Таємничий острів

           "Yes,"repliedHarding,"itwastoolate,andwemustputoffthevoyageuntilnextspring."

           "ButsupposetheScotchyachtcomesbeforethat,"saidPencroft.

           "Thatisnotprobable,"repliedtheengineer,"forLordGlenarvanwouldnotchoosethewinterseasontoventureintotheseseas.EitherhehasalreadyreturnedtoTaborIsland,sinceAyrtonhasbeenwithus,thatistosay,duringthelastfivemonthsandhasleftagain;orhewillnotcometilllater,anditwillbetimeenoughinthefirstfineOctoberdaystogotoTaborIsland,andleaveanoticethere."

           "Wemustallow,"saidNeb,"thatitwillbeveryunfortunateifthe‘Duncan’hasreturnedtothesepartsonlyafewmonthsago!"

           "Ihopethatitisnotso,"repliedCyrusHarding,"andthatHeavenhasnotdeprivedusofthebestchancewhichremainstous."

           "Ithink,"observedthereporter,"thatatanyrateweshallknowwhatwehavetodependonwhenwehavebeentoTaborIsland,foriftheyachthasreturnedthere,theywillnecessarilyhaveleftsometracesoftheirvisit."

           "Thatisevident,"answeredtheengineer."Sothen,myfriends,sincewehavethischanceofreturningtoourcountry,wemustwaitpatiently,andifitistakenfromusweshallseewhatwillbebesttodo."