Chapter XIX

It was exactly seven months since the passengers in the balloon had been thrown upon Lincoln Island. In all this time no human being had been seen. No smoke, no work of man’s hands, either ancient or modern, had betrayed the presence of man upon the island. But a little bit of metal found in the body of a pig! It was certainly a bullet from a gun.

When Pencroff had placed it upon the table, his companions looked at it with profound astonishment.

“Are you sure, Pencroff,” asked Smith, “that the peccary was three months old?”

“I’m sure, sir,” answered the sailor. “It was sucking its mother when I found it in the ditch.”

“Let us see,” replied Smith, “what conclusions are to be drawn from this incident. Either the island was inhabited before our arrival, or men have landed here within three months. But are they friends or enemies?”

“No!” cried the sailor springing from the table. “There can be no men besides ourselves on Lincoln Island!”

“I think we should act cautiously,” said the reporter.

“I think so, too,” replied Smith, “as I fear that we can meet Malay pirates.”

The dinner was finished in low spirits. The incident of the bullet proved that the island had been, or was now, inhabited by others.

The next day Pencroff began his work. He wanted to build a boat to explore the river. On the 29th of October the canoe was finished.

“Hurrah!” he island. Some stones for ballast, a mast in the bow, with a sail which Mr. Smith will make some day, and away we’ll go! But now let us try our new ship.

The experiment was made. They all embarked, and Pencroff pushed off. The weather was splendid, the sea was calm, and the canoe could venture upon it. Neb and Herbert took the oars.

They rowed out half a mile from the coast so as to get a view of the outline of Mount Franklin. The canoe followed along the shore, it sped easily along.

Suddenly Herbert rose, and pointing out a black object, said:

“What is that down there on the sand?”

Everyone looked in the direction indicated.

“There is something there, indeed,” said the reporter. “It looks like a wreck half buried in the sand.”

“Oh, I see what it is!” cried Pencroff.

“What?” asked Neb.

“Barrels! They are barrels, and maybe they are full!”

“To shore, Pencroff!” said Smith.

And soon the party went up the beach. Pencroff was not mistaken. There were two barrels half buried in the sand; but firmly fastened to them was a large box.

“What is in this box?” exclaimed Pencroff, with a natural impatience. “What is in this box?”

There must have been a shipwreck, and perhaps this incident was connected with the incident of the bullet. Perhaps the strangers had landed upon another part of the island. Perhaps they were still there. But the natural conclusion of the colonists was that these strangers could not be Malay pirates, since the jetsam was evidently of European or American production.

“We will tow this box to Granite House,” said the engineer, “and take an inventory of its contents; then, if we discover any of the survivors of this supposed shipwreck, we will return them what is theirs. If we find no one…”

“We will keep the things!” cried the sailor.

The boat and the box were drawn upon the shore. Neb brought some tools so as to open the box, and the colonists proceeded to examine its contents.

Pencroff began to unfasten the barrels and took off the cover. A second box, of zinc, was enclosed within the case. Little by little, many different objects were lifted out on the sand. At each new discovery Pencroff cheered, Herbert clapped his hands, and Neb danced.

In truth the colonists had reason to be satisfied, as the following inventory showed: 3 pocket-knives, with several blades, 2 wood-chopper’s hatchets, 2 carpenter’s hatchets, 3 planes, 2 adzes, an axe, 6 cold chisels, 2 files, 3 hammers, 3 gimlets, 2 augers, 10 bags of nails and screws, 3 saws of different sizes, 2 boxes of needles, 2 flint-lock guns, 2 percussion guns, 2 centralfire carbines, 5 cutlasses, 4 boarding sabers, 2 barrels of powder, holding 15 pounds each, 12 boxes of caps, a sextant, an opera-glass, a spyglass, a box compass, a pocket compass, a Fahrenheit thermometer, an aneroid barometer, a box containing a photographic apparatus, together with glasses, chemicals, and much more.

There was also clothing and utensils: 2 dozen shirts of a peculiar material resembling wool, though evidently a vegetable substance, and 3 dozen stockings of the same material, an iron pot, 6 tinned copper stewpans, 3 iron plates, 10 aluminium knives and forks, 2 kettles, a small portable stove and 5 table knives.

Lastly, there were books: a Bible, an atlas, a dictionary of Polynesian languages, a dictionary of the Natural Sciences, 3 reams of blank paper, 2 blank books.

“The owner of this box,” said the reporter, “was a practical man! Tools, arms, instruments, clothing, utensils, books – everything!”

“Everything, indeed,” murmured Smith, thoughtfully.

The colonists were unable to determine the nationality of the ship that had so recently passed near them. This box enriched the party on Lincoln Island. Until now they had created everything for themselves. Did Providence intend to reward them?

Nevertheless, Pencroff was not entirely satisfied. When the inventory was closed, he murmured:

“That’s all very fine, but you see there is nothing for me here!”

“Why, what did you expect, Pencroff?” exclaimed Neb.

“A half pound of tobacco,” answered the sailor.

During the day the contents of the box were carried to Granite House and arranged in order in the great hall. And that evening, the 29th of October, Herbert asked Mr. Smith to read some passages from the Bible.

“Gladly,” answered the engineer. He opened the Bible where the marker lay between the leaves. He read these words: “For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth”.

Chapter XX

One day, after exploring the island, the colonists took their way to the ladder at Granite House in the evening. But, just then, Top began barking furiously, and Neb cried out:

“The ladder’s gone!”

Smith stood silent. The ladder had certainly disappeared.

“If this is a joke, it’s a pretty poor one,” cried Pencroff. “To get home and not be able to find the staircase!”

Neb stood in open-mouthed amazement.

“I’m beginning to think that strange things happen in Lincoln Island!” said Pencroff.

“Strange?” rejoined Spilett. “Why no, Pencroff, nothing is more natural. Somebody has come while we have been absent, and has taken possession of the house and drawn up the ladder!”

“Someone!” cried the sailor. “Who could it be?”

The colonists stood at the foot of Granite House not knowing what to do or to say.

“There is but one thing to do, my friends,” said Smith, “to wait until daylight. Meanwhile let us go to the Chimneys, where we can sleep.”

The colonists slept badly. Not only were their beds uncomfortable, but it was certain that their house was occupied at present, and they were unable to get into it. Now Granite House was not only their dwelling, it was their storehouse. Everything they possessed was stored there.

Pencroff was very angry.

“It’s a joke,” he said. “Well, I don’t like such jokes, and the joker won’t like it, if I catch him!”

At dawn the colonists followed along the shore to the reefs. By 5 o’clock the closed windows of Granite House appeared through their leafy curtain. An exclamation escaped from the colonists when they perceived that the door which they had left closed was wide open. There could be no more doubt that someone was in Granite House!

Pencroff shouted again, but without answer.

“Bandits!” he exclaimed. “Halloo! Pirates! Corsairs!”

Herbert conceived the idea of shooting an arrow attached to a cord: they would thus gain access to Granite House. There was evidently nothing else to do, and with a little skill this attempt might prove successful. Fortunately there were bows and arrows at the Chimneys, and they found there, also, some cord.

The bow bent, the arrow shot upward with the cord. The operation had succeeded. But an arm thrust quickly between the door and the wall, seized the cord and drew it within Granite House.

“But what is it?” demanded Neb.

“What! Didn’t you see? It’s a monkey! Our house has been invaded by monkeys, which have climbed up the ladder while we were away.”

They noticed four big monkeys. Pencroff took his gun and fired. All monkeys disappeared but, one, which, mortally wounded, fell to the ground.

Herbert declared it was an orang-outang, and we all know that the lad understood zoology.

“But how will we get in?” said Smith.

And at the instant, as if in answer to the observation of the engineer, they saw the ladder slide over the door-sill and roll over to the ground.

In a moment the colonists were within the doorway. They searched everywhere. No one was in the chambers or in the store-room.

“And the ladder,” said Pencroff; “where is the gentleman who pushed it down to us?”

But just then a cry was heard, and a huge monkey, that had taken refuge in the corridor, sprang into the great hall, followed by Neb.

“Ah, the thief!” cried Pencroff.

“It is he that has thrown us the ladder,” said the engineer.

All threw themselves on the monkey, which, after a brave resistance, was thrown down and tied.

“Ugh!” exclaimed Pencroff; “And now what will we do with it?”

“Make a servant of it,” answered Herbert.

The colonists gathered round the monkey and examined it attentively. It was a big fellow, six feet high, finely built, a medium-sized head, with a well-rounded skull, and a prominent nose, and a skin covered with smooth hair, soft and shining. Its eyes sparkled with intelligence.

“He is a fine chap,” said Pencroff.

“I hope it will make an excellent servant.” said Herbert. “As it is young its education will be easy.”

“Hullo, my boy, how goes it?” said Pencroff to the monkey.

The orang responded with a little grunt.

“You want to join the colony, do you?”

The monkey gave another affirmative grunt.

“His conversation is a little monotonous,” observed Spilett.

“Well,” replied Pencroff, “the best servants are those that speak least. And then, no wages!”

Thus the monkeys joined the colony. As to a name, the sailor decided to call the monkey Jupiter, or Jup.