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Chapter 15. Accident or Incident?

           CaptainNemohadchosenastrangemomentforutteringthisphilosophicalreflection.Onthewhole,hisanswerhelpedmelittle.

           "MayIask,sir,thecauseofthisaccident?"

           "Anenormousblockofice,awholemountain,hasturnedover,"hereplied."Whenicebergsareunderminedattheirbasebywarmerwaterorreiteratedshockstheircentreofgravityrises,andthewholethingturnsover.Thisiswhathashappened;oneoftheseblocks,asitfell,strucktheNautilus,then,glidingunderitshull,raiseditwithirresistibleforce,bringingitintobedswhicharenotsothick,whereitislyingonitsside."

           "ButcanwenotgettheNautilusoffbyemptyingitsreservoirs,thatitmightregainitsequilibrium?"

           "That,sir,isbeingdoneatthismoment.Youcanhearthepumpworking.Lookattheneedleofthemanometer;itshowsthattheNautilusisrising,buttheblockoficeisfloatingwithit;and,untilsomeobstaclestopsitsascendingmotion,ourpositioncannotbealtered."

           Indeed,theNautilusstillheldthesamepositiontostarboard;doubtlessitwouldrightitselfwhentheblockstopped.Butatthismomentwhoknowsifwemaynotbefrightfullycrushedbetweenthetwoglassysurfaces?Ireflectedonalltheconsequencesofourposition.CaptainNemonevertookhiseyesoffthemanometer.Sincethefalloftheiceberg,theNautilushadrisenaboutahundredandfiftyfeet,butitstillmadethesameanglewiththeperpendicular.Suddenlyaslightmovementwasfeltinthehold.Evidentlyitwasrightingalittle.Thingshanginginthesaloonweresensiblyreturningtotheirnormalposition.

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