第12章

However, at the mouth of the watercourse and above the reach of the high tide, the convulsions of nature had formed, not a grotto, but a pile of enormous rocks, such as are often met with in granite countries and which bear the name of "Chimneys."Pencroft and Herbert penetrated quite far in among the rocks, by sandy passages in which light was not wanting, for it entered through the openings which were left between the blocks, of which some were only sustained by a miracle of equilibrium; but with the light came also air--a regular corridor-gale--and with the wind the sharp cold from the exterior.

However, the sailor thought that by stopping-up some of the openings with a mixture of stones and sand, the Chimneys could be rendered habitable.Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&," which signifies "et cetera" abridged, but by isolating the upper mouth of the sign, through which the south and west winds blew so strongly, they could succeed in making the lower part of use.

"Here's our work," said Pencroft, "and if we ever see Captain Harding again, he will know how to make something of this labyrinth.""We shall see him again, Pencroft," cried Herbert, "and when be returns he must find a tolerable dwelling here.It will be so, if we can make a fireplace in the left passage and keep an opening for the smoke.""So we can, my boy," replied the sailor, "and these Chimneys will serve our turn.Let us set to work, but first come and get a store of fuel.Ithink some branches will be very useful in stopping up these openings, through which the wind shrieks like so many fiends."Herbert and Pencroft left the Chimneys, and, turning the angle, they began to climb the left bank of the river.The current here was quite rapid, and drifted down some dead wood.The rising tide--and it could already be perceived--must drive it back with force to a considerable distance.The sailor then thought that they could utilize this ebb and flow for the transport of heavy objects.

After having walked for a quarter of an hour, the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left.From this point its course was pursued through a forest of magnificent trees.

These trees still retained their verdure, notwithstanding the advanced season, for they belonged to the family of "coniferae," which is spread over all the regions of the globe, from northern climates to the tropics.

The young naturalist recognized especially the "deedara," which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone, and which spread around them a most agreeable odor.Between these beautiful trees sprang up clusters of firs, whose opaque open parasol boughs spread wide around.Among the long grass, Pencroft felt that his feet were crushing dry branches which crackled like fireworks.

"Well, my boy," said he to Herbert, "if I don't know the name of these trees, at any rate I reckon that we may call them 'burning wood,' and just now that's the chief thing we want.""Let us get a supply," replied Herbert, who immediately set to work.

The collection was easily made.It was not even necessary to lop the trees, for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting, the means of transporting it was not yet found.

The wood, being very dry, would burn rapidly; it was therefore necessary to carry to the Chimneys a considerable quantity, and the loads of two men would not be sufficient.Herbert remarked this.

"Well, my boy," replied the sailor, "there must be some way of carrying this wood; there is always a way of doing everything.If we had a cart or a boat, it would be easy enough.""But we have the river," said Herbert.

"Right," replied Pencroft; "the river will be to us like a road which carries of itself, and rafts have not been invented for nothing.""Only," observed Herbert, "at this moment our road is going the wrong way, for the tide is rising!""We shall be all right if we wait till it ebbs," replied the sailor, "and then we will trust it to carry our fuel to the Chimneys.Let us get the raft ready."The sailor, followed by Herbert, directed his steps towards the river.

They both carried, each in proportion to his strength, a load of wood bound in fagots.They found on the bank also a great quantity of dead branches in the midst of grass, among which the foot of man had probably never before trod.Pencroft began directly to make his raft.In a kind of little bay, created by a point of the shore which broke the current, the sailor and the lad placed some good-sized pieces of wood, which they had fastened together with dry creepers.A raft was thus formed, on which they stacked all they had collected, sufficient, indeed, to have loaded at least twenty men.In an hour the work was finished, and the raft moored to the bank, awaited the turning of the tide.

There were still several hours to be occupied, and with one consent Pencroft and Herbert resolved to gain the upper plateau, so as to have a more extended view of the surrounding country.

Exactly two hundred feet behind the angle formed by the river, the wall, terminated by a fall of rocks, died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest.It was a natural staircase.Herbert and the sailor began their ascent; thanks to the vigor of their muscles they reached the summit in a few minutes; and proceeded to the point above the mouth of the river.