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Chapter 3. A Pearl Worth Ten Million

           Ilookedonthesidewherethelandlay,andsawnothingbutadarklineenclosingthreepartsofthehorizon,fromsouth-westtonorthwest.TheNautilus,havingreturnedduringthenightupthewesterncoastofCeylon,wasnowwestofthebay,orrathergulf,formedbythemainlandandtheIslandofManaar.There,underthedarkwaters,stretchedthepintadinebank,aninexhaustiblefieldofpearls,thelengthofwhichismorethantwentymiles.

           CaptainNemo,NedLand,Conseil,andItookourplacesinthesternoftheboat.Themasterwenttothetiller;hisfourcompanionsleanedontheiroars,thepainterwascastoff,andwesheeredoff.

           Theboatwenttowardsthesouth;theoarsmendidnothurry.Inoticedthattheirstrokes,stronginthewater,onlyfollowedeachothereverytenseconds,accordingtothemethodgenerallyadoptedinthenavy.Whilstthecraftwasrunningbyitsownvelocity,theliquiddropsstruckthedarkdepthsofthewavescrisplylikespatsofmeltedlead.Alittlebillow,spreadingwide,gaveaslightrolltotheboat,andsomesamphirereedsflappedbeforeit.

           Weweresilent.WhatwasCaptainNemothinkingof?Perhapsofthelandhewasapproaching,andwhichhefoundtooneartohim,contrarytotheCanadian’sopinion,whothoughtittoofaroff.AstoConseil,hewasmerelytherefromcuriosity.

           Abouthalf-pastfivethefirsttintsonthehorizonshowedtheupperlineofcoastmoredistinctly.Flatenoughintheeast,itrosealittletothesouth.Fivemilesstilllaybetweenus,anditwasindistinctowingtothemistonthewater.Atsixo’clockitbecamesuddenlydaylight,withthatrapiditypeculiartotropicalregions,whichknowneitherdawnnortwilight.

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