Таємничий острів

           "Isittobacco?"

           "Yes,andthoughitmaynotbeofthefirstquality,itisnonethelesstobacco!"

           "Oh,goodoldPencroft!Won’thebepleased!Butwemustnotlethimsmokeitall,hemustgiveusourshare."

           "Ah!anideaoccurstome,Mr,Spilett,"repliedHerbert."Don’tletussayanythingtoPencroftyet;wewillpreparetheseleaves,andonefinedaywewillpresenthimwithapipealreadyfilled!"

           "Allright,Herbert,andonthatdayourworthycompanionwillhavenothinglefttowishforinthisworld."

           Thereporterandtheladsecuredagoodstoreofthepreciousplant,andthenreturnedtoGraniteHouse,wheretheysmuggleditinwithasmuchprecautionasifPencrofthadbeenthemostvigilantandsevereofcustom-houseofficers.

           CyrusHardingandNebweretakenintoconfidence,andthesailorsuspectednothingduringthewholetime,necessarilysomewhatlong,whichwasrequiredinordertodrythesmallleaves,chopthemup,andsubjectthemtoacertaintorrefactiononhotstones.Thistooktwomonths;butallthesemanipulationsweresuccessfullycarriedonunknowntoPencroft,for,occupiedwiththeconstructionofhisboat,heonlyreturnedtoGraniteHouseatthehourofrest.

           ForsomedaystheyhadobservedanenormousanimaltwoorthreemilesoutintheopenseaswimmingaroundLincolnIsland.Thiswasawhaleofthelargestsize,whichapparentlybelongedtothesouthernspecies,calledthe"CapeWhale."

           "Whataluckychanceitwouldbeifwecouldcaptureit!"criedthesailor.