The Mysterious Island Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 176 The Mysterious Island (61)
Day has come.Not a ray of sunlight enters the huge basement.It was high tide at this moment, and the seawater completely blocked the entrance of the cave.But the bright artificial light from the bulkheads of the Nautilus, undiminished, seemed unaware that its master was about to die.The water surrounding the submarine is always sparkling.

Captain Nemo lay down on the couch exhausted again.Everyone wanted him to go to Granite Palace, but he insisted on staying on the Nautilus, where he awaited his imminent death.

For a while, he fell into a breakdown and nearly lost consciousness.During this period Cyrus Harding and Jardine Splane had been closely following his case.It was obvious that the captain was going to die soon, and before long the light of his life would be extinguished, and his strength would be gone.Now all his life is concentrated in the head and heart.The strong physique in the past has now become a vulnerable body, and a soul is about to come out of it.

The engineer and the reporter discussed quietly: Could Captain Nemo be given some kind of treatment again?Even if it can't save his life, at least it can prolong his life for a few days?

But look at him himself, he is not afraid of death.He himself has no desire for healing, he is quietly waiting for death,

"There's nothing we can do about it," Jardin Splane said.

"What did he die of?" asked Pencroft.

The reporter replied: "Died of exhaustion."

Said the sailor, "But if we can lift him up into the sun, maybe he'll get better?"

Said the engineer: "Pencroft, don't do this, stop trying to do anything! Captain Nemo will not agree to leave his boat. He has lived on the Nautilus for 30 years, 30 years! He will not leave 'The Nautilus'."

Captain Nemo raised his body slightly, as if he heard Cyrus Harding's words, and said weakly but firmly: "You are right, sir, I would rather die here. Therefore, I ask you to grant me a request."

Cyrus Harding and the others approached the sofa, and rearranged the cushions a little so that Captain Nemo could lean more comfortably.

Everyone saw that his eyes slowly swept over every exquisite item in the living room.The electric lights in the living room filtered through the arabesques on the bright ceiling and cast a soft glow.He looked at each piece: oil paintings by Italian, French and Spanish masters hung on noble and elegant tapestries; miniature marble and bronze statues stood on pedestals; a luxurious pipe organ leaned against the back on the bulkheads; and then the vitrines, with shallow basins in between containing the rarest sea plants, phytozoans, and strings of pearls of inestimable value.Finally, his eyes stopped on the motto engraved on the pediment of this museum, the Nautilus's motto: Motion in motion.

It was as if he were putting his eyes on these masterpieces of man-made and nature one last time, and that was all he could do after all these years of living under the sea.

The captain silently bid farewell to his silent companions.Cyrus Harding did not bother him either, and waited quietly for the captain to speak.

In those few minutes, Captain Nemo may have reviewed his own life.Then he turned to everyone and said, "Gentlemen, do you think you owe me a great deal?..."

"Captain, we are willing to extend your life with ours!"

Captain Nemo said: "Okay, okay!... Please promise me that my will will be carried out. In this way, we will owe nothing to each other."

"We promise you," replied Cyrus Mies.

He promised Captain Nemo that everyone would keep their word.

Captain Yi said: "Gentlemen, I will die tomorrow."

Hubbert wanted to raise an objection, but he stopped him with gestures.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to die, I just want the Nautilus to be my tomb, I don't want any other tomb. The Nautilus is my coffin, my personal coffin! All my friends are buried At the bottom of the sea, I will also be buried here."

Everyone listened silently.

He continued: "Gentlemen, please listen to me carefully, because the entrance is raised, the "Nautilus" cannot sail out of this cavern.However, although it cannot leave here, it can sink into the abyss and keep my body there forever. "

Everyone listened sincerely to what Captain Nemo said.

The captain said: "Tomorrow, Mr. Smith, after my death, because it and all the wealth it contains will disappear with me, so you and your companions will also leave the 'Nautilus'. Prince Dhaka What you have learned now, he will leave you with a memorial, the only one."

"That box...yes...that's the...box containing diamonds worth millions, most of which I got as a father and husband when I thought I was blessed; My friends gather pearls from the bottom of the sea. There will be a day in the future when you and your companions can use these treasures to help others. I believe, Mr. Smith, that money is in the hands of honest men like you and your companions , will not become a scourge. When I get to heaven, I will also participate in your cause, and I will definitely succeed!"

Captain Nemo was so weak that he had to rest to replenish his strength.

Then he went on to say: "Tomorrow, you take this box and leave here, close the door, and then board the platform of the 'Nautilus', close the entrance tower, and remember, it must be fixed with bolts."

"Don't worry, captain, we will do as you say," replied Cyrus Harding.

"Okay. Then you go in your little boat. But go aft and turn on the two big spigots before you leave the Nautilus. They are on the waterline so that the water goes into the cistern, The 'Nautilus' will slowly sink under the water, to the bottom of the sea."

See Cyrus Harding made a gesture to stop him from speaking.

The captain said: "Nothing to be afraid of! You just buried a dead man!"

Cyrus Harding, and the others, felt that Captain Nemo was not to be blamed.This was his will to them, and they had to obey it.

The captain said again: "Gentlemen, can you promise to do it?"

The engineer replied, "Captain, we can."

The captain made a gesture of thanks and asked everyone to leave him alone for a few hours.Jardine Splane, fearful of his illness, persisted in his refusal to leave.But the captain refused and said: "Sir, don't worry, I will live until tomorrow!"

Everyone left the living room.They passed the study and dining room, came to the bow, and entered the engine room, where the generator was installed to provide light, heat, and mechanical power for the "Nautilus".

Everything on the Nautilus is a masterpiece through the ages, and the Nautilus is a masterpiece in its own right.Engineers are full of praise.

They climbed onto a platform seven or eight feet above the water, and they lay down next to a thick piece of glass that looked like a convex mirror.The glass blocked a large hole from which a beam of light was coming out.Behind this large hole is the wheelhouse, where the helmsman steers the Nautilus through the water.The electric light probably penetrated the water for a great distance.

Cyrus Harding and company waited quietly at first.What they saw and heard just now caused a huge shock in their hearts.They thought that the protector who had helped them countless times and had only known each other for a few hours was about to pass away, and they felt extremely sad!

No matter how future generations evaluate this behavior of dissociated from human beings, Prince Dhaka will always be a unique hero that people will never forget.

Said Pencroft: "He is a real man! It is hard to believe that he should live in the depths of the ocean! I sometimes think that he is not necessarily more at peace in the depths of the ocean than elsewhere!"

Ayrton reminded: "The 'Nautilus' may help us leave 'Lincoln Island' and reach some other inhabited land."

cried Pencroft: "No! Sailing on the surface, yes! But I will venture under the surface in such a boat, no!"

The reporter said: "Pencroft, I think it should be easy to drive a submarine like the 'Nautilus', and we can get used to it quickly. That way, we don't have to worry about storms, and we don't have to worry about collisions. The sea is as calm as a lake at [-] feet."

The sailor disagreed, saying, "It is possible! But a boat is made for sailing on the water, not under it, and I'd rather be exposed to the wind and sun in a boat fully rigged and rigged."

At this time, the engineer spoke: "Friends, there is no need to discuss the submarine issue. As far as the 'Nautilus' is concerned, it is not ours, we have no right to drive it, and we cannot use it anyway. On the one hand, The basalt rose, and the entrance to the cave was closed, so it couldn't get out; besides, Captain Nemo hoped that after his death, he could sink with the boat to the bottom of the sea. His will is very clear, and we must carry it out."

After a little more conversation, Cyrus Harding and his companions went down again into the Nautilus.There they ate something and went back to the living room.

Captain Nemo has slowly woken up from exhaustion, his eyes are bright again, and there seems to be a smile on his lips.

The captain said to them: "Gentlemen, you are all brave, upright, and kind people. You are impartial, united and friendly, and strive for one goal. I used to observe you often. I like you very much, and I like you now. ! . . . Mr. Cyrus, give me your hand!"

The captain sincerely held the hand that Cyrus extended to him, and murmured, "That's very good!"

Then he added: "Enough has been said about me! I want to hear from you now about 'Lincoln Island' where you hid. . . . Do you want to leave it?"

Pencroft replied quickly: "We shall be back, captain!"

The captain smiled and said, "Come back?... Indeed, Pencroft, I know that you love this island very much. It has changed its appearance under your careful cultivation, so it belongs to you."

Said Cyrus Harding: "It is our intention, captain, to present it to the United States of America, to build a harbor here for navigators, and to have it appear on the map of the Pacific."

Captain Nemo replied, "Gentlemen, you are right to think of your country and work hard for its honor and prosperity. Motherland! Yes, it should be returned to the bosom of the motherland! It should be buried there!" But I will die far away from the land I love!"

The engineer said hastily, "Do you have any more wills to entrust to us? Is there any memorial to your friends in the mountains in India?"

"No, Mr. Cyrus, I have no friends! I am the last of my family...Those who know me think I am dead long ago...But let's talk about yourselves. Lonely, lonely, and Isolation is the most tragic thing, beyond the limit of human beings... I used to think that people can live alone! But... so you must find a way to leave 'Lincoln Island' and go back to your motherland. I know those The villains have wrecked that boat you worked so hard to build..."

Jardin Splane comforted him, saying: "We are building a ship, which will be large enough to carry us to the nearest land. But, though sooner or later we will leave 'Lincoln Island', we shall return Yes. We have too many memories and regrets about it, and we will never forget it!"

"Besides," said Cyrus Harding, "it is here again that we made the acquaintance of Captain Nemo."

Hubbert added: "It's also only here that we can revive all our memories of you!"

The captain replied: "And I will sleep here forever, if..."

He hesitated, paused, and added: "I want to speak to you, Mr. Cyrus . . . just to you!"

Everyone respected the captain's wish and withdrew.

Cyrus Harding remained with Captain Nemo behind closed doors for only a few minutes before he called his friends in.But he said nothing about the private conversation with the captain.

Jardine Splane observed the patient with the utmost attention.It was obvious that the captain had relied on his will to hold on finally, and gradually the weakness of his body took the upper hand.He's dying soon.

The day passed without any change.No one left the "Nautilus" for a moment.Night has come.In this basement, no one is aware of the cycle of day and night.

Captain Nemo wasn't in much pain, just fading.His noble, pale face looked very calm.From his mouth sometimes barely audible words came out, and these words were related to his legendary life.It can be felt that his life is gradually leaving, and his body has gradually become colder.

He said a word or two to the group standing beside him, and then smiled.This last smile will last until the end of life.

Just after midnight, Captain Nemo made one final gesture, folding his arms across his chest, in the position he intended to depart.

Finally, around one o'clock in the morning, all life gathered in his eyes, the last sparks of sparks flickering in these eyes, which in the past were shining like the sun in the blue sky.Then he murmured to himself: "God and country!" and he died slowly.

Cyrus Harding stooped and closed his eyes.This person was once the mighty Prince Dhaka, and also the omnipotent Captain Nemo.

Harbert and Pencroft were weeping.Ayrton was silently wiping away tears.Neb knelt beside the reporter, who had become a stunned statue.

Cyrus Harding raised his hand over the dead man's head, saying: "May his soul return to God!" Then, turning to the others, he added: "Pray for those we have lost!"

A few hours later, everyone fulfilled their promise to the captain and fulfilled the last wish of the deceased.

Cyrus Harding and his companions left the Nautilus with the box containing a great fortune bequeathed to them by their benefactor, the only memento.

The magical living room, always lit with lights, was discreetly shut.The iron door of the entrance tower was also bolted.In this way, not a drop of sea water can enter the "Nautilus" room.

Then, everyone went to the small boat moored to the side of the submarine.

They rowed the boat back.There they opened the two large spigots on the waterline that were connected to the reservoirs that kept the submarine submerged.

The spigot was turned on, the cistern was filled, and the Nautilus sank slowly, disappearing under a vast expanse of water.

But everyone still watched it go through the deep water layer.

Its strong light shines on the transparent water, and slowly, the light finally disappears. The "Nautilus", the coffin of Captain Nemo, quickly sank into the bottom of the sea.It will be buried in the bottom of the sea together with the dead Captain Nemo.

speed up shipbuilding
As soon as the sky showed light, everyone quietly came to the entrance of the cave.In memory of Captain Nemo, they named the cave "Daka Crypt".The tide was low and they passed easily under the arcade.Waves lapped against the basalt buttresses.

The tin boat stops here so that the boat will not be hit by the waves.In order to secure the boat, Pencroft, Neb, and Ayrton wheeled it out onto the little sandy beach adjoining the basement, and placed it in a reassuring place.Day came, the storm stopped, the thunder stopped, but the sky was still clouded.It can be seen that this October, the beginning of spring, is not very satisfactory.The wind fluctuates, making it impossible to believe that there will be a stable weather.

Cyrus Harding and the others left the "Dhaka Cellar" and started on the way to the "corral" again.As they went, Neb and Harbert removed the wires which the captain had drawn between the "corral" and the basement, for future use.

Everyone walked silently. They were strongly impressed by the events of the night of October 10-15.The man who had successfully protected them, who was a saint to them, Captain Nemo, had left them.He and his "Nautilus" have been sleeping in the deep seabed.Everyone feels, more alone than ever.It should be said that they are used to this kind of powerful help.But now, they lost this help.Jardine Splane and Cyrus Harding himself felt this way.So they all kept silent as they walked along the "corral" road.

At about nine o'clock in the morning, everyone returned to the "Granite Palace".

The progress of the shipbuilding was expedited according to the established plan, so that Cyrus Harding worked harder than ever.Who knows what the unpredictable future holds.How wonderful it is to have a strong boat that can safely navigate the seas even in rough weather!And it's big enough for a long drive if needed, which is a guarantee for them.If the ship is finished, and people have not yet thought of leaving "Lincoln Island" for the Polynesian islands of the Pacific or the coast of New Zealand, they should at least go to Tabor Island as soon as possible, and put a copy of Ayrton's book there. illustrate.This explanation must be posted, what if that Scottish cruise ship appears in this sea area again?So be sure not to ignore this instruction.

Work continues.Cyrus Harding and Ayrton were constantly busy.Neb, Jardine Splane, and Harbert also came to help if there was no other necessary work to be done.If one wanted to go to Tabor Island, the new ship must be built within five months, that is to say, in early March; if it was later, the autumn wind would blow and sailing would be impossible.So everyone seize every minute and every second.Since Endeavor's rigging and rigging were all rescued, they didn't have to spend any more time on these things.Now, finishing the hull is the first priority.

(End of this chapter)