Before the letter arrived, Pierre Aronnax did not think about the monster. After he read the letter from the Secretary of Marine, everything changed. He felt that his only goal was to hunt this creature. Pierre Aronnax wanted to remove the danger from the world.
Pierre Aronnax was very tired from his last trip. He wanted to see his friends in Paris again. He wanted to look at his collection of plants and animals. But Pierre Aronnax forgot about his fatigue. He accepted the offer from the American government immediately.
Pierre Aronnax thought about his journey home. He could travel to the Pacific Ocean first. Then he could return to Europe later. He hoped to catch the giant animal. Pierre Aronnax wanted to bring part of its tusk (the long, sharp tooth) to the museum in Paris.
“Conseil!” Pierre Aronnax called in a loud voice. Conseil was the servant of Pierre Aronnax. He was a young man from Flanders. He traveled with Pierre Aronnax for ten years. Pierre Aronnax liked Conseil very much.
Conseil was a very calm person. He was good with his hands and he worked hard. He never complained about long or tiring trips. He was thirty years old. Pierre Aronnax was forty years old.
Conseil had one strange habit. He always spoke to Pierre Aronnax in a very formal way. Pierre Aronnax began to pack his bags with fast hands. He was sure that Conseil would follow him. But this trip was dangerous because the monster was strong.
Conseil entered the room. “Did you call me, sir?” Conseil asked. Pierre Aronnax told Conseil to prepare for the trip. They had only two hours. Pierre Aronnax told Conseil to pack clothes, shirts, and socks.
Conseil asked about the collection of old animal skins. Pierre Aronnax told Conseil to leave the skins at the hotel. Pierre Aronnax also had a live Babiroussa (a type of wild pig with long teeth). Pierre Aronnax decided to send the pig to France later.
“Are we going back to Paris?” Conseil asked. Pierre Aronnax said they were going on a longer path. They were going to travel on the Abraham Lincoln. Pierre Aronnax told Conseil about the giant narwhal. He said the mission was famous but dangerous.
Pierre Aronnax paid for the pig’s food. Then Pierre Aronnax and Conseil took a cab to the harbor. Their bags went onto the deck of the ship. Pierre Aronnax walked onto the ship. A sailor led him to Commander Farragut.
Commander Farragut was a good-looking officer. He shook hands with Pierre Aronnax. He said the professor was welcome on the ship. Then a sailor showed Pierre Aronnax his cabin (a private room on a ship). Pierre Aronnax liked the room.
The Abraham Lincoln was a fast frigate (a fast warship). It had very strong steam engines. The ship could travel at eighteen knots. This was a very fast speed for a ship. Pierre Aronnax felt happy in his new room.
Pierre Aronnax went back to the deck. He saw the sailors loosen the ropes. The ship was ready to leave New York. Pierre Aronnax was happy because he did not miss the trip. Commander Farragut wanted to find the monster quickly.
There were many people on the quay (a stone platform where ships stay in a harbor). Five hundred thousand people cheered for the ship. The people waved their white handkerchiefs in the air. The Abraham Lincoln moved into the river.
The ship passed the forts near the city. The forts fired their big guns to say goodbye. The ship moved through the small channel into the bay. Many small boats followed the frigate for a short time. Then the small boats went back to the land.
At eight o'clock, the pilot (a person who helps steer a ship through dangerous water) left the ship. He got into a small boat. The engines of the Abraham Lincoln moved faster. Soon, the ship was in the dark waters of the Atlantic Ocean.