Таємничий острів

           "Nearlyathird,"repliedHarding,"forwehavedescendedahundredfeetfromtheopening,anditisnotimpossiblethatahundredfeetfartherdown—"

           "WhereisTop?"askedNeb,interruptinghismaster.

           Theysearchedthecavern,butthedogwasnotthere.

           "Mostlikelyhehasgoneon,"saidPencroft.

           "Letusjoinhim,"repliedHarding.

           Thedescentwascontinued.Theengineercarefullyobservedallthedeviationsofthepassage,andnotwithstandingsomanydetours,hecouldeasilyhavegivenanaccountofitsgeneraldirection,whichwenttowardsthesea.

           Thesettlershadgonesomefiftyfeetfarther,whentheirattentionwasattractedbydistantsoundswhichcameupfromthedepths.Theystoppedandlistened.Thesesounds,carriedthroughthepassageasthroughanacoustictube,cameclearlytotheear.

           "ThatisTopbarking!"criedHerbert.

           "Yes,"repliedPencroft,"andourbravedogisbarkingfuriously!"

           "Wehaveouriron-tippedspears,"saidCyrusHarding."Keeponyourguard,andforward!"

           "Itisbecomingmoreandmoreinteresting,"murmuredGideonSpilettinthesailor’sear,whonodded.Hardingandhiscompanionsrushedtothehelpoftheirdog.Top’sbarkingbecamemoreandmoreperceptible,anditseemedstrangelyfierce.Washeengagedinastrugglewithsomeanimalwhoseretreathehaddisturbed?Withoutthinkingofthedangertowhichtheymightbeexposed,theexplorerswerenowimpelledbyanirresistiblecuriosity,andinafewminutes,sixteenfeetlowertheyrejoinedTop.