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Chapter 14. The South Pole

           Fromthesaloon,whereIwastakingnotesofincidentshappeningduringthisexcursiontothepolarcontinent,Icouldhearthecriesofpetrelsandalbatrossessportinginthemidstofthisviolentstorm.TheNautilusdidnotremainmotionless,butskirtedthecoast,advancingtenmilesmoretothesouthinthehalf-lightleftbythesunasitskirtedtheedgeofthehorizon.Thenextday,the20thofMarch,thesnowhadceased.Thecoldwasalittlegreater,thethermometershowingbelowzero.Thefogwasrising,andIhopedthatthatdayourobservationsmightbetaken.CaptainNemonothavingyetappeared,theboattookConseilandmyselftoland.Thesoilwasstillofthesamevolcanicnature;everywhereweretracesoflava,scoriae,andbasalt;butthecraterwhichhadvomitedthemIcouldnotsee.Here,aslowerdown,thiscontinentwasalivewithmyriadsofbirds.Buttheirrulewasnowdividedwithlargetroopsofsea-mammals,lookingatuswiththeirsofteyes.Therewereseveralkindsofseals,somestretchedontheearth,someonflakesofice,manygoinginandoutofthesea.Theydidnotfleeatourapproach,neverhavinghadanythingtodowithman;andIreckonedthattherewereprovisionsthereforhundredsofvessels.

           "Sir,"saidConseil,"willyoutellmethenamesofthesecreatures?"

           "Theyaresealsandmorses."

           Itwasnoweightinthemorning.Fourhoursremainedtousbeforethesuncouldbeobservedwithadvantage.Idirectedourstepstowardsavastbaycutinthesteepgraniteshore.There,Icanaverthatearthandicewerelosttosightbythenumbersofsea-mammalscoveringthem,andIinvoluntarilysoughtforoldProteus,themythologicalshepherdwhowatchedtheseimmenseflocksofNeptune.

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