Таинственный остров

           "To-morrow,"herepeated,"weshallknowwhatwehavetodependupon,andwewillactaccordingly."

           Themealended,fresharmfulsofwoodwerethrownonthefire,andtheinhabitantsoftheChimneys,includingthefaithfulTop,weresoonburiedinadeepsleep.

           Noincidentdisturbedthispeacefulnight,andthenextday,the29thofMarch,freshandactivetheyawoke,readytoundertaketheexcursionwhichmustdeterminetheirfate.

           Allwasreadyforthestart.TheremainsofthecapybarawouldbeenoughtosustainHardingandhiscompanionsforatleasttwenty-fourhours.

           Besides,theyhopedtofindmorefoodontheway.Astheglasseshadbeenreturnedtothewatchesoftheengineerandreporter,Pencroftburnedalittlelinentoserveastinder.Astoflint,thatwouldnotbewantingintheseregionsofPlutonicorigin.Itwashalf-pastseveninthemorningwhentheexplorers,armedwithsticks,lefttheChimneys.FollowingPencroft’sadvice,itappearedbesttotaketheroadalreadytraversedthroughtheforest,andtoreturnbyanotherroute.Itwasalsothemostdirectwaytoreachthemountain.Theyturnedthesouthangleandfollowedtheleftbankoftheriver,whichwasabandonedatthepointwhereitformedanelbowtowardsthesouthwest.Thepath,alreadytroddenundertheevergreentrees,wasfound,andatnineo’clockCyrusHardingandhiscompanionshadreachedthewesternborderoftheforest.Theground,tillthen,verylittleundulated,boggyatfirst,dryandsandyafterwards,hadagentleslope,whichascendedfromtheshoretowardstheinteriorofthecountry.Afewverytimidanimalswereseenundertheforest-trees.Topquicklystartedthem,buthismastersooncalledhimback,forthetimehadnotcometocommencehunting;thatwouldbeattendedtolater.