Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/438

 Depths.” I had not the slightest idea of it. I closed the book and resumed my walk. Ned and Conseil got up to go.

“Stay here, my friends, let us wait together till we are clear of this ice.”

“Just as Monsieur pleases,” said Conseil.

Some hours passed. I often consulted the instruments hanging in the saloon. The manometer showed that the Nautilus maintained an uniform depth of 300 yards; the compass showed her on a southerly course; the log that we were going at twenty miles an hour, a great speed in such a confined space. But Captain Nemo knew what he was about, and every minute was worth a century to us.

At 8.25 a second shock occurred, astern this time. I turned pale. My companions approached me. I seized Conseil’s hand. We looked at each other, and our looks interpreted our thoughts better than words could have done.

At that moment the captain entered. I went up to him.

“Our course southward is barred?” I asked.

“Yes; the iceberg in turning over has closed every outlet.”

“We are blocked up then?” I said.

“Yes.”