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

Chapter 139 The Mysterious Island (24)
Instruments: A box of photographic equipment, objective lenses, glass photosensitive film, chemicals, etc., a pocket compass, a sextant, a pair of telescopes, a pair of binoculars, an aneroid barometer, a Fahrenheit thermometer, and a box of compasses .

Clothes: Two dozen shirts, of unusual material, like wool, but obviously a vegetable fiber.Three dozen stockings of the same material.

Kitchen utensils: six small copper pots with handles, two kettles, one iron kettle, ten sets of aluminum cutlery, three iron plates, one portable stove and six table knives.

Books: a "Dictionary of Polynesian Dialects", a set of six-volume "Dictionary of Natural Sciences", an atlas, a "Bible", three reams of white paper and one ream of paper refers to 500 full sheets or 1000 sheets Folio.Two blank books.

After counting the items, the reporter said: "It is certain that the owner of this box is a person with a lot of sailing experience! Clothes, tools, weapons, kitchen utensils, instruments, books, everything! It seems that he knew something was going to happen and prepared it in advance. Prepare for disaster!"

Cyrus Harding was pensive, and heard the reporter whisper: "Yes, everything."

Hubbert added: "It appears that the box and its owner, and the boat, are not ordinary Malay pirate ships!"

Pencroft said: "Could it be that this master has been captured by pirates..."

The reporter replied: "This hypothesis is too cruel to be accepted. It may also be that a storm has blown this European or American ship to this sea. The passengers hope that the necessities of life will be preserved at least, so they are ready got off the box and threw it into the sea.

"Do you think so, Mr. Cyrus?" asked Harbert.

The engineer replied: "Yes, my boy, this is the general course of events. Perhaps in times of distress or anticipation of disaster, they gather all the most useful things in this chest, so that they can be used in some place on the coast later. One place, find it again..."

The sailor reminded: "There is still a box of photographic equipment!" with a puzzled look.

Cyrus Smith replied: "I don't quite understand why these photographic equipment are still kept. For us or ordinary victims, it is more useful to have a relatively complete variety of clothes and a relatively large number of ammunition and weapons. food!"

Jardin Splane asked: "Aren't there any marks and addresses on these instruments, books, and tools? How can we identify their origin?"

This has to be looked at.Each item was then carefully examined, especially instruments, books, and weapons.What is different from usual is that the weapons and instruments have no trademarks, and they are brand new and in good condition, as if they have never been used.The same goes for tools and kitchen utensils.Everything is new.This also shows that these items were not thrown into the box in a hurry, on the contrary, they should have been carefully considered, carefully selected, and carefully classified.The second layer of metal wrapping for waterproofing is enough to illustrate this point.The package is very complete, and it was obviously not welded on in a panic.

The Dictionary of Natural Sciences and the Dictionary of Polynesian Dialects, both in English, do not bear the name of the publisher or date of publication.

Similarly, the "Bible" is also in English, and it can be seen from the layout that it is a high-quality quarto.It looks like it's been read a lot.

The atlas was like an exquisite work, containing maps of the countries of the world, and many pictures by the mathematicians and geographers of Mercator Frey.A flat spherical map of the earth made by the projection method.Its language is French, and like the previous books, it does not have the name of the publisher and the date of publication.

In this way, the various objects found have no markings to indicate their origin, so there is no way of knowing which country's ship may have passed through this sea area recently.But anyway, the chest made the inhabitants of "Lincoln Island" rich.Today, they use nature, transform nature, create everything they want, and rely on their wisdom and strength to get out of dangerous situations.Now God has sent them such a rich item, isn't this God's love for them?So together they expressed their heartfelt gratitude to God.

But one of them was a little dissatisfied.That was Pencroft.Because there didn't seem to be anything in the box that he wanted very much.His cheers died down as each item was removed.As soon as the inventory was over, I heard him muttering:

"As you can see, these things are very good, but there is nothing I need here!"

Neb, puzzled, said: "Why, my fellow Pencroft, what do you want?"

"Half a pound of tobacco," replied Pencroft solemnly, "and I ask for nothing else!"

Everyone could not help laughing at Pencroft's words.

A detailed survey of the island was considered all the more necessary because of the sudden discovery of drifting objects.So it was decided that tomorrow morning we would set out on the road, go up the "Grateful River" and go to the west coast to check.If there are surviving victims who landed there, they landed somewhere on this coast, and they probably have nothing else, so we must hurry to help them tide over the difficulties.

Next, everyone moved all the items into the "Granite Palace" and placed them in an orderly manner in the hall.

On October 10th, which happened to be Sunday, before going to bed, Hubbert asked the engineer if he would read to them a passage from the Gospel.

"Very willingly," replied Cyrus Harding, and took up the Bible to open it for them all.

Pencroft stopped him hastily, and said to Cyrus Harding: "I am a superstitious man, Mr. Cyrus, please open a page at will, and read whichever paragraph you see first."

Mr. Cyrus Harding smiled at Pencroft's suggestion, and assented to the sailor's suggestion.He opened the "Gospel" casually, and there was a bookmark on that page.

His eyes were suddenly attracted by a pencil drawing of a red cross.Behind this red cross is the eighth verse of the Gospel of Matthew.

So he read this passage to everyone:
Seek and you will find, seek and you will find.

first survey

On the next day, October 10, there was no change to the scheduled survey, and various preparations were in place.These recent events make the reconnaissance operation both necessary and urgent.Things have changed in this way, and everyone thinks that they no longer need help from others, and can now provide help to others.

Therefore, everyone decided to go up the "Grateful River", and planned to go as far as they could according to the navigation of the river.In this way, you can easily cover a large part of the distance, and you can also bring some weapons and food for your own use on the road.

In fact, not only should you think about what you can take with you, but you should also consider what you might bring back to Granite Palace.If, as is inferred, there has been a shipwreck on the coast, there must have been some flotsam, and it would be a whole lot of stuff.According to such conjectures, a cart would be more suitable than a weak canoe, but it was heavy and heavy, and it was inconvenient to use, which again made Pencroft deeply dissatisfied: not only was there no "half pound of tobacco" in the trunk. ’, and no two New Jersey horses, but they are of great use to all!

Neb loaded some provisions on board, including some beer, canned meat, and fermented drinks.These foods are more than enough to sustain life for three days.The longest period Cyrus Harding had fixed for the survey was three days.In addition, they also felt that it was necessary to add some additions on the road.Neb, on the other hand, was preoccupied with taking his handy little stove.

Besides this, they took two axes, with which they were to cut their way through the dense forest.Also brought a pocket compass and binoculars.

In terms of weapons, they carried two flintlock pistols.On this island, the flintlock was more practical than the firing pin gun.This is mainly because the flints used in flintlock guns are easy to find and replace; but firing pin guns must use thunderbolt detonators. If they are used frequently, the thunderbolt detonators will be exhausted quickly.They also took some bullets and a carbine.Gunpowder is also very important. There are about fifty pounds in the two barrels, and some need to be brought.However, the engineer also planned to make some explosives by himself, so that it would save money.In addition to firearms, they also carried five broadswords, which looked majestic in their leather sheaths.With these complete equipment, everyone can take risks in this big forest, even if they encounter danger, they are not afraid.

Nothing else was needed, though Cyrus Harding made them pledge not to shoot unless absolutely necessary.The availability of guns and knives has already satisfied them very much.

At six o'clock in the morning, the canoe was pushed out to sea.All the emigrants were on board, including Top.Then the boat sailed to the mouth of the "Grateful River".

The tide has just risen for half an hour, and there are still a few hours before the high tide. The boat can use this time to sail easily.If the sea ebbs after this time, the boat will have to go upstream, which will be much more difficult.Three days later was the day of the full moon, when the sea was rough.

Therefore, as long as the boat is kept balanced in the current, it can travel at high speed driven by the waves without paddling.

A few minutes later, everyone came to the corner of the "Grateful River".It was there, seven months ago, that Pencroft made his first raft.

The corner is acute, and after passing by, the "Grateful River" is arc-shaped, sloping towards the southwest, the water surface gradually expands, and the banks are lush green trees.Clear water, blue sky, whirling green trees, a beautiful scenery by the "Grateful River".

Cyrus Harding and his companions were fascinated by the beauty, and the ease with which nature alone, by water and trees, could create such a delightful scene.As the boat moved forward, the types of trees on both sides of the bank also changed.On the right bank of the river there are precious natural elms of the highest quality in the elm family.They will not deform or rot after being soaked in water for a long time, so architects are trying their best to find them.There are also a large number of tree groups belonging to the same family, hackberry is one of them.Usable oil can be extracted from the fruit.A few steps ahead, several willow plants caught Hubbert's attention.Their branches are flexible, and when soaked in water, they can be made into fine ropes.He also noticed two or three ebony trees of the persimmon family. The trunks of these dark and beautiful ebony trees also had irregular patterns.

Small boats also often land in suitable places.Jardin Splane, Harbert, and Pencroft, armed with guns, went ashore to search for prey, led by Top.In addition to game, certain useful plants of note were encountered, and the young naturalist discovered a wild spinach of the family Chenopodiaceae, and many cruciferous vegetables of the cabbage family, including watercress, radishes, and horseradish.He believes that through improvement, it will definitely get better and better, which makes him get his wish.In short, these plants have thin stems with many branches, a little hair, one meter high, and seeds similar to brown.

Hubbert asked the sailor, "Do you know what kind of plant this is?"

"Tobacco!" exclaimed Pencroft, and it seemed that the only plant he had ever seen was in the bowl of his pipe.

Herbert answered: "Pencroft! Wrong! It's not tobacco, it's mustard."

Said the sailor despondently: "It's not mustard! But if there is a tobacco plant, boy, don't take it seriously."

Jardin Splane said: "Sooner or later we'll find it!"

cried Pencroft: "Yes! But in that case, I can't think of anything else that is wanting in our island!"

All kinds of plants were carefully uprooted and moved to the boat, but Cyrus Harding never left them, and he was thinking about something all the time.

In this way the reporter, Herbert, and Pencroft embarked and disembarked many times, now on the right bank of the "Grateful River", now on its left bank.The left bank is slightly flatter, while the right bank is more lushly wooded.Checking the pocket compass, the engineer could see that, from the first bend, the direction of the river was southwest to northeast and nearly straight for a distance of about three nautical miles.It can be deduced that further forward it will change direction, and that the "Grateful River" will flow northwest to the ridge branches of "Franklin Peak", and those ridge branches will use their water to replenish.

On one landing, Jardin Splane caught two pairs of live pheasants.These birds have slender beaks, long necks, short wings, and seem to have no tails.Hubbert had good reason to call them "geese," and it was decided that these "geese" would be the first birds to be kept, and then the first guests of the poultry farm to be established.

However, the guns in everyone's hands have never had a chance to fire.The first shot fired in the woods of the Far West was caused by a beautiful bird resembling a kingfisher in appearance.

At that time, Pencroft shouted: "I know who it is!" In fact, the shot he fired was completely unintentional.

The reporter asked, "Who is it?"

"This is the bird that escaped us on our first hike and we named this section of the forest after it!"

Hubbert evidently remembered, and exclaimed, "A Central American!"

It is indeed a Central and South American bird. The bird's feathers are thick and radiate a metallic luster. It is indeed very beautiful.It was knocked to the ground by some buckshot, and Top took it into the boat at once.They also shot down a dozen flamingoes, about the size of a pigeon, belonging to the climbing birds, with green feathers all over, part of the wings dark red, straight crests and a white border.What a good marksmanship, this is all thanks to the young man, so he also looks proud.The taste of this lorikeet is many times stronger than that of Central and South America, whose meat is thick and hard.But Pencroft himself could not believe why there were no edible and delicious birds.

At ten o'clock in the morning, the boat came to the second bend of the "Grateful River", which was about five nautical miles away from the mouth of the river.They stop here and eat.Under the green trees, they rested for half an hour.

The river here is sixty to seventy feet wide, and its bed five to ten feet deep.The engineer saw that all the rivers merged into the sea, and that the river was replenished by many tributaries, but those tributaries were purely unnavigable rills.The forest in front of me—whether it was called the Central South American Forest or the Far West Forest—was vast and immeasurable.Whether it is under the stalwart arbor, or in the woods on both sides of the "Grateful River", there is no place to indicate the existence of people.No one could find a trace of suspiciousness.Evidently the trees had never been cut with the woodcutter's ax, nor the vines with the pioneer's knife.They were among the thick brambles and the long grass, stretching from tree trunk to tree trunk.If there are really surviving victims on this island, they should not have left the coast, so it is not appropriate to look for these so-called survivors of the shipwreck under the dense tree canopy.

The engineer was obviously in a hurry.He was going to reach the west coast of "Lincoln Island", and according to his prediction, the distance between them was at least five nautical miles.The boat continued to sail, and according to the current direction of the "Grateful River", it seemed to flow toward "Franklin Peak" instead of the coast.It was then agreed that they would go on as long as the river was not too shallow and there was enough water for the boat to sail.This will not only save time, but also save effort.Otherwise, you have to choose to walk in the dense forest, which is much more difficult. The dense forest is dangerous, and you have to use an ax to clear the way every step forward.

But soon, they found that the water of the river had become significantly shallower, probably because of the ebb tide—it was time to ebb at this time, or it might not be felt at this distance from the mouth of the "Grateful River".Then just use the paddle.Neb and Herbert took the oars, Pencroft the oars, and continued upstream.

As the boat continued to walk, the trees on the shore became thinner a lot.They are no longer close together, and sometimes there is a lonely tree at a distance.It is precisely because of their large spacing that they can get sufficient sunlight and air, and grow thick and tall.

These are plants that are unique to this latitude!Surely any botanist, seeing these trees, would have at once determined the latitude of "Lincoln Island"!

"Ecalyptus!" cried Hubbert.

This is indeed a eucalyptus, and it is of the same genus as the eucalyptus of New Zealand and Australia, and these two places happen to be at the same latitude as "Lincoln Island".Some of the eucalyptus were two hundred feet high, with trunks twenty feet in circumference in the lower part, and their bark must have been five inches thick.These giant trees are very unique.They face the sun with the side of their leaves so the sun hits the ground!

At the root of the eucalyptus, there is a piece of green grass, and flocks of birds are flying around in the grass. They are shining in the bright sun, like rubies with wings!
"What's the use of these eucalyptus?" asked Neb.

"Phew," replied Pencroft, "if there are giants, there will be gigantic trees. But such a tree will be of little use except to be exhibited at a fair!"

Jardine Splane said: "I think you are mistaken, Pencroft, that eucalyptus wood has begun to be used in the manufacture of high-class furniture, and has gained a great deal of profit."

The young man said: "Let me add a few more words. The family to which eucalyptus belongs includes many valuable trees, such as clove-bearing lilac, guava-bearing guava, pomegranate-bearing pomegranate; lilac, myrtle The fruit can be used to make wine, the bark of the Dianthus peach tree is the cinnamon that everyone loves, the black mountain peach tree contains high-quality alcohol liquid, the hot pepper tree produces Jamaican peppers, the fruit of the common myrtle tree can replace pepper, and the Robus eucalyptus can be used to make delicious Honeydew and eucalyptus sap can be fermented to produce beer, in short, all these "hardwoods" or "longevity trees" belong to the family Myrtaceae, and there are 46 species in [-] genera!"

Cyrus Harding listened and smiled, and Pencroft was proud of the young man's rich knowledge of plants.

"Well said, Harbert," said Pencroft, "but I am sure that the examples you have just given are not all of that kind of gigantic tree!"

"Yes, Pencroft," answered the boy.

(End of this chapter)