Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/80

 knife, fork, spoon, or plate, was marked with a letter surrounded by a motto, of which the following is a fac simile:

Mobile in a mobile element. This applied exactly to this submarine machine, if you translate the preposition “in” as “in,” and not “upon.” The letter N no doubt stood for the initial of the name of the eccentric individual who commanded.

Ned and Conseil did not waste much time in reflection. They began to eat, and I quickly followed their example. I was, moreover, now reassured as to our fate, and it was very evident that our hosts did not intend that we should die from inanition.

Everything must have an end in this world, and so must the appetites of people who have fasted for fifteen hours. The want of sleep now began to make itself felt—a natural reaction, after the long night during which we had struggled face to face with death.

“Faith, I shall sleep well,” said Conseil.

“I am already asleep,” replied Ned Land.

My companions lay down upon the floor, and were quickly in a profound slumber.

For my part I yielded less quickly to the drowsy god. A number of thoughts crowded my brain, insoluble questions pressed upon me, a troop of mental images kept my eyes open. Where were we? What strange power held us? I felt, or fancied I felt, the machine