Таємничий острів

           seizethehandwhichhadjustsavedhim,thestrangerfoldedhisarms,hischestheaved,hislookdarkened,andheappearedtowishtoescape,butmakingaviolenteffortoverhimself,andinanabrupttone,—

           "Whoareyou?"heasked,"andwhatdoyouclaimtobetome?"

           Itwasthecolonists’historywhichhethusdemanded,andforthefirsttime.Perhapsthishistoryrecounted,hewouldtellhisown.

           InafewwordsHardingrelatedallthathadhappenedsincetheirdeparturefromRichmond;howtheyhadmanaged,andwhatresourcestheynowhadattheirdisposal.

           Thestrangerlistenedwithextremeattention.

           Thentheengineertoldwhotheyallwere,GideonSpilett,Herbert,Pencroft,Neb,himself,and,headded,thatthegreatesthappinesstheyhadfeltsincetheirarrivalinLincolnIslandwasonthereturnofthevesselfromTaborIsland,whentheyhadbeenabletoincludeamongthemanewcompanion.

           Atthesewordsthestranger’sfaceflushed,hisheadsunkonhisbreast,andconfusionwasdepictedonhiscountenance.

           "Andnowthatyouknowus,"addedCyrusHarding,"willyougiveusyourhand?"

           "No,"repliedthe,strangerinahoarsevoice;"no!Youarehonestmen!AndI—"