I contented myself, however, with putting the frigate hors de combat; she will not have any difficulty in getting repaired at the next port." "Ah, Commander! your Nautilus is certainly a marvellous boat." "Yes, Professor; and I love it as if it were part of myself.

If danger threatens one of your vessels on the ocean, the first impression is the feeling of an abyss above and below.

On the Nautilus men's hearts never fail them.

No defects to be afraid of, for the double shell is as firm as iron; no rigging to attend to; no sails for the wind to carry away; no boilers to burst; no fire to fear, for the vessel is made of iron, not of wood; no coal to run short, for electricity is the only mechanical agent; no collision to fear, for it alone swims in deep water; no tempest to brave, for when it dives below the water it reaches absolute tranquillity.

There, sir! that is the perfection of vessels! And if it is true that the engineer has more confidence in the vessel than the builder, and the builder than the captain himself, you understand the trust I repose in my Nautilus; for I am at once captain, builder, and engineer." "But how could you construct this wonderful Nautilus in secret ?" "Each separate portion, M.Aronnax, was brought from different parts of the globe." "But these parts had to be put together and arranged ?" "Professor, I had set up my workshops upon a desert island in the ocean.