Таємничий острів

           Therehelodgedadozenofthosepigeonswhichfrequentedtherocksoftheplateau.Thesebirdssoonbecameaccustomedtoreturningeveryeveningtotheirnewdwelling,andshowedmoredispositiontodomesticatethemselvesthantheircongeners,thewood-pigeons.

           Lastly,thetimehadcomeforturningtheballoon-casetouse,bycuttingituptomakeshirtsandotherarticles;forastokeepingitinitspresentform,andriskingthemselvesinaballoonfilledwithgas,aboveaseaofthelimitsofwhichtheyhadnoidea,itwasnottobethoughtof.

           ItwasnecessarytobringthecasetoGraniteHouse,andthecolonistsemployedthemselvesinrenderingtheirheavycartlighterandmoremanageable.Butthoughtheyhadavehicle,themovingpowerwasyettobefound.

           Butdidtherenotexistintheislandsomeanimalwhichmightsupplytheplaceofthehorse,ass,orox?Thatwasthequestion.

           "Certainly,"saidPencroft,"abeastofburdenwouldbeveryusefultousuntilthecaptainhasmadeasteamcart,orevenanengine,forsomedayweshallhavearailroadfromGraniteHousetoPortBalloon,withabranchlinetoMountFranklin!"

           Oneday,the23rdofDecember,NebandTopwereheardshoutingandbarking,eachapparentlytryingtoseewhocouldmakethemostnoise.Thesettlers,whowerebusyattheChimneys,ran,fearingsomevexatiousincident.

           Whatdidtheysee?Twofineanimalsofalargesizethathadimprudentlyventuredontheplateau,whenthebridgeswereopen.