Таємничий острів

           ThepleasureofHardingonseeinghisservant,andthejoyofNebatfindinghismaster,canscarcelybedescribed.

           ButthoughNebhadbeenabletomakehiswayintoRichmond,itwasquiteanotherthingtogetoutagain,fortheNorthernprisonerswereverystrictlywatched.Someextraordinaryopportunitywasneededtomaketheattemptwithanychanceofsuccess,andthisopportunitynotonlydidnotpresentitself,butwasverydifficulttofind.

           MeanwhileGrantcontinuedhisenergeticoperations.ThevictoryofPetersburghadbeenverydearlybought.Hisforces,unitedtothoseofButler,hadasyetbeenunsuccessfulbeforeRichmond,andnothinggavetheprisonersanyhopeofaspeedydeliverance.

           Thereporter,towhomhistediouscaptivitydidnotofferasingleincidentworthyofnote,couldstanditnolonger.Hisusuallyactivemindwasoccupiedwithonesolethought—howhemightgetoutofRichmondatanycost.Severaltimeshadheevenmadetheattempt,butwasstoppedbysomeinsurmountableobstacle.However,thesiegecontinued;andiftheprisonerswereanxioustoescapeandjoinGrant’sarmy,certainofthebesiegedwerenolessanxioustojointheSouthernforces.AmongthemwasoneJonathanForster,adeterminedSoutherner.Thetruthwas,thatiftheprisonersoftheSecessionistscouldnotleavethetown,neithercouldtheSecessioniststhemselveswhiletheNorthernarmyinvestedit.TheGovernorofRichmondforalongtimehadbeenunabletocommunicatewithGeneralLee,andheverymuchwishedtomakeknowntohimthesituationofthetown,soastohastenthemarchofthearmytotheirrelief.ThusJonathanForsteraccordinglyconceivedtheideaofrisinginaballoon,soastopassoverthebesieginglines,andinthatwayreachtheSecessionistcamp.