10:15
Captain Nemo never took his eyes off the two concentric circles of the compass hanging in the cabin . At a mere gesture from him , the helmsman would instantly change the Nautilus 's heading . Standing by the port deadlight , I spotted magnificent coral substructures , zoophytes , algae , and crustaceans with enormous quivering claws that stretched forth from crevices in the rock . At 10:15 Captain Nemo himself took the helm . Dark and deep , a wide gallery opened ahead of us . The Nautilus was brazenly swallowed up . Strange rumblings were audible along our sides .