Part 62 (2/2)
”How do you know?”
”Didn't I go round the island one day? Besides, you could see them if there were, from the cliff.”
”So we could; there are no elms. That shows how different this country is from any other country ever found.”
”Poplars?” said Mark in an interrogative tone.
”Palms, of course. You can see them miles away like palms in a desert.”
”Pictures,” said Mark. ”Yes, that's it. You always see the sun going down, camels with long shadows, and palm-trees. Then I suppose it's Africa?”
”You must wait till we have taken an observation. We shall see too by the stars.”
”Firs?” said Mark. ”They're cedars, of course.”
”Of course. Willows are blue gums.”
”Then it's near Australia. I expect it is; because, don't you know, there were no animals in Australia except kangaroos, and there are none here at all. So it's that sort of country.”
”But there are tigers in the reeds.”
”Ah, I forgot them.”
”Huge boa-constrictors. One of them would reach from here to Serendib.
Did you hear that rustling? Most likely that was one.”
”Do elephants swim? They might come off here.”
”Hippopotami.”
”A black rhinoceros; they're rogues.”
”Hyenas.”
”Giraffes. They can nibble half-way up the palm-trees.”
”Pumas.”
”Panthers.”
”'Possums.”
”Yaks.”
”Grizzlies.”
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