The shipwreck (a ship that sank to the bottom of the sea) was only the first of many. As the Nautilus traveled, Professor Aronnax saw many old ships. Some were rotting on the sea floor. He saw old cannons, anchors, and heavy chains. All these things were covered in rust.
On December 11th, they saw a group of islands. These islands were made of coral (a hard material made by millions of small sea animals). These animals are called polyps (very small sea creatures). They work every day to build rocks and islands.
Professor Aronnax talked to Captain Nemo about the land. Professor Aronnax thought the sea animals were making a new continent. Captain Nemo answered coldly. Captain Nemo said, "The earth does not need new land. The earth needs new men."
The Nautilus went near the Island of Clermont-Tonnerre. Professor Aronnax studied the coral walls. Some walls were 300 meters deep. The electric light from the ship made the white rocks shine.
Conseil asked a question about the coral. Conseil wanted to know how long the animals took to build the walls. Professor Aronnax said the work was very slow. The animals only built a very small amount in one hundred years.
The Nautilus moved toward the west. The weather was very hot, but the water was cool. At thirty meters deep, the temperature was ten degrees. On December 15th, they passed near the island of Tahiti.
On December 25th, the Nautilus was near the New Hebrides islands. This day was Christmas Day. Ned Land was very sad. He wanted to be at home with his family for the holiday.
Professor Aronnax did not see Captain Nemo for a week. But on December 27th, the Captain came into the saloon. Captain Nemo pointed to a spot on the chart (a map used by sailors). He said one word: "Vanikoro."
Professor Aronnax was very surprised. Vanikoro was a famous place. A French explorer named La Perouse was lost there a long time ago. Professor Aronnax asked if he could visit the island. Captain Nemo said yes.
Professor Aronnax went to the platform with Captain Nemo. He saw two islands with green trees and a high mountain. The Nautilus moved through a narrow opening in the rocks. The water was about sixty meters deep.
Captain Nemo asked Professor Aronnax about the story of La Perouse. Professor Aronnax told the story. In 1785, King Louis XVI sent La Perouse on a voyage (a long journey by ship). La Perouse had two ships. The ships were the Boussole and the Astrolabe.
No one heard from the ships again. In 1791, the French government sent more ships to find them. These ships did not find La Perouse. Many years passed. People around the world were worried.
In 1824, a captain named Dillon found a silver sword handle. He found it on an island near Vanikoro. Dillon thought it belonged to La Perouse. Dillon went to Vanikoro in 1827. He found old anchors and a bronze clock.
Later, another man named Dumont d’Urville went to Vanikoro. The people on the island were afraid. They thought the French came to punish them. But the French gave them presents. Then the people showed them the place of the shipwreck.
The ships were under the water near the rocks. The sailors found cannons and lead. They learned that La Perouse built a smaller boat after the first ships sank. But that boat was also lost. No one knew where it went.
Captain Nemo listened to the story. Then he took Professor Aronnax into the saloon. The Nautilus went under the water. The windows opened. Professor Aronnax saw the debris (broken pieces of a ship) on the sea floor.
He saw iron and old cannons. They were covered in sea plants and flowers. Captain Nemo spoke in a sad voice. Captain Nemo knew more about the story. He said the ships hit the rocks during a storm.
Captain Nemo said the sailors built a small boat. They tried to sail to the Solomon Islands. But the small boat sank near the coast of a large island. Professor Aronnax asked how the Captain knew this.
Captain Nemo showed Professor Aronnax a small metal box. The box had the French coat of arms on it. Inside the box, there were some yellow papers. These were the original instructions from the King to La Perouse.
Captain Nemo said, "This is a good death for a sailor." He looked at the coral. He said that a coral grave is very quiet. Captain Nemo hoped that he would have a grave like that one day.