Таємничий острів

           Inopendaythedescentwaslessperilous,and,besides,thebedofasheswhichcoveredthepolishedsurfaceoftherockenabledthemtomaketheirfootingmoresecure.

           Theridgeattheendoftheshore,aboutfortyfeetinheight,wassoonreached.CyrusHardingrecollectedthatthiselevationgraduallyslopedtowardsthelevelofthesea.Althoughthetidewasatpresentlow,nobeachcouldheseen,andthewaves,thickenedbythevolcanicdust,beatuponthebasalticrocks.

           CyrusHardingandAyrtonfoundwithoutdifficultytheentrancetoDakkarGrotto,andpausedforamomentatthelastrockbeforeit.

           "Theironboatshouldbethere,"saidtheengineer.

           "Itishere,CaptainHarding,"repliedAyrton,drawingtowardshimthefragilecraft,whichwasprotectedbythearchofthevault.

           "Onboard,Ayrton!"

           Thetwocolonistssteppedintotheboat.Aslightundulationofthewavescarrieditfartherunderthelowarchofthecrypt,andthereAyrton,withtheaidofflintandsteel,lightedthelamp.Hethentooktheoars,andthelamphavingbeenplacedinthebowoftheboat,sothatitsraysfellbeforethem,CyrusHardingtookthehelmandsteeredthroughtheshadesofthegrotto.

           The"Nautilus"wastherenolongertoilluminatethecavernwithitselectriclight.Possiblyitmightnotyetbeextinguished,butnorayescapedfromthedepthsoftheabyssinwhichreposedallthatwasmortalofCaptainNemo.

           Thelightaffordedbythelamp,althoughfeeble,neverthelessenabledtheengineertoadvanceslowly,followingthewallofthecavern.