Таємничий острів

           Itwasveryevidentthatnodecidedopinioncouldbepronouncedonthisquestionuntilafteracompleteexplorationoftheisland.

           Twodaysafter—the28thofOctober—anotherincidentoccurred,forwhichanexplanationwasagainrequired.

           WhilestrollingalongtheshoreabouttwomilesfromGraniteHouse,HerbertandNebwerefortunateenoughtocaptureamagnificentspecimenoftheorderofchelonia.ItwasaturtleofthespeciesMidas,theediblegreenturtle,socalledfromthecolorbothofitsshellandfat.

           Herbertcaughtsightofthisturtleasitwascrawlingamongtherockstoreachthesea.

           "Help,Neb,help!"hecried.

           Nebranup.

           "Whatafineanimal!"saidNeb;"buthowarewetocatchit?"

           "Nothingiseasier,Neb,"repliedHerbert."Wehaveonlytoturntheturtleonitsback,anditcannotpossiblygetaway.TakeyourspearanddoasIdo."

           Thereptile,awareofdanger,hadretiredbetweenitscarapaceandplastron.Theynolongersawitsheadorfeet,anditwasmotionlessasarock.

           HerbertandNebthendrovetheirsticksunderneaththeanimal,andbytheirunitedeffortsmanagedwithoutdifficultytoturnitonitsback.Theturtle,whichwasthreefeetinlength,wouldhaveweighedatleastfourhundredpounds.

           "Capital!"criedNeb;"thisissomethingwhichwillrejoicefriendPencroft’sheart."

           Infact,theheartoffriendPencroftcouldnotfailtoberejoiced,forthefleshoftheturtle,whichfeedsonwrack-grass,isextremelysavory.