Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules Verne
Читать онлайн книгу."Briant was over the mark. He stepped in two feet." " That he didn't," said Service. " No, I didn't," said Briant. " And even if I did, it was a mistake, and I will not stand Donagan calling me a cheat !"
" Indeed! You won't stand it! " said Donagan. " No, I will not!" replied Briant, getting very angry. " And first I'll prove that my feet were on the line." " You can't!" said Webb and Cross. " Well," said Briant, " there are my footmarks on the sand! And as Donagan must have known that, I tell him he's a liar! "
" A liar, am I?" said Donagan, stepping quietly towards him, jacket off, shirt sleeves tucked up, all ready and anxious for a fight.
Briant had recovered his temper, and stood quietly watching him as if he were ashamed to be the first to fight one of his comrades, and set an evil example to the colony.
" You were wrong to insult me, Donagan," he said " and you are wrong now to challenge me."
" Indeed I " said Donagan, in a tone of the profound-est contempt. " It is always wrong to challenge those who are afraid to defend themselves." "I! afraid!''
" Yes. You are a coward, and you know it ! "
Again Briant forgot himself for a moment, and, clenching his fists, squared up to Donagan; but just then Gordon, who had been fetched by Dole, stepped into the ring.
" Briant! Donagan ! " he said.
" He called me a liar," said Donagan.
" He called me a cheat and a coward," said Briant.
" Donagan," said Gordon, " I know what sort of a fellow Briant is ! He is not the cause of this quarrel. It was you that began it."
" Indeed ! " said Donagan. " And I know what sort of a fellow you are! Always ready to take sides against me!"
" Yes, when you deserve it! " said Gordon.
" All right," said Donagan. " But whether I began it or Briant began it, if Briant refuses to fight, he is a coward."
" And you, Donagan," said Gordon, " are a mischievous, bad-tempered fellow, for ever setting a bad example to the others. Placed as we are here, is it right that one should always be trying to cause disunion amongst us ? Surely we ought all to work together."
" Briant," said Donagan, " thank Gordon for his sermon; and now come on."
" Not in the least," said Gordon. "I am chief of the colony, and I am not going to stand this sort of thing! Briant, go into the store-room. And you, Donagan, go where you like, but don't come back till you have sense enough to see that in blaming you I only did my duty! "
" Three cheers for Gordon," said the boys, all except Webb, Wilcox, and Cross, " and three cheers for Briant!"
The only thing to be done was to obey. Briant went into the hall, and in the evening when Donagan returned it was evident that he was content for the time to say no more about the matter. But all the same he cherished a fierce rancour within him, and had no intention of forgetting the lesson which Gordon had given him. .
But nothing further was said, and the work of preparing for the winter went on in peace. During the first week in May the cold was keen enough for Gordon to give orders for the stoves to be lighted up in the cave, and kept going night and day; and soon afterwards it became necessary to warm the shed of the enclosure, which duty fell to Garnett and Service.
At the same time the birds began to depart in flocks. Whither did they go ? Evidently to the northern countries of the Pacific, or the American continent, where the climate was milder than that of Charman Island.
Among these birds the chief were the swallows, those marvellous migrants flying such enormous distances. In his constant endeavour to avail himself of every means to leave the island, it occurred to Briant to use these birds as messengers. Nothing was easier than to catch a few dozens of these birds, for they had built inside the store-room, and to their necks was tied a little linen bag, containing a letter announcing the wreck on Charman Island, with a request for the news to be sent on at once to Auckland. Then the swallows were released, and with much emotion the boys saw them depart. It was a very slender chance of safety, but it was a chance, and Briant was quite right in not neglecting it.
The snow came on the 25th of May, a few days earlier than the preceding year. Was the winter to be earlier and severer than before? It was to be feared so. Luckily warmth, light, and food were assured for many months. The winter clothing had been given out a few weeks before; and Gordon's health measures were strictly enforced.
Dining this time French Den became the scene of an agitation which caused a good deal of excitement among the youngsters. The year for which Gordon had been elected Chief of Charman Island expired on the 10th of June. And in consequence of this there began a series of conferences and consultations, that much agitated this little world. Gordon, as we have said, was quite indifferent to what was going on; and Briant, being of French descent, considered that his own chance was hopeless in a colony where English were in a majority. But Donagan was very anxious about the election, and with his more than ordinary cleverness, and his courage that nobody doubted, he would have had an excellent chance of election had he not been so haughty, domineering and envious. He had made up his mind to be Gordon's successor, although his vanity prevented him from canvassing for votes, and he pretended to be quite unconcerned in the matter. But what he did not do openly, his friends did for him in secret, and Wilcox, Webb, and Cross were untiring in their efforts at persuading the little ones. The 10th of June arrived.
In the afternoon the election took place. Each boy had to write on a slip of paper the name of the candidate for whom he intended to vote. The majority of votes would decide the election. As the colony had only fourteen members—for Moko as a negro did not vote—eight votes would carry the election.
At two o'clock Gordon opened the poll, and the voting was conducted with great gravity as beseemed such a serious ceremony. When the votes were counted, the following was the result:—
Briant ... 8
Donagan ... 3
Gordon ... 1
Neither Gordon nor Donagan had voted, and Briant had voted for Gordon.
When the poll was declared, Donagan could not restrain his deep irritation and disgust.
Briant was surprised at receiving the majority of votes, and was on the point of declining to serve, but his eyes happened to rest on Jack, and an idea occurred to him, so that he said--
" I thank you, my friends, and I accept the position you have offered me."
And at sunset Briant began his year of office as Chief of Charman Island.
CHAPTER XII.
The Separation
It was the 10th of October. The influence of the warm season was making itself felt. Beneath the trees, clothed in their fresh verdure, the ground had resumed the garb of spring. A pleasant breeze rippled the surface of the water, now lighted by the last rays of the sun which lingered on the vast plain of South Moors. A narrow beach of sand formed the border of the moor. Flocks of birds with much noise flew overhead on their way to rest for the night in the shadow of the woods or the crevices of the cliff. A few groups of evergreen trees, pines, green oaks, and a few acres of firs alone broke the monotonous barrenness of this part of Charman Island.
A fire was burning at the foot of a pine-tree, and its fragrant smoke was drifting over the marsh. A couple of ducks were cooking over the fire. Supper over, the four boys had nothing to do but to wrap themselves up in their rugs, and, while one watched, three of them could sleep.
They were Donagan, Cross, Webb, and Wilcox. And the circumstances under which they had separated from their companions were these.
During the later months of the second winter, the relations between Donagan and Briant had become more strained than ever. It will not have been forgotten with