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 he had said it in much the same way as one would ask you to go fox-hunting.

“However,” I thought, “Conseil will not want to go, and that will give me an excuse to let the captain go without me.”

As for Ned Land, I was obliged to confess that I was not so sure of his sagacity. Any peril, however great, had always an attraction for his bellicose nature. So I returned to my book on Ceylon, but between the lines I could perceive the formidable jaws opening still.

At this moment Conseil and Ned returned with quite a cheerful air; they little knew what was in store for them.

“Faith, Monsieur! your Captain Nemo—may the devil take him—has made us a very nice offer.”

“Ah!” I exclaimed, “you know”

“If Monsieur has no objection,” replied Conseil, “the captain has asked us to accompany Monsieur to the magnificent pearl fisheries of Ceylon. He made the suggestion like a gentleman.”

“He said nothing more than that?”

“Nothing,” replied Ned, “except that he had spoken to you on the subject.”

“So, in fact, he gave you no details?”

“None. You will accompany us, won’t you?”

“I? Certainly. I perceive you like the idea, Master Land.”

“Yes, it is curious, very curious!”

“A little dangerous, perhaps?” I insinuated.

“Dangerous?” exclaimed Ned. “A little excursion on an oyster-bank—dangerous?”

It was evident that Captain Nemo had decided that it would be useless to awake the idea of sharks in the minds of my companions. I already looked upon them with a