Таємничий острів

           "Andwehavelostanopportunitytogetbacktoourcountry?"saidNeb.

           "Ifearso."

           "Verywell,sincetheopportunityislost,letusgoon;itcan’tbehelped,"saidPencroft,whofelthome-sicknessforGraniteHouse.

           Butjustastheywererising,Topwasheardloudlybarking;andthedogissuedfromthewood,holdinginhismoutharagsoiledwithmud.

           Nebseizedit.Itwasapieceofstrongcloth!

           Topstillbarked,andbyhisgoingandcoming,seemedtoinvitehismastertofollowhimintotheforest.

           "Nowthere’ssomethingtoexplainthebullet!"exclaimedPencroft.

           "Acastaway!"repliedHerbert.

           "Wounded,perhaps!"saidNeb.

           "Ordead!"addedthereporter.

           Allranafterthedog,amongthetallpinesontheborderoftheforest.Hardingandhiscompanionsmadereadytheirfirearms,incaseofanemergency.

           Theyadvancedsomewayintothewood,buttotheirgreatdisappointment,theyasyetsawnosignsofanyhumanbeinghavingpassedthatway.Shrubsandcreeperswereuninjured,andtheyhadeventocutthemawaywiththeaxe,astheyhaddoneinthedeepestrecessesoftheforest.Itwasdifficulttofancythatanyhumancreaturehadeverpassedthere,butyetTopwentbackwardandforward,notlikeadogwhosearchesatrandom,butlikeadogbeingendowedwithamind,whoisfollowingupanidea.

           InaboutsevenoreightminutesTopstoppedinagladesurroundedwithtalltrees.Thesettlersgazedaroundthem,butsawnothing,neitherunderthebushesnoramongthetrees.

           "Whatisthematter,Top?"saidCyrusHarding.