Таинственный остров / The Mysterious Island. Уровень 2

– And did it bark?

– No.

– That is strange.

They saw, indeed, some smoke.

– You see, – said Smith, – It is nothing but a sulphur spring[39 - sulphur spring – сернистый источник], it is good for our sore throats.

The colonists walked towards the smoke. They beheld a spring of sulphate of soda, which flowed among the rocks. Smith dipped his hand into the spring and found it oily.

The colonists walked towards the thick border of the forest. There they saw a brook with bright waters between high, reddish banks.

Its color showed the presence of oxide of iron. They named the water course Red Creek[40 - Red Creek – Красный ручей]. It was a large mountain brook, deep and clear. Its water was fresh.

They saw some mountain pheasants. Some crows and magpies flew about. The colonists had nothing but stones and sticks. Suddenly some kangaroos leaped away through the underbrush.

– Can you eat them? – said Pencroff.

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

The sailor with Neb and Herbert rushed after the kangaroos. Soon 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.

Top rushed hither and thither. About 3 o’clock Top disappeared into the bushes, from which came grunts and growls. Neb rushed in. Top was greedily devouring an animal. It was an agouti[41 - agouti – агути ( млекопитающие отряда грызунов, обитающие преимущественно в тропических лесах и саваннах )], an American hare with long ears.

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

The lake 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. To the north the curve of the lake was concave. 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 can live on its banks.

– We will live there! – answered Smith.

The colonists went down. After a two miles’ walk they came upon the thick turf of the plateau, and saw before them the infinite ocean.