Таємничий острів

           "Waittillyouhaveheardall,"hesaid.

           Andthecaptain,inafewconcisesentences,ranovertheeventsofhislife.

           Hisnarrativewasshort,yethewasobligedtosummonuphiswholeremainingenergytoarriveattheend.Hewasevidentlycontendingagainstextremeweakness.SeveraltimesCyrusHardingentreatedhimtoreposeforawhile,butheshookhisheadasamantowhomthemorrowmaynevercome,andwhenthereporterofferedhisassistance,—

           "Itisuseless,"hesaid;"myhoursarenumbered."

           CaptainNemowasanIndian,thePrinceDakkar,sonofarajahofthethenindependentterritoryofBundelkund.Hisfathersenthim,whentenyearsofage,toEurope,inorderthathemightreceiveaneducationinallrespectscomplete,andinthehopesthatbyhistalentsandknowledgehemightonedaytakealeadingpartinraisinghislongdegradedandheathencountrytoalevelwiththenationsofEurope.

           FromtheageoftenyearstothatofthirtyPrinceDakkar,endowedbyNaturewithherrichestgiftsofintellect,accumulatedknowledgeofeverykind,andinscience,literature,andarthisresearcheswereextensiveandprofound.

           HetraveledoverthewholeofEurope.Hisrankandfortunecausedhimtobeeverywheresoughtafter;butthepleasuresoftheworldhadforhimnoattractions.