Таинственный остров

           "Whenthatfellowisoutside,andfeelsthefreshair,hewillbeoffasfastashislegscancarryhim!"

           "Idonotthinkso,"returnedHarding.

           "Letustry,"saidSpilett.

           "Wewilltry,"repliedtheengineer.

           Thiswasonthe30thofOctober,andconsequentlythecastawayofTaborIslandhadbeenaprisonerinGraniteHouseforninedays.Itwaswarm,andabrightsundarteditsraysontheisland.CyrusHardingandPencroftwenttotheroomoccupiedbythestranger,whowasfoundlyingnearthewindowandgazingatthesky.

           "Come,myfriend,"saidtheengineertohim.

           Thestrangerroseimmediately.HiseyeswerefixedonCyrusHarding,andhefollowedhim,whilethesailormarchedbehindthem,littleconfidentastotheresultoftheexperiment.

           Arrivedatthedoor,HardingandPencroftmadehimtakehisplaceinthelift,whileNeb,Herbert,andGideonSpilettwaitedforthembeforeGraniteHouse.Theliftdescended,andinafewmomentsallwereunitedonthebeach.

           Thesettlerswentashortdistancefromthestranger,soastoleavehimatliberty.

           Hethenmadeafewstepstowardthesea,andhislookbrightenedwithextremeanimation,buthedidnotmaketheslightestattempttoescape.Hewasgazingatthelittlewaveswhich,brokenbytheislet,rippledonthesand.

           "Thisisonlythesea,"observedGideonSpilett,"andpossiblyitdoesnotinspirehimwithanywishtoescape!"

           "Yes,"repliedHarding,"wemusttakehimtotheplateau,ontheborderoftheforest.Theretheexperimentwillbemoreconclusive."