CHAPTER XII
THE DISTANT SHIP AND ITS DISAPPEARANCE
"What is that weed you have, Professor? The root looks like a parsnip."
"It may be something we can drink."
"It looks just like a weed that grows all over our farm at home."
"I have no doubt of it. This is the endive, as it is known in the States, but it is really chicory."
"I have heard of chicory; isn't it used as a substitute for coffee?"
"Principally on account of the bitterness in it. The French make the greatest use of it, because they claim it gives strength to coffee."
"What part of it is used?"
"The root; the bulb you see here, and they have a curious way of preparing it. The root is dug up before the plant shoots into flower, and is washed, sliced and dried! it is then roasted until it is of a chocolate color. Two pounds of lard are roasted with each hundredweight; and afterwards, when ground and exposed to the air, it becomes moist and clammy, increases in weight, and smells like licorice. When put into cold water it gives a sweetish bitter taste, not unlike coffee."