The Secret of the Island

Jules Verne

Description

After escaping from their captors in a giant air balloon, five prisoners of the Civil War find themselves stranded on a deserted island. Despite their different backgrounds, they decide to band together and combine their talents to live on the island, which they named Lincoln Island. Cyrus is a railroad engineer, Gideon is a journalist, Neb is a man who escaped slavery, Pencroff is a sailor, and Harbert is Pencroff’s protégé and son. Each man uses their skills in a different way, building houses, making inventions, and finding creative ways to live off of the island. One day, Gideon, the reporter desperate for human contact, decided to send a message via a bird. After a long period of isolation with no contact from the outside world, the men accept that they will likely spend the rest of their life on the island. Now, two and a half years later, the group finally spot a ship sailing nearby—a fantasy sight. Hopeful that it is the way off their island, the group of survivors work to gain the attention of the ship, fighting off pirates and braving the rough environment to finally escape. However, as they fight to leave Lincoln Island, the survivors discover that it had been harboring a shocking secret all along.

The Secret of the Island is the third and final installation of Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island adventure series. Following The Mysterious Island and Abandoned, this exciting and mysterious adventure novel concludes the popular trilogy. The Secret of the Island is full of shocking twists and even features a surprise appearance of a popular character from another famous Verne novel. With detailed prose and memorable characters, The Secret of the Island depicts the satisfying reveal of mysteries present throughout the trilogy.

This edition of The Secret of the Island by Jules Verne features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a modern, easy-to-read font, crafting an accessible and enjoyable experience for modern readers.

Sujets

• Literary
• Lincoln Island
• South Pacific
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Mint Editions
• Date de parution: 16 février 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781513276281
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

The Secret of the Island
Jules Verne (translation from W.H.G. Kingston)
 
The Secret of the Island was first published in 1875.
This edition published by Mint Editions 2021.
ISBN 9781513271286 | E-ISBN 9781513276281
Published by Mint Editions®
minteditionbooks.com
Publishing Director: Jennifer Newens
Design & Production: Rachel Lopez Metzger
Project Manager: Micaela Clark
This book is a translation from the French original by Jules Verne.
Typesetting: Westchester Publishing Services
 
C ONTENTS
I.   Lost or saved—Ayrton summoned—Important Discussion—It is not the Duncan—Suspicious Vessel—Precautions to be taken—The Ship approaches—A Cannon-Shot—The Brig anchors in Sight of the Island—Night comes on.
II.   Discussions—Presentiments—Ayrton’s Proposal—It is accepted—Ayrton and Pencroft on Grant Islet—Convicts from Norfolk Island—Ayrton’s heroic Attempt—His Return—Six against Fifty.
III.   The Mist rises—The Engineer’s Preparations—Three Posts—Ayrton and Pencroft—The first Boat—Two other Boats—On the Islet—Six Convicts land—The Brig weighs Anchor—The Speedy’s Guns—A desperate Situation—Unexpected Catastrophe.
IV.   The Colonists on the Beach—Ayrton and Pencroft work amid the Wreck—Conversation during Breakfast—Pencroft’s Arguments—Minute Examination of the Brig’s Hull—The Powder-Magazine untouched—New Riches—The Last of the Wreck—A broken Piece of Cylinder.
V.   The Engineer’s Declaration—Pencroft’s grand Hypothesis—An aerial Battery—The four Cannons—The surviving Convicts—Ayrton’s Hesitation—Cyrus Harding’s generous Sentiments—Pencroft’s Regret.
VI.   Expeditions planned—Ayrton at the Corral—Visit to Port Balloon—Pencroft’s Observations on Board the Bonadventure—Despatch sent to the Corral—No Reply from Ayrton—Departure the next Day—The Reason why the Wire did not work—A Report.
VII.   The Reporter and Pencroft in the Corral—Herbert’s Wound—The Sailor’s Despair—Consultation between the Reporter and the Engineer—Mode of Treatment—Hope not abandoned—How is Neb to be warned—A sure and faithful Messenger—Neb’s Reply.
VIII.   The Convicts in the Neighbourhood of the Corral—Provisional Establishment—Continuation of the Treatment of Herbert—Pencroft’s first Rejoicings—Conversation on past Events—What the Future has in Reserve—Cyrus Harding’s Ideas on this Subject.
IX.   No News of Neb—A Proposal from Pencroft and the Reporter, which is not accepted—Several Sorties by Gideon Spilett—A Rag of Cloth—A Message—Hasty Departure—Arrival on the Plateau of Prospect Heights.
X.   Herbert carried to Granite House—Neb relates all that has happened—Harding’s Visit to the Plateau—Ruin and Devastation—The Colonists baffled by Herbert’s Illness—Willow Bark—A Deadly Fever—Top barks again!
XI.   Inexplicable Mystery—Herbert’s Convalescence—The Parts of the Island to be explored—Preparations for Departure—First Day—Night—Second Day—Kauries—A Couple of Cassowaries—Footprints in the Forest—Arrival at Reptile Point.
XII.   Exploration of the Serpentine Peninsula—Encampment at the Mouth of Falls River—Gideon Spilett and Pencroft reconnoitre—Their Return—Forward, All!—An open Door—A lighted Window—By the Light of the Moon!
XIII.   Ayrton’s Story—Plans of his former Accomplices—Their Installation in the Corral—The avenging Justice of Lincoln Island—The Bonadventure—Researches around Mount Franklin—The Upper Valleys—A subterranean Volcano—Pencroft’s Opinion—At the Bottom of the Crater—Return.
XIV.   Three Years have passed—The new Vessel—What is agreed on—Prosperity of the Colony—The Dockyard—Cold of the Southern Hemisphere—Washing Linen—Mount Franklin.
XV.   The Awakening of the Volcano—The fine Season—Continuation of Work—The Evening of the 15th of October—A Telegram—A Question—An Answer—Departure for the Corral—The Notice—The additional Wire—The Basalt Coast—At High Tide—At Low Tide—The Cavern—A dazzling Light.
XVI.   Captain Nemo—His first Words—The History of the Recluse—His Adventures—His Sentiments—His Comrades—Submarine Life—Alone—The last Refuge of the Nautilus in Lincoln Island—The Mysterious Genius of the Island.
XVII.   Last Moments of Captain Nemo—Wishes of the dying Man—A Parting Gift to his Friends of a Day—Captain Nemo’s Coffin—Advice to the Colonists—The supreme Moment—At the Bottom of the Sea.
XVIII.   Reflections of the Colonists—Their Labours of Reconstruction resumed—The 1st of January 1869—A Cloud over the Summit of the Volcano—First Warnings of an Eruption—Ayrton and Cyrus Harding at the Corral—Exploration of the Dakkar Grotto—What Captain Nemo had confided to the Engineer.
XIX.   Cyrus Harding gives an Account of his Exploration—The Construction of the Ship pushed forward—A Last Visit to the Corral—The Battle between Fire and Water—All that remains of the Island—It is decided to Launch the Vessel—The Night of the 8th of March.
XX.   An Isolated Rock in the Pacific—The last Refuge of the Colonists of Lincoln Island—Death their only Prospect—Unexpected Succour—Why and how it Arrives—A Last Kindness—An Island on Terra Firma—The Tomb of Captain Prince Dakkar Nemo.
 
I
L OST OR SAVED— A YRTON SUMMONED— I MPORTANT D ISCUSSION— I T IS NOT THE D UNCAN— S USPICIOUS V ESSEL— P RECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN— T HE S HIP APPROACHES— A C ANNON -S HOT— T HE B RIG ANCHORS IN S IGHT OF THE I SLAND— N IGHT COMES ON .
It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures. Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously. Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony. Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
There could be no doubt about it! A vessel was there! But would she pass on, or would she put into port? In a few hours the colonists would definitely know what to expect.
Cyrus Harding and Herbert having immediately called Gideon Spilett, Pencroft, and Neb into the dining-room of Granite House, told them what had happened. Pencroft, seizing the telescope, rapidly swept the horizon, and stopping on the indicated point, that is to say, on that which had made the almost imperceptible spot on the photographic negative—
“I’m blessed but it is really a vessel!” he exclaimed, in a voice which did not express any great amount of satisfaction.
“Is she coming here?” asked Gideon Spilett.
“Impossible to say anything yet,” answered Pencroft, “for her rigging alone is above the horizon, and not a bit of her hull can be seen.”
“What is to be done?” asked the lad.
“Wait,” replied Harding.
And for a considerable time the settlers remained silent, given up to all the thoughts, all the emotions, all the fears, all the hopes, which were aroused by this incident—the most important which had occurred since their arrival in Lincoln Island. Certainly, the colonists were not in the situation of castaways abandoned on a sterile islet, constantly contending against a cruel nature for their miserable existence, and incessantly tormented by the longing to return to inhabited countries. Pencroft and Neb, especially, who felt themselves at once so happy and so rich, would not have left their island without regret. They were accustomed, besides, to this new life in the midst of the domain which their intelligence had as it were civilised. But at any rate this ship brought news from the world, perhaps even from their native land. It was bringing fellow-creatures to them, and it may be conceived how deeply their hearts were moved at the sight!
From time to time Pencroft took the glass and rested himself at the window. From thence he very attentively examined the vessel, which was at a distance of twenty miles to the east. The colonists had as yet, therefore, no means of signalising their presence. A flag would not have been perceived; a gun would not have been heard; a fire would not have been visible. However, it was certain that the island, overtopped by Mount Franklin, could not have escaped the notice of the vessel’s look-out. But why was this ship coming there? Was it simple chance which brought it to that part of the Pacific, where the maps mentioned no land except Tabor Islet, which itself was out of the route usually followed by vessels from the Polynesian Archipelagos, from New Zealand, and from the American coast? To this question, which each one asked himself, a reply was suddenly made by Herbert.
“Can it be the Duncan ?” he cried.
The Duncan , as has been said, was Lord Glenarvan’s yacht, which had left Ayrton on the islet, and which was to return there some day to fetch him. Now, the islet was not so far-distant from Lincoln Island, but that a vessel, standing for the one, could pass in sight of the other. A hundred and fifty miles only separated them in longitude, and seventy in latitude.
“We must tell Ayrton,” said Gideon Spilett, “and send for him immediately. He alone can say if it is the Duncan .”
This was the opinion of all, and the reporter, going to the telegraphic apparatus which placed the corral in communication with Granite House, sent this telegram:—“Come with all possible speed.”
In a few minutes the bell sounded.
“I am coming,” replied Ayrton.
Then the settlers continued to watch the vessel.
“If it is the Duncan ,” said Herbert, “Ayrton will recognise her without difficulty, since he sailed on board her for some time.”
“And if he recognises her,” added Pencroft, “it will agitate him exceedingly!”
“Yes,” answered Cyrus Harding; “but now Ayrton is worthy to return on board the Duncan , and pray Heaven that it is indeed Lord Glenarvan’s yacht, for I should be suspicious of any other vessel. These are ill-famed sea