Chapter 9 Chapter nine

Ji Ding.Spilett, Herbert and Neb all knew what had happened.This accident, which could have had serious consequences (at least Pencroft thought so), produced different reactions among the faithful sailor's companions. Neb was so overjoyed to find his master that he did not listen, or would not listen, to what Pencroft was saying. Herbert somewhat felt the same way as the sailor. The correspondent, having heard what Pencroft had to say, said simply: Verily, Pencroft, I do not care a bit! But I have to repeat again, we are out of fire! Pooh! There is no way to regenerate the fire! It doesn't matter!

But I say, Monsieur Spilett Is not Cyrus here, replied the correspondent, and is not our engineer alive?He'll find a way to get us a fire! for what? Use nothing. What more can Pencroft say?He had nothing more to say, for in fact he believed in Cyrus as much as his companions.smith.In everyone's mind, an engineer is a small world, he is the synthesis of all sciences and all human wisdom.Being with Cyrus was like being in the most industrialized city in America.With him there is nothing missing; with him you will not be disappointed.If they were told that this land was about to be swallowed up by volcanoes and sink into the depths of the Pacific Ocean, they would reply calmly:

There's Cyrus here!Look at Cyrus! The engineer was lying on a stretcher, and had fallen asleep from the bumps of the road, so they could not consult him.We had to make do with dinner.The grouse was gone, and no other game could be cooked now.Besides, the golden pheasant left behind is gone.They had to think about what to do next. They first took Cyrus.Smith carried it into the nave.There a bed was made for him out of seaweed, which was still very dry.The Engineer slept soundly, and this restored him to fatigue more quickly, no doubt more beneficial than any nourishment. Night came and the weather became very cold as the wind shifted to the northeast.The compartments which Pencroft had divided into in the passage were all washed away by the sea, and the cold wind poured in, so that the grotto was almost uninhabitably cold.Fortunately, everyone put their coats and waistcoats on the engineer carefully, otherwise the engineer's situation would be even more difficult.

Herbert and Neb brought back from the beach a large pile of crabs, which they had to eat for the evening.In addition to these molluscs, the boy collected some edible seaweed from high rocks. Only when the tide is high, the sea water rushes to the side of these high rock walls.This is a plant of the genus Sargassum, a kind of kelp, which produces a jelly-like substance after drying, which is quite nutritious.The correspondent and his companions ate a lot of crab crabs and drank some kombu juice, which was not bad.It is commonly eaten by the inhabitants of some places along the coast of Asia.It doesn't matter!Mr. Cyrus will soon be able to help us, said the sailor.The weather became bitterly cold, and unfortunately they had no means of keeping out the cold.

The sailor was very anxious, and tried every means to make a fire.Neb also helped him experiment.He found some dry ground moss and smashed sparks out with two pebbles, but the ground moss is not easy to catch fire and cannot be ignited. In fact, this kind of spark is just a little light when it reaches white heat, which is not at all like using the same method. Steady as sparks burst from flint.The results of the experiment were therefore unsuccessful. Pencroft, though not at all sure, went on, imitating the manner of the natives, by rubbing two sticks together.He and Neb had a vigorous exercise, and if this motion were converted into heat according to the new theory, it is certain that even the steamer's boiler could be boiled!But still no results.Although the small piece of wood was hot, it was still far from the heat of the two laborers.

After working for an hour, Pencroft was sweating profusely, and threw the block on the ground in a fit of anger. No matter what they say, I don't believe that the natives get fire in this way, he exclaimed, and if I rub it, my arm will burn first! The sailor's denial of the method of making fire by friction is groundless.The natives often set firewood on fire by violent friction.But not every kind of firewood can start a fire.Besides, besides the general method, there was a secret, and it was probably because Pencroft did not catch fire because he did not know this secret. Pencroft lost his temper, which was soon cured.Herbert picked up the little piece of wood he had dropped and rubbed it vigorously.The sturdy sailor laughed aloud when he saw the boy doing what he had failed with the hope of success.

Mo it, boy, mo it!He said. I'm rubbing, laughed Herbert, but I just wanted to keep myself warm, so that I wouldn't shiver with the cold, and I didn't say I was going to burn; and I'm going to be as hot as you soon, my good Pencroft. ! Soon, the boy was really tired and sweating profusely.They had to give up the work, at least not to try to make a fire that night.Ji Ding.Spilett repeated twenty times, saying that he could not bother Cyrus because of this little difficulty.smith.After speaking, he lay down on the sand bed in a compartment.Herbert, Neb, and Pencroft also lay down, and Top slept at his master's feet.

The next day was March 28. At eight o'clock in the morning, the engineer woke up. He saw his partners all around and looked at him. He asked as he did the day before: Desert island or mainland? It was this question that was on his mind the most. We don't know a thing yet, Mr. Smith!replied Pencroft. You don't know yet? When you have taken us inland, added Pencroft, we will know. I think I can give it a try.The engineer said he stood up without much effort. Very good!cried the sailor. I feel so limp all over, said Smith, give me something to eat, my friends, and it'll be all right soon.Don't you have fire?

They didn't answer right away.After a few seconds Pencroft said: well!We have no fire, or rather, we have no fire now! Then the sailor recounted the events of the previous day from beginning to end.He also told the engineer the anecdote of the unique match, and then of his unsuccessful attempt to make fire by the native method. We can figure it out, said the engineer, if we can't find anything like tinder then what should we do?asked the sailor. Well, we'll make our own matches. Chemical matches? Chemical matches! It's no more difficult than what you did yesterday.The correspondent slapped the sailor on the shoulder and exclaimed.

The sailor felt that the matter was not that simple, but he did not refute it.Everyone was out and the weather became very sunny.The sun was rising from the horizon, and the layers of rocks on the tall cliffs were illuminated golden yellow, which was very beautiful. Taking a quick look around, the engineer sat down on a rock.Herbert handed him some clams and sargassum and said: That's all we have left, Mr. Smith. Thank you, boy, said Smith, enough for at least this morning. He ate the rough food with relish, and drank some fresh water, which he scooped up from the river with a huge shell.

The companions watched him silently.Cyrus.Smith finally had his fill, and crossed his arms and said: Well, friends, you don't know whether fate has left us on a desert island or on a continent, do you? Yes, Mr. Smith.said the boy. We'll find out tomorrow, the engineer said, and by then there's nothing else to do. some.said Pencroft. What? light a fire.The sailor said the idea was firmly in his mind. We must light a fire, Pencroft.Smith said. When you carried me yesterday, I seemed to see a high mountain overlooking the land to the west, didn't you? Yes, replied Spilett, the mountain must be quite high Well, said the engineer, to-morrow we will climb to the top of the mountain, and then we shall know whether this land is a desert island or a continent.I repeat, by then there will be nothing else. Yes, light a fire!The stubborn sailor said it again. He'll light a fire for us!Ji Ding.Be patient, said Spilett, Pencroft! The sailor gave Spilett a sharp look, as if to say that if we depended on you, we would give up the roast for the time being.But he didn't say it. At this time Smith did not answer.He didn't seem to bother at all about the fire.He pondered for a few minutes, then said: On the whole, my friends, our situation may be rather miserable, but it is also evident that we are either on the mainland or on a desert island.If it is on the mainland, it is possible to reach inhabited places, it is only a matter of how much effort is required.If we are on a desert island, if there are people on the island, we can use the help of the residents to find a way out of this predicament; Not bad at all, it doesn't get any more obvious than that.said Pencroft. However, whether it is a desert island or a mainland, Ji Ding.Where do you think we were thrown by the storm, asked Spilett, Cyrus? I'm not sure of that, replied the engineer, but I guess land in the Pacific Ocean.When we left Richmond the wind was blowing from the northeast, with such force as to prove that the direction had not changed.If the winds stay consistently northeast to southwest, then we cross North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, the Gulf of Mexico, the narrow strip of mainland Mexico, and then part of the Pacific Ocean.I reckon the balloon traveled at least six or seven thousand miles.Even if the wind had changed half a square angle, we would have been taken to the Mandawas, or the Pamotus; but if the wind had been stronger than I expected, we might have even come to New Zealand.If we really arrive in New Zealand, we can easily return to our homeland.Whether it's British or Maori, we can always find a few to deal with.If, on the other hand, this were nothing more than a deserted island coast in a small archipelago, as we can see from the top of the high mountain overlooking the surrounding area, we would have to make long-term plans here, and consider how to live comfortably. down. long?cried the correspondent, You mean long, dear Cyrus? It is best to think of the worst at the beginning, the engineer said, and if there is a good result in the future, treat it as a windfall. Yes, said Pencroft; but, if it is really an island, I hope it is not out of the course of the ship; We can't be sure what to expect until we go up the mountain.said the engineer. But, Mr. Cyrus, asked Herbert, can you bear the fatigue of going up the hill to-morrow? I hope so, replied the engineer. It depends on whether you and Pencroft are nimble and able hunters, my boy. Mr. Smith, said the sailor, since you speak of game, I can assure you that I could bring back game if it could be roasted. At any rate, bring back the game, Pencroft.Smith said. It was decided that the engineer and the correspondent would remain in the grotto for the day, and inspect the coast and the higher ground above, while Neb, Herbert, and the sailor would go into the forest, to collect firewood, and to Whenever you encounter an animal, whether it is a bird or a beast, grab it as soon as you get it. About ten o'clock in the morning they set off.Herbert was full of confidence, Neb was in high spirits, and only Pencroft murmured: If there is a fire in the house after returning, it must be lit by an electric fire. The three of them climbed up to the river bank together.When he reached the corner of the river, the sailor stopped, and said to his two companions: Shall we hunt first, or shall we chop wood first? Hunt first, replied Herbert, and, you see, Top is already looking for game. Hunt then, said the sailor, and gather wood when you get back. Assent, Herbert, Neb, and Pencroft each took a thick branch from a young fir-tree, and followed Top, who was now running about in the tall grass. This time the hunters did not follow the river, but went straight into the jungle.The same is true for the trees here, most of which belong to the coniferous family. In some places, the pine trees are relatively sparse, growing together in clumps, and are very tall. Judging from their growth conditions, it seems that the local latitude is higher than the engineer imagined. Some.There are many tree stumps in the clearing among the forests, which have gradually worn away over time.There are dry firewood all over the place, and the fuel is almost endless.After passing the clearing, the undergrowth gradually thickened again, making it almost difficult to get through. There is not a ready road in these groves, and it is indeed difficult to find a way.Therefore, the sailor broke off a branch after a few steps, so that he could identify it when he returned.He and Herbert followed the river the first time, and it may have been a mistake not to follow the same course today, for an hour's walk saw no animal.There were only a few birds, and before they got any closer they were startled by Top scurrying about under the branches.Not even a pheasant was seen, and it appeared that the sailor had to go back to the swamps of the forest, where he had chanced to catch a grouse last time. Pencroft, said Neb, sarcastically, if this is the game you promised to bring to your master, no fire is needed to roast them! Be patient, said the sailor, I'm afraid it's not game that won't come back. Don't you still believe in Mr. Smith? Yes. Do you think he won't start a fire? I won't believe it until I see the wood burning in the furnace. Since the master said so, there must be fire. Just wait and see! At this time the sun had not yet risen in the sky.So they continued to explore, and Herbert found that the fruit on a tree was edible, so the exploration was somewhat successful.This is a southern European pine. The pine nuts are very delicious and are treasures in the temperate regions of Europe and America.The pine nuts on this tree were ripe, and everyone ate them while listening to Herbert's introduction. Well, said Pencroft, seaweed for bread, raw clams for meat, and pine nuts for a snack, will not be a bad meal for those of us who have not even a match in our pockets! We should not complain.Herbert said. I am not blaming anyone, my boy, said Pencroft; I only repeat that there is too little meat in this meal. Top has found something!Neb yelled, and ran towards a clump of trees, where Top, out of sight, was still yelling.Along with Top's cry was a strange sound, as if something was humming. The sailor and Herbert ran after Neb.Obviously, if there is any game, the first consideration should be how to catch it, not how to cook it. As soon as the hunter entered the bush, he saw Top wrestling with a wild beast, biting it by the ear.The quadruped resembled a pig, almost two and a half feet long, with a dark brown body, a lighter belly, and thin, stiff fur.At this time, its toes were pressed tightly on the ground, and it seemed that there were flippers between the toes.Herbert recognized it as the capybara, the largest order of rodents. At this time the capybara did not fight the dog.Its eyelids are thick, and the eyeballs are sunken and move awkwardly inside.Perhaps it was seeing a human being for the first time. Neb, holding his stick tightly, was about to go and knock it down, when it broke free from Top's teeth (for Top had only bit its ear), and with a low growl, rushed towards Herbert. , nearly knocking him down, and then disappeared into the jungle. damn thing!cried Pencroft. The three followed Top at once, but before they caught up with Top, the capybara jumped into a pool covered by ancient pine and disappeared. Neb, Herbert, and Pencroft stood dumbfounded.Top jumped into the pool, but the capybara hid at the bottom and did not come out. Let's wait a while, said the boy, for it will soon come to the surface to breathe. Won't it drown?asked Neb. No, answered Herbert, it had webbed feet and was almost an amphibian.Watch it carefully. Top remained in the water.Pencroft and his two companions stood guard on three sides of the pool, cutting off the retreat of the capybara.Top looks for capybaras on the water. Herbert's words were really good.In a few minutes it came out of the water.Top jumped on top of it and held it back from sinking.After a while the capybara was drawn to the bank, and Neb killed it with a club. Ha ha!cried Pencroft, who is always the first to utter a cry of triumph, "Just light me, and I'll eat the pig to the bone!" Pencroft carried the capybara on his shoulders. He looked at the sun and estimated that it was already two o'clock in the afternoon. He waved to everyone to go back. Top's intuition was of great advantage to the hunters, and thanks to the clever beast they found their way back.After only half an hour's work, they reached the river. Pencroft made a raft as quickly as before, though, of course, all this labor would have been in vain if there had been no fire.The raft floated down the river, toward the grotto. Before reaching fifty paces, the sailor stopped, pointed to the corner of the cliff, and cheered loudly. Herbert!Naboo!look!he shouted. I saw a wisp of smoke curling up from among the rocks.