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

Chapter 13 Captain Grant's Children (13)
At this time, Jazz and his party of seven had really reached the Andes Mountains, not far from the huge highland rock peak and the highest ridge.But Jazz and his party couldn't find a way forward no matter if they looked from the direction of the main road or the small road.This is because a recent earthquake has muddied the mountain roads.To move forward, we had to climb little by little from the raised stone shell on the mountainside towards the ridge.Paganel couldn't find the path, so naturally he had no idea, so he could only lean on the rocks and climbed to the highest peak in the Andes.The height of the summit, between eleven thousand and twelve thousand six hundred feet.Fortunately, the weather was beautiful, the sky was clear and the weather was pleasant.If it is in the severe winter, such as between May and October, when the sky is freezing and the heights are extremely cold, there is no condition for climbing.If the unique local hurricane blows, its severe situation is even more unimaginable.The unique local hurricane is called "Tengbolar".It is difficult to count the corpses that are blown to the cliffs and deep valleys by this hurricane every year.

Sir Glenarvan and his party of seven crawled among the rocks all night.If there are heavy rocks that cannot be climbed, everyone will hold the rock face tightly with their hands and climb up the rock; in front of the wide and deep cracks, everyone will jump over; these men are like acrobatics performing trapeze actors The same, linking arms as a rope; or stacking people on shoulders, using people as ladders; in this environment, the most helpful and able to show their talents are the strong Muradi and the quick-witted Wilson.These two faithful Scotsmen were busy with their work.Many times, without their enthusiastic and courageous help, everyone would not have been able to go on.Sir Glenarvan was most worried about young Robert, who was afraid that something dangerous might happen to him because of his young age and inability to get rid of his lively habits.Paganel, on the other hand, has the enthusiasm of a Frenchman and has been moving forward bravely.As for Major McNabbs, he was so skillful in his movements, he moved when he needed to, and he did it just right.The expression has always been so careless, as plain as water, climbing unhurriedly.

At about five o'clock in the morning, everyone looked at the barometers they carried, and they had climbed to a height of [-] feet.At this moment, Jazz and his party have reached the second-level platform and reached the end of the arbor belt.Here, there are several kinds of animals hopping left and right, and the hunters will be very happy if they see them.These animals are very agile.Because they also know that hunters like to hunt them, they run away as soon as they see people.Among this group of animals, the most eye-catching is the unique llama in the mountainous area.This kind of llama can be carried like cattle, sheep, and horses, and lives in places where mules cannot go up.There is also an animal called the large-eared gum mouse, which is the smallest animal among all rodents.This small animal is docile, very timid, and has very good fur. It looks like a hare or a wild mouse; but its hind legs are very long, which is very similar to a kangaroo.When they are running around on the top of the tree, they look very cute and somewhat like chinchillas.

"These little creatures are not birds," said Paganel, "but they are agile, and they are not quadrupeds."

These animals are not considered "residents" living in the highest areas of the mountains.At a height of about [-] feet, beside the ice and snow area, there are groups of very beautiful ruminants, such as groups of alpacas with velvety long hair, and a thin, fine-haired, hornless ruminant. The goat, which is small, but imposing, is called "horned antelope" by biologists.People can't get close to this kind of small animals, because they will run away quickly when they see people.It was faster than a bird, and then disappeared into a vast snow field.

Just after dawn, what appeared in the mountains was a snow-like world.In the sky, what is reflected is light blue light like ice and snow.The ice on the cliff stands sharply, feeling icy and slippery.Climbing at this time is very dangerous.If people don't probe carefully, they won't be able to figure out where the crack is located in front, and the Jazz and his party find it difficult to move here.At this time, Wilson volunteered and ran to the front of the team to explore the way.He kept probing carefully with his feet, and loudly warned the people behind him to carefully follow his footsteps.Everyone dared not talk loudly, because loud voices would cause the air to vibrate, and it was most likely to shake down the heavy snowballs that were seven or eight feet high above their heads.

The jazz and his party had already reached the bushes, and continued to climb 250 Torvalds. After crossing the bushes, grasses and cacti appeared.Continue to eleven thousand feet, and the grass and prickly pear are gone.At eight o'clock in the morning, the Jazz and his party took a brief rest on the ground.Eat something, fill your stomach, and restore your physical strength.Then the men mustered up their courage again, and at greater risk, climbed higher up the mountain.They crossed the icy field, crossed the abyss, and walked through the path full of crosses.Those crucifixes stand there, witnessing tragic deaths one after another.Finally, around two o'clock in the afternoon, the group came to what appeared to be a barren and desolate open field between dangerous peaks.This ground is a rare flat place among the cliffs, like a small island standing on the rough sea.Overhead was a dry blue sky, surrounded by thin, cold air.Occasionally, there will be some "evil winds and evil spirits" rising between the stone walls of the high mountains, and large blocks of stones will be blown down by these winds and fall down the mountain.

At this time, although Jazz and his party were full of courage, their energy was limited and their physical strength was extremely exhausted.Sir Glenarvan looked at his companions with exhausted expressions, regretting that he had chosen to walk in the mountains for so long.Young Robert Jr., although he had been resisting fatigue, was too tired to walk; at three o'clock in the afternoon, Sir ordered everyone to stop.

"Let's take a break!" Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, he was too embarrassed to speak, so he first proposed this suggestion.

"Rest?" said Paganel, "but there is no place to rest in these parts!"

"No matter what, you still need to rest! Especially the little Robert, who needs rest even more."

"I don't need it, my dear sir!" replied the intrepid boy, "I could go on, as a matter of fact. . . .

"My child, let me carry you on my back!" Paganel said first, "I think if you walk a certain distance to the east, you may come across a thatched hut or something. That's the best place." It's a resting place! So, everyone still needs to hold on for two hours!"

"Now, do you agree?" asked Sir Glenarvan.

"I agree!" Everyone said in unison.

"I'm responsible for this child!" Muradi interjected.

Jazz and his party continued to walk forward.They continued climbing for two more exhausting hours.In this way, I kept climbing and climbing, and finally reached the highest peak.On the mountain, the air is even thinner, and it is really breathless.Blood oozed from everyone's gums and lips.Although these brave explorers are strong-willed, it is still difficult for them to resist the thin air.Everyone's mountain reaction became stronger and stronger, their physical strength was severely overdrawn, and their willpower was also greatly challenged.Everyone also felt that it would not be an option to keep going on like this.There are more and more people falling down. After falling to the ground, it is difficult to stand up, so they can only continue to crawl on the ground, kneeling and crawling forward.

This time, the rock climbing on the high mountain was really tortured and painful, and the fatigue was unbearable.In this vast expanse of ice and snow, surrounded by the freezing cold air of the mountains, and the black shadow slowly engulfing the mountain peaks, it is really frightening.No one could find a place to spend the night, and Sir Glenarvan also felt terrified and had a little fear.At this moment, the major's calm voice came:
"Look, there's a thatched cottage over there!"

earthquake in alpine

No one would have noticed the hut had it not been for Major MacNabbs.Even people who have walked by the hut a hundred times, or even walked on the roof, will not notice the existence of the hut.Because the hut is just a point protruding from the snow, buried in the snowdrift, mixed with the surrounding rocks, it is difficult to be found.Only when the snow is removed can the whole picture of the hut be seen.Therefore, Wilson and Muradi immediately started to scrape hard for half an hour before they pulled out this kind of hut that the locals called "Kasuzha".

This hut called "Kasuzha" was built by the Indians on the rocks with wooden billets. The hut is square, with a length and width of about four meters.This small wooden house stands on the top of the snowflake rock, and there is only one small door in the whole house, and there is a stone ladder in front of the door; although the door is very narrow, if "Tengbolar" blows in the mountains, snowflakes and hail will forcefully hit the house. Drill in and bury the house.

Everyone hurried into the small door and huddled together to keep warm.The cabin can accommodate ten people.Although the four walls of the house cannot block the rain in the rainy season, they can block the attack of minus ten degrees cold.At the same time, a stove was set up in the hut with an earthen chimney, and lime was pasted between the bricks. Although it was not tight, it was more than enough to keep warm and resist the severe cold.

"It seems that we should really thank God for giving us such an excellent shelter. Although it is not very comfortable, it is enough to escape the cold and rest!" Sir Glenarvan said.

"How can you say it's not comfortable?!" Paganel continued, "This room is actually the same as the palace, except that it lacks some courtiers and guards."

"It would be great if you could start a fire in the stove!" Austin said. "I don't think the main problem now is not being hungry, but being too cold. It's more delightful to find wild game."

"That's right," said Paganel, "now, let's find some material to make a fire!"

"In this snowy mountain, where can there be anything to burn?" Muradi shook his head and said disapprovingly.

"I feel that if there is a stove in the house, there must be something outside to light the fire," said the major.

"McNabbs is right," echoed Sir Glenarvan. "Now you get ready to cook and pack your things, and I'll go out and look for firewood."

"I will accompany you with Wilson!" Paganel said.

"I'm going too!" Little Robert got up from the ground and said.

"My child, you should rest well and don't go," Sir Glenarvan replied, "You know, at your age, you should be a child, but you treat yourself like a little adult!"

So Sir Glenarvan, Paganel, and Wilson walked out of "Casuzha" together.At this time, it was already six o'clock in the afternoon. Although there was no wind on the mountain, the temperature was extremely low and the weather was bone-chillingly cold.The sky overhead was darkening.Among the chaotic peaks of the high mountains, the afterglow of the setting sun is gliding gently.Paganel took out the barometer and saw that the mercury column on the watch showed: -4°95′.This shows that they are standing on a mountain 910 feet high.This mountain is only [-] meters lower than the Mont Blanc in Europe. If this mountain is as difficult and dangerous as the mountain in Switzerland, then when a hurricane or cyclone comes, no one can climb this mountain in the American continent.

When Sir Glenarvan and Paganel came together to a cloudy eminence, and looked around, they found themselves on the highest peak of a range of mountains, with a view of forty square miles.Looking from the east, you can see layers of hillsides, sliding from high to low. These hills are not too steep and can be walked down.If the "Peons" slide down from there, they can slide hundreds of Torvalds in one breath.Farther away were heaps of rocks, formed in rows and rows, all washed out by the icebergs when they fell.The area around the Colorado River Valley slowly disappeared in the dark shadows that gradually emerged in the setting sun.The undulating and steep ground, as well as the jagged rocks, gradually disappeared in the shadows.On the west side, some jagged pinnacles support the mountainside, and there are still some afterglows of the setting sun on the arched stone walls.The shimmering light of rocks and icebergs is dazzling.On the northern mountain, there are a series of shadowy shadows with ups and downs, like vague wavy lines drawn by trembling hands holding a paintbrush.But on the other side of the mountain, the situation is quite the opposite. The sky is magnificent and colorful, and it becomes more and more brilliant as the dusk approaches.When looking at the desolate landscape of the Tirbido Valley, it is possible to see at a mere two feet the wide gaping mouth of the Andu Valley Volcano.The crater is constantly roaring, like a huge monster, and also like the long whale in the "Bible" that constantly spews hot smoke and rushes brown flames.Under the influence of the volcano, all the surrounding mountains seemed to be on fire.Dark red smoke clouds, white-hot stone hail, and rocket-like lava are all intertwined and mixed together, like a colorful kaleidoscope.

In this world where the fires of heaven and earth intertwine, Paganel and Sir Glenarvan, the two temporary travelers collecting firewood, are like art observers admiring the beautiful scenery, fascinated by the magnificent scenery. drunk.But Wilson on the side was not interested in this, and just kept urging to cut and collect firewood.But there really aren't any trees nearby that could serve as firewood.After looking around, I can only find a dry moss on the rock.The three of them made a lot of money.At the same time, Wilson also saw a plant called "Lalle moss". Knowing that the roots of this plant can be used to make fire, he also pulled out a lot.When the three of them brought the precious fuel back to the hut, they piled it together and put it in the stove.However, the fire couldn't be ignited anyway, and even if a spark occasionally appeared, it wouldn't last long.The reason is simple, because there is not enough oxygen in the thin air, at least the major thinks so.

"I think it might be easier to boil water!" The major said, "In this environment, water boils at less than 100°C. Those who like to drink coffee can only make do with it. Because in high altitude areas, water The boiling point is less than 90°C."

Major McNabbs was quite right in this view.When Paganel was boiling the water, he inserted the thermometer into the water and tried, and it showed 90°C instead of 87°C.This group of people drank coffee together, feeling really comfortable.I just feel that the dried meat brought is a little less, not enough for collective distribution.At this moment, Paganel had a sudden thought:

"Oh, now I remember!" Paganel said, "it's really good to eat vicuña meat on the grill! I also heard that vicuña meat is better than beef and mutton. I really want to eat it." Try to see if this is true!"

"What's the matter!" the major asked rhetorically, "Scholar Paganel, don't you like something for dinner?"

"My dear major, I'm quite content! But to tell you the truth, I think I'd be happier with a plate of game!"

"You really know how to enjoy life!" said Major McNabbs.

"My major, I'm not angry if you comment on me like that. But what about you? I know that's what you said, but I really want to chew a piece of meat!"

"Perhaps!" said the major.

"If someone invites you to go hunting, would you like to go on a dark and cold night?"

"Of course I'd like to go, if you really have this idea..."

It was too late for everyone to express their gratitude to the major for their support, and before they could express their dissuasion, there was a burst of roaring in the distance.This roaring sound lasted for a long time in the dark night. It can be speculated that it was not one or two wild beasts, but a large group of wild beasts roaring, and they seemed to be walking towards the direction of the house.At this moment, the geographer thought, could it be that God gave a delicious dinner while giving a shelter from the cold?But Sir Glenarvan poured cold water on it, saying that it is impossible for wild beasts to appear on this high mountain.

"If there are no wild beasts, where does this roar come from?" Austin asked puzzled, "Now, isn't that sound getting closer?"

"Could it be an avalanche!" Muradi couldn't help asking.

"It's absolutely impossible. No matter how you listen to it, it's clearly the roar of a wild beast!" Paganel immediately retorted.

"We'd better see for ourselves!" said Sir Glenarvan.

"It's best to see it as a hunter!" said the major, taking up his carbine.

(End of this chapter)