To put up with what you cannot avoid is a philosophical4 principle, that may not perhaps lead you to the accomplishment5 of great deeds, but is assuredly eminently6 practical. On this principle Godfrey had resolved to act for the future. If he had to live in this island, the wisest thing for him to do was to live there as comfortably as possible until an opportunity offered for him to leave it.
And so, without delay, he set to work to get the interior of Will Tree into some order. Cleanliness was of the first importance. The beds of dried grass were frequently renewed. The plates and dishes were only scallop shells, it is true, but no American kitchen could show cleaner ones. It should be said to his praise that Professor Tartlet8 was a capital washer. With the help of his knife Godfrey, by flattening9 out a large piece of bark, and sticking four uprights into the ground, had contrived[Pg 156] a table in the middle of the room. Some large stumps10 served for stools. The comrades were no longer reduced to eating on their knees, when the weather prevented their dining in the open air.
There was still the question of clothing, which was of great interest to them, and they did the best they could. In that climate, and under that latitude11, there was no reason why they should not go about half naked; but, at length, trousers, waistcoat, and linen12 shirt were all worn out. How could they replace them? Were the sheep and the goats to provide them with skins for clothing, after furnishing them with flesh for food? It looked like it. Meanwhile, Godfrey had the few garments he possessed13 frequently washed. It was on Tartlet, transformed into a laundress, that this task fell, and he acquitted14 himself of it to the general satisfaction.
Godfrey busied himself specially15 in providing food, and in arranging matters generally. He was, in fact, the caterer16. Collecting the edible17 roots and the manzanilla fruit occupied him some hours every day; and so did fishing with plaited rushes, sometimes in the waters of the stream, and sometimes in the hollows of the rocks on the beach when the tide had gone out. The means were primitive18, no doubt, but from time to time a fine crustacean19 or a succulent fish figured on the table of Will Tree, to say[Pg 157] nothing of the mollusks, which were easily caught by hand.
But we must confess that the pot—of all the pieces in the battery of the cook undoubtedly20 the most essential—the simple iron pot, was wanting. Its absence could not but be deeply felt. Godfrey knew not how to replace the vulgar pipkin, whose use is universal. No hash, no stew21, no boiled meat, no fish, nothing but roasts and grills22. No soup appeared at the beginning of a meal. Constantly and bitterly did Tartlet complain—but how to satisfy the poor man?
Godfrey was busied with other cares. In visiting the different trees of the group he had found a second sequoia23 of great height, of which the lower part, hollowed out by the weather, was very rugged24 and uneven25.
Here he devised his poultry-house, and in it the fowls26 took up their abode27. The hens soon became accustomed to their home, and settled themselves to set on eggs placed in the dried grass, and chickens began to multiply. Every evening the broods were driven in and shut up, so as to keep them from birds of prey28, who, aloft in the branches, watched their easy victims, and would, if they could, have ended by destroying them.
As for the agoutis, the sheep, and the goats, it would have been useless then to have looked out a stable or[Pg 158] a shelter for them. When the bad weather came, there would be time enough to see to that. Meanwhile they prospered29 on the luxuriant pasturage of the prairie, with its abundance of sainfoin and edible roots, of which the porcine representatives showed genuine appreciation30. A few kids had been dropped since the arrival in the island, and as much milk as possible was left to the goats with which to nourish their little ones.
From all this it resulted that the surroundings of Will Tree were quite lively. The well-fed domestic animals came during the warm hours of the day to find there a refuge from the heat of the sun. No fear was there of their wandering abroad, or of their falling a prey to wild beasts, of which Phina Island seemed to contain not a single specimen31.
And so things went on, with a present fairly comfortable perhaps, but a future very disquieting32, when an unexpected incident occurred which bettered the position considerably33.
It was on the 29th of July.
Godfrey was strolling in the morning along that part of the shore which formed the beach of the large bight to which he had given the name of Dream Bay. He was exploring it to see if it was as rich in shell-fish as the coast on the north. Perhaps he still hoped that he might yet[Pg 159] come across some of the wreck2, of which it seemed to him so strange that the tide had as yet brought in not a single fragment.
On this occasion he had advanced to the northern point which terminated in a sandy spit, when his attention was attracted by a rock of curious shape, rising near the last group of algæ and sea-weeds.
A strange presentiment34 made him hasten his steps. What was his surprise, and his joy, when he saw that what he had taken for a rock was a box, half buried in the sand.
Was it one of the packages of the Dream? Had it been here ever since the wreck? Was it not rather all that remained of another and more recent catastrophe35? It was difficult to say. In any case no matter whence it came or what it held, the box was a valuable prize.
Godfrey examined it outwardly. There was no trace of an address not even a name, not even one of those huge initials cut out of thin sheet metal which ornament36 the boxes of the Americans. Perhaps he would find inside it some paper which would indicate the origin, or nationality, or name of the proprietor37? Any how it was apparently38 hermetically sealed, and there was hope that its contents had not been spoiled by their sojourn39 in the sea-water. It was a very strong wooden box, covered with[Pg 160] thick leather, with copper40 corner plates at the angles, and large straps41 all over it.
Impatient as he was to view the contents of the box, Godfrey did not think of damaging it, but of opening it after destroying the lock; as to transporting it from the bottom of Dream Bay to Will Tree, its weight forbade it, and he never gave that a thought.
"Well," said Godfrey to himself, "we must empty it where it is, and make as many journeys as may be necessary to take away all that is inside."
It was about four miles from the end of the promontory42 to the group of sequoias. It would therefore take some time to do this, and occasion considerable fatigue43. Time did not press, however. As for the fatigue, it was hardly worth thinking about.
What did the box contain? Before returning to Will Tree, Godfrey had a try at opening it.
He began by unbuckling the straps, and once they were off he very carefully lifted the leather shield which protected the lock. But how was he to force it?
It was a difficult job. Godfrey had no lever with which to bring his strength to bear. He had to guard against the risk of breaking his knife, and so he looked about for a heavy stone with which he could start the staple44.
[Pg 161]
The beach was strewn with lumps of hard silex in every form which could do for a hammer.
Godfrey picked out one as thick as his wrist, and with it he gave a tremendous whack45 on the plate of copper.
To his extreme surprise the bolt shot through the staple immediately gave way.
Either the staple was broken by the blow, or the lock was not turned.
Godfrey's heart beat high as he stooped to lift up the box lid.
It rose unchecked, and in truth had Godfrey had to get it to pieces he would not have done so without trouble. The trunk was a regular strong-box. The interior was lined with sheet zinc46, so that the sea-water had failed to penetrate47. The objects it contained, however delicate they might be, would be found in a perfect state of preservation48.
And what objects! As he took them out Godfrey could not restrain exclamations49 of joy! Most assuredly the box must have belonged to some highly practical traveller, who had reckoned on getting into a country where he would have to trust to his own resources.
In the first place there was linen—shirts, table-cloths, sheets, counterpanes; then clothes—woollen jerseys50, woollen socks, cotton socks, cloth trousers, velveteen[Pg 162] trousers, knitted waistcoats, waistcoats of good heavy stuffs; then two pairs of strong boots, and hunting-shoes and felt hats.
Then came a few kitchen and toilet utensils51; and an iron pot—the famous pot which was wanted so badly—a kettle, a coffee-pot, a tea-pot, some spoons, some forks, some knives, a looking-glass, and brushes of all kinds, and, what was by no means to be despised, three cans, containing about fifteen pints52 of brandy and tafia, and several pounds of tea and coffee.
Then, in the third place, came some tools—an auger53, a gimlet, a handsaw, an assortment54 of nails and brads, a spade, a shovel55, a pickaxe, a hatchet56, an adze, &c., &c.
In the fourth place, there were some weapons, two hunting-knives in their leather sheaths, a carbine and two muskets57, three six-shooter revolvers, a dozen pounds of powder, many thousand caps, and an important stock of lead and bullets, all the arms seeming to be of English make. There was also a small medicine-chest, a telescope, a compass, and a chronometer58. There were also a few English books, several quires of blank paper, pencils, pens, and ink, an almanac, a Bible with a New York imprint59, and a "Complete Cook's Manual."
[Pg 163]
Godfrey could not contain himself for joy. Had he expressly ordered the trousseau for the use of shipwrecked folks in difficulties, he could not have made it more complete.
Abundant thanks were due for it to Providence61. And Providence had the thanks, and from an overflowing62 heart.
Godfrey indulged himself in the pleasure of spreading out all his treasure on the beach. Every object was looked over, but not a scrap63 of paper was there in the box to indicate to whom it belonged, or the ship on which it had been embarked64.
Around, the sea showed no signs of a recent wreck.
Nothing was there on the rocks, nothing on the sands. The box must have been brought in by the flood, after being afloat for perhaps many days. In fact, its size in proportion to its weight had assured for it sufficient buoyancy.
The two inhabitants of Phina Island would for some time be kept provided in a large measure with the material wants of life,—tools, arms, instruments, utensils, clothes—due to the luckiest of chances.
Godfrey did not dream of taking all the things to Will Tree at once. Their transport would necessitate65 several journeys but he would have to make haste for fear of bad weather.
[Pg 164]
Godfrey then put back most of the things in the box. A gun, a revolver, a certain quantity of powder and lead, a hunting-knife, the telescope, and the iron pot, he took as his first load.
The box was carefully closed and strapped66 up, and with a rapid step Godfrey strode back along the shore.
Ah! What a reception he had from Tartlet, an hour later! And the delight of the Professor when his pupil ran over the list of their new riches! The pot—that pot above everything—threw him into transports of joy, culminating in a series of "hornpipes" and "cellar-flaps," wound up by a triumphant67 "six-eight breakdown68."
It was only noon as yet. Godfrey wished after the meal to get back at once to Dream Bay. He would never rest until the whole was in safety at Will Tree.
Tartlet made no objection, and declared himself ready to start. It was no longer necessary to watch the fire. With the powder they could always get a light. But the Professor was desirous that during their absence the soup which he was thinking about might be kept gently on the simmer. The wonderful pot was soon filled with water from the stream, a whole quarter of a goat was thrown in, accompanied by a dozen yamph roots, to take the place of vegetables, and then a pinch or two of salt found in the crevices69 of the rocks gave seasoning70 to the mixture.
[Pg 165]
"It must skim itself," exclaimed Tartlet, who seemed highly satisfied at his performance.
And off they started for Dream Bay by the shortest road. The box had not been disturbed. Godfrey opened it with care. Amid a storm of admiring exclamations from Tartlet, he began to pick out the things.
In this first journey Godfrey and his companion, transformed into beasts of burden, carried away to Will Tree the arms, the ammunition71, and a part of the wearing apparel.
Then they rested from their fatigue beside the table, on which there smoked the stewed72 agouti, which they pronounced most excellent. As for the meat, to listen to the Professor it would have been difficult even to imagine anything more exquisite73! Oh! the marvellous effect of privation!
On the 30th, the next day, Godfrey and Tartlet set forth74 at dawn, and in three other journeys succeeded in emptying and carrying away all that the box contained. Before the evening, tools, weapons, instruments, utensils, were all brought, arranged, and stowed away in Will Tree.
On the 1st of August, the box itself, dragged along the beach not without difficulty, found a place in the tree, and was transformed into a linen-closet.
Tartlet, with the fickleness75 of his mind, now looked[Pg 166] upon the future through none but rosy76 glasses. We can hardly feel astonished then that on this day, with his kit7 in his hand, he went out to find his pupil, and said to him in all seriousness, as if he were in the drawing-room of Kolderup's mansion,—
"Well, Godfrey, my boy, don't you think it is time to resume our dancing lessons?"
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1
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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tartlet
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| n.小形的果子馅饼 | |
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flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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10
stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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11
latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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12
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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13
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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15
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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16
caterer
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| n. 备办食物者，备办宴席者 | |
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17
edible
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| n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的 | |
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18
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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19
crustacean
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| n.甲壳动物；adj.甲壳纲的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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grills
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| n.烤架( grill的名词复数 )；（一盘）烤肉；格板；烧烤餐馆v.烧烤( grill的第三人称单数 )；拷问，盘问 | |
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23
sequoia
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| n.红杉 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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26
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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27
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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28
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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29
prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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31
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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32
disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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33
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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34
presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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35
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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36
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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37
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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38
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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39
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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40
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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41
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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42
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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43
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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44
staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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45
whack
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| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
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46
zinc
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| n.锌；vt.在...上镀锌 | |
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47
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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48
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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49
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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50
jerseys
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| n.运动衫( jersey的名词复数 ) | |
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51
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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52
pints
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| n.品脱( pint的名词复数 )；一品脱啤酒 | |
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53
auger
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| n.螺丝钻，钻孔机 | |
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54
assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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55
shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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56
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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57
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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58
chronometer
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| n.精密的计时器 | |
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59
imprint
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| n.印痕，痕迹；深刻的印象；vt.压印，牢记 | |
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inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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61
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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62
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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63
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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64
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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65
necessitate
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| v.使成为必要，需要 | |
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66
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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67
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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68
breakdown
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| n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌 | |
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69
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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70
seasoning
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| n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物 | |
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71
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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72
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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73
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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74
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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75
fickleness
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| n.易变；无常；浮躁；变化无常 | |
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76
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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