The Mysterious Island Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 120 The Mysterious Island (5)
However, the chances of finding the matchbox were slim, and even there it might have been swept away by the waves at high tide, which is quite possible.However, Harbert and Pencroft still ran quickly to the place where they had landed yesterday, which was about two hundred paces from the "chimney", and they still looked for it with hope.

There, they searched very carefully, not letting go of any corner, including among the cobblestones and in the crevices of rocks, but they still found nothing.It seems that the box really fell here, and it was washed away by the sea long ago.The sailor searched carefully again, but still nothing.In this case, the loss of a small matchbox is a very serious mistake, but it cannot be made up for.

The sailor was very frustrated, and his disappointment could not be concealed. He frowned and said nothing.In order to comfort him, Hubbert said that even if he found the match, it might have been soaked in sea water and would not be usable.

"Young man, no, that copper box is tightly sealed, and water will not enter. Now, what shall we do?"

"We're sure we'll find a way, maybe Mr. Smith or Mr. Splane will figure it out when they get back, maybe they'll have something to make fire with," said Harbert.

"You're right. But what shall we do now? Without a fire, our companions won't be able to get a decent supper when they come back."

"But they can't be without matches!" said Hubbert hastily.

"I'm not so optimistic. Mr. Smith and Neb don't smoke at all. Mr. Splane might keep his notebook instead of the matchbox!"

Hubbert didn't make a sound. For him, it was a pity that the matchbox was lost. However, the young man thought that they must have a solution to the problem of lighting the fire.Pencroft had rich experience, and he was not very optimistic about it. Although he was not so easily intimidated by difficulties, the current situation did make him difficult.Now, the only way is to wait for Naboo and the reporter to come back.Originally, the sailors planned to cook pigeon eggs for them to eat. After all, eating raw food was not a pleasant experience for them.

The sailor and Herbert picked some razor clams by the way, and they were worried that they could eat them raw if there was no fire.In this way, they walked back listlessly.Even on the way back, the sailor did not forget to continue looking for matchboxes. He even went up the left bank of the river from the mouth of the river to the place where the raft was parked before.He also ran to the high ground, and the grass at the edge of the forest, any place he thought might be lost, but in the end he found nothing.

It was five o'clock in the afternoon when he and Harbert returned to The Chimney.Every corner was searched, and they had to stop searching.Another hour passed, the sun fading behind the western highlands, and Hubbert walked up and down the eastern shore.He saw Neb and Splain returning.

However, only the two of them came back!Hubbert felt unspeakably sad and lost.The sailors were right in their hunch that Cyrus Harding had not been found!
After the reporter came back, he sat down and said nothing.He looked exhausted and too hungry to speak.Neb's eyes were red enough to indicate the extent of his pain, and even at this moment he could not hold back the tears.It can be seen that he is discouraged!

The reporter began to relate his and Neb's search for Cyrus Harding.They ran almost all over the coast, covering a distance of more than eight hundred nautical miles, which was far beyond the distance by which the engineer and Top had disappeared.There was no trace of anyone on the beach, no footprints on the sand, no signs of stones being turned over. In short, the deserted beach seemed to confirm that Mr. Smith had been buried in the sea.

Suddenly, Neb stood up and shouted loudly: "Impossible, he will never die! If it were me, or anyone else, it is possible to die, but he is impossible, he must be the one who is alive!"

Neb's roar showed his inner conflict and struggle.Then, as if with the last of his strength, he said:

"I'm exhausted."

Harbert ran to Neb, and said:

"Neb, we will find him! God help us! Eat something before you can go on looking! Eat, eat!"

The boy handed Neb a handful of razor clams, which was not enough to fill the stomach, but was a meal.It was true that Neb had not eaten for several hours, but he did not accept the food that Hubbert offered.At this time, Neb has lost the belief in survival, and he wants to die with his master.

Journalists are much more peaceful.He was also exhausted and starving.After eating the razor clams quickly, he lay down on the sand and wanted to rest for a while.

Hubbert came up and said to him:
"Sir, we have already found a place to live, which is better than here. Look, it's getting dark, you'd better rest first, and look for it tomorrow."

So Spline followed Hubbert to the "chimney".

Pencroft came up and asked the reporter if he had any matches.The reporter looked through his pockets, but found nothing. He said, "I had them, so I might have thrown them all away."

The sailor asked Neb again, and got the same answer.

"Damn it!" The sailor was also a little irritable.

When the reporter saw him like this, he went over and asked:
"What do you want matches for?"

"How do you light a fire without matches?"

"If my master is here, he will be able to solve this problem for you!" cried Neb.

The four of them stayed there motionless, with some melancholy on their faces.Hubbert broke the silence by saying:

"Mr. Splane, please look for it again. Don't you usually smoke? Maybe you still have a match with you, even if there is only one!"

The reporter rummaged through the pockets on his body again, not missing anything inside and out.Surprisingly, there seemed to be a small stick in his vest, which felt like a match.The small wooden stick got into the vest, and he could already touch it through the cloth, but he couldn't get it out by himself.If this is a match, it is the only one. It is very precious to them, but don't wear the phosphorus of the match head.

"I'll do it," said Hubbert.With dexterous hands, he finally took out the small wooden stick.Yes, this is indeed a match!Perhaps in normal times, this match is insignificant and may be thrown away casually.But now, for these victims, its importance is self-evident.Fortunately, the match was not damaged.

"Excellent! This match is like a boat to us now!" said Pencroft, taking the match, and preparing to light the fire.

"I need paper!" said the sailor, who was sure it was a dry match, but now it had to be handled with care.

"I have paper here." The reporter hesitated, but still tore a page from the notebook.

The sailor took the paper and squatted in front of the fire, on which several handfuls of hay, leaves, and firewood had been prepared, and the space between them was enough for the air to circulate freely, so that the dead wood would easily burn.

Pencroft carefully folded the paper into a cone, as smokers do when they light their cigarettes in high winds.Then he stuffed the paper into the middle of the hay.He picked up another pebble, slightly rough on the surface, and rubbed it, lightly striking the match.He held his breath, his heart pounding.

However, the match struck, but did not ignite.It may be that the sailor's force was too small, and he was afraid of scratching the phosphorus.

"My hands are shaking, I can't do it, I can't strike this match, it's too hard!" Said, the sailor stood up, and gave the match to Hubbert.

Hubbert's heart was also pounding, and he had never been so excited before.Prometheus must have felt this way when he stole the fire.However, Hubbert's movements were very quick. He struck a match, and with a snap, a small flame burst up, glowing blue, and a puff of acrid smoke came out.Hubbert twisted his fingers and turned the match upside down, so that the flame was stronger, and he immediately thrust him into the cone of folded paper.In just a few seconds, the paper burned, and then the dry grass also burned.In just a moment, the logs crackled, and the flames danced happily. The sailor came over and blew, which made the flames more blazing.The fire looked dazzling in the dark.

"Finally burning! This is the most exciting moment of my life!" cried the sailor, standing up.

Yes, it's not easy.Fortunately, the fire was burning vigorously on the flat stone stove, and the hot air flew out from the narrow channel reserved in advance by the "chimney", and a wave of heat hit me, which made people feel very comfortable.

Now, care must be taken not to let the fire go out, but a few coals must be left in the ashes, ready to burn.However, this only needs a little attention. After all, wood and other fuels are abundant and can be replenished at any time.

The sailor can now prepare the dinner he imagined before, which is at least more delicious and nutritious than eating raw clams.Hubbert handed him some birds' eggs, which he laid in the ashes of the burnt wood, and waited for them to ripen.Even if the sailor knows how to cook 52 kinds of eggs, at this moment, there is only one way to make these eggs ripen.Spline leaned in a corner and watched them prepare dinner.There were three important questions in his mind: Where was Cyrus?is he still aliveIf he was still alive, why didn't he find a way to find them in time?The reporter sat there silently, circling these difficult problems in his mind.But Neb was walking up and down the shore, his soul had gone with his master, and now he was only a shell.

After only a few minutes, the eggs were cooked, and Pencroft called everyone to come and eat.This was their first meal in this strange place, and these eggs were delicious and nutritious.After they ate it, they felt good and immediately regained their spirits.

It would be perfect if Smith had dinner with them too.They had fled from Richmond together, and if they were gathered together under the rocks, before the warming fire, or lying in the dry, soft sand, the only thing they would have to do was thank God.But Cyrus Harding, their acknowledged leader, and most able and learned man, was nowhere to be seen, and life and death were uncertain!
In this way, March 3 passed.At night, I can only hear the howling sea wind outside, the sound of waves hitting the shore, and the pebbles being rolled back and forth by the waves, making a deafening rolling sound.

The reporter recorded what happened today, from their discovery of this new continent, the disappearance of the engineer, the survey across the coast, the match incident and so on.Now, his fatigue has exceeded his body's ability to bear, so he walked into the depths of the "chimney", where the light is relatively dark, he wants to sleep here, he needs rest so much.

Hubbert fell asleep, too, and the sailor lay down by the fire, which he kept fueling the fire all night, half asleep.There was only one person who did not rest, and that was Neb. He was almost desperate, and no one could comfort him.His companions persuaded him to take a rest, but he persisted on the beach, calling loudly, hoping that his master could hear him.

forest hunting
These few companions who had suffered high-altitude disasters were thrown on a deserted coast. They had almost nothing except the clothes they were wearing.Only the reporter still had a notebook and a watch, which may have been kept by negligence.They didn't have any tools, not even a pocket knife.Also, in order for the balloon to rise, they threw away the contents of the hanging basket and even the hanging basket itself.

Even the protagonists in the novels who were abandoned on the deserted island might not be like them, without even the basic living tools.They are now unarmed, and what they have to face is the great power of nature.They have nothing and are completely on their own.

If Cyrus Harding was with them, his ingenuity and adventurousness would come in handy, at least there would be hope!well!Probably no more hope for the engineer's survival.These victims can only pin their hopes on their own hands, on the God who has never broken his faith in the honest.

However, some issues must be clarified.That is whether the coast is connected to a continent, or just part of an island, and whether it is inhabited.Only after solving this problem can we decide whether to settle here or make another plan.

For sailors, it is of course urgent to figure out these problems, but the most important thing is not to survey the terrain immediately, but to find food, which is more nutritious than bird eggs and razor clams.After all, they had endured a long run, were overtired, and were desperate to recover.Moreover, they also need a shelter that can shelter from wind and rain, so that they can all get basic rest.

The "chimney" was a good dwelling for the time being, and there was a fire and plenty of fuel.Moreover, they are not short of food for the time being. There are bird eggs and razor clams on the rocks and beaches, as well as other mollusks to eat.There were hundreds of pigeons flying on the high ground, and perhaps they could find a way to bring down a few, even with sticks or stones, which were delicious and nutritious food.Besides, there might be nuts in the forest. After all, there is fresh water there, so there are more things to eat.So, after some discussion, they decided to temporarily live in the "chimney" for a few days to prepare for the subsequent terrain survey.They plan to conduct surveys along the coast or deep inland in order to obtain answers to the above questions.

For this plan, Neb very much agrees.He was a very obstinate man, and would not leave the shore, and would not believe that Cyrus Harding was dead.Unless the waves threw the engineer's body ashore, and Neb had seen and touched the body of the engineer, he would not have believed that the master was dead.It seemed impossible, he thought, that a man so extraordinary as Cyrus Harding should have perished.Yes, he was stubborn, and now more than ever.Whether it's stubbornness or fantasy, this idea has been understood and respected by my companions, and no one is willing to destroy it.The sailor thought, however, that there was little hope of the engineer's survival, but he would not dispute the matter with Neb.Neb's current level of pain, I am afraid that he will die before the engineer, he is like a dog who is unwilling to leave the place where his master disappeared, loyal and stubborn.

Already in the early morning of March 3, Neb walked north along the coast, and he went to look for his master again.The lunch that day was still bird eggs and razor clams, but the clever Hubbert found the salt left after the seawater evaporated from the small pit in the rock, which was a very timely good thing!

After breakfast, the sailor and Hubbert decided to go hunting in the forest, and they asked the reporter if they would go together.However, after much consideration, Splain still stayed. After all, someone had to watch the fire, and in case Neb found anything and needed help, even if this possibility was very small.

"Come on, Herbert, let's go hunting!" said Pencroft. "We'll have ammunition and guns!"

Before leaving, Hubbert thought that he must find something that could replace the tinder to be at ease.

"What?" asked the sailor.

"Job, you can make tinder." Hubbert replied.

The sailor thought it was a good idea, but he had to sacrifice a handkerchief.It was a worthwhile sacrifice, and without hesitation the sailor tore a piece from his check handkerchief, which was soon reduced to a rag, half burnt.But this piece of char cloth must be kept in a dry place in order to remain flammable, so it was placed in the middle of the "chimney", and a small cave was chosen deep, where it was sheltered from wind and moisture.

At about nine o'clock in the morning, the weather changed, and a southeasterly wind suddenly blew, which was a sign of a storm.Hubbert and the sailor walked around the corner of the "chimney" and along the left bank of the river towards the forest.

The sailor broke off two branches from the tree, and broke them into two short sticks.Harbert took the stick and sharpened one end on the rock.The lad did the job well, and he worked really hard to get a knife!Then, the two of them walked along the steep river bank through the grass.Rounding the corner, the river flows southwest, and the river gradually narrows, and the riverbed on both sides becomes steeper, and the branches and leaves of the trees cover it.In this case, in order not to get lost, the sailor decided to follow the current, which would surely lead him back to the starting point.This road is not easy to walk. The trees on the shore and the flexible branches form obstacles. Only by breaking them can we move forward.Harbert was as light as a swallow, jumping between the broken stumps for a while, and disappeared in the undergrowth for a while.The sailor is very cautious, and will call him back immediately, and ask him not to go far.

The sailor carefully observed the surrounding terrain and environment. The left bank of the river is relatively flat, although it is not obvious, but gradually rises towards the inside.Moreover, some places look like swamps, very wet.The sailor felt that there seemed to be an invisible water network here, which flowed into the water from the fault in the ground.In other places, there are small streams flowing through the bushes. These small streams are very narrow and easy to pass through.On the right bank of the river, the terrain is relatively undulating, and the outline of the valley is clearly visible.The hills covered the woods and blocked the line of sight, forming a natural curtain.The slope on the right bank dropped suddenly, and the trees bent all the way to the water, maintained only by the strength of their roots. It can be seen that the terrain here is not suitable for walking through at all.

Through observation, the sailors determined that this forest, like the coast they ran across, had no traces of humans, and was a virgin land that humans had not set foot in.The sailors had already seen animal footprints on the ground, and Hubbert agreed with the sailors, some of which were left by ferocious beasts, which made them dare not relax at all.But there was no trace of an ax on the trunk, no ashes from the fire, and no human footprints.For this reason, one should be thankful, after all, in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, the appearance of human beings is a more terrifying thing, and no one wants that.

(End of this chapter)