Adrift in the Pacific-Two Years Holiday

by Jules Verne

  According to the map, Charman Island did not measure more than twelve miles across to the eastward of French Den. In a line with Schooner Bay the coast was deeply indented, and an exploring party might profitably be despatched in that direction.

  But before going farther afield the district around Auckland Hill, Family Lake, and Trap Woods ought to be explored. What were its resources? Was it rich in trees or shrubs of which use could be made? To ascertain this an expedition was decided upon, to start early in November.

  But although in an astronomical sense spring had commenced, yet the island was in so high a latitude, that the vernal influence had not made itself apparent. The month of September and the first half of October were distinguished by a spell of bad weather; and there were still sharp frosts, which did not last, owing to the wind being so variable. During this equinoctial period the atmospheric troubles were very violent, as had been those which had brought the schooner across the Pacific. The heavy squalls seemed to shake the hill, and when they swept from over the South Moors, where there was no obstacle to check them, bitter was the blast they brought from the Antarctic Ocean. Twenty times the wind blew in the store-room door and penetrated down the passage to the hall; and this made things worse than they had been in the winter when the thermometer went down below zero. And it was not only the wind, but the rain and the hail with which the lads had to contend.

  To make things worse, the birds seemed to have disappeared as if they had sought refuge in parts of the island less exposed to the equinoctial gales, and the fish had also gone, probably frightened away by the agitation of the waters, which roared along the shore of the lake.

  The boys in French Den were not idle. The table could no longer be used as a vehicle, on account of the snow having gone, and Baxter set about making a cart, on which heavy weights could be moved.

  His idea was to use two of the wheels of the schooner’s windlass; but he did not succeed without a number of trials which would have been avoided by a skilled artisan. The wheels were toothed, and after trying in vain to break the teeth, Baxter had to fill up the intervals with wedges of wood and fasten them round with an iron hoop. Then the two wheels were fixed to an iron bar, and on this axle-tree a platform of planks was laid. It was a very rudimentary vehicle, but such as it was it would come in very useful. But as there were neither horses, mules, nor donkeys in the island, the boys would have to drag it themselves.

  If they could only have come across a few trained quadrupeds what trouble they would have been spared! Why was the fauna of Charman Island so much richer in birds than in ruminants? With the example of Service’s ostrich, would they ever be able to train the birds to work for them?

  The nandu had lost nothing of its wildness. He would let no one approach him without defending himself with his beak and claws; he tried his utmost to break the cord which held him, and if he had done so he would soon have been lost under the trees in Trap Woods.

  But Service was not discouraged. He had naturally given the nandu the name of ‘Hurricane,’ like Master Jack’s ostrich in “The Swiss Family Robinson”. But although he did his best to tame the restive animal, neither gentleness nor severity had any effect.

  ‘And yet,’ said he one day, referring to the romance of De Wyss, which he was for ever reading, ‘Jack managed to tame his ostrich in a very short time.’

  ‘Probably he did,’ said Gordon. ‘But between your hero and yourself, Service, there is the same difference as between his ostrich and yours.’

  ‘And what is that?’

  ‘Simply the difference between imagination and reality.’

  ‘What does that matter?’ replied Service.’I will get the better of this ostrich, or it shall tell me why.’

  ‘Very good!’ said Gordon, laughing. ‘I shall be as much surprised to hear it tell you as to see it obey you.’

  In spite of the pleasantries of his schoolmates, Service had decided to mount his nandu as soon as weather permitted. In imitation of his hero he had made a sort of harness out of sail-cloth and also a cap with blinkers. Had not Jack guided his bird by dropping a blinker over the right or left eye as the case might be? And why then should not his imitator succeed as he had succeeded? Service had even made a plaited collar to fix on the neck of the animal, which would willingly have dispensed with the ornament. But as to the cap, it was almost impossible to get it on to its head.

  The equinox was nearly over. The sun was gaining in power, and the sky was clearing. It was mid-October. The sun communicated its warmth to the shrubs and trees, which were beginning to become green again.

  The boys could now be out of doors all day. The warm clothes, thick cloth trousers, and oilskins were beaten, repaired, folded, and carefully put away after being ticketed by Gordon. The young colonists, more at ease in their lighter garments, greeted the return of summer with gladness, and one hope never left them, that of making some discoveries that would improve their position. During the summer might not a ship visit these parts? And if she passed in sight of Charman Island, why should she not send men ashore, when she noticed the flag on the crest of Auckland Hill?

  During the second fortnight in October many excursions were made within a radius of two miles round French Den. The hunters went out and the bill of fare soon felt the effects, although powder and shot were severely economized. Wilcox went forth with his nets and snares, and caught several brace of tinamous and bustards, and even a few small hares like agouti. Several times a day he had to visit his nets, for the jackals and paperos were quite equal to being beforehand with him, and helping themselves to what he had caught.

  Donagan killed a few peccaries and guaculis—pigs and deer of small stature—which have savoury flesh; but no one regretted he could not get near the nandus, as Service’s success with Hurricane was not encouraging. This was clearly shown on the morning of the 26th, when the obstinate boy tried to mount his ostrich, on which not without difficulty he had got the harness.

  The boys were all out on the terrace to witness the interesting experiment, the little ones regarding their schoolfellow with a certain feeling of envy mingled with anxiety. At the decisive moment they hesitated to ask Service to give them a ride. The bigger boys shook their heads, and Gordon tried to dissuade Service from attempting what seemed to him to be dangerous. But it was to no purpose, and they let him have his own way.

  Garnett and Baxter held the bird, which had its eyes covered with the blinkers from the cap, and Service, after many attempts, succeeded in getting on its back. Then in a somewhat hesitating voice, he said, ‘Let go!’

  The nandu, deprived of the use of its eyes, remained motionless with the boy clinging firmly to it with his legs. But as soon as the blinkers were lifted with the cord that served for reins, the bird gave a tremendous leap, and shot off in the direction of the forest.

  Service was helpless to guide his steed, which fled with the speed of an arrow. In vain he tried to stop it by dropping the blinkers; with a knock of its head it shook off the cap, which slipped down its neck, to which Service was clinging with both arms. Then a violent shock unseated the cavalier, and he fell to the ground just as his mount was about to disappear under the trees of Trap Woods.

  Service’s comrades ran up, and when they arrived the ostrich was out of sight.

  Fortunately Service had rolled on to the grass and sustained no injury.

  ‘The mad thing! the mad thing!’ said he. ‘Ah! If I catch you—’

  ‘But you will never catch him,’ said Donagan, laughing.

  ‘Well,’ said Webb, ‘your friend Jack is a better horseman than you are.’

  ‘My nandu was not tame enough,’ said Service.

  ‘And never would be,’ said Gordon. ‘Console yourself with thinking that you should never have had anything to do with the creature, and do not forget that in the romance of De Wyss you must not believe all you read.’

  And the adventure ended, the youngsters having no cause to regret they had not had their ostrich-ride
.

  In the first week of November the weather appeared favourable for an expedition of some duration to the western shore of Family Lake and thence to the northward. The sky was clear, the heat supportable, and there would be nothing imprudent in passing a few nights in the open air.

  Naturally the hunters of the colony formed part of the expedition, and this time Gordon thought it best to go with them. Those who remained at French Den were left in charge of Briant and Garnett. Later on Briant it was arranged, would lead another expedition to the lower part of the lake, coasting its shores in the boat and perhaps crossing it.

  Everything being arranged, Gordon, Donagan, Baxter, Wilcox, Webb, Cross, and Service started on the 5th of November.

  At French Den no change was made in the usual daily round. In the hours not consecrated to work, Iverson, Jenkins, Dole, and Costar spent their time in fishing in the river, which was their favourite recreation. Moko stayed at home; but do not think that the explorers suffered from the want of a cook. Was not Service with them? Was he not cook’s mate? and had he not instanced his capabilities in that post as a reason for accompanying the expedition in which he might perhaps recover his ostrich?

  Gordon, Donagan, and Wilcox each carried a gun and a revolver. Hunting-knives and two axes completed their equipment. Powder and shot were not to be used except in self-defence, or to bring down something to eat in case of their failing to obtain provisions in a more economical way. To this end Baxter brought his lasso and the bolas, in the use of which practice had made him expert. A very quiet boy was Baxter, but a clever one, and he had quickly made himself master of these weapons against objects at rest, but whether he would succeed with animals at full speed remained to be seen.

  Gordon had brought with him the Halkett india-rubber boat which was very portable, shut up in its bag and weighing only a few pounds, and the map showed two tributaries of the lake where the boat might be of use in case there was no ford.

  According to the map, of which Gordon carried a copy for consultation and verification, the western shore of Family Lake was about eighteen miles long, reckoning the ins and outs. The exploration would therefore take quite three days going and returning, if no delay were met with.

  Gordon and his companions, preceded by Fan, left Trap Woods to the left, and walked at a good pace along the sandy shore. When they had gone more than two miles they were farther away than any of the excursions had been since quarters had been taken up at the cave. Hereabouts a few cortadera bushes grew in clumps, among which the tallest of the party disappeared The advance was thus somewhat hindered, but this was not regretted, as Fan stopped and pointed before one of a group of half a dozen holes in the ground.

  Evidently she had scented some animal at home that it would be easy to kill. Donagan was bringing his gun to the shoulder when Gordon stopped him.

  ‘Spare your powder, Donagan,’ said he.

  ‘Perhaps our breakfast is there?’ said the young hunter.

  ‘And our dinner too?’ said Service, kneeling down to the hole.

  ‘If they are, we can get them out without wasting any lead,’ said Wilcox.

  ‘And how?’ said Webb.

  ‘By smoking out the hole.’

  Between the clumps of cortadera the ground was covered with dry twigs, a bundle of which Wilcox soon had alight in front of one of the holes. A minute later there appeared a dozen half-suffocated rodents trying in vain to escape. They were tucutuco hares, and Service and Webb soon despatched a few with the axes, while Fan strangled three others with her teeth.

  ‘That will make an excellent meal!’ said Gordon.

  ‘And I’ll see after them,’ said Service, eager to begin his duties as master cook. ‘I’ll start on them at once if you like.’

  ‘At our first halt,’ answered Gordon.

  It took half an hour to get through this forest in miniature of cortadera bushes. Beyond appeared the beach with a long line of dunes, the sand of which was so fine and light as to blow up with the least breeze.

  The flank of Auckland Hill was now more than two miles away to the westward, owing to the direction taken by the cliff. All this part of the island was covered with the dense forest which Briant and his companions had crossed in their first expedition, and through which ran the stream they had called Dike Creek.

  According to the map, this stream flowed into the lake; and it was at its mouth that the boys arrived about eleven o’clock, having accomplished six miles since their departure. Here they halted at the foot of a superb parasol pine. A fire of wood was lighted between two large stones In a few minutes two of the tucutucos, skinned and drawn by Service, were roasting before a crackling fire. And while Fan lay in front and sniffed the grateful perfume of the venison, the cook took care to turn the spit so that the tucutucos should not spoil.

  There was not much fault to be found with Service’s first attempt. There was enough to eat, and the meat was savoury with the flavour of the aromatic herbs on which the rodents feed; and except a few biscuits in place of bread, the provisions brought in the bags were left untouched.

  The meal over, a start was made across the creek, and as there was a ford, there was no need to waste time in getting out the boat.

  The shore of the lake becoming marshy, obliged them to keep away to the edge of the forest. The species of trees did not change—magnificently grown beeches, birches, green oaks, and pines of different kinds fringed the way. Numbers of charming birds leapt from branch to branch, black woodpeckers with red crests, flycatchers with white tufts, wrens of the scytalop species, thousands of creepers chuckling amid the foliage, with finches, larks, and thrushes singing or whistling in full power. Afar in the sky hovered condors, urubus, and a few pairs of caracaras, the voracious eagle of South America.

  Probably in remembrance of Robinson Crusoe, Service regretted that the parrot family was not represented in the island’s ornithology. If he could not tame an ostrich, he might succeed with one of those talkative birds; but not one did he see.

  In short there was abundance of birds and animals for food; and Gordon could not refuse Donagan the pleasure of shooting a moderate-sized peccary, which would do for breakfast in the morning, if not for dinner that night.

  There was no need to enter the forest, and the advance was comparatively easy. And they continued skirting the trees until five o’clock, when the second watercourse, which was about forty feet wide, barred the way. This was one of the outlets of the lake, and flowed round the north of Auckland Hill into the Pacific beyond Schooner Bay.

  Gordon decided to camp here. Twelve miles were enough for one day. And as the stream required a name he called it Stop River, on account of the halt on its banks.

  The camp was pitched under the trees nearest the lake. The birds were reserved for breakfast, and the tucutucos formed the principal dish; and again Service performed his duties satisfactorily. The want of rest soon followed on the want of food, and as the mouths had opened in hunger the eyes soon shut in sleep. A large fire was lighted, before which the boys, wrapped in their blankets, stretched themselves down. Wilcox and Donagan took it in turns to watch, but the fire’s bright light kept wild animals at a distance; and there was no alarm, and at daybreak all were ready to resume the journey.

  But the river had not only to be named—it had to be crossed; and as it was not fordable, the Halkett boat was brought into use. It was a frail craft—able to carry but one at a time, so that the water had to be crossed from the left bank to the right seven times, and this took an hour. But the provisions and ammunition were kept dry.

  Fan did not mind wetting her feet, and, jumping in, swam across in a few moments.

  The ground being no longer marshy the boys kept along by the lake, and after breakfast at ten o’clock off some grilled peccary they bore away northwards. There was nothing to show that the end of the lake was near. The eastern horizon was all the time shut in by the circular line of water and sky. It was not till noon that Donagan, looking through t
he glasses, exclaimed, —

  ‘There is the other bank!’

  And all looked in the same direction, and saw a few tree-tops beginning to show above the water.

  ‘We must not stop,’ said Gordon. ‘Let us get there before night.’

  An arid plain, undulated with long sandhills, dotted with a few clumps of rushes and reeds stretched away out of sight. In this northern part it appeared as though Charman Island consisted only of vast sandy tracts, contrasting with the verdant forests of the centre; and to it Gordon appropriately gave the name of Sandy Desert.

  By three o’clock the opposite bank appeared distinctly about two miles to the north-east There seemed to be no living creature near except the sea-birds, cormorants, petrels, and grebes, which flew over on their way to the shore.

  If the schooner had been wrecked in these parts the boys would have thought they were indeed on a barren island. In vain would they have sought in the desert for their comfortable dwelling at French Den. When the shelter of the schooner failed them, they would have found no other shelter here.

  Need they now go further, to explore a part of the island that seemed uninhabitable? Could they not leave for another expedition the exploration of the right bank of the lake, where the forest might again be found? Assuredly. Besides, it would be on the east that they would find the American Continent if Charman Island were anywhere near it. However, at Donagan’s suggestion, they resolved to gain the extremity of the lake, which could not be far off, for the double curve of its banks became sharper and sharper. And at nightfall a halt was made at a little creek which ran in at the north angle of Family Lake.

  Here there was not a tree, not even a clump of grass, of moss, or dry lichen. There being no fuel, the boys had to content themselves with the provisions brought with them; and as there was no shelter, they had to sleep under the stars on the bed of sand. And nothing came to trouble the silence of the night.