Таинственный остров

           Neb,whowaswatchingnearthepoultry-yard,hadnothesitatedtofireatoneofthepirates,whowasabouttocrossthestream;butinthedarknesshecouldnottellwhetherthemanhadbeenhitornot.Atanyrate,itwasnotenoughtofrightenawaytheband,andNebhadonlyjusttimetogetuptoGraniteHouse,whereatleasthewasinsafety.

           Butwhatwashetodothere?Howpreventthedevastationswithwhichtheconvictsthreatenedtheplateau?HadNebanymeansbywhichtowarnhismaster?And,besides,inwhatsituationweretheinhabitantsofthecorralthemselves?CyrusHardingandhiscompanionshadleftonthe11thofNovember,anditwasnowthe29th.Itwas,therefore,nineteendayssinceNebhadhadothernewsthanthatbroughtbyTop—disastrousnews:Ayrtondisappeared,Herbertseverelywounded,theengineer,reporter,andsailor,asitwere,imprisonedinthecorral!

           Whatwashetodo?askedpoorNeb.Personallyhehadnothingtofear,fortheconvictscouldnotreachhiminGraniteHouse.Butthebuildings,theplantations,alltheirarrangementsatthemercyofthepirates!WoulditnotbebesttoletCyrusHardingjudgeofwhatheoughttodo,andtowarnhim,atleast,ofthedangerwhichthreatenedhim?

           NebthenthoughtofemployingJup,andconfidinganotetohim.Heknewtheorang’sgreatintelligence,whichhadbeenoftenputtotheproof.Jupunderstoodthewordcorral,whichhadbeenfrequentlypronouncedbeforehim,anditmayberemembered,too,thathehadoftendriventhecartthitherincompanywithPencroft.Dayhadnotyetdawned.