Таємничий острів

           Talkingwhiletheyworked,readingwhenthehandsremainedidle,thetimepassedwithprofittoall.

           Itwasrealenjoymenttothesettlerswhenintheirroom,welllightedwithcandles,wellwarmedwithcoal,afteragooddinner,elderberrycoffeesmokinginthecups,thepipesgivingforthanodoriferoussmoke,theycouldhearthestormhowlingwithout.Theircomfortwouldhavebeencomplete,ifcompletecomfortcouldeverexistforthosewhoarefarfromtheirfellow-creatures,andwithoutanymeansofcommunicationwiththem.Theyoftentalkedoftheircountry,ofthefriendswhomtheyhadleft,ofthegrandeuroftheAmericanRepublic,whoseinfluencecouldnotbutincrease;andCyrusHarding,whohadbeenmuchmixedupwiththeaffairsoftheUnion,greatlyinterestedhisauditorsbyhisrecitals,hisviews,andhisprognostics.

           ItchancedonedaythatSpilettwasledtosay—

           "Butnow,mydearCyrus,allthisindustrialandcommercialmovementtowhichyoupredictacontinualadvance,doesitnotrunthedangerofbeingsoonerorlatercompletelystopped?"

           "Stopped!Andbywhat?"

           "Bythewantofcoal,whichmayjustlybecalledthemostpreciousofminerals."

           "Yes,themostpreciousindeed,"repliedtheengineer;"anditwouldseemthatnaturewishedtoprovethatitwassobymakingthediamond,whichissimplypurecarboncrystallized."

           "Youdon’tmeantosay,captain,"interruptedPencroft,"thatweburndiamondsinourstovesintheshapeofcoal?"

           "No,myfriend,"repliedHarding.