Коралловый остров

Chapter 3

           Ifitshouldbeinhabited,Ifeltcertain,fromallIhadheardofSouthSeaIslanders,thatweshouldberoastedaliveandeaten.Ifitshouldturnouttobeuninhabited,Ifanciedthatweshouldbestarvedtodeath."Oh,"thoughtI,"iftheshiphadonlystruckontherockswemighthavedoneprettywell,forwecouldhaveobtainedprovisionsfromher,andtoolstoenableustobuildashelter;butnowalas!alas!wearelost!"TheselastwordsIutteredaloudinmydistress.

           "Lost,Ralph!"exclaimedJack,whileasmileoverspreadhisheartycountenance."Saved,youshouldhavesaid.Yourcogitationsseemtohavetakenawrongroad,andledyoutoawrongconclusion."

           "DoyouknowwhatconclusionIhavecometo?"saidPeterkin."Ihavemadeupmymindthatit’scapitalfirst-ratethebestthingthateverhappenedtous,andthemostsplendidprospectthateverlaybeforethreejollyyoungtars.We’vegotanislandalltoourselves.We’lltakepossessioninthenameoftheking.We’llgoandentertheserviceofitsblackinhabitants.Ofcoursewe’llrise,naturally,tothetopofaffairs:whitemenalwaysdoinsavagecountries.Youshallbeking,Jack;Ralph,primeminister;andIshallbe-"

           "Thecourt-jester,"interruptedJack.

           "No,"retortedPeterkin;"I’llhavenotitleatall.Ishallmerelyacceptahighlyresponsiblesituationundergovernment;foryousee,Jack,I’mfondofhavinganenormoussalaryandnothingtodo."

           "Butsupposetherearenonatives?"

           "Thenwe’llbuildacharmingvilla,andplantalovelygardenroundit,stuckallfullofthemostsplendiferoustropicalflowers;andwe’llfarmtheland,plant,sow,reap,eat,sleep,andbemerry."

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