Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/361

102 “They would be of no use,” he said.

I fancied I was mistaken, but I could not repeat the suggestion, for the captain had already put on his helmet. I managed to equip myself, and I felt somebody put an ironpointed stick into my hand, and some moments later we touched the bottom of the Atlantic, at a depth of three hundred yards.

Midnight was at hand. Captain Nemo pointed to a reddish gleam in the distance, a sort of extended light, which burned at about two miles distant from the Naulilus.What this fire was, how it was fed, why and how it burned amid the waters, I could not In any case it gave us light, vaguely hazard a conjecture. 'tis true, but I soon became accustomed to the peculiar obscurity, and I understood the inutility of the Rumhkorif apparatus under the circumstances.

We advanced side by side directly towards the fire. We made very long strides, assisted by our sticks, but still our progress was not rapid, for our feet often sank into a sort of ooze.

But, still advancing, I heard a sort of pattering noise overhead. This sometimes increased until it sounded like a hailstorm. I’soon understood the cause ; it was the raindrops falling upon the surface of the waves. Instinctively I had an idea that I should get very wet. Wetted by rainwater in the middle of the sea! I could not refrain from a quiet chuckle inside my helmet at the idea; but, as a fact, in the thick diver’s dress one does not feel the water, and can fancy oneself in an atmosphere only a little more dense than the terrestrial atmosphere, that’s all.

After halfan-hour’s walking the ground became stony. Medusa, small crustacea, &c., lit up with their light phosphorescent gleams. I caught glimpses of piles of rocks