Таємничий острів

           Theweatherwasfine,thebarometerwasrising,thewindappearedsettled,everythingthenwasinfavorofthesebravemenwhomanactofhumanitywastakingfarfromtheirisland.

           ThusithadbeenagreedthatCyrusHarding,Neb,andGideonSpilettshouldremainatGraniteHouse,butanobjectionwasraised,andSpilett,whohadnotforgottenhisbusinessasreportertotheNewYorkHerald,havingdeclaredthathewouldgobyswimmingratherthanlosesuchanopportunity,hewasadmittedtotakeapartinthevoyage.

           Theeveningwasoccupiedintransportingonboardthe"Bonadventure,"articlesofbedding,utensils,arms,ammunition,acompass,provisionsforaweek;thisbeingrapidlydone,thecolonistsascendedtoGraniteHouse.

           Thenextday,atfiveo’clockinthemorning,thefarewellsweresaid,notwithoutsomeemotiononbothsides,andPencroftsettingsailmadetowardsClawCape,whichhadtobedoubledinordertoproceedtothesouthwest.

           The"Bonadventure"wasalreadyaquarterofamilefromthecoastwhenthepassengersperceivedontheheightsofGraniteHousetwomenwavingtheirfarewells;theywereCyrusHardingandNeb.

           "Ourfriends,"exclaimedSpilett,"thisisourfirstseparationinfifteenmonths."

           Pencroft,thereporterandHerbertwavedinreturn,andGraniteHousesoondisappearedbehindthehighrocksoftheCape.

           Duringthefirstpartofthedaythe"Bonadventure"wasstillinsightofthesoutherncoastofLincolnIsland,whichsoonappearedjustlikeagreenbasket,withMountFranklinrisingfromthecenter.