Таинственный остров

           Theywerewalkinguponasandysoil,mingledwithstones,whichappeareddestituteofanysortofvegetation.Theground,veryunequalandrough,wasinsomeplacesperfectlyriddledwithholes,makingwalkingextremelypainful.Fromtheseholesescapedeveryminutegreatbirdsofclumsyflight,whichflewinalldirections.Others,moreactive,roseinflocksandpassedincloudsovertheirheads.Thesailorthoughtherecognizedgullsandcormorants,whoseshrillcriesroseabovetheroaringofthesea.

           Fromtimetotimethecastawaysstoppedandshouted,thenlistenedforsomeresponsefromtheocean,fortheythoughtthatiftheengineerhadlanded,andtheyhadbeenneartotheplace,theywouldhaveheardthebarkingofthedogTop,evenshouldHardinghimselfhavebeenunabletogiveanysignofexistence.Theystoppedtolisten,butnosoundaroseabovetheroaringofthewavesandthedashingofthesurf.Thelittlebandthencontinuedtheirmarchforward,searchingintoeveryhollowoftheshore.

           Afterwalkingfortwentyminutes,thefourcastawaysweresuddenlybroughttoastandstillbythesightoffoamingbillowsclosetotheirfeet.Thesolidgroundendedhere.Theyfoundthemselvesattheextremityofasharppointonwhichtheseabrokefuriously.

           "Itisapromontory,"saidthesailor;"wemustretraceoursteps,holdingtowardstheright,andweshallthusgainthemainland."

           "Butifheisthere,"saidNeb,pointingtotheocean,whosewavesshoneofasnowywhiteinthedarkness."Well,letuscallagain,"andallunitingtheirvoices,theygaveavigorousshout,buttherecamenoreply.Theywaitedforalull,thenbeganagain;stillnoreply.