Таинственный остров

           And,besides,thisside,lookingtowardstheeast,isnotexposedastheotheristothetrade-winds,whichinthishemisphereblowfromthenorthwest."

           "Then,captain,"repliedthesailor,"letusbuildahouseontheedgeofthelake.Neitherbricksnortoolsarewantingnow.Afterhavingbeenbrickmakers,potters,smelters,andsmiths,weshallsurelyknowhowtobemasons!"

           "Yes,myfriend;butbeforecomingtoanydecisionwemustconsiderthematterthoroughly.Anaturaldwellingwouldspareusmuchwork,andwouldbeasurerretreat,foritwouldbeaswelldefendedagainstenemiesfromtheinteriorasthosefromoutside."

           "Thatistrue,Cyrus,"repliedthereporter,"butwehavealreadyexaminedallthatmassofgranite,andthereisnotahole,notacranny!"

           "No,notone!"addedPencroft."Ah,ifwewereabletodigoutadwellinginthatcliff,atagoodheight,soastobeoutofthereachofharm,thatwouldbecapital!Icanseethatonthefrontwhichlooksseaward,fiveorsixrooms—"

           "Withwindowstolightthem!"saidHerbert,laughing.

           "Andastaircasetoclimbuptothem!"addedNeb.

           "Youarelaughing,"criedthesailor,"andwhy?WhatisthereimpossibleinwhatIpropose?Haven’twegotpickaxesandspades?Won’tCaptainHardingbeabletomakepowdertoblowupthemine?Isn’tittrue,captain,thatyouwillmakepowdertheverydaywewantit?"

           CyrusHardinglistenedtotheenthusiasticPencroftdevelopinghisfancifulprojects.