in search of the castaways-第113章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　been　traversed　without　accident；　though　not　without　fatigue。　Then　the　scene　changed　to　immense　and　interminable　forests；　which　reminded　them　of　Australia；　but　here　the　kauri　took　the　place　of　the　eucalyptus。　Although　their　enthusiasm　had　been　incessantly　called　forth　during　their　four　months'　journey；　Glenarvan　and　his　companions　were　compelled　to　admire　and　wonder　at　those　gigantic　pines；　worthy　rivals　of　the　Cedars　of　Lebanon；　and　the　〃Mammoth　trees〃　of　California。　　The　kauris　measured　a　hundred　feet　high；　before　the　ramification　of　the　branches。　They　grew　in　isolated　clumps；　and　the　forest　was　not　composed　of　trees；　but　of　innumerable　groups　of　trees；　which　spread　their　green　canopies　in　the　air　two　hundred　feet　from　the　ground。　Some　of　these　pines；　still　young；　about　a　hundred　years　old；　resembled　the　red　pine　of　Europe。　　They　had　a　dark　crown　surmounted　by　a　dark　conical　shoot。　　Their　older　brethren；　five　or　six　hundred　years　of　age；　formed　great　green　pavilions　supported　on　the　inextricable　network　of　their　branches。　These　patriarchs　of　the　New　Zealand　forest　measured　fifty　yards　in　circumference；　and　the　united　arms　of　all　the　travelers　could　not　embrace　the　giant　trunk。　For　three　days　the　little　party　made　their　way　under　these　vast　arches；　over　a　clayey　soil　which　the　foot　of　man　had　never　trod。　They　knew　this　by　the　quantity　of　resinous　gum　that　lay　in　heaps　at　the　foot　of　the　trees；　and　which　would　have　lasted　for　native　exportation　many　years。　The　sportsmen　found　whole　coveys　of　the　kiwi；　which　are　scarce　in　districts　frequented　by　the　Maories；　the　native　dogs　drive　them　away　to　the　shelter　of　these　inaccessible　forests。　They　were　an　abundant　source　of　nourishing　food　to　our　travelers。　Paganel　also　had　the　good　fortune　to　espy；　in　a　thicket；　a　pair　of　gigantic　birds；　his　instinct　as　a　naturalist　was　awakened。　He　called　his　companions；　and　in　spite　of　their　fatigue；　the　Major；　Robert；　and　he　set　off　on　the　track　of　these　animals。　His　curiosity　was　excusable；　for　he　had　recognized；　or　thought　he　had　recognized；　these　birds　as　〃moas〃　belonging　to　the　species　of　〃dinornis；〃　which　many　naturalists　class　with　the　extinct　birds。　This；　if　Paganel　was　right；　would　confirm　the　opinion　of　Dr。　Hochstetter　and　other　travelers　on　the　present　existence　of　the　wingless　giants　of　New　Zealand。　These　moas　which　Paganel　was　chasing；　the　contemporaries　of　the　Megatherium　and　the　Pterodactyles；　must　have　been　eighteen　feet　high。　They　were　huge　ostriches；　timid　too；　for　they　fled　with　extreme　rapidity。　But　no　shot　could　stay　their　course。　　After　a　few　minutes　of　chase；　these　fleet…footed　moas　disappeared　among　the　tall　trees；　and　the　sportsmen　lost　their　powder　and　their　pains。　That　evening；　March　1；　Glenarvan　and　his　companions；　emerging　at　last　from　the　immense　kauri…forest；　camped　at　the　foot　of　Mount　Ikirangi；　whose　summit　rose　five　thousand　five　hundred　feet　into　the　air。　At　this　point　they　had　traveled　a　hundred　miles　from　Maunganamu；　and　the　shore　was　still　thirty　miles　away。　　John　Mangles　had　calculated　on　accomplishing　the　whole　journey　in　ten　days；　but　he　did　not　foresee　the　physical　difficulties　of　the　country。　On　the　whole；　owing　to　the　circuits；　the　obstacles；　and　the　imperfect　observations；　the　journey　had　been　extended　by　fully　one…fifth；　and　now　that　they　had　reached　Mount　Ikirangi；　they　were　quite　worn　out。　Two　long　days　of　walking　were　still　to　be　accomplished；　during　which　time　all　their　activity　and　vigilance　would　be　required；　for　their　way　was　through　a　district　often　frequented　by　the　natives。　The　little　party　conquered　their　weariness；　and　set　out　next　morning　at　daybreak。　Between　Mount　Ikirangi　which　was　left　to　the　right；　and　Mount　Hardy　whose　summit　rose　on　the　left　to　a　height　of　3；700　feet；　the　journey　was　very　trying；　for　about　ten　miles　the　bush　was　a　tangle　of　〃supple…jack；〃　a　kind　of　flexible　rope；　appropriately　called　〃stifling…creeper；〃　that　caught　the　feet　at　every　step。　For　two　days；　they　had　to　cut　their　way　with　an　ax　through　this　thousand…headed　hydra。　　Hunting　became　impossible；　and　the　sportsmen　failed　in　their　accustomed　tribute。　The　provisions　were　almost　exhausted；　and　there　was　no　means　of　renewing　them；　their　thirst　was　increasing　by　fatigue；　and　there　was　no　water　wherewith　to　quench　it。　The　sufferings　of　Glenarvan　and　his　party　became　terrible；　and　for　the　first　time　their　moral　energy　threatened　to　give　way。　They　no　longer　walked；　they　dragged　themselves　along；　soulless　bodies；　animated　only　by　the　instinct　of　self…preservation　which　survives　every　other　feeling；　and　in　this　melancholy　plight　they　reached　Point　Lottin　on　the　shores　of　the　Pacific。　Here　they　saw　several　deserted　huts；　the　ruins　of　a　village　lately　destroyed　by　the　war；　abandoned　fields；　and　everywhere　signs　of　pillage　and　incendiary　fires。　They　were　toiling　painfully　along　the　shore；　when　they　saw；　at　a　distance　of　about　a　mile；　a　band　of　natives；　who　rushed　toward　them　brandishing　their　weapons。　　Glenarvan；　hemmed　in　by　the　sea；　could　not　fly；　and　summoning　all　his　remaining　strength　he　was　about　to　meet　the　attack；　when　John　Mangles　cried：　〃A　boat！　a　boat！〃　And　there；　twenty　paces　off；　a　canoe　with　six　oars　lay　on　the　beach。　To　launch　it；　jump　in　and　fly　from　the　dangerous　shore；　was　only　a　minute's　work。　　John　Mangles；　McNabbs；　Wilson　and　Mulrady　took　the　oars；　Glenarvan　the　helm；　the　two　women；　Robert　and　Olbinett　stretched　themselves　beside　him。　In　ten　minutes　the　canoe　was　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　shore。　The　sea　was　calm。　　The　fugitives　were　silent。　　But　John；　who　did　not　want　to　get　too　far　from　land；　was　about　to　give　the　order　to　go　up　the　coast；　when　he　suddenly　stopped　rowing。　He　saw　three　canoes　coming　out　from　behind　Point　Lottin　and　evidently　about　to　give　chase。　〃Out　to　sea！　　Out　to　sea！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Better　to　drown　if　we　must！〃　The　canoe　went　fast　under　her　four　rowers。　　For　half　an　hour　she　kept　her　distance；　but　the　poor　exhausted　fellows　grew　weaker；　and　the　three　pursuing　boats　began　to　gain　sensibly　on　them。　At　this　moment；　scarcely　two　miles　lay　between　them。　It　was　impossible　to　avoid　the　attack　of　the　natives；　who　were　already　preparing　to　fire　their　long　guns。　What　was　Glenarvan　about？standing　up　in　the　stern　he　was　looking　toward　the　horizon　for　some　chimerical　help。　　What　did　he　hope　for？　What　did　he　wish？　　Had　he　a　presentiment？　In　a　moment　his　eyes　gleamed；　his　hand　pointed　out　into　the　distance。　〃A　ship！　a　ship！〃　he　cried。　　〃My　friends；　row！　row　hard！〃　Not　one　of　the　rowers　turned　his　headnot　an　oar…stroke　must　be　lost。　Paganel　alone　rose；　and　turned　his　telescope　to　the　point　indicated。　〃Yes；〃　said　he；　〃a　ship！　a　steamer！　they　are　under　full　steam！　they　are　coming　to　us！　　Found　now；　brave　comrades！〃　The　fugitives　summoned　new　energy；　and　for　another　half　hour；　keeping　their　distance；　they　rowed　with　hasty　strokes。　The　steamer　came　nearer　and　nearer。　　They　made　out　her　two　masts；　bare　of　sails；　and　the　great　volumes　of　black　smoke。　Glenarvan；　handing　the　tiller　to　Robert；　seized　Paganel's　glass；　and　watched　the　movements　of　the　steamer。　John　Mangles　and　his　companions　were　lost　in　wonder　when　they　saw　Glenarvan's　features　contract　and　grow　pale；　and　the　glass　drop　from　his　hands。　　One　wo