Таинственный остров

           Theycouldnotbutfeelacertainawe,inthisventuringintotheseunknowndepths,forthefirsttimevisitedbyhumanbeings.Theydidnotspeak,buttheythought;andthethoughtcametomorethanone,thatsomepolypusorothergiganticcephalopodmightinhabittheinteriorcavities,whichwereincommunicationwiththesea.However,Topkeptattheheadofthelittleband,andtheycouldrelyonthesagacityofthedog,whowouldnotfailtogivethealarmiftherewasanyneedforit.

           Afterhavingdescendedaboutahundredfeet,followingawindingroad,Hardingwhowaswalkingonbefore,stopped,andhiscompanionscameupwithhim.Theplacewheretheyhadhaltedwaswider,soastoformacavernofmoderatedimensions.Dropsofwaterfellfromthevault,butthatdidnotprovethattheyoozedthroughtherock.Theyweresimplythelasttracesleftbythetorrentwhichhadsolongthunderedthroughthiscavity,andtheairtherewaspurethoughslightlydamp,butproducingnomephiticexhalation.

           "Well,mydearCyrus,"saidGideonSpilett,"hereisaverysecureretreat,wellhidinthedepthsoftherock,butitis,however,uninhabitable."

           "Whyuninhabitable?"askedthesailor.

           "Becauseitistoosmallandtoodark."

           "Couldn’tweenlargeit,hollowitout,makeopeningstoletinlightandair?"repliedPencroft,whonowthoughtnothingimpossible.

           "Letusgoonwithourexploration,"saidCyrusHarding."Perhapslowerdown,naturewillhavesparedusthislabor."

           "Wehaveonlygoneathirdoftheway,"observedHerbert.