Таємничий острів

           ItwasTopwhohadfamishedthesepoints,bybringinginaporcupine,ratherinferioreating,butofgreatvalue,thankstothequillswithwhichitbristled.Thesequillswerefixedfirmlyattheendsofthearrows,theflightofwhichwasmademorecertainbysomecockatoos’feathers.ThereporterandHerbertsoonbecameveryskilfularchers.GameofallsortsinconsequenceaboundedattheChimneys,capybaras,pigeons,agouties,grouse,etc.ThegreaterpartoftheseanimalswerekilledinthepartoftheforestontheleftbankoftheMercy,towhichtheygavethenameofJacamarWood,inremembranceofthebirdwhichPencroftandHerberthadpursuedwhenontheirfirstexploration.

           Thisgamewaseatenfresh,buttheypreservedsomecapybarahams,bysmokingthemaboveafireofgreenwood,afterhavingperfumedthemwithsweet-smellingleaves.However,thisfood,althoughverystrengthening,wasalwaysroastuponroast,andthepartywouldhavebeendelightedtohearsomesoupbubblingonthehearth,buttheymustwaittillapotcouldbemade,and,consequently,tilltheovenwasbuilt.

           Duringtheseexcursions,whichwerenotextendedfarfromthebrick-field,thehunterscoulddiscerntherecentpassageofanimalsofalargesize,armedwithpowerfulclaws,buttheycouldnotrecognizethespecies.CyrusHardingadvisedthemtobeverycareful,astheforestprobablyenclosedmanydangerousbeasts.

           Andhedidright.Indeed,GideonSpilettandHerbertonedaysawananimalwhichresembledajaguar.