Таємничий острів

           "Good,"saidhe;"thisisavaluablediscovery."

           "Valuable?"returnedPencroft.

           "Certainly,"repliedHerbert."Imaysay,Pencroft,thatthebarkofthebamboo,cutintoflexiblelaths,isusedformakingbaskets;thatthisbark,mashedintoapaste,isusedforthemanufactureofChinesepaper;thatthestalksfurnish,accordingtotheirsize,canesandpipesandareusedforconductingwater;thatlargebamboosmakeexcellentmaterialforbuilding,beinglightandstrong,andbeingneverattackedbyinsects.Iwilladdthatbysawingthebamboointwoatthejoint,keepingforthebottomthepartofthetransversefilmwhichformsthejoint,usefulcupsareobtained,whicharemuchinuseamongtheChinese.No!youdon’tcareforthat.But—"

           "Butwhat?"

           "ButIcantellyou,ifyouareignorantofit,thatinIndiathesebamboosareeatenlikeasparagus."

           "Asparagusthirtyfeethigh!"exclaimedthesailor."Andaretheygood?"

           "Excellent,"repliedHerbert."Onlyitisnotthestemsofthirtyfeethighwhichareeaten,buttheyoungshoots."

           "Perfect,myboy,perfect!"repliedPencroft.

           "Iwillalsoaddthatthepithoftheyoungstalks,preservedinvinegar,makesagoodpickle."

           "Betterandbetter,Herbert!"

           "Andlastly,thatthebamboosexudeasweetliquorwhichcanbemadeintoaveryagreeabledrink."

           "Isthatall?"askedthesailor.

           "Thatisall!"

           "Andtheydon’thappentodoforsmoking?"

           "No,mypoorPencroft."