Таинственный остров

           Theexplorationofthesedensemassesofwoodwasdifficultintheextreme,andthereporterneverventuredtherewithoutthepocket-compass,forthesunscarcelypiercedthroughthethickfoliageanditwouldhavebeenverydifficultforthemtoretracetheirway.Itnaturallyhappenedthatgamewasmorerareinthosesituationswheretherewashardlysufficientroomtomove;twoorthreelargeherbivorousanimalswerehoweverkilledduringthelastfortnightofApril.Thesewerekoalas,specimensofwhichthesettlershadalreadyseentothenorthofthelake,andwhichstupidlyallowedthemselvestobekilledamongthethickbranchesofthetreesinwhichtheytookrefuge.TheirskinswerebroughtbacktoGraniteHouse,andthere,bythehelpofsulphuricacid,theyweresubjectedtoasortoftanningprocesswhichrenderedthemcapableofbeingused.

           Onthe30thofApril,thetwosportsmenwereinthedepthoftheFarWest,whenthereporter,precedingHerbertafewpaces,arrivedinasortofclearing,intowhichthetreesmoresparselyscatteredhadpermittedafewraystopenetrate.GideonSpilettwasatfirstsurprisedattheodorwhichexhaledfromcertainplantswithstraightstalks,roundandbranchy,bearinggrape-likeclustersofflowersandverysmallberries.Thereporterbrokeoffoneortwoofthesestalksandreturnedtothelad,towhomhesaid,

           "Whatcanthisbe,Herbert?"

           "Well,Mr.Spilett,"saidHerbert,"thisisatreasurewhichwillsecureyouPencroft’sgratitudeforever."

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