Таємничий острів

           Theingredientsforthemanufacturebeingclosetogetherwouldgreatlyfacilitatethetreatmentoftheore.ThisisthecauseofthewealthoftheminesinGreatBritain,wherethecoalaidsthemanufactureofthemetalextractedfromthesamesoilatthesametimeasitself.

           "Then,captain,"saidPencroft,"wearegoingtoworkironore?"

           "Yes,myfriend,"repliedtheengineer,"andforthat—somethingwhichwillpleaseyou—wemustbeginbyhavingasealhuntontheislet."

           "Asealhunt!"criedthesailor,turningtowardsGideonSpilett."Aresealsneededtomakeiron?"

           "SinceCyrushassaidso!"repliedthereporter.

           ButtheengineerhadalreadylefttheChimneys,andPencroftpreparedforthesealhunt,withouthavingreceivedanyotherexplanation.

           CyrusHarding,Herbert,GideonSpilett,Neb,andthesailorweresooncollectedontheshore,ataplacewherethechannelleftafordpassableatlowtide.Thehunterscouldthereforetraverseitwithoutgettingwethigherthantheknee.

           Hardingthenputhisfootontheisletforthefirst,andhiscompanionsforthesecondtime.

           Ontheirlandingsomehundredsofpenguinslookedfearlesslyatthem.Thehunters,armedwithsticks,couldhavekilledthemeasily,buttheywerenotguiltyofsuchuselessmassacre,asitwasimportantnottofrightentheseals,whowerelyingonthesandseveralcablelengthsoff.Theyalsorespectedcertaininnocent-lookingbirds,whosewingswerereducedtothestateofstumps,spreadoutlikefins,ornamentedwithfeathersofascalyappearance.