Part 2 - Abandoned: Chapter 7

by Jules Verne

　　The settlers in Lincoln Island had now regained their dwelling, withouthaving been obliged to reach it by the old opening, and were thereforespared the trouble of mason's work. It was certainly lucky, that at themoment they were about to set out to do so, the apes had been seized withthat terror, no less sudden than inexplicable, which had driven them out ofGranite House. Had the animals discovered that they were about to beattacked from another direction? This was the only explanation of theirsudden retreat.

　　During the day the bodies of the apes were carried into the wood, wherethey were buried; then the settlers busied themselves in repairing thedisorder caused by the intruders, disorder but not damage, for althoughthey had turned everything in the rooms topsy-turvy, yet they had brokennothing. Neb relighted his stove, and the stores in the larder furnished asubstantial repast, to which all did ample justice.

　　Jup was not forgotten, and he ate with relish some stonepine almonds andrhizome roots, with which he was abundantly supplied. Pencroft hadunfastened his arms, but judged it best to have his legs tied until theywere more sure of his submission.

　　Then, before retiring to rest, Harding and his companions seated roundtheir table, discussed those plans, the execution of which was mostpressing. The most important and most urgent was the establishment of abridge over the Mercy, so as to form a communication with the southern partof the island and Granite House; then the making of an enclosure for themusmons or other woolly animals which they wished to capture.

　　These two projects would help to solve the difficulty as to theirclothing, which was now serious. The bridge would render easy the transportof the balloon case, which would furnish them with linen, and theinhabitants of the enclosure would yield wool which would supply them withwinter clothes.

　　As to the enclosure, it was Cyrus Harding's intention to establish it atthe sources of the Red Creek, where the ruminants would find fresh andabundant pasture. The road between Prospect Heights and the sources of thestream was already partly beaten, and with a better cart than the first,the material could be easily conveyed to the spot, especially if they couldmanage to capture some animals to draw it.

　　But though there might be no inconvenience in the enclosure being so farfrom Granite House, it would not be the same with the poultry-yard, towhich Neb called the attention of the colonists. It was indeed necessarythat the birds should be close within reach of the cook, and no placeappeared more favorable for the establishment of the said poultry-yard thanthat portion of the banks of the lake which was close to the old opening.

　　Water-birds would prosper there as well as others, and the couple oftinamous taken in their last excursion would be the first to bedomesticated.

　　The next day, the 3rd of November, the new works were begun by theconstruction of the bridge, and all hands were required for this importanttask. Saws, hatchets, and hammers were shouldered by the settlers, who, nowtransformed into carpenters, descended to the shore.

　　There Pencroft observed,--

　　"Suppose, that during our absence, Master Jup takes it into his head todraw up the ladder which he so politely returned to us yesterday?"

　　"Let us tie its lower end down firmly," replied Cyrus Harding.

　　This was done by means of two stakes securely fixed in the sand. Then thesettlers, ascending the left bank of the Mercy, soon arrived at the angleformed by the river.

　　There they halted, in order to ascertain if the bridge could be thrownacross. The place appeared suitable.

　　In fact, from this spot, to Port Balloon, discovered the day before onthe southern coast, there was only a distance of three miles and a half,and from the bridge to the Port, it would be easy to make a good cart-roadwhich would render the communication between Granite House and the south ofthe island extremely easy.

　　Cyrus Harding now imparted to his companions a scheme for completelyisolating Prospect Heights so as to shelter it from the attacks both ofquadrupeds and quadrumana. In this way, Granite House, the Chimneys, thepoultry-yard, and all the upper part of the plateau which was to be usedfor cultivation, would be protected against the depredations of animals.Nothing could be easier than to execute this project, and this is how theengineer intended to set to work.

　　The plateau was already defended on three sides by water-courses, eitherartificial or natural. On the northwest, by the shores of Lake Grant, fromthe entrance of the passage to the breach made in the banks of the lake forthe escape of the water.

　　On the north, from this breach to the sea, by the new water-course whichhad hollowed out a bed for itself across the plateau and shore, above andbelow the fall, and it would be enough to dig the bed of this creek alittle deeper to make it impracticable for animals, on all the easternborder by the sea itself, from the mouth of the aforesaid creek to themouth of the Mercy.

　　Lastly, on the south, from the mouth to the turn of the Mercy where thebridge was to be established.

　　The western border of the plateau now remained between the turn of theriver and the southern angle of the lake, a distance of about a mile, whichwas open to all comers. But nothing could be easier than to dig a broaddeep ditch, which could be filled from the lake, and the overflow of whichwould throw itself by a rapid fall into the bed of the Mercy. The level ofthe lake would, no doubt, be somewhat lowered by this fresh discharge ofits waters, but Cyrus Harding had ascertained that the volume of water inthe Red Creek was considerable enough to allow of the execution of thisproject.

　　"So then," added the engineer, "Prospect Heights will become a regularisland, being surrounded with water on all sides, and only communicatingwith the rest of our domain by the bridge which we are about to throwacross the Mercy, the two little bridges already established above andbelow the fall; and, lastly, two other little bridges which must beconstructed, one over the canal which I propose to dig, the other across tothe left bank of the Mercy. Now, if these bridges can be raised at will,Prospect Heights will be guarded from any surprise."

　　The bridge was the most urgent work. Trees were selected, cut down,stripped of their branches, and cut into beams, joists, and planks. The endof the bridge which rested on the right bank of the Mercy was to be firm,but the other end on the left bank was to be movable, so that it might beraised by means of a counterpoise, as some canal bridges are managed.

　　This was certainly a considerable work, and though it was skillfullyconducted, it took some time, for the Mercy at this place was eighty feetwide. It was therefore necessary to fix piles in the bed of the river so asto sustain the floor of the bridge and establish a pile-driver to act onthe tops of these piles, which would thus form two arches and allow thebridge to support heavy loads.

　　Happily there was no want of tools with which to shape the wood, nor ofiron-work to make it firm, nor of the ingenuity of a man who had amarvelous knowledge of the work, nor lastly, the zeal of his companions,who in seven months had necessarily acquired great skill in the use oftheir tools; and it must be said that not the least skilful was GideonSpilett, who in dexterity almost equaled the sailor himself. "Who wouldever have expected so much from a newspaper man!" thought Pencroft.

　　The construction of the Mercy bridge lasted three weeks of regular hardwork. They even breakfasted on the scene of their labors, and the weatherbeing magnificent, they only returned to Granite House to sleep.

　　During this period it may be stated that Master Jup grew more accustomedto his new masters, whose movements he always watched with very inquisitiveeyes. However, as a precautionary measure, Pencroft did not as yet allowhim complete liberty, rightly wishing to wait until the limits of theplateau should be settled by the projected works. Top and Jup were goodfriends and played willingly together, but Jup did everything solemnly.

　　On the 20th of November the bridge was finished. The movable part,balanced by the counterpoise, swung easily, and only a slight effort wasneeded to rise it; between its hinge and the last cross-bar on which itrested when closed, there existed a space of twenty feet, which wassufficiently wide to prevent any animals from crossing.

　　The settlers now began to talk of fetching the balloon-case, which theywere anxious to place in perfect security; but to bring it, it would benecessary to take a cart to Port Balloon, and consequently, necessary tobeat a road through the dense forests of the Far West. This would take sometime. Also, Neb and Pencroft having gone to examine into the state ofthings at Port Balloon, and reported that the stock of cloth would sufferno damage in the grotto where it was stored, it was decided that the workat Prospect Heights should not be discontinued.

　　"That," observed Pencroft, "will enable us to establish our poultry-yardunder better conditions, since we need have no fear of visits from foxesnor the attacks of other beasts."

　　"Then," added Neb, "we can clear the plateau, and transplant wild plantsto it."

　　"And prepare our second corn-field!" cried the sailor with a triumphantair.

　　In fact, the first corn-field sown with a single grain had prosperedadmirably, thanks to Pencroft's care. It had produced the ten ears foretoldby the engineer, and each ear containing eighty grains, the colony founditself in possession of eight hundred grains, in six months, which promiseda double harvest each year.

　　These eight hundred grains, except fifty, which were prudently reserved,were to be sown in a new field, but with no less care than was bestowed onthe single grain.

　　The field was prepared, then surrounded with a strong palisade, high andpointed, which quadrupeds would have found difficulty in leaping. As tobirds, some scarecrows, due to Pencroft's ingenious brain, were enough tofrighten them. The seven hundred and fifty grains deposited in very regularfurrows were then left for nature to do the rest.

　　On the 21st of November, Cyrus Harding began to plan the canal which wasto close the plateau on the west, from the south angle of Lake Grant to theangle of the Mercy. There was there two or three feet of vegetable earth,and below that granite. It was therefore necessary to manufacture some morenitro-glycerine, and the nitro-glycerine did its accustomed work. In lessthan a fortnight a ditch, twelve feet wide and six deep, was dug out in thehard ground of the plateau. A new trench was made by the same means in therocky border of the lake, forming a small stream, to which they gave thename of Creek Glycerine, and which was thus an affluent of the Mercy. Asthe engineer had predicted, the level of the lake was lowered, though veryslightly. To complete the enclosure the bed of the stream on the beach wasconsiderably enlarged, and the sand supported by means of stakes.

　　By the end of the first fortnight of December these works were finished,and Prospect Heights--that is to say, a sort of irregular pentagon, havinga perimeter of nearly four miles, surrounded by a liquid belt--wascompletely protected from depredators of every description.

　　During the month of December, the heat was very great. In spite of it,however, the settlers continued their work, and as they were anxious topossess a poultry-yard they forthwith commenced it.

　　It is useless to say that since the enclosing of the plateau had beencompleted, Master Jup had been set at liberty. He did not leave hismasters, and evinced no wish to escape. He was a gentle animal, though verypowerful and wonderfully active. He was already taught to make himselfuseful by drawing loads of wood and carting away the stones which wereextracted from the bed of Creek Glycerine.

　　The poultry-yard occupied an area of two hundred square yards, on thesoutheastern bank of the lake. It was surrounded by a palisade, and in itwere constructed various shelters for the birds which were to populate it.These were simply built of branches and divided into compartments, madeready for the expected guests.

　　The first were the two tinamous, which were not long in having a numberof young ones; they had for companions half a dozen ducks, accustomed tothe borders of the lake. Some belonged to the Chinese species, of which thewings open like a fan, and which by the brilliancy of their plumage rivalthe golden pheasants. A few days afterwards, Herbert snared a couple ofgallinaceae, with spreading tails composed of long feathers, magnificentalectors, which soon became tame. As to pelicans, kingfishers, water-hens,they came of themselves to the shores of the poultry-yard, and this littlecommunity, after some disputes, cooing, screaming, clucking, ended bysettling down peacefully, and increased in encouraging proportion for thefuture use of the colony.

　　Cyrus Harding, wishing to complete his performance, established a pigeon-house in a corner of the poultry-yard. There he lodged a dozen of thosepigeons which frequented the rocks of the plateau. These birds soon becameaccustomed to returning every evening to their new dwelling, and showedmore disposition to domesticate themselves than their congeners, the wood-pigeons.

　　Lastly, the time had come for turning the balloon-case to use, by cuttingit up to make shirts and other articles; for as to keeping it in itspresent form, and risking themselves in a balloon filled with gas, above asea of the limits of which they had no idea, it was not to be thought of.

　　It was necessary to bring the case to Granite House, and the colonistsemployed themselves in rendering their heavy cart lighter and moremanageable. But though they had a vehicle, the moving power was yet to befound.

　　But did there not exist in the island some animal which might supply theplace of the horse, ass, or ox? That was the question.

　　"Certainly," said Pencroft, "a beast of burden would be very useful to usuntil the captain has made a steam cart, or even an engine, for some day weshall have a railroad from Granite House to Port Balloon, with a branchline to Mount Franklin!"

　　One day, the 23rd of December, Neb and Top were heard shouting andbarking, each apparently trying to see who could make the most noise. Thesettlers, who were busy at the Chimneys, ran, fearing some vexatiousincident.

　　What did they see? Two fine animals of a large size that had imprudentlyventured on the plateau, when the bridges were open. One would have saidthey were horses, or at least donkeys, male and female, of a fine shape,dove-colored, the legs and tail white, striped with black on the head andneck. They advanced quietly without showing any uneasiness, and gazed atthe men, in whom they could not as yet recognize their future masters.

　　"These are onagers!" cried Herbert, "animals something between the zebraand the quagga!"

　　"Why not donkeys?" asked Neb.

　　"Because they have not long ears, and their shape is more graceful!"

　　"Donkeys or horses," interrupted Pencroft, "they are 'moving powers,' asthe captain would say, and as such must be captured!"

　　The sailor, without frightening the animals, crept through the grass tothe bridge over Creek Glycerine, lowered it, and the onagers wereprisoners.

　　Now, should they seize them with violence and master them by force? No.It was decided that for a few days they should be allowed to roam freelyabout the plateau, where there was an abundance of grass, and the engineerimmediately began to prepare a stable near the poultry-yard, in which theonagers might find food, with a good litter, and shelter during the night.

　　This done, the movements of the two magnificent creatures were leftentirely free, and the settlers avoided even approaching them so as toterrify them. Several times, however, the onagers appeared to wish to leavethe plateau, too confined for animals accustomed to the plains and forests.They were then seen following the water-barrier which everywhere presenteditself before them, uttering short neighs, then galloping through thegrass, and becoming calmer, they would remain entire hours gazing at thewoods, from which they were cut off for ever!

　　In the meantime harness of vegetable fiber had been manufactured, andsome days after the capture of the onagers, not only the cart was ready,but a straight road, or rather a cutting, had been made through the forestsof the Far West, from the angle of the Mercy to Port Balloon. The cartmight then be driven there, and towards the end of December they tried theonagers for the first time.

　　Pencroft had already coaxed the animals to come and eat out of his hand,and they allowed him to approach without making any difficulty, but onceharnessed they reared and could with difficulty be held in. However, it wasnot long before they submitted to this new service, for the onager, beingless refractory than the zebra, is frequently put in harness in themountainous regions of Southern Africa, and it has even been acclimatizedin Europe, under zones of a relative coolness.

　　On this day all the colony, except Pencroft who walked at the animals'heads, mounted the cart, and set out on the road to Port Balloon.

　　Of course they were jolted over the somewhat rough road, but the vehiclearrived without any accident, and was soon loaded with the case and riggingof the balloon.

　　At eight o'clock that evening the cart, after passing over the Mercybridge, descended the left bank of the river, and stopped on the beach. Theonagers being unharnessed, were thence led to their stable, and Pencroftbefore going to sleep gave vent to his feelings in a deep sigh ofsatisfaction that awoke all the echoes of Granite House.