Таємничий острів

           Skinsofcarnivoraorthewoolofruminantsmustbeprocuredatanyprice,andsincetherewereplentyofmusmons,itwasagreedtoconsultonthemeansofformingaflockwhichmightbebroughtupfortheuseofthecolony.Anenclosureforthedomesticanimals,apoultry-yardforthebirds,inawordtoestablishasortoffarmintheisland,suchwerethetwoimportantprojectsforthefineseason.

           Inconsequenceandinviewofthesefutureestablishments,itbecameofmuchimportancethattheyshouldpenetrateintoalltheyetunknownpartsofLincolnIsland,thatistosay,throughthatthickforestwhichextendedontherightbankoftheMercy,fromitsmouthtotheextremityoftheSerpentinePeninsula,aswellasonthewholeofitswesternside.Butthisneededsettledweather,andamonthmustpassbeforethisexplorationcouldbeprofitablyundertaken.

           Theythereforewaitedwithsomeimpatience,whenanincidentoccurredwhichincreasedthedesirethesettlershadtovisitthewholeoftheirdomain.

           Itwasthe24thofOctober.Onthisday,Pencrofthadgonetovisithistraps,whichhealwayskeptproperlybaited.Inoneofthemhefoundthreeanimalswhichwouldbeverywelcomeforthelarder.Theywereafemalepeccaryandhertwoyoungones.

           PencroftthenreturnedtoGraniteHouse,enchantedwithhiscapture,and,asusual,hemadeagreatshowofhisgame.

           "Come,weshallhaveagrandfeast,captain!"heexclaimed."Andyoutoo,Mr.