THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 329 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "We must search the forest," said the engineer, "and rid the island of these scoundrels. Pencroff was not mistaken in his forebodings when he wanted us to hunt them like wild beasts. That would certainly have spared us these misfortunes." "Yes," replied the reporter, "but now we have the right to act without pity." "In any case," said the engineer, "we are forced to wait and to remain at the corral until such time as we can carry Herbert to Granite House without danger." "But Neb?" asked the reporter. "Neb is secure." "And if, uneasy at our absence, he risks coming?" "He must not come!" replied Cyrus Smith vividly. "He will be assassinated en route!" "It is very likely that he will try to join us." "Ah! If the telegraph were still working, we could warn him. But now that is impossible. As to letting Pencroff and Herbert stay here alone, we cannot do that!... Oh well, I will go to Granite House alone." "No, no! Cyrus," replied the reporter, "you must not expose yourself! Your courage will accomplish nothing. These wretches are evidently watching the corral, they are lying in wait in the thick woods which surround it and if you leave, we will soon have two misfortunes to regret instead of one." "But Neb?" repeated the engineer. "It is twenty four hours since he has had any news from us. He will want to come." "And since he will be less on his guard than we ourselves would be," replied Gideon Spilett, "he will be struck down..." "Isn't there any way to prevent it?" While the engineer was thinking, his attention fell on Top who, by his going to and fro, seemed to say: "Am I not here?" "Top!" shouted Cyrus Smith. The animal rushed forward at his master's call. "Yes, Top will go," said the reporter, who understood the engineer. "Top can go where we cannot go. He will carry news from the corral to Granite House and he will bring it back to us from Granite House." "Quickly!" replied Cyrus Smith. "Quickly!" Gideon Spilett rapidly tore out a page from his notebook and he wrote these lines: "Herbert wounded. We are at the corral. Be on your guard. Do not leave Granite House. Have the convicts appeared in the neighborhood? Reply by Top." This laconic note contained all Neb had to know and at the same time asked him all that the colonists had an interest in knowing. It was folded and attached to Top's collar so as to be plainly visible. "Top! my dog," the engineer then said, caressing the animal. "Neb, Top! Neb! Go! go!" 330 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Top dashed forward at these words. He understood what was required of him. He was familiar with the road to the corral. In less than a half-hour, he could make this trip which neither Cyrus Smith nor the reporter could chance without danger. Top, running among the tall grass or at the edge of the wood, would pass unnoticed. The engineer went to the doors of the corral and opened one. "Neb! Top, Neb," the engineer repeated once more, extending his hand in the direction of Granite House. Top dashed out and disappeared almost immediately. "He will get there!" said the reporter. "Yes, and the faithful animal will return." "What time is it?" asked Gideon Spilett. "Ten o'clock." "In an hour he will be here perhaps. Let us be on the lookout for his return." The door of the corral was closed again. The engineer and the reporter returned to the house. Herbert was then in a deep stupor. Pencroff continually kept his compresses wet. Gideon Spilett, seeing that he had nothing to do at the moment, occupied himself with preparing some nourishment, all the while carefully watching that part of the enclosure facing the buttress, from which an attack could come. The colonists waited for Top's return not without anxiety. A little after eleven o'clock, Cyrus Smith and the reporter, with carbine in hand, were behind the door ready to open it at the first bark from their dog. They had no doubt that if Top had fortunately been able to arrive at Granite House, Neb would immediately send him back. They were both there for about ten minutes when a detonation was heard which was soon followed by repeated barking. The engineer opened the door and, seeing the remains of smoke a hundred feet into the woods, he fired in that direction. Almost immediately Top rushed into the corral whose door was quickly closed again. "Top, Top!" shouted the engineer, taking the fine large head of the dog into his arms. A note was attached to his neck and Cyrus Smith read these words, written out in Neb's large handwriting: "No pirates in the neighborhood of Granite House. I will not stir. Poor Mister Herbert." THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 331 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ CHAPTER VIII The convicts in the neighborhood of the corral - Temporary arrangements - Continuation of Herbert's treatment - Pencroff's first jubilations - Reviewing the past - What is in store for the future - Cyrus Smith's ideas on this subject. Thus, the convicts were still there, spying on the corral, and intent on killing the colonists one by one! There was nothing to do but treat them like wild beasts. But many precautions must be taken because these wretches had, at the moment, the advantage of the situation, being able to see yet not being seen, able to surprise by sudden attack yet not subject to surprise. Cyrus Smith made arrangements for living at the corral where the provisions would suffice for a rather long time. Ayrton's house had been provided with all that was necessary for life and the convicts, frightened by the arrival of the colonists, had not had time to pillage it. It was probable, as the reporter noted, that things had happened as follows: The six convicts, landing on the island, had followed the southern shore and after having doubled Serpentine Peninsula and not in the humor to venture into the woods of the Far West, they reached the mouth of Falls River. Once at this point, they ascended the right bank of the watercourse and arrived at the buttresses of Mount Franklin. It was natural that they would search for some retreat there, and they were not long in discovering the corral, then uninhabited. There they dug in, waiting for the moment to put their abominable plans into execution. Ayrton's arrival surprised them but they had succeeded in overcoming the unlucky fellow and... the rest can be imagined. Now the convicts - reduced to five it is true, but well armed - roamed the woods and to venture there would be to expose themselves to their fire, which they could do nothing to stop nor prevent. "Let us wait! There is nothing else we can do," repeated Cyrus Smith. "When Herbert will have recovered, we will be able to scour the island and get the better of these convicts. That will be the object of our grand expedition, while at the same time..." "We will search it for our mysterious protector," added Gideon Spilett, finishing the engineer's sentence. "Ah, it must be admitted, my dear Cyrus, that this time his protection is in default at the very moment when we are most in need of it." "Who knows!" replied the engineer. "What are you trying to say?" asked the reporter. "That we are not at the end of our troubles, my dear Spilett, and that his powerful intervention will perhaps still have occasion to exercise itself. But it has not acted now. Herbert's life before anything else." 332 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ This was the colonists' most painful preoccupation. Several days passed and the poor lad's condition had fortunately not grown worse. Now this was gaining much over the illness. The cold water, which was always maintained at a suitable temperature, had absolutely prevented the inflammation of the wounds. It even seemed to the reporter that this water, which was a little sulphurous - this was explained by the vicinity of the volcano - had a most direct action on the cicatrization. The pus was much less abundant and thanks to the incessant care with which he was surrounded, Herbert came back to life and his fever tended to diminish. He was, besides, under a severe diet and consequently his weakness was and had to be extreme; but there was no lack of healthful beverages and absolute rest did him a world of good. Cyrus Smith, Gideon Spilett and Pencroff became very proficient at dressing the young invalid. All the linen in the dwelling had been sacrificed. Herbert's wounds were covered again with compresses and linen, neither too tight nor too loose, so as to allow their cicatrization without bringing on an inflammatory reaction. The reporter applied these dressings with extreme care knowing full well that it was important and he repeated to his companions what the majority of physicians willingly recognize: that it is perhaps rarer to see a dressing well done than an operation well done. At the end of ten days, the 22nd of November, Herbert was definitely improving. He began to take some nourishment. The color returned to his cheeks and he smiled at his nurses. He chatted a little in spite of Pencroff's efforts to speak to him all the time with the most unlikely tales to prevent him from speaking. Herbert questioned him on the subject of Ayrton. He was astonished not to see him near him, thinking that he must be at the corral, but the sailor, not wanting to distress Herbert, was content to reply that Ayrton had rejoined Neb in order to defend Granite House. "Hey!" he said, "these pirates! Here are gentlemen who have no right to any consideration. And Mister Smith wanted to pay them his compliments! I will send them compliments myself with bullets from a gun." "And have they been seen again?" asked Herbert. "No, my child," replied the sailor, "but we will find them again, and when you will recover we will see if these cowards who shoot in the back will dare to attack us face to face." "I am still weak, my poor Pencroff." "Well! Your strength will come back little by little. What is a bullet through the chest? A simple joke. I have seen many others and I am not impressed." Everything seemed to be for the best and if no complication intervened, Herbert's recovery could be regarded as assured. But what would have been the colonists' situation if his condition had been aggravated, if for example, the bullet had remained in the body or if his arms or his legs had to be amputated. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 333 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "No," Gideon Spilett said once more, "I have never thought of such an eventuality without shuddering." "And yet, if it had been necessary to do it," Cyrus Smith asked him one day, "would you not have hesitated?" "No, Cyrus!" said Gideon Spilett, "but thank God we were spared this complication." As in many other such circumstances, the colonists had appealed to the logic of simple common sense which served them much of the time and once again, thanks to their general knowledge, they had succeeded. But would there come a time when all their science would be of no avail? They were alone on this island. Now men complement each other in society. They need each other. Cyrus Smith knew this well and several times he asked himself if some circumstance would arise which they would be powerless to overcome. Besides, it seemed to him that his companions and he, who were so fortunate until now, were entering an unlucky period. Since the more than two and a half years that they had escaped from Richmond, they could say that everything had gone their way. The island had furnished them abundantly with minerals, vegetables and animals, and if nature had been constantly generous to them, their science had known how to do its share with what was offered to them. The material well being of the colony was complete, so to say. Then again, in certain circumstances an unexplained influence had come to their aid... But all that could only be for a time! In short, Cyrus Smith thought that luck was turning against them. In fact, the convicts' vessel had appeared in the waters of the island and if these pirates had been, so to speak, miraculously destroyed, six of them at least had escaped the catastrophe. They had landed on the island and the five who survived were very nearly unassailable. Ayrton doubtless had been massacred by these wretches who possessed firearms and at the first use that they had made of it, Herbert fell almost mortally wounded. Were these then the first strokes of a contrary fortune directed against the colonists? That is what Cyrus Smith asked himself. That is what he often repeated to the reporter and it seemed to them that this strange but effective intervention which had served them until now, was now in default. Had this mysterious being, whoever he was, whose existence they could not deny, had he then abandoned the island? Had he succumbed in his turn? No response was possible to these questions. But we must not imagine that because Cyrus Smith and his companion spoke of these things that they were men to despair. Far from that. They looked the situation in the face, they analyzed their chances, they prepared themselves for any eventuality, they stood firm and straight before the future and if adversity should finally strike them, it would find men prepared to combat it. 334 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ CHAPTER IX They are without news from Neb - A proposal by Pencroff and by the reporter which is not accepted - Some sorties by Gideon Spilett - A piece of material - A message - Hasty departure - Arrival at Grand View Plateau. The convalescence of the young patient went along at a regular pace. The only thing to be desired was that his condition would allow them to take him to Granite House. However acceptable were the arrangements and provisions at the house at the corral, they could not find there the comfort of the solid granite dwelling. Besides, it did not offer the same security and its hosts, in spite of their surveillance, were always under the menace of gunfire from the convicts. At Granite House on the contrary, in this impregnable and inaccessible mass, they would have nothing to fear and any attempt against them would definitely miscarry. They therefore waited impatiently for the time when Herbert could be taken there without danger to his wounds. They had decided to make this move even though communications across Jacamar Woods were very difficult. They were without news from Neb but without anxiety about him. The courageous negro, well entrenched within the depths of Granite House, would not allow himself to be surprised. Top had not been sent back to him and it seemed useless to expose the faithful dog to some gunshot which would deprive the colonists of their most useful auxiliary. They therefore waited but the colonists were in a hurry to be reunited at Granite House. It troubled the engineer to see his forces divided because it would make it easy for the pirates. Since Ayrton's disappearance it was only four against five because they still could not count on Herbert and this was not the least of the poor child's worries. He well understood the difficulty of which he was the cause. The question of knowing, under actual conditions, how they should deal with the convicts was treated in depth on the 29th of November by Cyrus Smith, Gideon Spilett and Pencroff at a time when Herbert was in a stupor and could not hear them. "My friends," said the reporter, after they had discussed the question of Neb and the impossibility of communicating with him, "I believe as you do that to chance ourselves on the corral road would be to risk receiving a gunshot without being able to return fire. But don't you think it would be best now to search anew for these scoundrels?" "That is what I think," replied Pencroff. "We are not, I suppose, afraid of a bullet and as far as I am concerned, if Mister Cyrus approves, I am ready to dash into the forest. The devil! One man is equal to another!" "But is he equal to five?" asked the engineer. "I would join Pencroff," replied the reporter, "and the two of us, well armed and accompanied by Top..." THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 335 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "My dear Spilett, and you Pencroff," replied Cyrus Smith, "stop and think. If the convicts were hidden at some spot on the island, if this spot was known to us and if it were only a matter of dislodging them, I would understand a direct attack. But shouldn't we fear, on the contrary, that they would assuredly fire the first round?" "Well, Mister Cyrus," cried Pencroff, "a bullet does not always reach its destination." "The one which struck Herbert did not go astray, Pencroff," said the engineer. "Besides, bear in mind that if both of you leave the corral, I would remain here alone to defend it. Tell me that when the convicts saw you leave, that they would not let you get into the forest and that they would not attack during your absence knowing that no one was here except a wounded child and one man." "You are right, Mister Cyrus," replied Pencroff, with a muted rage that inflated his chest, "you are right. They would do anything to recapture the corral knowing that it is well stocked. And by yourself you would not be able to hold out against them. Ah! if we were only at Granite House!" "If we were at Granite House," replied the engineer, "the situation would be very different. There I would not be afraid to leave Herbert with one of us and the other three would go to search the forests of the island. But we are at the corral and it is best to remain here until such time as we can leave it together." There was no reply to be made to Cyrus Smith's logic and his companions understood it well. "If only Ayrton was still with us," said Gideon Spilett. "Poor man! His return to social life was only of short duration!" "That is if he is dead?..." added Pencroff in a rather strange tone. "Do you think then, Pencroff, that these scoundrels spared him?" asked Gideon Spilett. "Yes, if it were in their interest to do so!" "What! do you suppose that Ayrton, on finding his former accomplices, would forget everything that he owes us..." "Who knows?" replied the sailor, who did not hazard this unfortunate supposition without hesitation. "Pencroff," said Cyrus Smith, taking the sailor by the arms, "you have an evil thought there and you will cause me much distress if you persist in speaking in this way. I guarantee Ayrton's loyalty!" "I also," added the reporter vividly. "Yes... yes!... Mister Cyrus... I am wrong," replied Pencroff. "In fact, that is an evil thought that I had there and nothing justifies it! But what do you want? I am no longer in control of myself. This imprisonment at the corral weighs terribly on me and I have never been as overexcited as I am now." 336 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "Be patient, Pencroff," replied the engineer. "How much time, my dear Spilett, do you think it will be until Herbert can be transported to Granite House?" "That is difficult to say, Cyrus," replied the reporter, "because one imprudent move could bring on fatal consequences. However, if his convalescence is routine and if in eight days from now his strength returns to him, well, we will see." Eight days! That would put off the return to Granite House until the first days of December. At this time of the year, spring was already two months old. The weather was fine and the heat began to be felt. The forests of the island were in full foliage and the time was coming when the usual harvesting would have to be made. The return to Grand View Plateau would then be followed by hard agricultural work which would only be interrupted by the planned exploration of the island. We can therefore appreciate that the imprisonment at the corral was not beneficial to the colonists. But if they were obliged to bow to necessity, they did not do so without impatience. Once or twice the reporter took a chance and went around the palisaded enclosure. Top accompanied him and Gideon Spilett, his carbine loaded, was ready for any eventuality. There were no ill encounters and nothing suspicious was found. The dog would have alerted him to any danger and since Top did not bark, he could conclude that there was nothing to fear for the moment at least and that the convicts were occupied on another part of the island. However on his second sortie on the 27th of November, Gideon Spilett, who had ventured a quarter of a mile into the woods to the south of the mountain, noticed that Top sensed something. The dog's pace was no longer at random; he went to and fro rummaging through the grass and undergrowth as if his sense of smell had been aroused by some suspicious object. Gideon Spilett followed Top, encouraged him, excited him with his voice, all the while on the alert, carbine to his shoulder and profiting from the shelter of the trees to cover himself. It was not likely that Top sensed the presence of a man because in that case he would have announced it with short barks and with a sort of muted anger. Since he heard no such growling, then the danger was neither near nor soon. About five minutes passed in this way with Top rummaging and the reporter prudently following him when suddenly the dog dashed toward a thick bush and drew out a stuffed rag. It was a piece of torn and stained clothing which Gideon Spilett took to the corral at once. There the colonists examined it and they recognized it as a piece of Ayrton's jacket, a piece of that felt made only at the Granite House workshop. "You see from this, Pencroff," noted Cyrus Smith, "that there was resistance on the part of the unfortunate Ayrton. The convicts dragged him out in spite of himself. Do you still doubt his loyalty?" THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 337 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "No, Mister Cyrus," replied the sailor, "and it has been a long time since I have entertained even a momentary suspicion! But it seems to me that there is one conclusion that can be drawn from this fact." "Which is?" asked the reporter. "It is that Ayrton was not killed at the corral. It is that they dragged him away still living since he has resisted. Now then, perhaps he is still alive." "Perhaps," replied the engineer, who remained pensive. That was a thought which could give Ayrton's companions some hope. In fact, they had been led to believe that, surprised at the corral, Ayrton had fallen under some bullet, as had Herbert. But if the convicts had not first killed him, if they had taken him away living to some other part of the island, could it not be admitted that he was still their prisoner? Perhaps one of them had found again in Ayrton a former companion from Australia, Ben Joyce, the chief of the escaped convicts. And who knows if they did not conceive the impossible hope of getting Ayrton to join them. He would even have been very useful to them if they could make a traitor of him!... This incident was thus favorably interpreted at the corral and it no longer seemed impossible that they would find Ayrton again. On his side, if he was a prisoner, Ayrton would doubtless do everything to escape from the hands of these bandits and this would be a powerful auxiliary for the colonists. "In any case," Gideon Spilett noted, "if by any good fortune Ayrton succeeds in saving himself, it will be to Granite House that he will immediately go because he will not know of the attempted assassination whose victim was Herbert, and consequently he will not know that we are imprisoned at the corral." "Ah! I wish that he was there, at Granite House, and that we were also there. Because eventually, if the rascals could do nothing against our dwelling, wouldn't they be able at least to pillage the plateau, our plantations, our poultry yard!" Pencroff had become a real farmer, endeared at heart to his harvests. But it must be said that Herbert was more impatient than anyone else to return to Granite House because he knew how necessary the colonists' presence there was. And it was he who kept them at the corral. Only one idea was on his mind: to leave the corral, to leave it himself! He felt that he was strong enough for the trip to Granite House. He was sure that his strength would return faster in his room with the fresh air and the view of the sea. Several times he pressed Gideon Spilett but the latter fearing, with reason, that Herbert's badly cicatrized wounds would reopen during the trip, did not give the order to leave. However, an incident occurred which forced Cyrus Smith and his two friends to yield to the lad's wishes and God knows that this decision could cause pain and remorse. 338 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ It was the 29th of November, seven o'clock in the morning. The three colonists were chatting in Herbert's room when they heard Top uttering vivid barks. Cyrus Smith, Pencroff and Gideon Spilett seized their guns which were always ready to fire and left the house. Top ran to the foot of the palisaded enclosure, jumped about and barked but it was with contentment not anger. "Someone is coming." "Yes!" "It is not an enemy." "Neb perhaps?" "Or Ayrton?" Hardly had these words been exchanged between the engineer and his two companions when a body bounded over the palisade and fell on to the ground in the corral. It was Jup, Master Jup in person to whom Top gave a hearty welcome. "Jup!" shouted Pencroff. "It is Neb who sent him!" said the reporter. "Then," replied the engineer, "he must have some note on him." Pencroff rushed toward the orang. Evidently if Neb had wanted to send some important information to his master he could not have used a more reliable and rapid messenger who could pass where neither the colonists nor Top himself could. Cyrus Smith was not mistaken. A sack hung from Jup's neck and in this sack they found a note traced out in Neb's hand. Judge their despair when Cyrus Smith and his companions read these words: "Friday, 6 o'clock in the morning. "Plateau invaded by the convicts! "Neb." They looked at each other without saying a word, then they went back to the house. What should they do? The convicts on Grand View Plateau, it was disaster, devastation, ruin! Herbert, on seeing the engineer, the reporter and Pencroff re-enter, knew that the situation had become aggravated and when he saw Jup he no longer doubted that some danger threatened Granite House. "Mister Cyrus," he said, "I want to leave. I can endure the trip. I want to leave." Gideon Spilett approached Herbert. Then after he looked at him he said, "Let us leave then." The question was quickly decided as to whether Herbert would be carried on a stretcher or in the cart which had been brought to the corral by Ayrton. The stretcher would have a gentler motion for the patient but it would necessitate two bearers, that is to say two fewer guns for defense if there should be an attack on the way. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 339 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Would all hands be available, on the contrary, if they used the cart? Was it possible to put a mattress there on which Herbert would rest and to advance carefully so as to avoid any shock? They could do that. The cart was brought out. Pencroff harnessed the onager to it. Cyrus Smith and the reporter picked up Herbert's mattress and put it on the bottom of the cart between the two rails. The weather was fine. The vivid rays of the sun shown through the trees. "Are the weapons ready?" asked Cyrus Smith. They were. The engineer and Pencroff, each armed with a double barreled gun, and Gideon Spilett, holding his carbine, had only to leave. "Are you well, Herbert?" asked the engineer. "Ah, Mister Cyrus," replied the lad, "be calm. I will not die enroute!" In speaking thus they saw that with a supreme will the poor child was mustering all his strength which was about to give way. The engineer felt a pain in his heart. He still hesitated to give the signal for departure. But that would drive Herbert to despair, to kill him perhaps. "Let's go!" said Cyrus Smith. The door of the corral was opened. Jup and Top, who knew that they must be silent, rushed on ahead. The cart left, the door was closed again and the onager, directed by Pencroff, advanced slowly. Certainly it would have been better to take a route other than the one which went directly from the corral to Granite House but it would prove to be very difficult for the cart to move through the woods. Thus it was best to follow the regular path even though it was well known to the convicts. Cyrus Smith and Gideon Spilett walked on either side of the cart ready to respond to any attack. It was not likely however, that the convicts had yet abandoned Grand View Plateau. Neb's note had evidently been written and sent as soon as the convicts had shown themselves. Now this note had been dated six o'clock in the morning and the agile orang, accustomed to go to the corral frequently, could hardly have taken more than three quarters of an hour to cross the five miles which separated it from Granite House. The road was therefore safe at the moment and if there was any gunfire it would really occur closer to Granite House. However, the colonists remained strictly on guard. Top and Jup, the latter armed with his cudgel, sometimes in front, sometimes thrashing about the woods at the edge of the road, did not signal any danger. The cart advanced slowly under Pencroff's direction. They had left the corral at seven thirty. One hour later, four of the five miles had been covered without incident. The road was deserted over all of this part of Jacamar Woods which extended from the Mercy to the lake. No alert took place. The brushwood seemed to be as deserted as on the day when the colonists first set foot on the island. 340 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ They approached the plateau. One more mile and they would see the bridge over Glycerin Creek. Cyrus Smith did not doubt that this bridge would be in place because either the convicts had entered the plateau at this spot or, after having crossed one of the watercourses which surrounded the enclosure, they would have taken the precaution of lowering the bridge in order to beat a retreat. Finally an opening in the last trees allowed them to see the sea's horizon. But the cart continued its journey since none of the defenders would think of abandoning it. At this moment Pencroff halted the onager and shouted in a terrible voice. "Ah, the scoundrels." And his hand pointed to a thick smoke which was twirling above the mill, the stables and the poultry yard. A man was dashing about amidst the smoke. It was Neb. His companions shouted. He heard them and ran toward them... The convicts had abandoned the plateau about a half-hour earlier after having devastated it. "And Mister Herbert?" shouted Neb. Gideon Spilett returned for a moment to the cart. Herbert had lost consciousness. CHAPTER X Herbert carried to Granite House - Neb relates what occurred - Cyrus Smith's visit to the plateau - Ruin and devastation - The colonists are disarmed by the malady - Willow bark - Mortal fever - Top barks again! There was no longer any question of the convicts or the dangers which menaced Granite House or the ruins which covered the plateau. Herbert's condition dominated everything. Had the trip been disastrous for him by provoking some internal injury? The reporter could not say but his companions and he were driven to despair. The cart was brought to the bend in the river. There a few branches were arranged in the form of a stretcher which received the mattress on which Herbert was lying unconsciousness. Ten minutes later Cyrus Smith, Gideon Spilett and Pencroff were at the foot of the wall, leaving to Neb the task of bringing the cart back to Grand View Plateau. The elevator was put in motion and soon Herbert was lying on his bed in Granite House. The cares which were lavished on him brought him back to life. He smiled for a moment on finding himself once again in his room but he could barely murmur a few words because he was so feeble. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 341 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Gideon Spilett examined his wounds. He feared that they had opened since they had cicatrized imperfectly... that had not happened. From whence came this prostration? Why had Herbert's condition grown worse? The lad lapsed into a sort of feverish sleep and the reporter and Pencroff remained near his bed. During this time Cyrus Smith brought Neb up to date on what had occurred at the corral and Neb related to his master those events in which the plateau had been the theater. It was only during the preceding night that the convicts had shown themselves at the edge of the forest at the approaches to Glycerin Creek. Neb, who was on the watch near the poultry yard, had not hesitated to fire on one of these pirates who was about to cross the watercourse; but the night was obscure and he did not know if he had shot the wretch. In any case, this was not sufficient to scatter the gang and Neb had only enough time to get back to Granite House where he was at least safe. But what could he do then? How could he prevent the devastations which the convicts threatened for the plateau? Did Neb have some means of warning his master? And moreover, in what situation would the hosts of the corral find themselves? Cyrus Smith and his companions had been gone since the 11th of November and it was now the 29th. It was therefore nineteen days since Neb had had any news other than that which Top had brought him, disastrous news: Ayrton disappeared, Herbert seriously wounded, the engineer, the reporter, the sailor so to speak imprisoned in the corral! What could he do, poor Neb asked himself? For himself personally he had nothing to fear because the convicts could not get into Granite House. But the constructions, the plantations and these developments would all be at the mercy of the pirates! Shouldn't he let Cyrus Smith judge what it would be best to do by warning him at least of the menacing danger? Neb then thought of using Jup by entrusting him with a note. He knew of the orang's extreme intelligence, which had often been put to the test. Jup knew the word corral, which had often been mentioned in his presence, and he remembered that Jup had often driven the cart there in Pencroff's company. Day had still not appeared. The agile orang well knew how to pass through the woods unnoticed. Besides, the convicts would think that he was one of the natural inhabitants. Neb did not hesitate. He wrote the note, he attached it to Jup's neck, he escorted the ape to the Granite House door and unrolled a long cord to the ground; then he repeated these words several times: "Jup! Jup! corral! corral!" The animal understood, seized the cord, quickly let himself down to the beach and disappeared into the darkness without arousing the attention of the convicts. 342 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "You did well, Neb," replied Cyrus Smith, "but if you had not warned us perhaps you would have acted even better." And on saying this, Cyrus Smith was thinking of Herbert since the trip seemed to have so seriously compromised his convalescence. Neb finished his recital. The convicts had not shown themselves on the beach. Not knowing the number of inhabitants on the island, they could suppose that Granite House was defended by a large troop. They would have remembered that during the brig's attack, many gunshots had greeted them as much from low level rocks as higher ones and doubtless they did not wish to expose themselves. But Grand View Plateau was open to them and not in the line of fire from Granite House. They therefore gave in to their instinct for plundering, pillaging and arson, heaping destruction upon destruction and leaving only a half hour before the arrival of the colonists who they thought were still confined at the corral. Neb rushed out of his retreat. He ascended the plateau and at the risk of being shot, he tried to extinguish the fire which was burning over the poultry yard. He fought a losing battle against the fire until the moment when the cart appeared at the edge of the woods. Such had been the serious events. The presence of the convicts constituted a permanent menace to the Lincoln Island colonists, so fortunate until now. They could expect still more serious misfortunes. Gideon Spilett and Pencroff remained at Granite House near Herbert, while Cyrus Smith, accompanied by Neb, went to judge for himself the extent of the disaster. It was fortunate that the convicts had not advanced to the foot of Granite House. The workshop at the Chimneys would not have escaped destruction. But perhaps this damage would have been easier to repair than the ruins on Grand View Plateau. Cyrus Smith and Neb went toward the Mercy and ascended the left bank without encountering any trace of the passage of the convicts. On the other side of the river, they saw nothing suspicious in the thick woods. In all probability they must suppose that either the convicts knew about the return of the colonists to Granite House because they had seen them pass on the road from the corral, or else, following the course of the Mercy, they had driven into Jacamar Woods after the devastation of the plateau, and they were ignorant of their return. In the first case, they would return to the corral now without defenders, which contained precious resources for them. In the second, they would go back to their encampment and wait there for some occasion to renew the attack. They must forestall this; but any enterprise intended to rid them from the island was still subordinate to Herbert's condition. In fact, Cyrus Smith did not have too many hands and no one could leave Granite House at the moment. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 343 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ The engineer and Neb reached the plateau. Desolation was everywhere. The fields had been trampled on. The ears of corn, which were going to be harvested, were lying on the ground. The other plantations had not suffered less. The kitchen garden was wrecked. Fortunately Granite House possessed a reserve of seed which would allow the damage to be repaired. As to the mill, the construction at the poultry yard and the onager's stable, the fire had destroyed everything. Several animals were roaming in a fright across the plateau. The birds, who had taken refuge during the fire on the waters of the lake, were already returning to their usual places on the banks. Everything must be redone. The figure of Cyrus Smith, more pale than usual, denoted an interior anger which he could hardly control but he did not say a word. One last time he looked at the devastated fields, the smoke still rising from the ruins, and then he returned to Granite House. The days which followed were the saddest that the colonists had ever passed on the island. Herbert's weakness was obviously increasing. It seemed that a most serious illness, the consequence of the deep physiological disorder that he had undergone, was threatening to erupt, and Gideon Spilett sensed that he would be powerless against such an aggravation of his condition. In fact, Herbert remained in an almost continuous stupor and symptoms of delirium began to manifest themselves. The medicinal beverages were the only remedies available to the colonists. The fever was still not very high but it seemed that before long it would come on through regular attacks. Gideon Spilett recognized it on the 6th of December. The poor lad, whose fingers, nose and ears became extremely pale, was first seized by active shivers, horripilations, and trembling. His pulse was weak and irregular, his skin dry and his thirst intense. This episode was soon succeeded by a period of high temperature; his face became animated, his skin red and his pulse accelerated; then he sweated profusely after which the fever appeared to diminish. The attack had lasted about five hours. Gideon Spilett had not left Herbert, who was now subject to an intermittent fever. It was only too obvious that at any cost they must reduce this fever before it became more serious. "And to reduce it," said Gideon Spilett to Cyrus Smith, "we need a febrifuge." "A febrifuge!..." replied the engineer. "We have neither Peruvian bark nor sulphate of quinine!" "No," said Gideon Spilett, "but there are willows on the borders of the lake and willow bark can sometimes replace quinine." "Let us try it then without losing a moment!" replied Cyrus Smith. 344 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ In fact willow bark as well as the horse chestnut, the leaf of the holly and the snake root are justly considered substitutes for Peruvian bark. Evidently they must try this substance even though it was not as effective as Peruvian bark and to use it in its natural state since they lacked the means to extract the alkaloid, that is to say the salicin. Cyrus Smith went himself to cut off some pieces of bark from the trunk of a species of black willow; he took it to Granite House, he reduced it to a powder and this powder was administered to Herbert that very evening. The night passed without serious incidents. Herbert had some delirium but the fever did not reappear during the night and did not return on the following day. Pencroff began to take hope. Gideon Spilett said nothing. It could be that the intermittent character of the fever was not a daily one but a three day one, in a word, that it would return the next day. They awaited the next day with the greatest anxiety. It must besides be noted that during the apyretic period, Herbert remained fatigued with his head feeling heavy and giddy. Another symptom which frightened the reporter to the last extremity; Herbert's liver became congested and soon a very intense delirium showed that his brain was also affected. Gideon Spilett was overwhelmed by this new complication. He drew the engineer aside. "It is a pernicious fever!" he told him. "A pernicious fever!" cried Cyrus Smith. "You are mistaken, Spilett. A pernicious fever does not declare itself spontaneously. There must be a germ!..." "I am not mistaken," replied the reporter. "Herbert may have contracted this germ in the marshes of the island and that would suffice. He has already experienced a first attack. If a second attack follows and if we do not succeed in preventing the third... he is lost!..." "But this willow bark?..." "It is insufficient," replied the reporter, "and a third attack of pernicious fever that is not treated with quinine is always fatal!" Fortunately Pencroff heard nothing of this conversation or he would have gone mad. One can understand the engineer's and the reporter's anxieties during this day of the 7th of December and during the night which followed. About the middle of the day, the second attack came on. The crisis was terrible. Herbert felt that he was lost! He held out his arms to Cyrus Smith, to Spilett and to Pencroff. He did not want to die!... This scene was heart rending. They had to send Pencroff away. The attack lasted five hours. It was evident that Herbert would not withstand a third. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 345 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ The night was frightful. In his delirium, Herbert said heart breaking things to his companions. He rambled on, he fought against the convicts, he called to Ayrton! He entreated this mysterious being, this now disappeared protector whose image obsessed him... Then he fell back in a deep prostration which overwhelmed him completely... Several times Gideon Spilett thought that the poor boy was dead! The next day, the 8th of December, was a succession of fainting fits. Herbert's emaciated hands clenched the bedsheets. They administered additional doses of powdered bark but the reporter expected no result from it. "If before tomorrow morning we have not given him a more energetic febrifuge," said the reporter, "Herbert will die!" Night came on - the last night doubtless of this good, intelligent, courageous lad, so superior for his age, and whom everyone loved like their son! The only remedy that existed to counter this terrible pernicious fever, the only specific which could defeat it, was not to be found on Lincoln Island! During this night of the 8th to the 9th of December, Herbert was again seized by a very intense delirium. His liver was horribly congested, his brain affected and already it was impossible for him to recognize anyone. Would he live to the next day until the third attack which would certainly carry him off? That was no longer likely. His strength was exhausted and during intervals in the crises he was like dead. About three o'clock in the morning, Herbert let out a frightful cry. He seemed to writhe with a supreme convulsion. Neb, who was near him, was frightened and rushed into the next room where his companions were watching. At this moment Top barked in a strange way. Everyone soon went over and they succeeded in holding down the dying lad who wanted to throw himself off his bed, while Gideon Spilett felt his pulse growing weaker little by little. It was five o'clock in the morning. The rays of the rising sun began to shine into the rooms of Granite House. It promised to be a fine day and this day would be poor Herbert's last... A ray shown on the table which was near the bed. Suddenly Pencroff uttered a cry and pointed to an object placed on the table... It was a small oblong box with these words on it: "Sulphate of Quinine." 346 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ CHAPTER XI Inexplicable mystery - Herbert's convalescence - Parts of the island to explore - Preparations for departure - The first day - Night - Second day - The kauris - The cassowary couple - Footprints in the forest - Arrival at Reptile Promontory. Gideon Spilett took the box and opened it. It contained about two hundred grains of a white powder, a few particles of which he carried to his lips. The extreme bitterness of this substance could not be mistaken. It certainly was the precious alkaloid of Peruvian bark, the pre-eminent anti-periodic. He had to administer this powder to Herbert without hesitating. How it got there, they would discuss later. "Some coffee," said Gideon Spilett. A few moments later Neb brought over a lukewarm cup of the infusion. Gideon Spilett threw in about eighteen grains (1) of quinine and they succeeded in making Herbert drink the mixture. There was still time because the third attack of the pernicious fever had not manifested itself. And it may be added, that it must not return! Besides, it is necessary to say, everyone had recovered hope. The mysterious influence had been exercised anew and in a supreme moment, when they had despaired of it!... After a few hours Herbert was resting peacefully. The colonists could then discuss this incident. The intervention of the stranger was more evident than ever. But how had he been able to get into Granite House during the night? It was absolutely inexplicable and in truth, the means used by the "genie of the island" were no less strange than the genie himself. During this day, the sulphate of quinine was administered to Herbert about every three hours. The next day Herbert experienced a certain improvement. He had not yet recovered and intermittent fevers are subject to frequent and dangerous recurrences but he had no lack of care. And then the specific was there and not far doubtless, was he who brought it! In short, an immense hope returned to everyone's heart. This hope was not unjustified. Ten days later, on the 20th of December, Herbert began his convalescence. He was still weak and a severe diet had been imposed on him but there had been no further attack. And then the docile child voluntarily submitted to all the prescriptions which were imposed on him. He yearned to get better. Pencroff was like a man who had been snatched from the bottom of an abyss. He had crises of joy which bordered on delirium. After the time for the third attack had passed, he seized the reporter in his arms and smothered him. From then on he only called him Doctor Spilett. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ (1) 10 grams. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 347 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ It remained to discover the real doctor. "We will find him," repeated the sailor. And certainly the man, whoever he was, could expect a somewhat rugged embrace from worthy Pencroff. The month of December ended and with it this year of 1867 during which the colonists of Lincoln Island had been so sorely tried. They began the year 1868 with magnificent weather, superb warmth and a tropical temperature which fortunately was cooled by sea breezes. Herbert revived, and from his bed, placed near one of the Granite House windows, he inhaled the wholesome salty air which restored his health. He began to eat and God knows what dainty dishes, frivolous and savory, Neb prepared for him. "It is enough to make one wish for an illness," said Pencroff. During all of this time the convicts had not once shown themselves in the vicinity of Granite House. Of Ayrton there was no news and if the engineer and Herbert still had any hope of finding him again, their companions did not doubt that the unfortunate had succumbed. However these uncertainties could not continue and as soon as the lad would be able bodied, the expedition whose result was so important, would be undertaken. But they would have to wait a month perhaps, because it would take all the forces of the colony to get the upper hand over the convicts. Besides, Herbert was getting better and better. The congestion of the liver had disappeared and the wounds could be considered as definitely cicatrized. During the month of January, important work was done at Grand View Plateau; but it consisted only in saving what they could of the devastated harvests of corn and vegetables. The seeds and plants were gathered so as to furnish a new harvest for the coming half-season. As to rebuilding the poultry yard, the mill and the stables, Cyrus Smith preferred to wait. While his companions and he would be in pursuit of the convicts, the latter could well pay a new visit to the plateau and would not fail to give rein to their profession as pillagers and arsonists. They would see about rebuilding when they had purged the island of these scoundrels. The young convalescent began to get up during the second fortnight of the month of January, first an hour each day, then two, then three. His strength returned visibly, so vigorous was his constitution. He was then eighteen years old. He was tall and promised to become a noble man with a commanding presence. From this time on his convalescence, though still requiring care - and Doctor Spilett showed himself to be very strict - proceeded on schedule. Toward the end of the month, Herbert had already been to Grand View Plateau and the beach. A few sea baths taken in the company of Pencroff and Neb did him a world of good. Cyrus Smith felt he could already set the day of departure which was fixed for the 15th of February. The nights, which were very 348 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ clear at this time of the year, would favor the search that they would make of the entire island. The preparations for this exploration were therefore begun and they had to be considerable because the colonists had sworn that they would not enter Granite House again until their double purpose had been attained: on the one hand, to destroy the convicts and find Ayrton again if he was still alive; on the other, to discover who presided so effectively over the destinies of the colony. Of Lincoln Island, the colonists were well acquainted with all of the eastern shore from Cape Claw to the Mandible Capes, the vast Tadorns marsh, the neighborhood of Lake Grant, Jacamar Woods between the corral and the Mercy, the courses of the Mercy and Red Creek, and finally the buttresses of Mount Franklin, where they had established the corral. They had explored, but only in an imperfect way, the vast coastline of Washington Bay from Cape Claw to Reptile Promontory, the forested and marshy west coast and those endless dunes which ended at the mouth of Shark's Gulf. But they knew nothing of the large wooded portions which covered Serpentine Peninsula, all of the right bank of the Mercy, the left bank of Falls River, and the network of these buttresses and these entrenchments which supported three quarters of the base of Mount Franklin in the west, the north and the east, there where so many retreats doubtless existed. Consequently several thousand acres of the island had still escaped their investigations. Hence it was decided that the expedition would be carried across the Far West so as to include all of the part situated on the right bank of the Mercy. Perhaps it would be best to go first to the corral where they had reason to believe that the convicts had found refuge again either to pillage it or to install themselves there. But either the devastation of the corral was an accomplished fact by now and it was too late to prevent it, or the convicts had entrenched themselves there and there would always be time to go and dislodge them from their retreat. Thus, after discussion, they held to the original plan, and the colonists resolved to reach Reptile Promontory by going through the woods. They could blaze a trail with the ax and thus beat the first path over a route which would put Granite House in communication with the extremity of the peninsula over a length of sixteen to seventeen miles. The cart was in perfect condition. The onagers, being well rested, could make a long trip. Provisions, camping equipment, a portable stove and various utensils were loaded into the cart as well as arms and munitions chosen with care from the now complete Granite House arsenal. But they must not forget that the convicts were perhaps roaming the woods and that in these thick forests a gun could quickly be fired and reach its mark. Out there it would be necessary for the small troop of colonists to stay together and not separate for any reason. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 349 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ It was also decided that no one would remain at Granite House. Top and Jup themselves would take part in the expedition. The inaccessible dwelling could guard itself all alone. The 14th of February, the day before the departure, was a Sunday. It was devoted entirely to rest and sanctified by thanks addressed to the Creator. Herbert, entirely recovered but still a bit weak, would have a place reserved for him in the cart. The next day, at dawn, Cyrus Smith took the measures necessary to protect Granite House against any invasion. The ladders which were formerly used for climbing up, were brought to the Chimneys and buried deep in the sand so that they could be used on their return because the drum of the elevator was dismantled and nothing remained of the apparatus. Pencroff stayed to the last in Granite House to finish this work and he lowered himself by means of a double cord held firmly from below and which once thrown to the ground would allow no communication between the upper landing and the beach. The weather was magnificent. "It will be a warm day," said the reporter joyously. "Bah, Doctor Spilett," replied Pencroff, "we will move along sheltered by the trees and we will not even see the sun." "Let's go!" said the engineer. The cart was waiting on the beach in front of the Chimneys. The reporter saw to it that Herbert took his place there, at least during the early hours of the trip, and the lad yielded to his doctor's prescriptions. Neb put himself at the head on the onagers. Cyrus Smith, the reporter and the sailor were in front. Top frisked about joyously. Herbert had offered a place to Jup in his vehicle and Jup accepted without formality. The moment for departure had arrived and the small troop took to the road. The cart first turned the corner at the river's mouth then, after having ascended the left bank of the Mercy for a mile, it crossed the bridge at the end of which the route to Port Balloon began. There the explorers left the route on their left and plunged into the cover of these immense woods which formed the region of the Far West. For the first two miles the well spaced trees allowed the cart to move freely; from time to time they had to chop away at creepers and brushwood but no serious obstacle opposed the passage of the colonists. The thick branches kept the ground in the cool shade. Deodars, douglas, casuarinas, banksias, gum and dragon trees and other already discovered species succeeded each other as far as the eye could see. All the species of birds usual to the island were found there, grouse, jacamars, pheasant, lories and the entire babbling family of cockatoos, parakeets and parrots. Agouti, kangaroo and capybara ran about the grass, all of which reminded the colonists of the first excursions which were made upon their arrival on the island. 350 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "Nevertheless," noted Cyrus Smith, "I notice that these animals, quadrupeds and birds, are more fearful than formerly. These woods have been recently scoured by the convicts who must certainly have left traces." And, in fact, in many places they recognized the more or less recent passage of a troop of men: here, cuts made on trees, perhaps to mark out the road: there, some cinders from an extinguished fire and some footprints preserved on clay ground. But, in short, nothing seemed to indicate a permanent encampment. The engineer had suggested to his companions that they refrain from hunting. The noise from the firearms would warn the convicts who were perhaps roaming about the forest. Besides, the hunters would necessarily drift away from the cart and they were severely forbidden to wander alone. During the second part of the day, about six miles from Granite House, movement became rather difficult. In order to pass certain thickets, they had to chop down some trees to make a road. Before doing that, Cyrus Smith took care to send Top and Jup into the thick underbrush. They accomplished their task conscientiously and when the dog and the orang returned without giving any signal, they knew that there was nothing to fear, neither from the convicts nor from the wild beasts - two sorts of individuals of the genus animal whose ferocious instincts put them on the same level. During the night of this first day, the colonists camped about nine miles from Granite House on the banks of a small tributary of the Mercy whose existence they were ignorant of. This was a part of the hydrographic system which gave the soil its astonishing fertility. They ate heartily because the colonists had a very sharp appetite and measures were taken to pass the night without disturbance. If the engineer had had to deal only with ferocious animals, jaguars or others, he would simply have lit a fire around the encampment which would suffice to protect it; but the convicts would more likely be alerted by the flames than frightened by them, and it was best in this case to surround themselves by darkness. Besides, the watch was strictly organized. Two of the colonists would watch together and it was agreed that every two hours they would wake up their companions. In spite of his protests, Herbert was relieved of the guard. Pencroff and Gideon Spilett on the one hand and the engineer and Neb on the other, took turns in mounting guard to the approaches to the encampment. Besides, there were only a few hours to the night. The obscurity was due rather to the thickness of the branches than to the disappearance of the sun. The silence was barely troubled by the raucous howls of the jaguars and the derisive laughter of the apes which seemed particularly to irritate Master Jup. The night passed without incident and the next day, the 16th of February, the journey, more slow than laborious, was resumed through the forest. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 351 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ They were only able to make six miles on this day because at every instant they had to blaze a trail with the ax. Being true "settlers", the colonists spared the large and fine trees whose felling would besides have cost them enormous fatigue. They sacrificed the small ones; but the result was that the route hardly followed a straight line and was lengthened by numerous detours. During this day, Herbert discovered new species which had not been previously seen on the island, such as the tree fern with hanging branches that were shaped like water flowing out of a vase, and the carob whose long pods the onagers nibbled on eagerly and which would furnish a sweetish pulp of excellent taste. There the colonists also found again some magnificent kauri trees, arranged by groups, with cylindrical trunks crowned by a cone of verdure rising to a height of two hundred feet. These were the "king of trees" of New Zealand, as famous as the cedars of Lebanon. As to the fauna, there were no species that had not been previously recognized by the hunters. However, without getting near, they caught a glimpse of a couple of large birds peculiar to Australia, cassowaries which go under the name of emus, and which are five feet tall and of brown plumage, belonging to the order of grallatory birds. Top dashed after them as fast as his four legs could carry him but the cassowaries easily outdistanced him, such was their speed. They found a few more traces left by the convicts in the forest. Near a fire which appeared to have been recently extinguished, the colonists noticed footprints which they carefully examined. By measuring each against the others according to their length and width, they easily identified traces of the feet of five men. The five convicts had evidently camped in this area; but - and this was the object of a minute examination - they could not discover a sixth footprint which, in this case would have been Ayrton's foot. "Ayrton was not with them!" said Herbert. "No," replied Pencroff, "and if he was not with them it is because these wretches have already killed him! But these scoundrels therefore do not have a den where we can go and track them down like tigers!" "No," replied the reporter. "It is very likely that they go about at random and it is in their interest to roam around in this way until such time as they become the masters of the island." "The masters of the island!" shouted the sailor. "The masters of the island!..." he repeated, and his voice was choked as if an iron collar had seized his throat. Then in a calmer voice: "Do you know, Mister Cyrus," he said, "what bullet this is that I have shoved into my weapon?" "No, Pencroff." "It is the bullet that went through Herbert's chest and I promise you that it will not miss its mark." 352 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ But these justifiable reprisals would not return Ayrton to life and from the examination of the footprints left on the ground they must alas conclude that they could no longer hope to see him alive. That evening they camped forty miles from Granite House and Cyrus Smith estimated that they were at most five miles from Reptile Promontory. And in fact, the next day they reached the extremity of the peninsula. The forest had been crossed over its entire length but with no indication which would allow them to discover the retreat where the convicts took refuge nor that of the no less secret sanctuary of the mysterious stranger. CHAPTER XII Exploration of Serpentine Peninsula - Encampment at the mouth of Falls River - Six hundred feet from the corral - Gideon Spilett's and Pencroff's reconnaissance - Their return - Everyone moves forward - An open door - A lighted window - By the light of the moon! The next day, the 18th of February, was devoted to the exploration of all of the wooded part which formed the shore from Reptile Promontory to Falls River. The colonists could investigate deep into this forest because, extending between the two shores of Serpentine Peninsula, its width was only three to four miles. The trees, by their height and their thick branches, attested to the fertility of the soil which was more astonishing here than on any other portion of the island. It was like a corner of the virgin forests of America or of central Africa transported to this temperate zone. They were led to the conclusion that these superb plants found in this soil a moisture in the upper level but heat at the interior due to volcanic fires, a warmth which did not belong to the temperate climate. The dominant species were these kauris and these eucalyptuses which took on gigantic dimensions. But the goal of the colonists was not to admire these magnificent plants. They already knew that, in this connection, Lincoln Island deserved to rank with the Canaries group which was first called Fortune Islands. Now alas, their island no longer belonged to them completely; others had taken possession of it, criminals who trampled everything underfoot and they must destroy them to the last. However carefully they looked, they found no more traces on the western coast. No more footprints, no more cuts on the trees, no more cold cinders, no more abandoned camps. "This does not astonish me," said Cyrus Smith to his companions. "The convicts landed on the island near Flotsom Point and they immediately dashed into the forests of the Far THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 353 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ West after having crossed the Tadorn marshes. They then very nearly followed the route that we had taken on leaving Granite House. This explains the traces that we recognized in the woods. But on arriving on the coastline, the convicts realized that they would find no suitable retreat there and it was then that, after having ascended northward, they discovered the corral..." "Where they have perhaps returned..." said Pencroff. "I do not think so," replied the engineer, "because they must have assumed that our search would carry us in that direction. The corral is only a storehouse for them and not a fixed camp." "I agree with Cyrus," said the reporter, "and in my opinion it is among the buttresses of Mount Franklin that the convicts have found a retreat." "Then, Mister Cyrus, straight to the corral!" shouted Pencroff. "We must finish the job and up until now we've been wasting our time!" "No, my friend," replied the engineer, "you forget that we had an interest in knowing if the forests of the Far West concealed some dwelling. Our exploration has a double purpose, Pencroff. If on the one hand we must punish a crime, on the other hand we owe a debt of gratitude." "You are right, Mister Cyrus," replied the sailor. "Nevertheless, it is my opinion that we will find this gentleman only when he wishes it." And really Pencroff was only expressing everyone's opinion. It was likely that the stranger's retreat was no less mysterious than was he himself! That evening the cart halted at the mouth of Falls River. Sleeping arrangements followed their custom and they took the usual precautions for the night. Herbert again became the vigorous youth that he had been before his illness, profiting largely from this existence in the open air between the breezes from the ocean and the vivifying atmosphere of the forests. His place was no longer in the cart but at the head of the caravan. The next day, the 19th of February, the colonists abandoned the shore where, beyond the mouth, the basalts of all shapes were so picturesquely piled up, and ascended the left bank of the watercourse. The route had been partly cleared during previous excursions from the corral to the west coast. The colonists then found themselves at a distance of six miles from Mount Franklin. The engineer's plan was as follows: to carefully examine the entire valley whose bottom formed the bed of the river, and to cautiously reach the neighborhood of the corral; if the corral was occupied, to take it by force; if it was not, to entrench themselves there and make it the center of operations with the object of exploring Mount Franklin. This plan was unanimously approved by the colonists and truly they were longing to regain complete possession of their island. 354 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ They travelled along the narrow valley which separated the two most powerful buttresses of Mount Franklin. The trees, pressed together on the banks of the river, became rarer toward the upper zones of the volcano. It was uneven hilly ground, very suitable for ambushes, over which they moved with care. Top and Jup marched as guides and dashing to the right and to the left into the thick brushwood, they competed with intelligence and with skill. But there was nothing to indicate that the banks of the watercourse had been recently frequented, nothing to announce either the presence or the proximity of the convicts. About five o'clock in the evening the cart stopped about six hundred feet from the palisaded enclosure. A semicircular curtain of large trees still concealed it. They must now reconnoiter the corral in order to know if it was occupied. To go there openly in full daylight, with the convicts very likely in ambush, would be to invite some foul play as had struck Herbert. It would be better to wait for night to come on. However, Gideon Spilett wanted, without further delay, to reconnoiter the approaches to the corral and Pencroff, at the end of his patience, offered to accompany him. "No, my friends," replied the engineer. "Wait for night. I will not allow any of you to expose yourself in full daylight." "But, Mister Cyrus..." replied the sailor, barely disposed to obey. "I beg you, Pencroff," said the engineer. "So be it!" replied the sailor, who vented his anger at the convicts with the roughest language of his maritime repertoire. The colonists thus remained near the cart and carefully surveyed the neighboring parts of the forest. Three hours passed. The wind died out and an absolute silence reigned under the large trees. The breaking of a twig, the noise of footsteps on the dry leaves or any movement through the grass would have been heard without difficulty. Everything was quiet. Besides, Top, lying on the ground with his head resting on his paws, gave no sign of concern. At eight o'clock, the evening had advanced so that the reconnaissance could be made under good conditions. Gideon Spilett was ready to leave accompanied by Pencroff. Cyrus Smith gave his consent. Top and Jup would remain with the engineer, Herbert and Neb because any bark or cry uttered at an inappropriate time would give the alarm. "Do not get involved in any imprudence," Cyrus Smith advised the sailor and the reporter. "You are not to take possession of the corral but only to discover if it is occupied or not." "It is agreed," replied Pencroff. And they both left. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 355 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Over a radius of thirty to forty feet, the darkness already rendered objects invisible thanks to the thick foliage of the trees. The reporter and Pencroff, stopping for any noise that aroused their suspicion, advanced very carefully. They walked at a distance from each other in order to offer less of a prize to any gunfire. And, as a matter of fact, they expected a gunshot at any moment. Five minutes after they left the cart, Gideon Spilett and Pencroff reached the edge of the woods at the clearing in front of the palisaded enclosure. They stopped. Dim light still bathed the prairie, devoid of trees. The door of the corral, thirty feet away, seemed to be closed. These thirty feet to be crossed between the edge of the woods and the enclosure constituted the danger zone, to use an expression borrowed from ballistics. In fact, one or more bullets fired from the top of the palisade would throw to the ground anyone who ventured into this zone. Gideon Spilett and the sailor were not men to recoil but they knew that any imprudence on their part, in which they would be the first victims, would affect their companions. With themselves killed, what would become of Cyrus Smith, Neb and Herbert? But Pencroff, overexcited by feeling himself so near the corral where he supposed that the convicts had found refuge, was going to move forward when the reporter held him back with a firm hand. "In a few minutes it will be completely dark," murmured Gideon Spilett into Pencroff's ear, "and that will be the moment to act." Pencroff convulsively squeezed the butt of his gun, restraining himself, waiting and fuming. Soon the last glimmer of twilight was completely gone. The darkness seemed to leave the thick forest and envelope the clearing. Mount Franklin rose like an enormous screen in front of the western horizon, and darkness came on rapidly as it does in regions of lower latitude. This was the moment. From the moment that they had posted themselves at the edge of the woods, the reporter and Pencroff had not lost sight of the palisaded enclosure. The corral seemed to be absolutely deserted. The top of the palisade formed a line a little darker than the surrounding environment and nothing impaired its distinctness. However, if the convicts were there, one of them would be posted to guard against any surprise. Gideon Spilett seized the hand of his companion and they both advanced, crawling toward the corral with their guns ready to fire. They reached the door of the enclosure without a single ray to light up the darkness. Pencroff tried to push the door open, which the reporter and he supposed was closed. However the sailor was able to determine that the exterior bars were not in place. They could therefore conclude that the convicts were occupying the corral and that they had really fastened the door so that it could not be forced. 356 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Gideon Spilett and Pencroff listened. There was no noise from inside the enclosure. The sheep and the goats, doubtless sleeping in their stables, did not disturb the calm of the night. The reporter and the sailor, hearing nothing, asked themselves if they should climb the palisade and get into the corral. That would be contrary to Cyrus Smith's instructions. It was true that the operation could succeed but it could also miscarry. Now if the convicts suspected nothing, if they had no knowledge of the expedition undertaken against them, if in short there existed at this moment a chance to surprise them, should they jeopardize this chance by thoughtlessly going over the palisade? That was not the reporter's opinion. He felt that it was best to wait until the colonists were all together before attempting to get into the corral. This much was certain, that they could come right up to the palisade without being seen and that the enclosure did not appear to be guarded. This point settled it remained only to return to the cart which they ventured to do. Pencroff probably agreed with this way of looking at things because he had no difficulty in following the reporter when the latter retreated to the woods. A few minutes later the engineer was brought up to date with the situation. "Well," he said after some thought, "I now have reason to believe that the convicts are not at the corral." "We will surely know that," replied Pencroff, "when we have scaled the enclosure." "To the corral, my friends!" said Cyrus Smith. "Shall we leave the cart in the woods?" asked Neb. "No," replied the engineer, "it is our ammunition and supply wagon and if need be it will serve as an entrenchment." "Forward then," said Gideon Spilett. The cart left the woods and began to roll without noise toward the palisade. It was just as dark and quiet as when Pencroff and the reporter had been crawling on the ground. The thick grass completely muffled the noise of their footsteps. The colonists were ready to fire. On Pencroff's order, Jup stayed behind. Neb held Top in leash so that he would not rush forward. Soon the clearing appeared. It was deserted. Without hesitating, the small troop went toward the enclosure. In a short space of time the danger zone was crossed. No shot had been fired. When the cart reached the palisade, it stopped. Neb was at the head of the onagers to hold them back. The engineer, the reporter, Herbert and Pencroff then went to the door in order to see if it was barricaded from the inside... One of the doors was open! "What were you saying,?" the engineer asked, turning toward the sailor and Gideon Spilett. Both were stupefied. "Upon my salvation," said Pencroff, "this door was closed just now." THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 357 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ The colonists then hesitated. Had the convicts been in the corral when Pencroff and the reporter had made their reconnaissance? That could not be doubted since the door, closed at the time, could only have been opened by them. Were they still there or had one of them gone out? All of these questions were instantly on everyone's mind but what should they do? At his moment Herbert, who had advanced a few feet into the enclosure, rushed out and seized Cyrus Smith's hand. "What is it?" asked the engineer. "A light!" "In the house?" "Yes!" All five advanced toward the door and in fact, through the panes of the window which faced them, they saw a feeble flickering light. Cyrus Smith quickly made his decision. "It is a unique chance," he said to his companions, "to find the convicts in the house expecting nothing. They are ours! Forward!" The colonists moved quietly inside the enclosure, with weapons ready to fire. The cart had been left outside, guarded by Jup and by Top, who had been prudently tied to it. Cyrus Smith, Pencroff and Gideon Spilett on the one side and Herbert and Neb on the other, ran along the palisade, observing that this part of the corral was absolutely dark and deserted. In a few minutes all were at the house, in front of the door which was closed. Cyrus Smith signaled to his companions to hold back while he approached the window pane then feebly lit by an inside light. He looked into the only room which formed the ground floor of the house. On the table was a lighted lamp. Near the table was the bed formerly used by Ayrton. On the bed lay the body of a man. Suddenly Cyrus Smith drew back and in a stifling voice: "Ayrton!" he shouted. Immediately the door was forced rather than opened and the colonists rushed into the room. Ayrton seemed to be sleeping. His appearance showed that he had suffered long and cruelly. They saw large bruises on his wrists and ankles. Cyrus Smith leaned over him. "Ayrton!" shouted the engineer, seizing the arms of him whom they had found again under such unexpected circumstances. On hearing his name, Ayrton opened his eyes, looked at Cyrus Smith and then at the others: "You," he shouted, "you?" "Ayrton! Ayrton!" repeated Cyrus Smith. "Where am I?" "In the house at the corral!" 358 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "Alone?" "Yes!" "But they are coming!" shouted Ayrton. "Defend yourself! Defend yourself!" And Ayrton fell back exhausted. "Spilett," the engineer then said, "we may be attacked at any moment. Bring the cart into the corral. Then barricade the door and come back here." Pencroff, Neb and the reporter hastened to carry out the engineer's orders. There was not a moment to lose. Perhaps the cart itself was already in the hands of the convicts! In an instant the reporter and his two companions crossed the corral and reached the door of the palisade behind which they heard Top growling dully. The engineer, leaving Ayrton for a moment, left the house, ready to fire. Herbert was at his side. They both surveyed the top of the buttress which overlooked the corral. If the convicts were in ambush there they could kill the colonists one by one. At this moment the moon appeared in the east, above the black curtain of the forest, and a white sheet of light spread out over the interior of the enclosure. The corral was fully illuminated, with its cluster of trees, the small stream which watered it and its wide carpet of grass. The house and a part of the palisade stood out in white against the side of the mountain. On the opposite side, toward the door, the enclosure remained dark. A black mass soon appeared. It was the cart which entered the circle of light and Cyrus Smith could hear the noise of the door which his companions had closed again by firmly fastening the bars on the inside. But at that moment, Top broke his leach, barked furiously and rushed toward the back of the corral to the right of the house. "On guard, my friends, and take aim...," shouted Cyrus Smith. The colonists put their guns to their shoulders and waited for the moment to fire. Top barked without letup and Jup ran after the dog, making sharp hisses. The colonists followed him and reached the small stream which was overshadowed by large trees. And there, in full light, what did they see? Five bodies lying on the bank! They were those of the convicts who four months earlier had set foot on Lincoln Island. THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 359 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ CHAPTER XIII Ayrton's account - Plans of his former accomplices - Their installation at the corral - The judge of Lincoln Island - The Bonadventure - Search around Mount Franklin - Upper valleys - Subterranean noises - Pencroff's response - At the bottom of the crater - Return. What had happened? Who had struck down the convicts? Was it Ayrton? No, since he had dreaded their return only a moment earlier. But Ayrton was then in a deep stupor from which it was impossible to rouse him. After the few words that he uttered, an overwhelming torpor took possession of him and he fell back on his bed motionless. The colonists, prey to a thousand confused thoughts, under the influence of a violent overexcitement, waited all night without leaving Ayrton's house and without returning to the place where the bodies of the convicts were lying. It was true that Ayrton could tell them nothing about the circumstances under which the convicts had been found dead since he himself did not even know that he was at the corral. But at least he would be able to tell about the events that had preceded this terrible execution. The next day Ayrton came out of his torpor and his companions heartily gave him evidence of their joy on seeing him again very nearly safe and sound after one hundred four days of separation. Ayrton then related in a few words what had happened or at least as much as he knew. The day after his arrival at the corral, the 10th of November last, when night fell, he was surprised by the convicts who had scaled the enclosure. They tied and gagged him; then he was taken away to some obscure cavern at the foot of Mount Franklin where the convicts had taken refuge. His death had been decided upon and the next day he was about to be killed when one of the convicts recognized him and called him by the name he had borne in Australia. These wretches wanted to massacre Ayrton! They respected Ben Joyce! But from that time on, Ayrton was exposed to the obsessions of his former accomplices. They wanted him to join with them and they counted on him to get into Granite House, to get into this inaccessible dwelling, in order to become masters of the island after having assassinated the colonists. Ayrton resisted. The former convict, repentant and pardoned, would have rather died than betray his companions. Ayrton, tied up, gagged and under constant guard, lived in this cavern for four months. However, the convicts had discovered the corral a short time after their arrival on the island and from that time on, they used its reserves but without living there. On the 11th of November, two of these bandits, suddenly surprised by the arrival of the colonists, fired on Herbert and one of them 360 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ returned boasting that he had killed one of the inhabitants of the island, but he returned alone. His companion, as we know, fell under Cyrus Smith's dagger. One can judge Ayrton's despair and anxiety when he learned this news of Herbert's death! The colonists were only four in number and, so to speak, at the mercy of the convicts! After this event, and during all of the time that the colonists were detained at the corral by Herbert's illness, the pirates did not leave their cavern, and even after they had pillaged Grand View Plateau, they did not feel it prudent to abandon it. The ill treatment inflicted on Ayrton then redoubled. His hands and feet still carried the bloody marks of the bonds which restrained him day and night. He awaited death at any moment, from which it seemed he could not escape. Things stood this way until the third week in February. The convicts, always on the lookout for a favorable occasion, rarely left their retreat except to hunt either in the interior of the island or on the southern coast. Ayrton no longer had any news of his friends nor did he expect to see them again. Finally the unfortunate man, weak from ill-treatment, fell into a deep prostration during which he saw nor heard anything. From that time on, that is to say for the last two days, he could not even say what had happened. "But, Mister Smith," he added, "since I was imprisoned in this cavern, how do I find myself at the corral?" "How do we find the convicts lying out there dead in the middle of the enclosure?" replied the engineer. "Dead!" shouted Ayrton who, in spite of his weakness, got up a bit. His companions helped him up. He wanted to stand up. They let him do so and everyone went toward the small creek. It was broad daylight. There on the bank, in the position in which they had met an instantaneous death, lay the five bodies of the convicts. Ayrton was dumfounded. Cyrus Smith and his companions looked at him without saying a word. On a sign from the engineer, Neb and Pencroff examined the bodies already stiff from the cold. They showed no apparent trace of a wound. Only after they had been carefully examined, Pencroff saw on the face of one, the chest of another, the back of this one, the shoulder of that one, a small red mark, a sort of barely visible contusion whose origin was impossible to recognize. "That is how they were struck down!" said Cyrus Smith. "But with what kind of weapon?" shouted the reporter. "A weapon, acting like lightning, whose secret we do not have." "And who struck them?..." asked Pencroff. "The judge of the island," replied Cyrus Smith, "he who brought you here, Ayrton, he whose influence is still felt, he who does for us all that we cannot do for ourselves, and who, when done, conceals himself from us." THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 361 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "Let us look for him then," shouted Pencroff. "Yes, let us look for him," replied Cyrus Smith, "but the mysterious being who accomplishes such wonders will not be found until it finally pleases him to call us to his side." This invisible protection, which made their own efforts seem like nothing, irritated and moved the engineer at the same time. The relative inferiority that it implied could wound a proud spirit. A generosity which acted so as to elude every mark of recognition indicated a sort of scorn for the debtors which marred up to a certain point, in Cyrus Smith's view, the value of the kindness. "Let us search," he resumed, "and God will it that we be permitted one day to prove to this haughty protector that he is not dealing with ingrates! What I would not give to be able to repay him and to render him some important service in our turn even at the cost of our lives." From this day on, this search was the unique preoccupation of the inhabitants of Lincoln Island. Everything impelled them to discover a hint about this enigma, a hint even if it only be the name of the man endowed with this truly inexplicable and superhuman power. Then the colonists re-entered the house in the corral where their cares promptly restored Ayrton to his moral and physical energy. Neb and Pencroff carried the bodies of the convicts into the forest at some distance from the corral and buried them. Ayrton was brought up to date on what had occurred during his imprisonment. He was told about Herbert's experiences and the series of trials which the colonists had endured. As to the latter, they no longer expected to see Ayrton again and feared that the convicts had massacred him without pity. "And now," said Cyrus Smith, ending his recital, "a duty remains for us. Half of our task is completed but if the convicts are no longer to be feared, it is not because of ourselves that we have again become masters of the island." "Well," replied Gideon Spilett, "let us search every labyrinth of the buttresses of Mount Franklin! Let us leave no excavation or hole unexplored. No reporter ever found himself in the presence of so exciting a mystery, I can tell you that, my friends!" "And we will return to Granite House," replied Herbert, "only when we have found our benefactor." "Yes," said the engineer, "we will do everything that it is humanly possible to do... but, I repeat, we will not find him until he wishes it!" "Shall we stay at the corral?" asked Pencroff. "Let us stay here," replied Cyrus Smith. "There are abundant provisions here and we are at the center of our circle of investigations. Besides, if necessary, the cart can quickly take us to Granite House." "Good," replied the sailor. "Only an observation." 362 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "Which is?" "The fine season is advanced and we must not forget that we have a trip to make." "A trip?" said Gideon Spilett. "Yes! The one to Tabor Island," replied Pencroff. "It is necessary to bring a notice there which indicates the position of our island where Ayrton actually is, in case the Scotch yacht comes to bring him back. Who knows if it is not already too late?" "But Pencroff," asked Ayrton, "how do you plan to make this trip?" "On the Bonadventure!" "The Bonadventure!" shouted Ayrton. "It no longer exists." "My Bonadventure no longer exists!" yelled Pencroff jumping up. "No!" replied Ayrton. "The convicts discovered it in its small port, it was barely eight days ago, they took it to sea, and..." "And?" said Pencroff with his heart palpitating. "And not having Bob Harvey to maneuver it, they became stranded on the rocks and the boat was completely destroyed." "Ah! the wretches! the bandits! the infamous scoundrels!" shouted Pencroff. "Pencroff," said Herbert, taking the sailor's hand, "we will make another Bonadventure, a larger one. We have all the ironwork and all the rigging from the brig." "But do you know," replied Pencroff, "that it will take at least five to six months to construct a boat of thirty to forty tons?" "We will take our time," replied the reporter, "and we will give up our trip to Tabor Island for this year." "As much as you want it, Pencroff, it is best to be resigned," said the engineer, "and I hope that this delay will not be detrimental." "Ah! my Bonadventure! my poor Bonadventure!" shouted Pencroff, truly disheartened by the loss of his boat, to which he had become so attached. The destruction of the Bonadventure was evidently a regrettable fact for the colonists and it was agreed that this loss would be repaired as soon as possible. This decided, they would now occupy themselves only with bringing the exploration of the most secret portions of the island to a successful conclusion. The search was begun on that very day, the 19th of February, and lasted an entire week. The base of the mountain, between the buttresses and their numerous ramifications, formed a labyrinth of valleys and elevated ground very randomly disposed. It was evident that it would be best to pursue their search there at the bottom of these narrow gorges, perhaps even into the interior of the mass of Mount Franklin. No part of the island would be a better place to conceal a dwelling whose THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 363 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ host wanted to remain unknown. But such was the entanglement of the buttresses, that Cyrus Smith had to proceed to explore them in a strictly methodical way. The colonists first visited all of the valley which opened up to the south of the volcano, which fed the waters of Falls River. It was there that Ayrton showed them the cavern where the convicts had taken refuge and in which he had been imprisoned until he had been taken to the corral. This cavern was exactly in the condition as when Ayrton had left it. They found there a certain quantity of munitions and provisions that the convicts had built up with the intention of creating a reserve. All of the valley which was adjacent to the cave, a valley shaded by beautiful trees, among which the conifers were dominant, was explored with extreme care. The southwest buttress having been turned, the colonists came upon a more narrow gorge which led to the picturesque entanglement of basalts on the coast. Here there were fewer trees. Stone replaced grass. Wild goats and sheep gamboled about among the rocks. Here the arid part of the island began. They saw that of the numerous valleys at the base of Mount Franklin, only three were wooded and rich in pastures like those of the corral which was bordered on the west by Falls River valley and on the east by Red Creek valley. These two brooks changed into rivers lower down by the absorption of several affluents formed by all of the mountain's waters and thus accounted for the fertility of the southern portion. As to the Mercy, it was more directly fed from abundant sources lost under the cover of Jacamar Woods and from other sources of this nature which, overflowing from a thousand outlets, watered the soil of Serpentine Peninsula. Now one of these three valleys, where there was no lack of water, could serve as a retreat for some recluse who would find there all the things necessary for life. But the colonists had already explored them and nowhere had they been able to affirm the presence of man. Was it then at the bottom of these arid gorges, among the debris of rocks in the rugged ravines of the north, between the paths of lava, that this retreat found itself with its host? The base of the northern part of Mount Franklin was composed of only two valleys, broad, not too deep, without the appearance of vegetation, erratic blocks scattered about, long moraines paved with lava, hills of large mineral deposits interspersed with volcanic glass and labradorites. This part called for a long and difficult exploration. It was criss- crossed by a thousand cavities, doubtless of little comfort, but absolutely concealed and of difficult access. The colonists even visited dark tunnels which dated from the plutonian epoch, still black from the passage of former fires, and which led into the mass of the mountain. They went through dark galleries with resin torches, they probed the smallest 364 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ excavations, they sounded the least depths. But there was silence and darkness everywhere. It did not seem that any human being had ever trod these ancient passageways or that his hands had even moved a single block. They were there just as the volcano had thrown them up above the water at the time that the island emerged. However, if these substructures appeared to be absolutely deserted, if the obscurity there was complete, Cyrus Smith was forced to acknowledge that absolute silence did not reign there. On arriving at the end of one of these dark cavities extending to a length of several hundred feet into the interior of the mountain, he was surprised to hear muffled rumblings, increased in intensity by the resonance of the rocks. Gideon Spilett, who was with him, also heard these distant murmurs, which indicated a revival of the subterranean fires. Several times they both heard it and they were in agreement on this point, that some chemical reaction was going on in the bowels of the earth. "The volcano then is not totally extinct?" asked the reporter. "It is possible that since our exploration of the crater," replied Cyrus Smith, "there has been some activity in the lower levels. Any volcano, although considered fully extinct, can evidently become active again." "But if Mount Franklin is getting ready for an eruption," asked Gideon Spilett, "would it not pose a danger for Lincoln Island?" "I do not think so," replied the engineer. "The crater, that is to say the safety valve, exists and the overflow of vapor and lava will escape as it formerly did by its accustomed outlet. "Provided the lava does not blaze a new passage toward the fertile parts of the island." "Why, my dear Spilett," replied Cyrus Smith, "why would it not follow its natural route?" "Well! Volcanos are capricious!" replied the reporter. "Notice," replied the engineer, "that the inclination of the entire mass of Mount Franklin favors the outpouring of material toward the valleys which we are exploring at this moment. It would need an earthquake which changed the center of gravity of the mountain to modify this outpouring." "But an earthquake is always to be feared under these conditions," noted Gideon Spilett. "Always," replied the engineer, "especially when the subterranean forces begin to awaken and the bowels of the earth have been obstructed after a long repose. Also, my dear Spilett, an eruption would be a serious thing for us and it would be best if the volcano did not have the urge to awaken! But we can do nothing, can we? In any case, whatever comes, I do not think that our domain at Grand View will be seriously menaced. Between there and the mountain, the soil is THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND 365 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ noticeably depressed and if ever the lava takes a path toward the lake it will be thrown toward the dunes and the neighboring portions of Shark Gulf." "We still have not seen any smoke at the top of the mountain which would indicate an approaching eruption," said Gideon Spilett. "No," replied Cyrus Smith, "no vapor is escaping from the crater. I observed the summit only yesterday. But it is possible that in the lower part of the chimney, time has accumulated rocks, cinders and hardened lava and that this valve, as I call it, is temporarily blocked. But at the first serious effort, all obstacles will disappear and you may be certain, my dear Spilett, that neither the island, which is the boiler, nor the volcano, which is the chimney, will crack under the pressure of the gas. Nevertheless, I repeat, it would be better if there were no eruption." "And yet we are not mistaken," replied the reporter. "We can definitely hear muffled rumblings in the very bowels of the volcano!" "In fact," replied the engineer, who listened again carefully, "there is no mistaking... A reaction is going on there whose importance and final outcome we cannot evaluate." Cyrus Smith and Gideon Spilett left and returned to their companions who were told about the state of things. "Good" shouted Pencroff, "this volcano wants to do its thing! But if it tries, it will find its master!..." "Who?" asked Neb. "Our genie, Neb, our genie, who will gag the crater if it only hints at opening up." One could see that the sailor's confidence toward the special deity of his island was absolute and certainly the occult power, which had manifested itself up to that time by so many inexplicable acts, appeared to be without limits; but it also escaped the minute search conducted by the colonists, because in spite of their efforts, in spite of the zeal, more than the zeal, the tenacity with which they carried on their exploration, the strange retreat had not been discovered. From the 19th to the 25th of February, the circle of the investigation was extended to all of the northern region of Lincoln Island, whose most secret retreats were searched. The colonists ended by sounding each rocky wall, as the police do to the walls of a suspicious house. The engineer even made a very exact survey of the mountain and carried his search down to the foundations which supported it. It was even explored to the top of the truncated cone which ended the first stage of rocks and then to the upper edge of this enormous hat, at the bottom of which the crater opened. They did more: they visited the still extinct abyss, but within its depth they could distinctly hear rumblings. However, there was no smoke, no vapor nor any heat from the walls to indicate an approaching eruption. But neither there 366 THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ nor at any other part of Mount Franklin could the colonists find any trace of the person they were looking for. The investigation was then directed toward all of the dunes region. They carefully examined the high lava walls of Shark Gulf, from top to bottom, even though it was extremely difficult to reach the level of the gulf. There was no one! Nothing! These few words finally summarized so much fatigue uselessly expended, so much stubbornness which produced no result and there was a sort of anger in the discomfort of Cyrus Smith and his companions. They therefore had to think of returning, because these searches could not be pursued indefinitely. The colonists were truly right in believing that the mysterious being did not reside on the surface of the island and then the craziest notions haunted their overexcited imaginations. Pencroff and Neb in particular, could no longer limit themselves to the world of unusual things, but let themselves be carried into the supernatural. On the 25th of February, the colonists again entered Granite House and by means of a double cord brought to the landing of the door with an arrow, they re-established communication between their domain and the ground. One month later, on the twenty fifth day of March, they celebrated the third anniversary of their arrival on Lincoln Island. CHAPTER XIV Three years have passed - The question of the new vessel - What is resolved - Prosperity of the colony - The shipyard - The frosts of the southern hemisphere - Pencroff is resigned - Bleaching the linen - Mount Franklin. Three years had passed since the prisoners from Richmond had fled and at all times during these three years they spoke of their country, always present in their thoughts. They had no doubt that the Civil War was now at an end and it seemed impossible to them that the just cause of the North had not been victorious. But what were the events of this terrible war? How much blood had been spilled? Which of their friends had succumbed in battle? They often spoke of these things, still without knowing when they would see their country again. To return there if only for a few days, to renew social ties with the inhabited world, to establish communication between their native land and their island, to pass the longest, perhaps the best part of their lives in this colony that they had founded and which would then become a metropolis, was this then an unrealistic dream?