 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. Part 1, Chapter 22. This intense cold lasted until the fifteenth of August, without, however, passing the degree of Fahrenheit already mentioned. When the atmosphere was calm, the low temperature was easily born, but when the wind blew, the poor settlers, insufficiently clothed, felt it severely. Pencroft regretted that Lincoln Island was not the home of a few families of bears, rather than of so many foxes and seals. "'Bears,' said he, "'are generally very well-dressed, and I ask no more than to borrow for the winter the warm cloaks which they have on their backs.' "'But,' replied Neb, laughing, "'perhaps the bears would not consent to give you their cloaks, Pencroft. These beasts are not St. Martins.' "'We would make them do it, Neb. We would make them,' replied Pencroft, in quite an authoritative tone. But these formidable carnivora did not exist in the island, or at any rate they had not as yet shown themselves. In the meanwhile, Herbert, Pencroft, and the reporter occupied themselves with making traps on prospect heights and at the border of the forest. According to the sailor, any animal, whatever it was, would be a lawful prize, and the rodents or carnivora which might get into the new snares would be well received at Granite House. The traps were, besides, extremely simple. Being pits dug in the ground, a platform of branches and grass above which concealed the opening, and at the bottom some bait, the sand of which would attract animals. It must be mentioned also that they had not been dug at random, but at certain places where numerous footprints showed that quadrupeds frequented the ground. They were visited every day, and at three different times, during the first days, specimens of those Antarctic foxes which they had already seen on the right bank of the mercy were found in them. "'Why, there are nothing but foxes in this country,' cried Pencroft, when for the third time he drew one of the animals out of the pit. Everything added in great disgust. He added, "'Beast, which are good for nothing.' "'Yes,' said Gideon Spillett, "'they are good for something.' "'And what is that?' "'To make bait to attract other creatures.' The reporter was right, and the traps were hence forward baited with the foxes' carcasses. The sailor had also made snares from the long tough fibers of a certain plant, and they were even more successful than the traps. Only a day passed without some rabbits from the warren being caught. It was always rabbit. But Neb knew how to vary his sauces, and that settlers did not think of complaining. However, once or twice in the second week of August the traps supplied the hunters with other animals more useful than foxes—namely, several of the small wild boars which had already been seen to the north of the lake. Pencroft had no need to ask if these beasts were eatable. He could see that by their resemblance to the pig of America and Europe. "'But these are not pigs,' said Herbert to him. "'I warn you of that, Pencroft.' "'My boy!' replied the sailor, bending over the trap and drawing out one of those representatives of the family of Seuss by the little appendage which served it as a tale. "'Let me believe that these are pigs.' "'Why?' "'Because that pleases me.' "'Are you very fond of pig, then, Pencroft?' "'I am very fond of pig,' replied the sailor, particularly of its feet, and if it had eight instead of four I should like it twice as much.' As to the animals in question, they were peccaries belonging to one of the four species which are included in the family, and they were also of the species of Tajaku, recognizable by their deep color and the absence of those long teeth with which the mouths of their congeners are armed. These peccaries generally live in herds, and it was probable that they abounded in the woody parts of the island. At any rate, they were eatable from head to foot, and Pencroft did not ask more from them. Towards the fifteenth of August the state of the atmosphere was suddenly moderated by the wind shifting to the northwest. To temperature rose seven degrees, and the accumulated vapor in the air was not long in resolving into snow. All the island was covered with a sheet of white, and showed itself to its inhabitants under a new aspect. The snow fell abundantly for several days, and it soon reached a thickness of two feet. The wind also blew with great violence, and at the height of granted house the sea could be heard thundering against the reefs. In some places the wind, eddying around the corners, formed the snow into tall whirling columns resembling those waterspouts which turn round on their base, and which vessels attack with a shot from a gun. However, the storm coming from the northwest blew across the island, and the position of granted house preserved it from a direct attack. But in the midst of this snowstorm, as terrible as if it had been produced in some polar country, neither Cyrus Harding nor his companions could, notwithstanding their wish for it, venture forth, and they remained shut up for five days, from the twentieth to the twenty-fifth of August. They could hear the tempest raging in the Jackamar Woods, which would surely suffer from it. Many of the trees would no doubt be torn up by the roots, but Pencroft consoled himself by thinking that he would not have the trouble of cutting them down. The wind is turning woodman, let it alone, he repeated. Besides, there was no way of stopping it if they had wished to do so. How grateful the inhabitants of granted house then were to heaven for having prepared for them this solid and immovable retreat! Cyrus Harding had also his legitimate share of thanks, but after all it was nature who had hollowed out this fast cavern, and he had only discovered it. They all were in safety, and the tempest could not reach them. If they had constructed a house of bricks and wood on prospect heights, it certainly would not have resisted the fury of this storm. As to the chimneys, it must have been absolutely uninhabitable, for the sea passing over the islet would beat furiously against it. But here, in granted house, in the middle of a solid mass over which neither the sea nor air had any influence, there was nothing to fear. During these days of seclusion the sailors did not remain inactive. There was no want of wood cut up into planks in the storeroom, and little by little they completed their furnishing, constructing the most solid of tables and chairs, for material was not spared. Bob and Pencroft were very proud of this rather heavy furniture, which they would not have changed on any account. Then the carpenters became basket-makers, and they did not succeed badly in this new manufacture. At the point of the lake which projected to the north they had discovered an osher bed in which grew a large number of purple oshers. Before the raiding season Pencroft and Herbert had cut down these useful shrubs, and their branches, well-prepared, could now be effectively employed. The first attempts were somewhat crude, but in consequence of the cleverness and intelligence of the workmen, by consulting and recalling the models which they had seen, and by emulating each other, the possessions of the colony were soon increased by several baskets of different sizes. The storeroom was provided with them, and in special baskets Neb placed his collections of rhizomes, stone pine almonds, etc. During the last week of the month of August the weather moderated again. The temperature fell a little, and the tempest abated. The colonists sallied out directly. There was certainly two feet of snow on the shore, but they were able to walk without much difficulty on the hardened surface. Cyrus Harding and his companions climbed to prospect heights. What had changed? The woods which they had left green, especially in the part at which the firs predominated, had disappeared under a uniform color. All was white, from the summit of Mount Franklin to the shore, the forests, the plains, the lake, the river. The waters of the mercy flowed under a roof of ice, which at each rising and ebbing of the tide broke up with loud crashes. These birds fluttered over the frozen surface of the lake. Ducks and snipe, teal and guillemote, were assembled in thousands. The rocks among which the cascade flowed were bristling with icicles. One might have said that the water escaped by a monstrous gargoyle, shaped with all the imagination of an artist of the Renaissance. As to the damage caused by the storm and the forest, that could not as yet be ascertained, they would have to wait till the snowy covering was dissipated. Gideon Spillett, Pencroft and Herbert did not miss this opportunity of going to visit their traps. They did not find them easily under the snow with which they were covered. They had also to be careful not to fall into one or other of them, which would have been both dangerous and humiliating to be taken in their own waters. But happily they avoided this unpleasantness and found their traps perfectly intact. No animal had fallen into them, and yet the footprints in the neighborhood were very numerous, among others certain very clear marks of claws. Herbert did not hesitate to affirm that some animal of the feline species had passed there, which justified the engineer's opinion that dangerous beasts existed in Lincoln Island. These animals doubtless generally lived in the forests of the far west, but, pressed by hunger, they had ventured as far as prospect heights. Perhaps they had smelled out the inhabitants of Granite House. Now, what are these feline creatures? asked Pencroft. They are tigers, replied Herbert. I thought those beasts were only found in hot countries. On the new continent, replied the lad, they are found from Mexico to the pompous of Buenos Aires. Now, as Lincoln Island is nearly under the same latitude as the provinces of La Plata, it is not surprising that tigers are to be met with in it. Well, we must look out for them, replied Pencroft. However, the snow soon disappeared, quickly dissolving under the influence of the rising temperature. Rain fell, and the sheet of white soon vanished. Notwithstanding the bad weather, the settlers renewed their stores of different things. Stone pine almonds, rhizomes, syrup from the maple tree, for the vegetable part, rabbits from the warren, agoutis, and kangaroos for the animal part. This necessitated several excursions into the forest, and they found that a great number of trees had been blown down by the last hurricane. Pencroft and Nebb also pushed with a cart as far as the vein of coal, and brought back several tons of fuel. They saw in passing that the pottery kiln had been severely damaged by the wind, at least six feet of it having been blown off. At the same time as the coal, the store of wood was renewed at Granite House, and they profited by the current of the mercy having again become free to float down several rafts. They could see that the cold period was not ended. A visit was also paid to the chimneys, and the settlers could not but congratulate themselves on not having been living there during the hurricane. The sea had left unquestionable traces of its ravages. Sweeping over the islet it had furiously assailed the passages, half filling them with sand, while thick beds of seaweed covered the rocks. While Nebb, Herbert and Pencroft hunted or collected wood, Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spillett busied themselves in putting the chimneys to rights, and they found the forge and the bellows almost unhurt, protected as they had been from the first by the heaps of sand. The store of fuel had not been made uselessly. The settlers had not done with the rigorous cold. It is known that in the northern hemisphere the month of February is principally distinguished by rapid fallings of the temperature. It is the same in the southern hemisphere, and the end of the month of August, which is the February of North America, does not escape this climatic law. About the twenty-fifth, after another change from snow to rain, the wind shifted to the southeast, and the cold became suddenly very severe. According to the engineer's calculation, the mercurial column of a Fahrenheit thermometer would not have marked less than eight degrees below zero, and this intense cold, rendered still more painful by a sharp gale, lasted for several days. The colonists were again shut up in Granite House, and as it was necessary to hermetically seal all the openings of the façade, only leaving a narrow passage for renewing the air, the consumption of candles was considerable. To economize them the cavern was often only lighted by the blazing hearths on which fuel was not spared. Several times one or other of the settlers descended to the beach in the midst of ice, which the waves heaped up at each tide, but they soon climbed up again to Granite House, and it was not without pain and difficulty that their hands could hold to the rounds of the latter. In consequence of the intense cold, their fingers felt as if burned when they touched the rounds. To occupy the leisure hours, which the tenants of Granite House now had at their disposal, Cyrus Harding undertook an operation which could be performed indoors. We know that the settlers had no other sugar at their disposal than the liquid substance which they drew from the maple, by making deep incisions in the tree. They contended themselves with collecting this liquor in jars, and employing it in this state for different culinary purposes, and the more so, as on growing old, this liquid began to become white and to be of a syrupy consistency. But there was something better to be made of it, and one day Cyrus Harding announced that they were going to turn into refiners. Refiners, replied Pencroft. That is rather a warm trade, I think. Very warm, answered the engineer. Then it will be seasonable, said the sailor. This word refighting need not awaken the mind-thoughts of an elaborate manufacturing with apparatus and numerous workmen. No! To crystallize this liquor only an extremely easy operation is required. Placed on the fire in large earthen pots, it was simply subjected to evaporation, and soon a scum arose to its surface. As soon as this began to thicken, Nebb carefully removed it with a wooden spatula. This accelerated the evaporation, and at the same time prevented it from contracting an empyromatic flavor. After boiling for several hours on a hot fire, which did as much good to the operators as the substance operated upon, the latter was transformed into a thick syrup. This syrup was poured into clay molds, previously fabricated in the kitchen stove, and to which they had given various shapes. The next day this syrup had become cold and formed cakes and tablets. This was sugar of rather a reddish color, but nearly transparent, and of a delicious taste. The cold continued to the middle of September, and the prisoners in Granite House began to find their captivity rather tedious. Nearly every day they attempted sorties which they could not prolong. They constantly worked at the improvement of their dwelling. They talked while working. Harding instructed his companions in many things, principally explaining to them the practical applications of science. The colonists had no library at their disposal, but the engineer was a book which was always at hand, always open at the page which one wanted, a book which answered all their questions, and which they often consulted. The time thus passed away pleasantly, these brave men not appearing to have any fears for the future. However, all were anxious to see, if not the fine season, at least the cessation of the insupportable cold. If only they had been clothed in a way to meet it, how many excursions they would have attempted, either to the Downs or to Tadorn's Fens. Game would have been easily approached, and the chase would certainly have been most productive. But Cyrus Harding considered it of importance that no one should injure his health, for he had need of all his hands, and his advice was followed. But it must be said that the one who was most impatient of this imprisonment, after Pencroft, perhaps, was Top. The faithful dog found Granite House very narrow. He ran backwards and forwards from one room to another, showing in his way how weary he was of being shut up. Harding often remarked that when he approached the dark well which communicated with the sea, and of which the orifice opened at the back of the storeroom, Top uttered singular growlings. He ran round and round this hole which had been covered with a wooden lid. Sometimes he even tried to put his paws under the lid as if he wished to raise it. He then yelped in a peculiar way, which showed at once anger and uneasiness. The engineer observed this maneuver several times. What could there be in this abyss to make such an impression on the intelligent animal? The well led to the sea, that was certain. Could narrow passages spread from it through the foundations of the island? Did some marine monster come from time to time to breathe at the bottom of this well? The engineer did not know what to think and could not refrain from dreaming of many strange improbabilities. Acustom to go far into the regions of scientific reality he would not allow himself to be drawn into the regions of the strange and almost of the supernatural. But yet how to explain why Top, one of those sensible dogs who never waste their time embarking at the moon, should persist in trying with scent and hearing to fathom this abyss if there was nothing there to cause his uneasiness? Top's conduct puzzled Cyrus Harding even more than he cared to acknowledge to himself. At all events the engineer only communicated his impressions to Gideon's spillet, for he thought it useless to explain to his companions the suspicions which arose from what perhaps was only Top's fancy. At last the cold ceased. There had been rain, squalls mingled with snow, hailstorms, gusts of wind, but these inclementies did not last. The ice melted, the snow disappeared, the shore, the plateau, the banks of the mercy, the forest, again became practicable. This return of spring delighted the tenants of Granite House, and they soon only passed in it the hours necessary for eating and sleeping. They hutted much in the second part of September, which led Pencroft to again entreat for the firearms which he asserted had been promised by Cyrus Harding. The latter, knowing well that without special tools it would be nearly impossible for him to manufacture a gun which would be of any use, still drew back and put off the operation to some future time, observing in his usual dry way that Herbert and Spillet had become very skilful archers, so that many sorts of excellent animals, agoutis, kangaroos, capybaras, pigeons, bustards, wild ducks, snipes, in short, game both with fur and feathers fell victims to their arrows, and that consequently they could wait. But the obstinate sailor would listen to nothing of this, and he would give the engineer no peace till he promised to satisfy his desire. Gideon Spillet, however, supported Pencroft. If, which may be doubted, said he, the island is inhabited by wild beasts, we must think how to fight with and exterminate them. A time may come when this will be our first duty. But at this period it was not the question of firearms which occupied Harding, but that of clothes, those which the settler's war had passed this winter, but they would not last till next winter. Skins of carnivora or the wool of ruminance must be procured at any price, and since there were plenty of musmans it was agreed to consult on the means of forming a flock which might be brought up for the use of the colony. An enclosure for the domestic animals, a poultry yard for the birds, in a word to establish a sort of farm in the island, such were the two important projects for the fine season. In consequence and in view of these future establishments it became of much importance that they should penetrate into all the yet unknown parts of Lincoln Island, that is to say, through that thick forest which extended on the right bank of the mercy, from its mouth to the extremity of the serpentine peninsula, as well as on the whole of its western side. But this needed settled weather, and a month must pass before this exploration could be profitably undertaken. They therefore waited with some impatience when an incident occurred which increased the desire the settlers had to visit the whole of their domain. It was the twenty-fourth of October. On this day Pencroft had gone to visit his traps, which he always kept properly baited. In one of them he found three animals which would be very welcome for the larder. They were a female peccary and her two young ones. Pencroft then returned to Granite House, enchanted with his capture, and as usual he made a great show of his game. Come, we shall have a grand feast, Captain," exclaimed. And you too, Mr. Spillet, you will eat some. I shall be very happy," replied the reporter. But what is it that I am going to eat? Suckling pig. Oh, indeed, suckling pig, Pencroft. To hear you, I thought that you were bringing back a young partridge stuffed with truffles. What! cried Pencroft. Do you mean to say that you turn up your nose at suckling pig? No, replied Gideon Spillet, without showing any enthusiasm. Provided one doesn't eat too much. That's right, that's right, returned Sailor, who was not pleased whenever he heard his chase made light of. You like to make objections. Seven months ago, when we landed on the island, you would have been only too glad to have met with such game. Well, well, replied the reporter, man is never perfect nor contented. Now, said Pencroft, I hope that Nebb will distinguish himself. Look here, these two little peccaries are not more than three months old. They will be as tender as quail's. Come along, Nebb, come! I will look after the cooking myself. And the Sailor, followed by Nebb, entered the kitchen where they were soon absorbed in their culinary labours. They were allowed to do it in their own way. Nebb, therefore, prepared a magnificent repast. The two little peccaries, kangaroo soup, a smoked ham, stone pine almonds, oswego tea. In fact, all the best that they had. But among all the dishes figured in the first rank the savory peccaries. At five o'clock dinner was served in the Dunning Room of Granite House. The kangaroo soup was smoking on the table. They found it excellent. To the soup succeeded the peccaries, which Pencroft insisted on carving himself, and of which he served out monstrous portions to each of the guests. These suckling pigs were really delicious, and Pencroft was devouring his share with great gusto, when all at once a cry and an oath escaped him. "'What's the matter?' asked Cyrus Harding. "'The matter is that I've just broken a tooth,' replied the Sailor. "'What? Are there pebbles in your peccaries?' said Gideon Spillett. "'I suppose so,' replied Pencroft, drawing from his lips the object which he'd cost him a grinder. It was not a pebble. It was a leaden bullet.' This is Part 2, Chapter 1. It was now exactly seven months since the balloon voyagers had been thrown on Lincoln Island. During that time, notwithstanding the researches they had made, no human being had been discovered. No smoke even had betrayed the presence of man on the surface of the island. No vestiges of his handiwork showed that either at an early or at a late period had man lived there. Not only did it now appear to be uninhabited by any but themselves, but the colonists were compelled to believe that it had never been inhabited. And now all this scaffolding of reasonings fell before a simple ball of metal, found in the body of an inoffensive rodent. In fact, this bullet must have issued from a firearm, and who but a human being could have used such a weapon. When Pencroft had placed the bullet on the table, his companions looked at it with intense astonishment. All the consequences likely to result from this incident, notwithstanding its apparent insignificance, immediately took possession of their minds. The sudden apparition of a supernatural being could not have startled them more completely. Cyrus Harding did not hesitate to give utterance to the suggestions which this fact, at once surprising and unexpected, could not fail to raise in his mind. He took the bullet, turned it over and over, rolled it between his finger and thumb. Then, turning to Pencroft, he asked, Are you sure that the Peckery wounded by this bullet was not more than three months old? Not more, Captain, replied Pencroft. It was still sucking its mother when I found it in the trap. Well, said the engineer, that proves that within three months a gunshot was fired in Lincoln Island. And that a bullet, added Kitty and Spillet, wounded, though not mortally, this little animal. That is unquestionable, said Cyrus Harding, and these are the deductions which must be drawn from this incident, that the island was inhabited before our arrival, or that men have landed here within three months. Did these men arrive here voluntarily or involuntarily, by disembarking on the shore, or by being wrecked? This point can only be cleared up later. As to what they were, Europeans or Mayleys, enemies or friends of our race, we cannot possibly guess. And if they still inhabit the island, or if they have left it, we know not. But these questions are of too much importance to be allowed to remain long unsettled. No! A hundred times no! A thousand times no! cried the sailor, springing up from the table. There are no other men than ourselves on Lincoln Island. By my faith the island isn't large, and if it had been inhabited, we should have seen some of the inhabitants long before this. In fact the contrary would be very astonishing, said Herbert. But it would be much more astonishing, I should think, observed the reporter, if this peccary had been born with a bullet in its inside. At least, said Neb seriously, if Pencroft has not had— Look here, Neb! burst out Pencroft. Do you think I could have a bullet in my jaw for five or six months without finding it out? Where could it be hidden? he asked, opening his mouth, to show the two and thirty teeth with which it was furnished. Look well, Neb, and if you find one hollow tooth in this set, I will let you pull out half a dozen. Neb's supposition is certainly inadmissible, replied Harding, who not was standing the gravity of his thoughts, could not restrain a smile. It is certain that a gun has been fired in the island, within three months at most. But I am inclined to think that the people who landed on this coast were only here a short time ago, or that they just touched here, for if, when we surveyed the island from the summit of Mount Franklin, it had been inhabited, we should have seen them, or we should have been seen ourselves. It is therefore probable that only within a few weeks castaways have been thrown by a storm on some part of the coast. However that may be, it is a consequence to us to have this point settled. I think that we should act with caution, said the reporter. Such is my advice, replied Sarasarting, for it is to be feared that melee pirates have landed on the island. Captain, asked the sailor, would it not be a good plan before setting out to build a canoe in which we could either ascend the river, or if we liked coast round the island, it would not do to be unprovided. Your idea is good, Pancroft, replied the engineer. But we cannot wait for that. It would take at least a month to build a boat. Yes, a real boat, replied the sailor, but we do not want one for a sea voyage, and in five days at the most I will undertake to construct a canoe fit to navigate the mercy. Five days, cried Neb, to build a boat? Yes, Neb, a boat in the Indian fashion. Of wood? asked the negro, looking still unconvinced. Of wood, replied Pancroft, or rather of bark. I repeat, Captain, that in five days the work will be finished. In five days, then, be it, replied the engineer. But till that time we must be very watchful, said Herbert. Very watchful indeed, my friends, replied Harding. And I beg you to confine your hunting excursions to the neighborhood of Granite House. The dinner ended less gaily than Pancroft had hoped. So then the island was, or had been, inhabited by others than the settlers. Proved as it was by the incident of the bullet, it was hereafter an unquestionable fact, and such a discovery could not but cause great uneasiness among the columnists. As Harding and Gideon spell it before sleeping, conversed long about the matter, they asked themselves, if by chance, this incident might not have some connection with the inexplicable way in which the engineer had been saved, and the other peculiar circumstances which had struck them at different times. However, Cyrus Harding, after having discussed the prose and cons of the question, ended by saying, In short, would you like to know my opinion, my dear spillet? Yes, Cyrus. Well then, it is this. However minutely we explore the island, we shall find nothing. The next day Pancroft set to work. He did not mean to build a boat with boards and planking, but simply a flat-bottom canoe, which would be well suited for navigating the mercy. Above all, for approaching its source where the water would naturally be shallow. Pieces of bark, fastened one to the other, would form a light boat, and in case of natural obstacles, which would render a portage necessary, it would be easily carried. Pancroft intended to secure the pieces of bark by means of nails to ensure the canoe being watertight. It was first necessary to select the trees which would afford a strong and supple bark for the work. Now the last storm had brought down a number of large birch trees, the bark of which would be perfectly suited for their purpose. Some of these trees lay on the ground, and they had only to be barked, which was the most difficult thing of all, owing to the imperfect tools which the settlers possessed. However, they overcame all difficulties. While the sailor, seconded by the engineer, thus occupied himself without losing an hour, Gideon spilled it in Herbert where not idle. They were made purveyors to the colony. The reporter could not but admire the boy who had acquired great skill in handling the bow and spear. Herbert also showed great courage, and much of that presence of mine which may justly be called the Reasoning of Bravery. These two companions of the chase, remembering Cyrus Harding's recommendations, did not go beyond a radius of two miles round Granite House, but the borders of the forest furnished a sufficient tribute of agoutis, capybaras, kangaroos, peccaries, etc., and if the result from the traps was less than during the cold, still the warren yielded its accustomed quota, which might have fed all the colony in Lincoln Island. Often during these excursions Herbert talked with Gideon's spillet on the incident of the bullet, and the deductions which the engineer drew from it. And one day it was the twenty-sixth of October, he said. But Mr. Spillett, do you not think it very extraordinary that, if any castaways have landed on the island, they have not yet shown themselves near Granite House? Very astonishing if they are still here, replied the reporter, but not astonishing at all if they are here no longer. So you think that these people have already quitted the island? returned Herbert. It is more than probable, my boy, for if their stay was prolonged, and above all if they were still here, some accident would have at last betrayed their presence. But if they are able to go away, observed the lad, they could not have been castaways. No Herbert, or at least they were what might be called provisional castaways. It is very possible that a storm may have driven them to the island without destroying their vessel, and that the storm over they went away again. I must acknowledge one thing, said Herbert. It is the Captain Harding appears rather to fear than desire the presence of human beings on our island. In short, responded the reporter. There are only melees who frequent these seas, and those felons are ruffians which it is best to avoid. It is not impossible, Mr. Spellett, said Herbert, that some day or other we may find traces of their landing. I do not say no, my boy. A deserted camp, the ashes of a fire, would put us on the track, and this is what we will look for in our next expedition. The day on which the hunters spoke thus they were in a part of the forest near the mercy, remarkable for its beautiful trees. There, among others, rose to a height of nearly two hundred feet above the ground, some of those superb coniferay to which in New Zealand the natives give the name of Carries. I have an idea, Mr. Spellett, said Herbert. If I were to climb to the top of one of these Carries I could survey the country for an immense distance round. The idea is good, replied the reporter. But could you climb to the top of those giants? I can't at least try, replied Herbert. The light-enactive boy then sprang on the first branches, the arrangement of which made the ascent of the carry easy, and in a few minutes he arrived at the summit, which emerged from the immense plain of Verdure. From this elevated situation his gaze extended over all the southern portion of the island, from claw-keep on the southeast to reptile end on the southwest. To the northwest rose Mount Franklin, which concealed a great part of the horizon. But Herbert, from the height of his observatory, could examine all the yet unknown portion of the island which might have given shelter to the strangers whose presence they suspected. The lad looked attentively. There was nothing in sight on the sea, not a sail, neither on the horizon nor near the island. However, as the bank of trees hid the shore, it was possible that a vessel, especially if deprived of her masts, might lie close to the land and thus be invisible to Herbert. Neither in the forest of the far west was anything to be seen. The wood formed an impenetrable screen, measuring several square miles, without a break or an opening. It was impossible even to follow the course of the mercy, or to ascertain in what part of the mountain it took its source. Perhaps other creeks also ran towards the west, but they could not be seen. But at last, if all indication of an encampment escaped Herbert's sight, could he not even catch a glimpse of smoke, the faintest trace of which would be easily discernible in the pure atmosphere? For an instant Herbert thought he could perceive a slight smoke in the west, but a more attentive examination showed that he was mistaken. He strained his eyes in every direction, and his sight was excellent. No, decidedly there was nothing there. Herbert descended to the foot of the quarry, and the two sportsmen returned to Granite House. After Cyrus Harding listened to the lad's account, shook his head and said nothing. It was very evident that no decided opinion could be pronounced on this question until after a complete exploration of the island. Two days after, the twenty-eighth of October, another incident occurred for which an explanation was again required. While strolling along the shore about two miles from Granite House, Herbert and Neb were fortunate enough to capture a magnificent specimen of the order of Cologneia. It was a turtle of the species Midas, the edible green turtle, so called from the color both of its shell and fat. Herbert caught sight of this turtle as it was crawling among the rocks to reach the sea. Help, Neb, help! he cried. Neb rad up. What a fine animal, said Neb, but how are we to catch it? Nothing is easier, Neb, replied Herbert. We have only to turn the turtle on its back and it can possibly get away. Take your spear and do as I do. The reptile, aware of danger, had retired between its carapace and plastron. They no longer saw its head or feet, and it was motionless as a rock. Captain Neb then drove their sticks underneath the animal, and by their united efforts managed without difficulty to turn it on its back. The turtle, which was three feet in length, would have weighed at least four hundred pounds. Capital, cried Neb. This is something that will rejoice from Pencroft's heart. In fact, the heart of friend Pencroft could not fail to be rejoiced. For the flesh of the turtle, which feeds on wrackgrass, is extremely savory. At this moment the creature's head could be seen, which was small, flat, but widened behind by the large temporal façade hidden under the long roof. And now what shall we do with our prize, said Neb? We can't drag it to Gratted House. Leave it here, since it cannot turn over, replied Herbert, and we will come back with a cart to fetch it. That is the best plan! However, for greater precaution, Herbert took the trouble, which Neb deems superfluous, to wedge up the animal with great stones, after which the two hunters returned to Gratted House, following the beach which the tide had left uncovered. Herbert, wishing to surprise Pencroft, said nothing about the superb specimen of a cologneon, which they had turned over on the sand, but two hours later he and Neb returned with the cart to the place where they had left it. The superb specimen of a cologneon was no longer there. Neb and Herbert stared at each other first, then they stared about them. It was just at this spot that the turtle had been left. The lad even found the stones which he had used, and therefore he was certain of not being mistaken. Well, said Neb, these beasts can turn themselves over, then. It appears so, replied Herbert, who could not understand it at all, and was gazing at the stones scattered on the sand. Well, Pencroft will be disgusted. And Captain Harding will perhaps be very perplexed how to explain this disappearance, thought Herbert. Look here, said Neb, who wished to hide his ill luck. We won't speak about it. On the contrary, Neb, we must speak about it, replied Herbert. And the two, taking the cart, which there was now no use for, returned to Granite House. Arrived at the dockyard where the engineer and the sailor were working together, Herbert recounted what had happened. Oh, the stoopids, cried the sailor, to have let at least fifty meals escape. But Pencroft, replied Neb, it wasn't our fault that the beast got away. As I tell you, we had turned it over on its back. Then you didn't turn it over enough, returned the obstinate sailor. Not enough, cried Herbert, and he told how he had taken care to wedge up the turtle with stones. It is a miracle, then, replied Pencroft. I thought, Captain, said Herbert, that turtles once placed on their backs could not regain their feet, especially when they are of a large size. That is true, my boy, replied Cyrus Harding. Then how did it manage? At what distance from the sea did you leave this turtle? asked the engineer, who, having suspended his work, was reflecting on this incident. Fifteen feet at the most, replied Herbert. And the tide was low at the time? Yes, Captain. Well, replied the engineer, what the turtle could not do on the sand it might have been able to do in the water. It turned over when the tide overtook it, and then quietly returned to the deep sea. Oh, what stoopids we were! cried Neb. That is precisely what I had the honour of telling you before. Returned the sailor. Cyrus Harding had given this explanation, which no doubt was admissible, but was he himself convinced of the accuracy of this explanation. It cannot be said that he was. End of chapter. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. Part II. CHAPTER II On the night of October the bark canoe was entirely finished. Pencroft had kept his promise, and a light boat, the shell of which was joined together by the flexible twigs of the Krogymba, had been constructed in five days. A seat in the stern, a second seat in the middle to preserve the equilibrium, a third seat in the boughs, rollox for the two oars, a skull to steer with, completed the little craft, which was twelve feet long and did not weigh more than two hundred pounds. The operation of launching it was extremely simple. The canoe was carried to the beach and laid on the sand before granted house, and the rising tide floated it. Pencroft, who leaped in directly, manoeuvred it with the skull and declared it to be just the thing for the purpose to which they wished to put it. Hurrah! cried the sailor, who did not disdain to celebrate thus his own triumph. With this we can go round the world, asked Gideon Spillett. No, the island. Some stones for ballast, a mast, and sail, which the captain will make for us some day, and we shall go splendidly. Well, captain, and you, Mr. Spillett, and you, Herbert and you, Nib, aren't you coming to try our new vessel? Come along. We must see if it will carry all five of us. This was certainly a trial which ought to be made. Pencroft soon brought the canoe to the shore by a narrow passage among the rocks, and it was agreed that they should make a trial of the boat that day by following the shore as far as the first point at which the rocks of the south ended. As they embarked, Nib cried, But your boat leaks, rather, Pencroft! That's nothing, Nib, replied the sailor. The wood will get seasoned. In two days there won't be a single leak, and our boat will have no more water in her than there is in the stomach of a drunkard. Jump in! They were soon all seated, and Pencroft shoved off. The weather was magnificent, the sea as calm as if its waters were contained within the narrow limits of a lake. Thus the boat could perceive with as much security as if it was ascending the tranquil current of the mercy. Nib took one of the oars, Herbert the other, and Pencroft remained in the stern in order to use the skull. The sailor first crossed the channel and steered close to the southern point of the islet. A light breeze blew from the south. No roughness was found either in the channel or the green sea. A long swell which the canoes scarcely felt, as it was heavily laden, rolled regularly over the surface of the water. They pulled out about half a mile distant from the shore that they might have a good view of Mount Franklin. Pencroft afterwards returned towards the mouth of the river. The boat then skirted the shore, which, extending to the extreme point, hid all Tadorn's fins. This point, of which the distance was increased by the irregularity of the coast, was nearly three miles from the mercy. The settlers resolved to go to its extremity and only go beyond it as much as was necessary to take a rapid survey of the coast as far as claw cape. The canoe followed the windings of the shore, avoiding the rocks which fringed it, and which the rising tide began to cover. The cliff gradually sloped away from the mouth of the river to the point. This was formed of granite rocks, capriciously distributed, very different from the cliff at prospect heights, and of an extremely wild aspect. It might have been said that an immense cartload of rocks had been emptied out there. There was no vegetation on this sharp promontory which projected two miles from the forest, and it thus represented a giant's arm stretched out from a leafy sleeve. The canoe, impelled by the two oars, advanced without difficulty. Gideon's spillet, pencil in one hand, and notebook in the other, sketched the coast in bold strokes. Neb, Herbert, and Pancroft chatted, while examining this part of their domain, which was new to them, and in proportion as the canoe proceeded towards the south, the two mandible capes appeared to move and surround Union Bay more closely. As to Cyrus Harding, he did not speak. He simply gazed, and by the mistrust which his look expressed, it appeared that he was examining some strange country. In the meantime, after a voyage of three-quarters of an hour, the canoe reached the extremity of the point, and Pancroft was preparing to return, when Herbert, rising, pointed to a black object, saying, What do I see down there on the beach? All eyes turned towards the point indicated. Why, said the reporter, there is something. It looks like part of a wreck half buried in the sand. Ah! cried Pancroft. I see what it is! What! asked Neb. Barrels! Barrels! Which perhaps are full! replied the sailor. Pulled to the shore, Pancroft, said Cyrus. A few strokes of the ore brought the canoe into a little creek, and its passengers leaped on shore. Pancroft was not mistaken. Two barrels were there, half buried in the sand, but still firmly attached to a large chest, which, sustained by them, had floated to the moment when it stranded on the beach. There's been a wreck then in some part of the island, said Herbert. Evidently, replied Spillett. But what's in this chest? cried Pancroft, with very natural impatience. What's in this chest? It is shut up, and nothing to open it with. Well, perhaps a stone. And the sailor, raising a heavy block, was about to break in one of the sides of the chest when the engineer arrested his hand. Pancroft, said he. Can you restrain your impatience for one hour only? But Captain, just think! Perhaps there is everything we wanted in there. We shall find that out, Pancroft, replied the engineer. But trust to me, and do not break the chest, which may be useful to us. We must convey it to Granithouse, where we can open it easily, and without breaking it. It is quite prepared for a voyage, and since it has floated here, it may just as well float to the mouth of the river. You're right, Captain, and I was wrong, as usual, replied the sailor. The engineer's advice was good. In fact, the canoe probably would not have been able to contain the articles possibly enclosed in the chest, which doubtless was heavy, since two empty barrels were required to buoy it up. It was therefore much better to show it to the beach at Granithouse. And now, when said this chest come? That was the important question. Cyrus Harding and his companions looked attentively around them, and examined the shore for several hundred steps. No other articles or pieces of wreck could be found. Herbert and Neve climbed a high rock to survey the sea. But there was nothing in sight, neither a dismasted vessel nor a ship under sail. However, there was no doubt that there had been a wreck. Perhaps this incident was connected with that of the bullet? Perhaps strangers had landed on another part of the island. Perhaps they were still there. But the thought which came naturally to the settlers was that these strangers could not be melee pirates, for the chest was evidently of American or European make. All the party returned to the chest, which was of an unusually large size, was made of oak wood very carefully closed and covered with a thick hide which was secured by copper nails. The two great barrels hermetically sealed, but which sounded hollow and empty, were fastened to its sides by strong ropes, knotted with a skill which Pencroft directly pronounced sailors alone could exhibit. It appeared to be in a perfect state of preservation which was explained by the fact that it had stranded on a sandy beach and not among rocks. They had no doubt whatever, on examining it carefully, that it had not been long in the water, and that its arrival on this coast was recent. The water did not appear to have penetrated to the inside, and the articles which it contained were no doubt uninjured. It was evident that this chest had been thrown overboard from some dismasted vessel driven towards the island, and that in the hope that it would reach the land where they might afterwards find it, the passengers had taken the precaution to buoy it up by means of this floating apparatus. We will tow this chest to Granted House, said the engineer, where we can make an inventory of its contents. Then if we discover any of the survivors from the supposed wreck, we can return it to those to whom it belongs. If we find no one, we will keep it for ourselves, cried Pencroft. But what in the world can there be in it? The sea was already approaching the chest, and the high tide would evidently float it. One of the ropes which fastened the barrels was partly unlashed, and used as a cable to unite the floating apparatus with the canoe. Pencroft and Ned then dug away the sand with their oars so as to facilitate the moving of the chest, towing which the boat soon began to double the point to which the name of Flotsam Point was given. The chest was heavy, and the barrels were scarcely sufficient to keep it above water. The sailor also feared every instant that it would get loose and sink to the bottom of the sea. But happily his fears were not realized, and an hour and a half after they set out, all that time had been taken up and going a distance of three miles. The boat touched the beach below Granted House. Canoe and chest were then hauled up on the sands, and as the tide was then going out, they were soon left high and dry. Ned, hurrying home, brought back some tools with which to open the chest in such a way that it might be injured as little as possible, and they proceeded to its inventory. Pencroft did not try to hide that he was greatly excited. The sailor began by detaching the two barrels, which, being in good condition, would of course be of use. Then the locks were forced with a cold chisel and a hammer, and the lid thrown back. A second casing of zinc lined the interior of the chest, which had been evidently arranged that the articles which ain't enclosed might under any circumstances be sheltered from damp. Oh, Christ Neb! Suppose it's jam! I hope not, replied the reporter. If only there was, said the sailor in a low voice. What! asked Neb, who overheard him. Nothing! The covering of zinc was torn off and thrown back over the sides of the chest, and by degrees numerous articles of very varied character were produced and strewn about on the sand. At each new object Pencroft uttered fresh hurrahs, Herbert clapped his hands, and Neb danced up and down. There were books which made Herbert wild with joy, and cooking utensils which Neb covered with kisses. In short, the colonists had reason to be extremely satisfied, for this chest contained tools, weapons, instruments, clothes, books, and this is the exact list of them as stated in Gideon Spillett's Notebook. Tools Three knives was several blades. Two woodmen's axes. Two carpenter's hatchets. Three planes. Two adzes. One twi-bill ormatic. Six chisels. Two files. Three hammers. Three gimlets. Two augers. Ten bags of nails and screws. Three saws of different sizes. Two boxes of needles. Weapons. Two flintlock guns. Two for percussion caps. Two breech-loader carbines. Five boarding cutlisses. Four sabers. Two barrels of powder, each containing twenty-five pounds. Twelve boxes of percussion caps. Instruments. One sextant. One double opera glass. One telescope. One box of mathematical instruments. One mariner's compass. One Fahrenheit thermometer. One aneroid barometer. One box containing a photographic apparatus. Object glass, plates, chemicals, etc. Two dozen shirts of a peculiar material resembling wool, but evidently of a vegetable origin. Three dozen stockings of the same material. Utencils. One iron pot. Six copper saucepans. Three iron dishes. Ten metal plates. Two kettles. One portable stove. Six table knives. Books. One Bible. One Atlas. One dictionary of the different Polynesian idioms. One dictionary of natural science in six volumes. Three reams of white paper. Two books with blank pages. It must be allowed, said the reporter after the inventory had been made, that the owner of this chest was a practical man. Tools, weapons, instruments, clothes, utensils, books. Nothing is wanting. It might really be said that he expected to be wrecked and had prepared for it beforehand. Nothing is wanting, indeed. murmured Sire's hearting thoughtfully. And for certainty, added Herbert, the vessel which carried this chest and its owner was not a melee pirate. Unless, said Pencroft, the owner had been taken prisoner by pirates. That is not admissible, replied the reporter. It is more probable that an American or European vessel has been driven into this quarter and that her passengers, wishing to save necessaries at least, prepared this chest and threw it overboard. Is that your opinion, Captain? asked Herbert. Yes, my boy, replied the engineer. That may have been the case. It is possible that at the moment, or in expectation of a wreck, they collected into this chest different articles of the greatest use in hopes of finding again on the coast. Even the photographic box exclaimed the sailor incredulously. As to that apparatus, replied Harding, I do not quite see the use of it, and a more complete supply of clothes or more abundant ammunition would have been more valuable to us as well as to any other castaways. But isn't there any mark or direction on these instruments, tools, or books which would tell us something about them? asked Gideon Spillett. That might be ascertained. Each article was carefully examined, especially the books, instruments, and weapons. Neither the weapons nor the instruments, contrary to the usual custom, bore the name of the maker. They were, besides, in a perfect state and did not appear to have been used. The same peculiarity marked the tools and utensils. All were new, which proved that the articles had not been taken by chance and thrown into the chest. But, on the contrary, that the choice of things had been well considered and arranged with care. This was also indicated by the second case of metal which had preserved them from damp, and which could not have been soldered in a moment of haste. As to the dictionaries of natural science and Polynesian idioms, both were English, but they neither bore the name of the publisher nor the date of publication. The same with the Bible printed in English in quarto, remarkable from a typographic point of view, and which appeared to have been often used. The atlas was a magnificent work, comprising maps of every country in the world and several planispheres arranged upon Mercator's projection, and of which the nomenclature was in French, but which also bore neither date nor name of publisher. There was nothing, therefore, on these different articles by which they could be traced, and nothing consequently of a nature to show the nationality of the vessel which must have recently passed the shores. But wherever the chest might have come from, it was a treasure to the settlers on Lincoln Island. Till then, by making use of the productions of nature, they had created everything for themselves, and, thanks to their intelligence, they had managed without difficulty. But did it not appear as if Providence had wished to reward them by sending them these productions of human industry? Their thanks rose unanimously to heaven. However, one of them was not quite satisfied. It was pencroft. It appeared that the chest did not contain something which he evidently held in great esteem, for in proportion as they approached the bottom of the box, his hara's diminished in hardiness, and, the inventory finished, he was heard to mutter these words. That's all very fine, but you can see that there is nothing for me in that box. This led Neb to say, why, friend Pencroft, what more do you expect? Half a pound of tobacco, replied Pencroft seriously, and nothing would have been wanting to complete my happiness. No one could help laughing at this speech of the sailors. But the result of this discovery of the chest was that it was now more than ever necessary to explore the island thoroughly. It was therefore agreed that the next morning at break of day they should set out by ascending the mercy so as to reach the western shore. If any castaways had landed on the coast, it was to be feared they were without resources, and it was therefore the more necessary to carry help to them without delay. During the day the different articles were carried to Granite House, where they were methodically arranged in the Great Hall. This day, the 29th of October, happened to be a Sunday, and before going to bed, Herbert asked the engineer if he would not read them something from the Gospel. Willingly, replied Cyrus Harding. He took the sacred volume and was about to open it when Pencroft stopped him saying, Captain, I am superstitious. Open it random and read the first verse which your eye falls upon. We will see if it applies to our situation. Cyrus Harding smiled at the sailor's idea, and yielding to his wish, he opened exactly at a place where the leaves were separated by a marker. Immediately his eyes were attracted by a cross which, made with a pencil, was placed against the eighth verse of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew. He read the verse which was this. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth. End of chapter. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne, part two, chapter three. The next day, the 30th of October, all was ready for the proposed exploring expedition, which recent events had rendered so necessary. In fact, things had so come about that the settlers in Lincoln Island no longer needed help for themselves, but were even able to carry it to others. It was therefore agreed that they should ascend the mercy as far as the river was navigable. A great part of the distance would thus be traversed without fatigue, and the explorers could transport their provisions and arms to an advanced point in the west of the island. It was necessary to think not only of the things which they should take with them, but also of those which they might have by chance to bring back to Granite House. If there had been a wreck on the coast, as was supposed, there would be many things cast up, which would be lawfully their prizes. In the event of this, the cart would have been of more use than the light canoe, but it was heavy and clumsy to drag, and therefore more difficult to use. This led Pancroft to express his regret that the chest had not contained, besides his half-pound of tobacco, a pair of strong New Jersey horses, which would have been very useful to the colony. The provisions which Neb had already packed up consisted of a store of meat and of several gallons of beer, that is to say, enough to sustain them for three days, the time which Harding assigned for the expedition. They hoped besides to supply themselves on the road, and Neb took care not to forget the portable stove. The only tools the settlers took were the two Woodman's axes, which they could use to cut a path through the thick forest, as also the instruments, the telescope, and pocket compass. For weapons, they selected the two Flintlock guns, which were likely to be more useful to them than the percussion-falling pieces, the first only requiring flints, which could be easily replaced, and the latter needing fulminating caps, a frequent use of which would soon exhaust their limited stock. However, they took also one of the carbines and some cartridges, as to the powder of which there was about 50 pounds in the barrel. A small supply of it had to be taken, but the engineer hoped to manufacture an explosive substance, which would allow them to husband it. To the firearms were added the five cutlasses, well sheathed in leather, and, thus supplied, the settlers could venture into the vast forest with some chance of success. It is useless to add that Pencroft, Herbert, and Neb, thus armed, were at the summit of their happiness, although Cyrus Harding made them promise not to fire a shot unless it was necessary. At six in the morning the canoe put off from the shore. All had embarked, including top, and they proceeded to the mouth of the mercy. The tide had begun to come up half an hour before. For several hours, therefore, there would be a current, which it was well to profit by, for later the ebb would make it difficult to ascend the river. The tide was already strong, for in three days the moon would be full, and it was enough to keep the boat in the center of the current, where it floated swiftly along between the high banks without it being necessary to increase its speed by the aid of the oars. In a few minutes the explorers arrived at the angle formed by the mercy, and exactly at the place where, seven months before, Pencroft had made his first raft of wood. After this sudden angle, the river widened and flowed under the shade of great evergreen furs. The aspect of the banks was magnificent. Cyrus Harding and his companions could not but admire the lovely effects so easily produced by nature with water and trees. As they advanced, the forest element diminished. On the right bank of the river grew magnificent specimens of the Olmecia tribe, the precious Elm, so valuable to builders, and which withstands well the action of water. Then there were numerous groups belonging to the same family, among others one in particular, the fruit of which produces a very useful oil. Further on, Herbert remarked their lardizabala, a twining shrub which, when bruised in water, furnishes excellent cordage, and two or three ebony trees of a beautiful black crossed with capricious veins. From time to time, in certain places where the landing was easy, the canoe was stopped when Gideon's spillet, Herbert and Pencroft, their guns in their hands, and, pre-seated by top, jumped on shore. Without expecting gain, some useful plant might be met with, and the young naturalist was delighted with discovering a sort of wild spinach, belonging to the order of quino potiesiae, and numerous specimens of cruciferae, belonging to the cabbage tribe, which it would certainly be possible to cultivate by transplanting. There were cresses, horseradish, turnips, and lastly little branching hairy stalks, scarcely more than three feet high, which produced brownish grains. Do you know what this plant is? asked Herbert of the sailor. Tobacco! cried Pencroft, who evidently had never seen his favorite plant except in the bowl of his pipe. No, Pencroft, replied Herbert. This is not tobacco. It is mustard. Mustard be hanged! returned the sailor. But if by chance you happen to come across a tobacco plant, my boy, pray don't scorn that. We shall find it some day, said Gideon Spillett. Well, exclaimed Pencroft, when that day comes I did not know what more will be wanting in our island. These different plants, which have been carefully rooted up, were carried to the canoe where Cyrus Harding had remained buried in thought. The reporter, Herbert and Pencroft, in this manner, frequently disembarked, sometimes on the right bank, sometimes on the left bank of the mercy. The latter was less abrupt, but the former more wooded. The engineer ascertained by consulting his pocket compass that the direction of the river from the first turn was obviously southwest and northeast and nearly straight for a length of about three miles. But it was to be supposed that this direction changed beyond that point and that the mercy continued to the northwest towards the spurs of Mount Franklin, among which the river rose. During one of these excursions, Gideon Spillett managed to get hold of two couples of living galinaceae. They were birds with long, thin beaks, lengthened necks, short wings, and without any appearance of a tail. Herbert rightly gave them the name of Tinnimus and it was resolved that they should be the first tenants of their future poultry-yard. But till then the guns had not spoken and the first report which awoke the echoes of the forest of the far west was provoked by the appearance of a beautiful bird resembling the kingfisher. I recognize him, cried Bencroft, and it seemed as if his gun went off by itself. What do you recognize? asked the reporter. The bird which escaped us on our first excursion and from which we gave the name to that part of the forest. A jack-a-mar! cried Herbert. It was indeed a jack-a-mar, of which the plumage shines with a metallic luster. A shot brought it to the ground and top carried it to the canoe. At the same time half a dozen lorries were brought down. The lorry is the size of a pigeon. The plumage dashed with green, part of the wing's crimson and its crest bordered with white. To the young boy belonged the honor of this shot and he was proud enough of it. Lorries are better food than the jack-a-mar, the flesh of which is rather tough, but it was difficult to persuade Bencroft that he had not killed the king of eatable birds. It was ten o'clock in the morning when the canoe reached a second angle of the mercy, nearly five miles from its mouth. Here a halt was made for breakfast under the shade of some splendid trees. The river still measured from 60 to 70 feet in breadth and its bed from five to six feet in depth. The engineer had observed that it was increased by numerous affluence, but they were unnavigable, being simply little streams. As to the forest, including jack-a-mar wood, as well as the forests of the far west, it extended as far as the eye could reach. In no place, either in the depths of the forest or under the trees on the banks of the mercy, was the presence of man revealed. The explorers could not discover one suspicious trace. It was evident that the woodman's axe had never touched these trees, that the pioneer's knife had never severed the creepers hanging from one trunk to another in the midst of tangled brushwood and long grass. If castaways had landed on the island, they could not have yet quitted the shore and it was not in the woods that the survivors of the supposed shipwreck should be sought. The engineer therefore manifested some impatience to reach the western coast of Lincoln Island, which was at least five miles distant according to his estimation. The voyage was continued, and as the mercy appeared to flow not towards the shore but rather towards Mount Franklin, it was decided that they should use the boat as long as there was enough water under its keel to float it. It was both fatigue spared and time gained, for they would have been obliged to cut a path through the thick wood with their axes. But soon the flow completely failed them, either the tide was going down and it was about the hour, or it could no longer be felt at this distance from the mouth of the mercy. They had therefore to make use of the oars. Herbert and Nebb each took one and Pencroft took the skull. The forest soon became less dense. The trees grew further apart and often quite isolated. But the further they were from each other the more magnificent they appeared, profiting as they did by the free pure air which circulated around them. What splendid specimens of the flora of this latitude! Certainly their presence would have been enough for a botanist to name without hesitation the parallel which traversed Lincoln Island. Eucalypti! cried Herbert. They were, in fact, those splendid trees, the giants of the extra-tropical zone, the congeners of the Australian and New Zealand eucalyptus, both situated under the same latitude as Lincoln Island. Some rose to a height of 200 feet. Their trunks at the base measured 20 feet in circumference and their bark was covered by a network of furrows containing a red sweet-smelling gum. Nothing is more wonderful or more singular than those enormous specimens of the order of the Mertatier with their leaves placed vertically and not horizontally so that an edge and not a surface looks upward. The effect being that the sun's rays penetrate more freely among the trees. The ground at the foot of the eucalypti was carpeted with grass and from the bushes escaped flights of little birds which glittered in the sunlight like winged rubies. These are something like trees, cried Neb. But are they good for anything? Poo! replied Pencroft. Of course there are vegetable giants as well as human giants and they are no good except to show themselves at fairs. I think that you are mistaken, Pencroft, replied Gideon Spillett, and that the wood of the eucalyptus has begun to be very advantageously employed in cabinet making. And I may add, said Herbert, that the eucalyptus belongs to a family which comprises many useful members. The guava tree, from whose fruit guava jelly is made. The clove tree, which produces the spice. The pomegranate tree, which bears pomegranates. The UJCA cauliflower, the fruit of which is used in making a tolerable wine. The ugui myrtle, which contains an excellent alcoholic liquor. The karyophilus myrtle, of which the bark forms an esteemed cinnamon. The eugenia fermenta, from whence comes Jamaica pepper. The common myrtle, from whose buds and berries spices sometimes made. The eucalyptus mannifera, which yields a sweet sort of manna. The guinea eucalyptus, the sap of which is transformed into beer by fermentation. In short, all those trees known under the name of gum trees or ironbark trees in Australia belong to this family of themertaceae, which contains 46 genera and 1300 species. The lad was allowed to run on and he delivered his little botanical lecture with great animation. Cyrus Harding listened, smiling, and pankroffed with an indescribable feeling of pride. Very good, Herbert, replied pankroff, but I could swear that all those useful specimens you have just told us about are none of them giants like these. That is true, pankroffed. That supports what I said, returned the sailor, namely that these giants are good for nothing. There you are wrong, pankroff, said the engineer. These gigantic eucalypti, which shelter us, are good for something. And what is that? To render the countries which they inhabit healthy. Do you know what they are called in Australia and New Zealand? No, Captain. They are called fever trees. Because they give fevers? No, because they prevent them. Good, I must note that, said the reporter. Note it, then, my dear spillet, for it appears proved that the presence of the eucalyptus is enough to neutralize miasmas. This natural antidote has been tried in certain countries in the middle of Europe and the north of Africa, where the soil was absolutely unhealthy, and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants has been gradually ameliorated. No more intermittent fevers prevail in the regions now covered with forests of the Mertesier. This fact is now beyond doubt, and it is a happy circumstance for us settlers in Lincoln Island. Ah, what an island! What a blessed island! cried Pencroft. I tell you, it wants nothing, unless it is... That will come, Pencroft. That will be found, replied the engineer. But now we must continue our voyage and push on as far as the river will carry our boat. The exploration was therefore continued for another two miles in the midst of a country covered with eucalypti, which predominated in the woods of this portion of the island. The space which they occupied extended as far as the eye could reach on each side of the mercy, which wound along between high green banks. The bed was often obstructed by long weeds, and even by pointed rocks, which rendered the navigation very difficult. The action of the oars was prevented, and Pencroft was obliged to push with a pole. They found also that the water was becoming shallower and shallower, and that the canoe must soon stop. The sun was already sinking towards the horizon, and the trees threw long shadows on the ground. Cyrus Harding, seeing that he could not hope to reach the western coast of the island in one journey, resolved to camp at the place where any further navigation was prevented by want of water. He calculated that they were still five or six miles from the coast, and this distance was too great for them to attempt during the night in the midst of unknown woods. The boat was pushed on through the forest, which gradually became thicker again, and appeared also to have more inhabitants, for if the eyes of the sailor did not deceive him, he thought he saw bands of monkeys springing among the trees. Sometimes even two or three of these animals stopped at a little distance from the canoe, and gazed at the settlers without manifesting any terror, as if seeing men for the first time, they had not yet learned to fear them. It would have been easy to bring down one of these quadrumani with a gunshot, and Pencroft was greatly tempted to fire, but Harding opposed so useless a massacre. This was prudent for the monkeys, or apes rather, appearing to be very powerful and extremely active. It was useless to provoke an unnecessary aggression, and the creatures might, ignorant of the power of the explorer's firearms, have attacked them. It is true that the sailor considered the monkeys from a purely elementary point of view, for those animals which are herbivorous and make very excellent game, but since they had an abundant supply of provisions, it was a pity to waste their ammunition. Towards four o'clock the navigation of the mercy became exceedingly difficult, for its course was obstructed by aquatic plants and rocks. The banks rose higher and higher, and already they were approaching the spurs of Mount Franklin. The source could not be far off, since it was fed by the water from the southern slopes of the mountain. In a quarter of an hour, said the sailor, we shall be obliged to stop, Captain. Very well, we will stop, Pencroft, and we will make our encampment for the night. At what distance are we from Granite House? asked Herbert. About seven miles, replied the engineer, taking into calculation, however, the detours of the river which has carried us to the northwest. Shall we go on? asked the reporter. Yes, as long as we can, replied Cyrus Harding. Tomorrow, at break of day, we will leave the canoe, and in two hours I hope we shall cross the distance which separates us from the coast, and then we shall have the whole day in which to explore the shore. Go ahead, replied Pencroft. But soon the boat graded on the stony bottom of the river, which was now not more than twenty feet in breadth. The trees met like a bower overhead, and caused a half-darkness. They also heard the noise of a waterfall, which showed that a few hundred feet up the river, there was a natural barrier. Presently, after a sudden turn of the river, a cascade appeared through the trees. The canoe again touched the bottom, and in a few minutes it was moored to a trunk near the right bank. It was nearly five o'clock. The last rays of the sun gleamed through the thick foliage, and glanced on the little waterfall, making the spray sparkle with all the colors of the rainbow. Beyond that, the mercy was lost in the brushwood, where it was fed from some hidden source. The different streams which flowed into it increased it to a regular river further down, but here it was simply a shallow, limpid brook. It was agreed to camp here, as the place was charming. The colonists disembarked, and a fire was soon lighted under a clump of trees, among the branches of which Cyrus Harding and his companions could, if it was necessary, take refuge for the night. Sopper was quickly devoured, for they were very hungry, and then there was only sleeping to think of. But, as roaring of rather a suspicious nature had been heard during the evening, a good fire was made up for the night, so as to protect the sleepers with its crackling flames. Neb and Pencroft also watched by turns, and did not spare fuel. They thought they saw the dark forms of some wild animals prowling round the camp among the bushes, but the night passed without incident, and the next day, the 31st of October, at five o'clock in the morning, all were on foot, ready for a start. End of chapter. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne, part two, chapter four. It was six o'clock in the morning when the settlers, after a hasty breakfast, set out to reach by the shortest way the western coast of the island, and how long would it take to do this? Cyrus Harding had said two hours, but of course that depended on the nature of the obstacles they might meet with. As it was probable that they would have to cut a path through the grass, shrubs, and creepers, they marched ax in hand, and with guns also ready, wisely taking warning from the cries of the wild beasts heard in the night. The exact position of the encampment could be determined by the bearing of Mount Franklin, and as the volcano arose in the north at a distance of less than three miles, they had only to go straight towards the southwest to reach the western coast. They set out, having first carefully secured the canoe. Pencroft and Nebb carried sufficient provision for the little band for at least two days. It would not thus be necessary to hunt. The engineer advised his companions to refrain from firing that their presence might not be betrayed to any one near the shore. The first hatchet blows were given among the brushwood in the midst of some mastic trees, a little above the cascade, and his compass in his hand, Cyrus Harding, led the way. The forest here was composed for the most part of trees which had already been met with near the lake and on prospect heights. There were deodars, douglas furs, casuarinas, gum trees, eucalypti, hibiscus, cedars, and other trees, generally of a moderate size for their number prevented their growth. Since their departure, the settlers had descended the slopes which constituted the mountain system of the island onto a dry soil, but the luxuriant vegetation of which indicated it to be watered either by some subterranean marsh or by some stream. However, Cyrus Harding did not remember having seen at the time of his excursion to the crater any other water-courses but the Red Creek and the Mercy. During the first part of their excursion they saw numerous troops of monkeys who exhibited great astonishment at the sight of men whose appearance was so new to them. Gideon Spillett jokingly asked whether these active and merry quadrupeds did not consider him and his companions as degenerate brothers. And certainly, pedestrians hindered at each step by bushes, caught by creepers, barred by trunks of trees, did not shine beside those supple animals who, bounding from branch to branch, were hindered by nothing on their course. The monkeys were numerous, but happily they did not manifest any hostile disposition. Several pigs, agoutis, kangaroos, and other rodents were seen, also two or three koalas at which Pencroft longed to have a shot. But, said he, you may jump and play just now. We shall have one or two words to say to you on our way back. At half-past nine the way was suddenly found to be barred by an unknown stream, from 30 to 40 feet broad, whose rapid current dashed foaming over the numerous rocks which interrupted its course. This creek was deep and clear, but it was absolutely unnavigable. We are cut off, cried Neb. No, replied Herbert, it is only a stream and we can easily swim over. What would be the use of that? Returned Harding. This creek evidently runs to the sea. Let us remain on this side and follow the bank, and I shall be much astonished if it does not lead us very quickly to the coast. Forward. One minute, said the reporter, the name of this creek, my friends, do not let us leave our geography incomplete. All right, said Pencroft. Name it, my boy, said the engineer, addressing the lad. Will it not be better to wait until we have explored it to its mouth? Answered Herbert. Very well, replied Cyrus Harding. Let us follow it as fast as we can without stopping. Still another minute, said Pencroft. What's the matter? Asked the reporter. Though hunting is forbidden, fishing is allowed, I suppose, said the sailor. We have no time to lose, replied the engineer. Oh, five minutes, replied Pencroft. I only ask for five minutes to use in the interest of our breakfast. And Pencroft, lying down on the bank, plunged his arm into the water and soon pulled up several dozen of fine crayfish from among the stones. These will be good! cried Neb, going to the sailor's aid. As I said, there is everything in this island, except tobacco, muttered Pencroft, with a sigh. The fishing did not take five minutes, for the crayfish were swarming in the creek. A bag was filled with a crustaceae, whose shells were of a cobalt blue. The settlers then pushed on. They advanced more rapidly and easily along the banks of the river than in the forest, from time to time they came upon the traces of animals of a large size who had come to quench their thirst at the stream. But none were actually seen, and it was evidently not in this part of the forest that the peccary had received the bullet, which had cost Pencroft a grinder. In the meanwhile, considering the rapid current, Harding was led to suppose that he and his companions were much farther from the western coast than they had at first supposed. In fact, at this hour, the rising tide would have turned back the current of the creek, if its mouth had only been a few miles distant. Now this effect was not produced, and the water pursued its natural course. The engineer was much astonished at this, and frequently consulted his compass, to assure himself that some turn of the river was not leading them again into the far west. However, the creek gradually widened, and its waters became less tumultuous. The trees on the right bank were as close together as on the left bank, and it was impossible to distinguish anything beyond them. But these masses of wood were evidently uninhabited, for top did not bark, and the intelligent animal would not have failed to signal the presence of any stranger in the neighborhood. At half past ten, to the great surprise of Cyrus Harding, Herbert, who was a little in front, suddenly stopped and exclaimed, The sea! In a few minutes more, the whole western shore of the island lay extended before the eyes of the settlers. But what a contrast between this and the eastern coast, upon which chance had first thrown them. No granite cliff, no rocks, not even a sandy beach. The forest reached the shore, and the tall trees bending over the water were beaten by the waves. It was not such a shore as is usually formed by nature, either by extending a vast carpet of sand, or by grouping masses of rock, but a beautiful border consisting of the most splendid trees. The bank was raised a little above the level of the sea, and on this luxuriant soil, supported by a granite base, the fine forest trees seemed to be as firmly planted as in the interior of the island. The colonists were then on the shore of an unimportant little harbor, which would scarcely have contained even two or three fishing boats. It served as a neck to the new creek, of which the curious thing was that its waters, instead of joining the sea by a gentle slope, fell from a height of more than forty feet, which explained why the rising tide was not felt up the stream. In fact, the tides of the Pacific, even at their maximum elevation, could never reach the level of the river, and doubtless millions of years would pass before the water would have worn away the granite and hollowed a predicable mouth. It was settled that the name of Falls River should be given to this stream. Beyond, towards the north, the forest border was prolonged for a space of nearly two miles. Then the trees became scarcer, and beyond that again the picturesque heights described a nearly straight line, which ran north and south. On the contrary, all the part of the shore between Falls River and Reptala N was a mass of wood, magnificent trees, some straight, others bent, so that the long seaswell bathed their roots. Now it was this coast, that is, all the serpentine peninsula, that was to be explored, for this part of the shore offered a refuge to castaways, which the other wild and barren side must have refused. The weather was fine and clear, and from the height of a hillock on which Neb and Pencroft had arranged breakfast, a wide view was obtained. There was, however, not a sail in sight. Nothing could be seen along the shore as far as the eye could reach. But the engineer would take nothing for granted until he had explored the coast to the very extremity of the serpentine peninsula. Breakfast was soon dispatched, and at half past eleven the captain gave the signal for departure. Instead of proceeding over the summit of a cliff or along a sandy beach, the settlers were obliged to remain under cover of the trees so that they might continue on the shore. The distance which separated Falls River from Reptala N was about twelve miles. It would have taken the settlers four hours to do this on a clear ground and without hurrying themselves, but as it was they needed double the time, for what with trees to go round, bushes to cut down, and creepers to chop away, they were impeded at every step, these obstacles greatly lengthening their journey. There was, however, nothing to show that a shipwreck had taken place recently. It is true that, as Gideon Spillet observed, any remains of it might have drifted out to sea, and they might not take it for granted that because they could find no traces of it a ship had not been cast away on the coast. The porter's argument was just, and besides the incident of the bullet proved that a shot must have been fired in Lincoln Island within three months. It was already five o'clock, and there were still two miles between the settlers and the extremity of the serpentine peninsula. It was evident that after having reached Reptala N, Harding and his companions would not have time to return before dark to their encampment near the source of the mercy. It would therefore be necessary to pass the night on the promontory. But they had no lack of provisions, which was lucky, for there were no animals on the shore, though birds on the contrary abounded, jack-a-mars, kurakus, tragopans, grouse, lorries, parrots, cockatoos, pheasants, pigeons, and a hundred others. There was not a tree without a nest, and not a nest which was not full of flapping wings. Towards seven o'clock the weary explorers arrived at Reptala N. Here the seaside forest ended, and the shore resumed the customary appearance of a coast with rocks, reefs, and sands. It was possible that something might be found here, but darkness came on, and the further exploration had to be put off to the next day. Pencroft and Herbert hastened on to find a suitable place for their camp. Among the last trees of the forest of the far west the boy found several thick clumps of bamboos. Good, said he, this is a valuable discovery. Valuable, returned Pencroft. Certainly, replied Herbert. I may say, Pencroft, that the bark of the bamboo cut into flexible laths is used for making baskets, that this bark, mashed into a paste, is used for the manufacture of Chinese paper, that the stalks furnish, according to their size, canes and pipes, and are used for conducting water, that large bamboos make excellent material for building, being light and strong, and being never attacked by insects. I will add that by sawing the bamboo in two at the joint, keeping for the bottom the part of the transverse film which forms the joint, useful cups are obtained which are much in use among the Chinese. No, you don't care for that, but what? But I can tell you, if you are ignorant of it, that in India these bamboos are eaten like asparagus. Asparagus, 30 feet high, exclaimed the sailor, and are they good? Excellent, replied Herbert. Only is not the stems of 30 feet high which are eaten, but the young shoots. Perfect, my boy, perfect, replied Pencroft. I will also add that the pith of the young stalks, preserved in vinegar, makes a good pickle. Better and better, Herbert. And lastly, that the bamboos exude a sweet liquor which can be made into a very agreeable drink. Is that all? asked the sailor. That is all. And they don't happen to do for smoking? No, my poor Pencroft. Herbert and the sailor had not to look long for a place in which to pass the night. The rocks, which must have been violently beaten by the sea under the influence of the winds of the south-west, presented many cavities in which shelter could be found against the night air. But just as they were about to enter one of these caves, a loud roaring arrested them. Back! cried Pencroft. Our guns are only loaded with small shot, and beasts which can roar as loud as that would care no more forth than for grains of salt. And the sailor, seizing Herbert by the arm, dragged him behind a rock, just as a magnificent animal showed itself at the entrance of the cavern. It was a jaguar of a size at least equal to its Asiatic congeners. That is to say, it measured five feet from the extremity of its head to the beginning of its tail. The yellow color of its hair was relieved by streaks and regular oblong spots of black, which contrasted with the white of its chest. Herbert recognized it as the ferocious rival of the Tiger, as formidable as the Puma, which is the rival of the largest wolf. The jaguar advanced, and gazed around him with blazing eyes, his hair bristling as if this was not the first time he had scented men. At this moment the reporter appeared round a rock, and Herbert, thinking that he had not seen the jaguar, was about to rush towards him when Gideon's spillet signed to him to remain where he was. This was not his first Tiger, and advancing to within ten feet of the animal, he remained motionless, his gun to his shoulder, without moving a muscle. The jaguar collected itself for a spring. But at that moment a shot struck it in the eyes, and it fell dead. Herbert and Pancroft rushed towards the jaguar, Neb and Harding also radden up, and they remained for some instance contemplating the animal as it lay stretched on the ground, thinking that its magnificent skin would be a great ornament to the hall at Granite House. Oh, Mr. Spillet, how I admire an N.V.U. cried Herbert in a fit of very natural enthusiasm. Well, my boy, replied the reporter, you could have done the same. I was such coolness! Imagine to yourself, Herbert, that the jaguar is only a hair, when you would fire as quietly as possible. That is, rejoined Pancroft, that it is not more dangerous than a hair. And now, said Gideon Spillet, since the jaguar has left its abode, I do not see, my friends, why we should not take possession of it for the night. But others may come, said Pancroft. It will be enough to light a fire at the entrance of the cavern, said the reporter, and no wild beast will dare to cross the threshold. Into the jaguar's house, then, replied the sailor, dragging after him the body of the animal. While Neb skid in the jaguar, his companions collected abundant supply of dry wood from the forest, which they heaped up at the cave. Cyrus Harding, seeing the clump of bamboos, cut a quantity which he mingled with the other fuel. This done they entered the grotto of which the floor was strewn with bones. The guns were carefully loaded, in case of a sudden attack. They had supper, and then just before they lay down to rest, the heap of wood piled at the entrance was set fire to. Immediately a regular explosion, or rather a series of reports, broke the silence. The noise was caused by the bamboos, which as the flames reached them, exploded like fireworks. The noise was enough to terrify even the boldest of wild beasts. It was not the engineer who had invented this way of causing loud explosions, for, according to Marco Polo, the Tartars have employed it for many centuries to drive away from their encampments the formidable wild beasts of Central Asia.