“I wouldn’t like that,” cut in Tom.
“How do you know?” reproved Joe, “you never tried it.”
“Fish eggs!” exclaimed Tom with a grimace.
“You would have turned up your nose at birds’ nests too,” said Jim, “until the Captain told us how fine they were, and not at all like we supposed.”
“Yes,” nodded the engineer, “birds’ nests are all right, I’ve eaten them in China. They are gathered before the birds ever nest in them.”
“But go on with your story, I’m anxious to see how you made out. It was certainly an interesting experience,” urged Jim.
“I should say so,” chorused the boys.
“I’m glad you like it,” remarked the engineer, “and it was an entertaining situation, especially the lunch part of it. Where was I?”
“Caviar,” suggested Tom.
“Oh, yes. Well, on the bill of fare were different cakes, jellies and jams, all beautifully put up. As to the liquors, there were half a dozen different bottles, as I have said of cut glass, in filigree silver holders, with his Nib’s crests on the tops, engraved in silver. It was all beautiful to look upon. One liquor green, oh, such a lovely green, as a French poet says the color of a mermaid’s eyes. Another purple, another the color of honey. But I had sense enough left not to take any of them, else I would have had no senses left, which would have been bad under the circumstances, for I might have wakened up to find myself at the sudden end of a rope, or sitting out on the lonely plains with some bruises and no friends.