Таинственный остров

           Thecolonistsweresoonobligedtofightatclosequarters,notwithoutreceivingsomewounds,thoughhappilyveryslightones.Herberthad,withashotfromhisrevolver,rescuedNeb,onwhosebackacolpeohadsprunglikeatigercat.Topfoughtwithactualfury,flyingatthethroatsofthefoxesandstranglingtheminstantaneously.Jupwieldedhisweaponvaliantly,anditwasinvainthattheyendeavoredtokeephimintherear.Endoweddoubtlesswithsightwhichenabledhimtopiercetheobscurity,hewasalwaysinthethickofthefightutteringfromtimetotime—asharphissingsound,whichwaswithhimthesignofgreatrejoicing.

           Atonemomentheadvancedsofar,thatbythelightfromarevolverhewasseensurroundedbyfiveorsixlargecolpeos,withwhomhewascopingwithgreatcoolness.

           However,thestrugglewasendedatlast,andvictorywasonthesideofthesettlers,butnotuntiltheyhadfoughtfortwolonghours!Thefirstsignsoftheapproachofdaydoubtlessdeterminedtheretreatoftheirassailants,whoscamperedawaytowardstheNorth,passingoverthebridge,whichNebranimmediatelytoraise.Whendayhadsufficientlylightedupthefieldofbattle,thesettlerscountedasmanyasfiftydeadbodiesscatteredaboutontheshore.

           "AndJup!"criedPencroft;"whereisJup?"Juphaddisappeared.HisfriendNebcalledhim,andforthefirsttimeJupdidnotreplytohisfriend’scall.