Chapter 20. The Torres Strait

           Iwasmuchimpressedontouchingland.NedLandtriedthesoilwithhisfeet,asiftotakepossessionofit.However,itwasonlytwomonthsbeforethatwehadbecome,accordingtoCaptainNemo,"passengersonboardtheNautilus,"but,inreality,prisonersofitscommander.

           Inafewminuteswewerewithinmusket-shotofthecoast.Thewholehorizonwashiddenbehindabeautifulcurtainofforests.Enormoustrees,thetrunksofwhichattainedaheightof200feet,weretiedtoeachotherbygarlandsofbindweed,realnaturalhammocks,whichalightbreezerocked.Theyweremimosas,figs,hibisci,andpalmtrees,mingledtogetherinprofusion;andundertheshelteroftheirverdantvaultgreworchids,leguminousplants,andferns.

           But,withoutnoticingallthesebeautifulspecimensofPapuanflora,theCanadianabandonedtheagreeablefortheuseful.Hediscoveredacoco-tree,beatdownsomeofthefruit,brokethem,andwedrunkthemilkandatethenutwithasatisfactionthatprotestedagainsttheordinaryfoodontheNautilus.

           "Excellent!"saidNedLand.

           "Exquisite!"repliedConseil.

           "AndIdonotthink,"saidtheCanadian,"thathewouldobjecttoourintroducingacargoofcoco-nutsonboard."

           "Idonotthinkhewould,buthewouldnottastethem."

           "Somuchtheworseforhim,"saidConseil.