Таинственный остров

           "Likeafish,"repliedthesailorquiteseriously.Pencrofthadfoundamongthegrasshalfadozengrousenests,eachhavingthreeorfoureggs.Hetookgreatcarenottotouchthesenests,towhichtheirproprietorswouldnotfailtoreturn.Itwasaroundthesethathemeanttostretchhislines,notsnares,butrealfishing-lines.HetookHerberttosomedistancefromthenests,andtherepreparedhissingularapparatuswithallthecarewhichadiscipleofIzaakWaltonwouldhaveused.Herbertwatchedtheworkwithgreatinterest,thoughratherdoubtingitssuccess.Thelinesweremadeoffinecreepers,fastenedonetotheother,ofthelengthoffifteenortwentyfeet.Thick,strongthorns,thepointsbentback(whichweresuppliedfromadwarfacaciabush)werefastenedtotheendsofthecreepers,bywayofhooks.Largeredworms,whichwerecrawlingontheground,furnishedbait.

           Thisdone,Pencroft,passingamongthegrassandconcealinghimselfskillfully,placedtheendofhislinesarmedwithhooksnearthegrousenests;thenhereturned,tooktheotherendsandhidwithHerbertbehindalargetree.Theretheybothwaitedpatiently;though,itmustbesaid,thatHerbertdidnotreckonmuchonthesuccessoftheinventivePencroft.

           Awholehalf-hourpassed,butthen,asthesailorhadsurmised,severalcoupleofgrousereturnedtotheirnests.Theywalkedalong,peckingtheground,andnotsuspectinginanywaythepresenceofthehunters,who,besides,hadtakencaretoplacethemselvestoleewardofthegallinaceae.

           Theladfeltatthismomenthighlyinterested.Heheldhisbreath,andPencroft,hiseyesstaring,hismouthopen,hislipsadvanced,asifabouttotasteapieceofgrouse,scarcelybreathed.

           Meanwhile,thebirdswalkedaboutthehooks,withouttakinganynoticeofthem.Pencroftthengavelittletugswhichmovedthebaitasifthewormshadbeenstillalive.