Таємничий острів

           Thegroundwashillyandrough,verysuitableforambushes,andoverwhichtheydidnotventurewithoutextremeprecaution.TopandJupskirmishedontheflanks,springingrightandleftthroughthethickbrushwood,andemulatingeachotherinintelligenceandactivity.Butnothingshowedthatthebanksofthestreamhadbeenrecentlyfrequented—nothingannouncedeitherthepresenceortheproximityoftheconvicts.Towardsfiveintheeveningthecartstoppednearly600feetfromthepalisade.Asemicircularscreenoftreesstillhidit.

           Itwasnecessarytoreconnoiterthecorral,inordertoascertainifitwasoccupied.Togothereopenly,inbroaddaylight,whentheconvictswereprobablyinambush,wouldbetoexposethemselves,aspoorHerberthaddone,tothefirearmsoftheruffians.Itwasbetter,then,towaituntilnightcameon.

           However,GideonSpilettwishedwithoutfurtherdelaytoreconnoitertheapproachestothecorral,andPencroft,whowasquiteoutofpatience,volunteeredtoaccompanyhim.

           "No,myfriends,"saidtheengineer,"waittillnight.Iwillnotallowoneofyoutoexposehimselfinopenday."

           "But,captain—"answeredthesailor,littledisposedtoobey.

           "Ibegofyou,Pencroft,"saidtheengineer.

           "Verywell!"repliedthesailor,whoventedhisangerinanotherway,bybestowingontheconvictstheworstnamesinhismaritimevocabulary.

           Thecolonistsremained,therefore,nearthecart,andcarefullywatchedtheneighboringpartsoftheforest.

           Threehourspassedthus.