Таємничий острів

           Theballoonwasthenonlyheldbythecable,andtheengineerhadnothingtodobuttogivetheword.

           Atthatmomentadogsprangwithaboundintothecar.ItwasTop,afavoriteoftheengineer.Thefaithfulcreature,havingbrokenhischain,hadfollowedhismaster.He,however,fearingthatitsadditionalweightmightimpedetheirascent,wishedtosendawaytheanimal.

           "Onemorewillmakebutlittledifference,poorbeast!"exclaimedPencroft,heavingouttwobagsofsand,andashespokelettinggothecable;theballoonascendinginanobliquedirection,disappeared,afterhavingdashedthecaragainsttwochimneys,whichitthrewdownasitsweptbythem.

           Then,indeed,thefullrageofthehurricanewasexhibitedtothevoyagers.Duringthenighttheengineercouldnotdreamofdescending,andwhendaybroke,evenaglimpseoftheearthbelowwasinterceptedbyfog.

           Fivedayshadpassedwhenapartialclearingallowedthemtoseethewideextendingoceanbeneaththeirfeet,nowlashedintothemaddestfurybythegale.

           Ourreaderswillrecollectwhatbefellthesefivedaringindividualswhosetoutontheirhazardousexpeditionintheballoononthe20thofMarch.Fivedaysafterwardsfourofthemwerethrownonadesertcoast,seventhousandmilesfromtheircountry!Butoneoftheirnumberwasmissing,themanwhowastobetheirguide,theirleadingspirit,theengineer,CaptainHarding!Theinstanttheyhadrecoveredtheirfeet,theyallhurriedtothebeachinthehopesofrenderinghimassistance.