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Chapter 18. The Devilfish

           Itsspindle-likebodyformedafleshymassthatmightweigh4,000to5,000lb.;the,varyingcolourchangingwithgreatrapidity,accordingtotheirritationoftheanimal,passedsuccessivelyfromlividgreytoreddishbrown.Whatirritatedthismollusc?NodoubtthepresenceoftheNautilus,moreformidablethanitself,andonwhichitssuckersoritsjawshadnohold.Yet,whatmonstersthesepoulpsare!whatvitalitytheCreatorhasgiventhem!whatvigourintheirmovements!andtheypossessthreehearts!Chancehadbroughtusinpresenceofthiscuttlefish,andIdidnotwishtolosetheopportunityofcarefullystudyingthisspecimenofcephalopods.Iovercamethehorrorthatinspiredme,and,takingapencil,begantodrawit.

           "PerhapsthisisthesamewhichtheAlectorsaw,"saidConseil.

           "No,"repliedtheCanadian;"forthisiswhole,andtheotherhadlostitstail."

           "Thatisnoreason,"Ireplied."Thearmsandtailsoftheseanimalsarere-formedbyrenewal;andinsevenyearsthetailofBouguer’scuttlefishhasnodoubthadtimetogrow."

           Bythistimeotherpoulpsappearedattheportlight.Icountedseven.TheyformedaprocessionaftertheNautilus,andIheardtheirbeaksgnashingagainsttheironhull.Icontinuedmywork.Thesemonsterskeptinthewaterwithsuchprecisionthattheyseemedimmovable.SuddenlytheNautilusstopped.Ashockmadeittrembleineveryplate.

           "Havewestruckanything?"Iasked.

           "Inanycase,"repliedtheCanadian,"weshallbefree,forwearefloating."

           TheNautiluswasfloating,nodoubt,butitdidnotmove.Aminutepassed.CaptainNemo,followedbyhislieutenant,enteredthedrawing-room.

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