Таємничий острів

           "Myfriend,"repliedHarding,"ifitiseasyforustoreachourdwellingbythispassage,itwillbeequallyeasyforothersbesidesus.Imean,onthecontrary,toblockupthatopening,tosealithermetically,and,ifitisnecessary,tocompletelyhidetheentrancebymakingadam,andthuscausingthewaterofthelaketorise."

           "Andhowshallwegetin?"askedthesailor.

           "Byanoutsideladder,"repliedCyrusHarding,"aropeladder,which,oncedrawnup,willrenderaccesstoourdwellingimpossible."

           "Butwhysomanyprecautions?"askedPencroft."Asyetwehaveseennodangerousanimals.Astoourislandbeinginhabitedbynatives,Idon’tbelieveit!"

           "Areyouquitesureofthat,Pencroft?"askedtheengineer,lookingatthesailor.

           "Ofcourseweshallnotbequitesure,tillwehaveexploreditineverydirection,"repliedPencroft.

           "Yes,"saidHarding,"forweknowonlyasmallportionofitasyet.Butatanyrate,ifwehavenoenemiesintheinterior,theymaycomefromtheexterior,forpartsofthePacificareverydangerous.Wemustbeprovidedagainsteverycontingency."

           CyrusHardingspokewisely;andwithoutmakinganyfurtherobjection,Pencroftpreparedtoexecutehisorders.

           ThefrontofGraniteHousewasthentobelightedbyfivewindowsandadoor,besidesalargebaywindowandsomesmallerovalones,whichwouldadmitplentyoflighttoenterintothemarvelousnavewhichwastobetheirchiefroom.