20000 льє під водою

Chapter 18. Four Thousand Leagues Under the Pacific

           Onthe25thofDecembertheNautilussailedintothemidstoftheNewHebrides,discoveredbyQuirosin1606,andthatBougainvilleexploredin1768,andtowhichCookgaveitspresentnamein1773.Thisgroupiscomposedprincipallyofninelargeislands,thatformabandof120leaguesN.N.S.toS.S.W.,between15°andS.lat.,and164°and168°long.WepassedtolerablyneartotheIslandofAurou,thatatnoonlookedlikeamassofgreenwoods,surmountedbyapeakofgreatheight.

           ThatdaybeingChristmasDay,NedLandseemedtoregretsorelythenon-celebrationof"Christmas,"thefamilyfeteofwhichProtestantsaresofond.IhadnotseenCaptainNemoforaweek,when,onthemorningofthe27th,hecameintothelargedrawing-room,alwaysseemingasifhehadseenyoufiveminutesbefore.IwasbusilytracingtherouteoftheNautilusontheplanisphere.TheCaptaincameuptome,puthisfingerononespotonthechart,andsaidthissingleword.

           "Vanikoro."

           Theeffectwasmagical!ItwasthenameoftheislandsonwhichLaPerousehadbeenlost!Irosesuddenly.

           "TheNautilushasbroughtustoVanikoro?"Iasked.

           "Yes,Professor,"saidtheCaptain.

           "AndIcanvisitthecelebratedislandswheretheBoussoleandtheAstrolabestruck?"

           "Ifyoulike,Professor."

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