Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/75

 I had ever seen. To descend to detail, his eyes, set a little apart, could embrace nearly a quarter of the horizon.

This faculty, which came to my knowledge later, gave him a great advantage over the excellent sight of Ned Land. Whenever this unknown personage was looking intently at anything he frowned, his large eyelids contracted so as to conceal the pupils, and to considerably circumscribe his line of sight—and he did look! What a gaze that was, as if he was making distant objects larger, or penetrating your very soul by his gaze; as if he could pierce the depths of the waves, so opaque to our eyes, and could read the secrets of the sea.

The two strangers wore otter-skin caps and sea-boots of seal-skin, and clothes of a peculiar texture, which sat loosely upon them, and allowed of great freedom in their movements.

The taller of the two—evidently the captain—regarded us with great attention, without speaking. Then turning to his companion, he conversed with him in a language I did not understand. The other replied by a nod, adding a few unintelligible words. Then with a glance he appeared to interrogate us personally.

I replied, in good French, that I did not understand his language; but he did not appear to comprehend mine, and the situation became somewhat embarrassing.

“If Monsieur would relate our adventures,” suggested Conseil, “perhaps the gentlemen would understand some of it.”

I then commenced a recital of our experiences, dis-