Таємничий острів

           Butwhatwasittobe?ToshutthemselvesupinGraniteHouse,tobebesiegedthere,toremainthereforweeks,formonthseven,sincetheyhadanabundanceofprovisions?Sofargood!Butafterthat?Thepirateswouldnotthelessbemastersoftheisland,whichtheywouldravageattheirpleasure,andintime,theywouldendbyhavingtheirrevengeontheprisonersinGraniteHouse.

           However,onechanceyetremained;itwasthatBobHarvey,afterall,wouldnotventurehisshipintothechannel,andthathewouldkeepoutsidetheislet.Hewouldbestillseparatedfromthecoastbyhalfamile,andatthatdistancehisshotcouldnotbeverydestructive.

           "Never!"repeatedPencroft,"BobHarveywillnever,ifheisagoodseaman,enterthatchannel!Heknowswellthatitwouldriskthebrig,iftheseagotupeversolittle!Andwhatwouldbecomeofhimwithouthisvessel?"

           Inthemeanwhilethebrigapproachedtheislet,anditcouldbeseenthatshewasendeavoringtomakethelowerend.Thebreezewaslight,andasthecurrenthadthenlostmuchofitsforce,BobHarveyhadabsolutecommandoverhisvessel.

           Theroutepreviouslyfollowedbytheboatshadallowedhertoreconnoiterthechannel,andsheboldlyenteredit.

           Thepirate’sdesignwasnowonlytooevident;hewishedtobringherbroadsidetobearontheChimneysandfromtheretoreplywithshellandballtotheshotwhichhadtillthendecimatedhercrew.