Таинственный остров / The Mysterious Island. Уровень 3

Before the Island, the shore began with a sandy beach with black rocks. Beyond this rose, like a curtain, a perpendicular granite wall, at least 300 feet high and terminated by a ragged edge. This extended for about three miles.

Upon the upper level of the coast not a tree was visible. To the right, however, and back of the smooth face of rock, some verdure appeared. Finally, distant towards the northwest about seven miles, shone a white summit. It was the snowy cap of a mountain.

It was not possible to say whether this land was an island or a part of a continent.

Gideon Spilett, Pencroff, and Herbert looked upon this land.

– Well, – demanded Herbert, – what do you think of it, Pencroff?

– Well, replied the sailor, – there’s good and bad in it, as with everything else. But we will soon see. In three hours we can reach that shore, and we will see what we can do to find Mr. Smith.

Pencroff was not wrong in his predictions. Three hours later, at low tide, Spilett and his two companions waded through the water.

Herbert, where the water was too deep, swam like a fish; and all arrived without difficulty at the other shore.

Chapter IV

The reporter walked along the coast. Herbert wished to go with him.

– Stay, my boy, – said the sailor. – We must pitch our camp for the night, and try to find something to eat. Our friends will need food when they come back.

– I am ready, Pencroff, – said Herbert.

– Good, said the sailor.

 – We are tired, cold, and hungry: we need shelter, fire, and food. There is plenty of wood in the forest, and we can get eggs from the nests; but we must find a house.

– Well, – said Herbert, – I will look for a cave in these rocks.

– Right, said Pencroff. – Let us start at once[20 - at once – немедленно].

They walked along the base of the rocky wall. Then they turned to the south. Pencroff noticed a narrow inlet in the coast.

Now it was important to pitch the camp in the neighborhood of fresh water; in that part of the island, too, they could find Smith.

The rock rose 300 feet, smooth and massive. It was a sturdy wall of the hardest granite. About the summit hovered a host of aquatic birds, with long, narrow, pointed beaks.

Meanwhile Herbert soon noticed some rocks. On them lay hosts of bivalves. Herbert called to Pencroff.

– Ah, they are mussels, – said the sailor.