Таинственный остров

           Theengineerandthereporterre-enteredthehouse.Herbertwasstillinasleep.Pencroftkeptthecompresseralwayswet.Spilett,seeingtherewasnothinghecoulddoatthatmoment,busiedhimselfinpreparingsomenourishment,whileattentivelywatchingthatpartoftheenclosureagainstthehill,atwhichanattackmightbeexpected.

           ThesettlersawaitedTop’sreturnwithmuchanxiety.Alittlebeforeeleveno’clock,CyrusHardingandthereporter,rifleinhand,werebehindthegate,readytoopenitatthefirstbarkoftheirdog.

           TheydidnotdoubtthatifTophadarrivedsafelyatGraniteHouse,Nebwouldhavesenthimbackimmediately.

           Theyhadbothbeenthereforabouttenminutes,whenareportwasheard,followedbyrepeatedbarks.

           Theengineeropenedthegate,andseeingsmokeahundredfeetoffinthewood,hefiredinthatdirection.

           AlmostimmediatelyTopboundedintothecorral,andthegatewasquicklyshut.

           "Top,Top!"exclaimedtheengineer,takingthedog’sgreathonestheadbetweenhishands.

           Anotewasfastenedtohisneck,andCyrusHardingreadthesewords,tracedinNeb’slargewriting:—"NopiratesintheneighborhoodofGraniteHouse.Iwillnotstir.PoorMr.Herbert!"