Таємничий острів

           Independentlyofthefactthatitwouldbeimpossibletogetitoutofthiscavern,whoseentranceisnowclosedbytheuprisingofthebasalticrocks,CaptainNemo’swishisthatitshallbeburiedwithhim.Hiswishisourlaw,andwewillfulfilit."

           Afterasomewhatprolongedconversation,CyrusHardingandhiscompanionsagaindescendedtotheinteriorofthe"Nautilus."Theretheytooksomerefreshmentandreturnedtothesaloon.

           CaptainNemohadsomewhatralliedfromtheprostrationwhichhadovercomehim,andhiseyesshonewiththeirwontedfire.Afaintsmileevencurledhislips.

           Thecolonistsdrewaroundhim.

           "Gentlemen,"saidthecaptain,"youarebraveandhonestmen.Youhavedevotedyourselvestothecommonweal.OftenhaveIobservedyourconduct.Ihaveesteemedyou—Iesteemyoustill!Yourhand,Mr.Harding."

           CyrusHardinggavehishandtothecaptain,whoclaspeditaffectionately.

           "Itiswell!"hemurmured.

           Heresumed,—

           "Butenoughofmyself.Ihavetospeakconcerningyourselves,andthisLincolnIsland,uponwhichyouhavetakenrefuge.Younowdesiretoleaveit?"

           "Toreturn,captain!"answeredPencroftquickly.

           "Toreturn,Pencroft?"saidthecaptain,withasmile."Iknow,itistrue,yourloveforthisisland.Youhavehelpedtomakeitwhatitnowis,anditseemstoyouaparadise!"

           "Ourproject,captain,"interposedCyrusHarding,"istoannexittotheUnitedStates,andtoestablishforourshippingaportsofortunatelysituatedinthispartofthePacific."