Таємничий острів

           Thequestionofknowinghow,intheircondition,theyweretoactagainstthepirates,wasthoroughlydiscussedonthe29thofNovemberbyCyrusHarding,GideonSpilett,andPencroft,atamomentwhenHerbertwasasleepandcouldnothearthem.

           "Myfriends,"saidthereporter,aftertheyhadtalkedofNebandoftheimpossibilityofcommunicatingwithhim,"Ithink,—likeyou,thattoventureontheroadtothecorralwouldbetoriskreceivingagunshotwithoutbeingabletoreturnit.Butdoyounotthinkthatthebestthingtobedonenowistoopenlygivechasetothesewretches?"

           "ThatisjustwhatIwasthinking,"answeredPencroft."Ibelievewe’renotfellowstobeafraidofabullet,andasforme,ifCaptainHardingapproves,I’mreadytodashintotheforest!Why,hangit,onemanisequaltoanother!"

           "Butisheequaltofive?"askedtheengineer.

           "IwilljoinPencroft,"saidthereporter,"andbothofus,well-armedandaccompaniedbyTop—"

           "MydearSpilett,andyou,Pencroft,"answeredHarding,"letusreasoncoolly.Iftheconvictswerehidinonespotoftheisland,ifweknewthatspot,andhadonlytodislodgethem,Iwouldundertakeadirectattack;butistherenotoccasiontofear,onthecontrary,thattheyaresuretofirethefirstshot?"

           "Well,captain,"criedPencroft,"abulletdoesnotalwaysreachitsmark."

           "ThatwhichstruckHerbertdidnotmiss,Pencroft,"repliedtheengineer."Besides,observethatifbothofyouleftthecorralIshouldremainherealonetodefendit.