Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/250

 features. The cerebral phlegmasia was complete, and induced paralysis both of body and mind.

I felt the sick man’s pulse. It was intermittent. The extremities were already cold, and I could perceive that death was approaching without any possibility of my staying its approach. Having dressed his wounds I readjusted the bandages, and, turning to Captain Nemo, said:

“How did this man come by this hurt?”

“What matters?” he replied evasively. “The Nautilus struck, and broke one of the levers of the engine, which struck this man. But what is your opinion?”

I hesitated.

“You may speak fearlessly, he does not understand French.”

I looked again steadily at the wounded man.

“He will not live two hours longer,” I said.

“Can nothing save him?”

“Nothing.”

Captain Nemo clenched his hand, and tears glittered in his eyes, which I did not think were made to weep.

For some minutes I kept looking at the dying man as his life ebbed away. His paleness appeared more ghastly beneath the electric light that illuminated his death-bed. I looked at that intellectual head, and the face seemed furrowed by premature wrinkles, which sin, or perhaps trouble, had placed there long ago. I endeavoured to learn the secret of his life from the last words that escaped his lips.

“You can retire, M. Aronnax,” said the captain.