Таинственный остров

           CyrusHarding,Pencroft,andGideonSpilettononeside,HerbertandNebontheother,goingalongbythepalisade,surveyedtheabsolutelydarkanddesertedcorral.

           Inafewmomentstheywerenearthecloseddoorofthehouse.

           Hardingsignedtohiscompanionsnottostir,andapproachedthewindow,thenfeeblylightedbytheinnerlight.

           Hegazedintotheapartment.

           Onthetableburnedalantern.NearthetablewasthebedformerlyusedbyAyrton.

           Onthebedlaythebodyofaman.

           SuddenlyCyrusHardingdrewback,andinahoarsevoice,—"Ayrton!"heexclaimed.

           Immediatelythedoorwasforcedratherthanopened,andthecolonistsrushedintotheroom.

           Ayrtonappearedtobeasleep.Hiscountenanceshowedthathehadlongandcruellysuffered.Onhiswristsandanklescouldbeseengreatbruises.

           Hardingbentoverhim.

           "Ayrton!"criedtheengineer,seizingthearmofthemanwhomhehadjustfoundagainundersuchunexpectedcircumstances.

           AtthisexclamationAyrtonopenedhiseyes,and,gazingatHarding,thenattheothers,—

           "You!"hecried,"you?"

           "Ayrton!Ayrton!"repeatedHarding.

           "WhereamI?"

           "Inthehouseinthecorral!"

           "Alone?"

           "Yes!"

           "Buttheywillcomeback!"criedAyrton."Defendyourselves!defendyourselves!"

           Andhefellbackexhausted.

           "Spilett,"exclaimedtheengineer,"wemaybeattackedatanymoment.Bringthecartintothecorral.Then,barricadethedoor,andallcomebackhere."

           Pencroft,Neb,andthereporterhastenedtoexecutetheengineer’sorders.Therewasnotamomenttobelost.