Таємничий острів

           However,itwashopedthatthenextmorningbybreakofday,ifthecalculationhadbeencorrectandthecoursetrue,theywouldsightTaborIsland.

           NeitherGideonSpilett,Herbert,norPencroftsleptthatnight.Intheexpectationofthenextdaytheycouldnotbutfeelsomeemotion.Therewassomuchuncertaintyintheirenterprise!WeretheynearTaborIsland?Wastheislandstillinhabitedbythecastawaytowhosesuccortheyhadcome?Whowasthisman?Wouldnothispresencedisturbthelittlecolonytillthensounited?Besides,wouldhebecontenttoexchangehisprisonforanother?Allthesequestions,whichwouldnodoubtbeansweredthenextday,kepttheminsuspense,andatthedawnofdaytheyallfixedtheirgazeonthewesternhorizon.

           "Land!"shoutedPencroftataboutsixo’clockinthemorning.

           AnditwasimpossiblethatPencroftshouldbemistaken,itwasevidentthatlandwasthere.Imaginethejoyofthelittlecrewofthe"Bonadventure."Inafewhourstheywouldlandonthebeachoftheisland!

           ThelowcoastofTaborIsland,scarcelyemergingfromthesea,wasnotmorethanfifteenmilesdistant.

           Theheadofthe"Bonadventure,"whichwasalittletothesouthoftheisland,wassetdirectlytowardsit,andasthesunmountedintheeast,itsraysfellupononeortwoheadlands.

           "ThisisamuchlessimportantislethanLincolnIsland,"observedHerbert,"andisprobablyduelikeourstosomesubmarineconvulsion."