Таємничий острів

           Thevesselwassecurelymoored,sothatthereshouldbenodangerofherbeingcarriedawaybytherecedingtide;thenPencroftandhiscompanions,wellarmed,ascendedtheshore,soastogainanelevationofabouttwohundredandfiftyorthreehundredfeetwhichroseatadistanceofhalfamile.

           "Fromthesummitofthathill,"saidSpilett,"wecannodoubtobtainacompleteviewoftheisland,whichwillgreatlyfacilitateoursearch."

           "Soastodohere,"repliedHerbert,"thatwhichCaptainHardingdidtheveryfirstthingonLincolnIsland,byclimbingMountFranklin."

           "Exactlyso,"answeredthereporter,"anditisthebestplan."

           Whilethustalkingtheexplorershadadvancedalongaclearingwhichterminatedatthefootofthehill.Flocksofrock-pigeonsandsea-swallows,similartothoseofLincolnIsland,flutteredaroundthem.Underthewoodswhichskirtedthegladeonthelefttheycouldhearthebushesrustlingandseethegrasswaving,whichindicatedthepresenceoftimidanimals,butstillnothingtoshowthattheislandwasinhabited.

           Arrivedatthefootofthehill,Pencroft,Spilett,andHerbertclimbeditinafewminutes,andgazedanxiouslyroundthehorizon.

           Theywereonanislet,whichdidnotmeasuremorethansixmilesincircumference,itsshapenotmuchborderedbycapesorpromontories,baysorcreeks,beingalengthenedoval.Allaround,thelonelyseaextendedtothelimitsofthehorizon.Nolandnorevenasailwasinsight.