Таинственный остров

           "And,"saidhe,"itissoalreadyinheart,ifnotindeed!"

           Inthemeantime,theflagwashoistedatthecentralwindowofGraniteHouse,andthesettlerssaluteditwiththreecheers.

           Thecoldseasonwasnowalmostatanend,anditappearedasifthissecondwinterwastopasswithoutanyunusualoccurrence,whenonthenightofthe11thofAugust,theplateauofProspectHeightswasmenacedwithcompletedestruction.

           Afterabusydaythecolonistsweresleepingsoundly,whentowardsfouro’clockinthemorningtheyweresuddenlyawakenedbyTop’sbarking.

           Thedogwasnotthistimebarkingnearthemouthofthewell,butatthethresholdofthedoor,atwhichhewasscratchingasifhewishedtoburstitopen.Jupwasalsoutteringpiercingcries.

           "Hello,Top!"criedNeb,whowasthefirstawake.Butthedogcontinuedtobarkmorefuriouslythanever.

           "What’sthematternow?"askedHarding.

           Andalldressinginhasterushedtothewindows,whichtheyopened.

           Beneaththeireyeswasspreadasheetofsnowwhichlookedgrayinthedimlight.Thesettlerscouldseenothing,buttheyheardasingularyelpingnoiseawayinthedarkness.Itwasevidentthatthebeachhadbeeninvadedbyanumberofanimalswhichcouldnotbeseen.

           "Whatarethey?"criedPencroft.

           "Wolves,jaguars,orapes?"repliedNeb.

           "Theyhavenearlyreachedtheplateau,"saidthereporter.

           "Andourpoultry-yard,"exclaimedHerbert,"andourgarden!"

           "Wherecantheyhavecrossed?"askedPencroft.