Таємничий острів

           Thecorralwasenlarged,fortheflockofmusmonsandgoatshadbeenincreasedbyanumberofyoungones,whohadtobehousedandfed.Thecolonistshadpaidvisitsalsototheoysterbed,thewarren,thecoalandironmines,andtothetillthenunexploreddistrictsoftheFarWestforest,whichaboundedingame.Certainindigenousplantswerediscovered,andthosefitforimmediateusecontributedtovarythevegetablestoresofGraniteHouse.

           Theywereaspeciesofficoide,somesimilartothoseoftheCape,witheatablefleshyleaves,othersbearingseedscontainingasortofflour.

           Onthe10thofOctoberthevesselwaslaunched.Pencroftwasradiantwithjoy,theoperationwasperfectlysuccessful;theboatcompletelyrigged,havingbeenpushedonrollerstothewater’sedge,wasfloatedbytherisingtide,amidthecheersofthecolonists,particularlyofPencroft,whoshowednomodestyonthisoccasion.Besideshisimportancewastolastbeyondthefinishingofthevessel,since,afterhavingbuilther,hewastocommandher.Thegradeofcaptainwasbestoweduponhimwiththeapprobationofall.TosatisfyCaptainPencroft,itwasnownecessarytogiveanametothevessel,and,aftermanypropositionshadbeendiscussed,thevoteswereallinfavorofthe"Bonadventure."Assoonasthe"Bonadventure"hadbeenliftedbytherisingtide,itwasseenthatshelayevenlyinthewater,andwouldbeeasilynavigated.However,thetrialtripwastobemadethatveryday,byanexcursionoffthecoast.