatupinmybedandlistenedinthedarkness,whenIwasthrownintothemiddleoftheroom.TheNautilus,afterhavingstruck,hadreboundedviolently.Igropedalongthepartition,andbythestaircasetothesaloon,whichwaslitbytheluminousceiling.Thefurniturewasupset.Fortunatelythewindowswerefirmlyset,andhadheldfast.