Читать книгу The Mysterious Island. B2 / Таинственный остров - Жюль Верн, Жуль Верн - Страница 8

The castaways had only the clothes they wore in the balloon. They did not have any guns, not even a pocket knife. They threw everything overboard to lighten the balloon.

Pencroff wanted to find food. They began to prepare an expedition along the coast. Neb did not believe that Smith was dead. In the morning of the 26^th of March, at daybreak, Neb started along the coast northward.

For breakfast that morning they had only eggs and lithodomes, with salt. Herbert found it in the cavities of the rocks. Then the reporter stayed to keep up the fire, and Herbert and Pencroff went into the forest.

– We will hunt, Herbert, – said the sailor.

At 9 o’clock the breeze blew from the southeast. When Herbert and Pencroff reached the forest, Pencroff broke two thick branches. He made them into cudgels. The sailor observed the region. On the left bank the surface was flat. Sometimes it was moist and swampy. The opposite bank was more undulating. The hill was covered with trees. The descent was very steep. Both forest and shore looked wild. They saw fresh traces of animals.

They did not speak. Birds were singing and flying under the trees; but they were afraid of men.

Among fir trees, birds with small bodies and long tails fluttered.

– These are couroucous, – said Herbert. – Their meat is delicious. Besides, I think we can easily get at them with our sticks.

When they killed enough birds for dinner, they found a river and followed it downward. At 6 o’clock, Herbert and Pencroff re-entered the Chimneys.

Glossary:

lithodomes – литодомы

keep up the fire – поддерживать огонь

cudgel – дубина