Chapter 9 Chapter Nine: Ned Land's Wrath

How long we slept, I do not know; but it must have been long, for our spirits were fully restored.I wake up the earliest.My companion has not moved yet, still sleeping in that corner, like a pile of things. Getting up from this hard bed, I immediately felt that my mind was clear and my spirits were full.So I re-observed our cell. The layout inside has not changed at all.A cell is still a cell, and a prisoner is still a prisoner.But the waiter took the things off the table while we were fast asleep.With nothing to suggest that our situation would change, I calmly wondered if we were destined to live in this cage forever.

This thought of imminent suffering made me even more sad. Although my mind was not as entangled as yesterday, my heart always felt particularly oppressed.It was very difficult for me to breathe, and the thick air was not enough for my lungs to breathe in and out.Although the cell is relatively large, it is clear that we have consumed most of the oxygen in it.Originally, each person consumes the oxygen contained in one hundred liters of air per hour. When the air contains almost the same amount of carbon dioxide, it cannot be breathed. The airing of our cells, therefore, was urgently needed, and no doubt the whole submersible too.

This brings me to a question.How did the leader of this floating house solve the problem of ventilation?Did he get the air chemically?Is it heated with potassium chlorate to release oxygen, or to absorb carbon dioxide gas with potassium hydroxide?If this is the case, he must maintain some contact with the land to obtain these chemical raw materials.Or did he just store the air in a sealed chamber at high pressure and release it as needed by the crew on board?Or so.Or, he uses the more convenient, more economical, and more probable method, that is, like cetaceans, float to the surface to breathe, and change the air every twenty-four hours.In any case, no matter which method is used, I think it is prudent to use it quickly.

In fact, I had to breathe harder to absorb what little oxygen there was in the room, when suddenly I breathed in a breath of fresh, salty air and felt cool and light.This is exactly what a refreshing sea breeze is; a sea breeze loaded with iodine!I opened my mouth wide, filling my lungs with fresh air.At the same time I felt the boat rocking.The tin monster clearly floated to the surface of the sea and breathed in the way a whale breathes.I was therefore entirely affirmed by the ship's method of exchanging its air. Breathing the fresh air freely, I searched for that thing, or rather "breather tube," which sent this nourishing air around us, and I soon found it.On the top of the door, there is a ventilation hole through which bursts of fresh air come in to fill up the lack of air in the room.

While I was observing, Ned Land and Conseil, stimulated by the fresh air, woke up at about the same time.They wiped their eyes, stretched their arms, and rose to their feet. "Did you sleep well, sir?" Conseil asked politely as usual. "Very well, Conseil," I answered. "Master Ned Land, how did you sleep?" "Very sweet, Professor. I don't know if I'm mistaken, though, as if I'm breathing sea air now!" A sailor cannot be mistaken; I told the Canadian what happened while he was asleep. "Yes!" said he, "that fully accounts for the roar we heard when we saw this so-called narwhal on the Lincoln."

"Yes, Master Ned Land, that's the sound of its breathing!" "But, Monsieur Aronnax, I don't know what time it is. I'm afraid it's dinner time at least?" "Dinner time, honest harpooner? I'm afraid it's lunch time at least, because we're now on the second day since yesterday." "So," said Conseil, "we have slept for twenty-four hours." "I think so." I replied. "I have no objection to your opinion," Ned Land replied, "Whether it's dinner or lunch, whatever the waiter brings is welcome."

"Dinner and lunch," Conseil said. "Yes," replied the Canadian, "we have a right to both meals, and personally, I must try both." "That's right! Wait a little longer, Ned Land," I replied. "It's clear now that these people don't want to starve us to death, because if we were to starve us to death, yesterday's dinner would be meaningless." "To fatten us up!" Ned Land replied. "I disagree with you," I replied, "we are not in the hands of man-eating savages!" "One food delivery can't be a conclusion," the Canadian replied seriously: "Who knows if these people haven't eaten fresh meat for a long time, if that's the case, like your professor, your servant and me, the three are in good health human flesh..."

"Master Ned Land, don't think so," I replied to the harpooner, "you can't oppose our master from this angle, it will only make the situation more serious and unfavorable." "Anyway," said the harpooner, "I'm famished as hell, and neither supper nor tonight will come!" "Master Ned Land," I replied, "we have to follow the ship's regulations. I think our appetite is ahead of the meal time." "Yes! Let's put our appetite at the prescribed meal!" Conseil replied quietly. "My friend Conseil, I admire you in this matter," replied the impatient Canadian, "you don't worry, you don't get angry! Always calm, as if nothing happened! You can move the prayer after the meal to the front of the meal." Come read it, I would rather starve to death than complain!"

"What's the use of complaining?" Conseil asked. "At least there's always something to say! That's good enough. If these pirates—I say pirates respect them, and I don't want to upset the professor who won't let me call them cannibals—if The pirates are mistaken when they think they have me locked up in this stuffy cage and can't hear me swearing in anger! Well, Mr. Aronnax, tell me the truth, do you want Will they keep us in this iron box for a long time? "Honestly, my dear friend Ned Land, I know as much as you do, and know as little as you do."

"Well, how about you take a guess?" "I think this accident has brought us to know a great secret. If the people on the submarine think that the secret has a great stake in them, it must be kept. If the stake is more important than the lives of three people, Then, I think our lives are in danger. Conversely, if this is not the case, then, at the first opportunity, this monster that devours us can send us back to our human continent." "I'm afraid they put us in their roster," Conseil said, "and that's how they keep us..." "Leave us," Ned Land replied, "until a warship faster or more dexterous than the Lincoln breaks through this bandit's lair and sends its occupants and us to the main-mast transom." , Let everyone be free and breathe as much air as possible."

"Master Ned Land, you are right," I replied; "but, as far as we know, no suggestion has been made to us on this matter, and it is useless for us to discuss what course we should take now." Yes. I have repeatedly said that we have to wait, since we have nothing to do, we don't need to look for trouble." "On the contrary! Professor," replied the harpooner, insisting, "it must be done." "Hey! Master Ned Land, what are you doing?" "We escape." "It is very difficult to escape from a prison on land, let alone escape from a prison under the sea? I think it is absolutely impossible." "Well, Ned Land," Conseil asked, "how will you respond to Monsieur's objection? I'm sure an American can't get helpless!" The harpooner, obviously perplexed, was silent.Under the current circumstances, it is absolutely impossible to escape.But a Canadian should be considered half French, as can be seen from Master Ned Land's answer. "Well, Monsieur Aronnax," he said after thinking for a while, "think about it, what should the prisoner who cannot escape from the prison do?" "Can't figure it out, my friend." "It's very simple, just find a way to stay in it." "Yes!" said Conseil, "it is better to stay inside than above or below!" "But first the guards, the guards, and the gatekeepers must be thrown out," Ned Land added. "Ned, Lan, what are you talking about? Do you really want to take this ship? "I really want to." The Canadian replied. "This is impossible." "Why isn't it possible, sir? There might be a good chance. I don't think there's anything stopping us from taking advantage of it then. If there were only twenty men on this machine ship, I suppose they couldn't." Makes two Frenchmen and a Canadian flinch!" Better to accept the Harpooner's offer than discuss it.So I just made the following answer: "Master Ned Land, we will think of a way at that time. However, I beg you, before the opportunity comes, don't be impatient and be patient. We can only act with a plan and a strategy. Losing your temper is the most important thing to create." There are no favorable conditions. So you promise me, you must be patient for a while, and don't get too excited." "Mr. Professor, I promise you not to lose your temper." Netherland replied in a tone that is not very reassuring, "I will not say I didn't say a word of foul words, and I didn't reveal a single rude action that turned out to be unfavorable to me. Even if the dishes on the table were not brought out according to the "time" I wanted in my heart, I would not be angry either. "That's a deal, Ned Land," I replied to the Canadian. Then our conversation stopped and we went our separate ways.For my part, I confess that, however confident the harpooner may be, I have no illusions about his methods.I do not admit that there will be opportunities like those mentioned by Ned Land.Since this submarine can drive so steadily, there must be a lot of people on it. Therefore, in case of a fight, we will meet a powerful opponent.Besides, the most important thing is to be free, but we don't have freedom at all now.I am Jane.I couldn't think of any way to escape from this tightly closed iron house.Secondly, as long as the eccentric captain had any intention of keeping a secret—at least it seemed so—he would never let us have free liberties on board.Now, will he kill us with violence, or one day abandon us in a corner?These are all unknowable things.But these hypotheses seemed to me quite probable and plausible, and only the simple-minded harpooner could hope to regain his freedom. I could see that Ned Land was becoming more agitated with too many thoughts on his mind.Gradually, I heard something gurgling in his throat, and I saw that he looked more and more frightening.He stood up like a caged tiger.Turn around, kick and punch walls.Time passed quickly, and everyone felt very hungry. This time, the waiter did not come.If people really have good intentions for us, it is really a bit too neglectful of the situation of our victims now. Ned Land's appetite was enormous, and he was becoming more and more impatient with hunger, and even though he had spoken beforehand, I was afraid that he would have a fit at the sight of the people on board. Another two hours later, Ned Land became even more angry.He yelled and yelled, but it was no use.Iron walls are deaf and dumb.I couldn't even hear a sound from the dead ship.The boat didn't move because I didn't feel the vibrations of the hull as it was pushed by the propellers.It may have dived into the deepest part of the sea and has nothing to do with land.The somber silence was terrifying. We are neglected and trapped in this house. I can't imagine how long we will go on like this.All the hopes which had arisen from our meeting with the captain of the ship were now gradually shattered.The man's gentle eyes, his generous generosity, his refined manners have all faded from my memory.Now, what appeared in front of me was a ruthless, cruel weirdo.I feel that he is a person without human nature and sympathy, an unforgivable enemy of mankind, and he has a hatred that will never be understood! However, he locked us in this small cell and didn't give us food.The dreadful thought of allowing us to risk our lives by starving us was so strong in my mind that I felt an unaccountable dread overtake me.Conseil remained as if nothing had happened.Ned.Lan roared like a tiger. At this time, there was a sound outside.Footsteps on the metal floor.The lock turned, the door opened, and the waiter entered. Before I could rush to stop him, the Canadian swooped in, grabbed the unfortunate waiter, pinned him down, and choked him.The waiter was pinched by his powerful hands and couldn't breathe. Conseil was about to pull the breathless waiter from the hands of the harpooner, and I was about to help him as best I could, when suddenly I heard the following words in French: In a word, I just stayed there. "Don't worry, Master Ned Land; you, Professor, listen to me!"