Таємничий острів

           "Andhisdogalso?"

           "Also."

           "Whatastonishesme,"rejoinedthereporter,"whileadmittingthatourcompanionhasperished,isthatTophasalsomethisdeath,andthatneitherthebodyofthedognorofhismasterhasbeencastontheshore!"

           "Itisnotastonishing,withsuchaheavysea,"repliedthesailor."Besides,itispossiblethatcurrentshavecarriedthemfartherdownthecoast."

           "Then,itisyouropinionthatourfriendhasperishedinthewaves?"againaskedthereporter.

           "Thatismyopinion."

           "Myownopinion,"saidGideonSpilett,"withduedeferencetoyourexperience,Pencroft,isthatinthedoublefactoftheabsolutedisappearanceofCyrusandTop,livingordead,thereissomethingunaccountableandunlikely."

           "IwishIcouldthinklikeyou,Mr.Spilett,"repliedPencroft;"unhappily,mymindismadeuponthispoint."Havingsaidthis,thesailorreturnedtotheChimneys.Agoodfirecrackledonthehearth.Herberthadjustthrownonanarmfulofdrywood,andtheflamecastabrightlightintothedarkestpartsofthepassage.

           Pencroftimmediatelybegantopreparethedinner.Itappearedbesttointroducesomethingsolidintothebilloffare,forallneededtogetuptheirstrength.Thestringsofcouroucouswerekeptforthenextday,buttheypluckedacoupleofgrouse,whichweresoonspittedonastick,androastingbeforeablazingfire.