Таємничий острів

           Tillthen,bymakinguseoftheproductionsofnature,theyhadcreatedeverythingforthemselves,and,thankstotheirintelligence,theyhadmanagedwithoutdifficulty.ButdiditnotappearasifProvidencehadwishedtorewardthembysendingthemtheseproductionsofhumanindustry?TheirthanksroseunanimouslytoHeaven.

           However,oneofthemwasnotquitesatisfied:itwasPencroft.Itappearedthatthechestdidnotcontainsomethingwhichheevidentlyheldingreatesteem,forinproportionastheyapproachedthebottomofthebox,hishurrahsdiminishedinheartiness,and,theinventoryfinished,hewasheardtomutterthesewords:—"That’sallveryfine,butyoucanseethatthereisnothingformeinthatbox!"

           ThisledNebtosay,—

           "Why,friendPencroft,whatmoredoyouexpect?"

           "Halfapoundoftobacco,"repliedPencroftseriously,"andnothingwouldhavebeenwantingtocompletemyhappiness!"

           Noonecouldhelplaughingatthisspeechofthesailor’s.

           Buttheresultofthisdiscoveryofthechestwas,thatitwasnowmorethanevernecessarytoexploretheislandthoroughly.Itwasthereforeagreedthatthenextmorningatbreakofday,theyshouldsetout,byascendingtheMercysoastoreachthewesternshore.Ifanycastawayshadlandedonthecoast,itwastobefearedtheywerewithoutresources,anditwasthereforethemorenecessarytocarryhelptothemwithoutdelay.

           DuringthedaythedifferentarticleswerecarriedtoGraniteHouse,wheretheyweremethodicallyarrangedinthegreathall