Part 16 (2/2)
Several expeditions were made about this time into the depths of the Far West Forests The explorers could venture there without having anything to fear froh the thick foliage spreading above their heads They thus visited all the left bank of the Mercy, along which ran the road from the corral to the mouth of Falls River
But in these excursions the settlers took care to be well are wild boars, hich they often had a tussle They also, during this season, uars Gideon Spilett had vowed a special hatred against them, and his pupil Herbert seconded hier feared to e was superb, and the reporter's sang froid astonishi+ng Already twenty -roouar race would soon be extinct in the island, the object aiineer sometimes took part in the expeditions made to the unknown parts of the island, which he surveyed with great attention It was for other traces than those of animals that he searched the thickest of the vast forest, but nothing suspicious ever appeared Neither Top nor Jup, who accompanied hi strange there, and yetbarked at the ineer had before explored without result
At this time Gideon Spilett, aided by Herbert, took several views of the raphic apparatus found in the cases, and of which they had not as yet made any use
This apparatus, provided with a powerful object-glass, was very coraphic reproduction, collodion for preparing the glass plate, nitrate of silver to render it sensitive, hyposulphate of soda to fix the prints obtained, chloride of aive the positive proof, acetate of soda and chloride of gold in which to i Even the papers were there, all prepared, and before laying in the printing-fraatives, it was sufficient to soak them for a few minutes in the solution of nitrate of silver
The reporter and his assistant became in a short time very skilful operators, and they obtained fine views of the country, such as the island, taken frohts with Mount Franklin in the distance, the h rocks, the glade and the corral, with the spurs of the round, the curious development of Claw Cape, Flotsaet to take the portraits of all the inhabitants of the island, leaving out no one
”It multiplies us,” said Pencroft
And the sailor was enchanted to see his own countenance, faithfully reproduced, ornaly before this exhibition as he would have done before the richest shop-s in Broadway
But it ed that the most successful portrait was incontestably that of Master Jup Master Jup had sat with a gravity not to be described, and his portrait was lifelike!
”He looks as if he was just going to grin!” exclaimed Pencroft
And if Master Jup had not been satisfied, he would have been very difficult to please, but he was quite contented, and contemplated his own countenance with a sentimental air which expressed some small amount of conceit
The summer heat ended with the month of March The weather was sometimes rainy, but still warm The month of March, which corresponds to the Septeht have been hoped Perhaps it announced an early and rigorous winter
It --the 21st--that the first snow had alreadyearly from one of the s of Granite House, exclaimed,-- ”Hallo! the islet is covered with snow!”
”Snow at this ti the boy
Their companions were soon beside the, that not only the islet, but all the beach below Granite House, was covered with one uniform sheet of white
”It must be snow!” said Pencroft
”Or rather it's very like it!” replied Neb
”But the therrees!” observed Gideon Spilett
Cyrus Harding gazed at the sheet of white without saying anything, for he really did not kno to explain this phenomenon, at this time of year and in such a temperature
”By Jove!” exclaimed Pencroft, ”all our plants will be frozen!”
And the sailor was about to descend, when he was preceded by the nimble Jup, who slid down to the sand
[Illustration: JUP SITTING FOR HIS PORTRAIT]
But the orang had not touched the ground, when the snowy sheet arose and dispersed in the air in such innuht of the sun was obscured for some minutes
”Birds!” cried Herbert
They were indeed sware They had perched by thousands on the islet and on the shore, and they disappeared in the distance, leaving the colonists amazed as if they had been present at some transformation scene, in which summer succeeded winter at the touch of a fairy's wand Unfortunately the change had been so sudden that neither the reporter nor the lad had been able to bring down one of these birds, of which they could not recognise the species
A few days after came the 26th of March, the day on which, two years before, the castaways from the air had been thrown upon Lincoln Island
[Illustration: THE SNOWY SHEET AROSE AND DISPERSED IN THE AIR]
CHAPTER XIX
Recollections of their Native Land -- Probable Future -- Project for surveying the Coasts of the Island -- Departure on the 16th of April -- Sea-view of Reptile End -- The basaltic Rocks of the Western Coast -- Bad Weather -- Night comes on -- New Incident
Two years already! and for two years the colonists had had no communication with their fellow-creatures! They ithout news from the civilised world, lost on this island, as completely as if they had been on the most minute star of the celestial he in their country? The picture of their native land was always before their eyes, the land torn by civil war at the time they left it, and which the Southern rebellion was perhaps still staining with blood! It was a great sorrow to thes, without ever doubting however that the cause of the North must triumph, for the honour of the A these two years not a vessel had passed in sight of the island; or, at least, not a sail had been seen It was evident that Lincoln Island was out of the usual track, and also that it was unknown,--as was besides proved by the ht have visited it for the purpose of renewing their store of water But the surrounding ocean was deserted as far as the eye could reach, and the coloniststheir native land
However, one chance of rescue existed, and this chance was discussed one day in the first week of April, when the colonists were gathered together in the dining-roo of America, of their native country, which they had so little hope of ever seeing again
”Decidedly we have only one way,” said Spilett, ”one single way for leaving Lincoln Island, and that is, to build a vessel large enough to sail several hundred miles It appears to me, that when one has built a boat it is just as easy to build a shi+p!”
”And in which we o to the Pomatous,” added Herbert, ”just as easily as ent to Tabor Island”
”I do not say no,” replied Pencroft, who had always the casting vote in h it is not exactly the sae! If our little craft had been caught in any heavy gale of wind during the voyage to Tabor Island, we should have known that land was at no great distance either way; but twelve hundredway, and the nearest land is at least that distance!”
”Would you not, in that case, Pencroft, attempt the adventure?” asked the reporter
”I will atte that is desired, Mr Spilett,” answered the sailor, ”and you knoell that I am not a man to flinch!”
”Rest us now,” remarked Neb
”Who is that?” asked Pencroft
”Ayrton”
”That is true,” replied Herbert
”If he will consent to come,” said Pencroft
”Nonsense!” returned the reporter; ”do you think that if Lord Glenarvan's yacht had appeared at Tabor Island, whilst he was still living there, Ayrton would have refused to depart?”
”You forget, , ”that Ayrton was not in possession of his reason during the last years of his stay there But that is not the question The point is to knoerescued, the return of the Scotch vessel Now, Lord Glenarvan promised Ayrton that he would return to take him off Tabor Island when he considered that his crimes were expiated, and I believe that he will return”
”Yes,” said the reporter, ”and I will add that he will return soon, for it is twelve years since Ayrton was abandoned!”