Таинственный остров

           Whatevermightbethejudgmentpronouncedbyposterityupontheeventsofthis,sotospeak,extra-humanexistence,thecharacterofPrinceDakkarwouldeverremainasoneofthosewhosememorytimecanneverefface.

           "Whataman!"saidPencroft."Isitpossiblethathecanhavelivedatthebottomofthesea?Anditseemstomethatperhapshehasnotfoundpeacethereanymorethanelsewhere!"

           "The‘Nautilus,’"observedAyrton,"mighthaveenabledustoleaveLincolnIslandandreachsomeinhabitedcountry."

           "GoodHeavens!"exclaimedPencroft,"Iforonewouldneverriskmyselfinsuchacraft.Tosailontheseas,good,butundertheseas,never!"

           "Ibelieve,Pencroft,"answeredthereporter,"thatthenavigationofasubmarinevesselsuchasthe‘Nautilus’oughttobeveryeasy,andthatweshouldsoonbecomeaccustomedtoit.Therewouldbenostorms,nolee-shoretofear.Atsomefeetbeneaththesurfacethewatersoftheoceanareascalmasthoseofalake."

           "Thatmaybe,"repliedthesailor,"butIpreferagaleofwindonboardawell-foundcraft.Avesselisbuilttosailonthesea,andnotbeneathit."

           "Myfriends,"saidtheengineer,"itisuseless,atanyrateasregardsthe‘Nautilus,’todiscussthequestionofsubmarinevessels.The‘Nautilus’isnotours,andwehavenottherighttodisposeofit.Moreover,wecouldinnocaseavailourselvesofit.