Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/165

 Captain Nemo had already risen, and I was beginning to stretch my limbs, when an unexpected sight caused me to spring nimbly to my feet.

A few paces off there was an enormous sea-spider, about three feet high, regarding me with its cross-squinting eyes, and ready to attack me. Although the diver’s dress was sufficient to protect me from the bite of the animal, I could not restrain a movement of horror. Conseil and the sailor of the Nautilus now awoke; Captain Nemo pointed to the creature, and the sailor killed it by repeated blows with the stock of his gun, while I saw the terrible limbs of the monster twisting and curving in the agonies of death.

This meeting made me think of other and more dangerous animals which inhabited these dark depths, and against whose attacks my dress would be no protection. Up to this time I had not thought about such things, and I determined to be on my guard. I supposed also that this halt was to indicate the turning point of our expedition, but I was mistaken, for Captain Nemo continued his daring excursion.

The ground still fell away, and led us into very great depths. It was nearly three o’clock when we reached a narrow valley, hollowed out between two perpendicular walls, and at a depth of 150 yards. Thanks to the perfection of our dresses, we had exceeded by ninety yards the limit that nature appears to have hitherto put to man’s sub-aqueous excursions.

I say 150 yards, although I had no instrument to measure the distance. But I know that in the clearest seas the solar rays cannot penetrate farther. Now the obscurity had become profound. Nothing was visible at