Torres Strait
- On January 1, Conseil wishes Aronnax a happy birthday. The new year gets them acting all philosophical; see, they're not exactly sure what a "Happy New Year" would be, really. For Ned, it'd be escape. For Aronnax—and Conseil, since he wants whatever his master wants—it'd be more exploration.
- Aronnax keeps himself busy studying, as usual, and a couple of days later, the Nautilus enters the dangerous Torres Strait (between Australia and New Guinea).
- As luck would have it, the Nautilus gets stuck on a reef.
- Ned gets even more pessimistic. He doesn't think Nemo will be able to get the sub off the rocks, but Nemo assures everyone that they'll be up and running soon.
- Seeing as they're already stuck on land, Ned and Conseil convince Aronnax to ask Nemo to let them go ashore.
- Surprisingly, Nemo is cool with it. So, the three intrepid adventurers head off to the island in the dinghy, carrying axes and guns.
- Ned has only one thing on his mind: meat.
- Soon enough, they make it to the beach.