Таємничий острів

           Theweatherwasfine,thebreezefresh,andtheseasmooth,especiallytowardsthesouthcoast,forthewindwasblowingfromthenorthwest.

           "Allhandsonboard,"shoutedPencroft;butbreakfastwasfirstnecessary,anditwasthoughtbesttotakeprovisionsonboard,intheeventoftheirexcursionbeingprolongeduntiltheevening.

           CyrusHardingwasequallyanxioustotrythevessel,themodelofwhichhadoriginatedwithhim,althoughonthesailor’sadvicehehadalteredsomepartsofit,buthedidnotsharePencroft’sconfidenceinher,andasthelatterhadnotagainspokenofthevoyagetoTaborIsland,Hardinghopedhehadgivenitup.Hewouldhaveindeedgreatreluctanceinlettingtwoorthreeofhiscompanionsventuresofarinsosmallaboat,whichwasnotofmorethanfifteentons’burden.

           Athalf-pastteneverybodywasonboard,evenTopandJup,andHerbertweighedtheanchor,whichwasfastinthesandnearthemouthoftheMercy.Thesailwashoisted,theLincolnianflagfloatedfromthemasthead,andthe"Bonadventure,"steeredbyPencroft,stoodouttosea.

           ThewindblowingoutofUnionBaysheranbeforeit,andthusshowedherowners,muchtotheirsatisfaction,thatshepossessedaremarkablyfastpairofheels,accordingtoPencroft’smodeofspeaking.AfterhavingdoubledFlotsamPointandClawCape,thecaptainkeptherclosehauled,soastosailalongthesoutherncoastoftheisland,whenitwasfoundshesailedadmirablywithinfivepointsofthewind.