Таємничий острів

           Thesetwocompanionsofthechase,rememberingCyrusHarding’srecommendations,didnotgobeyondaradiusoftwomilesroundGraniteHouse;butthebordersoftheforestfurnishedasufficienttributeofagoutis,capybaras,kangaroos,peccaries,etc.;andiftheresultfromthetrapswaslessthanduringthecold,stillthewarrenyieldeditsaccustomedquota,whichmighthavefedallthecolonyinLincolnIsland.

           Oftenduringtheseexcursions,HerberttalkedwithGideonSpilettontheincidentofthebullet,andthedeductionswhichtheengineerdrewfromit,andoneday—itwasthe26thofOctober—hesaid—"But,Mr.Spilett,doyounotthinkitveryextraordinarythat,ifanycastawayshavelandedontheisland,theyhavenotyetshownthemselvesnearGraniteHouse?"

           "Veryastonishingiftheyarestillhere,"repliedthereporter,"butnotastonishingatalliftheyareherenolonger!"

           "Soyouthinkthatthesepeoplehavealreadyquittedtheisland?"returnedHerbert.

           "Itismorethanprobable,myboy;foriftheirstaywasprolonged,andaboveall,iftheywerestillhere,someaccidentwouldhaveatlastbetrayedtheirpresence."

           "Butiftheywereabletogoaway,"observedthelad,"theycouldnothavebeencastaways."

           "No,Herbert;or,atleast,theywerewhatmightbecalledprovisionalcastaways.Itisverypossiblethatastormmayhavedriventhemtotheislandwithoutdestroyingtheirvessel,andthat,thestormover,theywentawayagain."