Таинственный остров

           Shallweneverhavetheanswertotheseenigmas?"

           "Yes!"repliedtheengineerquickly,"yes,evenifIhavetopenetrateintothebowelsofthisisland!"

           "Chancewillperhapsgiveusthekeytothismystery!"

           "Chance!Spilett!Idonotbelieveinchance,anymorethanIbelieveinmysteriesinthisworld.Thereisareasonforeverythingunaccountablewhichhashappenedhere,andthatreasonIshalldiscover.Butinthemeantimewemustworkandobserve."

           ThemonthofJanuaryarrived.Theyear1867commenced.Thesummeroccupationswereassiduouslycontinued.Duringthedayswhichfollowed,HerbertandSpiletthavinggoneinthedirectionofthecorral,ascertainedthatAyrtonhadtakenpossessionofthehabitationwhichhadbeenpreparedforhim.Hebusiedhimselfwiththenumerousflockconfidedtohiscare,andsparedhiscompanionsthetroubleofcomingeverytwoorthreedaystovisitthecorral.Nevertheless,inordernottoleaveAyrtoninsolitudefortoolongatime,thesettlersoftenpaidhimavisit.

           Itwasnotunimportanteither,inconsequenceofsomesuspicionsentertainedbytheengineerandGideonSpilett,thatthispartoftheislandshouldbesubjecttoasurveillanceofsomesort,andthatAyrton,ifanyincidentoccurredunexpectedly,shouldnotneglecttoinformtheinhabitantsofGraniteHouseofit.

           Neverthelessitmighthappenthatsomethingwouldoccurwhichitwouldbenecessarytobringrapidlytotheengineer’sknowledge.