Таинственный остров

           Itwasveryimportanttoseizeitbeforetherapidcurrentshouldhavesweptitawayoutofthemouthoftheriver,butNebandPencroftcleverlymanagedthisbymeansofalongpole.

           Thecanoetouchedtheshore.Theengineerleapedinfirst,andfound,onexaminingtherope,thatithadbeenreallywornthroughbyrubbingagainsttherocks.

           "Well,"saidthereportertohim,inalowvoice,"thisisastrangething."

           "Strangeindeed!"returnedCyrusHarding.

           Strangeornot,itwasveryfortunate.Herbert,thereporter,Neb,andPencroft,embarkedinturn.Therewasnodoubtabouttheropehavingbeenwornthrough,buttheastonishingpartoftheaffairwas,thattheboatshouldarrivejustatthemomentwhenthesettlersweretheretoseizeitonitsway,foraquarterofanhourearlierorlateritwouldhavebeenlostinthesea.

           Iftheyhadbeenlivinginthetimeofgenii,thisincidentwouldhavegiventhemtherighttothinkthattheislandwashauntedbysomesupernaturalbeing,whousedhispowerintheserviceofthecastaways!

           AfewstrokesoftheoarbroughtthesettlerstothemouthoftheMercy.ThecanoewashauleduponthebeachneartheChimneys,andallproceededtowardstheladderofGraniteHouse.

           Butatthatmoment,Topbarkedangrily,andNeb,whowaslookingforthefirststeps,utteredacry.

           Therewasnolongeraladder!