Part 2 - Abandoned: Chapter 13

by Jules Verne

　　"A castaway!" exclaimed Pencroft; "left on this Tabor Island not twohundred miles from us! Ah, Captain Harding, you won't now oppose my going."

　　"No, Pencroft," replied Cyrus Harding; "and you shall set out as soon aspossible."

　　"To-morrow?"

　　"To-morrow!"

　　The engineer still held in his hand the paper which he had taken from thebottle. He contemplated it for some instants, then resumed,

　　"From this document, my friends, from the way in which it is worded, wemay conclude this: first, that the castaway on Tabor Island is a manpossessing a considerable knowledge of navigation, since he gives thelatitude and longitude of the island exactly as we ourselves found it, andto a second of approximation; secondly, that he is either English orAmerican, as the document is written in the English language."

　　"That is perfectly logical," answered Spilett; "and the presence of thiscastaway explains the arrival of the case on the shores of our island.There must have been a wreck, since there is a castaway. As to the latter,whoever he may be, it is lucky for him that Pencroft thought of buildingthis boat and of trying her this very day, for a day later and this bottlemight have been broken on the rocks."

　　"Indeed," said Herbert, "it is a fortunate chance that the 'Bonadventure'passed exactly where the bottle was still floating!"

　　"Does not this appear strange to you?" asked Harding of Pencroft.

　　"It appears fortunate, that's all," answered the sailor. "Do you seeanything extraordinary in it, captain? The bottle must go somewhere, andwhy not here as well as anywhere else?"

　　"Perhaps you are right, Pencroft," replied the engineer; "and yet--"

　　"But," observed Herbert, "there's nothing to prove that this bottle hasbeen floating long in the sea."

　　"Nothing," replied Gideon Spilett, "and the document appears even to havebeen recently written. What do you think about it, Cyrus?"

　　During this conversation Pencroft had not remained inactive. He had putthe vessel about, and the "Bonadventure," all sails set, was runningrapidly towards Claw Cape.

　　Every one was thinking of the castaway on Tabor Island. Should they be intime to save him? This was a great event in the life of the colonists! Theythemselves were but castaways, but it was to be feared that another mightnot have been so fortunate, and their duty was to go to his succor.

　　Claw Cape was doubled, and about four o'clock the "Bonadventure" droppedher anchor at the mouth of the Mercy.

　　That same evening the arrangements for the new expedition were made. Itappeared best that Pencroft and Herbert, who knew how to work the vessel,should undertake the voyage alone. By setting out the next day, the 10th ofOctober, they would arrive on the 13th, for with the present wind it wouldnot take more than forty-eight hours to make this passage of a hundred andfifty miles. One day in the island, three or four to return, they mighthope therefore that on the 17th they would again reach Lincoln Island. Theweather was fine, the barometer was rising, the wind appeared settled,everything then was in favor of these brave men whom an act of humanity wastaking far from their island.

　　Thus it had been agreed that Cyrus Harding, Neb, and Gideon Spilett shouldremain at Granite House, but an objection was raised, and Spilett, who hadnot forgotten his business as reporter to the New York Herald, havingdeclared that he would go by swimming rather than lose such an opportunity,he was admitted to take a part in the voyage.

　　The evening was occupied in transporting on board the "Bonadventure,"articles of bedding, utensils, arms, ammunition, a compass, provisions fora week; this being rapidly done, the colonists ascended to Granite House.

　　The next day, at five o'clock in the morning, the farewells were said,not without some emotion on both sides, and Pencroft setting sail madetowards Claw Cape, which had to be doubled in order to proceed to thesouthwest.

　　The "Bonadventure" was already a quarter of a mile from the coast whenthe passengers perceived on the heights of Granite House two men wavingtheir farewells; they were Cyrus Harding and Neb.

　　"Our friends," exclaimed Spilett, "this is our first separation infifteen months."

　　Pencroft, the reporter and Herbert waved in return, and Granite Housesoon disappeared behind the high rocks of the Cape.

　　During the first part of the day the "Bonadventure" was still in sight ofthe southern coast of Lincoln Island, which soon appeared just like a greenbasket, with Mount Franklin rising from the center. The heights, diminishedby distance, did not present an appearance likely to tempt vessels to touchthere. Reptile End was passed in about an hour, though at a distance ofabout ten miles.

　　At this distance it was no longer possible to distinguish anything of theWestern Coast, which stretched away to the ridges of Mount Franklin, andthree hours after the last of Lincoln Island sank below the horizon.

　　The "Bonadventure" behaved capitally. Bounding over the waves sheproceeded rapidly on her course. Pencroft had hoisted the foresail, andsteering by the compass followed a rectilinear direction. From time to timeHerbert relieved him at the helm, and the lad's hand was so firm that thesailor had not a point to find fault with.

　　Gideon Spilett chatted sometimes with one, sometimes with the other, ifwanted he lent a hand with the ropes, and Captain Pencroft was perfectlysatisfied with his crew.

　　In the evening the crescent moon, which would not be in its first quarteruntil the 16th, appeared in the twilight and soon set again. The night wasdark but starry, and the next day again promised to be fine.

　　Pencroft prudently lowered the foresail, not wishing to be caught by asudden gust while carrying too much canvas; it was perhaps an unnecessaryprecaution on such a calm night, but Pencroft was a prudent sailor andcannot be blamed for it.

　　The reporter slept part of the night. Pencroft and Herbert took turns fora spell of two hours each at the helm. The sailor trusted Herbert as hewould himself, and his confidence was justified by the coolness andjudgment of the lad. Pencroft gave him his directions as a commander to hissteersman, and Herbert never allowed the "Bonadventure" to swerve even apoint. The night passed quickly, as did the day of the 12th of October. Asouth-easterly direction was strictly maintained. Unless the "Bonadventure"fell in with some unknown current she would come exactly within sight ofTabor Island.

　　As to the sea over which the vessel was then sailing, it was absolutelydeserted. Now and then a great albatross or frigate bird passed withingunshot, and Gideon Spilett wondered if it was to one of them that he hadconfided his last letter addressed to the New York Herald. These birds werethe only beings that appeared to frequent this part of the ocean betweenTabor and Lincoln Islands.

　　"And yet," observed Herbert, "this is the time that whalers usuallyproceed towards the southern part of the Pacific. Indeed I do not thinkthere could be a more deserted sea than this."

　　"It is not quite so deserted as all that," replied Pencroft.

　　"What do you mean?" asked the reporter.

　　"We are on it. Do you take our vessel for a wreck and us for porpoises?"

　　And Pencroft laughed at his joke.

　　By the evening, according to calculation, it was thought that the"Bonadventure" had accomplished a distance of a hundred and twenty milessince her departure from Lincoln Island, that is to say in thirty-sixhours, which would give her a speed of between three and four knots anhour. The breeze was very slight and might soon drop altogether. However,it was hoped that the next morning by break of day, if the calculation hadbeen correct and the course true, they would sight Tabor Island.

　　Neither Gideon Spilett, Herbert, nor Pencroft slept that night. In theexpectation of the next day they could not but feel some emotion. There wasso much uncertainty in their enterprise! Were they near Tabor Island? Wasthe island still inhabited by the castaway to whose succor they had come?Who was this man? Would not his presence disturb the little colony tillthen so united? Besides, would he be content to exchange his prison foranother? All these questions, which would no doubt be answered the nextday, kept them in suspense, and at the dawn of day they all fixed theirgaze on the western horizon.

　　"Land!" shouted Pencroft at about six o'clock in the morning.

　　And it was impossible that Pencroft should be mistaken, it was evidentthat land was there. Imagine the joy of the little crew of the"Bonadventure." In a few hours they would land on the beach of the island!

　　The low coast of Tabor Island, scarcely emerging from the sea, was notmore than fifteen miles distant.

　　The head of the "Bonadventure," which was a little to the south of theisland, was set directly towards it, and as the sun mounted in the east,its rays fell upon one or two headlands.

　　"This is a much less important isle than Lincoln Island," observedHerbert, "and is probably due like ours to some submarine convulsion."

　　At eleven o'clock the "Bonadventure" was not more than two miles off, andPencroft, while looking for a suitable place at which to land, proceededvery cautiously through the unknown waters. The whole of the island couldnow be surveyed, and on it could be seen groups of gum and other largetrees, of the same species as those growing on Lincoln Island. But theastonishing thing was that no smoke arose to show that the island wasinhabited, no signal whatever appeared on the shore!

　　And yet the document was clear enough; there was a castaway, and thiscastaway should have been on the watch.

　　In the meanwhile the "Bonadventure" entered the winding channels amongthe reefs, and Pencroft observed every turn with extreme care. He had putHerbert at the helm, posting himself in the bows, inspecting the water,while he held the halliard in his hand, ready to lower the sail at amoment's notice. Gideon Spilett with his glass eagerly scanned the shore,though without perceiving anything.

　　However, at about twelve o'clock the keel of the "Bonadventure" grated onthe bottom. The anchor was let go, the sails furled, and the crew of thelittle vessel landed.

　　And there was no reason to doubt that this was Tabor Island, sinceaccording to the most recent charts there was no island in this part of thePacific between New Zealand and the American Coast.

　　The vessel was securely moored, so that there should be no danger of herbeing carried away by the receding tide; then Pencroft and his companions,well armed, ascended the shore, so as to gain an elevation of about twohundred and fifty or three hundred feet which rose at a distance of half amile.

　　"From the summit of that hill," said Spilett, "we can no doubt obtain acomplete view of the island, which will greatly facilitate our search."

　　"So as to do here," replied Herbert, "that which Captain Harding did thevery first thing on Lincoln Island, by climbing Mount Franklin."

　　"Exactly so," answered the reporter, "and it is the best plan."

　　While thus talking the explorers had advanced along a clearing whichterminated at the foot of the hill. Flocks of rock-pigeons and sea-swallows, similar to those of Lincoln Island, fluttered around them. Underthe woods which skirted the glade on the left they could hear the bushesrustling and see the grass waving, which indicated the presence of timidanimals, but still nothing to show that the island was inhabited.

　　Arrived at the foot of the hill, Pencroft, Spilett, and Herbert climbedit in a few minutes, and gazed anxiously round the horizon.

　　They were on an islet, which did not measure more than six miles incircumference, its shape not much bordered by capes or promontories, baysor creeks, being a lengthened oval. All around, the lonely sea extended tothe limits of the horizon. No land nor even a sail was in sight.

　　This woody islet did not offer the varied aspects of Lincoln Island, aridand wild in one part, but fertile and rich in the other. On the contrarythis was a uniform mass of verdure, out of which rose two or three hills ofno great height. Obliquely to the oval of the island ran a stream through awide meadow falling into the sea on the west by a narrow mouth.

　　"The domain is limited," said Herbert.

　　"Yes," rejoined Pencroft: "It would have been too small for us."

　　"And moreover,' said the reporter, "it appears to be uninhabited."

　　"Indeed," answered Herbert, "nothing here betrays the presence of man."

　　"Let us go down," said Pencroft, "and search."

　　The sailor and his two companions returned to the shore, to the placewhere they had left the "Bonadventure."

　　They had decided to make the tour of the island on foot, before exploringthe interior; so that not a spot should escape their investigations. Thebeach was easy to follow, and only in some places was their way barred bylarge rocks, which, however, they easily passed round. The explorersproceeded towards the south, disturbing numerous flocks of sea-birds andherds of seals, which threw themselves into the sea as soon as they saw thestrangers at a distance.

　　"Those beasts yonder," observed the reporter, "do not see men for thefirst time. They fear them, therefore they must know them."

　　An hour after their departure they arrived on the southern point of theislet, terminated by a sharp cape, and proceeded towards the north alongthe western coast, equally formed by sand and rocks, the backgroundbordered with thick woods.

　　There was not a trace of a habitation in any part, not the print of ahuman foot on the shore of the island, which after four hours' walking hadbeen gone completely round.

　　It was to say the least very extraordinary, and they were compelled tobelieve that Tabor Island was not or was no longer inhabited. Perhaps,after all the document was already several months or several years old, andit was possible in this case, either that the castaway had been enabled toreturn to his country, or that he had died of misery.

　　Pencroft, Spilett, and Herbert, forming more or less probable conjectures,dined rapidly on board the "Bonadventure" so as to be able to continuetheir excursion until nightfall. This was done at five o'clock in theevening, at which hour they entered the wood.

　　Numerous animals fled at their approach, being principally, one mightsay, only goats and pigs, which were obviously European species.

　　Doubtless some whaler had landed them on the island, where they hadrapidly increased. Herbert resolved to catch one or two living, and takethem back to Lincoln Island.

　　It was no longer doubtful that men at some period or other had visitedthis islet, and this became still more evident when paths appeared troddenthrough the forest, felled trees, and everywhere traces of the hand of man;but the trees were becoming rotten, and had been felled many years ago; themarks of the axe were velveted with moss, and the grass grew long and thickon the paths, so that it was difficult to find them.

　　"But," observed Gideon Spilett, "this not only proves that men havelanded on the island, but also that they lived on it for some time. Now,who were 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 impossiblebut that we shall find him."

　　The exploration was continued. The sailor and his companions naturallyfollowed the route which cut diagonally across the island, and they werethus obliged to follow the stream which flowed towards the sea.

　　If the animals of European origin, if works due to a human hand, showedincontestably that men had already visited the island, several specimens ofthe vegetable kingdom did not prove it less. In some places, in the midstof clearings, it was evident that the soil had been planted with culinaryplants, at probably the same distant period.

　　What, then, was Herbert's joy, when he recognized potatoes, chicory,sorrel, carrots, cabbages, and turnips, of which it was sufficient tocollect 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 beenuseless, and God will have rewarded us."

　　"Doubtless," replied Gideon Spilett, "but to see the state in which wefind these plantations, it is to be feared that the island has not beeninhabited for some time."

　　"Indeed," answered Herbert, "an inhabitant, whoever he was, could not haveneglected 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 floatedin the sea a long time."

　　"Why not?" returned Pencroft. "But night is coming on," added he, "and Ithink that it will be best to give up the search for the present."

　　"Let us go on board, and to-morrow we will begin again," said thereporter.

　　This was the wisest course, and it was about to be followed when Herbert,pointing to a confused mass among the trees, exclaimed,--

　　"A hut!"

　　All three immediately ran towards the dwelling. In the twilight it wasjust possible to see that it was built of planks and covered with a thicktarpaulin.

　　The half-closed door was pushed open by Pencroft, who entered with arapid step.

　　The hut was empty!