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CHAPTER XVIII.

FOUR THOUSAND LEAGUES BENEATH THE PACIFIC.

quite recovered from my fatigue on the next day (18th Nov.), and, as usual, ascended to the platform, just as the mate of the Nautilus was giving his daily report. It occurred to me that this was to announce the appearance of the sea, or rather that it signified “no vessel in sight.”

As a fact the ocean was perfectly clear. The Isle of Crespo had disappeared. There was not a sail to be seen. The sea, which absorbed all the prismatic colours, except the blue rays, reflected them in all directions, and bore a beautiful indigo tint. It appeared like a broadly-striped watered silk.

I was admiring its beauties when Captain Nemo appeared. He took no notice of my presence, and busied himself with astronomical observations. He then seated himself upon the lantern-cover, and gazed abstractedly at the ocean.

Meantime, twenty sailors, all strong and wiry fellows, had reached the platform. They came to draw the nets