by Jules Verne
Chapter 19
Two years already! and for two years the colonists had had nocommunication with their fellow-creatures! They were without news fromthe civilized world, lost on this island, as completely as if they hadbeen on the most minute star of the celestial hemisphere!
What was now happening in their country? The picture of their nativeland was always before their eyes, the land torn by civil war at thetime they left it, and which the Southern rebellion was perhaps stillstaining with blood! It was a great sorrow to them, and they oftentalked together of these things, without ever doubting however thatthe cause of the North must triumph, for the honor of the AmericanConfederation.
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 LincolnIsland was out of the usual track, and also that it was unknown,--as wasbesides proved by the maps,--for though there was no port, vessels mighthave visited it for the purpose of renewing their store of water. Butthe surrounding ocean was deserted as far as the eye could reach, andthe colonists must rely on themselves for regaining their native land.
However, one chance of rescue existed, and this chance was discussedone day on the first week of April, when the colonists were gatheredtogether in the dining-room of Granite House.
They had been talking of America, of their native country, which theyhad so little hope of ever seeing again.
"Decidedly we have only one way," said Spilett, "one single way forleaving Lincoln Island, and that is, to build a vessel large enough tosail several hundred miles. It appears to me, that when one has built aboat it is just as easy to build a ship!"
"And in which we might go to the Pomoutous," added Herbert, "just aseasily as we went to Tabor Island."
"I do not say no," replied Pencroft, who had always the casting votein maritime questions; "I do not say no, although it is not exactly thesame thing to make a long as a short voyage! If our little craft hadbeen 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; buttwelve hundred miles is a pretty long way, and the nearest land is atleast that distance!"
"Would you not, in that case, Pencroft, attempt the adventure?" askedthe reporter.
"I will attempt anything that is desired, Mr. Spilett," answered thesailor, "and you know well that I am not a man to flinch!"
"Remember, besides, that we number another sailor amongst us now,"remarked Neb.
"Who is that?" asked Pencroft.
"Ayrton."
"If he will consent to come," said Pencroft.
"Nonsense!" returned the reporter; "do you think that if LordGlenarvan's yacht had appeared at Tabor Island, while he was stillliving there, Ayrton would have refused to depart?"
"You forget, my friends," then said Cyrus Harding, "that Ayrton was notin possession of his reason during the last years of his stay there. Butthat is not the question. The point is to know if we may count amongour chances of being rescued, the return of the Scotch vessel. Now,Lord Glenarvan promised Ayrton that he would return to take him off fromTabor Island when he considered that his crimes were expiated, and Ibelieve that he will return."
"Yes," said the reporter, "and I will add that he will return soon, forit is twelve years since Ayrton was abandoned."
"Well!" answered Pencroft, "I agree with you that the nobleman willreturn, and soon too. But where will he touch? At Tabor Island, and notat Lincoln Island."
"That is the more certain," replied Herbert, "as Lincoln Island is noteven marked on the map."
"Therefore, my friends," said the engineer, "we ought to take thenecessary precautions for making our presence and that of Ayrton onLincoln Island known at Tabor Island."
"Certainly," answered the reporter, "and nothing is easier than to placein the hut, which was Captain Grant's and Ayrton's dwelling, a noticewhich Lord Glenarvan and his crew cannot help finding, giving theposition of our island."
"It is a pity," remarked the sailor, "that we forgot to take thatprecaution on our first visit to Tabor Island."
"And why should we have done it?" asked Herbert. "At that time we didnot know Ayrton's history; we did not know that any one was likely tocome some day to fetch him, and when we did know his history, the seasonwas too advanced to allow us to return then to Tabor Island."
"Yes," replied Harding, "it was too late, and we must put off the voyageuntil next spring."
"But suppose the Scotch yacht comes before that," said Pencroft.
"That is not probable," replied the engineer, "for Lord Glenarvan wouldnot choose the winter season to venture into these seas. Either he hasalready returned to Tabor Island, since Ayrton has been with us, that isto say, during the last five months and has left again; or he will notcome till later, and it will be time enough in the first fine Octoberdays to go to Tabor Island, and leave a notice there."
"We must allow," said Neb, "that it will be very unfortunate if the'Duncan' has returned to these parts only a few months ago!"
"I hope that it is not so," replied Cyrus Harding, "and that Heaven hasnot deprived us of the best chance which remains to us."
"I think," observed the reporter, "that at any rate we shall know whatwe have to depend on when we have been to Tabor Island, for if the yachthas returned there, they will necessarily have left some traces of theirvisit."
"That is evident," answered the engineer. "So then, my friends, sincewe 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."
"At any rate," remarked Pencroft, "it is well understood that if wedo leave Lincoln Island, it will not be because we were uncomfortablethere!"
"No, Pencroft," replied the engineer, "it will be because we are farfrom all that a man holds dearest in the world, his family, his friends,his native land!"
Matters being thus decided, the building of a vessel large enough tosail either to the Archipelagoes in the north, or to New Zealand inthe west, was no longer talked of, and they busied themselves in theiraccustomed occupations, with a view to wintering a third time in GraniteHouse.
However, it was agreed that before the stormy weather came on, theirlittle vessel should be employed in making a voyage round the island.A complete survey of the coast had not yet been made, and the colonistshad but an imperfect idea of the shore to the west and north, from themouth of Falls River to the Mandible Capes, as well as of the narrow baybetween them, which opened like a shark's jaws.
The plan of this excursion was proposed by Pencroft, and Cyrus Hardingfully acquiesced in it, for he himself wished to see this part of hisdomain.
The weather was variable, but the barometer did not fluctuate by suddenmovements, and they could therefore count on tolerable weather. However,during the first week of April, after a sudden barometrical fall, arenewed rise was marked by a heavy gale of wind, lasting five or sixdays; then the needle of the instrument remained stationary at aheight of twenty-nine inches and nine-tenths, and the weather appearedpropitious for an excursion.
The departure was fixed for the 16th of April, and the "Bonadventure,"anchored in Port Balloon, was provisioned for a voyage which might be ofsome duration.
Cyrus Harding informed Ayrton of the projected expedition, and proposedthat he should take part in it, but Ayrton preferring to remain onshore, it was decided that he should come to Granite House during theabsence of his companions. Master Jup was ordered to keep him company,and made no remonstrance.
On the morning of the 16th of April all the colonists, including Top,embarked. A fine breeze blew from the south-west, and the "Bonadventure"tacked on leaving Port Balloon so as to reach Reptile End. Of the ninetymiles which the perimeter of the island measured, twenty included thesouth coast between the port and the promontory. The wind being rightahead it was necessary to hug the shore.
It took the whole day to reach the promontory, for the vessel on leavingport had only two hours of ebb tide and had ther
efore to make way forsix hours against the flood. It was nightfall before the promontory wasdoubled.
The sailor then proposed to the engineer that they should continuesailing slowly with two reefs in the sail. But Harding preferred toanchor a few cable-lengths from the shore, so as to survey that part ofthe coast during the day. It was agreed also that as they were anxiousfor a minute exploration of the coast they should not sail during thenight, but would always, when the weather permitted it, be at anchornear the shore.
The night was passed under the promontory, and the wind having fallen,nothing disturbed the silence. The passengers, with the exception of thesailor, scarcely slept as well on board the "Bonadventure" as they wouldhave 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 tackthey could keep close to the shore.
The colonists knew this beautiful wooded coast, since they had alreadyexplored it on foot, and yet it again excited their admiration. Theycoasted 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 ofthe superb scenery.
About noon the "Bonadventure" arrived at the mouth of Falls River.Beyond, on the left bank, a few scattered trees appeared, and threemiles further even these dwindled into solitary groups among the westernspurs of the mountain, whose arid ridge sloped down to the shore.
What a contrast between the northern and southern part of the coast!In proportion as one was woody and fertile so was the other rugged andbarren! It might have been designated as one of those iron coasts, asthey are called in some countries, and its wild confusion appeared toindicate that a sudden crystallization had been produced in the yetliquid basalt of some distant geological sea. These stupendous masseswould have terrified the settlers if they had been cast at first onthis part of the island! They had not been able to perceive the sinisteraspect of this shore from the summit of Mount Franklin, for theyoverlooked it from too great a height, but viewed from the sea itpresented a wild appearance which could not perhaps be equaled in anycorner of the globe.
The "Bonadventure" sailed along this coast for the distance of half amile. 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, roundlike towers, prismatic like steeples, pyramidal like obelisks, conicallike factory chimneys. An iceberg of the Polar seas could not have beenmore capricious in its terrible sublimity! Here, bridges were thrownfrom one rock to another; there, arches like those of a wave, into thedepths of which the eye could not penetrate; in one place, large vaultedexcavations presented a monumental aspect; in another, a crowd ofcolumns, spires, and arches, such as no Gothic cathedral everpossessed. Every caprice of nature, still more varied than those of theimagination, appeared on this grand coast, which extended over a lengthof eight or nine miles.
Cyrus Harding and his companions gazed, with a feeling of surprisebordering on stupefaction. But, although they remained silent, Top,not being troubled with feelings of this sort, uttered barks which wererepeated by the thousand echoes of the basaltic cliff. The engineereven observed that these barks had something strange in them, like thosewhich the dog had uttered at the mouth of the well in Granite House.
"Let us go close in," said he.
And the "Bonadventure" sailed as near as possible to the rocky shore.Perhaps some cave, which it would be advisable to explore, existedthere? But Harding saw nothing, not a cavern, not a cleft which couldserve as a retreat to any being whatever, for the foot of the cliff waswashed by the surf. Soon Top's barks ceased, and the vessel continuedher course at a few cables-length from the coast.
In the northwest part of the island the shore became again flat andsandy. A few trees here and there rose above a low, marshy ground, whichthe colonists had already surveyed, and in violent contrast to the otherdesert shore, life was again manifested by the presence of myriads ofwater-fowl. That evening the "Bonadventure" anchored in a small bayto the north of the island, near the land, such was the depth of waterthere. The night passed quietly, for the breeze died away with the lastlight of day, and only rose again with the first streaks of dawn.
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, andreturned with several strings of wild duck and snipe. Top haddone wonders, and not a bird had been lost, thanks to his zeal andcleverness.
At eight o'clock in the morning the "Bonadventure" set sail, and ranrapidly towards North Mandible Cape, for the wind was right astern andfreshening rapidly.
"However," observed Pencroft, "I should not be surprised if a gale cameup from the west. Yesterday the sun set in a very red-looking horizon,and now, this morning, those mares-tails don't forbode anything good."
These mares-tails are cirrus clouds, scattered in the zenith, theirheight from the sea being less than five thousand feet. They look likelight pieces of cotton wool, and their presence usually announces somesudden change in the weather.
"Well," said Harding, "let us carry as much sail as possible, and runfor shelter into Shark Gulf. I think that the 'Bonadventure' will besafe there."
"Perfectly," replied Pencroft, "and besides, the north coast is merelysand, very uninteresting to look at."
"I shall not be sorry," resumed the engineer, "to pass not only to-nightbut to-morrow in that bay, which is worth being carefully explored."
"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!"
"At any rate we have a favorable wind for reaching Cape Mandible,"observed the reporter.
"A very fine wind," replied the sailor; "but we must tack to enter thegulf, and I should like to see my way clear in these unknown quarters."
"Quarters which appear to be filled with rocks," added Herbert, "if wejudge by what we saw on the south coast of Shark Gulf."
"Pencroft," said Cyrus Harding, "do as you think best, we will leave itto you."
"Don't make your mind uneasy, captain," replied the sailor, "I shall notexpose myself needlessly! I would rather a knife were run into my ribsthan a sharp rock into those of my 'Bonadventure!'"
That which Pencroft called ribs was the part of his vessel under water,and he valued it more than his own skin.
"What o'clock is it?" asked Pencroft.
"Ten o'clock," replied Gideon Spilett.
"And what distance is it to the Cape, captain?"
"About fifteen miles," replied the engineer.
"That's a matter of two hours and a half," said the sailor, "and weshall be off the Cape between twelve and one o'clock. Unluckily, thetide 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 windand tide against us."
"And the more so that it is a full moon to-day," remarked Herbert, "andthese April tides are very strong."
"Well, Pencroft," asked Harding, "can you not anchor off the Cape?"
"Anchor near land, with bad weather coming on!" exclaimed the sailor."What are you thinking of, captain? We should run aground, of acertainty!"
"What will you do then?"
"I shall try to keep in the offing until the flood, that is to say, tillabout seven in the evening, and if there is still light enough I willtry to enter the gulf; if not, we must stand off and on during thenight, and we will enter to-morrow at sunrise."
"As I told you, Pencroft, we will leave it to you," answered Harding.
"Ah!" said Pencroft, "if there was only a lighthouse on the coast, itwould be much more convenient for sailors."
"Yes," replied Herbert, "and this time we shall have no obligingengineer to light a fire to guide us into port!"
"Why, indeed, my dear Cyrus," said Spilett, "we have never thanked you;but frankly, without that fire we should never have been able--"
"A fire?" asked Harding, much astonished at the reporter's words.
"We mean, captain," answered Pencroft, "that on board the 'Bonadventure'we were very anxious during the few hours before our return, and weshould have passed to windward of the island, if it had not been for theprecaution you took of lighting a fire the night of the 19th of October,on Prospect Heights."
"Yes, yes! That was a lucky idea of mine!" replied the engineer.
"And this time," continued the sailor, "unless the idea occurs toAyrton, there will be no one to do us that little service!"
"No! No one!" answered Cyrus Harding.
A few minutes after, finding himself alone in the bows of the vessel,with the reporter, the engineer bent down and whispered,--
"If there is one thing certain in this world, Spilett, it is that Inever lighted any fire during the night of the 19th of October, neitheron Prospect Heights nor on any other part of the island!"
