Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules VerneЧитать онлайн книгу.
was nearly ten months since the boys had been wrecked, and thrown on this island eighteen hundred leagues away from New Zealand. During this time, as we have seen, their position had gradually improved; and it seemed as though now they were at least secure of the necessaries of life.
But still they were abandoned on an unknown island ! Would the help from without—the only help they could hope for—come before the end of the hot season? Would the colony have to endure a second antarctic winter. Hitherto there had been no illness. All, young and old, had been as well as possible. Owing to Gordon's care—and not without an occasional grumble at his strictness—no imprudence, no excess had been committed. But if the present was prosperous enough, the future could only be viewed with anxiety.
Briant's constant thought was to get away from Charman Island. But with the only boat they possessed, the yawl, how could they venture on a voyage that would be a long one even if the island did not belong to one of the Pacific Archipelagoes ? Even if two or three of the boldest of the boys ventured in search of land to the eastward, how few were the chances that they would reach it ! Could they build a boat large enough to carry them ? Certainly not ! That would be beyond their strength, for Briant's only idea of a boat was one that would carry them all.
All they could do was to wait, and work to make themselves comfortable at French Den. And, if not this summer, when they had almost enough to do to prepare for the winter, at least next, they could finish the exploration of their island.
Resolutely they set to work. Experience had taught them how cold the winter could be. For weeks, for months even, bad weather might oblige them to remain in the hall, and they must above all things be prepared against cold and hunger, the two enemies they had most to fear.
To fight the cold in French Den was only a question of fuel; and the autumn, short as it might be, could not close until Gordon had enough wood in store to keep the stoves going night and day. But ought not something to be done for the domestic animals in the enclosure and poultry yard? To shelter them in the store-room would not be very pleasant, and would certainly be unwise from a health point of view. Hence the need of making the shed more habitable, and of heating it by means of a fire-place which could always keep the air at a fair temperature. And during the first months of the new year Baxter, Briant, Service, and Moko were busily employed in this matter.
In the equally important task of provisioning the Den for the long winter, Donagan and his companions found quite enough to do. Every day they visited the traps, snares, and nets. Whatever was caught, and was not required for daily use, went to swell the reserves of salted or smoked meat, which Moko was preparing with much care.
But an exploring expedition was urgently called for; not to explore the whole of the unknown territories of Charman Island, but those only to the east of Family Lake. Did these consist of forest, marsh, or sand-hills ? Had they any new resources which might be used?
One day Briant had a talk with Gordon on the subject treating it from a new point of view.
" Although Baudoin's map may be fairly correct, said he, " it is desirable that we should explore the eastern side for ourselves. We have good glasses, which Baudoin did not have, and who knows if we might not see land that he could not ? His map makes Charman Island a solitary one, and it may not be so."
" Always the same idea," said Gordon; " and you are miserable at not getting away! "
" Yes, and at heart, I am sure you feel the same as I do. Ought we not to do all we can to get home again as soon as possible ? "
" Well," said Gordon, " we will organize an expedition." " An expedition in which we can all take part ? " " No. It seems to me that six or seven of us—" That would be too many. If they are so numerous they would only be able to get round the lake at the north or south, and who knows what difficulties they might meet with." " What then do you propose ? " " I propose to cross the lake in the yawl, and, to do that, only two or three need go." " And who will have charge of the yawl ? " " Moko," said Briant. " He knows how to manage a boat, and I understand a little about it. With the sail, if the wind is fair, and with the two oars, if it is against us, we might easily manage the five or six miles across the lake and reach the watercourse, which, according to the map, runs through the eastern forest; and we could go down that to its mouth."
" Agreed. I approve of your idea. But who will go with Moko ? "
" I will, for I did not take part in the expedition to the north of the lake. It is my turn to be of use."
" To be of use !" said Gordon. " Have you not been of great use ? Have you not done more than any of the others ? "
" Well, we have all done our duty," said Briant. " So it is agreed then ? "
" Yes, it is agreed. But who is to go with you ? I should not propose Donagan, for you do not get on well together."
" Oh ! I would agree to that, willingly," said Brian! " Donagan is not a bad-hearted fellow. He is brave, he is clever, and were it not for his envious character he would be a capital companion. Besides, he will gradually reform when he sees that I really do not wish to push myself forward before anyone; and we shall end, I am sure, in being the best friends in the world. But I was thinking of quite another travelling-companion— "
"Who is that?"
" My brother Jack," said Briant. " I get more and more anxious about him. Evidently he has done something wrong which he will not tell us. Perhaps if he finds himself alone with me on this expedition— "
"That is so, Briant Take Jack and begin your preparations at once."
" They will not take long," answered Briant. " We shall not be away more than two or three days."
When the others heard the news of the projected expedition, Donagan was very vexed at not being allowed to take part in it, and went to Gordon, who explained that only three boys were wanted to do what was to be done, that the idea was Briant's, whose business it was to see it through, etc.
When Moko heard that he was going to change his employment as master-cook for that of master-mariner, he made no secret of his joy. To go with Briant was an additional pleasure. The new cook would naturally be Service, who revelled in the idea that he would be able to roast and stew as he liked without any one to overlook him. And Jack seemed not at all unhappy at having to leave French Den for a day or two with his brother.
The yawl was got ready. She was rigged with a little lateen sail, which Moko bent and furled. Two guns, three revolvers, ammunition in sufficient quantity, three travelling wraps, provisions, waterproof capes in case of rain, two oars with a pair to spare ; such was the outfit required for the short trip—without forgetting the copy which had been made of Baudoin's map, in which the new names were written as they were given.
On the 4th of February, about eight o'clock in the morning, Briant, Jack, and Moko bade goodbye to their comrades, and embarked. It was a splendid morning with a light wind from the south-west. The sail was set, and Moko took the helm, leaving Briant to look after the sheet. The surface of the lake was rippled by the breeze, and this the yawl felt more as she got further out; and in half an hour Gordon and the others from the terrace could see only a black spot, which soon disappeared.
Moko was seated aft, Briant more forward, and Jack at the foot of the mast. For an hour the high ridge of Auckland Hill remained above the horizon. But the opposite shore of the lake had not yet risen into view although it could not be far off. Unfortunately, as often happens when the sun gains in power, the wind showed a tendency to die away, and about noon it dropped.
" It is a pity," said Briant, " that the breeze has gone."
" It would have been worse if it had headed us," said Moko.
" You are a philosopher," said Briant.
" I don't know what you understand by that," said the cabin boy; " but I certainly make the best of what comes."
" Well, that is philosophy."
" Then hooray for philosophy, and let us take to the oars. We must reach the shore before night if we can; and if we can't—we can't, that's all."
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