Таємничий острів

           SpilettandPencroft—"

           "Myboy!"saidCyrusHarding,"youranagreatdanger,but,perhaps,withoutthat,thepoorcreaturewouldhavestillhiddenhimselffromyoursearch,andweshouldnothavehadanewcompanion."

           "Youhope,then,Cyrus,tosucceedinreformingtheman?"askedthereporter.

           "Yes,"repliedtheengineer.

           Breakfastover,HardingandhiscompanionsleftGraniteHouseandreturnedtothebeach.Theythereoccupiedthemselvesinunloadingthe"Bonadventure,"andtheengineer,havingexaminedthearmsandtools,sawnothingwhichcouldhelpthemtoestablishtheidentityofthestranger.

           Thecaptureofpigs,madeontheislet,waslookeduponasbeingveryprofitabletoLincolnIsland,andtheanimalswereledtothesty,wheretheysoonbecameathome.

           Thetwobarrels,containingthepowderandshot,aswellastheboxofcaps,wereverywelcome.Itwasagreedtoestablishasmallpowder-magazine,eitheroutsideGraniteHouseorintheUpperCavern,wheretherewouldbenofearofexplosion.However,theuseofpyroxylewastobecontinued,forthissubstancegivingexcellentresults,therewasnoreasonforsubstitutingordinarypowder.

           Whentheunloadingofthevesselwasfinished,—

           "Captain,"saidPencroft,"Ithinkitwouldbeprudenttoputour‘Bonadventure’inasafeplace."

           "IsshenotsafeatthemouthoftheMercy?"askedCyrusHarding.

           "No,captain,"repliedthesailor."Halfofthetimesheisstrandedonthesand,andthatworksher.