Таємничий острів

           Pencroftonlyconsideredtheminaneatablepointofview,andlearntwithsomesatisfactionthattheirflesh,thoughblackish,isnotbadfood.

           Greatamphibiouscreaturescouldalsobeseencrawlingonthesand;seals,doubtless,whoappearedtohavechosentheisletforaplaceofrefuge.Itwasimpossibletothinkofthoseanimalsinanalimentarypointofview,fortheiroilyfleshisdetestable;however,CyrusHardingobservedthemattentively,andwithoutmakingknownhisidea,heannouncedtohiscompanionsthatverysoontheywouldpayavisittotheislet.Thebeachwasstrewnwithinnumerableshells,someofwhichwouldhaverejoicedtheheartofaconchologist;therewere,amongothers,thephasianella,theterebratual,etc.Butwhatwouldbeofmoreuse,wasthediscovery,byNeb,atlowtide,ofalargeoysterbedamongtherocks,nearlyfivemilesfromtheChimneys.

           "Nebwillnothavelosthisday,"criedPencroft,lookingatthespaciousoyster-bed.

           "Itisreallyafortunatediscovery,"saidthereporter,"andasitissaidthateachoysterproducesyearlyfromfiftytosixtythousandeggs,weshallhaveaninexhaustiblesupplythere."

           "OnlyIbelievethattheoysterisnotverynourishing,"saidHerbert.

           "No,"repliedHarding."Theoystercontainsverylittlenitrogen,andifamanlivedexclusivelyonthem,hewouldhavetoeatnotlessthanfifteentosixteendozenaday."

           "Capital!"repliedPencroft."Wemightswallowdozensanddozenswithoutexhaustingthebed.