Chapter 47 chapter Five

Thus, the mine exploded on the bottom of the sea and explained all the doubts clearly.Cyrus.Smith could not be wrong, for he had experimented with this horrific explosive weapon during the Civil War.This iron cylinder contained explosives such as nitroglycerin, picric acid, or other similar drugs. It was under the action of it that the tide in the channel turned into a dome, and the bottom of the ship burst, so that it sank immediately, because the hull was damaged. It is so severe that once it sinks, it cannot float up again.When an armored ship encounters such a mine, it will be blown up without difficulty like a fishing boat. After encountering this kind of mine, the Speedy will certainly not be able to withstand it!

Yes!Everything is revealed, and now there is only one question left: how did the mines in the strait come from? Therefore, my friends, Cyrus.Smith said, we don't have to doubt anymore, there must be a mysterious person here, maybe like us, he was also killed and abandoned on a desert island; the reason I say this is to let Ayrton know All kinds of strange things we have encountered in the past two years.Although we had received his help several times, I still could not imagine who this strange benefactor was.He secretly helped us many times, but for what purpose, I don't know.But he does help us; and by its very nature only a man of astonishing ability can do so.Ayrton is as much in his favor as we are, for if he rescued me from the sea when I fell from the balloon; then write that note, put the bottle in the channel, and let us know It must be this stranger where our partner is.I'll add some facts too: it was he who led the box and put it in the corner of the relic so that we could get all our necessities; It was he who fired the shot; it was he who laid the mines in the straits and blew up the brig;Whoever he is, therefore, be it a wreck or an exile on our island, we should be grateful to him; otherwise we would be ungrateful.We owe this debt of favor and hope that one day we will be able to repay it.

You are right, dear Cyrus, Keating.Spilett said, yes, there is a man who can be said to be omnipotent hiding on the island.His power is of great benefit to us.I should add that, if we admit that there are supernatural things in practical life, the stranger's abilities were almost almost divine.Has he heard our news from the well of Granite Palace, and thus has all our plans?Did he throw the bottle at us on our first sea trial?Was it he who threw Top out of the lake and stabbed the dugong to death?Did he rescue you from the sea?Based on the circumstances of these things at that time, no one could do them. All these facts make us think this way: if all these things were done by one person.Then he has the ability to call the wind and the rain.

The correspondent's argument is correct, and everyone agrees. Yes, Cyrus.Smith went on to say that if it is certain that the one who saved us was a person, I agree that he has the ability that ordinary people do not have.It is still a mystery now, but if the man can be found, the mystery will be solved.Therefore, the question now is, should we respect this kind man and let him hide without disturbing him, or should we try to find him?What are your thoughts on this issue? My opinion is, says Pencroft, whoever he is, he is a brave man, and I admire him! That is true, said Smith, but that is not what I ask, Pencroft.

My lord, said Neb, my opinion is that we may try to find the man you speak of; but I think we shall not find him if he will not show himself. You are right, Neb.said Pencroft. I also agree with Neb, Keating.But we cannot stop exploring, said Spilett.Whether we can find this mysterious person or not.We should at least try to find what he wants. And you, boy, tell me your opinion.said the engineer to Herbert. Oh, said Herbert excitedly, he saved you first, and now all of us, and I want to thank him! Of course, my boy, said Pencroft, every one of us would like to thank him.I don't always like to ask questions, but if I want to be able to look at him face to face, I'm willing to goug one of my eyes!I think this man must be very handsome, tall and strong, with a beautiful beard and shiny hair; besides, he must be sitting on a cloud, holding a big earth in his hand!

Pencroft, said Spilett, you speak of the image of the Almighty Creator. Perhaps so, Monsieur Spilett, replied the sailor, but that is what I imagine him to be! What about you, Ayrton?asked the engineer. Mr Smith, replied Ayrton, I can think of no better opinion on the subject.The way you take is the best way.If you want me to go search with you, I am ready to go with you at any time. Thank you, Ayrton, Cyrus.Smith replied, but I want you to answer my question and say what you think.You are our partner and you have risked your life several times for us.When we make any important decision, we should consult with you just like everyone else.So, you still talk about your opinion.

Mr. Smith, said Ayrton, I think we should do everything in our power to find this strange benefactor.Maybe he was alone.Maybe he is suffering.Maybe he needs a new life.You are right, I should also return his favor.It must be he, and only he, who has been to the Isle of Po, where he found the poor fellow you know, and let you know that there is a wretched soul waiting for you to rescue!So, thanks to him, I am human again.No, I can never forget him! Well, it is so decided, Cyrus."We want to start the search as early as possible," Smith said.This time, no corner of the deserted island can be missed.We have to search even the most hidden places. I hope this strange friend can consider our intentions and forgive us!

For several days, the migrants have been actively arranging hay and harvesting the fields.They intend to do all the work that can be done first, and then go to realize their plan to explore places that have not been visited on the desert island.The various vegetables transplanted from Tabo Island are now time to harvest.Everything was packed, and fortunately there was enough room in the Granite Palace to accommodate all the supplies on the island.The things harvested by the team are hidden there in an orderly manner.It can be imagined that the storage place is very safe, neither afraid of animals being spoiled nor looting by villains.

Across the thick granite rock wall, there is no need to worry about getting wet.The residents used pickaxes and gunpowder to expand many natural stone caves in the upper corridor. Therefore, the Granite Palace became a comprehensive warehouse, in which all food, weapons, tools and unused utensils were stored. In a word, the supplies of the entire team It's all in there. The cannon from the brig were fine weapons, and at Pencroft's request they were at last hoisted by ropes and a pulley to the Palace of Granite.They drilled holes between the windows, and before long the gleaming muzzles could be seen in the granite walls.They were so high up they could overlook all of Union Bay.This place is like a small Gibraltar. Any ship, as long as it anchors near the island, must be exposed to the range of this high-altitude fort.

Mr. Smith, said Pencroft, on the 8th of November, Now that our battery is built, try the range of the cannon. Do you think this is useful?asked the engineer. Not only useful, but necessary!Otherwise, how do we know how far our squeaking shells can go? Try it, Pencroft, replied the engineer; but I think it better to keep the ordinary powder as it is, and to use cotton powder for the experiments, because cotton powder is inexhaustible. Can a cannon survive a blast of cotton powder?asked the correspondent, who, like Pencroft, was eager to try the cannon at Granite Palace. I think it can stand it.But we should be a little more cautious, the engineer said.

The engineer had a good idea, and the steel of the cannon was very good.This is a breech-loading gun made of forged steel, which can be loaded with a large amount of gunpowder and shot very far.In fact, in order to achieve practical effects, the ballistic trajectory must be as low as possible, and in order to obtain this power, it must have an extremely high muzzle velocity to propel the shell forward. The muzzle velocity is directly proportional to the amount of gunpowder.Smith told his companions that in the manufacture of such cannons everything was to be determined by the metal of the highest resistance, and steel was undoubtedly the most resistant metal.I have every reason, therefore, to believe that our guns could safely withstand the expansion of the explosive gases, and that the tests must have been successful. After we try it, we will be more sure!said Pencroft. Needless to say, the four cannons were packed like new.The sailors had worked hard on them since they were brought out of the water.He spends hours sanding, oiling, buffing and removing and washing parts!Now they light up like the cannons on a US Navy cruiser. So, on this day, the four cannons were fired in order in front of all the residents, including Jup and Top.Taking into account, as has already been said, the explosive force of cotton powder which is four times that of ordinary powder, they charged the cannon with the proper amount of cotton powder.The shells are conical. Pencroft stood, clutching the end of the match, ready to fire. With a wave of his hand, Smith fired.The shells flew over the island and fell into the sea, and the distance could not be accurately estimated. The second shot was aimed at the rock at the end of Relic Point, and the shell hit a sharp stone almost three miles from Granite Palace, sending fragments flying.It was Herbert who took aim and fired, and was very proud of his first shot.But Pencroft was far more proud than he!For the shot was so well shot, and the honor belongs to his dear boy. The third shot was aimed at the sand dunes south of Union Bay and hit the sand four miles away, then the shell bounced up and landed in the sea with a splash. When the fourth shot was fired, CyrusSmith added a little more powder, intending to see how far he could shoot it.For fear of an explosion, everyone stood far away, and then pulled the fire with a long rope. Immediately after a startling bang the settlers ran to the windows, and the cannon had done so well that the ball grazed the rocks at Jawbone Point, nearly five miles from Granite Palace, and fell in Shark Bay. Well, Mr. Smith, cried Pencroft, whose cheers were as loud as the guns, what do you think of our batteries?It doesn't matter if all the pirates in the Pacific come to Granite Palace!Nobody wants to log in without our permission! Believe it or not, Pencroft, said the engineer, it would be better not to do such experiments. Um?What then, said the sailor, should be done with the six rascals who still roam the island?Shall they be allowed to devastate our forests, fields and farms?These bandits are jaguars to the letter and I don't think we'll hesitate to take them down with gunfire!What do you say, Ayrton?said Pencroft to his companion. Ayrton hesitated, and made no immediate answer, Cyrus.Smith regretted Pencroft's rashness in raising the question.What moved him above all was that Ayrton said in such a humble way: I too was once a puma, Mister Pencroft.I have no right to speak. So he walked away slowly. Only then did Pencroft understand. I'm not alone!cried he, poor Ayrton!Here, like everyone else, he has his say! Yes, Keating.Spilett said, but the more silent he is, the more we should value him, and we should respect his repentance. Of course, Monsieur Spilett, said the sailor, you need not worry, I will never do it again.I would rather bite off my tongue than hurt Ayrton!Now talk about it.I think those bandits should be treated honestly, and we must wipe them off the island as soon as possible. Is that your opinion, Pencroft?asked the engineer. Not bad at all. Do you plan to hunt them down without mercy before they have any new hostilities against us? Isn't what they've already done enough?asked Pencroft, who did not know how to think carefully. Maybe they'll change their mood!Perhaps they will repent, Smith said. They will regret it!cried the sailor, shrugging. Pencroft, think of Ayrton!Herbert took the sailor by the hand and said, He has repented! Pencroft looked at his companions one after the other.It never occurred to him that his opinion would be opposed.These hooligans are with Bob.Harvey's gang of dogs came to the island together.They were the massacres of the Speedy's crew; Pencroft regarded them as a herd of beasts, which must be exterminated without hesitation or mercy; All right!Everyone is against me, he said!You plan to spare these gangsters!Very good, I hope we have no regrets! As long as we are always on the lookout, said Herbert, what danger is there? snort!The correspondent said that he had not yet made his claim, that they were six armed men.If we each hide in a corner and shoot each of us, they'll be masters of the island in no time! Why didn't they do it?Because they're not going to do it, it's obvious, Herbert said.Besides, there are six of us. Alright alright!He could not persuade, said Pencroft, that these good people should do what they liked, and not worry about them! Pencroft, said Neb, make yourself not a villain!You wouldn't shoot if there was an unfortunate person standing in front of you within range of your gun. I'll shoot him like a mad dog, Neb.said Pencroft coldly. Pencroft, said the engineer, you have always obeyed me; will you obey me in this matter? I can do what you want, Mr. Smith.said the sailor, but he did not change his opinion in the slightest. Very well, then, we shall never attack them unless they attack us first. Although Pencroft calculated that it would be completely useless to do so, everyone passed the action against the pirates in this way.They are not going to attack, only to defend.The desert island has a large ground and fertile land.If these bad guys still have some conscience, they may turn their backs.Don't they want to start a new life in this environment?In any case, according to humanitarian requirements, it is necessary to wait for them like this.Immigrants can no longer walk around without concern like they used to.There used to be only beasts to watch out for, and now there are half a dozen criminals haunting the island, and maybe they're some really bad people.The situation is indeed serious.And for those who are less timid, it means losing the guarantee of safety!Of course, at the present time the emigrants have reasons to object to Pencroft's views, which may be considered unimportant.Is this view correct in the future?Had to wait until later to confirm.