Chapter 19

The next day, the 22nd of May, the arrangement of their new dwelling

was commenced. In fact, the settlers longed to exchange the insufficient

shelter of the Chimneys for this large and healthy retreat, in the midst

of solid rock, and sheltered from the water both of the sea and sky.

Their former dwelling was not, however, to be entirely abandoned, for

the engineer intended to make a manufactory of it for important works.

Cyrus Harding’s first care was to find out the position of the front of

Granite House from the outside. He went to the beach, and as the

pickaxe when it escaped from the hands of the reporter must have fallen

perpendicularly to the foot of the cliff, the finding it would be

sufficient to show the place where the hole had been pierced in the

granite.

The pickaxe was easily found, and the hole could be seen in a

perpendicular line above the spot where it was stuck in the sand. Some

rock pigeons were already flying in and out of the narrow opening; they

evidently thought that Granite House had been discovered on purpose for

them. It was the engineer’s intention to divide the right portion of the

cavern into several rooms, preceded by an entrance passage, and to light

it by means of five windows and a door, pierced in the front. Pencroft

was much pleased with the five windows, but he could not understand the

use of the door, since the passage offered a natural staircase, through

which it would always be easy to enter Granite House.

“My friend,” replied Harding, “if it is easy for us to reach our

dwelling by this passage, it will be equally easy for others besides

us. I mean, on the contrary, to block up that opening, to seal it

hermetically, and, if it is necessary, to completely hide the entrance

by making a dam, and thus causing the water of the lake to rise.”

“And how shall we get in?” asked the sailor.

“By an outside ladder,” replied Cyrus Harding, “a rope ladder, which,

once drawn up, will render access to our dwelling impossible.”

“But why so many precautions?” asked Pencroft. “As yet we have seen no

dangerous animals. As to our island being inhabited by natives, I don’t

believe it!”

“Are you quite sure of that, Pencroft?” asked the engineer, looking at

the sailor.

“Of course we shall not be quite sure, till we have explored it in every

direction,” replied Pencroft.

“Yes,” said Harding, “for we know only a small portion of it as yet. But

at any rate, if we have no enemies in the interior, they may come from

the exterior, for parts of the Pacific are very dangerous. We must be

provided against every contingency.”

Cyrus Harding spoke wisely; and without making any further objection,

Pencroft prepared to execute his orders.

The front of Granite House was then to be lighted by five windows and a

door, besides a large bay window and some smaller oval ones, which would

admit plenty of light to enter into the marvelous nave which was to be

their chief room. This facade, situated at a height of eighty feet above

the ground, was exposed to the east, and the rising sun saluted it with

its first rays. It was found to be just at that part of the cliff which

was between the projection at the mouth of the Mercy and a perpendicular

line traced above the heap of rocks which formed the Chimneys. Thus

the winds from the northeast would only strike it obliquely, for it was

protected by the projection. Besides, until the window-frames were made,

the engineer meant to close the openings with thick shutters, which

would prevent either wind or rain from entering, and which could be

concealed in need.

The first work was to make the openings. This would have taken too long

with the pickaxe alone, and it is known that Harding was an ingenious

man. He had still a quantity of nitro-glycerine at his disposal, and he

employed it usefully. By means of this explosive substance the rock was

broken open at the very places chosen by the engineer. Then, with the

pickaxe and spade, the windows and doors were properly shaped, the

jagged edges were smoothed off, and a few days after the beginning of

the work, Granite House was abundantly lighted by the rising sun,

whose rays penetrated into its most secret recesses. Following the

plan proposed by Cyrus Harding, the space was to be divided into five

compartments looking out on the sea; to the right, an entry with a

door, which would meet the ladder; then a kitchen, thirty feet long; a

dining-room, measuring forty feet; a sleeping-room, of equal size; and

lastly, a “Visitor’s room,” petitioned for by Pencroft, and which was

next to the great hall. These rooms, or rather this suite of rooms,

would not occupy all the depth of the cave. There would be also a

corridor and a storehouse, in which their tools, provisions, and stores

would be kept. All the productions of the island, the flora as well as

the fauna, were to be there in the best possible state of preservation,

and completely sheltered from the damp. There was no want of space, so

that each object could be methodically arranged. Besides, the colonists

had still at their disposal the little grotto above the great cavern,

which was like the garret of the new dwelling.

This plan settled, it had only to be put into execution. The miners

became brickmakers again, then the bricks were brought to the foot of

Granite House. Till then, Harding and his companions had only entered

the cavern by the long passage. This mode of communication obliged them

first to climb Prospect Heights, making a detour by the river’s bank,

and then to descend two hundred feet through the passage, having to

climb as far when they wished to return to the plateau. This was a great

loss of time, and was also very fatiguing. Cyrus Harding, therefore,

resolved to proceed without any further delay to the fabrication of

a strong rope ladder, which, once raised, would render Granite House

completely inaccessible.

This ladder was manufactured with extreme care, and its uprights, formed

of the twisted fibers of a species of cane, had the strength of a thick

cable. As to the rounds, they were made of a sort of red cedar, with

light, strong branches; and this apparatus was wrought by the masterly

hand of Pencroft.

Other ropes were made with vegetable fibers, and a sort of crane with a

tackle was fixed at the door. In this way bricks could easily be

raised into Granite House. The transport of the materials being thus

simplified, the arrangement of the interior could begin immediately.

There was no want of lime, and some thousands of bricks were there

ready to be used. The framework of the partitions was soon raised, very

roughly at first, and in a short time, the cave was divided into rooms

and storehouses, according to the plan agreed upon.

These different works progressed rapidly under the direction of the

engineer, who himself handled the hammer and the trowel. No labor came

amiss to Cyrus Harding, who thus set an example to his intelligent and

zealous companions. They worked with confidence, even gaily, Pencroft

always having some joke to crack, sometimes carpenter, sometimes

rope-maker, sometimes mason, while he communicated his good humor to

all the members of their little world. His faith in the engineer

was complete; nothing could disturb it. He believed him capable of

undertaking anything and succeeding in everything. The question of boots

and clothes--assuredly a serious question,--that of light during the

winter months, utilizing the fertile parts of the island, transforming

the wild flora into cultivated flora, it all appeared easy to him; Cyrus

Harding helping, everything would be done in time. He dreamed of canals

facilitating the transport of the riches of the ground; workings

of quarries and mines; machines for every industrial manufacture;

railroads; yes, railroads! of which a network would certainly one day

cover Lincoln Island.

The engineer let Pencroft talk. He did not put down the aspirations of

this brave heart. He knew how communicable confidence is; he even smiled

to hear him speak, and said nothing of the uneasiness for the future

which he felt. In fact, in that part of the Pacific, out of the course

of vessels, it was to be feared that no help would ever come to them. It

was on themselves, on themselves alone, that the settlers must depend,

for the distance of Lincoln Island from all other land was such, that

to hazard themselves in a boat, of a necessarily inferior construction,

would be a serious and perilous thing.

“But,” as the sailor said, “they quite took the wind out of the sails of

the Robinsons, for whom everything was done by a miracle.”

In fact, they were energetic; an energetic man will succeed where an

indolent one would vegetate and inevitably perish.

Herbert distinguished himself in these works. He was intelligent and

active; understanding quickly, he performed well; and Cyrus Harding

became more and more attached to the boy. Herbert had a lively and

reverent love for the engineer. Pencroft saw the close sympathy which

existed between the two, but he was not in the least jealous. Neb

was Neb: he was what he would be always, courage, zeal, devotion,

self-denial personified. He had the same faith in his master that

Pencroft had, but he showed it less vehemently. When the sailor was

enthusiastic, Neb always looked as if he would say, “Nothing could be

more natural.” Pencroft and he were great friends.

As to Gideon Spilett, he took part in the common work, and was not less

skilful in it than his companions, which always rather astonished

the sailor. A “journalist,” clever, not only in understanding, but in

performing everything.

The ladder was finally fixed on the 28th of May. There were not less

than a hundred rounds in this perpendicular height of eighty feet.

Harding had been able, fortunately, to divide it in two parts, profiting

by an overhanging of the cliff which made a projection forty feet above

the ground. This projection, carefully leveled by the pickaxe, made a

sort of platform, to which they fixed the first ladder, of which the

oscillation was thus diminished one-half, and a rope permitted it to be

raised to the level of Granite House. As to the second ladder, it was

secured both at its lower part, which rested on the projection, and at

its upper end, which was fastened to the door. In short the ascent had

been made much easier. Besides, Cyrus Harding hoped later to establish

an hydraulic apparatus, which would avoid all fatigue and loss of time,

for the inhabitants of Granite House.

The settlers soon became habituated to the use of this ladder. They were

light and active, and Pencroft, as a sailor, accustomed to run up

the masts and shrouds, was able to give them lessons. But it was also

necessary to give them to Top. The poor dog, with his four paws, was

not formed for this sort of exercise. But Pencroft was such a zealous

master, that Top ended by properly performing his ascents, and soon

mounted the ladder as readily as his brethren in the circus. It need not

be said that the sailor was proud of his pupil. However, more than once

Pencroft hoisted him on his back, which Top never complained of.

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!”