Таинственный остров / The Mysterious Island. Уровень 3

– Well, Herbert, this is jolly! We can’t lose ourselves now, my boy, since, whether we follow Lake Grant or get to the Mercy through the woods of the Far West, we must come to Prospect Plateau, and so to Union Bay.

Pencroff, Herbert, and Neb walked in front, preceded by Top, who poked his nose into every corner. The reporter and engineer walked together. The reporter was ready to note down every incident, the engineer seldom spoke, and was picking up sometimes one thing, sometimes another, vegetable or mineral, which he put in his pocket.

About 10 o’clock the little company descended the last declivities of Mount Franklin. A few bushes and trees were scattered over the ground. They were walking on a yellowish soil, which extended to the border of the wood. Suddenly they saw Herbert, he was running back.

– What’s the matter, my boy? – said Spilett.

– Smoke, – answered Herbert. – We saw smoke, it was ascending from among the rocks, a hundred steps in front.

– Men in this region! – cried the reporter.

– We must not show ourselves till we know with whom we have to deal, – answered Smith. Where is Top?

– Top is on ahead.

– And did it bark?

– No.

– That is strange. Still, let us try to call him back.

In a few moments the three rejoined their companions. They saw, very evidently, a yellowish smoke. Top was recalled by a low whistle from his master.

– Nature is responsible for that smoke, – said Smith, – It is nothing but a sulphur spring[48 - sulphur spring – сернистый источник], which will be good for our sore throats.

– Good! – said Pencroff; – what a pity that I haven’t got a cold!

The colonists walked towards the smoke. There they beheld a spring of sulphate of soda, which flowed in currents among the rocks, and whose waters, absorbing the oxygen of the air, gave off a lively odor. Smith dipped his hand into the spring and found it oily.

The colonists walked towards the thick border of the forest, a few hundred paces distant. There they saw a brook with bright limpid waters between high, reddish banks. Its color showed the presence of oxide of iron. They named the water course Red Creek[49 - Red Creek – Красный ручей]. It was a large mountain brook, deep and clear. It was a mile and a half long; its breadth varied from thirty to forty feet. Its water was fresh.

Happily, there was neither wild beast nor savage native, but merely mountain pheasants. Some crows and magpies flew about. The colonists had nothing but stones and sticks, very insufficient weapons. Suddenly a troop of quadrupeds[50 - quadrupeds – четвероногие]leaped away through the underbrush.

– Kangaroos! – cried Herbert.

– Can you eat them? – said Pencroff.

– They make a delicious stew, – said the reporter.

The sailor with Neb and Herbert rushed after the kangaroos. Smith tried in vain to recall them. After five minutes’ chase, they came back.

– You see, Mr. Smith, – said Pencroff, – we need guns. Will it be possible to make them?

– Perhaps, – replied the engineer; – but first we will make bows and arrows.

– Bows and arrows! – said Pencroff. – They are for children!

– Don’t be so proud, my friend, – said the reporter. – Bows and arrows were sufficient for many centuries for the warfare of mankind. Powder is an invention of yesterday.

– That’s true, Mr. Spilett, – said the sailor. – I always speak before I think. Forgive me.

Top rushed hither and thither. About 3 o’clock Top disappeared into the rushes, from which came grunts and growls. Neb rushed in. Top was greedily devouring an animal. Neb reappeared in triumph with a rodent in each hand. They were a sort of agouti[51 - agouti – агути (млекопитающие отряда грызунов, обитающие преимущественно в тропических лесах и саваннах)], American hares with long ears.

– Hurrah! – cried Pencroff, – the roast is here; now we can go back to the house.

As the party emerged from a massive thicket of fine trees, the lake suddenly appeared before them. They were now on its left bank, and a picturesque region opened to their view. The smooth sheet of water, about seven miles in circumference and 250 acres in extent. It lay among the trees. Towards the east, appeared a shining horizon of sea. To the north the curve of the lake was concave. Numerous aquatic birds frequented the banks of this lake. The waters of the lake were fresh and limpid, somewhat dark, and were evidently full of fish.

– How beautiful this lake is! – said Spilett. – We could live on its banks.

– We will live there! – answered Smith.

The colonists went down towards the angle formed at the south by the junction of the banks. After a two miles’ walk they came upon the thick turf of the plateau, and saw before them the infinite ocean. To get back to the Chimneys they had to walk across the plateau for a mile to the elbow formed by the first bend of the Mercy. It was now half past 4. The party reached the Chimneys by the left bank of the Mercy. Then the fire was lighted, and Neb and Pencroff broiled the agouti. When the meal was over, Smith drew from his pocket little specimens of various kinds of minerals, and said quietly,