Gunnison news-champion., 1916-11-24
CHAPTER vi.
vtoo BAY.

~UE Aflantic-a vast sheet OF wa
ter whose superficial ares Gov
ers c5odo0rO of square miles
the length Of which Is 1900
miles. with a mean breadth Of . aH'-
an ocean whose parallel winding
shores embrace an immense circum
ference. waiered by the largest rivers
Of the world the ST Lawrence the
Mississippi. the Amazon. the Plata the
orinoco. the Niger. the Senegal the
EIbe. the Loire and the Rhine whlrn
carry water from the most civilized a
vel as from the most savage coun
tries, Magnificent teld OF water. in
cessantly pIowed by vessels OF every
nation. sheltered by the fags of every
nation and which terminates In those
two terrible points So dreaded by mari
uers-Cape Horn and the Cape Of TEN
pests
Tie Nautilus was piercing the wafer
with its sharp spur after having ar-
complished nearly 10000 leagues In
three months and q half. distance
grenier than the great cirie of the
earth Where were we going now. and
what was reserved for the future? The
Nautilus returned TO the surface OF the
waves and enabled us TO promenade
the platform
I mounted al once. accompanied BY
Ned Land and Conseil Al a distance
Of aIoui twelve miles Cape 81. Vincent
was dimiy TO be seen. form:.-:S the
southwestern point Of the Spanish
peninsula. A strong southerly gale
was blowing The sea was swollen
and billowy II made the Nautilus
rock violently II was almost impossi
BILE to keep ones footing on the plat
form. which the heavy rolls OF the
sea heat over every instant SO We
descended after inhaiing some mouth
fuls OF fresh mir.
returned to my room. Cosseil to nj.
cabin. bnt the Canadian. with q pre-
occupied air followed me Our rapid
passage M from the sonth pole had
not allowed him TO put an es'are we
had planned Into execution. and he
could not help showing his disappoinf
ment. He sat aown and looked at me
silently.
Friend Ned" said l. II understand
you. but you cannot reproach yourself.
To have attempted to leave the Nau-
titus under the circumstances would
have been folly"
Ned Land did not answer: his cOut-
pressed lips and frowning brow show
ell with him the violent possession this
fixed idea had taken OF his mind.
LET us see.'' ! continued. I'VE nee
not despair yet. We are now going vi,
the coast OF Portugal. France and
England are not far OF. where we can
easily find refuge. II the Nautilus had
made toward regions where there
were no continents. l should share your
uneasiness. hut we know now that
Captain Memo does not hy from civ.
ilized seas. and In some days think
you can act with security"
Ned Land still looked ut me fixedly
At length his liked lips parted and be
said. 1T Il for tonight"
drew myself up suddenly. was
admit. little prepared for this com
munication. wanted to answer the
Canadian. but words would not come.
1--WE agreed to wait for an opportu'
nifty" continued Ned Land, "and the
opportunity has arrived. This nigh,
we shall be brt few miles from the
Spanish coast 1t is cloudy. The wind
blows freely. have your word. N
Aronnax. and 1 rely upon you.''
As was still silent the Canadian
approached me.
Tonight at O'Clock" said he. IL
have warned Conseil. At that mo
ment Captain Memo will be shut up In
his room. probably In bed. Neither the
us. Copseil and will gain the central
staircase and you. NJ. Aronnax. will
remain In the library. two steps from
us. waiting my signal. The oars. the
mast and the sail are In the canoe.
have even succeeded In getting In some
provisions. | have procured an Eng
lish wrench to unfasten the bolts which
attach it to the shell Of the Nautilus
So all Is ready till tonight"
''The sea is bad
THAT | allow" replied the Cana
dian. "but we must risk that. Liberty
Is worth paying for. besides the boat IL
strong. and few miles with fair
wind to carry Us Is no great thing.
Who knows but by tomorrow we may
he hundred leagues away7 Let cir
cumstances only favor us. and by 10
or II O'Clock we shall have landed on
some spot Of terra tirma alive or dead
hut aileu now till tonight"
With these words the Canadian with
drew. leaving me almost dumb. ! bad
imagined that, the chance gone.
should have time to reflect and discuss
the matter. My obstinate companion
had given me no time. And. after all,
what could have said to him: Ned
Land was perfectly right. There was
almost the opportunity to pront by.
Could ! retract my word and take