Таинственный остров

           Heknewalittleofeverything,andseveraltimeshehadbeenobligedtoattendtowoundsproducedeitherbyasword-bayonetorshot.AssistedbyCyrusHarding,heproceededtorendertheaidHerbertrequired.

           ThereporterwasimmediatelystruckbythecompletestuporinwhichHerbertlay,astuporowingeithertothehemorrhage,ortotheshock,theballhavingstruckabonewithsufficientforcetoproduceaviolentconcussion.

           Herbertwasdeadlypale,andhispulsesofeeblethatSpilettonlyfeltitbeatatlongintervals,asifitwasonthepointofstopping.

           Thesesymptomswereveryserious.

           Herbert’schestwaslaidbare,andthebloodhavingbeenstanchedwithhandkerchiefs,itwasbathedwithcoldwater.

           Thecontusion,orratherthecontusedwoundappeared,—anovalbelowthechestbetweenthethirdandfourthribs.ItwastherethatHerberthadbeenhitbythebullet.

           CyrusHardingandGideonSpilettthenturnedthepoorboyover;astheydidso,heutteredamoansofeeblethattheyalmostthoughtitwashislastsigh.

           Herbertsbackwascoveredwithbloodfromanothercontusedwound,bywhichtheballhadimmediatelyescaped.

           "Godbepraised!"saidthereporter,"theballisnotinthebody,andweshallnothavetoextractit."

           "Buttheheart?"askedHarding.

           "Thehearthasnotbeentouched;ifithadbeen,Herbertwouldbedead!"

           "Dead!"exclaimedPencroft,withagroan.

           Thesailorhadonlyheardthelastwordsutteredbythereporter.

           "No,Pencroft,"repliedCyrusHarding,"no!Heisnotdead.Hispulsestillbeats.