Таємничий острів

           Hardingdidnotappeartobemuchastonishedatthisincident,andhecitedseveralexamplesoftameapes,towhomtheuseoftobaccohadbecomequitefamiliar.

           ButfromthisdayMasterJuphadapipeofhisown,thesailor’sex-pipe,whichwashunginhisroomnearhisstoreoftobacco.Hefilledithimself,lighteditwithaglowingcoal,andappearedtobethehappiestofquadrumana.ItmayreadilybeunderstoodthatthissimilarityoftastesofJupandPencroftservedtotightenthebondsoffriendshipwhichalreadyexistedbetweenthehonestapeandtheworthysailor.

           "Perhapsheisreallyaman,"saidPencroftsometimestoNeb."Shouldyoubesurprisedtohearhimbeginningtospeaktoussomeday?"

           "Myword,no,"repliedNeb."Whatastonishesmeisthathehasn’tspokentousbefore,fornowhewantsnothingbutspeech!"

           "Itwouldamusemeallthesame,"resumedthesailor,"ifsomefinedayhesaidtome,"Supposewechangepipes,Pencroft."

           "Yes,"repliedNeb,"whatapityhewasborndumb!"

           WiththemonthofSeptemberthewinterended,andtheworkswereagaineagerlycommenced.Thebuildingofthevesseladvancedrapidly,shewasalreadycompletelydeckedover,andalltheinsidepartsofthehullwerefirmlyunitedwithribsbentbymeansofsteam,whichansweredallthepurposesofamold.

           Astherewasnowantofwood,Pencroftproposedtotheengineertogiveadoubleliningtothehull,toinsurethestrengthofthevessel.