Таємничий острів

           ItwasthereforedecidedthatNebandPencroftshouldgotoPortBalloon,andthatthere,atnightfall,theyshouldlightanimmensefire,theblazeofwhichwouldnecessarilyattracttheattentionofthebrig.

           ButatthemomentwhenNebandthesailorwerepreparingtoleaveGraniteHouse,thevesselsuddenlyalteredhercourse,andstooddirectlyforUnionBay.Thebrigwasagoodsailer,forsheapproachedrapidly.NebandPencroftputofftheirdeparture,therefore,andtheglasswasputintoAyrton’shands,thathemightascertainforcertainwhethertheshipwasorwasnotthe"Duncan."TheScotchyachtwasalsoriggedasabrig.Thequestionwas,whetherachimneycouldbediscernedbetweenthetwomastsofthevessel,whichwasnowatadistanceofonlyfivemiles.

           Thehorizonwasstillveryclear.Theexaminationwaseasy,andAyrtonsoonlettheglassfallagain,saying—

           "Itisnotthe‘Duncan’!Itcouldnotbe!"

           Pencroftagainbroughtthebrigwithintherangeofthetelescope,andcouldseethatshewasofbetweenthreeandfourhundredtonsburden,wonderfullynarrow,well-masted,admirablybuilt,andmustbeaveryrapidsailer.Buttowhatnationdidshebelong?Thatwasdifficulttosay.

           "Andyet,"addedthesailor,"aflagisfloatingfromherpeak,butIcannotdistinguishthecolorsofit."

           "Inhalfanhourweshallbecertainaboutthat,"answeredthereporter.