Kitabı oku: «The Mysterious Island. B2 / Таинственный остров», sayfa 14

The southern part, from the shore to the mountain, was covered with woods. The northern part was arid and sandy. Between the volcano and the eastern coast there was a lake.

– So, it is a fresh water lake? – asked Pencroff.

– Yes, of course, – said the engineer.

– I see a little river there, – said Herbert. He pointed to a narrow brook. The volcano did not occupy the centre of the island. It rose in the northwest.

They remained at thesummit of the mountain for an hour. It was the island, but was the island inhabited? They did not perceive the handiwork of man; no houses on the beach, no fisherman’s hut. No smoke.

The exploration of the island was finished. They drew a map of it, and calculated its size. They wanted now to examine the animal, vegetable, and mineral resources of the country. But before the departure, Cyrus Smith addressed hiscompanions.

– Look, my friends, upon this little corner of the earth. Here, perhaps, we may long dwell.

– Mr. Smith, – said the sailor, – we will make a little America here. We will build cities, railroads, telegraphs. We will be not castaways, but colonists!

– One minute, my friends, – said the engineer; – let’s name the island, the capes, promontories, and water-courses.

– Yes, – said Smith, – for instance, let us call the greatbay to the east Union Bay, the southern indentation Washington Bay the mountain on which we are standing Mount Franklin, the lake beneath our feet Lake Grant.

Spilett put down the names over the proper places, and the geographical nomenclature of the island was complete.

– Now, – said the reporter, – I propose to give the name ofSerpentine Peninsula, and to call the curve at the termination of it Reptile End. It is just like a snake’s tail.

– And the other extremity of the island, – said Herbert, – the gulf is like a pair of jaws, let us call itShark Gulf.

– Good, – said Pencroff, – and we may call the two capesNorth Mandible and South Mandible. Now we must name the southwestern extremity of the island.

–Claw Cape, – suggested Neb.

The river with fresh water they called theMercy. The isle on which they first arrived, was Safety Island; the plateau at the top of the high granite wall above the Chimneys, Prospect Plateau. And, finally, the woods which covered Serpentine Peninsula, the Forests of the Far West.