ither a continent or an ocean free from ice at these two
points of the globe."

"I think so too, M. Aronnax," replied Captain Nemo. "I only wish you
to observe that, after having made so many objections to my project,
you are now crushing me with arguments in its favour!"

The preparations for this audacious attempt now began. The powerful
pumps of the Nautilus were working air into the reservoirs and storing
it at high pressure. About four o'clock, Captain Nemo announced the
closing of the panels on the platform. I threw one last look at the
massive iceberg which we were going to cross. The weather was clear,
the atmosphere pure enough, the cold very great, being 12 deg. below
zero; but, the wind having gone down, this temperature was not so
unbearable. About ten men mounted the sides of the Nautilus, armed
with pickaxes to break the ice around the vessel, which was soon free.
The operation was quickly performed, for the fresh ice was still very
thin. We all went below. The usual reservoirs were filled with the
newly-liberated water, and the Nautilus soon descended. I had taken my
place with Conseil in the saloon; through the open window we could see
the lower beds of the Southern Ocean. The thermometer went up, the
needle of the compass deviated on the dial. At about 900 feet, as
Captain Nemo had foreseen, we were floating beneath the undulating
bottom of the iceberg. But the Nautilus went lower still--it went to
the depth of four hundred fathoms. The temperature of the water at the
surface showed twelve degrees, it was now only ten; we had gained two.
I need not say the temperature of the Nautilus was raised by its
heating apparatus to a much higher degree; every manoeuvre was
accomplished with wonderful precision.

"We shall pass it, if you please, sir," said Conseil.

"I believe we shall," I said, in a tone of firm conviction.

In this open sea, the Nautilus had taken its course direct to the pole,
without leaving the fifty-second meridian. From 67 deg. 30' to 90
deg., twenty-two degrees and a half of latitude remained to travel;
that is, about five hundred leagues. The Nautilus kept up a mean speed
of twenty-six miles an hour--the speed of an express train. If that
was kept up, in forty hours we should reach the pole.

For a part of the night the novelty of the situation kept us at the
window. The sea was lit with the electric lantern; but it was
deserted; fishes did not sojourn in these imp