Таємничий острів

           "ShewouldshowallthenavyofNorfolkacleanpairofheels."

           "Hurrahforhercaptain!"

           "HurrahforBobHarvey!"

           WhatAyrtonfeltwhenheoverheardthisfragmentofconversationmaybeunderstoodwhenitisknownthatinthisBobHarveyherecognizedoneofhisoldAustraliancompanions,adaringsailor,whohadcontinuedhiscriminalcareer.BobHarveyhadseized,ontheshoresofNorfolkIslandthisbrig,whichwasloadedwitharms,ammunition,utensils,andtoolsofallsorts,destinedforoneoftheSandwichIslands.Allhisganghadgoneonboard,andpiratesafterhavingbeenconvicts,thesewretches,moreferociousthantheMalaysthemselves,scouredthePacific,destroyingvessels,andmassacringtheircrews.

           Theconvictsspokeloudly,theyrecountedtheirdeeds,drinkingdeeplyatthesametime,andthisiswhatAyrtongathered.Theactualcrewofthe"Speedy"wascomposedsolelyofEnglishprisoners,escapedfromNorfolkIsland.

           Hereitmaybewelltoexplainwhatthisislandwas.In29deg2’southlatitude,and165deg42’eastlongitude,totheeastofAustralia,isfoundalittleisland,sixmilesincircumference,overlookedbyMountPitt,whichrisestoaheightof1,100feetabovethelevelofthesea.ThisisNorfolkIsland,oncetheseatofanestablishmentinwhichwerelodgedthemostintractableconvictsfromtheEnglishpenitentiaries.Theynumbered500,underanirondiscipline,threatenedwithterriblepunishments,andwereguardedby150soldiers,and150employedundertheordersofthegovernor.