Таинственный остров

           Butwhywastheshipcomingthere?WasitsimplechancewhichbroughtittothatpartofthePacific,wherethemapsmentionednolandexceptTaborIsland,whichitselfwasoutoftherouteusuallyfollowedbyvesselsfromthePolynesianArchipelagoes,fromNewZealand,andfromtheAmericancoast?Tothisquestion,whicheachoneaskedhimself,areplywassuddenlymadebyHerbert.

           "Canitbethe‘Duncan’?"hecried.

           The"Duncan,"ashasbeensaid,wasLordGlenarvan’syacht,whichhadleftAyrtonontheislet,andwhichwastoreturntheresomedaytofetchhim.Now,theisletwasnotsofardistantfromLincolnIsland,butthatavessel,standingfortheone,couldpassinsightoftheother.Ahundredandfiftymilesonlyseparatedtheminlongitude,andseventyinlatitude.

           "WemusttellAyrton,"saidGideonSpilett,"andsendforhimimmediately.Healonecansayifitisthe‘Duncan.’"

           Thiswastheopinionofall,andthereporter,goingtothetelegraphicapparatuswhichplacedthecorralincommunicationwithGraniteHouse,sentthistelegram:—"Comewithallpossiblespeed."

           Inafewminutesthebellsounded.

           "Iamcoming,"repliedAyrton.

           Thenthesettlerscontinuedtowatchthevessel.

           "Ifitisthe‘Duncan,’"saidHerbert,"Ayrtonwillrecognizeherwithoutdifficulty,sincehesailedonboardherforsometime."