"Yes, we will search for him," answered Harding, "but we shall not discover this powerful being who performs such wonders, until he pleases to call us to him!"This invisible protection, which rendered their own action unavailing, both irritated and piqued the engineer.The relative inferiority which it proved was of a nature to wound a haughty spirit.A generosity evinced in such a manner as to elude all tokens of gratitude, implied a sort of disdain for those on whom the obligation was conferred, which in Cyrus Harding's eyes marred, in some degree, the worth of the benefit.
"Let us search," he resumed, "and God grant that we may some day be permitted to prove to this haughty protector that he has not to deal with ungrateful people! What would I not give could we repay him, by rendering him in our turn, although at the price of our lives, some signal service!"From this day, the thoughts of the inhabitants of Lincoln Island were solely occupied with the intended search.Everything incited them to discover the answer to this enigma, an answer which would only be the name of a man endowed with a truly inexplicable, and in some degree superhuman power.
In a few minutes, the settlers re-entered the house, where their influence soon restored to Ayrton his moral and physical energy.Neb and Pencroft carried the corpses of the convicts into the forest, some distance from the corral, and buried them deep in the ground.
Ayrton was then made acquainted with the facts which had occurred during his seclusion.He learned Herbert's adventures, and through what various trials the colonists had passed.As to the settlers, they had despaired of ever seeing Ayrton again, and had been convinced that the convicts had ruthlessly murdered him.
"And now," said Cyrus Harding, as he ended his recital, "a duty remains for us to perform.Half of our task is accomplished, but although the convicts are no longer to be feared, it is not owing to ourselves that we are once more masters of the island.""Well!" answered Gideon Spilett, "let us search all this labyrinth of the spurs of Mount Franklin.We will not leave a hollow, not a hole unexplored!
Ah! if ever a reporter found himself face to face with a mystery, it is Iwho now speak to you, my friends!"
"And we will not return to Granite House until we have found our benefactor," said Herbert.
"Yes," said the engineer, "we will do all that it is humanly possible to do, but I repeat we shall not find him until he himself permits us.""Shall we stay at the corral?" asked Pencroft.
"We shall stay here," answered Harding."Provisions are abundant, and we are here in the very center of the circle we have to explore.Besides, if necessary, the cart will take us rapidly to Granite House.""Good!" answered the sailor."Only I have a remark to make.""What is it?"
"Here is the fine season getting on, and we must not forget that we have a voyage to make.""A voyage?" said Gideon Spilett.
"Yes, to Tabor Island," answered Pencroft."It is necessary to carry a notice there to point out the position of our island and say that Ayrton is here in case the Scotch yacht should come to take him off.Who knows if it is not already too late?""But, Pencroft," asked Ayrton, "how do you intend to make this voyage?""In the 'Bonadventure.'"
"The 'Bonadventure!'" exclaimed Ayrton."She no longer exists.""My 'Bonadventure' exists no longer!" shouted Pencroft, bounding from his seat.
"No," answered Ayrton."The convicts discovered her in her little harbor only eight days ago, they put to sea in her,"And?" said Pencroft, his heart beating.
"And not having Bob Harvey to steer her, they ran on the rocks, and the vessel went to pieces.""Oh, the villains, the cutthroats, the infamous scoundrels!" exclaimed Pencroft.
"Pencroft," said Herbert, taking the sailor's hand, "we will build another 'Bonadventure'--a larger one.We have all the ironwork--all the rigging of the brig at our disposal.""But do you know," returned Pencroft, "that it will take at least five or six months to build a vessel of from thirty to forty tons?""We can take our time," said the reporter, "and we must give up the voyage to Tabor Island for this year.""Oh, my 'Bonadventure!' my poor 'Bonadventure!'" cried Pencroft, almost broken-hearted at the destruction of the vessel of which he was so proud.
The loss of the "Bonadventure" was certainly a thing to be lamented by the colonists, and it was agreed that this loss should be repaired as soon as possible.This settled, they now occupied themselves with bringing their researches to bear on the most secret parts of the island.
The exploration was commenced at daybreak on the 19th of February, and lasted an entire week.The base of the mountain, with its spurs and their numberless ramifications, formed a labyrinth of valleys and elevations.It was evident that there, in the depths of these narrow gorges, perhaps even in the interior of Mount Franklin itself, was the proper place to pursue their researches.No part of the island could have been more suitable to conceal a dwelling whose occupant wished to remain unknown.But so irregular was the formation of the valleys that Cyrus Harding was obliged to conduct the exploration in a strictly methodical manner.
The colonists first visited the valley opening to the south of the volcano, and which first received the waters of Falls River.There Ayrton showed them the cavern where the convicts had taken refuge, and in which he had been imprisoned until his removal to the corral.This cavern was just as Ayrton had left it.They found there a considerable quantity of ammunition and provisions, conveyed thither by the convicts in order to form a reserve.
The whole of the valley bordering on the cave, shaded by fir and other trees, was thoroughly explored, and on turning the point of the southwestern spur, the colonists entered a narrower gorge similar to the picturesque columns of basalt on the coast.Here the trees were fewer.
