Таємничий острів

           "Hewouldnothavecalledusifthemeanshadbeenwantingtoenableustoreachhim!"

           CyrusHardingspokeinatoneofsuchthoroughconvictionthatnoobjectionwasraised.Hisremark,besides,waslogical.Itwasquitepossiblethatanopening,practicableatlowwater,thoughhiddennowbythehightide,openedatthefootofthecliff.

           Therewassometimetowait.Thecolonistsremainedsilentlycrouchinginadeephollow.Rainnowbegantofallintorrents.Thethunderwasre-echoedamongtherockswithagrandsonorousness.

           Thecolonists’emotionwasgreat.Athousandstrangeandextraordinaryideascrossedtheirbrains,andtheyexpectedsomegrandandsuperhumanapparition,whichalonecouldcomeuptothenotiontheyhadformedofthemysteriousgeniusoftheisland.

           Atmidnight,Hardingcarryingthelantern,descendedtothebeachtoreconnoiter.

           Theengineerwasnotmistaken.Thebeginningofanimmenseexcavationcouldbeseenunderthewater.Therethewire,bendingatarightangle,enteredtheyawninggulf.

           CyrusHardingreturnedtohiscompanions,andsaidsimply,—

           "Inanhourtheopeningwillbepracticable."

           "Itisthere,then?"saidPencroft.

           "Didyoudoubtit?"returnedHarding.

           "Butthiscavernmustbefilledwithwatertoacertainheight,"observedHerbert.

           "Eitherthecavernwillbecompletelydry,"repliedHarding,"andinthatcasewecantraverseitonfoot,oritwillnotbedry,andsomemeansoftransportwillbeputatourdisposal."

           Anhourpassed.Allclimbeddownthroughtheraintothelevelofthesea.