Таинственный остров

           Withoutspeakingofthecompleterigwhichwouldserveforthevesselnowonthestocks,utensilsandtoolsofallsorts,weaponsandammunition,clothesandinstruments,werenowpiledinthestoreroomsofGraniteHouse.Ithadnotevenbeennecessarytoresortagaintothemanufactureofthecoarsefeltmaterials.Thoughthecolonistshadsufferedfromcoldduringtheirfirstwinter,thebadseasonmightnowcomewithouttheirhavinganyreasontodreaditsseverity.Linenwasplentifulalso,andbesides,theykeptitwithextremecare.Fromchlorideofsodium,whichisnothingelsethanseasalt,CyrusHardingeasilyextractedthesodaandchlorine.Thesoda,whichitwaseasytochangeintocarbonateofsoda,andthechlorine,ofwhichhemadechlorideoflime,wereemployedforvariousdomesticpurposes,andespeciallyinbleachinglinen.Besides,theydidnotwashmorethanfourtimesayear,aswasdonebyfamiliesintheoldentimes,anditmaybeadded,thatPencroftandGideonSpilett,whilewaitingforthepostmantobringhimhisnewspaper,distinguishedthemselvesaswashermen.

           Sopassedthewintermonths,June,July,andAugust.Theyweresevere,andtheaverageobservationsofthethermometerdidnotgivemorethaneightdegreesofFahrenheit.Itwasthereforelowerintemperaturethantheprecedingwinter.Butthen,whatsplendidfiresblazedcontinuallyonthehearthsofGraniteHouse,thesmokemarkingthegranitewallwithlong,zebra-likestreaks!Fuelwasnotspared,asitgrewnaturallyafewstepsfromthem.