Таємничий острів

           Hebelievedhimcapableofundertakinganythingandsucceedingineverything.Thequestionofbootsandclothes—assuredlyaseriousquestion,—thatoflightduringthewintermonths,utilizingthefertilepartsoftheisland,transformingthewildfloraintocultivatedflora,itallappearedeasytohim;CyrusHardinghelping,everythingwouldbedoneintime.Hedreamedofcanalsfacilitatingthetransportoftherichesoftheground;workingsofquarriesandmines;machinesforeveryindustrialmanufacture;railroads;yes,railroads!ofwhichanetworkwouldcertainlyonedaycoverLincolnIsland.

           TheengineerletPencrofttalk.Hedidnotputdowntheaspirationsofthisbraveheart.Heknewhowcommunicableconfidenceis;heevensmiledtohearhimspeak,andsaidnothingoftheuneasinessforthefuturewhichhefelt.Infact,inthatpartofthePacific,outofthecourseofvessels,itwastobefearedthatnohelpwouldevercometothem.Itwasonthemselves,onthemselvesalone,thatthesettlersmustdepend,forthedistanceofLincolnIslandfromallotherlandwassuch,thattohazardthemselvesinaboat,ofanecessarilyinferiorconstruction,wouldbeaseriousandperilousthing.

           "But,"asthesailorsaid,"theyquitetookthewindoutofthesailsoftheRobinsons,forwhomeverythingwasdonebyamiracle."

           Infact,theywereenergetic;anenergeticmanwillsucceedwhereanindolentonewouldvegetateandinevitablyperish.

           Herbertdistinguishedhimselfintheseworks.