Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/86

 “And what is the use of complaining?” asked Conseil.

“But it will do good. And if these pirates—I say ‘pirates’ with all respect, as the professor objects to my calling them cannibals, and I don’t want to hurt his feelings—if these pirates imagine that they are going to keep me a prisoner in this stifling cage without hearing some pretty strong observations from me they are very much mistaken. Look here, M. Aronnax, tell me frankly, do you think we shall be kept long in this iron box?”

“To say the truth, I cannot tell any more than yourself.”

“Well, but what do you think?”

“I imagine that chance has made us masters of an important secret. Now, if the crew of this submarine vessel are much interested in keeping it, and if such interest is as important as the lives of three men—I do think that we are in danger. But in the contrary case, the monster may put us ashore again amongst our species.

“Unless he enrol us with the crew,” said Conseil, “and take care of his secret that way.”

“Until some day,” replied Ned, “when some frigate better ‘found’ and faster than the Abraham Lincoln, takes possession of this nest of robbers, and sends us and them to swing at the yard-arm.”

“A good argument, Land,” said I, “but nothing of all this has yet happened. It is useless to discuss what may happen, until the case arises. I repeat, let us wait and act according to circumstances. We need do nothing, because there is nothing to do.”