Таємничий острів

           Theyborenoapparenttraceofanywound.

           Only,aftercarefullyexaminingthem,Pencroftfoundontheforeheadofone,onthechestofanother,onthebackofthisone,ontheshoulderofthat,alittleredspot,asortofscarcelyvisiblebruise,thecauseofwhichitwasimpossibletoconjecture.

           "Itistherethattheyhavebeenstruck!"saidCyrusHarding.

           "Butwithwhatweapon?"criedthereporter.

           "Aweapon,lightning-likeinitseffects,andofwhichwehavenotthesecret!"

           "Andwhohasstrucktheblow?"askedPencroft.

           "Theavengingpoweroftheisland,"repliedHarding,"hewhobroughtyouhere,Ayrton,whoseinfluencehasoncemoremanifesteditself,whodoesforusallthatwhichwecannotdoforourselves,andwho,hiswillaccomplished,concealshimselffromus."

           "Letusmakesearchforhim,then!"exclaimedPencroft.

           "Yes,wewillsearchforhim,"answeredHarding,"butweshallnotdiscoverthispowerfulbeingwhoperformssuchwonders,untilhepleasestocallustohim!"

           Thisinvisibleprotection,whichrenderedtheirownactionunavailing,bothirritatedandpiquedtheengineer.Therelativeinferioritywhichitprovedwasofanaturetowoundahaughtyspirit.Agenerosityevincedinsuchamannerastoeludealltokensofgratitude,impliedasortofdisdainforthoseonwhomtheobligationwasconferred,whichinCyrusHarding’seyesmarred,insomedegree,theworthofthebenefit.