Таємничий острів

           "Canitbepossiblethatourislandissupernatural?"

           "No,Pencroft,butmysterious,mostcertainly,"repliedtheengineer;"unlessyoucanexplainthatwhichSpilettandIhaveuntilnowfailedtounderstand."

           "Speakaway,captain,"answeredthesailor.

           "Well,haveyouunderstood,"thensaidtheengineer,"howwasitthatafterfallingintothesea,Iwasfoundaquarterofamileintotheinterioroftheisland,andthat,withoutmyhavinganyconsciousnessofmyremovalthere?"

           "Unless,beingunconscious—"saidPencroft.

           "Thatisnotadmissible,"repliedtheengineer."Buttocontinue.HaveyouunderstoodhowTopwasabletodiscoveryourretreatfivemilesfromthecaveinwhichIwaslying?"

           "Thedog’sinstinct—"observedHerbert.

           "Singularinstinct!"returnedthereporter,"sincenotwithstandingthestormofrainandwindwhichwasragingduringthatnight,ToparrivedattheChimneys,dryandwithoutaspeckofmud!"

           "Letuscontinue,"resumedtheengineer."Haveyouunderstoodhowourdogwassostrangelythrownupoutofthewaterofthelake,afterhisstrugglewiththedugong?"

           "No!Iconfess,notatall,"repliedPencroft,"andthewoundwhichthedugonghadinitsside,awoundwhichseemedtohavebeenmadewithasharpinstrument;thatcan’tbeunderstood,either."

           "Letuscontinueagain,"saidHarding.