Таинственный остров

           Willyouallowmetolivetherewiththem?"

           CyrusHardinggazedattheunfortunatemanforafewmomentswithafeelingofdeepcommiseration;then,—

           "Myfriend,"saidhe,"thecorralhasonlystableshardlyfitforanimals."

           "Itwillbegoodenoughforme,sir."

           "Myfriend,"answeredHarding,"wewillnotconstrainyouinanything.Youwishtoliveatthecorral,sobeit.Youwill,however,bealwayswelcomeatGraniteHouse.Butsinceyouwishtoliveatthecorralwewillmakethenecessaryarrangementsforyourbeingcomfortablyestablishedthere."

           "Nevermindthat,Ishalldoverywell."

           "Myfriend,"answeredHarding,whoalwaysintentionallymadeuseofthiscordialappellation,"youmustletusjudgewhatitwillbebesttodointhisrespect."

           "Thankyou,sir,"repliedthestrangerashewithdrew.

           Theengineerthenmadeknowntohiscompanionstheproposalwhichhadbeenmadetohim,anditwasagreedthattheyshouldbuildawoodenhouseatthecorral,whichtheywouldmakeascomfortableaspossible.

           Thatverydaythecolonistsrepairedtothecorralwiththenecessarytools,andaweekhadnotpassedbeforethehousewasreadytoreceiveitstenant.Itwasbuiltabouttwentyfeetfromthesheds,andfromthereitwaseasytooverlooktheflockofsheep,whichthennumberedmorethaneighty.Somefurniture,abed,table,bench,cupboard,andchestweremanufactured,andagun,ammunition,andtoolswerecarriedtothecorral.