Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 6.djvu/333

 on the other side of the river, in the depths of the wood, could they perceive any suspicious indications.

Either the convicts knew of the return of the settlers to Granite House, by having seen them pass on the road from the corral, or, after the devastation of the plateau, they had pentratedpenetrated [sic] into Jacamar Wood, following the course of the Mercy, and were thus ignorant of the return. In the former case, they must have returned towards the corral, now without defenders, and containing valuable stores. In the latter, they must have regained their encampment, to await another opportunity of attack.

The engineer and Neb arrived on the plateau. Desolation reigned everywhere. The fields had been trampled; the ears of wheat, which were nearly full grown, lay on the ground. The kitchen-garden was destroyed. Happily, Granite House possessed a store of seed to repair these misfortunes. As to the wall and buildings of the poultry-yard and the onagers' stable, the fire had destroyed all. A few terrified creatures roamed over the plateau. The birds, which during the fire had taken refuge on the waters of the lake, had already returned to their accustomed spot, and were dabbling on the banks. Everything would have to be reconstructed.

Cyrus Harding's face, which was paler than usual, expressed an internal anger which he commanded with difficulty, but he did not utter a word. Once more he looked at his devastated fields, and at the smoke which still rose from the ruins, then he returned to Granite House.

The following days were the saddest of any that the colonists had passed on the island! Herbert's weakness visibly increased. It appeared that a more serious malady, the consequence of the profound physiological disturbance he had gone through, threatened to declare itself, and Gideon Spilett feared a fatal aggravation of his condition. In fact, Herbert remained in an almost continuous state of drowsiness, and symptoms of delirium began. Refreshing drinks were the only remedies at the colonists' disposal. The fever was not as yet very high, but it soon appeared that it would probably recur at regular intervals. Gideon Spilett first recognized this on the 5th of December.

The poor boy, whose fingers, nose, and ears had become extremely pale, was at first seized with slight shiverings,