CHAPTER III.
A PEARL OF TEN MILLIONS.
Night came. I went to bed, but slept badly. The sharks played an important part in my dreams. I was awakened by the steward at four o’clock. I got up at once, and, dressing quickly, passed into the saloon.
There Captain Nemo was waiting for me.
“M. Aronnax,” said he, “are you ready to start?”
“I am.”
“Will you follow me, please?”
“And my companions also, captain?”
“They have gone, and are waiting for us.”
“Shall we not put on our diving dresses?” I asked.
“Not yet. I have not permitted the Nautilus to come very close to the shore, and we are still at some distance from the Manaar Bank; but the launch is ready to take us to the exact spot, and will save us a long way. It has the apparatus on board, and we can put our dresses on at the moment we commence our submarine journey.”
Captain Nemo then led the way towards the central staircase to the platform. There we found Ned and Con-
