Таємничий острів

           ThecolonistswereabouttobegintotraversetheplateautoreturntotheChimneys,whenTopgavenewsignsofagitation.Hebarkedwithfury,andbeforehismastercouldrestrainhim,hehadplungedasecondtimeintothelake.

           Allrantowardsthebank.Thedogwasalreadymorethantwentyfeetoff,andCyruswascallinghimback,whenanenormousheademergedfromthewater,whichdidnotappeartobedeepinthatplace.

           Herbertrecognizeddirectlythespeciesofamphibiantowhichthetaperinghead,withlargeeyes,andadornedwithlongsilkymustaches,belonged.

           "Alamantin!"hecried.

           Itwasnotalamantin,butoneofthatspeciesoftheorderofcetaceans,whichbearthenameofthe"dugong,"foritsnostrilswereopenattheupperpartofitssnout.Theenormousanimalrushedonthedog,whotriedtoescapebyreturningtowardstheshore.Hismastercoulddonothingtosavehim,andbeforeGideonSpilettorHerbertthoughtofbendingtheirbows,Top,seizedbythedugong,haddisappearedbeneaththewater.

           Neb,hisiron-tippedspearinhishand,wishedtogotoTop’shelp,andattackthedangerousanimalinitsownelement.

           "No,Neb,"saidtheengineer,restraininghiscourageousservant.

           Meanwhile,astrugglewasgoingonbeneaththewater,aninexplicablestruggle,forinhissituationTopcouldnotpossiblyresist;andjudgingbythebubblingofthesurfaceitmustbealsoaterriblestruggle,andcouldnotbutterminateinthedeathofthedog!Butsuddenly,inthemiddleofafoamingcircle,Topreappeared