Таємничий острів

           Itistruethat,asGideonSpilettobserved,anyremainsofitmighthavedriftedouttosea,andtheymustnottakeitforgrantedthatbecausetheycouldfindnotracesofit,ashiphadnotbeencastawayonthecoast.

           Thereporter’sargumentwasjust,andbesides,theincidentofthebulletprovedthatashotmusthavebeenfiredinLincolnIslandwithinthreemonths.

           Itwasalreadyfiveo’clock,andtherewerestilltwomilesbetweenthesettlersandtheextremityoftheSerpentinePeninsula.ItwasevidentthatafterhavingreachedReptileEnd,HardingandhiscompanionswouldnothavetimetoreturnbeforedarktotheirencampmentnearthesourceoftheMercy.Itwouldthereforebenecessarytopassthenightonthepromontory.Buttheyhadnolackofprovisions,whichwaslucky,fortherewerenoanimalsontheshore,thoughbirds,onthecontrary,abound—jacamars,couroucous,tragopans,grouse,lories,parrots,cockatoos,pheasants,pigeons,andahundredothers.Therewasnotatreewithoutanest,andnotanestwhichwasnotfullofflappingwings.

           Towardsseveno’clockthewearyexplorersarrivedatReptileEnd.Heretheseasideforestended,andtheshoreresumedthecustomaryappearanceofacoast,withrocks,reefs,andsands.Itwaspossiblethatsomethingmightbefoundhere,butdarknesscameon,andthefurtherexplorationhadtobeputofftothenextday.

           PencroftandHerberthastenedontofindasuitableplacefortheircamp.AmongthelasttreesoftheforestoftheFarWest,theboyfoundseveralthickclumpsofbamboos.