Chapter 7 Chapter VII

Ji Ding.Spilett stood by the sea, with his arms folded on his chest, staring at the sea motionless, the eastern horizon was covered by thick layers of dark clouds, which spread rapidly overhead.The wind was already strong, and it got colder as night fell.The sky presented a menacing scene, and it could be clearly seen that this was the prelude to a storm. Herbert entered the grotto, and Pencroft approached the correspondent.Spilett was in a trance and didn't notice anyone walking towards him. I'm afraid there will be a storm tonight, Mr. Spilett. Petrel loves storms. At this moment the correspondent, turning round, saw Pencroft, and his first words were:

Do you remember how far the balloon was from shore when the waves swept our mates away? It did not occur to the sailor that he would ask this.He thought for a moment, then replied: Up to two anchor chains. How long is an anchor chain?Ji Ding.asked Spilett. There are about one hundred and twenty fathoms, or two hundred meters. Well, said the correspondent, Cyrus.The place where Smith disappeared was no more than four hundred meters from the shore? almost.said Pencroft. Was his dog missing there too? Yes. I thought it strange, continued the correspondent, if, say, our companion had died, and Top had drowned, wouldn't neither the dog's body nor his master's body wash up to shore?

No wonder, the sea is so stormy, replied the sailor, and the sea might carry them farther afield. So, do you think our friend is dead at sea?asked the correspondent again. I think so. Pencroft, I certainly admire your experience, Gideon.Spilett said, now whether they are really dead or not, I always feel that there is something inexplicable and unreasonable about the disappearance of Cyrus and Top. I wish I could think as you do, Monsieur Spilett, replied Pencroft; unfortunately, on this point my mind is already decided.After the sailor finished speaking, he went back to the grotto.A fire was crackling and crackling on the grate.Herbert had just thrown a handful of dry sticks on it, and the flames lit up the darkest places in the passage.

Pencroft immediately set to work.It stands to reason that it is best to add some food that is full to the meal, because they all need to restore their strength.They saved the large bunches of golden pheasants for the next day, and two grouse were plucked, spiked on sticks, and roasted over a blazing fire. It was seven o'clock in the evening, and Neb had not returned, which greatly disturbed Pencroft.They feared that something might happen to the sad man in this strange land, or that despair would kill him.But Herbert saw it quite differently.He thought that Neb's failure to return was due to the discovery of new clues, and thus prolonged the search.Moreover, every new discovery is a contribution to Cyrus.Smith favorably.Why hadn't Neb come back if he hadn't hoped for it?Perhaps he found a track, a footprint, or some remnant, which had led him on the right path.Maybe he's following the trail now.Perhaps even he was near his master.

The boy speculates like this, and expresses his opinion like this.His companions listened to him.The correspondent, alone, silently agreed.Pencroft, however, thought that Neb had probably gone further along the coast than he had the day before, and had not had time to return. Herbert, who was always restless for some reason, expressed several times that he would go out to Neb.But Pencroft told him that it was no use, that it was impossible to find Neb in the dark and gloomy weather, and that it would be better to wait at home for his return.If Neb had not returned by the next day, Pencroft would not hesitate to join him in the search.

Ji Ding.Spilett agreed with the sailor and advised him not to separate again. Herbert had to give up his plan, but two large tears fell from his eyes. The reporter couldn't help but hugged the generous and chivalrous child tightly in his arms. The weather has changed.A gust of wind blew from the southeast across the shore.The surging sea water hits the reef.The downpour was blown like billows of dust by the storm.The shore was shrouded in a mass of aroused mist, and the gravel hit the shore under the force of the wind and waves, as if a car was falling outwards, making a loud noise.The strong wind flew sand and rocks, adding a kind of mineral dust to the smoke and dust caused by the rain. The two forces merged together and became an irresistible force.The whirlwind swirled between the river mouth and the cliffs, and the whirlpools whipped the water between the canyons. The smoke from the grottoes was also pushed back into the gaps. The passage was full of smoke, and it was very uncomfortable to stay inside.

When the grouse was finished, therefore, Pencroft extinguished the fire, leaving only a few coals in the ashes. It was already eight o'clock in the evening, and Neb had not returned.No doubt the dreadful weather kept him out.He must have found his cave, and was planning to wait until after the storm had passed, or at least until the next day, and it was impossible to fetch him now, or try to find him. Game was eaten for dinner; the grouse was very good, and Pencroft and Herbert ate with relish when they were tired and hungry after a day's hunting. After supper, they all retired to the corners which they had occupied the night before; the sailor lay sprawled by the fire, and Herbert fell fast asleep beside him.

As the night deepened, the wind and rain outside became more intense. Remember the day when the captives were brought from Richmond to the Pacific Islands, and it finally became similar to that day. Storms are particularly frequent in the spring and autumn rainy seasons, often causing The catastrophe, on the boundless sea, nothing can stop it, so it is especially terrible, and the horror of an unprotected east coast under the attack of such terrible winds is indescribable. Fortunately, the rocks that make up the grotto are very solid.These are grottoes made of huge granite rocks, some of them are not very strong, and the wind seems to shake even the foundations.Pencroft rested his pillow on the rocks, and could feel them vibrating under his head.He reassured himself over and over again, solemnly reassured himself that there was nothing to be afraid of, their shelter would not collapse.But he also heard that some stones on the top of the highland were blown away by the wind and fell on the beach. Some even fell on the top of the grotto, and some were rolled up vertically, split into small pieces and flew out.The sailor got up twice, and while keeping himself safe by blocking the entrance of the passage, he looked out.The rain was nothing to fear, so he went back to his bunk before the fire, the coals still crackling in the ashes.

Though the wind, rain, and thunder rumbled outside, Herbert slept soundly.At last Pencroft was sleepy too, for his seafaring life had accustomed him to everything.Only Keating.Spilett was too anxious to sleep.He complained that he had not gone with Neb.Evidently Spilett had not yet given up all hope.The premonition that unsettled Herbert was equally uneasy.All he could think about was Neb.Why didn't Neb come back?He lay on the sand and tossed and turned, almost completely ignoring the storm outside. He sometimes closed his heavy eyelids, but only for a while, and often suddenly thought of something and opened them again immediately.

The night was already dark, and at about two o'clock the next morning, Pencroft, who was soundly sleeping, was suddenly woken up. what happened?He woke up shouting, regaining his sanity at once.This is the unique ability of ordinary sailors. The correspondent leaned over him and said: Listen, Pencroft, listen! The sailor pricked up his ears, but could hear nothing but the sound of wind and rain outside. That's the wind.He said. No, Keating.replied Spilett, who listened a little longer, and I seemed to hear What? The sound of dogs barking! dog!cried Pencroft, jumping up. yes barking

impossible!Said the sailor, and, in a storm how Don't talk and listen to the correspondent. Pencroft listened carefully for a while, and sure enough, during the interval between the wind and the rain, he heard what seemed to be a dog barking in the distance. Yes or no?said the correspondent, pressing Pencroft's hand firmly. Yes, it is!replied the sailor. It's Top!It's Top!cried Herbert, as soon as he awoke.So the three of them rushed towards the entrance of the grotto together.It was very difficult for them to get out.The strong wind blew them backwards.At last he got out, but he could only lean against the rock without moving.They looked around, but could not speak.It was very dark.The sea, the sky, and the land all became pitch black.Not even a glimmer of light could be seen. The correspondent and his companions stood like this for several minutes, helpless in the gale, drenched in the rain, and blinded by the wind and sand. When the storm subsided a little, the dogs were heard again, and they concluded that the source of the sound was still quite far away. It must be Top!But is it alone or is there someone with it?Mostly alone, if Neb was with him, he would surely be able to come to the grotto.Pencroft, being unable to make him overheard, squeezed the correspondent's hand, as a sign to tell him to wait a moment!Then the sailor went back into the grotto. In a little time he ran out with a bunch of lighted dry wood, and flung it into the darkness, whistling sharply. As if waiting for this signal in the distance, the barking of dogs approached immediately.A short time later a dog came running and hopping into the passage.Pencroft, Herbert, and Spilett all ran in after it. A handful of dry wood was added to the charcoal, and the passage was illuminated. It's Top!cried Herbert. It was Top, a beautiful Anglo-Norman mongrel dog, who, thanks to the traits of both breeds, was fast and had an excellent sense of smell.Hunting dogs especially need to have this advantage.This is the engineer Cyrus.Smith's dog.But it's all alone!Neither Neb nor its owner was with it! Top didn't know there was a grotto here, how could his intuition bring him here directly?It seemed inconceivable, especially in the middle of such a storm in the middle of nowhere!Stranger still: Top looked neither tired nor tired, not even a speck of mud!Herbert had drawn it to him, and patted it on the head, while Top rubbed its neck back and forth against the boy's hand. If the dog is found, can its owner still be found?said the correspondent. God bless!said Herbert, let's go find it!Top will lead the way! Pencroft made no objection.Top's return was beyond his expectation.He said: Then go! Pencroft carefully covered the coals which were in the ashes, and added a few more logs to keep the fire alive until their return.Top uttered a short cry, as if to ask everyone to follow him.Then Pencroft wrapped up the remainder of the supper in his handkerchief, and, following the dog, rushed out, with the correspondent and the boy at his heels. At this time, the wind and rain are rushing, perhaps at their most powerful time.There was no moonlight shining through the clouds.It is difficult to move forward in a straight line.Better go with Top.They did just that.The correspondent and Herbert followed Top, and the sailor last.It was impossible to speak.There was not much rain, but the wind was very strong. But one thing was in favor of the sailor and his two companions.At this time, the southeast wind was blowing, and it was blowing behind them.The strong wind raised smoke and dust behind them, but it did not hinder their progress. If the wind and sand came head-on, it would be impossible to resist.In a word, they often run very fast involuntarily, and it is difficult to stand still, especially when hope gives them strength.This time they were not wandering aimlessly along the coast.Convinced that Neb had found his master, they sent the faithful Top back to call them.But is the engineer still alive?Could it be that Neb called his companions to attend to the funeral of the unfortunate Smith? When they had passed the precipice, Herbert, the correspondent, and Pencroft stood cautiously aside, stopping to catch their breath.There was a place sheltered from the wind at the corner of the rock, where they could take a breather after the tiring fifteen minutes of running. Now they could hear each other, and they could open their mouths to answer.The boy just mentioned Cyrus.Smith, Top uttered a few hasty cries, as if to say that his master was saved. Is he saved?Herbert asked repeatedly, are you saved?Top? It barked a few times to indicate an answer. They drove on again.By this time the tide had risen, driven by the wind, to an unnaturally astonishing height. It was high tide.The monstrous waves galloped menacingly like thousands of horses, smashed against the rocks, and the tide probably submerged the whole island, which they couldn't see at the time.Now there is no long embankment to protect the coast, and the seashore is directly attacked by the sea. No sooner had the sailor and his companions left the cliff than the storm resumed its attack on them.Though they stooped in the gale, they ran fast, and Top led the way, with a firm direction and no hesitation. They walked towards the true north, and on the right was a vast sea, the waves made deafening noises in the strong wind, and on the left was a pitch-black land, it was impossible to imagine what it looked like.But they thought it was flatter there, because the wind blew across it unhindered, and didn't turn back as it blew over the precipice. At four o'clock in the morning they estimated they had gone about five miles.The overcast clouds rose slightly, and although there was less moisture in the wind, it was still bitingly cold.Pencroft, Herbert, and Spilett, suffering from the cold because of their thin clothing, made no complaints.They resolved to follow Top, and to follow the swift beast wherever he went. It was almost five o'clock, and the sky began to break.The fog overhead is thinner.There was a pale gray fringe around the cloud.A line of white light clearly marked the horizon under a darkened sky, and the waves were white again with a turbulent light on the top of the waves.Now the hilly coast on the left began to appear vaguely, but only as indistinguishable as gray dots on a black ground. At six o'clock, it was dawn.The clouds rose rapidly, and the sailor and his companions were about six miles from the grotto.They walked along a broad beach with many rocks along the coast, but they were all submerged in deep water and rarely emerged from the water.On the left there appeared to be a wide expanse of sand dunes with many thistles growing straight up.There are no cliffs here, and there is no barrier facing the ocean, only piles of intricate rocks.Trees grew in twos and threes, with their trunks slanting to the west and their branches facing in that direction.Far to the southwest stretched the edge of the forest. By this time Top became very anxious.It ran to the front and back again, as if begging them to go faster.Then it left the coast, and the mysterious intuition prompted it to walk in the sand dunes without hesitation.They follow.The surroundings are completely like a desert.There are no living things. This sand dune is very vast and is composed of many rocks and even some hills, which are unevenly distributed.The entire terrain is like a Swiss model made of sand. Only with amazing intuition can you not get lost. Five minutes after leaving the shore, the correspondent and his two companions reached the mouth of a cave behind a high dune.Here Top stopped, and he cried louder and louder than ever.Spilett, Herbert, and Pencroft went into the cave. A man was lying straight on the straw, and Neb was kneeling beside him. Lying there is the engineer Cyrus.smith.