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

Chapter 172 The Mysterious Island (57)
There are two valleys in the northern part of "Franklin Peak". These two valleys are very wide but not very deep. Obsidian and feldspar rocks, but no greenery in sight.For immigrants, this part of the survey is time-consuming and laborious.There are hundreds of caves, which are not suitable for habitation, but are very hidden and difficult to get through.The settlers even inspected the dark tunnels that had existed since the time of the eruption, and are still dark because of the flames that spewed from them in the past, and these tunnels went deep into the highlands of "Franklin Peak".The emigrants ran through these dark passages, looking around with torches, and even searched even the smallest caves and places where there was only a little depth.But all they saw was a silent darkness, as if no one had stepped in these ancient passages, or moved a single rock in them.In fact, the rocks remain as they were when the volcanoes ejected them out of the water when the island emerged.

Although these underground structures looked very desolate and dark, Cyrus Harding had to admit that there were still some sounds inside.

Some of these dark caves extend hundreds of meters into the mountains.When he reached the end of one, the engineer was surprised to hear a low rumbling sound, which became even louder because of the reverberating effect of the rocks.

Jardine Splain, who had been with him all the time, also heard this rumble in the distance, which could only explain one problem, that is, the underground fire was rekindling.The two listened to it several times, and finally agreed that some kind of chemical reaction was brewing deep on the surface of the earth.

"So the volcano has not completely extinguished?" the reporter said.

"I think that since we surveyed the crater," replied Cyrus Harding, "new changes may have taken place under the surface. There are no absolutely extinct volcanoes in the world, and any extinct volcano is likely to re-emerge. "

"But if 'Franklin Peak' were to erupt," Jardin Splane asked, "would there be any danger to 'Lincoln Island'?"

"I don't think so," the engineer replied, "with a crater, it is equivalent to having a safety valve, and the excess steam and magma under the surface can be vented from here, and they used to go through this exit .”

"Or there is another possibility that these magmas have opened up a new exit to the fertile part of the island!"

"Why do you think so, my dear Sprine," replied Cyrus Harding, "why don't they follow the usual channel?"

"Hey! You know volcanoes are capricious!" replied the reporter.

"Please note," the engineer added, "'Franklin Peak' has an inclination, which makes it easier for these materials to flow into the valley we are investigating at this time. Unless there is an earthquake, it is possible to change the center of gravity of the mountain. and change their flow."

"But in this case, earthquakes can happen at any time." Jardin Splane pointed out this point.

"You are right," replied the engineer, "especially when the subterranean powers are awakening after a long dormancy, and some obstacles are encountered in the heart of the earth. Therefore, my dear Spline, in this case , a volcanic eruption may be a huge disaster for us, it is best that this volcano does not have the idea of ​​waking up! But we can't stop it even if it does wake up, can't we? In short, no matter what happens, I think we The territory of "Prospect Heights" will not be threatened. Because the terrain between "Prospect Heights" and "Franklin Peak" has always been very low, if the magma really flows towards "Grant Lake", they will also fall on the Near 'The Dunes' and 'Shark Bay'."

"On the summit, we haven't seen any smoke that would suggest an eruption is imminent."

"No indeed," replied Cyrus Harding, "no smoke of any kind is certain to come from the crater, for I happened to have observed it carefully yesterday. The lower part of the pipe has accumulated some rocks, ash, and hardened magma, and as more and more accumulate, the safety valve I just mentioned will definitely be overloaded. After a violent explosion, any obstacle will be destroyed. will disappear, and I bet you, my dear Spline, that neither the islands that serve as boilers nor the volcanoes that serve as chimneys will explode under the pressure of the gases. Still, I must say that it is better not to erupt occur."

"But we didn't hear it wrong," the reporter said again, "we can clearly hear the low rumbling sound coming from the inside of the volcano."

"You are right," replied the engineer.He listened intently for a while again, "There is nothing to doubt... There is a reaction inside, but we can neither estimate the magnitude of its force nor the possible consequences it may bring."

Cyrus Harding and Jardine Splaine joined their companions when they came out, and told them all this.

"Well!" cried Pencroft, "the Volcano will not be left alone! Let it come! Someone will take care of it!"

"Who can take care of it?" asked Neb.

"Our good Patronus, Neb, is our Patronus. He'll keep it shut, even if it's only pretending to erupt!"

It is not difficult to see from this incident that the sailors are very devout to the unique patron saint of the island.This, of course, is also understandable, and so far this god has several times exerted his immense, inexplicable and mysterious power, which seems to be infinite.But he was also very good at evading the scrutiny of the settlers.For, in spite of their best efforts, in spite of the zeal of their expedition even to the point of perseverance, they were unable to discover any strange hidden abode.

From February 2th to 19th, they expanded the scope of the search to the entire northern part of "Lincoln Island".Even the most secret recesses were spared, and even the rocky walls above the sea were searched, pounding the rocks one by one, like the police investigating the walls of a suspicious house.Engineers even precisely mapped the entire mountain, pushing the search all the way to the edge.In this way they carried their surveys up to the top of the volcano's cone, where the first layer of rock ends, and then up to the ridge of the great hat, where the crater is located.

They did not stop there, they also surveyed the abyss, and though it was still extinguished at this time, a distinct rumble could be heard coming from the depths.However, no smoke coils, no steam rises, and the walls do not heat up.All in all, there are no signs of a volcanic eruption anytime soon.But here, or anywhere else on "Franklin Peak," the settlers found no trace of the man they were looking for.

Next, they went to search the entire dune area.Despite the difficulty of reaching the flats of Shark Bay, they carefully examined the lava cliffs that towered over the bay, from base to top.However, there is no one!Nothing at all!

In short, the above conclusion shows that what they have done during this period is useless work-a lot of hard work and perseverance that has not produced any results.Cyrus Harding and his companions were dismayed, and even a little angry.Plans had to be made to go home now, for the search could not go on indefinitely.

The settlers are now convinced that the mysterious figure must not be living on the surface of the island.As a result, they couldn't help thinking about it, and even had some of the craziest hypotheses in their minds.Especially Pencroft and Neb, in their view, this matter is not only very mysterious, but also may contain many supernatural mysteries.

On February 2, the migrants returned safely to Granite Palace.Using bows and arrows, they shot the double-strand rope onto the platform where the door stood, and the connection between the "Granite Palace" and the ground was restored.

Just one month later, on March 3th, they came together to celebrate their third anniversary on "Lincoln Island"!
new shipbuilding program
It had been three years since the captives had escaped from Richmond.In these three years, how many times they have talked about the motherland that often appears in their minds!

No one doubts that the civil war is over.They agreed that the just cause of the Union Army would surely prevail.But what exactly will happen in this terrible war?How much did it cost people?Did any of their friends lose their lives in battle?This is what they often talk about.But at this time, they don't know when they will be able to return to their homeland.Back to the motherland, even if only for a few days.Restore contact with the world they are familiar with, and establish a relationship of affiliation between the motherland and the island, and then spend the rest of their lives on this immigrant land created by them, which will belong to the capital in the future, and at the same time It's also the best time.Is this dream also unrealizable?
Their dream, it seems, can only be realized in two ways: Either a boat will appear in the waters of "Lincoln Island" one day, or the immigrants can build a boat with a strong structure, good sea performance, and can sail until recently. ship on land.

Said Pencroft: "Unless God sends us a means of transport home!"

Indeed, Pencroft and Neb would not have shown any surprise had they been told that a three-hundred-ton ship was waiting for them at Shark Bay or Balloon Harbour.In their minds, whatever happens doesn't elicit any surprise looks for them.

But Cyrus Harding was not optimistic. He advised his friends to come back to reality and plan the shipbuilding together.This is the most realistic and urgent thing right now.A document stating that Ayrton lived in the new residence was also to be sent to Tabor Island as soon as possible.

The "Lucky" is no longer there, and it will take at least half a year to build a new ship.But winter is here, and it seems that this trip can only be made in the next spring.

"That will give us time to sail in the fair season," said the engineer, who was talking to Pencroft about these matters, "so I think, my friend, that since we are going to rebuild a boat, we'd better make it bigger. It is doubtful whether the Scotch yacht will be able to reach Tabor Island. It may even have left there many months ago, since there was no trace of Ayrton. So shouldn't a boat be built? It could transport us to Polynesia or New Zealand if necessary. What do you think?"

"We have plenty of time to get everything ready before the weather gets warmer," the engineer said.Afterwards, talking of these things with Pencroft, he said: "I think so, my friends, if we're going to rebuild a boat anyway, it'd be better to make it bigger. Can a Scotch yacht go to Tabor Island, It seems to be a problem. It may have left there many months ago, because there was no trace of Ayrton there. So we must build a boat! If necessary, it can take us to Polynesia or New Zealand. What do you think?"

"I think so, Mr. Cyrus," replied the sailor, "as we can build a small boat, we can build a big one. We have all the wood, tools, and so on, but it takes a little longer."

Cyrus Harding asked: "How long will it take to build a ship of 250 to [-] tons?"

Pencroft replied: "It may take seven or eight months, but now, winter is here. Wood is not easy to work in cold weather, and we had better plan to stop work for a few weeks. If the ship can be in time It will be very good if it is completed before November next year.”

"Very well," replied Cyrus Harding, "that the weather was just favorable for a most important crossing, perhaps to Tabor Island, and perhaps to further land."

"Well, Mr. Cyrus," replied the sailor, "then you begin to plan, and all are ready, and I think that Ayrton will help us in time."

As a result of the discussions among the immigrants, everyone agreed with the engineer's plan, and in fact, they had no choice.That's right, it is no small matter to build a ship of [-] to [-] tons.But the immigrants are self-confident, and the successes they have achieved prove that self-confidence is not blind.

Cyrus Harding was soon at work on drawings and dimensions.Meanwhile, the rest of the companions went all out cutting and transporting timber.These timbers will be fashioned into curves, ribs and hull plating.The generous Far West forests provided them with fine species of oak and elm.They made a passable road through the gap which had been opened by their last excursion, and they named it the Far West Road, and they carried the timber they felled to the Chimney, where the ship-building was done. There.As for the road called Far West, it is not straight.Due to the choice of trees, it shows an irregular bend, but in this way, it is convenient to go to the "serpentine peninsula"

The first thing to do is to cut and saw the trees right away, as they are useless when they are green.After a period of air drying, they can gradually harden.The carpenters toiled hard throughout April, only slowed down by disturbances during the equinoxes, when a few rather violent winds blew.Master Zhupu tried every means to help everyone. He climbed to the top of the tree to fix the logging rope for a while, and used his strong shoulders to carry the cut trunk.The felled wood was piled under a large wooden shed, which was built next to the "chimney", next to the shipbuilding site.The wood is there waiting to be used.

The weather in April is often sunny, as it is in October in the northern hemisphere.At the same time, the work in the field is also proceeding in an orderly manner.It didn't take long for all traces of destruction to be erased from "Looking Heights".The mill was rebuilt and new buildings were erected on the site of the poultry farm.It seems necessary to rebuild to a large size because of the joyous observation that the poultry population is increasing considerably.There are now five wild donkeys tied up in the barn, four of them are strong and well-trained, and can be harnessed or ridden, and the other is a newborn wild donkey.A plow was added to the implements of the field, and the fields were plowed with wild asses as lightly as with Yoken or Kentucky oxen.Immigrants all have their own jobs, and all of them are constantly busy.It can be seen how healthy these workers are, and how happy they will be in the "Granite Palace" under the night, planning their future!
It can be seen that Ayrton is completely integrated into the collective life.He no longer considered the problem of going to the "corral" to live alone.However, he is still depressed and hides his feelings.He usually just works with his companions instead of sharing the joy with them.He was quick at work, and everyone respected and loved him because he was strong, nimble, alert, and clever.It is impossible for him not to know this.

"The Corral" didn't go unnoticed for being busy building boats.Every two days, an immigrant would be sent to drive or ride a donkey to tend the blue sheep and goat herds, and bring back milk to replenish Naboo's pantry.This is an excursion, but also a good opportunity for hunting.Therefore, Hubbert and Jardine Splane will take Top with them.On the way to the "corral" they ran more than any of their companions.They carry their own weapons.As a result, capybaras, agouti, kangaroos and wild boars, as large as wild ducks, pheasants, grouse, woodpeckers and sand pheasants, often appear on everyone's dinner plate.There are also products from the "rabbit farm", products from the "oyster farm", and a few sea turtles caught, as well as delicious salmon caught in the "Thanksgiving River", vegetables from "Looking Heights", forests All kinds of wild fruits and so on in the garden, this sum of wealth, just storing them has already made the master Neb very busy.

The telegraph wires between the Corral and Granite Palace had long since been repaired.Perhaps someday an immigrant who is in the "corral" and deems it necessary to spend the night there will tell them by telegram.Happily, the island is now safe and one no longer has to worry about any encroachment - especially from humans.

However, what happened will happen again.Still can't stop guarding against the landing of pirates or even escaped criminals.It is possible that Bob Harvey's associates, imprisoned on Norfolk Island, knew the details of his plans and attempted to follow suit.The settlers never ceased to observe the landing points of the islands.Every day they used their telescopes to survey the vast horizon, especially the "United States Bay" and "Washington Bay".When they went to the "corral," they surveyed the west side of the sea with equal detail, and having climbed the branch of the ridge, their sight opened up to a large area of ​​western sea level.Although nothing suspicious has been found yet, it is extremely necessary to remain vigilant at all times.

(End of this chapter)