Таємничий острів

           "No,"repliedHerbert;"butzoologistshavenotyetfoundoutiftheeyeofthesefoxesisdiurnalornocturnal,orwhetheritiscorrecttoclasstheminthegenusdog,properlysocalled."

           Hardingcouldnothelpsmilingonhearingthelad’sreflection,whichshowedathoughtfulmind.Astothesailor,fromthemomentwhenhefoundthatthefoxeswerenotclassedinthegenuseatable,theywerenothingtohim.However,whenapoultry-yardwasestablishedatGraniteHouse,heobservedthatitwouldbebesttotakesomeprecautionsagainstaprobablevisitfromthesefour-leggedplunderers,andnoonedisputedthis.

           Afterhavingturnedthepoint,thesettlerssawalongbeachwashedbytheopensea.Itwastheneighto’clockinthemorning.Theskywasveryclear,asitoftenisafterprolongedcold;butwarmedbytheirwalk,neitherHardingnorhiscompanionsfeltthesharpnessoftheatmospheretooseverely.Besidestherewasnowind,whichmadeitmuchmorebearable.Abrilliantsun,butwithoutanycalorificaction,wasjustissuingfromtheocean.TheseawasastranquilandblueasthatofaMediterraneangulf,whentheskyisclear.ClawCape,bentintheformofayataghan,taperedawaynearlyfourmilestothesoutheast.Tothelefttheedgeofthemarshwasabruptlyendedbyalittlepoint.Certainly,inthispartofUnionBay,whichnothingshelteredfromtheopensea,notevenasandbank,shipsbeatenbytheeastwindswouldhavefoundnoshelter.