Beginning in the year 1866, coastal communities have rumors of seeing a sea monster. Sailors say they saw a large, fast-moving creature followed by a strange glow. Several ships, attempting to approach the creature, have been seriously damaged.

At this point, it's been decided that the cause of this isn't a floating reef or floating wreck.

He tells The New York Herald that the "thing" is most definitely a "Giant Narwhal." He says that it has a sword on its head and that is what's causing the ruckus.

Aronnax and his servant are preparing to leave New York to return to their home in France, Aronnax is invited to join the American vessel the Abraham Lincoln, whose crew plans are to hunt down the creature. 

Farragut, the ship's captain, steers them out into the Pacific, where the beast was last seen.

Three weeks after leaving port, they are off the coast of Argentina.

Aronnax decides to ask Ned directly about his opinion regarding the whole sea monster thing.

Aronnax just reassures himself, while Ned's mind remains unchanged.

Two days pass without seeing anything. Bacon is on the back of the ship to attract the beast.

Boats swarm around the ship, combing the waters. He's spotted the mysterious beast after all.

Farragut gives orders to get the ship moving, but the animal keeps coming, and they can't outrun it.

It makes circles around the ship, leaving a glowing trail behind it.

Farragut continues to run from the thing.

The Abe Lincoln heads toward the beast, but they can't catch it. The thing is too fast, and after forty-five minutes, the ship hasn't come any closer to its prey

Finally, people decide it's time to start shooting. They hit their target but the shell just bounces off its skin.

Aronnax is thrown in the water..

By the time he gets back to the surface, the Abraham Lincoln has already moved off into the darkness. He screams. Nobody answers. His wet clothes begin to weigh him down, and he starts to sink. of a sudden, he is pulled up to the surface. Conseil is back to save the day.

some kind of servant enters, and he's carrying clothes for the three them, Aronnax and Conseil have been butt-naked this whole time, having cut off their clothes while swimming.

The captain offers to take Aronnax on a tour of the Nautilus.

At this point, Nemo reveals that the library isn't just for reading. It's for smoking too. He passes Aronnax a very special cigar, one made of seaweed

The Nautilus begins traveling to the north-east, through the dangerous, foggy waters of the Atlantic. Aronnax can see the remains of sunken ships scattered across the seafloor.

Aronnax feels like he finally understands the captain. It tells him more about Nemo than anything else.