Таємничий острів

           Well,Idon’tlikesuchjokes,andthejokerhadbetterlookoutforhimself,ifhefallsintomyhands,Icantellhim."

           Assoonasthefirstgleamoflightappearedintheeast,thecolonists,suitablyarmed,repairedtothebeachunderGraniteHouse.Therisingsunnowshoneonthecliffandtheycouldseethewindows,theshuttersofwhichwereclosed,throughthecurtainsoffoliage.

           Allherewasinorder;butacryescapedthecolonistswhentheysawthatthedoor,whichtheyhadclosedontheirdeparture,wasnowwideopen.

           SomeonehadenteredGraniteHouse—therecouldbenomoredoubtaboutthat.

           Theupperladder,whichgenerallyhungfromthedoortothelanding,wasinitsplace,butthelowerladderwasdrawnupandraisedtothethreshold.Itwasevidentthattheintrudershadwishedtoguardthemselvesagainstasurprise.

           Pencrofthailedagain.

           Noreply.

           "Thebeggars,"exclaimedthesailor."Theretheyaresleepingquietlyasiftheywereintheirownhouse.Hallothere,youpirates,brigands,robbers,sonsofJohnBull!"

           WhenPencroft,beingaYankee,treatedanyonetotheepithetof"sonofJohnBull,"heconsideredhehadreachedthelastlimitsofinsult.

           Thesunhadnowcompletelyrisen,andthewholefacadeofGraniteHousebecameilluminatedbyitsrays;butintheinterioraswellasontheexteriorallwasquietandcalm.