Таємничий острів

           Itwasimpossibletosay.Whenthevoyagersfromtheircarsawthelandthroughthemist,theyhadnotbeenabletoreconnoiteritsufficiently.However,Pencroft,accustomedwithhissailoreyestopiecethroughthegloom,wasalmostcertainthathecouldclearlydistinguishinthewestconfusedmasseswhichindicatedanelevatedcoast.Buttheycouldnotinthedarkdeterminewhetheritwasasingleisland,orconnectedwithothers.Theycouldnotleaveiteither,astheseasurroundedthem;theymustthereforeputofftillthenextdaytheirsearchfortheengineer,fromwhom,alas!notasinglecryhadreachedthemtoshowthathewasstillinexistence.

           "Thesilenceofourfriendprovesnothing,"saidthereporter."Perhapshehasfaintedoriswounded,andunabletoreplydirectly,sowewillnotdespair."

           Thereporterthenproposedtolightafireonapointoftheislet,whichwouldserveasasignaltotheengineer.Buttheysearchedinvainforwoodordrybrambles;nothingbutsandandstonesweretobefound.ThegriefofNebandhiscompanions,whowereallstronglyattachedtotheintrepidHarding,canbebetterpicturedthandescribed.Itwastooevidentthattheywerepowerlesstohelphim.Theymustwaitwithwhatpatiencetheycouldfordaylight.Eithertheengineerhadbeenabletosavehimself,andhadalreadyfoundarefugeonsomepointofthecoast,orhewaslostforever!Thelongandpainfulhourspassedby.Thecoldwasintense.Thecastawayssufferedcruelly,buttheyscarcelyperceivedit.Theydidnoteventhinkoftakingaminute’srest.Forgettingeverythingbuttheirchief,hopingorwishingtohopeon,theycontinuedtowalkupanddownonthissterilespot,alwaysreturningtoitsnorthernpoint,wheretheycouldapproachnearesttothesceneofthecatastrophe.