Таємничий острів

           AfewprovisionstakenfromthemagazineofGraniteHousebeforethecatastrophe,alittlefreshwaterfromtherainwhichhadfalleninahollowoftherock,wasallthattheunfortunatecolonistspossessed.Theirlasthope,thevessel,hadbeenshatteredtopieces.Theyhadnomeansofquittingthereef;nofire,noranymeansofobtainingit.Itseemedthattheymustinevitablyperish.

           Thisday,the18thofMarch,thereremainedonlyprovisionsfortwodays,althoughtheylimitedtheirconsumptiontothebarenecessariesoflife.Alltheirscienceandintelligencecouldavailthemnothingintheirpresentposition.TheywereinthehandofGod.

           CyrusHardingwascalm,GideonSpilettmorenervous,andPencroft,apreytosullenanger,walkedtoandfroontherock.Herbertdidnotforamomentquittheengineer’sside,asifdemandingfromhimthatassistancehehadnopowertogive.NebandAyrtonwereresignedtotheirfate.

           "Ah,whatamisfortune!whatamisfortune!"oftenrepeatedPencroft."Ifwehadbutawalnut-shelltotakeustoTaborIsland!Butwehavenothing,nothing!"

           "CaptainNemodidrighttodie,"saidNeb.

           DuringthefiveensuingdaysCyrusHardingandhisunfortunatecompanionshusbandedtheirprovisionswiththemostextremecare,eatingonlywhatwouldpreventthemfromdyingofstarvation.Theirweaknesswasextreme.HerbertandNebbegantoshowsymptomsofdelirium.