Таємничий острів

           CyrusHardingthenspoke;herecalledalltheincidentswhichhadexercisedsobeneficentaninfluenceuponthecolony,andinthenamesofhiscompanionsandhimselfthankedthegenerousbeingtowhomtheyowedsomuch.

           ButCaptainNemopaidlittleattention;hismindappearedtobeabsorbedbyoneidea,andwithouttakingtheprofferedhandoftheengineer,—

           "Now,sir,"saidhe,"nowthatyouknowmyhistory,yourjudgment!"

           Insayingthis,thecaptainevidentlyalludedtoanimportantincidentwitnessedbythethreestrangersthrownonboardhisvessel,andwhichtheFrenchprofessorhadrelatedinhiswork,causingaprofoundandterriblesensation.Somedaysprevioustotheflightoftheprofessorandhistwocompanions,the"Nautilus,"beingchasedbyafrigateinthenorthoftheAtlantichadhurledherselfasaramuponthisfrigate,andsunkherwithoutmercy.

           CyrusHardingunderstoodthecaptain’sallusion,andwassilent.

           "Itwasanenemy’sfrigate,"exclaimedCaptainNemo,transformedforaninstantintothePrinceDakkar,"anenemy’sfrigate!Itwasshewhoattackedme—Iwasinanarrowandshallowbay—thefrigatebarredmyway—andIsankher!"

           Afewmomentsofsilenceensued;thenthecaptaindemanded,—

           "Whatthinkyouofmylife,gentlemen?"

           CyrusHardingextendedhishandtotheci-devantprinceandrepliedgravely,"Sir,yourerrorwasinsupposingthatthepastcanberesuscitated,andincontendingagainstinevitableprogress