Таємничий острів

           Theyadvancedmorerapidlyandeasilyalongthebankoftheriverthanintheforest.Fromtimetotimetheycameuponthetracesofanimalsofalargesizewhohadcometoquenchtheirthirstatthestream,butnonewereactuallyseen,anditwasevidentlynotinthispartoftheforestthatthepeccaryhadreceivedthebulletwhichhadcostPencroftagrinder.

           Inthemeanwhile,consideringtherapidcurrent,Hardingwasledtosupposethatheandhiscompanionsweremuchfartherfromthewesterncoastthantheyhadatfirstsupposed.Infact,atthishour,therisingtidewouldhaveturnedbackthecurrentofthecreek,ifitsmouthhadonlybeenafewmilesdistant.Now,thiseffectwasnotproduced,andthewaterpursueditsnaturalcourse.Theengineerwasmuchastonishedatthis,andfrequentlyconsultedhiscompass,toassurehimselfthatsometurnoftheriverwasnotleadingthemagainintotheFarWest.

           However,thecreekgraduallywidenedanditswatersbecamelesstumultuous.Thetreesontherightbankwereasclosetogetherasontheleftbank,anditwasimpossibletodistinguishanythingbeyondthem;butthesemassesofwoodwereevidentlyuninhabited,forTopdidnotbark,andtheintelligentanimalwouldnothavefailedtosignalthepresenceofanystrangerintheneighborhood.

           Athalf-pastten,tothegreatsurpriseofCyrusHarding,Herbert,whowasalittleinfront,suddenlystoppedandexclaimed,—

           "Thesea!"

           Inafewminutesmore,thewholewesternshoreoftheislandlayextendedbeforetheeyesofthesettlers.