[An Antarctic Mystery by Jules Verne]@TWC D-Link bookAn Antarctic Mystery CHAPTER XVII 21/22
The half-breed's lynx eyes will see what we can't." Peters had indeed scaled the eminence in a moment, and we presently joined him on the top. The islet was strewn with remains (probably of those domestic animals mentioned in Arthur Pym's journal), but these bones differed from the bones on Tsalal Island by the fact that the heaps dated from a few months only.
This then agreed with the recent period at which we placed the earthquake.
Besides, plants and tufts of flowers were growing here and there. "And these are this year's," I cried, "no southern winter has passed over them." These facts having been ascertained, no doubt could remain respecting the date of the cataclysm after the departure of Patterson.
The destruction of the population of Tsalal whose bones lay about the village was not attributable to that catastrophe. William Guy and the five sailors of the _Jane_ had been able to fly in time, since no bones that could be theirs had been found on the island. Where had they taken refuge? This was the everpressing question. What answer were we to obtain? Must we conclude that having reached one of these islets they had perished in the swallowing-up of the archipelago? We debated this point, as may be supposed, at a length and with detail which I can only indicate here.
Suffice it to say that a decision was arrived at to the following effect.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|