Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/401

 From a mutilated fin still hung a young whale, which the poor animal could not save from the massacre. The water flowed in and out of its open mouth with a sound like waves breaking on the shore.

Captain Nemo guided the Nautilus close to the body. Two men then mounted it, and with no little astonishment I saw them draw all the milk from the breasts, about two or three tuns.

The captain offered me a glass of the still warm liquid. I could not conceal my repugnance, but he assured me it was excellent, and could not be in any way distinguished from cows’ milk.

I tasted it, and found he was right. This, therefore, gave us a very useful supply, for cheese and butter would improve our table.

From that day I noticed that Ned Land grew more and more badly disposed towards the captain, and I resolved to keep a strict watch on the sayings and doings of the Canadian.