Таємничий острів

           "However,"resumedGideonSpilett,"youdonotdenythatsomedaythecoalwillbeentirelyconsumed?"

           "Oh!theveinsofcoalarestillconsiderable,andthehundredthousandminerswhoannuallyextractfromthemahundredmillionsofhundredweightshavenotnearlyexhaustedthem."

           "Withtheincreasingconsumptionofcoal,"repliedGideonSpilett,"itcanbeforeseenthatthehundredthousandworkmenwillsoonbecometwohundredthousand,andthattherateofextractionwillbedoubled."

           "Doubtless;butaftertheEuropeanmines,whichwillbesoonworkedmorethoroughlywithnewmachines,theAmericanandAustralianmineswillforalongtimeyetprovidefortheconsumptionintrade."

           "Forhowlongatime?"askedthereporter.

           "Foratleasttwohundredandfiftyorthreehundredyears."

           "Thatisreassuringforus,butabadlook-outforourgreat-grandchildren!"observedPencroft.

           "Theywilldiscoversomethingelse,"saidHerbert.

           "Itistobehopedso,"answeredSpilett,"forwithoutcoaltherewouldbenomachinery,andwithoutmachinerytherewouldbenorailways,nosteamers,nomanufactories,nothingofthatwhichisindispensabletomoderncivilization!"

           "Butwhatwilltheyfind?"askedPencroft."Canyouguess,captain?"

           "Nearly,myfriend."

           "Andwhatwilltheyburninsteadofcoal?"

           "Water,"repliedHarding.