Таємничий острів

           IrememberquitewelltheaccountinthenewspapersoftheyachtexpeditionundertakenbyLordGlenarvan,anditsresult."

           "Ayrtonhastoldthetruth,"addedHarding."Donotdoubtit,Pencroft,foritwaspainfultohim.Peopletellthetruthwhentheyaccusethemselveslikethat!"

           Thenextday—the21stofDecember—thecolonistsdescendedtothebeach,andhavingclimbedtheplateautheyfoundnothingofAyrton.Hehadreachedhishouseinthecorralduringthenightandthesettlersjudgeditbestnottoagitatehimbytheirpresence.Timewoulddoubtlessperformwhatsympathyhadbeenunabletoaccomplish.

           Herbert,Pencroft,andNebresumedtheirordinaryoccupations.OnthisdaythesameworkbroughtHardingandthereportertotheworkshopattheChimneys.

           "Doyouknow,mydearCyrus,"saidGideonSpilett,"thattheexplanationyougaveyesterdayonthesubjectofthebottlehasnotsatisfiedmeatall!Howcanitbesupposedthattheunfortunatemanwasabletowritethatdocumentandthrowthebottleintotheseawithouthavingtheslightestrecollectionofit?"

           "Norwasithewhothrewitin,mydearSpilett."

           "Youthinkthen—"

           "Ithinknothing,Iknownothing!"interruptedCyrusHarding."IamcontenttorankthisincidentamongthosewhichIhavenotbeenabletoexplaintothisday!"

           "Indeed,Cyrus,"saidSpilett,"thesethingsareincredible!Yourrescue,thecasestrandedonthesand,Top’sadventure,andlastlythisbottle...