Дети капитана Гранта

An Accident

           HeproducedfromhisstoressuchanarrayofEuropeandishesasisseldomseenintheAustraliandesert.Reindeerhams,slicesofsaltbeef,smokedsalmon,oatcakes,andbarleymealscones;teaadlibitum,andwhiskyinabundance,andseveralbottlesofport,composedthisastonishingmeal.Thelittlepartymighthavethoughtthemselvesinthegranddining-hallofMalcolmCastle,intheheartoftheHighlandsofScotland.

           Thenextday,at11A.M.,thewagonreachedthebanksoftheWimerraonthe143dmeridian.

           Theriver,halfamileinwidth,wounditslimpidcoursebetweentallrowsofgum-treesandacacias.MagnificentspecimensoftheMYRTACEA,amongothers,themetroside-rosspeciosa,fifteenfeethigh,withlongdroopingbranches,adornedwithredflowers.Thousandsofbirds,thelories,andgreenfinches,andgold-wingedpigeons,nottospeakofthenoisyparoquets,flewaboutinthegreenbranches.Below,onthebosomofthewater,wereacoupleofshyandunapproachableblackswans.ThisraraavisoftheAustralianriverssoondisappearedamongthewindingsoftheWimerra,whichwaterthecharminglandscapeinthemostcapriciousmanner.

           Thewagonstoppedonagrassybank,thelongfringesofwhichdippedintherapidcurrent.Therewasneitherraftnorbridge,butcrossovertheymust.Ayrtonlookedaboutforapracticableford.Aboutaquarterofamileupthewaterseemedshallower,anditwasheretheydeterminedtotrytopassover.Thesoundingsindifferentpartsshowedadepthofthreefeetonly,sothatthewagonmightsafelyenoughventure.

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