Таємничий острів

           PencroftandHerbertexaminedforsometimethecountryonwhichtheyhadbeencast;butitwasdifficulttoguessaftersohastyaninspectionwhatthefuturehadinstoreforthem.

           Theythenreturned,followingthesoutherncrestofthegraniteplatform,borderedbyalongfringeofjaggedrocks,ofthemostwhimsicalshapes.Somehundredsofbirdslivedtherenestledintheholesofthestone;Herbert,jumpingovertherocks,startledawholeflockofthesewingedcreatures.

           "Oh!"criedhe,"thosearenotgullsnorsea-mews!"

           "Whataretheythen?"askedPencroft.

           "Uponmyword,onewouldsaytheywerepigeons!"

           "Justso,butthesearewildorrockpigeons.Irecognizethembythedoublebandofblackonthewing,bythewhitetail,andbytheirslate-coloredplumage.Butiftherock-pigeonisgoodtoeat,itseggsmustbeexcellent,andwewillsoonseehowmanytheymayhaveleftintheirnests!"

           "Wewillnotgivethemtimetohatch,unlessitisintheshapeofanomelet!"repliedPencroftmerrily.

           "Butwhatwillyoumakeyouromeletin?"askedHerbert;"inyourhat?"

           "Well!"repliedthesailor,"Iamnotquiteconjurorenoughforthat;wemustcomedowntoeggsintheshell,myboy,andIwillundertaketodespatchthehardest!"

           PencroftandHerbertattentivelyexaminedthecavitiesinthegranite,andtheyreallyfoundeggsinsomeofthehollows.