Таємничий острів

           "TheconvictsfirstlandedontheislandintheneighborhoodofFlotsamPoint,andtheyimmediatelyplungedintotheFarWestforests,aftercrossingTadornMarsh.TheythenfollowedalmostthesameroutethatwetookonleavingGraniteHouse.Thisexplainsthetraceswefoundinthewood.But,arrivingontheshore,theconvictssawatoncethattheywoulddiscovernosuitableretreatthere,anditwasthenthat,goingnorthwardsagain,theycameuponthecorral."

           "Wheretheyhaveperhapsreturned,"saidPencroft.

           "Idonotthinkso,"answeredtheengineer,"fortheywouldnaturallysupposethatourresearcheswouldbeinthatdirection.Thecorralisonlyastorehousetothem,andnotadefinitiveencampment."

           "IamofCyrus’opinion,"saidthereporter,"andIthinkthatitisamongthespursofMountFranklinthattheconvictswillhavemadetheirlair."

           "Then,captain,straighttothecorral!"criedPencroft."Wemustfinishthemoff,andtillnowwehaveonlylosttime!"

           "No,myfriend,"repliedtheengineer;"youforgetthatwehaveareasonforwishingtoknowiftheforestsoftheFarWestdonotcontainsomehabitation.Ourexplorationhasadoubleobject,Pencroft.If,ontheonehand,wehavetochastisecrime,wehave,ontheother,anactofgratitudetoperform."

           "Thatwaswellsaid,captain,"repliedthesailor,"but,allthesame,itismyopinionthatweshallnotfindthegentlemanuntilhepleases."

           AndtrulyPencroftonlyexpressedtheopinionofall.