Таємничий острів

           Atthismomentthecreature’sheadcouldbeseen,whichwassmall,flat,butwidenedbehindbythelargetemporalfossaehiddenunderthelongroof.

           "Andnow,whatshallwedowithourprize?"saidNeb."Wecan’tdragittoGraniteHouse!"

           "Leaveithere,sinceitcannotturnover,"repliedHerbert,"andwewillcomebackwiththecarttofetchit."

           "Thatisthebestplan."

           However,forgreaterprecaution,Herberttookthetrouble,whichNebdeemedsuperfluous,towedgeuptheanimalwithgreatstones;afterwhichthetwohuntersreturnedtoGraniteHouse,followingthebeach,whichthetidehadleftuncovered.Herbert,wishingtosurprisePencroft,saidnothingaboutthe"superbspecimenofachelonian"whichtheyhadturnedoveronthesand;but,twohourslater,heandNebreturnedwiththecarttotheplacewheretheyhadleftit.The"superbspecimenofachelonian"wasnolongerthere!

           NebandHerbertstaredateachotherfirst;thentheystaredaboutthem.Itwasjustatthisspotthattheturtlehadbeenleft.Theladevenfoundthestoneswhichhehadused,andthereforehewascertainofnotbeingmistaken.

           "Well!"saidNeb,"thesebeastscanturnthemselvesover,then?’’

           "Itappearsso,"repliedHerbert,whocouldnotunderstanditatall,andwasgazingatthestonesscatteredonthesand.

           "Well,Pencroftwillbedisgusted!"

           "AndCaptainHardingwillperhapsbeveryperplexedhowtoexplainthisdisappearance,"thoughtHerbert.