Таємничий острів

           Itwouldbedifficulttoimagineacollectionofgreaterruffians.Sometimes,—althoughveryrarely,—notwithstandingtheextremesurveillanceofwhichtheyweretheobject,manymanagedtoescape,andseizingvesselswhichtheysurprised,theyinfestedthePolynesianArchipelagoes.

           ThushadBobHarveyandhiscompanionsdone.ThushadAyrtonformerlywishedtodo.BobHarveyhadseizedthebrig"Speedy,"anchoredinsightofNorfolkIsland;thecrewhadbeenmassacred;andforayearthisshiphadscouredthePacific,underthecommandofHarvey,nowapirate,andwellknowntoAyrton!

           Theconvictswere,forthemostpart,assembledunderthepoop;butafew,stretchedonthedeck,weretalkingloudly.

           Theconversationstillcontinuedamidshoutsandlibations.Ayrtonlearnedthatchancealonehadbroughtthe"Speedy"insightofLincolnIsland;BobHarveyhadneveryetsetfootonit;but,asCyrusHardinghadconjectured,findingthisunknownlandinhiscourse,itspositionbeingmarkedonnochart,hehadformedtheprojectofvisitingit,and,ifhefounditsuitable,ofmakingitthebrig’sheadquarters.

           Astotheblackflaghoistedatthe"Speedy’s"peak,andthegunwhichhadbeenfired,inimitationofmen-of-warwhentheylowertheircolors,itwaspurepiraticalbravado.Itwasinnowayasignal,andnocommunicationyetexistedbetweentheconvictsandLincolnIsland.

           Thesettlers’domainwasnowmenacedwithterribledanger.