Таємничий острів

           Sincetheirdeparture,thesettlershaddescendedtheslopeswhichconstitutedthemountainsystemoftheisland,ontoadrysoil,buttheluxuriantvegetationofwhichindicatedittobewateredeitherbysomesubterraneanmarshorbysomestream.However,CyrusHardingdidnotrememberhavingseen,atthetimeofhisexcursiontothecrater,anyotherwatercoursesbuttheRedCreekandtheMercy.

           Duringthefirstpartoftheirexcursion,theysawnumeroustroopsofmonkeyswhoexhibitedgreatastonishmentatthesightofmen,whoseappearancewassonewtothem.GideonSpilettjokinglyaskedwhethertheseactiveandmerryquadrupedsdidnotconsiderhimandhiscompanionsasdegeneratebrothers.

           Andcertainly,pedestrians,hinderedateachstepbybushes,caughtbycreepers,barredbytrunksoftrees,didnotshinebesidethosesuppleanimals,who,boundingfrombranchtobranch,werehinderedbynothingontheircourse.Themonkeyswerenumerous,buthappilytheydidnotmanifestanyhostiledisposition.

           Severalpigs,agoutis,kangaroos,andotherrodentswereseen,alsotwoorthreekoalas,atwhichPencroftlongedtohaveashot.

           "But,"saidhe,"youmayjumpandplayjustnow;weshallhaveoneortwowordstosaytoyouonourwayback!"

           Athalf-pastninethewaywassuddenlyfoundtobebarredbyanunknownstream,fromthirtytofortyfeetbroad,whoserapidcurrentdashedfoamingoverthenumerousrockswhichinterrupteditscourse.Thiscreekwasdeepandclear,butitwasabsolutelyunnavigable.

           "Wearecutoff!"criedNeb.