After some minutes, during which, doubtless, he passed in review his whole life, Captain Nemo turned to the colonists and said-- "You consider yourselves, gentlemen, under some obligations to me?" "Captain, believe us that we would give our lives to prolong yours." "Promise, then," continued Captain Nemo, "to carry out my last wishes, and I shall be repaid for all I have done for you." "We promise," said Cyrus Harding. And by this promise he bound both himself and his companions. "Gentlemen," resumed the captain, "to-morrow I shall be dead." Herbert was about to utter an exclamation, but a sign from the captain arrested him. "To-morrow I shall die, and I desire no other tomb than the _Nautilus_. It is my grave! All my friends repose in the depths of the ocean; their resting-place shall be mine." These words were received with profound silence. "Pay attention to my wishes," he continued. "The _Nautilus_ is imprisoned in this grotto, the entrance of which is blocked up; but, although egress is impossible, the vessel may at least sink in the abyss, and there bury my remains." The colonists listened reverently to the words of the dying man. "To-morrow, after my death, Mr Harding," continued the captain, "yourself and companions will leave the _Nautilus_, for all the treasures it contains must perish with me. One token alone will remain with you of Prince Dakkar, with whose history you are now acquainted. That coffer yonder contains diamonds of the value of many millions, most of them mementoes of the time when, husband and father, I thought happiness possible for me, and a collection of pearls gathered by my friends and myself in the depths of the ocean. Of this treasure, at a future day, you may make good use. In the hands of such men as yourself and your comrades, Captain Harding, money will never be a source of danger. From on high I shall still participate in your enterprises, and I fear not but that they will prosper." After a few moments' repose, necessitated by his extreme weakness, Captain Nemo continued-- "To-morrow you will take the coffer, you will leave the saloon, of which you will close the door; then you will ascend onto the deck of the _Nautilus_, and you will lower the main-hatch so as entirely to close the vessel." "It shall be done, captain," answered Cyrus Harding. "Good. You will then embark in the canoe which brought you hither; but, before leaving the _Nautilus_, go to the stern and there open two large stop-cocks which you will find upon the water-line. The water will penetrate into the reservoirs, and the _Nautilus_ will gradually sink beneath the water to repose at the bottom of the abyss." And, comprehending a gesture of Cyrus Harding, the captain added-- "Fear nothing! You will but bury a corpse!" Neither Cyrus Harding nor his companions ventured to offer any observation to Captain Nemo. He had expressed his last wishes, and they had nothing to do but to conform to them.