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Chapter 14. The South Pole

           Indeed,thereweretoomanysealsonshore,andweoughtnottolaysuchtemptationinthisunreflectingfisherman’sway.Breakfastover,wewentonshore.TheNautilushadgonesomemilesfurtherupinthenight.Itwasawholeleaguefromthecoast,abovewhichrearedasharppeakaboutfivehundredyardshigh.TheboattookwithmeCaptainNemo,twomenofthecrew,andtheinstruments,whichconsistedofachronometer,atelescope,andabarometer.Whilecrossing,Isawnumerouswhalesbelongingtothethreekindspeculiartothesouthernseas;thewhale,ortheEnglish"rightwhale,"whichhasnodorsalfin;the"humpback,"withreevedchestandlarge,whitishfins,which,inspiteofitsname,donotformwings;andthefin-back,ofayellowishbrown,theliveliestofallthecetacea.Thispowerfulcreatureisheardalongwayoffwhenhethrowstoagreatheightcolumnsofairandvapour,whichlooklikewhirlwindsofsmoke.Thesedifferentmammalsweredisportingthemselvesintroopsinthequietwaters;andIcouldseethatthisbasinoftheAntarcticPoleservesasaplaceofrefugetothecetaceatoocloselytrackedbythehunters.Ialsonoticedlargemedusaefloatingbetweenthereeds.

           Atninewelanded;theskywasbrightening,thecloudswereflyingtothesouth,andthefogseemedtobeleavingthecoldsurfaceofthewaters.CaptainNemowenttowardsthepeak,whichhedoubtlessmeanttobehisobservatory.Itwasapainfulascentoverthesharplavaandthepumice-stones,inanatmosphereoftenimpregnatedwithasulphuroussmellfromthesmokingcracks.Foramanunaccustomedtowalkonland,theCaptainclimbedthesteepslopeswithanagilityIneversawequalledandwhichahunterwouldhaveenvied.Weweretwohoursgettingtothesummitofthispeak,whichwashalfporphyryandhalfbasalt.

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