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 to me impossible—I do not see how you can get her off.”

“You are right about the tides, Professor, but in Torres Strait there is still a difference of a yard and a half between high and low water. To-day is the 4th January, and in five days there will be a full moon. Now I shall be much surprised if this complaisant planet does not raise the water sufficiently to render me a service which I do not wish to owe to anyone but her.”

As he spoke, Captain Nemo, followed by the mate, descended. The ship never moved, and remained as motionless as if the coral polyps had enclosed her in their indestructible cement.

“Well, sir?” said Ned Land, who came up to me after the captain had left.

“Well, Ned, we must wait patiently for the tide of the 9th, for it appears that the moon will be good enough to float us again.”

“Without assistance?”

“Yes.”

“And is not the captain going to try to warp her off?”

“Not if the sea will be sufficient,” said Conseil.

The Canadian looked at Conseil, and shrugged his shoulders—the sailor in him had spoken.

“Monsieur,” said he, “you would not believe me when I told you that this bit of metal would not travel either above or below the ocean. It is no good, except to sell for the iron. I think, therefore, that the time has come to part company with Captain Nemo.”

“Friend Ned,” I replied, “I do not despair, as you do, and in four days we shall know to what we have to trust to. And your suggestion as to flight would be