Таємничий острів

           Floodsoflightenteredbythishole,inundatingthesplendidcavernandproducingamagiceffect!Onitsleftsideitdidnotmeasuremorethanthirtyfeetinheightandbreadth,butontherightitwasenormous,anditsvaultedroofrosetoaheightofmorethaneightyfeet.

           Insomeplacesgranitepillars,irregularlydisposed,supportedthevaultedroof,asthoseinthenaveofacathedral,hereforminglateralpiers,thereellipticalarches,adornedwithpointedmoldings,losingthemselvesindarkbays,amidthefantasticarchesofwhichglimpsescouldbecaughtintheshade,coveredwithaprofusionofprojectionsformedlikesomanypendants.ThiscavernwasapicturesquemixtureofallthestylesofByzantine,Roman,orGothicarchitectureeverproducedbythehandofman.Andyetthiswasonlytheworkofnature.ShealonehadhollowedthisfairyAihambrainamassofgranite.

           Thesettlerswereoverwhelmedwithadmiration.Wheretheyhadonlyexpectedtofindanarrowcavity,theyhadfoundasortofmarvelouspalace,andNebhadtakenoffhishat,asifhehadbeentransportedintoatemple!

           Criesofadmirationissuedfromeverymouth.Hurrahsresounded,andtheechowasrepeatedagainandagaintillitdiedawayinthedarknaves.

           "Ah,myfriends!"exclaimedCyrusHarding,"whenwehavelightedtheinteriorofthisplace,andhavearrangedourroomsandstorehousesintheleftpart,weshallstillhavethissplendidcavern,whichwewillmakeourstudyandourmuseum!"

           "Andwewillcallit?—"askedHerbert.