Таємничий острів

           Pencroftgavehimhisdirectionsasacommandertohissteersman,andHerbertneverallowedthe"Bonadventure"toswerveevenapoint.Thenightpassedquickly,asdidthedayofthe12thofOctober.Asouth-easterlydirectionwasstrictlymaintained.Unlessthe"Bonadventure"fellinwithsomeunknowncurrentshewouldcomeexactlywithinsightofTaborIsland.

           Astotheseaoverwhichthevesselwasthensailing,itwasabsolutelydeserted.Nowandthenagreatalbatrossorfrigatebirdpassedwithingunshot,andGideonSpilettwonderedifitwastooneofthemthathehadconfidedhislastletteraddressedtotheNewYorkHerald.ThesebirdsweretheonlybeingsthatappearedtofrequentthispartoftheoceanbetweenTaborandLincolnIslands.

           "Andyet,"observedHerbert,"thisisthetimethatwhalersusuallyproceedtowardsthesouthernpartofthePacific.IndeedIdonotthinktherecouldbeamoredesertedseathanthis."

           "Itisnotquitesodesertedasallthat,"repliedPencroft.

           "Whatdoyoumean?"askedthereporter.

           "Weareonit.Doyoutakeourvesselforawreckandusforporpoises?"

           AndPencroftlaughedathisjoke.

           Bytheevening,accordingtocalculation,itwasthoughtthatthe"Bonadventure"hadaccomplishedadistanceofahundredandtwentymilessinceherdeparturefromLincolnIsland,thatistosayinthirty-sixhours,whichwouldgiveheraspeedofbetweenthreeandfourknotsanhour.Thebreezewasveryslightandmightsoondropaltogether.

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