Chapter 8. “Mobilis in Mobili”

           Thisforcibleabduction,soroughlycarriedout,wasaccomplishedwiththerapidityoflightning.Ishiveredallover.Whomhadwetodealwith?Nodoubtsomenewsortofpirates,whoexploredtheseaintheirownway.Hardlyhadthenarrowpanelcloseduponme,whenIwasenvelopedindarkness.Myeyes,dazzledwiththeouterlight,coulddistinguishnothing.Ifeltmynakedfeetclingtotherungsofanironladder.NedLandandConseil,firmlyseized,followedme.Atthebottomoftheladder,adooropened,andshutafterusimmediatelywithabang.

           Wewerealone.Where,Icouldnotsay,hardlyimagine.Allwasblack,andsuchadenseblackthat,aftersomeminutes,myeyeshadnotbeenabletodiscerneventhefaintestglimmer.

           Meanwhile,NedLand,furiousattheseproceedings,gavefreeventtohisindignation.

           "Confoundit!"criedhe,"herearepeoplewhocomeuptotheScotchforhospitality.Theyonlyjustmissbeingcannibals.Ishouldnotbesurprisedatit,butIdeclarethattheyshallnoteatmewithoutmyprotesting."

           "Calmyourself,friendNed,calmyourself,"repliedConseil,quietly."Donotcryoutbeforeyouarehurt.Wearenotquitedoneforyet."

           "Notquite,"sharplyrepliedtheCanadian,"butprettynear,atallevents.Thingslookblack.Happily,mybowieknifeIhavestill,andIcanalwaysseewellenoughtouseit.Thefirstofthesepirateswholaysahandonme——"

           "Donotexciteyourself,Ned,"Isaidtotheharpooner,"anddonotcompromiseusbyuselessviolence.Whoknowsthattheywillnotlistentous?Letusrathertrytofindoutwhereweare."

           Igropedabout.