Таємничий острів

           HerbertandGideonSpilett,whowerejustabouttosetouthunting,lefttheirguns,Pencroftthrewdownhisax,andHardingandNebjoiningtheircompanions,allrushedtowardsthesceneofaction.

           ThestrandinghadtakenplaceonthebeachofFlotsamPoint,threemilesfromGraniteHouse,andathightide.Itwasthereforeprobablethatthecetaceanwouldnotbeabletoextricateitselfeasily;atanyrateitwasbesttohasten,soastocutoffitsretreatifnecessary.Theyranwithpick-axesandiron-tippedpolesintheirhands,passedovertheMercybridge,descendedtherightbankoftheriver,alongthebeach,andinlessthantwentyminutesthesettlerswereclosetotheenormousanimal,abovewhichflocksofbirdsalreadyhovered.

           "Whatamonster!"criedNeb.

           Andtheexclamationwasnatural,foritwasasouthernwhale,eightyfeetlong,agiantofthespecies,probablynotweighinglessthanahundredandfiftythousandpounds!

           Inthemeanwhile,themonsterthusstrandeddidnotmove,norattemptbystrugglingtoregainthewaterwhilethetidewasstillhigh.

           Itwasdead,andaharpoonwasstickingoutofitsleftside.

           "Therearewhalersinthesequarters,then?"saidGideonSpilettdirectly.

           "Oh,Mr.Spilett,thatdoesn’tproveanything!"repliedPencroft."Whaleshavebeenknowntogothousandsofmileswithaharpoonintheside,andthisonemightevenhavebeenstruckinthenorthoftheAtlanticandcometodieinthesouthofthePacific,anditwouldbenothingastonishing."