Таємничий острів

           Itwasdecidedthatthecastaway,orratherthestrangerashewasthenceforthtermedbyhiscompanions,shouldliveinoneoftheroomsofGraniteHouse,fromwhich,however,hecouldnotescape.Hewasledtherewithoutdifficulty,andwithcarefulattention,itmight,perhaps,behopedthatsomedayhewouldbeacompaniontothesettlersinLincolnIsland.

           CyrusHarding,duringbreakfast,whichNebhadhastenedtoprepare,asthereporter,Herbert,andPencroftweredyingofhunger,heardindetailalltheincidentswhichhadmarkedthevoyageofexplorationtotheislet.Heagreedwithhisfriendsonthispoint,thatthestrangermustbeeitherEnglishorAmerican,thenameBritannialeadingthemtosupposethis,and,besides,throughthebushybeard,andundertheshaggy,mattedhair,theengineerthoughthecouldrecognizethecharacteristicfeaturesoftheAnglo-Saxon.

           "But,bythebye,"saidGideonSpilett,addressingHerbert,"younevertoldushowyoumetthissavage,andweknownothing,exceptthatyouwouldhavebeenstrangled,ifwehadnothappenedtocomeupintimetohelpyou!"

           "Uponmyword,"answeredHerbert,"itisratherdifficulttosayhowithappened.Iwas,Ithink,occupiedincollectingmyplants,whenIheardanoiselikeanavalanchefallingfromaverytalltree.Iscarcelyhadtimetolookround.Thisunfortunateman,whowaswithoutdoubtconcealedinatree,rusheduponmeinlesstimethanItaketotellyouaboutit,andunlessMr.