Таємничий острів

           IndependentlyoffactsbearingonthemysteryofLincolnIsland,manyothersmighthappen,whichwouldcallforthepromptinterferenceofthecolonists,—suchasthesightingofavessel,awreckonthewesterncoast,thepossiblearrivalofpirates,etc.

           ThereforeCyrusHardingresolvedtoputthecorralininstantaneouscommunicationwithGraniteHouse.

           Itwasonthe10thofJanuarythathemadeknownhisprojecttohiscompanions.

           "Why!howareyougoingtomanagethat,captain?"askedPencroft."Doyoubychancehappentothinkofestablishingatelegraph?"

           "Exactlyso,"answeredtheengineer.

           "Electric?"criedHerbert.

           "Electric,"repliedCyrusHarding."Wehaveallthenecessarymaterialsformakingabattery,andthemostdifficultthingwillbetostretchthewires,butbymeansofadrawplateIthinkweshallmanageit."

           "Well,afterthat,"returnedthesailor,"Ishallneverdespairofseeingourselvessomedayrollingalongonarailway!"

           Theythensettowork,beginningwiththemostdifficultthing,for,iftheyfailedinthat,itwouldbeuselesstomanufacturethebatteryandotheraccessories.

           TheironofLincolnIsland,ashasbeensaid,wasofexcellentquality,andconsequentlyveryfitforbeingdrawnout.Hardingcommencedbymanufacturingadrawplate,thatistosay,aplateofsteel,piercedwithconicalholesofdifferentsizes,whichwouldsuccessivelybringthewiretothewished-fortenacity.