Таємничий острів

           CyrusHardingexaminedthecylinderattentively,then,turningtoPencroft,—

           "Youpersist,myfriend,"saidhe,"inmaintainingthatthe‘Speedy’wasnotlostinconsequenceofacollision?"

           "Yes,captain,"answeredthesailor."YouknowaswellasIdothattherearenorocksinthechannel."

           "Butsupposeshehadrunagainstthispieceofiron?"saidtheengineer,showingthebrokencylinder.

           "What,thatbitofpipe!"exclaimedPencroftinatoneofperfectincredulity.

           "Myfriends,"resumedHarding,"yourememberthatbeforeshefounderedthebrigroseonthesummitofaregularwaterspout?"

           "Yes,captain,"repliedHerbert.

           "Well,wouldyouliketoknowwhatoccasionedthatwaterspout?Itwasthis,"saidtheengineer,holdingupthebrokentube.

           "That?"returnedPencroft.

           "Yes!Thiscylinderisallthatremainsofatorpedo!"

           "Atorpedo!"exclaimedtheengineer’scompanions.

           "Andwhoputthetorpedothere?"demandedPencroft,whodidnotliketoyield.

           "AllthatIcantellyouis,thatitwasnotI,"answeredCyrusHarding;"butitwasthere,andyouhavebeenabletojudgeofitsincomparablepower!"