Таємничий острів

           Inordertomaketheirwaythroughsomethickets,theywereobligedtocutdowntrees.BeforeenteringsuchplacesHardingwascarefultosendinTopandJup,whofaithfullyaccomplishedtheircommission,andwhenthedogandorangreturnedwithoutgivinganywarning,therewasevidentlynothingtofear,eitherfromconvictsorwildbeasts,twovarietiesoftheanimalkingdom,whoseferociousinstinctsplacedthemonthesamelevel.OntheeveningofthefirstdaythecolonistsencampedaboutninemilesfromGraniteHouse,ontheborderofalittlestreamfallingintotheMercy,andoftheexistenceofwhichtheyhadtillthenbeenignorant;itevidently,however,belongedtothehydiographicalsystemtowhichthesoiloweditsastonishingfertility.Thesettlersmadeaheartymeal,fortheirappetitesweresharpened,andmeasureswerethentakenthatthenightmightbepassedinsafety.Iftheengineerhadhadonlytodealwithwildbeasts,jaguarsorothers,hewouldhavesimplylightedfiresallaroundhiscamp,whichwouldhavesufficedforitsdefense;buttheconvictswouldberatherattractedthanterrifiedbytheflames,anditwas,therefore,bettertobesurroundedbytheprofounddarknessofnight.

           Thewatchwas,however,carefullyorganized.Twoofthesettlersweretowatchtogether,andeverytwohoursitwasagreedthattheyshouldberelievedbytheircomrades.Andso,notwithstandinghiswishtothecontrary,Herbertwasexemptedfromguard.PencroftandGideonSpilettinoneparty,theengineerandNebinanother,mountedguardinturnsoverthecamp.