Carbon dioxide, having a very pronounced appetite for potassium, will precipitate itself thereinto of its own accord, and we’ll thus obtain a new chemical product, potassium carbonate, which might be useful to us on occasion.”
While Trinitus was talking, Nicaise’s face cleared rapidly. The theory of the manufacture of air had convinced him completely. “I’ve only one more thing to ask you, Doctor,” he said. “Will you permit me to go with you?”
“So you’re no longer afraid of tempests?”
“I don’t say that…but if we run into trouble en route, I know now that you’ll invent a machine that will take us straight to paradise.”
“Well then, join us. We’re leaving in four days, and we’ll start equipping the ship this evening.”
“Agreed! Things were no different in the time of fairy tales.”
“Fairies no longer exist today, my dear Nicaise. The good fairy is named Science and the bad one Ignorance.”
“Then let’s depart without fear!” exclaimed Marcel. “The good fairy is with us!”
Thanks to the feverish activity of Trinitus and his companions, the equipment of every sort necessary to the submarine voyage were loaded into the boat in three days.
Two special bunkers received the food-supplies. A complete laboratory of chemistry and photography was enclosed in a large trunk, along with ropes, glass and rubber tubing of various dimensions, and the instruments most useful to carpenters and mechanics.
Firearms, including two rifles, three shotguns and three six-shot revolvers, were suspended from the walls of the vessel. A crate lined with iron enclosed gunpowder, bullets and a few packets of lead shot.
A table surmounted by two shelves was placed in the vessel’s anterior concavity. On the shelves, Trinitus arranged the apparatus designed for the manufacture of oxygen, both by the decomposition of water and that of potassium chlorate. He also put the receptacle for hydrogen gas there and the jars containing caustic potash, reserving the table for chemical and culinary operations.
Finally, under the table he deposited all the fishing equipment and three-diving suits, indispensable to the travelers for descending from their boat into the sea.
At the other extremity of the cabin, below the lever controlling the rudder, next to the compass, Trinitus placed another small table, which served as a desk for a portable compass, a sextant, and excellent microscope, a few books and several large maps of the Atlantic and Oceania. He also suspended a mercury barometer at that location, and three good thermometers for the air and for the water.
Two folding chairs, two hammocks and a basket containing a few clothes completed the ship’s equipment.
All the preparations having been completed, the departure was set for the next day, at nightfall.
The excited voyagers met up again at two o’clock in the afternoon in Trinitus’ house. The scientist had spent the morning loading the enormous Daniel piles that were to power the boat with acidulated copper sulfate, and he had checked all his calculations one last time.
When Nicaise and Marcel presented themselves, dressed in woolen clothes and shod in tarred gaiters, the skillful technologist shook their hands effusively, and could not help a tear rolling down his cheek.
“My dear friends,” he said, “You have no fear of exposing yourselves, with me, to the thousand dangers that might perhaps await us; let me express all my gratitude, and to regard you from now on as beloved brothers.”
Nicaise and Marcel, their hearts swelling, stammered a few words and went back in with the scientist.
It had been decided that they would eat dinner before leaving, but their emotion was stronger than their appetite. At table, they only talked about the voyage, and especially the dear absentees of whom they were going in search.
Nicaise reminisced about the good Madame Thérèse; he recalled her excellent qualities one by one, saying how gentle, charitable and generous she was.
Marcel, for his part, spoke admiringly about Alice. What a charming child! What pretty eyes she had! What beautiful blonde hair! What a gracious smile!
Trinitus only contrived a few remarks through his tears. Where were they now, those poor beloved women? Had they survived the shipwreck? Perhaps, alas, fallen into the hands of some savage tribe, they were enduring the most atrocious torments!
At that terrible thought, the scientist’s face took on an expression of the most profound dolor. His fists clenched convulsively. He became annoyed with himself for not having left yet.
However, as dusk gradually fell, the three men got up, locked up the house and went to the laboratory.
Trinitus opened a huge door with two battens, separated from the sea by a terrace about thirty meters broad, and the scientist’s two companions understood that it was only necessary to push the machine to set it afloat immediately.
“The way is open!” said Trinitus. “There are little wheels under the boat; we only have to push.…”
“Come on, hard!” exclaimed Nicaise, and ran forward to be the first to lean on the propeller to launch the ship.”
“Off we go!” replied Trinitus and Marcel.
Immediately, a kind of frenzy took hold of the three travelers. The boat, pushed out of the laboratory with an incredible energy, traversed the terrace and slid gently on to the surface of the waves.…
Marcel and Nicaise, transported by enthusiasm, uttered a cry of admiration and surprise, and even Trinitus stood still momentarily in amazement.
“It’s splendid!” he cried.
At that moment, in fact, the moon illuminated the dome of the machine, making it shine like a ruby sphere, and the sky, reflected in the glass of its portholes, was reproduced there with its thousands of stars.
“I’ll embark first!” said Marcel.
“You next, Nicaise,” said Trinitus.
“I’d like that—but before then, I want to baptize the ship.”
“So be it!” said the scientist.
“Let’s call her the Éclair, since lightning is powering her.”
“That name suits her marvelously. We’ll make twenty-five leagues an hour, and tomorrow evening, God willing, we’ll be in the Azores.…”
1. The meat extract produced by Justus von Liebig’s Meat Extract Company, founded in 1865, was eventually trademarked as “Oxo.”
CHAPTER TWO
AT SEA
When Nicaise had taken his place in the boat beside Marcel, Trinitus went inside in his turn, carefully sealed the porthole and put his hand on the lever that served to direct the electric current into the mechanisms of the ship.
“No one will miss the land?” he asked.
“No,
