Таинственный остров

           Afterstandingofftheshorethe"Bonadventure"againapproacheditinthedirectionofPortBalloon.Itwasimportanttoascertainthechannelsbetweenthesandbanksandreefs,thatbuoysmightbelaiddownsincethislittlecreekwastobetheharbor.

           Theywerenotmorethanhalfamilefromthecoast,anditwasnecessarytotacktobeatagainstthewind.The"Bonadventure"wasthengoingataverymoderaterate,asthebreeze,partlyinterceptedbythehighland,scarcelyswelledhersails,andthesea,smoothasglass,wasonlyripplednowandthenbypassinggusts.

           Herberthadstationedhimselfinthebowsthathemightindicatethecoursetobefollowedamongthechannels,whenallatonceheshouted,—

           "Luff,Pencroft,luff!"

           "What’sthematter,"repliedthesailor;"arock?"

           "No—wait,"saidHerbert;"Idon’tquitesee.Luffagain—right—now."

           Sosaying,Herbert,leaningovertheside,plungedhisarmintothewater,andpulleditout,exclaiming,—

           "Abottle!"

           Heheldinhishandacorkedbottlewhichhehadjustseizedafewcables’lengthfromtheshore.

           CyrusHardingtookthebottle.Withoututteringasinglewordhedrewthecork,andtookfromitadamppaper,onwhichwerewrittenthesewords:—

           "Castaway....Taborisland:153degW.long.,37deg11’S.lat."