Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules VerneЧитать онлайн книгу.
of life, the constant struggle to supply their wants would teach them to regard life seriously, and as they were naturally designed to be the educators of their young companions, it would be their duty to be their teachers.
In order not to overburden the youngsters with work too great for their age, every opportunity would be taken of exercising their bodies as well as their minds. When the weather permitted they would be allowed out, in suitable clothes of course, to run and enjoy themselves in the fresh air, or work at such labour as their strength allowed them. In short, the plan was drawn up on the four main principles which form the basis of English education:— " If you are frightened at a thing, do it." " Never lose a chance of doing your very best." "Never fear fatigue, for nothing you can do is useless." " A healthy body means a healthy mind." And this is what was agreed upon after discussion at a general meeting of the boys.
For two hours every morning, and two hours every evening, all would work in the hall. Taking it in turns, Briant, Donagan, Cross, and Baxter, of the fifth form, and Wilcox and Webb of the fourth, would hold classes for their schoolfellows of the third, second, and first forms. They would teach them mathematics, geography, history, adding to the knowledge they had gained at school by that obtained from the books in the library. This would prevent their forgetting what they already knew. Twice a week, on Sunday and Thursday, there would be a debate on some subject of science, or history, or actual event, in which all would take part.
Gordon, as chief of the colony, would see that the programme was carried out.
To begin with, an arrangement was made regarding time. They had the yacht's almanac, but each day had to be regularly run through, and they had watches, but it was necessary for them to be regularly wound up and adjusted so as to keep exact time. Two of the bigger boys were entrusted with this duty.
Wilcox had charge of the watches. Baxter had charge of the almanac. And to Webb fell the duty of daily recording the readings of the barometer and thermometer.
The next thing done was to start a log of all that happened during their stay on Charman Island. Baxter volunteered for this, and thanks to him the " Journal of French Den " was written up with minute exactitude.
A work of no less importance, and which could be no longer delayed, was the washing of the linen, for which there was no scarcity of soap; and this was lucky considering the mess into which the youngsters got when they played on the terrace or fished in the stream. In vain Gordon cautioned them, and growled at them, and threatened to punish them: dirty they would get in spite of all he could do. There was no doubt as to who would do the washing. Moko knew all about it; but as he could not manage it all, the bigger boys had to assist him, under his directions.
The day after this programme had been agreed upon was Sunday, and the way in which that day is kept in England and America is well known. In the morning the young colonists went out for a walk along the banks of Family Lake. But as it was extremely cold the boys, after an outing of a couple of hours, were glad to get back to their warm hall and a hot dinner in the storeroom, carefully prepared by the clever master cook of French Den. In the evening there was a concert, in which Garnett's accordion took the place of orchestra, and the singing, more or less out of tune, was of the true Anglo-Saxon type. The only boy with a really musical voice was Jack, but in his present humour he would take no part in his companions' occupations, and refused to sing when they asked him.
The day, which had begun with a short address by " the Reverend Gordon," as Service called him, ended with a few minutes' prayer in the hall: and by ten o'clock all the boys were asleep under the protection of Fan, to whom they could trust in the event of any suspicious approach.
During June the cold gradually increased. Webb reported that the barometer was steady at just above twenty-seven inches, and the thermometer was from eighteen to twenty degrees below freezing. As soon as the wind, which blew from the south, shifted towards the west the temperature rose a little, and the surroundings of French Den were covered with a deep snow. The snow was not unwelcome, as it afforded an opportunity for a grand snowballing match, in which a few of the boys suffered severely, notably Jack, who stood looking on. A ball thrown furiously by Cross missed its mark and hit him hard enough to make him cry.
" I did not do it on purpose," said Cross, with the usual excuse of the clumsy.
" Perhaps not," said Briant, who had noticed his brother's cry, " but you shouldn't throw so hard."
" Well, why did he get in the way ? " asked Cross. " Why isn't he playing ? "
" What a fuss about a little bruise," said Donagan.
" Perhaps it is not very serious," answered Briant, seeing that Donagan wished to interfere in the matter; " but I'll ask Cross not to do it again."
" How can he manage that ?" asked Donagan jeeringly, " if he didn't do it on purpose ? "
" I don't know what business it is of yours, Donagan," said Briant; " it only concerns Cross and me—"
" And it concerns me too, Briant, if that is the tone you take," said Donagan.
" As you please—and when you please," replied Briant, crossing his arms.
" Let us have it now, then," said Donagan.
At this moment Gordon came up, just in time to prevent the quarrel ending in a fight.
He decided that Donagan was in the wrong. And Donagan had to submit, and much to his disgust went back to French Den. But it was to be feared that some other incident would soon bring the rivals to blows.
The snow continued to fall for two days. To amuse
the little ones Service and Garnett made a large snow man, with a big head, and an enormous nose. And it may as well be confessed that although during the day Dole and Costar were brave enough to pelt the man with snowballs, yet at night, when the darkness had made the figure look larger, they could not look at it without being frightened.
" Oh! the cowards! " said Iverson and Jenkins, who pretended to be very brave, although they were no less terrified than their young companions.
At the end of June their amusements had to be given up. The snow, piled up to three or four feet in thickness, rendered it almost impossible to get out. To venture more than a few hundred yards from French Den was to run the risk of being unable to return.
The young colonists were thus kept in for a fortnight —until the 9th of July. The work did not suffer; on the contrary, the daily programme was strictly adhered to. The discussions took place on the proper days. In them all took delight, and it is not surprising that Donagan, with his ease of speech and advanced education, held the first place. But why was he so vain of it ? His vanity spoilt all his brilliant qualities.
Although the hours of recreation had to be passed in the hall, the general health did not suffer, thanks to the ventilation obtained by means of the passage. The question of health was an important one. If one of the boys was to fall ill how could they give him the needful attention ? Fortunately they escaped with a few colds and sore throats, which rest and warm drinks soon got rid of..
There was another question to be solved. In practice the water had been got from the stream at low tide when the brackishness had disappeared. But when the surface of the stream was frozen over this would not be possible. Gordon consulted with Baxter, his " engineer in ordinary " as to what was best to be done. Baxter, after consideration, proposed to run a pipe a few feet below the bank so that the water in it would not freeze on its way to the store-room. This would have been a difficult job if Baxter had not had at his disposal the leaden pipes of the yacht; and so, after many attempts, the water was at last laid on into the interior of the store-room. For lighting there was still enough oil for the lanterns, but after the winter it would be necessary to make candles out of the fat which Moko carefully preserved.
The feeding of the little colony was another subject of more trouble during this time, for neither the shooters nor the fishermen could furnish their usual tribute. A few animals, driven by hunger, came prowling about Game Terrace; but these were the jackals that Donagan and Cross scared away with the report of a gun. One day they came in a troop—there were about twenty of them—and the doors