Таинственный остров

           Therethepassageendedinavastandmagnificentcavern.

           Topwasrunningbackwardsandforwards,barkingfuriously.PencroftandNeb,wavingtheirtorches,threwthelightintoeverycrevice;andatthesametime,Harding,GideonSpilett,andHerbert,theirspearsraised,werereadyforanyemergencywhichmightarise.Theenormouscavernwasempty.Thesettlersexploreditineverydirection.Therewasnothingthere,notananimal,notahumanbeing;andyetTopcontinuedtobark.Neithercaressesnorthreatscouldmakehimbesilent.

           "Theremustbeaplacesomewhere,bywhichthewatersofthelakereachedthesea,"saidtheengineer.

           "Ofcourse,"repliedPencroft,"andwemusttakecarenottotumbleintoahole."

           "Go,Top,go!"criedHarding.

           Thedog,excitedbyhismaster’swords,rantowardstheextremityofthecavern,andthereredoubledhisbarking.

           Theyfollowedhim,andbythelightofthetorches,perceivedthemouthofaregularwellinthegranite.Itwasbythisthatthewaterescaped;andthistimeitwasnotanobliqueandpracticablepassage,butaperpendicularwell,intowhichitwasimpossibletoventure.

           Thetorcheswereheldovertheopening:nothingcouldbeseen.Hardingtookalightedbranch,andthrewitintotheabyss.Theblazingresin,whoseilluminatingpowerincreasedstillmorebytherapidityofitsfall,lighteduptheinteriorofthewell,butyetnothingappeared.Theflamethenwentoutwithaslighthiss,whichshowedthatithadreachedthewater,thatistosay,thelevelofthesea.