Діти капітана Гранта

           Thesoilwaslightandfriable,andbelowlayabedofsilicioustufa;therefore,evenwithouttools,theaperturedeepenedquickly.Itsoonbecameevidentthataman,ormen,clingingtothesidesofthe"pah,"werecuttingapassageintoitsexteriorwall.Whatcouldbetheobject?Didtheyknowoftheexistenceoftheprisoners,orwasitsomeprivateenterprisethatledtotheundertaking?

           Theprisonersredoubledtheirefforts.Theirfingersbled,butstilltheyworkedon;afterhalfanhourtheyhadgonethreefeetdeep;theyperceivedbytheincreasedsharpnessofthesoundsthatonlyathinlayerofearthpreventedimmediatecommunication.

           Someminutesmorepassed,andtheMajorwithdrewhishandfromthestrokeofasharpblade.Hesuppressedacry.

           JohnMangles,insertingthebladeofhisponiard,avoidedtheknifewhichnowprotrudedabovethesoil,butseizedthehandthatwieldedit.

           Itwasthehandofawomanorchild,aEuropean!On

           V.IVVerneneithersidehadawordbeenuttered.Itwasevidentlythecueofbothsidestobesilent.

           "IsitRobert?"whisperedGlenarvan.

           Butsoftlyasthenamewasbreathed,MaryGrant,alreadyawakenedbythesoundsinthehut,slippedovertowardGlenarvan,andseizingthehand,allstainedwithearth,shecovereditwithkisses.

           "MydarlingRobert,"saidshe,neverdoubting,"itisyou!itisyou!"

           "Yes,littlesister,"saidhe,"itisIamheretosaveyouall;butbeverysilent."

           "Bravelad!"repeatedGlenarvan.

           "Watchthesavagesoutside,"saidRobert.