Twenty thousand leagues under the sea by Verne Jules 1828-1905

Author:Verne, Jules, 1828-1905
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: London : Ward, Lock & Co.

Captain Nemo, Conseil, Ned Land, and I took our places in the stern of the boat, and we moved off.

Our course was in a southerly direction. The rowers did not hurry themselves. I noticed that their vigorous strokes only succeeded each other every ten seconds, according to the method in use by the navy. We were silent. What was Captain Nemo thinking of ? Perhaps of the land that we were approaching, and which he found too near him.

About half-past five the first streaks of daylight showed more clearly the upper line of the coast. Flat enough in the «ast, it rose a little towards the south. Five miles still separated us from it, and the shore was indistinct, owing to the mist on the water. There was not a boat or a diver to be seen. It was evident, as Captain Nemo had warned me, that we had come a month too soon.

At 6 a.m. it became daylight suddenly, with that rapidity peculiar to the tropical regions, where there is neither dawn nor twilight. I saw the land distinctly, with a few trees scattered here and there. The boat neared Manaar Island ; Captain Nemo rose from his seat and watched the sea.

At a sign from him the anchor was dropped, but it had but a little distance to fall, for it was scarcely more than a yard to the bottom, and this was one of the highest points of the oysterbank.

" Now, M. Aronnax," said Captain Nemo, " here we are. In a month numerous boats will be assembled here, and these are the waters that the divers explore so boldly. This bay is well placed for the purpose ; it is sheltered from the high winds, and the sea is never very rough here. We will now put on our diving dresses and begin our investigations."

Aided by the sailors, I began to put on my heavy dress. Captain Nemo and my two companions also dressed themselves. None of the sailors from the Nautilus were to accompany us.

We were soon imprisoned to the throat in our indiarub-ber dresses and the air apparatus was fixed to our backs by means of braces. There was no need for the lighting apparatus. Before putting on the copper cap I had asked Captain Nemo about it.

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