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.
Cyrus Harding stood still, without saying a word. His companionssearched in the darkness on the wall, in case the wind should havemoved the ladder, and on the ground, thinking that it might havefallen down.... But the ladder had quite disappeared. As toascertaining if a squall had blown it on to the landing-place, halfway up, that was impossible in the dark.
"If it is a joke," cried Pencroft, "it is a very stupid one; to comehome and find no staircase to go up to your room by; for weary men,there is nothing to laugh at that I can see."
Neb could do nothing but cry out, "Oh! oh! oh!"
"I begin to think that very curious things happen in Lincoln Island!"said Pencroft.
"Curious?" replied Gideon Spilett, "not at all, Pencroft, nothing canbe more natural. Some one has come during our absence, takenpossession of our dwelling and drawn up the ladder."
"Some one," cried the sailor. "But who?"
"Who but the hunter who fired the bullet?" replied the reporter.
"Well, if there is any one up there," replied Pencroft, who began tolose patience, "I will give them a hail, and they must answer."
And in a stentorian voice the sailor gave a prolonged "Halloo!" whichwas echoed again and again from the cliff and rocks.
The settlers listened and they thought they heard a sort of chucklinglaugh, of which they could not guess the origin. But no voice repliedto Pencroft, who in vain repeated his vigorous shouts.
There was something indeed in this to astonish the most apathetic ofmen, and the settlers were not men of that description. In theirsituation every incident had its importance, and, certainly, duringthe seven months which they had spent on the island, they had notbefore met with anything of so surprising a character.
Be that as it may, forgetting their fatigue in the singularity of theevent, they remained below Granite House, not knowing what to think,not knowing what to do, questioning each other without any hope of asatisfactory reply, every one starting some supposition each moreunlikely than the last. Neb bewailed himself, much disappointed at notbeing able to get into his kitchen, for the provisions which they hadhad on their expedition were exhausted, and they had no means ofrenewing them.
"My friends," at last said Cyrus Harding, "there is only one thing tobe done at present, wait for day, and then act according tocircumstances. But let us go to the Chimneys. There we shall be undershelter, and if we cannot eat, we can at least sleep."
"But who is it that has played us this cool trick?" again askedPencroft, unable to make up his mind to retire from the spot.
Whoever it was, the only thing practicable was to do as the engineerproposed, to go to the Chimneys and there wait for day. In themeanwhile Top was ordered to mount guard below the windows of GraniteHouse, and when Top received an order he obeyed it without anyquestioning. The brave dog therefore remained at the foot of the cliffwhilst his master with his companions sought a refuge among the rocks.
To say that the settlers, notwithstanding their fatigue, slept well onthe sandy floor of the Chimneys would not be true. It was not onlythat they were extremely anxious to find out the cause of what hadhappened, whether it was the result of an accident which would bediscovered at the return of day, or whether on the contrary it was thework of a human being; but they also had very uncomfortable beds. Thatcould not be helped, however, for in some way or other at that momenttheir dwelling was occupied, and they could not possibly enter it.
Now Granite House was more than their dwelling, it was theirwarehouse. There were all the stores belonging to the colony, weapons,instruments, tools, ammunition, provisions, etc. To think that allthat might be pillaged and that the settlers would have all their workto do over again, fresh weapons and tools to make, was a seriousmatter. Their uneasiness led one or other of them also to go out everyfew minutes to see if Top was keeping good watch. Cyrus Harding alonewaited with his habitual patience, although his strong mind wasexasperated at being confronted with such an inexplicable fact, and hewas provoked at himself for allowing a feeling to which he could notgive a name, to gain an influence over him. Gideon Spilett shared hisfeelings in this respect, and the two conversed together in whispersof the inexplicable circumstance which baffled even their intelligenceand experience.
"It is a joke," said Pencroft; "it is a trick some one has played us.Well, I don't like such jokes, and the joker had better look out forhimself, if he falls into my hands, I can tell him."
As soon as the first gleam of light appeared in the east, thecolonists, suitably armed, repaired to the beach under Granite House.The rising sun now shone on the cliff and they could see the windows,the shutters of which were closed, through the curtains of foliage.
All here was in order; but a cry escaped the colonists when they sawthat the door, which they had closed on their departure, was now wideopen.
Some one had entered Granite House--there could be no more doubt aboutthat.
The upper ladder, which generally hung from the door to the landing,was in its place, but the lower ladder was drawn up and raised to thethreshold. It was evident that the intruders had wished to guardthemselves against a surprise.
Pencroft hailed again.
No reply.
"The beggars," exclaimed the sailor. "There they are sleeping quietlyas if they were in their own house. Hallo there, you pirates,brigands, robbers, sons of John Bull!".
When Pencroft, being a Yankee, treated any one to the epithet of "sonof John Bull," he considered he had reached the last limits of insult.
The sun had now completely risen, and the whole facade of GraniteHouse became illuminated by his rays; but in the interior as well ason the exterior all was quiet and calm.
The settlers asked if Granite House was inhabited or not, and yet theposition of the ladder was sufficient to show that it was; it was alsocertain that the inhabitants, whoever they might be, had not been ableto escape. But how were they to be got at?
Herbert then thought of fastening a cord to an arrow, and shooting thearrow so that it should pass between the first rounds of the ladderwhich hung from the threshold. By means of the cord they would then beable to draw down the ladder to the ground, and so re-establish thecommunication between the beach and Granite House. There was evidentlynothing else to be done, and, with a little skill, this method mightsucceed. Very fortunately bows and arrows had been left at theChimneys, where they also found a quantity of light hibiscus cord.Pencroft fastened this to a well-feathered arrow. Then Herbert fixingit to his bow, took a careful aim for the lower part of the ladder.
Cyrus Harding, Gideon Spilett, Pencroft, and Neb drew back, so as tosee if anything appeared at the windows. The reporter lifted his gunto his shoulder and covered the door.
The bow was bent, the arrow flew, taking the cord with it, and passedbetween the two last rounds.
The operation had succeeded.
Herbert immediately seized the end of the cord, but, at that momentwhen he gave it a pull to bring down the ladder, an arm, thrustsuddenly out between the wall and the door, grasped it and dragged itinside Granite House.
"The rascals!" shouted the sailor. "If a ball can do anything for you,you shall not have long to wait for it."
"But who was it?" asked Neb.
"Who was it? Didn't you see?"
"No."
"It was a monkey, a sapago, an orang-outang, a baboon, a gorilla, asagoin. Our dwelling has been invaded by monkeys, who climbed up theladder during our absence."
And, at this moment, as if to bear witness to the truth of the sailorswords, two or three quadrumana showed themselves at the windows, fromwhich they had pushed back the shutters, and saluted the realproprietors of the place with a thousand hideous grimaces.
"I knew that it was only a joke," cried Pencroft, "but on
e of thejokers shall pay the penalty for the rest."
So saying, the sailor, raising his piece, took a rapid aim at one ofthe monkeys and fired. All disappeared, except one who fell mortallywounded on the beach. This monkey, which was of a large size,evidently belonged to the first order of the quadrumana. Whether thiswas a chimpanzee, an orang-outang, or a gorilla, he took rank amongthe anthropoid apes, who are so called from their resemblance to thehuman race. However, Herbert declared it to be an orang-outang.
"What a magnificent beast!" cried Neb.
"Magnificent, if you like," replied Pencroft; "but still I do not seehow we are to get into our house."
"Herbert is a good marksman," said the reporter, "and his bow is here.He can try again."
"Why, these apes are so cunning," returned Pencroft, "they won't showthemselves again at the windows and so we can't kill them, and when Ithink of the mischief they may do in the rooms and storehouse--"
"Have patience," replied Harding; "these creatures cannot keep us longat bay."
"I shall not be sure of that till I see them down here," replied thesailor "And now, captain, do you know how many dozens of these fellowsare up there?"
It was difficult to reply to Pencroft, and as for the young boy makinganother attempt, that was not easy; for the lower part of the ladderhad been drawn again into the door, and when another pull was given,the line broke and the ladder remained firm. The case was reallyperplexing. Pencroft stormed. There was a comic side to the situation,but he did not think it funny at all. It was certain that the settlerswould end by reinstating themselves in their domicile and driving outthe intruders, but when and how? that is what they were not able tosay.
THE INVADERS OF GRANITE HOUSE]
Two hours passed, during which the apes took care not to showthemselves, but they were still there, and three or four times a noseor a paw was poked out at the door or windows, and was immediatelysaluted by a gun-shot.
"Let us hide ourselves," at last said the engineer. "Perhaps the apeswill think we have gone quite away and will show themselves again. LetSpilett and Herbert conceal themselves behind those rocks and fire onall that may appear."
The engineer's orders were obeyed, and whilst the reporter and thelad, the best marksmen in the colony, posted themselves in a goodposition, but out of the monkeys' sight, Neb, Pencroft, and Cyrusclimbed the plateau and entered the forest in order to kill some game,for it was now time for breakfast and they had no provisionsremaining.
In half an hour the hunters returned with a few rock pigeons, whichthey roasted as well as they could. Not an ape had appeared. GideonSpilett and Herbert went to take their share of the breakfast, leavingTop to watch under the windows. They then, having eaten, returned totheir post.
Two hours later, their situation was in no degree improved. Thequadrumana gave no sign of existence, and it might have been supposedthat they had disappeared; but what seemed more probable was that,terrified by the death of one of their companions, and frightened bythe noise of the firearms, they had retreated to the back part of thehouse or probably even into the storeroom. And when they thought ofthe valuables which this storeroom contained, the patience so muchrecommended by the engineer, fast changed into great irritation, andthere certainly was room for it.
"Decidedly it is too bad," said the reporter; "and the worst of it is,there is no way of putting an end to it."
"But we must drive these vagabonds out somehow," cried the sailor. "Wecould soon get the better of them, even if there are twenty of therascals; but for that, we must meet them hand to hand. Come now, isthere no way of getting at them?"
"Let us try to enter Granite House by the old opening at the lake,"replied the engineer.
"Oh!" shouted the sailor, "and I never thought of that."
This was in reality the only way by which to penetrate into GraniteHouse so as to fight with and drive out the intruders. The openingwas, it is true, closed up with a wall of cemented stones, which itwould be necessary to sacrifice, but that could easily be rebuilt.Fortunately, Cyrus Harding had not as yet effected his project ofhiding this opening by raising the waters of the lake, for theoperation would then have taken some time.
It was already past twelve o'clock when the colonists, well armed andprovided with picks and spades, left the Chimneys, passed beneath thewindows of Granite House, after telling Top to remain at his post, andbegan to ascend the left bank of the Mercy, so as to reach ProspectHeights.
But they had not made fifty steps in this direction, when they heardthe dog barking furiously.
And all rushed down the bank again.
Arrived at the turning, they saw that the situation had changed.
In fact, the apes, seized with a sudden panic, from some unknowncause, were trying to escape. Two or three ran and clambered from onewindow to another with the agility of acrobats. They were not eventrying to replace the ladder, by which it would have been easy todescend; perhaps in their terror they had forgotten this way ofescape. The colonists, now being able to take aim without difficulty,fired. Some, wounded or killed, fell back into the rooms, utteringpiercing cries. The rest, throwing themselves out, were dashed topieces in their fall, and in a few minutes, so far as they knew, therewas not a living quadrumana in Granite House.
At this moment the ladder was seen to slip over the threshold, thenunroll and fall to the ground.
"Hullo!" cried the sailor, "this is queer!"
"Very strange!" murmured the engineer, leaping first up the ladder.
"Take care, captain!" cried Pencroft, "perhaps there are still some ofthese rascals..."
"We shall soon see," replied the engineer, without stopping however.
All his companions followed him, and in a minute they had arrived atthe threshold. They searched everywhere. There was no one in the roomsnor in the storehouse, which had been respected by the band ofquadrumana.
"Well now, and the ladder," cried the sailor; "who can the gentlemanhave been who sent us that down?"
But at that moment a cry was heard, and a great orang, who had hiddenhimself in the passage, rushed into the room, pursued by Neb.
"Ah the robber!" cried Pencroft.
And hatchet in hand, he was about to cleave the head of the animal,when Cyrus Harding seized his arm, saying,--
"Spare him, Pencroft."
"Pardon this rascal?"
"Yes! it was he who threw us the ladder!"
And the engineer said this in such a peculiar voice that it wasdifficult to know whether he spoke seriously or not.
Nevertheless, they threw themselves on the orang, who defended himselfgallantly, but was soon overpowered and bound.
"There!" said Pencroft. "And what shall we make of him, now we've gothim?"
"A servant!" replied Herbert.
The lad was not joking in saying this, for he knew how thisintelligent race could be turned to account.
The settlers then approached the ape and gazed at it attentively. Hebelonged to the family of anthropoid apes, of which the facial angleis not much inferior to that of the Australians and Hottentots. It wasan orang-outang, and as such, had neither the ferocity of the gorilla,nor the stupidity of the baboon. It is to this family of theanthropoid apes that so many characteristics belong which prove themto be possessed of an almost human intelligence. Employed in houses,they can wait at table, sweep rooms, brush clothes, clean boots,handle a knife, fork, and spoon properly, and even drink wine,...doing everything as well as the best servant that ever walked upon twolegs. Buffon possessed one of these apes, who served him for a longtime as a faithful and zealous servant.
CAPTURING THE ORANG]
The one which had been seized in the hall of Granite House was a greatfellow, six feet high, with an admirably proportioned frame, a broadchest, head of a moderate size, the facial angle reaching sixty-fivedegrees, round skull, projecting nose, skin covered with soft glossyhair, in short, a fine specimen of the anthropoids. His eyes, rathersmaller than human eyes, sparkled with intelligence, his
white teethglittered under his moustache, and he wore a little curly brown beard.
"A handsome fellow!" said Pencroft; "if we only knew his language, wecould talk to him."
"But, master," said Neb, "are you serious? Are we going to take him asa servant?"
"Yes, Neb," replied the engineer, smiling. "But you must not bejealous."
"And I hope he will make an excellent servant," added Herbert. "Heappears young, and will be easy to educate, and we shall not beobliged to use force to subdue him, nor draw his teeth, as issometimes done. He will soon grow fond of his masters if they are kindto him."
"And they will be," replied Pencroft, who had forgotten all hisrancour against "the jokers."
Then, approaching the orang,--
"Well, old boy!" he asked, "how are you?"
The orang replied by a little grunt which did not show any anger.
"You wish to join the colony?" again asked the sailor. "You are goingto enter the service of Captain Cyrus Harding?"
Another respondent grunt was uttered by the ape.
"And you will be satisfied with no other wages than your food?"
Third affirmative grunt.
"This conversation is slightly monotonous," observed Gideon Spilett.
"So much the better," replied Pencroft, "the best servants are thosewho talk the least. And then, no wages, do you hear, my boy? We willgive you no wages at first, but we will double them afterwards if weare pleased with you."
Thus the colony was increased by a new member. As to his name thesailor begged that in memory of another ape which he had known, hemight be called Jupiter, and Jup for short.
And so, without more ceremony, Master Jup was installed in GraniteHouse.
ENGAGING THE NEW SERVANT]