<h4>CHAPTER VIII.</h4>
<h4>BACK CUP.</h4>
<p>In my opinion the <i>Ebba</i> could have struck no other group of islands but
the Bermudas in this part of the Atlantic. This is clear from the distance
covered from the American coast and the direction sailed in since we issued from
Pamlico Sound. This direction has constantly been south-southeast, and the
distance, judging from the <i>Ebba’s</i> rate of speed, which has scarcely
varied, is approximately seven hundred and fifty miles.</p>
<p>Still, the schooner does not slacken speed. The Count d’Artigas and Engineer
Serko remain aft, by the man at the wheel. Captain Spade has gone forward.</p>
<p>Are we not going to leave this island, which appears to be isolated, to the
west?</p>
<p>It does not seem likely, since it is still broad daylight, and the hour at
which the <i>Ebba</i> was timed to arrive.</p>
<p>All the sailors are drawn up on deck, awaiting orders, and Boatswain
Effrondat is making preparations to anchor.</p>
<p>Ere a couple of hours have passed I shall know all about it. It will be the
first answer to one of the many questions that have perplexed me since the
schooner put to sea.</p>
<p>And yet it is most unlikely that the port to which the <i>Ebba</i> belongs is
situated on one of the Bermuda islands, in the middle of an English
archipelago—unless the Count d’Artigas has kidnapped Thomas Roch for the British
government, which I cannot believe.</p>
<p>I become aware that this extraordinary man is gazing at me with singular
persistence. Although he can have no suspicion that I am Simon Hart, the
engineer, he must be asking himself what I think of this adventure. If Warder
Gaydon is but a poor devil, this poor devil will manifest as much unconcern as
to what is in store for him as any gentleman could—even though he were the
proprietor of this queer pleasure yacht. Still I am a little uneasy under his
gaze.</p>
<p>I dare say that if the Count d’Artigas could guess how certain things have
suddenly become clear to me, he would not hesitate to have me thrown
overboard.</p>
<p>Prudence therefore commands me to be more circumspect than ever.</p>
<p>Without giving rise to any suspicion—even in the mind of Engineer Serko—I
have succeeded in raising a corner of the mysterious veil, and I begin to see
ahead a bit.</p>
<p>As the <i>Ebba</i> draws nearer, the island, or rather islet, towards which
she is speeding shows more sharply against the blue background of the sky. The
sun which has passed the zenith, shines full upon the western side. The islet is
isolated, or at any rate I cannot see any others of the group to which it
belongs, either to north or south.</p>
<p>This islet, of curious contexture, resembles as near as possible a cup turned
upside down, from which a fuliginous vapor arises. Its summit—the bottom of the
cup, if you like—is about three hundred feet above the level of the sea, and its
flanks, which are steep and regular, are as bare as the sea-washed rocks at its
base.</p>
<p>There is another peculiarity about it which must render the islet easily
recognizable by mariners approaching it from the west, and this is a rock which
forms a natural arch at the base of the mountain—the handle of the cup, so to
speak—and through which the waves wash as freely as the sunshine passes. Seen
this way the islet fully justifies the name of Back Cup given to it.</p>
<p>Well, I know and recognize this islet! It is situated at the extremity of the
archipelago of the Bermudas. It is the “reversed cup” that I had occasion to
visit a few years ago—No, I am not mistaken. I then climbed over the calcareous
and crooked rocks at its base on the east side. Yes, it is Back Cup, sure
enough!</p>
<p>Had I been less self-possessed I might have uttered an exclamation of
surprise—and satisfaction—which, with good reason, would have excited the
attention and suspicion of the Count d’Artigas.</p>
<p>These are the circumstances under which I came to explore Back Cup while on a
visit to Bermuda.</p>
<p>This archipelago, which is situated about seven hundred and fifty miles from
North Carolina is composed of several hundred islands or islets. Its centre is
crossed by the sixty-fourth meridian and the thirty-second parallel. Since the
Englishman Lomer was shipwrecked and cast up there in 1609, the Bermudas have
belonged to the United Kingdom, and in consequence the colonial population has
increased to ten thousand inhabitants. It was not for its productions of cotton,
coffee, indigo, and arrowroot that England annexed the group—seized it, one
might say; but because it formed a splendid maritime station in that part of the
Ocean, and in proximity to the United States of America. Possession was taken of
it without any protest on the part of other powers, and Bermuda is now
administered by a British governor with the addition of a council and a General
Assembly.</p>
<p>The principal islands of the archipelago are called St. David, Somerset,
Hamilton, and St. George. The latter has a free port, and the town of the same
name is also the capital of the group.</p>
<p>The largest of these isles is not more than seventeen miles long and five
wide. Leaving out the medium-sized ones, there remains but an agglomeration of
islets and reefs scattered over an area of twelve square leagues.</p>
<p>Although the climate of Bermuda is very healthy, very salubrious, the isles
are nevertheless frightfully beaten by the heavy winter tempests of the
Atlantic, and their approach by navigators presents certain difficulties.</p>
<p>What the archipelago especially lacks are rivers and rios. However, as
abundant rains fall frequently, this drawback is got over by the inhabitants,
who treasure up the heaven-sent water for household and agricultural purposes.
This has necessitated the construction of vast cisterns which the downfalls keep
filled. These works of engineering skill justly merit the admiration they
receive and do honor to the genius of man.</p>
<p>It was in connection with the setting up of these cisterns that I made the
trip, as well as out of curiosity to inspect the fine works.</p>
<p>I obtained from the company of which I was the engineer in New Jersey a
vacation of several weeks, and embarked at New York for the Bermudas.</p>
<p>While I was staying on Hamilton Island, in the vast port of Southampton, an
event occurred of great interest to geologists.</p>
<p>One day a whole flotilla of fishers, men, women and children, entered
Southampton Harbor. For fifty years these families had lived on the east coast
of Back Cup, where they had erected log-cabins and houses of stone. Their
position for carrying on their industry was an exceptionally favorable one, for
the waters teem with fish all the year round, and in March and April whales
abound.</p>
<p>Nothing had hitherto occurred to disturb their tranquil existence. They were
quite contented with their rough lot, which was rendered less onerous by the
facility of communication with Hamilton and St. George. Their solid barks took
cargoes of fish there, which they exchanged for the necessities of life.</p>
<p>Why had they thus abandoned the islet with the intention, as it pretty soon
appeared, of never returning to it? The reason turned out to be that they no
longer considered themselves in safety there.</p>
<p>A couple of months previously they had been at first surprised, then alarmed,
by several distinct detonations that appeared to have taken place in the
interior of the mountain. At the same time smoke and flames issued from the
summit—or the bottom of the reversed cup, if you like. Now no one had ever
suspected that the islet was of volcanic origin, or that there was a crater at
the top, no one having been able to climb its sides. Now, however, there could
be no possible doubt that the mountain was an ancient volcano that had suddenly
become active again and threatened the village with destruction.</p>
<p>During the ensuing two months internal rumblings and explosions continued to
be heard, which were accompanied by bursts of flame from the top—especially at
night. The island was shaken by the explosions—the shocks could be distinctly
felt. All these phenomena were indicative of an imminent eruption, and there was
no spot at the base of the mountain that could afford any protection from the
rivers of lava that would inevitably pour down its smooth, steep slopes and
overwhelm the village in their boiling flood. Besides, the very mountain might
be destroyed in the eruption.</p>
<p>There was nothing for the population exposed to such a dire catastrophe to do
but leave. This they did. Their humble Lares and Penates, in fact all their
belongings, were loaded into the fishing-smacks, and the entire colony sought
refuge in Southhampton Harbor.</p>
<p>The news that a volcano, that had presumably been smouldering for centuries
at the western extremity of the group, showed signs of breaking out again,
caused a sensation throughout the Bermudas. But while some were terrified, the
curiosity of others was aroused, mine included. The phenomenon was worth
investigation, even if the simple fisher-folk had exaggerated.</p>
<p>Back Cup, which, as already stated, lies at the western extremity of the
archipelago, is connected therewith by a chain of small islets and reefs, which
cannot be approached from the east. Being only three hundred feet in altitude,
it cannot be seen either from St. George or Hamilton. I joined a party of
explorers and we embarked in a cutter that landed us on the island, and made our
way to the abandoned village of the Bermudan fishers.</p>
<p>The internal crackings and detonations could be plainly heard, and a sheaf of
smoke was swayed by the wind at the summit.</p>
<p>Beyond a peradventure the ancient volcano had been started again by the
subterranean fire, and an eruption at any moment was to be apprehended.</p>
<p>In vain we attempted to climb to the mouth of the crater. The mountain
sheered down at an angle of from seventy-five to eighty degrees, and its smooth,
slippery sides afforded absolutely no foothold. Anything more barren than this
rocky freak of nature it would be difficult to conceive. Only a few tufts of
wild herbs were to be seen upon the whole island, and these seemed to have no
<i>raison d’être</i>.</p>
<p>Our explorations were therefore necessarily limited, and in view of the
active symptoms of danger that manifested themselves, we could but approve the
action of the villagers in abandoning the place; for we entertained no doubt
that its destruction was imminent.</p>
<p>These were the circumstances in which I was led to visit Back Cup, and no one
will consequently be surprised at the fact that I recognized it immediately we
hove in sight of the queer structure.</p>
<p>No, I repeat, the Count d’Artigas would probably not be overpleased if he
were aware that Warder Gaydon is perfectly acquainted with this islet, even if
the <i>Ebba</i> was to anchor there—which, as there is no port, is, to say the
least, extremely improbable.</p>
<p>As we draw nearer, I attentively examine Back Cup. Not one of its former
inhabitants has been induced to return, and, as it is absolutely deserted, I
cannot imagine why the schooner should visit the place.</p>
<p>Perhaps, however, the Count d’Artigas and his companions have no intention of
landing there. Even though the <i>Ebba</i> should find temporary shelter between
the rocky sides of a narrow creek there is nothing to give ground to the
supposition that a wealthy yachtsman would have the remotest idea of fixing upon
as his residence an arid cone exposed to all the terrible tempests of the
Western Atlantic. To live hero is all very well for rustic fishermen, but not
for the Count d’Artigas, Engineer Serko, Captain Spade and his crew.</p>
<p>Back Cup is now only half a mile off, and the seaweed thrown up on its rocky
base is plainly discernible. The only living things upon it are the sea-gulls
and other birds that circle in clouds around the smoking crater.</p>
<p>When she is only two cable’s lengths off, the schooner slackens speed, and
then stops at the entrance of a sort of natural canal formed by a couple of
reefs that barely rise above the water.</p>
<p>I wonder whether the <i>Ebba</i> will venture to try the dangerous feat of
passing through it. I do not think so. She will probably lay where she is—though
why she should do so I do not know—for a few hours, and then continue her voyage
towards the east.</p>
<p>However this may be I see no preparations in progress for dropping anchor.
The anchors are suspended in their usual places, the cables have not been
cleared, and no motion has been made to lower a single boat.</p>
<p>At this moment Count d’Artigas, Engineer Serko and Captain Spade go forward
and perform some manoeuvre that is inexplicable to me.</p>
<p>I walk along the port side of the deck until I am near the foremast, and then
I can see a small buoy that the sailors are hoisting in. Almost immediately the
water, at the same spot becomes dark and I observe a black mass rising to the
surface. Is it a big whale rising for air, and is the <i>Ebba</i> in danger of
being shattered by a blow from the monster’s tail?</p>
<p>Now I understand! At last the mystery is solved. I know what was the motor
that caused the schooner to go at such an extraordinary speed without sails and
without a screw. Her indefatigable motor is emerging from the sea, after having
towed her from the coast of America to the archipelago of the Bermudas. There it
is, floating alongside—a submersible boat, a submarine tug, worked by a screw
set in motion by the current from a battery of accumulators or powerful electric
piles.</p>
<p>On the upper part of the long cigar-shaped iron tug is a platform in the
middle of which is the “lid” by which an entrance is effected. In the fore part
of the platform projects a periscope, or lookout, formed by port-holes or lenses
through which an electric searchlight can throw its gleam for some distance
under water in front of and on each side of the tug. Now relieved of its ballast
of water the boat has risen to the surface. Its lid will open and fresh air will
penetrate it to every part. In all probability, if it remained submerged during
the day it rose at night and towed the <i>Ebba</i> on the surface.</p>
<p>But if the mechanical power of the tug is produced by electricity the latter
must be furnished by some manufactory where it is stored, and the means of
procuring the batteries is not to be found on Back Cup, I suppose.</p>
<p>And then, why does the <i>Ebba</i> have recourse to this submarine towing
system? Why is she not provided with her own means of propulsion, like other
pleasure-boats?</p>
<p>These are things, however, upon which I have at present no leisure to
ruminate.</p>
<p>The lid of the tug opens and several men issue on to the platform. They are
the crew of this submarine boat, and Captain Spade has been able to communicate
with them and transmit his orders as to the direction to be taken by means of
electric signals connected with the tug by a wire that passes along the stem of
the schooner.</p>
<p>Engineer Serko approaches me and says, pointing to the boat:</p>
<p>“Get in.”</p>
<p>“Get in!” I exclaim.</p>
<p>“Yes, in the tug, and look sharp about it.”</p>
<p>As usual there is nothing for it but to obey. I hasten to comply with the
order and clamber over the side.</p>
<p>At the same time Thomas Roch appears on deck accompanied by one of the crew.
He appears to be very calm, and very indifferent too, and makes no resistance
when he is lifted over and lowered into the tug. When he has been taken in,
Count d’Artigas and Engineer Serko follow.</p>
<p>Captain Spade and the crew of the <i>Ebba</i> remain behind, with the
exception of four men who man the dinghy, which has been lowered. They have hold
of a long hawser, with which the schooner is probably to be towed through the
reef. Is there then a creek in the middle of the rocks where the vessel is
secure from the breakers? Is this the port to which she belongs?</p>
<p>They row off with the hawser and make the end fast to a ring in the reef.
Then the crew on board haul on it and in five minutes the schooner is so
completely lost to sight among the rocks that even the tip of her mast could not
be seen from the sea.</p>
<p>Who in Bermuda imagines that a vessel is accustomed to lay up in this secret
creek? Who in America would have any idea that the rich yachtsman so well known
in all the eastern ports abides in the solitude of Back Cup mountain?</p>
<p>Twenty minutes later the dinghy returns with the four men towards the tug
which was evidently waiting for them before proceeding—where?</p>
<p>They climb on board, the little boat is made fast astern, a movement is felt,
the screw revolves rapidly and the tug skims along the surface to Back Cup,
skirting the reefs to the south.</p>
<p>Three cable’s lengths further on, another tortuous canal is seen that leads
to the island. Into this the tug enters. When it gets close inshore, an order is
given to two men who jump out and haul the dinghy up on a narrow sandy beach out
of the reach of wave or weed, and where it will be easily get-at-able when
wanted.</p>
<p>This done the sailors return to the tug and Engineer Serko signs to me to go
below.</p>
<p>A short iron ladder leads into a central cabin where various bales and
packages are stored, and for which no doubt there was not room in the hold of
the schooner. I am pushed into a side cabin, the door is shut upon me, and here
I am once more a prisoner in profound darkness.</p>
<p>I recognize the cabin the moment I enter it. It is the place in which I spent
so many long hours after our abduction from Healthful House, and in which I was
confined until well out at sea off Pamlico Sound.</p>
<p>It is evident that Thomas Roch has been placed in a similar compartment.</p>
<p>A loud noise is heard, the banging of the lid as it closes, and the tug
begins to sink as the water is admitted to the tanks.</p>
<p>This movement is succeeded by another—a movement that impels the boat through
the water.</p>
<p>Three minutes later it stops, and I feel that we are rising to the surface
again.</p>
<p>Another noise made by the lid being raised.</p>
<p>The door of my cabin opens, and I rush out and clamber on to the
platform.</p>
<p>I look around and find that the tug has penetrated to the interior of Back
Cup mountain.</p>
<p>This is the mysterious retreat where Count d’Artigas lives with his
companions—out of the world, so to speak.</p>
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