Chapter 6
The inventory of the articles possessed by these castaways from theclouds, thrown upon a coast which appeared to be uninhabited, was soonmade out. They had nothing, save the clothes which they were wearing atthe time of the catastrophe. We must mention, however, a note-book anda watch which Gideon Spilett had kept, doubtless by inadvertence, not aweapon, not a tool, not even a pocket-knife; for while in the car theyhad thrown out everything to lighten the balloon. The imaginary heroesof Daniel Defoe or of Wyss, as well as Selkirk and Raynal shipwreckedon Juan Fernandez and on the archipelago of the Aucklands, were never insuch absolute destitution. Either they had abundant resources from theirstranded vessels, in grain, cattle, tools, ammunition, or else somethings were thrown up on the coast which supplied them with all thefirst necessities of life. But here, not any instrument whatever, not autensil. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything.
And yet, if Cyrus Harding had been with them, if the engineer couldhave brought his practical science, his inventive mind to bear on theirsituation, perhaps all hope would not have been lost. Alas! they musthope no longer again to see Cyrus Harding. The castaways could expectnothing but from themselves and from that Providence which neverabandons those whose faith is sincere.
But ought they to establish themselves on this part of the coast,without trying to know to what continent it belonged, if it wasinhabited, or if they were on the shore of a desert island?
It was an important question, and should be solved with the shortestpossible delay. From its answer they would know what measures to take.However, according to Pencroft's advice, it appeared best to wait a fewdays before commencing an exploration. They must, in fact, prepare someprovisions and procure more strengthening food than eggs and molluscs.The explorers, before undertaking new fatigues, must first of allrecruit their strength.
The Chimneys offered a retreat sufficient for the present. The fire waslighted, and it was easy to preserve some embers. There were plenty ofshell-fish and eggs among the rocks and on the beach. It would be easyto kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about thesummit of the plateau, either with sticks or stones. Perhaps the treesof the neighboring forest would supply them with eatable fruit. Lastly,the sweet water was there.
It was accordingly settled that for a few days they would remain at theChimneys so as to prepare themselves for an expedition, either alongthe shore or into the interior of the country. This plan suited Nebparticularly. As obstinate in his ideas as in his presentiments, hewas in no haste to abandon this part of the coast, the scene of thecatastrophe. He did not, he would not believe in the loss of CyrusHarding. No, it did not seem to him possible that such a man had endedin this vulgar fashion, carried away by a wave, drowned in the floods, afew hundred feet from a shore. As long as the waves had not cast up thebody of the engineer, as long as he, Neb, had not seen with his eyes,touched with his hands the corpse of his master, he would not believein his death! And this idea rooted itself deeper than ever in hisdetermined heart. An illusion perhaps, but still an illusion to berespected, and one which the sailor did not wish to destroy. As for him,he hoped no longer, but there was no use in arguing with Neb. He waslike the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried,and his grief was such that most probably he would not survive him.
This same morning, the 26th of March, at daybreak, Neb had set out onthe shore in a northerly direction, and he had returned to the spotwhere the sea, no doubt, had closed over the unfortunate Harding.
That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs andlithodomes. Herbert had found some salt deposited by evaporation in thehollows of the rocks, and this mineral was very welcome.
The repast ended, Pencroft asked the reporter if he wished to accompanyHerbert and himself to the forest, where they were going to try tohunt. But on consideration, it was thought necessary that someone shouldremain to keep in the fire, and to be at hand in the highly improbableevent of Neb requiring aid. The reporter accordingly remained behind.
"To the chase, Herbert," said the sailor. "We shall find ammunitionon our way, and cut our weapons in the forest." But at the moment ofstarting, Herbert observed, that since they had no tinder, it wouldperhaps be prudent to replace it by another substance.
"What?" asked Pencroft.
"Burnt linen," replied the boy. "That could in case of need serve fortinder."
The sailor thought it very sensible advice. Only it had theinconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief.Notwithstanding, the thing was well worth while trying, and a part ofPencroft's large checked handkerchief was soon reduced to the state ofa half-burnt rag. This inflammable material was placed in the centralchamber at the bottom of a little cavity in the rock, sheltered from allwind and damp.
It was nine o'clock in the morning. The weather was threatening and thebreeze blew from the southeast. Herbert and Pencroft turned the angle ofthe Chimneys, not without having cast a look at the smoke which, just atthat place, curled round a point of rock: they ascended the left bank ofthe river.
Arrived at the forest, Pencroft broke from the first tree two stoutbranches which he transformed into clubs, the ends of which Herbertrubbed smooth on a rock. Oh! what would they not have given for a knife!
The two hunters now advanced among the long grass, following the bank.From the turning which directed its course to the southwest, the rivernarrowed gradually and the channel lay between high banks, overwhich the trees formed a double arch. Pencroft, lest they should losethemselves, resolved to follow the course of the stream, which wouldalways lead them back to the point from which they started. But the bankwas not without some obstacles: here, the flexible branches of the treesbent level with the current; there, creepers and thorns which they hadto break down with their sticks. Herbert often glided among thebroken stumps with the agility of a young cat, and disappeared in theunderwood. But Pencroft called him back directly, begging him not towander away. Meanwhile, the sailor attentively observed the dispositionand nature of the surrounding country. On the left bank, the ground,which was flat and marshy, rose imperceptibly towards the interior. Itlooked there like a network of liquid threads which doubtless reachedthe river by some underground drain. Sometimes a stream ran through theunderwood, which they crossed without difficulty. The opposite shoreappeared to be more uneven, and the valley of which the river occupiedthe bottom was more clearly visible. The hill, covered with treesdisposed in terraces, intercepted the view. On the right bank walkingwould have been difficult, for the declivities fell suddenly, and thetrees bending over the water were only sustained by the strength oftheir roots.
It is needless to add that this forest, as well as the coast alreadysurveyed, was destitute of any sign of human life. Pencroft only sawtraces of quadrupeds, fresh footprints of animals, of which he could notrecognize the species. In all probability, and such was also Herbert'sopinion, some had been left by formidable wild beasts which doubtlesswould give them some trouble; but nowhere did they observe the mark ofan axe on the trees, nor the ashes of a fire, nor the impression of ahuman foot. On this they might probably congratulate themselves, for onany land in the middle of the Pacific the presence of man was perhapsmore to be feared than desired. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little,for the difficulties of the way were great, advanced very slowly, andafter walking for an hour they had scarcely gone more than a mile.As yet the hunt had not been successful. However, some birds sangand fluttered in the foliage, and appeared very timid, as if man hadinspired them with an instinctive fear. Among others, Herbert described,in a marshy part of the forest, a bird with a long pointed beak, closelyresembling the king-fisher, but its plumage was not fine, though of ametallic brilliancy.
"That must be a jacamar," said Herbert, trying to get nearer.
"This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar," replied the sailor,"if that fellow is in a humor to be roasted!"
Just then, a stone cleverly thrown by the boy, struck the creature o
nthe wing, but the blow did not disable it, and the jacamar ran off anddisappeared in an instant.
"How clumsy I am!" cried Herbert.
"No, no, my boy!" replied the sailor. "The blow was well aimed; many aone would have missed it altogether! Come, don't be vexed with yourself.We shall catch it another day!"
As the hunters advanced, the trees were found to be more scattered, manybeing magnificent, but none bore eatable fruit. Pencroft searched invain for some of those precious palm-trees which are employed in so manyways in domestic life, and which have been found as far as the fortiethparallel in the Northern Hemisphere, and to the thirty-fifth only inthe Southern Hemisphere. But this forest was only composed of coniferae,such as deodaras, already recognized by Herbert, and Douglas pine,similar to those which grow on the northwest coast of America, andsplendid firs, measuring a hundred and fifty feet in height.
At this moment a flock of birds, of a small size and pretty plumage,with long glancing tails, dispersed themselves among the branchesstrewing their feathers, which covered the ground as with fine down.Herbert picked up a few of these feathers, and after having examinedthem,--
"These are couroucous," said he.
"I should prefer a moor-cock or guinea-fowl," replied Pencroft, "still,if they are good to eat--"
"They are good to eat, and also their flesh is very delicate," repliedHerbert. "Besides, if I don't mistake, it is easy to approach and killthem with a stick."
The sailor and the lad, creeping among the grass, arrived at the footof a tree, whose lower branches were covered with little birds. Thecouroucous were waiting the passage of insects which served for theirnourishment. Their feathery feet could be seen clasping the slendertwigs which supported them.
The hunters then rose, and using their sticks like scythes, they moweddown whole rows of these couroucous, who never thought of flying away,and stupidly allowed themselves to be knocked off. A hundred werealready heaped on the ground, before the others made up their minds tofly.
"Well," said Pencroft, "here is game, which is quite within the reach ofhunters like us. We have only to put out our hands and take it!"
The sailor having strung the couroucous like larks on flexible twigs,they then continued their exploration. The stream here made a bendtowards the south, but this detour was probably not prolonged for theriver must have its source in the mountain, and be supplied by themelting of the snow which covered the sides of the central cone.
The particular object of their expedition was, as has been said, toprocure the greatest possible quantity of game for the inhabitants ofthe Chimneys. It must be acknowledged that as yet this object had notbeen attained. So the sailor actively pursued his researches, though heexclaimed, when some animal which he had not even time to recognizefled into the long grass, "If only we had had the dog Top!" But Top haddisappeared at the same time as his master, and had probably perishedwith him.
Towards three o'clock new flocks of birds were seen through certaintrees, at whose aromatic berries they were pecking, those of thejuniper-tree among others. Suddenly a loud trumpet call resoundedthrough the forest. This strange and sonorous cry was produced by a gamebird called grouse in the United States. They soon saw several couples,whose plumage was rich chestnut-brown mottled with dark brown, and tailof the same color. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-likeappendages raised on the neck. Pencroft determined to get hold of atleast one of these gallinaceae, which were as large as a fowl, and whoseflesh is better than that of a pullet. But it was difficult, for theywould not allow themselves to be approached. After several fruitlessattempts, which resulted in nothing but scaring the grouse, the sailorsaid to the lad,--
"Decidedly, since we can't kill them on the wing, we must try to takethem with a line."
"Like a fish?" cried Herbert, much surprised at the proposal.
"Like a fish," replied the sailor quite seriously. Pencroft had foundamong the grass half a dozen grouse nests, each having three or foureggs. He took great care not to touch these nests, to which theirproprietors would not fail to return. It was around these that hemeant to stretch his lines, not snares, but real fishing-lines. He tookHerbert to some distance from the nests, and there prepared his singularapparatus with all the care which a disciple of Izaak Walton wouldhave used. Herbert watched the work with great interest, though ratherdoubting its success. The lines were made of fine creepers, fastenedone to the other, of the length of fifteen or twenty feet. Thick, strongthorns, the points bent back (which were supplied from a dwarf acaciabush) were fastened to the ends of the creepers, by way of hooks. Largered worms, which were crawling on the ground, furnished bait.
This done, Pencroft, passing among the grass and concealing himselfskillfully, placed the end of his lines armed with hooks near the grousenests; then he returned, took the other ends and hid with Herbert behinda large tree. There they both waited patiently; though, it must besaid, that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventivePencroft.
A whole half-hour passed, but then, as the sailor had surmised, severalcouple of grouse returned to their nests. They walked along, pecking theground, and not suspecting in any way the presence of the hunters,who, besides, had taken care to place themselves to leeward of thegallinaceae.
The lad felt at this moment highly interested. He held his breath, andPencroft, his eyes staring, his mouth open, his lips advanced, as ifabout to taste a piece of grouse, scarcely breathed.
Meanwhile, the birds walked about the hooks, without taking any noticeof them. Pencroft then gave little tugs which moved the bait as if theworms had been still alive.
The sailor undoubtedly felt much greater anxiety than does thefisherman, for he does not see his prey coming through the water. Thejerks attracted the attention of the gallinaceae, and they attacked thehooks with their beaks. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the samemoment bait and hook. Suddenly with a smart jerk, Pencroft "struck" hisline, and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken.
"Hurrah!" he cried, rushing towards the game, of which he made himselfmaster in an instant.
Herbert clapped his hands. It was the first time that he had ever seenbirds taken with a line, but the sailor modestly confessed that it wasnot his first attempt, and that besides he could not claim the merit ofinvention.
"And at any rate," added he, "situated as we are, we must hope to hitupon many other contrivances."
The grouse were fastened by their claws, and Pencroft, delighted at nothaving to appear before their companions with empty hands, and observingthat the day had begun to decline, judged it best to return to theirdwelling.
The direction was indicated by the river, whose course they had onlyto follow, and, towards six o'clock, tired enough with their excursion,Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys.