Таинственный остров

           GideonSpilettrankedamongthefirstofthosereporters:amanofgreatmerit,energetic,promptandreadyforanything,fullofideas,havingtraveledoverthewholeworld,soldierandartist,enthusiasticincouncil,resoluteinaction,caringneitherfortrouble,fatigue,nordanger,wheninpursuitofinformation,forhimselffirst,andthenforhisjournal,aperfecttreasuryofknowledgeonallsortsofcurioussubjects,oftheunpublished,oftheunknown,andoftheimpossible.Hewasoneofthoseintrepidobserverswhowriteunderfire,"reporting"amongbullets,andtowhomeverydangeriswelcome.

           Healsohadbeeninallthebattles,inthefirstrank,revolverinonehand,note-bookintheother;grape-shotnevermadehispenciltremble.Hedidnotfatiguethewireswithincessanttelegrams,likethosewhospeakwhentheyhavenothingtosay,buteachofhisnotes,short,decisive,andclear,threwlightonsomeimportantpoint.Besides,hewasnotwantinginhumor.Itwashewho,aftertheaffairoftheBlackRiver,determinedatanycosttokeephisplaceatthewicketofthetelegraphoffice,andafterhavingannouncedtohisjournaltheresultofthebattle,telegraphedfortwohoursthefirstchaptersoftheBible.ItcosttheNewYorkHeraldtwothousanddollars,buttheNewYorkHeraldpublishedthefirstintelligence.

           GideonSpilettwastall.Hewasrathermorethanfortyyearsofage.Lightwhiskersborderingonredsurroundedhisface.Hiseyewassteady,lively,rapidinitschanges.Itwastheeyeofamanaccustomedtotakeinataglanceallthedetailsofascene.Wellbuilt,hewasinuredtoallclimates,likeabarofsteelhardenedincoldwater.

           FortenyearsGideonSpiletthadbeenthereporteroftheNewYorkHerald,whichheenrichedbyhislettersanddrawings,forhewasasskilfulintheuseofthepencilasofthepen.