I Form My Resolution

: PART ONE
: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea

Three seconds before the arrival of J. B. Hobson's letter I no more

thought of pursuing the unicorn than of attempting the passage of the

North Sea. Three seconds after reading the letter of the honourable

Secretary of Marine, I felt that my true vocation, the sole end of my

life, was to chase this disturbing monster and purge it from the world.



But I had just returned from a fatiguing journey, weary and longing for<
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repose. I aspired to nothing more than again seeing my country, my

friends, my little lodging by the Jardin des Plantes, my dear and

precious collections--but nothing could keep me back! I forgot

all--fatigue, friends and collections--and accepted without hesitation

the offer of the American Government.



"Besides," thought I, "all roads lead back to Europe; and the unicorn

may be amiable enough to hurry me towards the coast of France. This

worthy animal 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 of Natural History." But in the

meanwhile I must seek this narwhal in the North Pacific Ocean, which,

to return to France, was taking the road to the antipodes.



"Conseil," I called in an impatient voice.



Conseil was my servant, a true, devoted Flemish boy, who had

accompanied me in all my travels. I liked him, and he returned the

liking well. He was quiet 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 required of

him; and, despite his name, never giving advice--even when asked for it.



Conseil had followed me for the last ten years wherever science led.

Never 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?



But Conseil had one fault: he was ceremonious to a degree, and would

never speak to me but in the third person, which was sometimes

provoking.



"Conseil," said I again, beginning with feverish hands to make

preparations for my departure.



Certainly I was sure of this devoted boy. As a rule, I never asked him

if it were convenient for him or not to follow me in my travels; but

this time the expedition in question might be prolonged, and the

enterprise might be hazardous in pursuit of an animal capable of

sinking a frigate as easily as a nutshell. Here there was matter for

reflection even to the most impassive man in the world. What would

Conseil say?



"Conseil," I called a third time.



Conseil appeared.



"Did you call, sir?" said he, entering.



"Yes, my boy; make preparations for me and yourself too. We leave in

two hours."



"As you please, sir," replied Conseil, quietly.



"Not an instant to lose; lock in my trunk all travelling utensils,

coats, shirts, and stockings--without counting, as many as you can, and

make haste."



"And your collections, sir?" observed Conseil.



"They will keep them at the hotel."



"We are not returning to Paris, then?" said Conseil.



"Oh! certainly," I answered, evasively, "by making a curve."



"Will the curve please you, sir?"



"Oh! it will be nothing; not quite so direct a road, that is all. We

take our passage in the Abraham, Lincoln."



"As you think proper, sir," coolly replied Conseil.



"You see, my friend, it has to do with the monster--the famous narwhal.

We 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 go whether or no; we have got a captain

who is pretty wide-awake."



Our luggage was transported to the deck of the frigate immediately. I



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-looking officer, who held out his hand to me.



"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.



The Abraham Lincoln had been well chosen and equipped for her new

destination. She was a frigate of great speed, fitted with

high-pressure engines which admitted a pressure of seven atmospheres.

Under this the Abraham 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 cetacean.



The interior arrangements of the frigate corresponded to its nautical

qualities. I was well satisfied with my cabin, which was in the after

part, opening upon the gunroom.



"We shall be well off here," said I to Conseil.



"As well, by your honour's leave, as a hermit-crab in the shell of a

whelk," said Conseil.



I left Conseil to stow our trunks conveniently away, and remounted the

poop in order to survey the preparations for departure.



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 quarter of an hour, perhaps less, the frigate would have sailed

without me. I should have missed this extraordinary, supernatural, and

incredible expedition, the recital of which may well meet with some

suspicion.



But Commander Farragut would not lose a day nor an hour in scouring the

seas in which the animal had been sighted. He sent for the engineer.



"Is the steam full on?" asked he.



"Yes, sir," replied the engineer.



"Go ahead," cried Commander Farragut.



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