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

Chapter 31 Captain Grant's Children (31)
Mr. Viot also introduced two of his subjects to this group of guests, that is, two other mulattos.On weekdays, these three people have been living in the depths of a natural harbor bay in the southern part of the island.

Paganel, our scholar, knows that this island was inhabited by shipwrecked men long ago.Paganel told two such stories, and everyone listened intently.

A story tells of two Scotsmen in distress here.The two Scots, one named Bernard, aged 22; one called Bolf, aged 48 years old.The seal catching boat picked them up here and asked them to stay on the island for a month, specializing in hunting seals, skinning them and cooking oil.However, a month later, there is still no fishing boat to pick them up.Eighteen months at a time they were obliged to stay on this island of Amsterdam; surviving only on a carefully guarded sliver of fire;Until later, in 1827, a British ship named Palmyra successfully rescued them and returned home.

Another story is about Captain Ferron.Captain Fauron, two Englishmen, two Frenchmen, these five men were staying on this island, to do seal hunting, and the plan was to stay fifteen months.Then, unfortunately, fifteen months later, there was still no ship to pick it up.In the case of running out of food, the relationship between these five people became very tense.The two Englishmen took the lead and attacked the French.With the help of his own people, Captain Ferron was able to save his life from being slaughtered.Afterwards, these five people often fought for food, winning and losing, and they were always vigilant and wary of each other.In this anxiety and hardship, they have passed countless difficult years.Fortunately, in the end they were rescued by a British ship and returned home.

Since these two incidents, there has been no ship traffic on this island, let alone the story of the crew drifting on the island.The Frenchman, Viot, said that he had never heard of Captain Grant, nor of the "Britannia" ship.Sir Glenarvan was neither surprised nor disappointed by the Frenchman's answer.He just wanted to know whether Captain Grant had been here or not.So, the next day, the "Duncan" decided to weigh anchor.

Jazz's group of travelers spent a day exploring the island and had to stop at night.The scenery on this island is very charming, but there are not many animals and plants, and the plants are even rarer.Animals are only some wild boars, albatrosses, perch, seals and so on.The peculiar landscape here is that there are many hot springs bursting out from the pale black lava rocks, and several hot springs are very hot and steaming.Captain Mengel tested the temperature with a thermometer, and in some places it was as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit. 176°, almost approaching boiling water.If you put fish caught in the nearby sea into this hot spring, the fish will be cooked in just a few minutes.It can be seen that even Paganel, who has always been careless, would not be foolish and jump into the spring to take a bath.

Everyone's interest in visiting this island is very high.In the evening, Jazz and his party bid farewell to the loyal Frenchman on the island.When parting, everyone wished the old Frenchman Viot one after another, wishing him a long and healthy life and all the best while living on this small island.Mr. Vio also replied that the traveler of Jazz can have a smooth journey and all wishes come true.And he also specifically said that the arrival of Jazz, a group of travelers, can make him flourish.

Afterwards, Sir Glenarvan and his party boarded the boat and returned to the "Duncan".

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At three o'clock in the morning on December 12th, the boilers of the "Duncan" were running, and there was a deafening rumble.The sailors turned the winch vigorously to pull up the anchor, and the ship's propeller turned whirringly, and the "Duncan" sailed into the vast ocean again.At eight o'clock in the morning, when the passengers went to the deck for sightseeing, the island of Amsterdam could no longer be seen in the sea fog on the horizon.Now, the sailing distance from Amsterdam to Australia is about 7 nautical miles.According to this situation, if there is no accident, if the northwest wind blows at sea, it will only take about ten days for the "Duncan" to sail to its destination.

At this time, the siblings, Mary Grant and Robert Jr., looked at the endless waves of the Indian Ocean, and their imaginations were flying.They thought, perhaps, their father's "Britannia" encountered a huge storm in the Indian Ocean, and after the ship had an accident, it drifted all the way to Australia with the current.

Captain Mengel stood aside, took out the chart, and pointed out all the currents in the Indian Ocean to Miss Grant.Among these currents, there is a cross current that rushes straight to Australia.Perhaps the "Britannia" encountered this cross current and was washed directly to Australia.

However, there is a problem that makes everyone feel very confused.It was on this evening, the evening of December 12th, six days after leaving Amsterdam; , as usual, everyone chatted and chatted, and then we talked about the "Britannia".Sir Glenarvan suddenly thought of a problem: According to the "Merchant Shipping Daily", Captain Grant finally sent a message in Callao on May 12, 1862; however, the "Britannia" was leaving the Peruvian sea. On the eighth day after that, that is, on June 5, it sailed into the Indian Ocean. What happened?
This question made everyone feel very confused, as if a ladle of cold water had been poured on their heads, they suddenly felt disheartened.But Paganel was able to give a reasonable and logical answer to this question, and everyone was convinced of his reasoning.

At the time, Paganel did not expect Sir Glenarvan to ask such a question.He was confused for a while, then stood up in silence, and went to look for the letters; then he returned to the crowd and shrugged his shoulders disdainfully.

"My dear friend, since you shrugged your shoulders, it shows that you don't think this problem is really a problem. That's very good. Now, explain it to us!" Sir Glenarvan said.

"Sir, don't worry. Before I answer this question, I will ask Captain Mengel a question." Paganel said.

"Can a fast ship travel from the Pacific Ocean in America to the Pacific Ocean in Australia within a month?"

"If the speed of the ship can reach [-] knots per day, there is such a possibility."

"Is that the top speed of the ship?"

"Oh no, the clipper sails faster."

“好，现在大家耐心听我说说吧。在信件上提到的6月7日中间，有一片空白，这空白可能是被海水侵蚀的1或者2。我们把这日期看做是6月17日或者6月27日，而不是6月7日，这问题也就很好回答了。”

Paganel's explanation is indeed very reasonable.

"Yes, from May 5th to June 30th..." Madam Helen murmured.

"It seems that thanks to Paganel, a friend, we have solved another puzzling problem. Now, what we have to do is to go to Australia to find news about the 'Britannia'. Sir Glenarvan said excitedly.

"We should search on the east and west coasts of Australia first." Captain Menger added.

"Dear John, you are right. The letter does not mention whether the landing site is on the east coast or the west coast. Therefore, we need to search on the east and west coasts of Australia, which belong to the 37° line."

"Sir, but in this way, won't there be more problems?" Miss Grant said.

"Ah! Miss, there will be no problem." Captain John Mengel interrupted immediately to relieve Miss Mary Grant's doubts.Afterwards, he turned to Sir Glenarvan and said, "If Captain Grant landed on the east coast of Australia, then he will be able to get help soon. You must know that the people living on the east coast of Australia are all British foreigners. Immigrants. Therefore, Captain Grant only needs to travel ten miles to meet compatriots from the motherland."

"Mr. Captain, your analysis is quite correct," Paganel also interjected, "Captain Grant can find a place to receive assistance in Dufoe Bay on the east coast, or in Eden City. Moreover, it didn't take long for him to You can also find a ship or a vehicle to return to Europe."

"So," Madam Helen said, "Actually, the area we're looking for on the 'Duncan' should be a sparsely populated area where it's difficult for the shipwrecked crew to get assistance?"

"It should be so, ma'am," replied Paganel, "that the area we are looking for should be uninhabited and very deserted; there are no roads to Ardley or Melbourne. If the 'Britannia' were there If there is an accident in one area, it will be like those deserted coasts in Africa, and there will be no assistance."

"My God! how my poor father got through these two years!" said Miss Grant mournfully.

"My dear Miss Grant," Paganel continued, "you have always thought that if your father, Captain Grant, landed on the Australian mainland, there should be no problems, did you?"

"Yes, Mr. Paganel," said Miss Grant.

"Okay! Let's reason. What would happen if Captain Grant landed on the Australian mainland? There are only three conclusions: the first is that he went to the immigration area with other sailors; the second is that he fell into the hands of the local aborigines; The third is getting lost in an uninhabited area." When he said this, Paganel paused for a moment to observe the audience's reaction and whether they agreed with his analysis.

"Very well, Monsieur Paganel, please continue," Sir Glenarvan urged.

"Okay, I'll continue my analysis. First of all, I want to deny the first speculation. Captain Grant has really never been to the British colony; otherwise, he would have returned to his home and reunited with his children long ago! "

"Ah! my unfortunate father!" murmured Miss Mary Grant to herself, "to think it has been two years since he left us!"

"Dear sister, don't interrupt the conversation! Let's let Mr. Paganel continue, I believe he will tell us everything..." Little Robert persuaded his sister.

"Oh, boys! I can't tell you exactly. Maybe he's in the hands of the natives, maybe..."

"Will those Australian aborigines..." Mrs. Helen asked anxiously.

"Dear madam, don't worry," Paganel understood Mrs. Helen's thoughts at this moment, and continued, "Although the aborigines in Australia are stupid and uncivilized, their character is Very docile, unlike the aborigines in neighboring New Zealand, who are bloodthirsty. If the passengers on the 'Britannia' ship were robbed by these aborigines, they would not kill the crew. Many expedition travelers He also said that what the aborigines in Australia are most afraid of is killing and bloodshed. These aborigines also work with travelers to deal with the attacks of some local exiled prisoners.”

"Did you hear, Mary! Mr. Paganel told us that if your father, Captain Grant, should fall into the hands of the natives, we would have a good chance of finding them. Moreover, these three letters clearly tell us , your father and the crew may have been plundered by the local aborigines." Madam Helen comforted Miss Grant's emotions.

"What if my father and companions are lost in these deserted places?" asked Miss Grant eagerly.

"My friends, don't worry. Even if we get lost in that area, we will surely find them, right!" Paganel said confidently.

"Yes, of course. But I'm sure they won't get lost." Sir Glenarvan knew the subject was very sad, so he wanted to divert it.

"Yes, I don't believe they will get lost!" Paganel echoed.

"Sir, is Australia a big place?" Little Robert asked.

"My child, the area of ​​Australia is about 500 million hectares. It is equivalent to four-fifths of our Europe."

"Is it really that big?" the major asked.

"McNabbs, that's right, it's that big! If there's an error, the difference is at most one yard. Those three letters mention the mainland, so you should believe that it is the mainland!"

"Paganel, if it's really that big, it should be called a continent of course!"

"I also want to specifically explain that although Australia has a vast territory, there are quite a few travelers who get lost in this continent."

"So, hasn't the continent of Australia been fully surveyed?" Mrs. Helen asked curiously.

"Yes, ma'am, it has not been fully explored. Like the interior of Africa, people do not know much about the Australian continent. It is not all caused by explorers. In the past 1606 to 1862 During the past few years, more than 50 people have been to the coast of Australia or the interior of Australia to do actual survey work."

"Ah! What, more than 50 people!" The major asked in surprise.

"McNabbs, of course. That is to say, counting those travelers who bravely ventured into the coast of Australia and those who ventured into the interior, there are more than 50 people in total!"

"I don't think there are so many people even if you add up all these explorers and travelers," the major retorted.

"Are you saying that the more than 50 people I mentioned are exaggerating? McNabbs, I can name more than 50 people." Paganel retorted.His personality is like this, seeing other people's rebuttals makes him feel very excited and more energetic.

"Paganel, list these people!"

"Hmph! If you really don't believe me, I'll list fifty people at once!"

"Hmph! You scholars are like this, you speak with such confidence!" the major said with a very dissatisfied expression.

"So, Major, let's take a gamble! You take out your Sydmore carbine, and I take out my Skledan telescope, and the two things will be at stake, will you?"

"Okay, let's start now! Gentlemen and ladies, please be the judges of this bet! By the way, little Robert, you are responsible for counting!"

The major found it interesting, and Sir Glenarvan, Miss Grant, Robert Jr., and Mengel all found it very interesting.They wanted to quietly hear Paganel name this series of explorers, and also learn a little bit about Australia's history.

"Ah! Nimsin! I am your pious admirer, please give me inspiration!" Paganel first prayed loudly, and then began a series of narrations.

"My friends, I have begun. 250 years ago, people did not know that there was a continent of Australia in the world. Dear Sir Glenarvan, you can go to the library in the British Museum in your country , there is a world map drawn by people in 1550. On that map, there is a place marked as 'Portugal's Greater Java', which is a large piece of land in southern Asia. In fact, these two maps are not enough I believe it. Therefore, my narrative should start from the seventeenth century. In 1606, the famous Spanish navigator Coros discovered a continent during his sea exploration and named it 'Holy Australia'. But I said This is not the topic. This is because later geographers believed that the continent discovered by Cross was not Australia today, but the New Hebrides today. Now, Robert Jr., you just write down the name of Cross. name.

"Well, I'll write it down now." Little Robert said.

"Then, in 1606, Torres, the deputy commander of the Koros fleet, continued his exploration and survey activities towards the south of the new land. The honor of discovering this land in Australia should belong to the Dutchman Hertz. He is in the south The west coast of Australia at 25°latitude was the first to land, and named the landing place after his ship's name 'Endra'. Since then, more and more navigators explored Australia. In 1618, the navigators Qi Shen surveyed Anheng and Fandimen in the north coast. In 1619, Erdell continued to explore a section along the west coast, and named this section of coastline with his own name. In 1622, Raven Sail all the way to Cape Raven named after him. In 1627, two navigators, Witt and Nez, one sailed from the west and the other from the south, both came to Australia and continued the discoveries of their predecessors. It didn't take long. In 1642, the famous navigator Tasman circled the Vendimen Island and gave it the name of Governor Batavia. The place was named; this island was later called Tasmania. In 1665, the big island of Australia was given the name of 'New Holland'. This period is the end of the voyages of these great navigators in the Netherlands. At that time, the name 'New Holland' was not handed down. Little Robert, how many people are there now?"

"Well, there are ten people in total." Little Robert said.

(End of this chapter)