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

Chapter 157 The Mysterious Island (42)
It was Pencroft who proposed the plan of the survey, for Cyrus Harding also wished to see the region for himself.So when Pencroft proposed it, he was very much in favor of it.

The weather was erratic, but the barometer did not fluctuate much, so there was a navigable weather.At the beginning of April, the air pressure rose just after a sharp drop, and there was a fierce westerly wind for five or six days; then, the pointer of the instrument stabilized at a height of 29.9 inches. This weather condition was very favorable for the survey.

We set the sailing day on April 4th.This time it will take longer to prepare for the trip, so the "Lucky" moored at the "Balloon Harbor" has packed a lot of necessities.

Cyrus Harding also told Ayrton of the expedition, and wished him to take part, but Ayrton preferred to remain on land.It was then decided that he should stay at Granite House, with Master Jupp as his companion, while the others were away from the island.Ayrton agreed.

In the early morning of April 4, everyone took Top on board, when the southwest wind was strong.The circumference of the island is ninety nautical miles, and twenty nautical miles are counted from "Balloon Harbor" to "Snaketail Point". The "Lucky" sailed out of the "Balloon Harbor" and needed to sail against the wind to complete the 16 nautical miles.

The "Lucky" walked very hard, and it took at least a whole day to reach the "headland".After the boat left the port, it only encountered low tide for two hours, but the high tide reached six hours, and it was even more difficult to sail on top of the tide.So it was already dark when the boat rounded the "Snaketail Point".

Pencroft suggested to the engineer to sail slowly with the two-leaf sail retracted.But Cyrus Harding wished to drop anchor a few chains from land, in order to be able to see this part of the coast clearly by day.It was also decided not to carry out night flights, because they wanted to conduct a thorough and detailed survey of the coastal areas of the island.Therefore, at night, as long as the weather permits, everyone drops anchor near the shore.

They rested that night at anchorage under the headland.Calm, just a little misty.Everyone, except the sailors, was asleep, of course a little worse than in the rooms at Granite House.

The next day, the 4th of April, Pencroft set sail just as day broke.Aided by a bulging crosswind and a port wind, the boat sailed close to the west coast.

Everyone is very familiar with this coast with towering green trees and pleasant scenery, because they have visited the edge of the forest on foot, but they can't help admiring the beauty when they see it again.They slow down as much as possible to observe, so that they can observe more carefully, and pay attention to the floating tree trunks during the observation process, and be careful not to hit them.They also dropped anchor several times.Jardin Splane took some landscape shots facing the coastal beauty.

It was already noon when the "Lucky" came to the mouth of the waterfall river.The trees there are sparser.After three nautical miles there were only solitary clumps of trees growing between the branches of the berries on the west side of "Franklin's Peak," and the arid and barren ridges stretched down to the coast.

The contrast between the north and the south of the coast is very clear!The south is green and wooded, while the north is desolate and rough!It seems to be the "iron shore" as some countries call it.The strangely shaped rocks are superimposed or interlaced, all of which indicate that they are the result of boiling basalt crystallization.Some of these weird rocks have a terrifying appearance. If everyone was thrown to this place, just these weird-looking rocks would scare them!When they climbed to the top of "Franklin", because they were standing too high, they failed to discover this sinister coast.But from the sea, you can see this strange coast at a glance. I am afraid that it is impossible to find such a coast anywhere in the world.

The "Lucky" sailed in front of such a coast, a distance of half a nautical mile.They can clearly see that these stones are of different sizes, heights and shapes.Some of the blocks were twenty feet high, others three hundred feet.Some are like prismatic bell towers, some are like cylindrical towers, and some are like conical chimneys, pyramidal obelisks, etc., which are really magical.Even the shape of the majestic and towering ice floes on the frozen ocean is much worse than these rocks.See here bridges from rock to rock; there like vaults of great cathedrals; Gothic architecture is an architectural style that flourished at the height and end of the Middle Ages, featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaults and flying buttresses.as it should be.The magical nature, with its wonderful ideas and unparalleled imagination, has built such a magnificent, unpredictable and unpredictable coast that stretches for eight or nine nautical miles.

Cyrus Harding and the others watched with the utmost amazement.Although everyone remained silent, Top yelled recklessly, and the echoes were reflected from the basalt cliffs.What attracted the engineer's attention was that the dog barked somewhat as strangely as it barked around the well-head of Granite House.

Cyrus Harding called the ship to shore.

The "Lucky" tried to get as close to the rocks on the coast as possible, maybe it found a cave suitable for exploration?But Cyrus Harding found nothing, for the lower part of the rock was soaked in sea water, and washed by the waves, and found no crevice or cavity where some life could hide.

Top soon ceased shouting, and the boat was again a few chains away from the shore.

In the northwest of the island, the coast becomes flat again and there is a lot of sand.On the low swamp, a few trees grew scatteredly.Everyone has already vaguely seen this place. There are countless waterfowl jumping and singing here. Compared with the desolate coast, this place is obviously full of vitality.

During the night, the "Lucky" dropped anchor on the north side of the island, on the coast of a shallow depression near the land, where the water was very deep.The night was uneventful.When it was just dark, the sea breeze gradually subsided.In the early morning, the east is about to dawn, and when the morning sun is slightly dewed, the wind gradually starts again.

Having landed so conveniently that morning, the old hunters, Harbert and Jardine Splain, went to the shore for two hours and brought back strings of sand pheasants and mallards.Top performed very well.Not a single venison escaped from its zeal and alertness.At eight o'clock in the morning, the "Lucky" set sail, with the wind gradually increasing, the boat sailed quickly towards the "North Jawbone Cape".

"It wouldn't be surprising if there was going to be a westerly wind," said Pencroft. "The sky was red at sunset yesterday. Look, the Cat's Tail has appeared again this morning. That's a bad omen."

"Cat's tail" refers to the elongated clouds scattered in the sky, all of which are more than [-] feet above sea level, like thin sheets of cotton wool. The appearance of "cat tail" often indicates a sudden change in the weather.

"Well," said Cyrus Harding, "raise your sails as wide as you can, and find a safe haven at Shark's Bay. The Luck will be safe there."

"Well," replied Pencroft, "the north coast is full of sand dunes, which are of little use."

The engineer said: "I think we can spend the night in that bay, and we will stay there all day tomorrow. It is necessary to conduct a detailed survey."

"Whether we like it or not," said Pencroft, "we must go thither now. See, thick clouds are gathering, and the western part of the sky is becoming more and more terrible."

The reporter said: "In any case, we have a tailwind to go to 'Jawbone Point'."

The sailor replied: "The wind is very smooth, but to enter that bay, you need to sail against the wind for a while. I don't know that sea area yet, but I want to have a clear look."

Hubbert added: "Based on what we've seen off the south coast of Shark Bay, that area is likely to be heavily reefed."

"Do your best, Pencroft," said Cyrus Harding, "and we trust you."

The sailor replied: "Mr. Cyrus, don't worry, I will not take the risk lightly unless it is absolutely necessary. I would rather let the knife pierce myself than let the rock hit the 'body' of the 'Lucky'. "

By the body of the Luck, Pencroft meant the underwater body of the Luck.He regards it more important than his own life!
"What time is it?" asked Pencroft.

Jardine Splane replied, "Ten o'clock."

"Mr. Cyrus, how far is it from 'Jawbone Angle'?"

The engineer replied, "About fifteen miles."

The sailor said: "It will take another two and a half hours, that is, between twelve o'clock and one o'clock, before we can reach the vicinity of 'Jawbone Angle'. Unfortunately, the tide will just ebb at that time, and the sea will withdraw from the harbor. The ship will have to head against the wind. , but also against the sea, I am afraid it will be difficult to get in."

Hubbert added: "The more important thing is that today is a full moon, because the tide in April is very strong."

Cyrus Harding asked: "In that case, Pencroft, can't anchor in the depths of the 'jaw angle'?"

said Pencroft: "Would you like to drop anchor at depth, Mr. Cyrus? But the weather is about to change, and anchor on the shore, where we purposely ran aground!"

"Then what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to sail until high tide, which means until seven in the evening. Then if it's still light, I'll try to get into the bay. If it's late, we'll be back and forth all night by the sea. Drive on and go in tomorrow when it dawns."

Said Cyrus Harding: "Again, Pencroft, we trust you, and everything is at your disposal."

"Ah," said Pencroft, "if only there were a lighthouse on this coast. What a convenience to the navigator!"

Hubbert said, "Yeah, we're not going to have a helpful engineer to light us up this time!"

Jardine Splane said: "Well, dear Cyrus, we have never thanked you, indeed, and we might never have gotten there if you hadn't lighted the fire for us..."

Cyrus Harding was at a loss, and asked, "Fire, what fire?" He felt a little puzzled by what the reporter said.

Pencroft replied: "What we would like to say, Mr. Cyrus, is that in those last hours before our return we had a very difficult and somewhat hopeless voyage at sea, and if it had not been for you in October last year On the night of the 10th and 19th a fire was lit on the heights of Granite House, and we were about to sail to the lee of the island."

The engineer replied, "Yes, yes! I had a good idea to start a fire!"

The sailor added: "But this time, if Ayrton can't think of it, there will be no one to help us!"

Cyrus Harding replied, "Yes! There is no one to help us!"

After a while, the engineer and the reporter were alone in the bow.He leaned into the reporter's ear and whispered, "I'll tell you one thing for sure, that is, on the night of October 10th and 19th last year, I was absolutely not in Prospect Heights or anywhere else on the desert island. The place is on fire!"

boat shadow on film
Pencroft's hunch was right, and things were developing as predicted.The wind picked up and reached 45 knots.At this time, the ship needs to furl the sails and lower the topmast.However, when the "Lucky" approached the bay at about six o'clock, the tide had begun to ebb, so she could no longer sail in, and had to stay at sea.Thus, had Pencroft wished so much to travel to the mouth of the "Grateful River", he could do nothing.So he hoisted the jib to the mainmast for a storm, and with his bows on land, he waited patiently.

In spite of the strong wind, Pencroft felt lucky that the shore sheltered the sea and the waves were not too great, so that the boat was not in danger of being struck. The Lucky's ballast is heavy enough so it won't capsize.If a large amount of water flooded the boat, the hatch cover would not be able to withstand it and the boat could be damaged.Pencroft was a clever and capable sailor, and he was prepared for all possible dangers.Although he was full of confidence in his boat, he still looked forward to the dawn in a state of anxiety.

Neither Cyrus Harding nor Jardine Splane had occasion to speak to each other all that night.But what the engineer whispered to the reporter made sure they had to revisit that uncanny force that seemed to pervade "Lincoln Island."Jardine Splane could not stop thinking of these wonderful new events, of the pile of fires that had appeared on the shore.He did see the fire!Herbert and Pencroft on the same boat also saw it!On that dark night, when the fire had led them like a beacon to Lincoln Island, they believed that the engineer had kindled the fire to help them, but now Cyrus Harding insisted that he was not at all. Overfire!
Jardine Splane resolved to repeat the matter as soon as the "Luck" returned, and urged Cyrus Harding to make known these strange events as soon as possible.When everyone knows this, it may be decided to make a complete survey of the various areas of "Lincoln Island" together.

At any rate, there was no wildfire that night on the strange shore at the mouth of the harbour.In this way, the boat stayed at sea all night.

Dawn breaks and the sun rises on the eastern horizon.The wind which had just died down turned two sides, and Pencroft could easily steer the boat into the narrow entrance of the bay.About seven o'clock in the morning, the "Lucky" headed north to "Jawbone Point", cautiously entered the channel, and ventured in the water surrounded by strange lava.

"See," said Pencroft, "that's a good place to drop anchor, and the fleet can turn in any direction!"

Cyrus Harding said: "It is particularly curious that this gulf was formed by the condensation of two streams of lava from the eruption of the volcano, or by the accumulation of a long eruption. It is therefore blocked all round .It is certain that even in the worst winds the water here will be as calm as a lake."

The sailor continued: "It is true that the wind can only get in through the narrow entrances of the two capes, and the north mandibular angle also covers the southern mandibular angle, so that even if the wind enters, the wind will be weakened. If our "Lucky" breaks down here, it can stay motionless for a year!"

The reporter pointed out: "It's a bit big for it!"

The sailor answered, "Hey, Mr. Spline, if the bay is too big for the Good Luck, but if the fleet of the United States were to seek a safe haven in the Pacific, I don't think they would find it." A better anchorage than this!"

"It looks like we're in a shark's mouth," said Neb, referring to the shape of the bay.

Hubbert replied, "Yes, in the middle of the shark's mouth, my dear Neb! But you're not going to worry about him shutting up and shutting us in, are you?"

Neb replied, "Well, Mr. Harbert, the bay has a sinister look, and I don't like it very much!"

Pencroft said loudly: "Okay! I was thinking of giving this bay to the United States! I didn't expect Neb to look down on it."

The engineer asked: "Is the water depth here? At least we need to clarify this issue. Because the same depth is enough for the keel of the 'Lucky', but not necessarily enough for our huge armored ship."

"It's easy to find out," said Pencroft.

So the sailor tied an iron block to one end of a long rope, and sank it as a sounding line.This rope was about fifty fathoms long, and when it was brought up to the end, it was not deep enough.

"Look," said Pencroft, "it's so deep that our armored ships won't run aground! They can come here!"

Said Cyrus Harding: "It seems that this bay is really an abyss. This island is formed by volcanic eruptions. It is not surprising that there is a deep and dangerous seabed."

"These crags," said Hubbert, "seem to plunge straight into the bottom of the sea, and I do not think that Pencroft could have penetrated to the bottom even with a sounding line five or six times as long."

"All is well," said the reporter, "but I want to say something to Pencroft. There is one very important thing missing from his anchorage!"

"Mr. Splane, what is it?"

"A porthole, a hollow of any shape will do, and it will lead to the island. I don't see any landing point!"

Indeed, the lava was so high and steep that no suitable landing point could be found on all sides of the bay.These impassable parapets are reminiscent of Norwegian fjords, only this one is drier. Although the "Lucky" is so close to these high cliffs, there is no foothold for everyone to land.

Pencroft reassured himself that, if necessary, the cliff would be blown away with dynamite.

Everyone had nothing to do in the bay, so he steered the boat into the narrow passage and sailed out at two o'clock in the afternoon.

Neb relaxed, and he couldn't help saying, "Oh!" with a sigh of relief.The good and good Negroes seem to be really depressed in this shark's mouth!
From "Jawbone Point" to the mouth of the "Grateful River" seems to be only eight nautical miles.So, with a back crosswind, the Good Luck sailed toward Granite Palace, traveling a nautical mile along the coast.Soon there are sand dunes that seem to have piled up at random.It was also strange that the engineer was found among the dunes.Hundreds of birds often come here to rest.

About four o'clock Pencroft put the headland of the isle to his left, and thus entered the channel between the isle and the shore.At five o'clock, the "Lucky" dropped anchor on the sandy beach at the mouth of the "Grateful River".

It has been three days since everyone went out to investigate.Ayrton and Master Jupp greeted them on the sand.Master Zhu Pu was very happy about their return, and kept making cheerful noises from his mouth.

Thus the whole survey of the coast of the island was completed, and nothing suspicious was found.If there is a mysterious person living on the island, it can only be in the depths of the dense forest of the Serpentine Peninsula, which has not yet been surveyed.

Jardin Splane and the engineers discussed these things.They talked of the strangest things that had happened on the island, but the last one in particular was the most wonderful.So, the two decided to let everyone pay attention to this matter.More than a score of times Cyrus Harding asked the reporter about a stranger who had kindled a fire on the shore:
(End of this chapter)