The Mysterious Island. B2 / Таинственный остров

– Yes, – said Smith, – for instance, let us call the great bay 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 of Serpentine 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 it Shark Gulf.

– Good, – said Pencroff, – and we may call the two capes North 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 the Mercy. 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.

The colonists were going to descend the mountain, when Pencroff cried:

– We forgot to name our island! Cyrus Smith said quietly:

– Let us call it Lincoln Island!

Glossary:

summit – вершина

superb – превосходный

Malta – Мальта

bay – залив

two-thirds – две трети

companion – товарищ

Union Bay – бухта Соединения

Washington Bay – бухта Вашингтона

Mount Franklin – гора Франклина

beneath – под

Lake Grant – озеро Гранта

Serpentine Peninsula – полуостров Извилистый

Reptile End – Змеиный мыс

Shark Gulf – залив Акулы

North Mandible – Северная Челюсть

South Mandible – Южная Челюсть

Claw Cape – мыс Коготь

the Mercy river – река Милосердия

Safety Island – остров Спасения

Prospect Plateau – плато Кругозора

Forests of the Far West – леса Дальнего Запада

descend – опускаться

Lincoln Island – остров Линкольна

Chapter XII

The colonists of Lincoln Island walked around the verge of the crater. Half an hour afterwards they were again upon the lower plateau. Pencroff thought it was breakfast time.

As they were leaving the plateau, Smith wished to explore Lake Grant. About 10 o’clock the little company descended the last declivities of Mount Franklin. A few bushes and trees were scattered over the ground. They were walking on a yellowish soil. Suddenly they saw Herbert, he was running back.

– What’s the matter, my boy? – said Spilett.

– Smoke, – answered Herbert. – We saw smoke, a hundred steps in front.

– Men in this region! – cried the reporter.

– Where is Top? – answered Smith.

– Top is on ahead.

– And did it bark?

– No.

– That is strange.

They saw, indeed, some smoke.

– You see, – said Smith, – It is nothing but a sulphur spring, 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. The water in the spring was oily.