Таємничий острів

           Itwasuselesstothinkoflightingitfromabove,becauseoftheenormousthicknessofthegranitewhichcomposedtheceiling;butperhapstheouterwallnexttheseamightbepierced.CyrusHarding,duringthedescent,hadroughlycalculateditsobliqueness,andconsequentlythelengthofthepassage,andwasthereforeledtobelievethattheouterwallcouldnotbeverythick.Iflightwasthusobtained,sowouldameansofaccess,foritwouldbeaseasytopierceadooraswindows,andtoestablishanexteriorladder.

           Hardingmadeknownhisideastohiscompanions.

           "Then,captain,letussettowork!"repliedPencroft."Ihavemypickaxe,andIshallsoonmakemywaythroughthiswall.WhereshallIstrike?"

           "Here,"repliedtheengineer,showingthesturdysailoraconsiderablerecessintheside,whichwouldmuchdiminishthethickness.

           Pencroftattackedthegranite,andforhalfanhour,bythelightofthetorches,hemadethesplintersflyaroundhim.Nebrelievedhim,thenSpiletttookNeb’splace.

           Thisworkhadlastedtwohours,andtheybegantofearthatatthisspotthewallwouldnotyieldtothepickaxe,whenatalastblowgivenbyGideonSpilett,theinstrument,passingthroughtherock,felloutside.

           "Hurrah!hurrah!"criedPencroft.

           Thewallonlymeasuredtherethreefeetinthickness.

           Hardingappliedhiseyetotheaperture,whichoverlookedthegroundfromaheightofeightyfeet.Beforehimwasextendedthesea-coast,theislet,andbeyondtheopensea.