Таємничий острів

           Thiswasaccompaniedbysuccessiveexplosions,resemblingthedischargeofabatteryofmachine-guns.

           CyrusHarding,thereporter,andHerbert,afterspendinganhourontheplateauofProspectHeights,againdescendedtothebeach,andreturnedtoGraniteHouse.Theengineerwasthoughtfulandpreoccupied,somuchso,indeed,thatGideonSpilettinquiredifheapprehendedanyimmediatedanger,ofwhichtheeruptionmightdirectlyorindirectlybethecause.

           "Yes,andno,"answeredCyrusHarding.

           "Nevertheless,"continuedthereporter,"wouldnotthegreatestmisfortunewhichcouldhappentousbeanearthquakewhichwouldoverturntheisland?Now,Idonotsupposethatthisistobefeared,sincethevaporsandlavahavefoundafreeoutlet."

           "True,"repliedCyrusHarding,"andIdonotfearanearthquakeinthesenseinwhichthetermiscommonlyappliedtoconvulsionsofthesoilprovokedbytheexpansionofsubterraneangases.Butothercausesmayproducegreatdisasters."

           "Howso,mydearCyrus?’

           "Iamnotcertain.Imustconsider.Imustvisitthemountain.InafewdaysIshalllearnmoreonthispoint."

           GideonSpilettsaidnomore,andsoon,inspiteoftheexplosionsofthevolcano,whoseintensityincreased,andwhichwererepeatedbytheechoesoftheisland,theinhabitantsofGraniteHouseweresleepingsoundly.

           Threedayspassedby—the4th,5th,and6thofJanuary.Theconstructionofthevesselwasdiligentlycontinued,andwithoutofferingfurtherexplanationstheengineerpushedforwardtheworkwithallhisenergy.