Таємничий острів

           "Itisnotimpossiblethatourcarewillhaveaneffectuponhim,foritissolitudethathasmadehimwhatheis,andfromthistimeforwardhewillbenolongeralone."

           "Thepoormanmustnodoubthavebeeninthisstateforalongtime,"saidHerbert.

           "Perhaps,"answeredGideonSpilett.

           "Aboutwhatageishe?"askedthelad.

           "Itisdifficulttosay,"repliedthereporter,"foritisimpossibletoseehisfeaturesunderthethickbeardwhichcovershisface,butheisnolongeryoung,andIsupposehemightbeaboutfifty."

           "Haveyounoticed,Mr.Spilett,howdeeplysunkhiseyesare?"askedHerbert.

           "Yes,Herbert,butImustaddthattheyaremorehumanthanonecouldexpectfromhisappearance."

           "However,weshallsee,"repliedPencroft,"andIamanxioustoknowwhatopinionCaptainHardingwillhaveofoursavage.Wewenttolookforahumancreature,andwearebringingbackamonster!Afterall,wedidwhatwecould."

           Thenightpassed,andwhethertheprisonersleptornotcouldnotbeknown,butatanyrate,althoughhehadbeenunbound,hedidnotmove.Hewaslikeawildanimal,whichappearsstunnedatfirstbyitscapture,andbecomeswildagainafterwards.

           Atdaybreakthenextmorning,the15thofOctober,thechangeofweatherpredictedbyPencroftoccurred.Thewindhavingshiftedtothenorthwestfavoredthereturnofthe"Bonadventure,"butatthesametimeitfreshened,whichmightrendernavigationmoredifficult.

           Atfiveo’clockinthemorningtheanchorwasweighed.