登陆注册
15324700000109

第109章

But as it could not be expected that the "Maria Stella" would come to reclaim the animal harpooned by her, they resolved to begin cutting it up before decomposition should commence.The birds, who had watched this rich prey for several days, had determined to take possession of it without further delay, and it was necessary to drive them off by firing at them repeatedly.

The whale was a female, and a large quantity of milk was taken from it, which, according to the opinion of the naturalist Duffenbach, might pass for cow's milk, and, indeed, it differs from it neither in taste, color, nor density.

Pencroft had formerly served on board a whaling-ship, and he could methodically direct the operation of cutting up, a sufficiently disagreeable operation lasting three days, but from which the settlers did not flinch, not even Gideon Spilett, who, as the sailor said, would end by making a "real good castaway."The blubber, cut in parallel slices of two feet and a half in thickness, then divided into pieces which might weigh about a thousand pounds each, was melted down in large earthen pots brought to the spot, for they did not wish to taint the environs of Granite House, and in this fusion it lost nearly a third of its weight.

But there was an immense quantity of it; the tongue alone yielded six thousand pounds of oil, and the lower lip four thousand.Then, besides the fat, which would insure for a long time a store of stearine and glycerine, there were still the bones, for which a use could doubtless be found, although there were neither umbrellas nor stays used at Granite House.The upper part of the mouth of the cetacean was, indeed, provided on both sides with eight hundred horny blades, very elastic, of a fibrous texture, and fringed at the edge like great combs, at which the teeth, six feet long, served to retain the thousands of animalculae, little fish, and molluscs, on which the whale fed.

The operation finished, to the great satisfaction of the operators, the remains of the animal were left to the birds, who would soon make every vestige of it disappear, and their usual daily occupations were resumed by the inmates of Granite House.

However, before returning to the dockyard, Cyrus Harding conceived the idea of fabricating certain machines, which greatly excited the curiosity of his companions.He took a dozen of the whale's bones, cut them into six equal parts, and sharpened their ends.

"This machine is not my own invention, and it is frequently employed by the Aleutian hunters in Russian America.You see these bones, my friends;well, when it freezes, I will bend them, and then wet them with water till they are entirely covered with ice, which will keep them bent, and I will strew them on the snow, having previously covered them with fat.Now, what will happen if a hungry animal swallows one of these baits? Why, the heat of his stomach will melt the ice, and the bone, springing straight, will pierce him with its sharp points.""Well! I do call that ingenious!" said Pencroft.

"And it will spare the powder and shot," rejoined Cyrus Harding.

"That will be better than traps!" added Neb.

In the meanwhile the boat-building progressed, and towards the end of the month half the planking was completed.It could already be seen that her shape was excellent, and that she would sail well.

Pencroft worked with unparalleled ardor, and only a sturdy frame could have borne such fatigue; but his companions were preparing in secret a reward for his labors, and on the 31st of May he was to meet with one of the greatest joys of his life.

On that day, after dinner, just as he was about to leave the table, Pencroft felt a hand on his shoulder.

It was the hand of Gideon Spilett, who said,--"One moment, Master Pencroft, you mustn't sneak off like that! You've forgotten your dessert.""Thank you, Mr.Spilett," replied the sailor, "I am going back to my work.""Well, a cup of coffee, my friend?"

"Nothing more."

"A pipe, then?"

Pencroft jumped up, and his great good-natured face grew pale when he saw the reporter presenting him with a ready-filled pipe, and Herbert with a glowing coal.

The sailor endeavored to speak, but could not get out a word; so, seizing the pipe, he carried it to his lips, then applying the coal, he drew five or six great whiffs.A fragrant blue cloud soon arose, and from its depths a voice was heard repeating excitedly,--"Tobacco! real tobacco!"

"Yes, Pencroft," returned Cyrus Harding, "and very good tobacco too!""O, divine Providence; sacred Author of all things!" cried the sailor.

"Nothing more is now wanting to our island."And Pencroft smoked, and smoked, and smoked.

"And who made this discovery?" he asked at length."You, Herbert, no doubt?""No, Pencroft, it was Mr.Spilett."

"Mr.Spilett!" exclaimed the sailor, seizing the reporter, and clasping him to his breast with such a squeeze that he had never felt anything like it before.

"Oh Pencroft," said Spilett, recovering his breath at last, "a truce for one moment.You must share your gratitude with Herbert, who recognized the plant, with Cyrus, who prepared it, and with Neb, who took a great deal of trouble to keep our secret.""Well, my friends, I will repay you some day," replied the sailor."Now we are friends for life."

同类推荐
  • 东海若解

    东海若解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Other Things Being Equal

    Other Things Being Equal

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 奉天靖難記

    奉天靖難記

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 小辨斋偶存

    小辨斋偶存

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 寒松操禅师语录

    寒松操禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 莲华似景

    莲华似景

    初逢,她扎着一头简单的马尾,半蹲在草地上,轻抚着萌莫毛茸茸的白毛,并没有注意到不远处的杨树后静静观望的他.....夏莲安一直以为,她的一生,不过是从“日出”到“日落”,安然的度日,平凡而又简单的过完她闲适的日子,直到......“我好像不认识你。”肯定的语气,夏莲安望着两人交握的手,脑中有一瞬间的片段残缺。“嗯......我认识你就好。”白莫景支着下巴作沉思状,语气平稳,面色平静,乘着夏莲安又一次愣怔的时候,不着痕迹的勾了勾嘴角。
  • 校园狂少闯都市

    校园狂少闯都市

    少年胡磊,偶然一次得到魔魄宗宗主的附身,从此走上了一天修真长生的道路。。。校花,警花,美女明星…围绕身边,。。。却不知道魔魄宗背后隐藏的一个惊天秘密
  • 无限,生存乐园

    无限,生存乐园

    我翻开一本名称为“现实”的书,每一页都写满了“仁义道德”,但是却怎么也看不懂它,当我在床上因为这本书而辗转反侧难以入睡时,一股寒冷的风从窗外吹来,将我原本放在桌上的书吹开,这时我借着月光看去,书上写满了“吃人”。
  • 三公主的帅帅王子

    三公主的帅帅王子

    三公主在校园遇到了她们命中注定的王子,可他们会知道,会幸福下去吗
  • 穿越:天才少女玩转时空

    穿越:天才少女玩转时空

    一名不起眼的女中学生,却有着不平凡的命运,看她怎样玩转命运……
  • 别转头,我永远在你身后

    别转头,我永远在你身后

    在她发现自己怀孕了后,孩子的父亲却不告而别,她陷入深深的回忆里无法自拔,为了孩子最终不得不投入另一个男人的“怀抱”,本以为日子会就这样平稳地过去,却没想到五年后的一个阴雨天,她的生活彻底改变。
  • 绝世王妃:帝王宠

    绝世王妃:帝王宠

    21世纪的她正在准备参加TFBOYS粉丝见面会,人山人海,天气还那么热,低血糖的宫晴儿有点晕,还被一个穿应援服的女孩撞到,晕眩之间,无意间穿越到古代与自己同名同姓的女子身上,虽然有点不情愿,不过既然来了,就好好过吧…原主好像有点不幸,那就…是我的,不是我的,通通拿回来!?凭自己的高智商高颜值,还有高…武功,好歹也是祖国一代小花
  • 武小宝传奇

    武小宝传奇

    放学回家的武小宝,意外的掉进了时空黑洞,来到了另一个世界,开始了他奇异的修行之旅……
  • 喜欢你那么久那么久了

    喜欢你那么久那么久了

    爱而不得,对安可来说,是那么痛苦。就这么,追了你那么久了,而“中央空调”一样的你,为什么就不能喜欢我。我只是可惜,你不是江辰,我不是陈小希。(根据作者亲身经历改编,不喜勿喷。)
  • 皇上,你今天吃药了吗

    皇上,你今天吃药了吗

    作为二十一世纪的人类女子,穿越到一个从未在历史上出现的世界。听说只要有灵根便可修仙,夏苒撸起袖管,最叼一根野草,一脚踩在板凳上,霸气侧漏的把手往测灵石上一放,测灵石散发着黑雾,正当她高兴之时,测灵石突然一暗,随即陷入一片寂静。老者沉思着摸摸胡子,然后淡淡一笑:不好意思这位小朋友,你没有灵根。夏苒:你说啥!刚刚不是有黑雾吗?虽然没了,但是出现过啊!老者:可能是测灵石出错了,随即恢复过来...不过要是真是那黑雾是你的灵根,估计你就活不过今晚了。夏苒:为啥?!老者:因为...那是死气。夏苒:......