Таємничий острів

           Theyhadexplored,thoughonlyinanimperfectmanner,thevastshoreofWashingtonBayfromClawCapetoReptileEnd,thewoodyandmarshyborderofthewestcoast,andtheinterminabledowns,endingattheopenmouthofSharkGulf.ButtheyhadinnowaysurveyedthewoodswhichcoveredtheSerpentinePeninsula,alltotherightoftheMercy,theleftbankofFallsRiver,andthewildernessofspursandvalleyswhichsupportedthreequartersofthebaseofMountFranklin,totheeast,thenorth,andthewest,andwheredoubtlessmanysecretretreatsexisted.Consequently,manymillionsofacresoftheislandhadstillescapedtheirinvestigations.

           Itwas,therefore,decidedthattheexpeditionshouldbecarriedthroughtheFarWest,soastoincludeallthatregionsituatedontherightoftheMercy.

           Itmight,perhaps,bebetterworthwhiletogodirecttothecorral,whereitmightbesupposedthattheconvictshadagaintakenrefuge,eithertopillageortoestablishthemselvesthere.Buteitherthedevastationofthecorralwouldhavebeenanaccomplishedfactbythistime,anditwouldbetoolatetopreventit,orithadbeentheconvicts’interesttoentrenchthemselvesthere,andtherewouldbestilltimetogoandturnthemoutontheirreturn.

           Therefore,aftersomediscussion,thefirstplanwasadheredto,andthesettlersresolvedtoproceedthroughthewoodtoReptileEnd.