Таємничий острів

           And,infact,thesteeplavacliffsdidnotaffordasingleplacesuitableforlanding.Theyformedaninsuperablebarrier,recalling,butwithmorewildness,thefiordsofNorway.The"Bonadventure,"coastingascloseaspossiblealongthecliffs,didnotdiscoverevenaprojectionwhichwouldallowthepassengerstoleavethedeck.

           Pencroftconsoledhimselfbysayingthatwiththehelpofaminetheycouldsoonopenoutthecliffwhenthatwasnecessary,andthen,astherewasevidentlynothingtobedoneinthegulf,hesteeredhisvesseltowardsthestraitandpassedoutatabouttwoo’clockintheafternoon.

           "Ah!"saidNab,utteringasighofsatisfaction.

           OnemightreallysaythatthehonestNegrodidnotfeelathiseaseinthoseenormousjaws.

           ThedistancefromMandibleCapetothemouthoftheMercywasnotmorethaneightmiles.Theheadofthe"Bonadventure"wasputtowardsGraniteHouse,andafairwindfillinghersails,sheranrapidlyalongthecoast.

           Totheenormouslavarockssucceededsoonthosecapricioussanddunes,amongwhichtheengineerhadbeensosingularlyrecovered,andwhichseabirdsfrequentedinthousands.

           Aboutfouro’clock,Pencroftleavingthepointoftheisletonhisleft,enteredthechannelwhichseparateditfromthecoast,andatfiveo’clocktheanchorofthe"Bonadventure"wasburiedinthesandatthemouthoftheMercy.

           Thecolonistshadbeenabsentthreedaysfromtheirdwelling.Ayrtonwaswaitingforthemonthebeach,andJupcamejoyouslytomeetthem,givingventtodeepgruntsofsatisfaction.