20. The Torres Strait

During the night of 27 to 28 December, the Nautilus left the places of Vanikoro to
all cylinders. Made toward the Southwest and in three days, postage the seven hundred and fifty
leagues that separate the archipelago of La Perouse in the southeastern tip of Papua.
The January 1, 1868, early in the morning, Con-Conseil joined me in
platform.
? Allow me Mr she wants a good year.
? Why not, Conseil! Exactly like we were in Paris, in my cabinet
Jardin des Plantes. I accept your vo-tos and I thank you. But I have to ask what is
what we mean by a "good year" in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Is the
year must end our cau-tiverio or year will continue this strange journey?
? In my faith, I do not know what to say to the Lord. It is true that is-watching things very tamos
curious, and, for two I-ses, we have not had time to get bored. The last
mara-villa is always the best, and if this progression is maintained not know where we're going to
stop. It seems to me that we will never find such an opportunity.
? Never, Conseil.
? Besides, Mr. Nemo, well justifying its Latin nom-ber, is nothing more annoying than
does not exist.
? You are right, Conseil.
? I think, therefore, under protest to the Lord, that would be one that allowed us a good year
see everything.
? Everything? Perhaps it was then a little long. But what do you think of this Ned Land?
? Ned Land thinks the exact opposite of me. He is a positive man, with a
imperious stomach. Spend your life looking and eating fish is not enough. The lack of
wine, bread, meat, not befitting a familiar worthy Saxon-do with the steaks, and
who do not dislike or brandy or gi-nebra in moderate proportions.
'That's not me that torments me, Conseil, I very well aco-mode to the regime
board.
? Like me? He replied Conseil ?. So I want to stay here as much as Ned
Land wants to escape. Thus, if the year ahead is not good for me, it will be for him and
reciprocally. Thus, there will be no satis-fecho. Finally, to conclude,
Mr. desire what you want Mr.
? Thank you, Conseil. I only ask that we postpone the issue of gifts and that
provisional-mind replace it by a good handshake. That's all that I have
about me.
? It has never been so generous, sir? Replied Conseil.
And the good boy went.
January 2 we had covered eleven thousand three hundred and forty miles from our point
starting in the seas of Japan. Before the spur of the Nautilus stretched Com-grosos
landscapes of the Coral Sea, along the northeastern coast of Australia deste. Our boat
He bordered at a distance of a few miles the dreaded bank, where they were about
of Cook's ships wrecked on 10 June 1770. The ship that sailed Cook
He struck a rock, and if not foundered due to the fact that the tro-zo
coral ripped smashed into the gaping hull.
I strongly wanted to visit that reef three hundred sixty leagues long against
the sea broke its waves with a formidable intensity comparable only to that of
Thunder downloads. But at that time, we pla-heeled Nautilus us
DEPTH led to a large-didad and I could see nothing of those high coral walls.
I had to content myself with the observation of the different specimens of fish caught
by our networks. Ob-serve, among others, about debris as big as tuna, with
blue and crossed by a trans-versales bands disappeared with the life of the flanks
animal. These pe-ces accompany us in large quantities and supplied to our table one
delicacy. Also we took a number of half a decimeter esparos
length, the taste is very similar to the gold, and fish flown-res, real
terns that in the evenings I-priests, alternately streak air and water
res-plandores with phosphorescent. Among mollusks and zoophytes I found in networks
Sweeper various species of alcio-nary, sea urchins, hammer, rams,
ceritios, hiálidos. The flora was represented by fine flo-tant algae, kelp and
macrocísteas impregnated the mucíla-go oozing pores and between which picked up a
admi-rable Nemastoma geliniaroíde, which found its place among the natural curiosities
museum.
Two days after crossing the Coral Sea, on January 4, we sighted the coast
of Papua. In that goose-sion, Captain Nemo informed me his intention to go to
Indian Ocean by the Torres Strait, without giving further details. Ned observed,
pleased that this route brought us to the European seas.
Torres Strait owes its reputation as dangerous-to the pitfalls of which is
As bristling wild inhabitants of the coast. The strait separates New Holland
the large island of Papua, also known as New Guinea.
The Papua has four leagues long by eighty wide, and
geographical area of ​​forty thousand leagues [L17]. It is located in latitude, between 00 19 'and
100 2 'South, and in length, between 1280 23' and 1460 15 '. A half-day, while the second
took the altitude of the sun, I saw the tops of the Arfalxs mountains, which rise in large planes
to finish in acute pythons.
This land, discovered in 1511 by Portuguese Francis-co Serrano was on
accessed by Jose of I-Neses in 1526; by the Spanish General Alvar de Saavedra, in
1528; by Juigo Ortez, in 1545; by the Dutch Shouten, in 1616; by Nicholas Sruick in
1753; by Tasman, Dampier, Fumel, Carteret, Edwards, Bougainville, Cook, Forrest, Mac
Cluer and D'Entrecasteaux in 1792; by Duperrey in 1823; and Dumont d'Urville in
1827. "It is the focus of blacks who occupy all Malaysia," said Rienzi. I could not
sos-pechar the hazards of this navigation would get in the presence of the dreaded
Andamenos.
The Nautilus was presented at the entrance to the Strait pe-dan- over the world, whose journey
avoid even the sailors auda-ces. It faced the strait Peace Luis Torres
returning from the South Seas in Melanesia, and in which the stranded corvettes of
Dumont d'Urville had almost completely lost in 1840. The Nautilus,
Supe-rior to all the dangers of the sea, however, prepared to challenge reefs
coral.
The Torres Strait is about thirty-four leagues wide, but is blocked
a canti-ness of innumerable islands, islets, rocks and breakers that make almost
impracticable navigation. Therefore, Captain Nemo took precautions to-das
possible crossing. Floating flower water, the Nautilus moved up a gear
moderate. His he-lice slowly churning waters, like the tail of a whale.
My two companions and I took the opportunity to settle in the platform. Before
ca-bina us helmsman, who, if I am not mistaken, it should be in these rising
now Captain Nemo himself.
I had it the excellent maps Strait To-rres raised and set by the
Vin-Cendon engineer surveyor Dumoulin ypor the lieutenant Coupvent? des-Bois
? Admiral today ?, members of staff of Dumont d'Urville during the
last trip cir-cunnavegación performed by it. These maps are, together with the
Captain King, the best to be guided by the in-lashing maze of narrow, and I
He consulted with scrupulous attention.
The sea was furiously around the Nautilus. The power of the waves, which was the
Southeast to northwest at a speed of two miles and a half, breaking on the reefs
crests looming everywhere.
? Evil is the sea? Said Ned Land.
? Obnoxious, indeed? I replied ?, and even more for a boat like the Nautilus.
Highly insurance has to be on his way this conviction-do master? Said Canadian?
to mess around, between these barrier reefs that can touch him only rom-per
his helmet into pieces.
Great was the danger, indeed. But the Nautilus seemed to glide as if by magic in
through the terrible ESCO-Llos. Not exactly follow the course of the Astrolabe and
Zelée, which was so fatal to Dumont d'Urville, but, more oriented to the north, passed
to Murray Island before heading to the southwest, toward the passage of Cumberland. For
moment I feared he was going to hit her, but headed northwest to go to
through a canti-ness of islands little known to the island and channel Tound
Malo.
I was already wondering if Captain Nemo, impru-dente to madness, was going to put
his boat at that step that had stranded the two corvettes of Dumont d'Urvi-lle,
when he modified a second time its course westward, he headed for the island
Gueboroa.
It was three in the afternoon and the tide almost reached the high tide. The Nautilus approached
that island, still intact in my memory with its row of screw pines. We sailed to a
two miles from the island, when suddenly, a shock knocked me down. The Nautilus had just
playing in a rock, and was immobilized after tilting slightly to port. When I
rejoined, I saw on the platform Captain Nemo and his second to review the situation
Boat and talking in their incomprehensible language.
Two miles to starboard, Gueboroa Island was visible, whose coast was rounded from
North west like an immense arm. To the South and East began to leave reflux
bare ridges of some coral reefs. We had played one full and
of those who have poor tidal seas, hindering the launching of Nauti-lus.
However, this did not seem to have suffered any bird-laugh thanks to the extraordinary
soundness of his helmet. But if he could not be opened or go under, yes he risked, however,
to remain forever trapped in these rocks. So, maybe it was over there his
career Captain Nemo's submarine apparatus.
In those terms I raised the situation when the captain, cold and calm, so
self-possessed as ever, without showing the slightest emotion or disappointment, is
acer-ed me.
? An accident? ? I asked.
? No; an incident? I replied.
? But an incident that may require you to be an inhabitant of that land again
fleeing.
Captain Nemo looked at me in a unique way and made a gesture of denial, clearly
expressive of his conviction that nothing will ever forced to return to earth. Then I
He said,
? Lord Aronnax, the Nautilus is not lost, calm-is. It will provide the
show the wonders of the ocean. Our journey has just begun, and
I do not want to deprive myself so soon of the honor of your company.
? And yet, Captain Nemo, 'I said, without knowing for in-Terado the ironic tone of his
words ?, the Nautilus has en-silent at the time of high tide. And since the tides
they are weak in the Pacific and that you can not lighten the Nautilus (which seems
impossible), I do not see how it will sa-carlo afloat.
? You're right, Professor, tides are not strong in the Pacific. But in the
Torres Strait there is a difference of one meter between the levels of high tides and
low. We are today at January 4, and within five days ten-dremos full moon. As well,
much surprised that our complaisant satellite does not rise sufficiently
these water bodies and doing me a favor just want to owe him.
That said, Captain Nemo, followed by his second, was introduced into the
Nautilus. Com-pletely he stood motionless, as if the coral polyps
hu-Biesen already entrenched in their indestructible cement.
'Well, sir? ? Asked Ned Land, who had come to me after the departure of
Captain.
? Friend Ned, let's wait calmly ma-area of ​​the 9th, as it seems
Moon will be responsible for ourselves afloat.
? Is it that simple?
? It's that simple.
What? It is that the captain will drop anchor off or have their machinery
make every effort to sa-carlo pulling spy?
? Why, simply because the tide? ? Con-Conseil said.
The Canadian looked at him and shrugged. It was the sailor who spoke to him.
? Can you believe, sir, if I say that this thing will never iron browse
the sea or under the sea. And only sell it for scrap. I think it is now
time without the company of Captain Nemo.
? Friend Ned? I said ?, I have more confidence in us-ted Nautilus. All
However, in four days sa-bremos what to expect on the tides of the Pacific. In
As for his advice to us on the run, it would seem oppor-tuno if we were in sight
the coasts of England or Provence, but in these parts of Papua's coast
very different. However, we shall always use this tip if
Nautilus unable to stay afloat, which, to me, would be very serious.
? But, at least, we could not set foot on land? ? Said Ned Land ?. Here we have a
island. On this island there are trees. And under those trees there are terrestrial animals, bearers
chops and roast beef, which I really like hincaría tooth-RECITED.
? In this friend Ned is right? Conseil ?, said and I am of opinion. I could not
obtain the master of his friend Captain Nemo, that we could remove earth, but not
it was only to keep the habit of stepping on the par-ing sound of our planet?
I can ask, but I think it will be useless.
? Try sir? Conseil said ?, and so we know what to expect on friendly
Captain Nemo.
With great surprise for me, Captain Nemo gave me permission-all
easily, without even require me the promise of our return on board. It is true that
escape through the lands of New Guinea was too dangerous and would not be who
aconsejase Ned Land to try it. Better to be a prisoner aboard the Nauti-lus to fall
in the hands of the natives of Papua.
He puts at our disposal the boat for the day NEXT-te. I took for granted that no
They accompany us and Captain Nemo nor any of his men and that Ned Land would
steer the boat himself. But the land was not more than two miles away,
and the Cana-dian would be a game drive the light boat between those lines as reefs
dangerous for large ships.
The next day, January 5, was removed from its socket and the AC-noa was launched to sea from the top
platform. Two men enough to perform the operation. Oars-Taban is already
and we embarked aboard the eight skill-na, with our axes and guns.
The sea was quite bonancible. There was a slight land breeze. Conseil and I
We rowed vigorously, while Ned Land at the helm in the Straits
pa-sos who left the breakers. The canoe was due either to you-Mon and sailed with
quickly.
Ned Land could not contain his joy. It was a prisione-ro escaped from his prison, and not
vol seemed to think he should see-it.
? Meat! ? He exclaimed ?. We will eat meat, and what car-ne! Hunting authentic! I do not say
the fish is not a good thing, but not abused, and a good piece of fresh meat to the
grill would be a nice variation.
? The very greedy, he is making my mouth water! ? Conseil said.
? Remains to be seen? I said? if hunting in those forests. And PUE-parts that are of such
size to hunt the hunter.
? Oh !, Professor Aronnax? Replied the Canadian, whose teeth seemed as sharp
like the edge of an ax ?, I assure you I am willing to eat tiger, sirloin
ti-gre, if no other quadruped on this island.
? The friend Ned is disturbing? Conseil said.
? Anything? Continued Ned Land ?. Any four-legged animal without feathers or two
feathered legs get my gun salute.
? Behold Mr. Land again aroused.
? Never fear, Mr. Aronnax? Replied the Canadian ?, and paddle hard. I ask no more of
half an hour to offer a dish my way.
At eight-thirty, Nautilus canoe came to a pla-and sand, after
Fortunately stamped coral ring surrounding the island Gueboroa.