We were off the American point,
March 31st, at seven o'clock in the evening. Then all our past
sufferings were forgotten. The remembrance of that imprisonment in the
ice was effaced from our minds. We only thought of the future.
Captain Nemo did not appear again either in the drawing-room or on the
platform. The point shown each day on the planisphere, and, marked by
the lieutenant, showed me the exact direction of the Nautilus. Now, on
that evening, it was evident, to, my great satisfaction, that we were
going back to the North by the Atlantic. The next day, April 1st, when
the Nautilus ascended to the surface some minutes before noon, we
sighted land to the west. It was Terra del Fuego, which the first
navigators named thus from seeing the quantity of smoke that rose from
the natives' huts. The coast seemed low to me, but in the distance
rose high mountains. I even thought I had a glimpse of Mount
Sarmiento, that rises 2,070 yards above the level of the sea, with a
very pointed summit, which, according as it is misty or clear, is a
sign of fine or of wet weather. At this moment the peak was clearly
defined against the sky. The Nautilus, diving again under the water,
approached the coast, which was only some few miles off. From the
glass windows in the drawing-room, I saw long seaweeds and gigantic
fuci and varech, of which the open polar sea contains so many
specimens, with their sharp polished filaments; they measured about 300
yards in length--real cables, thicker than one's thumb; and, having
great tenacity, they are often used as ropes for vessels. Another weed
known as velp, with leaves four feet long, buried in the coral
concretions, hung at the bottom. It served as nest and food for
myriads of crustacea and molluscs, crabs, and cuttlefish. There seals
and otters had splendid repasts, eating the flesh of fish with
sea-vegetables, according to the English fashion. Over this fertile
and luxuriant ground the Nautilus passed with great rapidity. Towards
evening it approached the Falkland group, the rough summits of which I
recognised the following day. The depth of the sea was moderate. On
the shores our nets brought in beautiful specimens of sea weed, and
particularly a certain fucus, the roots of which were filled with the
best mussels in the world. Geese and ducks fell by dozens on the
platform, and soon took their places in the pantry on board.

When the last heights of the Falklands had dis