Our arms, which were noiseless, could only produce a moderate effect on the savages, who have little respect for aught but blustering things. The thunderbolt without the reverberations of thunder would frighten man but little, though the danger lies in the lightning, not in the noise. At this moment the canoes approached the Nautilus, and a shower of arrows alighted on her. I went down to the saloon, but found no one there. I ventured to knock at the door that opened into the Captain’s room. “Come in,” was the answer. I entered, and found Captain Nemo deep in algebraical calculations of x and other quantities. “I am disturbing you,” said I, for courtesy’s sake. “That is true, M. Aronnax,” replied the Captain; “but I think you have serious reasons for wishing to see me?” “Very grave ones; the natives are surrounding us in their canoes, and in a few minutes we shall certainly be attacked by many hundreds of savages.” “Ah!” said Captain Nemo quietly, “they are come with their canoes?” “Yes, sir.” “Well, sir, we must close the hatches.” “Exactly, and I came to say to you——” “Nothing can be more simple,” said Captain Nemo. And, pressing an electric button, he transmitted an order to the ship’s crew. “It is all done, sir,” said he, after some moments. “The pinnace is ready, and the hatches are closed.