Таємничий острів

           Soonthe"Speedy"reachedthepointoftheislet;sheroundeditwithease;themainsailwasbracedup,andthebrighuggingthewind,stoodacrossthemouthoftheMercy.

           "Thescoundrels!theyarecoming!"saidPencroft.

           Atthatmoment,CyrusHarding,Ayrton,thesailor,andHerbert,wererejoinedbyNebandGideonSpilett.

           ThereporterandhiscompanionhadjudgeditbesttoabandonthepostattheMercy,fromwhichtheycoulddonothingagainsttheship,andtheyhadactedwisely.Itwasbetterthatthecolonistsshouldbetogetheratthemomentwhentheywereabouttoengageinadecisiveaction.GideonSpilettandNebhadarrivedbydodgingbehindtherocks,thoughnotwithoutattractingashowerofbullets,whichhadnot,however,reachedthem.

           "Spilett!Neb!"criedtheengineer."Youarenotwounded?"

           "No,"answeredthereporter,"afewbruisesonlyfromthericochet!Butthatcursedbrighasenteredthechannel!"

           "Yes,"repliedPencroft,"andintenminutesshewillhaveanchoredbeforeGraniteHouse!"

           "Haveyouformedanyplan,Cyrus?"askedthereporter.

           "WemusttakerefugeinGraniteHousewhilethereisstilltime,andtheconvictscannotseeus."

           "Thatis,myopinion,too,"repliedGideonSpilett,"butonceshutup—"

           "Wemustbeguidedbycircumstances,"saidtheengineer.

           "Letusbeoff,then,andmakehaste!"saidthereporter.

           "Wouldyounotwish,captain,thatAyrtonandIshouldremainhere?"askedthesailor.

           "Whatwouldbetheuseofthat,Pencroft?"repliedHarding."No.