Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules VerneЧитать онлайн книгу.
and along it ran the line of sandhills. As the sun rose, it became evident that in a few miles the scenery would change. And, in fact, about eleven o'clock they stopped for lunch by a little creek under the shade of some huge beech-trees, whence, as far as the eye could reach towards the east, rose a confused mass of verdure to mark the horizon.
An agouti, shot by Wilcox during the morning, served for the meal, and was fairly well cooked by Cross, who was the Moko of the expedition. The meal over, Donagan and his friends were afoot again. The forest, which bordered the lake, consisted of similar trees to those in Trap Woods, but the evergreen varieties were in greater number. There were many more pines, spruces, and green oaks than birches or beeches, and all were of superb dimensions. To his great satisfaction, Donagan found that the fauna was quite as varied as that of the rest of the island. Guanacos and vicugnas were frequently seen, and a flock of nandus was observed satisfying their thirst. Hares, maras, tucutucos, peccaries, and feathered game abounded in the thickets.
About six o'clock a halt was made. The bank was cut through by a stream which ran out of the lake. This ought to have been, and was, East River. It was easily recognized, as Donagan found the traces of the fire on the spot where Briant had encamped during his expedition with Jack and Moko. To camp in the same place, light a fire on the ashes, and sleep under the same trees appeared the best thing to do, and that is what was done.
Eight months before, when Briant had stopped at the same place, he little thought that four of his companions would come here in their turn, with the intention of living by themselves in this part of Charman Island. And perhaps Cross, Wilcox, and Webb, when they found themselves far from their comfortable beds in French Den, felt more regret at being there. But their fate was now bound up with Donagan's and Donagan was too vain to acknowledge his mistakes, too obstinate to abandon his plans, and too jealous to give in to a rival.
Next morning Donagan proposed to cross the river at once.
" Having done that," said he, " we can spend the day in getting down to the sea, which is under six miles from here."
" Yes," said Cross. " And it was on the left bank that Moko found the pine cones, and we can gather our food as we go."
The India-rubber boat was then unpacked, and as soon as it was in the water Donagan worked it across to the opposite bank, towing a line behind as he did so. With a few strokes of the paddle he was soon across the forty feet of the river's width. Then, by pulling at the line, Wilcox, Webb, and Cross got the boat bade while Donagan let out a line from his side, and so in four trips all were on the left bank of the river.
That done, Wilcox folded up the boat as if it were a travelling-bag, and put it on his back. It would, of course, have been less fatiguing to have floated down East River in the yawl, as Briant, Jack and Moko had done, but the India-rubber boat could only take one passenger at a time, and the river voyage was not to be thought of.
It was not easy travelling. The forest was so dense, the ground bristled with thick patches of underwood, and was strewn with branches broken off in the recent
storms, and many were the swamps and quagmires round which the travellers had to go. Donagan found no traces of Baudoin's passage through the forest, such as existed in Trap Woods, but there could be no doubt he had been there, for the map indicated exactly the course of the river right down to the bay.
At noon a halt was made for luncheon, under the pine-trees, where Cross gathered a quantity of the fruit, on which they regaled themselves. Then, for the next two miles, the boys had to make their way through clumps of underwood, where, occasionally, they had to cut a path with their axes, so as not to stray too far from the river. On account of the delay this caused, it was not till seven o'clock that they got out of the forest. Night was coming on, and Donagan could make out nothing of the coast-line. All he could see was the long line of foam as he listened to the murmur of the sea rolling on to the beach.
It was decided to camp where they were, in the open. A few grouse were cooked for supper, and the fire that had been lighted was kept in during the night. It was Donagan's turn to watch. Wilcox, Cross, and Webb stretched themselves under the branches of a large parasol pine and, tired out by the long day's work, were immediately asleep.
Donagan had great difficulty in keeping awake. He succeeded, however; but when the time came for him to be relieved by one of his companions they were all so sound asleep that he could not make up his mind to wake any of them. The forest was so quiet that they were as safe as if they were at French Den. And so, having thrown a few handfuls of wood on the fire, Donagan lay down at the foot of the tree, and closed his eyes, to open them when the sun was up, lighting a wide horizon of sea.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Invasion
The next day, on the beach, Donagan and his party found an upturned ship's boat, evidently newly-driven ashore, but could discover no trace of survivors. Three days later, Briant, Gordon and Jack came across a woman half-dead from fatigue and hunger not very far from French Den. She was Kate Ready, servant to a family that had sailed from San Francisco on a merchant ship, the Severn. When she was able to speak she told them that nine days out of port the majority of the crew, headed by a scoundrel, Walston, had mutinied, seized the ship, killed the captain, the loyal sailors and the few passengers, sparing only Kate and Mr. Evans, the first-mate, whom they forced at the muzzle of a revolver to navigate the ship. Fire, however, broke out, the ship was abandoned, and finally the long boat was driven ashore on the island. Kate had escaped, leaving Mr. Evans still a prisoner. The mutineers were striving to repair the boat in order to get away.
Such was Kate's story—and a very serious state of affairs was revealed by it. On Charman Island, where the young colonists had hitherto lived in complete security, there had landed now seven men capable of any crime. If they discovered French Den, would they hesitate to attack it ? No. They had too real an interest in seizing its stores, taking away its provisions, weapons, and particularly its tools, without which it would be impossible for them to repair then-boat so as to fit her for sea. And what resistance could Briant and his comrades offer when the eldest was only fifteen, and the youngest scarcely ten years old ? Was this not an alarming state of things ? If Walston remained on the island, there could be no doubt he would attack them. The interest with which Kate was listened to can be easily imagined.
Only one thing Briant thought of—that Donagan, Wilcox, Webb, and Cross were now in great peril. How could they be on their guard if they did not know of the presence of the survivors of the Severn in the very part of the island they were then exploring? The report of a gun fired by one of them would be enough to reveal their presence to Walston ? And then the four would fall into the hands of the scoundrel, who would give them no mercy.
" We must go to their assistance," said Briant; " and let them know before to-morrow."
" And bring them back to French Den," added Gordon. " More than ever it is necessary for us to be united, so as to concert measures against an attack."
" Yes," said Briant; " and as it is necessary they should come back, they will come back ! I will go after them."
"You, Briant!"
" Yes, I, Gordon! "
" And how ? "
" I'll go in the yawl with Moko. In a few hours we can cross the lake and go down East River, as we did before. There is every chance we shall find Donagan at its mouth."
" When will you go ? "
" This evening," said Briant," as soon as the darkness allows us to get across without being seen."
" May I go with you ? " asked Jack.
" No," said Briant. " It is imperative that we all come back in the boat, and we shall not have room for six.
" That is agreed, then ? " asked Gordon.
" That is agreed."
It was in fact the best thing to do, not only for the