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

Chapter 142 The Mysterious Island (27)
However, it is not an easy task to remove the airbag from the high hanging tree and find a safe and reliable place to store it.However, it is gratifying that, relying on wisdom and dexterity, Hubbert, the sailor, and Neb climbed to the top of the tree. After two hours, the huge air bag was finally removed.

In this way, except the air bag, all the objects of the air bag, including the net bag, which is a large pile of ropes, and the lanyard circle, and the balloon anchor, are placed on the ground.The airbag valve, spring, and copper fittings are all good, but there are cracks, and the extension below it is torn.It is a fortune that fell from the sky.

Said the sailor: "Mr. Cyrus, at any rate, if we decide to leave the island, we shall not go in a balloon, will we? We already know that a balloon cannot take us back! You see, if you trust me, we will Find a way to build a large ship with a tonnage of about [-] tons, and cut a front sail and a jib sail from this piece of cloth. The rest will be saved for everyone to make clothes!"

Cyrus Harding replied: "Pencroft, go on, go on."

"Now, hide all this stuff," said Neb.

Indeed, these cloths, ropes, etc. are very heavy, and it is impossible to think of transporting these things to the "Granite Palace" now.The point is to keep these things out of the wind and rain until you have the right vehicle to transport them.So everyone worked together and finally dragged these to the coast. They found a large cave with a good orientation and were inaccessible to wind, rain and sea, and temporarily stored them.

"It would be nice to have a cupboard," said Pencroft, "and we have one, but it cannot be locked, and to prevent further accidents, the opening is hidden, not from thieves, but from four-legged animals. !” They also discussed to name the small recess forming a small harbor “Balloon Harbor” as a matter of course.

At six o'clock in the evening, everything is saved.They resumed their journey to Cape Claw.As Pencroft and the engineer walked, they talked of various plans which were urgently needed for the near future.The first is to build a bridge on the "Grateful River", which can easily go to the south of the island; secondly, because the boat is too small to hold these things, it is necessary to bring a four-wheeled truck to pull the balloon away; thirdly, it is necessary to build A small boat with a deck and rigged sails.So a dhow is ready for round-the-world voyages... no, around the island.Of course, there are other plans in the future.

At this time, the sky was dark and night fell, and everyone came to the drifting "headland", which is where they found the box.But there, as elsewhere, there was nothing to prove that there had been a shipwreck, and so the previous conclusions of Cyrus Harding could not be altered.

From the drifting "headland" to "Granite House" is only four nautical miles.They passed quickly, therefore, but it was late, past midnight, when they reached the first bend of the river, along the coast as far as the mouth of the Thanksgiving River.

The river bed there was eighty feet wide, and it was difficult to cross, but Pencroft had already undertaken the burden of overcoming the difficulty, and he was now ready to go.

It is certain that everyone is sleepy and tired.Because the distance was very long, and it took them a lot of effort to get the balloon down and save it.So they were anxious to get back to Granite Palace for a quick dinner and a rest.It would be nice if there was a bridge.It only takes a quarter of an hour for them to reach home safely.

It was very dark.Pencroft, according to what had been said beforehand, prepared to make a raft capable of crossing the river.Having selected two suitable trees near the bank for a raft, he and Neb began to chop with an axe.

Jardine Splane and Cyrus Harding sat on the steep bank, ready to help them; and on the not-too-distant side, Hubbert walked up and down incessantly.

Suddenly, the young man who was going up the river hurriedly ran to this side, pointing to the "Grateful River" upstream and shouting: "There seems to be something floating there?"

Pencroft stopped what he was doing and looked into the distance. Sure enough, there was a vague object moving in the dark night.

He looked at it for a while and saw clearly: "It's a small boat!"

They all leaned together, and to their great surprise it was a small boat going down the stream.

He shouted, "Hey! Row over here!" he shouted as usual.What he didn't realize was that silence might be for the best right now.

The boat has been drifting without any echo.When they were only ten paces away, the sailor suddenly cried out:
"This is our little boat! It seems that she broke the cable and floated along the current! Very well, she came in time!"

The engineer said to himself: "Our boat? . . . "

Pencroft was right in saying that the boat may have really broken its cables, and floated itself back from the source of the "Grateful River"!It is important to catch it quickly as it passes by, or it will be swept away by the rapids.If that's the case, everyone will be happy for nothing.Pencroft and Neb stopped it easily with a long pole.

When the boat touched the shore, the engineer jumped on it first, felt the cable, and believed that it was indeed broken by rocks.

The reporter whispered to him: "Look, this is also a situation..."

Cyrus Harding replied, "It is such a surprise!"

Either way, it's a good thing too!The reporter, Harbert, Neb, and Pencroft all boarded together.They all believed that the cable had been frayed, but the most amazing thing was that when the boat arrived, everyone happened to be there.In this way, they grabbed it logically.But even a quarter of an hour later the boat would have passed them and disappeared at sea.

If it is superstitious, what happened will definitely make people think that there are supernatural creatures on this island.It uses its divine power to secretly help these immigrants!

Soon, we arrived at the mouth of the river.They dragged the boat near the "chimney", and then walked to the ladder of the "Granite Palace".

But at this moment Top cried out in fury.At the same time, Naboo, who was looking for the first ladder, also let out a cry... The ladder was missing.

battle with monkeys

Cyrus Harding paused, but said nothing.Others searched carefully in the dark.What if it was blown to another place by the wind, so they looked for it on the rock wall; what if it fell on the ground, so they looked for it on the ground again... Anyway, the ladder is completely missing.Was there a whirlwind that swirled it to the first platform, which is halfway up the rock wall, which cannot be seen in the middle of the night.

cried Pencroft: "If you really want to be joking, it's very unpleasant. You can't go up to your room when you're home at last. It's not a happy thing for terribly tired emigrants."

Neb was always amazed!
Hubbert reminded: "There is no wind!"

Pencroft said: "I have only now found out that strange things have happened on 'Lincoln Island'!"

Jardine Splane replied: "Strange thing? No, Pencroft, it's quite normal. Someone came while we were going out, took the lodgings, and put away the ladder!"

The sailor shouted: "Someone is coming! Who is that person referring to? . . . "

The reporter replied: "Who is it? The hunter who shot the buckshot. If the buckshot still can't explain our misfortune, what is the use of it?"

Pencroft was visibly impatient, and said sternly, "Very well then! If there is someone above, I will call him, and he will certainly agree."

The sailor uttered a drawn out "Hey!" loud and powerful like thunder, echoing through the air.

Everyone listened, and there seemed to be a creepy sneer coming from the heights of Granite Palace, but they could not determine where it came from.Pencroft's high-pitched cry received no answer.Pencroft continued to cry out, one after another, but in vain.The occurrence of this incident, I believe that the most indifferent people in the world will also be surprised, and it is absolutely impossible for everyone to be those indifferent people.Clearly, they were in danger now, and everything that happened had its gravity.But in the seven months since they had been on the island, nothing else had happened that was as unacceptable as this.

This unexpected incident has made them no longer feel tired.No one could think of a good solution to the problem, and had to stay under Granite House, not knowing what to do or think.Discuss each other, but they can't find the answer.One by one they put forward hypotheses, and one by one they were rejected.Neb was feeling sad and frustrated that he couldn't go into the kitchen, and besides, all the food had been used up in the past few days of exploration, and just at this time, there was no way to replenish it.

Cyrus Harding said calmly: "My friends, there is only one thing we can do now, and that is to wait for daylight, and then adapt. But for the sake of shelter and sleep, we will go to the 'chimney' Wait, even if you can't have dinner."

Pencroft could not accept this accident, and said again: "Who is so presumptuous to play such a joke on us?"

In any case, as the engineer said, there was but one thing to do now, and that was to go back to the "chimney" and wait for daylight.Before leaving, he asked Top to stay under the window of the "Granite Palace" and give a signal at any time.Top is always like this, when dealing with every order, he silently executes it.The faithful Top remained at the foot of the cliff, while the others rested among the rocks.

The occurrence of this incident made everyone feel frustrated. Even if they hid in the sand of the "chimney", would they be able to sleep soundly? This is obviously impossible.They were worried and sullen, and the event was obviously important, whether it was accidental or otherwise, or it was someone who did it, and the answer would be revealed in the morning.The only thing everyone knows now is that they lost their homes.

However, "Granite Palace" is not just their residence, but also their warehouse.There is everything they need to survive: food, tools, ammunition, weapons, instruments, etc.If these items are looted, they have to recreate and collect again.Then things get serious!Therefore, they couldn't restrain the anxiety in their hearts, and some people went out from time to time.Either he, or the other, went to see if Top was still at his post.Only Cyrus Harding waited as quietly as ever.Although an absolutely unexpected and unexplainable fact was in front of him, he was obviously irritated calmly.He burned with rage at the thought of an unknown power all around him and above him.Jardine Splane fully agrees with him on the matter.To this end, they whispered several times.The situation baffled their intelligence and previous experience.There must be a secret on this island, but how can it be uncovered?Hubbert could only fantasize, and liked to question Cyrus Harding.As for Neb, he only knew to tell himself that all this had nothing to do with his master, but with him.If it weren't for the fear of being criticized by his companions, this honest and honest black man would have fallen asleep as soundly as he had in the "Granite Palace" that night.

At last Pencroft could bear it no longer.He was fretful, and very angry, and said, "Here we are being played, and it is a nasty prank! I hate such pranks, and if the prankster falls into my hands, I will woe to him!"

As soon as the east was bright, everyone was armed and came to the row of rocks on the beach. The House of Granite receives the direct rays of the sun, and is sure to soon be illuminated by the dawn rays.Sure enough, it was not yet five o'clock, and the shuttered window was clearly exposed among the barrier-like foliage.

From the windows, nothing had changed, but there was an unstoppable cry when they discovered the open door.Before they left, they clearly remembered that the door was closed.

There is no doubt that someone has been in Granite Palace.

The upper half of the ladder that usually hangs between the platform and the door is still in the same place, and the lower half of the ladder was taken away, and it was lifted all the way to the door.It was clear that these interlopers were also afraid of other surprise attacks.

At present, the true colors of these intruders have not been seen, and their types and numbers cannot be ascertained.

Pencroft cried again.But still no response.

The sailor scolded angrily: "A group of scoundrels! Look, they are not welcome, and they are sleeping peacefully as if they are at home! Bah! Pirates, gangsters, John Bull Scottish mathematicians, doctors. Here is the writer in his irony A title coined in pamphlets for the British. Sons of !"

The limit of insult is reached when the American, Pencroft, refers to someone as "the son of John Bull."

By this time it was full daylight, and the front of Granite Palace was brightly illuminated by the sun.However, silence and silence remained inside and outside the palace.

Everyone felt very strange: how could no one respond? Is the "Granite Palace" occupied by people?The position of the ladder is enough to show that the "Granite Palace" has been occupied, and at the same time, it is certain that no matter who occupied it, they must still be on it, and there is no way to escape!But how to get to Granite Palace?
Harbert had a very good idea: attach a rope to the nock of the arrow, and shoot the arrow through the first few rungs of the ladder hanging over the door.In this way, the ladder can be pulled down by the rope, allowing the ladder to hang to the ground.In this way, passage between the ground and the "Granite Palace" was restored.

This idea is obviously good. If the arrow technique is a little more accurate, this idea will definitely be successful.Fortunately the bow and arrows were stored in a passage in the "chimney," where they also found a very light hibiscus rope.Pencroft untied the rope, and fastened it to the nock of the arrow.Then Harbert took up his bow and aimed very carefully at the top of the hanging ladder.

Jardine Splane, Cyrus Harding, Pencroft, and Neb stood back in order to have a full view of what was about to take place at the windows of Granite House.The reporter raised his carbine and took aim at the door.

The bow was released, and the arrow whizzed away with the rope, passing through the last two rungs.This approach worked.

Hubbert immediately seized the end of the rope, but, just as he was shaking it to let the ladder hang down, a hand stretched out from between the wall and the door, seized the ladder, and pulled it into the Granite House. ".

Sailor scolded, "Big rogue! There's going to be a bullet to make you happy, the hour is coming!"

Neb asked strangely: "But who is that?"

"Who? Don't you recognize it?"

"No."

"That's no one at all, it's a monkey, a capuchin, a macaque, an orangutan, a vervet, a gorilla, a baboon, a marmoset! Where we live Overrun by some monkeys. They took the opportunity to climb up the ladder while we were out!"

At this time, as if to prove the sailor's words, three or four monkeys appeared in the window.They pushed back the shutters and made all sorts of grotesque gestures to say hello to these true masters.

cried Pencroft: "I knew it was a trick! Now one of them will pay with his life for those fellows!"

The sailor put the butt of his gun over his shoulder, took aim at a monkey, and fired quickly.The group of monkeys disappeared in an instant, and the monkey who was hit ended his life with just one shot and fell to the beach.

This is a tall monkey, belonging to the first family of orangutans in the order of tetrahands, which should be true.Whether it's a gibbon, a gorilla, or a chimpanzee, they all belong to the category of anthropoids, which get their name because of their resemblance to humans.Also, Hubbert said it was an orangutan.Everyone has no doubts about this, because everyone knows that the young man is very good at zoology.

"What a beast!" cried Neb.

Pencroft replied: "Excellent, if you like! But all I want to know now is how we get home!"

The reporter said: "Harbert has a good arrow, by the way, let him bend his bow again and aim at the monkey..."

cried Pencroft: "Forget it! Monkeys are very cunning. With this time, they will never appear in the windows again, so that we can't kill them. They must now destroy us in the rooms and warehouses." darling. Just thinking about it makes me..."

Cyrus Harding replied, "Be patient, the animals will not defeat us."

"I am sure of that," replied the sailor, "if they come face to face with us. But, Mr. Cyrus Harding, do you know how many mischievous fellows there are there?"

Pencroft's question is difficult to answer, and it is not very feasible to try again to shoot the arrow and pull the ladder, because the monkey has already put the lower end of the ladder into the door.If the rope is pulled, the rope will break and the ladder will no longer fall down.

The situation is really bad.Pencroft was furious.Actually, it was a bit funny to think about it, but he didn't think it was funny at all.Of course, in the end, everyone will drive the intruders away and return to their residences, but now they have no idea what method to take and when to achieve it.

Two hours passed, during which time the monkeys hid inside, insisting on not showing their faces, and there were times when a paw or a face would flash through the door or window, and there would be a burst of ejaculation, but to no avail.

The engineer thought of a way and said: "Let's hide and don't let them see. In this way, these monkeys will think that we have left and may show up. However, Spline and Hubbert must lie in ambush behind the rocks." , shoot when you get the chance."

Everyone consciously carried out the engineer's order.The two best shooters, the reporter and the boy, were waiting somewhere within range, out of sight of the monkeys.Cyrus Harding, Pencroft, and Neb went into the forest to see if they could hunt any game.Because there is not much left to eat, and it is almost lunch time, everyone's stomachs are already growling with hunger.

Half an hour later they brought back some rock pigeons and roasted them for lunch, but not a single monkey appeared.

(End of this chapter)