On this occasion, Captain Nemo informed me that his intention was to get into the Indian Ocean by the Strait of Torres.
His communication ended there.
The Torres Straits are nearly thirty-four leagues wide; but they are obstructed by an innumerable quantity of islands, islets, breakers, and rocks, that make its navigation almost impracticable; so that Captain Nemo took all needful precautions to cross them.

The Nautilus, floating betwixt wind and water, went at a moderate pace.

Her screw, like a cetacean's tail, beat the waves slowly.
Profiting by this, I and my two companions went up on to the deserted platform.

Before us was the steersman's cage, and I expected that Captain Nemo was there directing the course of the Nautilus.

I had before me the excellent charts of the Straits of Torres, and I consulted them attentively.