The Mysterious Island Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 12 Captain Grant's Children (12)
But those who listened felt that what he said was exaggerated and praised too much.But later he himself said that when he was traveling in this city, his heart belonging to the French nation kept beating violently.This made everyone feel incomprehensible and confused.The major then asked why his heart was beating so violently.Paganel said it was quite natural, since one of his fellow countrymen had been king of Arogania here a few years earlier.The major then asked the man's name, and Paganel said proudly that he was called Dorrance, and that he was a very good man, with a beard all over his face.He used to be in Bai Lige, France. Bai Lige, the name of a city in France.After working as a lawyer, he came here and became the king of Arogania.But later he was kicked out of the throne on charges of "ungrateful".Hearing this, the major couldn't help but smile slightly.Paganel went on to say solemnly that from his friend's story, it can be concluded that it is much easier for a lawyer to be a king than a king to be a lawyer.This remark made everyone laugh, and they all raised their glasses of corn wine to congratulate the abandoned throne of Arogania, O'Reilly Antony I, on eternal happiness and safety.Before long, everyone put on the canopy, rested and fell asleep.

At eight o'clock in the morning of the second day, "Madelene" was the head, and "Peon" followed closely behind. The team of mules moved east along the direction of the 37° parallel.In the daytime they passed through the fields of the vines of Arogania, and the fertile lands of herds of fat sheep.Walking through this section of the road, the population gradually became scarce.After walking a mile, I didn't see the thatched hut of "Rastelle Addo", the famous place for Indians in America to train horses.Sometimes, they'll come across an abandoned coaching station.It was specially built by people on the plain to shelter from wind and rain.On this day, the mule team encountered two rivers, one was the Dukla River and the other was the Baer River, which lay in front of them and blocked their way. "Kataba" led everyone across the river safely from another shoal.Looking at the distant sky, you can vaguely see the Andes Mountains.The spiky peaks of the mountains, as well as the round mountains, are faintly flashing on the edge of the sky.The Andes Mountains are the new spine of the entire American continent, and now the Jazz and his party are seeing the lowest part of this huge spine.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the team of mules had traveled thirty-five miles at a stretch, and then stopped to rest under a huge wild pomegranate tree in the field.When people take off the saddle and bridle of the mules and loosen the reins, the mules immediately run to the grass and eat grass freely.Everyone also untied the satchels they carried with them, took out the jerky and chili rice and ate them.After that, I spread the mattress inside on the ground and fell asleep comfortably.Peon and Cataba of the mule team took turns as watchmen.

The weather is so good, Jazz and his party traveled very smoothly.The members of the caravan, including the youngest Robert Jr., are all in good health.Everyone also suggested to hurry up and move on.So, on the third day, the mule train moved even faster.After crossing Burr Rapids, Sir Glenarvan's team camped for the night on the banks of the Boubiao River within the range of Spanish-owned Chile and independent Chile.On this day, the mule team traveled another 35 miles.The landform here is still the same as yesterday. On this piece of fertile land, datura flowers, golden flower cactus, woody violets, and palace grass grow all over the place.Herons, owls, and some yellow sparrows in order to avoid the hawks all inhabit here.It is said that in the vast jungle, there is also the black-spotted tiger. The black-spotted tiger, a unique tiger in South America, has black spots on its body like a leopard.It is very good at climbing trees, and people call it the South Jaguar or the American Tiger.However, looking around, I didn't see the local aborigines. I happened to meet a few local people called "Guasso", who were a mixed race of Indians and Spaniards.These locals rode on horses with bare feet and big spurs tied around their ankles. The horses were bloodied from the stabs, but they just galloped past.During the journey, Sir Glenarvan and his party did not find anyone to inquire about, so they could not obtain any clues.Sir Glenarvan did not want to waste time on useless searches.He speculated that if Captain Grant really became a captive of the Indians, he would have been robbed on the other side of the Andes long ago.Therefore, all we have to do now is to climb over this mountain, and then go to the grassland on the other side of the mountain to search for it, and then we will get something.Therefore, the work that needs to be done now is to move forward rapidly and move forward persistently.

On the 17th, the mule team still set off on the road according to the habits and time of the previous few days.But the naughty little Robert wanted to be unique, so he sat on the mule dishonestly, and excitedly pulled the mount and rushed to the front of "Madeleina".It also made the mule he was sitting on suffer.It was not until Sir Glenarvan told him to be honest that he returned to his order.

The road ahead became twists and turns, and the ground became undulating, which meant that it was a mountain road at first.But there are many streams that follow, gurgling and flowing with the uneven terrain.Paganel turned over the map he was carrying from time to time, and once he found that some streams were not marked on the map, he was very angry and very angry.This makes everyone feel cute and ridiculous.

"There are no stream names on the map. Doesn't that prove that they don't have ID cards?" The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became. "Without a name, it's the same as that they don't exist in geography."

After thinking about it, he named these streams without humility and marked them on the map.And he marked it all in Spanish, which makes the name of the stream sound nice and loud.

"Actually, Spanish is wonderful!" Mr. Paganel said to himself, "how beautiful it sounds! It seems to be made of metal, with at least 70.00% copper in it and 20.00% copper in it. tin, like bronze!"

"Sir, you have made some progress in learning such a beautiful language!" said Sir Glenarvan.

"Ah, of course I have made great progress! My dear sir. In fact, if it is not for the problem of pronunciation and intonation, I believe others will be able to understand me!"

This Mr. Paganel, in order to get the intonation of the Spanish he learned correctly, practiced loudly all the way, and his voice was hoarse.But in the process, he did not forget to put forward his own views on geography.He is very familiar with geographical knowledge, and in terms of familiarity with place names, he is a genius that no one in the world can surpass.When Sir Glenarvan wanted to know the characteristics of some places, he asked the "Cataba" of the mule team. At this time, the learned Mr. Paganel was the first to answer, and he said clearly, Organized.This also stunned the local "Kataba", and admired him sincerely.

On this day, at about ten o'clock, Jazz and his party encountered another road, which cut across and blocked their straight-line walking direction.Sir Glenarvan then asked the direction of the road in front of him, and the learned Paganel replied spontaneously:

"This road should start from Rombur and go straight to Los Angeles."

Sir Glenarvan looked again at the "Cataba" in front of him.

"Yes, Paganel is quite right!" replied the "Cataba".

Next Sir Glenarvan asked Paganel:

"Have you been here before?"

"Of course I have been," said Paganel solemnly.

"Did that come on a mule, too?"

"Of course not. He came in an easy chair."

"Kataba" still couldn't understand what this meant, so he shrugged his shoulders, walked in front of the team again, and continued on.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, the Jazz-based mule team rested in a not too deep mountain depression.This col is located a few miles north of Little Roja.This is already the lowest step in the Andes.

At a mountain twelve thousand feet above sea level
So far, Sir Glenarvan and his party have encountered no difficulties in their journey through Chile.But now, a high mountain is suddenly uprooted and lies in front of the traveler. It seems that the time to challenge nature has come.

The question that travelers now face is, which way should they choose to cross the Andes without deviating from the original straight line?Everyone is waiting for "Kataba" to answer.

"In this mountain range, I only know two ways to go." "Kataba" said.

"These two roads are the routes discovered by Mandoza before!" Paganel asked.

"Yes, that's right!"

"The place south of Vera Lika Ridge is called Vipcari Road!"

"Yes, exactly!"

"But, my friends, these two roads, one is northerly and the other is southerly, they are not located on the 37° parallel!"

"Then is there a third way to go?" asked the major.

"Well, there is!" Paganel said, "on the slope of the volcano, there is also a road called the Andu Valley Trail, which is located at 37°30' south latitude. °, the difference is only half a latitude. As far as I know, this path was explored by Charmidio de Cruz in the past, and the altitude is only one thousand tovas. Torvalds is equivalent to 37 meters."

"Very well," replied Sir Glenarvan, "Kataba, are you familiar with this path?"

"I know this road, sir, and I have walked it. But I haven't mentioned it to you because the road is too narrow and only used by sheep. People who often walk this road are Indians on this mountain side."

"Well, my friends," said Sir Glenarvan, "since we can pass where sheep can pass. And if it is in a straight line, let us take this path!"

The plan of action was thus decided, and the small party set out at once, and penetrated first into the valley of Las Lejas, lined on either side of the valley by great clumps of crystalline limestone.The path was gradually elevated by an imperceptible slope, and at about eleven o'clock the train of mules came to the side of a small lake.The scenery of this small lake is pleasant. It is a naturally formed reservoir, which is collected by nearby mountain springs and streams.The mule team had to go around this small lake to move forward.When passing by, people can see that the lake is flowing quietly, and then disappears in the quiet place of the mountain.On the top of the lake, there are layers of tall rocks, and the rocks are covered with green grass.This is where the Indians graze.After bypassing the small lake, what appeared in front of the team was a swamp stretching from south to north.These mules, who are good at crossing swamps, allow this team to move on unharmed.At about one o'clock in the afternoon, they all saw the fort of Parana on a hill ahead.The incomplete barrier next to it is like a crown set on the rock.The train of horses continued round the vicinity of the fort.The mountains along the way gradually became steeper, and there was a mess of rocks.The stones on the ground that the mules stepped on were constantly rolling, flowing like a gravel waterfall on the ground.At about three o'clock in the afternoon, the travelers saw many ruins and ruins, which were destroyed by the local aboriginal uprising in the middle of 1770.Among these dilapidated ruins, there is also a soul-stirring poetic and picturesque flavor.

"My God!" Paganel sighed, "The mountains have cut off communication between people, why do these bunkers still exist?"

From here, the road becomes difficult and dangerous.The slope of the road became larger, the road became narrower and narrower, and the abyss next to it was unfathomable.The mule pressed its nose tightly to the ground, sniffing the mountain road, and walked forward cautiously step by step. People got off the mule's back and walked close to the mule.Sometimes, at a corner, people can't see "Madelina", they can only listen to the bell on its neck and distinguish the sound.Sometimes, the mountain road turned a big bend and turned into two parallel mountain roads.There is a crack between the parallel roads, not as wide as two Torvalds, but the depth is more than two hundred Torvalds, so this crack is an insurmountable gap.The leading "Kataba" can communicate with the "Peon" who is behind the team, and can see the ruggedness of the road.

Travelers saw some herbaceous plants growing tenaciously between the rock crevices, but it gave the impression that the plant kingdom was invaded by the mineral kingdom.There are a few strands of lava that seem to have been solidified, showing an iron blue color.Distributed on it are erect, needle-shaped yellow crystals.Everyone knows that Andu Valley Volcano is not far from here.The rocks beside the road stand up one after another, giving people the feeling of being rickety, as if they were not formed according to the law of balance, and only the ingenious support can be maintained.These rocks give the impression that, with a little force, they will collapse from their heights.

The massive ledges of the Andes seem to be wobbling all the time, so the route of this road changes frequently.The route recorded yesterday may have moved today, making it difficult to identify the direction of the road.The guide "Cataba" who led the team was also often confused about the way. He often stopped and looked around, looking for the traces left by the Indians on these fragile stones from the identification of the shape of the rock shell.

Sir Glenarvan, who was following "Cataba", deeply felt the annoyance of the guide because of the difficulty in finding the way, and felt that the annoyance was getting worse.Sir didn't dare to ask the guide, because he felt that as a mule driver, he should know the way like a mule, so it's better not to ask, and trust the mule driver's judgment.This idea is very reasonable.

"Kataba" is like this, stop and go, stop and go, looking around, for a full hour.Although the road extends upwards, I still haven't found the exact direction.Finally, in a valley that was not too wide, "Kataba" simply stopped to rest.This valley is very narrow, and the local Indians call it "Gebrada".In front of the valley, there is a cloud porphyry-like cliff, sharp and steep.In front of this cliff, "Kataba" could no longer find a way forward, and could only get off the mule's back, and stood alone with his arms folded, without saying a word.Sir Glenarvan stepped forward and asked:
"Sir, are we lost?"

"No, my dear sir!" replied "Kataba" the guide.

"You really can't find your way?"

"No, we should go in that direction."

"Your judgment is correct?"

"Absolutely, sir! Or look, here are the ashes left by the Indians from their fires, and the trails left by the herds."

"In this way, does it prove that someone has walked here?"

"Yes, but we can't get through. I think it's a recent earthquake that blocked the road!"

"The roads for mules are blocked, but not all roads for people are blocked!" said the major.

"Now it depends on everyone's next plan," "Kataba" said, "I am doing my best now. If you are willing to go back and find another path in this cliff, I and I The mules of yours can obey your orders."

"Thank you, we hope that there will be no delay in time."

"At least three days!"

After hearing what "Cataba" had said, Sir Glenarvan stood in silence, pondering the question.This "Kataba" does things according to the agreement in the contract, but the mule can't move on, this is an unchangeable fact.He did not agree with the suggestion of the "Kataba" guide to go back.So, Jazz turned to his companion and asked:

"Are you willing to risk yourself and move forward?"

"We are willing to follow you." Austin replied.

"We are very happy. But the problem that needs to be solved now is how to get over this mountain. As long as we can get over this mountain, there is a downhill road on the other side of the mountain, which is very easy to walk. Moreover, if we get to the side of the mountain By the side, we can find some steeds that can run fast on the prairie. Therefore, let's not hesitate now and move on!" Paganel said.

"Okay, let's move on!" Sir Glenarvan's companions said at the same time.

"Are you determined not to come with us?" Sir Glenarvan asked "Kataba," turning.

"My job is to drive mules," said the guide.

"Then do whatever you want!"

"As a matter of fact, we don't need their company," said Paganel. "Once we've climbed these cliffs, we'll be on the other side of the mountain, and we can find the Andu Valley trail again. I can assure you down the mountain and do as good a job as these guides!"

Now that it was decided, Sir Glenarvan settled the bill with "Cataba", and returned "him", "Peon" and the mule.Then the seven members of the Jazz and his party took up weapons, tools and dry food respectively.Everyone climbed up the rock together, not afraid to walk a dark night road.On the slope on the left, there is a small path winding from top to bottom.If there are mules, it is impossible to move forward.This shows that there are many difficulties in moving forward, but after two hours of rock climbing efforts by Jazz and his group of seven, they finally overcome the obstacles and set foot on the path of Andu Valley again.

(End of this chapter)