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Chapter 14 Three years had passed away since the escape
of the prisoners from Richmond, and how often during those three years had they spoken of
their country, always present in their thoughts! They had no doubt that the civil war was at
an end, and to them it appeared impossible that the just cause of the North had not triumphed.
But what had been the incidents of this terrible war? How much blood had it not cost? How many
of their friends must have fallen in the struggle? They often spoke of these things, without
as yet being able to foresee the day when they would be permitted once more to see their
country. To return thither, were it but for a few days, to renew the social link with
the inhabited world, to establish a communication between their native land and their island,
then to pass the longest, perhaps the best, portion of their existence in this colony,
founded by them, and which would then be dependent on their country, was this a dream impossible
to realize? There were only two ways of accomplishing
it—either a ship must appear off Lincoln Island, or the colonists must themselves build
a vessel strong enough to sail to the nearest land.
"Unless," said Pencroft, "our good genius, himself provides us with the means of returning
to our country." And, really, had any one told Pencroft and
Neb that a ship of 300 tons was waiting for them in Shark Gulf or at Port Balloon, they
would not even have made a gesture of surprise. In their state of mind nothing appeared improbable.
But Cyrus Harding, less confident, advised them to confine themselves to fact, and more
especially so with regard to the building of a vessel—a really urgent work, since
it was for the purpose of depositing, as soon as possible, at Tabor Island a document indicating
Ayrton's new residence. As the "Bonadventure" no longer existed, six
months at least would be required for the construction of a new vessel. Now winter was
approaching, and the voyage would not be made before the following spring.
"We have time to get everything ready for the fine season," remarked the engineer, who
was consulting with Pencroft about these matters. "I think, therefore, my friend, that since
we have to rebuild our vessel it will be best to give her larger dimensions. The arrival
of the Scotch yacht at Tabor Island is very uncertain. It may even be that, having arrived
several months ago, she has again sailed after having vainly searched for some trace of Ayrton.
Will it not then be best to build a ship which, if necessary, could take us either to the
Polynesian Archipelago or to New Zealand? What do you think?"
"I think, captain," answered the sailor; "I think that you are as capable of building
a large vessel as a small one. Neither the wood nor the tools are wanting. It is only
a question of time." "And how many months would be required to
build a vessel of from 250 to 300 tons?" asked Harding.
"Seven or eight months at least," replied Pencroft. "But it must not be forgotten that
winter is drawing near, and that in severe frost wood is difficult to work. We must calculate
on several weeks delay, and if our vessel is ready by next November we may think ourselves
very lucky." "Well," replied Cyrus Harding, "that will
be exactly the most favorable time for undertaking a voyage of any importance, either to Tabor
Island or to a more distant land." "So it will, captain," answered the sailor.
"Make out your plans then; the workmen are ready, and I imagine that Ayrton can lend
us a good helping hand." The colonists, having been consulted, approved
the engineer's plan, and it was, indeed, the best thing to be done. It is true that the
construction of a ship of from two to three hundred tons would be great labor, but the
colonists had confidence in themselves, justified by their previous success.
Cyrus Harding then busied himself in drawing the plan of the vessel and making the model.
During this time his companions employed themselves in felling and carting trees to furnish the
ribs, timbers, and planks. The forest of the Far West supplied the best oaks and elms.
They took advantage of the opening already made on their last excursion to form a practicable
road, which they named the Far West Road, and the trees were carried to the Chimneys,
where the dockyard was established. As to the road in question, the choice of trees
had rendered its direction somewhat capricious, but at the same time it facilitated the access
to a large part of the Serpentine Peninsula. It was important that the trees should be
quickly felled and cut up, for they could not be used while yet green, and some time
was necessary to allow them to get seasoned. The carpenters, therefore, worked vigorously
during the month of April, which was troubled only by a few equinoctial gales of some violence.
Master Jup aided them dexterously, either by climbing to the top of a tree to fasten
the ropes or by lending his stout shoulders to carry the lopped trunks.
All this timber was piled up under a large shed, built near the Chimneys, and there awaited
the time for use. The month of April was tolerably fine, as
October often is in the northern zone. At the same time other work was actively continued,
and soon all trace of devastation disappeared from the plateau of Prospect Heights. The
mill was rebuilt, and new buildings rose in the poultry-yard. It had appeared necessary
to enlarge their dimensions, for the feathered population had increased considerably. The
stable now contained five onagers, four of which were well broken, and allowed themselves
to be either driven or ridden, and a little colt. The colony now possessed a plow, to
which the onagers were yoked like regular Yorkshire or Kentucky oxen. The colonists
divided their work, and their arms never tired. Then who could have enjoyed better health
than these workers, and what good humor enlivened the evenings in Granite House as they formed
a thousand plans for the future! As a matter of course Ayrton shared the common
lot in every respect, and there was no longer any talk of his going to live at the corral.
Nevertheless he was still sad and reserved, and joined more in the work than in the pleasures
of his companions. But he was a valuable workman at need—strong, skilful, ingenious, intelligent.
He was esteemed and loved by all, and he could not be ignorant of it.
In the meanwhile the corral was not abandoned. Every other day one of the settlers, driving
the cart or mounted on an onager, went to look after the flock of musmons and goats
and bring back the supply of milk required by Neb. These excursions at the same time
afforded opportunities for hunting. Therefore Herbert and Gideon Spilett, with Top in front,
traversed more often than their companions the road to the corral, and with the capital
guns which they carried, capybaras, agouties, kangaroos, and wild pigs for large game, ducks,
grouse, jacamars, and snipe for small game, were never wanting in the house. The produce
of the warren, of the oyster-bed, several turtles which were taken, excellent salmon
which came up the Mercy, vegetables from the plateau, wild fruit from the forest, were
riches upon riches, and Neb, the head cook, could scarcely by himself store them away.
The telegraphic wire between the corral and Granite House had of course been repaired,
and it was worked whenever one or other of the settlers was at the corral and found it
necessary to spend the night there. Besides, the island was safe now and no attacks were
to be feared, at any rate from men. However, that which had happened might happen
again. A descent of pirates, or even of escaped convicts, was always to be feared. It was
possible that companions or accomplices of Bob Harvey had been in the secret of his plans,
and might be tempted to imitate him. The colonists, therefore, were careful to observe the sea
around the island, and every day their telescope covered the horizon enclosed by Union and
Washington Bays. When they went to the corral they examined the sea to the west with no
less attention, and by climbing the spur their gaze extended over a large section of the
western horizon. Nothing suspicious was discerned, but still
it was necessary for them to be on their guard. The engineer one evening imparted to his friends
a plan which he had conceived for fortifying the corral. It appeared prudent to him to
heighten the palisade and to flank it with a sort of blockhouse, which, if necessary,
the settlers could hold against the enemy. Granite House might, by its very position,
be considered impregnable; therefore the corral with its buildings, its stores, and the animals
it contained, would always be the object of pirates, whoever they were, who might land
on the island, and should the colonists be obliged to shut themselves up there they ought
also to be able to defend themselves without any disadvantage. This was a project which
might be left for consideration, and they were, besides, obliged to put off its execution
until the next spring. About the 15th of May the keel of the new
vessel lay along the dockyard, and soon the stem and stern-post, mortised at each of its
extremities, rose almost perpendicularly. The keel, of good oak, measured 110 feet in
length, this allowing a width of five-and-twenty feet to the midship beam. But this was all
the carpenters could do before the arrival of the frosts and bad weather. During the
following week they fixed the first of the stern timbers, but were then obliged to suspend
work. During the last days of the month the weather
was extremely bad. The wind blew from the east, sometimes with the violence of a tempest.
The engineer was somewhat uneasy on account of the dockyard shed—which besides, he could
not have established in any other place near to Granite House—for the islet only imperfectly
sheltered the shore from the fury of the open sea, and in great storms the waves beat against
the very foot of the granite cliff. But, very fortunately, these fears were not
realized. The wind shifted to the southeast, and there the beach of Granite House was completely
covered by Flotsam Point. Pencroft and Ayrton, the most zealous workmen
at the new vessel, pursued their labor as long as they could. They were not men to mind
the wind tearing at their hair, nor the rain wetting them to the skin, and a blow from
a hammer is worth just as much in bad as in fine weather. But when a severe frost succeeded
this wet period, the wood, its fibers acquiring the hardness of iron, became extremely difficult
to work, and about the 10th of June shipbuilding was obliged to be entirely discontinued.
Cyrus Harding and his companions had not omitted to observe how severe was the temperature
during the winters of Lincoln Island. The cold was comparable to that experienced in
the States of New England, situated at almost the same distance from the equator. In the
northern hemisphere, or at any rate in the part occupied by British America and the north
of the United States, this phenomenon is explained by the flat conformation of the territories
bordering on the pole, and on which there is no intumescence of the soil to oppose any
obstacle to the north winds; here, in Lincoln Island, this explanation would not suffice.
"It has even been observed," remarked Harding one day to his companions, "that in equal
latitudes the islands and coast regions are less tried by the cold than inland countries.
I have often heard it asserted that the winters of Lombardy, for example, are not less rigorous
than those of Scotland, which results from the sea restoring during the winter the heat
which it received during the summer. Islands are, therefore, in a better situation for
benefiting by this restitution." "But then, Captain Harding," asked Herbert,
"why does Lincoln Island appear to escape the common law?"
"That is difficult to explain," answered the engineer. "However, I should be disposed to
conjecture that this peculiarity results from the situation of the island in the Southern
Hemisphere, which, as you know, my boy, is colder than the Northern Hemisphere."
"Yes," said Herbert, "and icebergs are met with in lower latitudes in the south than
in the north of the Pacific." "That is true," remarked Pencroft, "and when
I have been serving on board whalers I have seen icebergs off Cape Horn."
"The severe cold experienced in Lincoln Island," said Gideon Spilett, "may then perhaps be
explained by the presence of floes or icebergs comparatively near to Lincoln Island."
"Your opinion is very admissible indeed, my dear Spilett," answered Cyrus Harding, "and
it is evidently to the proximity of icebergs that we owe our rigorous winters. I would
draw your attention also to an entirely physical cause, which renders the Southern colder than
the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, since the sun is nearer to this hemisphere during the
summer, it is necessarily more distant during the winter. This explains then the excess
of temperature in the two seasons, for, if we find the winters very cold in Lincoln Island,
we must not forget that the summers here, on the contrary, are very hot."
"But why, if you please, captain," asked Pencroft, knitting his brows, "why should our hemisphere,
as you say, be so badly divided? It isn't just, that!"
"Friend Pencroft," answered the engineer, laughing, "whether just or not, we must submit
to it, and here lies the reason for this peculiarity. The earth does not describe a circle around
the sun, but an ellipse, as it must by the laws of rational mechanics. Now, the earth
occupies one of the foci of the ellipse, and so at one point in its course is at its apogee,
that is, at its farthest from the sun, and at another point it is at its perigee, or
nearest to the sun. Now it happens that it is during the winter of the southern countries
that it is at its most distant point from the sun, and consequently, in a situation
for those regions to feel the greatest cold. Nothing can be done to prevent that, and men,
Pencroft, however learned they may be, can never change anything of the cosmographical
order established by God Himself." "And yet," added Pencroft, "the world is very
learned. What a big book, captain, might be made with all that is known!"
"And what a much bigger book still with all that is not known!" answered Harding.
At last, for one reason or another, the month of June brought the cold with its accustomed
intensity, and the settlers were often confined to Granite House. Ah! how wearisome this imprisonment
was to them, and more particularly to Gideon Spilett.
"Look here," said he to Neb one day, "I would give you by notarial deed all the estates
which will come to me some day, if you were a good enough fellow to go, no matter where,
and subscribe to some newspaper for me! Decidedly the thing that is most essential to my happiness
is the knowing every morning what has happened the day before in other places than this!"
Neb began to laugh. "'Pon my word," he replied, "the only thing
I think about is my daily work!" The truth was that indoors as well as out
there was no want of work. The colony of Lincoln Island was now at its
highest point of prosperity, achieved by three years of continued hard work. The destruction
of the brig had been a new source of riches. Without speaking of the complete rig which
would serve for the vessel now on the stocks, utensils and tools of all sorts, weapons and
ammunition, clothes and instruments, were now piled in the storerooms of Granite House.
It had not even been necessary to resort again to the manufacture of the coarse felt materials.
Though the colonists had suffered from cold during their first winter, the bad season
might now come without their having any reason to dread its severity. Linen was plentiful
also, and besides, they kept it with extreme care. From chloride of sodium, which is nothing
else than sea salt, Cyrus Harding easily extracted the soda and chlorine. The soda, which it
was easy to change into carbonate of soda, and the chlorine, of which he made chloride
of lime, were employed for various domestic purposes, and especially in bleaching linen.
Besides, they did not wash more than four times a year, as was done by families in the
olden times, and it may be added, that Pencroft and Gideon Spilett, while waiting for the
postman to bring him his newspaper, distinguished themselves as washermen.
So passed the winter months, June, July, and August. They were severe, and the average
observations of the thermometer did not give more than eight degrees of Fahrenheit. It
was therefore lower in temperature than the preceding winter. But then, what splendid
fires blazed continually on the hearths of Granite House, the smoke marking the granite
wall with long, zebra-like streaks! Fuel was not spared, as it grew naturally a few steps
from them. Besides, the chips of the wood destined for the construction of the ship
enabled them to economize the coal, which required more trouble to transport.
Men and animals were all well. Master Jup was a little chilly, it must be confessed.
This was perhaps his only weakness, and it was necessary to make him a well-padded dressing-gown.
But what a servant he was, clever, zealous, indefatigable, not indiscreet, not talkative,
and he might have been with reason proposed as a model for all his biped brothers in the
Old and New Worlds! "As for that," said Pencroft, "when one has
four hands at one's service, of course one's work ought to be done so much the better!"
And indeed the intelligent creature did it well.
During the seven months which had passed since the last researches made round the mountain,
and during the month of September, which brought back fine weather, nothing was heard of the
genius of the island. His power was not manifested in any way. It is true that it would have
been superfluous, for no incident occurred to put the colonists to any painful trial.
Cyrus Harding even observed that if by chance the communication between the unknown and
the tenants of Granite House had ever been established through the granite, and if Top's
instinct had as it were felt it, there was no further sign of it during this period.
The dog's growling had entirely ceased, as well as the uneasiness of the orang. The two
friends—for they were such—no longer prowled round the opening of the inner well, nor did
they bark or whine in that singular way which from the first the engineer had noticed. But
could he be sure that this was all that was to be said about this enigma, and that he
should never arrive at a solution? Could he be certain that some conjuncture would not
occur which would bring the mysterious personage on the scene? who could tell what the future
might have in reserve? At last the winter was ended, but an event,
the consequences of which might be serious occurred in the first days of the returning
spring. On the 7th of September, Cyrus Harding, having
observed the crater, saw smoke curling round the summit of the mountain, its first vapors
rising in the air.