Таинственный остров

           Theactiveorangwouldknowhowtopassunperceivedthroughthewoods,ofwhichtheconvicts,besides,wouldthinkhewasanative.

           Nebdidnothesitate.Hewrotethenote,hetiedittoJup’sneck,hebroughttheapetothedoorofGraniteHouse,fromwhichheletdownalongcordtotheground;then,severaltimesherepeatedthesewords,—

           "JupJup!corral,corral!"

           Thecreatureunderstood,seizedthecord,glidedrapidlydownthebeach,anddisappearedinthedarknesswithouttheconvicts’attentionhavingbeenintheleastexcited.

           "Youdidwell,Neb,"saidHarding,"butperhapsinnotwarningusyouwouldhavedonestillbetter!"

           And,inspeakingthus,CyrusHardingthoughtofHerbert,whoserecoverytheremovalhadsoseriouslychecked.

           Nebendedhisaccount.Theconvictshadnotappearedatallonthebeach.Notknowingthenumberoftheisland’sinhabitants,theymightsupposethatGraniteHousewasdefendedbyalargeparty.Theymusthaverememberedthatduringtheattackbythebrignumerousshothadbeenfiredbothfromthelowerandupperrocks,andnodoubttheydidnotwishtoexposethemselves.ButtheplateauofProspectHeightswasopentothem,andnotcoveredbythefireofGraniteHouse.Theygavethemselvesup,therefore,totheirinstinctofdestruction,—plundering,burning,devastatingeverything,—andonlyretiringhalfanhourbeforethearrivalofthecolonists,whomtheybelievedstillconfinedinthecorral.

           Ontheirretreat,Nebhurriedout.