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  CHAPTER 13: The Black River

          This chapter begins with a discussion of the largeness of the sea and how every period of geological history has been a period of fire followed by a period of water. At first there was nothing but the ocean. Aronnax observes that with nothing in sight, the sea is like a vast desert. When Captain Nemo is leaving Aronnax to his studies, Aronnax is troubled by the identity of the captain and his hatred for humanity. Aronnax was observing how the Nautilus was about to cross the Black River, Ned Land and Conseil appeared. Aronnax tried to convince Land that it was best, if  not to try to escape and Land argued that they were in a metal prison. Just then the ceiling went dark and panels began moving to reveal the sea through two oval shaped windows. When Land expressed confusion about where the fish were, Conseil asked why he cared, since he did not know about fish. Land claimed he did know about them since he was a fisherman. Conseil said Land was a killer of fish, and did not know how to classify them.

 CHAPTER 14: A Note of Invitation

          This chapter started with the morning after the viewing session. Conseil comes to Aronnax’s chamber to attend to his needs, and acting the role of the domestic servant. Aronnax spent the day in the salon, studying. The following day continued the same, and Aronnax began to keep a diary of his adventures. On their fifth days, Aronnax began his day, each morning he heard the officers of the vessel say and repeated: “Nautron respoc lorni virch.” Aronnax did not understand the phrase he recognized it. On the sixth day, Aronnax received a letter from Captain Nemo requesting his presence, along with Land and Conseil, for a hunting trip the following day in the forests of the Crespo Island. Aronnax was shocked to learn that Captain Nemo was referring to underwater forests, where he intended to hunt using guns without getting wet. Nemo explained that they would use an improved version of the Rouquayrol Denayrouze apparatus. This consisted of tanks worn on one’s back attached to a mouth piece. The guns they would use were air guns equipped with glass bullets. 

 CHAPTER 15: A walk on the Bottom of the Sea

          Ned Land did not want to wear one of the frog suits, and was discouraged by the idea of hunting underwater. Conseil said he would follow wherever his master went. The men suited up they were released onto the ocean floor. When they get into the water, the heavy equipment became weightless and the men moved freely. Sunlight penetrated the water and reflected off of the perfect sand. Aronnax marveled at the variety of sea life. Aronnax observed how sound was felt more strongly because water is a greater conductor of sound than air. 

CHAPTER 16: A Submarine Forest 

          Approximately and hour and a half after having entered the water, the men reached the forest that Captain Nemo considered his own. The forest was comprised of huge plantlike trees, Aronnax had never seen before. He was surprised not to be hungry after their four hour excursion. He was only very tired. The men encountered a monstrous sea spider, which Nemo’s companion killed. The monster made Aronnax weary of what else he might meet. The men continued to venture into the forest, when it got too dark they simply switched on their lights. When they reached land, Captain Nemo stopped them suddenly. He refused to go any farther. On the way back Nemo killed a sea otter, an animal that would have sold for a good price on land. It had become very rare. The companion later killed a large bird, an albatross. Nemo and his companion pushed Aronnax and Conseil down into a brush of seaweed, and laid down with them. A couple of sharks swam dangerously close to the men, but the sharks could not see well and they were safe.

CHAPTER 17: Four Thousand Leagues Under the Pacific 

          The next morning Aronnax returned to the platform of the vessel, the sea men uttered their daily phrase. When he looked out at the ocean, he saw nothing. Aronnax observed the presence of some twenty sailors, all from various European nations. They spoke to each other in the same strange language that Aronnax could not understand. Aronnax was startled by Captain Nemo’s sudden discussion of the personality of the sea. Aronnax could not believe the captain did not preface his statements with “good day” or “good morning.” The captain continued his discourse on the ocean and began discussing tropical and polar waters. Aronnax was outraged by the thought that Nemo might actually try to venture to the poles. Captain Nemo then quizzed Aronnax on the depth of the seas, Nemo said he would prove were much deeper. In the weeks that followed, Aronnax rarely saw Nemo and spent much of his time with Land and Conseil. The men spent their days talking, reading, and observing the marvelous sea life that swam before the viewing stations in the salon. One day Conseil interrupted Aronnax’s reading to show him something amazing. There was a sunken ship outside the Nautilus. There were bodies on board the ship sailors, a woman and her child.

CHAPTER 18: Vanikoro 

          This chapter, the Nautilus entered more populated seas, the men saw more and more underwater destruction: sunken ships, cannon balls, anchors. They continued to journey south east and encountered various islands and underwater life. At the end of December, they arrived at the island Vanikoro. Aronnax recounted the apparently well known tale of La Pérouse’s ship wreck. He persuaded the natives of the island to tell him about the shipwreck. He learned that La Pérouse had built smaller vessels but they had also wrecked. He did not know where.

            The men created the second group of smaller vessels and made it to the Solomon Islands, but perished between the Capes of Deception and Satisfaction. Captain Nemo had discovered papers in the ship wreck that explained the tale. 

CHAPTER 19: Torres Straits

          On January 1, Conseil approached Aronnax on the platform and wished him a Happy New Year. Aronnax asked whether Conseil thought they would be released from their imprisonment that year. Conseil did not know what to say only that he did not know how it all would end. Conseil remarked that Ned Land, a positive spirit and Anglo-Saxon, needed meat and brandy to be happy.

            One day, on the platform, the men observed Captain Nemo steering the vessel toward the Torres Strait. They thought he had gone mad, as he was headed full speed to the vast expanse of sharp coral. The Nautilus hit a reef and was stuck. They would be stuck for four days until the tides were in their favor to carry them away. Conseil and Land wanted to go on land, and asked Aronnax if he might ask Nemo. Captain Nemo gave his permission. 

CHAPTER 20: A Few Days on Land

        When the men go on land, it has been two months that they have been “passengers of the Nautilus.” The men explore the island, looking for food not available on the vessel fruit, vegetable, and meat. They find coconuts, a breadfruit tree, and a variety of fruits. Land try to hunting some kind of meat. Conseil is able to kill two birds, and the men eat them for lunch. Conseil also catches a “bird of paradise” for Aronnax. This was not a difficult feat, since the bird was drunk on nutmeg. Land and Conseil enthusiastically kill a boar and kangaroos.

CHAPTER 21: Captain Nemo’s Thunderbolt

          In the chapter 22, the men are discussing going back to the Nautilus or staying, they are hit with a stone. The island natives approach them with stones and bows and arrows and seem very hostile. They are able to escape into their small boat and back to the Nautilus. Aronnax tries to alert Captain Nemo about the “savages” because he is afraid they may try to come to the vessel. Nemo merely says that savages are found everywhere on land, and these men are no worse. Aronnax continues to observe the Papuans from the platform and notices they are growing in number and coming closer to the Nautilus. Aronnax is feeling no good, because the hatches of the Nautilus are open and the native could invade the ship.

            As the natives continue to approach the vessel, they invite Aronnax to come to shore. Conseil says one can be a cannibal and a good fellow all the same. Aronnax and Conseil are thrilled by the discovery of an abnormal shell. Conseil, in turn, fired a shot at the native from his gun, breaking the native’s bracelets. The natives advance toward the vessel and fire arrows at it. Aronnax and Conseil escape down the hatch to tell Captain Nemo. Nemo closed the hatches and remained very calm. Aronnax was afraid that the next day, when they had to open the hatches for air, the natives would invade. Nemo becomes upset with Aronnax when he mentions that the Nautilus is run aground. The next day, before departing, Nemo ordered the hatches open. When the Papuans tried to enter, they were thrown back by some invisible force. The Papuans retreated and the Nautilus sailed away as planned.

 CHAPTER 22: "Ægrie Somnia"

          Captain Nemo tells Aronnax of his various experiments with water density and temperature. Aronnax, Land and Conseil are amazed when they enter, far below the surface of the sea, an area of phosphorescence. When life on the Nautilus began to feel normal, a strange thing happened. On the platform, Aronnax did not hear the typical phrase from the crew to which he had grown familiar. When he looked up he saw land. When Aronnax tried to look through his telescope, Captain Nemo grew angry.

            He was a much different Nemo. Nemo was not angry with Aronnax, but was consumed by a hatred produced by something on the shore. Captain Nemo told Aronnax that he and his companions had to be locked up until further notice. The men occupied their original cell and ate lunch. When they finished the meal, the lights of the vessel suddenly went out. Then, they fell asleep, sleeping tablets had been put in their food.

 CHAPTER 23: The Coral Kingdom

          The next morning the men awoke in their beds. They were free to move the cabin. When Aronnax sees Nemo, he seems distracted and depressed. Nemo asks Aronnax if he is a doctor, since he knows many of his colleagues were. Aronnax says that he was before, he joined the museum. Nemo asks him to look at a wounded crewman. The man’s injuries are terrible. His brain is exposed and he is approaching death.

            Aronnax is surprised to see Nemo cry when Aronnax tells him the man will die. The next day Nemo asks the men to go on another underwater excursion. This time they go to the coral kingdom, where among the coral Nemo’s men bury the dead man in an underwater cemetery.