Таємничий острів

           Andwhatcouldnotbeexplainedeitherwashowtheengineerhadmanagedtogettothiscaveinthedowns,morethanamilefromtheshore.

           "So,Neb,"saidthereporter,"itwasnotyouwhobroughtyourmastertothisplace."

           "No,itwasnotI,"repliedtheNegro.

           "It’sveryclearthatthecaptaincameherebyhimself,"saidPencroft.

           "Itisclearinreality,"observedSpilett,"butitisnotcredible!"

           Theexplanationofthisfactcouldonlybeproducedfromtheengineer’sownlips,andtheymustwaitforthattillspeechreturned.Rubbinghadre-establishedthecirculationoftheblood.CyrusHardingmovedhisarmagain,thenhishead,andafewincomprehensiblewordsescapedhim.

           Neb,whowasbendingoverhim,spoke,buttheengineerdidnotappeartohear,andhiseyesremainedclosed.Lifewasonlyexhibitedinhimbymovement,hissenseshadnotasyetbeenrestored.

           Pencroftmuchregrettednothavingeitherfire,orthemeansofprocuringit,forhehad,unfortunately,forgottentobringtheburntlinen,whichwouldeasilyhaveignitedfromthesparksproducedbystrikingtogethertwoflints.Astotheengineer’spockets,theywereentirelyempty,exceptthatofhiswaistcoat,whichcontainedhiswatch.ItwasnecessarytocarryHardingtotheChimneys,andthatassoonaspossible.Thiswastheopinionofall.

           Meanwhile,thecarewhichwaslavishedontheengineerbroughthimbacktoconsciousnesssoonerthantheycouldhaveexpected.Thewaterwithwhichtheywettedhislipsrevivedhimgradually.