English
Irushedupontotheplatform.Yes,opensea!
Barelyafewsparsefloes,somemovingicebergs;aseastretchingintothedistance;hostsofbirdsintheairandmyriadsoffishunderthewaters,whichvariedfromintensebluetoolivegreendependingonthedepth.Thethermometermarked3°centigrade.
ItwasasifacomparativespringtimehadbeenlockedupbehindthatIceBank,whosedistantmasseswereoutlinedonthenorthernhorizon.
"Areweatthepole?"Iaskedthecaptain,myheartpounding.
"I'venoidea,"heansweredme."Atnoonwe'llfixourposition."
"Butwillthesunshowthroughthismist?"Isaid,staringatthegrayishsky.
"Nomatterhowfaintlyitshines,itwillbeenoughforme,"thecaptainreplied.
Tothesouth,tenmilesfromtheNautilus,asolitaryisletrosetoaheightof200meters.Weproceededtowardit,butcautiously,becausethisseacouldhavebeenstrewnwithreefs.
Inanhourwehadreachedtheislet.Twohourslaterwehadcompletedafullcirclearoundit.
Itmeasuredfourtofivemilesincircumference.
Anarrowchannelseparateditfromaconsiderableshore,perhapsacontinentwhoselimitswecouldn'tsee.
TheexistenceofthisshoreseemedtobearoutCommanderMaury'shypotheses.
Inessence,thisingeniousAmericanhasnotedthatbetweentheSouthPoleandthe60thparallel,theseaiscoveredwithfloatingiceofdimensionsmuchgreaterthananyfoundinthenorthAtlantic.
FromthisfacthedrewtheconclusionthattheAntarcticCirclemustcontainconsiderableshores,sinceicebergscan'tformonthehighseasbutonlyalongcoastlines.
Accordingtohiscalculations,thisfrozenmassenclosingthesouthernmostpoleformsavasticecapwhosewidthmustreach4,000kilometers.
Meanwhile,toavoidrunningaground,theNautilushaltedthreecablelengthsfromastrandcrownedbysuperbpilesofrocks.Theskiffwaslaunchedtosea.
Twocrewmencarryinginstruments,thecaptain,Conseil,andIwereonboard.Itwasteno'clockinthemorning.Ihadn'tseenNedLand.
Nodoubt,inthepresenceoftheSouthPole,theCanadianhatedhavingtoeathiswords.
Afewstrokesoftheoarbroughttheskifftothesand,whereitranaground.JustasConseilwasabouttojumpashore,Iheldhimback.
"Sir,"ItoldCaptainNemo,"toyoubelongsthehonoroffirstsettingfootonthisshore."
"Yes,sir,"thecaptainreplied,"andifIhavenohesitationintreadingthispolarsoil,it'sbecausenohumanbeinguntilnowhasleftafootprinthere."
Sosaying,heleapedlightlyontothesand.
Hisheartmusthavebeenthrobbingwithintenseexcitement.
Hescaledanoverhangingrockthatendedinasmallpromontoryandthere,muteandmotionless,withcrossedarmsandblazingeyes,heseemedtobelayingclaimtothesesouthernmostregions.
Afterspendingfiveminutesinthistrance,heturnedtous.
"Wheneveryou'reready,sir,"hecalledtome.
Igotout,Conseilatmyheels,leavingthetwomenintheskiff.
Overanextensivearea,thesoilconsistedofthatigneousgravelcalled"tuff,"reddishincolorasifmadefromcrushedbricks.
Thegroundwascoveredwithslag,lavaflows,andpumicestones.Itsvolcanicoriginwasunmistakable.
Incertainlocalitiesthinsmokeholesgaveoffasulfurousodor,showingthattheinnerfiresstillkepttheirwide–rangingpower.
Nevertheless,whenIscaledahighescarpment,Icouldseenovolcanoeswithinaradiusofseveralmiles.
IntheseAntarcticdistricts,asiswellknown,SirJamesClarkRosshadfoundthecratersofMt.ErebusandMt.Terrorinfullyactiveconditiononthe167thmeridianatlatitude77°32'.
Thevegetationonthisdesolatecontinentstruckmeasquitelimited.
AfewlichensofthespeciesUsneamelanoxanthrasprawledovertheblackrocks.
Thewholemeagerfloraofthisregionconsistedofcertainmicroscopicbuds,rudimentarydiatomsmadeupofatypeofcellpositionedbetweentwoquartz–richshells,pluslongpurpleandcrimsonfucusplants,buoyedbysmallairbladdersandwasheduponthecoastbythesurf.
Thebeachwasstrewnwithmollusks:smallmussels,limpets,smoothheart–shapedcockles,andespeciallysomeseabutterflieswithoblong,membrane–filledbodieswhoseheadsareformedfromtworoundedlobes.
Ialsosawmyriadsofthosenorthernmostseabutterfliesthreecentimeterslong,whichabaleenwhalecanswallowbythethousandsinonegulp.
Theopenwatersattheshorelinewerealivewiththesedelightfulpteropods,truebutterfliesofthesea.
Amongotherzoophytespresentintheseshallows,therewereafewcoraltreeformsthat,accordingtoSirJamesClarkRoss,liveintheseAntarcticseasatdepthsasgreatas1,000meters;thensmallalcyoncoralbelongingtothespeciesProcellariapelagica,alsoalargenumberofstarfishuniquetotheseclimes,plussomefeatherstarsspanglingthesand.
Butitwasintheairthatlifewassuperabundant.
Therevariousspeciesofbirdsflewandflutteredbythethousands,deafeninguswiththeircalls.
Crowdingtherocks,otherfowlwatchedwithoutfearaswepassedandpressedfamiliarlyagainstourfeet.
Thesewereauks,asagileandsuppleinwater,wheretheyaresometimesmistakenforfastbonito,astheyareclumsyandheavyonland.
Theyutteredoutlandishcallsandparticipatedinnumerouspublicassembliesthatfeaturedmuchnoisebutlittleaction.
AmongotherfowlInotedsomesheathbillsfromthewading–birdfamily,thesizeofpigeons,whiteincolor,thebeakshortandconical,theeyesframedbyredcircles.
Conseillaidinasupplyofthem,becausewhenthey'reproperlycooked,thesewingedcreaturesmakeapleasantdish.
Intheairtherepassedsootyalbatrosswithfour–meterwingspans,birdsaptlydubbed"vulturesoftheocean,"alsogiganticpetrelsincludingseveralwitharchingwings,enthusiasticeatersofsealthatareknownasquebrantahuesos,*andcapepigeons,asortofsmallduck,thetopsoftheirbodiesblackandwhite—inshort,awholeseriesofpetrels,somewhitishwithwingstrimmedinbrown,othersblueandexclusivetotheseAntarcticseas,theformer"sooily,"ItoldConseil,"thatinhabitantsoftheFaroeIslandssimplyfitthebirdwithawick,thenlightitup."
*Spanish:"ospreys."Ed.
"Withthatminoraddition,"Conseilreplied,"thesefowlwouldmakeperfectlamps!Afterthis,weshouldinsistthatnatureequipthemwithwicksinadvance!"
Halfamilefartheron,thegroundwascompletelyriddledwithpenguinnests,egg–layingburrowsfromwhichnumerousbirdsemerged.
LaterCaptainNemohadhundredsofthemhuntedbecausetheirblackfleshishighlyedible.Theybrayedlikedonkeys.
Thesizeofagoosewithslate–coloredbodies,whiteundersides,andlemon–coloredneckbands,theseanimalsletthemselvesbestonedtodeathwithoutmakinganyefforttogetaway.
Meanwhilethemistsdidn'tclear,andbyeleveno'clockthesunstillhadn'tmadeanappearance.Itsabsencedisturbedme.Withoutit,nosightswerepossible.
Thenhowcouldwetellwhetherwehadreachedthepole?
WhenIrejoinedCaptainNemo,Ifoundhimleaningsilentlyagainstapieceofrockandstaringatthesky.Heseemedimpatient,baffled.Butwhatcouldwedo?
Thisdaringandpowerfulmancouldn'tcontrolthesunashedidthesea.
Noonarrivedwithouttheorbofdayappearingforasingleinstant.Youcouldn'tevenfinditshidingplacebehindthecurtainofmist.Andsoonthismistbegantocondenseintosnow.
"Untiltomorrow,"thecaptainsaidsimply;andwewentbacktotheNautilus,amidflurriesintheair.
Duringourabsencethenetshadbeenspread,andIobservedwithfascinationthefishjusthauledonboard.
TheAntarcticseasserveasarefugeforanextremelylargenumberofmigratoryfishthatfleefromstormsinthesubpolarzones,intruthonlytoslidedownthegulletsofporpoisesandseals.
Inotedsomeone–decimetersouthernbullhead,aspeciesofwhitishcartilaginousfishoverrunwithbluishgraystripesandarmedwithstings,thensomeAntarcticrabbitfishthreefeetlong,thebodyveryslender,theskinasmoothsilverwhite,theheadrounded,thetopsidefurnishedwiththreefins,thesnoutendinginatrunkthatcurvedbacktowardthemouth.
Isampleditsfleshbutfoundittasteless,despiteConseil'sviews,whichwerelargelyapproving.
Theblizzardlasteduntilthenextday.Itwasimpossibletostayontheplatform.
Fromthelounge,whereIwaswritinguptheincidentsofthisexcursiontothepolarcontinent,Icouldhearthecallsofpetrelandalbatrosscavortinginthemidstoftheturmoil.
TheNautilusdidn'tstayidle,andcruisingalongthecoast,itadvancedsometenmilesfarthersouthamidthehalflightleftbythesunasitskimmedtheedgeofthehorizon.
Thenextday,March20,itstoppedsnowing.Thecoldwasalittlemorebrisk.Thethermometermarked–2°centigrade.
Themisthadcleared,andonthatdayIhopedournoonsightscouldbeaccomplished.
SinceCaptainNemohadn'tyetappeared,onlyConseilandIweretakenashorebytheskiff.
Thesoil'snaturewasstillthesame:volcanic.
Tracesoflava,slag,andbasalticrockwereeverywhere,butIcouldn'tfindthecraterthathadvomitedthemup.
Thereasyonder,myriadsofbirdsenlivenedthispartofthepolarcontinent.
Buttheyhadtosharetheirdominionwithhugeherdsofmarinemammalsthatlookedatuswithgentleeyes.
Theseweresealsofvariousspecies,somestretchedoutontheground,otherslyingondriftingicefloes,severalleavingorreenteringthesea.
Havingneverdealtwithman,theydidn'trunoffatourapproach,andIcountedenoughofthemthereaboutstoprovisionacouplehundredships.
"Yegods,"Conseilsaid,"it'sfortunatethatNedLanddidn'tcomewithus!"
"Whyso,Conseil?"
"Becausethatmadcaphunterwouldkilleveryanimalhere."
"Everyanimalmaybeoverstatingit,butintruthIdoubtwecouldkeepourCanadianfriendfromharpooningsomeofthesemagnificentcetaceans.
WhichwouldbeanaffronttoCaptainNemo,sincehehatestoslayharmlessbeastsneedlessly."
"He'sright."
"Certainly,Conseil.Buttellme,haven'tyoufinishedclassifyingthesesuperbspecimensofmarinefauna?"
"Masteriswellaware,"Conseilreplied,"thatI'mnotseasonedinpracticalapplication.Whenmasterhastoldmetheseanimals'names..."
"They'resealsandwalruses."
"Twogenera,"ourscholarlyConseilhastenedtosay,"thatbelongtothefamilyPinnipedia,orderCarnivora,groupUnguiculata,subclassMonodelphia,classMammalia,branchVertebrata."
"Verynice,Conseil,"Ireplied,"butthesetwogeneraofsealsandwalrusesareeachdividedintospecies,andifI'mnotmistaken,wenowhaveachancetoactuallylookatthem.Let's."
Itwaseighto'clockinthemorning.Wehadfourhourstoourselvesbeforethesuncouldbeproductivelyobserved.
Iguidedourstepstowardahugebaythatmadeacrescent–shapedincisioninthegranitecliffsalongthebeach.
There,allaboutus,Iswearthattheshoresandicefloeswerecrowdedwithmarinemammalsasfarastheeyecouldsee,andIinvoluntarilylookedaroundforoldProteus,thatmythologicalshepherdwhoguardedKingNeptune'simmenseflocks.Tobespecific,thesewereseals.
Theyformeddistinctmale–and–femalegroups,thefatherwatchingoverhisfamily,themothersucklingherlittleones,thestrongeryoungstersemancipatedafewpacesaway.
Whenthesemammalswantedtorelocate,theymovedinlittlejumpsmadebycontractingtheirbodies,clumsilyhelpedbytheirimperfectlydevelopedflippers,which,aswiththeirmanateerelatives,formactualforearms.
Inthewater,theiridealelement,Imustsaytheseanimalsswimwonderfullythankstotheirflexiblebackbones,narrowpelvises,close–croppedhair,andwebbedfeet.
Restingonshore,theyassumedextremelygracefulpositions.
Consequently,theirgentlefeatures,theirsensitiveexpressionsequaltothoseoftheloveliestwomen,theirsoft,limpideyes,theircharmingposes,ledtheancientstoglorifythembymetamorphosingthemalesintoseagodsandthefemalesintomermaids.
IdrewConseil'sattentiontotheconsiderablegrowthofthecerebrallobesfoundintheseintelligentcetaceans.
Nomammalexceptmanhasmoreabundantcerebralmatter.
Accordingly,sealsarequitecapableofbeingeducated;theymakegoodpets,andtogetherwithcertainothernaturalists,Ithinktheseanimalscanbeproperlytrainedtoperformyeomanserviceashuntingdogsforfishermen.
Mostofthesesealsweresleepingontherocksorthesand.
Amongthoseproperlytermedseals—whichhavenoexternalears,unlikesealionswhoseearsprotrude—Iobservedseveralvarietiesofthespeciesstenorhynchus,threemeterslong,withwhitehair,bulldogheads,andarmedwithtenteethineachjaw:fourincisorsinboththeupperandlower,plustwobigcaninesshapedlikethefleur–de–lis.
Amongthemslitheredsomeseaelephants,atypeofsealwithashort,flexibletrunk;thesearethegiantsofthespecies,withacircumferenceoftwentyfeetandalengthoftenmeters.Theydidn'tmoveasweapproached.
"Aretheseanimalsdangerous?"Conseilaskedme.
"Onlyifthey'reattacked,"Ireplied."Butwhenthesegiantsealsdefendtheirlittleones,theirfuryisdreadful,anditisn'trareforthemtosmashafisherman'slongboattobits."
"They'rewithintheirrights,"Conseilanswered.
"Idon'tsaynay."
Twomilesfartheron,wewerestoppedbyapromontorythatscreenedthebayfromsoutherlywinds.
Itdroppedstraightdowntothesea,andsurffoamedagainstit.
Frombeyondthisridgetherecamefearsomebellows,suchasaherdofcattlemightproduce.
"Gracious,"Conseilputin,"achoirofbulls?"
"No,"Isaid,"achoirofwalruses."
"Aretheyfightingwitheachother?"
"Eitherfightingorplaying."
"WithallduerespecttoMaster,thiswemustsee."
"Thenseeitwemust,Conseil."
Andtherewewere,climbingtheseblackishrocksamidsuddenlandslidesandoverstonesslipperywithice.
MorethanonceItookatumbleattheexpenseofmybackside.
Conseil,morecautiousormorestable,barelyfalteredandwouldhelpmeup,saying:
"IfMaster'slegswouldkindlyadoptawiderstance,Masterwillkeephisbalance."
Arrivingatthetopmostridgeofthispromontory,Icouldseevastwhiteplainscoveredwithwalruses.Theseanimalswereplayingamongthemselves.Theywerehowlingnotinangerbutinglee.
Walrusesresemblesealsintheshapeoftheirbodiesandthearrangementoftheirlimbs.
Buttheirlowerjawslackcaninesandincisors,andasfortheiruppercanines,theyconsistoftwotuskseightycentimeterslongwithacircumferenceofthirty–threecentimetersatthesocket.
Madeofsolidivory,withoutstriations,harderthanelephanttusks,andlesspronetoyellowing,theseteethareingreatdemand.
Accordingly,walrusesarethevictimsofamindlesshuntingthatsoonwilldestroythemall,sincetheirhuntersindiscriminatelyslaughterpregnantfemalesandyoungsters,andover4,000individualsaredestroyedannually.
Passingneartheseunusualanimals,Icouldexaminethematmyleisuresincetheydidn'tstir.
Theirhideswereroughandheavy,atancolorleaningtowardareddishbrown;theircoatswereshortandlessthanabundant.Somewerefourmeterslong.
Moretranquilandlessfearfulthantheirnorthernrelatives,theypostednosentinelsonguarddutyattheapproachestotheircampsite.
Afterexaminingthiscommunityofwalruses,Idecidedtoreturninmytracks.
Itwaseleveno'clock,andifCaptainNemofoundconditionsfavorablefortakinghissights,Iwantedtobepresentattheoperation.
ButIheldnohopesthatthesunwouldmakeanappearancethatday.
Itwashiddenfromoureyesbycloudssqueezedtogetheronthehorizon.
Apparentlythejealousorbdidn'twanttorevealthisinaccessiblespotontheglobetoanyhumanbeing.
YetIdecidedtoreturntotheNautilus.
Wewentalongasteep,narrowpaththatranoverthecliff'ssummit.
By11:30wehadarrivedatourlandingplace.
Thebeachedskiffhadbroughtthecaptainashore.
Ispottedhimstandingonachunkofbasalt.Hisinstrumentswerebesidehim.
Hiseyeswerefocusedonthenorthernhorizon,alongwhichthesunwassweepinginitsextendedarc.
Ifoundaplacenearhimandwaitedwithoutspeaking.Noonarrived,andjustasonthedaybefore,thesundidn'tputinanappearance.
Itwassheerbadluck.Ournoonsightswerestilllacking.Ifwecouldn'tobtainthemtomorrow,wewouldfinallyhavetogiveupanyhopeoffixingourposition.
Inessence,itwaspreciselyMarch20.Tomorrow,the21st,wasthedayoftheequinox;thesunwoulddisappearbelowthehorizonforsixmonthsnotcountingrefraction,andafteritsdisappearancethelongpolarnightwouldbegin.
FollowingtheSeptemberequinox,thesunhademergedabovethenortherlyhorizon,risinginlongspiralsuntilDecember21.
Atthattime,thesummersolsticeofthesesouthernmostdistricts,thesunhadstartedbackdown,andtomorrowitwouldcastitslastrays.
IsharedmythoughtsandfearswithCaptainNemo.
"You'reright,ProfessorAronnax,"hetoldme.
"IfIcan'ttakethesun'saltitudetomorrow,Iwon'tbeabletotryagainforanothersixmonths.
Butpreciselybecausesailors'luckhasledmeintotheseseasonMarch21,itwillbeeasytogetourbearingsifthenoondaysundoesappearbeforeoureyes."
"Whyeasy,Captain?"
"Becausewhentheorbofdaysweepsinsuchlongspirals,it'sdifficulttomeasureitsexactaltitudeabovethehorizon,andourinstrumentsareopentocommittingseriouserrors."
"Thenwhatcanyoudo?"
"Iuseonlymychronometer,"CaptainNemoansweredme.
"Atnoontomorrow,March21,if,afteraccountingforrefraction,thesun'sdiskiscutexactlyinhalfbythenorthernhorizon,thatwillmeanI'mattheSouthPole."
"Right,"Isaid."Nevertheless,itisn'tmathematicallyexactproof,becausetheequinoxneedn'tfallpreciselyatnoon."
"Nodoubt,sir,buttheerrorwillbeunder100meters,andthat'scloseenoughforus.Untiltomorrowthen."
CaptainNemowentbackonboard.ConseilandIstayedbehinduntilfiveo'clock,surveyingthebeach,observingandstudying.
TheonlyunusualobjectIpickedupwasanauk'seggofremarkablesize,forwhichacollectorwouldhavepaidmorethan₣1,000.
Itscream–coloredtint,plusthestreaksandmarkingsthatdecorateditlikesomanyhieroglyphics,madeitararetrinket.
IplaceditinConseil'shands,andholdingitlikepreciousporcelainfromChina,thatcautious,sure–footedladgotitbacktotheNautilusinonepiece.
ThereIputthisrareegginsideoneoftheglasscasesinthemuseum.
Iatesupper,feastingwithappetiteonanexcellentpieceofsealliverwhoseflavorremindedmeofpork.
ThenIwenttobed;butnotwithoutpraying,likeagoodHindu,forthefavorsoftheradiantorb.
Thenextday,March21,brightandearlyatfiveo'clockinthemorning,Iclimbedontotheplatform.IfoundCaptainNemothere.
"Theweatherisclearingabit,"hetoldme."Ihavehighhopes.Afterbreakfastwe'llmakeourwayashoreandchooseanobservationpost."
Thisissuesettled,IwenttofindNedLand.Iwantedtotakehimwithme.
TheobstinateCanadianrefused,andIcouldclearlyseethathistight–lippedmoodandhisbadtemperweregrowingbytheday.
UnderthecircumstancesIultimatelywasn'tsorrythatherefused.
Intruth,thereweretoomanysealsashore,anditwouldneverdotoexposethisimpulsivefishermantosuchtemptations.
Breakfastover,Imademywayashore.TheNautilushadgoneafewmoremilesduringthenight.
Itlaywellout,agoodleaguefromthecoast,whichwascrownedbyasharppeak400to500metershigh.
Inadditiontome,theskiffcarriedCaptainNemo,twocrewmen,andtheinstruments—inotherwords,achronometer,aspyglass,andabarometer.
DuringourcrossingIsawnumerousbaleenwhalesbelongingtothethreespeciesuniquetothesesouthernmostseas:thebowheadwhale(or"rightwhale,"accordingtotheEnglish),whichhasnodorsalfin;thehumpbackwhalefromthegenusBalaenoptera(inotherwords,"wingedwhales"),beastswithwrinkledbelliesandhugewhitishfinsthat,genusnameregardless,donotyetformwings;andthefinbackwhale,yellowishbrown,theswiftestofallcetaceans.
Thispowerfulanimalisaudiblefromfarawaywhenitsendsuptoweringspoutsofairandsteamthatresembleswirlsofsmoke.
Herdsofthesedifferentmammalswereplayingaboutinthetranquilwaters,andIcouldeasilyseethatthisAntarcticpolarbasinnowservedasarefugeforthosecetaceanstoorelentlesslypursuedbyhunters.
Ialsonotedlong,whitishstringsofsalps,atypeofmolluskfoundinclusters,andsomejellyfishoflargesizethatswayedintheeddiesofthebillows.
Bynineo'clockwehadpulleduptoshore.Theskywasgrowingbrighter.Cloudswerefleeingtothesouth.
Mistswererisingfromthecoldsurfaceofthewater.
CaptainNemoheadedtowardthepeak,whichhenodoubtplannedtomakehisobservatory.
Itwasanarduousclimboversharplavaandpumicestonesinthemidstofairoftenreekingwithsulfurousfumesfromthesmokeholes.
Foramanoutofpracticeattreadingland,thecaptainscaledthesteepestslopeswithasuppleagilityIcouldn'tequal,andwhichwouldhavebeenenviedbyhuntersofPyreneesmountaingoats.
Ittookustwohourstoreachthesummitofthishalf–crystal,half–basaltpeak.
Fromthereoureyesscannedavastsea,whichscrawleditsboundarylinefirmlyagainstthebackgroundofthenorthernsky.Atourfeet:dazzlingtractsofwhite.
Overourheads:apaleazure,clearofmists.
Northofus:thesun'sdisk,likeaballoffirealreadycutintobytheedgeofthehorizon.
Fromtheheartofthewaters:jetsofliquidrisinglikehundredsofmagnificentbouquets.
Faroff,likeasleepingcetacean:theNautilus.
Behindustothesouthandeast:animmenseshore,achaoticheapofrocksandicewhoselimitswecouldn'tsee.
Arrivingatthesummitofthispeak,CaptainNemocarefullydetermineditselevationbymeansofhisbarometer,sincehehadtotakethisfactorintoaccountinhisnoonsights.
At11:45thesun,bythenseenonlybyrefraction,lookedlikeagoldendisk,dispersingitslastraysoverthisdesertedcontinentanddowntotheseseasnotyetplowedbytheshipsofman.
CaptainNemohadbroughtaspyglasswithareticulareyepiece,whichcorrectedthesun'srefractionbymeansofamirror,andheusedittoobservetheorbsinkinglittlebylittlealongaveryextendeddiagonalthatreachedbelowthehorizon.Iheldthechronometer.Myheartwaspoundingmightily.
Ifthelowerhalfofthesun'sdiskdisappearedjustasthechronometersaidnoon,wewererightatthepole.
"Noon!"Icalled.
"TheSouthPole!"CaptainNemorepliedinasolemnvoice,handingmethespyglass,whichshowedtheorbofdaycutintotwoexactlyequalpartsbythehorizon.
Istaredatthelastrayswreathingthispeak,whileshadowsweregraduallyclimbingitsgradients.
Justthen,restinghishandonmyshoulder,CaptainNemosaidtome:
"In1600,sir,theDutchmanGheritkwassweptbystormsandcurrents,reachinglatitude64°southanddiscoveringtheSouthShetlandIslands.
OnJanuary17,1773,thefamousCaptainCookwentalongthe38thmeridian,arrivingatlatitude67°30';andonJanuary30,1774,alongthe109thmeridian,hereachedlatitude71°15'.
In1819theRussianBellinghausenlayonthe69thparallel,andin1821onthe66thatlongitude111°west.
In1820theEnglishmanBransfieldstoppedat65°.
ThatsameyeartheAmericanMorrel,whosereportsaredubious,wentalongthe42ndmeridian,findingopenseaatlatitude70°14'.
In1825theEnglishmanPowellwasunabletogetbeyond62°.
Thatsameyearahumblesealfisherman,theEnglishmanWeddell,wentasfaraslatitude72°14'onthe35thmeridian,andasfaras74°15'onthe36th.
In1829theEnglishmanForster,commanderoftheChanticleer,laidclaimtotheAntarcticcontinentinlatitude63°26'andlongitude66°26'.
OnFebruary1,1831,theEnglishmanBiscoediscoveredEnderbyLandatlatitude68°50',AdelaideLandatlatitude67°onFebruary5,1832,andGrahamLandatlatitude64°45'onFebruary21.
In1838theFrenchmanDumontd'UrvillestoppedattheIceBankinlatitude62°57',sightingtheLouis–PhilippePeninsula;onJanuary21twoyearslater,atanewsoutherlypositionof66°30',henamedtheAdélieCoastandeightdayslater,theClarieCoastat64°40'.
In1838theAmericanWilkesadvancedasfarasthe69thparallelonthe100thmeridian.
In1839theEnglishmanBallenydiscoveredtheSabrinaCoastattheedgeofthepolarcircle.
Lastly,onJanuary12,1842,withhisships,theErebusandtheTerror,theEnglishmanSirJamesClarkRossfoundVictoriaLandinlatitude70°56'andlongitude171°7'east;onthe23rdofthatsamemonth,hereachedthe74thparallel,apositiondenotingtheFarthestSouthattaineduntilthen;onthe27thhelayat76°8';onthe28that77°32';onFebruary2at78°4';andlatein1842hereturnedto71°butcouldn'tgetbeyondit.
Wellnow!
In1868,onthis21stdayofMarch,Imyself,CaptainNemo,havereachedtheSouthPoleat90°,andIherebyclaimthisentirepartoftheglobe,equaltoone–sixthoftheknowncontinents."
"Inthenameofwhichsovereign,Captain?"
"Inmyownname,sir!"
Sosaying,CaptainNemounfurledablackflagbearingagold"N"onitsquarteredbunting.Then,turningtowardtheorbofday,whoselastrayswerelickingatthesea'shorizon:
"Farewell,Osun!"hecalled."Disappear,Oradiantorb!Retirebeneaththisopensea,andletsixmonthsofnightspreadtheirshadowsovermynewdomains!"
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