Таємничий острів

           AtJup’sneckhungasmallbag,andinthisbagwasfoundalittlenotetracedbyNeb’shand.

           ThedespairofHardingandhiscompanionsmaybeimaginedwhentheyreadthesewords:—

           "Friday,sixo’clockinthemorning.

           "Plateauinvadedbyconvicts.

           "Neb."

           Theygazedateachotherwithoututteringaword,thentheyre-enteredthehouse.whatweretheytodo?TheconvictsonProspectHeights!thatwasdisaster,devastation,ruin.

           Herbert,onseeingtheengineer,thereporter,andPencroftre-enter,guessedthattheirsituationwasaggravated,andwhenhesawJup,henolongerdoubtedthatsomemisfortunemenacedGraniteHouse.

           "CaptainHarding,"saidhe,"Imustgo;Icanbearthejourney.Imustgo."

           GideonSpilettapproachedHerbert;then,havinglookedathim,—

           "Letusgo,then!"saidhe.

           ThequestionwasquicklydecidedwhetherHerbertshouldbecarriedonalitterorinthecartwhichhadbroughtAyrtontothecorral.Themotionofthelitterwouldhavebeenmoreeasyforthewoundedlad,butitwouldhavenecessitatedtwobearers,thatistosay,therewouldhavebeentwogunslessfordefenseifanattackwasmadeontheroad.Wouldtheynot,onthecontrary,byemployingthecartleaveeveryarmfree?WasitimpossibletoplacethemattressonwhichHerbertwaslyinginit,andtoadvancewithsomuchcarethatanyjoltshouldbeavoided?Itcouldbedone.

           Thecartwasbrought.Pencroftharnessedtheonager.CyrusHardingandthereporterraisedHerbert’smattressandplaceditonthebottomofthecart.Theweatherwasfine.