Таємничий острів

           However,heandhiscompanionsweredeterminedtofighttothelastgasp.Itwouldhavebeenveryimportanttoknowifthepirateswerenumerousandbetterarmedthanthecolonists.Buthowwasthisinformationtoheobtained?

           Nightfell.Thenewmoonhaddisappeared.Profounddarknessenvelopedtheislandandthesea.Nolightcouldpiercethroughtheheavypilesofcloudsonthehorizon.Thewindhaddiedawaycompletelywiththetwilight.Notaleafrustledonthetrees,notaripplemurmuredontheshore.Nothingcouldbeseenoftheship,allherlightsbeingextinguished,andifshewasstillinsightoftheisland,herwhereaboutscouldnotbediscovered.

           "Well!whoknows?"saidPencroft."Perhapsthatcursedcraftwillstandoffduringthenight,andweshallseenothingofheratdaybreak."

           Asifinreplytothesailor’sobservation,abrightlightflashedinthedarkness,andacannon-shotwasheard.

           Thevesselwasstillthereandhadgunsonboard.

           Sixsecondselapsedbetweentheflashandthereport.

           Thereforethebrigwasaboutamileandaquarterfromthecoast.

           Atthesametime,thechainswereheardrattlingthroughthehawse-holes.

           ThevesselhadjustanchoredinsightofGraniteHouse!