Part 11 (2/2)
Doubtless some whaler had landed them on the island, where they had rapidly increased Herbert resolved to catch one or two living, and take theer doubtful that men at some period or other had visited this islet, and this becah the forest, felled trees, and everywhere traces of the hand ofrotten, and had been felled o; the rew long and thick on the paths, so that it was difficult to find them
”But,” observed Gideon Spilett, ”this not only proves that men have landed on the island, but also that they lived on it for some time Noere these men? How many of them remain?”
”The document,” said Herbert, ”only spoke of one castaway”
”Well, if he is still on the island,” replied Pencroft, ”it is impossible but that we shall find him”
The exploration was continued The sailor and his coonally across the island, and they were thus obliged to follow the stream which flowed towards the sea
If the aniin, if works due to a human hand, showed incontestably that men had already visited the island, several specidom did not prove it less In sos, it was evident that the soil had been planted with culinary plants, at probably the same distant period
What, then, was Herbert's joy, when he recognised potatoes, chicory, sorrel, carrots, cabbages, and turnips, of which it was sufficient to collect the seed to enrich the soil of Lincoln Island
”Capital, jolly!” exclaimed Pencroft ”That will suit Neb as well as us Even if we do not find the castaway, at least our voyage will not have been useless, and God will have rewarded us”
”Doubtless,” replied Gideon Spilett; ”but to see the state in which we find these plantations, it is to be feared that the island has not been inhabited for some time”
”Indeed,” answered Herbert, ”an inhabitant, whoever he was, could not have neglected such an important culture!”
”Yes,” said Pencroft, ”the castaway has gone”
”We must suppose so”
”It must then be admitted that the document has already a distant date?”
”Evidently”
”And that the bottle only arrived at Lincoln Island after having floated in the sea a long ti on,” added he, ”and I think that it will be best to give up the search for the present”
”Let us go on board, and to-ain,” said the reporter
This was the wisest course, and it was about to be follohen Herbert, pointing to a confusedthe trees, exclaimed,-- ”A hut!”
All three iht it was just possible to see that it was built of planks and covered with a thick tarpaulin
The half-closed door was pushed open by Pencroft, who entered with a rapid step
The hut was empty!
[Illustration: A HUT!]
CHAPTER XIV
The Inventory -- Night -- A few Letters -- Continuation of the Search -- Plants and Anier -- On Board -- The Departure -- Bad Weather -- A Gleaht
Pencroft, Herbert, and Gideon Spilett remained silent in the midst of the darkness
Pencroft shouted loudly
No reply was ht and set fire to a twig This lighted for a minute a small room, which appeared perfectly empty At the back was a rude fireplace, with a few cold cinders, supporting an ar on it, the wood cracked and gave forth a bright light
The sailor and his two companions then perceived a disordered bed, of which the damp and yellow coverlets proved that it had not been used for a long time In the corner of the fireplace were two kettles, covered with rust, and an overthrown pot A cupboard, with a few mouldy sailor's clothes; on the table a tin plate and a Bible, eaten away by da-pieces, one of which was broken; on a plank, for a shelf, stood a barrel of powder, still untouched, a barrel of shot, and several boxes of caps, all thickly covered with dust, accu years
”There is no one here,” said the reporter
”No one,” replied Pencroft
”It is a long time since this room has been inhabited,” observed Herbert
”Yes, a very long time!” answered the reporter
”Mr Spilett,” then said Pencroft, ”instead of returning on board, I think that it would be well to pass the night in this hut”
”You are right, Pencroft,” answered Gideon Spilett, ”and if its owner returns, well! perhaps he will not be sorry to find the place taken possession of”
”He will not return,” said the sailor, shaking his head
”You think that he has quitted the island?” asked the reporter
”If he had quitted the island he would have taken away his weapons and his tools,” replied Pencroft ”You know the value which castaways set on such articles as these, the last remains of a wreck? No! no!” repeated the sailor, in a tone of conviction, ”no, he has not left the island! If he had escaped in a boat made by himself, he would still less have left these indispensable and necessary articles No! he is on the island!”
”Living?” asked Herbert
”Living or dead But if he is dead, I suppose he has not buried himself, and so we shall at least find his reht should be passed in the deserted dwelling, and a store of wood found in a corner was sufficient to warm it The door closed, Pencroft, Herbert, and Spilett reor expect anything They listened eagerly for sounds outside The door ht have opened suddenly, and ain the least surprised, notwithstanding all that the hut revealed of abandonment, and they had their hands ready to press the hands of this man, this castaway, this unknown friend, for who
But no voice was heard, the door did not open The hours thus passed away
How long the night appeared to the sailor and his coe sleep is a necessity They were all three anxious to continue their exploration of the day before, and to search the most secret recesses of the islet! The inferences deduced by Pencroft were perfectly reasonable, and it was nearly certain that, as the hut was deserted, and the tools, utensils, and weapons were still there, the owner had succureed, therefore, that they should search for his reive them at least Christian burial
Day dawned; Pencroft and his co It had certainly been built in a favourable situation, at the back of a little hill, sheltered by five or six h the trees the axe had prepared a wide clearing, which allowed the view to extend to the sea Beyond a lawn, surrounded by a wooden fence falling to pieces, was the shore, on the left of which was the mouth of the stream
The hut had been built of planks, and it was easy to see that these planks had been obtained from the hull or deck of a shi+p It was probable that a disabled vessel had been cast on the coast of the island, that one at least of the crew had been saved, and that bytools at his disposal, had built the dwelling
And this beca walked round the hut, saw on a plank, probably one of those which had formed the armour of the wrecked vessel, these letters already half effaced:-- ”Br--tan--a”
”Britannia,” exclaimed Pencroft, whom the reporter had called; ”it is a colish or American!”