Таємничий острів

           Butiftheywerecompelledtobowbeforenecessity,theydidnotdosowithoutimpatience.

           Onceortwicethereporterventuredoutintotheroadandmadethetourofthepalisade.Topaccompaniedhim,andGideonSpilett,hisguncocked,wasreadyforanyemergency.

           Hemetwithnomisadventureandfoundnosuspicioustraces.Hisdogwouldhavewarnedhimofanydanger,and,asTopdidnotbark,itmightbeconcludedthattherewasnothingtofearatthemomentatleast,andthattheconvictswereoccupiedinanotherpartoftheisland.

           However,onhissecondsortie,onthe27thofNovember,GideonSpilett,whohadventuredaquarterofamileintothewoods,towardsthesouthofthemountain,remarkedthatTopscentedsomething.Thedoghadnolongerhisunconcernedmanner;hewentbackwardsandforwards,ferretingamongthegrassandbushesasifhissmellhadrevealedsomesuspiciousobjecttohim.

           GideonSpilettfollowedTop,encouragedhim,excitedhimbyhisvoice,whilekeepingasharplook-out,hisgunreadytofire,andshelteringhimselfbehindthetrees.ItwasnotprobablethatTopscentedthepresenceofman,forinthatcase,hewouldhaveannounceditbyhalf-uttered,sullen,angrybarks.Now,ashedidnotgrowl,itwasbecausedangerwasneithernearnorapproaching.

           Nearlyfiveminutespassedthus,Toprummaging,thereporterfollowinghimprudentlywhen,allatonce,thedogrushedtowardsathickbush,anddrewoutarag.

           Itwasapieceofcloth,stainedandtorn,whichSpilettimmediatelybroughtbacktothecorral.