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Chapter 20. The Torres Strait

           Wewereloadedwhenwereachedtheboat.ButNedLanddidnotfindhisprovisionssufficient.Fate,however,favouredus.Justaswewerepushingoff,heperceivedseveraltrees,fromtwenty-fivetothirtyfeethigh,aspeciesofpalm-tree.

           Atlast,atfiveo’clockintheevening,loadedwithourriches,wequittedtheshore,andhalfanhourafterwehailedtheNautilus.Nooneappearedonourarrival.Theenormousiron-platedcylinderseemeddeserted.Theprovisionsembarked,Idescendedtomychamber,andaftersuppersleptsoundly.

           Thenextday,6thJanuary,nothingnewonboard.Notasoundinside,notasignoflife.Theboatrestedalongtheedge,inthesameplaceinwhichwehadleftit.Weresolvedtoreturntotheisland.NedLandhopedtobemorefortunatethanonthedaybeforewithregardtothehunt,andwishedtovisitanotherpartoftheforest.

           Atdawnwesetoff.Theboat,carriedonbythewavesthatflowedtoshore,reachedtheislandinafewminutes.

           Welanded,and,thinkingthatitwasbettertogiveintotheCanadian,wefollowedNedLand,whoselonglimbsthreatenedtodistanceus.Hewoundupthecoasttowardsthewest:then,fordingsometorrents,hegainedthehighplainthatwasborderedwithadmirableforests.Somekingfisherswereramblingalongthewater-courses,buttheywouldnotletthemselvesbeapproached.Theircircumspectionprovedtomethatthesebirdsknewwhattoexpectfrombipedsofourspecies,andIconcludedthat,iftheislandwasnotinhabited,atleasthumanbeingsoccasionallyfrequentedit.

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