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 248

THE

LAST

WORDS

OF

CAPTAIN

NEMO.

his strength and patience, kept aloof also. Conseil could not induce him to speak, and fearing, in an excess of delirium, and under the influence of the terrible homesickness that devoured him, he would kill himself, he One can understand that, under watched him untiringly. all the circumstances, the situation was scarcely bearable. One morning—I do not know the date—I was sleeping heavily towards dawn, when I awoke and found Ned Land leaning over me, and he said in a low tone: “ We are going to escape !” I sat up at once. “When?” I asked. All susved/lance on board the Mawtilus “Tonight. seems over; they all appear stupified. You will be ready, sir?” “Yes. Whereabouts are we?” “In sight of land, which I observed through the fog this morning, twenty miles to the east.” “ What land is it?” “T do not know ; but whatever land it may be, we will escape thither.” “Yes, Ned, we will fly to-night, even should the sea swallow us up.” “The sea is high and the wind is strong, but twenty miles in that light boat does not frighten me. I have succeeded in putting on board some food and water.” “T will follow you,” I said. “ But,” said the Canadian, “if I am surprised I will fight, and they will perhaps kill me.” “We will die together, Ned.” I had decided. The Canadian left me. I gained the platform, upon which I could scarcely withstand the shock of the waves. The sky was threatening, but as we were so