Chapter 17. From Cape Horn to the Amazon

           HowIgotontotheplatform,Ihavenoidea;perhapstheCanadianhadcarriedmethere.ButIbreathed,Iinhaledthevivifyingsea-air.Mytwocompanionsweregettingdrunkwiththefreshparticles.Theotherunhappymenhadbeensolongwithoutfood,thattheycouldnotwithimpunityindulgeinthesimplestalimentsthatweregiventhem.We,onthecontrary,hadnoendtorestrainourselves;wecoulddrawthisairfreelyintoourlungs,anditwasthebreeze,thebreezealone,thatfilleduswiththiskeenenjoyment.

           "Ah!"saidConseil,"howdelightfulthisoxygenis!Masterneednotfeartobreatheit.Thereisenoughforeverybody."

           NedLanddidnotspeak,butheopenedhisjawswideenoughtofrightenashark.Ourstrengthsoonreturned,and,whenIlookedroundme,Isawwewerealoneontheplatform.TheforeignseamenintheNautiluswerecontentedwiththeairthatcirculatedintheinterior;noneofthemhadcometodrinkintheopenair.

           ThefirstwordsIspokewerewordsofgratitudeandthankfulnesstomytwocompanions.NedandConseilhadprolongedmylifeduringthelasthoursofthislongagony.Allmygratitudecouldnotrepaysuchdevotion.

           "Myfriends,"saidI,"weareboundonetotheotherforever,andIamunderinfiniteobligationstoyou."

           "WhichIshalltakeadvantageof,"exclaimedtheCanadian.

           "Whatdoyoumean?"saidConseil.

           "ImeanthatIshalltakeyouwithmewhenIleavethisinfernalNautilus."