Part 3 - The Secret of the Island: Chapter 9

by Jules Verne

　　The convalescence of the young invalid was regularly progressing. One thingonly was now to be desired, that his state would allow him to be brought toGranite House. However well built and supplied the corral house was, itcould not be so comfortable as the healthy granite dwelling. Besides, itdid not offer the same security, and its tenants, notwithstanding theirwatchfulness, were here always in fear of some shot from the convicts.There, on the contrary, in the middle of that impregnable and inaccessiblecliff, they would have nothing to fear, and any attack on their personswould certainly fail. They therefore waited impatiently for the moment whenHerbert might be moved without danger from his wound, and they weredetermined to make this move, although the communication through JacamarWood was very difficult.

　　They had no news from Neb, but were not uneasy on that account. Thecourageous Negro, well entrenched in the depths of Granite House, would notallow himself to be surprised. Top had not been sent again to him, as itappeared useless to expose the faithful dog to some shot which mightdeprive the settlers of their most useful auxiliary.

　　They waited, therefore, although they were anxious to be reunited atGranite House. It pained the engineer to see his forces divided, for itgave great advantage to the pirates. Since Ayrton's disappearance they wereonly four against five, for Herbert could not yet be counted, and this wasnot the least care of the brave boy, who well understood the trouble ofwhich he was the cause.

　　The question of knowing how, in their condition, they were to act againstthe pirates, was thoroughly discussed on the 29th of November by CyrusHarding, Gideon Spilett, and Pencroft, at a moment when Herbert was asleepand could not hear them.

　　"My friends," said the reporter, after they had talked of Neb and of theimpossibility of communicating with him, "I think, --like you, that toventure on the road to the corral would be to risk receiving a gunshotwithout being able to return it. But do you not think that the best thingto be done now is to openly give chase to these wretches?"

　　"That is just what I was thinking," answered Pencroft. "I believe we'renot fellows to be afraid of a bullet, and as for me, if Captain Hardingapproves, I'm ready to dash into the forest! Why, hang it, one man is equalto another!"

　　"But is he equal to five?" asked the engineer.

　　"I will join Pencroft," said the reporter, "and both of us, well-armedand accompanied by Top--"

　　"My dear Spilett, and you, Pencroft," answered Harding, "let us reasoncoolly. If the convicts were hid in one spot of the island, if we knew thatspot, and had only to dislodge them, I would undertake a direct attack; butis there not occasion to fear, on the contrary, that they are sure to firethe first shot?"

　　"Well, captain," cried Pencroft, "a bullet does not always reach itsmark."

　　"That which struck Herbert did not miss, Pencroft," replied the engineer."Besides, observe that if both of you left the corral I should remain herealone to defend it. Do you imagine that the convicts will not see you leaveit, that they will not allow you to enter the forest, and that they willnot attack it during your absence, knowing that there is no one here but awounded boy and a man?"

　　"You are right, captain," replied Pencroft, his chest swelling withsullen anger. "You are right; they will do all they can to retake thecorral, which they know to be well stored; and alone you could not hold itagainst them."

　　"Oh, if we were only at Granite House!"

　　"If we were at Granite House," answered the engineer, "the case would bevery different. There I should not be afraid to leave Herbert with one,while the other three went to search the forests of the island. But we areat the corral, and it is best to stay here until we can leave it together."

　　Cyrus Harding's reasoning was unanswerable, and his companions understoodit well.

　　"If only Ayrton was still one of us!" said Gideon Spilett. "Poor fellow!his return to social life will have been but of short duration."

　　"If he is dead," added Pencroft, in a peculiar tone.

　　"Do you hope, then, Pencroft, that the villains have spared him?" askedGideon Spilett.

　　"Yes, if they had any interest in doing so."

　　"What! you suppose that Ayrton finding his old companions, forgettingall that he owes us--"

　　"Who knows?" answered the sailor, who did not hazard this shamefulsupposition without hesitating.

　　"Pencroft," said Harding, taking the sailor's arm, "that is a wicked ideaof yours, and you will distress me much if you persist in speaking thus. Iwill answer for Ayrton's fidelity."

　　"And I also," added the reporter quickly.

　　"Yes, yes, captain, I was wrong," replied Pencroft; "it was a wicked ideaindeed that I had, and nothing justifies it. But what can I do? I'm not inmy senses. This imprisonment in the corral wearies me horribly, and I havenever felt so excited as I do now.

　　"Be patient, Pencroft," replied the engineer. "How long will it be, mydear Spilett, before you think Herbert may be carried to Granite House?"

　　"That is difficult to say, Cyrus," answered the reporter, "for anyimprudence might involve terrible consequences. But his convalescence isprogressing, and if he continues to gain strength, in eight days from now--well, we shall see."

　　Eight days! That would put off the return to Granite House until thefirst days of December. At this time two months of spring had alreadypassed. The weather was fine, and the heat began to be great. The forestsof the island were in full leaf, and the time was approaching when theusual crops ought to be gathered. The return to the plateau of ProspectHeights would, therefore, be followed by extensive agricultural labors,interrupted only by the projected expedition through the island.

　　It can, therefore, be well understood how injurious this seclusion in thecorral must have been to the colonists.

　　But if they were compelled to bow before necessity, they did not do sowithout impatience.

　　Once or twice the reporter ventured out into the road and made the tourof the palisade. Top accompanied him, and Gideon Spilett, his gun cocked,was ready for any emergency.

　　He met with no misadventure and found no suspicious traces. His dog wouldhave warned him of any danger, and, as Top did not bark, it might beconcluded that there was nothing to fear at the moment at least, and thatthe convicts were occupied in another part of the island.

　　However, on his second sortie, on the 27th of November, Gideon Spilett,who had ventured a quarter of a mile into the woods, towards the south ofthe mountain, remarked that Top scented something. The dog had no longerhis unconcerned manner; he went backwards and forwards, ferreting amongthe grass and bushes as if his smell had revealed some suspicious object tohim.

　　Gideon Spilett followed Top, encouraged him, excited him by his voice,while keeping a sharp look-out, his gun ready to fire, and shelteringhimself behind the trees. It was not probable that Top scented the presenceof man, for in that case, he would have announced it by half-uttered,sullen, angry barks. Now, as he did not growl, it was because danger wasneither near nor approaching.

　　Nearly five minutes passed thus, Top rummaging, the reporter followinghim prudently when, all at once, the dog rushed towards a thick bush, anddrew out a rag.

　　It was a piece of cloth, stained and torn, which Spilett immediatelybrought back to the corral. There it was examined by the colonists, whofound that it was a fragment of Ayrton's waistcoat, a piece of that felt,manufactured solely by the Granite House factory.

　　"You see, Pencroft," observed Harding, "there has been resistance on thepart of the unfortunate Ayrton. The convicts have dragged him away in spiteof himself! Do you still doubt his honesty?"

　　"No, captain," answered the sailor, "and I repented of my suspicion along time ago! But it seems to me that something may be learned from theincident."

　　"What is that?" asked the reporter.

　　"It is that Ayrton was not killed at the corral! That they dragged himaway living, since he has resisted. Therefore, perhaps, he is stillliving!"

　　"Perhaps, indeed," replied the engineer, who remained thoughtful.

　　This was a hope, to which Ayrton's companions could still hold. Indeed,they had before believed that, surprised in the corral, Ayrton had fallenby a bullet, as Herbert had fallen. But if the convicts had not killed himat first, if they had brought him living to another part of the island,might it not be admitted that he was still their prisoner? Perhaps, even,one of them had found in Ayrton his old Australian companion Ben Joyce, thechief of the escaped convicts. And who knows but that they had conceivedthe impossible hope of bringing back Ayrton to themselves? He would havebeen very useful to them, if they had been able to make him turn traitor!

　　This incident was, therefore, favorably interpreted at the corral, and itno longer appeared impossible that they should find Ayrton again. On hisside, if he was only a prisoner, Ayrton would no doubt do all he could toescape from the hands of the villains, and this would be a powerful aid tothe settlers!

　　"At any rate," observed Gideon Spilett, "if happily Ayrton did manage toescape, he would go directly to Granite House, for he could not know of theattempted assassination of which Herbert has been a victim, andconsequently would never think of our being imprisoned in the corral."

　　"Oh! I wish that he was there, at Granite House!" cried Pencroft, "andthat we were there, too! For, although the rascals can do nothing to ourhouse, they may plunder the plateau, our plantations, our poultry-yard!"

　　Pencroft had become a thorough farmer, heartily attached to his crops.But it must be said that Herbert was more anxious than any to return toGranite House, for he knew how much the presence of the settlers was neededthere. And it was he who was keeping them at the corral! Therefore, oneidea occupied his mind--to leave the corral, and when! He believed he couldbear removal to Granite House. He was sure his strength would return morequickly in his room, with the air and sight of the sea!

　　Several times he pressed Gideon Spilett, but the latter, fearing, withgood reason, that Herbert's wounds, half healed, might reopen on the way,did not give the order to start.

　　However, something occurred which compelled Cyrus Harding and his twofriends to yield to the lad's wish, and God alone knew that thisdetermination might cause them grief and remorse.

　　It was the 29th of November, seven o'clock in the evening. The threesettlers were talking in Herbert's room, when they heard Top utter quickbarks.

　　Harding, Pencroft, and Spilett seized their guns and ran out of thehouse. Top, at the foot of the palisade, was jumping, barking, but it waswith pleasure, not anger.

　　"Some one is coming."

　　"Yes."

　　"It is not an enemy!"

　　"Neb, perhaps?"

　　"Or Ayrton?"

　　These words had hardly been exchanged between the engineer and his twocompanions when a body leaped over the palisade and fell on the groundinside the corral.

　　It was Jup, Master Jup in person, to whom Top immediately gave a mostcordial reception.

　　"Jup!" exclaimed Pencroft.

　　"Neb has sent him to us," said the reporter.

　　"Then," replied the engineer, "he must have some note on him."

　　Pencroft rushed up to the orang. Certainly if Neb had any importantmatter to communicate to his master he could not employ a more sure or morerapid messenger, who could pass where neither the colonists could, nor evenTop himself.

　　Cyrus Harding was not mistaken. At Jup's neck hung a small bag, and inthis bag was found a little note traced by Neb's hand.

　　The despair of Harding and his companions may be imagined when they readthese words:--

　　"Friday, six o'clock in the morning.

　　"Plateau invaded by convicts.

　　"Neb."

　　They gazed at each other without uttering a word, then they re-enteredthe house. what were they to do? The convicts on Prospect Heights! that wasdisaster, devastation, ruin.

　　Herbert, on seeing the engineer, the reporter, and Pencroft re-enter,guessed that their situation was aggravated, and when he saw Jup, he nolonger doubted that some misfortune menaced Granite House.

　　"Captain Harding," said he, "I must go; I can bear the journey. I mustgo."

　　Gideon Spilett approached Herbert; then, having looked at him,--

　　"Let us go, then!" said he.

　　The question was quickly decided whether Herbert should be carried on alitter or in the cart which had brought Ayrton to the corral. The motion ofthe litter would have been more easy for the wounded lad, but it would havenecessitated two bearers, that is to say, there would have been two gunsless for defense if an attack was made on the road. Would they not, on thecontrary, by employing the cart leave every arm free? Was it impossible toplace the mattress on which Herbert was lying in it, and to advance with somuch care that any jolt should be avoided? It could be done.

　　The cart was brought. Pencroft harnessed the onager. Cyrus Harding andthe reporter raised Herbert's mattress and placed it on the bottom of thecart. The weather was fine. The sun's bright rays glanced through thetrees.

　　"Are the guns ready?" asked Cyrus Harding.

　　They were. The engineer and Pencroft, each armed with a double-barreledgun, and Gideon Spilett carrying his rifle, had nothing to do but start.

　　"Are you comfortable, Herbert?" asked the engineer.

　　"Ah, captain," replied the lad, "don't be uneasy, I shall not die on theroad!"

　　While speaking thus, it could be seen that the poor boy had called up allhis energy, and by the energy of a powerful will had collected his failingstrength.

　　The engineer felt his heart sink painfully. He still hesitated togive the signal for departure; but that would have driven Herbertto despair--killed him perhaps.

　　"Forward!" said Harding.

　　The gate of the corral was opened. Jup and Top, who knew when to besilent, ran in advance. The cart came out, the gate was reclosed, and theonager, led by Pencroft, advanced at a slow pace.

　　Certainly, it would have been safer to have taken a different road thanthat which led straight from the corral to Granite House, but the cartwould have met with great difficulties in moving under the trees. It wasnecessary, therefore, to follow this way, although it was well known to theconvicts.

　　Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett walked one on each side of the cart,ready to answer to any attack. However, it was not probable that theconvicts would have yet left the plateau of Prospect Heights.

　　Neb's note had evidently been written and sent as soon as the convictshad shown themselves there. Now, this note was dated six o'clock in themorning, and the active orang, accustomed to come frequently to the corral,had taken scarcely three quarters of an hour to cross the five miles whichseparated it from Granite House. They would, therefore, be safe at thattime, and if there was any occasion for firing, it would probably not beuntil they were in the neighborhood of Granite House. However, thecolonists kept a strict watch. Top and Jup, the latter armed with his club,sometimes in front, sometimes beating the wood at the sides of the road,signalized no danger.

　　The cart advanced slowly under Pencroft's guidance. It had left thecorral at half-past seven. An hour after, four out of the five miles hadbeen cleared, without any incident having occurred. The road was asdeserted as all that part of the Jacamar Wood which lay between the Mercyand the lake. There was no occasion for any warning. The wood appeared asdeserted as on the day when the colonists first landed on the island.

　　They approached the plateau. Another mile and they would see the bridgeover Creek Glycerine. Cyrus Harding expected to find it in its place;supposing that the convicts would have crossed it, and that, after havingpassed one of the streams which enclosed the plateau, they would have takenthe precaution to lower it again, so as to keep open a retreat.

　　At length an opening in the trees allowed the sea-horizon to be seen. Butthe cart continued its progress, for not one of its defenders thought ofabandoning it.

　　At that moment Pencroft stopped the onager, and in a hoarse voice,--

　　"Oh! the villains!" he exclaimed.

　　And he pointed to a thick smoke rising from the mill, the sheds, and thebuildings at the poultry-yard.

　　A man was moving about in the midst of the smoke. It was Neb.

　　His companions uttered a shout. He heard, and ran to meet them.

　　The convicts had left the plateau nearly half-an-hour before, havingdevastated it!

　　"And Mr. Herbert?" asked Neb.

　　Gideon Spilett returned to the cart.

　　Herbert had lost consciousness!