Таємничий острів

           Fromtheextremityofthepromontorywhichformedthetailofthepeninsulathecoastwasroundedforadistanceoffivemiles,whichwasrapidlypassedover,withouteventhemostminuteinvestigationsbringingtolighttheleasttraceofanyoldorrecentlandings;nodebris,nomarkofanencampment,nocindersofafire,norevenafootprint!

           Fromthepointofthepeninsulaonwhichthesettlersnowweretheirgazecouldextendalongthesouthwest.Twenty-fivemilesoffthecoastterminatedintheClawCape,whichloomeddimlythroughthemorningmists,andwhich,bythephenomenonofthemirage,appearedasifsuspendedbetweenlandandwater.

           Betweentheplaceoccupiedbythecolonistsandtheothersideoftheimmensebay,theshorewascomposed,first,ofatractoflowland,borderedinthebackgroundbytrees;thentheshorebecamemoreirregular,projectingsharppointsintothesea,andfinallyendedintheblackrockswhich,accumulatedinpicturesquedisorder,formedClawCape.

           Suchwasthedevelopmentofthispartoftheisland,whichthesettlerstookinataglance,whilestoppingforaninstant.

           "Ifavesselraninhere,"saidPencroft,"shewouldcertainlybelost.Sandbanksandreefseverywhere!Badquarters!"

           "Butatleastsomethingwouldbeleftoftheship,"observedthereporter.

           "Theremightbepiecesofwoodontherocks,butnothingonthesands,"repliedthesailor.

           "Why?"

           "Becausethesandsarestillmoredangerousthantherocks,fortheyswallowupeverythingthatisthrownonthem.