登陆注册
15324700000064

第64章

It must be mentioned here, that during these works, which were actively conducted, for the bad season was approaching, the alimentary question was not neglected.Every day, the reporter and Herbert, who had been voted purveyors to the colony, devoted some hours to the chase.As yet, they only hunted in Jacamar Wood, on the left of the river, because, for want of a bridge or boat, the Mercy had not yet been crossed.All the immense woods, to which the name of the Forests of the Far West had been given, were not explored.They reserved this important excursion for the first fine days of the next spring.But Jacamar Wood was full of game; kangaroos and boars abounded, and the hunters iron-tipped spears and bows and arrows did wonders.Besides, Herbert discovered towards the southwest point of the lagoon a natural warren, a slightly damp meadow, covered with willows and aromatic herbs which scented the air, such as thyme, basil, savory, all the sweet-scented species of the labiated plants, which the rabbits appeared to be particularly fond of.

On the reporter observing that since the table was spread for the rabbits, it was strange that the rabbits themselves should be wanting, the two sportsmen carefully explored the warren.At any rate, it produced an abundance of useful plants, and a naturalist would have had a good opportunity of studying many specimens of the vegetable kingdom.Herbert gathered several shoots of the basil, rosemary, balm, betony, etc., which possess different medicinal properties, some pectoral, astringent, febrifuge, others anti-spasmodic, or anti-rheumatic.When, afterwards, Pencroft asked the use of this collection of herbs,--"For medicine," replied the lad, "to treat us when we are ill.""Why should we be ill, since there are no doctors in the island?" asked Pencroft quite seriously.

There was no reply to be made to that, but the lad went on with his collection all the same, and it was well received at Granite House.Besides these medicinal herbs, he added a plant known in North America as "Oswego tea," which made an excellent beverage.

At last, by searching thoroughly, the hunters arrived at the real site of the warren.There the ground was perforated like a sieve.

"Here are the burrows!" cried Herbert.

"Yes," replied the reporter, "so I see."

"But are they inhabited?"

"That is the question."

This was soon answered.Almost immediately, hundreds of little animals, similar to rabbits, fled in every direction, with such rapidity that even Top could not overtake them.Hunters and dog ran in vain; these rodents escaped them easily.But the reporter resolved not to leave the place, until he had captured at least half-a-dozen of the quadrupeds.He wished to stock their larder first, and domesticate those which they might take later.It would not have been difficult to do this, with a few snares stretched at the openings of the burrows.But at this moment they had neither snares, nor anything to make them of.They must, therefore, be satisfied with visiting each hole, and rummaging in it with a stick, hoping by dint of patience to do what could not be done in any other way.

At last, after half an hour, four rodents were taken in their holes.They were similar to their European brethren, and are commonly known by the name of American rabbits.

This produce of the chase was brought back to Granite House, and figured at the evening repast.The tenants of the warren were not at all to be despised, for they were delicious.It was a valuable resource of the colony, and it appeared to be inexhaustible.

On the 31st of May the partitions were finished.The rooms had now only to be furnished, and this would be work for the long winter days.A chimney was established in the first room, which served as a kitchen.The pipe destined to conduct the smoke outside gave some trouble to these amateur bricklayers.It appeared simplest to Harding to make it of brick clay; as creating an outlet for it to the upper plateau was not to be thought of, a hole was pierced in the granite above the window of the kitchen, and the pipe met it like that of an iron stove.Perhaps the winds which blew directly against the facade would make the chimney smoke, but these winds were rare, and besides, Master Neb, the cook, was not so very particular about that.

When these interior arrangements were finished, the engineer occupied himself in blocking up the outlet by the lake, so as to prevent any access by that way.Masses of rock were rolled to the entrance and strongly cemented together.Cyrus Harding did not yet realize his plan of drowning this opening under the waters of the lake, by restoring them to their former level by means of a dam.He contented himself with hiding the obstruction with grass and shrubs, which were planted in the interstices of the rocks, and which next spring would sprout thickly.However, he used the waterfall so as to lead a small stream of fresh water to the new dwelling.

A little trench, made below their level, produced this result; and this derivation from a pure and inexhaustible source yielded twenty-five or thirty gallons a day.There would never be any want of water at Granite House.At last all was finished, and it was time, for the bad season was near.Thick shutters closed the windows of the facade, until the engineer had time to make glass.

Gideon Spilett had very artistically arranged on the rocky projections around the windows plants of different kinds, as well as long streaming grass, so that the openings were picturesquely framed in green, which had a pleasing effect.

The inhabitants of this solid, healthy, and secure dwelling, could not but be charmed with their work.The view from the windows extended over a boundless horizon, which was closed by the two Mandible Capes on the north, and Claw Cape on the south.All Union Bay was spread before them.Yes, our brave settlers had reason to be satisfied, and Pencroft was lavish in his praise of what he humorously called, "his apartments on the fifth floor above the ground!"

同类推荐
  • 六根归道论

    六根归道论

    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。
  • 禅灯世谱

    禅灯世谱

    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。
  • The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid

    The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid

    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。
  • 佛母经

    佛母经

    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。
  • 同治嫖院

    同治嫖院

    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
  • 帝君决

    帝君决

    混沌初始,万界虚无,盘神开天,巫族横行,道亦始道,生之泛行,万兽咆哮,个族争锋,天道不公,覆灭即是,翻手遮天,脚踏这地,不灭不死,即是永生……希望大家都多多支持伯爵,伯爵也会有动力,写出更优秀的篇章。
  • 琅玡慧觉禅师语录

    琅玡慧觉禅师语录

    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。
  • 莲修无极

    莲修无极

    这是一个磅礴浩大的莲修世界!在这里人们修炼顶上莲花。种种奇特的莲花,个个玄奥的莲技。
  • 夺天记

    夺天记

    大千之世,位面交错,种族林立,争霸路上,尸骨垒垒。猎户少年,偶得天外之地极限文明下的高级智能星云,无意间踏上了巅峰王者之路。赤月老怪,武帝战神,一拳砸死;千古妖龙,万年魔主,一炮湮灭!上古血统、极限科技、无穷秘法,看平凡少年如何演绎不平凡人生!玄幻主,科技辅,通天路上快恩仇。
  • 王阳明为臣智慧

    王阳明为臣智慧

    《王阳明为臣智慧》从一个全新的角度分析王阳明的权谋与智道,研究并探讨他的思想理论,通过王阳明做官时的韬光养晦、荣辱不惊、居安思危、中庸之道等各个方面,告诉了读者如何左右逢源,并建立一个强大的人脉网,如何在危机来临时应对自如等等,进而在官场中立于不败之地。《王阳明为臣智慧》还从心理学的角度出发,结合王阳明在仕途之路上的种种遭遇,深刻剖析了王阳明的心学智慧。从中我们不仅看到了王阳明的权谋之道,而且也看到了在王阳明的影响之下,他的众多弟子与同僚们因与王阳明的接触而发生的仕途上的转变。
  • 异世之烽烟归途

    异世之烽烟归途

    当秦不凡醒来的时候,他已经成为一个废物少爷,坐在驶向地狱的马车上...
  • 异界殖民总督

    异界殖民总督

    我来到,我看到,我征服科学和魔法的碰撞,文明和愚昧的战斗,实力和谋略的交锋文明之花,却只能用铁和血来浇灌
  • 医妃独宠

    医妃独宠

    她是吃货,“她”是花痴,虽然爱好仅差一个音,性格却千差万别。她冷血乖戾,是毒医传人;“她”自卑懦弱,却是武学奇才。因为懦弱“她”面对所爱之人不敢言语,因为自卑“她”被人欺凌不敢寻求帮助,一朝横死,懦弱少女再睁眼眸,自卑褪去,嘴角扬起嗜血的弧度,她乖戾,她冷血,她要护的人,谁伤谁亡!他是灵越大陆唯一一位封王的强者,没有人知道他的来历,也没有人能入他的眼,在他看来,女人只是累赘,身体柔弱不说,还格外善变。那一日,他立在森林外看见正在训练的她后,彻底不淡定了,这么彪悍的人型生物,真的是女人吗?
  • 零星琐忆:嗜血少女碎梦

    零星琐忆:嗜血少女碎梦

    她,沐雨玖。半工半读的学生,唯一和别人不同的是:有个恶毒的后妈、伪善的姐姐、爱闯祸的弟弟、以及从未关心过自己的爸爸。于是,她被爸爸逐出家族,心从此被蒙上一层厚厚的薄冰,偶然的一个机会她走向了一条用人的尸骨堆起来的王者之路,几年之后一身白衣站在天台,微风吹过让女孩皱起了眉头,喃喃自语的说:“呵,现在只要他们不来惹我,我是不会去灭掉他们的……倘若不知好歹,就别怪我不客气。”明明是温柔如水般的嗓音说的,却让人感到毛骨悚然,情不自禁想要逃离这里。女孩笑了接着女孩碾碎了蔷薇花瓣,随着风若即若离突然眼睛又如一条小猫咪了起来…
  • 新校园狂少

    新校园狂少

    王飞宇,Z国太子,身世显赫,本可以在家做少爷,可他非要靠自己。张狂不可一世的他,建立了属于自己的帝国,震撼世人,成为世界之最。经过不断的扩张,最终站在了世界巅峰。