Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the twenty-second chapter of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

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Today we'll be continuing 20,000 leagues under.

The Sea by Jules Verne chapter 22.

Agri Somnia the following day, 10th January, Nautilus continued her course between two seas, but with such remarkable speed that I cannot estimated at less than 35 miles an hour, the rapidity of her screw was such that I could neither follow nor count its revolutions.

When I reflected that this marvelous electric agent, after having afforded motion, heat, and light to the Nautilus, still protected her from outward attack and transformed her into an arc of safety which no profane hand might touch without being thunderstriken.

Admiration was unbounded, and from the structure it extended to the engineer who had called it into existence.

Our course was directed to the west, and on the 11 January we doubled Cape Wessel.

Situated in 135 degrees longitude and ten degrees south latitude, which forms the east point of the Gulf of Carpenteria.

The reefs were still numerous, but more equalized and marked on the chart with extreme precision.

The Nautilus easily avoided the breakers of money to port and the Victoria reefs to starboard.

Placed at 130 degrees longitude and on the 10th parallel, which we strictly followed.

On the 13 January, Captain Nemo arrived in the Sea of Timor and recognized the island of that name in 122 degrees longitude.

From this point, the direction of the Nautilus inclined towards the southwest.

Her head was set for the Indian Ocean.

Where would the fancy of Captain Nemo carry us next?

Would he return to the coast of Asia, or would he approach again the shores of Europe?

Improbable conjectures, both to a man who fled from inhabited continents.

Then would he descend to the south?

Was he going to double the Cape of Good Hope, then Cape Horn, and finally go as far as the antarctic pole?

Would he come back at last to the Pacific, where his nautilus could sell free and independently?

Time would show, after having skirted the sands of Cartier of Hibernia, surrogate pathem and Scott last efforts of the solid against the liquid element, on the 14 January, we lost sight of land altogether.

The speed of the nautilus was considerably abated, and with a regular course she sometimes swam in the bosom of the waters, sometimes floated on their surface.

During this period of the voyage, Captain Nemo made some interesting experiments on the varied temperature of the sea in different beds.

Under ordinary conditions, these observations are made by means of rather complicated instruments, and with somewhat doubtful results.

By means of thermometrical sounding leads, the glasses often breaking under the pressure of the water, or an apparatus grounded on the variations of the resistance of metals to the electric currents.

Results so obtained could not be correctly calculated.

On the contrary, Captain Nemo went himself to test the temperature and the depths of the sea, and his thermometer, placed in communication with the different sheets of water, gave him the required degree immediately and accurately.

It was thus that, either by overloading her reservoirs or by descending obliquely by means of her inclined planes, the nautilus successively attained the depth of 34579 and 10,000 yards.

And the definite result of this experience was that the sea preserved an average temperature of four degrees and a half at a depth of 5000 fathoms under all latitudes.

On 16 January, the nautilus seemed becomeed only a few yards beneath the surface of the waves.

Her electric apparatus remained inactive, and her motionless screw left her to drift at the mercy of the currents.

I suppose that the crew was occupied with interior repairs rendered necessary by the violence of the mechanical movements of the machine.

My companions and I then witnessed a curious spectacle.

The hatches of the saloon were open, and as the beacon light of the nautilus was not in action, a dim obscurity reigned in the midst of the waters, I observed the state of the sea under these conditions, and the largest fish appeared to me no more than scarcely defined shadows.

When the nautilus found herself suddenly transported into full light, I thought at first that the beacon had been lighted and was casting its electric radiance into the liquid mass.

I was mistaken, and, after a rapid survey, perceived my error.

The nautilus floated in the midst of a phosphorescent bed, which in this obscurity became quite dazzling.

It was produced by myriads of luminous animeculi, whose brilliancy was increased as they glided over the metallic hole of the vessel.

I was surprised by lightning in the midst of these luminous sheets, as though they had been rivulets of lead melted in an ardent furnace, or metallic masses brought to a white heat, so that, by force of contrast, certain portions of light appeared to cast a shade in the midst of the general ignition, from which all shade seemed banished.

No, this was not the calm irradiation of our ordinary lighting.

There was unusual life and vigor.

This was truly living light.

In reality, it was an infinite agglomeration of colored infusoria, of veritable globules, of jelly, provided with a threadlike tentacle, and of which as many as 25,000 had been counted in less than two cubic half inches of water.

During several hours, the nautilus floated in these brilliant waves, and our admiration increased as we watched the marine monsters disporting themselves like salamanders.

I saw there, in the midst of this fire that burns not the swift and elegant porpoise, the indefatigable clown of the ocean, and some swordfish 10ft long, those prophetic heralds of the hurricane, whose formidable sword would now and then strike the glass of the saloon.

Then appeared the smaller fish, the balusta, the leaping mackerel, wolfthorn tails, and a hundred others, which striped the luminous atmosphere as they swam.

This dazzling spectacle was enchanting.

Perhaps some atmospheric condition increased the intensity of this phenomenon.

Perhaps some storm agitated the surface of the waves, but at this depth of some yards, the nautilus was unmoved by its fury and reposed peacefully in still water.

So we progressed incessantly, charmed by some new marvel.

The days passed rapidly away, and I took no account of them.

Ned, according to habit, tried to vary the diet on board, like snails.

We were fixed to our shells, and I declared, as easy to lead a snail's life.

Thus this life seemed easy and natural, and we thought no longer of the life we led on land, but something happened to recall us to the strangeness of our situation.

On the 18 January, the nautilus was in 105 degrees longitude and 15 degrees south latitude.

The weather was threatening, the sea rough and rolling.

There was a strong east wind, the barometer, which had been going down for some days, foreboding a coming storm.

I went up onto the platform just as a second lieutenant was taking the measure of the horry angles, and waited according to habit till the daily phrase was said.

But on this day it was exchanged for another phrase, not less incomprehensible.

Almost directly, I saw Captain Nemo appear with a glass, looking towards the horizon.

For some minutes he was immovable, without taking his eye off the point of observation.

Then he lowered his glass and exchanged a few words with his lieutenant.

The latter seemed to be a victim to some emotion that he tried in vain to repress.

Captain Nemo, having more command over himself, was cool.

He seemed, too, to be making some objections, to which the lieutenant replied by formal assurances.

At least I concluded so by the difference in their tones and gestures.

For myself, I had looked carefully in the direction indicated, without seeing anything.

The sky and water were lost in the clear line of the horizon.

However, Captain Nemo walked from one end of the platform to the other without looking at me, perhaps without seeing me.

His step was firm, but less regular than usual.

He stopped sometimes, crossed his arms, and observed the sea.

What could he be looking for on that immense expanse?

The Nautilus was in some hundreds of miles from the nearest coast.

Lieutenant had taken up the glass and examined the horizon, steadfastly going and coming, stamping his foot and showing more nervous agitation than his superior officer.

Besides, this mystery must necessarily be solved, and before long, for upon an order from Captain Nemo, the engine, increasing its propelling power, made the screw turn more rapidly.

Just then, the lieutenant drew the captain's attention again.

The latter stopped walking and directed his glass towards the place indicated.

He looked long.

I felt very much puzzled and descended to the drawing room and took out an excellent telescope that I generally used.

And then, leaning on the cage of the watchlight that jutted out from the front of the platform, set myself to look over all the line of the sky and see.

But my eye was no sooner applied to the glass than it was quickly snatched out of my hands.

I turned round.

Captain Nemo was before me, but I did not know him.

His face was transfigured, his eyes flashed sullenly.

His teeth were set, his stiff body, clenched, fists and head shrunk between his shoulders, betrayed the violent agitation that pervaded his whole frame.

He did not move.

My glass, fallen from his hands, had rolled at his feet.

Had I unwittingly provoked this fit of anger?

Did this incomprehensible person imagine that I had discovered some forbidden secret?

No, I was not the object of this hatred.

Fury was not looking at me.

His eye was steadily fixed upon the impenetrable point of the horizon.

At last Captain Nemo recovered himself.

His agitation subsided.

He addressed some words in a foreign language to his lieutenant, then turned to me.

Monsieur Aranax, he said in rather an imperious tone, I require you to keep one of the conditions that bind you to me.

What is it, captain?

You must be confined with your companions until I think fit to release you.

You are the master, I replied, looking steadily at him.

May I ask you one question?

None, sir.

There was no resisting this imperious command.

It would have been useless.

I went down to the cabin occupied by Ned land and conceal, and told them the captain's determination.

You may judge how this communication was received by the canadian, but there was not time for altercation.

Four of the crew waited at the door, and conducted us to that cell where we had passed our first night on board the nautilus.

Ned land would have remonstrated, but the door was shut upon him.

Will master tell me what this means?

Asked conceal.

I told my companions what had passed.

They were as much astonished as I, and equally at a loss how to account for it.

Meanwhile I was absorbed in my own reflections, and could think of nothing but the strange fear depicted in the captain's countenance.

I was utterly at a loss to account for it, when my cogitations were disturbed by these words from Ned land.

Hello.

Breakfast is ready.

And indeed the table was laid.

Evidently Captain Nemo had given this order at the same time that he had hastened the speed of the nautilus.

Will master permit me to make a recommendation?

Asked conceal.

Yes, my boy.

Well?

It is at master breakfasts.

It is prudent, for we do not know what may happen.

You're right, conceal.

Unfortunately, said Ned Land, they have only given us the ship's fare.

Friend?

Ned?

Asked conceal.

What would you have said if the.

Breakfast had been entirely forgotten?

This argument cut short the harpooner's recriminations.

We sat down to table.

The meal was eaten in silence.

Just then the luminous globe that lighted the cell went out and left us in total darkness.

Ned land was soon asleep, and what astonished me was that conceal went off into a heavy slumber.

I was thinking what could have caused his irresistible drowsiness?

When I felt my brain becoming stupefied in spite of my efforts to keep my eyes open, they would close.

A painful suspicion seized me.

Evidently sophorific substances had been mixed with the food we had just taken.

Imprisonment was not enough to conceal Captain Nemo's projects from us.

Sleep was more necessary.

I then heard the panel shut.

The undulations of the sea, which caused a slight rolling motion, ceased.

Had the nautilus quitted the surface of the ocean?

Had it gone back to the motionless bed of water?

I tried to resist sleep.

It was impossible.

My breathing grew weak.

I felt a mortal cold freeze.

My stiffened and half paralyzed limbs.

My eyelids, like leaden caps, fell over my eyes.

I could not raise them.

A morbid sleep full of hallucinations bereft me of my being.

Then the visions disappeared and left me in complete insensibility.

Thank you for joining bite at a time books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics again.

My name is Brie Carlyle, and I hope you come back tomorrow for the next bite of 20,000 leagues under the sea.

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