Таємничий острів

           Andyet,howwasthisgranitewalltobeopenedwithoutpowder,andwithimperfectinstruments?Wasnotthisworkuponwhichtheengineerwassobentabovetheirstrength?

           WhenHardingandthereporterenteredtheChimneys,theyfoundHerbertandPencroftunloadingtheirraftofwood.

           "Thewoodmenhavejustfinished,captain."saidthesailor,laughing,"andwhenyouwantmasons—"

           "Masons,—no,butchemists,"repliedtheengineer.

           "Yes,"addedthereporter,"wearegoingtoblowuptheisland—"

           "Blowuptheisland?"criedPencroft.

           "Partofit,atleast,"repliedSpilett.

           "Listentome,myfriends,"saidtheengineer.Andhemadeknowntothemtheresultofhisobservations.

           Accordingtohim,acavity,moreorlessconsiderable,mustexistinthemassofgranitewhichsupportedProspectHeights,andheintendedtopenetrateintoit.Todothis,theopeningthroughwhichthewaterrushedmustfirstbecleared,andthelevelloweredbymakingalargeroutlet.Thereforeanexplosivesubstancemustbemanufactured,whichwouldmakeadeeptrenchinsomeotherpartoftheshore.ThiswaswhatHardingwasgoingtoattemptwiththemineralswhichnatureplacedathisdisposal.

           Itisuselesstosaywithwhatenthusiasmall,especiallyPencroft,receivedthisproject.Toemploygreatmeans,openthegranite,createacascade,thatsuitedthesailor.Andhewouldjustassoonbeachemistasamasonorbootmaker,sincetheengineerwantedchemicals.