Chapter 22. The Lightning Bolts of Captain Nemo

           Welookedattheedgeoftheforestwithoutrising,myhandstoppingintheactionofputtingittomymouth,NedLand’scompletingitsoffice.

           "Stonesdonotfallfromthesky,"remarkedConseil,"ortheywouldmeritthenameaerolites."

           Asecondstone,carefullyaimed,thatmadeasavourypigeon’slegfallfromConseil’shand,gavestillmoreweighttohisobservation.Weallthreearose,shoulderedourguns,andwerereadytoreplytoanyattack.

           "Aretheyapes?"criedNedLand.

           "Verynearly—theyaresavages."

           "Totheboat!"Isaid,hurryingtothesea.

           Itwasindeednecessarytobeataretreat,forabouttwentynativesarmedwithbowsandslingsappearedontheskirtsofacopsethatmaskedthehorizontotheright,hardlyahundredstepsfromus.

           Ourboatwasmooredaboutsixtyfeetfromus.Thesavagesapproachedus,notrunning,butmakinghostiledemonstrations.Stonesandarrowsfellthickly.

           NedLandhadnotwishedtoleavehisprovisions;and,inspiteofhisimminentdanger,hispigononesideandkangaroosontheother,hewenttolerablyfast.Intwominuteswewereontheshore.Toloadtheboatwithprovisionsandarms,topushitouttosea,andshiptheoars,wastheworkofaninstant.