Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/228

 fired, and struck the bracelet of beads which was hanging from the arm of the savage.

“Conseil!” I cried, “Conseil!”

“Well, did not Monsieur see that the cannibal began the attack?”

“A shell is not worth a man’s life,” I said.

“Ah, the blackguard!” cried Conseil; “I would rather he had broken my shoulder.”

Conseil was sincere, but I did not agree with him. However, the situation had altered during the last few minutes, and we had not perceived the change. Twenty canoes now surrounded the Nautilus. These canoes, hollowed out from trunks of trees, are long and narrow, and well put together for speed, and kept in equilibrio by double sets of bamboo poles, which floated on the surface of the water. They were worked by skilful hands, and it was not without some misgivings that I perceived their approach. It was evident that the Papuans had already been in communication with Europeans, and that they knew their ships. But this long cylinder of iron, without masts or chimney, what could they make of it? Nothing very pleasant apparently, as they kept at a respectful distance. However, seeing it motionless, they regained confidence by degrees, and sought to make themselves acquainted with the Nautilus.

Now it was precisely this familiarity that it behoved us to check. Our arms, which gave no report, only produced a slight effect upon the natives, who respected loud-mouthed guns. People are not so much frightened by lightning when unaccompanied by thunder, although