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

Chapter 140 The Mysterious Island (25)
Sailor retorted: "This also confirms what I just said, you know, giant trees are really useless!"

The engineer said: "Pencroft, you are mistaken. These huge eucalyptus trees that cover the sky and the sun have a certain purpose."

"What is it for?"

"Cleans up the local environment. You know what they're called in New Zealand and Australia?"

"Mr. Cyrus, I don't know."

"Call them 'fever trees.'"

"Because they cause fever?"

"On the contrary, because they protect against fever."

The reporter said, "Okay, I'm going to take this down."

"Dear Spline, make a note of it, because studies have shown that eucalyptus can neutralize the noxious gases emitted by decaying plants and animals in swamps. In some parts of North Africa and southern Europe, because the soil there is absolutely harmful to human body." Harmful, people have begun to take this natural preventive measure. It can be seen that the health of the residents there is gradually improving. In areas where the myrtle forest grows, intermittent heat has been completely eliminated. This fact is beyond doubt. Doubtless, it was a happy situation for those of us who lived on "Lincoln Island."

exclaimed Pencroft: "Great, it's the best island! It's a Fukushima! I'll tell you, it's got everything . . . if . . . "

The engineer immediately understood what he meant, and replied: "That thing will be there, and we will definitely find it. Now we have to go on rowing. We will go as far as the river can carry our boat!"

So the immigrants continued to investigate.They covered at least two nautical miles in this eucalyptus-filled area.These eucalyptus trees are tall and burly, as if all the trees on the island are looking up at it.They are all over the banks of the "Grateful River", lush and lush, and you can't see the end at a glance. The riverbed of the "Grateful River" meanders among the towering green banks.Since the river bed is often blocked by sharp rocks and tall grass, this makes navigation for small boats difficult.

The oars were now useless, and Pencroft pushed with a wooden pole.It is obvious that the bottom of the river is getting higher and higher. It seems that it will not take long before the boat will be forced to stop due to lack of water.As the sun set, the trees cast huge shadows on the ground.Cyrus Harding, seeing that the west coast of the island could not be reached that day, resolved to camp where the lack of water prevented the voyage from sailing.He figured it was five or six nautical miles from shore.This distance is too long.It was impossible to cross the strange woods at night.

So the boat continued on in the forest without stopping.The trees gradually became denser, and there seemed to be more animals.The sailor felt that if his eyes were not mistaken, he must have seen groups of monkeys jumping around in the undergrowth.There were even two or three standing not far from the boat, watching them calmly and without fear.It may be because they saw humans for the first time. These monkeys didn't know how to be afraid, and they didn't hide at all.These animals can be easily killed with a gun.For this reason Pencroft was eager to try his marksmanship, but Cyrus Harding objected to wanton slaughter.In addition, it also needs to be cautious, these monkeys are all agile and strong.If you attack them at will, it may cause serious consequences, so it is best not to actively attack them.

To tell the truth, the sailors used monkeys as food.And these herbivores are indeed good game, but since there are so many of them, there is no need to waste ammunition now.

About four o'clock the navigation of the boat on the Thanksgiving became more difficult.The water flow is almost completely blocked by aquatic plants and rocks.The steep bank is getting higher and higher, and the river bed has entered the first few ridge branches of "Franklin Peak".It seems that the water source is not far ahead, and the south hillside should be the source of water.

Said the sailor, "Mr. Cyrus, we'll be out of the way in a quarter of an hour."

"Well, then, Pencroft, let us stop here, and get ready for camp."

"How far is Granite Palace from us?"

The engineer replied: "About seven nautical miles. This is not a straight line distance, but it takes into account the bend of the river, which has now carried us to the northwest."

"Are we going to move on?" the reporter asked.

Cyrus Harding replied: "Yes, as far as I can go, and we will abandon ship at first light tomorrow, and it will take me two hours to cross this distance and reach the coast. That will give us a whole day's time." Time to survey the coast."

Pencroft replied, "Yes, go on!"

But soon, the bottom of the boat touched the rocky river bottom.The width of the river was less than twenty feet.The dense trees reflect on the river bed, making the river flickering.At this time, there was a loud waterfall sound.This shows that there is a natural dam a few hundred steps upstream from them.Sure enough, at the last bend of the river in the past, through the trees, I saw the waterfall.Because the boat touched the bottom of the riverbed extensively, the settlers tied the cables to the tree trunks near the right bank, and the boat was forced to stop.

It was around five o'clock.The setting sun is red, the sky is full of colorful clouds, and the afterglow of the setting sun falls on the thick branches and leaves, and slantly shines on the small waterfall.The water foam was flying, and it shone with colorful light like chaotic jade.Over there, the bed of the Thanksgiving River disappeared under the undergrowth, where perhaps some source of the river was hidden.Innumerable streams, converging in this lower place to form a real river, although crystal clear, but not very big.

They camped in this charming place.We got off the boat, and under a clump of huge hackberry trees, a fire was lit.When necessary, Cyrus Harding and the others sought rest among the branches.

Everyone was starving and hungry, and dinner was over soon.Then there is the problem of sleeping.Before night fell, there were several suspicious animal roars in the distance, and the fire was burning all night, protecting the safety of the campers with its unquenchable flame.Neb and Pencroft took turns by night, fueling generously.

All through the night they seemed to see dimly some animals watching them about the camp.Maybe that's right.These animals sometimes lie down under the undergrowth, and sometimes move among the branches and leaves.However, the night was uneventful.The next day, October 10, at eight o'clock in the morning, everyone got up and got ready to go.

at the jaguar home

At six o'clock in the morning, the migrants set off on the road after having breakfast.They planned to take a short cut to reach the west coast of the island.How long will it take to get there?Cyrus Harding had said that it would take two hours, and it was evident that this depended on the circumstances which might be encountered.This part of the Far West Forest is not easy to navigate, with its short, dense trees of many varieties.This required cutting through weeds, brambles, and vines, so that progress was always cut with an ax in hand—and sometimes a gun, for the cry of wild beasts was often heard at night.

The exact location of the camp has been determined by the direction of "Franklin Peak". Since the volcano is located less than three nautical miles to the north, it is only necessary to go straight southwest to reach the west coast.

After carefully tying the boat's hawsers, they set off.Pencroft and Neb brought enough food to feed them all for at least two days.In order to avoid attracting the attention of others, the engineer told everyone not to shoot unless it was absolutely necessary, so there was no chance of hunting.

The first time they used their axes was in a frankincense grove not far above the falls.Cyrus Harding, compass in hand, was ahead of them, showing the way for all to go.

Most of these trees of the forest have been seen around the lake and Prospect Heights.There are "Deodar" trees, gum trees, "Dugla" trees, dracaena, tamarisks, cedars, eucalyptus, hibiscus, and other species.These trees are generally not too tall because they are too dense to hinder their growth.It's a bit slow going because they have to open the way as they go.In the engineer's opinion, this road should be connected with the road on the bank of the Red River.

Since their departure, the immigrants have been walking down the low slopes that form the shape of the island's mountains. Although they are walking on a piece of dry land, the lush green plants make people feel that there should be plenty of water underground. Water, or maybe a running stream nearby.But Cyrus Harding could not remember seeing any other rivers in his crater surveys than the Red and the Thanksgiving.

At the beginning of this excursion, they found monkeys again.The monkeys were very surprised when they saw these people, probably because they had never seen the appearance of these people.Jardine Splane joked that he wondered if the robust and nimble monkeys thought of them—him and his companions—as degenerate brothers.In fact, every step they take will be hindered by thorns, vines, and tree trunks, while those agile animals can leap from branch to branch and move forward without hindrance.Compared with them, people are much worse.Those monkeys were huge in number, fortunately they did not show any hostility towards these humans.

They also saw some wild boars, some kangaroos, agouti, and other rodents, and two or three koalas, which Pencroft was tempted to shoot at the sight of them.

He said: "Friends! The hunting season has not yet begun, so jump, jump, and fly as much as you like, and I will deal with you when I come back!"

At 09:30 in the morning, the road leading to the southwest was suddenly blocked by an unknown river, thirty to forty feet wide, with a rapid current apparently caused by the slope of the river bed.The water rushed down against the rocks and broke into spray with a terrible rumble.It can be concluded that this river is deep and clear, and it is absolutely unnavigable.

"We have nowhere to go!" cried Neb.

Hubbert replied: "Why, it's just a stream, we can swim across it."

"Never mind," said Cyrus Harding, "the river certainly leads to the sea. We will go along its left bank, and it will be a wonder if it does not soon bring us to the sea. Come on!" "

The reporter said: "Don't worry, friends, what is the name of this river? We can't make our map incomplete."

"True!" said Pencroft.

The engineer said to the boy, "My boy, give me a name."

Hubbert pointed out: "Should we wait until we have surveyed its entire length?"

Cyrus Harding replied: "Very well, then we shall go on."

"Wait a little longer!" said Pencroft.

The reporter asked: "What's the matter?"

The sailor said: "I think hunting is forbidden, but fishing is always allowed!"

The engineer replied, "We need to hurry up and not delay any longer."

Pencroft retorted: "Ah! five minutes! I beg only five minutes for lunch!"

Thereupon Pencroft, lying on his stomach on the steep bank, stretched his arms into the rapids, and soon pulled up from the river dozens of fine crayfish that had gathered among the rocks.

Neb yelled, coming over to help the sailor: "This must be delicious!"

Pencroft sighed, and whispered: "Didn't I say that there is everything on this island, except tobacco!"

There are a lot of prawns in the river, so it took only 5 minutes to catch a lot of them.This type of crustacean is cobalt blue.Once they filled a bag, they continued on their way.

Since everyone walked on the steep bank of this strange river, the journey has become much easier and faster than before.Obviously, the two sides of the strait are still virgin land, and no one has ever passed by.Occasionally they found tracks left by large animals, and it seemed that they often came to the stream to drink, but nothing else was found.You know, this is not the place in the Far West Forest--the place where the peacock was hit by the buckshot, and it was the buckshot that caused Pencroft to lose a tooth.

At this moment Cyrus Harding was gazing upon the river which was going to the sea.It occurred to him that he and his companions were farther from the West Coast than they had expected.Because if the mouth of the river is very close to them, the sea water will rise up at this time, which may turn the river back.However, this phenomenon was not found, and the water flowed slowly along the river bed.The engineer wondered, and checked the compass frequently, to prove that the bend of the river did not bring them back to the forests of the Far West.

At this time, the river surface gradually widened, and the water flow became much more stable. The trees on the right bank were as dense as the left bank, and it was impossible to see the other side.But the jungle was deserted, because Top didn't bark.If there are strangers near the water, the wise Top will definitely do something. At 10:30, Hubbert, who was walking not far ahead, suddenly stopped and shouted: "The sea!" This surprised Cyrus Harding.

In a short while, they came to the edge of the forest, and the west coast of the island was immediately in front of them.

But the difference between the west coast and the east coast is really too big!It is a pure sea, without granite cliffs, without sandy beaches, and there is not even a single reef on the vast sea.The coastal area is that forest, the last row of trees seems to be bent over the water, bearing the impact of the waves.This is not at all the coastal area we are used to seeing, there are beaches, there are rocks, there are only forest trees here.The high coastline overlooks the endless sea.All kinds of tall trees are firmly rooted on the coast.

We were in the recess of an insignificant bay, too small for two or three small fishing boats, like the thin neck of this strange river.The existence of such a bay is strange; the river does not enter the sea through a sloping mouth, but falls straight down from a height of more than 40 feet, so that at high tide, the upper reaches of the river do not change at all.Indeed, the tides of the Pacific Ocean, even at their highest point, never reach the level of the river, and the river bed seems to form an upper reach, and even the past millions of years, the river water has been unable to erode this granite base layer, and then excavate a Estuary for navigation.Therefore, everyone jointly named this river "Waterfall River".

Over there, the edge of the forest stretched almost two nautical miles to the north, and the trees began to thin out, and beyond that, the picturesque hills formed an almost straight line from north to south.However, the whole part of the seashore between "Falling River" and "Snaketail Point" is once again a forest.Some of these tall trees are straight and some are inclined.Their roots are all soaked in sea water.And it is here that the survey is to be carried out, that is, on this serpentine peninsula, because there is still a place for hiding, while the other part of the coast is dry and desolate, and cannot shelter any asylum.

Neb and Pencroft were preparing lunch on the top of the cliff under a clear sky.Standing here, you can see far away.The horizon came into view very clearly, and on the entire sea, as long as it was visible to the naked eye, there was not a single boat, not even a small floating object.But the engineer still believes that he can only draw conclusions after surveying the entire coast until the end of the "Serpentine Peninsula".

Lunch was hastily eaten, and at 11:30, Cyrus Harding called everyone to set off.We didn't walk along the edge of the cliff or on the beach, they walked along the shade of the trees along the coast.

The distance between the mouth of the waterfall and the "Snaketail Headland" is about twelve nautical miles.If the journey is smooth and there are no obstacles, it only takes four hours for everyone to complete the journey calmly.But now they take twice as long to reach their destination.Because they have to cut down thorns, bypass trees, and cut off vines, which makes them have no time to rest. Moreover, according to this method, there are many turning places and the road is greatly lengthened.

Also, there is nothing to suggest that there have been recent shipwrecks in this area.Indeed, as Jardin Splane said, the rushing waves have carried everything far away.Therefore, because no signs were found, it cannot be concluded that no ship has been in distress here.The reporter's conjecture was correct, and besides, the lead bullet incident also tells us with absolute certainty that for at most three months, there has been a clear and crisp gunshot on "Lincoln Island".

It's five o'clock, and the top of the "Serpentine Peninsula" is still two nautical miles away from where you are.It was evident that, having reached "Snaketail Point," Cyrus Harding and his companions could not return before sunset to the bivouac, which had been established near the source of the "Grateful River."This requires an overnight stay at "Snaketail Headland".It happened that there was enough food, and no more scary animals were found. This is just a coastal area.However, there are many birds gathered here, including hundreds of species of birds such as cootie, Central and South American, white parrot, grouse, pigeon, grouse, pheasant, parrot, and green tongue.Almost every tree has a bird's nest, and in every bird's nest there is the sound of a bird flapping its wings!
At [-] o'clock in the evening, everyone was exhausted and came to the "Snake Tail Cape".Here is where the coastal forest of the peninsula ends.The whole southern coast is just like the normal coast again, with rocks, reefs and sandy beaches.It is therefore also possible that a broken ship has been laid up somewhere on the island, but as night falls there will be no further investigation until tomorrow.

Pencroft and Harbert hastened to find a suitable place to camp.On this edge of the Far West Forest, there were a few dead trees, and the young man found a dense bamboo forest among them.

He said: "Great! This discovery is really precious."

"Why do you say that?" asked Pencroft.

Hubbert said again: "It should be, Pencroft, I can't tell you, the bamboo skin is cut into flexible bamboo strips, which can be used to weave baskets; Paper; Bamboo poles, depending on the thickness, can be used to make crutches, smoke pipes, bucket pipes, etc. Bamboo is light and strong, and never eaten by insects, so tall and big bamboo is a high-quality building material. I also want to tell you The most interesting thing is that by sawing off the internodes of the bamboo and using the transverse partitions at the nodes as the bottom, you can get a durable cup and barrel. It is very practical in Chinese families and is very popular with everyone! No! Say You won't be satisfied with that. But..."

"but what?……"

"But if you don't know, I will tell you that in India, people eat these bamboos as asparagus."

(End of this chapter)