Таинственный остров

           "Yes,Topwillgo,"saidthereporter,whohadunderstoodtheengineer.

           "Topcangowherewecannot!HewillcarrytoGraniteHousethenewsofthecorral,andhewillbringbacktousthatfromGraniteHouse!"

           "Quick!"saidHarding."Quick!"

           Spilettrapidlytorealeaffromhisnote-book,andwrotethesewords:—

           "Herbertwounded.Weareatthecorral.Beonyourguard.DonotleaveGraniteHouse.Havetheconvictsappearedintheneighborhood?ReplybyTop."

           ThislaconicnotecontainedallthatNeboughttoknow,andatthesametimeaskedallthatthecolonistswishedtoknow.ItwasfoldedandfastenedtoTop’scollarinaconspicuousposition.

           "Top,mydog,"saidtheengineer,caressingtheanimal,"Neb,Top!Neb!Go,go!"

           Topboundedatthesewords.Heunderstood,heknewwhatwasexpectedofhim.Theroadtothecorralwasfamiliartohim.Inlessthananhourhecouldclearit,anditmightbehopedthatwhereneitherCyrusHardingnorthereportercouldhaveventuredwithoutdanger,Top,runningamongthegrassorinthewood,wouldpassunperceived.

           Theengineerwenttothegateofthecorralandopenedit.

           "Neb,Top!Neb!"repeatedtheengineer,againpointinginthedirectionofGraniteHouse.

           Topsprangforwards,thenalmostimmediatelydisappeared.

           "Hewillgetthere!"saidthereporter.

           "Yes,andhewillcomeback,thefaithfulanimal!"

           "Whato’clockisit?"askedGideonSpilett.

           "Ten."

           "Inanhourhemaybehere.Wewillwatchforhisreturn."

           Thegateofthecorralwasclosed