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

Chapter 26 Captain Grant's Children (26)
"My dear Edward, this is a very important question," said Major McNabbs, "and it is difficult for us to answer it with a simple 'yes' or 'no' now. This matter requires long-term thinking and planning. By the way, what I am eager to know now is, where does the 37° line pass through?"

"I think this question is best answered by Paganel!"

"Then let's ask him first!" said the major.

By this time Paganel had reached the top of the tree.Everyone couldn't see him due to the cover of thick branches and leaves, so they could only shout loudly:
"Paganel..."

"Hey!" His voice finally answered from mid-air.

"Where are you now?"

"On the observation post of the tree!"

"What are you doing?"

"Now, I am using a telescope to observe the endless sky!"

"We have something to ask, can we come down?"

"Is there something wrong?"

"Yes, I have something to ask."

"What's the matter!"

"I would like to ask, where exactly does the 37° line pass?"

"This question is too simple, I don't have to go down in person."

"Well, tell me!"

"Well, okay, listen up, everyone. After passing the Americas at 37 degrees south latitude, it will go straight across the Atlantic Ocean..."

"Okay, what's next?"

"Then to the Tristan da Quenya Islands."

"Then?"

"Then to the Indian Ocean."

"Then?"

"After that, we will pass St. Peter's Island in the Amsterdam Archipelago."

"What about the after?"

"After that, I went to Victoria Province in Australia."

"Then?"

"After that, I left Australia..."

But when Paganel answered here, he stopped suddenly.Everyone felt so strange and wondered if he didn't remember.At this moment, Paganel's cry came from among the thick foliage, and Sir Glenarvan and his companions were stunned.Everyone, you look at me, I look at you, I don’t know what happened, is it that this careless and unlucky scholar is about to fall from the tree?Immediately, Wilson and Muradi stood up and prepared to climb the tree to rescue them.At that moment, Paganel was seen falling from the tree, with nothing in his hand, and was about to fall into the waves of the flood!It was too late to say it, but it was fast at that time. In a second, the major had quick eyesight and quick hands, and immediately stretched out his arm to stop him.

"McNabs, thank you so much!" Paganel said gratefully to the major.

"What happened to you just now?" The major asked with great concern. "How did you fall from the tree? Did you make another mistake of carelessness?"

"Yes, yes, old carelessness... But this time, we are going to start a new era!" Paganel replied loudly.

"If you're so careless, why are you talking about starting a new era?"

"Wrong, wrong, we were all wrong!"

"What, what's wrong, what happened?"

"Major, Sir, Robert Jr., and other friends, listen to me," Paganel said loudly. "Actually, we are looking for Captain Grant in a place where he has never been!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Sir Glenarvan, full of doubts.

"Now, the place we are looking for, Captain Grant is not only not there, but he himself has never been here at all!"

go to australia

What Paganel said made the companions feel inexplicable.What does he mean by that?Is it a nervous breakdown or something?But judging by the way he speaks, he is so serious and confident, he doesn't seem to be chattering like crazy!Everyone turned their heads to look at Sir Glenarvan again, because they all knew that the words were addressed to Sir Glenarvan.However, Jazz was also shaking his head vigorously.Obviously, he did not agree with Paganel's opinion.

"I know you don't believe it, but it is indeed a fact!" Paganel calmed down his excitement, and then said in a firm tone, "Actually, we really went to the wrong place. There was no mention in the letter Been to America!"

"Paganel, tell me your reasons!" said the major calmly.

"My dear major, the reason is very simple. Just now, like you, I got into the corner of America, so I misunderstood the meaning of the letter. Therefore, when you said 'Australia...', Suddenly, my eyes lit up and I realized something immediately.”

"Ah!" exclaimed Sir Glenarvan, "so you think Captain Grant is--"

"As I read it now," Paganel continued, "the austral on the letter is not just the guide hemisphere, but the former part of the word Australia."

"But this kind of understanding is really incomprehensible!" The major replied.

"It's not just that I can't figure it out!" Sir Glenarvan shrugged his shoulders.

"Sir, you must know that anything that is impossible is possible. In the eyes of the French, there is no such word as 'impossible' in the world." Paganel argued.

"Then, do you really think that Captain Grant's 'Britannia' died in the waters near Australia?" Sir Glenarvan asked suspiciously.

"Now, I stick to that point of view!"

"To tell you the truth, my dear Paganel. I find it surprising that a secretary of the Geographical Society should understand it that way," said Sir Glenarvan.

"There's nothing surprising about that." Sir Glenarvan's words made Paganel feel a little displeased.

"If it's really in Australia, where are the Indians? You know, no Indians have been found in Australia yet!"

Paganel seemed to have known that there would be such a question, so he was not surprised by Sir Glenarvan's rebuttal.He smiled and replied calmly:

"Actually, my dear Sir Glenarvan, there is not much truth in your explanation."

"Then tell us all your explanations."

"Actually, there is no mention of 'Indians' in the letter, let alone 'Patagonia'! That indi is actually the meaning of indigènes (local aborigines), not the Indiens as previously understood" (Indians) meaning.Tell me, is there no Aboriginal people in Australia? "

"Well, it's well-founded!" The major praised.

"My dear sir, what do you think?"

"Well, I admit that it makes sense. But then, how can that 'gonie' be explained? Isn't it the meaning of 'Patagonia' (Pantagoine)?" Glenarvan Jazz spoke about his own doubts.

"No, of course not! It can be interpreted in any way, but it cannot be interpreted as 'Patagonia'!"

"Then how to explain it?" Sir Glenarvan asked suspiciously.

"This word has a lot of meanings. It can be said to be Genesis (Cosmogonie), polytheism (thèogonie), or very dangerous (agonie)."

"In this way, it means 'very dangerous'!" replied the major.

"What the word means is irrelevant. The most important thing is the word austral, which must be 'Australia'! It is a pity that we misunderstood America from the beginning. If, I first If someone sees this letter, it may not be affected, and perhaps such a major mistake will not happen!"

As soon as Paganel finished speaking, everyone was very excited and praised Paganel and expressed their appreciation for him.At this time, Sir Glenarvan gradually relaxed his previously frowning brows, expressing his sincere admiration for Paganel's opinion.

"But, my dear Paganel, I have one more question. If you can answer it, then I admit that I was wrong in my judgment!"

"Sir, please tell me!"

"According to your method of interpretation, what is the complete meaning of this letter?"

"It's very simple. If you don't read it, the letter is here." Paganel said while taking out the letter that he had been studying carefully for the past few days.

Everyone held their breath and listened carefully to what the geographer had to say.At this time, Paganel pointed to the incomplete words and characters on the letter with his finger, and said in a firm tone:
On June 1862, 6, a three-masted ship 'Britannia', belonging to Glass Bay, sank off the coast of... Australia.In their haste to land, Captain Grant and two sailors...arrived on land...and were captured by the natives.

Let me drop these letters...

"Very well," exclaimed Sir Glenarvan, "but Australia is an island? How is it connected with the word 'mainland'?"

"My dear sir, there is nothing to doubt about it. You know, the first-class geographers call it the 'Australian continent'!"

"So, I can only say one thing - go to Australia!"

"Go to Australia!" everyone shouted in unison.

"Ah! Paganel! I really feel now that God sent you to the Duncan!"

"Come on! Even if I was appointed by God, please don't mention it!" Paganel mocked.He thought in his heart, hoping that these friends would not carry any pot without opening it.

Paganel's brand-new explanation saved everyone's desperate mood, and the travelers saw the existence of hope again!At this moment, everyone's hearts flew away from the American continent and flew straight to Australia, a land full of hope.They knew that in this way, they would not return to the "Duncan" with despair, and they would not let Mrs. Helen and Miss Grant cry bitterly because they could not find Captain Grant.In a blink of an eye, everyone forgot the embarrassing and dangerous situation at present. Everyone was very excited and only regretted that they could not start immediately.

At this moment, it is four o'clock in the afternoon.It was unanimously decided to have dinner at six o'clock.Paganel's plan was to celebrate the discovery with a sumptuous dinner.But it is a pity that the food brought is too little.So he proposed to go hunting with Robert Jr. "in the nearby woods".Little Robert clapped his hands in excitement.So, the two wiped the pistols, took the ammunition bag that Tarcaf gave, loaded the gun with ammunition, and set off.

"Don't run too far!" The major told them to pay attention to safety.

Immediately after their departure, Major MacNabbs and Sir Glenarvan busied themselves to observe the water level carved in the great tree.On the other side, Wilson and Muradi were busy re-igniting the flames in the makeshift stove.

The Jazz and the major also saw that the current was still very fast, and there was no sign of any tendency to recede.However, it is obvious that the water level has not risen and has reached its highest point.Seeing the water still rushing from south to north also proves that in the Argentine plains all river flows are still not balanced.Often the water will slowly ebb before the water recedes, just like sea water before the tide stops rising, and then it will slowly ebb after it remains stable for a period of time.Therefore, the river has always been flowing rapidly from south to north, so don't expect it to recede in a short time.

When the two were carefully observing the hydrology of the flood, there was a clear gunshot above the tree.Immediately afterwards, a burst of laughter resounded as loud as a gunshot.When Robert Jr.'s crisp childish voice and Paganel's heavy bass blend together, it feels like two children are laughing happily.They had a great hunt and a delicious meal for dinner!When Sir Glenarvan and the major climbed to the stove again, Wilson, who was lighting a fire, suddenly came up with a trick, which was to use a needle to thread a line for fishing.Using this method, he caught dozens of small fish and put them together in the folds of a "canopy"; the fish he caught were all "mochala" fish, dancing alive.And this fish is delicious, a rare delicacy.

When the two hunters came down, Paganel carefully brought out some swallow's eggs, and a bunch of young sparrows.Robert Jr. mentioned a few pairs of "Xigeluo".This "Siglo" is a yellow and green bird with a delicious taste, which is the name of Montevideo, a city in Uruguay.It is a rare and precious game that is favored by customers in the market.Paganel's cooking skills are first-rate when it comes to cooking poultry and eggs.However, due to limited conditions, he can only put the Wuyan eggs on the hot ashes and slowly roast them.But no matter how you say it, the dinner was delicious and filling.Dishes include grilled fish, boiled eggs, stewed "mochala", roasted sparrows, which can be said to be complete.

Everyone gathers together, eats and chats, and chats very happily.Everyone also praised Paganel unanimously, saying that he is an outstanding hunter and a good cook with superb cooking skills!Paganel listened cheerfully to these compliments, and could not forget to answer them modestly.Afterwards, as we talked, everyone's topic turned to this tall "Ombi" tree.

"Here, Robert Jr. and I thought we had run into a big forest!" Paganel said jokingly, "As we walked, I thought I was really lost and might not be able to get out. Seeing that the sun was about to set, I wanted to go back along the route I came from, but I couldn’t find any trace! At this time, my stomach was growling with hunger, and in a dark bush, I heard the howling of many beasts ...By the way, I mean...No!...There are no beasts...Oh, what a pity..."

"Ah! what?" said Sir Glenarvan. "You regret not seeing the beast?"

"Yeah, what a pity!"

"Actually, this flood, like a beast, is really ferocious enough!"

"But from a scientific point of view, there is no such thing as ferocious or not ferocious..." Paganel continued.

"Mr. Paganel, by saying that, you mean that beasts are good for people?" the major took up the subject.

"Yes, dear Major!" Paganel intentionally raised his voice, "You know, beasts are divided into categories, including phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species..."

"It's good for people to divide these categories!" Major McNabbs pointedly said, "I knew that these beasts are not good! If I can sit on Noah's Ark, if a pair of tigers, a pair of lions If a pair of bears, a pair of leopards want to ride with me, I will absolutely not allow it, no matter what beneficial or harmful beast it is!"

"Mr. Major, do you really allow it?" Paganel asked urgently.

"Of course!"

"Then, if you do this, from a zoological point of view, you have made a huge mistake!"

"But from a humanitarian point of view, my approach is completely correct and impeccable!" The major refused to let him go, and continued to retort.

"Your behavior is really irritating!" Paganel retorted, "If it were me, I would not be as cruel as you. I not only welcome these beasts you don't like on board Noah's Ark; Hand dragons, giant lazy beasts, and all the creatures before the flood. But what a pity! These lovely creatures, we can't see them now!"

"Mr. Paganel, let me tell you the truth, what Noah did was a big mistake!" The major still did not back down, and continued to refute, "The beasts he saved have been kept by generations. Scholars curse forever!"

The major's rebuttal was very amusing, and everyone laughed loudly.The major, who behaved indifferently and did not argue with others, was now often angry for no reason.Today I quarreled with Paganel again over this little matter of Noah's Ark.This, of course, was Paganel's intention to provoke him first.Sir Glenarvan, who was watching from the side, felt that it was necessary to come out to quell the dispute and smooth things over.

"Actually, regarding the issue of ferocious beasts, we can say it's a pity or not. From the perspective of zoologists and humanitarians, we haven't seen any ferocious beasts until now anyway! And, anyway, Mr. Paganel doesn't want to see the beast appear on this big tree!"

"How can there be no beasts?" Paganel retorted.

"Ah! Will there be any on this tree?" Austin asked.

"Of course there will be in this tree. Generally speaking, jaguars, that is, black-spotted tigers, will jump up trees when they are closely pursued by hunters. And now in the flood, if the black-spotted tigers have no place to hide, Can't you climb up a tree?"

"At least, when you were hunting just now, you didn't encounter a black-spotted tiger!" The major replied to Paganel.

"By the way, it's a pity that I didn't meet it! It would be great if I met it! It can be a wonderful hunt! You know, the black spotted tiger is very fierce, and it immediately cut off the horse's neck with one paw. And as long as it took a bite of human flesh, it fell in love with it and kept eating human flesh! It is said that the black spotted tiger likes to eat Indians the most, then blacks, then the mixed blood of blacks and whites, and finally eats whites!"

"Fortunately, the black spotted tiger ranked me fourth!" Major McNabbs interrupted.

"This fully proves that your meat has no taste!" Paganel said this to annoy him on purpose.

"All this is caused by you!" The major retorted.

"That's right, it proves that you are really boring! You know, white people always think that they are first-class people, but black spotted tigers don't have this kind of view, they think white people are fourth-class!" Paganel said more and more. Getting sharper.

"Now, Paganel!" Sir Glenarvan came to smooth things over again. "Look, we have no Indians, no blacks, and no mulattos. And your lovely blacks Banhu, it's better not to appear here. You know, our situation is..."

"What's the matter, aren't you feeling well?" Paganel felt that this word could change the subject, so he quickly interjected, "Sir, do you mean that our current luck is still unsatisfactory?"

"Of course," said Sir Glenarvan. "Look, it's not soft and inconvenient to be in a tree. Don't you think it's very comfortable?"

"I have never felt so comfortable! Now, even in my study, I am not as comfortable as this big tree! Look, we are perched on this big tree, as free as birds! I always feel that, Humans are supposed to live in trees!"

"It's a pity, people don't have wings!" The major refused to budge.

"If so, the wings will always grow!"

"My dear Paganel, before you grow wings, let me be obsessed with the paths of the parks, the floors of the houses, the bedrooms, and the decks of the pleasure-boats!" echoed Sir Glenarvan.

"Oh, my dear Sir Glenarvan!" said Paganel, "Have you forgotten the word 'according to circumstances'? Now, do you regret leaving your Malcolm House, that gentle place? Country!"

"Not really, but..."

(End of this chapter)