Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

by Jules Verne

“The common narwhal, or unicorn of the sea, often attains a length of sixty feet.

He believed in it, as certain good women believe in the leviathan,—by faith, not by reason.

“You understand then, sir,” continued the stranger, “that I have the right to treat you as enemies?” I answered nothing, purposely. For what good would it be to discuss such a proposition, when force could destroy the best arguments?

“I am not what you call a civilised man! I have done with society entirely, for reasons which I alone have the right of appreciating. I do not, therefore, obey its laws, and I desire you never to allude to them before me again!”

“I am nothing to you but Captain Nemo; and you and your companions are nothing to me but the passengers of the Nautilus.”

But at thirty feet below its level, their reign ceases, their influence is quenched, and their power disappears. Ah! sir, live—live in the bosom of the waters! There only is independence! There I recognise no masters! There I am free!”

I was going to open it, when a sigh from Captain Nemo nailed me to the spot. I knew that he was rising. I could even see him, for the light from the library came through to the saloon. He came towards me silently, with his arms crossed, gliding like a spectre rather than walking. His breast was swelling with sobs; and I heard him murmur these words (the last which ever struck my ear)—

“Almighty God! enough! enough!” Was it a confession of remorse which thus escaped from this man’s conscience?

And, among the worthy people who have so kindly received us, I revise my record of these adventures once more. Not a fact has been omitted, not a detail exaggerated. It is a faithful narrative of this incredible expedition in an element inaccessible to man, but to which Progress will one day open a road.

Shall I be believed? I do not know. And it matters little, after all. What I now affirm is, that I have a right to speak of these seas, under which, in less than ten months, I have crossed 20,000 leagues in that submarine tour of the world, which has revealed so many wonders.

And to the question asked by Ecclesiastes 3,000 years ago, “That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?” two men alone of all now living have the right to give an answer— CAPTAIN NEMO AND MYSELF.