The Secret of the Island

Jules Verne

• Publisher: Mint Editions
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781513271286
• eBook ISBN: 9781513276281
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literature General
• Index: Literature

After escaping from their captors in a giant air balloon, five prisoners of the Civil War find themselves stranded on a deserted island. Despite their different backgrounds, they decide to band together and combine their talents to live on the island, which they named Lincoln Island. Cyrus is a railroad engineer, Gideon is a journalist, Neb is a man who escaped slavery, Pencroff is a sailor, and Harbert is Pencroff's protégé and son. Each man uses their skills in a different way, building houses, making inventions, and finding creative ways to live off of the island. One day, Gideon, the reporter desperate for human contact, decided to send a message via a bird. After a long period of isolation with no contact from the outside world, the men accept that they will likely spend the rest of their life on the island. Now, two and a half years later, the group finally spot a ship sailing nearby—a fantasy sight. Hopeful that it is the way off their island, the group of survivors work to gain the attention of the ship, fighting off pirates and braving the rough environment to finally escape. However, as they fight to leave Lincoln Island, the survivors discover that it had been harboring a shocking secret all along.

The Secret of the Island is the third and final installation of Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island adventure series. Following The Mysterious Island and Abandoned, this exciting and mysterious adventure novel concludes the popular trilogy. The Secret of the Island is full of shocking twists and even features a surprise appearance of a popular character from another famous Verne novel. With detailed prose and memorable characters, The Secret of the Island depicts the satisfying reveal of mysteries present throughout the trilogy.

This edition of The Secret of the Island by Jules Verne features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a modern, easy-to-read font, crafting an accessible and enjoyable experience for modern readers.

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• I. Lost or saved—Ayrton summoned—Important Discussion—It is not the Duncan—Suspicious Vessel—Precautions to be taken—The Ship approaches—A Cannon-Shot—The Brig anchors in Sight of the Island—Night comes on.
• II. Discussions—Presentiments—Ayrton’s Proposal—It is accepted—Ayrton and Pencroft on Grant Islet—Convicts from Norfolk Island—Ayrton’s heroic Attempt—His Return—Six against Fifty.
• III. The Mist rises—The Engineer’s Preparations—Three Posts—Ayrton and Pencroft—The first Boat—Two other Boats—On the Islet—Six Convicts land—The Brig weighs Anchor—The Speedy’s Guns—A desperate Situation—Unexpected Catastrophe.
• IV. The Colonists on the Beach—Ayrton and Pencroft work amid the Wreck—Conversation during Breakfast—Pencroft’s Arguments—Minute Examination of the Brig’s Hull—The Powder-Magazine untouched—New Riches—The Last of the Wreck—A broken Piece of Cylinder.
• V. The Engineer’s Declaration—Pencroft’s grand Hypothesis—An aerial Battery—The four Cannons—The surviving Convicts—Ayrton’s Hesitation—Cyrus Harding’s generous Sentiments—Pencroft’s Regret.
• VI. Expeditions planned—Ayrton at the Corral—Visit to Port Balloon—Pencroft’s Observations on Board the Bonadventure—Despatch sent to the Corral—No Reply from Ayrton—Departure the next Day—The Reason why the Wire did not work—A Report.
• VII. The Reporter and Pencroft in the Corral—Herbert’s Wound—The Sailor’s Despair—Consultation between the Reporter and the Engineer—Mode of Treatment—Hope not abandoned—How is Neb to be warned—A sure and faithful Messenger—Neb’s Reply.
• VIII. The Convicts in the Neighbourhood of the Corral—Provisional Establishment—Continuation of the Treatment of Herbert—Pencroft’s first Rejoicings—Conversation on past Events—What the Future has in Reserve—Cyrus Harding’s Ideas on this Subject.
• IX. No News of Neb—A Proposal from Pencroft and the Reporter, which is not accepted—Several Sorties by Gideon Spilett—A Rag of Cloth—A Message—Hasty Departure—Arrival on the Plateau of Prospect Heights.
• X. Herbert carried to Granite House—Neb relates all that has happened—Harding’s Visit to the Plateau—Ruin and Devastation—The Colonists baffled by Herbert’s Illness—Willow Bark—A Deadly Fever—Top barks again!
• XI. Inexplicable Mystery—Herbert’s Convalescence—The Parts of the Island to be explored—Preparations for Departure—First Day—Night—Second Day—Kauries—A Couple of Cassowaries—Footprints in the Forest—Arrival at Reptile Point.
• XII. Exploration of the Serpentine Peninsula—Encampment at the Mouth of Falls River—Gideon Spilett and Pencroft reconnoitre—Their Return—Forward, All!—An open Door—A lighted Window—By the Light of the Moon!
• XIII. Ayrton’s Story—Plans of his former Accomplices—Their Installation in the Corral—The avenging Justice of Lincoln Island—The Bonadventure—Researches around Mount Franklin—The Upper Valleys—A subterranean Volcano—Pencroft’s Opinion—At the Bottom of the Crater—Return.
• XIV. Three Years have passed—The new Vessel—What is agreed on—Prosperity of the Colony—The Dockyard—Cold of the Southern Hemisphere—Washing Linen—Mount Franklin.
• XV. The Awakening of the Volcano—The fine Season—Continuation of Work—The Evening of the 15th of October—A Telegram—A Question—An Answer—Departure for the Corral—The Notice—The additional Wire—The Basalt Coast—At High Tide—At Low Tide—The Cavern—A dazzling Light.
• XVI. Captain Nemo—His first Words—The History of the Recluse—His Adventures—His Sentiments—His Comrades—Submarine Life—Alone—The last Refuge of the Nautilus in Lincoln Island—The Mysterious Genius of the Island.
• XVII. Last Moments of Captain Nemo—Wishes of the dying Man—A Parting Gift to his Friends of a Day—Captain Nemo’s Coffin—Advice to the Colonists—The supreme Moment—At the Bottom of the Sea.
• XVIII. Reflections of the Colonists—Their Labours of Reconstruction resumed—The 1st of January 1869—A Cloud over the Summit of the Volcano—First Warnings of an Eruption—Ayrton and Cyrus Harding at the Corral—Exploration of the Dakkar Grotto—What Captain Nemo had confided to the Engineer.
• XIX. Cyrus Harding gives an Account of his Exploration—The Construction of the Ship pushed forward—A Last Visit to the Corral—The Battle between Fire and Water—All that remains of the Island—It is decided to Launch the Vessel—The Night of the 8th of March.
• XX. An Isolated Rock in the Pacific—The last Refuge of the Colonists of Lincoln Island—Death their only Prospect—Unexpected Succour—Why and how it Arrives—A Last Kindness—An Island on Terra Firma—The Tomb of Captain Prince Dakkar Nemo.
• A Note About the Author
• A Note from the Publisher