ng water, constantly injected by the pumps,
raise the temperature in this part and stay the congelation?"

"Let us try it," I said resolutely.

"Let us try it, Professor."

The thermometer then stood at 7 deg. outside. Captain Nemo took me to
the galleys, where the vast distillatory machines stood that furnished
the drinkable water by evaporation. They filled these with water, and
all the electric heat from the piles was thrown through the worms
bathed in the liquid. In a few minutes this water reached 100 deg.. It
was directed towards the pumps, while fresh water replaced it in
proportion. The heat developed by the troughs was such that cold
water, drawn up from the sea after only having gone through the
machines, came boiling into the body of the pump. The injection was
begun, and three hours after the thermometer marked 6 deg. below zero
outside. One degree was gained. Two hours later the thermometer only
marked 4 deg..

"We shall succeed," I said to the Captain, after having anxiously
watched the result of the operation.

"I think," he answered, "that we shall not be crushed. We have no more
suffocation to fear."

During the night the temperature of the water rose to 1 deg. below
zero. The injections could not carry it to a higher point. But, as
the congelation of the sea-water produces at least 2 deg., I was at
least reassured against the dangers of solidification.

The next day, March 27th, six yards of ice had been cleared, twelve
feet only remaining to be cleared away. There was yet forty-eight
hours' work. The air could not be renewed in the interior of the
Nautilus. And this day would make it worse. An intolerable weight
oppressed me. Towards three o'clock in the evening this feeling rose
to a violent degree. Yawns dislocated my jaws. My lungs panted as
they inhaled this burning fluid, which became rarefied more and more.
A moral torpor took hold of me. I was powerless, almost unconscious.
My brave Conseil, though exhibiting the same symptoms and suffering in
the same manner, never left me. He took my hand and encouraged me, and
I heard him murmur, "Oh! if I could only not breathe, so as to leave
more air for my master!"

Tears came into my eyes on hearing him speak thus. If our situation to
all was intolerable in the interior, with what haste and gladness would
we put on our cork-jackets to work in our turn! Pickaxes sounded on
the frozen ice-beds. Our arms ached, the skin was t