They arrived at the edge of the forest. This forest was one of the many lands that belonged to Captain Nemo. Captain Nemo felt like the owner of this place. No other person ever walked here. No person ever cut down these trees with a tool.
This forest had very large plants. Professor Aronnax looked at the branches of the trees. He saw something very strange. Every plant and every branch grew straight up. They grew toward the surface of the sea.
The plants did not lean to the side. They were as straight as iron rods. This happened because the water was very dense. If Professor Aronnax moved a plant with his hand, it moved back quickly. Everything in this world grew in a straight line.
Professor Aronnax soon became used to this strange place. The ground was full of sharp rocks. There were many beautiful plants. Sometimes, Professor Aronnax was confused. Some animals looked like plants, and some plants looked like animals.
These plants lived and grew in the water. Most of them did not have leaves. Instead, they had long blades with many colors. Professor Aronnax saw plants that were pink, green, and brown. Some plants were five meters tall. None of these plants had flowers.
Under the tall plants, there were smaller bushes. These bushes were actually zoophytes (animals that look like plants). Small fish flew from branch to branch. They looked like bright birds.
After one hour, Captain Nemo signaled to stop. Professor Aronnax was happy to rest. They lay down under some tall plants. Professor Aronnax could not talk to Conseil. He put his helmet near Conseil’s helmet. He saw that Conseil was very happy.
They walked for four hours. Professor Aronnax was not hungry, but he was very sleepy. All divers feel this way. His eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep. Captain Nemo and the sailor also slept in the water.
Professor Aronnax did not know how long he slept. When he woke up, the sun was lower in the sky. He started to move, but then he saw something scary. A huge sea-spider (a large animal with many legs that lives in the ocean) was near him.
The sea-spider was about one meter tall. It watched Professor Aronnax with its ugly eyes. Captain Nemo woke up and saw the monster. Captain Nemo hit the sea-spider with the end of his gun. The sea-spider moved its legs and died.
Professor Aronnax felt afraid. He knew there were other dangerous animals in the deep water. He decided to be very careful. He thought they would return to the ship now. But Captain Nemo continued the walk.
The ground went deeper and deeper down. At three o'clock, they were in a narrow valley. They were about 150 meters under the water. It was very dark here. The sun’s rays could not reach this depth.
Professor Aronnax could not see anything. Suddenly, he saw a bright white light. Captain Nemo turned on his electric lamp. The other men turned on their lamps too. Now they could see the sea around them for thirty meters.
Captain Nemo walked into the dark forest. There were fewer plants now. Professor Aronnax saw that plants died in the deep water before animals died. Many small sea animals still lived on the rocks.
Finally, the walk ended. They reached a huge wall of rock. This was the bottom of the Island of Crespo. It was a wall of granite. Captain Nemo stopped. He did not want to go onto the land.
They began to walk back to the Nautilus. Captain Nemo led the group. The path back was very steep and difficult. They went toward the surface quickly. Soon, the light from the sun appeared again.
Captain Nemo suddenly raised his gun. He saw an animal in the bushes and fired. The animal fell down. It was a sea-otter (a furry animal that lives in the ocean). This otter was very large and had beautiful brown fur.
Captain Nemo’s companion carried the otter on his shoulder. They walked for another hour on the sand. The water was very shallow now. Professor Aronnax saw his own image in the water above him. It was like a mirror.
Professor Aronnax saw the shadows of large birds above the water. Then, Captain Nemo’s companion shot a bird. The bird fell into the water. It was an albatross (a very large white bird with long wings). The hunter picked it up.
They walked for two more hours. Professor Aronnax was very tired. Then he saw a light in the distance. It was the lantern of the Nautilus. He wanted to reach the ship quickly because he needed fresh air.
Suddenly, Captain Nemo ran to Professor Aronnax. Captain Nemo pushed Professor Aronnax to the ground. The other men did the same. Professor Aronnax did not know why. He stayed very still on the ground.
Professor Aronnax looked up. He saw two huge sharks (large, dangerous fish with many sharp teeth). They were very close. These sharks were monsters that could eat a whole man. Professor Aronnax was very afraid.
Luckily, the sharks did not see the men. The sharks swam past them and disappeared. The men were safe. Half an hour later, they reached the Nautilus. The door was open for them.
Captain Nemo closed the door and pressed a button. Pumps began to move the water out of the room. Soon, the room was empty of water. The inside door opened and they went into the ship.
The crew helped them take off their heavy suits. Professor Aronnax was very tired and hungry. He went to his room to rest. He thought about the amazing things he saw at the bottom of the sea.