Таємничий острів

           IsithewhoisinsecretcommunicationwithusbythewellinGraniteHouse,andhashethusaknowledgeofallourplans?Wasithewhothrewusthatbottle,whenthevesselmadeherfirstcruise?WasithewhothrewTopoutofthelake,andkilledthedugong?Wasithe,whoaseverythingleadsustobelieve,savedyoufromthewaves,andthatundercircumstancesinwhichanyoneelsewouldnothavebeenabletoact?Ifitwashe,hepossessesapowerwhichrendershimmasteroftheelements."

           Thereporter’sreasoningwasjust,andeveryonefeltittobeso.

           "Yes,"rejoinedCyrusHarding,"iftheinterventionofahumanbeingisnotmorequestionableforus,Iagreethathehasathisdisposalmeansofactionbeyondthosepossessedbyhumanity.Thereisamysterystill,butifwediscovertheman,themysterywillbediscoveredalso.Thequestion,then,is,oughtwetorespecttheincognitoofthisgenerousbeing,oroughtwetodoeverythingtofindhimout?Whatisyouropiniononthematter?"

           "Myopinion,"saidPencroft,"isthat,whoeverhemaybe,heisabraveman,andhehasmyesteem!"

           "Beitso,"answeredHarding,"butthatisnotananswer,Pencroft."

           "Master,"thensaidNeb,"myideais,thatwemaysearchaslongaswelikeforthisgentlemanwhomyouaretalkingabout,butthatweshallnotdiscoverhimtillhepleases."

           "That’snotbad,whatyousay,Neb,"observedPencroft.

           "IamofNeb’sopinion,"saidGideonSpilett,"butthatisnoreasonfornotattemptingtheadventure.