Таємничий острів

           Hewishedtostophim,butAustinshowedhimtheletter!...Andindeed,byaprovidentialerroroftheFrenchgeographer,whohadwrittentheletter,theeastcoastofNewZealandwasmentionedastheplaceofdestination.

           "AllAyrton’splanswerefrustrated!Hebecameoutrageous.Theyputhiminirons.HewasthentakentothecoastofNewZealand,notknowingwhatwouldbecomeofhisaccomplices,orwhatwouldbecomeofLordGlenarvan.

           "The‘Duncan’cruisedaboutonthiscoastuntilthe3rdofMarch.OnthatdayAyrtonheardthereportofguns.Thegunsonthe‘Duncan’werebeingfired,andsoonLordGlenarvanandhiscompanionscameonboard.

           "Thisiswhathadhappened.

           "Afterathousandhardships,athousanddangers,LordGlenarvanhadaccomplishedhisjourney,andarrivedontheeastcoastofAustralia,atTwofoldBay.‘Not"Duncan!"’HetelegraphedtoMelbourne.Theyanswered,‘"Duncan"sailedonthe18thinstant.Destinationunknown.’

           "LordGlenarvancouldonlyarriveatoneconclusion;thathishonestyachthadfallenintothehandsofBenJoyce,andhadbecomeapiratevessel!

           "However,LordGlenarvanwouldnotgiveup.Hewasaboldandgenerousman.Heembarkedinamerchantvessel,sailedtothewestcoastofNewZealand,traverseditalongthethirty-seventhparallel,withoutfindinganytraceofCaptainGrant;butontheotherside,tohisgreatsurprise,andbythewillofHeaven,hefoundthe‘Duncan,’undercommandofthemate,whohadbeenwaitingforhimforfiveweeks!

           "Thiswasonthe3rdofMarch,1855.