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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:59:41 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:59:41 -0700 |
| commit | 2d5da55c4a0907f70679df18e6a06840e71296e5 (patch) | |
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diff --git a/33516-h/33516-h.htm b/33516-h/33516-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..08223ac --- /dev/null +++ b/33516-h/33516-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9312 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Abandoned, by Jules Verne. +</title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.95em;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 60%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .ctr {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + p.author {text-align: right;} + + .salute {text-align: left; margin-left: 2em;} + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Abandoned, by Jules Verne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Abandoned + +Author: Jules Verne + +Translator: William Henry Giles Kingston + +Release Date: August 23, 2010 [EBook #33516] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ABANDONED *** + + + + +Produced by Hemant Garach, David Starner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h2>EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY<br /> +EDITED BY ERNEST RHYS<br /> +<br /> +FOR YOUNG PEOPLE<br /> +<br /> +<big>ABANDONED</big><br /> +BY JULES VERNE<br /> +FIFTY ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="bbox"> +<h4>THE PUBLISHERS OF <big><i>EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY</i></big> WILL BE PLEASED TO SEND FREELY TO +ALL APPLICANTS A LIST OF THE PUBLISHED AND PROJECTED VOLUMES TO BE +COMPRISED UNDER THE FOLLOWING TWELVE HEADINGS:</h4> +<hr style='width: 100%;' /> +<h4>TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION<br /> +THEOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY<br /> +HISTORY CLASSICAL<br /> +FOR YOUNG PEOPLE<br /> +ESSAYS ORATORY<br /> +POETRY & DRAMA<br /> +BIOGRAPHY<br /> +ROMANCE</h4> +<hr style='width: 100%;' /> + +<h4>IN TWO STYLES OF BINDING, CLOTH, FLAT BACK, COLOURED TOP, AND LEATHER, +ROUND CORNERS, GILT TOP.</h4> +<hr style='width: 100%;' /> +<h3><span class="smcap">London</span>: J. M. DENT & CO.<br /> +<span class="smcap">New York</span>: E. P. DUTTON & CO.</h3> +</div> + + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 407px;"> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban001.jpg">View larger image</a></span> +<img src="images/aban001.jpg" class="jpg" width="407" height="336" alt="Front Cover" title="Front Cover" /> +<span class="caption">THIS IS FAIRY GOLD, BOY; AND 'TWILL PROVE SO.<br /> +SHAKESPEARE.<br /><br /> +ABANDONED By JULES VERNE<br /> +<i>Translated from the French</i> By W. H. G. KINGSTON<br /> +LONDON: PUBLISHED by J. M. DENT & CO<br /> +AND IN NEW YORK BY E. P. DUTTON & CO</span> +</div> + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>The present romance, the second in the Mysterious Island triad, was +originally issued in Paris with the title of <i>L'Abandonné</i>. Jules +Verne's list of stories already ran then to some twenty volumes—a +number which has since grown to almost Dumasien proportions. +<i>L'Abandonné</i>, like its two companion tales, ran its course as a serial +through the <i>Magasin Illustré</i> of education and recreation, before its +issue as a boy's story-book. Its success in both forms seems to have +established a record in the race for popularity and a circulation in +both the French and English fields of current literature. The present +book was translated into English by the late W. H. G. Kingston; and is +printed in <span class="smcap">Everyman's Library</span> by special exclusive arrangement with +Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.</p> + +<p class="salute">1909</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The list of tales and favourite romances by Jules Verne includes the +following:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Five Weeks in a Balloon, 1870; A Journey to the Centre of the Earth, +translated by J. V., 1872; tr. F. A. Malleson, 1876; Twenty Thousand +Leagues under the Sea, 1873; tr. H. Frith, 1876; From the Earth to +the Moon, and a Trip Round it, tr. Q. Mercier and E. G. King, 1873; +The English at the North Pole, 1873; Meridiana: Adventures of Three +English and Three Russians, 1873; Dr. Ox's Experiment and other +Stories, 1874; A Floating City, 1874; The Blockade Runners, 1874; +Around the World in Eighty Days, tr. G. M. Towle and N. D'Anvers, +1874, 1876; tr. H. Frith, 1879; The Fur Country, or Seventy Degrees +North Latitude, tr. N. D'Anvers, 1874; tr H. Frith, 1879; The +Mysterious Island, tr. W. H. G. Kingston, 1875; The Survivors of the +<i>Chancellor</i>: Diary of J. R. Kazallon, tr E. Frewer, 1875; Martin +Paz, tr. E. Frewer, 1876; Field of Ice, 1876; Child of the Cavern, +tr. W. H. G. Kingston, 1877, Michael Strogoff, tr. W. H. G. Kingston, +1877; A Voyage Round the World, 1877; Hector Senvadac, tr. E. +Frewer, 1878; Dick Sands, the Boy Captain, tr. E. Frewer, 1879; +Celebrated Travels and Travellers: The Great Navigators of the +Eighteenth Century, tr. Dora Leigh, N. D'Anvers, etc., 1879-81; Tribulations +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> +of a Chinaman, tr. E. Frewer, 1880; The Begum's +Fortune, tr. W. H. G. Kingston, 1880; The Steam House, tr. A. D. +Kingston, 1881; The Giant Raft, W. J. Gordon, 1881; Godfrey Morgan, +1883; The Green Ray, tr. M. de Hauteville, 1883; The Vanished +Diamond, 1885; The Archipelago on Fire, 1886; Mathias Sandorf, 1886; +Kérabân the Inflexible, 1887; The Lottery Ticket, 1887; Clipper of +the Clouds, 1887; The Flight to France, or Memoirs of a Dragoon, +1888; North against South: Story of the American Civil War, 1888; +Adrift in the Pacific, 1889; Cesar Cacabel, 1891; The Purchase of +the North Pole, 1891; A Family without a Name, 1891; Mistress +Branican, 1892; Claudius Bombarnac, 1894; Foundling Mick, 1895; +Clovis Dardentor, 1897; For the Flag, tr. Mrs. C. Hoey, 1897; An +Antarctic Mystery, 1898.</p> + +<p>Jules Verne's works are published in an authorised and illustrated +edition by Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.</p></div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg ix]</span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><small>PAGE</small></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Conversation on the Subject of the Bullet—Construction of a +Canoe—Hunting—At the Top of a Kauri—Nothing to +attest the Presence of Man—Neb and Herbert's Prize—Turning +a Turtle—The Turtle disappears—Cyrus Harding's Explanation</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_15">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>First Trial of the Canoe—A Wreck on the Coast—Towing—Flotsam +Point—Inventory of the Case: Tools, Weapons, +Instruments, Clothes, Books, Utensils—What Pencroft +misses—The Gospel—A Verse from the Sacred Book</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_25">11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>The Start—The rising Tide—Elms and different Plants—The +Jacamar—Aspect of the Forest—Gigantic Eucalypti—The +Reason they are called "Fever Trees"—Troops of Monkeys—A +Waterfall—The Night Encampment</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_37">23</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Journey to the Coast—Troops of Monkeys—A new River—The +Reason the Tide was not felt—A woody Shore—ReptilePromontory—Herbert +envies Gideon Spilett—Explosion of Bamboos</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_48">34</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Proposal to return by the Southern Shore—Configuration of the +Coast—Searching for the supposed Wreck—A Wreck in the +Air—Discovery of a small Natural Port—At Midnight on +the Banks of the Mercy—The Canoe Adrift</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_59">45</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg x]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Pencroft's Halloos—A Night in the Chimneys—Herbert's Arrows—The +Captain's Project—An unexpected Explanation—What +has happened in Granite House—How a new Servant +enters the Service of the Colonists</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_72">58</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Plans—A Bridge over the Mercy—Mode adopted for making an +Island of Prospect Heights—The Drawbridge—Harvest—The +Stream—The Poultry-yard—A Pigeon-house—The two +Onagas—The Cart—Excursion to Port Balloon</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_84">70</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Linen—Shoes of Seal-leather—Manufacture of Pyroxyle—Gardening +—Fishing—Turtle-eggs—Improvement of Master +Jup—The Corral—Musmon Hunt—New Animal and Vegetable +Possessions—Recollections of their Native Land</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_95">81</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Bad Weather—The Hydraulic Lift—Manufacture of Glass-ware—The +Bread-tree—Frequent Visits to the Corral—Increase of +the Flock—The Reporter's Question—Exact Position of +Lincoln Island—Pencroft's Proposal</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_106">92</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Boat-building—Second Crop of Corn—Hunting Koalas—A new +Plant, more Pleasant than Useful—Whale in Sight—A +Harpoon from the Vineyard—Cutting up the Whale—Use +for the Bones—End of the Month of May—Pencroft has +nothing left to wish for</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_117">103</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Winter—Felling Wood—The Mill—Pencroft's fixed Idea—The +Bones—To what Use an Albatross may be put—Fuel for +the Future—Top and Jup—Storms—Damage to the Poultry-yard—Excursion +to the Marsh—Cyrus Harding alone—Exploring +the Well</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_128">114</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg xi]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>The Rigging of the Vessel—An Attack from Foxes—Jup wounded—Jup +cured—Completion of the Boat—Pencroft's Triumph—The +<i>Bonadventure's</i> trial Trip to the South of the Island—An +unexpected Document</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_141">127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Departure decided upon—Conjectures—Preparations—The three +Passengers—First Night—Second Night—Tabor Island—Searching +the Shore—Searching the Wood—No one—Animals—Plants—A +Dwelling—Deserted</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_156">142</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>The Inventory—Night—A few Letters—Continuation of the +Search—Plants and Animals—Herbert in great Danger—On +Board—The Departure—Bad Weather—A Gleam of Reason—Lost +on the Sea—A timely Light</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_168">154</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>The Return—Discussion—Cyrus Harding and the Stranger—Port +Balloon—The Engineer's Devotion—A touching +Incident—Tears flow</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_180">166</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>A Mystery to be cleared up—The Stranger's first Words—Twelve +Years on the Islet—Avowal which escapes him—The +Disappearance—Cyrus Harding's Confidence—Construction +of a Mill—The first Bread—An Act of Devotion—Honest Hands</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_190">176</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Still alone—The Stranger's Request—The Farm established at +the Corral—Twelve Years ago—The Boatswain's Mate of +the <i>Britannia</i>—Left on Tabor Island—Cyrus Harding's +Hand—The mysterious Document</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_205">191</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg xii]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Conversation—Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett—An Idea of +the Engineer's—The Electric Telegraph—The Wires—The +Battery—The Alphabet—Fine Season—Prosperity of the +Colony—Photography—An Appearance of Snow—Two +Years on Lincoln Island</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_217">203</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Recollections of their Native Land—Probable Future—Project +for surveying the Coasts of the Island—Departure on the +16th of April—Sea-view of Reptile End—The basaltic Rocks +of the Western Coast—Bad Weather—Night comes on—New Incident</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_230">216</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>A Night at Sea—Shark Gulf—Confidences—Preparations for +Winter—Forwardness of the Bad Season—Severe Cold—Work +in the Interior—In Six Months—A Photographic +Negative—Unexpected Incident</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_240">226</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg xiii]</span></p> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS"> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban010.jpg">TURNING A TURTLE</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_23">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban013.jpg">FLOTSAM AND JETSAM</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_29">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban014.jpg">UNPACKING THE MARVELLOUS CHEST</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_31">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban016.jpg">PENCROFT'S SUPERSTITION</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_35">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban019.jpg">IS IT TOBACCO?</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_41">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban020.jpg">THE HALT FOR BREAKFAST</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_43">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban024.jpg">DENIZENS OF THE FOREST</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_51">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban025.jpg">THE SEA</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_53">39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban027.jpg">AT THAT MOMENT A SHOT STRUCK THE JAGUAR BETWEEN THE EYES AND IT FELL DEAD</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_57">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban031.jpg">"NOW THERE'S SOMETHING TO EXPLAIN THE BULLET!" EXCLAIMED PENCROFT</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_65">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban032.jpg">A WRECK IN THE AIR</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_67">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban034.jpg">THERE WAS NO LONGER A LADDER!</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_71">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban037.jpg">THE INVADERS OF GRANITE HOUSE</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_77">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban039.jpg">CAPTURING THE ORANG</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban040.jpg">ENGAGING THE NEW SERVANT</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_83">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban042.jpg">BUILDING THE BRIDGE</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_87">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban044.jpg">PENCROFT'S SCARECROWS</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_91">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban047.jpg">THE SETTLERS' NEW SHIRTS</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_97">83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban049.jpg">JUP PASSED MOST OF HIS TIME IN THE KITCHEN, TRYING TO IMITATE NEB</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_101">87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban052.jpg">PENCROFT TO THE RESCUE</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_107">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban054.jpg">THE GLASS-BLOWERS</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_111">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban056.jpg">THE VERANDAH ON THE EDGE OF PROSPECT HEIGHTS</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_115">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban058.jpg">THE DOCKYARD</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_119">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban060.jpg">A VALUABLE PRIZE</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_123">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban062.jpg">PENCROFT HAS NOTHING LEFT TO WISH FOR</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_127">113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban065.jpg">THE MESSENGER</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_133">119</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban066.jpg">WINTER EVENINGS IN GRANITE HOUSE</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_135">121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban068.jpg">HE SAW NOTHING SUSPICIOUS</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_139">125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban072.jpg">TOP VISITING THE INVALID</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_147">133</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban074.jpg">THE TRIAL TRIP</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_151">137</a><span class='pagenum'>[Pg xiv]</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban076.jpg">"LUFF, PENCROFT, LUFF!"</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_155">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban078.jpg">THE DEPARTURE</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_159">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban080.jpg">NEARING THE ISLAND</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_163">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban082.jpg">A HUT!</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_167">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban085.jpg">HERBERT IN DANGER</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_173">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban088.jpg">A LIGHT! A LIGHT!</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_179">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban090.jpg">"POOR FELLOW," MURMURED THE ENGINEER</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_183">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban093.jpg">THE EXPERIMENT</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_189">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban094.jpg">"WHO ARE YOU?" HE ASKED IN A HOLLOW VOICE</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_191">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban095.jpg">THE STRANGER</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_193">179</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban099.jpg">NOW FOR A GOOD WIND</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_201">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban100.jpg">HE SEIZED THE JAGUAR'S THROAT WITH ONE POWERFUL HAND</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_203">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban103.jpg">THE STRANGER'S STORY</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_209">195</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban106.jpg">"HERE IS MY HAND," SAID THE ENGINEER</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_215">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban110.jpg">THE ENGINEER AT WORK</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_223">209</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban112.jpg">JUP SITTING FOR HIS PORTRAIT</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_227">213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban113.jpg">THE SNOWY SHEET AROSE AND DISPERSED IN THE AIR</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_229">215</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban118.jpg">ANOTHER MYSTERY</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_239">225</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban122.jpg">RETURNING FROM A SPORTING EXCURSION</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_247">233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="./images/aban123.jpg">THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVE</a></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_249">235</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>THE ABANDONED</h1> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Conversation on the Subject of the Bullet—Construction of a +Canoe—Hunting—At the Top of a Kauri—Nothing to attest the +Presence of Man—Neb and Herbert's Prize—Turning a Turtle—The +Turtle disappears—Cyrus Harding's Explanation.</p></div> + + +<p>It was now exactly seven months since the balloon voyagers had been +thrown on Lincoln Island. During that time, notwithstanding the +researches they had made, no human being had been discovered. No smoke +even had betrayed the presence of man on the surface of the island. No +vestiges of his handiwork showed that either at an early or at a late +period had man lived there. Not only did it now appear to be uninhabited +by any but themselves, but the colonists were compelled to believe that +it never had been inhabited. And now, all this scaffolding of reasonings +fell before a simple ball of metal, found in the body of an inoffensive +rodent! In fact, this bullet must have issued from a firearm, and who +but a human being could have used such a weapon?</p> + +<p>When Pencroft had placed the bullet on the table, his companions looked +at it with intense astonishment. All the consequences likely to result +from this incident, notwithstanding its apparent insignificance, +immediately took possession of their minds. The sudden apparition of a +supernatural being could not have startled them more completely.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding did not hesitate to give utterance to the suggestions +which this fact, at once surprising and unexpected, could not fail to +raise in his mind. He took the bullet, turned it over and over, rolled +it between his finger and thumb; then, turning to Pencroft, he asked,—</p> + +<p>"Are you sure that the peccary wounded by this bullet was not more than +three months old?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not more, captain," replied Pencroft. "It was still sucking its mother +when I found it in the trap."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the engineer, "that proves that within three months a +gun-shot was fired in Lincoln Island."</p> + +<p>"And that a bullet," added Gideon Spilett, "wounded, though not +mortally, this little animal."</p> + +<p>"That is unquestionable," said Cyrus Harding, "and these are the +deductions which must be drawn from this incident: that the island was +inhabited before our arrival, or that men have landed here within three +months. Did these men arrive here voluntarily or involuntarily, by +disembarking on the shore or by being wrecked? This point can only be +cleared up later. As to what they were, Europeans or Malays, enemies or +friends of our race, we cannot possibly guess; and if they still inhabit +the island, or if they have left it, we know not. But these questions +are of too much importance to be allowed to remain long unsettled."</p> + +<p>"No! a hundred times no! a thousand times no!" cried the sailor, +springing up from the table. "There are no other men than ourselves on +Lincoln Island! By my faith! The island isn't large, and if it had been +inhabited, we should have seen some of the inhabitants long before +this!"</p> + +<p>"In fact, the contrary would be very astonishing," said Herbert.</p> + +<p>"But it would be much more astonishing, I should think," observed the +reporter, "that this peccary should have been born with a bullet in its +inside!"</p> + +<p>"At least," said Neb seriously, "if Pencroft has not had—"</p> + +<p>"Look here, Neb," burst out Pencroft. "Do you think I could have a +bullet in my jaw for five or six months without finding it out? Where +could it be hidden?" he asked opening his mouth to show the +two-and-thirty teeth with which it was furnished. "Look well, Neb, and +if you find one hollow tooth in this set, I will let you pull out half a +dozen!"</p> + +<p>"Neb's supposition is certainly inadmissible," replied Harding, who, +notwithstanding the gravity of his thoughts, could not restrain a smile. +"It is certain that a gun has been fired in the island, within three +months at most. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 3]</a></span> I am inclined to think that the people who landed +on this coast were only here a very short time ago, or that they just +touched here; for if, when we surveyed the island from the summit of +Mount Franklin, it had been inhabited, we should have seen them or we +should have been seen ourselves. It is therefore probable that within +only a few weeks castaways have been thrown by a storm on some part of +the coast. However that may be, it is of consequence to us to have this +point settled."</p> + +<p>"I think that we should act with caution," said the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Such is my advice," replied Cyrus Harding, "for it is to be feared that +Malay pirates have landed on the island!"</p> + +<p>"Captain," asked the sailor, "would it not be a good plan, before +setting out, to build a canoe in which we could either ascend the river, +or, if we liked, coast round the island? It will not do to be +unprovided."</p> + +<p>"Your idea is good, Pencroft," replied the engineer, "but we cannot wait +for that. It would take at least a month to build a boat."</p> + +<p>"Yes, a real boat," replied the sailor; "but we do not want one for a +sea voyage, and in five days at the most, I will undertake to construct +a canoe fit to navigate the Mercy."</p> + +<p>"Five days," cried Neb, "to build a boat?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Neb; a boat in the Indian fashion."</p> + +<p>"Of wood?" asked the negro, looking still unconvinced.</p> + +<p>"Of wood," replied Pencroft, "or rather of bark. I repeat, captain, that +in five days the work will be finished!"</p> + +<p>"In five days, then, be it," replied the engineer.</p> + +<p>"But till that time we must be very watchful," said Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Very watchful indeed, my friends," replied Harding; "and I beg you to +confine your hunting excursions to the neighbourhood of Granite House."</p> + +<p>The dinner ended less gaily than Pencroft had hoped.</p> + +<p>So, then, the island was, or had been, inhabited by others than the +settlers. Proved as it was by the incident of the bullet, it was +hereafter an unquestionable fact, and such a discovery could not but +cause great uneasiness amongst the colonists.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett, before sleeping, conversed long about +the matter. They asked themselves if by chance this incident might not +have some connection with the inexplicable way in which the engineer had +been saved, and the other peculiar circumstances which had struck them +at different times. However Cyrus Harding, after having discussed the +pros and cons of the question, ended by saying,—</p> + +<p>"In short, would you like to know my opinion, my dear Spilett?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Cyrus."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, it is this: however minutely we explore the island, we +shall find nothing."</p> + +<p>The next day Pencroft set to work. He did not mean to build a boat with +boards and planking, but simply a flat-bottomed canoe, which would be +well suited for navigating the Mercy—above all, for approaching its +source, where the water would naturally be shallow. Pieces of bark, +fastened one to the other, would form a light boat; and in case of +natural obstacles, which would render a portage necessary, it would be +easily carried. Pencroft intended to secure the pieces of bark by means +of nails, to insure the canoe being water-tight.</p> + +<p>It was first necessary to select the trees which would afford a strong +and supple bark for the work. Now the last storm had brought down a +number of large birch trees, the bark of which would be perfectly suited +for their purpose. Some of these trees lay on the ground, and they had +only to be barked, which was the most difficult thing of all, owing to +the imperfect tools which the settlers possessed. However, they overcame +all difficulties.</p> + +<p>Whilst the sailor, seconded by the engineer, thus occupied himself +without losing an hour, Gideon Spilett and Herbert were not idle. They +were made purveyors to the colony. The reporter could not but admire the +boy, who had acquired great skill in handling the bow and spear. Herbert +also showed great courage and much of that presence of mind which may +justly be called "the reasoning of bravery." These two companions of the +chase, remembering Cyrus Harding's recommendations, did not go beyond a +radius of two miles round Granite House; but the borders of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 5]</a></span> forest +furnished a sufficient tribute of agouties, capybaras, kangaroos, +peccaries, etc.; and if the result from the traps was less than during +the cold, still the warren yielded its accustomed quota, which might +have fed all the colony in Lincoln Island.</p> + +<p>Often during these excursions, Herbert talked with Gideon Spilett on the +incident of the bullet, and the deductions which the engineer drew from +it, and one day—it was the 26th of October—he said,—</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Spilett, do you not think it very extraordinary that, if any +castaways have landed on the island, they have not yet shown themselves +near Granite House?"</p> + +<p>"Very astonishing if they are still here," replied the reporter, "but +not astonishing at all if they are here no longer!"</p> + +<p>"So you think that these people have already quitted the island?" +returned Herbert.</p> + +<p>"It is more than probable, my boy; for if their stay was prolonged, and +above all, if they were still here, some accident would have at last +betrayed their presence."</p> + +<p>"But if they were able to go away," observed the lad, "they could not +have been castaways."</p> + +<p>"No, Herbert; or, at least, they were what might be called provisional +castaways. It is very possible that a storm may have driven them to the +island without destroying their vessel, and that, the storm over, they +went away again."</p> + +<p>"I must acknowledge one thing," said Herbert, "it is that Captain +Harding appears rather to fear than desire the presence of human beings +on our island."</p> + +<p>"In short," responded the reporter, "there are only Malays who frequent +these seas, and those fellows are ruffians which it is best to avoid."</p> + +<p>"It is not impossible, Mr. Spilett," said Herbert, "that some day or +other we may find traces of their landing."</p> + +<p>"I do not say no, my boy. A deserted camp, the ashes of a fire, would +put us on the track, and this is what we will look for in our next +expedition."</p> + +<p>The day on which the hunters spoke thus, they were in a part of the +forest near the Mercy, remarkable for its beautiful trees. There, among +others, rose, to a height of nearly 200<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 6]</a></span> feet above the ground, some of +those superb coniferæ, to which, in New Zealand, the natives give the +name of Kauris.</p> + +<p>"I have an idea, Mr. Spilett," said Herbert. "If I were to climb to the +top of one of these kauris, I could survey the country for an immense +distance round."</p> + +<p>"The idea is good," replied the reporter; "but could you climb to the +top of those giants?"</p> + +<p>"I can at least try," replied Herbert.</p> + +<p>The light and active boy then sprang on the first branches, the +arrangement of which made the ascent of the kauri easy, and in a few +minutes he arrived at the summit, which emerged from the immense plain +of verdure.</p> + +<p>From this elevated situation his gaze extended over all the southern +portion of the island, from Claw Cape on the south-east, to Reptile End +on the south-west. To the north-west rose Mount Franklin, which +concealed a great part of the horizon.</p> + +<p>But Herbert, from the height of his observatory, could examine all the +yet unknown portion of the island which might have given shelter to the +strangers whose presence they suspected.</p> + +<p>The lad looked attentively. There was nothing in sight on the sea, not a +sail, neither on the horizon nor near the island. However, as the bank +of trees hid the shore, it was possible that a vessel, especially if +deprived of her masts, might lie close to the land and thus be invisible +to Herbert.</p> + +<p>Neither in the forests of the Far West was anything to be seen. The wood +formed an impenetrable screen, measuring several square miles, without a +break or an opening. It was impossible even to follow the course of the +Mercy, or to ascertain in what part of the mountain it took its source. +Perhaps other creeks also ran towards the west, but they could not be +seen.</p> + +<p>But at last, if all indication of an encampment escaped Herbert's sight, +could he not even catch a glimpse of smoke, the faintest trace of which +would be easily discernible in the pure atmosphere?</p> + +<p>For an instant Herbert thought he could perceive a slight smoke in the +west, but a more attentive examination showed that he was mistaken. He +strained his eyes in every direction,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 7]</a></span> and his sight was excellent. No, +decidedly there was nothing there.</p> + +<p>Herbert descended to the foot of the kauri, and the two sportsmen +returned to Granite House. There Cyrus Harding listened to the lad's +account, shook his head and said nothing. It was very evident that no +decided opinion could be pronounced on this question until after a +complete exploration of the island.</p> + +<p>Two days after—the 28th of October—another incident occurred, for +which an explanation was again required.</p> + +<p>Whilst strolling along the shore about two miles from Granite House, +Herbert and Neb were fortunate enough to capture a magnificent specimen +of the order of chelonia. It was a turtle of the species Midas, the +edible green turtle, so called from the colour both of its shell and +fat.</p> + +<p>Herbert caught sight of this turtle as it was crawling among the rocks +to reach the sea.</p> + +<p>"Help, Neb, help!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Neb ran up.</p> + +<p>"What a fine animal!" said Neb; "but how are we to catch it?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing is easier, Neb," replied Herbert. "We have only to turn the +turtle on its back, and it cannot possibly get away. Take your spear and +do as I do."</p> + +<p>The reptile, aware of danger, had retired between its carapace and +plastron. They no longer saw its head or feet, and it was motionless as +a rock.</p> + +<p>Herbert and Neb then drove their sticks underneath the animal, and by +their united efforts managed without difficulty to turn it on its back. +The turtle, which was three feet in length, would have weighed at least +four hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>"Capital!" cried Neb; "this is something which will rejoice friend +Pencroft's heart."</p> + +<p>In fact, the heart of friend Pencroft could not fail to be rejoiced, for +the flesh of the turtle, which feeds on wrack-grass, is extremely +savoury. At this moment the creature's head could be seen, which was +small, flat, but widened behind by the large temporal fossæ hidden +under the long roof.</p> + +<p>"And now, what shall we do with our prize?" said Neb. "We can't drag it +to Granite House!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Leave it here, since it cannot turn over," replied Herbert, "and we +will come back with the cart to fetch it."</p> + +<p>"That is the best plan."</p> + +<p>However, for greater precaution, Herbert took the trouble, which Neb +deemed superfluous, to wedge up the animal with great stones, after +which the two hunters returned to Granite House, following the beach, +which the tide had left uncovered. Herbert, wishing to surprise +Pencroft, said nothing about the "superb specimen of a chelonian" which +they had turned over on the sand, but, two hours later, he and Neb +returned with the cart to the place where they had left it. The "superb +specimen of a chelonian" was no longer there!</p> + +<p>Neb and Herbert stared at each other first, then they stared about them. +It was just at this spot that the turtle had been left. The lad even +found the stones which he had used, and therefore he was certain of not +being mistaken.</p> + +<p>"Well!" said Neb, "these beasts can turn themselves over, then?"</p> + +<p>"It appears so," replied Herbert, who could not understand it at all, +and was gazing at the stones scattered on the sand.</p> + +<p>"Well, Pencroft will be disgusted!"</p> + +<p>"And Captain Harding will perhaps be very perplexed how to explain this +disappearance" thought Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Neb, who wished to hide his ill-luck, "we won't speak +about it."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, Neb we must speak about it," replied Herbert.</p> + +<p>And the two, taking the cart, which there was now no use for, returned +to Granite House.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the dockyard, where the engineer and the sailor were working +together Herbert recounted what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Oh! the stupids!" cried the sailor, "to have let at least fifty meals +escape!"</p> + +<p>"But, Pencroft," replied Neb, "it wasn't our fault that the beast got +away, as I tell you, we had turned it over on its back!"</p> + +<p>"Then you didn't turn it over enough!" returned the obstinate sailor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/aban010.jpg" class="jpg" width="312" height="448" alt="TURNING A TURTLE" title="TURNING A TURTLE" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban010.jpg"><b>TURNING A TURTLE</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 10]</a></span> +"Not enough!" cried Herbert.</p> + +<p>And he told how he had taken care to wedge up the turtle with stones.</p> + +<p>"It is a miracle, then!" replied Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"I thought, captain," said Herbert, "that turtles, once placed on their +backs, could not regain their feet, especially when they are of a large +size?"</p> + +<p>"That is true, my boy," replied Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"Then how did it manage?"</p> + +<p>"At what distance from the sea did you leave this turtle?" asked the +engineer, who, having suspended his work, was reflecting on this +incident.</p> + +<p>"Fifteen feet at the most," replied Herbert.</p> + +<p>"And the tide was low at the time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, captain."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied the engineer, "what the turtle could not do on the sand +it might have been able to do in the water. It turned over when the tide +overtook it, and then quietly returned to the deep sea."</p> + +<p>"Oh! what stupids we were!" cried Neb.</p> + +<p>"That is precisely what I had the honour of telling you before!" +returned the sailor.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding had given this explanation, which, no doubt, was +admissible. But was he himself convinced of the accuracy of this +explanation? It cannot be said that he was.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>First Trial of the Canoe—A Wreck on the Coast—Towing—Flotsam +Point—Inventory of the Case: Tools, Weapons, Instruments, Clothes, +Books, Utensils—What Pencroft misses—The Gospel—A Verse from the +Sacred Book.</p></div> + + +<p>On the 9th of October the bark canoe was entirely finished. Pencroft had +kept his promise, and a light boat, the shell of which was joined +together by the flexible twigs of the crejimba, had been constructed in +five days. A seat in the stern, a second seat in the middle to preserve +the equilibrium, a third seat in the bows, rowlocks for the two oars, a +scull to steer with, completed the little craft, which was twelve feet +long, and did not weigh more than 200 pounds.</p> + +<p>The operation of launching it was extremely simple. The canoe was +carried to the beach and laid on the sand before Granite House, and the +rising tide floated it. Pencroft, who leapt in directly, manœuvred it +with the scull and declared it to be just the thing for the purpose to +which they wished to put it.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried the sailor, who did not disdain to celebrate thus his +own triumph. "With this we could go round—"</p> + +<p>"The world?" asked Gideon Spilett.</p> + +<p>"No, the island. Some stones for ballast, a mast, and a sail, which the +captain will make for us some day, and we shall go splendidly! Well, +captain—and you, Mr. Spilett; and you, Herbert; and you, Neb—aren't +you coming to try our new vessel? Come along! we must see if it will +carry all five of us!"</p> + +<p>This was certainly a trial which ought to be made. Pencroft soon brought +the canoe to the shore by a narrow passage among the rocks, and it was +agreed that they should make a trial of the boat that day by following +the shore as far as the first point at which the rocks of the south +ended.</p> + +<p>As they embarked, Neb cried,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 12]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"But your boat leaks rather, Pencroft."</p> + +<p>"That's nothing, Neb," replied the sailor; "the wood will get seasoned. +In two days there won't be a single leak, and our boat will have no more +water in her than there is in the stomach of a drunkard. Jump in!"</p> + +<p>They were soon all seated, and Pencroft shoved off. The weather was +magnificent, the sea as calm as if its waters were contained within the +narrow limits of a lake. Thus the boat could proceed with as much +security as if it was ascending the tranquil current of the Mercy.</p> + +<p>Neb took one of the oars, Herbert the other, and Pencroft remained in +the stern in order to use the skull.</p> + +<p>The sailor first crossed the channel, and steered close to the southern +point of the islet. A light breeze blew from the south. No roughness was +found either in the channel or the green sea. A long swell, which the +canoe scarcely felt, as it was heavily laden, rolled regularly over the +surface of the water. They pulled out about half a mile distant from the +shore, that they might have a good view of Mount Franklin.</p> + +<p>Pencroft afterwards returned towards the mouth of the river. The boat +then skirted the shore, which, extending to the extreme point, hid all +Tadorn's Fens.</p> + +<p>This point, of which the distance was increased by the irregularity of +the coast, was nearly three miles from the Mercy. The settlers resolved +to go to its extremity, and only go beyond it as much as was necessary +to take a rapid survey of the coast as far as Claw Cape.</p> + +<p>The canoe followed the windings of the shore, avoiding the rocks which +fringed it, and which the rising tide began to cover. The cliff +gradually sloped away from the mouth of the river to the point. This was +formed of granite rocks, capriciously distributed, very different from +the cliff at Prospect Heights, and of an extremely wild aspect. It might +have been said that an immense cartload of rocks had been emptied out +there. There was no vegetation on this sharp promontory, which projected +two miles from the forest, and it thus represented a giant's arm +stretched out from a leafy sleeve.</p> + +<p>The canoe, impelled by the two oars, advanced without difficulty. Gideon +Spilett, pencil in one hand and note-book<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 13]</a></span> in the other, sketched the +coast in bold strokes. Neb, Herbert, and Pencroft chatted, whilst +examining this part of their domain, which was new to them, and, in +proportion as the canoe proceeded towards the south, the two Mandible +Capes appeared to move, and surround Union Bay more closely.</p> + +<p>As to Cyrus Harding, he did not speak; he simply gazed, and by the +mistrust which his look expressed, it appeared that he was examining +some strange country.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, after a voyage of three quarters of an hour, the canoe +reached the extremity of the point, and Pencroft was preparing to +return, when Herbert, rising, pointed to a black object, saying,—</p> + +<p>"What do I see down there on the beach?"</p> + +<p>All eyes turned towards the point indicated.</p> + +<p>"Why," said the reporter, "there is something. It looks like part of a +wreck half buried in the sand."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" cried Pencroft, "I see what it is!"</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Neb.</p> + +<p>"Barrels, barrels, which perhaps are full," replied the sailor.</p> + +<p>"Pull to the shore, Pencroft!" said Cyrus.</p> + +<p>A few strokes of the oar brought the canoe into a little creek, and its +passengers leapt on shore.</p> + +<p>Pencroft was not mistaken. Two barrels were there, half buried in the +sand, but still firmly attached to a large chest, which, sustained by +them, had floated to the moment when it stranded on the beach.</p> + +<p>"There has been a wreck, then, in some part of the island," said +Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Evidently," replied Spilett.</p> + +<p>"But what's in this chest?" cried Pencroft, with very natural +impatience. "What's in this chest? It is shut up, and nothing to open it +with! Well, perhaps a stone—"</p> + +<p>And the sailor, raising a heavy block, was about to break in one of the +sides of the chest, when the engineer arrested his hand.</p> + +<p>"Pencroft," said he, "can you restrain your impatience for one hour +only?"</p> + +<p>"But, captain, just think! Perhaps there is everything we want in +there!"</p> + +<p>"We shall find that out, Pencroft," replied the engineer;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 14]</a></span> "but trust to +me, and do not break the chest, which may be useful to us. We must +convey it to Granite House, where we can open it easily and without +breaking it. It is quite prepared for a voyage, and, since it has +floated here, it may just as well float to the mouth of the river."</p> + +<p>"You are right, captain, and I was wrong, as usual," replied the sailor.</p> + +<p>The engineer's advice was good. In fact, the canoe probably would not +have been able to contain the articles possibly enclosed in the chest, +which doubtless was heavy, since two empty barrels were required to buoy +it up. It was, therefore, much better to tow it to the beach at Granite +House.</p> + +<p>And now, whence had this chest come? That was the important question +Cyrus Harding and his companions looked attentively around them, and +examined the shore for several hundred steps. No other articles or +pieces of wreck could be found. Herbert and Neb climbed a high rock to +survey the sea, but there was nothing in sight—neither a dismasted +vessel nor a ship under sail.</p> + +<p>However, there was no doubt that there had been a wreck Perhaps this +incident was connected with that of the bullet? Perhaps strangers had +landed on another part of the island? Perhaps they were still there? But +the thought which came naturally to the settlers was, that these +strangers could not be Malay pirates, for the chest was evidently of +American or European make.</p> + +<p>All the party returned to the chest, which was of an unusually large +size. It was made of oak wood, very carefully closed and covered with a +thick hide, which was secured by copper nails. The two great barrels, +hermetically sealed, but which sounded hollow and empty, were fastened +to its sides by strong ropes knotted with a skill which Pencroft +directly pronounced sailors alone could exhibit. It appeared to be in a +perfect state of preservation, which was explained by the fact that it +had stranded on a sandy beach, and not among rocks. They had no doubt +whatever, on examining it carefully, that it had not been long in the +water, and that its arrival on this coast was recent. The water did not +appear to have penetrated to the inside, and the articles which it +contained were no doubt uninjured.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/aban013.jpg" class="jpg" width="312" height="448" alt="FLOTSAM AND JETSAM" title="FLOTSAM AND JETSAM" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban013.jpg"><b>FLOTSAM AND JETSAM</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 16]</a></span> +It was evident that this chest had been thrown overboard from some +dismasted vessel driven towards the island, and that, in the hope that +it would reach the land, where they might afterwards find it, the +passengers had taken the precaution to buoy it up by means of this +floating apparatus.</p> + +<p>"We will tow this chest to Granite House," said the engineer, "where we +can make an inventory of its contents, then, if we discover any of the +survivors from the supposed wreck, we can return it to those to whom it +belongs. If we find no one—"</p> + +<p>"We will keep it for ourselves!" cried Pencroft "But what in the world +can there be in it?"</p> + +<p>The sea was already approaching the chest, and the high tide would +evidently float it. One of the ropes which fastened the barrels was +partly unlashed and used as a cable to unite the floating apparatus with +the canoe. Pencroft and Neb then dug away the sand with their oars, so +as to facilitate the moving of the chest, towing which the boat soon +began to double the point to which the name of Flotsam Point was given.</p> + +<p>The chest was heavy, and the barrels were scarcely sufficient to keep it +above water. The sailor also feared every instant that it would get +loose and sink to the bottom of the sea. But happily his fears were not +realised, and an hour and a half after they set out—all that time had +been taken up in going a distance of three miles—the boat touched the +beach below Granite House.</p> + +<p>Canoe and chest were then hauled up on the sand, and as the tide was +then going out, they were soon left high and dry. Neb, hurrying home, +brought back some tools with which to open the chest in such a way that +it might be injured as little as possible, and they proceeded to its +inventory. Pencroft did not try to hide that he was greatly excited.</p> + +<p>The sailor began by detaching the two barrels, which, being in good +condition, would of course be of use. Then the locks were forced with a +cold chisel and hammer, and the lid thrown back. A second casing of zinc +lined the interior of the chest, which had been evidently arranged that +the articles which it enclosed might under any circumstances be +sheltered from damp.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Neb, "suppose it's jam!".<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/aban014.jpg" class="jpg" width="310" height="448" alt="UNPACKING THE MARVELLOUS CHEST" title="UNPACKING THE MARVELLOUS CHEST" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban014.jpg"><b>UNPACKING THE MARVELLOUS CHEST</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 18]</a></span> +"I hope not," replied the reporter.</p> + +<p>"If only there was—" said the sailor in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Neb, who overheard him.</p> + +<p>"Nothing!"</p> + +<p>The covering of zinc was torn off and thrown back over the sides of the +chest, and by degrees numerous articles of very varied character were +produced and strewn about on the sand. At each new object Pencroft +uttered fresh hurrahs, Herbert clapped his hands, and Neb danced—like a +nigger. There were books which made Herbert wild with joy, and cooking +utensils which Neb covered with kisses!</p> + +<p>In short, the colonists had reason to be extremely satisfied, for this +chest contained tools, weapons, instruments, clothes, books; and this is +the exact list of them as stated in Gideon Spilett's note-book:—</p> + +<p>Tools:—3 knives with several blades, 2 woodmen's axes, 2 carpenter's +hatchets, 3 planes, 2 adzes, 1 twibil or mattock, 6 chisels, 2 files, 3 +hammers, 3 gimlets, 2 augers, 10 bags of nails and screws, 3 saws of +different sizes, 2 boxes of needles.</p> + +<p>Weapons:—2 flint-lock guns, 2 for percussion caps, 2 breech-loader +carbines, 5 boarding cutlasses, 4 sabres, 2 barrels of powder, each +containing twenty-five pounds; 12 boxes of percussion caps.</p> + +<p>Instruments:—1 sextant, 1 double opera-glass, 1 telescope, 1 box of +mathematical instruments, 1 mariner's compass, 1 Fahrenheit thermometer, +1 aneroid barometer, 1 box containing a photographic apparatus, +object-glass, plates, chemicals, etc.</p> + +<p>Clothes:—2 dozen shirts of a peculiar material resembling wool, but +evidently of a vegetable origin; 3 dozen stockings of the same material.</p> + +<p>Utensils:—1 iron pot, 6 copper saucepans, 3 iron dishes, 10 metal +plates, 2 kettles, 1 portable stove, 6 table-knives.</p> + +<p>Books:—1 Bible, 1 atlas, 1 dictionary of the different Polynesian +idioms, 1 dictionary of natural science, in six volumes; 3 reams of +white paper, 2 books with blank pages.</p> + +<p>"It must be allowed," said the reporter, after the inventory had been +made, "that the owner of this chest was a practical man! Tools, weapons, +instruments, clothes, utensils, books—nothing is wanting! It might +really be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 19]</a></span> said that he expected to be wrecked, and had prepared for it +beforehand."</p> + +<p>"Nothing is wanting, indeed," murmured Cyrus Harding thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"And for a certainty," added Herbert, "the vessel which carried this +chest and its owner was not a Malay pirate!"</p> + +<p>"Unless," said Pencroft, "the owner had been taken prisoner by +pirates—"</p> + +<p>"That is not admissible," replied the reporter. "It is more probable +that an American or European vessel has been driven into this quarter, +and that her passengers, wishing to save necessaries at least, prepared +this chest and threw it overboard."</p> + +<p>"Is that your opinion, captain?" asked Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my boy," replied the engineer, "that may have been the case. It is +possible that at the moment, or in expectation of a wreck, they +collected into this chest different articles of the greatest use in +hopes of finding it again on the coast—"</p> + +<p>"Even the photographic box!" exclaimed the sailor incredulously.</p> + +<p>"As to that apparatus," replied Harding, "I do not quite see the use of +it; and a more complete supply of clothes or more abundant ammunition +would have been more valuable to us as well as to any other castaways!"</p> + +<p>"But isn't there any mark or direction on these instruments, tools, or +books, which would tell us something about them?" asked Gideon Spilett.</p> + +<p>That might be ascertained. Each article was carefully examined, +especially the books, instruments and weapons. Neither the weapons nor +the instruments, contrary to the usual custom, bore the name of the +maker; they were, besides, in a perfect state, and did not appear to +have been used. The same peculiarity marked the tools and utensils; all +were new, which proved that the articles had not been taken by chance +and thrown into the chest, but, on the contrary, that the choice of the +things had been well considered and arranged with care. This was also +indicated by a second case of metal which had preserved them from damp, +and which could not have been soldered in a moment of haste.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>As to the dictionaries of natural science and Polynesian idioms, both +were English, but they neither bore the name of the publisher nor the +date of publication.</p> + +<p>The same with the Bible printed in English, in quarto, remarkable in a +typographical point of view, and which appeared to have been often used.</p> + +<p>The atlas was a magnificent work, comprising maps of every country in +the world, and several planispheres arranged upon Mercator's projection, +aid of which the nomenclature was in French—but which also bore neither +date nor name of publisher.</p> + +<p>There was nothing, therefore, on these different articles by which they +could be traced and nothing consequently of a nature to show the +nationality of the vessel which must have recently passed these shores.</p> + +<p>But, wherever the chest might have come from, it was a treasure to the +settlers on Lincoln Island. Till then, by making use of the productions +of nature, they had created everything for themselves, and, thanks to +their intelligence, they had managed without difficulty. But did it not +appear as if Providence had wished to reward them by sending them these +productions of human industry? Their thanks rose unanimously to Heaven.</p> + +<p>However, one of them was not quite satisfied: it was Pencroft. It +appeared that the chest did not contain some thing which he evidently +held in great esteem, for in proportion as they approached the bottom of +the box, his hurrahs diminished in heartiness, and, the inventory +finished, he was heard to mutter these words—</p> + +<p>"That's all very fine, but you can see that there is nothing for me in +that box!"</p> + +<p>This led Neb to say,—</p> + +<p>"Why, friend Pencroft, what more do you expect?"</p> + +<p>"Half a pound of tobacco," replied Pencroft seriously, "and nothing +would have been wanting to complete my happiness."</p> + +<p>No one could help laughing at this speech of the sailor's.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/aban016.jpg" class="jpg" width="317" height="448" alt="PENCROFT'S SUPERSTITION" title="PENCROFT'S SUPERSTITION" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban016.jpg"><b>PENCROFT'S SUPERSTITION</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>But the result of this discovery of the chest was, that it was more than +ever necessary to explore the island thoroughly. It was therefore agreed +that the next morning at break of day they should set out, by ascending +the Mercy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 22]</a></span> so as to reach the western shore. If any castaways had +landed on the coast, it was to be feared they were without resources, +and it was therefore the more necessary to carry help to them without +delay.</p> + +<p>During the day the different articles were carried to Granite House, +where they were methodically arranged in the great hall.</p> + +<p>This day—the 29th of October—happened to be a Sunday, and, before +going to bed, Herbert asked the engineer if he would not read them +something from the Gospel.</p> + +<p>"Willingly," replied Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>He took the sacred volume, and was about to open it, when Pencroft +stopped him, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Captain, I am superstitious. Open at random and read the first verse +which your eye falls upon. We will see if it applies to our situation."</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding smiled at the sailor's idea, and, yielding to his wish, he +opened exactly at a place where the leaves were separated by a marker.</p> + +<p>Immediately his eyes were attracted by a cross which, made with a +pencil, was placed against the eighth verse of the seventh chapter of +the Gospel of St. Matthew. He read the verse, which was this:—</p> + +<p>"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Start—The rising Tide—Elms and different Plants—The +Jacamar—Aspect of the Forest—Gigantic Eucalypti—The Reason they +are called "Fever Trees"—Troops of Monkeys—A Waterfall—The Night +Encampment.</p></div> + + +<p>The next day, the 30th of October, all was ready for the proposed +exploring expedition, which recent events had rendered so necessary. In +fact, things had so come about that the settlers in Lincoln Island no +longer needed help for themselves, but were even able to carry it to +others.</p> + +<p>It was therefore agreed that they should ascend the Mercy as far as the +river was navigable. A great part of the distance would thus be +traversed without fatigue, and the explorers could transport their +provisions and arms to an advanced point in the west of the island.</p> + +<p>It was necessary to think not only of the things which they should take +with them, but also of those which they might have by chance to bring +back to Granite House. If there had been a wreck on the coast, as was +supposed, there would be many things cast up, which would be lawfully +their prizes. In the event of this, the cart would have been of more use +than the light canoe, but it was heavy and clumsy to drag, and therefore +more difficult to use; this led Pencroft to express his regret that the +chest had not contained, besides "his half-pound of tobacco," a pair of +strong New Jersey horses, which would have been very useful to the +colony!</p> + +<p>The provisions, which Neb had already packed up, consisted of a store of +meat and of several gallons of beer, that is to say, enough to sustain +them for three days, the time which Harding assigned for the expedition. +They hoped besides to supply themselves on the road, and Neb took care +not to forget the portable stove.</p> + +<p>The only tools the settlers took were the two woodmen's axes, which they +could use to cut a path through the thick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 24]</a></span> forests, as also the +instruments, the telescope and pocket-compass.</p> + +<p>For weapons they selected the two flint-lock guns, which were likely to +be more useful to them than the percussion fowling-pieces, the first +only requiring flints which could be easily replaced, and the latter +needing fulminating caps, a frequent use of which would soon exhaust +their limited stock. However, they took also one of the carbines and +some cartridges. As to the powder, of which there was about fifty pounds +in the barrel, a small supply of it had to be taken, but the engineer +hoped to manufacture an explosive substance which would allow them to +husband it. To the firearms were added the five cutlasses well sheathed +in leather, and, thus supplied, the settlers could venture into the vast +forest with some chance of success.</p> + +<p>It is useless to add that Pencroft, Herbert, and Neb, thus armed, were +at the summit of their happiness, although Cyrus Harding made them +promise not to fire a shot unless it was necessary.</p> + +<p>At six in the morning the canoe put off from the shore; all had +embarked, including Top, and they proceeded to the mouth of the Mercy.</p> + +<p>The tide had begun to come up half an hour before. For several hours, +therefore, there would be a current, which it was well to profit by, for +later the ebb would make it difficult to ascend the river. The tide was +already strong, for in three days the moon would be full, and it was +enough to keep the boat in the centre of the current, where it floated +swiftly along between the high banks without its being necessary to +increase its speed by the aid of the oars. In a few minutes the +explorers arrived at the angle formed by the Mercy, and exactly at the +place where, seven months before, Pencroft had made his first raft of +wood.</p> + +<p>After this sudden angle the river widened and flowed under the shade of +great evergreen firs.</p> + +<p>The aspect of the banks was magnificent. Cyrus Harding and his +companions could not but admire the lovely effects so easily produced by +nature with water and trees. As they advanced the forest element +diminished. On the right bank of the river grew magnificent specimens of +the ulmaceæ tribe, the precious elm, so valuable to builders, and which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 25]</a></span> +withstands well the action of water. Then there were numerous groups +belonging to the same family, amongst others one in particular, the +fruit of which produces a very useful oil. Further on, Herbert remarked +the lardizabala, a twining shrub which, when bruised in water, furnishes +excellent cordage; and two or three ebony trees of a beautiful black, +crossed with capricious veins.</p> + +<p>From time to time, in certain places where the landing was easy, the +canoe was stopped, when Gideon Spilett, Herbert, and Pencroft, their +guns in their hands, and preceded by Top, jumped on shore. Without +expecting game, some useful plant might be met with, and the young +naturalist was delighted with discovering a sort of wild spinage, +belonging to the order of chenopodiaceæ, and numerous specimens of +cruciferæ, belonging to the cabbage tribe, which it would certainly be +possible to cultivate by transplanting. There were cresses, +horse-radish, turnips, and lastly, little branching hairy stalks, +scarcely more than three feet high, which produced brownish grains.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what this plant is?" asked Herbert of the sailor.</p> + +<p>"Tobacco!" cried Pencroft, who evidently had never seen his favourite +plant except in the bowl of his pipe.</p> + +<p>"No, Pencroft," replied Herbert; "this is not tobacco, it is mustard."</p> + +<p>"Mustard be hanged!" returned the sailor; "but if by chance you happen +to come across a tobacco-plant, my boy, pray don't scorn that!"</p> + +<p>"We shall find it some day!" said Gideon Spilett.</p> + +<p>"Well!" exclaimed Pencroft, "when that day comes, I do not know what +more will be wanting in our island!"</p> + +<p>These different plants, which had been carefully rooted, up, were +carried to the canoe, where Cyrus Harding had remained buried in +thought.</p> + +<p>The reporter, Herbert, and Pencroft in this manner frequently +disembarked, sometimes on the right bank, sometimes on the left bank of +the Mercy.</p> + +<p>The latter was less abrupt, but the former more wooded. The engineer +ascertained by consulting his pocket compass that the direction of the +river from the first turn was obviously south-west and north-east, and +nearly straight for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 26]</a></span> a length of about three miles. But it was to be +supposed that this direction changed beyond that point, and that the +Mercy continued to the north-west, towards the spurs of Mount Franklin, +among which the river rose.</p> + +<p>During one of these excursions, Gideon Spilett managed to get hold of +two couples of living gallinaceæ. They were birds with long, thin beaks, +lengthened necks, short wings, and without any appearance of a tail. +Herbert rightly gave them the name of tinamons, and it was resolved that +they should be the first tenants of their future poultry yard.</p> + +<p>But till then the guns had not spoken, and the first report which awoke +the echoes of the forest of the Far West was provoked by the appearance +of a beautiful bird, resembling the kingfisher.</p> + +<p>"I recognise him!" cried Pencroft, and it seemed as if his gun went off +by itself.</p> + +<p>"What do you recognise?" asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"The bird which escaped us on our first excursion, and from which we +gave the name to that part of the forest."</p> + +<p>"A jacamar!" cried Herbert.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a jacamar, of which the plumage shines with a metallic +lustre. A shot brought it to the ground, and Top carried it to the +canoe. At the same time half a dozen lories were brought down. The lory +is of the size of a pigeon, the plumage dashed with green, part of the +wings crimson, and its crest bordered with white. To the young boy +belonged the honour of this shot, and he was proud enough of it. Lories +are better food than the jacamar, the flesh of which is rather tough, +but it was difficult to persuade Pencroft that he had not killed the +king of eatable birds. It was ten o'clock in the morning when the canoe +reached a second angle of the Mercy, nearly five miles from its mouth. +Here a halt was made for breakfast under the shade of some splendid +trees. The river still measured from sixty to seventy feet in breadth, +and its bed from five to six feet in depth. The engineer had observed +that it was increased by numerous affluents, but they were unnavigable, +being simply little streams. As to the forest, including Jacamar Wood, +as well as the forests of the Far West, it extended as far as the eye +could reach. In no place, either in the depths of the forest or under +the trees on the banks of the Mercy, was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 27]</a></span> presence of man revealed. +The explorers could not discover one suspicious trace. It was evident +that the woodman's axe had never touched these trees, that the pioneer's +knife had never severed the creepers hanging from one trunk to another +in the midst of tangled brushwood and long grass. If castaways had +landed on the island, they could not have yet quitted the shore and it +was not in the woods that the survivors of the supposed shipwreck should +be sought.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/aban019.jpg" class="jpg" width="317" height="448" alt="IS IT TOBACCO?" title="IS IT TOBACCO?" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban019.jpg"><b>IS IT TOBACCO?</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 28]</a></span> +The engineer therefore manifested some impatience to reach the western +coast of Lincoln Island, which was at least five miles distant according +to his estimation.</p> + +<p>The voyage was continued, and as the Mercy appeared to flow not towards +the shore, but rather towards Mount Franklin, it was decided that they +should use the boat as long as there was enough water under its keel to +float it. It was both fatigue spared and time gained, for they would +have been obliged to cut a path through the thick wood with their axes. +But soon the flow completely failed them either the tide was going down, +and it was about the hour, or it could no longer be felt at this +distance from the mouth of the Mercy. They had therefore to make use of +the oars, Herbert and Neb each took one, and Pencroft took the scull. +The forest soon became less dense, the trees grew further apart and +often quite isolated. But the further they were from each other the more +magnificent they appeared, profiting, as they did, by the free, pure air +which circulated around them.</p> + +<p>What splendid specimens of the Flora of this latitude! Certainly their +presence would have been enough for a botanist to name without +hesitation the parallel which traversed Lincoln Island.</p> + +<p>"Eucalypti!" cried Herbert.</p> + +<p>They were, in fact, those splendid trees, the giants of the +extra-tropical zone, the congeners of the Australian and New Zealand +eucalyptus, both situated under the same latitude as Lincoln Island. +Some rose to a height of two hundred feet. Their trunks at the base +measured twenty feet in circumference, and their bark was covered by a +network of furrows containing a red, sweet-smelling gum. Nothing is more +wonderful or more singular than those enormous specimens of the order of +the myrtaceæ, with their leaves placed vertically and not horizontally, +so that an edge and not a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 29]</a></span> surface looks upwards, the effect being that +the sun's rays penetrate more freely among the trees.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 309px;"> +<img src="images/aban020.jpg" class="jpg" width="309" height="448" alt="THE HALT FOR BREAKFAST" title="THE HALT FOR BREAKFAST" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban020.jpg"><b>THE HALT FOR BREAKFAST</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>The ground at the foot of the eucalypti was carpeted with grass, and +from the bushes escaped flights of little birds, which glittered in the +sunlight like winged rubies.</p> + +<p>"These are something like trees!" cried Neb; "but are they good for +anything?"</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" replied Pencroft. "Of course there are vegetable giants as well +as human giants, and they are no good, except to show themselves at +fairs!"</p> + +<p>"I think that you are mistaken, Pencroft," replied Gideon Spilett, "and +that the wood of the eucalyptus has begun to be very advantageously +employed in cabinet-making."</p> + +<p>"And I may add," said Herbert, "that the eucalyptus belongs to a family +which comprises many useful members; the guava-tree, from whose fruit +guava jelly is made; the clove-tree, which produces the spice; the +pomegranate-tree, which bears pomegranates; the Eugeacia Cauliflora, the +fruit of which is used in making a tolerable wine; the Ugui myrtle, +which contains an excellent alcoholic liquor; the Caryophyllus myrtle, +of which the bark forms an esteemed cinnamon; the Eugenia Pimenta, from +whence comes Jamaica pepper; the common myrtle, from whose buds and +berries spice is sometimes made; the Eucalyptus manifera, which yields a +sweet sort of manna; the Guinea Eucalyptus, the sap of which is +transformed into beer by fermentation; in short, all those trees known +under the name of gum-trees or iron-bark trees in Australia, belong to +this family of the myrtaceæ, which contains forty-six genera and +thirteen hundred species!"</p> + +<p>The lad was allowed to run on, and he delivered his little botanical +lecture with great animation. Cyrus Harding listened smiling, and +Pencroft with an indescribable feeling of pride.</p> + +<p>"Very good, Herbert," replied Pencroft, "but I could swear that all +those useful specimens you have just told us about are none of them +giants like these!"</p> + +<p>"That is true, Pencroft."</p> + +<p>"That supports what I said," returned the sailor, "namely, that these +giants are good for nothing!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There you are wrong, Pencroft," said the engineer; "these gigantic +eucalypti, which shelter us, are good for something."</p> + +<p>"And what is that?"</p> + +<p>"To render the countries which they inhabit healthy. Do you know what +they are called in Australia and New Zealand?"</p> + +<p>"No, captain."</p> + +<p>"They are called 'fever trees.'"</p> + +<p>"Because they give fevers?"</p> + +<p>"No, because they prevent them!"</p> + +<p>"Good. I must note that," said the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Note it then, my dear Spilett; for it appears proved that the presence +of the eucalyptus is enough to neutralise miasmas. This natural antidote +has been tried in certain countries in the middle of Europe and the +north of Africa, where the soil was absolutely unhealthy, and the +sanitary condition of the inhabitants has been gradually ameliorated. No +more intermittent fevers prevail in the regions now covered with forests +of the myrtaceæ. This fact is now beyond doubt, and it is a happy +circumstance for us settlers in Lincoln Island."</p> + +<p>"Ah! what an island! What a blessed island!" cried Pencroft. "I tell +you, it wants nothing—unless it is—"</p> + +<p>"That will come, Pencroft, that will be found," replied the engineer; +"but now we must continue our voyage and push on as far as the river +will carry our boat!"</p> + +<p>The exploration was therefore continued for another two miles in the +midst of country covered with eucalypti, which predominated in the woods +of this portion of the island. The space which they occupied extended as +far as the eye could reach on each side of the Mercy, which wound along +between high green banks. The bed was often obstructed by long weeds, +and even by pointed rocks, which rendered the navigation very difficult. +The action of the oars was prevented, and Pencroft was obliged to push +with a pole. They found also that the water was becoming shallower and +shallower, and that the canoe must soon stop. The sun was already +sinking towards the horizon, and the trees threw long shadows on the +ground. Cyrus Harding, seeing that he could not hope to reach the +western coast of the island<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 32]</a></span> in one journey, resolved to camp at the +place where any further navigation was prevented by want of water. He +calculated that they were still five or six miles from the coast, and +this distance was too great for them to attempt traversing during the +night in the midst of unknown woods.</p> + +<p>The boat was pushed on through the forest, which gradually became +thicker again, and appeared also to have more inhabitants; for if the +eyes of the sailor did not deceive him, he thought he saw bands of +monkeys springing among the trees. Sometimes even two or three of these +animals stopped at a little distance from the canoe and gazed at the +settlers without manifesting any terror, as if, seeing men for the first +time, they had not yet learned to fear them. It would have been easy to +bring down one of these quadrumani with a gunshot, and Pencroft was +greatly tempted to fire, but Harding opposed so useless a massacre. This +was prudent, for the monkeys, or apes rather, appearing to be very +powerful and extremely active, it was useless to provoke an unnecessary +aggression, and the creatures might, ignorant of the power of the +explorer's firearms, have attacked them. It is true that the sailor +considered the monkeys from a purely alimentary point of view, for those +animals which are herbivorous make very excellent game; but since they +had an abundant supply of provisions, it was a pity to waste their +ammunition.</p> + +<p>Towards four o'clock, the navigation of the Mercy became exceedingly +difficult, for its course was obstructed by aquatic plants and rocks. +The banks rose higher and higher, and already they were approaching the +spurs of Mount Franklin. The source could not be far off, since it was +fed by the water from the southern slopes of the mountain.</p> + +<p>"In a quarter of an hour," said the sailor, "we shall be obliged to +stop, captain."</p> + +<p>"Very well, we will stop, Pencroft, and we will make our encampment for +the night."</p> + +<p>"At what distance are we from Granite House?" asked Herbert.</p> + +<p>"About seven miles," replied the engineer, "taking into calculation, +however, the <i>détours</i> of the river, which has carried us to the +north-west."</p> + +<p>"Shall, we go on?" asked the reporter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, as long as we can," replied Cyrus Harding. "To-morrow, at break of +day, we will leave the canoe, and in two hours I hope we shall cross the +distance which separates us from the coast, and then we shall have the +whole day in which to explore the shore."</p> + +<p>"Go-ahead!" replied Pencroft.</p> + +<p>But soon the boat grated on the stony bottom of the river, which was now +not more than twenty feet in breadth. The trees met like a bower +overhead, and caused a half-darkness. They also heard the noise of a +waterfall, which showed that a few hundred feet up the river there was a +natural barrier.</p> + +<p>Presently, after a sudden turn of the river, a cascade appeared through +the trees. The canoe again touched the bottom, and in a few minutes it +was moored to a trunk near the right bank.</p> + +<p>It was nearly five o'clock. The last rays of the sun gleamed through the +thick foliage and glanced on the little waterfall, making the spray +sparkle with all the colours of the rainbow. Beyond that, the Mercy was +lost in the brushwood, where it was fed from some hidden source. The +different streams which flowed into it increased it to a regular river +further down, but here it was simply a shallow, limpid brook.</p> + +<p>It was agreed to camp here, as the place was charming. The colonists +disembarked, and a fire was soon lighted under a clump of trees, among +the branches of which Cyrus Harding and his companions could, if it was +necessary, take refuge for the night.</p> + +<p>Supper was quickly devoured, for they were very hungry, and then there +was only sleeping to think of. But, as roarings of rather a suspicious +nature had been heard during the evening, a good fire was made up for +the night, so as to protect the sleepers with its crackling flames. Neb +and Pencroft also watched by turns, and did not spare fuel. They thought +they saw the dark forms of some wild animals prowling round the camp +among the bushes, but the night passed without incident, and the next +day, the 31st of October, at five o'clock in the morning, all were on +foot, ready for a start.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Journey to the Coast—Troops of Monkeys—A new River—The Reason the +Tide was not felt—A woody Shore—Reptile Promontory—Herbert envies +Gideon Spilett—Explosion of Bamboos.</p></div> + + +<p>It was six o'clock in the morning when the settlers, after a hasty +breakfast, set out to reach by the shortest way the western coast of the +island. And how long would it take to do this? Cyrus Harding had said +two hours, but of course that depended on the nature of the obstacles +they might meet with. As it was probable that they would have to cut a +path through the grass, shrubs, and creepers, they marched axe in hand, +and with guns also ready, wisely taking warning from the cries of the +wild beasts heard in the night.</p> + +<p>The exact position of the encampment could be determined by the bearing +of Mount Franklin, and as the volcano arose in the north at a distance +of less than three miles, they had only to go straight towards the +south-west to reach the western coast. They set out, having first +carefully secured the canoe. Pencroft and Neb carried sufficient +provisions for the little band for at least two days. It would not thus +be necessary to hunt. The engineer advised his companions to refrain +from firing, that their presence might not be betrayed to any one near +the shore. The first hatchet blows were given among the brushwood in the +midst of some mastick-trees, a little above the cascade; and his compass +in his hand, Cyrus Harding led the way.</p> + +<p>The forest here was composed for the most part of trees which had +already been met with near the lake and on Prospect Heights. There were +deodars, Douglas firs, casuarinas, gum-trees, eucalypti, hibiscus, +cedars, and other trees, generally of a moderate size, for their number +prevented their growth.</p> + +<p>Since their departure, the settlers had descended the slopes which +constituted the mountain system of the island, on to a dry soil, but the +luxuriant vegetation of which indicated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 35]</a></span> it to be watered either by some +subterranean marsh or by some stream. However, Cyrus Harding did not +remember to have seen, at the time of his excursion to the crater, any +other watercourses but the Red Creek and the Mercy.</p> + +<p>During the first part of their excursion, they saw numerous troops of +monkeys who exhibited great astonishment at the sight of men, whose +appearance was so new to them. Gideon Spilett jokingly asked whether +these active and merry quadrupeds did not consider him and his +companions as degenerate brothers.</p> + +<p>And certainly, pedestrians, hindered at each step by bushes, caught by +creepers, barred by trunks of trees, did not shine beside those supple +animals, who, bounding from branch to branch, were hindered by nothing +on their course. The monkeys were numerous, but happily they did not +manifest any hostile disposition.</p> + +<p>Several pigs, agoutis, kangaroos, and other rodents were seen, also two +or three kaolas, at which Pencroft longed to have a shot.</p> + +<p>"But," said he, "you may jump and play just now; we shall have one or +two words to say to you on our way back!"</p> + +<p>At half-past nine the way was suddenly found to be barred by an unknown +stream, from thirty to forty feet broad, whose rapid current dashed +foaming over the numerous rocks which interrupted its course. This creek +was deep and clear, but it was absolutely unnavigable.</p> + +<p>"We are cut off!" cried Neb.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Herbert, "it is only a stream, and we can easily swim +over."</p> + +<p>"What would be the use of that?" returned Harding. "This creek evidently +runs to the sea. Let us remain on this side and follow the bank, and I +shall be much astonished if it does not lead us very quickly to the +coast. Forward!"</p> + +<p>"One minute," said the reporter. "The name of this creek, my friends? Do +not let us leave our geography incomplete."</p> + +<p>"All right!" said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Name it, my boy," said the engineer, addressing the lad.</p> + +<p>"Will it not be better to wait until we have explored it to its mouth?" +answered Herbert.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very well," replied Cyrus Harding. "Let us follow it as fast as we can +without stopping."</p> + +<p>"Still another minute!" said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Though hunting is forbidden, fishing is allowed, I suppose," said the +sailor.</p> + +<p>"We have no time to lose," replied the engineer.</p> + +<p>"Oh! five minutes!" replied Pencroft, "I only ask for five minutes to +use in the interest of our breakfast!"</p> + +<p>And Pencroft, lying down on the bank, plunged his arm into the water, +and soon pulled up several dozen of fine crayfish from among the stores.</p> + +<p>"These will be good!" cried Neb, going to the sailor's aid.</p> + +<p>"As I said, there is everything in this island, except tobacco!" +muttered Pencroft with a sigh.</p> + +<p>The fishing did not take five minutes for the crayfish were swarming in +the creek. A bag was filled with the crustaceæ, whose shells were of a +cobalt blue. The settlers then pushed on.</p> + +<p>They advanced more rapidly and easily along the bank of the river than +in the forest. From time to time they came upon the traces of animals of +a large size who had come to quench their thirst at the stream but none +were actually seen and it was evidently not in this part of the forest +that the peccary had received the bullet which had cost Pencroft a +grinder.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, considering the rapid current Harding was led to +suppose that he and his companions were much farther from the western +coast than they had at first supposed. In fact, at this hour, the rising +tide would have turned back the current of the creek if its mouth had +only been a few miles distant. Now, this effect was not produced, and +the water pursued its natural course. The engineer was much astonished +at this, and frequently consulted his compass to assure himself that +some turn of the river was not leading them again into the Far West.</p> + +<p>However, the creek gradually widened and its waters became less +tumultuous. The trees on the right bank were as close together as on the +left bank, and it was impossible to distinguish anything beyond them, +but these masses of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 37]</a></span> wood were evidently uninhabited, for Top did not +bark, and the intelligent animal would not have failed to signal the +presence of any stranger in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 309px;"> +<img src="images/aban024.jpg" class="jpg" width="309" height="448" alt="DENIZENS OF THE FOREST" title="DENIZENS OF THE FOREST" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban024.jpg"><b>DENIZENS OF THE FOREST</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>At half past ten, to the great surprise of Cyrus Harding, Herbert, who +was a little in front, suddenly stopped and exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"The sea!"</p> + +<p>In a few minutes more, the whole western shore of the island lay +extended before the eyes of the settlers.</p> + +<p>But what a contrast between this and the eastern coast, upon which +chance had first thrown them. No granite cliff, no rocks, not even a +sandy beach. The forest reached the shore, and the tall trees bending +over the water were beaten by the waves. It was not such a shore as is +usually formed by nature, either by extending a vast carpet of sand, or +by grouping masses of rock, but a beautiful border consisting of the +most splendid trees. The bank was raised a little above the level of the +sea, and on this luxuriant soil supported by a granite base, the fine +forest trees seemed to be as firmly planted as in the interior of the +island.</p> + +<p>The colonists were then on the shore of an unimportant little harbour, +which would scarcely have contained even two or three fishing boats. It +served as a neck to the new creek of which the curious thing was that +its waters, instead of joining the sea by a gentle slope, fell from a +height of more than forty feet, which explained why the rising tide was +not felt up the stream. In fact, the tides of the Pacific, even at their +maximum of elevation, could never reach the level of the river, and, +doubtless millions of years would pass before the water would have worn +away the granite and hollowed a practicable mouth.</p> + +<p>It was settled that the name of Falls River should be given to this +stream. Beyond, towards the north, the forest border was prolonged for a +space of nearly two miles, then the trees became scarcer, and beyond +that again the picturesque heights described a nearly straight line +which ran north and south. On the contrary, all the part of the shore +between Falls River and Reptile End was a mass of wood, magnificent +trees, some straight, others bent, so that the long sea swell bathed +their roots. Now, it was this coast, that is, all the Serpentine +peninsula, that was to be explored, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 39]</a></span>for this part of the shore offered +a refuge to castaways, which the other wild and barren side must have +refused.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 313px;"> +<img src="images/aban025.jpg" class="jpg" width="313" height="448" alt="THE SEA." title="THE SEA." /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban025.jpg"><b>THE SEA.</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>The weather was fine and clear, and from the height of a hillock on +which Neb and Pencroft had arranged breakfast, a wide view was obtained. +There was, however, not a sail in sight; nothing could be seen along the +shore as far as the eye could reach. But the engineer would take nothing +for granted until he had explored the coast to the very extremity of the +Serpentine peninsula.</p> + +<p>Breakfast was soon despatched, and at half-past eleven the captain gave +the signal for departure. Instead of proceeding over the summit of a +cliff or along a sandy beach, the settlers were obliged to remain under +cover of the trees so that they might continue on the shore.</p> + +<p>The distance which separated Falls River from Reptile End was about +twelve miles. It would have taken the settlers four hours to do this, on +a clear ground and without hurrying themselves; but as it was they +needed double the time, for what with trees to go round, bushes to cut +down, and creepers to chop away, they were impeded at every step, these +obstacles greatly lengthening their journey.</p> + +<p>There was, however, nothing to show that a shipwreck had taken place +recently. It is true that, as Gideon Spilett observed, any remains of it +might have drifted out to sea, and they must not take it for granted +that because they could find no traces of it, a ship had not been cast +away on the coast.</p> + +<p>The reporter's argument was just, and besides, the incident of the +bullet proved that a shot must have been fired in Lincoln Island within +three months.</p> + +<p>It was already five o'clock, and there were still two miles between the +settlers and the extremity of the Serpentine peninsula. It was evident +that after having reached Reptile End, Harding and his companions would +not have time to return before dark to their encampment near the source +of the Mercy. It would therefore be necessary to pass the night on the +promontory. But they had no lack of provisions, which was lucky, for +there were no animals on the shore, though birds, on the contrary, +abounded—jacamars, couroucoos, tragopans, grouse, lories, parrots, +cockatoos, pheasants, pigeons, and a hundred others. There was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 41]</a></span> a +tree without a nest, and not a nest which was not full of flapping +wings.</p> + +<p>Towards seven o'clock the weary explorers arrived at Reptile End. Here +the seaside forest ended, and the shore resumed the customary appearance +of a coast, with rocks, reefs, and sands. It was possible that something +might be found here, but darkness came on, and the further exploration +had to be put off to the next day.</p> + +<p>Pencroft and Herbert hastened on to find a suitable place for their +camp. Amongst the last trees of the forest of the Far West, the boy +found several thick clumps of bamboos.</p> + +<p>"Good," said he; "this is a valuable discovery."</p> + +<p>"Valuable?" returned Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied Herbert. "I may say, Pencroft, that the bark of the +bamboo cut into flexible laths, is used for making baskets; that this +bark, mashed into a paste, is used for the manufacture of Chinese paper; +that the stalks furnish, according to their size, canes and pipes, and +are used for conducting water; that large bamboos make excellent +material for building, being light and strong, and being never attacked +by insects. I will add that by sawing the bamboo in two at the joint, +keeping for the bottom the part of the transverse film which forms the +joint, useful cups are obtained, which are much in use among the +Chinese. No! you don't care for that. But—"</p> + +<p>"But what?"</p> + +<p>"But I can tell you, if you are ignorant of it, that in India these +bamboos are eaten like asparagus."</p> + +<p>"Asparagus thirty feet high!" exclaimed the sailor. "And are they good?"</p> + +<p>"Excellent," replied Herbert. "Only it is not the stems of thirty feet +high which are eaten, but the young shoots."</p> + +<p>"Perfect, my boy, perfect!" replied Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"I will also add that the pith of the young stalks, preserved in +vinegar, makes a good pickle."</p> + +<p>"Better and better, Herbert!"</p> + +<p>"And lastly, that the bamboos exude a sweet liquor which can be made +into a very agreeable drink."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" asked the sailor.</p> + +<p>"That is all!"</p> + +<p>"And they don't happen to do for smoking?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, my poor Pencroft."</p> + +<p>Herbert and the sailor had not to look long for a place in which to pass +the night. The rocks, which must have been violently beaten by the sea +under the influence of the winds of the south west, presented many +cavities in which shelter could be found against the night air. But just +as they were about to enter one of these caves a loud roaring arrested +them.</p> + +<p>"Back!" cried Pencroft. "Our guns are only loaded with small shot, and +beasts which can roar as loud as that would care no more for it than for +grams of salt!". And the sailor, seizing Herbert by the arm, dragged him +behind a rock, just as a magnificent animal showed itself at the +entrance of the cavern.</p> + +<p>It was a jaguar of a size at least equal to its Asiatic congeners, that +is to say, it measured five feet from the extremity of its head to the +beginning of its tail. The yellow colour of its hair was relieved by +streaks and regular oblong spots of black, which contrasted with the +white of its chest. Herbert recognised it as the ferocious rival of the +tiger, as formidable as the puma, which is the rival of the largest +wolf!</p> + +<p>The jaguar advanced and gazed around him with blazing eyes, his hair +bristling as if this was not the first time he had scented man.</p> + +<p>At this moment the reporter appeared round a rock, and Herbert, thinking +that he had not seen the jaguar, was about to rush towards him, when +Gideon Spilett signed to him to remain where he was. This was not his +first tiger, and advancing to within ten feet of the animal he remained +motionless, his gun to his shoulder, without moving a muscle. The jaguar +collected itself for a spring, but at that moment a shot struck it in +the eyes, and it fell dead.</p> + +<p>Herbert and Pencroft rushed towards the jaguar. Neb and Harding also ran +up, and they remained for some instants contemplating the animal as it +lay stretched on the ground, thinking that its magnificent skin would be +a great ornament to the hall at Granite House.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Spilett, how I admire and envy you!" cried Herbert, in a fit of +very natural enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy," replied the reporter, "you could have done the same."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/aban027.jpg" class="jpg" width="312" height="448" alt="AT THAT MOMENT A SHOT STRUCK THE JAGUAR BETWEEN THE EYES AND IT FELL DEAD" title="AT THAT MOMENT A SHOT STRUCK THE JAGUAR BETWEEN THE EYES AND IT FELL DEAD" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban027.jpg"><b>AT THAT MOMENT A SHOT STRUCK THE JAGUAR BETWEEN THE EYES AND IT FELL DEAD</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 44]</a></span> +"I! with such coolness!—"</p> + +<p>"Imagine to yourself, Herbert, that the jaguar is only a hare, and you +would fire as quietly as possible."</p> + +<p>"That is," rejoined Pencroft, "it is not more dangerous than a hare!"</p> + +<p>"And now," said Gideon Spilett, "since the jaguar has left its abode, I +do not see, my friends, why we should not take possession of it for the +night."</p> + +<p>"But others may come," said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"It will be enough to light a fire at the entrance of the cavern," said +the reporter, "and no wild beasts will dare to cross the threshold."</p> + +<p>"Into the jaguar's house, then!" replied the sailor, dragging after him +the body of the animal.</p> + +<p>Whilst Neb skinned the jaguar, his companions collected an abundant +supply of dry wood from the forest, which they heaped up at the cave.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding, seeing the clump of bamboos, cut a quantity, which he +mingled with the other fuel.</p> + +<p>This done, they entered the grotto, of which the floor was strewn with +bones, the guns were carefully loaded, in case of a sudden attack, they +had supper, and then just before they lay down to rest, the heap of wood +piled at the entrance was set fire to. Immediately, a regular explosion, +or rather, a series of reports, broke the silence! The noise was caused, +by the bamboos, which, as the flames reached them, exploded like +fireworks. The noise was enough to terrify even the boldest of wild +beasts.</p> + +<p>It was not the engineer who had invented this way of causing loud +explosions, for, according to Marco Polo, the Tartars have employed it +for many centuries to drive away from their encampments the formidable +wild beasts of Central Asia.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Proposal to return by the Southern Shore—Configuration of the +Coast—Searching for the supposed Wreck—A Wreck in the +Air—Discovery of a small Natural Port—At Midnight on the Banks of +the Mercy—The Canoe Adrift.</p></div> + + +<p>Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave +which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.</p> + +<p>At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and +their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the +circumference were visible. For the last time the engineer could +ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and +even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.</p> + +<p>There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of +three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond +that, rising ground hid the rest of the coast, and even from the +extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Cape Claw could not be seen.</p> + +<p>The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored. Now +should they undertake it immediately, and devote this day to it?</p> + +<p>This was not included in their first plan. In fact, when the boat was +abandoned at the sources of the Mercy, it had been agreed that after +having surveyed the west coast, they should go back to it, and return to +Granite House by the Mercy. Harding then thought that the western coast +would have offered refuge, either to a ship in distress, or to a vessel +in her regular course; but now, as he saw that this coast presented no +good anchorage, he wished to seek on the south what they had not been +able to find on the west.</p> + +<p>Gideon Spilett proposed to continue the exploration, that the question +of the supposed wreck might be completely settled, and he asked at what +distance Claw Cape might be from the extremity of the peninsula.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"About thirty miles," replied the engineer, "if we take into +consideration the curvings of the coast."</p> + +<p>"Thirty miles!" returned Spilett. "That would be a long day's march. +Nevertheless, I think that we should return to Granite House by the +south coast."</p> + +<p>"But," observed Herbert, "from Claw Cape to Granite House there must be +at least another ten miles."</p> + +<p>"Make it forty miles in all," replied the engineer, "and do not hesitate +to do it. At least we should survey the unknown shore, and then we shall +not have to begin the exploration again."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said Pencroft. "But the boat?"</p> + +<p>"The boat has remained by itself for one day at the sources of the +Mercy," replied Gideon Spilett; "it may just as well stay there two +days! As yet, we have had no reason to think that the island is infested +by thieves!"</p> + +<p>"Yet," said the sailor, "when I remember the history of the turtle, I am +far from confident of that."</p> + +<p>"The turtle! the turtle!" replied the reporter. "Don't you know that the +sea turned it over?"</p> + +<p>"Who knows?" murmured the engineer.</p> + +<p>"But—" said Neb.</p> + +<p>Neb had evidently something to say, for he opened his mouth to speak and +yet said nothing.</p> + +<p>"What do you want to say, Neb?" asked the engineer.</p> + +<p>"If we return by the shore to Claw Cape," replied Neb, "after having +doubled the Cape, we shall be stopped—"</p> + +<p>"By the Mercy! of course," replied Herbert, "and we shall have neither +bridge nor boat by which to cross."</p> + +<p>"But, captain," added Pencroft, "with a few floating trunks we shall +have no difficulty in crossing the river."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Spilett, "it will be useful to construct a bridge if +we wish to have an easy access to the Far West!"</p> + +<p>"A bridge!" cried Pencroft. "Well, is not the captain the best engineer +in his profession? He will make us a bridge when we want one. As to +transporting you this evening to the other side of the Mercy, and that +without wetting one thread of your clothes, I will take care of that. We +have provisions for another day, and besides we can get plenty of game. +Forward!"</p> + +<p>The reporter's proposal, so strongly seconded by the sailor,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 47]</a></span> received +general approbation, for each wished to have their doubts set at rest, +and by returning by Claw Cape the exploration would be ended. But there +was not an hour to lose, for forty miles was a long march, and they +could not hope to reach Granite House before night.</p> + +<p>At six o'clock in the morning the little band set out. As a precaution +the guns were loaded with ball, and Top, who led the van, received +orders to beat about the edge of the forest.</p> + +<p>From the extremity of the promontory which formed the tail of the +peninsula the coast was rounded for a distance of five miles, which was +rapidly passed over, without even the most minute investigations +bringing to light the least trace of any old or recent landings; no +<i>debris</i>, no mark of an encampment, no cinders of a fire, nor even a +footprint!</p> + +<p>From the point of the peninsula on which the settlers now were their +gaze could extend along the south-west. Twenty-five miles off the coast +terminated in the Claw Cape, which loomed dimly through the morning +mists, and which, by the phenomenon of the mirage, appeared as if +suspended between land and water.</p> + +<p>Between the place occupied by the colonists and the other side of the +immense bay, the shore was composed, first, of a tract of low land, +bordered in the background by trees; then the shore became more +irregular, projecting sharp points into the sea, and finally ended in +the black rocks which, accumulated in picturesque disorder, formed Claw +Cape.</p> + +<p>Such was the development of this part of the island, which the settlers +took in at a glance, whilst stopping for an instant.</p> + +<p>"If a vessel ran in here," said Pencroft, "she would certainly be lost. +Sandbanks and reefs everywhere! Bad quarters!"</p> + +<p>"But at least something would be left of the ship," observed the +reporter.</p> + +<p>"There might be pieces of wood on the rocks, but nothing on the sands," +replied the sailor.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because the sands are still more dangerous than the rocks, for they +swallow up everything that is thrown on them. In a few days the hull of +a ship of several hundred tons would disappear entirely in there!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So, Pencroft," asked the engineer, "if a ship has been wrecked on these +banks, is it not astonishing that there is now no trace of her +remaining?"</p> + +<p>"No, captain, with the aid of time and tempest. However, it would be +surprising, even in this case, that some of the masts or spars should +not have been thrown on the beach, out of reach of the waves."</p> + +<p>"Let us go on with our search, then," returned Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>At one o'clock the colonists arrived at the other side of Washington +Bay, they having now gone a distance of twenty miles.</p> + +<p>They then halted for breakfast.</p> + +<p>Here began the irregular coast, covered with lines of rocks and +sandbanks. The long sea-swell could be seen breaking over the rocks in +the bay, forming a foamy fringe. From this point to Claw Cape the beach +was very narrow between the edge of the forest and the reefs.</p> + +<p>Walking was now more difficult, on account of the numerous rocks which +encumbered the beach. The granite cliff also gradually increased in +height, and only the green tops of the trees which crowned it could be +seen.</p> + +<p>After half an hour's rest, the settlers resumed their journey, and not a +spot among the rocks was left unexamined. Pencroft and Neb even rushed +into the surf whenever any object attracted their attention. But they +found nothing, some curious formations of the rocks having deceived +them. They ascertained, however, that eatable shell-fish abounded there, +but these could not be of any great advantage to them until some easy +means of communication had been established between the two banks of the +Mercy, and until the means of transport had been perfected.</p> + +<p>Nothing therefore which threw any light on the supposed wreck could be +found on this shore, yet an object of any importance, such as the hull +of a ship, would have been seen directly, or any of her masts and spars +would have been washed on shore, just as the chest had been, which was +found twenty miles from here. But there was nothing.</p> + +<p>Towards three o'clock Harding and his companions arrived at a snug +little creek. It formed quite a natural harbour, invisible from the sea, +and was entered by a narrow channel.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 49]</a></span> At the back of this creek some +violent convulsion had torn up the rocky border, and a cutting, by a +gentle slope, gave access to an upper plateau, which might be situated +at least ten miles from Claw Cape, and consequently four miles in a +straight line from Prospect Heights. Gideon Spilett proposed to his +companions that they should make a halt here. They agreed readily, for +their walk had sharpened their appetites; and although it was not their +usual dinner-hour, no one refused to strengthen himself with a piece of +venison. This luncheon would sustain them till their supper, which they +intended to take at Granite House. In a few minutes the settlers, seated +under a clump of fine sea-pines, were devouring the provisions which Neb +produced from his bag.</p> + +<p>This spot was raised from fifty to sixty feet above the level of the +sea. The view was very extensive, but beyond the cape it ended in Union +Bay. Neither the islet nor Prospect Heights were visible, and could not +be from thence, for the rising ground and the curtain of trees closed +the northern horizon.</p> + +<p>It is useless to add that notwithstanding the wide extent of sea which +the explorers could survey, and though the engineer swept the horizon +with his glass, no vessel could be found.</p> + +<p>The shore was of course examined with the same care from the edge of the +water to the cliff, and nothing could be discovered even with the aid of +the instrument.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Gideon Spilett, "it seems we must make up our minds to +console ourselves with thinking that no one will come to dispute with us +the possession of Lincoln Island!"</p> + +<p>"But the bullet," cried Herbert. "That was not imaginary, I suppose!"</p> + +<p>"Hang it, no!" exclaimed Pencroft, thinking of his absent tooth.</p> + +<p>"Then what conclusion may be drawn?" asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"This," replied the engineer, "that three months or more ago, a vessel, +either voluntarily or not, came here."</p> + +<p>"What! then you admit, Cyrus, that she was swallowed up without leaving +any trace?" cried the reporter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, my dear Spilett, but you see that if it is certain that a human +being set foot on the island, it appears no less certain that he has now +left it."</p> + +<p>"Then, if I understand you right, captain," said Herbert, "the vessel +has left again?"</p> + +<p>"Evidently."</p> + +<p>"And we have lost an opportunity to get back to our country?" said Neb.</p> + +<p>"I fear so."</p> + +<p>"Very well, since the opportunity is lost, let us go on, it can't be +helped," said Pencroft, who felt home sickness for Granite House.</p> + +<p>But just as they were rising, Top was heard loudly barking; and the dog +issued from the wood, holding in his mouth a rag soiled with mud.</p> + +<p>Neb seized it. It was a piece of strong cloth!</p> + +<p>Top still barked, and by his going and coming, seemed to invite his +master to follow him into the forest.</p> + +<p>"Now there's something to explain the bullet!" exclaimed Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"A castaway!" replied Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Wounded, perhaps!" said Neb.</p> + +<p>"Or dead!" added the reporter.</p> + +<p>All ran after the dog, among the tall pines on the border of the forest. +Harding and his companions made ready their fire-arms, in case of an +emergency.</p> + +<p>They advanced some way into the wood, but to their great disappointment, +they as yet saw no signs of any human being having passed that way. +Shrubs and creepers were uninjured, and they had even to cut them away +with the axe, as they had done in the deepest recesses of the forest. It +was difficult to fancy that any human creature had ever passed there, +but yet Top went backwards and forwards, not like a dog who searches at +random, but like a being endowed with a mind, who is following up an +idea.</p> + +<p>In about seven or eight minutes Top stopped in a glade surrounded with +tall trees. The settlers gazed around them, but saw nothing, neither +under the bushes nor among the trees.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Top?" said Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>Top barked louder, bounding about at the foot of a gigantic pine. All at +once Pencroft shouted,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 51]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/aban031.jpg" class="jpg" width="312" height="448" alt="EXCLAIMED PENCROFT" title="EXCLAIMED PENCROFT" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban031.jpg"><b>"NOW THERE'S SOMETHING TO EXPLAIN THE BULLET!" EXCLAIMED PENCROFT</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 52]</a></span> +"Ho, splendid! capital!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Spilett</p> + +<p>"We have been looking for a wreck at sea or on land!"</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"Well, and here we've found one in the air!"</p> + +<p>And the sailor pointed to a great white rag, caught in the top of a +pine, a fallen scrap of which the dog had brought to them.</p> + +<p>"But that is not a wreck!" cried Gideon Spilett.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon!" returned Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Why? is it—?"</p> + +<p>"It is all that remains of our airy boat, of our balloon, which has been +caught up aloft there, at the top of that tree!"</p> + +<p>Pencroft was not mistaken, and he gave vent to his feelings in a +tremendous hurrah, adding,—</p> + +<p>"There is good cloth! There is what will furnish us with linen for +years. There is what will make us handkerchiefs and shirts! Ha, ha, Mr +Spilett, what do you say to an island where shirts grow on the trees?"</p> + +<p>It was certainly a lucky circumstance for the settlers in Lincoln Island +that the balloon, after having made its last bound into the air, had +fallen on the island and thus given them the opportunity of finding it +again, whether they kept the case under its present form, or whether +they wished to attempt another escape by it, or whether they usefully +employed the several hundred yards of cotton, which was of fine quality. +Pencroft's joy was therefore shared by all.</p> + +<p>But it was necessary to bring down the remains of the balloon from the +tree, to place it in security, and this was no slight task. Neb, +Herbert, and the sailor, climbing to the summit of the tree, used all +their skill to disengage the now reduced balloon.</p> + +<p>The operation lasted two hours, and then not only the case, with its +valve, its springs, its brasswork, lay on the ground, but the net, that +is to say a considerable quantity of ropes and cordage, and the circle +and the anchor. The case, except for the fracture, was in good +condition, only the lower portion being torn.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 306px;"> +<img src="images/aban032.jpg" class="jpg" width="306" height="448" alt="A WRECK IN THE AIR" title="A WRECK IN THE AIR" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban032.jpg"><b>A WRECK IN THE AIR</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>It was a fortune which had fallen from the sky. "All the same, captain," +said the sailor, "if we ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 54]</a></span> decide to leave the island, it won't be +in a balloon, will it? These air-boats won't go where we want them to +go, and we have had some experience in that way! Look here, We will +build a craft of some twenty tons, and then we can make a main-sail, a +fore-sail, and a jib out of that cloth. As to the rest of it, that will +help to dress us."</p> + +<p>"We shall see, Pencroft," replied Cyrus Harding; "we shall see."</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, we must put it in a safe place," said Neb.</p> + +<p>They certainly could not think of carrying this load of cloth, ropes, +and cordage, to Granite House, for the weight of it was very +considerable, and whilst waiting for a suitable vehicle in which to +convey it, it was of importance that this treasure should not be left +longer exposed to the mercies of the first storm. The settlers uniting +their efforts managed to drag it as far as the shore, where they +discovered a large rocky cavity, which owing to its position could not +be visited either by the wind or rain.</p> + +<p>"We needed a locker, and now we have one," said Pencroft; "but as we +cannot lock it up, it will be prudent to hide the opening. I don't mean +from two-legged thieves, but; from those with four paws!"</p> + +<p>At six o'clock, all was stowed away, and after having given the creek +the very suitable name of "Port Balloon," the settlers pursued their way +along Claw Cape. Pencroft and the engineer talked of the different +projects which it was agreed to put into execution with the briefest +possible delay. It was necessary first of all to throw a bridge over the +Mercy, so as to establish an easy communication with the south of the +island; then the cart must be taken to bring back the balloon, for the +canoe alone could not carry it, then they would build a decked boat, and +Pencroft would rig it as a cutter, and they would be able to undertake +voyages of circumnavigation round the island, etc.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile night came on, and it was already dark when the +settlers reached Flotsam Point, the place where they had discovered the +precious chest.</p> + +<p>The distance between Flotsam Point and Granite House was another four +miles, and it was midnight when, after having followed the shore to the +mouth of the Mercy, the settlers arrived at the first angle formed by +the Mercy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>There the river was eighty feet in breadth, which was awkward to cross, +but as Pencroft had taken upon himself to conquer this difficulty, he +was compelled to do it. The settlers certainly had reason to be pretty +tired. The journey had been long, and the task of getting down the +balloon had not rested either their arms or legs. They were anxious to +reach Granite House to eat and sleep, and if the bridge had been +constructed, in a quarter of an hour they would have been at home.</p> + +<p>The night was very dark. Pencroft prepared to keep his promise by +constructing a sort of raft, on which to make the passage of the Mercy. +He and Neb, armed with axes, chose two trees near the water, and began +to attack them at the base.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and Spilett, seated on the bank, waited till their +companions were ready for their help, whilst Herbert roamed about, +though without going to any distance. All at once, the lad, who had +strolled by the river, came running back, and, pointing up the Mercy, +exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"What is floating there?"</p> + +<p>Pencroft stopped working, and seeing an indistinct object moving through +the gloom,—</p> + +<p>"A canoe!" cried he.</p> + +<p>All approached, and saw to their extreme surprise, a boat floating down +the current.</p> + +<p>"Boat ahoy!" shouted the sailor, without thinking that perhaps it would +be best to keep silence.</p> + +<p>No reply. The boat still drifted onwards, and it was not more than +twelve feet off, when the sailor exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"But it is our own boat! she has broken her moorings, and floated down +the current. I must say she has arrived very opportunely."</p> + +<p>"Our boat?" murmured the engineer.</p> + +<p>Pencroft was right. It was indeed the canoe, of which the rope had +undoubtedly broken, and which had come alone from the sources of the +Mercy. It was very important to seize it before the rapid current should +have swept it away out of the mouth of the river, but Neb and Pencroft +cleverly managed this by means of a long pole.</p> + +<p>The canoe touched the shore. The engineer leapt in first,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 56]</a></span> and found, on +examining the rope, that it had been really worn through by rubbing +against the rocks.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the reporter to him, in a low voice, "this is a strange +thing."</p> + +<p>"Strange indeed!" returned Cyrus Handing.</p> + +<p>Strange or not, it was very fortunate. Herbert, the reporter, Neb, and +Pencroft, embarked in turn. There was no doubt about the rope having +been worn through, but the astonishing part of the affair was, that the +boat should have arrived just at the moment when the settlers were there +to seize it on its way, for a quarter of an hour earlier or later it +would have been lost in the sea.</p> + +<p>If they had been living in the time of genii, this incident would have +given them the right to think that the island was haunted by some +supernatural being, who used his power in the service of the castaways!</p> + +<p>A few strokes of the oar brought the settlers to the mouth of the Mercy. +The canoe was hauled up on the beach near the Chimneys, and all +proceeded towards the ladder of Granite House.</p> + +<p>But at that moment, Top barked angrily, and Neb, who was looking for the +first steps, uttered a cry.</p> + +<p>There was no longer a ladder!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/aban034.jpg" class="jpg" width="312" height="448" alt="THERE WAS NO LONGER A LADDER!" title="THERE WAS NO LONGER A LADDER!" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban034.jpg"><b>THERE WAS NO LONGER A LADDER!</b></a></span> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Pencroft's Halloos—A Night in the Chimneys—Herbert's Arrows—The +Captain's Project—An unexpected Explanation—What has happened in +Granite House—How a new Servant enters the Service of the +Colonists.</p></div> + + +<p>Cyrus Harding stood still, without saying a word. His companions +searched in the darkness on the wall, in case the wind should have moved +the ladder, and on the ground, thinking that it might have fallen +down.... But the ladder had quite disappeared. As to ascertaining if a +squall had blown it on to the landing-place, half way up, that was +impossible in the dark.</p> + +<p>"If it is a joke," cried Pencroft, "it is a very stupid one; to come +home and find no staircase to go up to your room by; for weary men, +there is nothing to laugh at that I can see."</p> + +<p>Neb could do nothing but cry out, "Oh! oh! oh!"</p> + +<p>"I begin to think that very curious things happen in Lincoln Island!" +said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Curious?" replied Gideon Spilett, "not at all, Pencroft, nothing can be +more natural. Some one has come during our absence, taken possession of +our dwelling and drawn up the ladder."</p> + +<p>"Some one," cried the sailor. "But who?"</p> + +<p>"Who but the hunter who fired the bullet?" replied the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Well, if there is any one up there," replied Pencroft, who began to +lose patience, "I will give them a hail, and they must answer."</p> + +<p>And in a stentorian voice the sailor gave a prolonged "Halloo!" which +was echoed again and again from the cliff and rocks.</p> + +<p>The settlers listened and they thought they heard a sort of chuckling +laugh, of which they could not guess the origin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 59]</a></span> But no voice replied +to Pencroft, who in vain repeated his vigorous shouts.</p> + +<p>There was something indeed in this to astonish the most apathetic of +men, and the settlers were not men of that description. In their +situation every incident had its importance, and, certainly, during the +seven months which they had spent on the island, they had not before met +with anything of so surprising a character.</p> + +<p>Be that as it may, forgetting their fatigue in the singularity of the +event, they remained below Granite House, not knowing what to think, not +knowing what to do, questioning each other without any hope of a +satisfactory reply, every one starting some supposition each more +unlikely than the last. Neb bewailed himself, much disappointed at not +being able to get into his kitchen, for the provisions which they had +had on their expedition were exhausted, and they had no means of +renewing them.</p> + +<p>"My friends," at last said Cyrus Harding, "there is only one thing to be +done at present, wait for day, and then act according to circumstances. +But let us go to the Chimneys. There we shall be under shelter, and if +we cannot eat, we can at least sleep."</p> + +<p>"But who is it that has played us this cool trick?" again asked +Pencroft, unable to make up his mind to retire from the spot.</p> + +<p>Whoever it was, the only thing practicable was to do as the engineer +proposed, to go to the Chimneys and there wait for day. In the meanwhile +Top was ordered to mount guard below the windows of Granite House, and +when Top received an order he obeyed it without any questioning. The +brave dog therefore remained at the foot of the cliff whilst his master +with his companions sought a refuge among the rocks.</p> + +<p>To say that the settlers, notwithstanding their fatigue, slept well on +the sandy floor of the Chimneys would not be true. It was not only that +they were extremely anxious to find out the cause of what had happened, +whether it was the result of an accident which would be discovered at +the return of day, or whether on the contrary it was the work of a human +being; but they also had very uncomfortable beds. That could not be +helped, however, for in some way or other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 60]</a></span> at that moment their dwelling +was occupied, and they could not possibly enter it.</p> + +<p>Now Granite House was more than their dwelling, it was their warehouse. +There were all the stores belonging to the colony, weapons, instruments, +tools, ammunition, provisions, etc. To think that all that might be +pillaged and that the settlers would have all their work to do over +again, fresh weapons and tools to make, was a serious matter. Their +uneasiness led one or other of them also to go out every few minutes to +see if Top was keeping good watch. Cyrus Harding alone waited with his +habitual patience, although his strong mind was exasperated at being +confronted with such an inexplicable fact, and he was provoked at +himself for allowing a feeling to which he could not give a name, to +gain an influence over him. Gideon Spilett shared his feelings in this +respect, and the two conversed together in whispers of the inexplicable +circumstance which baffled even their intelligence and experience.</p> + +<p>"It is a joke," said Pencroft; "it is a trick some one has played us. +Well, I don't like such jokes, and the joker had better look out for +himself, if he falls into my hands, I can tell him."</p> + +<p>As soon as the first gleam of light appeared in the east, the colonists, +suitably armed, repaired to the beach under Granite House. The rising +sun now shone on the cliff and they could see the windows, the shutters +of which were closed, through the curtains of foliage.</p> + +<p>All here was in order; but a cry escaped the colonists when they saw +that the door, which they had closed on their departure, was now wide +open.</p> + +<p>Some one had entered Granite House—there could be no more doubt about +that.</p> + +<p>The upper ladder, which generally hung from the door to the landing, was +in its place, but the lower ladder was drawn up and raised to the +threshold. It was evident that the intruders had wished to guard +themselves against a surprise.</p> + +<p>Pencroft hailed again.</p> + +<p>No reply.</p> + +<p>"The beggars," exclaimed the sailor. "There they are sleeping quietly as +if they were in their own house. Hallo there, you pirates, brigands, +robbers, sons of John Bull!".<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Pencroft, being a Yankee, treated any one to the epithet of "son of +John Bull," he considered he had reached the last limits of insult.</p> + +<p>The sun had now completely risen, and the whole façade of Granite House +became illuminated by his rays; but in the interior as well as on the +exterior all was quiet and calm.</p> + +<p>The settlers asked if Granite House was inhabited or not, and yet the +position of the ladder was sufficient to show that it was; it was also +certain that the inhabitants, whoever they might be, had not been able +to escape. But how were they to be got at?</p> + +<p>Herbert then thought of fastening a cord to an arrow, and shooting the +arrow so that it should pass between the first rounds of the ladder +which hung from the threshold. By means of the cord they would then be +able to draw down the ladder to the ground, and so re-establish the +communication between the beach and Granite House. There was evidently +nothing else to be done, and, with a little skill, this method might +succeed. Very fortunately bows and arrows had been left at the Chimneys, +where they also found a quantity of light hibiscus cord. Pencroft +fastened this to a well-feathered arrow. Then Herbert fixing it to his +bow, took a careful aim for the lower part of the ladder.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding, Gideon Spilett, Pencroft, and Neb drew back, so as to see +if anything appeared at the windows. The reporter lifted his gun to his +shoulder and covered the door.</p> + +<p>The bow was bent, the arrow flew, taking the cord with it, and passed +between the two last rounds.</p> + +<p>The operation had succeeded.</p> + +<p>Herbert immediately seized the end of the cord, but, at that moment when +he gave it a pull to bring down the ladder, an arm, thrust suddenly out +between the wall and the door, grasped it and dragged it inside Granite +House.</p> + +<p>"The rascals!" shouted the sailor. "If a ball can do anything for you, +you shall not have long to wait for it."</p> + +<p>"But who was it?" asked Neb.</p> + +<p>"Who was it? Didn't you see?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"It was a monkey, a sapago, an orang-outang, a baboon, a gorilla, a +sagoin. Our dwelling has been invaded by monkeys, who climbed up the +ladder during our absence."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>And, at this moment, as if to bear witness to the truth of the sailors +words, two or three quadrumana showed themselves at the windows, from +which they had pushed back the shutters, and saluted the real +proprietors of the place with a thousand hideous grimaces.</p> + +<p>"I knew that it was only a joke," cried Pencroft, "but one of the jokers +shall pay the penalty for the rest."</p> + +<p>So saying, the sailor, raising his piece, took a rapid aim at one of the +monkeys and fired. All disappeared, except one who fell mortally wounded +on the beach. This monkey, which was of a large size, evidently belonged +to the first order of the quadrumana. Whether this was a chimpanzee, an +orang-outang, or a gorilla, he took rank among the anthropoid apes, who +are so called from their resemblance to the human race. However, Herbert +declared it to be an orang-outang.</p> + +<p>"What a magnificent beast!" cried Neb.</p> + +<p>"Magnificent, if you like," replied Pencroft; "but still I do not see +how we are to get into our house."</p> + +<p>"Herbert is a good marksman," said the reporter, "and his bow is here. +He can try again."</p> + +<p>"Why, these apes are so cunning," returned Pencroft, "they won't show +themselves again at the windows and so we can't kill them, and when I +think of the mischief they may do in the rooms and storehouse—"</p> + +<p>"Have patience," replied Harding; "these creatures cannot keep us long +at bay."</p> + +<p>"I shall not be sure of that till I see them down here," replied the +sailor "And now, captain, do you know how many dozens of these fellows +are up there?"</p> + +<p>It was difficult to reply to Pencroft, and as for the young boy making +another attempt, that was not easy; for the lower part of the ladder had +been drawn again into the door, and when another pull was given, the +line broke and the ladder remained firm. The case was really perplexing. +Pencroft stormed. There was a comic side to the situation, but he did +not think it funny at all. It was certain that the settlers would end by +reinstating themselves in their domicile and driving out the intruders, +but when and how? that is what they were not able to say.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 313px;"> +<img src="images/aban037.jpg" class="jpg" width="313" height="448" alt="THE INVADERS OF GRANITE HOUSE" title="THE INVADERS OF GRANITE HOUSE" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban037.jpg"><b>THE INVADERS OF GRANITE HOUSE</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>Two hours passed, during which the apes took care not t<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 64]</a></span>o show +themselves, but they were still there, and three or four times a nose or +a paw was poked out at the door or windows, and was immediately saluted +by a gun-shot.</p> + +<p>"Let us hide ourselves," at last said the engineer. "Perhaps the apes +will think we have gone quite away and will show themselves again. Let +Spilett and Herbert conceal themselves behind those rocks and fire on +all that may appear."</p> + +<p>The engineer's orders were obeyed, and whilst the reporter and the lad, +the best marksmen in the colony, posted themselves in a good position, +but out of the monkeys' sight, Neb, Pencroft, and Cyrus climbed the +plateau and entered the forest in order to kill some game, for it was +now time for breakfast and they had no provisions remaining.</p> + +<p>In half an hour the hunters returned with a few rock pigeons, which they +roasted as well as they could. Not an ape had appeared. Gideon Spilett +and Herbert went to take their share of the breakfast, leaving Top to +watch under the windows. They then, having eaten, returned to their +post.</p> + +<p>Two hours later, their situation was in no degree improved. The +quadrumana gave no sign of existence, and it might have been supposed +that they had disappeared; but what seemed more probable was that, +terrified by the death of one of their companions, and frightened by the +noise of the firearms, they had retreated to the back part of the house +or probably even into the storeroom. And when they thought of the +valuables which this storeroom contained, the patience so much +recommended by the engineer, fast changed into great irritation, and +there certainly was room for it.</p> + +<p>"Decidedly it is too bad," said the reporter; "and the worst of it is, +there is no way of putting an end to it."</p> + +<p>"But we must drive these vagabonds out somehow," cried the sailor. "We +could soon get the better of them, even if there are twenty of the +rascals; but for that, we must meet them hand to hand. Come now, is +there no way of getting at them?"</p> + +<p>"Let us try to enter Granite House by the old opening at the lake," +replied the engineer.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" shouted the sailor, "and I never thought of that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was in reality the only way by which to penetrate into Granite +House so as to fight with and drive out the intruders. The opening was, +it is true, closed up with a wall of cemented stones, which it would be +necessary to sacrifice, but that could easily be rebuilt. Fortunately, +Cyrus Harding had not as yet effected his project of hiding this opening +by raising the waters of the lake, for the operation would then have +taken some time.</p> + +<p>It was already past twelve o'clock when the colonists, well armed and +provided with picks and spades, left the Chimneys, passed beneath the +windows of Granite House, after telling Top to remain at his post, and +began to ascend the left bank of the Mercy, so as to reach Prospect +Heights.</p> + +<p>But they had not made fifty steps in this direction, when they heard the +dog barking furiously.</p> + +<p>And all rushed down the bank again.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the turning, they saw that the situation had changed.</p> + +<p>In fact, the apes, seized with a sudden panic, from some unknown cause, +were trying to escape. Two or three ran and clambered from one window to +another with the agility of acrobats. They were not even trying to +replace the ladder, by which it would have been easy to descend; perhaps +in their terror they had forgotten this way of escape. The colonists, +now being able to take aim without difficulty, fired. Some, wounded or +killed, fell back into the rooms, uttering piercing cries. The rest, +throwing themselves out, were dashed to pieces in their fall, and in a +few minutes, so far as they knew, there was not a living quadrumana in +Granite House.</p> + +<p>At this moment the ladder was seen to slip over the threshold, then +unroll and fall to the ground.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" cried the sailor, "this is queer!"</p> + +<p>"Very strange!" murmured the engineer, leaping first up the ladder.</p> + +<p>"Take care, captain!" cried Pencroft, "perhaps there are still some of +these rascals..."</p> + +<p>"We shall soon see," replied the engineer, without stopping however.</p> + +<p>All his companions followed him, and in a minute they had arrived at the +threshold. They searched everywhere.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 66]</a></span> There was no one in the rooms nor +in the storehouse, which had been respected by the band of quadrumana.</p> + +<p>"Well now, and the ladder," cried the sailor; "who can the gentleman +have been who sent us that down?"</p> + +<p>But at that moment a cry was heard, and a great orang, who had hidden +himself in the passage, rushed into the room, pursued by Neb.</p> + +<p>"Ah the robber!" cried Pencroft.</p> + +<p>And hatchet in hand, he was about to cleave the head of the animal, when +Cyrus Harding seized his arm, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Spare him, Pencroft."</p> + +<p>"Pardon this rascal?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! it was he who threw us the ladder!"</p> + +<p>And the engineer said this in such a peculiar voice that it was +difficult to know whether he spoke seriously or not.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, they threw themselves on the orang, who defended himself +gallantly, but was soon overpowered and bound.</p> + +<p>"There!" said Pencroft. "And what shall we make of him, now we've got +him?"</p> + +<p>"A servant!" replied Herbert.</p> + +<p>The lad was not joking in saying this, for he knew how this intelligent +race could be turned to account.</p> + +<p>The settlers then approached the ape and gazed at it attentively. He +belonged to the family of anthropoid apes, of which the facial angle is +not much inferior to that of the Australians and Hottentots. It was an +orang-outang, and as such, had neither the ferocity of the gorilla, nor +the stupidity of the baboon. It is to this family of the anthropoid apes +that so many characteristics belong which prove them to be possessed of +an almost human intelligence. Employed in houses, they can wait at +table, sweep rooms, brush clothes, clean boots, handle a knife, fork, +and spoon properly, and even drink wine,... doing everything as well as +the best servant that ever walked upon two legs. Buffon possessed one of +these apes, who served him for a long time as a faithful and zealous +servant.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 308px;"> +<img src="images/aban039.jpg" class="jpg" width="308" height="448" alt="CAPTURING THE ORANG" title="CAPTURING THE ORANG" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban039.jpg"><b>CAPTURING THE ORANG</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>The one which had been seized in the hall of Granite House was a great +fellow, six feet high, with an admirably proportioned frame, a broad +chest, head of a moderate size, the facial angle reaching sixty-five +degrees, round skull, projecting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 68]</a></span> nose, skin covered with soft glossy +hair, in short, a fine specimen of the anthropoids. His eyes, rather +smaller than human eyes, sparkled with intelligence, his white teeth +glittered under his moustache, and he wore a little curly brown beard.</p> + +<p>"A handsome fellow!" said Pencroft; "if we only knew his language, we +could talk to him."</p> + +<p>"But, master," said Neb, "are you serious? Are we going to take him as a +servant?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Neb," replied the engineer, smiling. "But you must not be +jealous."</p> + +<p>"And I hope he will make an excellent servant," added Herbert. "He +appears young, and will be easy to educate, and we shall not be obliged +to use force to subdue him, nor draw his teeth, as is sometimes done. He +will soon grow fond of his masters if they are kind to him."</p> + +<p>"And they will be," replied Pencroft, who had forgotten all his rancour +against "the jokers."</p> + +<p>Then, approaching the orang,—</p> + +<p>"Well, old boy!" he asked, "how are you?"</p> + +<p>The orang replied by a little grunt which did not show any anger.</p> + +<p>"You wish to join the colony?" again asked the sailor. "You are going to +enter the service of Captain Cyrus Harding?"</p> + +<p>Another respondent grunt was uttered by the ape.</p> + +<p>"And you will be satisfied with no other wages than your food?"</p> + +<p>Third affirmative grunt.</p> + +<p>"This conversation is slightly monotonous," observed Gideon Spilett.</p> + +<p>"So much the better," replied Pencroft, "the best servants are those who +talk the least. And then, no wages, do you hear, my boy? We will give +you no wages at first, but we will double them afterwards if we are +pleased with you."</p> + +<p>Thus the colony was increased by a new member. As to his name the sailor +begged that in memory of another ape which he had known, he might be +called Jupiter, and Jup for short.</p> + +<p>And so, without more ceremony, Master Jup was installed in Granite +House.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 307px;"> +<img src="images/aban040.jpg" class="jpg" width="307" height="448" alt="ENGAGING THE NEW SERVANT" title="ENGAGING THE NEW SERVANT" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban040.jpg"><b>ENGAGING THE NEW SERVANT</b></a></span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Plans—A Bridge over the Mercy—Mode adopted for making an Island of +Prospect Heights—The Drawbridge—Harvest—The Stream—The Poultry +Yard—A Pigeon-house—The two Onagas—The Cart—Excursion to Port +Balloon</p></div> + + +<p>The settlers in Lincoln Island had now regained their dwelling, without +having been obliged to reach it by the old opening, and were therefore +spared the trouble of mason's work. It was certainly lucky, that at the +moment they were about to set out to do so, the apes had been seized +with that terror, no less sudden than inexplicable, which had driven +them out of Granite House. Had the animals discovered that they were +about to be attacked from another direction? This was the only +explanation of their sudden retreat.</p> + +<p>During the day the bodies of the apes were carried into the wood, where +they were buried; then the settlers busied themselves in repairing the +disorder caused by the intruders, disorder but not damage, for although +they had turned everything in the rooms topsy-turvy, yet they had broken +nothing. Neb relighted his stove, and the stores in the larder furnished +a substantial repast, to which all did ample justice.</p> + +<p>Jup was not forgotten, and he ate with relish some stone-pine almonds +and rhizome roots, with which he was abundantly supplied. Pencroft had +unfastened his arms, but judged it best to have his legs tied until they +were more sure of his submission.</p> + +<p>Then, before retiring to rest, Harding and his companions seated round +their table, discussed those plans, the execution of which was most +pressing. The most important and most urgent was the establishment of a +bridge over the Mercy, so as to form a communication with the southern +part of the island and Granite House; then the making of an enclosure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 71]</a></span> +for the musmons or other woolly animals which they wished to capture.</p> + +<p>These two projects would help to solve the difficulty as to their +clothing, which was now serious. The bridge would render easy the +transport of the balloon case, which would furnish them with linen, and +the inhabitants of the enclosure would yield wool which would supply +them with winter clothes.</p> + +<p>As to the enclosure, it was Cyrus Harding's intention to establish it at +the sources of the Red Creek, where the ruminants would find fresh and +abundant pasture. The road between Prospect Heights and the sources of +the stream was already partly beaten, and with a better cart than the +first, the material could be easily conveyed to the spot, especially if +they could manage to capture some animals to draw it.</p> + +<p>But though there might be no inconvenience in the enclosure being so far +from Granite House, it would not be the same with the poultry-yard, to +which Neb called the attention of the colonists. It was indeed necessary +that the birds should be close within reach of the cook, and no place +appeared more favourable for the establishment of the said poultry-yard +than that portion of the banks of the lake which was close to the old +opening.</p> + +<p>Water-birds would prosper there as well as others, and the couple of +tinamous taken in their last excursion would be the first to be +domesticated.</p> + +<p>The next day, the 3rd of November, the new works were begun by the +construction of the bridge, and all hands were required for this +important task. Saws, hatchets, and hammers were shouldered by the +settlers, who, now transformed into carpenters, descended to the shore.</p> + +<p>There Pencroft observed,—</p> + +<p>"Suppose, that during our absence, Master Jup takes it into his head to +draw up the ladder which he so politely returned to us yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"Let us tie its lower end down firmly," replied Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>This was done by means of two stakes securely fixed in the sand. Then +the settlers, ascending the left bank of the Mercy, soon arrived at the +angle formed by the river.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>There they halted, in order to ascertain if the bridge could be thrown +across. The place appeared suitable.</p> + +<p>In fact, from this spot, to Port Balloon, discovered the day before on +the southern coast, there was only a distance of three miles and a half, +and from the bridge to the Port, it would be easy to make a good +cart-road which would render the communication between Granite House and +the south of the island extremely easy.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding now imparted to his companions a scheme for completely +isolating Prospect Heights so as to shelter it from the attacks both of +quadrupeds and quadrumana. In this way, Granite House, the Chimneys, the +poultry-yard, and all the upper part of the plateau which was to be used +for cultivation, would be protected against the depredations of animals. +Nothing could be easier than to execute this project, and this is how +the engineer intended to set to work.</p> + +<p>The plateau was already defended on three sides by watercourses, either +artificial or natural. On the north-west, by the shores of Lake Grant, +from the entrance of the passage to the breach made in the banks of the +lake for the escape of the water.</p> + +<p>On the north, from this breach to the sea, by the new watercourse which +had hollowed out a bed for itself across the plateau and shore, above +and below the fall, and it would be enough to dig the bed of this creek +a little deeper to make it impracticable for animals, on all the eastern +border by the sea itself, from the mouth of the aforesaid creek to the +mouth of the Mercy.</p> + +<p>Lastly on the south, from the mouth to the turn of the Mercy where the +bridge was to be established.</p> + +<p>The western border of the plateau now remained between the turn of the +river and the southern angle of the lake, a distance of about a mile, +which was open to all comers. But nothing could be easier than to dig a +broad deep ditch, which could be filled from the lake, and the overflow +of which would throw itself by a rapid fall into the bed of the Mercy. +The level of the lake would, no doubt, be somewhat lowered by this fresh +discharge of its waters, but Cyrus Harding had ascertained that the +volume of water in the Red Creek was considerable enough to allow of the +execution of this project.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 313px;"> +<img src="images/aban042.jpg" class="jpg" width="313" height="448" alt="BUILDING THE BRIDGE" title="BUILDING THE BRIDGE" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban042.jpg"><b>BUILDING THE BRIDGE</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>"So then," added the engineer, "Prospect Heights will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 74]</a></span> become a regular +island, being surrounded with water on all sides, and only communicating +with the rest of our domain by the bridge which we are about to throw +across the Mercy, the two little bridges already established above and +below the fall; and, lastly, two other little bridges which must be +constructed, one over the canal which I propose to dig, the other across +to the left bank of the Mercy. Now, if these bridges can be raised at +will, Prospect Heights will be guarded from any surprise."</p> + +<p>The bridge was the most urgent work. Trees were selected, cut down, +stripped of their branches, and cut into beams, joists, and planks. The +end of the bridge which rested on the right bank of the Mercy was to be +firm, but the other end on the left bank was to be movable, so that it +might be raised by means of a counterpoise, as some canal bridges are +managed.</p> + +<p>This was certainly a considerable work, and though it was skilfully +conducted, it took some time, for the Mercy at this place was eighty +feet wide. It was therefore necessary to fix piles in the bed of the +river so as to sustain the floor of the bridge and establish a +pile-driver to act on the tops of these piles, which would thus form two +arches and allow the bridge to support heavy loads.</p> + +<p>Happily there was no want of tools with which to shape the wood, nor of +iron-work to make it firm, nor of the ingenuity of a man who had a +marvellous knowledge of the work, nor lastly, the zeal of his +companions, who in seven months had necessarily acquired great skill in +the use of their tools; and it must be said that not the least skillful +was Gideon Spilett, who in dexterity almost equalled the sailor himself. +"Who would ever have expected so much from a newspaper man!" thought +Pencroft.</p> + +<p>The construction of the Mercy bridge lasted three weeks of regular hard +work. They even breakfasted on the scene of their labours, and the +weather being magnificent, they only returned to Granite House to sleep.</p> + +<p>During this period it may be stated that Master Jup grew more accustomed +to his new masters, whose movements he always watched with very +inquisitive eyes. However, as a precautionary measure, Pencroft did not +as yet allow him complete liberty, rightly wishing to wait until the +limits of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 75]</a></span> the plateau should be settled by the projected works. Top and +Jup were good friends and played willingly together, but Jup did +everything solemnly.</p> + +<p>On the 20th of November the bridge was finished. The movable part, +balanced by the counterpoise, swung easily, and only a slight effort was +needed to raise it; between its hinge and the last cross-bar on which it +rested when closed, there existed a space of twenty feet, which was +sufficiently wide to prevent any animals from crossing.</p> + +<p>The settlers now began to talk of fetching the balloon-case, which they +were anxious to place in perfect security; but to bring it, it would be +necessary to take a cart to Port Balloon, and consequently, necessary to +beat a road through the dense forests of the Far West. This would take +some time. Also, Neb and Pencroft having gone to examine into the state +of things at Port Balloon, and reported that the stock of cloth would +suffer no damage in the grotto where it was stored, it was decided that +the work at Prospect Heights should not be discontinued.</p> + +<p>"That," observed Pencroft, "will enable us to establish our poultry-yard +under better conditions, since we need have no fear of visits from foxes +nor the attacks of other beasts."</p> + +<p>"Then," added Neb, "we can clear the plateau, and transplant wild plants +to it."</p> + +<p>"And prepare our second cornfield!" cried the sailor with a triumphant +air.</p> + +<p>In fact, the first cornfield sown with a single grain had prospered +admirably, thanks to Pencroft's care. It had produced the ten ears +foretold by the engineer, and each ear containing eighty grains, the +colony found itself in possession of eight hundred grains, in six +months, which promised a double harvest each year.</p> + +<p>These eight hundred grains, except fifty, which were prudently reserved, +were to be sown in a new field, but with no less care than was bestowed +on the single grain.</p> + +<p>The field was prepared, then surrounded with a strong palisade, high and +pointed, which quadrupeds would have found difficulty in leaping. As to +birds, some scarecrows, due to Pencroft's ingenious brain, were enough +to frighten them. The seven hundred and fifty grains, deposited in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 76]</a></span> very +regular furrows, were then left for nature to do the rest.</p> + +<p>On the 21st of November, Cyrus Harding began to plan the canal which was +to close the plateau on the west, from the south angle of Lake Grant to +the angle of the Mercy. There was there two or three feet of vegetable +earth, and below that granite. It was therefore necessary to manufacture +some more nitro glycerine, and the nitro glycerine did its accustomed +work. In less than a fortnight a ditch twelve feet wide and six deep, +was dug out in the hard ground of the plateau. A new trench was made by +the same means in the rocky border of the lake forming a small stream, +to which they gave the name of Creek Glycerine, and which was thus an +affluent of the Mercy. As the engineer had predicted, the level of the +lake was lowered, though very slightly. To complete the enclosure the +bed of the stream on the beach was considerably enlarged, and the sand +supported by means of stakes.</p> + +<p>By the end of the first fortnight of December these works were finished, +and Prospect Heights—that is to say, a sort of irregular pentagon +having a perimeter of nearly four miles, surrounded by a liquid +belt—was completely protected from depredators of every description.</p> + +<p>During the month of December, the heat was very great. In spite of it +however, the settlers continued their work, and as they were anxious to +possess a poultry-yard they forthwith commenced it.</p> + +<p>It is useless to say that since the enclosing of the plateau had been +completed, Master Jup had been set at liberty. He did not leave his +masters, and evinced no wish to escape. He was a gentle animal, though +very powerful and wonderfully active. He was already taught to make +himself useful by drawing loads of wood and carting away the stones +which were extracted from the bed of Creek Glycerine.</p> + +<p>The poultry yard occupied an area of two hundred square yards on the +south eastern bank of the lake. It was surrounded by a palisade, and in +it were constructed various shelters for the birds which were to +populate it. These were simply built of branches and divided into +compartments made ready for the expected guests.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 318px;"> +<img src="images/aban044.jpg" class="jpg" width="318" height="448" alt="PENCROFT'S SCARECROWS" title="PENCROFT'S SCARECROWS" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban044.jpg"><b>PENCROFT'S SCARECROWS</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>The first were the two tinamous, which were not long in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 78]</a></span> having a +number of young ones; they had for companions half a dozen ducks, +accustomed to the borders of the lake. Some belonged to the Chinese +species, of which the wings open like a fan, and which by the brilliancy +of their plumage rival the golden pheasants. A few days afterwards, +Herbert snared a couple of gallinaceæ, with spreading tails composed of +long feathers, magnificent alectors, which soon became tame. As to +pelicans, kingfishers, water-hens, they came of themselves to the shores +of the poultry-yard, and this little community, after some disputes, +cooing, screaming, clucking, ended by settling down peacefully, and +increased in encouraging proportion for the future use of the colony.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding, wishing to complete his performance, established a +pigeon-house in a corner of the poultry-yard. There he lodged a dozen of +those pigeons which frequented the rocks of the plateau. These birds +soon became accustomed to returning every evening to their new dwelling, +and showed more disposition to domesticate themselves than their +congeners, the wood-pigeons.</p> + +<p>Lastly, the time had come for turning the balloon-case to use, by +cutting it up to make shirts and other articles; for as to keeping it in +its present form, and risking themselves in a balloon filled with gas, +above a sea of the limits of which they had no idea, it was not to be +thought of.</p> + +<p>It was necessary to bring the case to Granite House, and the colonists +employed themselves in rendering their heavy cart lighter and more +manageable. But though they had a vehicle, the moving power was yet to +be found.</p> + +<p>But did there not exist in the island some animal which might supply the +place of the horse, ass, or ox? That was the question.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Pencroft, "a beast of burden would be very useful to +us until the captain has made a steam cart, or even an engine, for some +day we shall have a railroad from Granite House to Port Balloon, with a +branch line to Mount Franklin!"</p> + +<p>One day, the 23rd of December, Neb and Top were heard shouting and +barking, each apparently trying who could make the most noise. The +settlers, who were busy at the Chimneys, ran, fearing some vexatious +incident.</p> + +<p>What did they see? Two fine animals of a large size, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 79]</a></span> had +imprudently ventured on the plateau, when the bridges were open. One +would have said they were horses, or at least donkeys, male and female, +of a fine shape, dove-coloured, the legs and tail white, striped with +black on the head and neck. They advanced quietly without showing any +uneasiness, and gazed at the men, in whom they could not as yet +recognise their future masters.</p> + +<p>"These are onagas!" cried Herbert, "animals something between the zebra +and the conaga!"</p> + +<p>"Why not donkeys?" asked Neb.</p> + +<p>"Because they have not long ears, and their shape is more graceful!"</p> + +<p>"Donkeys or horses," interrupted Pencroft, "they are 'moving powers,' as +the captain would say, and as such must be captured!"</p> + +<p>The sailor, without frightening the animals, crept through the grass to +the bridge over Creek Glycerine, lowered it, and the onagas were +prisoners.</p> + +<p>Now, should they seize them with violence and master them by force? No. +It was decided that for a few days they should be allowed to roam freely +about the plateau, where there was an abundance of grass, and the +engineer immediately began to prepare a stable near the poultry-yard, in +which the onagas might find food, with a good litter, and shelter during +the night.</p> + +<p>This done, the movements of the two magnificent creatures were left +entirely free, and the settlers avoided even approaching them so as to +terrify them. Several times, however, the onagas appeared to wish to +leave the plateau, too confined for animals accustomed to the plains and +forests. They were then seen following the water-barrier which +everywhere presented itself before them, uttering short neighs, then +galloping through the grass, and becoming calmer, they would remain +entire hours gazing at the woods, from which they were cut off for ever!</p> + +<p>In the meantime harness of vegetable fibre had been manufactured, and +some days after the capture of the onagas, not only the cart was ready, +but a straight road, or rather a cutting, had been made through the +forests of the Far West, from the angle of the Mercy to Port Balloon. +The cart might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 80]</a></span> then be driven there, and towards the end of December +they tried the onagas for the first time.</p> + +<p>Pencroft had already coaxed the animals to come and eat out of his hand, +and they allowed him to approach without making any difficulty, but once +harnessed they reared and could with difficulty be held in. However it +was not long before they submitted to this new service, for the onaga, +being less refractory than the zebra, is frequently put in harness in +the mountainous regions of Southern Africa, and it has even been +acclimatised in Europe, under zones of a relative coolness.</p> + +<p>On this day all the colony, except Pencroft who walked at the animals' +heads, mounted the cart, and set out on the road to Port Balloon.</p> + +<p>Of course they were jolted over the somewhat rough road, but the vehicle +arrived without any accident, and was soon loaded with the case and +rigging of the balloon.</p> + +<p>At eight o'clock that evening the cart, after passing over the Mercy +bridge, descended the left bank of the river, and stopped on the beach. +The onagas being unharnessed, were thence led to their stable, and +Pencroft before going to sleep gave vent to his feelings in a deep sigh +of satisfaction that awoke all the echoes of Granite House.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Linen—Shoes of Seal-leather—Manufacture of +Pyroxyle—Gardening—Fishing—Turtle-eggs—Improvement of Master +Jup—The Corral—Musmon Hunt—New Animal and Vegetable +Possessions—Recollections of their Native Land.</p></div> + + +<p>The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen +garments required by the colony. The needles found in the box were used +by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn +was sewn firmly.</p> + +<p>There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding's idea of +re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the +balloon. This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett +and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it +irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of +the business. Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable +aptitude for tailoring.</p> + +<p>The cloth of which the balloon-case was made was then cleaned by means +of soda and potash, obtained by the incineration of plants, in such a +way that the cotton, having got rid of the varnish, resumed its natural +softness and elasticity; then, exposed to the action of the atmosphere, +it soon became perfectly white. Some dozen shirts and socks—the latter +not knitted of course, but made of cotton—were thus manufactured. What +a comfort it was to the settlers to clothe themselves again in clean +linen, which was doubtless rather rough, but they were not troubled +about that! and then to go to sleep between sheets, which made the +couches at Granite House into quite comfortable beds!</p> + +<p>It was about this time also that they made boots of seal-leather, which +were greatly needed to replace the shoes and boots brought from America. +We may be sure that these new shoes were large enough and never pinched +the feet of the wearers.</p> + +<p>With the beginning of the year 1866 the heat was very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 82]</a></span> great, but the +hunting in the forests did not stand still. Agoutis, peccaries, +capybaras, kangaroos, game of all sorts, actually swarmed there, and +Spilett and Herbert were too good marksmen ever to throw away their shot +uselessly.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding still recommended them to husband the ammunition, and he +took measures to replace the powder and shot which had been found in the +box, and which he wished to reserve for the future. How did he know +where chance might one day cast his companions and himself in the event +of their leaving their domain? They should, then, prepare for the +unknown future by husbanding their ammunition and by substituting for it +some easily renewable substance.</p> + +<p>To replace lead, of which Harding had found no traces in the island, he +employed granulated iron, which was easy to manufacture. These bullets, +not having the weight of leaden bullets, were made larger, and each +charge contained less, but the skill of the sportsmen made up this +deficiency. As to powder, Cyrus Harding would have been able to make +that also, for he had at his disposal saltpetre, sulphur, and coal; but +this preparation requires extreme care, and without special tools it is +difficult to produce it of a good quality. Harding preferred, therefore, +to manufacture pyroxyle, that is to say gun-cotton, a substance in which +cotton is not indispensable, as the elementary tissue of vegetables may +be used, and this is found in an almost pure state, not only in cotton, +but in the textile fibres of hemp and flax, in paper, the pith of the +elder, etc. Now, the elder abounded in the island towards the mouth of +Red Creek, and the colonists had already made coffee of the berries of +these shrubs, which belong to the family of the caprifoliaceæ.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 314px;"> +<img src="images/aban047.jpg" class="jpg" width="314" height="448" alt="THE SETTLERS' NEW SHIRTS" title="THE SETTLERS' NEW SHIRTS" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban047.jpg"><b>THE SETTLERS' NEW SHIRTS</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>The only thing to be collected, therefore, was elder-pith, for as to the +other substance necessary for the manufacture of pyroxyle, it was only +fuming azotic acid. Now, Harding having sulphuric acid at his disposal, +had already been easily able to produce azotic acid by attacking the +saltpetre with which nature supplied him. He accordingly resolved to +manufacture and employ pyroxyle, although it has some inconveniences, +that is to say, a great inequality of effect, an excessive +inflammability, since it takes fire at one hundred and seventy degrees +instead of two hundred and forty, and lastly, an instantaneous +deflagration which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 84]</a></span> might damage the firearms. On the other hand, the +advantages of pyroxyle consist in this, that it is not injured by damp, +that it does not make the gun-barrels dirty, and that its force is four +times that of ordinary powder.</p> + +<p>To make pyroxyle, the cotton must be immersed in the fuming azotic acid +for a quarter of an hour, then washed in cold water and dried. Nothing +could be more simple.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding had only at his disposal the ordinary azotic acid and not +the fuming or monohydrate azotic acid, that is to say, acid which emits +white vapours when it comes in contact with damp air; but by +substituting for the latter ordinary azotic acid, mixed, in the +proportion of from three to five volumes of concentrated sulphuric acid, +the engineer obtained the same result. The sportsmen of the island +therefore soon had a perfectly prepared substance, which, employed +discreetly, produced admirable results.</p> + +<p>About this time the settlers cleared three acres of the plateau, and the +rest was preserved in a wild state, for the benefit of the onagas. +Several excursions were made into the Jacamar woods and forests of the +Far West, and they brought back from thence a large collection of wild +vegetables, spinage, cress, radishes, and turnips, which careful culture +would soon improve, and which would temper the regimen on which the +settlers had till then subsisted. Supplies of wood and coal were also +carted. Each excursion was at the same time a means of improving the +roads, which gradually became smoother under the wheels of the cart.</p> + +<p>The rabbit-warren still continued to supply the larder of Granite House. +As fortunately it was situated on the other side of Creek Glycerine, its +inhabitants could not reach the plateau nor ravage the newly-made +plantation. The oyster-bed among the rocks was frequently renewed, and +furnished excellent molluscs. Besides that, the fishing, either in the +lake or the Mercy, was very profitable, for Pencroft had made some +lines, armed with iron hooks, with which they frequently caught fine +trout, and a species of fish whose silvery sides were speckled with +yellow, and which were also extremely savoury. Master Neb, who was +skilled in the culinary art, knew how to vary agreeably the bill of +fare. Bread alone was wanting at the table of the settlers, and as has +been said, they felt this privation greatly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>The settlers hunted too the turtles which frequented the shores of Cape +Mandible. At this place the beach was covered with little mounds, +concealing perfectly spherical turtles' eggs, with white hard shells, +the albumen of which does not coagulate as that of birds' eggs. They +were hatched by the sun, and their number was naturally considerable, as +each turtle can lay annually two hundred and fifty.</p> + +<p>"A regular egg-field," observed Gideon Spilett, "and we have nothing to +do but to pick them up."</p> + +<p>But not being contented with simply the produce, they made chase after +the producers, the result of which was that they were able to bring back +to Granite House a dozen of these chelonians, which were really valuable +in an alimentary point of view. The turtle soup, flavoured with aromatic +herbs, often gained well-merited praises for its preparer, Neb.</p> + +<p>We must here mention another fortunate circumstance by which new stores +for the winter were laid in. Shoals of salmon entered the Mercy, and +ascended the country for several miles. It was the time at which the +females, going to find suitable places in which to spawn, precede the +males and make a great noise through the fresh water. A thousand of +these fish, which measured about two feet and a half in length, came up +the river, and a large quantity were retained by fixing dams across the +stream. More than a hundred were thus taken, which were salted and +stored for the time when winter, freezing up the streams, would render +fishing impracticable. By this time the intelligent Jup was raised to +the duty of valet. He had been dressed in a jacket, white linen +breeches, and an apron, the pockets of which were his delight. The +clever orang had been marvellously trained by Neb, and any one would +have said that the negro and the ape understood each other when they +talked together. Jup had besides a real affection for Neb, and Neb +returned it. When his services were not required, either for carrying +wood or for climbing to the top of some tree, Jup passed the greatest +part of his time in the kitchen, where he endeavoured to imitate Neb in +all that he saw him do. The black showed the greatest patience and even +extreme zeal in instructing his pupil, and the pupil exhibited +remarkable intelligence in profiting by the lessons he received from his +master.</p> + +<p>Judge then of the pleasure Master Jup gave to the inhabitants<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 86]</a></span> of +Granite House when, without their having had any idea of it, he appeared +one day, napkin on his arm, ready to wait at table. Quick, attentive, he +acquitted himself perfectly, changing the plates, bringing dishes, +pouring out water, all with a gravity which gave intense amusement to +the settlers, and which enraptured Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Jup, some soup!"</p> + +<p>"Jup, a little agouti!"</p> + +<p>"Jup, a plate!"</p> + +<p>"Jup! Good Jup! Honest Jup!"</p> + +<p>Nothing was heard but that, and Jup without ever being disconcerted, +replied to every one, watched for everything, and he shook his head in a +knowing way when Pencroft, referring to his joke of the first day, said +to him,—</p> + +<p>"Decidedly, Jup, your wages must be doubled."</p> + +<p>It is useless to say that the orang was now thoroughly domesticated at +Granite House, and that he often accompanied his masters to the forest +without showing any wish to leave them. It was most amusing to see him +walking with a stick which Pencroft had given him, and which he carried +on his shoulder like a gun. If they wished to gather some fruit from the +summit of a tree, how quickly he climbed for it! If the wheel of the +cart, stuck in the mud, with what energy did Jup with a single heave of +his shoulder put it right again.</p> + +<p>"What a jolly fellow he is!" cried Pencroft often. "If he was as +mischievous as he is good, there would be no doing any thing with him!"</p> + +<p>It was towards the end of January the colonists began their labours in +the centre of the island. It had been decided that a corral should be +established near the sources of the Red Creek, at the foot of Mount +Franklin, destined to contain the ruminants, whose presence would have +been troublesome at Granite House, and especially for the musmons, who +were to supply the wool for the settlers' winter garments.</p> + +<p>Each morning, the colony, sometimes entire, but more often represented +only by Harding, Herbert, and Pencroft, proceeded to the sources of the +Creek, a distance of not more than five miles, by the newly beaten road +to which the name of Corral Road had been given.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/aban049.jpg" class="jpg" width="310" height="448" alt="JUP PASSED MOST OF HIS TIME IN THE KITCHEN, TRYING TO IMITATE NEB" title="JUP PASSED MOST OF HIS TIME IN THE KITCHEN, TRYING TO IMITATE NEB" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban049.jpg"><b>JUP PASSED MOST OF HIS TIME IN THE KITCHEN, TRYING TO IMITATE NEB</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>There a site was chosen, at the back of the southern ridge <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 88]</a></span>of the +mountain. It was a meadow land, dotted here and there with clumps of +trees, and watered by a little stream, which sprung from the slopes +which closed it in on one side. The grass was fresh, and it was not too +much shaded by the trees which grew about it. This meadow was to be +surrounded by a palisade, high enough to prevent even the most agile +animals from leaping over. This enclosure would be large enough to +contain a hundred musmons and wild goats, with all the young ones they +might produce.</p> + +<p>The perimeter of the corral was then traced by the engineer, and they +would then have proceeded to fell the trees necessary for the +construction of the palisade, but as the opening up of the road had +already necessitated the sacrifice of a considerable number, those were +brought and supplied a hundred stakes, which were firmly fixed in the +ground.</p> + +<p>At the front of the palisade a large entrance was reserved, and closed +with strong folding-doors.</p> + +<p>The construction of this corral did not take less than three weeks, for +besides the palisade, Cyrus Harding built large sheds, in which the +animals could take shelter. These buildings had also to be made very +strong, for musmons are powerful animals, and their first fury was to be +feared. The stakes, sharpened at their upper end and hardened by fire, +had been fixed by means of cross-bars, and at regular distances props +assured the solidity of the whole.</p> + +<p>The corral finished, a raid had to be made on the pastures frequented by +the ruminants. This was done on the 7th of February, on a beautiful +summer's day, and every one took part in it. The onagas, already well +trained, were ridden by Spilett and Herbert, and were of great use.</p> + +<p>The manœuvre consisted simply in surrounding the musmons and goats, and +gradually narrowing the circle around them. Cyrus Harding, Pencroft, +Neb, and Jup, posted themselves in different parts of the wood, whilst +the two cavaliers and Top galloped in a radius of half a mile round the +corral.</p> + +<p>The musmons were very numerous in this part of the island. These fine +animals were as large as deer; their horns were stronger than those of +the ram, and their grey-coloured fleece was mixed with long hair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<p>This hunting day was very fatiguing. Such going and coming, and running +and riding and shouting! Of a hundred musmons which had been surrounded, +more than two-thirds escaped, but at last, thirty of these animals and +ten wild goats were gradually driven back towards the corral, the open +door of which appearing to offer a means of escape, they rushed in and +were prisoners.</p> + +<p>In short, the result was satisfactory, and the settlers had no reason to +complain. There was no doubt that the flock would prosper, and that at +no distant time not only wool but hides would be abundant.</p> + +<p>That evening the hunters returned to Granite House quite exhausted. +However, notwithstanding their fatigue, they returned the next day to +visit the corral. The prisoners had been trying to overthrow the +palisade, but of course had not succeeded, and were not long in becoming +more tranquil.</p> + +<p>During the month of February, no event of any importance occurred. The +daily labours were pursued methodically, and, as well as improving the +roads to the corral and to Port Balloon, a third was commenced, which, +starting from the enclosure, proceeded towards the western coast. The +yet unknown portion of Lincoln Island was that of the wood-covered +Serpentine Peninsula, which sheltered the wild beasts, from which Gideon +Spilett was so anxious to clear their domain.</p> + +<p>Before the cold season should appear the most assiduous care was given +to the cultivation of the wild plants which had been transplanted from +the forest to Prospect Heights. Herbert never returned from an excursion +without bringing home some useful vegetable. One day, it was some +specimens of the chicory tribe, the seeds of which by pressure yield an +excellent oil; another, it was some common sorrel, whose anti-scorbutic +qualities were not to be despised; then, some of those precious tubers, +which have at all times been cultivated in South America, potatoes, of +which more than two hundred species are now known. The kitchen garden, +now well stocked and carefully defended from the birds, was divided into +small beds, where grew lettuces, kidney potatoes, sorrel, turnips, +radishes, and other cruciferæ. The soil on the plateau was particularly +fertile, and it was hoped that the harvests would be abundant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>They had also a variety of different beverages, and so long as they did +not demand wine, the most hard to please would have had no reason to +complain. To the Oswego tea, and the fermented liquor extracted from the +roots of the dragonnier, Harding had added a regular beer, made from the +young shoots of the spruce-fir, which, after having been boiled and +fermented, made that agreeable drink, called by the Anglo-Americans +spring-beer.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of the summer, the poultry-yard was possessed of a +couple of fine bustards, which belonged to the houbara species, +characterised by a sort of feathery mantle; a dozen shovellers, whose +upper mandible was prolonged on each side by a membraneous appendage; +and also some magnificent cocks, similar to the Mozambique cocks, the +comb, caruncle and epidermis being black. So far, everything had +succeeded, thanks to the activity of these courageous and intelligent +men. Nature did much for them, doubtless; but faithful to the great +precept, they made a right use of what a bountiful Providence gave them.</p> + +<p>After the heat of these warm summer days, in the evening when their work +was finished and the sea breeze began to blow, they liked to sit on the +edge of Prospect Heights, in a sort of verandah, covered with creepers, +which Neb had made with his own hands. There they talked, they +instructed each other, they made plans, and the rough good-humour of the +sailor always amused this little world, in which the most perfect +harmony had never ceased to reign.</p> + +<p>They often spoke of their country, of their dear and great America. What +was the result of the War of Secession? It could not have been greatly +prolonged, Richmond had doubtless soon fallen into the hands of General +Grant. The taking of the capital of the Confederates must have been the +last action of this terrible struggle. Now the North had triumphed in +the good cause, how welcome would have been a newspaper to the exiles in +Lincoln Island! For eleven months all communication between them and the +rest of their fellow-creatures had been interrupted, and in a short time +the 24th of March would arrive, the anniversary of the day on which the +balloon had thrown them on this unknown coast. They were then mere +castaways, not even knowing how they should preserve their miserable +lives from the fury<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 91]</a></span> of the elements! And now, thanks to the knowledge +of their captain, and their own intelligence, they were regular +colonists, furnished with arms, tools, and instruments; they had been +able to turn to their profit the animals, plants, and minerals of the +island, that is to say, the three kingdoms of Nature.</p> + +<p>Yes; they often talked of all these things and formed still more plans +for the future.</p> + +<p>As to Cyrus Harding he was for the most part silent, and listened to his +companions more often than he spoke to them. Sometimes he smiled at +Herbert's ideas or Pencroft's nonsense, but always and everywhere he +pondered over those inexplicable facts, that strange enigma, of which +the secret still escaped him!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Bad Weather—The Hydraulic Lift—Manufacture of Glass-ware—The +Bread-tree—Frequent Visits to the Corral—Increase of the +Flock—The Reporter's Question—Exact Position of Lincoln +Island—Pencroft's Proposal.</p></div> + + +<p>The weather changed during the first week of March. There had been a +full moon at the commencement of the month, and the heat was still +excessive. The atmosphere was felt to be full of electricity, and a +period of some length of tempestuous weather was to be feared.</p> + +<p>Indeed, on the 2nd, peals of thunder were heard, the wind blew from the +east, and hail rattled against the façade of Granite House like volleys +of grape-shot. The door and windows were immediately closed, or +everything in the rooms would have been drenched. On seeing these +hailstones, some of which were the size of a pigeon's egg, Pencroft's +first thought was that his cornfield was in serious danger.</p> + +<p>He directly rushed to his field, where little green heads were already +appearing, and, by means of a great cloth, he managed to protect his +crop.</p> + +<p>This bad weather lasted a week, during which time the thunder rolled +without cessation in the depths of the sky.</p> + +<p>The colonists, not having any pressing work out of doors, profited by +the bad weather to work at the interior of Granite House, the +arrangement of which was becoming more complete from day to day. The +engineer made a turning-lathe, with which he turned several articles +both for the toilet and the kitchen, particularly buttons, the want of +which was greatly felt. A gun-rack had been made for the firearms, which +were kept with extreme care, and neither tables nor cupboards were left +incomplete. They sawed, they planed, they filed, they turned: and during +the whole of this bad season, nothing was heard but the grinding of +tools or the humming of the turning-lathe which responded to the +growling of the thunder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/aban052.jpg" class="jpg" width="310" height="448" alt="PENCROFT TO THE RESCUE" title="PENCROFT TO THE RESCUE" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban052.jpg"><b>PENCROFT TO THE RESCUE</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 94]</a></span> +Master Jup had not been forgotten, and he occupied a room at the back, +near the storeroom, a sort of cabin with a cot always full of good +litter, which perfectly suited his taste.</p> + +<p>"With good old Jup there is never any quarrelling," often repeated +Pencroft, "never any improper reply! What a servant, Neb, what a +servant!"</p> + +<p>Of course Jup was now well used to service. He brushed their clothes, he +turned the spit, he waited at table, he swept the rooms, he gathered +wood, and he performed another admirable piece of service which +delighted Pencroft—he never went to sleep without first coming to tuck +up the worthy sailor in his bed.</p> + +<p>As to the health of the members of the colony, bipeds or bimana, +quadrumana or quadrupeds, it left nothing to be desired. With their life +in the open air, on this salubrious soil, under that temperate zone, +working both with head and hands, they could not suppose that illness +would ever attack them.</p> + +<p>All were indeed wonderfully well. Herbert had already grown two inches +in the year. His figure was forming and becoming more manly, and he +promised to be an accomplished man, physically as well as morally. +Besides, he improved himself during the leisure hours which manual +occupations left to him; he read the books found in the case; and after +the practical lessons which were taught by the very necessity of their +position, he found in the engineer for science, and the reporter for +languages, masters who were delighted to complete his education.</p> + +<p>The tempest ended about the 9th of March, but the sky remained covered +with clouds during the whole of this last summer month. The atmosphere, +violently agitated by the electric commotions, could not recover its +former purity, and there was almost invariably rain and fog, except for +three or four fine days on which several excursions were made. About +this time the female onaga gave birth to a young one which belonged to +the same sex as its mother, and which throve capitally. In the corral, +the flock of musmons had also increased, and several lambs already +bleated in the sheds, to the great delight of Neb and Herbert, who had +each their favourite among these new-comers. An<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 95]</a></span> attempt was also made +for the domestication of the peccaries, which succeeded well. A sty was +constructed near the poultry-yard, and soon contained several young ones +in the way to become civilised, that is to say, to become fat under +Neb's care. Master Jup, entrusted with carrying them their daily +nourishment, leavings from the kitchen, etc., acquitted himself +conscientiously of his task. He sometimes amused himself at the expense +of his little pensioners by tweaking their tails; but this was mischief, +and not wickedness, for these little twisted tails amused him like a +plaything, and his instinct was that of a child. One day in this month +of March, Pencroft, talking to the engineer, reminded Cyrus Harding of a +promise which the latter had not as yet had time to fulfil.</p> + +<p>"You once spoke of an apparatus which would take the place of the long +ladders at Granite House, captain," said he; "won't you make it some +day?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing will be easier; but is this a really useful thing?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, captain. After we have given ourselves necessaries, let us +think a little of luxury. For us it may be luxury, if you like, but for +things it is necessary. It isn't very convenient to climb up a long +ladder when one is heavily loaded."</p> + +<p>"Well, Pencroft, we will try to please you," replied Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"But you have no machine at your disposal."</p> + +<p>"We will make one."</p> + +<p>"A steam machine?"</p> + +<p>"No, a water machine."</p> + +<p>And, indeed, to work his apparatus there was already a natural force at +the disposal of the engineer which could be used without great +difficulty. For this, it was enough to augment the flow of the little +stream which supplied the interior of Granite House with water. The +opening among the stones and grass was then increased, thus producing a +strong fall at the bottom of the passage, the overflow from which +escaped by the inner well. Below this fall the engineer fixed a cylinder +with paddles, which was joined on the exterior with a strong cable +rolled on a wheel, supporting a basket. In this way, by means of a long +rope reaching to the ground, which enabled them to regulate the motive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 96]</a></span> +power, they could rise in the basket to the door of Granite House.</p> + +<p>It was on the 17th of March that the lift acted for the first time, and +gave universal satisfaction. Henceforward all the loads, wood, coal, +provisions, and even the settlers themselves, were hoisted by this +simple system, which replaced the primitive ladder, and, as may be +supposed, no one thought of regretting the change. Top particularly was +enchanted with this improvement, for he had not, and never could have +possessed Master Jup's skill in climbing ladders, and often it was on +Neb's back, or even on that of the orang, that he had been obliged to +make the ascent to Granite House. About this time, too, Cyrus Harding +attempted to manufacture glass and he at first put the old pottery-kiln +to this new use. There were some difficulties to be encountered, but +after several fruitless attempts, he succeeded in setting up a glass +manufactory, which Gideon Spilett and Herbert, his usual assistants did +not leave for several days. As to the substances used in the composition +of glass, they are simply sand, chalk and soda, either carbonate or +sulphate. Now the beach supplied sand, lime supplied chalk, sea weeds +supplied soda, pyrites supplied sulphuric acid and the ground supplied +coal to heat the kiln to the wished-for temperature. Cyrus Harding thus +soon had every thing ready for setting to work.</p> + +<p>The tool, the manufacture of which presented the most difficulty, was +the pipe of the glass maker, an iron tube, five or six feet long, which +collects on one end the material in a state of fusion. But by means of a +long, thin piece of iron rolled up like the barrel of a gun, Pencroft +succeeded in making a tube soon ready for use.</p> + +<p>On the 28th of March the tube was heated. A hundred parts of sand +thirty-five of chalk, forty of sulphate of soda, mixed with two or three +parts of powered coal, composed the substance which was placed in +crucibles. When the high temperature of the oven had reduced it to a +liquid, or rather a pasty state, Cyrus Harding collected with the tube a +quantity of the paste, he turned it about on a metal plate previously +arranged so as to give it a form suitable for blowing, then he passed +the tube to Herbert, telling him to blow at the other extremity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/aban054.jpg" class="jpg" width="315" height="448" alt="THE GLASS-BLOWERS" title="THE GLASS-BLOWERS" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban054.jpg"><b>THE GLASS-BLOWERS</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 98]</a></span> +And Herbert, swelling out his cheeks, blew so much and so well into the +tube—taking care to twirl it round at the same time—that his breath +dilated the glassy mass. Other quantities of the substance in a state of +fusion were added to the first, and in a short time the result was a +bubble which measured a foot in diameter. Harding then took the tube out +of Herbert's hands, and, giving to it a pendulous motion, he ended by +lengthening the malleable bubble so as to give it a cylindro-conic +shape.</p> + +<p>The blowing operation had given a cylinder of glass terminated by two +hemispheric caps, which were easily detached by means of a sharp iron +dipped in cold water; then, by the same proceeding, this cylinder was +cut lengthways, and after having been rendered malleable by a second +heating, it was extended on a plate and spread out with a wooden roller.</p> + +<p>The first pane was thus manufactured, and they had only to perform this +operation fifty times to have fifty panes. The windows at Granite House +were soon furnished with panes; not very white, perhaps, but still +sufficiently transparent.</p> + +<p>As to bottles and tumblers, that was only play. They were satisfied with +them, besides, just as they came from the end of the tube. Pencroft had +asked to be allowed to "blow" in his turn, and it was great fun for him; +but he blew so hard that his productions took the most ridiculous +shapes, which he admired immensely.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and Herbert, whilst hunting one day, had entered the +forest of the Far West, on the left bank of the Mercy, and, as usual, +the lad was asking a thousand questions of the engineer, who answered +them heartily. Now, as Harding was not a sportsman, and as, on the other +side, Herbert was talking chemistry and natural philosophy, numbers of +kangaroos, capybaras, and agoutis came within range, which, however, +escaped the lad's gun; the consequence was that the day was already +advanced, and the two hunters were in danger of having made a useless +excursion, when Herbert, stopping, and uttering a cry of joy, +exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Oh, Captain Harding, do you see that tree?" and he pointed to a shrub, +rather than a tree, for it was composed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 99]</a></span> of a single stem, covered with +a scaly bark, which bore leaves streaked with little parallel veins.</p> + +<p>"And what is this tree which resembles a little palm?" asked Harding.</p> + +<p>"It is a 'cycas revoluta,' of which I have a picture in our dictionary +of Natural History!" said Herbert.</p> + +<p>"But I can't see any fruit on this shrub!" observed his companion.</p> + +<p>"No, captain," replied Herbert; "but its stem contains a flour with +which nature has provided us all ready ground."</p> + +<p>"It is, then, the bread-tree?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the bread-tree."</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy," replied the engineer, "this is a valuable discovery, +since our wheat harvest is not yet ripe; I hope that you are not +mistaken!"</p> + +<p>Herbert was not mistaken: he broke the stem of a cycas, which was +composed of a glandulous tissue, containing a quantity of floury pith, +traversed with woody fibre, separated by rings of the same substance, +arranged concentrically. With this fecula was mingled a mucilaginous +juice of disagreeable flavour, but which it would be easy to get rid of +by pressure. This cellular substance was regular flour of a superior +quality, extremely nourishing; its exportation was formerly forbidden by +the Japanese laws.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and Herbert, after having examined that part of the Far +West where the cycas grew, took their bearings, and returned to Granite +House, where they made known their discovery.</p> + +<p>The next day the settlers went to collect some and returned to Granite +House with an ample supply of cycas stems. The engineer constructed a +press, with which to extract the mucilaginous juice mingled with the +fecula, and he obtained a large quantity of flour, which Neb soon +transformed into cakes and puddings. This was not quite real wheaten +bread, but it was very like it.</p> + +<p>Now, too, the onaga, the goats, and the sheep in the corral furnished +daily the milk necessary to the colony. The cart, or rather a sort of +light carriole which had replaced it, made frequent journeys to the +corral, and when it was Pencroft's turn to go he took Jup, and let him +drive, and Jup, cracking his whip, acquitted himself with his customary +intelligence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>Everything prospered, as well in the corral as in Granite House and +certainly the settlers, if it had not been that they were so far from +their native land, had no reason to complain. They were so well suited +to this life, and were, besides, so accustomed to the island, that they +could not have left its hospitable soil without regret!</p> + +<p>And yet so deeply is the love of his country implanted in the heart of +man, that if a ship had unexpectedly come in sight of the island, the +colonists would have made signals, would have attracted her attention, +and would have departed!</p> + +<p>It was the 1st of April, a Sunday, Easter Day, which Harding and his +companions sanctified by rest and prayer. The day was fine, such as an +October day in the northern hemisphere might be.</p> + +<p>All, towards the evening after dinner, were seated under the verandah on +the edge of Prospect Heights, and they were watching the darkness +creeping up from the horizon. Some cups of the infusion of elder +berries, which took the place of coffee, had been served by Neb. They +were speaking of the island and of its isolated situation in the +Pacific, which led Gideon Spilett to say,—</p> + +<p>"My dear Cyrus, have you ever, since you possessed the sextant found in +the case, again taken the position of our island?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the engineer</p> + +<p>"But it would perhaps be a good thing to do it with this instrument, +which is more perfect than that which you before used."</p> + +<p>"What is the good?" said Pencroft. "The island is quite comfortable +where it is!"</p> + +<p>"Well, who knows," returned the reporter, "who knows but that we may be +much nearer inhabited land than we think?"</p> + +<p>"We shall know to morrow," replied Cyrus Harding, "and if it had not +been for the occupations which left me no leisure, we should have known +it already."</p> + +<p>"Good!" said Pencroft. "The captain is too good an observer to be +mistaken, and, if it has not moved from its place, the island is just +where he put it."</p> + +<p>"We shall see."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/aban056.jpg" class="jpg" width="310" height="448" alt="THE VERANDAH ON THE EDGE OF PROSPECT HEIGHTS" title="THE VERANDAH ON THE EDGE OF PROSPECT HEIGHTS" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban056.jpg"><b>THE VERANDAH ON THE EDGE OF PROSPECT HEIGHTS</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>On the next day, therefore, by means of the sextant, the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 102]</a></span>engineer made +the necessary observations to verify the position which he had already +obtained, and this was the result of his operation. His first +observation had given him for the situation of Lincoln Island,—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In west longitude: from 150° to 155°;<br /> +In south latitude: from 30° to 35°.</p></div> + +<p>The second gave exactly:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In longitude: 150° 30´;<br /> +In south latitude: 34° 57´.</p></div> + +<p>So then, notwithstanding the imperfection of his apparatus, Cyrus +Harding had operated with so much skill that his error did not exceed +five degrees.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Gideon Spilett, "since we possess an atlas as well as a +sextant, let us see, my dear Cyrus, the exact position which Lincoln +Island occupies in the Pacific."</p> + +<p>Herbert fetched the atlas, and the map of the Pacific was opened, and +the engineer, compass in hand, prepared to determine their position.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the compasses stopped, and he exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"But an island exists in this part of the Pacific already!"</p> + +<p>"An island?" cried Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Tabor Island."</p> + +<p>"An important island?"</p> + +<p>"No, an islet lost in the Pacific, and which perhaps has never been +visited."</p> + +<p>"Well, we will visit it," said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"We?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, captain. We will build a decked boat, and I will undertake to +steer her. At what distance are we from this Tabor Island?"</p> + +<p>"About a hundred and fifty miles to the north-east," replied Harding.</p> + +<p>"A hundred and fifty miles! And what's that?" returned Pencroft. "In +forty-eight hours, with a good wind, we should sight it!"</p> + +<p>And, on this reply, it was decided that a vessel should be constructed +in time to be launched towards the month of next October, on the return +of the fine season.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Boat-building—Second Crop of Corn—Hunting Koalas—A new Plant, +more Pleasant than Useful—Whale in Sight—A Harpoon from the +Vineyard—Cutting up the Whale—Use for the Bones—End of the Month +of May—Pencroft has nothing left to wish for.</p></div> + + +<p>When Pencroft had once got a plan into his head, he had no peace till it +was executed. Now he wished to visit Tabor Island, and as a boat of a +certain size was necessary for this voyage, he determined to build one.</p> + +<p>What wood should be employed? Elm or fir, both of which abounded in the +island? They decided for the fir, as being easy to work, but which +stands water as well as the elm.</p> + +<p>These details settled, it was agreed that since the fine season would +not return before six months, Cyrus Harding and Pencroft should work +alone at the boat. Gideon Spilett and Herbert were to continue to hunt, +and neither Neb nor Master Jup his assistant were to leave the domestic +duties which had devolved upon them.</p> + +<p>Directly the trees were chosen, they were felled, stripped of their +branches, and sawn into planks as well as sawyers would have been able +to do it. A week after, in the recess between the Chimneys and the +cliff, a dockyard was prepared, and a keel five-and-thirty feet long, +furnished with a stern-post at the stern and a stem at the bows, lay +along the sand.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding was not working in the dark at this new trade. He knew as +much about ship-building as about nearly everything else, and he had at +first drawn the model of his ship on paper. Besides, he was ably +seconded by Pencroft, who, having worked for several years in a dockyard +at Brooklyn, knew the practical part of the trade. It was not until +after careful calculation and deep thought that the timbers were laid on +the keel.</p> + +<p>Pencroft, as may be believed, was all eagerness to carry out his new +enterprise, and would not leave his work for an instant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>A single thing had the honour of drawing him, but for one day only, from +his dockyard. This was the second wheat-harvest, which was gathered in +on the 15th of April. It was as much a success as the first, and yielded +the number of grains which had been predicted.</p> + +<p>"Five bushels, captain," said Pencroft, after having scrupulously +measured his treasure.</p> + +<p>"Five bushels," replied the engineer; "and a hundred and thirty thousand +grains a bushel will make six hundred and fifty thousand grains."</p> + +<p>"Well, we will sow them all this time," said the sailor, "except a +little in reserve."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Pencroft, and if the next crop gives a proportionate yield, we +shall have four thousand bushels."</p> + +<p>"And shall we eat bread?"</p> + +<p>"We shall eat bread."</p> + +<p>"But we must have a mill."</p> + +<p>"We will make one."</p> + +<p>The third cornfield was very much larger than the two first, and the +soil, prepared with extreme care, received the precious seed. That done, +Pencroft returned to his work.</p> + +<p>During this time Spilett and Herbert hunted in the neighbourhood, and +they ventured deep into the still unknown parts of the Far West, their +guns loaded with ball, ready for any dangerous emergency. It was a vast +thicket of magnificent trees, crowded together as if pressed for room. +The exploration of these dense masses of wood was difficult in the +extreme, and the reporter never ventured there without the +pocket-compass, for the sun scarcely pierced through the thick foliage, +and it would have been very difficult for them to retrace their way. It +naturally happened that game was more rare in those situations where +there was hardly sufficient room to move; two or three large herbivorous +animals were however killed during the last fortnight of April. These +were koalas, specimens of which the settlers had already seen to the +north of the lake, and which stupidly allowed themselves to be killed +among the thick branches of the trees in which they took refuge. Their +skins were brought back to Granite House, and there, by the help of +sulphuric acid, they were subjected to a sort of tanning process which +rendered them capable of being used.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 307px;"> +<img src="images/aban058.jpg" class="jpg" width="307" height="448" alt="THE DOCKYARD" title="THE DOCKYARD" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban058.jpg"><b>THE DOCKYARD</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 106]</a></span> +On the 30th of April, the two sportsmen were in the depth of the Far +West, when the reporter, preceding Herbert a few paces, arrived in a +sort of clearing, into which the trees more sparsely scattered had +permitted a few rays to penetrate. Gideon Spilett was at first surprised +at the odour which exhaled from certain plants with straight stalks, +round and branchy, bearing grape-like clusters of flowers and very small +berries. The reporter broke off one or two of these stalks and returned +to the lad, to whom he said,—</p> + +<p>"What can this be, Herbert?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Spilett," said Herbert, "this is a treasure which will secure +you Pencroft's gratitude for ever."</p> + +<p>"Is it tobacco?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and though it may not be of the first quality, it is none the less +tobacco!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, good old Pencroft! Won't he be pleased? But we must not let him +smoke it all, he must give us our share."</p> + +<p>"Ah! an idea occurs to me, Mr. Spilett," replied Herbert. "Don't let us +say anything to Pencroft yet; we will prepare these leaves, and one fine +day we will present him with a pipe already filled!"</p> + +<p>"All right, Herbert, and on that day our worthy companion will have +nothing left to wish for in this world."</p> + +<p>The reporter and the lad secured a good store of the precious plant, and +then returned to Granite House, where they smuggled it in with as much +precaution as if Pencroft had been the most vigilant and severe of +custom-house officers.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and Neb were taken into confidence, and the sailor +suspected nothing during the whole time, necessarily somewhat long, +which was required in order to dry the small leaves, chop them up, and +subject them to a certain torrefaction on hot stones. This took two +months; but all these manipulations were successfully carried on unknown +to Pencroft, for, occupied with the construction of his boat, he only +returned to Granite House at the hour of rest.</p> + +<p>For some days they had observed an enormous animal two or three miles +out in the open sea swimming around Lincoln Island. This was a whale of +the largest size, which apparently belonged to the southern species, +called the "Cape Whale."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What a lucky chance it would be if we could capture it!" cried the +sailor. "Ah, if we only had a proper boat and a good harpoon, I would +say, 'After the beast,' for he would be well worth the trouble of +catching!"</p> + +<p>"Well, Pencroft," observed Harding, "I should much like to watch you +handling a harpoon. It would be very interesting."</p> + +<p>"I am astonished," said the reporter, "to see a whale in this +comparatively high latitude."</p> + +<p>"Why so, Mr. Spilett?" replied Herbert. "We are exactly in that part of +the Pacific which English and American whalemen call the whale field, +and it is here, between New Zealand and South America, that the whales +of the southern hemisphere are met with in the greatest numbers."</p> + +<p>And Pencroft returned to his work, not without uttering a sigh of +regret, for every sailor is a born fisherman, and if the pleasure of +fishing is in exact proportion to the size of the animal, one can judge +how a whaler feels in sight of a whale. And if this had only been for +pleasure! But they could not help feeling how valuable such a prize +would have been to the colony, for the oil, the fat, and the bones would +have been put to many uses.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that this whale appeared to have no wish to leave the +waters of the island. Therefore, whether from the windows of Granite +House, or from Prospect Heights, Herbert and Gideon Spilett, when they +were not hunting, or Neb unless presiding over his fires, never left the +telescope, but watched all the animal's movements. The cetacean, having +entered far into Union Bay, made rapid furrows across it from Mandible +Cape to Claw Cape, propelled by its enormously powerful flukes, on which +it supported itself, and making its way through the water at the rate +little short of twelve knots an hour. Sometimes also it approached so +near to the island that it could be clearly distinguished. It was the +southern whale, which is completely black, the head being more depressed +than that of the northern whale.</p> + +<p>They could also see it throwing up from its air-holes to a great height, +a cloud of vapour, or of water, for, strange as it may appear, +naturalists and whalers are not agreed on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 108]</a></span> this subject. Is it air or is +it water which is thus driven out? It is generally admitted to be +vapour, which, condensing suddenly by contact with the cold air, falls +again as rain.</p> + +<p>However, the presence of this mammifer preoccupied the colonists. It +irritated Pencroft especially as he could think of nothing else while at +work. He ended by longing for it, like a child for a thing which it has +been denied. At night he talked about it in his sleep, and certainly if +he had had the means of attacking it, if the sloop had been in a fit +state to put to sea, he would not have hesitated to set out in pursuit.</p> + +<p>But what the colonists could not do for themselves, chance did for them, +and on the 3rd of May, shouts from Neb, who had stationed himself at the +kitchen window, announced that the whale was stranded on the beach of +the island.</p> + +<p>Herbert and Gideon Spilett, who were just about to set out hunting, left +their guns, Pencroft threw down his axe, and Harding and Neb joining +their companions, all rushed towards the scene of action.</p> + +<p>The stranding had taken place on the beach of Flotsam Point, three miles +from Granite House, and at high tide. It was therefore probable that the +cetacean would not be able to extricate itself easily, at any rate it +was best to hasten, so as to cut off its retreat if necessary. They ran +with pick-axes and iron-tipped poles in their hands, passed over the +Mercy bridge, descended the right bank of the river, along the beach, +and in less than twenty minutes the settlers were close to the enormous +animal, above which flocks of birds already hovered.</p> + +<p>"What a monster!" cried Neb.</p> + +<p>And the exclamation was natural, for it was a southern whale, eighty +feet long, a giant of the species, probably not weighing less than a +hundred and fifty thousand pounds!</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, the monster thus stranded did not move, nor attempt by +struggling to regain the water whilst the tide was still high.</p> + +<p>It was dead, and a harpoon was sticking out of its left side.</p> + +<p>"There are whalers in these quarters, then?" said Gideon Spilett +directly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 314px;"> +<img src="images/aban060.jpg" class="jpg" width="314" height="448" alt="A VALUABLE PRIZE" title="A VALUABLE PRIZE" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban060.jpg"><b>A VALUABLE PRIZE</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>"Oh, Mr Spilett, that doesn't prove anything!" replied Pencroft. "Whales +have been known to go thousands of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 110]</a></span>miles with a harpoon in the side, +and this one might even have been struck in the north of the Atlantic +and come to die in the south of the Pacific, and it would be nothing +astonishing."</p> + +<p>Pencroft, having torn the harpoon from the animal's side, read this +inscription on it:—</p> + +<p class="center">"'MARIA STELLA,'<br /> + "VINEYARD."</p> + +<p>"A vessel from the Vineyard! A ship from my country!" he cried. "The +<i>Maria Stella</i>! A fine whaler, 'pon my word; I know her well! Oh, my +friends, a vessel from the Vineyard!—a whaler from the +Vineyard!"<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +A port in the State of New York.</p></div> + +<p>And the sailor brandishing the harpoon, repeated, not without emotion, +the name which he loved so well—the name of his birthplace.</p> + +<p>But as it could not be expected that the <i>Maria Stella</i> would come to +reclaim the animal harpooned by her, they resolved to begin cutting it +up before decomposition should commence. The birds, who had watched this +rich prey for several days, had determined to take possession of it +without further delay, and it was necessary to drive them off by firing +at them repeatedly.</p> + +<p>The whale was a female, and a large quantity of milk was taken from it, +which, according to the opinion of the naturalist Duffenbach, might pass +for cow's milk, and, indeed, it differs from it neither in taste, +colour, nor density.</p> + +<p>Pencroft had formerly served on board a whaling-ship, and he could +methodically direct the operation of cutting up—a sufficiently +disagreeable operation lasting three days, but from which the settlers +did not flinch, not even Gideon Spilett, who, as the sailor said, would +end by making a "real good castaway."</p> + +<p>The blubber, cut in parallel slices of two feet and a half in thickness, +then divided into pieces which might weigh about a thousand pounds each, +was melted down in large earthen pots brought to the spot, for they did +not wish to taint the environs of Granite House, and in this fusion it +lost nearly a third of its weight.</p> + +<p>But there was an immense quantity of it; the tongue <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 111]</a></span>alone yielded six +thousand pounds of oil, and the lower lip four thousand. Then, besides +the fat, which would insure for a long time a store of stearine and +glycerine, there were still the bones, for which a use could doubtless +be found, although there were neither umbrellas nor stays used at +Granite House. The upper part of the mouth of the cetacean was, indeed, +provided on both sides with eight hundred horny blades, very elastic, of +a fibrous texture, and fringed at the edge like great combs, of which +the teeth, six feet long, served to retain the thousands of animalculæ, +little fish, and molluscs, on which the whale fed.</p> + +<p>The operation finished, to the great satisfaction of the operators, the +remains of the animal were left to the birds, who would soon make every +vestige of it disappear, and their usual daily occupations were resumed +by the inmates of Granite House.</p> + +<p>However, before returning to the dockyard, Cyrus Harding conceived the +idea of fabricating certain machines, which greatly excited the +curiosity of his companions. He took a dozen of the whale's bones, cut +them into six equal parts, and sharpened their ends.</p> + +<p>"This machine is not my own invention, and it is frequently employed by +the Aleutian hunters in Russian America. You see these bones, my +friends; well, when it freezes, I will bend them, and then wet them with +water till they are entirely covered with ice, which will keep them +bent, and I will strew them on the snow, having previously covered them +with fat. Now, what will happen if a hungry animal swallows one of these +baits? Why, the heat of his stomach will melt the ice, and the bone, +springing straight, will pierce him with its sharp points."</p> + +<p>"Well! I do call that ingenious!" said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"And it will spare the powder and shot," rejoined Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"That will be better than traps!" added Neb.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile the boat-building progressed, and towards the end of +the month half the planking was completed. It could already be seen that +her shape was excellent, and that she would sail well.</p> + +<p>Pencroft worked with unparalleled ardour, and only a sturdy frame could +have borne such fatigue; but his companions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 112]</a></span> were preparing in secret a +reward for his labours, and on the 31st of May he was to meet with one +of the greatest joy's of his life.</p> + +<p>On that day, after dinner, just as he was about to leave the table, +Pencroft felt a hand on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>It was the hand of Gideon Spilett, who said,—</p> + +<p>"One moment, Master Pencroft, you mustn't sneak off like that! You've +forgotten your dessert."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Spilett," replied the sailor, "I am going back to my +work."</p> + +<p>"Well a cup of coffee, my friend?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing more."</p> + +<p>"A pipe, then?"</p> + +<p>Pencroft jumped up, and his great good-natured face grew pale when he +saw the reporter presenting him with a ready-filled pipe, and Herbert +with a glowing coal.</p> + +<p>The sailor endeavoured to speak, but could not get out a word, so, +seizing the pipe, he carried it to his lips, then applying the coal, he +drew five or six great whiffs. A fragrant blue cloud soon arose, and +from its depths a voice was heard repeating excitedly,—</p> + +<p>"Tobacco! real tobacco!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Pencroft," returned Cyrus Harding, "and very good tobacco too!"</p> + +<p>"O divine Providence! sacred Author of all things!" cried the sailor. +"Nothing more is now wanting to our island."</p> + +<p>And Pencroft smoked, and smoked, and smoked.</p> + +<p>"And who made this discovery?" he asked at length. "You, Herbert, no +doubt?"</p> + +<p>"No, Pencroft, it was Mr. Spilett."</p> + +<p>"Mr Spilett!" exclaimed the sailor seizing the reporter, and clasping +him to his breast with such a squeeze that he had never felt anything +like it before.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Pencroft," said Spilett, recovering his breath at last, "a truce +for one moment. You must share your gratitude with Herbert, who +recognised the plant, with Cyrus, who prepared it, and with Neb who took +a great deal of trouble to keep our secret."</p> + +<p>"Well, my friends, I will repay you some day," replied the sailor. "Now +we are friends for life."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/aban062.jpg" class="jpg" width="312" height="448" alt="PENCROFT HAS NOTHING LEFT TO WISH FOR" title="PENCROFT HAS NOTHING LEFT TO WISH FOR" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban062.jpg"><b>PENCROFT HAS NOTHING LEFT TO WISH FOR</b></a></span> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Winter—Felling Wood—The Mill—Pencroft's fixed Idea—The Bones—To +what Use an Albatross may be put—Fuel for the Future—Top and +Jup—Storms—Damage to the Poultry-yard—Excursion to the +Marsh—Cyrus Harding alone—Exploring the Well</p></div> + + +<p>Winter arrived with the month of June, which is the December of the +northern zones, and the great business was the making of warm and solid +clothing.</p> + +<p>The musmons in the corral had been stripped of their wool, and this +precious textile material was now to be transformed into stuff.</p> + +<p>Of course Cyrus Harding, having at his disposal neither carders, +combers, polishers, stretchers, twisters, mule-jenny, nor self-acting +machine to spin the wool, nor loom to weave it, was obliged to proceed +in a simpler way, so as to do without spinning and weaving. And indeed +he proposed to make use of the property which the filaments of wool +possess when subjected to a powerful pressure of mixing together, and of +manufacturing by this simple process the material called felt. This felt +could then be obtained by a simple operation which, if it diminished the +flexibility of the stuff, increased its power of retaining heat in +proportion. Now the wool furnished by the musmons was composed of very +short hairs, and was in a good condition to be felted.</p> + +<p>The engineer, aided by his companions, including Pencroft, who was once +more obliged to leave his boat, commenced the preliminary operations, +the object of which was to rid the wool of that fat and oily substance +with which it is impregnated, and which is called grease. This cleaning +was done in vats filled with water, which was maintained at the +temperature of seventy degrees, and in which the wool was soaked for +four-and-twenty hours; it was then thoroughly washed in baths of soda, +and, when sufficiently dried by pressure, it was in a state to be +compressed, that is to say, to produce a solid material, rough, no +doubt, and such as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 115]</a></span> would have no value in a manufacturing centre of +Europe or America, but which would be highly esteemed in the Lincoln +Island markets.</p> + +<p>This sort of material must have been known from the most ancient times, +and, in fact, the first woollen stuffs were manufactured by the process +which Harding was now about to employ. Where Harding's engineering +qualifications now came into play was in the construction of the machine +for pressing the wool, for he knew how to turn ingeniously to profit the +mechanical force, hitherto unused, which the waterfall on the beach +possessed to move a fulling-mill.</p> + +<p>Nothing could be more rudimentary. The wool was placed in troughs, and +upon it fell in turns heavy wooden mallets, such was the machine in +question, and such it had been for centuries until the time when the +mallets were replaced by cylinders of compression, and the material was +no longer subjected to beating, but to regular rolling.</p> + +<p>The operation, ably directed by Cyrus Harding, was a complete success. +The wool, previously impregnated with a solution of soap, intended on +the one hand to facilitate the interlacing, the compression, and the +softening of the wool, and on the other to prevent its diminution by the +beating, issued from the mill in the shape of thick felt cloth. The +roughnesses with which the staple of wool is naturally filled were so +thoroughly entangled and interlaced together that a material was formed +equally suitable either for garments or bedclothes. It was certainly +neither merino, muslin, cashmere, rep, satin, alpaca, cloth, nor +flannel. It was "Lincolnian felt," and Lincoln Island possessed yet +another manufacture. The colonists had now warm garments and thick +bedclothes, and they could without fear await the approach of the winter +of 1866-67.</p> + +<p>The severe cold began to be felt about the 20th of June, and, to his +great regret, Pencroft was obliged to suspend his boat-building, which +he hoped to finish in time for next spring.</p> + +<p>The sailor's great idea was to make a voyage of discovery to Tabor +Island, although Harding could not approve of a voyage simply for +curiosity's sake, for there was evidently nothing to be found on this +desert and almost arid rock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 116]</a></span> A voyage of a hundred and fifty miles in a +comparatively small vessel, over unknown seas, could not but cause him +some anxiety. Suppose that their vessel, once out at sea, should be +unable to reach Tabor Island, and could not return to Lincoln Island, +what would become of her in the midst of the Pacific, so fruitful of +disasters?</p> + +<p>Harding often talked over this project with Pencroft, and he found him +strangely bent upon undertaking this voyage, for which determination he +himself could give no sufficient reason.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the engineer one day to him, "I must observe, my friend, +that after having said so much, in praise of Lincoln Island, after +having spoken so often of the sorrow you would feel if you were obliged +to forsake it, you are the first to wish to leave it."</p> + +<p>"Only to leave it for a few days," replied Pencroft, "only for a few +days, captain. Time to go and come back, and see what that islet is +like!"</p> + +<p>"But it is not nearly as good as Lincoln Island."</p> + +<p>"I know that beforehand."</p> + +<p>"Then why venture there?"</p> + +<p>"To know what is going on in Tabor Island."</p> + +<p>"But nothing is going on there; nothing could happen there."</p> + +<p>"Who knows?"</p> + +<p>"And if you are caught in a hurricane?"</p> + +<p>"There is no fear of that in the fine season," replied Pencroft. "But, +captain, as we must provide against everything, I shall ask your +permission to take Herbert only with me on this voyage."</p> + +<p>"Pencroft," replied the engineer, placing his hand on the sailor's +shoulder, "if any misfortune happens to you, or to this lad, whom chance +has made our child, do you think we could ever cease to blame +ourselves?"</p> + +<p>"Captain Harding," replied Pencroft, with unshaken confidence, "we shall +not cause you that sorrow. Besides, we will speak further of this +voyage, when the time comes to make it. And I fancy, when you have seen +our tight-rigged little craft, when you have observed how she behaves at +sea, when we sail round our island, for we will do so together—I fancy, +I say, that you will no longer hesitate to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 117]</a></span> let me go. I don't conceal +from you that your boat will be a masterpiece."</p> + +<p>"Say 'our' boat, at least, Pencroft," replied the engineer, disarmed for +the moment. The conversation ended thus, to be resumed later on, without +convincing either the sailor or the engineer.</p> + +<p>The first snow fell towards the end of the month of June. The corral had +previously been largely supplied with stores, so that daily visits to it +were not requisite; but it was decided that more than a week should +never be allowed to pass without some one going to it.</p> + +<p>Traps were again set, and the machines manufactured by Harding were +tried. The bent whalebones, imprisoned in a case of ice, and covered +with a thick outer layer of fat, were placed on the border of the forest +at a spot where animals usually passed on their way to the lake.</p> + +<p>To the engineer's great satisfaction, this invention, copied from the +Aleutian fishermen, succeeded perfectly. A dozen foxes, a few wild +boars, and even a jaguar, were taken in this way, the animals being +found dead, their stomachs pierced by the unbent bones.</p> + +<p>An incident must here be related, not only as interesting in itself, but +because it was the first attempt made by the colonists to communicate +with the rest of mankind.</p> + +<p>Gideon Spilett had already several times pondered whether to throw into +the sea a letter enclosed in a bottle, which currents might perhaps +carry to an inhabited coast, or to confide it to pigeons.</p> + +<p>But how could it be seriously hoped that either pigeons or bottles could +cross the distance of twelve hundred miles which separated the island +from any inhabited land? It would have been pure folly.</p> + +<p>But on the 30th of June the capture was effected, not without +difficulty, of an albatross, which a shot from Herbert's gun had +slightly wounded in the foot. It was a magnificent bird, measuring ten +feet from wing to wing, and which could traverse seas as wide as the +Pacific.</p> + +<p>Herbert would have liked to keep this superb bird, as its wound would +soon heal, and he thought he could tame it; but Spilett explained to him +that they should not neglect this opportunity of attempting to +communicate by this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 118]</a></span> messenger with the lands of the Pacific; for if the +albatross had come from some inhabited region, there was no doubt but +that it would return there so soon as it was set free.</p> + +<p>Perhaps in his heart Gideon Spilett, in whom the journalist sometimes +came to the surface, was not sorry to have the opportunity of sending +forth to take its chance an exciting article relating the adventures of +the settlers in Lincoln Island. What a success for the authorised +reporter of the <i>New York Herald</i>, and for the number which should +contain the article, if it should ever reach the address of its editor, +the Honourable John Benett!</p> + +<p>Gideon Spilett then wrote out a concise account, which was placed in a +strong waterproof bag, with an earnest request to whoever might find it +to forward it to the office of the <i>New York Herald</i>. This little bag +was fastened to the neck of the albatross, and not to its foot, for +these birds are in the habit of resting on the surface of the sea; then +liberty was given to this swift courier of the air, and it was not +without some emotion that the colonists watched it disappear in the +misty west.</p> + +<p>"Where is he going to?" asked Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Towards New Zealand," replied Herbert.</p> + +<p>"A good voyage to you," shouted the sailor, who himself did not expect +any great result from this mode of correspondence.</p> + +<p>With the winter, work had been resumed in the interior of Granite House, +mending clothes and different occupations, amongst others making the +sails for their vessel, which were cut from the inexhaustible +balloon-case.</p> + +<p>During the month of July the cold was intense, but there was no lack of +either wood or coal. Cyrus Harding had established a second fireplace in +the dining-room, and there the long winter evenings were spent. Talking +whilst they worked, reading when the hands remained idle, the time +passed with profit to all.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 305px;"> +<img src="images/aban065.jpg" class="jpg" width="305" height="448" alt="THE MESSENGER" title="THE MESSENGER" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban065.jpg"><b>THE MESSENGER</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>It was real enjoyment to the settlers when in their room, well lighted +with candles, well warmed with coal, after a good dinner, elder-berry +coffee smoking in the cups, the pipes giving forth an odoriferous smoke, +they could hear the storm howling without. Their comfort would have been +complete, if complete comfort could ever exist for those who are far +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 120]</a></span>from their fellow creatures, and without any means of communication +with them. They often talked of their country, of the friends whom they +had left, of the grandeur of the American Republic, whose influence +could not but increase, and Cyrus Harding, who had been much mixed up +with the affairs of the Union, greatly interested his auditors by his +recitals, his views, and his prognostics.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that Spilett was led to say,—</p> + +<p>"But now, my dear Cyrus, all this industrial and commercial movement to +which you predict a continual advance, does it not run the danger of +being sooner or later completely stopped?"</p> + +<p>"Stopped! And by what?"</p> + +<p>"By the want of coal, which may justly be called the most precious of +minerals."</p> + +<p>"Yes, the most precious indeed," replied the engineer; "and it would +seem that nature wished to prove that it was so by making the diamond, +which is simply pure carbon crystallised."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say, captain," interrupted Pencroft, "that we burn +diamonds in our stoves in the shape of coal?"</p> + +<p>"No, my friend," replied Harding.</p> + +<p>"However," resumed Gideon Spilett, "you do not deny that some day the +coal will be entirely consumed?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! the veins of coal are still considerable, and the hundred thousand +miners who annually extract from them a hundred millions of +hundredweights have not nearly exhausted them."</p> + +<p>"With the increasing consumption of coal," replied Gideon Spilett, "it +can be foreseen that the hundred thousand workmen will soon become two +hundred thousand, and that the rate of extraction will be doubled."</p> + +<p>"Doubtless, but after the European mines, which will be soon worked more +thoroughly with new machines, the American and Australian mines will for +a long time yet provide for the consumption in trade."</p> + +<p>"For how long a time?" asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"For at least two hundred and fifty or three hundred years."</p> + +<p>"That is reassuring for us, but a bad look-out for our great +grandchildren!" observed Pencroft.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 305px;"> +<img src="images/aban066.jpg" class="jpg" width="305" height="448" alt="WINTER EVENINGS IN GRANITE HOUSE" title="WINTER EVENINGS IN GRANITE HOUSE" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban066.jpg"><b>WINTER EVENINGS IN GRANITE HOUSE</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 122]</a></span> +"They will discover something else," said Herbert.</p> + +<p>"It is to be hoped so," answered Spilett, "for without coal there would +be no machinery, and without machinery there would be no railways, no +steamers, no manufactories, nothing of that which is indispensable to +modern civilisation!"</p> + +<p>"But what will they find?" asked Pencroft. "Can you guess, captain?"</p> + +<p>"Nearly, my friend."</p> + +<p>"And what will they burn instead of coal?"</p> + +<p>"Water," replied Harding.</p> + +<p>"Water!" cried Pencroft, "water as fuel for steamers and engines! water +to heat water!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but water decomposed into its primitive elements," replied Cyrus +Harding, "and decomposed, doubtless; by electricity, which will then +have become a powerful and manageable force, for all great discoveries, +by some inexplicable law, appear to agree and become complete at the +same time. Yes, my friends, I believe that water will one day be +employed as fuel, that hydrogen and oxygen which constitute it, used +singly or together, will furnish an inexhaustible source of heat and +light, of an intensity of which coal is not capable. Some day the +coal-rooms of steamers and the tenders of locomotives will, instead of +coal, be stored with these two condensed gases, which will burn in the +furnaces with enormous calorific power. There is, therefore, nothing to +fear. As long as the earth is inhabited it will supply the wants of its +inhabitants, and there will be no want of either light or heat as long +as the productions of the vegetable, mineral or animal kingdoms do not +fail us. I believe, then, that when the deposits of coal are exhausted, +we shall heat and warm ourselves with water. Water will be the coal of +the future."</p> + +<p>"I should like to see that," observed the sailor.</p> + +<p>"You were born too soon, Pencroft," returned Neb, who only took part in +the discussion by these words.</p> + +<p>However, it was not Neb's speech which interrupted the conversation, but +Top's barking, which broke out again with that strange intonation which +had before perplexed the engineer. At the same time Top began to run +round the mouth of the well, which opened at the extremity of the +interior passage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What can Top be barking in that way for?" asked Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"And Jup be growling like that?" added Herbert.</p> + +<p>In fact the orang, joining the dog, gave unequivocal signs of agitation, +and, singular to say, the two animals appeared more uneasy than angry.</p> + +<p>"It is evident," said Gideon Spilett, "that this well is in direct +communication with the sea, and that some marine animal comes from time +to time to breathe at the bottom."</p> + +<p>"That's evident," replied the sailor, "and there can be no other +explanation to give. Quiet there, Top!" added Pencroft, turning to the +dog, "and you, Jup, be off to your room!"</p> + +<p>The ape and the dog were silent. Jup went off to bed, but Top remained +in the room, and continued to utter low growls at intervals during the +rest of the evening. There was no further talk on the subject, but the +incident, however, clouded the brow of the engineer.</p> + +<p>During the remainder of the month of July there was alternate rain and +frost. The temperature was not so low as during the preceding winter, +and its maximum did not exceed eight degrees Fahrenheit. But although +this winter was less cold, it was more troubled by storms and squalls; +the sea besides often endangered the safety of the Chimneys. At times it +almost seemed as if an under-current raised these monstrous billows +which thundered against the wall of Granite House.</p> + +<p>When the settlers, leaning from their windows, gazed on the huge watery +masses breaking beneath their eyes, they could not but admire the +magnificent spectacle of the ocean in its impotent fury. The waves +rebounded in dazzling foam, the beach entirely disappearing under the +raging flood, and the cliff appearing to emerge from the sea itself, the +spray rising to a height of more than a hundred feet.</p> + +<p>During these storms it was difficult and even dangerous to venture out, +owing to the frequently falling trees; however, the colonists never +allowed a week to pass without having paid a visit to the corral. +Happily this enclosure, sheltered by the south-eastern spur of Mount +Franklin, did not greatly suffer from the violence of the hurricanes, +which spared its trees, sheds, and palisades; but the poultry-yard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 124]</a></span> on +Prospect Heights, being directly exposed to the gusts of wind from the +east, suffered considerable damage. The pigeon-house was twice unroofed +and the paling blown down. All this required to be re-made more solidly +than before, for, as may be clearly seen, Lincoln Island was situated in +one of the most dangerous parts of the Pacific. It really appeared as if +it formed the central point of vast cyclones, which beat it perpetually +as the whip does the top, only here it was the top which was motionless +and the whip which moved. During the first week of the month of August +the weather became more moderate, and the atmosphere recovered the calm +which it appeared to have lost for ever. With the calm the cold again +became intense, and the thermometer fell to eight degrees Fahrenheit, +below zero.</p> + +<p>On the 3rd of August an excursion which had been talked of for several +days was made into the south-eastern part of the island, towards Tadorn +Marsh. The hunters were tempted by the aquatic game which took up their +winter-quarters there. Wild duck, snipe, teal, and grebe, abounded +there, and it was agreed that a day should be devoted to an expedition +against these birds.</p> + +<p>Not only Gideon Spilett and Herbert, but Pencroft and Neb also took part +in this excursion. Cyrus Harding alone, alleging some work as an excuse, +did not join them, but remained at Granite House.</p> + +<p>The hunters proceeded in the direction of Port Balloon, in order to +reach the marsh, after having promised to be back by the evening. Top +and Jup accompanied them. As soon as they had passed over the Mercy +Bridge, the engineer raised it and returned, intending to put into +execution a project for the performance of which he wished to be alone.</p> + +<p>Now this project was to minutely explore the interior well, the mouth of +which was on a level with the passage of Granite House, and which +communicated with the sea, since it formerly supplied a way to the +waters of the lake.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/aban068.jpg" class="jpg" width="310" height="448" alt="HE SAW NOTHING SUSPICIOUS" title="HE SAW NOTHING SUSPICIOUS" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban068.jpg"><b>HE SAW NOTHING SUSPICIOUS</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>Why did Top so often run round this opening? Why did he utter such +strange barks when a sort of uneasiness seemed to draw him towards this +well. Why did Jup join Top in a sort of common anxiety? Had this well +branches besides the communication with the sea? Did it spread <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 126]</a></span>towards +other parts of the island? This is what Cyrus Harding wished to know. He +had resolved, therefore, to attempt the exploration of the well during +the absence of his companions, and an opportunity for doing so had now +presented itself.</p> + +<p>It was easy to descend to the bottom of the well by employing the +rope-ladder which had not been used since the establishment of the lift. +The engineer drew the ladder to the hole, the diameter of which measured +nearly six feet, and allowed it to unroll itself after having securely +fastened its upper extremity. Then, having lighted a lantern, taken a +revolver, and placed a cutlass in his belt, he began the descent.</p> + +<p>The sides were everywhere entire; but points of rock jutted out here and +there, and by means of these points it would have been quite possible +for an active creature to climb to the mouth of the well.</p> + +<p>The engineer remarked this; but although he carefully examined these +points by the light of his lantern, he could find no impression, no +fracture which could give any reason to suppose that they had either +recently or at any former time been used as a staircase. Cyrus Harding +descended deeper, throwing the light of his lantern on all sides.</p> + +<p>He saw nothing suspicious.</p> + +<p>When the engineer had reached the last rounds he came upon the water, +which was then perfectly calm. Neither at its level nor in any other +part of the well, did any passage open which could lead to the interior +of the cliff. The wall which Harding struck with the hilt of his cutlass +sounded solid. It was compact granite, through which no living being +could force a way. To arrive at the bottom of the well and then climb up +to its mouth it was necessary to pass through the channel under the +rocky sub-soil of the beach, which placed it in communication with the +sea, and this was only possible for marine animals. As to the question +of knowing where this channel ended, at what point of the shore, and at +what depth beneath the water, it could not be answered.</p> + +<p>Then Cyrus Harding, having ended his survey, re-ascended, drew up the +ladder, covered the mouth of the well, and returned thoughtfully to the +dining-room, saying to himself,—</p> + +<p>"I have seen nothing, and yet there <i>is</i> something there!"</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Rigging of the Vessel—An Attack from Foxes—Jup wounded—Jup +cured—Completion of the Boat—Pencroft's Triumph—The +<i>Bonadventure's</i> trial Trip to the South of the Island—An +unexpected Document.</p></div> + + +<p>In the evening the hunters returned, having enjoyed good sport, and +being literally loaded with game; indeed, they had as much as four men +could possibly carry. Top wore a necklace of teal and Jup wreaths of +snipe round his body.</p> + +<p>"Here, master," cried Neb; "here's something to employ our time! +Preserved and made into pies we shall have a welcome store! But I must +have some one to help me. I count on you, Pencroft."</p> + +<p>"No, Neb," replied the sailor; "I have the rigging of the vessel to +finish and to look after, and you will have to do without me."</p> + +<p>"And you, Mr. Herbert?"</p> + +<p>"I must go to the corral to-morrow, Neb," replied the lad.</p> + +<p>"It will be you then, Mr. Spilett, who will help me?"</p> + +<p>"To oblige you, Neb, I will," replied the reporter; "but I warn you that +if you disclose your receipts to me, I shall publish them."</p> + +<p>"Whenever you like, Mr. Spilett," replied Neb; "whenever you like."</p> + +<p>And so the next day Gideon Spilett became Neb's assistant and was +installed in his culinary laboratory. The engineer had previously made +known to him the result of the exploration which he had made the day +before, and on this point the reporter shared Harding's opinion, that +although he had found nothing, a secret still remained to be discovered!</p> + +<p>The frost continued for another week, and the settlers did not leave +Granite House unless to look after the poultry-yard. The dwelling was +filled with appetising odours, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 128]</a></span> were emitted from the learned +manipulation of Neb and the reporter. But all the results of the chase +were not made into preserved provisions; and as the game kept perfectly +in the intense cold, wild duck and other fowl were eaten fresh, and +declared superior to all other aquatic birds in the known world.</p> + +<p>During this week Pencroft, aided by Herbert, who handled the +sail-maker's needle with much skill, worked with such energy that the +sails of that vessel were finished. There was no want of cordage. Thanks +to the rigging which had been recovered with the case of the balloon, +the ropes and cables from the net were all of good quality, and the +sailor turned them all to account. To the sails were attached strong +bolt ropes, and there still remained enough from which to make the +halliards, shrouds, and sheets, etc. The blocks were manufactured by +Cyrus Harding under Pencroft's directions by means of the turning-lathe. +It therefore happened that the rigging was entirely prepared before the +vessel was finished. Pencroft also manufactured a flag, that flag so +dear to every true American, containing the stars and stripes of their +glorious Union. The colours for it were supplied from certain plants +used in dyeing, and which were very abundant in the island; only to the +thirty-seven stars, representing the thirty-seven States of the Union, +which shine on the American flag, the sailor added a thirty-eighth, the +star of "the State of Lincoln," for he considered his island as already +united to the great republic. "And," said he, "it is so already in +heart, if not in deed!"</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the flag was hoisted at the central window of Granite +House, and the settlers saluted it with three cheers.</p> + +<p>The cold season was now almost at an end, and it appeared as if this +second winter was to pass without any unusual occurrence, when, on the +night of the 11th August, the plateau of Prospect Heights was menaced +with complete destruction.</p> + +<p>After a busy day the colonists were sleeping soundly, when towards four +o'clock in the morning they were suddenly awakened by Top's barking.</p> + +<p>The dog was not this time barking near the mouth of the well, but at the +threshold of the door, at which he was scratching<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 129]</a></span> as if he wished to +burst it open. Jup was also uttering piercing cries.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, Top!" cried Neb, who was the first awake. But the dog continued +to bark more furiously than ever.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?" asked Harding.</p> + +<p>And all dressing in haste rushed to the windows, which they opened.</p> + +<p>Beneath their eyes was spread a sheet of snow which looked grey in the +dim light. The settlers could see nothing, but they heard a singular +yelping noise away in the darkness. It was evident that the beach had +been invaded by a number of animals which could not be seen.</p> + +<p>"What are they?" cried Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Wolves, jaguars, or apes?" replied Neb.</p> + +<p>"They have nearly reached the plateau," said the reporter.</p> + +<p>"And our poultry-yard," exclaimed Herbert, "and our garden!"</p> + +<p>"Where can they have crossed?" asked Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"They must have crossed the bridge on the shore," replied the engineer, +"which one of us must have forgotten to close."</p> + +<p>"True," said Spilett, "I remember to have left it open."</p> + +<p>"A fine job you have made of it, Mr. Spilett," cried the sailor.</p> + +<p>"What is done cannot be undone," replied Cyrus Harding. "We must consult +what it will now be best to do."</p> + +<p>Such were the questions and answers which were rapidly exchanged between +Harding and his companions. It was certain that the bridge had been +crossed, that the shore had been invaded by animals, and that whatever +they might be they could by ascending the left bank of the Mercy reach +Prospect Heights. They must therefore be advanced against quickly and +fought with if necessary.</p> + +<p>"But what are these beasts?" was asked a second time, as the yelpings +were again heard more loudly than before. These yelps made Herbert +start, and he remembered to have already heard them during his first +visit to the sources of the Red Creek.</p> + +<p>"They are culpeux foxes!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Forward!" shouted the sailor.</p> + +<p>And all arming themselves with hatchets, carbines, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 130]</a></span> revolvers, threw +themselves into the lift and soon set foot on the shore.</p> + +<p>Culpeux are dangerous animals when in great numbers and irritated by +hunger, nevertheless the colonists did not hesitate to throw themselves +into the midst of the troop, and their first shots vividly lighting up +the darkness made their assailants draw back.</p> + +<p>The chief thing was to hinder these plunderers from reaching the +plateau, for the garden and the poultry-yard would then have been at +their mercy, and immense, perhaps irreparable mischief, would inevitably +be the result, especially with regard to the cornfield. But as the +invasion of the plateau could only be made by the left bank of the +Mercy, it was sufficient to oppose the culpeux on the narrow bank +between the river and the cliff of granite.</p> + +<p>This was plain to all, and, by Cyrus Harding's orders, they reached the +spot indicated by him, while the culpeux rushed fiercely through the +gloom. Harding, Gideon, Spilett, Herbert, Pencroft, and Neb posted +themselves in impregnable line. Top, his formidable jaws open, preceded +the colonists, and he was followed by Jup, armed with knotty cudgel, +which he brandished like a club.</p> + +<p>The night was extremely dark, it was only by the flashes from the +revolvers as each person fired that they could see their assailants, who +were at least a hundred in number, and whose eyes were glowing like hot +coals.</p> + +<p>"They must not pass!" shouted Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"They shall not pass!" returned the engineer.</p> + +<p>But if they did not pass it was not for want of having attempted it. +Those in the rear pushed on the foremost assailants, and it was an +incessant struggle with revolvers and hatchets. Several culpeux already +lay dead on the ground, but their number did not appear to diminish, and +it might have been supposed that reinforcements were continually +arriving over the bridge.</p> + +<p>The colonists were soon obliged to fight at close quarters, not without +receiving some wounds, though happily very slight ones. Herbert had, +with a shot from his revolver, rescued Neb, on whose back a culpeux had +sprung like a tiger cat. Top fought with actual fury, flying at the +throats of the foxes and strangling them instantaneously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 131]</a></span> Jup wielded +his weapon valiantly, and it was in vain that they endeavoured to keep +him in the rear. Endowed doubtless with sight which enabled him to +pierce the obscurity, he was always in the thick of the fight, uttering +from time to time a sharp hissing sound, which was with him the sign of +great rejoicing.</p> + +<p>At one moment he advanced so far, that by the light from a revolver he +was seen surrounded by five or six large culpeux, with whom he was +coping with great coolness.</p> + +<p>However the struggle was ended at last, and victory was on the side of +the settlers, but not until they had fought for two long hours! The +first signs of the approach of day doubtless determined the retreat of +their assailants, who scampered away towards the North, passing over the +bridge, which Neb ran immediately to raise. When day had sufficiently +lighted up the field of battle, the settlers counted as many as fifty +dead bodies scattered about on the shore.</p> + +<p>"And Jup!" cried Pencroft, "where is Jup?" Jup had disappeared. His +friend Neb called him, and for the first time Jup did not reply to his +friend's call.</p> + +<p>Every one set out in search of Jup, trembling lest he should be found +amongst the slain; they cleared the place of the bodies which stained +the snow with their blood, Jup was found in the midst of a heap of +culpeux, whose broken jaws and crushed bodies showed that they had to do +with the terrible club of the intrepid animal.</p> + +<p>Poor Jup still held in his hand the stump of his broken cudgel, but +deprived of his weapon he had been overpowered by numbers, and his chest +was covered with severe wounds.</p> + +<p>"He is living," cried Neb, who was bending over him.</p> + +<p>"And we will save him," replied the sailor. "We will nurse him as if he +was one of ourselves."</p> + +<p>It appeared as if Jup understood, for he leant his head on Pencroft's +shoulder as if to thank him. The sailor was wounded himself, but his +wound was insignificant, as were those of his companions; for thanks to +their firearms they had been almost always able to keep their assailants +at a distance. It was therefore only the orang whose condition was +serious.</p> + +<p>Jup, carried by Neb and Pencroft, was placed in the lift, and only a +slight moan now and then escaped his lips. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 132]</a></span> was gently drawn up to +Granite House. There he was laid on a mattress taken from one of the +beds, and his wounds were bathed with the greatest care. It did not +appear that any vital part had been reached, but Jup was very weak from +loss of blood, and a high fever soon set in after his wounds had been +dressed. He was laid down, strict diet was imposed, "just like a real +person," as Neb said, and they made him swallow several cups of a +cooling drink, for which the ingredients were supplied from the +vegetable medicine chest of Granite House. Jup was at first restless, +but his breathing gradually became more regular, and he was left +sleeping quietly. From time to time Top, walking on tip-toe, as one +might say, came to visit his friend, and seemed to approve of all the +care that had been taken of him. One of Jup's hands hung over the side +of his bed, and Top licked it with a sympathising air.</p> + +<p>They employed the day in interring the dead, who were dragged to the +forest of the Far West, and there buried deep.</p> + +<p>This attack, which might have had such serious consequences, was a +lesson to the settlers, who from this time never went to bed until one +of their number had made sure that all the bridges were raised, and that +no invasion was possible.</p> + +<p>However Jup, after having given them serious anxiety for several days, +began to recover. His constitution brought him through, the fever +gradually subsided, and Gideon Spilett, who was a bit of a doctor, +pronounced him quite out of danger. On the 16th of August, Jup began to +eat. Neb made him nice little sweet dishes, which the invalid discussed +with great relish, for if he had a pet failing it was that of being +somewhat of a gourmand, and Neb had never done anything to cure him of +this fault.</p> + +<p>"What would you have?" said he to Gideon Spilett, who sometimes +expostulated with him for spoiling the ape. "Poor Jup has no other +pleasure than that of the palate, and I am only too glad to be able to +reward his services in this way!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/aban072.jpg" class="jpg" width="310" height="448" alt="TOP VISITING THE INVALID" title="TOP VISITING THE INVALID" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban072.jpg"><b>TOP VISITING THE INVALID</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>Ten days after having taken to his bed, on the 21st of August, Master +Jup arose. His wounds were healed, and it was evident that he would not +be long in regaining his usual strength and agility. Like all +convalescents, he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 134]</a></span> tremendously hungry, and the reporter allowed +him to eat as much as he liked, for he trusted to that instinct, which +is too often wanting in reasoning beings, to keep the orang from any +excess. Neb was delighted to see his pupil's appetite returning.</p> + +<p>"Eat away, my Jup," said he, "and don't spare anything; you have shed +your blood for us, and it is the least I can do to make you strong +again!"</p> + +<p>On the 25th of August Neb's voice was heard calling to his companions.</p> + +<p>"Captain, Mr. Spilett, Mr. Herbert, Pencroft, come! come!"</p> + +<p>The colonists, who were together in the dining-room, rose at Neb's call, +who was then in Jup's room.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Look," replied Neb, with a shout of laughter. And what did they see? +Master Jup smoking calmly and seriously, sitting cross-legged like a +Turk at the entrance to Granite House!</p> + +<p>"My pipe," cried Pencroft. "He has taken my pipe! Hallo, my honest Jup, +I make you a present of it! Smoke away, old boy, smoke away!"</p> + +<p>And Jup gravely puffed out clouds of smoke which seemed to give him +great satisfaction. Harding did not appear to be much astonished at this +incident, and he cited several examples of tame apes, to whom the use of +tobacco had become quite familiar.</p> + +<p>But from this day Master Jup had a pipe of his own, the sailor's +ex-pipe, which was hung in his room near his store of tobacco. He filled +it himself, lighted it with a glowing coal, and appeared to be the +happiest of quadrumana. It may readily be understood that this +similarity of tastes of Jup and Pencroft served to tighten the bonds of +friendship which already existed between the honest ape and the worthy +sailor.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he is really a man," said Pencroft sometimes to Neb. "Should +you be surprised to hear him beginning to speak to us some day?"</p> + +<p>"My word, no," replied Neb. "What astonishes me is that he hasn't spoken +to us before, for now he wants nothing but speech!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It would amuse me all the same," resumed the sailor, "if some fine day +he said to me, 'Suppose we change pipes, Pencroft.'"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Neb, "what a pity he was born dumb!"</p> + +<p>With the month of September the winter ended, and the works were again +eagerly commenced. The building of the vessel advanced rapidly, she was +already completely decked over, and all the inside parts of the hull +were firmly united with ribs bent by means of steam, which answered all +the purposes of a mould.</p> + +<p>As there was no want of wood, Pencroft proposed to the engineer to give +a double lining to the hull, so as to completely insure the strength of +the vessel.</p> + +<p>Harding, not knowing what the future might have in store for them, +approved the sailor's idea of making the craft as strong as possible. +The interior and deck of the vessel was entirely finished towards the +15th of September. For calking the seams they made oakum of dry seaweed, +which was hammered in between the planks; then these seams were covered +with boiling tar, which was obtained in great abundance from the pines +in the forest.</p> + +<p>The management of the vessel was very simple. She had from the first +been ballasted with heavy blocks of granite walled up, in a bed of lime, +twelve thousand pounds of which they stowed away.</p> + +<p>A deck was placed over this ballast, and the interior was divided into +two cabins; two benches extended along them and served also as lockers. +The foot of the mast supported the partition which separated the two +cabins, which were reached by two hatchways let into the deck.</p> + +<p>Pencroft had no trouble in finding a tree suitable for the mast. He +chose a straight young fir, with no knots, and which he had only to +square at the step, and round off at the top. The ironwork of the mast, +the rudder and the hull, had been roughly but strongly forged at the +Chimneys. Lastly, yards, masts, boom, spars, oars, etc., were all +finished by the first week in October, and it was agreed that a trial +trip should be taken round the island, so as to ascertain how the vessel +would behave at sea, and how far they might depend upon her.</p> + +<p>During all this time the necessary works had not been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 136]</a></span> neglected. The +corral was enlarged, for the flock of musmons and goats had been +increased by a number of young ones, who had to be housed and fed. The +colonists had paid visits also to the oyster bed, the warren, the coal +and iron mines, and to the till then unexplored districts of the Far +West forest, which abounded in game. Certain indigenous plants were +discovered, and those fit for immediate use, contributed to vary the +vegetable stores of Granite House.</p> + +<p>They were a species of ficoide, some similar to those of the Cape, with +eatable fleshy leaves, others bearing seeds containing a sort of flour.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of October the vessel was launched. Pencroft was radiant +with joy, the operation was perfectly successful; the boat completely +rigged, having been pushed on rollers to the water's edge, was floated +by the rising tide, amidst the cheers of the colonists, particularly of +Pencroft, who showed no modesty on this occasion. Besides his importance +was to last beyond the finishing of the vessel, since, after having +built her, he was to command her. The grade of captain was bestowed upon +him with the approbation of all. To satisfy Captain Pencroft, it was now +necessary to give a name to the vessel, and, after many propositions had +been discussed, the votes were all in favour of the <i>Bonadventure</i>. As +soon as the <i>Bonadventure</i> had been lifted by the rising tide, it was +seen that she lay evenly in the water, and would be easily navigated. +However the trial trip was to be made that very day, by an excursion off +the coast. The weather was fine, the breeze fresh, and the sea smooth, +especially towards the south coast, for the wind was blowing from the +north-west.</p> + +<p>"All hands on board," shouted Pencroft, but breakfast was first +necessary, and it was thought best to take provisions on board, in the +event of their excursion being prolonged until the evening.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/aban074.jpg" class="jpg" width="312" height="448" alt="THE TRIAL TRIP" title="THE TRIAL TRIP" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban074.jpg"><b>THE TRIAL TRIP</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>Cyrus Harding was equally anxious to try the vessel, the model of which +had originated with him, although on the sailor's advice he had altered +some parts of it, but he did not share Pencroft's confidence in her, and +as the latter had not again spoken of the voyage to Tabor Island, +Harding hoped he had given it up. He would have indeed great +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 138]</a></span>reluctance in letting two or three of his companions venture so far in +so small a boat, which was not of more than fifteen tons' burden.</p> + +<p>At half-past ten everybody was on board, even Top and Jup, and Herbert +weighed the anchor, which was fast in the sand near the mouth of the +Mercy. The sail was hoisted, the Lincolnian flag floated from the +mast-head, and the <i>Bonadventure</i>, steered by Pencroft, stood out to +sea.</p> + +<p>The wind blowing out of Union Bay she ran before it, and thus showed her +owners, much to their satisfaction, that she possessed a remarkably fast +pair of heels, according to Pencroft's mode of speaking. After having +doubled Flotsam Point and Claw Cape, the captain kept her close hauled, +so as to sail along the southern coast of the island, when it was found +she sailed admirably within five points of the wind. All hands were +enchanted, they had a good vessel, which, in case of need, would be of +great service to them, and with fine weather and a fresh breeze the +voyage promised to be charming.</p> + +<p>Pencroft now stood off the shore, three or four miles across from Port +Balloon. The island then appeared in all its extent and under a new +aspect, with the varied panorama of its shore from Claw Cape to Reptile +End, the forests in which dark firs contrasted with the young foliage of +other trees and overlooked the whole, and Mount Franklin whose lofty +head was still whitened with snow.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful it is!" cried Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Yes, our island is beautiful and good," replied Pencroft. "I love it as +I loved my poor mother. It received us poor and destitute, and now what +is wanting to us five fellows who fell on it from the sky."</p> + +<p>"Nothing," replied Neb; "nothing, captain."</p> + +<p>And the two brave men gave three tremendous cheers in honour of their +island!</p> + +<p>During all this time Gideon Spilett, leaning against the mast, sketched +the panorama which was developed before his eyes.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding gazed on it in silence.</p> + +<p>"Well, Captain Harding," asked Pencroft, "what do you think of our +vessel?"</p> + +<p>"She appears to behave well," replied the engineer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good! And do you think now that she could undertake a voyage of some +extent?"</p> + +<p>"What voyage, Pencroft?"</p> + +<p>"One to Tabor Island, for instance."</p> + +<p>"My friend," replied Harding, "I think that in any pressing emergency we +need not hesitate to trust ourselves to the <i>Bonadventure</i> even for a +longer voyage; but you know I should see you set off to Tabor Island +with great uneasiness, since nothing obliges you to go there."</p> + +<p>"One likes to know one's neighbours," returned the sailor, who was +obstinate in his idea. "Tabor Island is our neighbour, and the only one! +Politeness requires us to go at least to pay a visit."</p> + +<p>"By Jove," said Spilett; "our friend Pencroft has become very particular +about the proprieties all at once!"</p> + +<p>"I am not particular about anything at all," retorted the sailor; who +was rather vexed by the engineer's opposition, but who did not wish to +cause him anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Consider, Pencroft," resumed Harding, "you cannot go alone to Tabor +Island."</p> + +<p>"One companion will be enough for me."</p> + +<p>"Even so," replied the engineer, "you will risk depriving the colony of +Lincoln Island of two settlers out of five."</p> + +<p>"Out of six," answered Pencroft; "you forget Jup."</p> + +<p>"Out of seven," added Neb; "Top is quite worth another."</p> + +<p>"There is no risk at all in it, captain," replied Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"That is possible, Pencroft; but I repeat it is to expose ourselves +uselessly."</p> + +<p>The obstinate sailor did not reply, and let the conversation drop, quite +determined to resume it again. But he did not suspect that an incident +would come to his aid and change into an act of humanity that which was +at first only a doubtful whim.</p> + +<p>After standing off the shore the <i>Bonadventure</i> again approached it in +the direction of Port Balloon. It was important to ascertain the +channels between the sandbanks and reefs, that buoys might be laid down, +since this little creek was to be the harbour.</p> + +<p>They were not more than half a mile from the coast, and it was necessary +to tack to beat against the wind. The <i>Bonadventure</i> was then going at a +very moderate rate, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 140]</a></span> the breeze, partly intercepted by the high land, +scarcely swelled her sails, and the sea, smooth as glass, was only +rippled now and then by passing gusts.</p> + +<p>Herbert had stationed himself in the bows that he might indicate the +course to be followed among the channels, when all at once he shouted,—</p> + +<p>"Luff, Pencroft, luff!"</p> + +<p>"What's the matter," replied the sailor, "a rock?"</p> + +<p>"No—wait," said Herbert, "I don't quite see. Luff again—right—now."</p> + +<p>So saying, Herbert leaning over the side, plunged his arm into the water +and pulled it out, exclaiming,—</p> + +<p>"A bottle!"</p> + +<p>He held in his hand a corked bottle which he had just seized a few +cables' length from the shore.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding took the bottle Without uttering a single word he drew the +cork, and took from it a damp paper, on which were written these +words:—</p> + +<p>"Castaway ... Tabor Island: 153° W long, 37° 11´ S lat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 141]</a></span>"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/aban076.jpg" class="jpg" width="312" height="448" alt="LUFF, PENCROFT, LUFF!" title="LUFF, PENCROFT, LUFF!" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban076.jpg"><b>"LUFF, PENCROFT, LUFF!"</b></a></span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Departure decided upon—Conjectures—Preparations—The three +Passengers—First Night—Second Night—Tabor Island—Searching the +Shore—Searching the Wood—No one—Animals—Plants—A +Dwelling—Deserted.</p></div> + + +<p>"A castaway!" exclaimed Pencroft; "left on this Tabor Island not two +hundred miles from us! Ah, Captain Harding, you won't now oppose my +going."</p> + +<p>"No, Pencroft," replied Cyrus Harding; "and you shall set out as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"To-morrow!"</p> + +<p>The engineer still held in his hand the paper which he had taken from +the bottle. He contemplated it for some instants, then resumed,—</p> + +<p>"From this document, my friends, from the way in which it is worded, we +may conclude this: first, that the castaway on Tabor Island is a man +possessing a considerable knowledge of navigation, since he gives the +latitude and longitude of the island exactly as we ourselves found it, +and to a second of approximation; secondly, that he is either English or +American, as the document is written in the English language."</p> + +<p>"That is perfectly logical," answered Spilett; "and the presence of this +castaway explains the arrival of the case on the shores of our island. +There must have been a wreck, since there is a castaway. As to the +latter, whoever he may be, it is lucky for him that Pencroft thought of +building this boat and of trying her this very day, for a day later and +this bottle might have been broken on the rocks."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Herbert, "it is a fortunate chance that the +<i>Bonadventure</i> passed exactly where the bottle was still floating!"</p> + +<p>"Does not this appear strange to you?" asked Harding of Pencroft.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It appears fortunate, that's all," answered the sailor. "Do you see +anything extraordinary in it, captain. The bottle must go somewhere, and +why not here as well as anywhere else?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right, Pencroft," replied the engineer; "and yet—"</p> + +<p>"But," observed Herbert, "there's nothing to prove that this bottle has +been floating long in the sea."</p> + +<p>"Nothing," replied Gideon Spilett; "and the document appears even to +have been recently written. What do you think about it, Cyrus?"</p> + +<p>"It is difficult to say, and besides we shall soon know," replied +Harding.</p> + +<p>During this conversation Pencroft had not remained in-active. He had put +the vessel about, and the <i>Bonadventure</i>, all sails set, was running +rapidly towards Claw Cape.</p> + +<p>Every one was thinking of the castaway on Tabor Island. Should they be +in time to save him? This was a great event in the life of the +colonists! They themselves were but castaways, but it was to be feared +that another might not have been so fortunate, and their duty was to go +to his succour.</p> + +<p>Claw Cape was doubled, and about four o'clock the <i>Bonadventure</i> dropped +her anchor at the mouth of the Mercy.</p> + +<p>That same evening the arrangements for the new expedition were made. It +appeared best that Pencroft and Herbert, who knew how to work the +vessel, should undertake the voyage alone. By setting out the next day, +the 10th of October, they would arrive on the 13th, for with the present +wind it would not take more than forty-eight hours to make this passage +of a hundred and fifty miles. One day in the island, three or four to +return, they might hope therefore that on the 17th they would again +reach Lincoln Island. The weather was fine, the barometer was rising, +the wind appeared settled, everything then was in favour of these brave +men whom an act of humanity was taking far from their island.</p> + +<p>Thus it had been agreed that Cyrus Harding, Neb, and Gideon Spilett, +should remain at Granite House, but an objection was raised, and +Spilett, who had not forgotten his business as reporter to the <i>New York +Herald</i>, having declared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 144]</a></span> that he would go by swimming rather than lose +such an opportunity, he was admitted to take a part in the voyage.</p> + +<p>The evening was occupied in transporting on board the <i>Bonadventure</i> +articles of bedding, utensils, arms, ammunition, a compass, provisions +for a week, and this business being rapidly accomplished the colonists +ascended to Granite House.</p> + +<p>The next day, at five o'clock in the morning, the farewells were said, +not without some emotion on both sides, and Pencroft setting sail made +towards Claw Cape, which had to be doubled in order to proceed to the +south-west.</p> + +<p>The <i>Bonadventure</i> was already a quarter of a mile from the coast, when +the passengers perceived on the heights of Granite House two men waving +their farewells; they were Cyrus Harding and Neb.</p> + +<p>"Our friends," exclaimed Spilett, "this is our first separation for +fifteen months."</p> + +<p>Pencroft, the reporter, and Herbert waved in return, and Granite House +soon disappeared behind the high rocks of the Cape.</p> + +<p>During the first part of the day the <i>Bonadventure</i> was still in sight +of the southern coast of Lincoln Island, which soon appeared just like a +green basket, with Mount Franklin rising from the centre. The heights, +diminished by distance, did not present an appearance likely to tempt +vessels to touch there. Reptile End was passed in about an hour, though +at a distance of about ten miles.</p> + +<p>At this distance it was no longer possible to distinguish anything of +the Western Coast, which stretched away to the ridges of Mount Franklin, +and three hours after the last of Lincoln Island sank below the horizon.</p> + +<p>The <i>Bonadventure</i> behaved capitally. Bounding over the waves she +proceeded rapidly on her course. Pencroft had hoisted the foresail, and +steering by the compass followed a rectilinear direction. From time to +time Herbert relieved him at the helm, and the lad's hand was so firm +that the sailor had not a point to find fault with.</p> + +<p>Gideon Spilett chatted sometimes with one, sometimes with the other, if +wanted he lent a hand with the ropes, and Captain Pencroft was perfectly +satisfied with his crew.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 304px;"> +<img src="images/aban078.jpg" class="jpg" width="304" height="448" alt="THE DEPARTURE" title="THE DEPARTURE" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban078.jpg"><b>THE DEPARTURE</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>In the evening the crescent moon, which would not be in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 146]</a></span> its first +quarter until the 16th, appeared in the twilight and soon set again. The +night was dark but starry, and the next day again promised to be fine.</p> + +<p>Pencroft prudently lowered the foresail, not wishing to be caught by a +sudden gust while carrying too much canvas; it was perhaps an +unnecessary precaution on such a calm night, but Pencroft was a prudent +sailor and cannot be blamed for it.</p> + +<p>The reporter slept part of the night. Pencroft and Herbert took turns +for a spell of two hours each at the helm. The sailor trusted Herbert as +he would himself, and his confidence was justified by the coolness and +judgment of the lad. Pencroft gave him his directions as a commander to +his steersman, and Herbert never allowed the <i>Bonadventure</i> to swerve +even a point. The night passed quietly, as did the day of the 12th of +October. A south-easterly direction was strictly maintained, unless the +<i>Bonadventure</i> fell in with some unknown current she would come exactly +within sight of Tabor Island.</p> + +<p>As to the sea over which the vessel was then sailing, it was absolutely +deserted. Now and then a great albatross or frigate bird passed within +gun-shot, and Gideon Spilett wondered if it was to one of them that he +had confided his last letter addressed to the <i>New York Herald</i>. These +birds were the only beings that appeared to frequent this part of the +ocean between Tabor and Lincoln Island.</p> + +<p>"And yet," observed Herbert, "this is the time that whalers usually +proceed towards the southern part of the Pacific. Indeed I do not think +there could be a more deserted sea than this."</p> + +<p>"It is not quite so deserted as all that," replied Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean," asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"We are on it. Do you take our vessel for a wreck and us for porpoises?"</p> + +<p>And Pencroft laughed at his joke.</p> + +<p>By the evening, according to calculation, it was thought that the +<i>Bonadventure</i> had accomplished a distance of a hundred and twenty miles +since her departure from Lincoln Island, that is to say in thirty-six +hours, which would give her a speed of between three and four knots an +hour. The breeze was very slight and might soon drop altogether. However +it was hoped that the next morning by break of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 147]</a></span> day, if the calculation +had been correct and the course true, they would sight Tabor Island.</p> + +<p>Neither Gideon Spilett, Herbert, nor Pencroft slept that night. In the +expectation of the next day they could not but feel some emotion. There +was so much uncertainty in their enterprise! Were they near Tabor +Island? Was the island still inhabited by the castaway to whose succour +they had come. Who was this man? Would not his presence disturb the +little colony till then so united? Besides, would he be content to +exchange his prison for another? All these questions, which would no +doubt be answered the next day, kept them in suspense, and at the dawn +of day they all fixed their gaze on the western horizon.</p> + +<p>"Land!" shouted Pencroft at about six o'clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>And it was impossible that Pencroft should be mistaken, it was evident +that land was there. Imagine the joy of the little crew of the +<i>Bonadventure</i>. In a few hours they would land on the beach of the +island!</p> + +<p>The low coast of Tabor Island, scarcely emerging from the sea, was not +more than fifteen miles distant.</p> + +<p>The head of the <i>Bonadventure</i>, which was a little to the south of the +island, was set directly towards it, and as the sun mounted in the east, +his rays fell upon one or two headlands.</p> + +<p>"This is a much less important isle than Lincoln Island," observed +Herbert, "and is probably due like ours to some submarine convulsion."</p> + +<p>At eleven o'clock the <i>Bonadventure</i> was not more than two miles off, +and Pencroft, whilst looking for a suitable place at which to land, +proceeded very cautiously through the unknown waters. The whole of the +island could now be surveyed, and on it could be seen groups of gum and +other large trees, of the same species as those growing on Lincoln +Island. But the astonishing thing was that no smoke arose to show that +the island was inhabited, not a signal appeared on any point of the +shore whatever!</p> + +<p>And yet the document was clear enough; there was a castaway, and this +castaway should have been on the watch.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile the <i>Bonadventure</i> entered the winding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 148]</a></span> channels among +the reefs, and Pencroft observed every turn with extreme care. He had +put Herbert at the helm, posting himself in the bows, inspecting the +water, whilst he held the halliard in his hand, ready to lower the sail +at a moment's notice. Gideon Spilett with his glass eagerly scanned the +shore, though without perceiving anything.</p> + +<p>However at about twelve o'clock the keel of the <i>Bonadventure</i> grated on +the bottom. The anchor was let go, the sails furled, and the crew of the +little vessel landed.</p> + +<p>And there was no reason to doubt that this was Tabor Island, since +according to the most recent charts there was no island in this part of +the Pacific between New Zealand and the American coast.</p> + +<p>The vessel was securely moored, so that there should be no danger of her +being carried away by the receding tide; then Pencroft and his +companions, well armed, ascended the shore, so as to gain an elevation +of about two hundred and fifty or three hundred feet which rose at a +distance of half a mile.</p> + +<p>"From the summit of that hill," said Spilett, "we can no doubt obtain a +complete view of the island, which will greatly facilitate our search."</p> + +<p>"So as to do here," replied Herbert, "that which Captain Harding did the +very first thing on Lincoln Island, by climbing Mount Franklin."</p> + +<p>"Exactly so," answered the reporter; "and it is the best plan of +proceeding."</p> + +<p>Whilst thus talking the explorers had advanced along a clearing which +terminated at the foot of the hill. Flocks of rock-pigeons and +sea-swallows, similar to those of Lincoln Island, fluttered around them. +Under the woods which skirted the glade on the left they could hear the +bushes rustling and see the grass waving, which indicated the presence +of timid animals, but still nothing to show that the island was +inhabited.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the foot of the hill, Pencroft, Spilett, and Herbert climbed +it in a few minutes, and gazed anxiously round the horizon.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 313px;"> +<img src="images/aban080.jpg" class="jpg" width="313" height="448" alt="NEARING THE ISLAND" title="NEARING THE ISLAND" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban080.jpg"><b>NEARING THE ISLAND</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>They were on an islet which did not measure more than six miles in +circumference, its shape not much bordered by capes or promontories, +bays or creeks, being a lengthened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 150]</a></span> oval. All around, the lonely sea +extended to the limits of the horizon. No land nor even a sail was in +sight.</p> + +<p>This woody islet did not offer the varied aspects of Lincoln Island, +arid and wild in one part, but fertile and rich in the other. On the +contrary this was a uniform mass of verdure, out of which rose two or +three hills of no great height. Obliquely to the oval of the island ran +a stream through a wide meadow falling into the sea on the west by a +narrow mouth.</p> + +<p>"The domain is limited," said Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Yes," rejoined Pencroft. "It would have been too small for us."</p> + +<p>"And moreover," said the reporter, "it appears to be uninhabited."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," answered Herbert, "nothing here betrays the presence of man."</p> + +<p>"Let us go down," said Pencroft, "and search."</p> + +<p>The sailor and his two companions returned to the shore, to the place +where they had left the <i>Bonadventure</i>.</p> + +<p>They had decided to make the tour of the island on foot, before +exploring the interior, so that not a spot should escape their +investigations. The beach was easy to follow, and only in some places +was their way barred by large rocks, which, however, they easily passed +round. The explorers proceeded towards the south, disturbing numerous +flocks of sea-birds and herds of seals, which threw themselves into the +sea as soon as they saw the strangers at a distance.</p> + +<p>"Those beasts yonder," observed the reporter, "do not see men for the +first time. They fear them, therefore they must know them."</p> + +<p>An hour after their departure they arrived on the southern point of the +islet, terminated by a sharp cape, and proceeded towards the north along +the western coast, equally formed by sand and rocks, the background +bordered with thick woods.</p> + +<p>There was not a trace of a habitation in any part, not the print of a +human foot on the shore of the island, which after four hours' walking +had been gone completely round.</p> + +<p>It was to say the least very extraordinary, and they were compelled to +believe that Tabor Island was not or was no longer inhabited. Perhaps, +after all, the document was already several months or several years old, +and it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 151]</a></span> possible in this case, either that the castaway had been +enabled to return to his country, or that he had died of misery.</p> + +<p>Pencroft, Spilett, and Herbert, forming more or less probable +conjectures, dined rapidly on board the <i>Bonadventure</i>, so as to be able +to continue their excursion until nightfall. This was done at five +o'clock in the evening, at which hour they entered the wood.</p> + +<p>Numerous animals fled at their approach, being principally, one might +say, only goats and pigs, which it was easy to see belonged to European +species.</p> + +<p>Doubtless some whaler had landed them on the island, where they had +rapidly increased. Herbert resolved to catch one or two living, and take +them back to Lincoln Island.</p> + +<p>It was no longer doubtful that men at some period or other had visited +this islet, and this became still more evident when paths appeared +trodden through the forest, felled trees, and everywhere traces of the +hand of man; but the trees were becoming rotten, and had been felled +many years ago; the marks of the axe were velveted with moss, and the +grass grew long and thick on the paths, so that it was difficult to find +them.</p> + +<p>"But," observed Gideon Spilett, "this not only proves that men have +landed on the island, but also that they lived on it for some time. Now, +who were these men? How many of them remain?"</p> + +<p>"The document," said Herbert, "only spoke of one castaway."</p> + +<p>"Well, if he is still on the island," replied Pencroft, "it is +impossible but that we shall find him."</p> + +<p>The exploration was continued. The sailor and his companions naturally +followed the route which cut diagonally across the island, and they were +thus obliged to follow the stream which flowed towards the sea.</p> + +<p>If the animals of European origin, if works due to a human hand, showed +incontestably that men had already visited the island, several specimens +of the vegetable kingdom did not prove it less. In some places, in the +midst of clearings, it was evident that the soil had been planted with +culinary plants, at probably the same distant period.</p> + +<p>What, then, was Herbert's joy, when he recognised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 152]</a></span> potatoes, chicory, +sorrel, carrots, cabbages, and turnips, of which it was sufficient to +collect the seed to enrich the soil of Lincoln Island.</p> + +<p>"Capital, jolly!" exclaimed Pencroft. "That will suit Neb as well as us. +Even if we do not find the castaway, at least our voyage will not have +been useless, and God will have rewarded us."</p> + +<p>"Doubtless," replied Gideon Spilett; "but to see the state in which we +find these plantations, it is to be feared that the island has not been +inhabited for some time."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," answered Herbert, "an inhabitant, whoever he was, could not +have neglected such an important culture!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Pencroft, "the castaway has gone."</p> + +<p>"We must suppose so."</p> + +<p>"It must then be admitted that the document has already a distant date?"</p> + +<p>"Evidently."</p> + +<p>"And that the bottle only arrived at Lincoln Island after having floated +in the sea a long time."</p> + +<p>"Why not," returned Pencroft. "But night is coming on," added he, "and I +think that it will be best to give up the search for the present."</p> + +<p>"Let us go on board, and to-morrow we will begin again," said the +reporter.</p> + +<p>This was the wisest course, and it was about to be followed when +Herbert, pointing to a confused mass among the trees, exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"A hut!"</p> + +<p>All three immediately ran towards the dwelling. In the twilight it was +just possible to see that it was built of planks and covered with a +thick tarpaulin.</p> + +<p>The half-closed door was pushed open by Pencroft, who entered with a +rapid step.</p> + +<p>The hut was empty!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/aban082.jpg" class="jpg" width="312" height="448" alt="A HUT!" title="A HUT!" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban082.jpg"><b>A HUT!</b></a></span> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Inventory—Night—A few Letters—Continuation of the +Search—Plants and Animals—Herbert in great Danger—On Board—The +Departure—Bad Weather—A Gleam of Reason—Lost on the Sea—A timely +Light.</p></div> + + +<p>Pencroft, Herbert, and Gideon Spilett remained silent in the midst of +the darkness.</p> + +<p>Pencroft shouted loudly.</p> + +<p>No reply was made.</p> + +<p>The sailor then struck a light and set fire to a twig. This lighted for +a minute a small room, which appeared perfectly empty. At the back was a +rude fireplace, with a few cold cinders, supporting an armful of dry +wood. Pencroft threw the blazing twig on it, the wood cracked and gave +forth a bright light.</p> + +<p>The sailor and his two companions then perceived a disordered bed, of +which the damp and yellow coverlets proved that it had not been used for +a long time. In the corner of the fireplace were two kettles, covered +with rust, and an overthrown pot. A cupboard, with a few mouldy sailor's +clothes; on the table a tin plate and a Bible, eaten away by damp; in a +corner a few tools, a spade, pickaxe, two fowling-pieces, one of which +was broken; on a plank, forming a shelf, stood a barrel of powder, still +untouched, a barrel of shot, and several boxes of caps, all thickly +covered with dust, accumulated, perhaps, by many long years.</p> + +<p>"There is no one here," said the reporter.</p> + +<p>"No one," replied Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"It is a long time since this room has been inhabited," observed +Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a very long time!" answered the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Spilett," then said Pencroft, "instead of returning on board, I +think that it would be well to pass the night in this hut."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Pencroft," answered Gideon Spilett, "and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 155]</a></span> if its owner +returns, well! perhaps he will not be sorry to find the place taken +possession of."</p> + +<p>"He will not return," said the sailor, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"You think that he has quitted the island?" asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"If he had quitted the island he would have taken away his weapons and +his tools," replied Pencroft. "You know the value which castaways set on +such articles as these, the last remains of a wreck? No! no!" repeated +the sailor, in a tone of conviction, "no, he has not left the island! If +he had escaped in a boat made by himself, he would still less have left +these indispensable and necessary articles. No! he is on the island!"</p> + +<p>"Living?" asked Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Living or dead. But if he is dead, I suppose he has not buried himself, +and so we shall at least find his remains!"</p> + +<p>It was then agreed that the night should be passed in the deserted +dwelling, and a store of wood found in a corner was sufficient to warm +it. The door closed, Pencroft, Herbert, and Spilett remained there, +seated on a bench, talking little but wondering much. They were in a +frame of mind to imagine anything or expect anything. They listened +eagerly for sounds outside. The door might have opened suddenly, and a +man presented himself to them without their being in the least +surprised, notwithstanding all that the hut revealed of abandonment, and +they had their hands ready to press the hands of this man, this +castaway, this unknown friend, for whom friends were waiting.</p> + +<p>But no voice was heard, the door did not open. The hours thus passed +away.</p> + +<p>How long the night appeared to the sailor and his companions! Herbert +alone slept for two hours, for at his age sleep is a necessity. They +were all three anxious to continue their exploration of the day before, +and to search the most secret recesses of the islet! The inferences +deduced by Pencroft were perfectly reasonable, and it was nearly certain +that, as the hut was deserted, and the tools, utensils, and weapons were +still there, the owner had succumbed. It was agreed, therefore, that +they should search for his remains, and give them at least Christian +burial.</p> + +<p>Day dawned; Pencroft and his companions immediately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 156]</a></span> proceeded to survey +the dwelling. It had certainly been built in a favourable situation, at +the back of a little hill, sheltered by five or six magnificent gum +trees. Before its front and through the trees the axe had prepared a +wide clearing, which allowed the view to extend to the sea. Beyond a +lawn, surrounded by a wooden fence falling to pieces, was the shore, on +the left of which was the mouth of the stream.</p> + +<p>The hut had been built of planks, and it was easy to see that these +planks had been obtained from the hull or deck of a ship. It was +probable that a disabled vessel had been cast on the coast of the +island, that one at least of the crew had been saved, and that by means +of the wreck this man, having tools at his disposal, had built the +dwelling.</p> + +<p>And this became still more evident when Gideon Spilett, after having +walked round the hut, saw on a plank, probably one of those which had +formed the armour of the wrecked vessel, these letters already half +effaced:—</p> + +<p class="center">"Br—tan—a."</p> + +<p>"Britannia," exclaimed Pencroft, whom the reporter had called; "it is a +common name for ships, and I could not say if she was English or +American!"</p> + +<p>"It matters very little, Pencroft!"</p> + +<p>"Very little indeed," answered the sailor; "and we will save the +survivor of her crew if he is still living, to whatever country he may +belong. But before beginning our search again let us go on board the +<i>Bonadventure</i>."</p> + +<p>A sort of uneasiness had seized Pencroft upon the subject of his vessel. +Should the island be inhabited after all, and should some one have taken +possession of her? But he shrugged his shoulders at such an unreasonable +supposition. At any rate the sailor was not sorry to go to breakfast on +board. The road already trodden was not long, scarcely a mile. They set +out on their walk, gazing into the wood and thickets through which goats +and pigs fled in hundreds.</p> + +<p>Twenty minutes after leaving the hut Pencroft and his companions reached +the western coast of the island, and saw the <i>Bonadventure</i> held fast by +her anchor, which was buried deep in the sand.</p> + +<p>Pencroft could not restrain a sigh of satisfaction. After<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 157]</a></span> all this +vessel was his child, and it is the right of fathers to be often uneasy +when there is no occasion for it.</p> + +<p>They returned on board, breakfasted, so that it should not be necessary +to dine until very late; then the repast being ended, the exploration +was continued and conducted with the most minute care. Indeed, it was +very probable that the only inhabitant of the island had perished. It +was therefore more for the traces of a dead than of a living man that +Pencroft and his companions searched. But their searches were vain, and +during the half of that day they sought to no purpose among the thickets +of trees which covered the islet. There was then scarcely any doubt +that, if the castaway was dead, no trace of his body now remained, but +that some wild beast had probably devoured it to the last bone.</p> + +<p>"We will set off to-morrow at daybreak," said Pencroft to his two +companions, as about two o'clock they were resting for a few minutes +under the shade of a clump of firs.</p> + +<p>"I should think that we might without scruple take the utensils which +belonged to the castaway," added Herbert.</p> + +<p>"I think so too," returned Gideon Spilett; "and these arms and tools +will make up the stores of Granite House. The supply of powder and shot +is also most important."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Pencroft; "but we must not forget to capture a couple or +two of those pigs, of which Lincoln Island is destitute—"</p> + +<p>"Nor to gather those seeds," added Herbert, "which will give us all the +vegetables of the Old and the New Worlds."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps it would be best," said the reporter, "to remain a day +longer on Tabor Island, so as to collect all that may be useful to us."</p> + +<p>"No, Mr. Spilett," answered Pencroft, "I will ask you to set off +to-morrow at daybreak. The wind seems to me to be likely to shift to the +west, and after having had a fair wind for coming we shall have a fair +wind for going back."</p> + +<p>"Then do not let us lose time," said Herbert, rising.</p> + +<p>"We won't waste time," returned Pencroft. "You, Herbert, go and gather +the seeds, which you know better than we do. Whilst you do that, Mr. +Spilett and I will go and have a pig hunt, and even without Top I hope +we shall manage to catch a few!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>Herbert accordingly took the path which led towards the cultivated part +of the islet, whilst the sailor and the reporter entered the forest.</p> + +<p>Many specimens of the porcine race fled before them, and these animals, +which were singularly active, did not appear to be in a humour to allow +themselves to be approached.</p> + +<p>However, after an hour's chase, the hunters had just managed to get hold +of a couple lying in a thicket, when cries were heard resounding from +the north part of the island. With the cries were mingled terrible +yells, in which there was nothing human.</p> + +<p>Pencroft and Gideon Spilett were at once on their feet, and the pigs by +this movement began to run away, at the moment when the sailor was +getting ready the rope to bind them.</p> + +<p>"That's Herbert's voice," said the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Run!" exclaimed Pencroft.</p> + +<p>And the sailor and Spilett immediately ran at full speed towards the +spot from whence the cries proceeded.</p> + +<p>They did well to hasten, for at a turn of the path near a clearing they +saw the lad thrown on the ground and in the grasp of a savage being, +apparently a gigantic ape, who was about to do him some great harm.</p> + +<p>To rush on this monster, throw him on the ground in his turn, snatch +Herbert from him, then bind him securely, was the work of a minute for +Pencroft and Gideon Spilett. The sailor was of Herculean strength, the +reporter also very powerful, and in spite of the monster's resistance he +was firmly tied so that he could not even move.</p> + +<p>"You are not hurt, Herbert," asked Spilett.</p> + +<p>"No, no!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, if this ape had wounded him!" exclaimed Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"But he is not an ape," answered Herbert.</p> + +<p>At these words Pencroft and Gideon Spilett looked at the singular being +who lay on the ground. Indeed it was not an ape, it was a human being, a +man. But what a man! A savage in all the horrible acceptation of the +word, and so much the more frightful that he seemed fallen to the lowest +degree of brutishness!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/aban085.jpg" class="jpg" width="315" height="448" alt="HERBERT IN DANGER" title="HERBERT IN DANGER" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban085.jpg"><b>HERBERT IN DANGER</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>Shaggy hair, untrimmed beard descending to the chest, the body almost +naked except a rag round the waist, wild<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 160]</a></span> eyes, enormous hands with +immensely long nails, skin the colour of mahogany, feet as hard as if +made of horn,—such was the miserable creature who yet had a claim to be +called a man. But it might justly be asked if there were yet a soul in +this body, or if the brute instinct alone survived in it!</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure that this is a man, or that he has ever been one?" +said Pencroft to the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Alas! there is no doubt about it," replied Spilett.</p> + +<p>"Then this must be the castaway?" asked Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Gideon Spilett, "but the unfortunate man has no longer +anything human about him!"</p> + +<p>The reporter spoke the truth. It was evident that if the castaway had +ever been a civilised being, solitude had made him a savage, or worse, +perhaps a regular man of the woods. Hoarse sounds issued from his throat +between his teeth, which were sharp as the teeth of a wild beast made to +tear raw flesh.</p> + +<p>Memory must have deserted him long before, and for a long time also he +had forgotten how to use his gun and tools, and he no longer knew how to +make a fire! It could be seen that he was active and powerful, but the +physical qualities had been developed in him to the injury of the moral +qualities. Gideon Spilett spoke to him. He did not appear to understand +or even to hear. And yet on looking into his eyes, the reporter thought +he could see that all reason was not extinguished in him. However, the +prisoner did not struggle, nor even attempt to break his bonds. Was he +overwhelmed by the presence of men whose fellow he had once been? Had he +found in some corner of his brain a fleeting remembrance which recalled +him to humanity? If free, would he attempt to fly, or would he remain? +They could not tell, but they did not make the experiment; and after +gazing attentively at the miserable creature,—</p> + +<p>"Whoever he may be," remarked Gideon Spilett; "whoever he may have been, +and whatever he may become, it is our duty to take him with us to +Lincoln Island."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" replied Herbert; "and perhaps with care we may arouse in him +some gleam of intelligence."</p> + +<p>"The soul does not die," said the reporter; "and it would be a great +satisfaction to rescue one of God's creatures from brutishness."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pencroft shook his head doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"We must try at any rate," returned the reporter; "humanity commands +us."</p> + +<p>It was indeed their duty as Christians and civilised beings. All three +felt this, and they well knew that Cyrus Harding would approve of their +acting thus.</p> + +<p>"Shall we leave him bound?" asked the sailor.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he would walk if his feet were unfastened," said Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Let us try," replied Pencroft.</p> + +<p>The cords which shackled the prisoner's feet were cut off, but his arms +remained securely fastened. He got up by himself and did not manifest +any desire to run away. His hard eyes darted a piercing glance at the +three men, who walked near him, but nothing denoted that he recollected +being their fellow, or at least having been so. A continual hissing +sound issued from his lips, his aspect was wild, but he did not attempt +to resist.</p> + +<p>By the reporter's advice the unfortunate man was taken to the hut. +Perhaps the sight of the things that belonged to him would make some +impression on him! Perhaps a spark would be sufficient to revive his +obscured intellect, to rekindle his dulled soul. The dwelling was not +far off. In a few minutes they arrived there, but the prisoner +remembered nothing, and it appeared that he had lost consciousness of +everything.</p> + +<p>What could they think of the degree of brutishness into which this +miserable being had fallen, unless that his imprisonment on the islet +dated from a very distant period, and after having arrived there a +rational being solitude had reduced him to this condition.</p> + +<p>The reporter then thought that perhaps the sight of fire would have some +effect on him, and in a moment one of those beautiful flames, that +attract even animals, blazed up on the hearth. The sight of the flame +seemed at first to fix the attention of the unhappy object, but soon he +turned away and the look of intelligence faded. Evidently there was +nothing to be done, for the time at least, but to take him on board the +<i>Bonadventure</i>. This was done, and he remained there in Pencroft's +charge.</p> + +<p>Herbert and Spilett returned to finish their work; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 162]</a></span> some hours after +they came back to the shore, carrying the utensils and guns, a store of +vegetables, of seeds, some game, and two couple of pigs.</p> + +<p>All was embarked, and the <i>Bonadventure</i> was ready to weigh anchor and +sail with the morning tide.</p> + +<p>The prisoner had been placed in the fore cabin, where he remained quiet, +silent, apparently deaf and dumb.</p> + +<p>Pencroft offered him something to eat, but he pushed away the cooked +meat that was presented to him and which doubtless did not suit him. But +on the sailor showing him one of the ducks which Herbert had killed, he +pounced on it like a wild beast, and devoured it greedily.</p> + +<p>"You think that he will recover his senses?" asked Pencroft. "It is not +impossible that our care will have an effect upon him, for it is +solitude that has made him what he is, and from this time forward he +will be no longer alone."</p> + +<p>"The poor man must no doubt have been in this state for a long time," +said Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," answered Gideon Spilett.</p> + +<p>"About what age is he?" asked the lad.</p> + +<p>"It is difficult to say," replied the reporter; "for it is impossible to +see his features under the thick beard which covers his face; but he is +no longer young, and I suppose he might be about fifty."</p> + +<p>"Have you noticed, Mr. Spilett, how deeply sunk his eyes are?" asked +Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Herbert; but I must add that they are more human than one could +expect from his appearance."</p> + +<p>"However, we shall see," replied Pencroft; "and I am anxious to know +what opinion Captain Harding will have of our savage. We went to look +for a human creature, and we are bringing back a monster! After all we +did what we could."</p> + +<p>The night passed, and whether the prisoner slept or not could not be +known; but at any rate, although he had been unbound, he did not move. +He was like a wild animal, which appears stunned at first by its +capture, and becomes wild again afterwards.</p> + +<p>At daybreak the next morning, the 15th of October, the change of weather +predicted by Pencroft occurred. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 163]</a></span> wind having shifted to the +north-west favoured the return of the <i>Bonadventure</i>, but at the same +time it freshened, which would render navigation more difficult.</p> + +<p>At five o'clock in the morning the anchor was weighed. Pencroft took a +reef in the mainsail, and steered towards the north-east, so as to sail +straight for Lincoln Island.</p> + +<p>The first day of the voyage was not marked by any incident. The prisoner +remained quiet in the fore-cabin, and as he had been a sailor it +appeared that the motion of the vessel might produce on him a salutary +reaction. Did some recollection of his former calling return to him? +However that might be he remained tranquil, astonished rather than +depressed.</p> + +<p>The next day the wind increased, blowing more from the north, +consequently in a less favourable direction for the <i>Bonadventure</i>. +Pencroft was soon obliged to sail close-hauled, and without saying +anything about it he began to be uneasy at the state of the sea, which +frequently broke over the bows. Certainly, if the wind did not moderate, +it would take a longer time to reach Lincoln Island than it had taken to +make Tabor Island.</p> + +<p>Indeed, on the morning of the 17th, the <i>Bonadventure</i> had been +forty-eight hours at sea, and nothing showed that she was near the +island. It was impossible, besides, to estimate the distance traversed, +or to trust to the reckoning for the direction, as the speed had been +very irregular.</p> + +<p>Twenty-four hours after there was yet no land in sight. The wind was +right ahead and the sea very heavy. The sails were close-reefed, and +they tacked frequently. On the 18th, a wave swept completely over the +<i>Bonadventure;</i> and if the crew had not taken the precaution of lashing +themselves to the deck, they would have been carried away.</p> + +<p>On this occasion Pencroft and his companions, who were occupied with +loosing themselves, received unexpected aid from the prisoner, who +emerged from the hatchway as if his sailor's instinct had suddenly +returned, broke a piece out of the bulwarks with a spar so as to let the +water which filled the deck escape. Then the vessel being clear, he +descended to his cabin without having uttered a word. Pencroft, Gideon +Spilett, and Herbert, greatly astonished, let him proceed.</p> + +<p>Their situation was truly serious, and the sailor had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 164]</a></span> reason to fear +that he was lost on the wide sea without any possibility of recovering +his course.</p> + +<p>The night was dark and cold. However, about eleven o'clock, the wind +fell, the sea went down, and the speed of the vessel, as she laboured +less, greatly increased.</p> + +<p>Neither Pencroft, Spilett, nor Herbert thought of taking an hour's +sleep. They kept a sharp look-out, for either Lincoln Island could not +be far distant and would be sighted at daybreak, or the <i>Bonadventure</i>, +carried away by currents, had drifted so much that it would be +impossible to rectify her course. Pencroft, uneasy to the last degree, +yet did not despair, for he had a gallant heart, and grasping the tiller +he anxiously endeavoured to pierce the darkness which surrounded them.</p> + +<p>About two o'clock in the morning he started forward,—</p> + +<p>"A light! a light!" he shouted.</p> + +<p>Indeed, a bright light appeared twenty miles to the north-east. Lincoln +Island was there, and this fire, evidently lighted by Cyrus Harding, +showed them the course to be followed. Pencroft, who was bearing too +much to the north, altered his course and steered towards the fire, +which burned brightly above the horizon like a star of the first +magnitude.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 306px;"> +<img src="images/aban088.jpg" class="jpg" width="306" height="448" alt="A LIGHT! A LIGHT!" title="A LIGHT! A LIGHT!" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban088.jpg"><b>A LIGHT! A LIGHT!</b></a></span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Return—Discussion—Cyrus Harding and the Stranger—Port +Balloon—The Engineer's Devotion—A touching Incident—Tears flow.</p></div> + + +<p>The next day, the 20th of October, at seven o'clock in the morning, +after a voyage of four days, the <i>Bonadventure</i> gently glided up to the +beach at the mouth of the Mercy.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and Neb, who had become very uneasy at the bad weather and +the prolonged absence of their companions, had climbed at daybreak to +the plateau of Prospect Heights, and they had at last caught sight of +the vessel which had been so long in returning.</p> + +<p>"God be praised! there they are!" exclaimed Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>As to Neb in his joy, he began to dance, to twirl round, clapping his +hands and shouting, "Oh! my master!" A more touching pantomime than the +finest discourse.</p> + +<p>The engineer's first idea, on counting the people on the deck of the +<i>Bonadventure</i>, was that Pencroft had not found the castaway of Tabor +Island, or at any rate that the unfortunate man had refused to leave his +island and change one prison for another.</p> + +<p>Indeed Pencroft, Gideon Spilett, and Herbert were alone on the deck of +the <i>Bonadventure</i>.</p> + +<p>The moment the vessel touched, the engineer and Neb were waiting on the +beach, and before the passengers had time to leap on to the sand, +Harding said: "We have been very uneasy at your delay, my friends! Did +you meet with any accident?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Gideon Spilett; "on the contrary, everything went +wonderfully well. We will tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>"However," returned the engineer, "your search has been unsuccessful, +since you are only three just as you went!"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, captain," replied the sailor, "we are four."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You have found the castaway?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And you have brought him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Living?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Where is he? Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"He is," replied the reporter, "or rather he was, a man! There, Cyrus, +that is all we can tell you!"</p> + +<p>The engineer was then informed of all that had passed during the voyage, +and under what conditions the search had been conducted; how the only +dwelling in the island had long been abandoned; how at last a castaway +had been captured, who appeared no longer to belong to the human +species.</p> + +<p>"And that's just the point," added Pencroft, "I don't know if we have +done right to bring him here."</p> + +<p>"Certainly you have, Pencroft," replied the engineer quickly.</p> + +<p>"But the wretched creature has no sense!"</p> + +<p>"That is possible at present," replied Cyrus Harding; "but only a few +months ago the wretched creature was a man like you and me. And who +knows what will become of the survivor of us after a long solitude on +this island? It is a great misfortune to be alone, my friends; and it +must be believed that solitude can quickly destroy reason, since you +have found this poor creature in such a state!"</p> + +<p>"But, captain," asked Herbert, "what leads you to think that the +brutishness of the unfortunate man began only a few months back?"</p> + +<p>"Because the document we found had been recently written," answered the +engineer, "and the castaway alone can have written it."</p> + +<p>"Always supposing," observed Gideon Spilett, "that it had not been +written by a companion of this man, since dead."</p> + +<p>"That is impossible, my dear Spilett."</p> + +<p>"Why so?" asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Because the document would then have spoken of two castaways," replied +Harding, "and it mentioned only one."</p> + +<p>Herbert then in a few words related the incidents of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 168]</a></span> voyage, and +dwelt on the curious fact of the sort of passing gleam in the prisoner's +mind, when for an instant in the height of the storm he had become a +sailor.</p> + +<p>"Well, Herbert," replied the engineer, "you are right to attach great +importance to this fact. The unfortunate man cannot be incurable, and +despair has made him what he is; but here he will find his fellow-men, +and since there is still a soul in him, this soul we shall save!"</p> + +<p>The castaway of Tabor Island, to the great pity of the engineer and the +great astonishment of Neb, was then brought from the cabin which he +occupied in the fore part of the <i>Bonadventure</i>; when once on land he +manifested a wish to run away.</p> + +<p>But Cyrus Harding approaching, placed his hand on his shoulder with a +gesture full of authority, and looked at him with infinite tenderness. +Immediately the unhappy man, submitting to a superior will, gradually +became calm, his eyes fell, his head bent, and he made no more +resistance.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" murmured the engineer.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding had attentively observed him. To judge by his appearance +this miserable being had no longer anything human about him, and yet +Harding, as had the reporter already, observed in his look an +indefinable trace of intelligence.</p> + +<p>It was decided that the castaway, or rather the stranger, as he was +thenceforth termed by his companions, should live in one of the rooms of +Granite House, from which, however, he could not escape. He was led +there without difficulty; and with careful attention, it might, perhaps, +be hoped that some day he would be a companion to the settlers in +Lincoln Island.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding, during breakfast, which Neb had hastened to prepare, as +the reporter, Herbert, and Pencroft were dying of hunger, heard in +detail all the incidents which had marked the voyage of exploration to +the islet. He agreed with his friends on this point, that the stranger +must be either English or American, the name Britannia leading them to +suppose this, and, besides, through the bushy beard, and under the +shaggy, matted hair, the engineer thought he could recognise the +characteristic features of the Anglo-Saxon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 311px;"> +<img src="images/aban090.jpg" class="jpg" width="311" height="448" alt="MURMURED THE ENGINEER" title="MURMURED THE ENGINEER" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban090.jpg"><b>"POOR FELLOW," MURMURED THE ENGINEER</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 170]</a></span> +"But, by the bye," said Gideon Spilett, addressing Herbert, "you never +told us how you met this savage, and we know nothing, except that you +would have been strangled, if we had not happened to come up in time to +help you!"</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," answered Herbert, "it is rather difficult to say how it +happened. I was, I think, occupied in collecting my plants, when I heard +a noise like an avalanche falling from a very tall tree. I scarcely had +time to look round. This unfortunate man, who was without doubt +concealed in a tree, rushed upon me in less time than I take to tell you +about it, and unless Mr. Spilett and Pencroft—"</p> + +<p>"My boy!" said Cyrus Harding, "you ran a great danger, but, perhaps, +without that, the poor creature would have still hidden himself from +your search, and we should not have had a new companion."</p> + +<p>"You hope, then, Cyrus, to succeed in reforming the man?" asked the +reporter.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the engineer.</p> + +<p>Breakfast over, Harding and his companions left Granite House and +returned to the beach. They there occupied themselves in unloading the +<i>Bonadventure</i>, and the engineer, having examined the arms and tools, +saw nothing which could help them to establish the identity of the +stranger.</p> + +<p>The capture of pigs, made on the islet, was looked upon as being very +profitable to Lincoln Island, and the animals were led to the sty, where +they soon became at home.</p> + +<p>The two barrels, containing the powder and shot, as well as the box of +caps, were very welcome. It was agreed to establish a small +powder-magazine, either outside Granite House or in the Upper Cavern, +where there would be no fear of explosion. However, the use of pyroxyle +was to be continued, for this substance giving excellent results, there +was no reason for substituting ordinary powder.</p> + +<p>When the unloading of the vessel was finished,—</p> + +<p>"Captain," said Pencroft, "I think it would be prudent to put our +<i>Bonadventure</i> in a safe place."</p> + +<p>"Is she not safe at the mouth of the Mercy?" asked Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"No, captain," replied the sailor. "Half of the time she is stranded on +the sand, and that works her. She is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 171]</a></span> a famous craft, you see, and she +behaved admirably during the squall which struck us on our return."</p> + +<p>"Could she not float in the river?"</p> + +<p>"No doubt, captain, she could; but there is no shelter there, and in the +east winds, I think that the <i>Bonadventure</i> would suffer much from the +surf."</p> + +<p>"Well, where would you put her, Pencroft?"</p> + +<p>"In Port Balloon," replied the sailor. "That little creek, shut in by +rocks, seems to me to be just the harbour we want."</p> + +<p>"Is it not rather far?"</p> + +<p>"Pooh! it is not more than three miles from Granite House, and we have a +fine straight road to take us there!"</p> + +<p>"Do it then, Pencroft, and take your <i>Bonadventure</i> there," replied the +engineer, "and yet I would rather have her under our more immediate +protection. When we have time, we must make a little harbour for her."</p> + +<p>"Famous!" exclaimed Pencroft. "A harbour with a lighthouse, a pier, and +a dock! Ah! really with you, captain, everything becomes easy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my brave Pencroft," answered the engineer, "but on condition, +however, that you help me, for you do as much as three men in all our +work."</p> + +<p>Herbert and the sailor then re-embarked on board the <i>Bonadventure</i>, the +anchor was weighed, the sail hoisted, and the wind drove her rapidly +towards Claw Cape. Two hours after, she was reposing on the tranquil +waters of Port Balloon.</p> + +<p>During the first days passed by the stranger in Granite House, had he +already given them reason to think that his savage nature was becoming +tamed? Did a brighter light burn in the depths of that obscured mind? In +short, was the soul returning to the body?</p> + +<p>Yes, to a certainty, and to such a degree, that Cyrus Harding and the +reporter wondered if the reason of the unfortunate man had ever been +totally extinguished. At first, accustomed to the open air, to the +unrestrained liberty which he had enjoyed on Tabor Island, the stranger +manifested a sullen fury, and it was feared that he might throw himself +on to the beach, out of one of the windows of Granite House.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 172]</a></span> But +gradually he became calmer, and more freedom was allowed to his +movements.</p> + +<p>They had reason to hope, and to hope much. Already, forgetting his +carnivorous instincts, the stranger accepted a less bestial nourishment +than that on which he fed on the islet, and cooked meat did not produce +in him the same sentiment of repulsion which he had showed on board the +<i>Bonadventure</i>. Cyrus Harding had profited by a moment when he was +sleeping, to cut his hair and matted beard, which formed a sort of mane, +and gave him such a savage aspect. He had also been clothed more +suitably, after having got rid of the rag which covered him. The result +was that, thanks to these attentions, the stranger resumed a more human +appearance, and it even seemed as if his eyes had become milder. +Certainly, when formerly lighted up by intelligence, this man's face +must have had a sort of beauty.</p> + +<p>Every day, Harding imposed on himself the task of passing some hours in +his company. He came and worked near him, and occupied himself in +different things, so as to fix his attention. A spark, indeed, would be +sufficient to reillumine that soul, a recollection crossing that brain +to recall reason. That had been seen, during the storm, on board the +<i>Bonadventure!</i> The engineer did not neglect either to speak aloud, so +as to penetrate at the same time by the organs of hearing and sight the +depths of that torpid intelligence. Sometimes one of his companions, +sometimes another, sometimes all joined him. They spoke most often of +things belonging to the navy, which must interest a sailor.</p> + +<p>At times the stranger gave some slight attention to what was said, and +the settlers were soon convinced that he partly understood them. +Sometimes the expression of his countenance was deeply sorrowful, a +proof that he suffered mentally, for his face could not be mistaken; but +he did not speak, although at different times, however, they almost +thought that words were about to issue from his lips. At all events, the +poor creature was quite quiet and sad!</p> + +<p>But was not his calm only apparent? Was not his sadness only the result +of his seclusion? Nothing could yet be ascertained. Seeing only certain +objects and in a limited space, always in contact with the colonists, to +whom he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 173]</a></span> would soon become accustomed, having no desires to satisfy, +better fed, better clothed, it was natural that his physical nature +should gradually improve; but was he penetrated with the sense of a new +life? or rather, to employ a word, which would be exactly applicable to +him, was he not becoming tamed, like an animal in company with his +master? This was an important question, which Cyrus Harding was anxious +to answer, and yet he did not wish to treat his invalid roughly! would +he ever be a convalescent?</p> + +<p>How the engineer observed him every moment! How he was on the watch for +his soul, if one may use the expression! How he was ready to grasp it! +The settlers followed with real sympathy all the phases of the cure +undertaken by Harding. They aided him also in this work of humanity, and +all, except perhaps the incredulous Pencroft, soon shared both his hope +and his faith.</p> + +<p>The calm of the stranger was deep, as has been said, and he even showed +a sort of attachment for the engineer, whose influence he evidently +felt. Cyrus Harding resolved then to try him, by transporting him to +another scene, from that ocean which formerly his eyes had been +accustomed to contemplate, to the border of the forest, which might +perhaps recall those where so many years of his life had been passed!</p> + +<p>"But," said Gideon Spilett, "can we hope that he will not escape, if +once set at liberty?"</p> + +<p>"The experiment must be tried," replied the engineer.</p> + +<p>"Well!" said Pencroft. "When that fellow is outside, and feels the fresh +air, he will be off as fast as his legs can carry him!"</p> + +<p>"I do not think so," returned Harding.</p> + +<p>"Let us try," said Spilett.</p> + +<p>"We will try," replied the engineer.</p> + +<p>This was on the 30th of October, and consequently the castaway of Tabor +Island had been a prisoner in Granite House for nine days. It was warm, +and a bright sun darted his rays on the island. Cyrus Harding and +Pencroft went to the room occupied by the stranger, who was found lying +near the window and gazing at the sky.</p> + +<p>"Come, my friend," said the engineer to him.</p> + +<p>The stranger rose immediately. His eyes were fixed on Cyrus Harding, and +he followed him, whilst the sailor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 174]</a></span> marched behind them, little +confident as to the result of the experiment.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the door, Harding and Pencroft made him take his place in the +lift, whilst Neb, Herbert, and Gideon Spilett waited for them before +Granite House. The lift descended, and in a few moments all were united +on the beach.</p> + +<p>The settlers went a short distance from the stranger, so as to leave him +at liberty.</p> + +<p>He then made a few steps towards the sea, and his look brightened with +extreme animation, but he did not make the slightest attempt to escape. +He was gazing at the little waves, which broken by the islet rippled on +the sand.</p> + +<p>"This is only the sea," observed Gideon Spilett, "and possibly it does +not inspire him with any wish to escape!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Harding, "we must take him to the plateau, on the border +of the forest. There the experiment will be more conclusive."</p> + +<p>"Besides, he could not run away," said Neb, "since the bridge is +raised."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Pencroft, "that isn't a man to be troubled by a stream like +Creek Glycerine! He could cross it directly, at a single bound!"</p> + +<p>"We shall soon see," Harding contented himself with replying, his eyes +not quitting those of his patient.</p> + +<p>The latter was then led towards the mouth of the Mercy, and all climbing +the left bank of the river, reached Prospect Heights.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the spot on which grew the first beautiful trees of the +forest, their foliage slightly agitated by the breeze, the stranger +appeared greedily to drink in the penetrating odour which filled the +atmosphere, and a long sigh escaped from his chest.</p> + +<p>The settlers kept behind him, ready to seize him if he made any movement +to escape!</p> + +<p>And, indeed, the poor creature was on the point of springing into the +creek which separated him from the forest, and his legs were bent for an +instant as if for a spring, but almost immediately he stepped back, half +sank down, and a large tear fell from his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed Cyrus Harding, "you have become a man again, for you +can weep!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 311px;"> +<img src="images/aban093.jpg" class="jpg" width="311" height="448" alt="THE EXPERIMENT" title="THE EXPERIMENT" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban093.jpg"><b>THE EXPERIMENT</b></a></span> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A Mystery to be cleared up—The Stranger's first Words—Twelve Years +on the Islet—Avowal which escapes him—The Disappearance—Cyrus +Harding's Confidence—Construction of a Mill—The first Bread—An +Act of Devotion—Honest Hands.</p></div> + + +<p>Yes! the unfortunate man had wept! Some recollection doubtless had +flashed across his brain, and to use Cyrus Harding's expression, by +those tears he was once more a man.</p> + +<p>The colonists left him for some time on the plateau, and withdrew +themselves to a short distance, so that he might feel himself free; but +he did not think of profiting by this liberty, and Harding soon brought +him back to Granite House. Two days after this occurrence, the stranger +appeared to wish gradually to mingle with their common life. He +evidently heard and understood, but no less evidently was he strangely +determined not to speak to the colonists; for one evening, Pencroft, +listening at the door of his room, heard these words escape from his +lips:—</p> + +<p>"No! here! I! never!"</p> + +<p>The sailor reported these words to his companions.</p> + +<p>"There is some painful mystery there!" said Harding.</p> + +<p>The stranger had begun to use the labouring tools, and he worked in the +garden. When he stopped in his work, as was often the case, he remained +retired within himself; but on the engineer's recommendation, they +respected the reserve which he apparently wished to keep. If one of the +settlers approached him, he drew back, and his chest heaved with sobs, +as if overburthened!</p> + +<p>Was it remorse that overwhelmed him thus? They were compelled to believe +so, and Gideon Spilett could not help one day making this observation,—</p> + +<p>"If he does not speak it is because he has, I fear, things too serious +to be told!"</p> + +<p>They must be patient and wait.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 305px;"> +<img src="images/aban094.jpg" class="jpg" width="305" height="448" alt="HE ASKED IN A HOLLOW VOICE" title="HE ASKED IN A HOLLOW VOICE" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban094.jpg"><b>"WHO ARE YOU?" HE ASKED IN A HOLLOW VOICE</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 178]</a></span> +A few days later, on the 3rd of November, the stranger, working on the +plateau, had stopped, letting his spade drop to the ground, and Harding +who was observing him from a little distance, saw that tears were again +flowing from his eyes. A sort of irresistible pity led him towards the +unfortunate man, and he touched his arm lightly.</p> + +<p>"My friend!" said he.</p> + +<p>The stranger tried to avoid his look, and Cyrus Harding, having +endeavoured to take his hand, he drew back quickly.</p> + +<p>"My friend," said Harding in a firmer voice, "look at me, I wish it!"</p> + +<p>The stranger looked at the engineer, and seemed to be under his power, +as a subject under the influence of a mesmerist. He wished to run away. +But then his countenance suddenly underwent a transformation. His eyes +flashed. Words struggled to escape from his lips. He could no longer +contain himself!... At last he folded his arms, then, in a hollow +voice,—</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he asked Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"Castaways, like you," replied the engineer, whose emotion was deep. "We +have brought you here, among your fellow-men."</p> + +<p>"My fellow-men!... I have none!"</p> + +<p>"You are in the midst of friends."</p> + +<p>"Friends!—for me! friends!" exclaimed the stranger, hiding his face in +his hands. "No—never—leave me! leave me!"</p> + +<p>Then he rushed to the side of the plateau which overlooked the sea, and +remained there a long time motionless.</p> + +<p>Harding rejoined his companions and related to them what had just +happened.</p> + +<p>"Yes! there is some mystery in that man's life," said Gideon Spilett, +"and it appears as if he had only re-entered society by the path of +remorse."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what sort of a man we have brought here," said the sailor. +"He has secrets—"</p> + +<p>"Which we will respect," interrupted Cyrus Harding quickly. "If he has +committed any crime, he has most fearfully expiated it, and in our eyes +he is absolved."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 311px;"> +<img src="images/aban095.jpg" class="jpg" width="311" height="448" alt="THE STRANGER" title="THE STRANGER" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban095.jpg"><b>THE STRANGER</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>For two hours the stranger remained alone on the shore,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 180]</a></span> evidently +under the influence of recollections which recalled all his past life—a +melancholy life doubtless—and the colonists, without losing sight of +him, did not attempt to disturb his solitude. However, after two hours, +appearing to have formed a resolution, he came to find Cyrus Harding. +His eyes were red with the tears he had shed, but he wept no longer. His +countenance expressed deep humility. He appeared anxious, timorous, +ashamed, and his eyes were constantly fixed on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said he to Harding, "your companions and you, are you English?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered the engineer, "we are Americans."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the stranger, and he murmured, "I prefer that!"</p> + +<p>"And you, my friend?" asked the engineer.</p> + +<p>"English," replied he hastily.</p> + +<p>And as if these few words had been difficult to say, he retreated to the +beach, where he walked up and down between the cascade and the mouth of +the Mercy, in a state of extreme agitation.</p> + +<p>Then, passing one moment close to Herbert, he stopped, and in a stifled +voice,—</p> + +<p>"What month?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"December," replied Herbert.</p> + +<p>"What year?"</p> + +<p>"1866."</p> + +<p>"Twelve years! twelve years!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Then he left him abruptly.</p> + +<p>Herbert reported to the colonists the questions and answers which had +been made.</p> + +<p>"This unfortunate man," observed Gideon Spilett, "was no longer +acquainted with either months or years!"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" added Herbert, "and he had been twelve years already on the islet +when we found him there!"</p> + +<p>"Twelve years!" rejoined Harding. "Ah! twelve years of solitude, after a +wicked life, perhaps, may well impair a man's reason!"</p> + +<p>"I am induced to think," said Pencroft, "that this man was not wrecked +on Tabor Island, but that in consequence of some crime he was left +there."</p> + +<p>"You must be right, Pencroft," replied the reporter,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 181]</a></span> "and if it is so +it is not impossible that those who left him on the island may return to +fetch him some day!"</p> + +<p>"And they will no longer find him," said Herbert.</p> + +<p>"But then," added Pencroft, "they must return, and—"</p> + +<p>"My friends," said Cyrus Harding, "do not let us discuss this question +until we know more about it. I believe that the unhappy man has +suffered, that he has severely expiated his faults, whatever they may +have been, and that the wish to unburden himself stifles him. Do not let +us press him to tell us his history! He will tell it to us doubtless, +and when we know it, we shall see what course it will be best to follow. +He alone besides can tell us, if he has more than a hope, a certainty, +of returning some day to his country, but I doubt it!"</p> + +<p>"And why?" asked the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Because that, in the event of his being sure of being delivered at a +certain time, he would have waited the hour of his deliverance and would +not have thrown this document into the sea. No, it is more probable that +he was condemned to die on that islet, and that he never expected to see +his fellow-creatures again!"</p> + +<p>"But," observed the sailor, "there is one thing which I cannot explain."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"If this man had been left for twelve years on Tabor Island, one may +well suppose that he had been several years already in the wild state in +which we found him!"</p> + +<p>"That is probable," replied Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"It must then be many years since he wrote that document!"</p> + +<p>"No doubt, and yet the document appears to have been recently written!"</p> + +<p>"Besides, how do you know that the bottle which enclosed the document +may not have taken several years to come from Tabor Island to Lincoln +Island?"</p> + +<p>"That is not absolutely impossible," replied the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Might it not have been a long time already on the coast of the island?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Pencroft, "for it was still floating. We could not even +suppose that after it had stayed for any length of time on the shore, it +would have been swept off by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 182]</a></span> the sea, for the south coast is all rocks, +and it would certainly have been smashed to pieces there!"</p> + +<p>"That is true," rejoined Cyrus Harding thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"And then," continued the sailor, "if the document was several years +old, if it had been shut up in that bottle for several years, it would +have been injured by damp. Now, there is nothing of the kind, and it was +found in a perfect state of preservation."</p> + +<p>The sailor's reasoning was very just, and pointed out an +incomprehensible fact, for the document appeared to have been recently +written, when the colonists found it in the bottle. Moreover, it gave +the latitude and longitude of Tabor Island correctly, which implied that +its author had a more complete knowledge of hydrography than could be +expected of a common sailor.</p> + +<p>"There is in this, again, something unaccountable," said the engineer; +"but we will not urge our companion to speak. When he likes, my friends, +then we shall be ready to hear him!"</p> + +<p>During the following days the stranger did not speak a word, and did not +once leave the precincts of the plateau. He worked away, without losing +a moment, without taking a minute's rest, but always in a retired place. +At meal times he never came to Granite House, although invited several +times to do so, but contented himself with eating a few raw vegetables. +At nightfall he did not return to the room assigned to him, but remained +under some clump of trees, or when the weather was bad crouched in some +cleft of the rocks. Thus he lived in the same manner as when he had no +other shelter than the forests of Tabor Island, and as all persuasion to +induce him to improve his life was in vain, the colonists waited +patiently. And the time was near, when, as it seemed, almost +involuntarily urged by his conscience, a terrible confession escaped +him.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of November, about eight o'clock in the evening, as night +was coming on, the stranger appeared unexpectedly before the settlers, +who were assembled under the verandah. His eyes burned strangely, and he +had quite resumed the wild aspect of his worst days.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and his companions were astounded on seeing that, overcome +by some terrible emotion, his teeth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 183]</a></span> chattered like those of a person in +a fever. What was the matter with him? Was the sight of his +fellow-creatures insupportable to him? Was he weary of this return to a +civilised mode of existence? Was he pining for his former savage life? +It appeared so, as soon he was heard to express himself in these +incoherent sentences:—</p> + +<p>"Why am I here?... By what right have you dragged me from my islet?... +Do you think there could be any tie between you and me?... Do you know +who I am—what I have done—why I was there—alone? And who told you +that I was not abandoned there—that I was not condemned to die +there?... Do you know my past?... How do you know that I have not +stolen, murdered—that I am not a wretch—an accursed being—only fit to +live like a wild beast far from all—speak—do you know it?"</p> + +<p>The colonists listened without interrupting the miserable creature, from +whom these broken confessions escaped, as it were, in spite of himself. +Harding wishing to calm him, approached him, but he hastily drew back.</p> + +<p>"No! no!" he exclaimed; "one word only—am I free?"</p> + +<p>"You are free," answered the engineer.</p> + +<p>"Farewell then!" he cried, and fled like a madman.</p> + +<p>Neb, Pencroft, and Herbert ran also towards the edge of the wood—but +they returned alone.</p> + +<p>"We must let him alone!" said Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"He will never come back!" exclaimed Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"He will come back," replied the engineer.</p> + +<p>Many days passed; but Harding—was it a sort of presentiment?—persisted +in the fixed idea that sooner or later the unhappy man would return.</p> + +<p>"It is the last revolt of his wild nature," said he, "which remorse has +touched, and which renewed solitude will terrify."</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, works of all sorts were continued, as well on Prospect +Heights as at the corral, where Harding intended to build a farm. It is +unnecessary to say that the seeds collected by Herbert on Tabor Island +had been carefully sown. The plateau thus formed one immense +kitchen-garden, well laid out and carefully tended, so that the arms of +the settlers were never in want of work. There was always something to +be done. As the esculents increased<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 184]</a></span> in number, it became necessary to +enlarge the simple beds, which threatened to grow into regular fields +and replace the meadows. But grass abounded in other parts of the +island, and there was no fear of the onagas being obliged to go on short +allowance. It was well worth while, besides, to turn Prospect Heights +into a kitchen-garden, defended by its deep belt of creeks, and to +remove them to the meadows, which had no need of protection against the +depredations of quadrumana and quadrupeds.</p> + +<p>On the 15th of November, the third harvest was gathered in. How +wonderfully had the field increased in extent, since eighteen months +ago, when the first grain of wheat was sown! The second crop of six +hundred thousand grains produced this time four thousand bushels, or +five hundred millions of grains!</p> + +<p>The colony was rich in corn, for ten bushels alone were sufficient for +sowing every year to produce an ample crop for the food both of men and +beasts. The harvest was completed, and the last fortnight of the month +of November was devoted to the work of converting it into food for man. +In fact, they had corn, but not flour, and the establishment of a mill +was necessary. Cyrus Harding could have utilised the second fall which +flowed into the Mercy to establish his motive power, the first being +already occupied with moving the felting mill; but after some +consultation, it was decided that a simple windmill should be built on +Prospect Heights. The building of this presented no more difficulty than +the building of the former, and it was moreover certain that there would +be no want of wind on the plateau, exposed as it was to the sea breezes.</p> + +<p>"Not to mention," said Pencroft, "that the windmill will be more lively +and will have a good effect in the landscape!"</p> + +<p>They set to work by choosing timber for the frame and machinery of the +mill. Some large stones, found at the north of the lake, could be easily +transformed into millstones; and as to the sails, the inexhaustible case +of the balloon furnished the necessary material.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding made his model, and the site of the mill was chosen a +little to the right of the poultry-yard, near the shore of the lake. The +frame was to rest on a pivot supported with strong timbers, so that it +could turn with all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 185]</a></span> the machinery it contained according as the wind +required it. The work advanced rapidly. Neb and Pencroft had become very +skilful carpenters, and had nothing to do but to copy the models +provided by the engineer.</p> + +<p>Soon a sort of cylindrical box, in shape like a pepperpot, with a +pointed roof, rose on the spot chosen. The four frames which formed the +sails had been firmly fixed in the centre beam, so as to form a certain +angle with it, and secured with iron clamps. As to the different parts +of the internal mechanism, the box destined to contain the two +millstones, the fixed stone and the moving stone, the hopper, a sort of +large square trough, wide at the top, narrow at the bottom, which would +allow the grain to fall on the stones, the oscillating spout intended to +regulate the passing of the grain, and lastly the bolting machine, which +by the operation of sifting, separates the bran from the flour, were +made without difficulty. The tools were good, and the work not +difficult, for in reality, the machinery of a mill is very simple. This +was only a question of time.</p> + +<p>Every one had worked at the construction of the mill, and on the 1st of +December it was finished. As usual, Pencroft was delighted with his +work, and had no doubt that the apparatus was perfect.</p> + +<p>"Now for a good wind," said he, "and we shall grind our first harvest +splendidly!"</p> + +<p>"A good wind, certainly," answered the engineer, "but not too much, +Pencroft."</p> + +<p>"Pooh! our mill would only go the faster!"</p> + +<p>"There is no need for it to go so very fast," replied Cyrus Harding. "It +is known by experience that the greatest quantity of work is performed +by a mill when the number of turns made by the sails in a minute is six +times the number of feet traversed by the wind in a second. A moderate +breeze, which passes over twenty-four feet to the second, will give +sixteen turns to the sails during a minute, and there is no need of +more."</p> + +<p>"Exactly!" cried Herbert; "a fine breeze is blowing from the north-east, +which will soon do our business for us."</p> + +<p>There was no reason for delaying the inauguration of the mill, for the +settlers were eager to taste the first piece of bread in Lincoln Island. +On this morning two or three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 186]</a></span> bushels of wheat were ground, and the next +day at breakfast a magnificent loaf, a little heavy perhaps, although +raised with yeast, appeared on the table at Granite House. Every one +munched away at it with a pleasure which may be easily understood.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, the stranger had not reappeared. Several times Gideon +Spilett and Herbert searched the forest in the neighbourhood of Granite +House, without meeting or finding any trace of him. They became +seriously uneasy at this prolonged absence. Certainly, the former savage +of Tabor Island could not be perplexed how to live in the forest, +abounding in game, but was it not to be feared that he had resumed his +habits, and that this freedom would revive in him his wild instincts? +However, Harding, by a sort of presentiment, doubtless, always persisted +in saying that the fugitive would return.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he will return!" he repeated with a confidence which his +companions could not share. "When this unfortunate man was on Tabor +Island, he knew himself to be alone! Here, he knows that fellow men are +awaiting him! Since he has partially spoken of his past life, the poor +penitent will return to tell the whole, and from that day he will belong +to us!"</p> + +<p>The event justified Cyrus Harding's predictions. On the 3rd of December, +Herbert had left the plateau to go and fish on the southern bank of the +lake. He was unarmed, and till then had never taken any precautions for +defence as dangerous animals had not shown themselves on that part of +the island.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Pencroft and Neb were working in the poultry-yard, whilst +Harding and the reporter were occupied at the Chimneys in making soda, +the store of soap being exhausted.</p> + +<p>Suddenly cries resounded,—</p> + +<p>"Help! help!"</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and the reporter, being at too great a distance, had not +been able to hear the shouts. Pencroft and Neb, leaving the poultry-yard +in all haste, rushed towards the lake.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/aban099.jpg" class="jpg" width="317" height="448" alt="NOW FOR A GOOD WIND" title="NOW FOR A GOOD WIND" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban099.jpg"><b>NOW FOR A GOOD WIND</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>But before them, the stranger, whose presence at this place no one had +suspected, crossed Creek Glycerine, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 188]</a></span> separated the plateau from +the forest, and bounded up the opposite bank.</p> + +<p>Herbert was there face to face with a fierce jaguar, similar to the one +which had been killed on Reptile End. Suddenly surprised, he was +standing with his back against a tree, whilst the animal, gathering +itself together, was about to spring.</p> + +<p>But the stranger, with no other weapon than a knife, rushed on the +formidable animal, who turned to meet this new adversary.</p> + +<p>The struggle was short. The stranger possessed immense strength and +activity. He seized the jaguar's throat with one powerful hand, holding +it as in a vice, without heeding the beast's claws which tore his flesh, +and with the other he plunged his knife into its heart.</p> + +<p>The jaguar fell. The stranger kicked away the body, and was about to fly +at the moment when the settlers arrived on the field of battle, but +Herbert, clinging to him, cried,—</p> + +<p>"No, no! You shall not go!"</p> + +<p>Harding advanced towards the stranger, who frowned when he saw him +approaching. The blood flowed from his shoulder under his torn shirt, +but he took no notice of it.</p> + +<p>"My friend," said Cyrus Harding, "we have just contracted a debt of +gratitude to you. To save our boy you have risked your life!"</p> + +<p>"My life!" murmured the stranger "What is that worth? Less than +nothing!"</p> + +<p>"You are wounded!"</p> + +<p>"It is no matter."</p> + +<p>"Will you give me your hand?"</p> + +<p>And as Herbert endeavoured to seize the hand which had just saved him, +the stranger folded his arms, his chest heaved, his look darkened, and +he appeared to wish to escape, but making a violent effort over himself, +and in an abrupt tone,—</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he asked, "and what do you claim to be to me?"</p> + +<p>It was the colonists' history which he thus demanded, and for the first +time. Perhaps this history recounted, he would tell his own.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 316px;"> +<img src="images/aban100.jpg" class="jpg" width="316" height="448" alt="HE SEIZED THE JAGUAR'S THROAT WITH ONE POWERFUL HAND" title="HE SEIZED THE JAGUAR'S THROAT WITH ONE POWERFUL HAND" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban100.jpg"><b>HE SEIZED THE JAGUAR'S THROAT WITH ONE POWERFUL HAND</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>In a few words Harding related all that had happened since<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 190]</a></span> their +departure from Richmond; how they had managed, and what resources they +now had at their disposal.</p> + +<p>The stranger listened with extreme attention.</p> + +<p>Then the engineer told who they all were, Gideon Spilett, Herbert, +Pencroft, Neb, himself; and he added, that the greatest happiness they +had felt since their arrival in Lincoln Island was on the return of the +vessel from Tabor Island, when they had been able to include amongst +them a new companion.</p> + +<p>At these words the stranger's face flushed, his head sunk on his breast, +and confusion was depicted on his countenance.</p> + +<p>"And now that you know us," added Cyrus Harding, "will you give us your +hand?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the stranger in a hoarse voice; "no! You are honest men, +you! And I—"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Still alone—The Stranger's Request—The Farm established at the +Corral—Twelve Years ago—The Boatswain's Mate of the <i>Britannia</i>— +Left on Tabor Island—Cyrus Harding's Hand—The mysterious +Document.</p></div> + + +<p>These last words justified the colonists' presentiment. There had been +some mournful past, perhaps expiated in the sight of men, but from which +his conscience had not yet absolved him. At any rate the guilty man felt +remorse, he repented, and his new friends would have cordially pressed +the hand which they sought; but he did not feel himself worthy to extend +it to honest men! However, after the scene with the jaguar, he did not +return to the forest, and from that day did not go beyond the enclosure +of Granite House.</p> + +<p>What was the mystery of his life? Would the stranger one day speak of +it? Time alone could show. At any rate, it was agreed that his secret +should never be asked from him, and that they would live with him as if +they suspected nothing.</p> + +<p>For some days their life continued as before. Cyrus Harding and Gideon +Spilett worked together, sometimes chemists, sometimes experimentalists. +The reporter never left the engineer except to hunt with Herbert, for it +would not have been prudent to allow the lad to ramble alone in the +forest; and it was very necessary to be on their guard. As to Neb and +Pencroft, one day at the stables and poultry-yard, another at the +corral, without reckoning work in Granite House, they were never in want +of employment.</p> + +<p>The stranger worked alone, and he had resumed his usual life, never +appearing at meals, sleeping under the trees in the plateau, never +mingling with his companions. It really seemed as if the society of +those who had saved him was insupportable to him!</p> + +<p>"But then," observed Pencroft, "why did he entreat the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 192]</a></span> help of his +fellow-creatures? Why did he throw that paper into the sea?"</p> + +<p>"He will tell us why," invariably replied Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"When?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps sooner than you think, Pencroft."</p> + +<p>And, indeed, the day of confession was near.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of December, a week after his return to Granite House, +Harding saw the stranger approaching, who, in a calm voice and humble +tone, said to him: "Sir, I have a request to make you."</p> + +<p>"Speak," answered the engineer; "but first let me ask you a question."</p> + +<p>At these words the stranger reddened, and was on the point of +withdrawing. Cyrus Harding understood what was passing in the mind of +the guilty man, who doubtless feared that the engineer would interrogate +him on his past life.</p> + +<p>Harding held him back.</p> + +<p>"Comrade," said he, "we are not only your companions but your friends. I +wish you to believe that, and now I will listen to you."</p> + +<p>The stranger pressed his hand over his eyes. He was seized with a sort +of trembling, and remained a few moments without being able to +articulate a word.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said he at last, "I have come to beg you to grant me a favour."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"You have, four or five miles from here, a corral for your domesticated +animals. These animals need to be taken care of. Will you allow me to +live there with them?"</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding gazed at the unfortunate man for a few moments with a +feeling of deep commiseration; then,—</p> + +<p>"My friend," said he, "the corral has only stables hardly fit for +animals."</p> + +<p>"It will be good enough for me, sir."</p> + +<p>"My friend," answered Harding, "we will not constrain you in anything. +You wish to live at the corral, so be it. You will, however, be always +welcome at Granite House. But since you wish to live at the corral we +will make the necessary arrangements for your being comfortably +established there."</p> + +<p>"Never mind that, I shall do very well."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My friend," answered Harding, who always intentionally made use of this +cordial appellation, "you must let us judge what it will be best to do +in this respect."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," replied the stranger as he withdrew.</p> + +<p>The engineer then made known to his companions the proposal which had +been made to him, and it was agreed that they should build a wooden +house at the corral, which they would make as comfortable as possible.</p> + +<p>That very day the colonists repaired to the corral with the necessary +tools, and a week had not passed before the house was ready to receive +its tenant. It was built about twenty feet from the sheds, and from +there it was easy to overlook the flock of sheep, which then numbered +more than eighty. Some furniture, a bed, table, bench, cupboard, and +chest, were manufactured, and a gun, ammunition, and tools were carried +to the corral.</p> + +<p>The stranger, however, had seen nothing of his new dwelling, and he had +allowed the settlers to work there without him, whilst he occupied +himself on the plateau, wishing, doubtless, to put the finishing stroke +to his work. Indeed, thanks to him, all the ground was dug up and ready +to be sowed when the time came.</p> + +<p>It was on the 20th of December that all the arrangements at the corral +were completed. The engineer announced to the stranger that his dwelling +was ready to receive him, and the latter replied that he would go and +sleep there that very evening.</p> + +<p>On this evening the colonists were gathered in the dining-room of +Granite House. It was then eight o'clock, the hour at which their +companion was to leave them. Not wishing to trouble him by their +presence, and thus imposing on him the necessity of saying farewells +which might perhaps be painful to him, they had left him alone, and +ascended to Granite House.</p> + +<p>Now, they had been talking in the room for a few minutes, when a light +knock was heard at the door. Almost immediately the stranger entered, +and without any preamble,—</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said he, "before I leave you, it is right that you should +know my history. I will tell it you."</p> + +<p>These simple words profoundly impressed Cyrus Harding and his +companions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>The engineer rose.</p> + +<p>"We ask you nothing, my friend," said he, "it is your right to be +silent."</p> + +<p>"It is my duty to speak."</p> + +<p>"Sit down, then."</p> + +<p>"No, I will stand."</p> + +<p>"We are ready to hear you," replied Harding.</p> + +<p>The stranger remained standing in a corner of the room, a little in the +shade. He was bareheaded, his arms folded across his chest, and it was +in this posture that in a hoarse voice, speaking like some one who +obliges himself to speak, he gave the following recital, which his +auditors did not once interrupt—-</p> + +<p>"On the 20th of December, 1854, a steam-yacht, belonging to a Scotch +nobleman, Lord Glenarvan, anchored off Cape Bermouilli, on the western +coast of Australia, in the thirty-seventh parallel. On board this yacht +were Lord Glenarvan and his wife, a major in the English army, a French +geographer, a young girl, and a young boy. These two last were the +children of Captain Grant, whose ship, the <i>Britannia</i>, had been lost, +crew and cargo, a year before. The <i>Duncan</i> was commanded by Captain +John Mangles, and manned by a crew of fifteen men.</p> + +<p>"This is the reason the yacht at this time lay off the coast of +Australia. Six months before, a bottle, enclosing a document written in +English, German, and French, had been found in the Irish sea, and picked +up by the <i>Duncan</i>. This document stated in substance that there still +existed three survivors from the wreck of the <i>Britannia</i>, that these +survivors were Captain Grant and two of his men, and that they had found +refuge on some land, of which the document gave the latitude, but of +which the longitude, effaced by the sea, was no longer legible.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 313px;"> +<img src="images/aban103.jpg" class="jpg" width="313" height="448" alt="THE STRANGER'S STORY" title="THE STRANGER'S STORY" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban103.jpg"></a><b>THE STRANGER'S STORY</b></span> +</div> + +<p>"This latitude was 37° 11´ south, therefore, the longitude being +unknown, if they followed the thirty-seventh parallel over continents +and seas, they would be certain to reach the spot inhabited by Captain +Grant and his two companions. The English Admiralty having hesitated to +undertake this search, Lord Glenarvan resolved to attempt everything to +find the captain. He communicated with Mary and Robert Grant, who joined +him. The <i>Duncan</i> yacht was equipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 196]</a></span> for the distant voyage, in which +the nobleman's family and the captain's children wished to take part; +and the <i>Duncan</i>, leaving Glasgow, proceeded towards the Atlantic, +passed through the Straits of Magellan, and ascended the Pacific as far +as Patagonia, where, according to a previous interpretation of the +document, they supposed that Captain Grant was a prisoner among the +Indians.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Duncan</i> disembarked her passengers on the western coast of +Patagonia, and sailed to pick them up again on the eastern coast at Cape +Corrientes. Lord Glenarvan traversed Patagonia, following the +thirty-seventh parallel, and having found no trace of the captain, he +re-embarked on the 13th of November, so as to pursue his search through +the Ocean.</p> + +<p>"After having unsuccessfully visited the islands of Tristan d'Acunha and +Amsterdam, situated in her course, the <i>Duncan</i>, as I have said, arrived +at Cape Bermouilli, on the Australian coast, on the 20th of December, +1854.</p> + +<p>"It was Lord Glenarvan's intention to traverse Australia as he had +traversed America, and he disembarked. A few miles from the coast was +established a farm, belonging to an Irishman, who offered hospitality to +the travellers. Lord Glenarvan made known to the Irishman the cause +which had brought him to these parts, and asked if he knew whether a +three-masted English vessel, the <i>Britannia</i>, had been lost less than +two years before on the west coast of Australia.</p> + +<p>"The Irishman had never heard of this wreck; but, to the great surprise +of the bystanders, one of his servants came forward and said,—</p> + +<p>"'My lord, praise and thank God! If Captain Grant is still living, he is +living on the Australian shores.'</p> + +<p>"'Who are you?' asked Lord Glenarvan.</p> + +<p>"'A Scotchman like yourself, my lord,' replied the man; 'I am one of +Captain Grant's crew—one of the castaways of the <i>Britannia</i>.'</p> + +<p>"This man was called Ayrton. He was, in fact, the boatswain's mate of +the <i>Britannia</i>, as his papers showed. But, separated from Captain Grant +at the moment when the ship struck upon the rocks, he had till then +believed that the captain with all his crew had perished, and that he, +Ayrton, was the sole survivor of the <i>Britannia</i>.</p> + +<p>"'Only,' added he, 'it was not on the west coast, but on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 197]</a></span> the east coast +of Australia that the vessel was lost; and if Captain Grant is still +living, as his document indicates, he is a prisoner among the natives, +and it is on the other coast that he must be looked for.'</p> + +<p>"This man spoke in a frank voice and with a confident look; his words +could not be doubted. The Irishman, in whose service he had been for +more than a year, answered for his trustworthiness. Lord Glenarvan, +therefore, believed in the fidelity of this man, and, by his advice, +resolved to cross Australia, following the thirty-seventh parallel. Lord +Glenarvan, his wife, the two children, the major, the Frenchman, Captain +Mangles, and a few sailors composed the little band under the command of +Ayrton, whilst the <i>Duncan</i>, under charge of the mate, Tom Austin, +proceeded to Melbourne, there to await Lord Glenarvan's instructions.</p> + +<p>"They set out on the 23rd of December, 1854.</p> + +<p>"It is time to say that Ayrton was a traitor. He was, indeed, the +boatswain's mate of the <i>Britannia</i>; but, after some dispute with his +captain, he had endeavoured to incite the crew to mutiny and seize the +ship, and Captain Grant had landed him, on the 8th of April, 1852, on +the west coast of Australia, and then sailed, leaving him there, as was +only just.</p> + +<p>"Therefore this wretched man knew nothing of the wreck of the +<i>Britannia</i>; he had just heard of it from Glenarvan's account. Since his +abandonment, he had become, under the name of Ben Joyce, the leader of +the escaped convicts; and if he boldly maintained that the wreck had +taken place on the east coast, and led Lord Glenarvan to proceed in that +direction, it was that he hoped to separate him from his ship, seize the +<i>Duncan</i>, and make the yacht a pirate in the Pacific."</p> + +<p>Here the stranger stopped for a moment. His voice trembled, but he +continued,—</p> + +<p>"The expedition set out and proceeded across Australia. It was +inevitably unfortunate, since Ayrton, or Ben Joyce, as he may be called, +guided it, sometimes preceded, sometimes followed by his band of +convicts, who had been told what they had to do.</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile the <i>Duncan</i> had been sent to Melbourne for repairs. It was +necessary, then, to get Lord Glenarvan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 198]</a></span> to order her to leave Melbourne +and go to the east coast of Australia, where it would be easy to seize +her. After having led the expedition near enough to the coast, in the +midst of vast forests with no resources, Ayrton obtained a letter, which +he was charged to carry to the mate of the <i>Duncan</i>—a letter which +ordered the yacht to repair immediately to the east coast, to Twofold +Bay, that is to say, a few days' journey from the place where the +expedition had stopped. It was there that Ayrton had agreed to meet his +accomplices, and two days after gaining possession of the letter, he +arrived at Melbourne.</p> + +<p>"So far the villain had succeeded in his wicked design. He would be able +to take the <i>Duncan</i> into Twofold Bay, where it would be easy for the +convicts to seize her, and her crew massacred, Ben Joyce would become +master of the seas.... But it pleased God to prevent the accomplishment +of these terrible projects.</p> + +<p>"Ayrton, arrived at Melbourne, delivered the letter to the mate, Tom +Austin, who read it and immediately set sail; but judge of Ayrton's rage +and disappointment, when the next day he found that the mate was taking +the vessel, not to the east coast of Australia, to Twofold Bay, but to +the east coast of New Zealand. He wished to stop him, but Austin showed +him the letter!... And indeed, by a providential error of the French +geographer, who had written the letter, the east coast of New Zealand +was mentioned as the place of destination.</p> + +<p>"All Ayrton's plans were frustrated! He became outrageous. They put him +in irons. He was then taken to the coast of New Zealand, not knowing +what would become of his accomplices, or what would become of Lord +Glenarvan.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Duncan</i> cruised about on this coast until the 3rd of March. On +that day Ayrton heard the report of guns. The guns of the <i>Duncan</i> were +being fired, and soon Lord Glenarvan and his companions came on board.</p> + +<p>"This is what had happened.</p> + +<p>"After a thousand hardships, a thousand dangers, Lord Glenarvan had +accomplished his journey, and arrived on the east coast of Australia, at +Twofold Bay. 'No <i>Duncan!</i>' he telegraphed to Melbourne. They answered, +'<i>Duncan</i> sailed on the 18th instant. Destination unknown.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Lord Glenarvan could only arrive at one conclusion: that his honest +yacht had fallen into the hands of Ben Joyce, and had become a pirate +vessel!</p> + +<p>"However, Lord Glenarvan would not give up. He was a bold and generous +man. He embarked in a merchant vessel, sailed to the west coast of New +Zealand, traversed it along the thirty-seventh parallel, without finding +any trace of Captain Grant; but on the other side, to his great +surprise, and by the will of Heaven, he found the <i>Duncan,</i> under +command of the mate, who had been waiting for him for five weeks!</p> + +<p>"This was on the 3rd of March 1855. Lord Glenarvan was now on board the +<i>Duncan</i>, but Ayrton was there also. He appeared before the nobleman, +who wished to extract from him all that the villain knew about Captain +Grant. Ayrton refused to speak. Lord Glenarvan then told him, that at +the first port they put into, he would be delivered up to the English +authorities. Ayrton remained mute.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Duncan</i> continued her voyage along the thirty-seventh parallel. In +the meanwhile, Lady Glenarvan undertook to vanquish the resistance of +the ruffian.</p> + +<p>"At last, her influence prevailed, and Ayrton, in exchange for what he +could tell, proposed that Lord Glenarvan should leave him on some island +in the Pacific, instead of giving him up to the English authorities. +Lord Glenarvan, resolving to do anything to obtain information about +Captain Grant, consented.</p> + +<p>"Ayrton then related all his life, and it was certain that he knew +nothing from the day on which Captain Grant had landed him on the +Australian coast.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, Lord Glenarvan kept the promise which he had given. The +<i>Duncan</i> continued her voyage and arrived at Tabor Island. It was there +that Ayrton was to be landed, and it was there also that, by a veritable +miracle, they found Captain Grant and two men, exactly on the +thirty-seventh parallel.</p> + +<p>"The convict, then, went to take their place on this desert islet, and +at the moment he left the yacht these words were pronounced by Lord +Glenarvan:—</p> + +<p>"'Here, Ayrton, you will be far from any land, and without any possible +communication with your fellow-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 200]</a></span>creatures. You cannot escape from this +islet on which the <i>Duncan</i> leaves you. You will be alone, under the eye +of a God who reads the depths of the heart; but you will be neither lost +nor forgotten, as was Captain Grant. Unworthy as you are to be +remembered by men, men will remember you. I know where you are, Ayrton, +and I know where to find you. I will never forget it!'</p> + +<p>"And the <i>Duncan</i>, making sail, soon disappeared. This was on the 18th +of March 1855.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>"Ayrton was alone, but he had no want of either ammunition, weapons, +tools, or seeds.</p> + +<p>"At his, the convict's disposal, was the house built by honest Captain +Grant. He had only to live and expiate in solitude the crimes which he +had committed.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, he repented, he was ashamed of his crimes and was very +miserable! He said to himself, that if men came some day to take him +from that islet, he must be worthy to return amongst them! How he +suffered, that wretched man! How he laboured to recover himself by work! +How he prayed to be reformed by prayer! For two years, three years, this +went on; but Ayrton, humbled by solitude, always looking for some ship +to appear on the horizon, asking himself if the time of expiation would +soon be complete, suffered as none other ever suffered! Oh! how dreadful +was this solitude, to a heart tormented by remorse!</p> + +<p>"But doubtless Heaven had not sufficiently punished this unhappy man, +for he felt that he was gradually becoming a savage! He felt that +brutishness was gradually gaining on him!</p> + +<p>"He could not say if it was after two or three years of solitude; but at +last he became the miserable creature you found!</p> + +<p>"I have no need to tell you, gentlemen, that Ayrton, Ben Joyce, and I, +are the same."</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +The events which have just been briefly related are taken +from a work which some of our readers have no doubt read, and which is +entitled <i>Captain Grant's Children</i>. They will remark on this occasion, +as well as later, some discrepancy in the dates: but later again, they +will understand why the real dates were not at first given.</p></div> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and his companions rose at the end of this +account. It is impossible to say how much they were +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 201]</a></span> +moved! What misery, grief, and despair lay revealed before them!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 318px;"> +<img src="images/aban106.jpg" class="jpg" width="318" height="448" alt="'HERE IS MY HAND' SAID THE ENGINEER" title="'HERE IS MY HAND' SAID THE ENGINEER" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban106.jpg"><b>'HERE IS MY HAND' SAID THE ENGINEER</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 202]</a></span> +"Ayrton," said Harding, rising, "you have been a great criminal, but +Heaven must certainly think that you have expiated your crimes! That has +been proved by your having been brought again among your +fellow-creatures. Ayrton, you are forgiven! And now you will be our +companion?"</p> + +<p>Ayrton drew back.</p> + +<p>"Here is my hand!" said the engineer.</p> + +<p>Ayrton grasped the hand which Harding extended to him, and great tears +fell from his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Will you live with us?" asked Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"Captain Harding, leave me some time longer," replied Ayrton, "leave me +alone in the hut in the corral!"</p> + +<p>"As you like, Ayrton," answered Cyrus Harding. Ayrton was going to +withdraw, when the engineer addressed one more question to him:—</p> + +<p>"One word more, my friend. Since it was your intention to live alone, +why did you throw into the sea the document which put us on your track?"</p> + +<p>"A document?" repeated Ayrton, who did not appear to know what he meant.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the document which we found enclosed in a bottle, giving us the +exact position of Tabor Island!"</p> + +<p>Ayrton passed his hand over his brow, then after having thought, "I +never threw any document into the sea!" he answered.</p> + +<p>"Never," exclaimed Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Never!"</p> + +<p>And Ayrton, bowing, reached the door and departed.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Conversation—Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett—An Idea of the +Engineer's—The Electric Telegraph—The Wires—The Battery—The +Alphabet—Fine Season—Prosperity of the Colony—Photography—An +Appearance of Snow—Two Years in Lincoln Island.</p></div> + + +<p>"Poor man!" said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, +having seen Ayrton slide down the rope of the lift and disappear in the +darkness.</p> + +<p>"He will come back," said Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>"Come now, captain," exclaimed Pencroft, "what does that mean? What! +wasn't it Ayrton who threw that bottle into the sea? Who was it then?"</p> + +<p>Certainly, if ever a question was necessary to be made, it was that one!</p> + +<p>"It was he," answered Neb, "only the unhappy man was half mad."</p> + +<p>"Yes!" said Herbert, "and he was no longer conscious of what he was +doing."</p> + +<p>"It can only be explained in that way, my friends," replied Harding +quickly, "and I understand now how Ayrton was able to point out exactly +the situation of Tabor Island, since the events which had preceded his +being left on the Island had made it known to him."</p> + +<p>"However," observed Pencroft, "if he was not yet a brute when he wrote +that document, and if he threw it into the sea seven or eight years ago, +how is it that the paper has not been injured by damp?"</p> + +<p>"That proves," answered Cyrus Harding, "that Ayrton was deprived of +intelligence at a more recent time than he thinks."</p> + +<p>"Of course it must be so," replied Pencroft, "without that the fact +would be unaccountable."</p> + +<p>"Unaccountable indeed," answered the engineer, who did not appear +desirous to prolong the conversation.</p> + +<p>"But has Ayrton told the truth?" asked the sailor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the reporter. "The story which he has told is true in +every point. I remember quite well the account in the newspapers of the +yacht expedition undertaken by Lord Glenarvan, and its result."</p> + +<p>"Ayrton has told the truth," added Harding. "Do not doubt it, Pencroft, +for it was painful to him. People tell the truth when they accuse +themselves like that!"</p> + +<p>The next day—the 21st of December—the colonists descended to the +beach, and having climbed the plateau they found nothing of Ayrton. He +had reached his house in the corral during the night, and the settlers +judged it best not to agitate him by their presence. Time would +doubtless perform what sympathy had been unable to accomplish.</p> + +<p>Herbert, Pencroft, and Neb resumed their ordinary occupations. On this +day the same work brought Harding and the reporter to the workshop at +the Chimneys.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, my dear Cyrus," said Gideon Spilett, "that the explanation +you gave yesterday on the subject of the bottle has not satisfied me at +all! How can it be supposed that the unfortunate man was able to write +that document and throw the bottle into the sea without having the +slightest recollection of it?"</p> + +<p>"Nor was it he who threw it in, my dear Spilett."</p> + +<p>"You think then...."</p> + +<p>"I think nothing, I know nothing!" interrupted Cyrus Harding. "I am +content to rank this incident among those which I have not been able to +explain to this day!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, Cyrus," said Spilett, "these things are incredible! Your +rescue, the case stranded on the sand, Top's adventure, and lastly this +bottle.... Shall we never have the answer to these enigmas?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" replied the engineer quickly, "yes, even if I have to penetrate +into the bowels of this island!"</p> + +<p>"Chance will perhaps give us the key to this mystery!"</p> + +<p>"Chance! Spilett! I do not believe in chance, any more than I believe in +mysteries in this world. There is a reason for everything unaccountable +which has happened here, and that reason I shall discover. But in the +meantime we must work and observe."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>The month of January arrived. The year 1867 commenced. The summer +occupations were assiduously continued. During the days which followed, +Herbert and Spilett having gone in the direction of the corral, +ascertained that Ayrton had taken possession of the habitation which had +been prepared for him. He busied himself with the numerous flock +confided to his care, and spared his companions the trouble of coming +every two or three days to visit the corral. Nevertheless, in order not +to leave Ayrton in solitude for too long a time, the settlers often paid +him a visit.</p> + +<p>It was not unimportant either, in consequence of some suspicions +entertained by the engineer and Gideon Spilett, that this part of the +island should be subject to a surveillance of some sort, and that +Ayrton, if any incident occurred unexpectedly, should not neglect to +inform the inhabitants of Granite House of it.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless it might happen that something would occur which it would +be necessary to bring rapidly to the engineer's knowledge. Independently +of facts bearing on the mystery of Lincoln Island, many others might +happen, which would call for the prompt interference of the +colonists,—such as the sighting of a vessel, a wreck on the western +coast, the possible arrival of pirates, etc.</p> + +<p>Therefore Cyrus Harding resolved to put the corral in instantaneous +communication with Granite House.</p> + +<p>It was on the 10th of January that he made known his project to his +companions.</p> + +<p>"Why! how are you going to manage that, captain?" asked Pencroft. "Do +you by chance happen to think of establishing a telegraph?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly so," answered the engineer.</p> + +<p>"Electric?" cried Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Electric," replied Cyrus Harding. "We have all the necessary materials +for making a battery, and the most difficult thing will be to stretch +the wires, but by means of a draw-plate I think we shall manage it."</p> + +<p>"Well, after that," returned the sailor, "I shall never despair of +seeing ourselves some day rolling along on a railway!"</p> + +<p>They then set to work, beginning with the most difficult<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 206]</a></span> thing, for, if +they failed in that, it would be useless to manufacture the battery and +other accessories.</p> + +<p>The iron of Lincoln Island, as has been said, was of excellent quality, +and consequently very fit for being drawn out. Harding commenced by +manufacturing a draw-plate, that is to say, a plate of steel, pierced +with conical holes of different sizes, which would successively bring +the wire to the wished-for tenacity. This piece of steel, after having +been tempered, was fixed in as firm a way as possible in a solid +framework planted in the ground, only a few feet from the great fall, +the motive power of which the engineer intended to utilise. In fact, as +the fulling-mill was there, although not then in use, its beam moved +with extreme power would serve to stretch out the wire by rolling it +round itself. It was a delicate operation, and required much care. The +iron, prepared previously in long thin rods, the ends of which were +sharpened with the file, having been introduced into the largest hole of +the draw-plate, was drawn out by the beam which wound it round itself, +to a length of twenty-five or thirty feet, then unrolled, and the same +operation was performed successively through the holes of a less size. +Finally, the engineer obtained wires from forty to fifty feet long, +which could be easily fastened together and stretched over the distance +of five miles, which separated the corral from the bounds of Granite +House.</p> + +<p>It did not take more than a few days to perform this work, and indeed as +soon as the machine had been commenced, Cyrus Harding left his +companions to follow the trade of wire-drawers, and occupied himself +with manufacturing his battery.</p> + +<p>It was necessary to obtain a battery with a constant current. It is +known that the elements of modern batteries are generally composed of +retort coal, zinc, and copper. Copper was absolutely wanting to the +engineer, who, notwithstanding all his researches, had never been able +to find any trace of it in Lincoln Island, and was therefore obliged to +do without it. Retort coal, that is to say, the hard graphyte which is +found in the retorts of gas manufactories, after the coal has been +dehydrogenised, could have been obtained, but it would have been +necessary to establish a special apparatus, involving great labour. As +to zinc, it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 207]</a></span> may be remembered that the case found at Flotsam Point was +lined with this metal, which could not be better utilised than for this +purpose.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding, after mature consideration, decided to manufacture a very +simple battery, resembling as nearly as possible that invented by +Becquerel in 1820, and in which zinc only is employed. The other +substances, azotic acid and potash, were all at his disposal.</p> + +<p>The way in which the battery was composed was as follows, and the +results were to be attained by the reaction of acid and potash on each +other. A number of glass bottles were made and filled with azotic acid. +The engineer corked them by means of a stopper through which passed a +glass tube, bored at its lower extremity, and intended to be plunged +into the acid by means of a clay stopper secured by a rag. Into this +tube, through its upper extremity, he poured a solution of potash, +previously obtained by burning and reducing to ashes various plants, and +in this way the acid and potash could act on each other through the +clay.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding then took two slips of zinc, one of which was plunged into +azotic acid, the other into a solution of potash. A current was +immediately produced, which was transmitted from the slip of zinc in the +bottle to that in the tube, and the two slips having been connected by a +metallic wire the slip in the tube became the positive pole, and that in +the bottle the negative pole of the apparatus. Each bottle, therefore, +produced as many currents as united would be sufficient to produce all +the phenomena of the electric telegraph. Such was the ingenious and very +simple apparatus constructed by Cyrus Harding, an apparatus which would +allow them to establish a telegraphic communication between Granite +House and the corral.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of February was commenced the planting, along the road to the +corral, of posts, furnished with glass insulators, and intended to +support the wire. A few days after, the wire was extended, ready to +produce the electric current at a rate of twenty thousand miles a +second.</p> + +<p>Two batteries had been manufactured, one for Granite House, the other +for the corral; for if it was necessary the corral should be able to +communicate with Granite House,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 208]</a></span> it might also be useful that Granite +House should be able to communicate with the corral.</p> + +<p>As to the receiver and manipulator, they were very simple. At the two +stations the wire was wound round a magnet, that is to say, round a +piece of soft iron surrounded with a wire. The communication was thus +established between the two poles, the current, starting from the +positive pole, traversed the wire, passed through the magnet which was +temporarily magnetised, and returned through the earth to the negative +pole. If the current was interrupted the magnet immediately became +unmagnetised. It was sufficient to place a plate of soft iron before the +magnet, which, attracted during the passage of the current, would fall +back when the current was interrupted. This movement of the plate thus +obtained, Harding could easily fasten to it a needle arranged on a dial, +bearing the letters of the alphabet, and in this way communicate from +one station to the other.</p> + +<p>All was completely arranged by the 12th of February. On this day, +Harding, having sent the current through the wire, asked if all was +going on well at the corral, and received in a few moments a +satisfactory reply from Ayrton. Pencroft was wild with joy, and every +morning and evening he sent a telegram to the corral, which always +received an answer.</p> + +<p>This mode of communication presented two very real advantages; firstly, +because it enabled them to ascertain that Ayrton was at the corral, and +secondly, that he was thus not left completely isolated. Besides, Cyrus +Harding never allowed a week to pass without going to see him, and +Ayrton came from time to time to Granite House, where he always found a +cordial welcome.</p> + +<p>The fine season passed away in the midst of the usual work. The +resources of the colony, particularly in vegetables and corn, increased +from day to day; and the plants brought from Tabor Island had succeeded +perfectly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 314px;"> +<img src="images/aban110.jpg" class="jpg" width="314" height="448" alt="THE ENGINEER AT WORK" title="THE ENGINEER AT WORK" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban110.jpg"><b>THE ENGINEER AT WORK</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>The plateau of Prospect Heights presented an encouraging aspect. The +fourth harvest had been admirable, and it may be supposed that no one +thought of counting whether the four hundred thousand millions of grains +duly appeared in the crop. However, Pencroft had thought of doing so, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 210]</a></span>but Cyrus Harding having told him that even if he managed to count +three hundred grains a minute, or nine thousand an hour, it would take +him nearly five thousand five hundred years to finish his task, the +honest sailor considered it best to give up the idea.</p> + +<p>The weather was splendid, the temperature very warm in the day time; but +in the evening the sea-breezes tempered the heat of the atmosphere and +procured cool nights for the inhabitants of Granite House. There were, +however, a few storms, which, although they were not of long duration, +swept over Lincoln Island with extraordinary fury. The lightning blazed +and the thunder continued to roll for some hours.</p> + +<p>At this period the little colony was extremely prosperous.</p> + +<p>The tenants of the poultry-yard swarmed, and they lived on the surplus, +but it became necessary to reduce the population to a more moderate +number. The pigs had already produced young, and it may be understood +that their care for those animals absorbed a great part of Neb and +Pencroft's time. The onagas, who had two pretty colts, were most often +mounted by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, who had become an excellent rider +under the reporter's instruction, and they also harnessed them to the +cart either for carrying wood and coal to Granite House, or different +mineral productions required by the engineer.</p> + +<p>Several expeditions were made about this time into the depths of the Far +West Forests. The explorers could venture there without having anything +to fear from the heat, for the sun's rays scarcely penetrated through +the thick foliage spreading above their heads. They thus visited all the +left bank of the Mercy, along which ran the road from the corral to the +mouth of Falls River.</p> + +<p>But in these excursions the settlers took care to be well armed, for +they frequently met with savage wild boars, with which they often had a +tussle. They also, during this season, made fierce war against the +jaguars. Gideon Spilett had vowed a special hatred against them, and his +pupil Herbert seconded him well. Armed as they were, they no longer +feared to meet one of those beasts. Herbert's courage was superb, and +the reporter's <i>sang froid</i> astonishing. Already twenty magnificent +skins ornamented the dining-room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 211]</a></span> of Granite House, and if this +continued, the jaguar race would soon be extinct in the island, the +object aimed at by the hunters.</p> + +<p>The engineer sometimes took part in the expeditions made to the unknown +parts of the island, which he surveyed with great attention. It was for +other traces than those of animals that he searched the thickest of the +vast forest, but nothing suspicious ever appeared. Neither Top nor Jup, +who accompanied him, ever betrayed by their behaviour that there was +anything strange there, and yet more than once again the dog barked at +the mouth of the well, which the engineer had before explored without +result.</p> + +<p>At this time Gideon Spilett, aided by Herbert, took several views of the +most picturesque parts of the island, by means of the photographic +apparatus found in the cases, and of which they had not as yet made any +use.</p> + +<p>This apparatus, provided with a powerful object-glass, was very +complete. Substances necessary for the photographic reproduction, +collodion for preparing the glass plate, nitrate of silver to render it +sensitive, hyposulphate of soda to fix the prints obtained, chloride of +ammonium in which to soak the paper destined to give the positive proof, +acetate of soda and chloride of gold in which to immerse the paper, +nothing was wanting. Even the papers were there, all prepared, and +before laying in the printing-frame upon the negatives, it was +sufficient to soak them for a few minutes in the solution of nitrate of +silver.</p> + +<p>The reporter and his assistant became in a short time very skilful +operators, and they obtained fine views of the country, such as the +island, taken from Prospect Heights with Mount Franklin in the distance, +the mouth of the Mercy, so picturesquely framed in high rocks, the glade +and the corral, with the spurs of the mountain in the background, the +curious development of Claw Cape, Flotsam Point, etc.</p> + +<p>Nor did the photographers forget to take the portraits of all the +inhabitants of the island, leaving out no one.</p> + +<p>"It multiplies us," said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>And the sailor was enchanted to see his own countenance, faithfully +reproduced, ornamenting the walls of Granite House, and he stopped as +willingly before this exhibition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 212]</a></span> as he would have done before the +richest shop-windows in Broadway.</p> + +<p>But it must be acknowledged that the most successful portrait was +incontestably that of Master Jup. Master Jup had sat with a gravity not +to be described, and his portrait was lifelike!</p> + +<p>"He looks as if he was just going to grin!" exclaimed Pencroft.</p> + +<p>And if Master Jup had not been satisfied, he would have been very +difficult to please, but he was quite contented, and contemplated his +own countenance with a sentimental air which expressed some small amount +of conceit.</p> + +<p>The summer heat ended with the month of March. The weather was sometimes +rainy, but still warm. The month of March, which corresponds to the +September of northern latitudes, was not so fine as might have been +hoped. Perhaps it announced an early and rigorous winter.</p> + +<p>It might have been supposed one morning—the 21st—that the first snow +had already made its appearance. In fact Herbert, looking early from one +of the windows of Granite House, exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Hallo! the islet is covered with snow!"</p> + +<p>"Snow at this time?" answered the reporter, joining the boy.</p> + +<p>Their companions were soon beside them, but could only ascertain one +thing, that not only the islet, but all the beach below Granite House, +was covered with one uniform sheet of white.</p> + +<p>"It must be snow!" said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Or rather it's very like it!" replied Neb.</p> + +<p>"But the thermometer marks fifty-eight degrees!" observed Gideon +Spilett.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding gazed at the sheet of white without saying anything, for +he really did not know how to explain this phenomenon, at this time of +year and in such a temperature.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" exclaimed Pencroft, "all our plants will be frozen!"</p> + +<p>And the sailor was about to descend, when he was preceded by the nimble +Jup, who slid down to the sand.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 316px;"> +<img src="images/aban112.jpg" class="jpg" width="316" height="448" alt="JUP SITTING FOR HIS PORTRAIT" title="JUP SITTING FOR HIS PORTRAIT" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban112.jpg"><b>JUP SITTING FOR HIS PORTRAIT</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>But the orang had not touched the ground, when the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 214]</a></span> snowy sheet arose +and dispersed in the air in such innumerable flakes that the light of +the sun was obscured for some minutes.</p> + +<p>"Birds!" cried Herbert.</p> + +<p>They were indeed swarms of sea-birds, with dazzling white plumage. They +had perched by thousands on the islet and on the shore, and they +disappeared in the distance, leaving the colonists amazed as if they had +been present at some transformation scene, in which summer succeeded +winter at the touch of a fairy's wand. Unfortunately the change had been +so sudden that neither the reporter nor the lad had been able to bring +down one of these birds, of which they could not recognise the species.</p> + +<p>A few days after came the 26th of March, the day on which, two years +before, the castaways from the air had been thrown upon Lincoln Island.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 215]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/aban113.jpg" class="jpg" width="317" height="448" alt="THE SNOWY SHEET AROSE AND DISPERSED IN THE AIR" title="THE SNOWY SHEET AROSE AND DISPERSED IN THE AIR" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban113.jpg"><b>THE SNOWY SHEET AROSE AND DISPERSED IN THE AIR</b></a></span> +</div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Recollections of their Native Land—Probable Future—Project for +surveying the Coasts of the Island—Departure on the 16th of +April—Sea-view of Reptile End—The basaltic Rocks of the Western +Coast—Bad Weather—Night comes on—New Incident.</p></div> + + +<p>Two years already! and for two years the colonists had had no +communication with their fellow-creatures! They were without news from +the civilised world, lost on this island, as completely as if they had +been on the most minute star of the celestial hemisphere!</p> + +<p>What was now happening in their country? The picture of their native +land was always before their eyes, the land torn by civil war at the +time they left it, and which the Southern rebellion was perhaps still +staining with blood! It was a great sorrow to them, and they often +talked together of these things, without ever doubting however that the +cause of the North must triumph, for the honour of the American +Confederation.</p> + +<p>During these two years not a vessel had passed in sight of the island; +or, at least, not a sail had been seen. It was evident that Lincoln +Island was out of the usual track, and also that it was unknown,—as was +besides proved by the maps,—for though there was no port, vessels might +have visited it for the purpose of renewing their store of water. But +the surrounding ocean was deserted as far as the eye could reach, and +the colonists must rely on themselves for regaining their native land.</p> + +<p>However, one chance of rescue existed, and this chance was discussed one +day in the first week of April, when the colonists were gathered +together in the dining-room of Granite House.</p> + +<p>They had been talking of America, of their native country, which they +had so little hope of ever seeing again.</p> + +<p>"Decidedly we have only one way," said Spilett, "one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 217]</a></span> single way for +leaving Lincoln Island, and that is, to build a vessel large enough to +sail several hundred miles. It appears to me, that when one has built a +boat it is just as easy to build a ship!"</p> + +<p>"And in which we might go to the Pomatous," added Herbert, "just as +easily as we went to Tabor Island."</p> + +<p>"I do not say no," replied Pencroft, who had always the casting vote in +maritime questions; "I do not say no, although it is not exactly the +same thing to make a long as a short voyage! If our little craft had +been caught in any heavy gale of wind during the voyage to Tabor Island, +we should have known that land was at no great distance either way; but +twelve hundred miles is a pretty long way, and the nearest land is at +least that distance!"</p> + +<p>"Would you not, in that case, Pencroft, attempt the adventure?" asked +the reporter.</p> + +<p>"I will attempt anything that is desired, Mr. Spilett," answered the +sailor, "and you know well that I am not a man to flinch!"</p> + +<p>"Remember, besides, that we number another sailor amongst us now," +remarked Neb.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" asked Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Ayrton."</p> + +<p>"That is true," replied Herbert.</p> + +<p>"If he will consent to come," said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" returned the reporter; "do you think that if Lord +Glenarvan's yacht had appeared at Tabor Island, whilst he was still +living there, Ayrton would have refused to depart?"</p> + +<p>"You forget, my friends," then said Cyrus Harding, "that Ayrton was not +in possession of his reason during the last years of his stay there. But +that is not the question. The point is to know if we may count among our +chances of being rescued, the return of the Scotch vessel. Now, Lord +Glenarvan promised Ayrton that he would return to take him off Tabor +Island when he considered that his crimes were expiated, and I believe +that he will return."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the reporter, "and I will add that he will return soon, for +it is twelve years since Ayrton was abandoned!"</p> + +<p>"Well!" answered Pencroft, "I agree with you that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 218]</a></span> nobleman will +return, and soon too. But where will he touch? At Tabor Island, and not +at Lincoln Island."</p> + +<p>"That is the more certain," replied Herbert, "as Lincoln Island is not +even marked on the map."</p> + +<p>"Therefore, my friends," said the engineer, "we ought to take the +necessary precautions for making our presence, and that of Ayrton on +Lincoln Island known at Tabor Island."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," answered the reporter, "and nothing is easier than to place +in the hut, which was Captain Grant's and Ayrton's dwelling, a notice +which Lord Glenarvan and his crew cannot help finding, giving the +position of our island."</p> + +<p>"It is a pity," remarked the sailor, "that we forgot to take that +precaution on our first visit to Tabor Island."</p> + +<p>"And why should we have done it?" asked Herbert.</p> + +<p>"At that time we did not know Ayrton's history; we did not know that any +one was likely to come some day to fetch him; and when we did know his +history, the season was too advanced to allow us to return then to Tabor +Island."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Harding, "it was too late, and we must put off the voyage +until next spring."</p> + +<p>"But suppose the Scotch yacht comes before that," said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"That is not probable," replied the engineer, "for Lord Glenarvan would +not choose the winter season to venture into these seas. Either he has +already returned to Tabor Island, since Ayrton has been with us, that is +to say, during the last five months and has left again; or he will not +come till later, and it will be time enough in the first fine October +days to go to Tabor Island, and leave a notice there."</p> + +<p>"We must allow," said Neb, "that it will be very unfortunate if the +<i>Duncan</i> has returned to these parts only a few months ago!"</p> + +<p>"I hope that it is not so," replied Cyrus Harding, "and that Heaven has +not deprived us of the best chance which remains to us."</p> + +<p>"I think," observed the reporter, "that at any rate we shall know what +we have to depend on when we have been to Tabor Island, for if the yacht +has returned there, they will necessarily have left some traces of their +visit."</p> + +<p>"That is evident," answered the engineer. "So then, my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 219]</a></span> friends, since +we have this chance of returning to our country, we must wait patiently, +and if it is taken from us we shall see what will be best to do."</p> + +<p>"At any rate," remarked Pencroft, "it is well understood that if we do +leave Lincoln Island in some way or another, it will not be because we +were uncomfortable there!"</p> + +<p>"No, Pencroft," replied the engineer, "it will be because we are far +from all that a man holds dearest in this world, his family, his +friends, his native land!"</p> + +<p>Matters being thus decided, the building of a vessel large enough to +sail either to the Archipelagos in the north, or to New Zealand in the +west, was no longer talked of, and they busied themselves in their +accustomed occupations, with a view to wintering a third time in Granite +House.</p> + +<p>However, it was agreed that before the stormy weather came on, their +little vessel should be employed in making a voyage round the island. A +complete survey of the coast had not yet been made, and the colonists +had but an imperfect idea of the shore to the west and north, from the +mouth of Falls River to the Mandible Capes, as well as of the narrow bay +between them, which opened like a shark's jaws.</p> + +<p>The plan of this excursion was proposed by Pencroft, and Cyrus Harding +fully acquiesced in it, for he himself wished to see this part of his +domain.</p> + +<p>The weather was variable, but the barometer did not fluctuate by sudden +movements, and they could therefore count on tolerable weather. However, +during the first week of April, after a sudden barometrical fall, a +renewed rise was marked by a heavy gale of wind, lasting five or six +days; then the needle of the instrument remained stationary at a height +of twenty-nine inches and nine-tenths, and the weather appeared +propitious for an excursion.</p> + +<p>The departure was fixed for the 16th of April, and the <i>Bonadventure</i>, +anchored in Port Balloon, was provisioned for a voyage which might be of +some duration.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding informed Ayrton of the projected expedition, and proposed +that he should take part in it; but Ayrton preferring to remain on +shore, it was decided that he should come to Granite House during the +absence of his companions. Master Jup was ordered to keep him company, +and made no remonstrance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the morning of the 16th of April all the colonists, including Top, +embarked. A fine breeze blew from the south-west, and the <i>Bonadventure</i> +tacked on leaving Port Balloon so as to reach Reptile End. Of the ninety +miles which the perimeter of the island measured, twenty included the +south coast between the port and the promontory. The wind being right +ahead, it was necessary to hug the shore.</p> + +<p>It took the whole day to reach the promontory, for the vessel on leaving +port had only two hours of the ebb tide, and had therefore to make way +for six hours against the flood. It was nightfall before the promontory +was doubled.</p> + +<p>The sailor then proposed to the engineer that they should continue +sailing slowly with two reefs in the sail. But Harding preferred to +anchor a few cable-lengths from the shore, so as to survey that part of +the coast during the day. It was agreed also that as they were anxious +for a minute exploration of the coast they should not sail during the +night, but would always, when the weather permitted it, be at anchor +near the shore.</p> + +<p>The night was passed under the promontory, and the wind having fallen, +nothing disturbed the silence. The passengers, with the exception of the +sailor, scarcely slept as well on board the <i>Bonadventure</i> as they would +have done in their rooms at Granite House, but they did sleep however. +Pencroft set sail at break of day, and by going on the larboard tack +they could keep close to the shore.</p> + +<p>The colonists knew this beautiful wooded coast, since they had already +explored it on foot, and yet it again excited their admiration. They +coasted along as close in as possible, so as to notice everything, +avoiding always the trunks of trees which floated here and there. +Several times also they anchored, and Gideon Spilett took photographs of +the superb scenery.</p> + +<p>About noon the <i>Bonadventure</i> arrived at the mouth of Falls River. +Beyond, on the left bank, a few scattered trees appeared, and three +miles further even these dwindled into solitary groups among the western +spurs of the mountain, whose arid ridge sloped down to the shore.</p> + +<p>What a contrast between the northern and southern part of the coast! In +proportion as one was woody and fertile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 221]</a></span> so was the other rugged and +barren! It might have been designated as one of those iron coasts, as +they are called in some countries, and its wild confusion appeared to +indicate that a sudden crystallisation had been produced in the yet +liquid basalt of some distant geological sea. These stupendous masses +would have terrified the settlers if they had been cast at first on this +part of the island! They had not been able to perceive the sinister +aspect of this shore from the summit of Mount Franklin, for they +overlooked it from too great a height, but viewed from the sea it +presented a wild appearance which could not perhaps be equalled in any +corner of the globe.</p> + +<p>The <i>Bonadventure</i> sailed along this coast for the distance of half a +mile. It was easy to see that it was composed of blocks of all sizes, +from twenty to three hundred feet in height, and of all shapes, round +like towers, prismatic like steeples, pyramidal like obelisks, conical +like factory chimneys. An iceberg of the Polar seas could not have been +more capricious in its terrible sublimity! Here, bridges were thrown +from one rock to another; there, arches like those of a wave, into the +depths of which the eye could not penetrate; in one place, large vaulted +excavations presented a monumental aspect; in another, a crowd of +columns, spires, and arches, such as no Gothic cathedral ever possessed. +Every caprice of nature, still more varied than those of the +imagination, appeared on this grand coast, which extended over a length +of eight or nine miles.</p> + +<p>Cyrus Harding and his companions gazed, with a feeling of surprise +bordering on stupefaction. But, although they remained silent, Top, not +being troubled with feelings of this sort, uttered barks which were +repeated by the thousand echoes of the basaltic cliff. The engineer even +observed that these barks had something strange in them, like those +which the dog had uttered at the mouth of the well in Granite House.</p> + +<p>"Let us go close in," said he.</p> + +<p>And the <i>Bonadventure</i> sailed as near as possible to the rocky shore. +Perhaps some cave, which it would be advisable to explore, existed +there? But Harding saw nothing, not a cavern, not a cleft which could +serve as a retreat to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 222]</a></span> any being whatever, for the foot of the cliff was +washed by the surf. Soon Top's barks ceased, and the vessel continued +her course at a few cable-lengths from the coast.</p> + +<p>In the north-west part of the island the shore became again flat and +sandy. A few trees here and there rose above a low, marshy ground, which +the colonists had already surveyed; and in violent contrast to the other +desert shore, life was again manifested by the presence of myriads of +water-fowl. That evening the <i>Bonadventure</i> anchored in a small bay to +the north of the island, near the land, such was the depth of water +there. The night passed quietly, for the breeze died away with the last +light of day, and only rose again with the first streaks of dawn.</p> + +<p>As it was easy to land, the usual hunters of the colony, that is to say, +Herbert and Gideon Spilett, went for a ramble of two hours or so, and +returned with several strings of wild duck and snipe. Top had done +wonders, and not a bird had been lost, thanks to his zeal and +cleverness.</p> + +<p>At eight o'clock in the morning the <i>Bonadventure</i> set sail, and ran +rapidly towards North Mandible Cape, for the wind was right astern and +freshening rapidly.</p> + +<p>"However," observed Pencroft, "I should not be surprised if a gale came +up from the west. Yesterday the sun set in a very red-looking horizon, +and now, this morning, those mares-tails don't forebode anything good."</p> + +<p>These mares-tails are cirrus clouds, scattered in the zenith, their +height from the sea being less than five thousand feet. They look like +light pieces of cotton wool, and their presence usually announces some +sudden change in the weather.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Harding, "let us carry as much sail as possible, and run +for shelter into Shark Gulf. I think that the <i>Bonadventure</i> will be +safe there."</p> + +<p>"Perfectly," replied Pencroft, "and besides, the north coast is merely +sand, very uninteresting to look at."</p> + +<p>"I shall not be sorry," resumed the engineer, "to pass not only to-night +but to-morrow in that bay, which is worth being carefully explored."</p> + +<p>"I think that we shall be obliged to do so, whether we like it or not," +answered Pencroft, "for the sky looks very threatening towards the west. +Dirty weather is coming on!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At any rate we have a favourable wind for reaching Cape Mandible," +observed the reporter.</p> + +<p>"A very fine wind," replied the sailor; "but we must tack to enter the +gulf, and I should like to see my way clear in these unknown quarters."</p> + +<p>"Quarters which appear to be filled with rocks," added Herbert, "if we +judge by what we saw on the south coast of Shark Gulf."</p> + +<p>"Pencroft," said Cyrus Harding, "do as you think best, we will leave it +to you."</p> + +<p>"Don't make your mind uneasy, captain," replied the sailor, "I shall not +expose myself needlessly! I would rather a knife were run into my ribs +than a sharp rock into those of my <i>Bonadventure</i>!"</p> + +<p>That which Pencroft called ribs was the part of his vessel under water, +and he valued it more than his own skin.</p> + +<p>"What o'clock is it?" asked Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"Ten o'clock," replied Gideon Spilett.</p> + +<p>"And what distance is it to the Cape, captain?"</p> + +<p>"About fifteen miles," replied the engineer.</p> + +<p>"That's a matter of two hours and a half," said the sailor, "and we +shall be off the Cape between twelve and one o'clock. Unluckily, the +tide will be turning at that moment, and will be ebbing out of the gulf. +I am afraid that it will be very difficult to get in, having both wind +and tide against us."</p> + +<p>"And the more so that it is a full moon to-day," remarked Herbert, "and +these April tides are very strong."</p> + +<p>"Well, Pencroft," asked Cyrus Harding, "can you not anchor off the +Cape?"</p> + +<p>"Anchor near land, with bad weather coming on!" exclaimed the sailor. +"What are you thinking of, captain? We should run aground to a +certainty!"</p> + +<p>"What will you do then?"</p> + +<p>"I shall try to keep in the offing until the flood, that is to say, till +about seven in the evening, and if there is still light enough I will +try to enter the gulf; if not, we must stand off and on during the +night, and we will enter to-morrow at sunrise."</p> + +<p>"As I told you, Pencroft, we will leave it to you," answered Harding.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Pencroft, "if there was only a light-house on the coast, it +would be much more convenient for sailors."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Herbert, "and this time we shall have no obliging +engineer to light a fire to guide us into port!"</p> + +<p>"Why, indeed, my dear Cyrus," said Spilett, "we have never thanked you +for it, but frankly, without that fire we should never have been able to +reach—"</p> + +<p>"A fire?" asked Harding, much astonished at the reporter's words.</p> + +<p>"We mean, captain," answered Pencroft, "that on board the <i>Bonadventure</i> +we were very anxious during the few hours before our return, and we +should have passed to windward of the island, if it had not been for the +precaution you took of lighting a fire in the night of the 19th of +October, on Prospect Heights."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! That was a lucky idea of mine!" replied the engineer.</p> + +<p>"And this time," continued the sailor, "unless the idea occurs to +Ayrton, there will be no one to do us that little service!"</p> + +<p>"No! no one!" answered Cyrus Harding.</p> + +<p>A few minutes after, finding himself alone in the bows of the vessel +with the reporter, the engineer bent down and whispered,—</p> + +<p>"If there is one thing certain in this world, Spilett, it is that I +never lighted any fire during the night of the 19th of October, neither +on Prospect Heights nor on any other part of the island!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 305px;"> +<img src="images/aban118.jpg" class="jpg" width="305" height="448" alt="ANOTHER MYSTERY" title="ANOTHER MYSTERY" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban118.jpg"><b>ANOTHER MYSTERY</b></a></span> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A Night at Sea—Shark Gulf—Confidences—Preparations for +Winter—Forwardness of the bad Season—Severe Cold—Work in the +Interior—In six Months—A photographic Negative—Unexpected +Incident.</p></div> + + +<p>Things happened as Pencroft had predicted, he being seldom mistaken in +his prognostications. The wind rose, and from a fresh breeze it soon +increased to a regular gale; that is to say, it acquired a speed of from +forty to forty-five miles an hour, before which a ship in the open sea +would have run under close-reefed topsails. Now, as it was nearly six +o'clock when the <i>Bonadventure</i> reached the gulf, and as at that moment +the tide turned, it was impossible to enter. They were therefore +compelled to stand off, for even if he had wished to do so, Pencroft +could not have gained the mouth of the Mercy. Hoisting the jib to the +mainmast by way of a storm-sail, he hove to, putting the head of the +vessel towards the land.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, although the wind was strong, the sea, being sheltered by +the land, did not run very high. They had then little to fear from the +waves, which always endanger small craft. The <i>Bonadventure</i> would +doubtlessly not have capsized, for she was well ballasted; but enormous +masses of water falling on the deck, might injure her, if her timbers +could not sustain them. Pencroft, as a good sailor, was prepared for +anything. Certainly, he had great confidence in his vessel, but +nevertheless he awaited the return of day with some anxiety.</p> + +<p>During the night, Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett had no opportunity +for talking together, and yet the words pronounced in the reporter's ear +by the engineer were well worth being discussed, together with the +mysterious influence which appeared to reign over Lincoln Island. Gideon +Spilett did not cease from pondering over this new and inexplicable +incident,—the appearance of a fire on the coast of the island.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 227]</a></span> The +fire had actually been seen! His companions, Herbert and Pencroft, had +seen it with him! The fire had served to signalise the position of the +island during that dark night, and they had not doubted that it was +lighted by the engineer's hand; and here was Cyrus Harding expressly +declaring that he had never done anything of the sort! Spilett resolved +to recur to this incident as soon as the <i>Bonadventure</i> returned, and to +urge Cyrus Harding to acquaint their companions with these strange +facts. Perhaps it would be decided to make in common a complete +investigation of every part of Lincoln Island.</p> + +<p>However that might be, on this evening no fire was lighted on these yet +unknown shores, which formed the entrance to the gulf, and the little +vessel stood off during the night.</p> + +<p>When the first streaks of dawn appeared in the western horizon, the +wind, which had slightly fallen, shifted two points, and enabled +Pencroft to enter the narrow gulf with greater ease. Towards seven +o'clock in the morning, the <i>Bonadventure</i>, weathering the North +Mandible Cape, entered the strait and glided on to the waters, so +strangely enclosed in the frame of lava.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Pencroft, "this bay would make admirable roads, in which a +whole fleet could lie at their ease!"</p> + +<p>"What is especially curious," observed Harding, "is that the gulf has +been formed by two rivers of lava, thrown out by the volcano, and +accumulated by successive eruptions. The result is that the gulf is +completely sheltered on all sides, and I believe that even in the +stormiest weather, the sea here must be as calm as a lake."</p> + +<p>"No doubt," returned the sailor, "since the wind has only that narrow +entrance between the two capes to get in by; and besides, the north cape +protects that of the south in a way which would make the entrance of +gusts very difficult. I declare our <i>Bonadventure</i> could stay here from +one end of the year to the other, without even dragging at her anchor!"</p> + +<p>"It is rather large for her!" observed the reporter.</p> + +<p>"Well! Mr. Spilett," replied the sailor, "I agree that it is too large +for the <i>Bonadventure</i>; but if the fleets of the Union were in want of a +harbour in the Pacific, I don't think they would ever find a better +place than this!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We are in the shark's mouth," remarked Neb, alluding to the form of the +gulf.</p> + +<p>"Right into its mouth, my honest Neb!" replied Herbert; "but you are not +afraid that it will shut upon us, are you?"</p> + +<p>"No, Mr. Herbert," answered Neb; "and yet this gulf here doesn't please +me much! It has a wicked look!"</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" cried Pencroft, "here is Neb turning up his nose at my gulf, +just as I was thinking of presenting it to America!"</p> + +<p>"But, at any rate, is the water deep enough?" asked the engineer, "for a +depth sufficient for the keel of the <i>Bonadventure</i>, would not be enough +for those of our iron-clads."</p> + +<p>"That is easily found out," replied Pencroft.</p> + +<p>And the sailor sounded with a long cord, which served him as a +lead-line, and to which was fastened a lump of iron. This cord measured +nearly fifty fathoms, and its entire length was unrolled without finding +any bottom.</p> + +<p>"There," exclaimed Pencroft, "our iron-clads can come here after all! +They would not run aground!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Gideon Spilett, "this gulf is a regular abyss; but, +taking into consideration the volcanic origin of the island, it is not +astonishing that the sea should offer similar depressions."</p> + +<p>"One would say too," observed Herbert, "that these cliffs were perfectly +perpendicular; and I believe that at their foot, even with a line five +or six times longer, Pencroft would not find the bottom."</p> + +<p>"That is all very well," then said the reporter; "but I must point out +to Pencroft that his harbour is wanting in one very important respect!"</p> + +<p>"And what is that, Mr. Spilett?"</p> + +<p>"An opening, a cutting of some sort, to give access to the interior of +the island. I do not see a spot on which we could land."</p> + +<p>And, in fact, the steep lava cliffs did not afford a single place +suitable for landing. They formed an insuperable barrier, recalling, but +with more wildness, the fiords of Norway. The <i>Bonadventure</i>, coasting +as close as possible along the cliffs, did not discover even a +projection which would allow the passengers to leave the deck.</p> + +<p>Pencroft consoled himself by saying that with the help<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 229]</a></span> of a mine they +could soon open out the cliff when that was necessary, and then, as +there was evidently nothing to be done in the gulf, he steered his +vessel towards the strait and passed out at about two o'clock in the +afternoon.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Neb, uttering a sigh of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>One might really say that the honest negro did not feel at his ease in +those enormous jaws.</p> + +<p>The distance from Mandible Cape to the mouth of the Mercy was not more +than eight miles. The head of the <i>Bonadventure</i> was put towards Granite +House, and a fair wind filling her sails, she ran rapidly along the +coast.</p> + +<p>To the enormous lava rocks succeeded soon those capricious sand dunes, +among which the engineer had been so singularly recovered, and which +sea-birds frequented in thousands.</p> + +<p>About four o'clock, Pencroft, leaving the point of the islet on his +left, entered the channel which separated it from the coast, and at five +o'clock the anchor of the <i>Bonadventure</i> was buried in the sand at the +mouth of the Mercy.</p> + +<p>The colonists had been absent three days from their dwelling. Ayrton was +waiting for them on the beach, and Jup came joyously to meet them, +giving vent to deep grunts of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>A complete exploration of the coast of the island had now been made, and +no suspicious appearances had been observed. If any mysterious being +resided on it, it could only be under cover of the impenetrable forest +of the Serpentine Peninsula, to which the colonists had not yet directed +their investigations.</p> + +<p>Gideon Spilett discussed these things with the engineer, and it was +agreed that they should direct the attention of their companions to the +strange character of certain incidents which had occurred on the island, +and of which the last was the most unaccountable.</p> + +<p>However, Harding, returning to the fact of a fire having been kindled on +the shore by an unknown hand, could not refrain from repeating for the +twentieth time to the reporter—</p> + +<p>"But are you quite sure of having seen it? Was it not a partial eruption +of the volcano, or perhaps some meteor?"</p> + +<p>"No, Cyrus," answered the reporter; "it was certainly a fire lighted by +the hand of man. Besides, question Pencroft<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 230]</a></span> and Herbert. They saw it as +I saw it myself, and they will confirm my words."</p> + +<p>In consequence therefore, a few days after, on the 25th of April, in the +evening, when the settlers were all collected on Prospect Heights, Cyrus +Harding began by saying,—</p> + +<p>"My friends, I think it my duty to call your attention to certain +incidents which have occurred in the island, on the subject of which I +shall be happy to have your advice. These incidents are, so to speak, +supernatural—"</p> + +<p>"Supernatural!" exclaimed the sailor, emitting a volume of smoke from +his mouth. "Can it be possible that our island is supernatural?"</p> + +<p>"No, Pencroft, but mysterious, most certainly," replied the engineer; +"unless you can explain that which Spilett and I have until now failed +to understand."</p> + +<p>"Speak away, captain," answered the sailor.</p> + +<p>"Well, have you understood," then said the engineer, "how was it that +after falling into the sea, I was found a quarter of a mile into the +interior of the island, and that, without my having any consciousness of +my removal there?"</p> + +<p>"Unless, being unconscious—" said Pencroft.</p> + +<p>"That is not admissible," replied the engineer. "But to continue. Have +you understood how Top was able to discover your retreat five miles from +the cave in which I was lying?"</p> + +<p>"The dog's instinct—" observed Herbert.</p> + +<p>"Singular instinct!" returned the reporter; "since notwithstanding the +storm of rain and wind which was raging during that night, Top arrived +at the Chimneys, dry and without a speck of mud!"</p> + +<p>"Let us continue," resumed the engineer. "Have you understood how our +dog was so strangely thrown up out of the waters of the lake, after his +struggle with the dugong?"</p> + +<p>"No! I confess, not at all," replied Pencroft; "and the wound which the +dugong had in its side, a wound which seemed to have been made with a +sharp instrument; that can't be understood either."</p> + +<p>"Let us continue again," said Harding. "Have you understood, my friends, +how that bullet got into the body of the young peccary; how that case +happened to be so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 231]</a></span> fortunately stranded, without there being any trace +of a wreck; how that bottle containing the document presented itself so +opportunely, during our first sea-excursion; how our canoe, having +broken its moorings, floated down the current of the Mercy and rejoined +us precisely at the very moment we needed it; how after the ape invasion +the ladder was so obligingly thrown down from Granite House; and lastly, +how the document, which Ayrton asserts was never written by him, fell +into our hands?"</p> + +<p>As Cyrus Harding thus enumerated, without forgetting one, the singular +incidents which had occurred in the island, Herbert, Neb, and Pencraft +stared at each other, not knowing what to reply, for this succession of +incidents, grouped thus for the first time, could not but excite their +surprise to the highest degree.</p> + +<p>"'Pon my word," said Pencroft at last, "you are right, captain, and it +is difficult to explain all these things!"</p> + +<p>"Well, my friends," resumed the engineer, "a last fact has just been +added to these, and it is no less incomprehensible than the others!"</p> + +<p>"What is it, captain?" asked Herbert quickly.</p> + +<p>"When you were returning from Tabor Island, Pencroft," continued the +engineer, "you said that a fire appeared on Lincoln Island?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," answered the sailor.</p> + +<p>"And you are quite certain of having seen this fire?"</p> + +<p>"As sure as I see you now."</p> + +<p>"You also, Herbert?"</p> + +<p>"Why, captain," cried Herbert, "that fire was blazing like a star of the +first magnitude!"</p> + +<p>"But was it not a star?" urged the engineer.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Pencroft, "for the sky was covered with thick clouds, and +at any rate a star would not have been so low on the horizon. But Mr. +Spilett saw it as well as we, and he will confirm our words."</p> + +<p>"I will add," said the reporter, "that the fire was very bright, and +that it shot up like a sheet of lightning."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! exactly," added Herbert, "and it was certainly placed on the +heights of Granite House."</p> + +<p>"Well, my friends," replied Cyrus Harding, "during the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 232]</a></span> night of the +19th of October, neither Neb nor I lighted any fire on the coast."</p> + +<p>"You did not!" exclaimed Pencroft, in the height of his astonishment, +not being able to finish his sentence.</p> + +<p>"We did not leave Granite House," answered Cyrus Harding, "and if a fire +appeared on the coast, it was lighted by another hand than ours!"</p> + +<p>Pencraft, Herbert, and Neb were stupefied. No illusion could be +possible, and a fire had actually met their eyes during the night of the +19th of October.</p> + +<p>Yes! they were obliged to acknowledge it, a mystery existed! An +inexplicable influence, evidently favourable to the colonists, but very +irritating to their curiosity, was executed always in the nick of time +on Lincoln Island. Could there be some being hidden in its profoundest +recesses? It was necessary at any cost to ascertain this.</p> + +<p>Harding also reminded his companions of the singular behaviour of Top +and Jup when they prowled round the mouth of the well, which placed +Granite House in communication with the sea, and he told them that he +had explored the well, without discovering anything suspicious. The +final resolve taken, in consequence of this conversation, by all the +members of the colony, was that as soon as the fine season returned they +would thoroughly search the whole of the island.</p> + +<p>But from that day, Pencroft appeared to be anxious. He felt as if the +island which he had made his own personal property belonged to him +entirely no longer, and that he shared it with another master, to whom +whether willing or not, he felt subject. Neb and he often talked of +those unaccountable things, and both, their natures inclining them to +the marvellous, were not far from believing that Lincoln Island was +under the dominion of some supernatural power.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, the bad weather came with the month of May, the +November of the northern zones. It appeared that the winter would be +severe and forward. The preparations for the winter season were +therefore commenced without delay.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/aban122.jpg" class="jpg" width="317" height="448" alt="RETURNING FROM A SPORTING EXCURSION" title="RETURNING FROM A SPORTING EXCURSION" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban122.jpg"><b>RETURNING FROM A SPORTING EXCURSION</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>Nevertheless, the colonists were well prepared to meet the winter, +however hard it might be. They had plenty of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 234]</a></span> felt clothing, and the +musmons, very numerous by this time, had furnished an abundance of the +wool necessary for the manufacture of this warm material.</p> + +<p>It is unnecessary to say that Ayrton had been provided with this +comfortable clothing. Cyrus Harding proposed that he should come to +spend the bad season with them in Granite House, where he would be +better lodged than at the corral, and Ayrton promised to do so, as soon +as the last work at the corral was finished. He did this towards the +middle of April. From that time Ayrton shared the common life, and made +himself useful on all occasions; but still humble and sad, he never took +part in the pleasures of his companions.</p> + +<p>For the greater part of this, the third winter which the settlers passed +in Lincoln Island, they were confined to Granite House. There were many +violent storms and frightful tempests, which appeared to shake the rocks +to their very foundations. Immense waves threatened to overwhelm the +island, and certainly any vessel anchored near the shore would have been +dashed to pieces. Twice, during one of these hurricanes, the Mercy +swelled to such a degree as to give reason to fear that the bridges +would be swept away, and it was necessary to strengthen those on the +shore, which disappeared under the foaming waters, when the sea beat +against the beach.</p> + +<p>It may well be supposed that such storms, comparable to water-spouts in +which were mingled rain and snow, would cause great havoc on the plateau +of Prospect Heights. The mill and the poultry-yard particularly +suffered. The colonists were often obliged to make immediate repairs, +without which the safety of the birds would have been seriously +threatened.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/aban123.jpg" class="jpg" width="315" height="448" alt="THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVE" title="THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVE" /> +<span class="link"><a href="images/aban123.jpg"><b>THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVE</b></a></span> +</div> + +<p>During the worst weather, several jaguars and troops of quadrumana +ventured to the edge of the plateau, and it was always to be feared that +the most active and audacious would, urged by hunger, manage to cross +the stream, which besides, when frozen, offered them an easy passage. +Plantations and domestic animals would then have been infallibly +destroyed, without a constant watch, and it was often necessary to make +use of the guns to keep those dangerous visitors at a respectful +distance. Occupation was not wanting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 236]</a></span> to the colonists, for without +reckoning their out-door cares, they had always a thousand plans for the +fitting up of Granite House.</p> + +<p>They had also some fine sporting excursions, which were made during the +frost in the vast Tadorn marsh. Gideon Spilett and Herbert, aided by Jup +and Top, did not miss a shot in the midst of the myriads of wild-duck, +snipe, teal, and others. The access to these hunting-grounds was easy; +besides, whether they reached them by the road to Port Balloon, after +having passed the Mercy Bridge, or by turning the rocks from Flotsam +Point, the hunters were never distant from Granite House more than two +or three miles.</p> + +<p>Thus passed the four winter months, which were really rigorous, that is +to say, June, July, August, and September. But, in short, Granite House +did not suffer much from the inclemency of the weather, and it was the +same with the corral, which, less exposed than the plateau, and +sheltered partly by Mount Franklin, only received the remains of the +hurricanes, already broken by the forests and the high rocks of the +shore. The damages there were consequently of small importance, and the +activity and skill of Ayrton promptly repaired them, when some time in +October he returned to pass a few days in the corral.</p> + +<p>During this winter, no fresh inexplicable incident occurred. Nothing +strange happened, although Pencroft and Neb were on the watch for the +most insignificant facts to which they attached any mysterious cause. +Top and Jup themselves no longer growled round the well or gave any +signs of uneasiness. It appeared, therefore, as if the series of +supernatural incidents was interrupted, although they often talked of +them during the evenings in Granite House, and they remained thoroughly +resolved that the island should be searched, even in those parts the +most difficult to explore. But an event of the highest importance, and +of which the consequence might be terrible, momentarily diverted from +their projects Cyrus Harding and his companions.</p> + +<p>It was the month of October. The fine season was swiftly returning. +Nature was reviving; and among the evergreen foliage of the coniferæ +which formed the border of the wood, already appeared the young leaves +of the banksias, deodars, and other trees<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 237]</a></span>.</p> + +<p>It may be remembered that Gideon Spilett and Herbert had, at different +times, taken photographic views of Lincoln Island.</p> + +<p>Now, on the 17th of this month of October, towards three o'clock in the +afternoon, Herbert, enticed by the charms of the sky, thought of +reproducing Union Bay, which was opposite to Prospect Heights, from Cape +Mandible to Claw Cape.</p> + +<p>The horizon was beautifully clear, and the sea, undulating under a soft +breeze, was as calm as the waters of a lake, sparkling here and there +under the sun's rays.</p> + +<p>The apparatus had been placed at one of the windows of the dining-room +at Granite House, and consequently overlooked the shore and the bay. +Herbert proceeded as he was accustomed to do, and the negative obtained, +he went away to fix it by means of the chemicals deposited in a dark +nook of Granite House.</p> + +<p>Returning to the bright light, and examining it well, Herbert perceived +on his negative an almost imperceptible little spot on the sea horizon. +He endeavoured to make it disappear by reiterated washing, but could not +accomplish it.</p> + +<p>"It is a flaw in the glass," he thought.</p> + +<p>And then he had the curiosity to examine this flaw with a strong +magnifier which he unscrewed from one of the telescopes.</p> + +<p>But he had scarcely looked at it, when he uttered a cry, and the glass +almost fell from his hands.</p> + +<p>Immediately running to the room in which Cyrus Harding then was, he +extended the negative and magnifier towards the engineer, pointing out +the little spot.</p> + +<p>Harding examined it; then seizing his telescope he rushed to the window.</p> + +<p>The telescope, after having slowly swept the horizon, at last stopped on +the looked-for spot, and Cyrus Harding lowering it, pronounced one word +only,—</p> + +<p>"A vessel!"</p> + +<p>And in fact a vessel was in sight, off Lincoln Island!</p> + +<h5>THE TEMPLE PRESS, PRINTERS, LETCHWORTH</h5> + + +<hr style="width: 85%;" /> + +<h3>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>1. Images have been moved from the middle of a paragraph to the +closest paragraph break.</p> + +<p>2. Due to the poor scan quality of the original, text was found to be +missing at some places. Most prominent were the missing periods which +have been added for the sake of clarity. Also few missing punctuation +marks like commas, quotes, etc. have been added where obvious need was +felt. Apart from that, some missing text has also been added after +verification from other sources.</p> + +<p>3. The following misprints have been corrected:<br /> + "Ned" corrected to "Neb" (page 13)<br /> + "cruciferae" corrected to "cruciferĉ" (page 25)<br /> + "thoughfully" corrected to "thoughtfully" (page 182)<br /> + "pronouced" corrected to "pronounced" (page 199)<br /> + "resoved" corrected to "resolved" (page 205)</p> + +<p>4. Other than the corrections listed above, printer's inconsistencies +in spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been retained.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Abandoned, by Jules Verne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ABANDONED *** + +***** This file should be named 33516-h.htm or 33516-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/5/1/33516/ + +Produced by Hemant Garach, David Starner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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