Таємничий острів

           Ofcoursethepowder-magazinewasopen,andastheywerefiringincessantly,somecarelessorclumsyfellowjustblewupthevessel!"

           "CaptainHarding,"saidHerbert,"whatastonishesmeisthattheexplosionhasnotproducedmoreeffect.Thereportwasnotloud,andbesidestherearesofewplanksandtimberstornout.Itseemsasiftheshiphadratherfounderedthanblownup."

           "Doesthatastonishyou,myboy?"askedtheengineer.

           "Yes,captain."

           "Anditastonishesmealso,Herbert,"repliedhe,"butwhenwevisitthehullofthebrig,weshallnodoubtfindtheexplanationofthematter."

           "Why,captain,"saidPencroft,"youdon’tsupposethatthe‘Speedy’simplyfounderedlikeashipwhichhasstruckonarock?"

           "Whynot,"observedNeb,"iftherearerocksinthechannel?"

           "Nonsense,Neb,"answeredPencroft,"youdidnotlookattherightmoment.Aninstantbeforeshesank,thebrig,asIsawperfectlywell,roseonanenormouswave,andfellbackonherlarboardside.Now,ifshehadonlystruck,shewouldhavesunkquietlyandgonetothebottomlikeanhonestvessel."

           "Itwasjustbecauseshewasnotanhonestvessel!"returnedNeb.

           "Well,weshallsoonsee,Pencroft,"saidtheengineer.

           "Weshallsoonsee,"rejoinedthesailor,"butIwouldwagermyheadtherearenorocksinthechannel.Lookhere,captain,tospeakcandidly,doyoumeantosaythatthereisanythingmarvelousintheoccurrence?"

           CyrusHardingdidnotanswer.