Таємничий острів

           PencroftandNebalsopushedwiththecartasfarastheveinofcoal,andbroughtbackseveraltonsoffuel.Theysawinpassingthatthepotterykilnhadbeenseverelydamagedbythewind,atleastsixfeetofithavingbeenblownoff.

           Atthesametimeasthecoal,thestoreofwoodwasrenewedatGraniteHouse,andtheyprofitedbythecurrentoftheMercyhavingagainbecomefree,tofloatdownseveralrafts.Theycouldseethatthecoldperiodwasnotended.

           AvisitwasalsopaidtotheChimneys,andthesettlerscouldnotbutcongratulatethemselvesonnothavingbeenlivingthereduringthehurricane.Theseahadleftunquestionabletracesofitsravages.Sweepingovertheislet,ithadfuriouslyassailedthepassages,halffillingthemwithsand,whilethickbedsofseaweedcoveredtherocks.WhileNeb,Herbert,andPencrofthuntedorcollectedwood,CyrusHardingandGideonSpilettbusiedthemselvesinputtingtheChimneystorights,andtheyfoundtheforgeandthebellowsalmostunhurt,protectedastheyhadbeenfromthefirstbytheheapsofsand.

           Thestoreoffuelhadnotbeenmadeuselessly.Thesettlershadnotdonewiththerigorouscold.Itisknownthat,intheNorthernHemisphere,themonthofFebruaryisprincipallydistinguishedbyrapidfallingsofthetemperature.ItisthesameintheSouthernHemisphere,andtheendofthemonthofAugust,whichistheFebruaryofNorthAmerica,doesnotescapethisclimaticlaw.

           Aboutthe25th,afteranotherchangefromsnowtorain,thewindshiftedtothesoutheast,andthecoldbecame,suddenly,verysevere.