Part 1 - Dropped from the Clouds: Chapter 19

by Jules Verne

　　The next day, the 22nd of May, the arrangement of their new dwelling wascommenced. In fact, the settlers longed to exchange the insufficientshelter of the Chimneys for this large and healthy retreat, in the midst ofsolid rock, and sheltered from the water both of the sea and sky. Theirformer dwelling was not, however, to be entirely abandoned, for theengineer intended to make a manufactory of it for important works. CyrusHarding's first care was to find out the position of the front of GraniteHouse from the outside. He went to the beach, and as the pickaxe when itescaped from the hands of the reporter must have fallen perpendicularly tothe foot of the cliff, the finding it would be sufficient to show the placewhere the hole had been pierced in the granite.

　　The pickaxe was easily found, and the hole could be seen in aperpendicular line above the spot where it was stuck in the sand. Some rockpigeons were already flying in and out of the narrow opening; theyevidently thought that Granite House had been discovered on purpose forthem. It was the engineer's intention to divide the right portion of thecavern into several rooms, preceded by an entrance passage, and to light itby means of five windows and a door, pierced in the front. Pencroft wasmuch pleased with the five windows, but he could not understand the use ofthe door, since the passage offered a natural staircase, through which itwould always be easy to enter Granite House.

　　"My friend," replied Harding, "if it is easy for us to reach our dwellingby this passage, it will be equally easy for others besides us. I mean, onthe contrary, to block up that opening, to seal it hermetically, and, if itis necessary, to completely hide the entrance by making a dam, and thuscausing the water of the lake to rise."

　　"And how shall we get in?" asked the sailor.

　　"By an outside ladder," replied Cyrus Harding, "a rope ladder, which,once drawn up, will render access to our dwelling impossible."

　　"But why so many precautions?" asked Pencroft. "As yet we have seen nodangerous animals. As to our island being inhabited by natives, I don'tbelieve it!"

　　"Are you quite sure of that, Pencroft?" asked the engineer, looking atthe sailor.

　　"Of course we shall not be quite sure, till we have explored it in everydirection," replied Pencroft.

　　"Yes," said Harding, "for we know only a small portion of it as yet. Butat any rate, if we have no enemies in the interior, they may come from theexterior, for parts of the Pacific are very dangerous. We must be providedagainst every contingency."

　　Cyrus Harding spoke wisely; and without making any further objection,Pencroft prepared to execute his orders.

　　The front of Granite House was then to be lighted by five windows and adoor, besides a large bay window and some smaller oval ones, which wouldadmit plenty of light to enter into the marvelous nave which was to betheir chief room. This facade, situated at a height of eighty feet abovethe ground, was exposed to the east, and the rising sun saluted it with itsfirst rays. It was found to be just at that part of the cliff which wasbetween the projection at the mouth of the Mercy and a perpendicular linetraced above the heap of rocks which formed the Chimneys. Thus the windsfrom the northeast would only strike it obliquely, for it was protected bythe projection. Besides, until the window-frames were made, the engineermeant to close the openings with thick shutters, which would prevent eitherwind or rain from entering, and which could be concealed in need.

　　The first work was to make the openings. This would have taken too longwith the pickaxe alone, and it is known that Harding was an ingenious man.He had still a quantity of nitro-glycerine at his disposal, and he employedit usefully. By means of this explosive substance the rock was broken openat the very places chosen by the engineer. Then, with the pickaxe andspade, the windows and doors were properly shaped, the jagged edges weresmoothed off, and a few days alter the beginning of the work, Granite Housewas abundantly lighted by the rising sun, whose rays penetrated into itsmost secret recesses. Following the plan proposed by Cyrus Harding, thespace was to be divided into five compartments looking out on the sea; tothe right, an entry with a door, which would meet the ladder; then akitchen, thirty feet long; a dining-room, measuring forty feet; a sleeping-room, of equal size; and lastly, a "Visitor's room," petitioned for byPencroft, and which was next to the great hall. These rooms, or rather thissuite of rooms, would not occupy all the depth of the cave. There would bealso a corridor and a storehouse, in which their tools, provisions, andstores would be kept. All the productions of the island, the flora as wellas the fauna, were to be there in the best possible state of preservation,and completely sheltered from the damp. There was no want of space, so thateach object could be methodically arranged. Besides, the colonists hadstill at their disposal the little grotto above the great cavern, which waslike the garret of the new dwelling.

　　This plan settled, it had only to be put into execution. The minersbecame brickmakers again, then the bricks were brought to the foot ofGranite House. Till then, Harding and his companions had only entered thecavern by the long passage. This mode of communication obliged them firstto climb Prospect Heights, making a detour by the river's bank, and then todescend two hundred feet through the passage, having to climb as far whenthey wished to return to the plateau. This was a great loss of time, andwas also very fatiguing. Cyrus Harding, therefore, resolved to proceedwithout any further delay to the fabrication of a strong rope ladder,which, once raised, would render Granite House completely inaccessible.

　　This ladder was manufactured with extreme care, and its uprights, formedof the twisted fibers of a species of cane, had the strength of a thickcable. As to the rounds, they were made of a sort of red cedar, with light,strong branches; and this apparatus was wrought by the masterly hand ofPencroft.

　　Other ropes were made with vegetable fibers, and a sort of crane with atackle was fixed at the door. In this way bricks could easily be raisedinto Granite House. The transport of the materials being thus simplified,the arrangement of the interior could begin immediately. There was no wantof lime, and some thousands of bricks were there ready to be used. Theframework of the partitions was soon raised, very roughly at first, and ina short time, the cave was divided into rooms and storehouses, according tothe plan agreed upon.

　　These different works progressed rapidly under the direction of theengineer, who himself handled the hammer and the trowel. No labor cameamiss to Cyrus Harding, who thus set an example to his intelligent andzealous companions. They worked with confidence, even gaily, Pencroftalways having some joke to crack, sometimes carpenter, sometimes rope-maker, sometimes mason, while he communicated his good humor to all themembers of their little world. His faith in the engineer was complete;nothing could disturb it. He believed him capable of undertaking anythingand succeeding in everything. The question of boots and clothes--assuredlya serious question,--that of light during the winter months, utilizing thefertile parts of the island, transforming the wild flora into cultivatedflora, it all appeared easy to him; Cyrus Harding helping, everything wouldbe done in time. He dreamed of canals facilitating the transport of theriches of the ground; workings of quarries and mines; machines for everyindustrial manufacture; railroads; yes, railroads! of which a network wouldcertainly one day cover Lincoln Island.

　　The engineer let Pencroft talk. He did not put down the aspirations ofthis brave heart. He knew how communicable confidence is; he even smiled tohear him speak, and said nothing of the uneasiness for the future which hefelt. In fact, in that part of the Pacific, out of the course of vessels,it was to be feared that no help would ever come to them. It was onthemselves, on themselves alone, that the settlers must depend, for thedistance of Lincoln Island from all other land was such, that to hazardthemselves in a boat, of a necessarily inferior construction, would be aserious and perilous thing.

　　"But," as the sailor said, "they quite took the wind out of the sails ofthe Robinsons, for whom everything was done by a miracle."

　　In fact, they were energetic; an energetic man will succeed where anindolent one would vegetate and inevitably perish.

　　Herbert distinguished himself in these works. He was intelligent andactive; understanding quickly, he performed well; and Cyrus Harding becamemore and more attached to the boy. Herbert had a lively and reverent lovefor the engineer. Pencroft saw the close sympathy which existed between thetwo, but he was not in the least jealous. Neb was Neb: he was what he wouldbe always, courage, zeal, devotion, self-denial personified. He had thesame faith in his master that Pencroft had, but he showed it lessvehemently. When the sailor was enthusiastic, Neb always looked as if hewould say, "Nothing could be more natural." Pencroft and he were greatfriends.

　　As to Gideon Spilett, he took part in the common work, and was not lessskilful in it than his companions, which always rather astonished thesailor. A "journalist," clever, not only in understanding, but inperforming everything.

　　The ladder was finally fixed on the 28th of May. There were not less thana hundred rounds in this perpendicular height of eighty feet. Harding hadbeen able, fortunately, to divide it in two parts, profiting by anoverhanging of the cliff which made a projection forty feet above theground. This projection, carefully leveled by the pickaxe, made a sort ofplatform, to which they fixed the first ladder, of which the oscillationwas thus diminished one-half, and a rope permitted it to be raised to thelevel of Granite House. As to the second ladder, it was secured both at itslower part, which rested on the projection, and at its upper end, which wasfastened to the door. In short the ascent had been made much easier.Besides, Cyrus Harding hoped later to establish an hydraulic apparatus,which would avoid all fatigue and loss of time, for the inhabitants ofGranite House.

　　The settlers soon became habituated to the use of this ladder. They werelight and active, and Pencroft, as a sailor, accustomed to run up the mastsand shrouds, was able to give them lessons. But it was also necessary togive them to Top. The poor dog, with his four paws, was not formed for thissort of exercise. But Pencroft was such a zealous master, that Top ended byproperly performing his ascents, and soon mounted the ladder as readily ashis brethren in the circus. It need not be said that the sailor was proudof his pupil. However, more than once Pencroft hoisted him on his back,which Top never complained of.

　　It must be mentioned here, that during these works, which were activelyconducted, for the bad season was approaching, the alimentary question wasnot neglected. Every day, the reporter and Herbert, who had been votedpurveyors to the colony, devoted some hours to the chase. As yet, they onlyhunted in Jacamar Wood, on the left of the river, because, for want of abridge or boat, the Mercy had not yet been crossed. All the immense woods,to which the name of the Forests of the Far West had been given, were notexplored. They reserved this important excursion for the first fine days ofthe next spring. But Jacamar Wood was full of game; kangaroos and boarsabounded, and the hunters iron-tipped spears and bows and arrows didwonders. Besides, Herbert discovered towards the southwest point of thelagoon a natural warren, a slightly damp meadow, covered with willows andaromatic herbs which scented the air, such as thyme, basil, savory, all thesweet-scented species of the labiated plants, which the rabbits appeared tobe particularly fond of.

　　On the reporter observing that since the table was spread for therabbits, it was strange that the rabbits themselves should be wanting, thetwo sportsmen carefully explored the warren. At any rate, it produced anabundance of useful plants, and a naturalist would have had a goodopportunity of studying many specimens of the vegetable kingdom. Herbertgathered several shoots of the basil, rosemary, balm, betony, etc., whichpossess different medicinal properties, some pectoral, astringent,febrifuge, others anti-spasmodic, or anti-rheumatic. When, afterwards,Pencroft asked the use of this collection of herbs,--

　　"For medicine," replied the lad, "to treat us when we are ill."

　　"Why should we be ill, since there are no doctors in the island?" askedPencroft quite seriously.

　　There was no reply to be made to that, but the lad went on with hiscollection all the same, and it was well received at Granite House. Besidesthese medicinal herbs, he added a plant known in North America as "Oswegotea," which made an excellent beverage.

　　At last, by searching thoroughly, the hunters arrived at the real site ofthe warren. There the ground was perforated like a sieve.

　　"Here are the burrows!" cried Herbert.

　　"Yes," replied the reporter, "so I see."

　　"But are they inhabited?"

　　"That is the question."

　　This was soon answered. Almost immediately, hundreds of little animals,similar to rabbits, fled in every direction, with such rapidity that evenTop could not overtake them. Hunters and dog ran in vain; these rodentsescaped them easily. But the reporter resolved not to leave the place,until he had captured at least half-a-dozen of the quadrupeds. He wished tostock their larder first, and domesticate those which they might takelater. It would not have been difficult to do this, with a few snaresstretched at the openings of the burrows. But at this moment they hadneither snares, nor anything to make them of. They must, therefore, besatisfied with visiting each hole, and rummaging in it with a stick, hopingby dint of patience to do what could not be done in any other way.

　　At last, after half an hour, four rodents were taken in their holes. Theywere similar to their European brethren, and are commonly known by the nameof American rabbits.

　　This produce of the chase was brought back to Granite House, and figuredat the evening repast. The tenants of the warren were not at all to bedespised, for they were delicious. It was a valuable resource of thecolony, and it appeared to be inexhaustible.

　　On the 31st of May the partitions were finished. The rooms had now onlyto be furnished, and this would be work for the long winter days. A chimneywas established in the first room, which served as a kitchen. The pipedestined to conduct the smoke outside gave some trouble to these amateurbricklayers. It appeared simplest to Harding to make it of brick clay; ascreating an outlet for it to the upper plateau was not to be thought of, ahole was pierced in the granite above the window of the kitchen, and thepipe met it like that of an iron stove. Perhaps the winds which blewdirectly against the facade would make the chimney smoke, but these windswere rare, and besides, Master Neb, the cook, was not so very particularabout that.

　　When these interior arrangements were finished, the engineer occupiedhimself in blocking up the outlet by the lake, so as to prevent any accessby that way. Masses of rock were rolled to the entrance and stronglycemented together. Cyrus Harding did not yet realize his plan of drowningthis opening under the waters of the lake, by restoring them to theirformer level by means of a dam. He contented himself with hiding theobstruction with grass and shrubs, which were planted in the interstices ofthe rocks, and which next spring would sprout thickly. However, he used thewaterfall so as to lead a small stream of fresh water to the new dwelling.A little trench, made below their level, produced this result; and thisderivation from a pure and inexhaustible source yielded twenty-five orthirty gallons a day. There would never be any want of water at GraniteHouse. At last all was finished, and it was time, for the bad season wasnear. Thick shutters closed the windows of the facade, until the engineerhad time to make glass.

　　Gideon Spilett had very artistically arranged on the rocky projectionsaround the windows plants of different kinds, as well as long streaminggrass, so that the openings were picturesquely framed in green, which had apleasing effect.

　　The inhabitants of this solid, healthy, and secure dwelling, could notbut be charmed with their work. The view from the windows extended over aboundless horizon, which was closed by the two Mandible Capes on the north,and Claw Cape on the south. All Union Bay was spread before them. Yes, ourbrave settlers had reason to be satisfied, and Pencroft was lavish in hispraise of what he humorously called, "his apartments on the fifth floorabove the ground!"