Cyrus Harding rose.His companions stared at each other, scarcely believing their ears.
"What does that mean?" cried Neb."Was it the devil who rang it?"No one answered.
"The weather is stormy," observed Herbert."Might not its influence of electricity--"Herbert did not finish his phrase.The engineer, towards whom all eyes were turned, shook his head negatively.
"We must wait," said Gideon Spilett."If it is a signal, whoever it may be who has made it, he will renew it.""But who do you think it is?" cried Neb.
"Who?" answered Pencroft, "but he--"
The sailor's sentence was cut short by a new tinkle of the bell.
Harding went to the apparatus, and sent this question to the corral:--"What do you want?"
A few moments later the needle, moving on the alphabetic dial, gave this reply to the tenants of Granite House:--"Come to the corral immediately."
"At last!" exclaimed Harding.
Yes! At last! The mystery was about to be unveiled.The colonists'
fatigue had disappeared before the tremendous interest which was about to urge them to the corral, and all wish for rest had ceased.Without having uttered a word, in a few moments they had left Granite House, and were standing on the beach.Jup and Top alone were left behind.They could do without them.
The night was black.The new moon had disappeared at the same time as the sun.As Herbert had observed, great stormy clouds formed a lowering and heavy vault, preventing any star rays.A few lightning flashes, reflections from a distant storm, illuminated the horizon.
It was possible that a few hours later the thunder would roll over the island itself.The night was very threatening.
But however deep the darkness was, it would not prevent them from finding the familiar road to the corral.
They ascended the left bank of the Mercy, reached the plateau, passed the bridge over Creek Glycerine, and advanced through the forest.
They walked at a good pace, a prey to the liveliest emotions.There was no doubt but that they were now going to learn the long-searched-for answer to the enigma, the name of that mysterious being, so deeply concerned in their life, so generous in his influence, so powerful in his action! Must not this stranger have indeed mingled with their existence, have known the smallest details, have heard all that was said in Granite House, to have been able always to act in the very nick of time?
Every one, wrapped up in his own reflections, pressed forward.Under the arch of trees the darkness was such that even the edge of the road could not be seen.Not a sound in the forest.Both animals and birds, influenced by the heaviness of the atmosphere, remained motionless and silent.Not a breath disturbed the leaves.The footsteps of the colonists alone resounded on the hardened ground.
During the first quarter of an hour the silence was only interrupted by this remark from Pencroft:--"We ought to have brought a torch."
And by this reply from the engineer:--
"We shall find one at the corral."
Harding and his companions had left Granite House at twelve minutes past nine.At forty-seven minutes past nine they had traversed three out of the five miles which separated the mouth of the Mercy from the corral.
At that moment sheets of lightning spread over the island and illumined the dark trees.The flashes dazzled and almost blinded them.Evidently the storm would not be long in bursting forth.
The flashes gradually became brighter and more rapid.Distant thunder growled in the sky.The atmosphere was stifling.
The colonists proceeded as if they were urged onwards by some irresistible force.
At ten o'clock a vivid flash showed them the palisade, and as they reached the gate the storm burst forth with tremendous fury.
In a minute the corral was crossed, and Harding stood before the hut.
Probably the house was occupied by the stranger, since it was from thence that the telegram had been sent.However, no light shone through the window.
The engineer knocked at the door.
No answer.
Cyrus Harding opened the door, and the settlers entered the room, which was perfectly dark.A light was struck by Neb, and in a few moments the lantern was lighted and the light thrown into every corner of the room.
There was no one there.Everything was in the state in which it had been left.
"Have we been deceived by an illusion?" murmured Cyrus Harding.
No! that was not possible! The telegram had clearly said,--"Come to the corral immediately."
They approached the table specially devoted to the use of the wire.
Everything was in order--the pile on the box containing it, as well as all the apparatus.
"Who came here the last time?" asked the engineer.
"I did, captain," answered Ayrton.
"And that was-'
"Four days ago."
"Ah! a note!" cried Herbert, pointing to a paper lying on the table.
On this paper were written these words in English:--"Follow the new wire."
"Forward!" cried Harding, who understood that the despatch had not been sent from the corral, but from the mysterious retreat, communicating directly with Granite House by means of a supplementary wire joined to the old one.
Neb took the lighted lantern, and all left the corral.The storm then burst forth with tremendous violence.The interval between each lightning-flash and each thunder-clap diminished rapidly.The summit of the volcano, with its plume of vapor, could be seen by occasional flashes.
There was no telegraphic communication in any part of the corral between the house and the palisade; but the engineer, running straight to the first post, saw by the light of a flash a new wire hanging from the isolator to the ground.
"There it is!" said he.
This wire lay along the ground, and was surrounded with an isolating substance like a submarine cable, so as to assure the free transmission of the current.It appeared to pass through the wood and the southern spurs of the mountain, and consequently it ran towards the west.
"Follow it!" said Cyrus Harding.
And the settlers immediately pressed forward, guided by the wire.
