Таємничий острів

           Asitwaseasytoland,theusualhuntersofthecolony,thatistosay,HerbertandGideonSpilett,wentforarambleoftwohoursorso,andreturnedwithseveralstringsofwildduckandsnipe.Tophaddonewonders,andnotabirdhadbeenlost,thankstohiszealandcleverness.

           Ateighto’clockinthemorningthe"Bonadventure"setsail,andranrapidlytowardsNorthMandibleCape,forthewindwasrightasternandfresheningrapidly.

           "However,"observedPencroft,"Ishouldnotbesurprisedifagalecameupfromthewest.Yesterdaythesunsetinaveryred-lookinghorizon,andnow,thismorning,thosemares-tailsdon’tforbodeanythinggood."

           Thesemares-tailsarecirrusclouds,scatteredinthezenith,theirheightfromtheseabeinglessthanfivethousandfeet.Theylooklikelightpiecesofcottonwool,andtheirpresenceusuallyannouncessomesuddenchangeintheweather.

           "Well,"saidHarding,"letuscarryasmuchsailaspossible,andrunforshelterintoSharkGulf.Ithinkthatthe‘Bonadventure’willbesafethere."

           "Perfectly,"repliedPencroft,"andbesides,thenorthcoastismerelysand,veryuninterestingtolookat."

           "Ishallnotbesorry,"resumedtheengineer,"topassnotonlyto-nightbutto-morrowinthatbay,whichisworthbeingcarefullyexplored."

           "Ithinkthatweshallbeobligedtodoso,whetherwelikeitornot,"answeredPencroft,"fortheskylooksverythreateningtowardsthewest.