Таємничий острів

           Youwillbringmeyourwifeandchildren,andIshallmakejollychapsofyouryoungsters!"

           "That’sagreed,"repliedHerbert,laughingandblushingatthesametime.

           "Andyou,CaptainHarding,"resumedPencroftenthusiastically,"youwillbestillthegovernoroftheisland!Ah,howmanyinhabitantscoulditsupport?Tenthousandatleast!"

           Theytalkedinthisway,allowingPencrofttorunon,andatlastthereporteractuallystartedanewspaper—theNewLincolnHerald!

           Soisman’sheart.Thedesiretoperformaworkwhichwillendure,whichwillsurvivehim,istheoriginofhissuperiorityoverallotherlivingcreaturesherebelow.Itisthiswhichhasestablishedhisdominion,andthisitiswhichjustifiesit,overalltheworld.

           Afterthat,whoknowsifJupandTophadnotthemselvestheirlittledreamofthefuture.

           AyrtonsilentlysaidtohimselfthathewouldliketoseeLordGlenarvanagainandshowhimselftoallrestored.

           Oneevening,onthe15thofOctober,theconversationwasprolongedlaterthanusual.Itwasnineo’clock.Already,longbadlyconcealedyawnsgavewarningofthehourofrest,andPencroftwasproceedingtowardshisbed,whentheelectricbell,placedinthedining-room,suddenlyrang.

           Allwerethere,CyrusHarding,GideonSpilett,Herbert,Ayrton,Pencroft,Neb.Thereforenoneofthecolonistswereatthecorral.

           CyrusHardingrose.Hiscompanionsstaredateachother,scarcelybelievingtheirears.

           "Whatdoesthatmean?"criedNeb."Wasitthedevilwhorangit?"

           Nooneanswered.