Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/285

 “This?” said Conseil, indicating a splendid one in a glass case.

“Certainly. I do not think I am wrong in estimating it as worth two millions of

“Francs!” said Conseil, quickly.

“Yes, two millions of francs; and I daresay that sum would not repay the captain for the trouble of obtaining it.”

“Eh!” said Ned; “but who knows that we may not get such another to-morrow.”

“Bah!” said Conseil.

“Why not?”

“What would be the use of millions to us here?”

“On board, no. But otherwise—— ”

“Oh! otherwise,” echoed Conseil, with an upward toss of his head.

“Master Land is right, though,” said I, “and if we could bring back to Europe a pearl worth a few millions there will be at once a proof of the truth and success of our expedition.”

“I believe it,” said the Canadian.

“But,” said Conseil, who always came back to the instructive side of things, “is this pearl-fishing dangerous?”

“No,” said I quickly, “not if you take proper care.”

“What risks do you run?” asked Ned. “The taste of some mouthfuls of sea water ?”

“Just so, Ned. By-the-by, are you afraid of sharks?”

I asked this in as airy a tone as I could assume.

“I?” exclaimed Ned. “A harpooner by profession? Why I laugh at them!”

“But,” said I, “it is not the question of fishing for them, hauling them on board ship, and cutting them up, and throwing the heart into the sea.”