Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/339

 It was evident to me that Captain Nemo did not like being surrounded by these countries he wished to avoid. The winds and waves carried too many souvenirs—if not regrets to his mind. Here he did not possess the same liberty of motion as in the ocean, and his Nautilus was in a Strait, so to speak, between Europe and Africa.

Our speed was about twenty-five miles an hour.

It is needless to say that Ned Land, to his great disappointment, was obliged to renounce his plan of escape. It was of no use to think of launching the boat at the pace we were travelling. To leave the Nautilus under these circumstances was like jumping out of a train at full speed, which is not the most prudent thing to do at any time. Besides, the ship only came to the surface during the night to renew the air, and was solely guided by the compass and the log.

Therefore I saw no more of the Mediterranean than a traveller by an express can see of the country through which he passes. Nevertheless, Conseil and I were able to note some of the Mediterranean fish, whose swimming powers enabled them to keep alongside the Nautilus for a few moments. My notes enable me to reproduce some account of the ichthyology of this sea.

Of the many fish inhabiting it I saw some, and only caught a glimpse of others; so I must class them in a somewhat fantastic manner.

Amongst those surrounded by our light were lampreys, about three feet long, which are common to all seas; oxyrhinchia, a kind of ray, about five feet wide, with white belly, spread out like shawls carried along by the current. Other rays passed so quickly that I could not ascertain whether they were the “eagles” of the Greeks, or the “rat,” “frog,” and “ bat,” which modern fishermen have dubbed them. Sea-foxes, several feet long, and gifted with acute