Таємничий острів

           Theshot,passingovertheislet,fellintotheseaatadistancewhichcouldnotbecalculatedwithexactitude.

           ThesecondgunwaspointedattherocksattheendofFlotsamPoint,andtheshotstrikingasharprocknearlythreemilesfromGraniteHouse,madeitflyintosplinters.ItwasHerbertwhohadpointedthisgunandfiredit,andveryproudhewasofhisfirstshot.Pencroftonlywasprouderthanhe!Suchashot,thehonorofwhichbelongedtohisdearboy.

           Thethirdshot,aimedthistimeatthedownsformingtheuppersideofUnionBay,struckthesandatadistanceoffourmiles,thenhavingricocheted:waslostintheseainacloudofspray.

           ForthefourthpieceCyrusHardingslightlyincreasedthecharge,soastotryitsextremerange.Then,allstandingasideforfearofitsbursting,thematchwaslightedbymeansofalongcord.

           Atremendousreportwasheard,butthepiecehadheldgood,andthecolonistsrushingtothewindows,sawtheshotgrazetherocksofMandibleCape,nearlyfivemilesfromGraniteHouse,anddisappearinSharkGulf.

           "Well,captain,"exclaimedPencroft,whosecheersmighthaverivaledthereportsthemselves,"whatdoyousayofourbattery?AllthepiratesinthePacifichaveonlytopresentthemselvesbeforeGraniteHouse!Notonecanlandtherenowwithoutourpermission!"

           "Believeme,Pencroft,"repliedtheengineer,"itwouldbebetternottohavetomaketheexperiment."