it is really the lightning, and not the thunder, which constitutes the danger.
At this moment the canoes approached the Nautilus, and a shower of arrows struck it.
“The devil!” cried Conseil; “here is a regular hail-storm; and perhaps the hail is poisoned too.”
“We must acquaint Captain Nemo,” I said, entering the panel as I spoke.
I descended to the saloon; no one was there. I ventured to knock at the door which opened into the captain’s room.
A “Come in” answered me, and I found the captain immersed in algebraical calculations.
“I am disturbing you, I fear,” I said politely.
“Well, yes, M. Aronnax; but I daresay you have very good reasons for so doing.”
“I have indeed. We are surrounded by canoes filled with the natives, and in a short time we shall be attacked by hundreds of savages.”
“Ah!” said Captain Nemo quietly; “so they have come in their canoes, eh?”
“Yes?
“Well, we have only to close the panel.”
“Precisely; I came to tell you so.”
“Nothing can be easier,” was the reply; and pressing an electric bell, it gave the order.
After a pause, he said:
“That is done. The launch is in its place, and the panels are closed. You have no fear, I suppose, that these gentlemen outside will break the walls which the shot from your frigate could not hurt?”
