Таємничий острів

           Shallwetakesomeforbreakfast?"

           Andwithoutwaitingforareplytothisproposal,knowingthatitwouldbeapprovedof,thesailorandNebdetachedaquantityofthemolluscs.Theyputtheminasortofnetofhibiscusfiber,whichNebhadmanufactured,andwhichalreadycontainedfood;theythencontinuedtoclimbthecoastbetweenthedownsandthesea.

           FromtimetotimeHardingconsultedhiswatch,soastobepreparedintimeforthesolarobservation,whichhadtobemadeexactlyatmidday.

           AllthatpartoftheislandwasverybarrenasfarasthepointwhichclosedUnionBay,andwhichhadreceivedthenameofCapeSouthMandible.Nothingcouldbeseentherebutsandandshells,mingledwithdebrisoflava.Afewsea-birdsfrequentedthisdesolatecoast,gulls,greatalbatrosses,aswellaswildduck,forwhichPencrofthadagreatfancy.Hetriedtoknocksomeoverwithanarrow,butwithoutresult,fortheyseldomperched,andhecouldnothitthemonthewing.

           Thisledthesailortorepeattotheengineer,—

           "Yousee,captain,solongaswehavenotoneortwofowling-pieces,weshallnevergetanything!"

           "Doubtless,Pencroft,"repliedthereporter,"butitdependsonyou.Procureussomeironforthebarrels,steelforthehammers,saltpeter.coalandsulphurforpowder,mercuryandnitricacidforthefulminate,andleadfortheshot,andthecaptainwillmakeusfirst-rateguns."

           "Oh!"repliedtheengineer,"wemight,nodoubt,findallthesesubstancesontheisland,butagunisadelicateinstrument,andneedsveryparticulartools.