Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/188

 “And can I explore those islands upon which the Boussole and the Astrolabe were lost?”

“If you wish to do so,” was the reply.

“When shall we reach Vanikoro?”

“We are there now, professor.”

Following the captain, I ascended to the platform, and eagerly scanned the horizon.

In the north-west, two volcanic islands of unequal size showed themselves; they were surrounded by a coral reef of forty miles in circumference. We were close to the island of Vanikoro, properly so called, which Dumont d’Urville designated the “Isle of Research,” and immediately opposite the small harbour of Vanou in 16° 4′ S. lat., 164° 32′ E. long. The island appeared covered with verdure from shore to summit, and was dominated by Mount Kapogo, 2,856 feet high.

The Nautilus, having cleared the outward rocks through a narrow passage, was safely within the line of breakers in a depth of thirty to forty fathoms. Beneath the mangroves I distinguished some savages, who appeared much astonished at our appearance. In the long black mass moving along the surface of the water, they probably only recognised some formidable cetacean, which they were bound to challenge.

Captain Nemo now asked me what I knew of the shipwreck of La Perouse.

“What everyone else does,” I replied.

“And can you tell me what everyone else knows about it?” he asked, with a touch of irony.

“Very easily.”

And I then recounted to him what the last works of