the idea was out of the question.

PART ONE On the 20th of July, 1866, the steamer Governor Higginson, of the Calcutta
and Burnach Steam Navigation Company, had met this moving mass five miles
off the east coast of Australia. Captain Baker thought at first that he was in the
presence of an unknown sandbank; he even prepared to determine its exact
position when two columns of water, projected by the mysterious object, shot
with a hissing noise a hundred and fifty feet up into the air. Now, unless the
sandbank had been submitted to the intermittent eruption of a geyser, the
Governor Higginson had to do neither more nor less than with an aquatic
CHAPTER I mammal, unknown till then, which threw up from its blow-holes columns of
water mixed with air and vapour.
A SHIFTING REEF
Similar facts were observed on the 23rd of July in the same year, in the
The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and Pacific Ocean, by the Columbus, of the West India and Pacific Steam Navigation
puzzling phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention Company. But this extraordinary creature could transport itself from one place to
rumours which agitated the maritime population and excited the public mind, another with surprising velocity; as, in an interval of three days, the Governor
even in the interior of continents, seafaring men were particularly excited. Higginson and the Columbus had observed it at two different points of the chart,
Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, both of Europe and separated by a distance of more than seven hundred nautical leagues.
America, naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several States
on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter. Fifteen days later, two thousand miles farther off, the Helvetia, of the
Compagnie-Nationale, and the Shannon, of the Royal Mail Steamship Company,
For some time past vessels had been met by "an enormous thing," a long sailing to windward in that portion of the Atlantic lying between the United
object, spindle-shaped, occasionally phosphorescent, and infinitely larger and States and Europe, respectively signalled the monster to each other in 42° 15' N.
more rapid in its movements than a whale. lat. and 60° 35' W. long. In these simultaneous observations they thought
themselves justified in estimating the minimum length of the mammal at more
The facts relating to this apparition (entered in various log-books) agreed in than three hundred and fifty feet, as the Shannon and Helvetia were of smaller
most respects as to the shape of the object or creature in question, the untiring dimensions than it, though they measured three hundred feet over all.
rapidity of its movements, its surprising power of locomotion, and the peculiar
life with which it seemed endowed. If it was a whale, it surpassed in size all Now the largest whales, those which frequent those parts of the sea round the
those hitherto classified in science. Taking into consideration the mean of Aleutian, Kulammak, and Umgullich islands, have never exceeded the length of
observations made at divers times—rejecting the timid estimate of those who sixty yards, if they attain that.
assigned to this object a length of two hundred feet, equally with the exaggerated
opinions which set it down as a mile in width and three in length—we might In every place of great resort the monster was the fashion. They sang of it in
fairly conclude that this mysterious being surpassed greatly all dimensions the cafes, ridiculed it in the papers, and represented it on the stage. All kinds of
admitted by the learned ones of the day, if it existed at all. And that it DID exist stories were circulated regarding it. There appeared in the papers caricatures of
was an undeniable fact; and, with that tendency which disposes the human mind every gigantic and imaginary creature, from the white whale, the terrible "Moby
in favour of the marvellous, we can understand the excitement produced in the Dick" of sub-arctic regions, to the immense kraken, whose tentacles could
entire world by this supernatural apparition. As to classing it in the list of fables, entangle a ship of five hundred tons and hurry it into the abyss of the ocean. The
legends of ancient times were even revived. Scotia, of the Cunard Company's line, found herself in 15° 12' long. and 45° 37'
lat. She was going at the speed of thirteen knots and a half.
Then burst forth the unending argument between the believers and the
unbelievers in the societies of the wise and the scientific journals. "The question At seventeen minutes past four in the afternoon, whilst the passengers were
of the monster" inflamed all minds. Editors of scientific journals, quarrelling assembled at lunch in the great saloon, a slight shock was felt on the hull of the
with believers in the supernatural, spilled seas of ink during this memorable Scotia, on her quarter, a little aft of the port-paddle.
campaign, some even drawing blood; for from the sea-serpent they came to
direct personalities. The Scotia had not struck, but she had been struck, and seemingly by
something rather sharp and penetrating than blunt. The shock had been so slight
During the first months of the year 1867 the question seemed buried, never to that no one had been alarmed, had it not been for the shouts of the carpenter's
revive, when new facts were brought before the public. It was then no longer a watch, who rushed on to the bridge, exclaiming, "We are sinking! we are
scientific problem to be solved, but a real danger seriously to be avoided. The sinking!" At first the passengers were much frightened, but Captain Anderson
question took quite another shape. The monster became a small island, a rock, a hastened to reassure them. The danger could not be imminent. The Scotia,
reef, but a reef of indefinite and shifting proportions. divided into seven compartments by strong partitions, could brave with impunity
any leak. Captain Anderson went down immediately into the hold. He found that
On the 5th of March, 1867, the Moravian, of the Montreal Ocean Company, the sea was pouring into the fifth compartment; and the rapidity of the influx
finding herself during the night in 27° 30' lat. and 72° 15' long., struck on her proved that the force of the water was considerable. Fortunately this
starboard quarter a rock, marked in no chart for that part of the sea. Under the compartment did not hold the boilers, or the fires would have been immediately
combined efforts of the wind and its four hundred horse power, it was going at extinguished. Captain Anderson ordered the engines to be stopped at once, and
the rate of thirteen knots. Had it not been for the superior strength of the hull of one of the men went down to ascertain the extent of the injury. Some minutes
the Moravian, she would have been broken by the shock and gone down with the afterwards they discovered the existence of a large hole, two yards in diameter,
237 passengers she was bringing home from Canada. in the ship's bottom. Such a leak could not be stopped; and the Scotia, her
paddles half submerged, was obliged to continue her course. She was then three
The accident happened about five o'clock in the morning, as the day was hundred miles from Cape Clear, and, after three days' delay, which caused great
breaking. The officers of the quarter-deck hurried to the after-part of the vessel. uneasiness in Liverpool, she entered the basin of the company.
They examined the sea with the most careful attention. They saw nothing but a
strong eddy about three cables' length distant, as if the surface had been violently The engineers visited the Scotia, which was put in dry dock. They could
agitated. The bearings of the place were taken exactly, and the Moravian scarcely believe it possible; at two yards and a half below water-mark was a
continued its route without apparent damage. Had it struck on a submerged rock, regular rent, in the form of an isosceles triangle. The broken place in the iron
or on an enormous wreck? They could not tell; but, on examination of the ship's plates was so perfectly defined that it could not have been more neatly done by a
bottom when undergoing repairs, it was found that part of her keel was broken. punch. It was clear, then, that the instrument producing the perforation was not
of a common stamp and, after having been driven with prodigious strength, and
This fact, so grave in itself, might perhaps have been forgotten like many piercing an iron plate 1 3/8 inches thick, had withdrawn itself by a backward
others if, three weeks after, it had not been re-enacted under similar motion.
circumstances. But, thanks to the nationality of the victim of the shock, thanks to
the reputation of the company to which the vessel belonged, the circumstance Such was the last fact, which resulted in exciting once more the torrent of
became extensively circulated. public opinion. From this moment all unlucky casualties which could not be
otherwise accounted for were put down to the monster.
The 13th of April, 1867, the sea being beautiful, the breeze favourable, the
 Upon this imaginary creature rested the responsibility of all these shipwrecks, On my arrival at New York the question was at its height. The theory of the
which unfortunately were considerable; for of three thousand ships whose loss floating island, and the unapproachable sandbank, supported by minds little
was annually recorded at Lloyd's, the number of sailing and steam-ships competent to form a judgment, was abandoned. And, indeed, unless this shoal
supposed to be totally lost, from the absence of all news, amounted to not less had a machine in its stomach, how could it change its position with such
than two hundred! astonishing rapidity?

Now, it was the "monster" who, justly or unjustly, was accused of their From the same cause, the idea of a floating hull of an enormous wreck was
disappearance, and, thanks to it, communication between the different continents given up.
became more and more dangerous. The public demanded sharply that the seas
should at any price be relieved from this formidable cetacean.[1] There remained, then, only two possible solutions of the question, which
created two distinct parties: on one side, those who were for a monster of
colossal strength; on the other, those who were for a submarine vessel of
enormous motive power.
[1] Member of the whale family. But this last theory, plausible as it was, could not stand against inquiries made
in both worlds. That a private gentleman should have such a machine at his
command was not likely. Where, when, and how was it built? and how could its
construction have been kept secret? Certainly a Government might possess such
a destructive machine. And in these disastrous times, when the ingenuity of man
has multiplied the power of weapons of war, it was possible that, without the
CHAPTER II knowledge of others, a State might try to work such a formidable engine.

PRO AND CON But the idea of a war machine fell before the declaration of Governments. As
public interest was in question, and transatlantic communications suffered, their
At the period when these events took place, I had just returned from a veracity could not be doubted. But how admit that the construction of this
scientific research in the disagreeable territory of Nebraska, in the United States. submarine boat had escaped the public eye? For a private gentleman to keep the
In virtue of my office as Assistant Professor in the Museum of Natural History in secret under such circumstances would be very difficult, and for a State whose
Paris, the French Government had attached me to that expedition. After six every act is persistently watched by powerful rivals, certainly impossible.
months in Nebraska, I arrived in New York towards the end of March, laden with
a precious collection. My departure for France was fixed for the first days in Upon my arrival in New York several persons did me the honour of
May. Meanwhile I was occupying myself in classifying my mineralogical, consulting me on the phenomenon in question. I had published in France a work
botanical, and zoological riches, when the accident happened to the Scotia. in quarto, in two volumes, entitled Mysteries of the Great Submarine Grounds.
This book, highly approved of in the learned world, gained for me a special
I was perfectly up in the subject which was the question of the day. How reputation in this rather obscure branch of Natural History. My advice was
could I be otherwise? I had read and reread all the American and European asked. As long as I could deny the reality of the fact, I confined myself to a
papers without being any nearer a conclusion. This mystery puzzled me. Under decided negative. But soon, finding myself driven into a corner, I was obliged to
the impossibility of forming an opinion, I jumped from one extreme to the other. explain myself point by point. I discussed the question in all its forms, politically
That there really was something could not be doubted, and the incredulous were and scientifically; and I give here an extract from a carefully-studied article
invited to put their finger on the wound of the Scotia. which I published in the number of the 30th of April. It ran as follows:
 "After examining one by one the different theories, rejecting all other information, therefore, I shall maintain it to be a sea-unicorn of colossal
suggestions, it becomes necessary to admit the existence of a marine animal of dimensions, armed not with a halberd, but with a real spur, as the armoured
enormous power. frigates, or the `rams' of war, whose massiveness and motive power it would
possess at the same time. Thus may this puzzling phenomenon be explained,
"The great depths of the ocean are entirely unknown to us. Soundings cannot unless there be something over and above all that one has ever conjectured, seen,
reach them. What passes in those remote depths—what beings live, or can live, perceived, or experienced; which is just within the bounds of possibility."
twelve or fifteen miles beneath the surface of the waters—what is the
organisation of these animals, we can scarcely conjecture. However, the solution These last words were cowardly on my part; but, up to a certain point, I
of the problem submitted to me may modify the form of the dilemma. Either we wished to shelter my dignity as professor, and not give too much cause for
do know all the varieties of beings which people our planet, or we do not. If we laughter to the Americans, who laugh well when they do laugh. I reserved for
do NOT know them all—if Nature has still secrets in the deeps for us, nothing is myself a way of escape. In effect, however, I admitted the existence of the
more conformable to reason than to admit the existence of fishes, or cetaceans of "monster." My article was warmly discussed, which procured it a high
other kinds, or even of new species, of an organisation formed to inhabit the reputation. It rallied round it a certain number of partisans. The solution it
strata inaccessible to soundings, and which an accident of some sort has brought proposed gave, at least, full liberty to the imagination. The human mind delights
at long intervals to the upper level of the ocean. in grand conceptions of supernatural beings. And the sea is precisely their best
vehicle, the only medium through which these giants (against which terrestrial
"If, on the contrary, we DO know all living kinds, we must necessarily seek animals, such as elephants or rhinoceroses, are as nothing) can be produced or
for the animal in question amongst those marine beings already classed; and, in developed.
that case, I should be disposed to admit the existence of a gigantic narwhal.
The industrial and commercial papers treated the question chiefly from this
"The common narwhal, or unicorn of the sea, often attains a length of sixty point of view. The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, the Lloyd's List, the Packet-
feet. Increase its size fivefold or tenfold, give it strength proportionate to its size, Boat, and the Maritime and Colonial Review, all papers devoted to insurance
lengthen its destructive weapons, and you obtain the animal required. It will companies which threatened to raise their rates of premium, were unanimous on
have the proportions determined by the officers of the Shannon, the instrument this point. Public opinion had been pronounced. The United States were the first
required by the perforation of the Scotia, and the power necessary to pierce the in the field; and in New York they made preparations for an expedition destined
hull of the steamer. to pursue this narwhal. A frigate of great speed, the Abraham Lincoln, was put in
commission as soon as possible. The arsenals were opened to Commander
"Indeed, the narwhal is armed with a sort of ivory sword, a halberd, Farragut, who hastened the arming of his frigate; but, as it always happens, the
according to the expression of certain naturalists. The principal tusk has the moment it was decided to pursue the monster, the monster did not appear. For
hardness of steel. Some of these tusks have been found buried in the bodies of two months no one heard it spoken of. No ship met with it. It seemed as if this
whales, which the unicorn always attacks with success. Others have been drawn unicorn knew of the plots weaving around it. It had been so much talked of, even
out, not without trouble, from the bottoms of ships, which they had pierced through the Atlantic cable, that jesters pretended that this slender fly had stopped
through and through, as a gimlet pierces a barrel. The Museum of the Faculty of a telegram on its passage and was making the most of it.
Medicine of Paris possesses one of these defensive weapons, two yards and a
quarter in length, and fifteen inches in diameter at the base. So when the frigate had been armed for a long campaign, and provided with
formidable fishing apparatus, no one could tell what course to pursue.
"Very well! suppose this weapon to be six times stronger and the animal ten Impatience grew apace, when, on the 2nd of July, they learned that a steamer of
times more powerful; launch it at the rate of twenty miles an hour, and you the line of San Francisco, from California to Shanghai, had seen the animal three
obtain a shock capable of producing the catastrophe required. Until further weeks before in the North Pacific Ocean. The excitement caused by this news
was extreme. The ship was revictualled and well stocked with coal. Pacific Ocean, which, to return to France, was taking the road to the antipodes.

Three hours before the Abraham Lincoln left Brooklyn pier, I received a "Conseil," I called in an impatient voice.
letter worded as follows:
Conseil was my servant, a true, devoted Flemish boy, who had accompanied
To M. ARONNAX, Professor in the Museum of Paris, Fifth Avenue Hotel, New me in all my travels. I liked him, and he returned the liking well. He was quiet
York. by nature, regular from principle, zealous from habit, evincing little disturbance
at the different surprises of life, very quick with his hands, and apt at any service
SIR,—If you will consent to join the Abraham Lincoln in this expedition, the required of him; and, despite his name, never giving advice—even when asked
Government of the United States will with pleasure see France represented in the for it.
enterprise. Commander Farragut has a cabin at your disposal.
Conseil had followed me for the last ten years wherever science led. Never
Very cordially yours, J.B. HOBSON, Secretary of Marine. once did he complain of the length or fatigue of a journey, never make an
objection to pack his portmanteau for whatever country it might be, or however
far away, whether China or Congo. Besides all this, he had good health, which
defied all sickness, and solid muscles, but no nerves; good morals are
understood. This boy was thirty years old, and his age to that of his master as
fifteen to twenty. May I be excused for saying that I was forty years old?
CHAPTER III
But Conseil had one fault: he was ceremonious to a degree, and would never
I FORM MY RESOLUTION speak to me but in the third person, which was sometimes provoking.

Three seconds before the arrival of J. B. Hobson's letter I no more thought of "Conseil," said I again, beginning with feverish hands to make preparations
pursuing the unicorn than of attempting the passage of the North Sea. Three for my departure.
seconds after reading the letter of the honourable Secretary of Marine, I felt that
Certainly I was sure of this devoted boy. As a rule, I never asked him if it
my true vocation, the sole end of my life, was to chase this disturbing monster
were convenient for him or not to follow me in my travels; but this time the
and purge it from the world.
expedition in question might be prolonged, and the enterprise might be
But I had just returned from a fatiguing journey, weary and longing for hazardous in pursuit of an animal capable of sinking a frigate as easily as a
repose. I aspired to nothing more than again seeing my country, my friends, my nutshell. Here there was matter for reflection even to the most impassive man in
little lodging by the Jardin des Plantes, my dear and precious collections—but the world. What would Conseil say?
nothing could keep me back! I forgot all—fatigue, friends and collections—and
accepted without hesitation the offer of the American Government. "Conseil," I called a third time.

"Besides," thought I, "all roads lead back to Europe; and the unicorn may be Conseil appeared.
amiable enough to hurry me towards the coast of France. This worthy animal "Did you call, sir?" said he, entering.
may allow itself to be caught in the seas of Europe (for my particular benefit),
and I will not bring back less than half a yard of his ivory halberd to the Museum "Yes, my boy; make preparations for me and yourself too. We leave in two
of Natural History." But in the meanwhile I must seek this narwhal in the North hours."
 "As you please, sir," replied Conseil, quietly. Lincoln attained the mean speed of nearly eighteen knots and a third an hour—a
considerable speed, but, nevertheless, insufficient to grapple with this gigantic
"Not an instant to lose; lock in my trunk all travelling utensils, coats, shirts, cetacean.
and stockings—without counting, as many as you can, and make haste."
The interior arrangements of the frigate corresponded to its nautical qualities.
"And your collections, sir?" observed Conseil. I was well satisfied with my cabin, which was in the after part, opening upon the
gunroom.
"They will keep them at the hotel."
"We shall be well off here," said I to Conseil.
"We are not returning to Paris, then?" said Conseil.
"As well, by your honour's leave, as a hermit-crab in the shell of a whelk,"
"Oh! certainly," I answered, evasively, "by making a curve." said Conseil.
"Will the curve please you, sir?" I left Conseil to stow our trunks conveniently away, and remounted the poop
in order to survey the preparations for departure.
"Oh! it will be nothing; not quite so direct a road, that is all. We take our
passage in the Abraham, Lincoln." At that moment Commander Farragut was ordering the last moorings to be
cast loose which held the Abraham Lincoln to the pier of Brooklyn. So in a
"As you think proper, sir," coolly replied Conseil. quarter of an hour, perhaps less, the frigate would have sailed without me. I
should have missed this extraordinary, supernatural, and incredible expedition,
"You see, my friend, it has to do with the monster—the famous narwhal. We
the recital of which may well meet with some suspicion.
are going to purge it from the seas. A glorious mission, but a dangerous one! We
cannot tell where we may go; these animals can be very capricious. But we will But Commander Farragut would not lose a day nor an hour in scouring the
go whether or no; we have got a captain who is pretty wide-awake." seas in which the animal had been sighted. He sent for the engineer.
Our luggage was transported to the deck of the frigate immediately. I "Is the steam full on?" asked he.
hastened on board and asked for Commander Farragut. One of the sailors
conducted me to the poop, where I found myself in the presence of a good- "Yes, sir," replied the engineer.
looking officer, who held out his hand to me.
"Go ahead," cried Commander Farragut.
"Monsieur Pierre Aronnax?" said he.

"Himself," replied I. "Commander Farragut?"

"You are welcome, Professor; your cabin is ready for you."

I bowed, and desired to be conducted to the cabin destined for me. CHAPTER IV

The Abraham Lincoln had been well chosen and equipped for her new NED LAND
destination. She was a frigate of great speed, fitted with high-pressure engines
which admitted a pressure of seven atmospheres. Under this the Abraham Captain Farragut was a good seaman, worthy of the frigate he commanded.