Таємничий острів

           "Imustacknowledgeonething,"saidHerbert,"itisthatCaptainHardingappearsrathertofearthandesirethepresenceofhumanbeingsonourisland."

           "Inshort,"respondedthereporter,"thereareonlyMalayswhofrequenttheseseas,andthosefellowsareruffianswhichitisbesttoavoid."

           "Itisnotimpossible,Mr.Spilett,"saidHerbert,"thatsomedayorotherwemayfindtracesoftheirlanding."

           "Idonotsayno,myboy.Adesertedcamp,theashesofafire,wouldputusonthetrack,andthisiswhatwewilllookforinournextexpedition."

           Thedayonwhichthehuntersspokethus,theywereinapartoftheforestneartheMercy,remarkableforitsbeautifultrees.There,amongothers,rose,toaheightofnearly200feetabovetheground,someofthosesuperbconiferae,towhich,inNewZealand,thenativesgivethenameofKauris.

           "Ihaveanidea,Mr.Spilett,"saidHerbert."IfIweretoclimbtothetopofoneofthesekauris,Icouldsurveythecountryforanimmensedistanceround."

           "Theideaisgood,"repliedthereporter;"butcouldyouclimbtothetopofthosegiants?"

           "Icanatleasttry,"repliedHerbert.

           Thelightandactiveboythensprangonthefirstbranches,thearrangementofwhichmadetheascentofthekaurieasy,andinafewminuteshearrivedatthesummit,whichemergedfromtheimmenseplainofverdure.

           Fromthiselevatedsituationhisgazeextendedoverallthesouthernportionoftheisland,fromClawCapeonthesoutheast,toReptileEndonthesouthwest.