The next day was November 9th. Professor Aronnax woke up after he slept for twelve hours. Conseil came into the room to help Professor Aronnax. Conseil said that his friend Ned Land was still sleeping. Professor Aronnax did not want to talk much. Professor Aronnax was worried because he did not see Captain Nemo the day before.
Professor Aronnax dressed and went into the saloon. The room was empty. Professor Aronnax looked at many beautiful things from the sea. He saw many marine plants (plants that grow in the ocean) behind glass. These plants were dry, but they still had bright colors. He saw many different types of plants from the bottom of the sea.
The whole day passed, but Captain Nemo did not visit. The windows of the saloon stayed closed. The Nautilus moved at a speed of twelve knots. It was about fifty meters under the water. On November 10th, everything was the same. Professor Aronnax felt very alone.
Professor Aronnax did not see any of the ship’s crew. Ned Land and Conseil stayed with Professor Aronnax most of the day. They were surprised because Captain Nemo was not there. They wondered if Captain Nemo was sick. They wondered if Captain Nemo changed his plans for them.
Conseil said that they were still safe. They had good food and they were free to move inside the ship. Captain Nemo followed the rules of their agreement. Professor Aronnax started to write a journal (a book where you write about what happens every day). He wrote on paper made from sea grass.
Early on November 11th, the air inside the ship felt fresh. This meant the Nautilus was on the surface of the ocean. It needed to get new oxygen (the part of the air that people need to breathe). Professor Aronnax went to the stairs. He went up to the platform on top of the ship.
It was six o'clock in the morning. The sky was cloudy and the sea was grey. Professor Aronnax sat on the ship and smelled the salt air. Soon, the sun came up and the fog went away. The sea became very bright. The clouds had beautiful colors. Professor Aronnax saw that there was a strong wind.
Professor Aronnax heard someone coming. He thought it was Captain Nemo. But it was the second officer of the ship. The officer used a telescope (a long tube with glass that helps you see things far away). He looked at the horizon very carefully. Then the officer said four strange words.
The officer said, “Nautron respoc lorni virch.” Professor Aronnax did not know what these words meant. Then the officer went back inside the ship. For five days, nothing changed. Every morning, Professor Aronnax went to the platform. The same officer said the same words. But Captain Nemo did not appear.
On November 16th, Professor Aronnax returned to his room with Ned Land and Conseil. He found a note on his table. The note was for Professor Aronnax. It was written in very clear handwriting. Professor Aronnax opened the note quickly.
The note said that Captain Nemo invited Professor Aronnax to go hunting. The hunt was in the forests of the Island of Crespo. Captain Nemo also invited Ned Land and Conseil. Ned Land was very happy. Ned Land wanted to walk on dry ground (land that is not under water).
Professor Aronnax looked at a map (a drawing that shows where places are). He found the Island of Crespo in the Pacific Ocean. It was a very small island. Professor Aronnax thought it was strange. Captain Nemo did not like to go near land. But Captain Nemo chose a very lonely island.
That night, Professor Aronnax went to bed. He felt a little nervous. On November 17th, Professor Aronnax woke up. He felt that the Nautilus was not moving. He dressed quickly and went into the saloon. Captain Nemo was there.
Captain Nemo stood up and bowed. He asked if Professor Aronnax was ready to go. Captain Nemo did not talk about his long absence. Professor Aronnax did not ask about it. Professor Aronnax said that he and his friends were ready. Then they went to eat breakfast.
They ate many types of fish and sea plants. Captain Nemo told Professor Aronnax to eat a lot. He said they would not eat again until very late. Captain Nemo was quiet for a short time. Then Captain Nemo told Professor Aronnax about the hunt.
Captain Nemo said they were going to hunt in an underwater forest. Professor Aronnax was surprised. Captain Nemo explained that a man can live under the water. The man only needs a supply of air. Captain Nemo used a special diving apparatus (a suit and a tank of air for swimming under water).
The air tank was made of thick iron. A person wore the tank on their back like a bag. The tank held enough air for nine or ten hours. Professor Aronnax asked how they could see in the dark water. Captain Nemo showed him a special lantern (a light that a person can carry).
The lantern used electricity to make a bright white light. Then Captain Nemo showed Professor Aronnax an air-gun (a gun that uses air to shoot, not fire). Captain Nemo did not have any gunpowder (a powder that explodes to push a bullet). He used the air from the ship to fill the gun.
The bullets were very special. They were made of glass and steel. These bullets had electricity inside them. When a bullet hit an animal, the animal died immediately. Professor Aronnax did not have any more questions. He was ready to follow Captain Nemo.
Professor Aronnax called Ned Land and Conseil. His two friends followed him. They went to a small room near the engines. In this room, they began to put on their special clothes for the hunt.