 Chapter 1 of The Castaways of the Flag. Night. A pitch-dark night. It was almost impossible to distinguish sky from sea. From the sky laden with clouds low and heavy, deformed and tattered, lightning flashed every now and then, followed by muffled rolls of thunder. At these flashes the horizon lit up for a moment and showed deserted and melancholy. No wave broke in foam upon the surface of the sea. There was nothing but the regular and monotonous rolling of the swell and the gleam of ripples under the lightning flashes. Not a breath moved across the vast plain of ocean, not even the hot breath of the storm. But electricity so charged the atmosphere that it escaped in phosphorescent light and ran up and down the rigging of the boat in tongues of St. Elmo's fire. Although the sun had set four or five hours ago, the sweltering heat of the day had not passed. Two men talked in low tones in the stern of a big ship's boat that was decked in to the foot of the mast. Her foresail and jib were flapping as the monotonous rolling shook her. One of these men holding the tiller tucked under his arm tried to dodge the cruel swell that rolled the boat from side to side. He was a sailor about forty years of age, thick-set and sturdy, with a frame of iron on which fatigue, privation, even despair had never taken effect. An Englishman by nationality, this boatswain was named John Block. The other man was barely eighteen and did not seem to belong to the seafaring class. In the bottom of the boat, under the poop and seats, with no strength left to pull the oars, a number of human beings were lying, among them a child of five years old, a poor little creature whose whimpering was audible, whom its mother tried to hush with idle talk and kisses. Before the mast, upon the poop, and near the jib's stays, two people sat motionless and silent, hand in hand lost in the most gloomy thoughts. So intense was the darkness that it was only by the lightning flashes that they could see each other. From the bottom of the boat a head was lifted sometimes, only to droop again at once. The boatswain spoke to the young man, lying by his side. No, no, I watched the horizon until the sun went down, no land in sight, not a sail, but what I didn't see this evening will perhaps be visible at dawn. But Bosun, his companion, answered, we must get to land somewhere in the next forty-eight hours or we shall have succumbed. That's true, John Block agreed. Land must appear, simply must. Why, continents and islands were made on purpose to give shelter to brave men, and one always ends by getting to them. If the wind helps one, Bosun. That is the only reason wind was invented, John Block replied. Today, as bad luck would have it, it was busy somewhere else, in the middle of the Atlantic or the Pacific perhaps, for I didn't blow enough here to fill my cap. Yes, a jolly good gale would blow us merrily along. Or swallow us up, Block. Oh, no, not that. No, no, not that. Of all the ways to bring this job to a finish, that would be the worst. Who can tell, Bosun? Then for some minutes the two men were silent. Nothing could be heard but the gentle rippling under the boat. How is the captain, the young man went on? Captain Gould, good man, is in bad case, John Block replied. How those black guards knocked him about? The wound in his head makes him cry out with pain, and it was an officer in whom he had every confidence who stirred those wretches up. No, no. One fine morning or one fine afternoon, or perhaps one fine evening. That rascal of a borrop shall make his last ugly face at the yard arm, or The brute, the brute, the young man exclaimed, clenching his fists in wrath. Aye, aye, and when I put him back under the poop, after I had put compressors on his head, he was able to speak to me, though very feebly. Thanks, Block. Thanks, he said, as if I wanted thanks. And land? What about land? he asked. You may be quite sure, Captain, I told him, that there is land somewhere, and perhaps not very far off. He looked at me and closed his eyes. And the boat swain murmured in an aside. Land? Land? Ah, Borrop and his accomplices knew very well what they were about. While we were shut up in the bottom of the hold, they altered the course. They went some hundreds of miles away before they cast us adrift in this boat, in seas where a ship is hardly ever seen, I guess. The young man had risen. He stooped, listening to Port. Didn't you hear anything, Block? He asked. Nothing, nothing at all, the boat swain answered. This swell is as noiseless as if it were made of oil instead of water. The young man said no more, but sat down again with his arms folded across his breast. Just at this moment one of the passengers sat up and exclaimed with a gesture of despair, I wish a wave would smash this boat up and swallow us all up with it, rather than that we should all be given over to the horrors of starvation. Tomorrow we shall have exhausted the last of our provisions. We shall have nothing left at all. Tomorrow is tomorrow, Mr. Walston, the boat swain replied. If the boat were to capsize there wouldn't be any tomorrow for us, and while there is a tomorrow. John Block is right, his young companion answered. We must not give up hope, James. Whatever danger threatens us, we are in God's hands to dispose of as he thinks fit. His hand is in all that comes to us, and it is not right to say that he has withdrawn it from us. I know, James whispered, drooping his head, but one is not always master of oneself. Another passenger, a man of about thirty, one of those who had been sitting in the bowels, approached John Block and said, Bosen, since our unfortunate captain was thrown into this boat with us, and that is a week ago already, it is you who have taken his place. So our lives are in your hands. Have you any hope? Have I any hope? John Block replied. Yes, I assure you I have. I hope these infernal calms will come to an end shortly, and that the wind will take us safe to harbour. Safe to harbour? the passenger answered. His eyes trying to pierce the darkness of the night. Well, what the juice? John Block exclaimed. There is a harbour somewhere. All we have to do is to steer for it, with the wind whistling through the yards. Good Lord, if I were the creator, I would show you half a dozen islands lying all round us, waiting our convenience. We won't ask for as many as that, Bosen. The passenger replied, unable to refrain from smiling. Well, John Block answered. If he will drive our boat towards one of those which exist already, it will be enough. And he need not make any islands on purpose. Although, I must say, he seems to have been a bit stingy with them hereabouts. But where are we? I can't tell you, not even within a few hundred miles, John Block replied. You know that for a whole long week we were shut up in the hold, unable to see what course the ship was shaping, whether south or north. Anyhow, it must have been blowing steadily, and the seeded plenty of rolling and chopping. That is true, John Block, and true too that we must have gone a long way, but in what direction? About that, I don't know anything, the boat swan declared. Did the ship go off to the Pacific instead of making for the Indian Ocean? On the day of the mutiny, we were off Madagascar. But since then, as the wind has blown from the west all the time, we may have been taken hundreds of miles from there, towards the islands of St Paul and Amsterdam. Where there are none but savages of the worst possible sort, James Walsden remarked. But after all, the men who cast us away are not much better. One thing is certain, John Block declared. That wretch borrowed must have altered the flag's course, and made for water where he will be most likely to escape punishment, and where he and his gang will play pirates. So I think that we were a long way out of our proper course when this boat was cut adrift. But I wish we might strike some island in these seas. Even a desert island would do. We could live all right by hunting and fishing. We should find shelter in some cave. Why shouldn't we make of our island what the survivors of the landlord made of New Switzerland, with strong arms, brains, and pluck? Very true, James Walsden answered. But the landlord did not fail her passengers. They were able to save her cargo, while we shall never have anything from the flag's cargo. The conversation was interrupted. A voice that rang with pain was heard, Drink! Give me something to drink! It's Captain Gould, one of the passengers said. He is eaten up with fever. Luckily there is plenty of water, and That's my job, said the boatswain. Do one of you take the tiller? I know where the can is, and a few mouthfuls will give the captain ease. And John Block left his seat aft and went forward into the bowels of the boat. The three other passengers remained in silence, awaiting his return. After being away for two or three minutes, John Block came back to his post. Well, someone inquired. Someone got there before me, John Block answered. One of our good angels was with the patient already, pouring a little fresh water between his lips, and bathing his forehead that was wet with sweat. I don't know where the captain Gould was conscious. He seemed to be delirious. He was talking about land. The land ought to be over there, he kept saying, and his hand was wobbling about, like the pen and on the main mast, when all winds are blowing at once. I answered, Aye aye, Captain, quite so. The land is somewhere. We shall reach it soon. I can smell it to northwards. And that is a sure thing. We old sailors can smell land like that. And I said too, Don't be uneasy, Captain. Everything is all right. We have a stout boat, and I will keep her course steady. There must be more islands hereabouts than we could know what to do with. Too many to choose from. We shall find one to suit our convenience, an inhabited island where we shall find a welcome and where we shall be sent home from. The poor chap understood what I said, I am sure, and when I held the lantern near his face he smiled to me, such a sad smile, and at the good angel too. Then he closed his eyes again and fell asleep almost at once. Well, I may have lied pretty heavily when I talked about land to him as if it were only a few miles off, but was I far wrong? No block, the youngest passenger replied. That is the kind of lie that God allows. The conversation ended, and the silence was only broken thereafter by the flapping of the sail against the mast as the boat rolled from one side to the other. Most of those who were aboard her broken down by fatigue and weakened by long gravation forgot their terrors in heavy sleep. Although these unhappy people still had something wherewith to quench their thirst, they would have nothing wherewith to appease their hunger in the coming days. Of the few pounds of salt meat that had been flung into the boat when she was pushed off, nothing now remained. They were reduced to one bag of sea biscuits for eleven people. How could they manage if the calm persisted? And for the last forty-eight hours not one breath of breeze had stolen through the stifling atmosphere, not even one of those intermittent gusts which are like the last size of a dying man. It meant death by starvation and that within a short time. There was no steam navigation in those days, so the probability was that in the absence of wind no ship would come in sight and in the absence of wind the boat could not reach land whether island or continent. It was necessary to have perfect faith in God to combat utter despair or else to possess the unshakable philosophy of the boat's swaying, which consisted in refusing to see any but the bright side of things. Even now he muttered to himself I, I, I know the time will come when the last biscuit will have been eaten but as long as one can keep one's stomach one mustn't grumble even if there is nothing to put in it. Now if one hadn't got a stomach left even if there were plenty to put in it that would be really serious. Two hours passed now the swell does not move forward it merely makes the surface of the water undulate. A few chips of wood that had been thrown over the side the day before were still floating close by and the sail had not filled once to move the boat away from them. While merely a float like this it was little use to remain at the helm but the boat swayed declined to leave his post with the tiller under his arm he tried at least to avoid the lurching which tilted the boat to one side and another and thus to spare his companions excessive shaking. It was about three o'clock in the morning when John Block felt a light breath pass across his cheeks roughened and hardened as they were by the salty air. Can the wind be getting up? He murmured as he rose. He turned towards the south and wetting his finger in his mouth held it up. There was a distinct sensation of coldness caused by the evaporation and now a distant rippling sound became audible. He turned to the passenger sitting on the middle bench near one of the women. Fritz, he said. Fritz Robinson raised his head and bent round. What do you want, Bosen? He asked. Look over there towards the east. What do you think you see? If I'm not mistaken, a kind of rift like a belt on the waterline. Unmistakably there was a lighter line along the horizon in that direction. Sky and sea could be distinguished with more definiteness. It was as if a rent had just been made in the dome of mist and vapour. The boat swayed and declared. Isn't it only the first beginning of daybreak? The passenger asked. It might be daylight, though it's very early for it, John Block replied. And again, it might be a breeze. I felt something of it in my beard just now. And look, it's twitching still. I'm aware it's not a breeze to feel the top-gallant sails, but anyhow it's more than we've had for the last four and twenty hours. Put your hand to your ear, Mr. Fritz, and listen. You'll hear what I heard. You are right, said the passenger, leaning over the gun whale. It is the breeze. And we're ready for it, the boat swaying replied. With the foresail block and tackle, we've only got to haul the sheet-tort to save all the wind which is rising. But where will it take us? Wherever it likes, the boat swaying answered. All I wanted to do is to blow us out of these cursed waters. Twenty minutes went by. The breath of wind, which at first was almost imperceptible, grew stronger. The rippling aft became louder. The boat made a few rougher motions, not caused by the slow, nauseating swell. Folds of the sail spread out, fell flat, and opened again, and the sheet sagged against its cleats. The wind was not strong enough yet to fill the handrails of the foresail and the jib. Patience was needed, while the boat's head was kept to her course as well as might be by means of one of the skulls. A quarter of an hour later, progress was marked by a light wake. Just at this moment, one of the passengers who had been lying in the bows got up and looked at the rift in the clouds to the eastward. Is it a breeze? He asked. Yes, John Block answered. I think we have got it this time, like a bird in the hand, and we won't let go of it. The wind was beginning to spread steadily now through the rift, through which, too, the first gleams of light must come. From southeast to southwest, the clouds still hung in heavy masses, over three-quarters of the circumference of the sky. It was still impossible to see more than a few cables' lengths from the boat, and beyond that distance no ship could have been detected. As the breeze had freshened, the sheet had to be hauled in, the foresail, whose gear was slackened, hoisted, and the course veered a point or two, so as to give the jib a hold on the wind. We've got it! We've got it! the boatswain said cheerily, and the boat, healing gently over to starboard, dipped her nose into the first waves. Little by little, the rent in the clouds grew bigger and spread overhead. The sky assumed a reddish hue. It seemed that the wind might hold to the present quarter for some little time, and that the period of calm had come to an end. Hope of reaching land revived once more, or the alternative hope of falling in with a ship. At five o'clock the rent in the clouds was ringed with a colour of vivid coloured clouds. It was the day, appearing with the suddenness peculiar to the low latitudes of the tropical regions. Soon purple rays of light arose above the horizon, like the sticks of a fan. The rim of the solar disk, heightened by the refraction, touched the horizon line, drawn clearly now at the end of sky and sea. At once the rays of light caught on the little clouds which hung in the high heaven, and dyed them every shade of crimson. But they were stubbornly arrested by the dense vapours accumulated in the north, and could not break through them. And so the range of vision, long behind, was still extremely limited in front. The boat was leaving a long wake behind her now, marked in creamy white upon the greenish water. And now the whole sun emerged above the horizon, enormously magnified at its diameter. No haze dimmed its brilliance which was insupportable to the eye. All aboard the boat looked away from it. They only scanned the north whether the wind was carrying them. The main question was what the fog screened from them in that direction. At length, just before half past six, one of the passengers seized the how-yards of the foresail and clambered nimbly up to the yard arm just as the sun cleared the sky to the eastward with its early rays. And in a ringing voice he shouted, Land! End of Chapter 1, Recording by Julian Pratley Chapter 2 of the Castaways of the Flag This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Nancy Cochman-Gerkin, Gilbert, Arizona. The Castaways of the Flag by Jules Verne, Chapter 2 In England It was on the 20th of October that the unicorn had left New Switzerland on her way back to England. On her return, when the Admiralty sent to take possession of the new colony in the Indian Ocean, after brief stop at the Cape of Good Hope, she was to bring back Fredson, Frank Zermatt, Jenny Montrose, and Dolly Walston. The two brothers took the birth and was left vacant by the Walstons, who were now settled on the island. A comfortable cabin had been placed at the disposal of Jenny and her little companion Dolly, who was going to join James Walston and his wife and child at Cape Town. After rounding the false hope point, the unicorn sailed westward before the wind and came down to the south again, leaving the island of Berling Rock to her starboard. Before finally leaving New Switzerland, Fredson had left the island to his eastern coast as well, in order to satisfy himself that it really was an isolated island in the seas and to form an approximate idea of the size of a colony which would soon be included among the island dominions of Great Britain. As soon as he had done this, the corvette, with a fair wind behind her, left the island to the northwest after getting little more than a glimpse of the few weeks of the voyage. The passengers on the unicorn were delighted with the weather, as well as with the cordial treatment which they received from the commander and the other officers. When they all met at table in the officer's mess or under the awning on the poop, the conversation generally turned upon the wonders of New Switzerland. If the corvette met with nothing to delay her, they all hoped to see it again within the year. Fredson Jenny often talked of Colonel Montrose with a gladness that would be his when he clasped in his arms the daughter whom he had thought he would never see again. For three years no news had been received of the Dorcas whose loss with nearly all hands had been confirmed by the survivors who had been taken to Sydney. But when they reached England, Jenny would present to her father the men who had rescued her and would beg him to bless their union. As for Frenink, though Dolly Walston was only fourteen, it would not be without a bitter pain that he would leave her at Cape Town and Keane would be his longing to come back to her side. After crossing the Tropic off the Isle of France, the unicorn encountered less favorable ends. These delayed her arrival at her port until the 17th of December, two months after her departure from New Switzerland. The corvette came to anchor in the harbor of Cape Town where she was to remain for a week. One of the first visitors to come aboard was James Walston. He knew that his father, mother and two sisters had taken passages on the unicorn and his disappointment can be imagined at finding that there was only one sister for him to meet. Dolly presented Fritz and Frank Zermatt to him. Your father and mother and sister Hannah are living in New Switzerland now, Mr. Walston. Fritz told him an unknown island on which my family was cast twelve years ago after the wreck of the landlord. They have decided to remain there and expect you to join them. When she comes back from Europe the unicorn will take you and your wife and child to our island if you are willing to go with us. When does the corvette do back at the Cape, James Walston inquired? In eight or nine months Fritz replied, and she will go from here to New Switzerland where the British flag will be flying. My brother Frank and I have availed ourselves of this opportunity to take back to London the daughter of Colonel Montrose who, we hope, will consent to come and settle with her in our second fatherland. And with you too, Fritz dear, for you will have become his son, Jenny added, giving him her hand. That is my most ardent wish, Jenny dear, said Fritz, and we and our parents do very much want you to bring your family and settle in New Switzerland, you must insist on the fact, Dolly, Frank declared, that our island is the most wonderful island that has ever appeared above the sea. James will be the first to agree when he has seen it, Dolly answered. When once you have set foot in New Switzerland and stayed at Rock Castle and roosted out Falconhurst, eh Dolly, said Jenny, laughing. Yes, roosted, the little girl replied, then you will never want to leave New Switzerland again. You hear, Mr. Wollstone, said Fritz. I hear, Mr. Zermatt, James Wollstone answered, to settle in your island and open up its first commercial relations with Great Britain is a proposition that I find peculiarly inviting. My wife and I will talk about it and if we decide to go, we will wind up our affairs and hold ourselves in readiness to embark upon the unicorn I am sure Susan will not hesitate. I will do whatever my husband wishes, Mrs. Wollstone said. Fritz and Frank should James Wollstone's hand warmly as Dolly kissed her sister-in-law. While the Corvette stays here, James Wollstone then explained, we expect you all to accept the hospitality of our house. That would be the best way to knit our friendship and we will talk as much as you please about New Switzerland. Naturally, the passengers on the unicorn accepted this invitation in the spirit in which it had been offered. An hour later, Mr. and Mrs. James Wollstone received their guests. Fritz and Frank were given a room between them and Jenny shared the one allotted to Dolly as she had shared her cabin during the voyage. Mrs. James Wollstone was a young woman of 24, gentle, intelligent, and devoted to her husband. He was an earnest and active man very much like his father. They had one boy, Bob, now five years old, whom they adored. During the ten days that the unicorn remained in the port, from the 17th to the 27th of December, little was talked about, but New Switzerland, the events of which it had been the stage, the various works undertaken, and the many contrivances and improvements affected on the island. The subject was never exhausted. He would expatiate on all these wonderful things, and Frank would encourage her to go on, and even find fault with her for not saying enough. Then Jenny Montrose would embroider the tale to Fritz's keen delight. In a word, the time sped, and James Wollstone and his wife quite made up their minds to leave the Cape for the Switzerland. During the voyage of the Corvette home and out again, Wollstone would employ himself winding up his affairs and realizing his capital. He would be ready to start directly the unicorn reappeared, and he would be one of the first immigrants to the island. The last goodbyes had to be set at length, with the comforting reflection that in another eight or nine months they would be at Cape Town again, and that then they would all put to sea together outward bound for New Switzerland. Nevertheless, the parting was a painful one. Jenny Montrose and Susan Wollstone lingered their kisses and tears to which dollies were added. The child was much distressed by Frank's departure, and his heart too was heavy, for he had grown very fond of her. As seen his brother clasp James Wollstone's hand, they could assure themselves that they were leaving there a true friend indeed. The unicorn put to sea on the 27th in somewhat overcast weather. Her passage was of average length. For several weeks winds varied from northwest to southwest. The Corvette spoke St Helena, Ascension, and the Cape Verde Islands. Then, after passing inside of the Canaries and Azores, off the coasts of Portugal and France, she came up the channel, rounded the Isle of Wight, and, on the 14th of February, dropped Anchor at Portsmouth. Jenny Montrose wanted to start at once for London, where her aunt lived. If the coroner were on active service to find in there, since the campaign for which he had been called from India might have lasted for several years, but if he had retired, he would have settled near his sister-in-law, and it would be there that he would at length set eyes again upon her whom he believed to have perished in the wreck of the Dorcas. France and Frank offered to escort Jenny to London with her business called them also, and France naturally wanted to meet Colonel Montrose soon, so all three set out the same evening and arrived in London during the morning of the 23rd. But bitter grief fell upon Jenny Montrose. She learned from her aunt that the Colonel had died during his last campaign without the happiness of knowing that the daughter whom he had mourned for was still alive. After coming back from the far waters of the Indian Ocean to embrace her father, hoping never to depart from him again to present her savior to him and to beg for his consent to their union and his blessing on it, Jenny would never see him more. Her distress was great. In vain, her aunt lavished on her words of consolation. In vain, Fritz sorrowed with her. The blow was too cruel. She had never even thought of the possibility that her father might be dead. A few days later, in a conversation broken by tears and regrets, Jenny said to him, Dear Fritz, we have just experienced the bitterest of misfortunes, you and I. If you have not changed your mind at all. Oh, Jenny, my darling, Fritz exclaimed. Yes, I know, said Jenny, and my father would have been happy to call you his son. I am sure he would have wanted to go with us and share our life in the new English colony. But I must give up that happiness. I am alone in the world now, and have only myself to depend upon. Alone? No, no, you are there, Fritz. Jenny, said the young man, the whole of my life shall be devoted to your happiness. And mine to yours, Fritz dear. But since my father is no longer here to give us his consent, since I have no near relations living, and since yours is the only family I can call my own, you have belonged to it three years already, Jenny dear, ever since the day when I found you on Burning Rock. I love them all, and they love me, Fritz. Well, in a few months more we shall be with them all again. We shall be back. Mary, Jenny? Yes, Fritz, if you wish it. Since you have your father's consent and my aunt will not refuse me hers. Jenny, dear Jenny, Fritz exclaimed, falling on his knees beside her. Our plans will not be changed at all, and I shall take back my wife to my father and mother. Jenny Montrose remained henceforth in her aunt's house where Fritz and Frank came every day to see her. Meanwhile, all the necessary arrangements were made for the celebration of the marriage within the briefest time that the law permitted. But there was other business of some importance to be attended to, business which had been the purpose of the two brothers in coming to Europe. There was the sale of the various articles of value collected on the island, the coral gathered on Whale Island, the pearls taken from the bay, the nutmegs and the vanilla. This user Matt had not been mistaken about their market value. They produced a considerable sum of 8,000 pounds sterling. One would remember that the banks of Pearl Bay had been no more than skimmed, that coral was to be found on many parts of the coast, that nutmegs and vanilla could be produced in large quantities and that there were many other treasures in New Switzerland. One had to acknowledge that the colony was destined for a height of prosperity which set it in the foremost of the overseed dominions of Great Britain. In accordance with Monsieur Zermatt's instructions, part of the sum realized from the sale of these articles was to be spent upon things required to complete the stock at Rock Castle and the farms in the Promised Land. The rest, about three-quarters of the whole sum, and the 10,000 pounds coming from Carle Montrose as a state, were deposited in the Bank of England, upon which Monsieur Zermatt would be able to draw in the future as he might require thanks to the communication which would soon be established with the capital. Restitution was made of the various jewels and monies belonging to the families of those who had been lost with the landlord who had been traced after inquiry. Finally, a month after the arrival of Fritz Zermatt and Jenny Montrose in London, their marriage was celebrated there by the chaplain Zermatt. The unicorn had brought them as an engaged couple, and would take them back to New Switzerland, a married couple. All these events excited a considerable interest throughout Great Britain, in the family which had been abandoned for a dozen years on an unknown island in the Indian Ocean, and in Jenny's adventures and her stay on Burning Rock. The story, which had been written by Jean Zermatt, appeared in the English and foreign newspapers, and under the title of The Swiss Family Robinson, it was destined to a fame equal to that one already by the immortal work of Daniel Defoe. The consequence of all this was that the Admiralty decided to take possession of New Switzerland. Moreover, this new possession had some very considerable advantages to offer. The island occupied an important position in the east of the Indian Ocean, near the entrance to the Sunda Seas on the road to the Far East. 750 miles at most separated it from the western coast of Australia. The sixth part of the world, discovered by the Dutch in 1605, visited by Abel Tasman in 1644 and by Captain Cook in 1774, was destined to become one of England's principal dominions. Thus the Admiralty could but congratulate itself on its acquisition of an island so near that continent. And thus the dispatch of the unicorn to its waters was decided upon. The Corvette would set out again in a few months under the command of Lieutenant Little Stone, promoted captain on this occasion. Fritz and Ginny Zermatt were to sail in her with Frank and also a few colonists pending the time when other immigrants in larger numbers would sail in other ships to the same destination. It was arranged that the Corvette should put in at the Cape to pick up James and Susan and Dolly Walston. The lengthy stay of the unicorn at Portsmouth was due to the fact that repairs of some magnitude had become absolutely necessary after a voyage from Sydney to Europe. Fritz and Frank did not spend the whole of his time in London or in England. They in Ginny regarded it as a duty to visit Switzerland so as to be able to take to Monsieur Amidam Zermatt's news of their native land. So they went first to France and spent a week in Paris. The Empire had just ended at this day as also had the long wars with Great Britain. Fritz and Frank arrived in Switzerland the country which they had almost forgotten. So young had they been when they left it and from Geneva they went to the canton at Appenzau. Of their family none remained except a few distant relatives of whom Monsieur Amidam Zermatt knew little. But the arrival of the two young men caused a great sensation in the Swiss Republic. Everybody knew the story of the survivors of the wreck of the landlord and knew the island now on which they had found refuge. Thus, although their fellow countrymen were little inclined to run the risks involved in immigration, several declared their intention of joining those colonists to whom New Zealand promised a cordial welcome. It was not without a pang that Fritz and Frank left the land of their origin, even if they might hope to visit it again in the future. That was a hope which Monsieur Amidam Zermatt advancing down years would hardly realize. Crossing France, Fritz and Jenny and Frank returned to England. Preparations for the sailing of the unicorn were drawing to a close and the corvette would be ready to set sail in the last few days of June. Both Fritz and Frank received with flattering attention by the lords of the Admiralty. England was grateful to Jean Zermatt for having of his own free will offered Captain Littlestone immediate possession of his island. As has been explained, when the corvette left New Switzerland, the greatest portion of the island was still unexplored, saved the district of the promised land, the literal on the north, and part of the literal on the east as far as Unicorn Bay. Captain Littlestone was therefore to completed survey both on the west and south and also in the interior. In a few months more, several ships would be fitted out to dig immigrants in the materials required in colonization and to put the island in a proper state of defense. Then regular communication would be established between Great Britain and those distant waters of the Indian Ocean. On the 27th of June, Unicorn was ready to weigh anchor and only waited for Fritz and Jenny and Frank. On the 28th, the three arrived at Portsmouth, where the stores purchased on behalf of the Zermatt family had been sent in advance. They were warmly welcome to board the Corvette by Captain Littlestone, whom they had had one or two opportunities of meeting in London, how happy they were in the thought of seeing James and Susan Alston again at Cape Town and also the charming little dolly whom Frank had kept constantly supplied with news and good news too of everybody. In the morning of the 29th of June, the Unicorn left Portsmouth with a fair wind, flying at the peak the English flag which was replanted upon the shores of New Switzerland. End of Chapter 2 Recording by Nancy Cochran-Gergen Gilbert, Arizona Chapter 3 of the Castaways of the Flag This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Nancy Cochran-Gergen Gilbert, Arizona. The Castaways of the Flag Chapter 3 The Mutiny on the Flag A cabin was reserved for Fritz and his wife in the Unicorn and then a joining one for Frank and they took their meals at Captain Little Stone's table. Nothing of special note happened during the voyage. There were all the usual incidents, changeable seas, uncertain winds, calms and a few violent outbreaks of heavy weather through which the Corvette came without much damage. In the South Atlantic they passed a few vessels which would report tidings of the Unicorn in Europe. In the present interval of peace after a long period of great wars the high seas were safe. But the Unicorn, which had had a fairly easy time while crossing the Atlantic, met with shocking weather when South of Africa. A violent storm burst on her during the night of the 19th of August and the gale drove her out to see again. The hurricane grew more and more violent and they had to run for it as it was impossible to lie to. Captain Little Stone splendidly supported by his officers and crew displayed great skill. The mizzen nest had to be cut away and the lake was sprung out which was only smothered with difficulty. At last when the wind fell Captain Little Stone was able to resume his course and hurry to the harbor at Cape Town for repairs. On the morning of the 10th of September the top of the table, the mountain which gives its name to the bay was sighted. Directly the Unicorn had found her moorings. James Walston with his wife and Dolly came out in a boat. What a welcome they gave Fritz and Jenny and Frank and how happy they all were. For the last 10 months they had before been without news. Although there was no particular ground for imagining that anything untoward had to fall in the people at Brock Castle this absence could not but seem very long. James Walston's affairs had all been wound up satisfactorily. But they found themselves confronted by the impossibility of putting to sea at once. The damage done to the Unicorn was serious enough to necessitate for a long stay in Cape Town Harbor. It would take two or three months to make repairs after her cargo had been taken out of the Corvette. She could not possibly sail for New Switzerland before the end of October. But the passengers on the Unicorn had an unexpected opportunity of shortening their stay at the Cape. There happened to be in the harbor a vessel due to sail on a fortnight. She was the flag an English three-masted vessel of 500 tons. Captain Harry Gould bound for Batavia in the Sudina Islands. To put in at New Switzerland would take her very little out of her course and the passengers for the island were prepared to pay a good price for their passage. Their proposal was accepted by Captain Gould and the Unicorn's passengers transferred their baggage to the flag. The three masters' preparations were finished in the afternoon of the 20th of September. That evening they said goodbye not without regret to Captain Littlestone promising to look out for the arrival of the Unicorn at the mouth of Deliverance Bay towards the end of November. Next morning the flag sailed with a favoring wind from the southwest and before the evening of that first day the high summits of the Cape left 40 miles behind disappearing below the horizon. Harry Gould was a fine sailor with cool courage equal to his resolution. He was now in the prime of life at 42 and had shown his quality both as maid and captain. His owners had every confidence in him. To this confidence Robert bore up the second officer on the flag was not entitled. He was a man of the same age as Harry Gould, jealous, vindictive and of uncontrolled passions. He never believed that he received the due need of his merits. Disappointed in his hope of being given the command of the flag he nursed at the bottom of his heart a secret hatred of his captain but his temper had not escaped the vigilance of the boatsway. John Block, a fearless, reliable man devoted heart and soul to his chief. The crew of the flag mustering some score of men was not of the first class as Captain Gould very well knew. The boatsway noticed with disapproval the indulgence too often shown by Robert bore up to some of the sailors who in fault should have been found with them for a neglect of duty. He thought that all of this was suspicious and he watched the second officer fully determined to give Captain Gould warning of needful. Nothing of note happened between the 22nd of August and the 9th of September. The condition of the sea and the direction of the wind were like favorable to the ship's progress though the breeze was a shade too light. If the three master were able to maintain the same rate of progress she would reach new Switzerland waters about the middle of October within the time anticipated. But about this time the crew began to manifest symptoms of insubordination. It even looked as though the second and third officers in defiance of every sense of duty connived at this relaxing discipline. Robert bore up influenced by his own jealous and perverse nature, took no steps to check the disorder. But the flag continued to make her way northeast. On the 9th of September she was almost in the middle of the Indian Ocean on the line of the Tropic of Capricorn her position being 20 degrees 17 inches latitude and 80 degrees 45 inches longitude. During the course of the previous night, symptoms of bad weather had appeared. A sudden fall of the brometer and a gathering of storm clouds both signs of the formidable hurricane said to often lash these seas to fury. About three o'clock in the afternoon a squall got up so suddenly that it almost caught the ship. A serious matter for vessel which, healed over to one side, cannot answer to a rudder and is in danger of not being brought up again unless a rating is cut away. If that is done she is disabled incapable of offering any resistance to the waves while lying too and is at the mercy of the ocean's fury. As soon as the storm broke the passengers had, of course been obliged to keep their cabins for the deck was swept by tremendous seas. Only Fritz and Frank stayed on deck to lend a hand with the crew. Captain Gull took the watch at the outset and the boat swing was on the wheel while the second and third officers were on duty in the forecastle. The crew were at their post ready to obey the captain's orders for it was a matter of life and death. The slightest mistake in the handling of her while the seas were breaking over the flag as she lay half over on the port side might have meant the end. Every effort must be made to get her up again and then to trim her sails so as to bring her head on to the squall. And yet the mistake was made not deliberately perhaps for the ship ran the risk of foundering through it but certainly through some misunderstanding of the captain's orders of which an officer ought not to have been capable if he possessed any of the instincts of the sailor. Robert Bohroft the second officer alone was to blame. The foretop sail trimmed at a wrong moment drove the ship still farther over and a tremendous slump of water crashed over the taff rail. First it Bohroft once to sing us cried Captain Gould. He has done it, the boatswing answer trying to shove the tiller to Sarber. The captain leaped to the deck and made his way forward at the risk of being swept back by the water. After a desperate struggle he reached the forecastle. Get to your cabin he shouted in a voice of wrath to the second officer. Get to your cabin and stop there. Bohroft's blunder was so patented that not one of the crew dared to protest although they were already to stand by him if he had given him the word. He obeyed however and went back to the poop. What was possible to do Captain Gould did. He trimmed all the canvas that the flag could carry and succeeded in bringing her up without being obliged to cut away the rigging. The ship no longer lay broadside on to the sea. For three consecutive days they had run before the storm in constant peril. During almost a whole of them Susan and Jenny and Dolly were obliged to keep to their cabins while Fritz, Frank and James Walston helped in the various operations. At last on the 13th of September an abatement of the storm came. The wind dropped and although the sea did not immediately drop too, at last the waves no longer swept the deck of the flag. The ladies hurried eagerly out of their cabins. They knew what had taken place in the second officer and why the latter had been removed from his post. Robert Gorup's fate would be decided by a naval corp when they got back. For three days they had run before the storm. There was much damage to the canvas to be made good and John Block who was in charge of this work saw quite clearly that the crew were on the verge of mutiny. This state of things could not be lost upon Fritz or Frank or James Walston and it filled them with more uneasiness than the storm had caused them. Captain Gould would not shrink from the severest measures against mutineers but was he not too late? During the following week there was no actual breach of discipline as the flag had been carried some hundreds of miles to the east. She had to turn back to the west in order to get into the longitude of New Switzerland. On the 20th of September about ten o'clock much to this battle where he had not been released from arrest Robert Bohrup reappeared on deck. The passengers who were all sitting together on the poop had a presentiment that the situation graphing up already was about to become still more grave. Directly Captain Gould saw the second officer coming forward he went up to him. Mr. Bohrup he said you are under arrest what are you doing here? Answer. Captain Gould cried Bohrup loudly and this is my answer. Turning to the crew he shouted come on mates hooray for Bohrup sang from every part of the ship. Captain Gould rushed down into his cabin and came back with a pistol in his hand but he was not given time to use it. A shot fired by one of the sailors around Bohrup wounded him in the head and he fell into the boatswain's arms. Resistance was hopeless the entire crew of mute-nears headed by the first and second officers. John Block, Fritz, Frank, and James Walston drawn up near Captain Gould tried in vain to maintain the struggle. In a moment they were overwhelmed by numbers and ten sailors hustled them down to the spar deck with the captain. Jenny, Dolly, Susan and the child were shut into their cabins over which a guard was placed by Order of Bohrup now ruler of the ship. The situation of the prisoners in the semi-darkness of the spar deck and of the wounded captain whose head could only be dressed with gold compresses was a hard one. The boatswain was unfailing in his devotion to the captain. Fritz and Frank and James Walston were consumed by appalling anxiety. The three women were at the mercy of the mute-nears of the flag. The men suffered agony from the thought that they were powerless. Several days passed twice a day, morning and evening the hatch of the spar deck was open and the prisoners were given some food. To the questions that John Block asked them, the sailors only replied with brutal threats. More than once did the boatswain and its companions try to force up the hatch and regain their liberty. But the hatch was guarded day and night and even if they had succeeded in raising it, overpowering their guards and getting up on deck what chance would they have had against their crew and what would have been the result? The brute the brute said Fritz over and over again as he thought of his wife and Susan and Dolly. Yes, the biggest rascal alive John Block declared. If he doesn't swing someday it will be because justice is dead. But if the mute-nears were to be punished and the ringleader given the treatment he deserved a man of war must catch and seize the flag and Robert Borov did not commit the blunder of going into waters where ships were numerous and where he and his gang might have run the risk of being chased. He must have taken the ship far out of a proper course, most probably to the eastward with the object of getting away a light from ships in the African and Australian shores. Every day was adding 100 or 150 miles to the distance separating the flag from the meridian of New Switzerland. Captain Gould in the boatswing would tell from the angle at which the ship healed the port that she was making good speed. The creaking of the mast steps showed that the first officer was cramming on sail. When the flag arrived in those distant waters of the Pacific Ocean where piracy was practicable what would become of the prisoners? The mute-nears would not be able to keep them. Would they maroon them on some desert island? But anything would be better than to remain on board the ship with the hands of Robert Boerock and his accomplices. A week had passed since Harry Gould and his friends had been shut up on the spar deck without a word about the women. But on the 27th of September it seemed as if the speed of the three master had decreased either because she was become or because she was hooked too. About eight o'clock in the evening a squad of sailors came down to the captives. These had no choice but to obey the order to follow him the second officer gave them. What was going on above? Was their liberty about to be restored to them? Or had a party been formed against Robert Boerock to restore Captain Gould to the command of the flag? When they were brought up on to the deck in front of all the crew they saw Boerocked waiting for them at the foot of the main mast. Fritz and Frank cast a vane glance within the poop, the door of which was open. No lamp or lantern shed a gleam of light within. But as they came up to the starboard nettings the boat swing could see the top of the mast rocking against the side of the ship. Evidently the ship's boat had been lowered to the sea. Was Boerock preparing then to put the captain and his friends aboard her and cast them adrift in these waters abandoning them to all the perils of the sea without the least idea whether they were near any land? And the unfortunate women too were they to remain on board exposed to such a pollen danger? At the thought that they would never see them more Fritz and Frank and James determined to make a last attempt to set them free, though it should end in dying where they stood. Fritz rushed to the side of the poop calling Jenny, but he was stopped as Frank was stopped and James was stopped before he heard any answer from Susan to his call. They were overpowered at once and despite resistance were lowered with Captain Gould over the nettings into the ship's boat which was fastened alongside the vessel by a knotted cable. Their surprise and joy yes joy were inexpressible. The dear ones whom they had called in vain were in the boat already. The women had been lowered down a few minutes before the prisoners had left the spar deck. They were waiting in mortal terror not knowing whether their companions were to be cast adrift with them. It seemed to them that to be reunited was the greatest grapes that heaven could have bestowed on them. And yet what peril menace them aboard this boat. Only four bags of biscuit and salt meat had been flung into it with three casks of fresh water, a few cooking utensils and a bundle of clothes and blankets taken at random from the cabins a meager supply at best. But they were together. Death alone could separate them henceforth. They were not given much time to reflect. In a few moments with oppression and wind the flag would be several miles away. The boats wing had taken his place at the tiller and Fritz and Frank bears at the foot of the mast ready to hoist the sail directly the boat should be free from the shelter of the ship. Captain Gould had been laid down under the forward deck. Jenny was ministering to him where he lay stretched out on the blankets for he was unable to stand. They were leaning over the netting looking on in silence not one of them felt a spark of pity for their victims. Their first eyes gleamed in the darkness. Just at this moment a voice was raised the voice of Captain Gould to whom his indignation restored some strength. He struggled to his feet dragged himself from bench to bench and half stood up. You brutes he cried you shall not escape man's justice nor yet God's justice Frank added. Cast off cried Baruch the rope dropped into the water the boat was left alone and the ship disappeared into the darkness of the night. End of Chapter 3 Recording by Nancy Cochran-Gergen Gilbert, Arizona Chapter 4 of The Castaways of the Flag This is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Adrian Stevens The Castaways of the Flag by Jules Verne Chapter 4 Land Ahoy It was Frank who had shouted land in tones of Stentorian salutation standing erect upon the poop he had thought he could see vague outlines of a coast drift in the fog so he seized the halyards and scrambled to the mast head where, sitting astride the yard he kept his eyes fixed steadily in the direction where he had seen it close upon ten minutes past before he caught another glimpse to the northward he slid to the foot of the mast You saw the coast? Fritz asked sharply Yes, over there under the rim of that thick cloud it's the horizon now Are you sure you were not mistaken, Mr. Frank? John Block said No, Bosen, no, I was not mistaken the cloud has spread over the place again now but the land is behind it I saw it I swear I saw it Jenny had just risen and grasped her husband's arm We must believe what Frank says she declared his sight is wonderfully keen he could not make a mistake Frank said you must all believe me, as Jenny does I saw a cliff distinctly it was visible for nearly a minute through a break in the clouds I couldn't tell whether it ran to the east or the west but, island or continent the land is there How could they be skeptical about what Frank declared so positively? To what land the coast belonged they might learn when the boat had reached it Anyhow, her passengers five men, namely Fritz and Frank and James Captain Gould and the boats and John Block and three women, Jenny, Holly and Susan together with the child would most certainly disembark upon its coast whatever it might be If it offered no resources if it were uninhabitable or if the presence of natives made it dangerous the boat would put to sea again after revitling as well as possible Captain Gould was immediately informed and in spite of his weakness and pain he insisted on being carried to the stern of the boat Fritz began to make some comments about the signalled land What is of the most concern to us at the present moment is its distance from here given the height from which it was observed and also the foggy state of the atmosphere the distance cannot be more than 12 or 15 miles Captain Gould made a sign of ascent and the boats and nodded So with a good breeze blowing towards the north Fritz went on two hours should be enough to take us to it Unfortunately, said Frank the breeze is very uncertain and seems to be inclined to go back if it doesn't drop altogether I'm afraid it might be against us What about the oars? Fritz rejoined Can't we take the oars? My brother and James and I can take the tiller, Boson We could row for several hours Take the oars, Gould commanded in an almost inaudible voice It was a pity that the captain was not in a fit state to steer for with four of them to row the crew might have made a better job of it Besides, although Fritz and Frank and James were in the full figure of youth and the boatson was a sturdy fellow still they all were thoroughly hardened to physical exercise yet they were terribly weakened now by privation and fatigue a week had been passed since they had cast a drift from the flag they had economized their provisions yet only enough to remain to last them for 24 hours on three or four occasions they had caught a few fish by trailing lines behind the boat a little stove, a little kettle and a saucepan all the utensils they possessed besides their pocket knives and if this land were no more than a rocky island if the boat were obliged to resume a painful course for more long days looking for a continent or an island where existence might be possible what then? but all felt hope reviving again instead of the boat that was threatened by squalls and tossed about by the waves and half filled by the sea they would at least feel firm ground under their feet they would install themselves in some cave to shelter there from bad weather perhaps they would find a fertile soil with edible roots and fruits and there they would be able to await the passing of a ship without need to fear hunger or thirst the ship would see their signals would come to the rescue of the castaways all that and more they saw through the Mirage of Hope did the coast thus seen belong to some group of islands situated beyond the Tropic of Capricorn that was what the boatson and fritz discussed in undertones Jenny and Dolly had resumed their seats in the bottom of the boat and the little boy was sleeping in Mrs. Wolston's arms Captain Gould, eaten up with fever had been carried back under the poop and Jenny was soaking compresses in cold water to lay upon his head Fritz propounded many theories none of them very encouraging he was pretty sure that the flag had sailed a long way to the east during the week after the mutiny in that case the boat would have been cast adrift in that part of the Indian Ocean where the charts show only a few islands Amsterdam and St. Paul or further south the archipelago of Kergualan yet even in these islands the former deserted the latter inhabited life would be assured salvation certain and who could say some day or other they might be able to get home from there besides if since the 27th of September the ship's boat had been carried northwards by the breeze from the south it was just possible that this island was part of the Australian continent if they got to Hobart town Melbourne or Adelaide they would be safe but if the boat landed in the south west portion in King George's Bay or by Cape Loivin a country inhabited by hordes of savages the position would be more serious here at sea there was at least a chance of falling in with a ship bound for Australia or some of the Pacific islands anyhow Jenny said Fritz to his wife who had taken his place by her side again we must be a long way hundreds of miles from New Switzerland no doubt Jenny answered but it is something that land is there what your family did in your island and what I did on the burning rock we can do again can't we after being tried as we have been we have a right to have confidence in our own energy two of Jean Zermatt's sons can't lose heart my dear wife Fritz replied if ever I were to falter I should only have to listen to you no we will not fail and we shall be splendidly backed up the boatson is a man on whom to rely utterly as for the poor captain he will get over it he will get well Fritz dear Jenny said confidently the fever will drop when we get him to land he will be better attended to and will pick up his strength and we shall find our leader in him once more ah Jenny dear exclaimed Fritz to bring her to his hut may God grant that this land can offer us the resources that we need I don't ask for as much as we found in New Switzerland we cannot expect that the worst of all would be to encounter savages against whom we have no defence and to be obliged to put a sea again without getting fresh provisions it would be better to land upon a desert shore even only an island there will be fish in its waters and shells on its beaches and perhaps flocks of birds as we found when we got to the shore at Rock Castle we shall contrive to revertle and after a week or two when we have had a rest and the captain has recovered his strength we could set out to discover a more hospitable coast this boat is sound and we have an excellent sailor to manage her the rainy season is not nearly due yet we have lived through some storms already and we should live through more let this land, whatever it is only give us some fresh provisions and then with the help of God Fritz, dear, Jenny answered clasping her husband's hands in her own you must say all that to our companions let them hear you and they will not lose heart they never have for a moment, dear wife said Fritz and if they ever should falter it is you, bravest and most capable of women the English girl of Burning Rock who would give them hope once more all thought as Fritz did of this brave Jenny while they had been shut up in their cabins it was from her that Dolly and Susan had been encouraged to resist despair one advantage this land seemed to have it was not like New Switzerland through whose waters merchant vessels never passed on the contrary whether it were the southern coast of Australia or Tasmania or even an island in the archipelagos of the Pacific its position would be marked in the naval charts but even if Captain Gould and his companions could entertain some hope of being picked up there they could not be otherwise than profoundly distressed by the thought of the distance that separated them from New Switzerland miles no doubt since the flag had sailed steadily eastwards for a whole week it was now the 13th of October nearly a year had passed since the unicorn had left the island with her she was due to return about this time at Rock Castle Monsieur and Madame Zermatt Ernest and Jack Mr. and Mrs. Woolstone and Hannah were counting the days and hours in a few weeks more after her stay at Cape Town the unicorn would appear in New Switzerland waters and then the Zermatt's and Woolstone's would learn that their missing dear ones had taken their passage in the flag which had not been seen again could they doubt that she had perished with all hands in one of the frequent storms that rage in the Indian Ocean would there be room for hope that they would ever see her passengers again all that was in the future however the immediate present held quite enough formidable possibilities to engage their attention ever since Frank had pointed out the land the boatson had been steadily steering in a northerly direction not an easy task without a compass the position indicated by Frank was only approximate and unfortunately the thick curtain veiled the horizon line which from observers on the level of the sea must still be ten or twelve miles away the oars had been got out Fritz and James were rowing with all the strength they could exert but in their state of exhaustion they could not lift the heavily loaded boat it would take them the entire day to cover the distance which lay between them and the shore God grant that the wind might not thwart all their efforts on the whole it would be easier if the calm endured till evening should the breeze blow from the north the boat would be carried far back from these waters by midday it was questionable whether more than a couple of miles had been done since morning the boatson suspected that a current was setting in the opposite direction about two o'clock in the afternoon John Block who was standing up exclaimed a breeze is coming I can feel it the jib by itself would do more than the oars the boatson was not mistaken a few minutes later little floors began to paint green the surface of the water in the south west and a creamy ripple spread right to the sides of the boat that shows you are right Block said Fritz but still the breeze is so faint that we must not stop rowing we won't stop Mr Fritz the boatson answered let us plug away until the sail can carry us towards the coast where is it asked Fritz trying in vain to look through the curtain of fog right in front of us for sure is it so certain Block Frank put in where would you have it be except behind that cursed fog up there in the north the boatson retorted we would have it there all right Fritz Wolston said but that is not surety enough and they could not possibly know unless the wind should freshen this it made no haste to do and it was after three when the flapping of the half-cludes sail showed that it might now be of use the oars were taken in and Fritz and Frank hoisted the foresail and hauled it in hard while the boatson secured the sheet which was thrashing the gunnel was it nothing more than a capricious breeze whose intermittent breath would not be strong enough to disperse the fog for twenty minutes more doubt reigned then the swell took the boat broadside on and the boatson had to bring her head round with one of the skulls the foresail and the jib bellied out drawing the sheets quite taut the direction they had to take was northward until the wind should clear the horizon they hoped that this might happen as soon as the breeze had got so far so all eyes were fixed in that direction if the land showed only for one moment John Block would ask no more but would steer for it but no rift appeared in the veil although the wind seemed to acquire force as the sun went down the boat was moving fairly fast Fritz and the boatson were beginning to wonder if they had passed the land doubt crept into their hearts again had Frank been mistaken after all had he really caught sight of land to the northward he declared again most positively that he had it was a high coast he declared again a cliff with an almost horizontal crest and it was impossible to mistake a cloud for it yet since we are bearing down upon it Fritz replied we ought to have reached it by now it could not have been more than twelve fifteen miles off then are you sure Block Frank went on that you have been steering the boat on to it all the time and that it was due north it is possible that we have got on the wrong tack the boatson acknowledged and so I think it would be better to wait until the horizon clears even if we have to stay where we are all night that might be the best thing to do but if the boat were close to the shore it might be wise to risk it among the reefs which probably fringed it so all listened intently trying to detect the least sound of surf nothing was to be heard none of the long and sullen rolling of the sea when it breaks upon reefs of rocks or bursts in foam upon the beach the utmost caution had to be exercised about half past five the boatson ordered the foresail to be struck the jib was left as it was to give a steerage away it was the wisest thing to do to reduce the speed of the boat until the land was sighted at night in the midst of such profound darkness there was danger in venturing near a coast danger of countercurrents drifting on to it so there might be no wind in similar conditions a ship would not have delayed until the evening to sail out again and seek the security of the open sea but a boat cannot do what a ship may to tack up against the southerly wind which was freshening now would have involved a risk of getting too far away not to mention the severe toil so the boat stayed where it was with only the jib sail set, hardly moving her head pointed north but at last all uncertainty and all possibility of mistake was removed about six o'clock in the evening the sun showed itself for a moment before disappearing below the waves on the 21st of September it set exactly in the west and on the 13th of October 23 days after the equinox it set a little above in the southern hemisphere just at that moment the fog lifted and Fritz could see the sun drawing near to the horizon ten minutes later its fiery disc was flush with the line of sky and sea that is the north over there, said Fritz pointing with his hand to a point rather to the left of that on which the boat was headed almost at once he was answered by a shout a shout that all of them uttered together land, land the mist had just dispersed and the coastline was revealed not more than a mile away the boats and steered straight for it the foresail was set again and swelled out in the dying breeze half an hour later the boat had grounded on a sandy beach and was made fast behind a long point of rock well sheltered from the surf End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 of The Castaways of the Flag This is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Adrian Stevens The Castaways of the Flag by Jules Verne Chapter 5 A Baron Shore The Castaways had reached land at last, not one of them had succumbed to the fatigue and privations of their fortnight's voyage under such distressing and dangerous conditions and for that thanks were due to God. Only Captain Gould was suffering terribly from fever but in spite of his exhaustion his life did not appear to be in danger and a few days rest might set him up again the question rose what was this land on which they had disembarked whatever it was it unhappily was not New Switzerland where but for the mutiny of Robert Boropt and his crew the flag would have arrived within the expected time what had this unknown shore to offer instead of the comfort and prosperity of rock castle but this was not the moment to waste time over such questions the night was so dark that nothing could be seen except a strand backed by a lofty cliff at its sides bastions of rock it was settled that all should remain in the boat until sunrise Fritz and the Boson were to keep watch until the morning the coast might be frequented by natives and vigilance was necessary whether it were Australian continent or Pacific island they must be upon their guard in the event of attack they would be able to escape by putting out to sea Jenny, Dolly and Susan therefore resumed their places beside Captain Gould Frank and James stretched themselves out between the benches ready to spring up at the call of the Boson but for the moment they had reached the limit of their strength and they fell asleep immediately Fritz and John Block sat together in the stern and talked in low terms so here we are in harbour Mr Fritz said the Boson I knew we should end by getting there if it isn't, properly speaking a harbour, you will agree at any rate that it is ever so much better than anchoring among rocks our boat is safe for the night tomorrow we will look into things I envy you, your cheerfulness my dear Block Fritz answered this neighbourhood does not inspire me with any confidence and our position is anything but comfortable near a coast whose bearings we do not even know the coast is a coast Mr Fritz it has got creeks and beaches and rocks it is made like any other and I don't suppose it will sink from under our feet as for the question of leaving it or of settling on it we will decide that later anyhow Block I hope we shall not be obliged to see again before the captain has had a little time to rest and recover so if the spot is deserted and if it has resources to offer and we run no risk of falling into the hands of natives we must stay here some time deserted it certainly seems to be so far, the Boson replied and to my thinking it is better it should be I think so too Block and I think that we should be able to renew our provisions by fishing if we can't by hunting as you say so sir then if the game here only amounts to seabirds which one can't live on we will hunt in the forests and plains inland and make up our fishing that way without guns of course what brutes they were Block not even to leave us any firearms they were perfectly right in their own interests you understand the Boson replied before we let go I could not have resisted the temptation to shoot at the head of that rascal burrupt the treacherous hound traitors all Fritz added all of them who stood in with him well they shall pay for their treachery some day John Block declared do you hear anything Boson Fritz asked suddenly listening intently no the sound is only the ripples along the shore there is nothing to worry about so far and although the night is as dark as the bottom of the hold I've got good eyes well don't shut them for a moment Block let us be prepared for anything the horse is ready to be cast off the Boson answered if need be we shall only have to seize the oars and with one shove with the boat hook I'll guarantee to drive the boat a good twenty yards from the rocks more than once however during the night Fritz and the Boson were set on the alert they thought they could hear a crawling sound upon the sandy shore deep silence reigned the breeze had died away the sea had fallen to a calm a slight surf breaking at the foot of the rocks was all that could be heard a few birds a very few gulls and sea-mews flying in from the sea sought their crannies in the cliffs nothing disturbed the first night passed upon the shore next morning all were astir at daybreak and it was with sinking hearts that they examined the coast on which they had found refuge Fritz had been able to see part of it the day before when it was a mile or so away viewed from that point it extended ten or twelve miles east and west from the promontory at the foot of which the boat was moored at most could be seen shut in between two angles with the sea beyond clear and lucent on the right hand but still dark upon the left the shore extended for a stretch of perhaps a mile enclosed at each end by lofty bastions of rock while a black cliff completely shut it in behind this cliff must have been eight or nine hundred feet in height rising sheer from the beach which sloped steeply up to its base was it higher still beyond? that could only be ascertained by scaling the crest by means of the bastions one of which the one to the east running rather farther out to sea presented an outline that was not so perpendicular even on that side however the ascent would be an uncommonly difficult one if indeed it were not impracticable Captain Gould and his companions were first conscious of a feeling of utter discouragement as they beheld the wild desolation of this carpet of sand with points of rock jutting out here and there not a tree, not a bush not a trace of vegetation here were the melancholy and horror of the desert the only verdure was that of scanty lichens those rudimentary productions of nature ruthless, stalkless flowerless looking like scabby patches on the sides of the rocks and of every tint from faded yellow to brilliant red in some places too there was a kind of sticky mildew caused by the damp at the edge of the cliff there was not a blade of grass on its granite wall there was not a single one of those stone crops or rock plants which need so very little soil that soil was lacking on the plateau above as well had the boat found nothing better than one of those desert islands undeserving of a name it certainly isn't what you might call a gay place the boats and murmured in Fritz's ear perhaps we should have had better luck if we had come ashore on the west or east perhaps, Block assented but at any rate we shall not run up against any savages here it was obvious that not even a savage could have existed on this barren shore Jenny, Frank, Dolly, James and Susan sat in the boat surveying the whole coast so different from the verdant shores of the promised land even burning rock gloomy of aspect as it was had had its natural products to offer to Jenny Montrose the fresh water of its stream and the game in its woods and plains here was nothing but stones and sand a bank of shells on the left and long trails of seaweeds left high and dry by the tide verily a land of desolation the animal kingdom was represented by a few seabirds gulls, black divers, sea mews and swallows which uttered deafening cries had finding their solitude disturbed by the presence of man higher up great frigate birds and albatrosses sailed on powerful winds well said the boatsman at last even if this shore is not so good as yours in New Switzerland there's no reason for not landing on it then let us land Fritz answered I hope we shall find somewhere to shelter at the foot of the cliff yes let us land said Jenny dear wife said Fritz I advise you to remain here in the boat with me while we make our trip there is no sign of danger and you have nothing to be afraid of besides the boatsman added we most likely shan't go out of sight Fritz jumped onto the sand followed by the others while Dolly called out cheerfully try to bring us back something for dinner Frank we're relying upon you we must rely on you rather Dolly Frank replied put out some lines at the foot of those rocks we'd better not land Mrs. Wollstone agreed we will do our best while you are away the great thing Fritz remarked is to keep what little biscuit we have left in case we are obliged to put to sea again now Mrs. Fritz John Block said get the stove going we're not the kind of people to be satisfied with lichen soup or boiled pebbles and we promise to bring you something solid and substantial the weather was fairly fine through the clouds in the east a few sun rays filtered Fritz, Frank, James and the boson trudge together along the edge of the shore over sand still wet from the last high tide ten feet or so higher the seaweed slay in zigzag lines some were of kinds which contain nutritive substances and John Block exclaimed why people eat that when they haven't got anything else in my country, in Irish seaports a sort of jam is made of that after walking three or four hundred yards in this direction Fritz and his companions came to the foot of the bastion to the west formed of enormous rocks with slippery surfaces and almost perpendicular it plunged straight down into the clear and limpid water which the slight surf scarcely disturbed its foundations could be seen seven or eight fathoms below to climb along this bastion was quite impossible for it rose perpendicularly it would be necessary to scale the cliff in order to find out if the upper plateau displayed a less arid surface moreover if they had to abandon the idea of climbing this bastion it meant that they could only get round it by means of the boat the matter of present urgency however was to look for some cavity in the cliff wherein they could take shelter so all went up to the top of the beach along the base of the bastion when they reached the corner of the cliff they came upon thick layers of seaweeds absolutely dry as the last watermarks of the high tide were visible more than two hundred yards lower down this meant the steep pitch of the shore being taken into account that these plants have been thrown up so far not by the sea but by the winds from the south which are very violent in these waters if we were obliged to spend the winter here Fritz remarked these seaweeds would supply us with fuel for a long time if we could not find any wood fuel that burns fast the boson added before we came to the end of heaps like that of course there was something to boil the pot with today now we must find something to put in it let's look about Frank answered the cliff was formed by irregular strata it was easy to recognize the crystalline nature of these rocks where feldspar and nice were mixed an enormous mass of granite of plutonic origin and extreme hardness this formation recalled Frank the walls of their own island from Deliverance Bay to False Hope Point where limestone only was found easily broken by pick or hammer it was thus that the grotto of rock castle had been fashioned out of solid granite any such work would have been impossible fortunately there was no need to make any such attempt a hundred yards from the bastion behind the piles of sea-rack they found a number of openings in the rock they resembled the cells of a gigantic hive and possibly gave access to the inside of the rock there were indeed several cavities at the foot of this cliff while some provided only small recesses others were deep and also dark owing to the heaps of seaweed in front of them but it was quite likely that in the opposite part less exposed to the winds from the sea some cavern opened into which they might carry the stores from the boat trying to keep as near as possible to where the boat was moored Fritz and his companions walked towards the eastern bastion they hoped to find this more practicable than the other because of its elongated outline in its lower portion and they thought that they might be able to get round it although it stood up sheer in its upper portion it sloped towards the middle and ended in a point by the sea their anticipations were not disappointed in the corner formed by the bastion was a cave quite easy of access sheltered from the easterly northerly and southerly winds its position exposed it only to the winds from the west less frequent in these regions the four men went inside this cave which was light enough for them to see all over it it was some 12 feet high 20 feet wide and 50 or 60 feet deep and contained several unequal recesses forming as it were so many rooms set round a common hall it had a carpet of fine sand free from any trace of damp entrance to it was through a mouth which could be easily closed as I am a bosun John Block declared we couldn't have found anything better I agree Fritz replied but what worries me is that this beach is absolute desert and I'm afraid the Upper Plateau may be so too let us begin by taking possession of the cave and we will attend to the rest presently oh said Frank that is not much like our house at Rock Castle we can even see a stream of fresh water to take the place of our jackal river patience patience the bosun answered we shall find some spring all right by and by among the rocks or else a stream coming down from the top of the cliff anyhow Fritz declared we must not think of settling on this coast if we do not succeed in getting round the base of those bastions on foot we must take the boat and reconnoiter beyond them that is a small island we have come ashore upon we will only stay long enough to set Captain Gould up again a fortnight will be enough I imagine well we have the house at all events John Block remarked as for the garden who is to say that it isn't quite close by on the other side of this point perhaps they left the cave and walked down across the beach so as to get round the bastion from the cave to the sea rocks washed by the sea at half ebb was about 200 yards on this side there were none of the heaps of seaweeds found on the left hand side of the beach this promontory was formed of heavy masses of rocks which seemed to have been broken off from the top of the cliff at the cave it would have been impossible to cross it but nearer the sea it was low enough to get across the bosun's attention was soon caught by the sound of running water 100 feet from the cave a stream murmured among the rocks escaping in little liquid threads the stones were scattered here which enabled them to reach the bed of a little stream fed by a cascade that came leaping down to lose itself in the sea there it is, there it is good fresh water John Block exclaimed after a draught taken up in his hand fresh and sweet declared when he had moistened his lips with it and why shouldn't there be vegetation on the top of the cliff? although that is only a stream a stream now Fritz said and a stream which may even dry up during the very hot weather but no doubt a torrent in the rainy season well if it will only flow for a few days longer the bosun remarked philosophically we won't ask anything more of it Fritz and his companions now had a cave in which to establish their quarters and a stream which would enable them to refill the boat's casks with fresh water the chief remaining question was whether they could provide themselves with food things did not look too promising after crossing the little river the explorers had a fresh and deep disappointment beyond the promontory a creek was cut into the coast in width about half a mile fringed with the rim of sand and enclosed behind by the cliff at the far end rose a perpendicular bluff whose foot was washed by the sea this shore presented the same arid appearance as the other here too the vegetable mounds were confined to patches of lichen and layers of seaweeds thrown up by the tide was it then on a mere islet a rocky lonely uninhabitable island in the Pacific Ocean that the boat had come ashore there seemed every reason to fear so it appeared useless to carry the exploration as far as the bluff which enclosed the creek they were about to go back to the boat when James stretched out his hand towards the shore and said what is that that I see there on the sand look those moving specks they look like rats from the distance it did indeed look as if a number of rats were on march together towards the sea rats said Frank inquiringly the rat is game when he belongs to the Andratar genus do you remember the hundreds we killed Fritz when we made that trip after the boa constrictor I should think I do Frank Fritz answered and I remember too that we did not make much of a feast off their flesh which reeked too much of the marsh right said the boson properly cooked one can eat those beggars but there's no occasion to argue about it those black specks over there aren't rats what do you think they are block Fritz asked turtles I hope you're right the boson's good eyesight might have been trusted there actually was a crowd of turtles crawling over the sand so while Fritz and James remained on watch on the promontory John Block and Frank slid down the other side of the rocks in order to cut off the band of chelones these tortoises were small measuring only 12 or 15 inches and long in the tail they belonged to a species whose principal food consists of insects there were 50 of them on march not towards the sea but towards the mouth of the stream where a quantity of sticky laminarii left by the ebb tide were soaking on this side the ground was studded with little swellings like bubbles in the sand the meaning of which Frank recognized at once there are turtles eggs under those he explained well tick up the eggs Mr. Frank John Block replied how's that certainly ever so much better than my boiled pebbles and if little Miss Dolly isn't satisfied the eggs will be warmly welcome Block you may be sure Frank declared and the turtles too they're excellent beasts excellent for making soup I mean a moment later the boson and Frank had turned a score of them over onto their backs they were quite helpless in that position laden with half a dozen of them and twice as many eggs they went back towards the boat Captain Gould listened eagerly to John Block's story since he had been spared the shaking of the boat his wound had been paining him less the fever was beginning to go down and a week's rest would certainly put him on his feet again wounds in the head unless they are exceptionally serious generally heal easily and soon the bullet had only grazed the surface of the skull after tearing away part of the cheek but it had been with an anice of going through the temple a speedy improvement could now be looked for in the condition of the wounded man thanks to the rest and care which he could now obtain it was with much satisfaction Captain Gould learned that turtles abounded in this bay which was named Turtle Bay in their honour it meant a majority of a wholesome and plentiful food even for a considerable time it might even be possible to preserve some of it in salt and load the boat with it when the time came to put to sea again for of course they would have later to seek a more hospitable shore to the Northwood if the table land at the top of the cliff proved to be as unvertile as that of Turtle Bay if it had no woods or grasslands in short the land on which the passengers of the flag had come ashore proved to be nothing more than a mere heap of rocks well Dolly and you too Jenny said Frank when he got back are you satisfied how has the fishing gone while we have been away pretty well Jenny answered pointing to several fish lying on the poop and we've got something better than that to offer you I did Dolly merrily what's that then Fritz asked mussels the girl answered there are heaps of them at the foot of the promontory look at those boiling in the saucepan now congratulations said Frank and you owe us congratulations too Jenny for we have not come back empty handed here are some eggs hen's eggs Bob exclaimed eagerly no turtles Frank replied turtles eggs Jenny repeated did you find turtles a regiment of them the boson told her and there are lots more there are enough to last us all the time we should be at anchor in the bay before we leave this bay captain good put in I think we ought to reconnoiter along the coast or climb to the top of the cliff we'll try it captain John Block answered but don't let us be in a greater hurry than we need be we don't exist here without touching what we have left of the biscuit that's what I think Block what we want captain Frank went on is that you should have a rest to allow your wound to heal and you to get back your strength a week or two is nothing to spend here when you are on your feet again you will have a look at things for yourself and you will decide what is best to be done during the morning they proceeded the boat of all that it contained the bag of biscuits the casks, the fuel the utensils and the clothing and everything was carried within the cave the little stove was set up in the corner of the bastion and was first employed in making the turtle soup as for captain Gould he was carried to the cave by Fritz and the boson a comfortable bird was waiting ready for him made of dry seaweed by Jenny and Dolly and there he was able to enjoy several hours sleep