Torres Straits

During the night of the 27th or 28th of December, the Nautilus left the shores of Vanikoro with great speed. Her course was south-westerly, and in three days she had gone over the 750 leagues that separated it from La Perouse’s group and the south-east point of Papua.

During the night of December 27 or 28, the Nautilus sped away from the shores of Vanikoro. She headed southwest. In three days, she covered the 750 leagues separating Vanikoro from La Perouse’s group and the southeast point of Papua.

Early on the 1st of January, 1863, Conseil joined me on the platform.

Early on January 1, 1863, Conseil joined me on the platform.

“Master, will you permit me to wish you a happy New Year?”

“Master, may I wish you a happy New Year?”

“What! Conseil; exactly as if I was at Paris in my study at the Jardin des Plantes? Well, I accept your good wishes, and thank you for them. Only, I will ask you what you mean by a ‘Happy New Year’ under our circumstances? Do you mean the year that will bring us to the end of our imprisonment, or the year that sees us continue this strange voyage?”

“What, Conseil? Just as if I were in my study at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris? Well, I accept your good wishes and thank you. But what do you mean by a ‘Happy New Year’ in our situation? Do you mean a year that will end our imprisonment, or one in which we continue this strange voyage?”

“Really, I do not know how to answer, master. We are sure to see curious things, and for the last two months we have not had time for dullness. The last marvel is always the most astonishing; and, if we continue this progression, I do not know how it will end. It is my opinion that we shall never again see the like. I think then, with no offence to master, that a happy year would be one in which we could see everything.”

“Really, I don't know how to answer, master. We're sure to see strange things, and we haven't had time to be bored for the past two months. Each new wonder is more astonishing than the last. If this continues, I don't know how it will end. I don't think we'll ever see anything like it again. So, with no offense to you, master, I think a happy year would be one in which we could see everything.”

On 2nd January we had made 11,340 miles, or 5,250 French leagues, since our starting-point in the Japan Seas. Before the ship’s head stretched the dangerous shores of the coral sea, on the north-east coast of Australia. Our boat lay along some miles from the redoubtable bank on which Cook’s vessel was lost, 10th June, 1770. The boat in which Cook was struck on a rock, and, if it did not sink, it was owing to a piece of coral that was broken by the shock, and fixed itself in the broken keel.

By 2 January, we had traveled 11,340 miles, or 5,250 French leagues, from our starting point in the Japan Seas. Ahead lay the dangerous shores of the Coral Sea, on the northeast coast of Australia. Our boat was a few miles from the treacherous reef where Cook’s vessel was lost on 10 June 1770. Cook’s boat struck a rock, but it did not sink. A piece of coral broke off in the collision and lodged in the broken keel.

I had wished to visit the reef, 360 leagues long, against which the sea, always rough, broke with great violence, with a noise like thunder. But just then the inclined planes drew the Nautilus down to a great depth, and I could see nothing of the high coral walls. I had to content myself with the different specimens of fish brought up by the nets. I remarked, among others, some germons, a species of mackerel as large as a tunny, with bluish sides, and striped with transverse bands, that disappear with the animal’s life.

I had wanted to visit the reef, which stretched for 360 leagues. The sea was always rough there, and its waves broke against the reef with tremendous force and a thunderous roar. But just then, the inclined planes took the Nautilus deep underwater, and I could see nothing of the high coral walls. I had to make do with the fish caught in the nets. Among them, I noticed some germons, a kind of mackerel as large as a tuna. They had bluish sides with bands running across them, which fade when the fish die.

These fish followed us in shoals, and furnished us with very delicate food. We took also a large number of gilt-heads, about one and a half inches long, tasting like dorys; and flying pyrapeds like submarine swallows, which, in dark nights, light alternately the air and water with their phosphorescent light. Among the molluscs and zoophytes, I found in the meshes of the net several species of alcyonarians, echini, hammers, spurs, dials, cerites, and hyalleae. The flora was represented by beautiful floating seaweeds, laminariae, and macrocystes, impregnated with the mucilage that transudes through their pores; and among which I gathered an admirable Nemastoma Geliniarois, that was classed among the natural curiosities of the museum.

These fish followed us in shoals and provided us with very delicate food. We also caught many gilt-heads, about one and a half inches long, which tasted like dory. We caught flying pyrapeds too. They were like underwater swallows, and on dark nights their phosphorescent light lit up the air and water in turn. Among the mollusks and zoophytes in the net, I found several species of alcyonarians, echini, hammers, spurs, dials, cerites, and hyalleae. The plants included beautiful floating seaweeds, laminariae, and macrocystes, soaked in the mucilage that seeped through their pores. Among them I gathered a magnificent Nemastoma Geliniarois, which was placed among the natural curiosities in the museum.

Two days after crossing the coral sea, 4th January, we sighted the Papuan coasts. On this occasion, Captain Nemo informed me that his intention was to get into the Indian Ocean by the Strait of Torres. His communication ended there.

Two days after crossing the coral sea, on January 4, we sighted the Papuan coast. Captain Nemo told me he intended to reach the Indian Ocean through the Strait of Torres. He said nothing more.

The Torres Straits are nearly thirty-four leagues wide; but they are obstructed by an innumerable quantity of islands, islets, breakers, and rocks, that make its navigation almost impracticable; so that Captain Nemo took all needful precautions to cross them. The Nautilus, floating betwixt wind and water, went at a moderate pace. Her screw, like a cetacean’s tail, beat the waves slowly.

The Torres Straits are nearly thirty-four leagues wide. But countless islands, islets, breakers, and rocks make them almost impossible to navigate. Captain Nemo therefore took all necessary precautions to cross them. The Nautilus traveled at a moderate pace, floating partly above the water. Its propeller beat the waves slowly, like a whale’s tail.

Profiting by this, I and my two companions went up on to the deserted platform. Before us was the steersman’s cage, and I expected that Captain Nemo was there directing the course of the Nautilus. I had before me the excellent charts of the Straits of Torres, and I consulted them attentively. Round the Nautilus the sea dashed furiously. The course of the waves, that went from south-east to north-west at the rate of two and a half miles, broke on the coral that showed itself here and there.

Taking advantage of this, my two companions and I went up to the deserted platform. Ahead of us was the steering cage. I expected Captain Nemo was there, directing the course of the Nautilus. I had excellent charts of the Straits of Torres before me, and I studied them carefully. The sea surged furiously around the Nautilus. The waves moved from southeast to northwest at two and a half miles per hour. They broke against coral that appeared here and there.

“This is a bad sea!” remarked Ned Land.

“This is a rough sea!” said Ned Land.

“Detestable indeed, and one that does not suit a boat like the Nautilus.”

“Terrible indeed, and not suited to a boat like the Nautilus.”

“The Captain must be very sure of his route, for I see there pieces of coral that would do for its keel if it only touched them slightly.”

“The Captain must be very sure of his route. I can see pieces of coral there that would destroy the keel if it even touched them.”

Indeed the situation was dangerous, but the Nautilus seemed to slide like magic off these rocks. It did not follow the routes of the Astrolabe and the Zelee exactly, for they proved fatal to Dumont d’Urville. It bore more northwards, coasted the Islands of Murray, and came back to the south-west towards Cumberland Passage. I thought it was going to pass it by, when, going back to north-west, it went through a large quantity of islands and islets little known, towards the Island Sound and Canal Mauvais.

The situation was dangerous, but the Nautilus seemed to glide off the rocks as if by magic. It did not follow the exact routes of the Astrolabe and the Zelee, which had proved fatal to Dumont d’Urville. Instead, it headed farther north, sailed along the Islands of Murray, and turned southwest toward Cumberland Passage. I thought it was going to pass the passage by. But it turned northwest and sailed through many little-known islands and islets toward the Island Sound and Canal Mauvais.

I wondered if Captain Nemo, foolishly imprudent, would steer his vessel into that pass where Dumont d’Urville’s two corvettes touched; when, swerving again, and cutting straight through to the west, he steered for the Island of Gilboa.

I wondered if Captain Nemo would be reckless enough to steer his vessel into the passage where Dumont d’Urville’s two corvettes had landed. But he turned again, headed straight west, and steered toward the Island of Gilboa.

It was then three in the afternoon. The tide began to recede, being quite full. The Nautilus approached the island, that I still saw, with its remarkable border of screw-pines. He stood off it at about two miles distant. Suddenly a shock overthrew me. The Nautilus just touched a rock, and stayed immovable, laying lightly to port side.

It was three in the afternoon. The tide had reached its highest point and was beginning to go out. The Nautilus approached the island, which I could still see, with its remarkable border of screw-pines. The vessel stopped about two miles away. Suddenly, a jolt knocked me down. The Nautilus had just touched a rock. It came to a stop, tilting slightly to port.

When I rose, I perceived Captain Nemo and his lieutenant on the platform. They were examining the situation of the vessel, and exchanging words in their incomprehensible dialect.

When I got up, I saw Captain Nemo and his lieutenant on the platform. They were assessing the vessel’s situation and speaking in their incomprehensible dialect.

She was situated thus: Two miles, on the starboard side, appeared Gilboa, stretching from north to west like an immense arm. Towards the south and east some coral showed itself, left by the ebb. We had run aground, and in one of those seas where the tides are middling—a sorry matter for the floating of the Nautilus. However, the vessel had not suffered, for her keel was solidly joined. But, if she could neither glide off nor move, she ran the risk of being for ever fastened to these rocks, and then Captain Nemo’s submarine vessel would be done for.

The Nautilus lay in the following position. Two miles off the starboard side, Gilboa stretched from north to west like an enormous arm. To the south and east, some coral was exposed by the receding tide. We had run aground in a sea where the tides were moderate. That was bad news for our chances of refloating the Nautilus. However, the vessel had suffered no damage because her keel was firmly built. But if she could neither slide free nor move, she risked being stuck on the rocks forever. Captain Nemo’s submarine vessel would then be finished.

I was reflecting thus, when the Captain, cool and calm, always master of himself, approached me.

As I was thinking about this, the Captain approached me. He was cool and calm, always in control of himself.

“An accident?” I asked.

“An accident?” I asked.

“No; an incident.”

“No, an incident.”

“But an incident that will oblige you perhaps to become an inhabitant of this land from which you flee?”

“But what if an incident perhaps forces you to live in the land you are fleeing?”

Captain Nemo looked at me curiously, and made a negative gesture, as much as to say that nothing would force him to set foot on terra firma again. Then he said:

Captain Nemo looked at me curiously and shook his head. It was as if he meant that nothing would force him to set foot on land again. Then he said:

“Besides, M. Aronnax, the Nautilus is not lost; it will carry you yet into the midst of the marvels of the ocean. Our voyage is only begun, and I do not wish to be deprived so soon of the honour of your company.”

“Besides, M. Aronnax, the Nautilus is not lost. It will still carry you among the wonders of the ocean. Our voyage has only just begun, and I do not want to lose the honor of your company so soon.”

“However, Captain Nemo,” I replied, without noticing the ironical turn of his phrase, “the Nautilus ran aground in open sea. Now the tides are not strong in the Pacific; and, if you cannot lighten the Nautilus, I do not see how it will be reinflated.”

“However, Captain Nemo,” I replied, not noticing the irony in his words, “the Nautilus ran aground in the open sea. The tides are not strong in the Pacific. And if you cannot lighten the Nautilus, I do not see how you can get it afloat again.”

“The tides are not strong in the Pacific: you are right there, Professor; but in Torres Straits one finds still a difference of a yard and a half between the level of high and low seas. To-day is 4th January, and in five days the moon will be full. Now, I shall be very much astonished if that satellite does not raise these masses of water sufficiently, and render me a service that I should be indebted to her for.”

“The tides are not strong in the Pacific. You are right about that, Professor. But in Torres Straits, there is still a difference of a yard and a half between high and low tide. Today is January 4, and the moon will be full in five days. I would be very surprised if the moon did not raise the water high enough to help me. I would be grateful to her for that service.”

Having said this, Captain Nemo, followed by his lieutenant, re-descended to the interior of the Nautilus. As to the vessel, it moved not, and was immovable, as if the coralline polypi had already walled it up with their indestructible cement.

After saying this, Captain Nemo went back down into the Nautilus, followed by his lieutenant. The vessel did not move and could not be moved. It was as if the coral polyps had already walled it in with their indestructible cement.

“Well, sir?” said Ned Land, who came up to me after the departure of the Captain.

“Well, sir?” said Ned Land, coming up to me after the Captain left.

“Well, friend Ned, we will wait patiently for the tide on the 9th instant; for it appears that the moon will have the goodness to put it off again.”

“Well, Ned, my friend, we’ll wait patiently for the tide on the 9th of this month. It seems the moon will be kind enough to delay it again.”

“Really?”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Really.”

“And this Captain is not going to cast anchor at all since the tide will suffice?” said Conseil, simply.

“And this captain isn’t going to drop anchor at all, since the tide will be enough?” Conseil asked simply.

The Canadian looked at Conseil, then shrugged his shoulders.

The Canadian looked at Conseil, then shrugged.

“Sir, you may believe me when I tell you that this piece of iron will navigate neither on nor under the sea again; it is only fit to be sold for its weight. I think, therefore, that the time has come to part company with Captain Nemo.”

“Sir, you can believe me when I say this piece of iron will never sail on or under the sea again. It is only fit to be sold for scrap. So I think the time has come to part ways with Captain Nemo.”

“Friend Ned, I do not despair of this stout Nautilus, as you do; and in four days we shall know what to hold to on the Pacific tides. Besides, flight might be possible if we were in sight of the English or Provencal coast; but on the Papuan shores, it is another thing; and it will be time enough to come to that extremity if the Nautilus does not recover itself again, which I look upon as a grave event.”

“Friend Ned, unlike you, I have not given up hope for the sturdy Nautilus. In four days, we shall know what to expect from the Pacific tides. Besides, escape might be possible within sight of the English or Provencal coast. But it is another matter on the Papuan shores. There will be time enough to resort to escape if the Nautilus does not free itself again. I would consider that a serious event.”

“But do they know, at least, how to act circumspectly? There is an island; on that island there are trees; under those trees, terrestrial animals, bearers of cutlets and roast beef, to which I would willingly give a trial.”

“But do they at least know how to be careful? There is an island, and on it there are trees. Under those trees are land animals that could provide cutlets and roast beef. I would gladly give them a try.”

“In this, friend Ned is right,” said Conseil, “and I agree with him. Could not master obtain permission from his friend Captain Nemo to put us on land, if only so as not to lose the habit of treading on the solid parts of our planet?”

“Friend Ned is right about that,” said Conseil, “and I agree with him. Could master ask his friend Captain Nemo for permission to let us go ashore? Even if only to keep us from forgetting what it is like to walk on solid ground?”

“I can ask him, but he will refuse.”

“I can ask him, but he’ll refuse.”

“Will master risk it?” asked Conseil, “and we shall know how to rely upon the Captain’s amiability.”

“Will you risk it, sir?” asked Conseil. “Then we’ll know how much we can rely on the Captain’s kindness.”

To my great surprise, Captain Nemo gave me the permission I asked for, and he gave it very agreeably, without even exacting from me a promise to return to the vessel; but flight across New Guinea might be very perilous, and I should not have counselled Ned Land to attempt it. Better to be a prisoner on board the Nautilus than to fall into the hands of the natives.

To my great surprise, Captain Nemo readily gave me the permission I had asked for. He did not even make me promise to return to the vessel. But escaping across New Guinea could be very dangerous, and I would not have advised Ned Land to try it. It was better to be a prisoner aboard the Nautilus than to fall into the hands of the natives.

At eight o’clock, armed with guns and hatchets, we got off the Nautilus. The sea was pretty calm; a slight breeze blew on land. Conseil and I rowing, we sped along quickly, and Ned steered in the straight passage that the breakers left between them. The boat was well handled, and moved rapidly.

At eight o’clock, we left the Nautilus armed with guns and hatchets. The sea was fairly calm, and a light breeze blew toward land. Conseil and I rowed, and we moved quickly as Ned steered through the straight passage between the breakers. The boat was well handled and moved rapidly.

Ned Land could not restrain his joy. He was like a prisoner that had escaped from prison, and knew not that it was necessary to re-enter it.

Ned Land could not contain his joy. He was like a prisoner who had escaped but did not know he had to return to prison.

“Meat! We are going to eat some meat; and what meat!” he replied. “Real game! no, bread, indeed.”

“Meat! We’re going to eat meat, and what meat!” he replied. “Real game! No, bread, indeed.”

“I do not say that fish is not good; we must not abuse it; but a piece of fresh venison, grilled on live coals, will agreeably vary our ordinary course.”

“I’m not saying fish isn’t good. We shouldn’t eat too much of it, though. A piece of fresh venison, grilled over hot coals, would be a welcome change from our usual meals.”

“Glutton!” said Conseil, “he makes my mouth water.”

“Glutton!” said Conseil. “He makes my mouth water.”

“It remains to be seen,” I said, “if these forests are full of game, and if the game is not such as will hunt the hunter himself.”

“We still have to see,” I said, “whether these forests are full of animals to hunt, and whether those animals might hunt the hunter himself.”

“Well said, M. Aronnax,” replied the Canadian, whose teeth seemed sharpened like the edge of a hatchet; “but I will eat tiger—loin of tiger—if there is no other quadruped on this island.”

“Well said, M. Aronnax,” replied the Canadian. His teeth seemed as sharp as the edge of a hatchet. “But I will eat tiger, tiger loin, if there is no other four-legged animal on this island.”

“Friend Ned is uneasy about it,” said Conseil.

“Our friend Ned is worried about it,” said Conseil.

“Whatever it may be,” continued Ned Land, “every animal with four paws without feathers, or with two paws without feathers, will be saluted by my first shot.”

“Whatever it may be,” Ned Land continued, “I’ll shoot any featherless animal with four paws or two.”

“Very well! Master Land’s imprudences are beginning.”

“All right! Master Land’s reckless behavior is beginning.”

“Never fear, M. Aronnax,” replied the Canadian; “I do not want twenty-five minutes to offer you a dish, of my sort.”

“Don’t worry, M. Aronnax,” replied the Canadian. “I won’t need twenty-five minutes to serve you a dish of my own.”

At half-past eight the Nautilus boat ran softly aground on a heavy sand, after having happily passed the coral reef that surrounds the Island of Gilboa.

At eight thirty, the Nautilus boat gently ran aground on deep sand. It had safely passed the coral reef surrounding the Island of Gilboa.