Дети капитана Гранта

A Startling Discovery

           Glenarvan,histwosailors,JohnMangles,andAyrtonwentoffatonceintothewood,wheretheanimalshadpassedthenight.Itwasagloomy-lookingforestoftallgum-trees;nothingbutdeadtrees,withwidespacesbetween,whichhadbeenbarkedforages,orratherskinnedlikethecork-oakatharvesttime.Amiserablenetworkofbarebrancheswasseenabovetwohundredfeethighintheair.Notabirdbuiltitsnestintheseaerialskeletons;notaleaftrembledonthedrybranches,whichrattledtogetherlikebones.Towhatcataclysmisthisphenomenontobeattributed,sofrequentinAustralia,entireforestsstruckdeadbysomeepidemic;nooneknows;neithertheoldestnatives,northeirancestorswhohavelainlongburiedinthegrovesofthedead,haveeverseenthemgreen.

           Glenarvanashewentalongkepthiseyefixedonthegraysky,onwhichthesmallestbranchofthegum-treeswassharplydefined.Ayrtonwasastonishednottodiscoverthehorsesandbullockswherehehadleftthemtheprecedingnight.Theycouldnothavewanderedfarwiththehobblesontheirlegs.

           Theylookedoverthewood,butsawnosignsofthem,andAyrtonreturnedtothebanksoftheriver,wheremagnificentmimosasweregrowing.Hegaveacrywellknowntohisteam,buttherewasnoreply.Thequartermasterseemeduneasy,andhiscompanionslookedathimwithdisappointedfaces.Anhourhadpassedinvainendeavors,andGlenarvanwasabouttogobacktothewagon,whenaneighstruckonhisear,andimmediatelyafterabellow.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 385 из 658