Таинственный остров

           Inallprobability,andsuchwasalsoHerbert’sopinion,somehadbeenleftbyformidablewildbeastswhichdoubtlesswouldgivethemsometrouble;butnowheredidtheyobservethemarkofanaxeonthetrees,northeashesofafire,northeimpressionofahumanfoot.Onthistheymightprobablycongratulatethemselves,foronanylandinthemiddleofthePacificthepresenceofmanwasperhapsmoretobefearedthandesired.HerbertandPencroftspeakinglittle,forthedifficultiesofthewayweregreat,advancedveryslowly,andafterwalkingforanhourtheyhadscarcelygonemorethanamile.Asyetthehunthadnotbeensuccessful.However,somebirdssangandflutteredinthefoliage,andappearedverytimid,asifmanhadinspiredthemwithaninstinctivefear.Amongothers,Herbertdescribed,inamarshypartoftheforest,abirdwithalongpointedbeak,closelyresemblingtheking-fisher,butitsplumagewasnotfine,thoughofametallicbrilliancy.

           "Thatmustbeajacamar,"saidHerbert,tryingtogetnearer.

           "Thiswillbeagoodopportunitytotastejacamar,"repliedthesailor,"ifthatfellowisinahumortoberoasted!"

           Justthen,astonecleverlythrownbytheboy,struckthecreatureonthewing,buttheblowdidnotdisableit,andthejacamarranoffanddisappearedinaninstant.

           "HowclumsyIam!"criedHerbert.

           "No,no,myboy!"repliedthesailor."Theblowwaswellaimed;manyaonewouldhavemisseditaltogether!Come,don’tbevexedwithyourself.Weshallcatchitanotherday!"

           Asthehuntersadvanced,thetreeswerefoundtobemorescattered,manybeingmagnificent,butnoneboreeatablefruit.