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

Chapter 15 Captain Grant's Children (15)
"Less than 2 minutes! My Wilson, you have to pay attention, at that time, every minute felt very long! Do you really remember correctly?"

"I don't think I can remember wrongly,...that's right,...in less than 2 minutes!"

"Well, good!" continued the major. "Will Robert be on your left or right then?"

"It was on the left. I remember it well, and his 'canopy' was on my face."

"What about you? Where are you on our side..."

"Also on the left."

"It seems that little Robert can only disappear here," the major said while turning to the side of the mountain, pointing to the right, "I can also infer that from the time of disappearance, this child should be missing." It's in the mountains two feet above the ground. Therefore, if we want to look for it, we should look for it in this area, each of us should find a place, and we will definitely find him in the mountains in this area."

As soon as the major finished speaking, everyone started to act immediately without saying a word.The six people were on the right side of the collapsed route in that area, searching from different heights and directions, and even the smallest rock cracks were carefully searched.Everyone's search was very serious, without any consideration for their own safety.When clothes are scratched by sharp rocks, hands and feet are scratched, no one will frown or complain because of the pain, let alone feel tired and rest.However, searching left and right, no trace of the child could be found.So the traveling companions thought, either he was dead, or buried in a deep pit among the rubble.

At almost one o'clock in the afternoon, Sir Glenarvan and his five traveling companions were exhausted, unable to continue the action, and could only return to the valley before the action.At this time, Sir Glenarvan was very sad, and he just kept sighing: "I will never leave here! I will never leave!"

Everyone present knew that he was extremely sad, so they had such a plan, and they all expressed their understanding and obedience.

"We should continue to wait." Paganel said to the major and Austin, "We should take a break and recover our strength. Whether we continue to search or continue on our way, we need to rest."

"Yes, since Edward wants to stay here, let us all stay," said the major, "he still has a glimmer of hope, but the hope is really slim!"

"God knows!" Austin said with a long sigh.

"Poor little Robert!" said Paganel, wiping away tears.

There are many trees in this valley.The major first picked a tall tree with lush branches and set up a temporary tent under the tree.The only things the traveler had were a few drapes, a few dried meats and cold meals, and all his weapons.Not far away, there was a small river that was drinkable, but the water became very turbid due to landslide damage.Mr. Muradi started a fire on the grass, the water boiled quickly, and then sent the master a cup of hot water to calm him down.But Sir Glenarvan refused to drink, and sat downcast on the "canopy".

The day passed like this, and the night of this day was the same as yesterday's, appearing calm and peaceful.While his companions lay resting, Glenarvan climbed up the slope of the nearby hill again.He held his breath and listened carefully, hoping to hear the slightest cry.While listening, he explored forward alone, walked a long way, and put his ears to the ground from time to time, carefully aware of all movements, and called out in the mountains with a voice of extreme disappointment.

Thus the poor sir searched the hills all night.The traveling companions were very worried, and Paganel and the major were worried about him, for fear that he would accidentally fall into a deep pit and cause a serious accident if he walked around like this, so the major and Paganel would both Follow him from time to time, follow him closely.That's how I searched tirelessly, but still got nothing.The call of "Little Robert! Little Robert!" could only arouse the constant echo of this kind voice in the valley.

Dawn came again, and the crowd ran to the hillside again to look for Sir Glenarvan, and dragged him back to the tent.Seeing his extremely disappointed look, no one dared to say "go".But there is a serious fact before us: the food has run out!In order not to be starved to death, we can only move on.Moreover, everyone knows that not far ahead, you can meet the Argentine guide mentioned by the mule driver earlier, and you can also get the fast horses needed to cross the grassland.It was impossible to go back again.Because the way back is more difficult and steep than the way back.Besides, on board the "Duncan" it was agreed that they must meet on the Atlantic coast.Therefore, for the benefit of the collective, we cannot continue to stay and procrastinate here!

Major McNabbs was eager to persuade him not to grieve.He used all kinds of languages ​​to comfort his emotions.But Sir Glenarvan just kept shaking his head as if he hadn't heard anything.Occasionally, he would also squeeze out a few words:
"Go, will you?" he said.

"Yes, we should go."

"Wait, wait another hour!"

"Alright, wait another hour." The major agreed.

Another hour passed, and Sir Glenarvan begged for another hour.So, hour after hour passed, and the time passed to noon.In the end, the major had no choice but to tell Jazz what everyone meant, and he couldn't continue to delay like this. He had to leave. The lives of the whole team depended on Jazz's decision.

"Yes! Good!" replied Sir Glenarvan, "and now, let us go!"

But Jazz said so, but he still didn't move his feet, his eyes moved away from the major, and looked into the distance in confusion.However, when his eyes were fixed on the sky, he saw a black spot there, and then he raised his hand suddenly, pointed to it, and stood motionless like a statue.

"There! There it is, look! Look!" he cried.

Everyone looked up to the sky, and following the direction of his finger, they saw that the black spots on the sky were getting bigger and bigger.It turned out that it was a bird flying high in the sky.

"That's a vulture," said Paganel.

"Yes, it's a vulture," said Sir Glenarvan. "Look, everybody, it's coming, it's coming, wait..." Who knows?it's coming!it's down!wait a minute! "

What did Sir Glenarvan hope for now?Is the grief so confusing?Paganel was right, it was indeed a vulture.Now its figure, everyone can see it more clearly.This kind of big bird, relatively large in size and amazing in strength, can grab a cow in one breath and throw it into the valley. It has always been the king of birds in the southern Andes.In the past, local chiefs worshiped them as gods.The general action of this kind of vulture is that it often grabs sheep, horses, and calves on the ground with its sharp claws, and then takes them to a very high sky, flying to a height of [-] feet, circling left and right.This kind of flying height is really nothing to them, but it is the limit that human beings cannot reach.Moreover, it flies so high that human naked eyes cannot see it, but it can overlook everything on the ground with sharp eyes, and can distinguish the most subtle objects on the ground.Such good eyesight amazes all human biologists.

The vulture was getting closer and closer, but it was always hovering in the air, sometimes hovering, sometimes wanting to plummet, giving the impression that he saw something?What is it, a corpse?Could it really be Robert Jr.'s body?

After a while, the vulture was 200 meters above the ground, circling in circles.At this time, travelers on the ground could see clearly that its wings spread out to a width of more than fifteen feet. A pair of vigorous wings floated in the air, motionless, giving people an awe-inspiring but leisurely look. ; Unlike some small flying insects flying around, if you don't flap your wings, you will fall from the air.

The major and Wilson each took up their carbine.But Sir Glenarvan checked the move with a gesture.Not a quarter of a mile away, the vulture was circling left and right around an inaccessible platform on the mountainside with such dizzying speed that suddenly everyone Seeing its iron claws open, then quickly clenched again, the crown of cartilage on the top of its head was swaying slightly.

"There! There it is!" cried Sir Glenarvan.

Suddenly, he uttered another cry and exclaimed:

"If little Robert is alive now! Then... the vulture is... yes, my friends! Shoot, shoot!"

It was too late to say it, and at this time, the vulture had already spread its wings and flew behind a row of towering peaks.But a second later (in the eyes of the jazz and his party, this second is longer than 100 years), the vulture flew back again, carrying a heavy object, and slowly rising.Everyone couldn't help screaming in horror, it turned out that the vulture's claws were grabbing a person.The man was swinging and hanging slightly in the air.Upon closer inspection, it was Robert Grant Jr.!Slowly, the vulture grabbed Robert Jr.'s clothes again, swinging from side to side and flying to a height of less than 150 feet from the tent.Perhaps, the vulture's sharp eyes also saw the passengers on the ground, so it flapped its wings and fought against the high-altitude wind in the distance, trying to take its prey back.

"Ah!" cried Sir Glenarvan, "we'd rather have little Robert crushed by a rock than have this vulture..."

Before he had finished speaking, Wilson raised his gun, intent on aiming at the vulture.But he was very timid, his arms were shaking constantly, so he couldn't grasp the gun steadily, and naturally he couldn't point the direction.

"Let me do it!" said the major, aiming at the vulture with a calm and composed expression, his eyes fixed and his hands steady.By this time the vulture was three hundred feet away from them.

The major's finger didn't pull the trigger, and there was a loud bang in the valley.All I saw was a puff of white smoke coming out from between the two snowflake rocks. The vulture was shot in the head and was spinning in the air. Its wide wings were like a parachute, and it fell slowly from high altitude.Its paws were still tightly grasping the prey, and it fell leisurely about ten steps away from the river bank.

"Look, it's really fallen into our hands! It's fallen into our hands!" said Sir Glenarvan excitedly.

Everyone didn't bother to observe where the shot came from, and ran to the vulture by the river together.

When they reached the bank, they saw that the vulture was dead.Covered by its wide wings, is little Robert!Sir Glenarvan threw himself upon the boy at once, and drew him from the talons, and laid him on the grass, and listened with his ear to his chest.

Glenarvan heard the beating of the heart. In his opinion, it was simply a wonderful and beautiful fairy music in the world. He couldn't control himself, and shouted excitedly:

"The child is still alive! Still alive!"

In a short time, they took all the clothes off little Robert, and poured the cold river water on his face.He moved at last, opened his eyes, looked around, and spoke: "Oh, sir, it is really you... my second father! . . . "

Sir Glenarvan choked up, too excited to speak.He could only kneel on the ground, weeping beside the child.It seems that the child's salvation is really a miracle from heaven!
Life saver
Seeing that Little Robert was able to escape from death, everyone was very excited, hugging his weak body tightly, and kissing him wildly, as if they wanted to eat him.Although little Robert was very tired, he danced with excitement when he saw that he was still alive to see his friends.

The kid is finally back!After the excitement was over, everyone remembered who his savior was.The major was the first to know.Standing on a high rock, he searched around with his eyes, and at last, about fifty paces from the river bank, he saw on the high hill a tall figure, about six feet high, like a stone. A person who stands still.The man's shoulders were broad and thick; his hair was long and tied up with leather cords; his face was bronze, with white on his forehead and black on the lower lids of his eyes; Some red color; at his feet, lay a long gun.It seems that this person is a typical indigenous person in the local area, and it is a typical dress of Patagonians in the border area.He wore a very handsome cloak, which seemed to be made of the skins of the guanaco's neck and feet, with the fine down showing.The cloak is also embroidered with red arabesque patterns, and the inside is a tight-fitting fox fur jacket.The front of the leather jacket is in the shape of a pointed upside-down triangle, and a small bag is hung on the belt, which can be seen to be painted on the face; on the feet are leather boots made of cowhide; tied crosswise.

This Patagonian, although painted in various colors, looks very majestic, exuding a kind of witty and intelligent temperament.He stood there with a mighty posture, as solemn as a sculpture of a god who suppressed evil.

When the major saw it, he pointed it out to Sir Glenarvan at once.Sir Glenarvan hurried up to the man.The man also took two steps forward and greeted him head-on.Sir Glenarvan clasped the man's hand in both of his, and expressed his gratitude in his eyes, in his smile, and in the expression of his face.The native saw it and understood it in his heart, so he would not misunderstand these actions.He nodded slightly, and said a few words, but neither the sergeant nor the major understood the language.

Seeing that the other party did not understand what he said, the Patagonian looked at the two foreigners carefully again, and changed another language.However, the Sir and the major still could not understand what the native said.Sir, however, noticed a few words in his words, and he felt that the language contained some Spanish words, so he guessed that the natives spoke Spanish.

"Sir, do you speak Spanish?" Sir knew some Spanish, so he asked in Spanish.

The Patagonian nodded immediately.People all over the world know that this nodding up and down means affirmative.

"That's great," said the major. "It's time to call on our friend Paganel, who has always wanted to learn Spanish!"

The major raised his voice and called to Paganel.Paganel came over after hearing the sound, and wanted to say hello to the Patagonian with French elegance.But judging from the other party's expression, he failed to understand his elegant demeanor.When Paganel heard that he was going to communicate in Spanish, he became excited, nodded like a chicken pecking rice and said:
"Well, it's not a problem."

Then, for the sake of his own pronunciation, the venerable scholar said aloud word by word:

"You—are—a—big—good—person!

The native listened attentively, but did not speak.

"It seems he doesn't understand," said the geographer despondently.

"Maybe, it's because your tone of voice is not right?" the major said deliberately.

"That's true, maybe I'm learning Spanish, and the disadvantage is that I can't practice that ghostly intonation."

Paganel repeated the compliment again, but with the same result.

"Looks like I'll put it in another way." Paganel then bit each syllable and said one by one: "No doubt, you are... —a Patagonian!"

The natives remained calm and silent.

"Ho-hop-you-can-answer!" Paganel added.

But the Patagonian remained silent.

"Did you hear clearly?" Paganel shouted anxiously, wishing to burst his throat.

Obviously, the Indian really couldn't understand, so he just answered in Spanish:

"No!"

Now, Paganel lost his patience, habitually pushed his glasses to his forehead, and shouted:

"I don't understand a word of what he's saying! Surely it's not Spanish, but Aroganian!"

"Impossible," added Sir Glenarvan. "From his answer, it must be Spanish!"

After speaking, Sir Glenarvan turned to the Patagonians and asked in Spanish:

"Is it Spanish?"

"Yes! Yes!" replied the native.

Paganel was stunned for a moment, and Sir Glenarvan and the major looked at each other and smiled.

"Ah! Profound scholar," said the major, with a slight smile on his lips, "you are really an expert in carelessness. This time, is it true that you have committed the mistake of carelessness again?"

Paganel stood awkwardly and said "hmmm" in a slightly suspicious tone.

"That's the fact. What the Patagonian said is actually Spanish..."

"Can he really speak Spanish?!"

"My esteemed scholar, can that be wrong? Perhaps you have learned another language and thought it was Spanish..."

Before the major finished his sentence, Paganel shrugged his shoulders angrily, and retorted angrily:

"Major! You're joking, and you're taking it too far!"

"What's the matter, why can't you always understand what you say?" The major didn't budge, and confronted him.

"He can't understand me, it's because what he said is not authentic!" Paganel was full of anger.

"Actually, it was you who said something badly, which is why you used the excuse to say that others didn't speak properly!" The major pressed him again without compromising his expression.

"Okay, Major McNabbs!" Sir Glenarvan came out to mediate, "Your statement is a little unjustifiable. No matter how careless our scholar Paganel is, he will not learn a wrong language. Bar!"

"If it's not that I've learned the wrong language. Good! Dear Edward, I'd like to ask you for advice... In other words, I'll simply ask you directly, and my friend Paganel, please explain in detail, the native Why can't people communicate with you?"

"Well, I won't give any explanation," Paganel said, waving his hands. "The best proof is that I hold a Spanish book all day long and study Spanish hard. You have seen this, right? Major?"

As he spoke, the lovely scholar fumbled here and there in his pocket. After a few minutes, he took out a book with a tattered surface, and handed it to the major solemnly.

The major took the book, read it, and couldn't help but ask:

"What kind of book is this?"

(End of this chapter)