I went up again on to the platform: night had already fallen; for, in this low latitude, the sun sets rapidly and without twilight.
I could only see the island indistinctly; but the numerous fires, lighted on the beach, showed that the natives did not think of leaving it.

I was alone for several hours, sometimes thinking of the natives--but without any dread of them, for the imperturbable confidence of the Captain was catching--sometimes forgetting them to admire the splendours of the night in the tropics.

My remembrances went to France in the train of those zodiacal stars that would shine in some hours' time.

The moon shone in the midst of the constellations of the zenith.
The night slipped away without any mischance, the islanders frightened no doubt at the sight of a monster aground in the bay.

The panels were open, and would have offered an easy access to the interior of the Nautilus.
At six o'clock in the morning of the 8th January I went up on to the platform.