Таинственный остров / The Mysterious Island. Уровень 3

It was a mile and a half long; its breadth varied from thirty to forty feet. Its water was fresh.

Happily, there was neither wild beast nor savage native, but merely mountain pheasants. Some crows and magpies flew about. The colonists had nothing but stones and sticks, very insufficient weapons. Suddenly a troop of quadrupeds[50 - quadrupeds – четвероногие]leaped away through the underbrush.

– Kangaroos! – cried Herbert.

– Can you eat them? – said Pencroff.

– They make a delicious stew, – said the reporter.

The sailor with Neb and Herbert rushed after the kangaroos. Smith tried in vain to recall them. After five minutes’ chase, they came back.

– You see, Mr. Smith, – said Pencroff, – we need guns. Will it be possible to make them?

– Perhaps, – replied the engineer; – but first we will make bows and arrows.

– Bows and arrows! – said Pencroff. – They are for children!

– Don’t be so proud, my friend, – said the reporter.

 – Bows and arrows were sufficient for many centuries for the warfare of mankind. Powder is an invention of yesterday.

– That’s true, Mr. Spilett, – said the sailor. – I always speak before I think. Forgive me.

Top rushed hither and thither. About 3 o’clock Top disappeared into the rushes, from which came grunts and growls. Neb rushed in. Top was greedily devouring an animal. Neb reappeared in triumph with a rodent in each hand. They were a sort of agouti[51 - agouti – агути (млекопитающие отряда грызунов, обитающие преимущественно в тропических лесах и саваннах)], American hares with long ears.

– Hurrah! – cried Pencroff, – the roast is here; now we can go back to the house.

As the party emerged from a massive thicket of fine trees, the lake suddenly appeared before them. They were now on its left bank, and a picturesque region opened to their view.

The smooth sheet of water, about seven miles in circumference and 250 acres in extent. It lay among the trees. Towards the east, appeared a shining horizon of sea. To the north the curve of the lake was concave. Numerous aquatic birds frequented the banks of this lake. The waters of the lake were fresh and limpid, somewhat dark, and were evidently full of fish.

– How beautiful this lake is! – said Spilett. – We could live on its banks.