Таємничий острів

           "Thanks,myfriend,"repliedtheengineer;"waitanotherhourortwo,andthenwewillsetout.Andnowspeak,Spilett."

           Thereporterthentoldhimallthathadoccurred.HerecountedalltheeventswithwhichCyruswasunacquainted,thelastfalloftheballoon,thelandingonthisunknownland,whichappearedadesert(whateveritwas,whetherislandorcontinent),thediscoveryoftheChimneys,thesearchforhim,notforgettingofcourseNeb’sdevotion,theintelligenceexhibitedbythefaithfulTop,aswellasmanyothermatters.

           "But,"askedHarding,inastillfeeblevoice,"youdidnot,then,pickmeuponthebeach?"

           "No,"repliedthereporter.

           "Anddidyounotbringmetothiscave?"

           "No."

           "Atwhatdistanceisthiscavefromthesea?"

           "Aboutamile,"repliedPencroft;"andifyouareastonished,captain,wearenotlesssurprisedourselvesatseeingyouinthisplace!"

           "Indeed,"saidtheengineer,whowasrecoveringgradually,andwhotookgreatinterestinthesedetails,"indeeditisverysingular!"

           "But,"resumedthesailor,"canyoutelluswhathappenedafteryouwerecarriedoffbythesea?"

           CyrusHardingconsidered.Heknewverylittle.Thewavehadtornhimfromtheballoonnet.Hesankatfirstseveralfathoms.Onreturningtothesurface,inthehalflight,hefeltalivingcreaturestrugglingnearhim.