第132章

These last words justified the colonists' presentiment.There had been some mournful past, perhaps expiated in the sight of men, but from which his conscience had not yet absolved him.At any rate the guilty man felt remorse, he repented, and his new friends would have cordially pressed the hand which they sought; but he did not feel himself worthy to extend it to honest men! However, alter the scene with the jaguar, he did not return to the forest, and from that day did not go beyond the enclosure of Granite House.

What was the mystery of his life? Would the stranger one day speak of it?

Time alone could show.At any rate, it was agreed that his secret should never be asked from him, and that they would live with him as if they suspected nothing.

For some days their life continued as before.Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett worked together, sometimes chemists, sometimes experimentalists.The reporter never left the engineer except to hunt with Herbert, for it would not have been prudent to allow the lad to ramble alone in the forest; and it was very necessary to be on their guard.As to Neb and Pencroft, one day at the stables and poultry-yard, another at the corral, without reckoning work in Granite House, they were never in want of employment.

The stranger worked alone, and he had resumed his usual life, never appearing at meals, sleeping under the trees in the plateau, never mingling with his companions.It really seemed as if the society of those who had saved him was insupportable to him!

"But then," observed Pencroft, "why did he entreat the help of his fellow-creatures? Why did he throw that paper into the sea?""He will tell us why," invariably replied Cyrus Harding.

"When?"

"Perhaps sooner than you think, Pencroft."And, indeed, the day of confession was near.

On the 10th of December, a week after his return to Granite House, Harding saw the stranger approaching, who, in a calm voice and humble tone, said to him: "Sir, I have a request to make of you.""Speak," answered the engineer, "but first let me ask you a question."At these words the stranger reddened, and was on the point of withdrawing.Cyrus Harding understood what was passing in the mind of the guilty man, who doubtless feared that the engineer would interrogate him on his past life.

Harding held him back.

"Comrade," said he, "we are not only your companions but your friends.Iwish you to believe that, and now I will listen to you."The stranger pressed his hand over his eyes.He was seized with a sort of trembling, and remained a few moments without being able to articulate a word.

"Sir," said he at last, "I have come to beg you to grant me a favor.""What is it?"

"You have, four or five miles from here, a corral for your domesticated animals.These animals need to be taken care of.Will you allow me to live there with them?"Cyrus Harding gazed at the unfortunate man for a few moments with a feeling of deep commiseration; then,--"My friend," said he, "the corral has only stables hardly fit for animals.""It will be good enough for me, sir."

"My friend," answered Harding, "we will not constrain you in anything.

You wish to live at the corral, so be it.You will, however, be always welcome at Granite House.But since you wish to live at the corral we will make the necessary arrangements for your being comfortably established there.""Never mind that, I shall do very well."

"My friend," answered Harding, who always intentionally made use of this cordial appellation, "you must let us judge what it will be best to do in this respect.""Thank you, sir," replied the stranger as he withdrew.

The engineer then made known to his companions the proposal which had been made to him, and it was agreed that they should build a wooden house at the corral, which they would make as comfortable as possible.

That very day the colonists repaired to the corral with the necessary tools, and a week had not passed before the house was ready to receive its tenant.It was built about twenty feet from the sheds, and from there it was easy to overlook the flock of sheep, which then numbered more than eighty.Some furniture, a bed, table, bench, cupboard, and chest were manufactured, and a gun, ammunition, and tools were carried to the corral.

The stranger, however, had seen nothing of his new dwelling, and he had allowed the settlers to work there without him, while he occupied himself on the plateau, wishing, doubtless, to put the finishing stroke to his work.Indeed, thanks to him, all the ground was dug up and ready to he sowed when the time came.

It was on the 20th of December that all the arrangements at the corral were completed.The engineer announced to the stranger that his dwelling was ready to receive him, and the latter replied that he would go and sleep there that very evening.

On this evening the colonists were gathered in the diningroom of Granite House.It was then eight o'clock, the hour at which their companion was to leave them.Not wishing to trouble him by their presence, and thus imposing on him the necessity of saying farewells which might perhaps be painful to him, they had left him alone and ascended to Granite House.

Now, they had been talking in the room for a few minutes, when a light knock was heard at the door.Almost immediately the stranger entered, and without any preamble,--"Gentlemen," said he, "before I leave you, it is right that you should know my history.I will tell it you."These simple words profoundly impressed Cyrus Harding and his companions.

The engineer rose.

"We ask you nothing, my friend," said he; "it is your right to be silent.""It is my duty to speak."

"Sit down, then."

"No, I will stand."

"We are ready to hear you," replied Harding.