Таинственный остров

           Thetenothers,notevenstoppingtopickuptheirdeadorwoundedcompanions,fledtotheothersideoftheislet,tumbledintotheboatwhichhadbroughtthem,andpulledawaywithalltheirstrength.

           "Eightless!"exclaimedPencroft."Really,onewouldhavethoughtthatMr.SpilettandAyrtonhadgiventhewordtofiretogether!"

           "Gentlemen,"saidAyrton,ashereloadedhisgun,"thisisbecomingmoreserious.Thebrigismakingsail!"

           "Theanchorisweighed!"exclaimedPencroft.

           "Yes,andsheisalreadymoving."

           Infact,theycoulddistinctlyhearthecreakingofthewindlass.The"Speedy"wasatfirstheldbyheranchor;then,whenthathadbeenraised,shebegantodrifttowardstheshore.Thewindwasblowingfromthesea;thejibandtheforetopsailwerehoisted,andthevesselgraduallyapproachedtheisland.

           FromthetwopostsoftheMercyandtheChimneystheywatchedherwithoutgivingasignoflife,butnotwithoutsomeemotion.Whatcouldbemoreterribleforthecoloniststhantobeexposed,atashortdistance,tothebrig’sguns,withoutbeingabletoreplywithanyeffect?Howcouldtheythenpreventthepiratesfromlanding?

           CyrusHardingfeltthisstrongly,andheaskedhimselfwhatitwouldbepossibletodo.Beforelong,hewouldbecalleduponforhisdetermination.