Таинственный остров

           "Well,"saidtheengineer,"thatprovesthatwithinthreemonthsagun-shotwasfiredinLincolnIsland."

           "Andthatabullet,"addedGideonSpilett,"wounded,thoughnotmortally,thislittleanimal."

           "Thatisunquestionable,"saidCyrusHarding,"andthesearethedeductionswhichmustbedrawnfromthisincident:thattheislandwasinhabitedbeforeourarrival,orthatmenhavelandedherewithinthreemonths.Didthesemenarriveherevoluntarilyorinvoluntarily,bydisembarkingontheshoreorbybeingwrecked?Thispointcanonlybecleareduplater.Astowhattheywere,EuropeansorMalays,enemiesorfriendsofourrace,wecannotpossiblyguess;andiftheystillinhabittheisland,oriftheyhaveleftit,weknownot.Butthesequestionsareoftoomuchimportancetobeallowedtoremainlongunsettled."

           "No!ahundredtimesno!athousandtimesno!"criedthesailor,springingupfromthetable."TherearenoothermenthanourselvesonLincolnIsland!Bymyfaith!Theislandisn’tlargeandifithadbeeninhabited,weshouldhaveseensomeoftheinhabitantslongbeforethis!"

           "Infact,thecontrarywouldbeveryastonishing,"saidHerbert.

           "Butitwouldbemuchmoreastonishing,Ishouldthink,observedthereporter,"ifthispeccaryhadbeenbornwithabulletinitsinside!"

           "Atleast,"saidNebseriously,"ifPencrofthasnothad—"

           "Lookhere,Neb,"burstoutPencroft.