Chapter 60 Chapter Eighteen

At dawn, the residents silently returned to the exit of the cave. In memory of Captain Nemo, they called this place Dhaka Cave.It was low tide and they passed under the arched opening without difficulty, the water washing over the ship from the right. Here they kept the boat carefully, so that it would not be pounded by the sea.As a precaution, Pencroft, Neb, and Ayrton drew the boat back into the cave, and laid it on the sand beside the cave wall, where it would not suffer any damage. The storm had died down during the night.The last few muffled thunderclaps gradually died down in the west.Although the rain had stopped, the sky was still cloudy.October is the first month of spring in the southern hemisphere, and overall the weather doesn't look like it's looking any better this month.The wind was shifting from one compass point to another, so clear weather was not to be expected.

Cyrus.Smith and his mates left Dhaka Hole and headed straight to the corral.Along the way Neb and Herbert carefully stowed away the wires which had drawn the captain from the corral to the cavern, which might be of use later on. Residents rarely spoke along the way.They were deeply impressed by the events of the night of October 15th.Captain Nemo, the stranger who helped them in time, the man who they imagined had supernatural powers, was gone forever.He and his Nautilus are buried in the abyss.All the residents feel lonelier than ever.The power of rescue they used to look forward to is no longer there;Spilett, and even Cyrus.Smith couldn't help feeling that way, too.So they walked to the corral without saying a word.

Near nine o'clock in the morning the inhabitants returned to Granite Palace. Everyone had already decided to actively speed up the shipbuilding work.This time Cyrus.Smith has invested all his time and energy in order to achieve this goal.Everything in the future is unpredictable.It would certainly be of great advantage to the emigrants to have a sturdy boat, if one would not be afraid to sail in bad weather, and not too small for a considerable voyage.After the ship was built, the inhabitants would at least get to Po Isle as soon as possible, if not to leave Lincoln Island for any of the Polynesian islands in the Pacific, or the coast of New Zealand, and to inform them of Ayrton. stay there.This preparation is necessary because Scottish cruise ships may have to return to the sea in this area.It is very important not to be sloppy at all on this point.

So the work started again.Cyrus.Smith, Pencroft, and Ayrton at Nab, Gideon.With the help of Spilett and Herbert, the work continued without stopping unless there were other necessary matters.It is worth noting that once the storm of the autumnal equinox blows, it is impossible to sail.If they wanted to reach Po Island before the wind blows, the ship must be built by the beginning of March, that is to say, the new ship must be completed within five months.So the carpenters never let go of any spare time.All the rigging on the Flying Speed ​​​​has been preserved. They don't need to make rigging, they just need to make the hull.

At the end of 1868 they were doing this important work and little else.After two and a half months, the ribs were aligned, and the first planks were placed.By this time Cyrus was already visible.Smith's design is ingenious, and the ship must sail well in the sea. Pencroft was so active in his work that he complained even when his companions put down their axes and took up their guns to hunt.But in order to meet the winter, the Granite Palace must maintain a considerable amount of reserves.This aroused Pencroft's displeasure.The brave and faithful sailor was dissatisfied as soon as the workers left the shipyard.Whenever this happened, he was so dissatisfied that he got angry and did the work of six people by himself.

Throughout the summer, the weather was unsatisfactory.There were days when the heat was unbearable, and the atmosphere was filled with thunder and lightning. After a violent storm, it was refreshing.There are rare days when distant thunder is not heard, and the rumbling thunder is constantly ringing, which is the characteristic of the equatorial regions of the earth. On January 1, 1869, an unprecedented storm occurred.There were several thunderclaps on the deserted island.Lightning knocked down many big trees.On the south bank of the lake there were many tall elms covering the poultry-yards, one of which was also felled.Is there any relationship between this atmospheric phenomenon and the change of the earth's center?Is there any connection between the vibration of the atmosphere and the change of the ground?Cyrus.Smith thinks there is a relationship, because with the onset of the storm, signs of volcanic revival are also revealed.

At first light on January 3rd, Herbert, taking the reins and intending to harness a wild ass, had climbed up to the heights of Prospect Heights when he noticed a great hat-like cloud of smoke rising from the summit of the volcano. Herbert at once told the inhabitants to come out with him at once to observe the summit of Mount Franklin. ah!exclaimed Pencroft, it was not vapor this time!It seems that this big guy is not only panting, it is also smoking! This metaphor of the sailor expresses exactly what happened in the crater.For three months, the crater has been emitting water vapor. Although the water vapor is sometimes thick and sometimes weak, it is always only caused by the boiling of internal minerals.But now it is not water vapor, instead of water vapor is a thick smoke, it is like a gray pillar, more than three hundred feet wide at the bottom, rises to a height of seven or eight hundred feet from the top of the mountain, and then spreads out in all directions, Like a giant mushroom.

There was fire in the fume vent.Ji Ding.Spilett said. We can't put out this fire!Herbert said. The volcano should be removed.said Neb seriously. Well said, Neb!Pencroft laughed aloud, so you must be in charge of this work? Cyrus.Smith left his partner and took a few steps forward, watching the smoke rising from Mount Franklin.He listened for a while, and seemed to think that there should be rumbles in the distance.Then he came back to his companions and said: Yes, my friends, we must not deceive ourselves that something serious is about to happen.The interior of the volcano is now not just boiling, it is on fire, and there is no doubt that we will be threatened by a volcanic eruption.

Well, Mr. Smith, said Pencroft, we shall wait and see how it breaks out.If it explodes well, we applaud.I don't think we need to worry about the matter any further. Or it may be as you say, Cyrus.Smith said that because the ancient magma outlet is still open.Because of this, magma erupted in the past and flowed northward.But But since volcanic eruptions do us no good, it is better not to erupt.said the correspondent. Who knows?The sailor said, maybe there is something valuable in this volcano, and if we spew it out, we can still use it! Cyrus.Smith shook his head, as if expecting no good from this sudden phenomenon.He did not take the consequences of the explosion so lightly as Pencroft did.Even if due to the location of the crater, the magma does not directly threaten the forests and areas that have been developed on the island, it will still cause other complications after the eruption.In fact, volcanic eruptions are often accompanied by earthquakes.Lincoln Island is again an island formed by different geology, basalt in some places, granite in others, congealed lava on the north, and fertile soil on the south; danger.For this reason, although the overflow of lava may not necessarily cause serious disasters, if the entire desert island disintegrates due to the shaking of the earth structure, it will cause unimaginable consequences.

Ayrton, lying on his stomach, put his ear to the ground and listened for a moment, then said: I seem to hear a low rumble, like the sound of a wagon drawn by iron bars. The inhabitants listened intently for a while, proving that Ayrton had heard correctly.In the rumbling sound, there is also a kind of underground roar, forming a crescendo rhythm; and then slowly disappearing, as if a violent storm came down from the ground and gradually passed away.But they cannot hear what is commonly called an explosion.From this, it can be concluded that water vapor and dense smoke can be released freely from the central pipe, and the safety valve is quite wide, so that no sudden changes will occur, so there is no need to worry about explosions.

alright!said Pencroft, shall we not go back to work?Let Franklin Hills smoke, roar, roar and breathe fire, there's no reason for us to stop here!Come, Ayrton, Neb, Herbert, M. Smith, M. Spilett, everyone must go to work today!We're going to get the inner keel now, and twelve arms isn't too many.After the new ship is built, let's call it the old name Riding the Wind and the Waves, shall we?I plan to have our new Rider afloat in Balloon Harbor in two months!So, don't waste an hour! At Pencroft's call, all the inhabitants went to the shipyard to install the inner keel.The inner keel is the thick piece of wood that forms the lower part of the boat and holds the ribs of the hull together firmly.All take part in this difficult work. The day was January 3rd, and they had been working all day without further consideration of the volcano; besides, Mount Franklin was not visible from the beach below Granite Palace.But, though the day was perfectly clear, the sun was once or twice in its course covered by a great shadow, which indicated that a thick cloud of smoke passed between the sun and Lincoln Island.The wind on the shore blows all this moisture to the west.Cyrus.Smith and Keating.Spilett noticed the cloudiness of the sky on these occasions.The phenomenon of volcanic resurgence must have been further developed; they discussed it from time to time, but the work did not stop.No matter from which point of view, the ship should be built as soon as possible, which is the most important premise.In the event of an accident, as long as the residents have a boat, they will have a very reliable guarantee.Maybe this ship will be their only refuge in the future, who knows? After supper, Cyrus.Smith, Keating.Spilett and Herbert climbed to the plateau of Prospect Heights again.By this time it was already dark.Since the surroundings were dim, they could tell whether the steam and smoke rising from the crater contained flames or white-hot objects ejected from the volcano. The mountain pass is on fire!Herbert, who was quicker than his companion, was the first to run on the high ground. Mount Franklin was about six miles from them.At this time, it is like a huge torch with a cloud of fireworks around the top.The top of the mountain was densely covered with smoke, which was probably mixed with cinders and slag, so that in the dim twilight, the fire seemed very weak.But the whole deserted island is shrouded in a dim red light, and in the red light, there are hazy shadows of trees standing on the high hills.The water vapor rose up like a whirlwind and scattered into a large area, covering the sky, only a few stars could be seen faintly twinkling. It's getting too fast!said the engineer. This is not unusual, the correspondent said, the volcano had been revived for a long time.You will probably remember, Cyrus, that we first encountered steam when we were looking for Captain Nemo's lodging in the mountains.If I remember correctly, it was around the fifteenth of October. Yes, said Herbert, that was two and a half months ago! So the underground fire has been burning for ten weeks, Gideon.Spilett went on to say that there is nothing to be surprised at that they have developed to this extent now! Do you feel some movement on the ground?Cyrus.Smith asked. I feel something, Keating.But that, Spilett replied, was far from an earthquake. I didn't say we were threatened with an earthquake, Cyrus.Smith said, may God bless us from an earthquake!Now it is not an earthquake, but the shaking is caused by the flames in the center of the earth reaching a high temperature.The earth's crust is actually like the body of a boiler. You know, under the pressure of steam, the body of the pot will vibrate like loud metal plates.This is what is happening now. What a beautiful flame!cried Herbert. At this time, a string of sparks erupted from the crater. Although covered with a layer of water vapor, the light of the sparks could still be seen.Tongues of flame and tens of thousands of sparks flew in all directions.Some dissipated the smoke, leaving behind a trail of white-hot powder that flew out of the range of the smoke, and at the same time gave off a series of explosions, like a battery of machine guns firing. Cyrus.Smith, the correspondent, and Herbert remained an hour on the heights of Prospect Heights, then walked down the beach and returned to Granite House.The engineer is engrossed in his thoughts.He was fascinated, Keating.Spilett could not help asking him whether he feared that the eruption of the volcano would presently or indirectly present a danger. You can say yes, and you can say no.Cyrus.Smith replied. But, says the correspondent, is not the greatest misfortune that can befall us an earthquake that can destroy a deserted island?I don't think there is anything to be afraid of, because the exit is unblocked, and water vapor and magma can be ejected. Yes, Cyrus."I'm not afraid of earthquakes, which are common ground shaking caused by the expansion of underground gas," Smith said.The fear is that there are other reasons that will cause serious consequences. What reason, dear Cyrus? I'm not sure either, need to think about it.In a few days I will go to the mountains to have a look, and then I will know more about it. Ji Ding.Spilett fell silent.Although the volcano was exploding, and the explosion was becoming more and more violent, and although the echo of the explosion was heard all over the deserted island, it was not long before the residents of Granite Palace fell asleep. January 4th, 5th, 6th, three days passed.The work of building the ship continued industriously.The engineer didn't explain anything further, just put all his energy into working hard.Mount Franklin was now covered with a dark and menacing smoke, and white-hot rocks spewed from the flames, some of which fell back into the crater.Seeing this, Pencroft, who was always joking about the matter, could not help exclaiming: Ah, this big guy is playing fencing!It is a magician. The ejected matter fell into the abyss again.From this point of view, although the internal pressure has caused the magma to rise, it does not seem to have risen as high as the Qi crater.Part of the northeast-facing gap is visible, at least it hasn't flowed lava up the northern slopes yet. The task of building the ship was urgent, but the immigrants had to do other jobs all over the island.First they had to go to the corral, where the mouflons and goats were kept and had to be supplemented with feed.It was decided that Ayrton should go there next day, January 7th.The work in the stables was familiar to him, and he could do it alone, when Pencroft and the others were surprised to hear the engineer say to Ayrton: Since you're going to the corral, I'll go with you. But, Mr. Smith, cried the sailor, our deadline is approaching, and if you go away, we shall be two less! We'll be back tomorrow, Cyrus.Smith said I must go to the corral.I want to know how the volcano is doing. volcanic eruptions!Always erupting!Yes, Pencroft said with a dissatisfied expression, a volcanic eruption is a great event!But I don't care. Regardless of the sailor's opinion, it was settled that the engineer was scheduled to go to the corral next day.Herbert was going to talk to Cyrus.Smith went with him, but the engineer, unwilling to cause Pencroft any greater displeasure, resigned. At dawn the next day, Cyrus.Smith and Ayrton jumped into the cart drawn by two wild asses, and hurried to the corral. Large clouds of smoke drifted over the forest, and the crater of Mount Franklin continued to add soot to the smoke.The dense smoke that filled the air obviously contained various impurities.Their strange opaque color and weight do not come simply from volcanoes.In these smokes were also suspended dusty cinders like pumice powder and gray dust like the finest starch grains.The dust is so fine that it can hang in the air for months.After the volcanic eruption in Iceland in 1783, the atmosphere was still filled with volcanic ash for more than a year, and even the sun's rays could not penetrate it easily. However, this powdery substance still drops a lot.This is the case now.Cyrus.As Smith and Ayrton were approaching the corral, a black snow like fine gunpowder powder suddenly fell from the sky, and the ground changed immediately.Trees and pastures were gone, covered with a layer of soot several inches thick.Fortunately, the northeast wind was blowing at this time, and most of the smoke was driven out to sea. That's very strange, Mr. Smith.Ayrton said. Seriously, said the engineer, this dust of pumice and all these minerals showed that a great cataclysm was taking place in the bottom of the volcano. Is there no way to think about it? There is no other way but to watch the situation develop.So, Ayrton, you go about your business in the corral, and I'm going up to the source of the Red River, and see the north slopes.Then And then what, Mr. Smith? Then we went to explore Dhaka Cave.I'm going to see what's going on there.In short, I shall be back within two hours. So Ayrton went into the corral.While he waited for the engineer, he was busy tending the mouflons and goats.The flock felt a little uneasy at the first signs of the eruption. At this time Cyrus.Smith climbed the summit of the eastern spur and crossed the Red River to the spot where they had discovered the sulfur springs on their first trip. How things have changed!Now he saw not one but thirteen strands of smoke.The smoke radiated outward, as if a piston was pushing violently beneath the ground.This part of the Earth's crust is apparently under staggering stress.The atmosphere is full of gases, including carbon dioxide mixed with water vapour.The volcanic tuff paved on the flat ground in this area is a hard rock formed by the powder of cinders condensed for a long time.Cyrus.Smith felt the tuff shake under his feet, but he found no new magma. The absence of magma was more certain when the engineer had surveyed the entire northern slope of Mount Franklin.Many pillars of fire and smoke burst out of the crater.A shower of embers fell to the ground like hailstones.But magma did not flow out of the crater, suggesting that volcanic material had not yet risen to the top of the central orifice. But I'd rather let the lava overflow, Cyrus.Smith said to himself, then at least you can know that the magma is flowing out of the old way.Otherwise, who dares to say that they will not open a new path?But the danger is not there!Captain Nemo had seen this beforehand!No, the danger is not there! Cyrus.Smith walked toward the broad causeway that led to the outskirts of Shark Bay.Now he can carefully observe the path of ancient magma flow here.He was absolutely certain that the last eruption had been erupted a long time ago. Then, he went back the same way.Along the way, he listened carefully to the rumbling sounds of the ground, occasionally a few deafening explosions interrupted the long-lasting thunder.At nine o'clock in the morning he was back in the corral. Ayrton was waiting for him. The cattle have been taken care of, Mr. Smith.Ayrton said. Good, Ayrton. They seem very unstable, Mr. Smith. Yes, this is the intuition calling the police to them, and the intuition will never deceive them. are you ready? Take a lamp, Ayrton, said the engineer, and we'll be off in a moment. Ayrton did as he was told.They unbridled the wild asses and let them roam the corral.Cyrus.Smith led Ayrton, closed the door from the outside, and walked up the narrow path leading to the West Bank. The ground they walked was covered with dust that fell from the smoke.There were no beasts in the forest, and even the birds flew away.Sometimes the breeze kicked up the soot that lay on the ground and surrounded them in swirls of dust, invisible to each other.In order not to blind their eyes and choke their throats with soot, they carefully covered their eyes and mouths with handkerchiefs. With this obstacle, Cyrus.It was impossible for Smith and Ayrton to go fast.Coupled with the suffocation of the air, it seems that part of the oxygen has been burned and it is not suitable for breathing.Every hundred steps they had to stop to catch their breath.Therefore, it was already past ten o'clock when the engineer and his partner came to the peak of the rocks on the northwest coast of the deserted island formed by huge basalt and porphyry. Ayrton and Cyrus.Smith started walking down the steep slope.Almost every step they took followed the dangerous path leading to Dhaka Cave that they had taken that stormy night.This time it was broad daylight, and the descent was less dangerous than last time; and the washed rocks were covered with soot, so the footsteps were much more steady. They soon came to the water-cut, about forty feet high, at the end of the shore.Cyrus.Smith remembers the high waterline sloping gradually to the surface.Although the tide was low at this time, the beach was not yet visible.The waves crashing against the basalt rocks are very cloudy because they are mixed with volcanic soot. Cyrus.Smith and Ayrton successfully found the entrance of Dhaka Cave.They stopped for a while beside the last rock before the entrance of the cave. The tin boat should be on that side.said the engineer. Here it is, Mr. Smith.said Ayrton, drawing towards him the light boat which was kept under the arch. Aboard, Ayrton! They stepped into the boat.Slightly undulating waves carried it under the low arches of the cavern.Here Ayrton lighted a lamp with a knife and flint, and he placed it in the prow, so that it shone forward, and took the oars.Cyrus.Smith steered the helm, and headed for the dark cavern. The Nautilus no longer illuminates the cavern with its lights.The lights on the ship might not have been extinguished, but not a gleam of light shone from the abyss in which Captain Nemo lay. Although the light is weak, it can still guide the engineer to slowly advance along the stone wall of the cave.Under the vault, at least in the outer part, was deathly still.But go a little further in, Cyrus.Smith could clearly hear rumbles coming from inside the volcano. That came from the volcano.said the engineer. In addition to this sound, they soon smelled a strong smell. As soon as they smelled this smell, they knew that a chemical change was taking place here.The sulphurous steam nearly smothered the engineer and his companions. That was Captain Nemo's concern, Cyrus.Smith murmured, his face changing, but we're going down to the bottom of the hole anyway. Go forward!As Ayrton said, he stooped, picked up the oars, and rowed the boat to the end of the cave. Twenty-five minutes after entering the cave, the boat reached the depths of the cave. At this time Cyrus.Smith stood up and cast the light on the stone wall.This wall separates the cave from the central duct of the volcano.How thick is the stone wall?Maybe ten feet, maybe a hundred feet, that's impossible to estimate.But the sound of the underground volcano is too clear, it is estimated that the stone wall will not be very thick. After inspecting the lower part of the wall, the engineer tied the lamp to the oar and inspected the higher basalt walls. Right here, there are many gaps in the stone wall that are not easy to see clearly. A pungent water vapor comes out of the gaps and spreads in the air of the cave.There are also several large cracks in the stone wall, some of which go down to only two or three feet above the water. Cyrus.Smith pondered for a moment, then whispered: Yes!The captain is right!The danger is here, and the danger is terrible! Ayrton said not a word.Cyrus.Smith made a gesture, and he took to the oars again.Half an hour later, he and the engineer returned to the Dakar cave entrance.