Таємничий острів

           Theysawed,theyplaned,theyfiled,theyturned;andduringthewholeofthisbadseason,nothingwasheardbutthegrindingoftoolsorthehummingoftheturning-lathewhichrespondedtothegrowlingofthethunder.

           MasterJuphadnotbeenforgotten,andheoccupiedaroomattheback,nearthestoreroom,asortofcabinwithacotalwaysfullofgoodlitter,whichperfectlysuitedhistaste.

           "WithgoodoldJupthereisneveranyquarreling,"oftenrepeatedPencroft,"neveranyimproperreply.Whataservant,Neb,whataservant!"

           OfcourseJupwasnowwellusedtoservice.Hebrushedtheirclothes,heturnedthespit,hewaitedattable,heswepttherooms,hegatheredwood,andheperformedanotheradmirablepieceofservicewhichdelightedPencroft—heneverwenttosleepwithoutfirstcomingtotuckuptheworthysailorinhisbed.

           Astothehealthofthemembersofthecolony,bipedsorbimana,quadrumanaorquadrupeds,itleftnothingtobedesired.Withtheirlifeintheopenair,onthissalubrioussoil,underthattemperatezone,workingbothwithheadandhands,theycouldnotsupposethatillnesswouldeverattackthem.

           Allwereindeedwonderfullywell.Herberthadalreadygrowntwoinchesintheyear.Hisfigurewasformingandbecomingmoremanly,andhepromisedtobeanaccomplishedman,physicallyaswellasmorally.