Таємничий острів

           Itmustbementionedalso,thattheyhadnotbeendugatrandom,butatcertainplaceswherenumerousfootprintsshowedthatquadrupedsfrequentedtheground.Theywerevisitedeveryday,andatthreedifferenttimes,duringthefirstdays,specimensofthoseAntarcticfoxeswhichtheyhadalreadyseenontherightbankoftheMercywerefoundinthem.

           "Why,therearenothingbutfoxesinthiscountry!"criedPencroft,whenforthethirdtimehedrewoneoftheanimalsoutofthepit.Lookingatitingreatdisgust,headded,"beastswhicharegoodfornothing!"

           "Yes,"saidGideonSpilett,"theyaregoodforsomething!"

           "Andwhatisthat?"

           "Tomakebaittoattractothercreatures!"

           Thereporterwasright,andthetrapswerehenceforwardbaitedwiththefoxescarcasses.

           Thesailorhadalsomadesnaresfromthelongtoughfibersofacertainplant,andtheywereevenmoresuccessfulthanthetraps.Rarelyadaypassedwithoutsomerabbitsfromthewarrenbeingcaught.Itwasalwaysrabbit,butNebknewhowtovaryhissaucesandthesettlersdidnotthinkofcomplaining.

           However,onceortwiceinthesecondweekofAugust,thetrapssuppliedthehunterswithotheranimalsmoreusefulthanfoxes,namely,severalofthosesmallwildboarswhichhadalreadybeenseentothenorthofthelake.Pencrofthadnoneedtoaskifthesebeastswereeatable.HecouldseethatbytheirresemblancetothepigofAmericaandEurope.

           "Butthesearenotpigs,"saidHerberttohim,"Iwarnyouofthat,Pencroft."