Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/200

 current ran from south-east to north-east, at a rate of two and a half miles an hour, and broke in foam against the coral-reefs, which rose at frequent intervals.

“That is a nasty sea,” I said to Ned Land.

“This lunatic captain of ours must be very sure of his course,” replied the Canadian, “for I can see some reefs there which would splinter this vessel if she touched them.”.

The situation was really perilous, but the Nautilus appeared to glide magically between these foaming rocks. She did not follow the route of the Astrolabe and the Zelée, which was fatal to Dumont d’Urville, but took a more northerly course, coasting Murray Island and turning to the south-east, towards Cumberland Passage. I really did think we should be wrecked when, bearing to the north-west, we passed amid a quantity of unknown islets towards the island of Tounel and the Dangerous Passage.

I was already reflecting whether Captain Nemo, imprudent even to foolhardiness, wished to bring his ship into this passage where the corvettes of Dumont d’Urville had been lost, when, changing his course a second time and bearing westward, he made for the island of Gueberoar.

It was then 3 The waves raged. It was almost high water. The Nautilus approached the island, which I could see scarcely two miles distant. Suddenly a shock threw me down. The Nautilus had struck upon a rock, and remained immovable, with a gentle “list” to port.

When I got up again I noticed Captain Nemo and the mate on the platform. He was examining the