L'île mystérieuse. English

by Jules Verne

  Chapter 1

  It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon hadbeen thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been nocommunication between them and their fellow-creatures. Once the reporterhad attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding toa bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but thatwas a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously. Ayrton,alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come tojoin the little colony. Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October,other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on thatdeserted sea!

  There could be no doubt about it! A vessel was there! But would shepass on, or would she put into port? In a few hours the colonists woulddefinitely know what to expect.

  Cyrus Harding and Herbert having immediately called Gideon Spilett,Pencroft, and Neb into the dining-room of Granite House, told themwhat had happened. Pencroft, seizing the telescope, rapidly swept thehorizon, and stopping on the indicated point, that is to say, onthat which had made the almost imperceptible spot on the photographicnegative,--

  "I'm blessed but it is really a vessel!" he exclaimed, in a voice whichdid not express any great amount of satisfaction.

  "Is she coming here?" asked Gideon Spilett.

  "Impossible to say anything yet," answered Pencroft, "for her riggingalone is above the horizon, and not a bit of her hull can be seen."

  "What is to be done?" asked the lad.

  "Wait," replied Harding.

  And for a considerable time the settlers remained silent, given up toall the thoughts, and the emotions, all the fears, all the hopes, whichwere aroused by this incident--the most important which had occurredsince their arrival in Lincoln Island. Certainly, the colonists were notin the situation of castaways abandoned on a sterile islet, constantlycontending against a cruel nature for their miserable existence, andincessantly tormented by the longing to return to inhabited countries.Pencroft and Neb, especially, who felt themselves at once so happy andso rich, would not have left their island without regret. They wereaccustomed, besides, to this new life in the midst of the domain whichtheir intelligence had as it were civilized. But at any rate this shipbrought news from the world, perhaps even from their native land. It wasbringing fellow-creatures to them, and it may be conceived how deeplytheir hearts were moved at the sight!

  From time to time Pencroft took the glass and rested himself at thewindow. From thence he very attentively examined the vessel, which wasat a distance of twenty miles to the east. The colonists had as yet,therefore, no means of signalizing their presence. A flag would not havebeen perceived; a gun would not have been heard; a fire would not havebeen visible. However, it was certain that the island, overtopped byMount Franklin, could not escape the notice of the vessel's lookout. Butwhy was the ship coming there? Was it simple chance which brought it tothat part of the Pacific, where the maps mentioned no land except TaborIsland, which itself was out of the route usually followed by vesselsfrom the Polynesian Archipelagoes, from New Zealand, and from theAmerican coast? To this question, which each one asked himself, a replywas suddenly made by Herbert.

  "Can it be the 'Duncan'?" he cried.

  The "Duncan," as has been said, was Lord Glenarvan's yacht, which hadleft Ayrton on the islet, and which was to return there someday to fetchhim. Now, the islet was not so far distant from Lincoln Island, butthat a vessel, standing for the one, could pass in sight of the other. Ahundred and fifty miles only separated them in longitude, and seventy inlatitude.

  "We must tell Ayrton," said Gideon Spilett, "and send for himimmediately. He alone can say if it is the 'Duncan.'"

  This was the opinion of all, and the reporter, going to the telegraphicapparatus which placed the corral in communication with Granite House,sent this telegram:--"Come with all possible speed."

  In a few minutes the bell sounded.

  "I am coming," replied Ayrton.

  Then the settlers continued to watch the vessel.

  "If it is the 'Duncan,'" said Herbert, "Ayrton will recognize herwithout difficulty, since he sailed on board her for some time."

  "And if he recognizes her," added Pencroft, "it will agitate himexceedingly!"

  "Yes," answered Cyrus Harding; "but now Ayrton is worthy to return onboard the 'Duncan,' and pray Heaven that it is indeed Lord Glenarvan'syacht, for I should be suspicious of any other vessel. These areill-famed seas, and I have always feared a visit from Malay pirates toour island."

  "We could defend it,', cried Herbert.

  "No doubt, my boy," answered the engineer smiling, "but it would bebetter not to have to defend it."

  "A useless observation," said Spilett. "Lincoln Island is unknown tonavigators, since it is not marked even on the most recent maps. Doyou think, Cyrus, that that is a sufficient motive for a ship, findingherself unexpectedly in sight of new land, to try and visit rather thanavoid it?"

  "Certainly," replied Pencroft.

  "I think so too," added the engineer. "It may even be said that it isthe duty of a captain to come and survey any land or island not yetknown, and Lincoln Island is in this position."

  "Well," said Pencroft, "suppose this vessel comes and anchors there afew cables-lengths from our island, what shall we do?"

  This sudden question remained at first without any reply. But CyrusHarding, after some moments' thought, replied in the calm tone which wasusual to him,--

  "What we shall do, my friends? What we ought to do is this:--we willcommunicate with the ship, we will take our passage on board her, and wewill leave our island, after having taken possession of it in the nameof the United States. Then we will return with any who may wish tofollow us to colonize it definitely, and endow the American Republicwith a useful station in this part of the Pacific Ocean!"

  "Hurrah!" exclaimed Pencroft, "and that will be no small presentwhich we shall make to our country! The colonization is already almostfinished; names are given to every part of the island; there isa natural port, fresh water, roads, a telegraph, a dockyard, andmanufactories; and there will be nothing to be done but to inscribeLincoln Island on the maps!"

  "But if anyone seizes it in our absence?" observed Gideon Spilett.

  "Hang it!" cried the sailor. "I would rather remain all alone to guardit: and trust to Pencroft, they shouldn't steal it from him, like awatch from the pocket of a swell!"

  For an hour it was impossible to say with any certainty whether thevessel was or was not standing towards Lincoln Island. She wasnearer, but in what direction was she sailing? This Pencroft could notdetermine. However, as the wind was blowing from the northeast, in allprobability the vessel was sailing on the starboard tack. Besides, thewind was favorable for bringing her towards the island, and, the seabeing calm, she would not be afraid to approach although the shallowswere not marked on the chart.

  Towards four o'clock--an hour after he had been sent for--Ayrton arrivedat Granite House. He entered the dining-room saying,--

  "At your service, gentlemen."

  Cyrus Harding gave him his hand, as was his custom to do, and, leadinghim to the window,--

  "Ayrton," said he, "we have begged you to come here for an importantreason. A ship is in sight of the island."

  Ayrton at first paled slightly, and for a moment his eyes became dim;then, leaning out the window, he surveyed the horizon, but could seenothing.

  "Take this telescope," said Spilett, "and look carefully, Ayrton, forit is possible that this ship may be the 'Duncan' come to these seas forthe purpose of taking you home again."

  "The 'Duncan!'" murmured Ayrton. "Already?" This last word escapedAyrton's lips as if involuntarily, and his head drooped upon his hands.

  Did not twelve years' solitude on a desert island appear to him asufficient expiation? Did not the penitent yet feel himself pardoned,either in his own eyes or in the eyes of others?

  "No," said he, "no! it cannot be the 'Duncan'!"

  "Look, Ayrton," then said the engineer, "for i
t is necessary that weshould know beforehand what to expect."

  Ayrton took the glass and pointed it in the direction indicated. Duringsome minutes he examined the horizon without moving, without uttering aword. Then,--

  "It is indeed a vessel," said he, "but I do not think she is the'Duncan.'"

  "Why do you not think so?" asked Gideon Spilett.

  "Because the 'Duncan' is a steam-yacht, and I cannot perceive any traceof smoke either above or near that vessel."

  "Perhaps she is simply sailing," observed Pencroft. "The wind isfavorable for the direction which she appears to be taking, and she maybe anxious to economize her coal, being so far from land."

  "It is possible that you may be right, Mr. Pencroft," answered Ayrton,"and that the vessel has extinguished her fires. We must wait until sheis nearer, and then we shall soon know what to expect."

  So saying, Ayrton sat down in a corner of the room and remained silent.The colonists again discussed the strange ship, but Ayrton took nopart in the conversation. All were in such a mood that they found itimpossible to continue their work. Gideon Spilett and Pencroft wereparticularly nervous, going, coming, not able to remain still in oneplace. Herbert felt more curiosity. Neb alone maintained his usualcalm manner. Was not his country that where his master was? As to theengineer, he remained plunged in deep thought, and in his heart fearedrather than desired the arrival of the ship. In the meanwhile, thevessel was a little nearer the island. With the aid of the glass, it wasascertained that she was a brig, and not one of those Malay proas, whichare generally used by the pirates of the Pacific. It was, therefore,reasonable to believe that the engineer's apprehensions would not bejustified, and that the presence of this vessel in the vicinity of theisland was fraught with no danger.

  Pencroft, after a minute examination, was able positively to affirm thatthe vessel was rigged as a brig, and that she was standing obliquelytowards the coast, on the starboard tack, under her topsails andtop-gallant-sails. This was confirmed by Ayrton. But by continuing inthis direction she must soon disappear behind Claw Cape, as the windwas from the southwest, and to watch her it would be then necessaryto ascend the height of Washington Bay, near Port Balloon--a provokingcircumstance, for it was already five o'clock in the evening, and thetwilight would soon make any observation extremely difficult.

  "What shall we do when night comes on?" asked Gideon Spilett. "Shall welight a fire, so as to signal our presence on the coast?"

  This was a serious question, and yet, although the engineer stillretained some of his presentiments, it was answered in the affirmative.During the night the ship might disappear and leave for ever, and, thisship gone, would another ever return to the waters of Lincoln Island?Who could foresee what the future would then have in store for thecolonists?

  "Yes," said the reporter, "we ought to make known to that vessel,whoever she may be, that the island is inhabited. To neglect theopportunity which is offered to us might be to create everlastingregrets."

  It was therefore decided that Neb and Pencroft should go to PortBalloon, and that there, at nightfall, they should light an immensefire, the blaze of which would necessarily attract the attention of thebrig.

  But at the moment when Neb and the sailor were preparing to leaveGranite House, the vessel suddenly altered her course, and stooddirectly for Union Bay. The brig was a good sailer, for she approachedrapidly. Neb and Pencroft put off their departure, therefore, and theglass was put into Ayrton's hands, that he might ascertain for certainwhether the ship was or was not the "Duncan." The Scotch yacht was alsorigged as a brig. The question was, whether a chimney could be discernedbetween the two masts of the vessel, which was now at a distance of onlyfive miles.

  The horizon was still very clear. The examination was easy, and Ayrtonsoon let the glass fall again, saying--

  "It is not the 'Duncan'! It could not be!"

  Pencroft again brought the brig within the range of the telescope, andcould see that she was of between three and four hundred tons burden,wonderfully narrow, well-masted, admirably built, and must be a veryrapid sailer. But to what nation did she belong? That was difficult tosay.

  "And yet," added the sailor, "a flag is floating from her peak, but Icannot distinguish the colors of it."

  "In half an hour we shall be certain about that," answered the reporter."Besides, it is very evident that the intention of the captain of thisship is to land, and, consequently, if not today, to-morrow at thelatest, we shall make his acquaintance."

  "Never mind!" said Pencroft. "It is best to know whom we have to dealwith, and I shall not be sorry to recognize that fellow's colors!"

  And, while thus speaking, the sailor never left the glass. The day beganto fade, and with the day the breeze fell also. The brig's ensign hungin folds, and it became more and more difficult to observe it.

  "It is not the American flag," said Pencroft from time to time, "nor theEnglish, the red of which could be easily seen, nor the French or Germancolors, nor the white flag of Russia, nor the yellow of Spain. One wouldsay it was all one color. Let's see: in these seas, what do we generallymeet with? The Chilean flag?--but that is tri-color. Brazilian?--it isgreen. Japanese?--it is yellow and black, while this--"

  At that moment the breeze blew out the unknown flag. Ayrton seizing thetelescope which the sailor had put down, put it to his eye, and in ahoarse voice,--

  "The black flag!" he exclaimed.

  And indeed the somber bunting was floating from the mast of the brig,and they had now good reason for considering her to be a suspiciousvessel!

  Had the engineer, then, been right in his presentiments? Was this apirate vessel? Did she scour the Pacific, competing with the Malay proaswhich still infest it? For what had she come to look at the shores ofLincoln Island? Was it to them an unknown island, ready to becomea magazine for stolen cargoes? Had she come to find on the coast asheltered port for the winter months? Was the settlers' honest domaindestined to be transformed into an infamous refuge--the headquarters ofthe piracy of the Pacific?

  All these ideas instinctively presented themselves to the colonists'imaginations. There was no doubt, besides, of the signification whichmust be attached to the color of the hoisted flag. It was that ofpirates! It was that which the "Duncan" would have carried, had theconvicts succeeded in their criminal design! No time was lost beforediscussing it.

  "My friends," said Cyrus Harding, "perhaps this vessel only wishes tosurvey the coast of the island. Perhaps her crew will not land. There isa chance of it. However that may be, we ought to do everything we can tohide our presence here. The windmill on Prospect Heights is too easilyseen. Let Ayrton and Neb go and take down the sails. We must alsoconceal the windows of Granite House with thick branches. All the firesmust be extinguished, so that nothing may betray the presence of men onthe island."

  "And our vessel?" said Herbert.

  "Oh," answered Pencroft, "she is sheltered in Port Balloon, and I defyany of those rascals there to find her!"

  The engineer's orders were immediately executed. Neb and Ayrtonascended the plateau, and took the necessary precautions to concealany indication of a settlement. While they were thus occupied, theircompanions went to the border of Jacamar Wood, and brought back a largequantity of branches and creepers, which would at some distance appearas natural foliage, and thus disguise the windows in the granite cliff.At the same time, the ammunition and guns were placed ready so as to beat hand in case of an unexpected attack.

  When all these precautions had been taken,--

  "My friends," said Harding, and his voice betrayed some emotion, "if thewretches endeavor to seize Lincoln Island, we shall defend it--shall wenot?"

  "Yes, Cyrus," replied the reporter, "and if necessary we will die todefend it!"

  The engineer extended his hand to his companions, who pressed it warmly.Ayrton remained in his corner, not joining the colonists. Perhaps he,the former convict, still felt himself unworthy to do so!

  Cyrus Harding understood what was passing in Ay
rton's mind, and going tohim--

  "And you, Ayrton," he asked, "what will you do?"

  "My duty," answered Ayrton.

  He then took up his station near the window and gazed through thefoliage.

  It was now half-past seven. The sun had disappeared twenty minutes agobehind Granite House. Consequently the Eastern horizon was becomingobscured. In the meanwhile the brig continued to advance towards UnionBay. She was now not more than two miles off, and exactly opposite theplateau of Prospect Heights, for after having tacked off Claw Cape, shehad drifted towards the north in the current of the rising tide. Onemight have said that at this distance she had already entered the vastbay, for a straight line drawn from Claw Cape to Cape Mandible wouldhave rested on her starboard quarter.

  Was the brig about to penetrate far into the bay? That was the firstquestion. When once in the bay, would she anchor there? That was thesecond. Would she not content herself with only surveying the coast, andstand out to sea again without landing her crew? They would know this inan hour. The colonists could do nothing but wait.

  Cyrus Harding had not seen the suspected vessel hoist the black flagwithout deep anxiety. Was it not a direct menace against the work whichhe and his companions had till now conducted so successfully? Had thesepirates--for the sailors of the brig could be nothing else--alreadyvisited the island, since on approaching it they had hoisted theircolors. Had they formerly invaded it, so that certain unaccountablepeculiarities might be explained in this way? Did there exist in the asyet unexplored parts some accomplice ready to enter into communicationwith them?

  To all these questions which he mentally asked himself, Harding knew notwhat to reply; but he felt that the safety of the colony could not butbe seriously threatened by the arrival of the brig.

  However, he and his companions were determined to fight to the lastgasp. It would have been very important to know if the pirateswere numerous and better armed than the colonists. But how was thisinformation to be obtained?

  Night fell. The new moon had disappeared. Profound darkness envelopedthe island and the sea. No light could pierce through the heavy pilesof clouds on the horizon. The wind had died away completely with thetwilight. Not a leaf rustled on the trees, not a ripple murmured onthe shore. Nothing could be seen of the ship, all her lights beingextinguished, and if she was still in sight of the island, herwhereabouts could not be discovered.

  "Well! who knows?" said Pencroft. "Perhaps that cursed craft will standoff during the night, and we shall see nothing of her at daybreak."

  As if in reply to the sailor's observation, a bright light flashed inthe darkness, and a cannon-shot was heard.

  The vessel was still there and had guns on board.

  Six seconds elapsed between the flash and the report.

  Therefore the brig was about a mile and a quarter from the coast.

  At the same time, the chains were heard rattling through thehawse-holes.

  The vessel had just anchored in sight of Granite House!