Таємничий острів

           "Youalso,Herbert?"

           "Why,captain,"criedHerbert,"thatfirewasblazinglikeastarofthefirstmagnitude!"

           "Butwasitnotastar?"urgedtheengineer.

           "No,"repliedPencroft,"fortheskywascoveredwiththickclouds,andatanyrateastarwouldnothavebeensolowonthehorizon.ButMr.Spilettsawitaswellaswe,andhewillconfirmourwords."

           "Iwilladd,"saidthereporter,"thatthefirewasverybright,andthatitshotuplikeasheetoflightning."

           "Yes,yes!exactly,"addedHerbert,"anditwascertainlyplacedontheheightsofGraniteHouse."

           "Well,myfriends,"repliedCyrusHarding,"duringthenightofthe19thofOctober,neitherNebnorIlightedanyfireonthecoast."

           "Youdidnot!"exclaimedPencroft,intheheightofhisastonishment,notbeingabletofinishhissentence.

           "WedidnotleaveGraniteHouse,"answeredCyrusHarding,"andifafireappearedonthecoast,itwaslightedbyanotherhandthanours!"

           Pencroft,Herbert,andNebwerestupefied.Noillusioncouldbepossible,andafirehadactuallymettheireyesduringthenightofthe19thofOctober.Yes!theyhadtoacknowledgeit,amysteryexisted!Aninexplicableinfluence,evidentlyfavorabletothecolonists,butveryirritatingtotheircuriosity,wasexecutedalwaysinthenickoftimeonLincolnIsland.Couldtherebesomebeinghiddeninitsprofoundestrecesses?Itwasnecessaryatanycosttoascertainthis.