Таємничий острів

           "Only,"observedHerbert,"atthismomentourroadisgoingthewrongway,forthetideisrising!"

           "Weshallbeallrightifwewaittillitebbs,"repliedthesailor,"andthenwewilltrustittocarryourfueltotheChimneys.Letusgettheraftready."

           Thesailor,followedbyHerbert,directedhisstepstowardstheriver.Theybothcarried,eachinproportiontohisstrength,aloadofwoodboundinfagots.Theyfoundonthebankalsoagreatquantityofdeadbranchesinthemidstofgrass,amongwhichthefootofmanhadprobablyneverbeforetrod.Pencroftbegandirectlytomakehisraft.Inakindoflittlebay,createdbyapointoftheshorewhichbrokethecurrent,thesailorandtheladplacedsomegood-sizedpiecesofwood,whichtheyhadfastenedtogetherwithdrycreepers.Araftwasthusformed,onwhichtheystackedalltheyhadcollected,sufficient,indeed,tohaveloadedatleasttwentymen.Inanhourtheworkwasfinished,andtheraftmooredtothebank,awaitedtheturningofthetide.

           Therewerestillseveralhourstobeoccupied,andwithoneconsentPencroftandHerbertresolvedtogaintheupperplateau,soastohaveamoreextendedviewofthesurroundingcountry.

           Exactlytwohundredfeetbehindtheangleformedbytheriver,thewall,terminatedbyafallofrocks,diedawayinagentleslopetotheedgeoftheforest.Itwasanaturalstaircase.Herbertandthesailorbegantheirascent;thankstothevigoroftheirmusclestheyreachedthesummitinafewminutes;andproceededtothepointabovethemouthoftheriver.

           Onattainingit,theirfirstlookwascastupontheoceanwhichnotlongbeforetheyhadtraversedinsuchaterriblecondition.