Таємничий острів

           Theshapeoftheseobjectswasclumsyanddefective,butaftertheyhadbeenbakedinahightemperature,thekitchenoftheChimneyswasprovidedwithanumberofutensils,asprecioustothesettlersasthemostbeautifullyenameledchina.WemustmentionherethatPencroft,desiroustoknowiftheclaythuspreparedwasworthyofitsnameofpipe-clay,madesomelargepipes,whichhethoughtcharming,butforwhich,alas!hehadnotobacco,andthatwasagreatprivationtoPencroft."Buttobaccowillcome,likeeverythingelse!"herepeated,inaburstofabsoluteconfidence.

           Thisworklastedtillthe15thofApril,andthetimewaswellemployed.Thesettlers,havingbecomepotters,madenothingbutpottery.WhenitsuitedCyrusHardingtochangethemintosmiths,theywouldbecomesmiths.ButthenextdaybeingSunday,andalsoEasterSunday,allagreedtosanctifythedaybyrest.TheseAmericanswerereligiousmen,scrupulousobserversofthepreceptsoftheBible,andtheirsituationcouldnotbutdevelopsentimentsofconfidencetowardstheAuthorofallthings.

           Ontheeveningofthe15thofApriltheyreturnedtotheChimneys,carryingwiththemthepottery,thefurnacebeingextinguisheduntiltheycouldputittoanewuse.Theirreturnwasmarkedbyafortunateincident;theengineerdiscoveredasubstancewhichreplacedtinder.Itisknownthataspongy,velvetyfleshisprocuredfromacertainmushroomofthegenuspolyporous.