Таинственный остров

           Thatday’sbreakfastwascomposedsolelyofpigeon’seggsandlithodomes.Herberthadfoundsomesaltdepositedbyevaporationinthehollowsoftherocks,andthismineralwasverywelcome.

           Therepastended,PencroftaskedthereporterifhewishedtoaccompanyHerbertandhimselftotheforest,wheretheyweregoingtotrytohunt.Butonconsideration,itwasthoughtnecessarythatsomeoneshouldremaintokeepinthefire,andtobeathandinthehighlyimprobableeventofNebrequiringaid.Thereporteraccordinglyremainedbehind.

           "Tothechase,Herbert,"saidthesailor."Weshallfindammunitiononourway,andcutourweaponsintheforest."Butatthemomentofstarting,Herbertobserved,thatsincetheyhadnotinder,itwouldperhapsbeprudenttoreplaceitbyanothersubstance.

           "What?"askedPencroft.

           "Burntlinen,"repliedtheboy."Thatcouldincaseofneedservefortinder."

           Thesailorthoughtitverysensibleadvice.Onlyithadtheinconvenienceofnecessitatingthesacrificeofapieceofhandkerchief.Notwithstanding,thethingwaswellworthwhiletrying,andapartofPencroft’slargecheckedhandkerchiefwassoonreducedtothestateofahalf-burntrag.Thisinflammablematerialwasplacedinthecentralchamberatthebottomofalittlecavityintherock,shelteredfromallwindanddamp.

           Itwasnineo’clockinthemorning.Theweatherwasthreateningandthebreezeblewfromthesoutheast.HerbertandPencroftturnedtheangleoftheChimneys,notwithouthavingcastalookatthesmokewhich,justatthatplace,curledroundapointofrock:theyascendedtheleftbankoftheriver.