Таємничий острів

           Theyascertained,however,thateatableshellfishaboundedthere,butthesecouldnotbeofanygreatadvantagetothemuntilsomeeasymeansofcommunicationhadbeenestablishedbetweenthetwobanksoftheMercy,anduntilthemeansoftransporthadbeenperfected.

           Nothingthereforewhichthrewanylightonthesupposedwreckcouldbefoundonthisshore,yetanobjectofanyimportance,suchasthehullofaship,wouldhavebeenseendirectly,oranyofhermastsandspanswouldhavebeenwashedonshore,justasthechesthadbeen,whichwasfoundtwentymilesfromhere.Buttherewasnothing.

           Towardsthreeo’clockHardingandhiscompanionsarrivedatasnuglittlecreek.Itformedquiteanaturalharbor,invisiblefromthesea,andwasenteredbyanarrowchannel.

           Atthebackofthiscreeksomeviolentconvulsionhadtornuptherockyborder,andacutting,byagentleslope,gaveaccesstoanupperplateau,whichmightbesituatedatleasttenmilesfromClawCape,andconsequentlyfourmilesinastraightlinefromProspectHeights.GideonSpilettproposedtohiscompanionsthattheyshouldmakeahalthere.Theyagreedreadily,fortheirwalkhadsharpenedtheirappetites;andalthoughitwasnottheirusualdinner-hour,noonerefusedtostrengthenhimselfwithapieceofvenison.Thisluncheonwouldsustainthemuntiltheirsupper,whichtheyintendedtotakeatGraniteHouse.Inafewminutesthesettlers,seatedunderaclumpoffinesea-pines,weredevouringtheprovisionswhichNebproducedfromhisbag.