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Chapter 16. Shortage of Air

           "M.Aronnax,wemustattemptsomedesperatemeans,orweshallbesealedupinthissolidifiedwaterasincement."

           "Yes;butwhatistobedone?"

           "Ah!ifmyNautiluswerestrongenoughtobearthispressurewithoutbeingcrushed!"

           "Well?"Iasked,notcatchingtheCaptain’sidea.

           "Doyounotunderstand,"hereplied,"thatthiscongelationofwaterwillhelpus?Doyounotseethatbyitssolidification,itwouldburstthroughthisfieldoficethatimprisonsus,as,whenitfreezes,itburststhehardeststones?Doyounotperceivethatitwouldbeanagentofsafetyinsteadofdestruction?"

           "Yes,Captain,perhaps.But,whateverresistancetocrushingtheNautiluspossesses,itcouldnotsupportthisterriblepressure,andwouldbeflattenedlikeanironplate."

           "Iknowit,sir.Thereforewemustnotreckonontheaidofnature,butonourownexertions.Wemuststopthissolidification.Notonlywillthesidewallsbepressedtogether;butthereisnottenfeetofwaterbeforeorbehindtheNautilus.Thecongelationgainsonusonallsides."

           "Howlongwilltheairinthereservoirslastforustobreatheonboard?"

           TheCaptainlookedinmyface."Afterto-morrowtheywillbeempty!"

           Acoldsweatcameoverme.However,oughtItohavebeenastonishedattheanswer?OnMarch22,theNautiluswasintheopenpolarseas.Wewereat26°.

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