Таємничий острів

           Whetherwefindthismysteriousbeingornot,weshallatleasthavefulfilledourdutytowardshim."

           "Andyou,myboy,giveusyouropinion,"saidtheengineer,turningtoHerbert.

           "Oh,"criedHerbert,hiscountenancefullofanimation,"howIshouldliketothankhim,hewhosavedyoufirst,andwhohasnowsavedus!"

           "Ofcourse,myboy,"repliedPencroft,"sowouldIandallofus.Iamnotinquisitive,butIwouldgiveoneofmyeyestoseethisindividualfacetoface!Itseemstomethathemustbehandsome,tall,strong,withasplendidbeard,radianthair,andthathemustbeseatedonclouds,agreatballinhishands!"

           "But,Pencroft,"answeredSpilett,"youaredescribingapictureoftheCreator."

           "Possibly,Mr.Spilett,"repliedthesailor,"butthatishowIimaginehim!"

           "Andyou,Ayrton?"askedtheengineer.

           "CaptainHarding,"repliedAyrton,"Icangiveyounobetteradviceinthismatter.Whateveryoudowillbebest;whenyouwishmetojoinyouinyourresearches,Iamreadytofollowyou.

           "Ithankyou,Ayrton,"answeredCyrusHarding,"butIshouldlikeamoredirectanswertothequestionIputtoyou.Youareourcompanion;youhavealreadyendangeredyourlifeseveraltimesforus,andyou,aswellastherest,oughttobeconsultedinthematterofanyimportantdecision.Speak,therefore."

           "CaptainHarding,"repliedAyrton,"Ithinkthatweoughttodoeverythingtodiscoverthisunknownbenefactor.Perhapsheisalone.Perhapsheissuffering.Perhapshehasalifetoberenewed.