The Mysterious Island - Jules Verne (good beach reads .txt) 📗

I.

The Hurricane of 1865—Cries in the Air—A Balloon Caught By a Waterspout—Only the Sea in Sight—Five Passengers—What Took Place in the Basket—Land Ahead!—The End.

II.

An Episode of the Rebellion—The Engineer Cyrus Smith—Gideon Spilett—The Negro Neb—The Sailor Pencroft—The Youth, Herbert—An Unexpected Proposal—Rendezvous at 10 O’clock P.M.—Departure in the Storm.

III.

Five O’clock in the Afternoon—The Lost One—The Despair of Neb—Search to the Northward—The Island—A Night of Anguish—The Fog of the Morning—Neb Swimming—Sight of the Land—Fording the Channel.

IV.

The Lithodomes—The Mouth of the River—The “Chimneys”—Continuation of the Search—The Forest of Evergreens—Getting Firewood—Waiting for the Tide—On Top of the Cliff—The Timber-Float—The Return to the Coast.

V.

Arranging the Chimneys—The Important Question of Fire—The Match Box—Search Over the Shore—Return of the Reporter and Neb—One Match—The Crackling Fire—The Fish Supper—The First Night on Land.

VI.

The Castaways’ Inventory—No Effects—The Charred Linen—An Expedition Into the Forest—The Flora of the Woods—The Flight of the Jacamar—Tracks of Wild Beasts—The Couroucous—The Heath-Cock—Line-Fishing Extraordinary.

VII.

Neb Has Not Yet Returned—The Reflections of the Reporter—The Supper—Prospect of a Bad Night—The Storm Is Frightful—They Go Out Into the Night—Struggle with the Rain and Wind.

VIII.

Is Cyrus Smith Alive?—Neb’s Story—Footprints—An Insoluble Question—The First Words of Smith—Comparing the Footprints—Return to the Chimneys—Pencroff Dejected.

IX.

Cyrus Is Here-Pencroff’s Attempts—Rubbing Wood—Island or Continent—The Plans of the Engineer—Whereabouts in the Pacific—In the Depths of the Forest—The Pistachio Pine—A Pig Chase—A Smoke of Good Omen.

X.

The Engineer’s Invention—Island Or Continent?—Departure for the Mountain—The Forest—Volcanic Soil—The Tragopans—The Moufflons—The First Plateau—Encamping for the Night—The Summit of the Cone

XI.

At the Summit of the Cone—The Interior of the Crater—Sea Everywhere—No Land in Sight—A Bird’s Eve View of the Coast—Hydrography and Orography—Is the Island Inhabited?—A Geographical Baptism—Lincoln Island.

XII.

Regulation of Watches—Pencroff Is Satisfied—A Suspicious Smoke—The Course of Red Creek—The Flora of the Island—Its Fauna—Mountain Pheasants—A Kangaroo Chase—The Agouti—Lake Grant—Return to the Chimneys.

XIII.

Top’s Contribution—Making Bows and Arrows—A Brick-Kiln—A Pottery—Different Cooking Utensils—The First Boiled Meat—Mugwort—The Southern Cross—An Important Astronomical Observation.

XIV.

The Measure Of the Granite Wall—An Application of the Theorem of Similar Triangles—The Latitude of the Island—An Excursion to the North—An Oyster-Bed—Plans for the Future—The Sun’s Passage of the Meridian—The Co-ordinates of Lincoln Island.

XV.

Winter Sets In—The Metallurgic Question—The Exploration of Safety Island—A Seal Hunt—Capture of an Echidna—The Ai—The Catalonian Method—Making Iron and Steel.

XVI.

The Question of a Dwelling Discussed Again—Pencroff’s Ideas—An Exploration to the North of the Lake—The Western Boundary of the Plateau—The Serpents—The Outlet of the Lake—Top’s Alarm—Top Swimming—A Fight Under Water—The Dugong.

XVII

A Visit to the Lake—The Direction of the Current—The Prospects of Cyrus Smith—The Dugong Fat—The Use of the Schistous Limestone—The Sulphate of Iron—How Glycerine Is Made—Soap—Saltpetre—Sulphuric Acid—Nitric Acid—The New Outlet.

XVIII.

Pencroff Doubts No More—The Old Outlet of the Lake—A Subterranean Descent—The Way Through the Granite—Top Has Disappeared—The Central Cavern—The Lower Well—Mystery—The Blows with the Pick—The Return.

XIX.

Smith’s Plan—The Front of Granite House—The Rope Ladder—Pencroff’s Ideas—The Aromatic Herbs—A Natural Warren—Getting Water—The View From the Windows of Granite House.

XX.

The Rainy Season—What to Wear-A Seal-Hunt—Candle-Making—-Work in the Granite House—The Two Causeways—Return From a Visit to the Oyster-Bed—What Herbert Found in His Pocket.

XXI.

Several Degrees Below Zero—Exploration of the Swamp Region to the Southeast—The View of the Sea—A Conversation Concerning the Future of the Pacific Ocean—The Incessant Labor of the Infusoria—What Will Become of This Globe—The Chase—The Swamp of the Tadorns.

XXII.

The Traps—The Foxes—The Peccaries—The Wind Veers to the Northwest—The Snow-Storm—The Basket-Makers—The Coldest Snap of Winter—Crystallization of the Sugar-Maple—The Mysterious Shafts—The Projected Exploration—The Pellet of Lead.

XXIII.

Concerning the Leaden Pellet—Making a Canoe—Hunting—In the Top of a Kauri—Nothing to Indicate the Presence of Man—The Turtle on its Back—The Turtle Disappears—Smith’s Explanation.

XXIV.

Trial of the Canoe—A Wreck on the Shore—The Tow—Jetsam Point—Inventory of the Box—What Pencroff Wanted—A Bible—A Verse from the Bible.

XXV.

The Departure—The Rising Tide—Elms and Other Trees—Different Plants—The Kingfisher—Appearance of the Forest—The Gigantic Eucalypti—Why They Are Called Fever-Trees—Monkeys—The Waterfall—Encampment for the Night.

XXVI.

Going Toward the Coast—Troops of Monkeys—A New Water-Course—Why the Tide Was Not Felt—A Forest on the Shore—Reptile Promontory—Spilett Makes Herbert Envious—The Bamboo Fusilade.

XXVII.

Proposal to Return By the South Coast—Its Configuration—Search for the Shipwrecked—A Waif in the Air—Discovery of a Small Natural Harbor—Midnight on the Mercy—A Drifting Canoe.

XXVIII.

Pencroff’s Halloos—A Night in the Chimneys—Herbert’s Arrow—Smith’s Plan—An Unexpected Solution—What Had Happened in Granite House—How the Colonists Obtained a New Domestic.

XXIX.

Projects to Be Carried Out—A Bridge Over the Mercy—To Make An Island of Prospect Plateau—The Draw-Bridge—The Corn Harvest—The Stream—The Causeway—The Poultry Yard—The Pigeon-House—The Two Wild Asses—Harnessed to the Wagon—Excursion to Balloon Harbor.

XXX.

Clothing—Seal-Skin Boots—Making Pyroxyline—Planting—The Fish—Turtles’ Eggs—Jup’s Education—The Corral-Hunting Moufflons—Other Useful Animals and Vegetables—Home Thoughts.

XXXI.

Bad Weather—The Hydraulic Elevator—Making Window Glass and Table Ware—The Bread Tree—Frequent Visits to the Corral—The Increase of the Herd—The Reporter’s Question—The Exact Position of Lincoln Island—Pencroff’s Proposal.

XXXII.

Ship Building—The Second Harvest—Ai Hunting—A New Plant—A Whale—The Harpoon From the Vineyard—Cutting Up This Cetacea—Use of the Whalebone—The End of May—PencroffIs Content.

XXXIII.

Winter—Fulling Cloth—The Mill—Pencroff’s Fixed Purpose—The Whalebones—The Use of An Albatross—Top and Jup—Storms—Damage to the Poultry-Yard—An Excursion to the Marsh—Smith Alone—Exploration of the Pits.

XXXIV.

Rigging the Launch—Attacked By Foxes—Jup Wounded—Jup Nursed—Jup Cured—Completion of the Launch—Pencroff’s Triumph—The Good Luck—Trial Trip, to the South of the Island—An Unexpected Document.

XXXV.

Departure Decided Upon—Preparations—The Three Passengers—The First Night—The Second Night—Tabor Island—Search on the Shore—Search in the Woods—No One—Animals—Plants—A House—Deserted.

XXXVI.

The Inventory—The Night—Some Letters—The Search Continued—Plants and Animals—Herbert in Danger—Aboard—The Departure—Bad Weather—A Glimmer of Intelligence—Lost At Sea—A Timely Light.

XXXVII.

The Return-Discussion—Smith and the Unknown—Balloon Harbor-The Devotion of the Engineer-A Touching Experience-Tears.

XXXVIII.

A Mystery to Be Solved—The First Words of the Unknown—Twelve Years on the Island—Confessions—Disappearance—Smith’s Confidence—Building a Wind-Mill—The First Bread—An Act of Devotion—Honest Hands.

XXXIX.

Always Apart—A Bequest of the Unknown’s—The Farm Established At the Corral—Twelve Years—The Boatswain’s Mate of the Britannia—Left on Tabor Island—The Hand of Smith—The Mysterious Paper

XL.

A Talk—Smith and Spilett—The Engineer’s Idea—The Electric Telegraph—The Wires—The Batter—the Alphabet—Fine Weather—The Prosperity of the Colony—Photography—A Snow Effect—Two Years on Lincoln Island.

XLI.

Thoughts of Home—Chances of Return—Plan to Explore the Coast—The Departure of the 16th of April—Serpentine Peninsula Seen From Sea—The Basaltic Cliffs of the Western Coast—Bad Weather—Night—A New Incident.

XLII.

Night At Sea—Shark Gulf—Confidences—Preparations for Winter—Early Advent of Bad Weather—Cold—In-Door Work—Six Months Later—A Speck on the Photograph—An Unexpected Event.

XLIII.

Lost Or Saved?—Ayrton Recalled—Important Discussion—It Is Not the Duncan—Suspicion And Precaution—Approach of the Ship—A Cannon Shot—The Brig Anchors in Sight of the Island—Night Fall.

XLIV.

Discussions—Presentiments—Ayrton’s Proposal—It Is Accepted—Ayrton and Pencroff on Safety Islet—Norfolk Convicts—Their Projects—Heroic Attempt of Ayrton—His Return—Six Against Fifty.

XLV.

The Mist Rises—The Engineer’s Disposition of Forces—Three Posts—Ayrton and Pencroft—The First Attack—Two Other Boat Loads—On the Islet—Six Convicts on Shore—The Brig Weighs Anchor—The Speedy’s Projectiles—Desperate Situation—Unexpected Denouement.

XLVI.

The Colonists on the Beach—Ayrton and Pencroff as Salvors—Talk At Breakfast—Pencroff’s Reasoning—Exploration of the Brig’s Hull in Detail—The Magazine Uninjured—New Riches—A Discovery—A Piece of a Broken Cylinder.

XLVII.

The Engineer’s Theory—Pencroff’s Magnificent Suppositions—A Battery in the Air—Four Projectiles—The Surviving Convicts—Ayrton Hesitates—Smith’s Generosity and Pencroff’s Dissatisfaction.

XLVIII.

The Projected Expedition—Ayrton At the Corral—Visit to Port Balloon—Pencroff’s Remarks—Despatch Sent to the Corral—No Answer From Ayrton—Setting Out Next Day—Why the Wire Did Not Act—A Detonation.

XLIX.

The Reporter and Pencroff in the Corral—Moving Herbert—Despair of the Sailor—Consultation of the Engineer and the Reporter—Mode of Treatment—A Glimmer of Hope—How to Warn Neb—A Faithful Messenger—Neb’s Reply.

L.

The Convicts in the Neighborhood of the Corral—Provisional Occupation—Continuation of Herbert’s Treatment—Pencroff’s Jubilation—Review of the Past—Future Prospects—Smith’s Ideas.

LI.

No News of Neb—A Proposal From Pencroff and Spilett—The Reporter’s Sorties—A Fragment Of Cloth—A Message—Hurried Departure—Arrival At Prospect Plateau.

LII.

Herbert Carried to Granite House—Neb Relates What Had Happened—Visit of Smith to the Plateau—Ruin and Devastation—The Colonists Helpless—Willow Bark—A Mortal Fever—Top Barks Again.

LIII.

An Inexplicable Mystery—Herbert’s Convalescence—The Unexplored Parts of the Island—Preparations for Departure—The First Day—Night—Second Day—The Kauris—Cassowaries—Footprints in the Sand—Arrival At Reptile End.

LIV.

Exploration of Reptile End—Camp At the Mouth of Fall River—By the Corral—The Reconnaissance—The Return—Forward—An Open Door—A Light in the Window—By Moonlight.

LV.

Ayrton’s Recital—Plans of His Old Comrades—Taking Possession of the Corral—The Rules of the Island—The Good Luck—Researches About Mount Franklin—The Upper Valleys—Subterranean Rumblings—Pencroff’s Answer—At