Таємничий острів

           Butitisprobablethatatthelowerpartofthechimney,timemayhaveaccumulatedrocks,cinders,hardenedlava,andthatthisvalveofwhichIspoke,mayatanytimebecomeovercharged.Butatthefirstseriouseffort,everyobstaclewilldisappear,andyoumaybecertain,mydearSpilett,thatneithertheisland,whichistheboiler,northevolcano,whichisthechimney,willburstunderthepressureofgas.Nevertheless,Irepeat,itwouldbebetterthatthereshouldnotbeaneruption."

           "Andyetwearenotmistaken,"remarkedthereporter."Mutteringscanbedistinctlyheardintheverybowelsofthevolcano!"

           "Youareright,"saidtheengineer,againlisteningattentively."Therecanbenodoubtofit.Acommotionisgoingonthere,ofwhichwecanneitherestimatetheimportancenortheultimateresult."

           CyrusHardingandSpilett,oncomingout,rejoinedtheircompanions,towhomtheymadeknownthestateofaffairs.

           "Verywell!"criedPencroft,"Thevolcanowantstoplayhispranks!Lethimtry,ifhelikes!Hewillfindhismaster!"

           "Who?"askedNeb.