Діти капітана Гранта

Cape Town and M. Viot

           Itwasahappydayforhimwhenthesekindlystrangerstouchedathisisland,forSt.Peter’swasonlyfrequentedbyseal-fishers,andnowandthenawhaler,thecrewsofwhichareusuallyrough,coarsemen.

           M.Viotpresentedhissubjects,thetwomulattoes.Theycomposedthewholelivingpopulationoftheisland,exceptafewwildboarsintheinteriorandmyriadsofpenguins.Thelittlehousewherethethreesolitarymenlivedwasintheheartofanaturalbayonthesoutheast,formedbythecrumblingawayofaportionofthemountain.

           Twiceoverintheearlypartofthecentury,AmsterdamIslandbecamethecountryofdesertedsailors,providentiallysavedfrommiseryanddeath;butsincetheseeventsnovesselhadbeenlostonitscoast.Hadanyshipwreckoccurred,somefragmentsmusthavebeenthrownonthesandyshore,andanypoorsufferersfromitwouldhavefoundtheirwaytoM.Viot’sfishing-huts.Theoldmanhadbeenlongontheisland,andhadneverbeencalledupontoexercisesuchhospitality.OftheBritanniaandCaptainGrantheknewnothing,buthewascertainthatthedisasterhadnothappenedonAmsterdamIsland,norontheisletcalledSt.Paul,forwhalersandfishing-vesselswentthereconstantly,andmusthaveheardofit.

           Glenarvanwasneithersurprisednorvexedatthereply;indeed,hisobjectinaskingwasrathertoestablishthefactthatCaptainGranthadnotbeentherethanthathehad.Thisdone,theywerereadytoproceedontheirvoyagenextday.

           Theyrambledabouttheislandtillevening,asitsappearancewasveryinviting

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