Таємничий острів

           "Oh,"answeredPencroft,"sheisshelteredinPortBalloon,andIdefyanyofthoserascalstheretofindher!"

           Theengineer’sorderswereimmediatelyexecuted.NebandAyrtonascendedtheplateau,andtookthenecessaryprecautionstoconcealanyindicationofasettlement.Whiletheywerethusoccupied,theircompanionswenttotheborderofJacamarWood,andbroughtbackalargequantityofbranchesandcreepers,whichwouldatsomedistanceappearasnaturalfoliage,andthusdisguisethewindowsinthegranitecliff.Atthesametime,theammunitionandgunswereplacedreadysoastobeathandincaseofanunexpectedattack.

           Whenalltheseprecautionshadbeentaken,—

           "Myfriends,"saidHarding,andhisvoicebetrayedsomeemotion,"ifthewretchesendeavortoseizeLincolnIsland,weshalldefendit—shallwenot?"

           "Yes,Cyrus,"repliedthereporter,"andifnecessarywewilldietodefendit!"

           Theengineerextendedhishandtohiscompanions,whopresseditwarmly.Ayrtonremainedinhiscorner,notjoiningthecolonists.Perhapshe,theformerconvict,stillfelthimselfunworthytodoso!

           CyrusHardingunderstoodwhatwaspassinginAyrton’smind,andgoingtohim—

           "Andyou,Ayrton,"heasked,"whatwillyoudo?"

           "Myduty,"answeredAyrton.

           Hethentookuphisstationnearthewindowandgazedthroughthefoliage.

           Itwasnowhalf-pastseven.ThesunhaddisappearedtwentyminutesagobehindGraniteHouse.ConsequentlytheEasternhorizonwasbecomingobscured.