Таємничий острів

           Thehorizonwasbeautifullyclear,andthesea,undulatingunderasoftbreeze,wasascalmasthewatersofalake,sparklinghereandthereunderthesun’srays.

           Theapparatushadbeenplacedatoneofthewindowsofthedining-roomatGraniteHouse,andconsequentlyoverlookedtheshoreandthebay.Herbertproceededashewasaccustomedtodo,andthenegativeobtained,hewentawaytofixitbymeansofthechemicalsdepositedinadarknookofGraniteHouse.

           Returningtothebrightlight,andexaminingitwell,Herbertperceivedonhisnegativeanalmostimperceptiblelittlespotontheseahorizon.Heendeavoredtomakeitdisappearbyreiteratedwashing,butcouldnotaccomplishit.

           "Itisaflawintheglass,"hethought.

           Andthenhehadthecuriositytoexaminethisflawwithastrongmagnifierwhichheunscrewedfromoneofthetelescopes.

           Buthehadscarcelylookedatit,whenheutteredacry,andtheglassalmostfellfromhishands.

           ImmediatelyrunningtotheroominwhichCyrusHardingthenwas,heextendedthenegativeandmagnifiertowardstheengineer,pointingoutthelittlespot.

           Hardingexaminedit;thenseizinghistelescopeherushedtothewindow.

           Thetelescope,afterhavingslowlysweptthehorizon,atlaststoppedonthelooked-forspot,andCyrusHarding,loweringit,pronouncedonewordonly,—

           "Avessel!"

           Andinfactavesselwasinsight,offLincolnIsland!