Таинственный остров

           Neb,Herbert,andthesailor,climbingtothesummitofthetree,usedalltheirskilltodisengagethenowreducedballoon.

           Theoperationlastedtwohours,andthennotonlythecase,withitsvalve,itssprings,itsbrasswork,layontheground,butthenet,thatistosayaconsiderablequantityofropesandcordage,andthecircleandtheanchor.Thecase,exceptforthefracture,wasingoodcondition,onlythelowerportionbeingtorn.

           Itwasafortunewhichhadfallenfromthesky.

           "Allthesame,captain,"saidthesailor,"ifweeverdecidetoleavetheisland,itwon’tbeinaballoon,willit?Theseairboatswon’tgowherewewantthemtogo,andwehavehadsomeexperienceinthatway!Lookhere,wewillbuildacraftofsometwentytons,andthenwecanmakeamain-sail,aforesail,andajiboutofthatcloth.Astotherestofit,thatwillhelptodressus."

           "Weshallsee,Pencroft,"repliedCyrusHarding;"weshallsee."

           "Inthemeantime,wemustputitinasafeplace,"saidNeb.

           Theycertainlycouldnotthinkofcarryingthisloadofcloth,ropes,andcordage,toGraniteHouse,fortheweightofitwasveryconsiderable,andwhilewaitingforasuitablevehicleinwhichtoconveyit,itwasofimportancethatthistreasureshouldnotbeleftlongerexposedtothemerciesofthefirststorm.Thesettlers,unitingtheirefforts,managedtodragitasfarastheshore,wheretheydiscoveredalargerockycavity,whichowingtoitspositioncouldnotbevisitedeitherbythewindorrain.