Таємничий острів

           Thisspotwasraisedfromfiftytosixtyfeetabovethelevelofthesea.Theviewwasveryextensive,butbeyondthecapeitendedinUnionBay.NeithertheisletnorProspectHeightswasvisible,andcouldnotbefromthence,fortherisinggroundandthecurtainoftreesclosedthenorthernhorizon.

           Itisuselesstoaddthatnotwithstandingthewideextentofseawhichtheexplorerscouldsurvey,andthoughtheengineersweptthehorizonwithhisglass,novesselcouldbefound.

           Theshorewasofcourseexaminedwiththesamecarefromtheedgeofthewatertothecliff,andnothingcouldbediscoveredevenwiththeaidoftheinstrument.

           "Well,"saidGideonSpilett,"itseemswemustmakeupourmindstoconsoleourselveswiththinkingthatnoonewillcometodisputewithusthepossessionofLincolnIsland!"

           "Butthebullet,"criedHerbert."Thatwasnotimaginary,Isuppose!"

           "Hangit,no!"exclaimedPencroft,thinkingofhisabsenttooth.

           "Thenwhatconclusionmaybedrawn?"askedthereporter.

           "This,"repliedtheengineer,"thatthreemonthsormoreago,avessel,eithervoluntarilyornot,camehere."

           "What!thenyouadmit,Cyrus,thatshewasswallowedupwithoutleavinganytrace?"criedthereporter.

           "No,mydearSpilett;butyouseethatifitiscertainthatahumanbeingsetfootontheisland,itappearsnolesscertainthathehasnowleftit."

           "Then,ifIunderstandyouright,captain,"saidHerbert,"thevesselhasleftagain?"

           "Evidently."