Таємничий острів

           "Letussearch,"heresumed,"andGodgrantthatwemaysomedaybepermittedtoprovetothishaughtyprotectorthathehasnottodealwithungratefulpeople!WhatwouldInotgivecouldwerepayhim,byrenderinghiminourturn,althoughatthepriceofourlives,somesignalservice!"

           Fromthisday,thethoughtsoftheinhabitantsofLincolnIslandweresolelyoccupiedwiththeintendedsearch.Everythingincitedthemtodiscovertheanswertothisenigma,ananswerwhichwouldonlybethenameofamanendowedwithatrulyinexplicable,andinsomedegreesuperhumanpower.

           Inafewminutes,thesettlersre-enteredthehouse,wheretheirinfluencesoonrestoredtoAyrtonhismoralandphysicalenergy.NebandPencroftcarriedthecorpsesoftheconvictsintotheforest,somedistancefromthecorral,andburiedthemdeepintheground.

           Ayrtonwasthenmadeacquaintedwiththefactswhichhadoccurredduringhisseclusion.HelearnedHerbert’sadventures,andthroughwhatvarioustrialsthecolonistshadpassed.Astothesettlers,theyhaddespairedofeverseeingAyrtonagain,andhadbeenconvincedthattheconvictshadruthlesslymurderedhim.

           "Andnow,"saidCyrusHarding,asheendedhisrecital,"adutyremainsforustoperform.Halfofourtaskisaccomplished,butalthoughtheconvictsarenolongertobefeared,itisnotowingtoourselvesthatweareoncemoremastersoftheisland."

           "Well!"answeredGideonSpilett,"letussearchallthislabyrinthofthespursofMountFranklin.