Таємничий острів

           "IfwereturnbytheshoretoClawCape,"repliedNeb,"afterhavingdoubledtheCape,weshallbestopped—"

           "BytheMercy!ofcourse,"repliedHerbert,"andweshallhaveneitherbridgenorboatbywhichtocross."

           "But,captain,"addedPencroft,"withafewfloatingtrunksweshallhavenodifficultyincrossingtheriver."

           "Nevermind,"saidSpilett,"itwillbeusefultoconstructabridgeifwewishtohaveaneasyaccesstotheFarWest!"

           "Abridge!"criedPencroft."Well,isnotthecaptainthebestengineerinhisprofession?Hewillmakeusabridgewhenwewantone.AstotransportingyouthiseveningtotheothersideoftheMercy,andthatwithoutwettingonethreadofyourclothes,Iwilltakecareofthat.Wehaveprovisionsforanotherday,andbesideswecangetplentyofgame.Forward!"

           Thereporter’sproposal,sostronglysecondedbythesailor,receivedgeneralapprobation,foreachwishedtohavetheirdoubtssetatrest,andbyreturningbyClawCapetheexplorationwouldheended.Buttherewasnotanhourtolose,forfortymileswasalongmarch,andtheycouldnothopetoreachGraniteHousebeforenight.

           Atsixo’clockinthemorningthelittlebandsetout.Asaprecautionthegunswereloadedwithball,andTop,wholedthevan,receivedorderstobeatabouttheedgeoftheforest.