Таємничий острів

           Whatasadandfearfulsight,andhowpainfultothecolonists,who,fromafertiledomaincoveredwithforests,irrigatedbywatercourses,andenrichedbytheproduceoftheirtoils,foundthemselves,asitwere,transportedtoadesolaterock,uponwhich,butfortheirreservesofprovisions,theycouldnotevengatherthemeansofsubsistence!

           "Itisenoughtobreakone’sheart!"saidGideonSpilett,oneday.

           "Yes,Spilett,"answeredtheengineer."MayGodgrantusthetimetocompletethisvessel,nowoursolerefuge!"

           "Donotyouthink,Cyrus,thattheviolenceoftheeruptionhassomewhatlessened?Thevolcanostillvomitsforthlava,butsomewhatlessabundantly,ifImistakenot."

           "Itmatterslittle,"answeredCyrusHarding."Thefireisstillburningintheinteriorofthemountain,andtheseamaybreakinatanymoment.Weareintheconditionofpassengerswhoseshipisdevouredbyaconflagrationwhichtheycannotextinguish,andwhoknowthatsoonerorlatertheflamesmustreachthepowder-magazine.Towork,Spilett,towork,andletusnotloseanhour!"

           Duringeightdaysmore,thatistosayuntilthe7thofFebruary,thelavacontinuedtoflow,buttheeruptionwasconfinedwithinthepreviouslimits.CyrusHardingfearedabovealllesttheliquefiedmattershouldoverflowtheshore,forinthateventthedockyardcouldnotescape.Moreover,aboutthistimethecolonistsfeltintheframeoftheislandvibrationswhichalarmedthemtothehighestdegree.

           Itwasthe20thofFebruary.