20000 льє під водою

           Yes,Irepeatit,itmustbeso.OnepartofthemysteriousexistenceofCaptainNemohadbeenunveiled;and,ifhisidentityhadnotbeenrecognised,atleast,thenationsunitedagainsthimwerenolongerhuntingachimericalcreature,butamanwhohadvowedadeadlyhatredagainstthem.Alltheformidablepastrosebeforeme.Insteadofmeetingfriendsonboardtheapproachingship,wecouldonlyexpectpitilessenemies.Buttheshotrattledaboutus.Someofthemstrucktheseaandricochetted,losingthemselvesinthedistance.ButnonetouchedtheNautilus.Thevesselwasnotmorethanthreemilesfromus.Inspiteoftheseriouscannonade,CaptainNemodidnotappearontheplatform;but,ifoneoftheconicalprojectileshadstrucktheshelloftheNautilus,itwouldhavebeenfatal.TheCanadianthensaid,"Sir,wemustdoallwecantogetoutofthisdilemma.Letussignalthem.Theywillthen,perhaps,understandthatwearehonestfolks."

           NedLandtookhishandkerchieftowaveintheair;buthehadscarcelydisplayedit,whenhewasstruckdownbyanironhand,andfell,inspiteofhisgreatstrength,uponthedeck.

           "Fool!"exclaimedtheCaptain,"doyouwishtobepiercedbythespuroftheNautilusbeforeitishurledatthisvessel?"

           CaptainNemowasterribletohear;hewasstillmoreterribletosee.Hisfacewasdeadlypale,withaspasmathisheart.Foraninstantitmusthaveceasedtobeat.Hispupilswerefearfullycontracted.Hedidnotspeak,heroared,as,withhisbodythrownforward,hewrungtheCanadian’sshoulders.Then,leavinghim,andturningtotheshipofwar,whoseshotwasstillrainingaroundhim,heexclaimed,withapowerfulvoice,"Ah,shipofanaccursednation,youknowwhoIam!Idonotwantyourcolourstoknowyouby!Look!andIwillshowyoumine!"