Таємничий острів

           Butbeforethen,thestranger,whosepresenceatthisplacenoonehadsuspected,crossedCreekGlycerine,whichseparatedtheplateaufromtheforest,andboundeduptheoppositebank.

           Herbertwastherefacetofacewithafiercejaguar,similartotheonewhichhadbeenkilledonReptileEnd.Suddenlysurprised,hewasstandingwithhisbackagainstatree,whiletheanimalgatheringitselftogetherwasabouttospring.

           Butthestranger,withnootherweaponthanaknife,rushedontheformidableanimal,whoturnedtomeetthisnewadversary.

           Thestrugglewasshort.Thestrangerpossessedimmensestrengthandactivity.Heseizedthejaguar’sthroatwithonepowerfulhand,holdingitasinavise,withoutheedingthebeast’sclawswhichtorehisflesh,andwiththeotherheplungedhisknifeintoitsheart.

           Thejaguarfell.Thestrangerkickedawaythebody,andwasabouttoflyatthemomentwhenthesettlersarrivedonthefieldofbattle,butHerbert,clingingtohim,cried,—

           "No,no!youshallnotgo!"

           Hardingadvancedtowardsthestranger,whofrownedwhenhesawhimapproaching.Thebloodflowedfromhisshoulderunderhistornshirt,buthetooknonoticeofit.

           "Myfriend,"saidCyrusHarding,"wehavejustcontractedadebtofgratitudetoyou.Tosaveourboyyouhaveriskedyourlife!"

           "Mylife!"murmuredthestranger."Whatisthatworth?Lessthannothing!"

           "Youarewounded?"

           "Itisnomatter."

           "Willyougivemeyourhand?"

           AndasHerbertendeavoredto