Perhaps I was never to know who he was, from whence he came,
or where he was going to, but I saw the man move, and apart
from the savant. It was no common misanthropy which had
shut Captain Nemo and his companions within the Nautilus,
but a hatred, either monstrous or sublime, which time could
never weaken. Did this hatred still seek for vengeance?
The future would soon teach me that. But the Nautilus
was rising slowly to the surface of the sea, and the form
of the Avenger disappeared by degrees from my sight.
Soon a slight rolling told me that we were in the open air.
At that moment a dull boom was heard. I looked at the Captain.
He did not move.
"Captain?" said I.
He did not answer. I left him and mounted the platform.
Conseil and the Canadian were already there.
"Where did that sound come from?" I asked.
"It was a gunshot," replied Ned Land.
I looked in the direction of the vessel I had already seen.
It was nearing the Nautilus, and we could see that it was putting on steam.
It was within six miles of us.
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