Таинственный остров

           ItwasindeedTop,amagnificentAnglo-Norman,whoderivedfromthesetworacescrossedtheswiftnessoffootandtheacutenessofsmellwhicharethepreeminentqualitiesofcoursingdogs.Itwasthedogoftheengineer,CyrusHarding.Buthewasalone!NeitherNebnorhismasteraccompaniedhim!

           HowwasitthathisinstincthadguidedhimstraighttotheChimneys,whichhedidnotknow?Itappearedinexplicable,aboveall,inthemidstofthisblacknightandinsuchatempest!Butwhatwasstillmoreinexplicablewas,thatTopwasneithertired,norexhausted,norevensoiledwithmudorsand!—Herberthaddrawnhimtowardshim,andwaspattinghishead,thedogrubbinghisneckagainstthelad’shands.

           "Ifthedogisfound,themasterwillbefoundalso!"saidthereporter.

           "Godgrantit!"respondedHerbert."Letussetoff!Topwillguideus!"

           Pencroftdidnotmakeanyobjection.HefeltthatTop’sarrivalcontradictedhisconjectures."Comealongthen!"saidhe.

           Pencroftcarefullycoveredtheembersonthehearth.Heplacedafewpiecesofwoodamongthem,soastokeepinthefireuntiltheirreturn.Then,precededbythedog,whoseemedtoinvitethembyshortbarkstocomewithhim,andfollowedbythereporterandtheboy,hedashedout,afterhavingputupinhishandkerchieftheremainsofthesupper.

           Thestormwastheninallitsviolence,andperhapsatitsheight.Notasinglerayoflightfromthemoonpiercedthroughtheclouds.Tofollowastraightcoursewasdifficult.ItwasbesttorelyonTop’sinstinct.Theydidso.ThereporterandHerbertwalkedbehindthedog,andthesailorbroughtuptherear.Itwasimpossibletoexchangeaword.Therainwasnotveryheavy,butthewindwasterrific.