Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 6.djvu/138

 judged it best to have his legs tied until they were more sure of his submission.

Then, before retiring to rest, Harding and his companions, seated round their table, discussed those plans, the execution of which was most pressing. The most important and most urgent was the establishment of a bridge over the Mercy, so as to form a communication with the southern part of the island and Granite House. Then came the making of an enclosure for the musmons or other woolly animals which they wished to capture.

These two projects would help to solve the difficulty as to their clothing, which was now serious. The bridge would render easy the transport of the balloon to furnish them with linen, and the inhabitants of the enclosure would yield wool to supply them with winter clothes.

As to the enclosure, it was Cyrus Harding's intention to establish it at the sources of Red Creek, where the ruminants would find fresh and abundant pasture. The road between Prospect Heights and the stream was already partly beaten, and with a better cart than the first, the material could be easily conveyed to the spot, especially if they could manage to capture some animals to draw it.

But though there might be no inconvenience in the enclosure being so far from Granite House, this could not be said of the poultry-yard, to which Neb called the attention of the colonists. The birds must be close within reach of the cook, and no place appeared more favorable for the establishment of the said poultry-yard than that portion of the banks of the lake which was close to the old opening. Water-birds would prosper there as well as others, and the couple of tinamous taken in their last excursion would be the first to be domesticated.

The next day, the 3rd of November, work was begun on the bridge, and all hands were required for this important task. Saws, hatchets, and hammers were shouldered by the settlers, who, now transformed into carpenters, descended to the shore.

There Pencroft observed, "Suppose, during our absence Master Jup takes it into his head to draw up the ladder which he so politely returned to us yesterday?"

"Let us tie its lower end down firmly," replied Cyrus Harding.