Таємничий острів

           Now,asHardingwasnotasportsman,andas,ontheotherside,Herbertwastalkingchemistryandnaturalphilosophy,numbersofkangaroos,capybaras,andagoutiescamewithinrange,which,however,escapedthelad’sgun;theconsequencewasthatthedaywasalreadyadvanced,andthetwohunterswereindangerofhavingmadeauselessexcursion,whenHerbert,stopping,andutteringacryofjoy,exclaimed,—

           "Oh,CaptainHarding,doyouseethattree?"andhepointedtoashrub,ratherthanatree,foritwascomposedofasinglestem,coveredwithascalybark,whichboreleavesstreakedwithlittleparallelveins.

           "Andwhatisthistreewhichresemblesalittlepalm?"askedHarding.

           "Itisa‘cycasrevoluta,’ofwhichIhaveapictureinourdictionaryofNaturalHistory!"saidHerbert.

           "ButIcan’tseeanyfruitonthisshrub!"observedhiscompanion.

           "No,captain,"repliedHerbert;"butitsstemcontainsaflourwithwhichnaturehasprovidedusallreadyground."

           "Itis,then,thebread-tree?"

           "Yes,thebread-tree."

           "Well,myboy,"repliedtheengineer,"thisisavaluablediscovery,sinceourwheatharvestisnotyetripe;Ihopethatyouarenotmistaken!"

           Herbertwasnotmistaken:hebrokethestemofacycas,whichwascomposedofaglanduloustissue,containingaquantityofflourypith,traversedwithwoodyfiber,separatedbyringsofthesamesubstance,arrangedconcentrically.Withthisfeculawasmingledamucilaginousjuiceofdisagreeableflavor,butwhichitwouldbeeasytogetridofbypressure.