Chapter 21. A Mass Execution

           Thewayofdescribingthisunlooked-forscene,thehistoryofthepatriotship,toldatfirstsocoldly,andtheemotionwithwhichthisstrangemanpronouncedthelastwords,thenameoftheAvenger,thesignificanceofwhichcouldnotescapeme,allimpresseditselfdeeplyonmymind.MyeyesdidnotleavetheCaptain,who,withhishandstretchedouttosea,waswatchingwithaglowingeyethegloriouswreck.PerhapsIwasnevertoknowwhohewas,fromwhencehecame,orwherehewasgoingto,butIsawthemanmove,andapartfromthesavant.ItwasnocommonmisanthropywhichhadshutCaptainNemoandhiscompanionswithintheNautilus,butahatred,eithermonstrousorsublime,whichtimecouldneverweaken.Didthishatredstillseekforvengeance?Thefuturewouldsoonteachmethat.ButtheNautiluswasrisingslowlytothesurfaceofthesea,andtheformoftheAvengerdisappearedbydegreesfrommysight.Soonaslightrollingtoldmethatwewereintheopenair.Atthatmomentadullboomwasheard.IlookedattheCaptain.Hedidnotmove.

           "Captain?"saidI.

           Hedidnotanswer.Ilefthimandmountedtheplatform.ConseilandtheCanadianwerealreadythere.

           "Wheredidthatsoundcomefrom?"Iasked.

           "Itwasagunshot,"repliedNedLand.

           IlookedinthedirectionofthevesselIhadalreadyseen.ItwasnearingtheNautilus,andwecouldseethatitwasputtingonsteam.Itwaswithinsixmilesofus.