Part 1 - Dropped from the Clouds: Chapter 11

by Jules Verne

　　Half an hour later Cyrus Harding and Herbert had returned to theencampment. The engineer merely told his companions that the land uponwhich fate had thrown them was an island, and that the next day they wouldconsult. Then each settled himself as well as he could to sleep, and inthat rocky hole, at a height of two thousand five hundred feet above thelevel of the sea, through a peaceful night, the islanders enjoyed profoundrepose.

　　The next day, the 30th of March, after a hasty breakfast, which consistedsolely of the roasted tragopan, the engineer wished to climb again to thesummit of the volcano, so as more attentively to survey the island uponwhich he and his companions were imprisoned for life perhaps, should theisland be situated at a great distance from any land, or if it was out ofthe course of vessels which visited the archipelagoes of the Pacific Ocean.This time his companions followed him in the new exploration. They alsowished to see the island, on the productions of which they must depend forthe supply of all their wants.

　　It was about seven o'clock in the morning when Cyrus Harding, Herbert,Pencroft, Gideon Spilett, and Neb quitted the encampment. No one appearedto be anxious about their situation. They had faith in themselves,doubtless, but it must be observed that the basis of this faith was not thesame with Harding as with his companions. The engineer had confidence,because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everythingnecessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter fearednothing, just because Cyrus Harding was with them. Pencroft especially,since the incident of the relighted fire, would not have despaired for aninstant, even if he was on a bare rock, if the engineer was with him on therock.

　　"Pshaw," said he, "we left Richmond without permission from theauthorities! It will be hard if we don't manage to get away some day orother from a place where certainly no one will detain us!"

　　Cyrus Harding followed the same road as the evening before. They wentround the cone by the plateau which formed the shoulder, to the mouth ofthe enormous chasm. The weather was magnificent. The sun rose in a pure skyand flooded with his rays all the eastern side of the mountain.

　　The crater was reached. It was just what the engineer had made it out tobe in the dark; that is to say, a vast funnel which extended, widening, toa height of a thousand feet above the plateau. Below the chasm, large thickstreaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain, and thus marked thecourse of the eruptive matter to the lower valleys which furrowed thenorthern part of the island.

　　The interior of the crater, whose inclination did not exceed thirty fiveto forty degrees, presented no difficulties nor obstacles to the ascent.Traces of very ancient lava were noticed, which probably had overflowed thesummit of the cone, before this lateral chasm had opened a new way to it.

　　As to the volcanic chimney which established a communication between thesubterranean layers and the crater, its depth could not be calculated withthe eye, for it was lost in obscurity. But there was no doubt as to thecomplete extinction of the volcano.

　　Before eight o'clock Harding and his companions were assembled at thesummit of the crater, on a conical mound which swelled the northern edge.

　　"The sea, the sea everywhere!" they cried, as if their lips could notrestrain the words which made islanders of them.

　　The sea, indeed, formed an immense circular sheet of water all aroundthem! Perhaps, on climbing again to the summit of the cone, Cyrus Hardinghad had a hope of discovering some coast, some island shore, which he hadnot been able to perceive in the dark the evening before. But nothingappeared on the farthest verge of the horizon, that is to say over a radiusof more than fifty miles. No land in sight. Not a sail. Over all thisimmense space the ocean alone was visible--the island occupied the centerof a circumference which appeared to be infinite.

　　The engineer and his companions, mute and motionless, surveyed for someminutes every point of the ocean, examining it to its most extreme limits.Even Pencroft, who possessed a marvelous power of sight, saw nothing; andcertainly if there had been land at the horizon, if it appeared only as anindistinct vapor, the sailor would undoubtedly have found it out, fornature had placed regular telescopes under his eyebrows.

　　From the ocean their gaze returned to the island which they commandedentirely, and the first question was put by Gideon Spilett in these terms:--

　　"About what size is this island?"

　　Truly, it did not appear large in the midst of the immense ocean.

　　Cyrus Harding reflected a few minutes; he attentively observed theperimeter of the island, taking into consideration the height at which hewas placed; then,--

　　"My friends," said he, "I do not think I am mistaken in giving to theshore of the island a circumference of more than a hundred miles."

　　"And consequently an area?"

　　"That is difficult to estimate," replied the engineer, "for it is souneven."

　　If Cyrus Harding was not mistaken in his calculation, the island hadalmost the extent of Malta or Zante, in the Mediterranean, but it was atthe same time much more irregular and less rich in capes, promontories,points, bays, or creeks. Its strange form caught the eye, and when GideonSpilett, on the engineer's advice, had drawn the outline, they found that itresembled some fantastic animal, a monstrous leviathan, which lay sleepingon the surface of the Pacific.

　　This was in fact the exact shape of the island, which it is ofconsequence to know, and a tolerably correct map of it was immediatelydrawn by the reporter.

　　The east part of the shore, where the castaways had landed, formed a widebay, terminated by a sharp cape, which had been concealed by a high pointfrom Pencroft on his first exploration. At the northeast two other capesclosed the bay, and between them ran a narrow gulf, which looked like thehalf-open jaws of a formidable dog-fish.

　　From the northeast to the southwest the coast was rounded, like theflattened cranium of an animal, rising again, forming a sort ofprotuberance which did not give any particular shape to this part of theisland, of which the center was occupied by the volcano.

　　From this point the shore ran pretty regularly north and south, broken attwo-thirds of its perimeter by a narrow creek, from which it ended in along tail, similar to the caudal appendage of a gigantic alligator.

　　This tail formed a regular peninsula, which stretched more than thirtymiles into the sea, reckoning from the cape southeast of the island,already mentioned; it curled round, making an open roadstead, which markedout the lower shore of this strangely-formed land.

　　At the narrowest part, that is to say between the Chimneys and the creekon the western shore, which corresponded to it in latitude, the island onlymeasured ten miles; but its greatest length, from the jaws at the northeastto the extremity of the tail of the southwest, was not less than thirtymiles.

　　As to the interior of the island, its general aspect was this, very woodythroughout the southern part from the mountain to the shore, and arid andsandy in the northern part. Between the volcano and the east coast CyrusHarding and his companions were surprised to see a lake, bordered withgreen trees, the existence of which they had not suspected. Seen from thisheight, the lake appeared to be on the same level as the ocean, but, onreflection, the engineer explained to his companions that the altitude ofthis little sheet of water must be about three hundred feet, because theplateau, which was its basin, was but a prolongation of the coast.

　　"Is it a freshwater lake?" asked Pencroft.

　　"Certainly," replied the engineer, "for it must be fed by the water whichflows from the mountain."

　　"I see a little river which runs into it," said Herbert, pointing out anarrow stream, which evidently took its source somewhere in the west.

　　"Yes," said Harding; "and since this stream feeds the lake, most probablyon the side near the sea there is an outlet by which the surplus waterescapes. We shall see that on our return."

　　This little winding watercourse and the river already mentionedconstituted the water-system, at least such as it was displayed to the eyesof the explorers. However, it was possible that under the masses of treeswhich covered two-thirds of the island, forming an immense forest, otherrivers ran towards the sea. It might even be inferred that such was thecase, so rich did this region appear in the most magnificent specimens ofthe flora of the temperate zones. There was no indication of running waterin the north, though perhaps there might be stagnant water among themarshes in the northeast; but that was all, in addition to the downs, sand,and aridity which contrasted so strongly with the luxuriant vegetation ofthe rest of the island.

　　The volcano did not occupy the central part; it rose, on the contrary, inthe northwestern region, and seemed to mark the boundary of the two zones.At the southwest, at the south, and the southeast, the first part of thespurs were hidden under masses of verdure. At the north, on the contrary,one could follow their ramifications, which died away on the sandy plains.It was on this side that, at the time when the mountain was in a state oferuption, the discharge had worn away a passage, and a large heap of lavahad spread to the narrow jaw which formed the northeastern gulf.

　　Cyrus Harding and his companions remained an hour at the top of themountain. The island was displayed under their eyes, like a plan in reliefwith different tints, green for the forests, yellow for the sand, blue forthe water. They viewed it in its tout-ensemble, nothing remained concealedbut the ground hidden by verdure, the hollows of the valleys, and theinterior of the volcanic chasms.

　　One important question remained to be solved, and the answer would have agreat effect upon the future of the castaways.

　　Was the island inhabited?

　　It was the reporter who put this question, to which after the closeexamination they had just made, the answer seemed to be in the negative.

　　Nowhere could the work of a human hand be perceived. Not a group of huts,not a solitary cabin, not a fishery on the shore. No smoke curling in theair betrayed the presence of man. It is true, a distance of nearly thirtymiles separated the observers from the extreme points, that is, of the tailwhich extended to the southwest, and it would have been difficult, even toPencroft's eyes, to discover a habitation there. Neither could the curtainof verdure, which covered three-quarters of the island, be raised to see ifit did not shelter some straggling village. But in general the islanderslive on the shores of the narrow spaces which emerge above the waters ofthe Pacific, and this shore appeared to be an absolute desert.

　　Until a more complete exploration, it might be admitted that the islandwas uninhabited. But was it frequented, at least occasionally, by thenatives of neighboring islands? It was difficult to reply to this question.No land appeared within a radius of fifty miles. But fifty miles could beeasily crossed, either by Malay proas or by the large Polynesian canoes.Everything depended on the position of the island, of its isolation in thePacific, or of its proximity to archipelagoes. Would Cyrus Harding be ableto find out their latitude and longitude without instruments? It would bedifficult. Since he was in doubt, it was best to take precautions against apossible descent of neighboring natives.

　　The exploration of the island was finished, its shape determined, itsfeatures made out, its extent calculated, the water and mountain systemsascertained. The disposition of the forests and plains had been marked in ageneral way on the reporter's plan. They had now only to descend themountain slopes again, and explore the soil, in the triple point of view,of its mineral, vegetable, and animal resources.

　　But before giving his companions the signal for departure, Cyrus Hardingsaid to them in a calm, grave voice,--

　　Here, my friends, is the small corner of land upon which the hand of theAlmighty has thrown us. We are going to live here; a long time, perhaps.Perhaps, too, unexpected help will arrive, if some ship passes by chance. Isay by chance, because this is an unimportant island; there is not even aport in which ships could anchor, and it is to be feared that it issituated out of the route usually followed, that is to say, too much to thesouth for the ships which frequent the archipelagoes of the Pacific, andtoo much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling CapeHorn. I wish to hide nothing of our position from you--"

　　"And you are right, my dear Cyrus," replied the reporter, with animation."You have to deal with men. They have confidence in you, and you can dependupon them. Is it not so, my friends?"

　　"I will obey you in everything, captain," said Herbert, seizing theengineer's hand.

　　"My master always, and everywhere!" cried Neb.

　　"As for me," said the sailor, "if I ever grumble at work, my name's notJack Pencroft, and if you like, captain, we will make a little America ofthis island! We will build towns, we will establish railways, starttelegraphs, and one fine day, when it is quite changed, quite put in orderand quite civilized, we will go and offer it to the government of theUnion. Only, I ask one thing."

　　"What is that?" said the reporter.

　　"It is, that we do not consider ourselves castaways, but colonists, whohave come here to settle." Harding could not help smiling, and the sailor'sidea was adopted. He then thanked his companions, and added, that he wouldrely on their energy and on the aid of Heaven.

　　"Well, now let us set off to the Chimneys!" cried Pencroft.

　　"One minute, my friends," said the engineer. "It seems to me it would bea good thing to give a name to this island, as well as to, the capes,promontories, and watercourses, which we can see.

　　"Very good," said the reporter. "In the future, that will simplify theinstructions which we shall have to give and follow."

　　"Indeed," said the sailor, "already it is something to be able to saywhere one is going, and where one has come from. At least, it looks likesomewhere."

　　"The Chimneys, for example," said Herbert.

　　"Exactly!" replied Pencroft. "That name was the most convenient, and itcame to me quite of myself. Shall we keep the name of the Chimneys for ourfirst encampment, captain?"

　　"Yes, Pencroft, since you have so christened it."

　　"Good! as for the others, that will he easy," returned the sailor, whowas in high spirits. "Let us give them names, as the Robinsons did, whosestory Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay, Whale Point, CapeDisappointment!"

　　"Or, rather, the names of Captain Harding," said Herbert, "of Mr.Spilett, of Neb!--"

　　"My name!" cried Neb, showing his sparkling white teeth.

　　"Why not?" replied Pencroft. "Port Neb, that would do very well! And CapeGideon--"

　　"I should prefer borrowing names from our country," said the reporter,"which would remind us of America."

　　"Yes, for the principal ones," then said Cyrus Harding; "for those of thebays and seas, I admit it willingly. We might give to that vast bay on theeast the name of Union Bay, for example; to that large hollow on the south,Washington Bay; to the mountain upon which we are standing, that of MountFranklin; to that lake which is extended under our eyes, that of LakeGrant; nothing could be better, my friends. These names will recall ourcountry, and those of the great citizens who have honored it; but for therivers, gulfs, capes, and promontories, which we perceive from the top ofthis mountain, rather let us choose names which will recall theirparticular shape. They will impress themselves better on our memory, and atthe same time will he more practical. The shape of the island is so strangethat we shall not he troubled to imagine what it resembles. As to thestreams which we do not know as yet, in different parts of the forest whichwe shall explore later, the creeks which afterwards will he discovered, wecan christen them as we find them. What do you think, my friends?"

　　The engineer's proposal was unanimously agreed to by his companions. Theisland was spread out under their eyes like a map, and they had only togive names to all its angles and points. Gideon Spilett would write themdown, and the geographical nomenclature of the island would be definitelyadopted. First, they named the two bays and the mountain, Union Bay,Washington Bay, and Mount Franklin, as the engineer had suggested.

　　"Now," said the reporter, "to this peninsula at the southwest of theisland, I propose to give the name of Serpentine Peninsula, and that ofReptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it, for it is just like areptile's tail."

　　"Adopted," said the engineer.

　　"Now," said Herbert, pointing to the other extremity of the island, "letus call this gulf which is so singularly like a pair of open jaws, SharkGulf."

　　"Capital!" cried Pencroft, "and we can complete the resemblance by namingthe two parts of the jaws Mandible Cape."

　　"But there are two capes," observed the reporter.

　　"Well," replied Pencroft, "we can have North Mandible Cape and SouthMandible Cape."

　　"They are inscribed," said Spilett.

　　"There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island tohe named," said Pencroft.

　　"That is, the extremity of Union Bay?" asked Herbert.

　　"Claw Cape," cried Neb directly, who also wished to he godfather to somepart of his domain.

　　In truth, Neb had found an excellent name, for this cape was very likethe powerful claw of the fantastic animal which this singularly-shapedisland represented.

　　Pencroft was delighted at the turn things had taken, and theirimaginations soon gave to the river which furnished the settlers withdrinking water and near which the balloon had thrown them, the name of theMercy, in true gratitude to Providence. To the islet upon which thecastaways had first landed, the name of Safety Island; to the plateau whichcrowned the high granite precipice above the Chimneys, and from whence thegaze could embrace the whole of the vast bay, the name of Prospect Heights.

　　Lastly, all the masses of impenetrable wood which covered the SerpentinePeninsula were named the forests of the Far West.

　　The nomenclature of the visible and known parts of the island was thusfinished, and later, they would complete it as they made fresh discoveries.

　　As to the points of the compass, the engineer had roughly fixed them bythe height and position of the sun, which placed Union Bay and ProspectHeights to the east. But the next day, by taking the exact hour of therising and setting of the sun, and by marking its position between thisrising and setting, he reckoned to fix the north of the island exactly,for, in consequence of its situation in the Southern Hemisphere, the sun,at the precise moment of its culmination, passed in the north and not inthe south, as, in its apparent movement, it seems to do, to those placessituated in the Northern Hemisphere.

　　Everything was finished, and the settlers had only to descend MountFranklin to return to the Chimneys, when Pencroft cried out,--

　　"Well! we are preciously stupid!"

　　"Why?" asked Gideon Spilett, who had closed his notebook and risen todepart.

　　"Why! our island! we have forgotten to christen it!"

　　Herbert was going to propose to give it the engineer's name and all hiscompanions would have applauded him, when Cyrus Harding said simply,--

　　"Let us give it the name of a great citizen, my friend; of him who nowstruggles to defend the unity of the American Republic! Let us call itLincoln Island!"

　　The engineer's proposal was replied to by three hurrahs.

　　And that evening, before sleeping, the new colonists talked of theirabsent country; they spoke of the terrible war which stained it with blood;they could not doubt that the South would soon be subdued, and that thecause of the North, the cause of justice, would triumph, thanks to Grant,thanks to Lincoln!

　　Now this happened the 30th of March, 1865. They little knew that sixteendays afterwards a frightful crime would be committed in Washington, andthat on Good Friday Abraham Lincoln would fall by the hand of a fanatic.