Таємничий острів

           Herbert,"answeredNeb,"andyetthisgulfheredoesn’tpleasememuch!Ithasawickedlook!"

           "Hallo!"criedPencroft,"hereisNebturninguphisnoseatmygulf,justasIwasthinkingofpresentingittoAmerica!"

           "But,atanyrate,isthewaterdeepenough?"askedtheengineer,"foradepthsufficientforthekeelofthe‘Bonadventure’wouldnotbeenoughforthoseofouriron-clads."

           "Thatiseasilyfoundout,"repliedPencroft.

           Andthesailorsoundedwithalongcord,whichservedhimasalead-line,andtowhichwasfastenedalumpofiron.Thiscordmeasurednearlyfiftyfathoms,anditsentirelengthwasunrolledwithoutfindinganybottom.

           "There,"exclaimedPencroft,"ouriron-cladscancomehereafterall!Theywouldnotrunaground!"

           "Indeed,"saidGideonSpilett,"thisgulfisaregularabyss,but,takingintoconsiderationthevolcanicoriginoftheisland,itisnotastonishingthattheseashouldoffersimilardepressions."

           "Onewouldsaytoo,"observedHerbert,"thatthesecliffswereperfectlyperpendicular;andIbelievethatattheirfoot,evenwithalinefiveorsixtimeslonger,Pencroftwouldnotfindbottom."

           "Thatisallverywell,"thensaidthereporter,"butImustpointouttoPencroftthathisharboriswantinginoneveryimportantrespect!"

           "Andwhatisthat,Mr.Spilett?"

           "Anopening,acuttingofsomesort,togiveaccesstotheinterioroftheisland.Idonotseeaspotonwhichwecouldland."