Таємничий острів

           "Yourthoughtsarewithyourcountry,gentlemen,"continuedthecaptain;"yourtoilsareforherprosperityandglory.Youareright.One’snativeland!—thereshouldonelive!theredie!AndIdiefarfromallIloved!"

           "Youhavesomelastwishtotransmit,"saidtheengineerwithemotion,"somesouvenirtosendtothosefriendsyouhaveleftinthemountainsofIndia?"

           "No,CaptainHarding;nofriendsremaintome!Iamthelastofmyrace,andtoallwhomIhaveknownIhavelongbeenasarethedead.—Buttoreturntoyourselves.Solitude,isolation,arepainfulthings,andbeyondhumanendurance.Idieofhavingthoughtitpossibletolivealone!Youshould,therefore,dareallintheattempttoleaveLincolnIsland,andseeoncemorethelandofyourbirth.Iamawarethatthosewretcheshavedestroyedthevesselyouhavebuilt."

           "Weproposetoconstructavessel,"saidGideonSpilett,"sufficientlylargetoconveyustothenearestland;butifweshouldsucceed,soonerorlaterweshallreturntoLincolnIsland.Weareattachedtoitbytoomanyrecollectionsevertoforgetit."

           "ItisherethatwehaveknownCaptainNemo,"saidCyrusHarding.

           "Itishereonlythatwecanmakeourhome!"addedHerbert.

           "AndhereshallIsleepthesleepofeternity,if—"repliedthecaptain.

           Hepausedforamoment,and,insteadofcompletingthesentence,saidsimply,—

           "Mr.Harding,Iwishtospeakwithyou—alone!"

           Theengineer’scompanions,respectingthewish,retired.