Таємничий острів

           "Yes—yes!"repliedPencroft.

           "ItisTop!ItisTop!"criedHerbert,whohadjustawoke;andallthreerushedtowardstheopeningoftheChimneys.Theyhadgreatdifficultyingettingout.Thewinddrovethemback.Butatlasttheysucceeded,andcouldonlyremainstandingbyleaningagainsttherocks.Theylookedabout,butcouldnotspeak.Thedarknesswasintense.Thesea,thesky,thelandwereallmingledinoneblackmass.Notaspeckoflightwasvisible.

           Thereporterandhiscompanionsremainedthusforafewminutes,overwhelmedbythewind,drenchedbytherain,blindedbythesand.

           Then,inapauseofthetumult,theyagainheardthebarking,whichtheyfoundmustbeatsomedistance.

           ItcouldonlybeTop!Butwashealoneoraccompanied?Hewasmostprobablyalone,for,ifNebhadbeenwithhim,hewouldhavemadehiswaymoredirectlytowardstheChimneys.Thesailorsqueezedthereporter’shand,forhecouldnotmakehimselfheard,inawaywhichsignified"Wait!"thenhereenteredthepassage.

           Aninstantafterheissuedwithalightedfagot,whichhethrewintothedarkness,whistlingshrilly.

           Itappearedasifthissignalhadbeenwaitedfor;thebarkingimmediatelycamenearer,andsoonadogboundedintothepassage.Pencroft,Herbert,andSpilettenteredafterhim.

           Anarmfulofdrywoodwasthrownontheembers.Thepassagewaslightedupwithabrightflame.

           "ItisTop!"criedHerbert.