Таинственный остров

           Ontheway,Pencroftaskedhiminthemostnaturaltone,ifbychancehehappenedtohaveamatchortwo.

           Thereporterstopped,feltinhispockets,butfindingnothingsaid,"Ihadsome,butImusthavethrownthemaway."

           TheseamanthenputthesamequestiontoNebandreceivedthesameanswer.

           "Confoundit!"exclaimedthesailor.

           Thereporterheardhimandseizinghisarm,"Haveyounomatches?"heasked.

           "Notone,andnofireinconsequence."

           "Ah!"criedNeb,"ifmymasterwashere,hewouldknowwhattodo!"

           Thefourcastawaysremainedmotionless,lookinguneasilyateachother.Herbertwasthefirsttobreakthesilencebysaying,"Mr.Spilett,youareasmokerandalwayshavematchesaboutyou;perhapsyouhaven’tlookedwell,tryagain,asinglematchwillbeenough!"

           Thereporterhuntedagaininthepocketsofhistrousers,waistcoat,andgreat-coat,andatlasttoPencroft’sgreatjoy,nolesstohisextremesurprise,hefeltatinypieceofwoodentangledintheliningofhiswaistcoat.Heseizeditwithhisfingersthroughthestuff,buthecouldnotgetitout.Ifthiswasamatchandasingleone,itwasofgreatimportancenottoruboffthephosphorus.