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

Chapter 179 The Mysterious Island (64)
Cyrus Smith said: "It doesn't mean anything. The fire in the depths of the volcano is still fierce, and the sea will rush in at any time. We are now like passengers. The ship we are on is on fire, and we can do nothing. The fire will burn sooner or later. To the powder magazine! Do it, Spline, do it, there's no time to lose!"

Until February 2, that is, within a week, the magma continued to spread, but the degree of danger did not seem to have changed, neither getting heavier nor lighter.Cyrus Harding feared above all that lava would spread to the sand, and that the shipyards would surely suffer.At the same time, everyone also felt the tremor of the island, which made them very worried.

Fast forward to February 2th.It will take another month for the ship to set sail.Can Kojima survive until then?Pencroft and Cyrus Harding planned to launch the boat as soon as it was sealed.The key now is to let everyone have a safe and reliable guarantee outside the island. Those decks, ship sides, interior arrangements and sail rigging can wait until later. The mouth of the "Grateful River" is between the islet and the granite cliffs, and if the boat stops there, it will be crushed if the island collapses.Therefore, it would be best if the ship could be sailed to the "Balloon Harbor", as long as it could stay away from the center of the volcanic eruption.So, everyone worked hard to complete the hull.

In this way, on March 3rd, the boat will be launched in ten days or so, and hope is raised in everyone's hearts.

This is the fourth year for everyone to come to the island.In the last year, they endured too many hardships!Ever since the isle was devastated, Pencroft had been sullen and morose.Now that the ship was almost ready, Pencroft began to smile.Therefore, he only had this boat in his heart, and he didn't think about or ask about other things, and pinned all his hopes on this boat.

He said to the engineer: "We will make it, we will make it, Mr. Cyrus, and it will be done soon, the season will be over, and the autumnal equinox will be approaching. When it is done, we can make it Anchored at Tabor Island, and spent the winter there! But what will become of Tabor Island afterwards! Alas! What a misfortune I am! How could such a thing have happened to me!"

The engineer replied without changing his face: "Quickly do it!"

So, everyone worked at full speed.

A few days later Neb asked, "Master, would all this have happened if Captain Nemo had lived?"

"Yes, Neb," replied Cyrus Harding.

Pencroft whispered in Neb's ear, "Well, I see, no!"

Neb said seriously, "I think so too!"

In early March, "Franklin Peak" was scary again.After the thin magma erupted, it fell on the ground like countless glass strands, like rain.The magma filled the crater again, and the magma flowed to the back of the volcano.Lava flowed quickly over the hardened tuff surface, and the trees that survived the first eruption were finally destroyed this time.This time, the magma flowed along the southwest bank of "Grant Lake", poured toward the "Glycerine River", and submerged "Looking Hill".This is the most terrible thing. The whole fruits of everyone's labor, like mills, poultry yards, and stables, all disappear into nothing.The poultry scattered and fled in terror.Top and Jup also screamed in terror.The instinct of animals makes them know that disaster is coming.Many animals on the island died during the first eruption.The surviving animals took refuge in "Duck Swamp", and only a few took refuge in "Prospect Heights".But this last hiding place was also lost at last, and the lava flow overflowing the ridge of the granite cliff began to pour its fiery torrent onto the sand.The horror of the scene is hard to describe in words.At night, it's like Niagara Falls made of lava.Steam is boiling above, and magma is boiling below!
In a last resort of self-defense, they decided to launch the boat even though the gaps in the upper part of the boat had not been filled!

Pencroft and Ayrton were hastening preparations for the launch, which was planned for the next morning, March 3th.

However, on the night of the 8th and 9th, a huge column of steam suddenly burst out of the crater, rising to an altitude of more than 3000 feet, accompanied by a terrible explosion.Under the pressure of the gas, the rock wall of the Dhaka cave cracked, and the seawater entered the bottom of the volcano through the volcanic tunnel, stirring up a large amount of water vapor.Because the crater is not big enough, the water vapor is difficult to escape, and the big bang happened in an instant.The sound of the explosion shook the air layer and could be heard even at a distance of a hundred nautical miles.The broken rocks fell into the Pacific Ocean, and within a few minutes, the Pacific Ocean engulfed the place once known as "Lincoln Island".

Finally rescued
The entire "Granite Palace" collapsed, the rock wall fell, and several rocks in the hall were piled up to form a commanding height, and this lone stone stood on it.Thirty feet long, fifteen feet wide, and barely ten feet above the water, it was the only safe place not to be submerged in the sea.

That's all that's left of Granite House Heights!Everything around it is gone: Prospect Heights, the volcanic cones below the shattered Franklin Peak, the Isle of Safety, the lava jaws of Shark Bay, the basalts of the Dhaka Basement, the basalts of Balloon Harbor. Granite, long "serpentine peninsula", and it is so far away from the center of the eruption!Now, of all "Lincoln Island," only this tiny rock was visible, and it provided refuge for the six companions and their dog, Top.

Animals were killed in the disaster, and the birds were either crushed or drowned like other animals.Sadly, Jupo got stuck in a crack somewhere in the ground and died too!
Cyrus Harding, Jardin Splane, Harbert, Pencroft, Neb, and Ayrton escaped, because they had been assembled in their tents at the time of the explosion, and they were thrown overboard.

When they surfaced, all they could see was this pile of rocks halfway up the chain.So they swam up and took a stand on it.

They have been living on this pile of bare stones for nine days.They only survived on the little food prepared before the disaster and the little rainwater stored in the rocky recesses.Their last hope, the ship, was also smashed.There is no way for them to leave the reef.There is no fire, and there is no way to make fire.They are doomed to perish!

On March 3, they only had enough canned food left for two days.Although they are extremely frugal.Under such conditions, no matter how clever and wise they are, it is useless.Their fate is completely out of their control.

Cyrus Harding, unmoved, Jardine Splane somewhat excited, and Pencroft somewhat angry, walked up and down the rock.Hubbert followed the engineer closely, and kept looking at him, as if begging him for help, but there was nothing he could do.Neb and Ayrton looked resigned.

Pencroft said to himself: "Ah! what a misfortune! what a misfortune! If anything would have taken us to Tabor Island, even a walnut shell! But nothing, nothing!"

Neb once said, "Captain Nemo's death was just in time!"

For the next five days Cyrus Harding and his companions lived very sparingly, and ate only a little food, in order not to die of hunger.Their bodies are extremely weak.Hubbert and Neb even began to hallucinate.

In such a crisis, can they still have a chance?Certainly not!What is their only chance of survival?Will a ship appear nearby?They know very well that no boat will visit here!Could the Scottish Yacht happen to be looking for Ayrton at Tabor Island at this very hour?It can't be such a coincidence.Besides, even if it had been found, there had not been time for any letters to be sent to inform Ayrton of the change of residence.In this way, the yacht will leave Tabor Island and go to the sea area it plans to go to after searching the island without any results.

No!They have no hope of being rescued, and what awaits them is death of hunger and thirst!

And now they are as powerless as dead, they can only lie on this rock, unable to pay attention to everything that is happening around them.Only Ayrton raised his head with all his strength, and took a last look at the desolate sea...

A miracle happened. On the morning of March 3, Ayrton stretched his arm forward to a point. He lifted himself up with difficulty, first kneeling, then standing, waving his hands as if signaling...

I actually saw a boat!The ship's voyage is not aimless, its goal is the reef, and it is now sailing at full speed towards this goal.If you still have the strength to look between the sea and the sky, you should have seen it a few hours ago.

Ayrton murmured: "'Duncan'!" After speaking, as if exhausting all his strength, he fell down on the rock and remained motionless.

Under intensive care, Cyrus Harding and his companions slowly came to life.They found themselves in a cabin, but they did not know how they were rescued.

Ayrton said three words, and they understood everything.

Ayrton murmured: "The 'Duncan'!"

Cyrus Harding said: "The 'Duncan'!"

After speaking, he raised his arms and shouted: "Ah! Great God! You saved us!"

It was indeed Sir Glenarvan's yacht, the "Duncan," commanded by Captain Grant's son Robert.He is sent to Tabor Island to find Ayrton, hoping to bring him back 12 years after his atonement...

Everyone is saved and they are already on their way back!
Cyrus Harding asked: "Captain Robert, when you failed to find Ayrton at Tabor Island, how did you think of leaving there and sailing a hundred miles to the northeast?"

Robert Grant replied: "It is not only for Ayrton, Mr. Cyrus, but for you and your companion!"

"Me and my companion?"

"Yes! You are on 'Lincoln Island'!"

"'Lincoln Island'!" exclaimed Jardine Splane, Harbert, Neb, and Pencroft simultaneously in astonishment.

Cyrus Harding asked: "Why do you know 'Lincoln Island'? The island is not marked on the map now!"

Captain Grant replied: "I know from the letter you left on Tabor Island."

"letter?"

Robert Grant took out a letter and replied: "Yes, this is it." The letter pointed out the location of 'Lincoln Island' with longitude and latitude, and attached a caption: Said it was "Ayrton Island". and the current residence of the five Americans."

Cyrus Harding read the letter and said: "Captain Nemo! . . . " He recognized this letter as the one he had found in the "corral" as the same hand!

"Ah," said Pencroft, "that he used our 'Lucky', and ventured alone to Tabor Island! . . . "

"Just to deliver the letter," said Hubbert.

The sailor shouted: "I'm really right. Even if the captain is dead, he will help us one last time!"

Cyrus said excitedly: "Friends, may the merciful God have mercy on the soul of our benefactor Captain Nemo!"

At this speech of Cyrus Harding, all hats were removed, and the captain's name was murmured.

At this moment, Ayrton approached the engineer and said briskly, "Where should this box be placed?"

The box was rescued by Ayrton at the risk of his life when the island sank, and he handed it over to the engineer intact.

Cyrus Harding was still more excited, and only called his name: "Ayrton! Ayrton!"

Then he said to Robert Grant: "You have left behind a criminal, and now you have brought back a good man, and I am so proud to be friends with him!"

Thus, Robert Grant knew the legend of Captain Nemo and the refugees of "Lincoln Island".Then, he probed the position of the reef.From then on, this reef will appear on the map of the Pacific Ocean and be known to all the old captains.Then he ordered the ship to turn around and return to land.

Half a month later, everyone got off the ship in the United States.They returned to the embrace of the motherland.That terrible civil war, in which justice and power prevailed in the end, is now settled.

Most of the treasures in the box presented by Captain Nemo were used by everyone to buy a large piece of land in Iowa, and one of the most dazzling pearls was kept to be sent back to the country by the "Duncan" to Lady Glenarvan in the names of the victims.

On the piece of land they bought, they gathered together those who, to create wealth and happiness together, they intended to entertain in "Lincoln Island."They named it after the ruined island in the deep Pacific Ocean.There is a clear river called "Grateful River"; there is a mountain named "Franklin Peak"; there is a lake, which is "Grant Lake" that has completely disappeared; West Forest".This is like a "Lincoln Island" in the land.

Thanks to the hard work of engineers and partners, everything there prospers.All the friends who lived and died on "Lincoln Island" were there because they swore to live together forever.Neb followed wherever he was master; Ayrton was ready to give himself; Pencroft was better a farmer than a sailor; Harbert had completed all his studies under Cyrus Harding; And Jardine Splane founded the New Lincoln Island Herald, the most accurate newspaper in the world.

On this land Cyrus Harding and friends received many times Sir and Lady Glenarvan, Captain John Mengel and his wife, sister of Robert Grant, and Robert Grant himself, and Major McNabbs, and all those who had been connected with the events of Captain Grant and Captain Nemo, were received with great enthusiasm.

In this land, everyone lives a happy life.They are united and fraternal, just as they were before.As for "Lincoln Island", they will never forget it in their lives.When they first arrived, they were empty-handed and had nothing.In just four years, this treasure island provided them with all the basic necessities of life.But now there is only one piece of granite that has been washed by the waves of the Pacific Ocean-the tombstone of Captain Nemo!

Mysterious Island (End)
(End of this chapter)