Таємничий острів

           Buthappilyhisfearswerenotrealized,andanhourandahalfaftertheysetout—allthattimehadbeentakenupingoingadistanceofthreemiles—theboattouchedthebeachbelowGraniteHouse.

           Canoeandchestwerethenhauleduponthesands;andasthetidewasthengoingout,theyweresoonlefthighanddry.Neb,hurryinghome,broughtbacksometoolswithwhichtoopenthechestinsuchawaythatitmightbeinjuredaslittleaspossible,andtheyproceededtoitsinventory.Pencroftdidnottrytohidethathewasgreatlyexcited.

           Thesailorbeganbydetachingthetwobarrels,which,beingingoodcondition,wouldofcoursebeofuse.Thenthelockswereforcedwithacoldchiselandhammer,andthelidthrownback.Asecondcasingofzinclinedtheinteriorofthechest,whichhadbeenevidentlyarrangedthatthearticleswhichitenclosedmightunderanycircumstancesbeshelteredfromdamp.

           "Oh!"criedNeb,"supposeit’sjam!

           "Ihopenot,"repliedthereporter.

           "Ifonlytherewas—"saidthesailorinalowvoice.

           "What?"askedNeb,whooverheardhim.

           "Nothing!"

           Thecoveringofzincwastornoffandthrownbackoverthesidesofthechest,andbydegreesnumerousarticlesofveryvariedcharacterwereproducedandstrewnaboutonthesand.AteachnewobjectPencroftutteredfreshhurrahs,Herbertclappedhishands,andNebdancedupanddown.