Таинственный остров / The Mysterious Island. Уровень 2. Жюль ВернЧитать онлайн книгу.

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let us call it Shark Gulf[30].

      – Good, – said Pencroff, – and we may

      call the two capes North Mandible[31] and South Mandible[32]. Now we must name the southwestern extremity of the island.

      – Claw Cape[33], – suggested Neb.

      The river with fresh water they called the Mercy[34]. The islet on which they first arrived, was Safety Island[35]; the plateau at the top of the high granite wall above the Chimneys, Prospect Plateau[36]. And, finally, the woods which covered Serpentine Peninsula, the Forests of the Far West[37].

      The colonists were going to descend the mountain, when Pencroff cried:

      – We forgot to name our island!

      Cyrus Smith said quietly:

      – Let us call it Lincoln Island[38]!

      Chapter XII

      The colonists of Lincoln Island walked around the verge of the crater. Half an hour afterwards they were again upon the lower plateau. Pencroff thought it was breakfast time.

      As they were leaving the plateau, Smith wished to explore Lake Grant. About 10 o’clock the little company descended the last declivities of Mount Franklin. A few bushes and trees were scattered over the ground. They were walking on a yellowish soil. Suddenly they saw Herbert, he was running back.

      – What’s the matter, my boy? – said Spilett.

      – Smoke, – answered Herbert. – We saw smoke, a hundred steps in front.

      – Men in this region! – cried the reporter.

      – Where is Top? – answered Smith.

      – Top is on ahead.

      – And did it bark?

      – No.

      – That is strange.

      They saw, indeed, some smoke.

      – You see, – said Smith, – It is nothing but a sulphur spring[39], it is good for our sore throats.

      The colonists walked towards the smoke. They beheld a spring of sulphate of soda, which flowed among the rocks. Smith dipped his hand into the spring and found it oily.

      The colonists walked towards the thick border of the forest. There they saw a brook with bright waters between high, reddish banks. Its color showed the presence of oxide of iron. They named the water course Red Creek[40]. It was a large mountain brook, deep and clear. Its water was fresh.

      They saw some mountain pheasants. Some crows and magpies flew about. The colonists had nothing but stones and sticks. Suddenly some kangaroos leaped away through the underbrush.

      – Can you eat them? – said Pencroff.

      – They make a delicious stew, – said the reporter.

      The sailor with Neb and Herbert rushed after the kangaroos. Soon they came back.

      – You see, Mr. Smith, – said Pencroff, – we need guns. Will it be possible to make them?

      – Perhaps, – replied the engineer; – but first we will make bows and arrows.

      Top rushed hither and thither. About 3 o’clock Top disappeared into the bushes, from which came grunts and growls. Neb rushed in. Top was greedily devouring an animal. It was an agouti[41], an American hare with long ears.

      – Hurrah! – cried Pencroff, – the roast is here; now we can go back to the house.

      The lake appeared before them. They were now on its left bank, and a picturesque region opened to their view. The smooth sheet of water, about seven miles in circumference and 250 acres in extent. It lay among the trees. To the north the curve of the lake was concave. The waters of the lake were fresh and limpid, somewhat dark, and were evidently full of fish.

      – How beautiful this lake is! – said Spilett. – We can live on its banks.

      – We will live there! – answered Smith.

      The colonists went down. After a two miles’ walk they came upon the thick turf of the plateau, and saw before them the infinite ocean. It was now half past 4. The party reached the Chimneys by the left bank of the Mercy. Then the fire was lighted, and Neb and Pencroff broiled the agouti. Smith drew from his pocket some minerals, and said quietly,

      – My friends, this is iron ore, this a pyrite, this is clay, this is limestone, this is charcoal.

      Chapter XIII

      First, it was necessary to make an oven.

      – Why oven? – asked Pencroff.

      – To make the pottery, – replied Smith.

      – And how will we make an oven?

      – With bricks.

      – And how will we make the bricks?

      – With the clay.

      – I need a knife! – cried the sailor, – I can make a bow and arrows.

      – A knife. Something that will cut, – said the engineer. – Come here, Top, – he called.

      The dog bounded to his master, and Smith took off its collar. He broke it into halves, and said:

      – Here are two knives, Pencroff.

      Top’s collar was made from steel. They will sharpen it!

      The engineer decided to return to the western bank of the lake, where he saw the clay. They crossed Prospect Plateau, and after a walk, they arrived at a glade. On the way, Herbert discovered a tree from which the South American Indians make bows. The ground was composed of that clay which is used for bricks and tiles. The labor was not difficult. It was only necessary to clean the clay of sand, mould the bricks, and then bake them before a wood fire.

      During the two days they hunted in the neighborhood, very successfully. Pencroff had dozens of arrows with very sharp points. Top brought a porcupine, it had perfect quills[42]. The men fastened those quills to the ends of the arrows. Soon they got enough food.

      By the 9th of April the engineer had about enough bricks. They, therefore, began at once the construction of an oven. Five days later, the oven was supplied with coal. The colonists moulded pots and mugs, plates and jars, tubs and vessels. Their form was rude and defective, but they finally had real kitchen utensils.

      The work lasted until the 15th of April. The colonists became potters. This evening the colonists were seating in the central chamber. Neb prepared some agouti soup. Before going to sleep, the party went to the beach. It was 8 o’clock, and the night was magnificent. The moon was shining above the constellations. For some moments the engineer gazed at it attentively. Then he said:

      – Tomorrow will be one of the four days in the year when the mean and real time are the same. Tomorrow the sun will pass the meridian. If, therefore, the weather is clear, I think I will be able to tell the longitude of the island.

      The next day the engineer began his astronomical observation. He chose a smooth dry place upon the sand. Smith knelt down upon the sand and began to mark the decrease in the length

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