Таинственный остров / The Mysterious Island. Уровень 3

– I hope so, answered the engineer, – if Pencroff and you, my boy, are good hunters.

Chapter X

The three hunters were seating before a fire. Beside them sat Cyrus Smith and the reporter.

– Yes, my good fellow, – said the reporter, – a fire, a real fire!

– But who lighted it? – said the sailor.

– The sun.

The sailor could not believe his eyes.

– Do you have a burning-glass[27 - burning-glass – увеличительное стекло], sir? – asked Herbert of Cyrus Smith.

– No, my boy, said he, but I made one.

And he showed his lens. It was simply the two glasses, from his own watch and the reporter’s. He took them out, filled with water, and put together with some clay. Thus he made a veritable burning-glass, and concentrated the solar rays on some dry moss.

With the help of Neb, the sailor arranged the spit. The engineer and his companion made good use of their day[28 - had made good use of their day – провели день с пользой].

Smith recovered his strength. They had a pleasant supper. The engineer said little; he was planning for the next day. After supper, the party lay down to sleep. The morning found them fresh and eager for the expedition.

Everything was ready. At half past 7 they left the Chimneys, each with a stout cudgel. By Pencroff’s advice, they took the route of the previous day, which was the shortest way to the mountain. They turned the southern angle, and followed the left bank of the river.

They took the path under the evergreens, and soon reached the northern border of the forest. The soil was flat and swampy, then dry and sandy. Among the trees appeared a few animals. The engineer was going to the top of the mountain.

The mountain was composed of two cones. The first was truncated about 2,500 feet up, and supported by fantastic spurs. Between these spurs were narrow valleys. On the northeast side of the mountain, vegetation was scanty.

On the first cone lay the second one, slightly rounded towards the summit.

The surface seemed bare. The object of the expedition was to reach the top of this cone, and their best way was along the edge of the spurs.

– We are in a volcanic country, – said Cyrus Smith, as they began to climb. They were gradually ascending. At noon, when the little company halted to dine, they were still half way from the first plateau, and could hardly reach it before nightfall.