Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/229

 it is really the lightning, and not the thunder, which constitutes the danger.

At this moment the canoes approached the Nautilus, and a shower of arrows struck it.

“The devil!” cried Conseil; “here is a regular hail-storm; and perhaps the hail is poisoned too.”

“We must acquaint Captain Nemo,” I said, entering the panel as I spoke.

I descended to the saloon; no one was there. I ventured to knock at the door which opened into the captain’s room.

A “Come in” answered me, and I found the captain immersed in algebraical calculations.

“I am disturbing you, I fear,” I said politely.

“Well, yes, M. Aronnax; but I daresay you have very good reasons for so doing.”

“I have indeed. We are surrounded by canoes filled with the natives, and in a short time we shall be attacked by hundreds of savages.”

“Ah!” said Captain Nemo quietly; “so they have come in their canoes, eh?”

“Yes?

“Well, we have only to close the panel.”

“Precisely; I came to tell you so.”

“Nothing can be easier,” was the reply; and pressing an electric bell, it gave the order.

After a pause, he said:

“That is done. The launch is in its place, and the panels are closed. You have no fear, I suppose, that these gentlemen outside will break the walls which the shot from your frigate could not hurt?”