Таємничий острів

           Arrivedatthesummitofthemound,Pencroftandhistwocompanionssettowork,withnoothertoolsthantheirhands,todespoilofitsprincipalbranchesarathersicklytree,asortofmarinefir;withthesebranchestheymadealitter,onwhich,coveredwithgrassandleaves,theycouldcarrytheengineer.

           Thisoccupiedthemnearlyfortyminutes,anditwasteno’clockwhentheyreturnedtoCyrusHardingwhomSpiletthadnotleft.

           Theengineerwasjustawakingfromthesleep,orratherfromthedrowsiness,inwhichtheyhadfoundhim.Thecolorwasreturningtohischeeks,whichtillnowhadbeenaspaleasdeath.Heraisedhimselfalittle,lookedaroundhim,andappearedtoaskwherehewas.

           "Canyoulistentomewithoutfatigue,Cyrus?"askedthereporter.

           "Yes,"repliedtheengineer.

           "It’smyopinion,"saidthesailor,"thatCaptainHardingwillbeabletolistentoyoustillbetter,ifhewillhavesomemoregrousejelly,—forwehavegrouse,captain,"addedhe,presentinghimwithalittleofthisjelly,towhichhethistimeaddedsomeoftheflesh.

           CyrusHardingatealittleofthegrouse,andtherestwasdividedamonghiscompanions,whofounditbutameagerbreakfast,fortheyweresufferingextremelyfromhunger.

           "Well!"saidthesailor,"thereisplentyoffoodattheChimneys,foryoumustknow,captain,thatdownthere,inthesouth,wehaveahouse,withrooms,beds,andfireplace,andinthepantry,severaldozenofbirds,whichourHerbertcallscouroucous.Yourlitterisready,andassoonasyoufeelstrongenoughwewillcarryyouhome."