Abandoned Read online

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER I PAGE Conversation on the Subject of the Bullet -- Construction of a Canoe -- Hunting -- At the Top of a Kauri -- Nothing to attest the Presence of Man -- Neb and Herbert's Prize -- Turning a Turtle -- The Turtle disappears -- Cyrus Harding's Explanation 1

  CHAPTER II

  First Trial of the Canoe -- A Wreck on the Coast -- Towing -- Flotsam Point -- Inventory of the Case: Tools, Weapons, Instruments, Clothes, Books, Utensils -- What Pencroft misses -- The Gospel -- A Verse from the Sacred Book 11

  CHAPTER III

  The Start -- The rising Tide -- Elms and different Plants -- The Jacamar -- Aspect of the Forest -- Gigantic Eucalypti -- The Reason they are called "Fever Trees" -- Troops of Monkeys -- A Waterfall -- The Night Encampment 23

  CHAPTER IV

  Journey to the Coast -- Troops of Monkeys -- A new River -- The Reason the Tide was not felt -- A woody Shore -- Reptile Promontory -- Herbert envies Gideon Spilett -- Explosion of Bamboos 34

  CHAPTER V

  Proposal to return by the Southern Shore -- Configuration of the Coast -- Searching for the supposed Wreck -- A Wreck in the Air -- Discovery of a small Natural Port -- At Midnight on the Banks of the Mercy -- The Canoe Adrift 45

  CHAPTER VI

  Pencroft's Halloos -- A Night in the Chimneys -- Herbert's Arrows -- The Captain's Project -- An unexpected Explanation -- What has happened in Granite House -- How a new Servant enters the Service of the Colonists 58

  CHAPTER VII

  Plans -- A Bridge over the Mercy -- Mode adopted for making an Island of Prospect Heights -- The Drawbridge -- Harvest -- The Stream -- The Poultry-yard -- A Pigeon-house -- The two Onagas -- The Cart -- Excursion to Port Balloon 70

  CHAPTER VIII

  Linen -- Shoes of Seal-leather -- Manufacture of Pyroxyle -- Gardening -- Fishing -- Turtle-eggs -- Improvement of Master Jup -- The Corral -- Musmon Hunt -- New Animal and Vegetable Possessions -- Recollections of their Native Land 81

  CHAPTER IX

  Bad Weather -- The Hydraulic Lift -- Manufacture of Glass-ware -- The Bread-tree -- Frequent Visits to the Corral -- Increase of the Flock -- The Reporter's Question -- Exact Position of Lincoln Island -- Pencroft's Proposal 92

  CHAPTER X

  Boat-building -- Second Crop of Corn -- Hunting Koalas -- A new Plant, more Pleasant than Useful -- Whale in Sight -- A Harpoon from the Vineyard -- Cutting up the Whale -- Use for the Bones -- End of the Month of May -- Pencroft has nothing left to wish for 103

  CHAPTER XI

  Winter -- Felling Wood -- The Mill -- Pencroft's fixed Idea -- The Bones -- To what Use an Albatross may be put -- Fuel for the Future -- Top and Jup -- Storms -- Damage to the Poultry-yard -- Excursion to the Marsh -- Cyrus Harding alone -- Exploring the Well 114

  CHAPTER XII

  The Rigging of the Vessel -- An Attack from Foxes -- Jup wounded -- Jup cured -- Completion of the Boat -- Pencroft's Triumph -- The _Bonadventure's_ trial Trip to the South of the Island -- An unexpected Document 127

  CHAPTER XIII

  Departure decided upon -- Conjectures -- Preparations -- The three Passengers -- First Night -- Second Night -- Tabor Island -- Searching the Shore -- Searching the Wood -- No one -- Animals -- Plants -- A Dwelling -- Deserted 142

  CHAPTER XIV

  The Inventory -- Night -- A few Letters -- Continuation of the Search -- Plants and Animals -- Herbert in great Danger -- On Board -- The Departure -- Bad Weather -- A Gleam of Reason -- Lost on the Sea -- A timely Light 154

  CHAPTER XV

  The Return -- Discussion -- Cyrus Harding and the Stranger -- Port Balloon -- The Engineer's Devotion -- A touching Incident -- Tears flow 166

  CHAPTER XVI

  A Mystery to be cleared up -- The Stranger's first Words -- Twelve Years on the Islet -- Avowal which escapes him -- The Disappearance -- Cyrus Harding's Confidence -- Construction of a Mill -- The first Bread -- An Act of Devotion -- Honest Hands 176

  CHAPTER XVII

  Still alone -- The Stranger's Request -- The Farm established at the Corral -- Twelve Years ago -- The Boatswain's Mate of the _Britannia_ -- Left on Tabor Island -- Cyrus Harding's Hand -- The mysterious Document 191

  CHAPTER XVIII

  Conversation -- Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett -- An Idea of the Engineer's -- The Electric Telegraph -- The Wires -- The Battery -- The Alphabet -- Fine Season -- Prosperity of the Colony -- Photography -- An Appearance of Snow -- Two Years on Lincoln Island 203

  CHAPTER XIX

  Recollections of their Native Land -- Probable Future -- Project for surveying the Coasts of the Island -- Departure on the 16th of April -- Sea-view of Reptile End -- The basaltic Rocks of the Western Coast -- Bad Weather -- Night comes on -- New Incident 216

  CHAPTER XX

  A Night at Sea -- Shark Gulf -- Confidences -- Preparations for Winter -- Forwardness of the Bad Season -- Severe Cold -- Work in the Interior -- In Six Months -- A Photographic Negative -- Unexpected Incident 226