Таємничий острів

           "Pencroft,"saidCyrusHarding,"willyoutakemyshoeandseeifitfitsexactlytothefootprints?"

           Thesailordidastheengineerrequested.WhileheandHerbert,guidedbyNeb,wenttotheplacewherethefootprintsweretobefound,Cyrusremarkedtothereporter,—

           "Itisamostextraordinarything!"

           "Perfectlyinexplicable!"repliedGideonSpilett.

           "Butdonotdwelluponitjustnow,mydearSpilett,wewilltalkaboutitby-and-by."

           Amomentaftertheothersentered.

           Therewasnodoubtaboutit.Theengineer’sshoefittedexactlytothefootmarks.ItwasthereforeCyrusHardingwhohadleftthemonthesand.

           "Come,"saidhe,"ImusthaveexperiencedthisunconsciousnesswhichIattributedtoNeb.Imusthavewalkedlikeasomnambulist,withoutanyknowledgeofmysteps,andTopmusthaveguidedmehere,afterhavingdraggedmefromthewaves...Come,Top!Come,olddog!"

           Themagnificentanimalboundedbarkingtohismaster,andcaresseswerelavishedonhim.ItwasagreedthattherewasnootherwayofaccountingfortherescueofCyrusHarding,andthatTopdeservedallthehonoroftheaffair.

           Towardstwelveo’clock,Pencrofthavingaskedtheengineeriftheycouldnowremovehim,Harding,insteadofreplying,andbyaneffortwhichexhibitedthemostenergeticwill,gotup.Buthewasobligedtoleanonthesailor,orhewouldhavefallen.