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

Chapter 170 The Mysterious Island (55)
They found some traces left by the criminals in the forest.For example, there was a pile of bonfires that seemed to have been extinguished recently. The immigrants found some footprints beside the bonfire. They observed carefully and measured their length and width one by one. It was easy to see that these footprints were Five men remained.The five convicts had evidently camped here some time ago, but they failed to discover a sixth footprint—which was the purpose of their careful study of footprints, and if there was a sixth footprint, it was Ayrton's.

"Ayrton was not with them!" said Harbert.

"Yes," replied Pencroft, "if he is not with them, he must have been killed by those rascals! But those rascals don't even have a nest, otherwise we could round them up like tigers." !"

"I think that's right," the reporter replied, "They may choose to wander around, just wandering aimlessly until the moment they become the masters of the island!"

"Master of the island!" cried the sailor, "Master of the island! .Then, his voice calmed down:

"Mr. Cyrus, do you know which bullet I loaded into the chamber?"

"I don't know, Pencroft!"

"It's the sinful bullet that pierced Hubbert's chest, I swear to you, I will hit the target with it!"

Although revenge is just, it cannot bring Ayrton back from the dead.After examining the footprints left on the ground, they were in despair - never to see Ayrton again!

They bivouaced that night fourteen miles from Granite House, and Cyrus Harding calculated that they were now probably within five miles of Snaketail Point.

Sure enough, the next day they reached the extremity of the peninsula, having successfully traversed the forest longitudinally, without finding either the hideout of the criminals, or the refuge of the mysterious benefactor.

ayrton is back
During the next day, February 2, the whole wooded part was surveyed.This part of the forest is from "Snaketail Point" to the coast of the Falls River.Its breadth is not great, perhaps three or four miles, for it is sandwiched between the two coasts of the Serpentine Peninsula.Thus, the settlers were able to search the forest thoroughly.The trees here have tall trunks and luxuriant branches.This means that the land here is more fertile than in any other part of the island.If you only look at this small piece of forest, you will really think that you are in the virgin forest of America or Central Africa in the temperate zone.The immigrants speculated that in this geothermal land with a wet surface and a volcanic interior, these beautiful plants must have received more heat than the temperate zone.The common tree species in this area are precisely those tall Cali pine and eucalyptus.

But the priority for the immigrants now is not to admire these majestic and beautiful plants.In this respect, "Lincoln Island" definitely qualifies to be included among the first class of islands such as the Canary Islands, which were originally called the Pleasure Islands.But now, alas!It is a pity that this beautiful island no longer belongs to them completely.Other criminals have taken it, these daring bandits are trampling the land and must be wiped out.

On the West Coast, no trace of the migrants has been found, despite their careful search.There were no footprints, no signs of broken trees, no cooling ash and abandoned camps, and it looked like the bandits hadn't been in the area.

"There is nothing strange about this," explained Cyrus Harding to his companions, "that the convicts landed at first near Drift Head, and then they crossed the Duck-Duck Moor, and immediately entered Far West Forest. They took a route familiar to us, roughly the same stretch of road we took after we left Granite House. That would explain the tracks we saw in the woods. But after the convicts finally reached the seashore , quickly realized they couldn't find a hidden hiding place there, and turned back north, only to stumble across the 'corral'..."

"I suppose they may have returned to the 'corral' again..." said Pencroft.

"I don't think so," said the engineer, "because they'll think we're going to search over there. The 'corral' isn't safe that way, it's just a supply depot for them, not a A camp for long stays."

"I think Cyrus is right," said the reporter. "I think the criminals must have built their lair among the spurs of 'Franklin Peak.'"

"In that case, Mr. Cyrus, let us go straight to the Corral!" cried Pencroft. "Kill these bastards, and the matter will be over, and we have been wasting our time so far!"

"Why, my friend," replied the engineer, "you forget that we have come here for another purpose, and that is to see if there is some secret abode in the forests of the Far West. We have a double purpose, Pencroft. On the one hand we have to punish the criminals, and on the other hand we have to pay that strange benefactor!"

"Very true, Mr. Cyrus," replied the sailor, "but I reserve my opinion, and unless he himself wishes, we shall never find that gentleman!"

What Pencroft said was the opinion of all.It might indeed be so, that the hermitage of the strange benefactor was as mysterious and elusive as he himself!
That night the wagon stopped at the mouth of the Falls River.As usual, they made arrangements for bivouac and took the usual night protection measures.Herbert's health was fully restored, and he was as active as before his illness.Needless to say, this outdoor life was of great benefit to him, with the Atlantic breeze and the fresh wood air.Now he is no longer sitting in the cart, but walking in the front of the line.

The next day, February 2, the migrants packed up and left the coast.On the other side of the estuary on the coast, various basalt rocks are piled together to form a strange scene.They traveled upstream from the left bank.As they had previously hiked from the "corral" down to the west coast, the road had been partially cleared and the pace of travel was a little faster.The migrants are now six nautical miles from Franklin Peak.

The engineer's plan was as follows: first carefully survey the entire valley that formed the river bed, and advance cautiously with the action team to the vicinity of the "corral"; if the "corral" has been occupied by the gangsters, then use force Take it back, and if you are lucky and the "corral" has not been occupied, then build a fort there and turn it into a stronghold, and the goal of the operation is to survey "Franklin Peak".The settlers are unanimous in favor of this plan, and they can't wait to regain absolute control of their island!

The settlers walked along a canyon that separated the two largest spurs of Mount Franklin.On the banks of the river, the trees grow densely, but on the slopes near the volcano, the trees are sparser.This mountain is rugged and changeable, very suitable for ambushes, so everyone is extremely cautious when venturing here.As scouts, Top and Jup pounced into the thick undergrowth on the left and right, jumping around in a competition of wit and agility.However, there were no signs of recent visits to the Jia'an area, nor were there any leftover items to indicate the presence of criminals here or nearby.

About five o'clock in the afternoon the cart stopped about six hundred paces from the fence.At this time, the fence was blocked by a row of semicircular trees, and no one could see it yet.Now someone must be sent to look at the "corral" to see if it is occupied.But you really have to wait until the night falls, otherwise, if you walk over in bright light, if the criminals lie in ambush there, wouldn't it be a living target for the door, just like the case of Hubbert at that time.

On this occasion, however, Jardin Splain, unwilling to delay any longer, was impatient to look around the Corral, and Pencroft, always impatient, offered to accompany Splain on the scouting.

"No, my friends," said the engineer, "wait until dark. I will never let any of you take such a senseless adventure in broad daylight."

"Listen, Mr. Cyrus..." The sailor did not intend to obey.

"I beg you to take my advice, Pencroft," said the engineer.

"Forget it!" replied the sailor, finding another way to vent his anger.He lashed out at the criminals with the worst words in the sailor's vocabulary.

So the immigrants squatted around the cart, carefully guarding the part adjacent to the forest.Three hours passed quickly. At this time, the wind stopped and there was silence under the big tree.At this time, even if the tiniest branch is broken, a foot is stepped on a dead leaf, or someone slides his body in the grass, he can hear clearly.All was quiet about him, even the restless Top.It lay prone on the ground, its head resting quietly on its front paws, showing no signs of agitation.

By eight o'clock, it was already dark enough for the settlers to conduct their reconnaissance safely.Jardine Splane offered to set out himself, and Pencroft went with him.Cyrus Harding agreed.Top and Jup remained with the engineer, Harbert and Neb.Because, in such a quiet night, if they bark or bark inappropriately, they will startle each other.

"Be careful," Cyrus Harding told the sailors and reporters. "Your task is not to occupy the 'corral,' but to find out whether there are people in it."

"We understand," replied Pencroft.

So the two of them set off.

Here the trees were thick with foliage, and it was much darker under the trees than outside, and everything beyond thirty or forty feet was completely invisible.They advanced cautiously under the trees, and the reporter and Pencroft stopped at the first suspicious sound.

Keep a distance between the two people, so that the target is smaller and the chance of being shot is reduced.All in all, their nerves are tense, and they are always on guard against possible cold shots from the dark.

About five minutes after leaving the wagon, Jardine Splain and Pencroft came smoothly to the clearing at the edge of the woods.Across this clearing is the fence of the Corral.Here they stopped, a few faint rays of light on the bare grass.Thirty paces away was the gate to the Corral, which at this moment seemed to be closed.To use a term from ballistics, the thirty paces between the edge of the woods and the fence is a "danger zone."This danger zone lives up to its name, and at this distance a shot or two behind the fence can knock anyone who trespasses into it.

Jardin Splain and the sailor were not cowardly people, but they knew that if they accidentally exposed themselves, not only their own lives would be in danger, but also their companions waiting outside would be implicated.What of Cyrus Harding, Neb, and Harbert, if they were killed?
Pencroft believed that the criminals were hiding in the "corral", and at this moment they were very close to the "corral".He was a little emotional and wanted to rush forward, but fortunately the reporter reached out and held him firmly.

"It will be quite dark in a little while," whispered Jardine Splane in Pencroft's ear, "and we shall move then."

Pencroft gripped the butt of his gun restlessly.He was restraining his emotions as much as possible, complaining in a low voice while waiting.

Before long, the afterglow of the setting sun disappeared completely.The darkness seemed to emerge suddenly from the dense forest, and the whole glade was plunged into darkness. "Peak Franklin" stood like a great screen before the western sky, and darkness always quickly set in, as it did in other lower latitudes.The time for action has come.

The reporter and Pencroft did not take their eyes off the fence from the moment they reached the edge of the wood. There seemed to be no one in the “corral” at all.The top of the fence was a straight line, and it was a little darker than the surrounding shadows, but now it could be clearly seen that there was nothing blurry around the fence.And if the criminals were really hiding in the "corral", they would have sent someone to stand guard there to avoid any surprise attack.

Jardin Splane grabbed his companion's hand, and the two crawled toward the "corral" together.Their guns were always cocked.

At last they reached the door of the Corral, which was still pitch black, not a ray of light.

Pencroft tried to open the door, but it was closed, as he and the reporter had expected.Moreover, the sailors also discovered that the latch on the outside of the gate was not fastened.This led them to the conclusion that the criminals were hiding in the "corral" and that they had probably kept the door secure so no one could break in.

Jardine Splane and Pencroft listened for a while. No sound came from the Corral.The blue sheep and goats were probably asleep in the pen, so their presence did not disturb the tranquility of the night in the slightest.

The reporter and the sailor, hearing nothing, discussed in low voices whether they should climb over the fence and enter the "corral".To know that in doing so they were violating the instructions of Cyrus Harding.

Such ventures may indeed succeed, but they may also fail.Assuming the criminals haven't suspected anything by now, assuming they are unaware of the covert operations the immigrants are carrying out against them, this means, in short, that they have a great opportunity to launch a surprise attack, which they will lose if they jump the fence rashly. opportunity, is it worth it?
So journalists are not going to do that.He thought it appropriate to wait until the settlers had arrived before attacking the Corral.Now at least one thing is certain, and that is that they can go all the way to the fence without being seen, and the fence really doesn't look like it is guarded.Once this was cleared, it was time to go back to the wagon and tell my companions what had happened.

Pencroft probably agreed with this view, for he followed the reporter happily when he turned his head back.

After a few minutes, the engineer had some idea of ​​the current situation.

"Well then," he said after a few minutes of thought, "I now have reason to believe that the criminals are not currently in the Corral."

"We can prove it," replied Pencroft, "after we have passed the fence."

"Go to the Corral, my friends!" said Cyrus Harding.

"What about the cart? Leave it in the woods?" asked Neb.

"No," replied the engineer. "The cart is very important to us. It is our freight car, which also contains food and ammunition, and can also serve as a fortification if necessary."

"Then let's go!" said Jardine Splane.

The cart came out of the woods and drove quietly towards the fence.The night was now very dark and as still as it had been when Pencroft and the reporter had crawled away.The ground is dense and soft grass, so there is no sound of footsteps when walking.The settlers were ready to fight and ready to fire.Jupp obeyed Pencroft's orders and stayed behind.And Neb held Top by the hand, and kept him from going forward.

Soon there was a clearing in the forest, and there was no one there.The small troop walked quickly towards the fence.In just a short while, they walked through the danger zone.No shot was fired during this process.The cart came to a halt in front of the fence.Neb stood before the wild ass and led it.The engineer, the reporter, Harbert, and Pencroft moved towards the door to see if it was bolted from the inside.

But what did they see?A door was actually open!
"What's the matter?" the engineer turned to the sailor and Jardine Splane.

Both of them froze there.

"I swear on my life," said Pencroft, "that the door was shut!"

The immigrants hesitated.Were the criminals in the "corral" while Pencroft and the reporter scouted?There was no doubt about it, because the door was closed then, and now it was opened, and it must have been opened by the gangsters!So, are they still in there now, or did someone just get out?
These are the questions that pop up in the minds of immigrants, but what are the answers?

Hubbert, who had already taken a few steps into the fence, stepped back hastily, and grabbed Cyrus Smith's hand.

"What happened?" asked the engineer.

"There are lights in the house!"

"You mean in the house?"

"That's right!"

The five of them walked towards the door together, only to see a faint light shining through the window facing them.Cyrus Harding made up his mind quickly.

"This is a good opportunity," he whispered to his companions. "The criminals are all gathered in the house, and they don't expect what will happen! This time the initiative is in our hands, and they are dead this time! Come on! "

Migrants sneak into the fence with guns in hand.The cart was left outside guarded by Jup and Top, who the settlers had carefully tied to it.

Cyrus Harding, Pencroft, and Jardine Splane, on one side, and Neb and Harbert on the other, advanced simultaneously along the palisades, and searched the dark and lightless Corral.

Soon they came to the open door on the side of the house.

Cyrus Harding made a sign to his companions to stay where they were, and he approached the pane dimly lit by the light of the room.

He looked inside, the only room on the ground floor of the house.

A lantern was lit on the table.Beside the table was the bed in which Ayrton had slept.

And there was someone lying on the bed at the moment.

Cyrus Harding looked on incredulously, then stepped back a few steps, and shouted hoarsely:
"Ayrton!"

The door swung open, knocked open, not opened.Immigrants rushed into the room quickly.

(End of this chapter)