Таинственный остров

           AtthesametimeTopbegantorunroundthemouthofthewell,whichopenedattheextremityoftheinteriorpassage.

           "WhatcanTopbebarkinginthatwayfor?"askedPencroft.

           "AndJupbegrowlinglikethat?"addedHerbert.

           Infacttheorang,joiningthedog,gaveunequivocalsignsofagitation,and,singulartosay,thetwoanimalsappearedmoreuneasythanangry.

           "Itisevident,"saidGideonSpilett,"thatthiswellisindirectcommunicationwiththesea,andthatsomemarineanimalcomesfromtimetotimetobreatheatthebottom."

           "That’sevident,"repliedthesailor,"andtherecanbenootherexplanationtogive.Quietthere,Top!"addedPencroft,turningtothedog,"andyou,Jup,beofftoyourroom!"

           Theapeandthedogweresilent.Jupwentofftobed,butTopremainedintheroom,andcontinuedtoutterlowgrowlsatintervalsduringtherestoftheevening.Therewasnofurthertalkonthesubject,buttheincident,however,cloudedthebrowoftheengineer.

           DuringtheremainderofthemonthofJulytherewasalternaterainandfrost.Thetemperaturewasnotsolowasduringtheprecedingwinter,anditsmaximumdidnotexceedeightdegreesFahrenheit.Butalthoughthiswinterwaslesscold,itwasmoretroubledbystormsandsqualls;theseabesidesoftenendangeredthesafetyoftheChimneys.Attimesitalmostseemedasifanunder-currentraisedthesemonstrousbillowswhichthunderedagainstthewallofGraniteHouse.