Пятнадцатилетний капитан

           "Imaginethatyouareinthemiddleofalargepark.Truly,itisnotwithoutreasonthattheIndianssayofthiscountry,’Escomoelpariso!’Itislikeanearthlyparadise!"

           "Thenthereareserpents?"saidJack.

           "No,myJack,"repliedMrs.Weldon,"therearenoserpents,andyoumaysleeptranquilly."

           "Andlions?"askedJack.

           "Nottheghostofalion,mygoodlittleman,"repliedHarris.

           "Tigers,then?"

           "Askyourmamaifshehaseverheardtelloftigersonthiscontinent."

           "Never,"repliedMrs.Weldon.

           "Good!"saidCousinBenedict,who,bychance,waslisteningtotheconversation:"ifthereareneitherlionsnortigersintheNewWorld,whichisperfectlytrue,weatleastencountercougarsandjaguars."

           "Aretheybad?"askedlittleJack.

           "Phew!"repliedHarris;"anativehaslittlefearofattackingthoseanimals,andwearestrong.Stay!Herculeswouldbestrongenoughtocrushtwojaguarsatonce,oneineachhand!"

           "Youwillwatchwell,Hercules,"thensaidlittleJack,"andifabeastcomestobiteus——"

           "ItisIwhowillbiteit,Mr.Jack!"repliedHercules,showinghismouth,armedwithsuperbteeth.

           "Yes,youwillwatch,Hercules,"saidthenovice,"butyourcompanionsandIwillrelieveyou,turnabout."

           "No,Mr.Dick,"repliedActeon,"Hercules,Bat,Austin,andI,wefourwillbeenoughforthislabor.Youmustrestthewholenight."

           "Thankyou,Acteon,"repliedDickSand,"butIoughtto——"

           "No!letthosebravemendoit,mydearDick!"thensaidMrs.Weldon.

           "I,also;Ishallwatch!"addedlittleJack,whoseeyelidswerealreadyclosing.