Таємничий острів

           Spilett,"answeredthesailor."Sheandhercrewarereadytostartatamoment’snotice!"

           "Ithink,Pencroft,thatthatisathingtobedoneafterourexplorationoftheislandisfinished.Itispossibleafterallthatthestranger,ifwemanagetofindhim,mayknowasmuchaboutTaborIslandasaboutLincolnIsland.Donotforgetthatheiscertainlytheauthorofthedocument,andhemay,perhaps,knowhowfarwemaycountonthereturnoftheyacht!"

           "But!"exclaimedPencroft,"whointheworldcanhebe?Thefellowknowsusandweknownothingabouthim!Ifheisasimplecastaway,whyshouldheconcealhimself!Wearehonestmen,Isuppose,andthesocietyofhonestmenisn’tunpleasanttoanyone.Didhecomeherevoluntarily?Canheleavetheislandifhelikes?Isheherestill?Willheremainanylonger?"

           Chattingthus,Pencroft,GideonSpilett,andHerbertgotonboardandlookedaboutthedeckofthe"Bonadventure."Allatonce,thesailorhavingexaminedthebittstowhichthecableoftheanchorwassecured,—

           "Hallo,"hecried,"thisisqueer!"

           "Whatisthematter,Pencroft?"askedthereporter.

           "Thematteris,thatitwasnotIwhomadethisknot!"

           AndPencroftshowedaropewhichfastenedthecabletothebittitself.

           "What,itwasnotyou?"askedGideonSpilett.

           "No!Icansweartoit.Thisisareefknot,andIalwaysmakearunningbowline."

           "Youmustbemistaken,Pencroft."

           "Iamnotmistaken!"declaredthesailor.