Таинственный остров

           Andbesides,thespecificwasathand;nor,doubtless,washewhohadbroughtitfardistant!Andtheheartsofallwereanimatedbyreturninghope.

           Thishopewasnotdisappointed.Tendaysafter,onthe20thofDecember,Herbert’sconvalescencecommenced.

           Hewasstillweak,andstrictdiethadbeenimposeduponhim,butnoaccessoffeversupervened.Andthen,thepoorboysubmittedwithsuchdocilitytoalltheprescriptionsorderedhim!Helongedsotogetwell!

           Pencroftwasasamanwhohasbeendrawnupfromthebottomofanabyss.Fitsofjoyapproachingdeliriumseizedhim.Whenthetimeforthethirdattackhadpassedby,henearlysuffocatedthereporterinhisembrace.Sincethen,healwayscalledhimDr.Spilett.

           Therealdoctor,however,remainedundiscovered.

           "Wewillfindhim!"repeatedthesailor.

           Certainly,thisman,whoeverhewas,mightexpectasomewhattooenergeticembracefromtheworthyPencroft!

           ThemonthofDecemberended,andwithittheyear1867,duringwhichthecolonistsofLincolnIslandhadoflatebeensoseverelytried.Theycommencedtheyear1868withmagnificentweather,greatheat,andatropicaltemperature,delightfullycooledbythesea-breeze.Herbert’srecoveryprogressed,andfromhisbed,placednearoneofthewindowsofGraniteHouse,hecouldinhalethefreshair,chargedwithozone,whichcouldnotfailtorestorehishealth.Hisappetitereturned,andwhatnumberlessdelicate,savorylittledishesNebpreparedforhim!

           "Itisenoughtomakeonewishtohaveafeveroneself!"saidPencroft.