Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 11 Across Chile
There were three adults and one child leading the way and carrying the things for Sir Glenarvan's caravan.

The leader is an Englishman who has lived here for nearly 20 years.After he led the caravan over a mountain in front of him, he handed them over to a guide who was familiar with the Argentine grasslands.

Although the Englishman has lived here for 20 years, he has not completely forgotten the language of his motherland.Therefore, it is quick and convenient for Glenarvan to execute any needs or orders.

Paganel's Spanish is still incomprehensible to this day.In addition to the Englishman, the other two adults were responsible for carrying the luggage for the caravan with mules, while the 12-year-old child rode a filly and led the ten mules behind.Seven of them carried the members of the caravan, the Englishman rode one, and the other two carried luggage and some bolts of cloth.

These cloths are prepared to be given as gifts to the chiefs.The mules they use are all capable of climbing mountains, and they don't care about feed. As long as they can drink water once a day, they can carry a load of one or two hundred kilograms for ten miles.

When sailing between two oceans, don't expect to encounter any hotels along the 37° line.When I am hungry, I can only eat the dried meat that I carry with me. The staple food is usually chili bibimbap. If I can get some game occasionally, it is considered a swap.

The problem of drinking water seems to be solved easily. The water from mountain springs, waterfalls and streams can be drunk.Of course, you can also pour some rum from the horn jug you carry with you to add some flavor.

However, excessive alcoholic beverages must not be consumed in such a place, because the nervous system is more likely to be damaged in such a place and environment.

The quilt and quilt are all packed in the saddle made of sheepskin, which is not only not afraid of rain but also moisture-proof, which is really a good thing.

For travel, Sir Glenarvan can be said to be the most experienced of all the people here, so he specially prepared Chilean clothing for everyone.

Paganel and Robert laughed and screamed as soon as they put on their great cloak at the same time, and looked not at all like a man and a child, but like two children.

The cloak was actually a large piece of gingham with a hole in the middle; the boots were made from the hide of a pony's hind legs.

The man's clothes are beautiful, and even the mule's equipment is unambiguous.They all had Arabian chews strangled in their mouths, and straps of leather were tied to the ends of the chews, because they could be used as whips.

The mules were all wearing golden ties on their heads, and brightly colored saddlebags on their backs.

After the careless Paganel got on the mule, he didn't hold the reins with both hands at all, he just looked around and let the mule go forward by itself.Fortunately, these mules are very docile, carrying a geographer with a large telescope on their backs, walking in the team without taking a step.

Little Robert looked like a first-class rider, riding on the mule with full posture and commanding freely.

On the first day of the mule team's departure, the sky was clear and there was not even a cloud in the blue sky, and there was no wind in the sky; but it was not very hot, and the sea water adjusted the temperature very well, just right.

Everyone was rushing through the reeds on the dry beach, and no one spoke.Because the scene of parting is still stirring in everyone's heart.Looking back, you can clearly see the black smoke rising from the Duncan.

Only the geographer is practicing his Spanish to himself.And the Englishman who led the way didn't talk much, and the two mule drivers under him were veterans of the trade, so they knew what to do without him saying anything.

As soon as he shouted, the mule stopped quickly; when a stone was thrown, it hit the mule, and it quickly moved forward.

If the mule's pockets, belts and other things are loose, they will call the mule to stop first, and then put a hood on its head and fasten the belts.

The work and rest habit of the mule team is to set off at 8 am and set up camp at 4 pm.Glenarvan commanded the whole team according to their habits.

On this day, they came to Arrogo City.Henceforth they all set off eastward in a straight line.

Almost all the seashore in this area has been searched, and there is no clue, so there is no need to look further.

They went to the city and stayed in a small hotel with very simple facilities.Arrogh City is the capital of Aroghania.Alogania is a country 150 leagues long and 30 leagues wide.

The residents belong to a branch of the Chilean aborigines. The people here are proud and strong, and they are the only aborigines in the American continent who have not been conquered.They used their tenacious character and their own advantages to resist the Spaniards and Chileans, making it impossible for any foreign race to rule them. The blue sky and white star flag representing the race has always been flying on the top of the mountain with a fortress.

After staying, Glenarvan, Paganel, and the Englishman who led the way went out for a walk.

Apart from the ruins of a church and a monastery, there is nothing of value in the city.

Glenarvan tentatively asked about the shipwreck, but found nothing.

Paganel, on the other hand, struck up conversations in his Spanish, which frustrated him when neither of them understood the other.The local population usually speaks Aroganian, which is widely spoken from here to the Strait of Magellan.

Paganel knew that the language he had learned would be useless, so he observed as much as possible.After careful observation, he found that the locals were all tall, especially those men, who were tall and burly, with a broad and flat head, bronze skin, black and long hair, and a sense of suspicion in their eyes.

The men here are all like soldiers in peacetime, idle and idle all day long; the women are very hardworking, whether it is cooking, weaving, or plowing and hunting, they always do everything without complaint.When they had some free time, they hurried to weave a blue cloak.One of these cloaks takes two years to weave, and the cheapest one costs $100.The most distinctive feature of this nation is a strong sense of independence. "It's just the Spartans in ancient Greece who loved independence!" Paganel admired sincerely.For such a compliment, no one seems to take it seriously.Only Paganel said that he was particularly excited when he visited the city.Everyone was very puzzled when they heard it.The major asked him why, and he proudly told everyone that one of his fellow countrymen had once been king of Arogania.The major then asked the king's name, and Paganel told them all the more proudly: Dolores.A good old man with whiskers all over his face, who had been a lawyer in Perricote in France, became king of Arogania, and was finally deposed from the throne.

The major couldn't help smiling.But Paganel said solemnly that maybe a lawyer can make a good king, but it is difficult for a king to make a good lawyer.Everyone present laughed, picked up the corn wine, and drank a cup together for the fellow king of Paganel.After a few hours, everyone wrapped up in their cloaks and fell asleep.

The next day, at 8 o'clock in the morning, their team set off on time along the 37° line again.

They crossed the vine fields, the fat flocks dwindled and the people less populated.Followed by an occasional abandoned post station, which has become a shack for the shepherds to shelter from the rain.On the way, they encountered the Lak River and the Dubar River, and they crossed them safely in shallow places.In the distance, the Andes Mountains show its majestic appearance, with continuous peaks, towering and steep - it is just the lowest part of the back beam supporting the American continent!

By 4 p.m., they had covered 35 miles.The camp was set up under a huge wild pomegranate tree in the wilderness.The mules with their saddles removed graze freely on the vast grassland.

Everyone ate chili and dried meat, and fell asleep peacefully with their pillows on their saddlebags.The weather was fine, the journey went smoothly, and the physical exertion was not too great. Everyone agreed that we should take advantage of this favorable opportunity to catch more distance.

On the third day, they walked even faster.Crossed the Baie River and pitched camp at the bend of the River Mark, which separates Spanish Chile from the native Chile.On this day, they walked another 35 miles.

Wherever the journey passes, the soil is fertile and the vegetation is lush: woody violets, daturas, cacti, papaya, everything.

Herons, owls and titmouses are the main birds in this area; of course, larger animals are also present, such as the jaguar crouching in the grass.

The population is very sparse, and occasionally one or two mixed-race Spaniards and Indians ride on the prairie, and they all pass by like ghosts.

There is no one to be searched for, nor even necessary.Because Sir Glenarvan believes that even if Captain Grant is captured, he will be taken captive to the Andes.Therefore, the only way to find clues is to go to the grassland to investigate after climbing over the mountain.

In this way, the current task is to speed up and move forward.

On the 17th, they set off on time according to the usual time and order.Only little Robert excitedly urged his mule to run ahead of the leading mule.Sir Glenarvan shouted at him at once, and he returned resentfully.

Gradually, the road is no longer so smooth.Entering the shallow mountainous area, the river also increases.

Paganel paid close attention to every stream that flowed between the hillsides, and he hastily marked those that were not on the map.And furiously accused.It was so cute.

"There is no name! A river without a name is like a person without an ID card! From a geographical point of view, it does not exist!"

He gave each newfound river a resounding Spanish name—chosen, of course, from the Spanish words he had just learned.

"What a resounding Spanish! Contains, I believe, 78% copper and ZZ% tin, the same composition as the cast bell bronze!"

Paganel said.

"Have you learned something about such a famous name?" Glenarvan asked. "Of course, sir. I think if it weren't for the intonation, others would have understood it!"

Paganel tried to continue practicing what he believed to be a pitch problem, chanting along the way, and almost broke his throat.

Although Paganel's language skills are not recognized by everyone so far, his geography skills have already impressed everyone.Whenever Glenarvan asked the guide some geographical questions, Paganel always answered them accurately and first.Even the guide was stunned for a moment.

On this day, around 10 o'clock, they encountered a road perpendicular to the straight line they were going to walk in front of them.

Glenarvan asked for the name of the road, but Paganel took the lead again: "This route leads to Los Angeles from Leiber." Glenarvan looked at the guide again.

"Exactly." Then he asked the geographer: "Have you been here?" "Of course." "On a mule?" "No, in an easy chair."

The guide shrugged, as if he didn't understand.

At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, they camped in a col.This is the lowest step in the Andes.

(End of this chapter)