Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/153

 are mortal, and however lightly the animal may be struck, he falls dead.”

“Why?”

“Because I do not use ordinary bullets—but little glass capsules, invented by the Austrian chemist Zeniebrock, and of which I have a large supply. These are covered with steel and weighted with lead—true Leyden jars in fact—in which electricity reaches a high tension. At the slightest resistance they burst, and the animal, however powerful he may be, falls dead. I may add that these capsules are no bigger than ‘No. 4,’ and that six of them is the usual charge.”

“I do not question it,” I said, rising, “and I have no more to do than take my gun. So where you go—I go.”

Captain Nemo then led me to the stern of the Nautilus, and as we passed the cabin where Ned and Conseil were seated, I called them to accompany us.

We all soon reached a small cabin near the engine-room, and in which we were to be fitted out for our expedition.