Chapter 54 Chapter Twelve

The next day, February 18, the settlers prepared to explore the forested area from Reptilian Point to the banks of the Falls River.This area of ​​forest, not more than three or four miles wide between the two banks of the Serpentine Peninsula, could be thoroughly searched.The trees here are not only tall, but also lush.It can be seen that the soil in this area is much more fertile than in other parts of the desert island.One might suppose that it was a part of the original forest which migrated into this temperate zone from America or Africa.They reasoned that the soil must have been warmer where these magnificent trees grew.It turns out that the soil here is moist on the surface, but the interior is warmed by the volcanic flames; such temperatures are impossible in temperate climates.Common trees in this area are tall Cali pine and eucalyptus.

Of course, the purpose of the residents is not just to appreciate the beautiful trees.They knew that Lincoln Island already qualifies in this respect among the first class of the Canary Islands, originally called the Pleasure Islands.However, it is a pity that Lincoln Island is not completely owned by them anymore!Bandits have invaded it and defiled its shores, and these bandits must be wiped out! They searched very carefully, and found no trace on the west coast.There are no footprints, broken skills, and remaining camps here. That does not surprise me, Cyrus.Smith told his companions that the convicts had first landed near Relic Point on the deserted island, and that after crossing the sloppy moor they immediately penetrated into the Far West Forest.Then they proceeded almost in the same way as we had since started from Granite Palace.That's why we can find tracks in the forest.But the criminals soon discovered that there was no suitable place to live in this area after landing, so they went north again, so that they found the corral.

Perhaps they had gone back to the corral.said Pencroft. I don't think so, said the engineer, because they must have thought we were going to search in that direction.For them, the corral is just a warehouse, not a place to stay for a long time. I agree with Cyrus, said the correspondent. I think the convicts must have nestled among the spurs of Mount Franklin. Then, Mr. Smith, to the corral at once!cried Pencroft, we must kill them all.We've been wasting our time so far! No, my friend, said the engineer, you forgot we wanted to know if there were any dwellings in the Far West Woods.Our expedition is twofold, Pencroft.On the one hand, of course we have to punish criminals, on the other hand, we also have to repay the kindness of others.

That's right, Mr Smith, said the sailor, but all the same, I don't think we can find the gentleman until he doesn't want to show himself. In fact, Pencroft said what everyone thought.The stranger's abode was probably just as mysterious as his own. That night, the cart stopped at the mouth of the waterfall.They organized camps as usual and held vigils as usual.Herbert was now a healthy and strong teenager again.This outdoor life, with the breeze from the sea and the fresh air of the woods, was of great advantage to him.Now he no longer sits in the car, but walks in front of the squad.

The next day, February 19th, the settlers left the coast. On the opposite side of the estuary from the coast, various basalt rocks piled together in a grotesque pattern turned up the left bank of the river.They used to go from the corral to the west coast, so the road was partly paved.Residents are now about six miles from Mount Franklin. The engineer's plan was this: to look carefully at the valley which formed the bed of the river, and to approach the corral carefully; if there was a man in the corral, to take it by force; stronghold. The settlers agreed to the plan because they were anxious to recover their entire deserted island.

They followed a gorge that divided the two largest spurs of Mount Franklin.The trees are dense on the banks of the river, and sparser on the slightly higher slopes.There are rugged mountains everywhere here, and ambushes are the most suitable, so they are very careful when advancing.Top and Jup jumped up and down in the dense forest on either side, competing with each other for wit and dexterity.There is nothing in the Jia'an area to suggest that anyone has been there recently, and there are no relics to suggest that criminals have been here or nearby.At five o'clock in the evening the wagon came to a halt within six hundred feet of the fence.The fence was hidden by a semicircle of trees, so it could not be seen.

Now it was necessary to do some reconnaissance to see if anyone was in the corral.The criminals might be hiding nearby, and if they walked to the corral in daylight, they would be sent up to the gangsters like poor Herbert, so it was better to wait until dark. However, Keating.Spilett, on the other hand, insisted on reconnaissance of the corral without further delay; and Pencroft, impatient, volunteered to accompany the correspondent. No, my friends, said the engineer, wait until dark.I will never let any of you expose yourself in broad daylight. However, Mr. Smith, the sailor, still wanted to refuse.

I beg you, Pencroft.said the engineer. good!The sailor said that he found another way to vent his anger, and insulted the gang of criminals with the worst words that people on board used to use. So the inhabitants remained beside the wagon, carefully guarding the surroundings of the forest. Three hours passed in this way.The wind weakened, and there was no sound under the big tree.Even breaking a twig, stepping on a dry leaf, or slipping through the grass can be heard clearly.Everything is quiet.Top, lying on his stomach in the grass, with his head resting on his paws, showed no sign of agitation.At eight o'clock, it was already very late, and under such conditions, it is generally suitable for reconnaissance.Ji Ding.Spilett expressed his readiness to set off with Pencroft at any time.Cyrus.Smith agreed.Top and Jup remained with the Engineer, Herbert, and Neb, for they would alarm the bandits if they barked at the inopportune time.

Don't be careless, said Smith to the correspondent and Pencroft, you need not take possession of the corral, but only to find out whether there is anyone in it. good.said Pencroft. So the two of them left. Thanks to the dense branches and leaves, it was pitch black under the tree, and you couldn't see anything more than thirty or forty feet away.The correspondent and Pencroft advanced very cautiously, stopping at the first suspicious sound. They kept a short distance from each other, so that the target was relatively small.Let's be honest, they're waiting for a gunshot any minute.Five minutes after leaving the cart, Gideon.Spilett and Pencroft came to the clearing at the edge of the forest, beyond which came the corral fence.

They stopped.In this treeless space, there are still a few blurred lights.Thirty feet away was the gate to the corral, which at this moment seemed to be closed.The thirty feet between the edge of the forest and the fence must be passed. If we borrow a term from ballistics, we might as well call it the danger zone.In fact, whoever strayed into the danger zone could be knocked out with a shot or two behind the fence.Ji Ding.Spilett and the sailor were not timid people, but they also knew that if they were not careful, not only would they be the first victim, but their partners would also be affected.What would become of Smith, Neb, and Herbert if they were killed?

Pencroft thought that the criminals must have taken up residence in the corral.Now that he was so close to the corral, he wanted to move forward on a whim.The correspondent seized him firmly in one hand. It will be dark in a while, Spilett leaned close to the sailor's ear and whispered, then act again. Pencroft gripped the butt of his gun restlessly, trying to restrain his excitement, and cursed under his breath while he waited. Before long, the last glimmer of peripheral vision disappeared.Darkness seemed to strike from the middle of the dense forest, covering the clearing.Mount Franklin stands like a gigantic barrier on the western horizon.As usual in the lower latitudes, night fell quickly.Now is the time. The correspondent and Pencroft kept their eyes on the fence since they had reached the edge of the forest.There seemed to be no one in the corral.The top of the fence formed a straight line, slightly darker than the surrounding darkness; it was clear that there was nothing indistinct about the fence.If the criminals were in the corral, they would leave one man on guard in case they were suddenly attacked. Spilett seized the hands of his companions, and together they crawled towards the corral; at any moment they were ready to shoot. It was pitch black, not even a ray of light; then they came to the gate of the corral. Pencroft was about to push the door open, but it was closed, as they had imagined.The sailors found the outer latches unbolted, and thus concluded that the criminals were in the corral, and that they had shut the door from the inside so that the outside could not be pushed open. Ji Ding.Spilett and Pencroft listened for a while. There was no sound from the fence.The mouflons and goats must have fallen asleep in the barn, so the night was not disturbed in the slightest. The correspondent and sailor, hearing nothing, wondered to themselves whether they should climb over the fence and go into the corral.No, to do so would be against Cyrus.Smith's instructions. True, such ventures may succeed, but they may also fail.If the criminals have no suspicions yet, if they have no idea that the inhabitants are on an expedition to search for them, that is to say, there is an opportunity for a surprise attack; such an opportunity is lost by rashly jumping over the fence, is it not? How should it be done? Correspondents do not intend this.He thought it best to wait until the inhabitants were assembled before attacking the corral.One thing is certain: they can sneak up to the fence, and no one seems to be there to guard it.Now that this is clear, it is possible to go back to the wagon and discuss it, and there is nothing else to do. Pencroft probably agreed with this decision, and when the correspondent turned back to the forest, he did not object, and followed him. After a few minutes, the engineer understood the current situation. Well, he thought for a moment, and then said, I now have reason to think that the criminals are not in the corral. It will be confirmed, said Pencroft, when we have cleared the stile. Go to the corral, friends!Cyrus.Smith said. Shall we just leave the wagon in the forest?asked Neb. No, replied the engineer, it is our munitions and food wagon, and it can be used as a fort if necessary. So go ahead!Ji Ding.Spilett said. The cart came out of the forest and drove quietly towards the fence.At this time the night was very dark, and the surroundings were still the same as when Pencroft and the correspondent were crawling just now, and there was no sound at all.The ground is full of weeds, so there is no sound at all when walking. Immigrants are always ready to shoot.Japp obeyed Pencroft and stayed behind alone.Neb tied Top with a rope to keep him from going any further. Immediately the clearing appeared in front of him.There is no one here.The team walked towards the fence without hesitation.After a while, he passed through the danger zone.Not a single shot was fired.The cart reached the front of the fence and stopped.Neb reined in before the wild ass.The engineer, the correspondent, Herbert, and Pencroft went to the door to see if it was closed from the inside. There is a door open! This is how the same thing?the engineer asked the sailor and Spilett. Both of them froze. I swear, said Pencroft, that door was shut just now! The residents hesitated.Were the criminals in the corral when Pencroft and the correspondent made their investigation?There was no doubt that they were inside at the time, for since the door had been closed, they could only have opened it.But are they still in there now?Or did a gangster just get out? All these questions are flooding the minds of the residents at the same time, but how can they be answered? Herbert had already taken a few steps towards the fence, when he suddenly stepped back and grabbed the engineer's hand. What's wrong?asked the engineer. There is light! Is it inside the house? Yes! Five people rushed forward together.Sure enough, there was only a faint light flickering in the window in front of him.Cyrus.Smith quickly made up his mind that the convicts had no doubts about what was going to happen, they were gathered in this house and are now under our control!This is our only chance!go ahead!Residents, guns in hand, stepped into the fence.The wagon was left outside in the care of Japp and Top.Residents have carefully tethered them to their vehicles. Cyrus.Smith, Pencroft and Gideon.Spilett on one side, and Herbert and Neb on the other, went along the fence and searched the dark and deserted corral. They soon approached the closed door. Smith gestured to his partners, telling them not to move.Then he went to the window lit by the dim light of the room. He glanced around the room. A lamp was burning on the table.Next to the table is the bunk where Al passes to sleep. There is a person lying on the bed. Suddenly, Cyrus.Smith took a few steps back and shouted hoarsely: Ayrton! Immediately the residents burst through the doors and rushed inside. Ayrton seemed to be asleep.It was evident from his countenance that he had been tortured long and cruelly.He has extensive scars on his wrists and ankles. Smith bent over him. Ayrton!cried the engineer, grabbing his arm.It was so unexpected to find him in this situation. Ayrton heard someone calling him, opened his eyes, looked blankly at Smith, and then at everyone. you!he cried, is that you? Ayrton!Ayrton!Smith called repeatedly. What is this place? In the corral house! Is it just us? Yes! But they are coming back!Ayrton yelled, take precautions, take precautions! Then he fainted from exhaustion. Spilett, cried the engineer, we could be attacked at any moment.Pull the cart into the corral.Then bolt the door and everybody come back here. Pencroft, Neb, and the correspondent hastened to carry out the engineer's orders.Time cannot be lost now.Perhaps by this time the cart had fallen into the hands of criminals! The correspondent and his two companions passed quickly through the corral to the gate of the gate.Meanwhile Top was growling sullenly beyond the fence. The engineer left Ayrton for a moment and came outside, ready to fire into the fight.Herbert followed him out.They all looked at the crest of the spur overlooking the corral.If the criminals were in ambush there, they could have killed the residents one by one. At this time, the moon rose from the east and hung over the dark shadow of the forest.A piece of silvery moonlight sprinkled inside the fence.The luxuriant trees in the corral, the brook as a water source, and the greenery all over the place were all illuminated in a blink of an eye.On the side of the mountain, the house and part of the fence are bathed in the bright moonlight.Only the bar against the gate remained dark. Not long after, a dark mass appeared.That was the cart, and it gradually entered the range of the moonlight.When the companions closed and barred, CyrusSmith heard a knock at the door. At this moment Top broke free from his restraints, and, screaming with rage, ran towards the back of the corral, which was to the right of the house. Get ready to shoot, friends!Smith said aloud. The settlers held up their guns, ready to meet the enemy at any time. Top kept barking.Japp ran after Top, screaming too. The settlers followed Jup to the creek under the cover of a big tree.What did they see in the bright moonlight?Five dead bodies lying on the river bank! These are the criminals who landed on Lincoln Island four months ago!