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Chapter 14. The South Pole

           Accordingtothesecalculations,themassoficesurroundingthesouthernpoleformsavastcap,thecircumferenceofwhichmustbe,atleast,2,500miles.ButtheNautilus,forfearofrunningaground,hadstoppedaboutthreecable-lengthsfromastrandoverwhichrearedasuperbheapofrocks.Theboatwaslaunched;theCaptain,twoofhismen,bearinginstruments,Conseil,andmyselfwereinit.Itwasteninthemorning.IhadnotseenNedLand.DoubtlesstheCanadiandidnotwishtoadmitthepresenceoftheSouthPole.Afewstrokesoftheoarbroughtustothesand,whereweranashore.Conseilwasgoingtojumpontotheland,whenIheldhimback.

           "Sir,"saidItoCaptainNemo,"toyoubelongsthehonouroffirstsettingfootonthisland."

           "Yes,sir,"saidtheCaptain,"andifIdonothesitatetotreadthisSouthPole,itisbecause,uptothistime,nohumanbeinghasleftatracethere."

           Sayingthis,hejumpedlightlyontothesand.Hisheartbeatwithemotion.Heclimbedarock,slopingtoalittlepromontory,andthere,withhisarmscrossed,muteandmotionless,andwithaneagerlook,heseemedtotakepossessionofthesesouthernregions.Afterfiveminutespassedinthisecstasy,heturnedtous.

           "Whenyoulike,sir."

           Ilanded,followedbyConseil,leavingthetwomenintheboat.Foralongwaythesoilwascomposedofareddishsandystone,somethinglikecrushedbrick,scoriae,streamsoflava,andpumice-stones.

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