Таинственный остров

           "Lookhere,"saidNeb,whowishedtohidehisill-luck,"wewon’tspeakaboutit."

           "Onthecontrary,Neb,wemustspeakaboutit,"repliedHerbert.

           Andthetwo,takingthecart,whichtherewasnownousefor,returnedtoGraniteHouse.

           Arrivedatthedockyard,wheretheengineerandthesailorwereworkingtogether,Herbertrecountedwhathadhappened.

           "Oh!thestupids!"criedthesailor,"tohaveletatleastfiftymealsescape!"

           "But,Pencroft,"repliedNeb,"itwasn’tourfaultthatthebeastgotaway;asItellyou,wehadturneditoveronitsback!"

           "Thenyoudidn’tturnitoverenough!"returnedtheobstinatesailor.

           "Notenough!"criedHerbert.

           Andhetoldhowhehadtakencaretowedgeuptheturtlewithstones.

           "Itisamiracle,then!"repliedPencroft.

           "Ithought,captain,"saidHerbert,"thatturtles,onceplacedontheirbacks,couldnotregaintheirfeet,especiallywhentheyareofalargesize?’

           "Thatistrue,myboy,"repliedCyrusHarding.

           "Thenhowdiditmanage?"

           "Atwhatdistancefromtheseadidyouleavethisturtle?"askedtheengineer,who,havingsuspendedhiswork,wasreflectingonthisincident.

           "Fifteenfeetatthemost,"repliedHerbert.

           "Andthetidewaslowatthetime?"

           "Yes,captain."

           "Well,"repliedtheengineer,"whattheturtlecouldnotdoonthesanditmighthavebeenabletodointhewater.Itturnedoverwhenthetideovertookit,andthenquietlyreturnedtothedeepsea."

           "Oh!whatstupidswewere!"criedNeb