Таємничий острів

           "Well,"saidthesailor,"whatoughttobedonewithregardtothosesixvillainswhoareroamingabouttheisland?Arewetoleavethemtooverrunourforests,ourfields,ourplantations?Thesepiratesareregularjaguars,anditseemstomeweoughtnottohesitatetotreatthemassuch!Whatdoyouthink,Ayrton?"addedPencroft,turningtohiscompanion.

           Ayrtonhesitatedatfirsttoreply,andCyrusHardingregrettedthatPencrofthadsothoughtlesslyputthisquestion.AndhewasmuchmovedwhenAyrtonrepliedinahumbletone,—

           "Ihavebeenoneofthosejaguars,Mr.Pencroft.Ihavenorighttospeak."

           Andwithaslowstephewalkedaway.

           Pencroftunderstood.

           "WhatabruteIam!"heexclaimed."PoorAyrton!Hehasasmuchrighttospeakhereasanyone!"

           "Yes,"saidGideonSpilett,"buthisreservedoeshimhonor,anditisrighttorespectthefeelingwhichhehasabouthissadpast."

           "Certainly,Mr.Spilett,"answeredthesailor,"andthereisnofearofmydoingsoagain.IwouldratherbitemytongueoffthancauseAyrtonanypain!Buttoreturntothequestion.Itseemstomethattheseruffianshavenorighttoanypity,andthatweoughttoridtheislandofthemassoonaspossible."

           "Isthatyouropinion,Pencroft?"askedtheengineer.

           "Quitemyopinion."

           "Andbeforehuntingthemmercilessly,youwouldnotwaituntiltheyhadcommittedsomefreshactofhostilityagainstus?"

           "Isn’twhattheyhavedonealreadyenough?"askedPencroft,whodidnotunderstandthesescruples.