Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 27 The Atlantic

The burning Ombi tree had been floating on the water for nearly two hours, and the fire was now very small.

The danger is over. "It's no wonder we can be saved now!" said the major softly.The speed of the water flow is still very fast, and the direction has not changed in the slightest.

There were still a few lightning bolts left in the corner of the sky, and the night turned dark again.

The raindrops also became smaller and smaller, and gradually turned into mist; the mist danced with the wind, and the clouds that split into groups rushed back and forth in the sky.

This Ombi tree seems to be equipped with an engine, and it gallops forward quickly.It seems like it could drift on like this forever.

At 3 o'clock in the morning the major called attention to the fact that the branches seemed to have been swept to the bottom.

So Austin broke off a long branch and probed into the depths of the water. Indeed, the water was not deep anymore.

After 20 minutes, only heard the bang of the Ombi tree, and stopped. "Landing! Landing!" Paganel was the first to shout.The Ombi tree was knocked onto a patch of high ground, so it ran aground.

Robert and Wilson hurried to the high ground and jumped for joy, shouting "Long live".

Suddenly, a very familiar voice came from not far away, accompanied by the sound of horseshoes, and a tall Indian figure appeared along the way.

"Tarcaf!" screamed Robert. "Tarcaf!" cried all in unison. "friends!"

Tarcaf awaited them here against the current.He knew they were bound to come here with the water, because he himself had been washed here.

Takaf hugged Robert tightly, but Paganel hugged Takaf from behind!

Glenarvan and the others rushed over to shake hands with Tarcaf cordially, and the joy of reunion after surviving catastrophe was rippling on everyone's face.

Tarcaf led everyone to his bivouac—an abandoned horse fence.

The fire on the fire was burning brightly, and the prey was roasted on it. The smell looked so good, and everyone was like a wind, and they were all wiped out in a short time.

After they were full, they calmed down a little. Everyone was amazed that they had just passed the baptism of water and fire. They were able to come out alive when there was fire above, water below, and crocodiles around them!

At the same time, Takaf also told everyone that the reason why he was able to survive was entirely dependent on his beloved Taojia!

Paganel also told Tarcaf about their new understanding of the letter in the bottle, and the new hope that this new understanding brought to everyone.

Perhaps Takaf may not be able to fully understand, but he saw that his friends were excited and excited again by the fire of hope, and he was happy with everyone.

After a short rest, the brigade continued to set off again.On time, it's 8 o'clock in the morning again.

Another 40 miles to the sea, at least 36 hours on foot.And Taojia can carry two people.

The traveling team walked towards the highland with the vast ocean behind their backs.Except for a few sparse trees on the high ground, it is desolate.

On the second day, when there were still 15 miles away from the sea, everyone felt the breath brought by the ocean.

The sea breeze blows strongly and powerfully, making the vegetation dwarf. Occasionally, you will encounter shiny salt flats, which are very slippery to walk on, so everyone can only detour.

By 8 o'clock in the evening, everyone felt very tired.But right in front of my eyes, there appeared a sand dune more than 40 meters high—looking further into the distance, a line of water splashed by white foam lay across the sky!

The all-too-familiar sound of the waves came over. "The sea!"

cried Paganel. "Yes, the sea," Tarcaf replied.

At this time, people who were too tired to walk at all suddenly regained their energy and rushed towards the sand dunes with great strides.

After rushing up the sand dunes, facing the vast white sea in the night, I couldn't see anything clearly, let alone the Duncan.

"The Duncan will definitely be cruising along the coast here!" Glenarvan said impatiently and impatiently. "Maybe we'll see it tomorrow."

replied the major.The wind is rough and the waves are high, and the beach is shallow.The Duncan never anchored within five miles of shore.Captain Mengel, who has always been cautious, should understand that shoals are more terrifying than reefs.

The sailors all yelled at the surging sea, and naturally there would be no results.It is obviously the most unwise way to look for a ship now.

The major first dug a bunker on the sand dunes as a bed for sleeping, and then everyone dug a hole as well, and they were all ready to sleep.

Before going to bed, everyone ate all the last bit of dry food left, and then fell asleep.

Although Glenarvan was tired like everyone else, he could not sleep.Looking into the distance at the raging sea in the dark night, despite the sound of wind, waves and flying sand on the dunes, even Glenarvan couldn't believe himself that the Duncan was on the surrounding sea.

It has been exactly 30 days since they left Talcahuano Bay, and they have also crossed the American continent at this time; so it should be said with certainty that the Duncan should also have enough time to round Cape Horn and come to 37 S latitude. ° The shore of the Atlantic Ocean through which the line passes!
That was a veritable clipper!Besides, there is such a good captain and such a good crew, so it should be here now no matter what!

Rational analysis and emotional speculation tormented Glenarvan's mind back and forth; in the darkness, his relatives appeared in his mind one after another: Helen, Mary Grant, the Duncan Sailors... Glenarvan looked at the deep sea in the distance, and seemed to see the lights on the Duncan in a trance.

"Yes, it must be the light on the Duncan—but, if you look closely, you can't see through the night anyway!"

He was talking to himself.Suddenly, he remembered that Paganel had said that he himself had night vision!Yes, hurry to Paganel.

Glenarvan went straight to Paganel, who was sleeping soundly in the sand nest, and pulled him up. "Oh, who is it?" cried Paganel. "it's me."

"Who are you?" "I'm Glenarvan. Now I want to use your eyes." "What, my eyes?" Paganel asked suspiciously, rubbing his sleepy eyes. "Yes. I'm going to have your eyes see my Duncan through the night."

"Oh, it's unlucky to have a night vision eye." Paganel said so vividly, but in his heart he was very happy that he could do Glenarvan a little favor.He got up and stretched himself, and followed Jazz to the beach. "How about it?"

Sir asked. "Nothing! Not even a cat can see two steps away!" "Do you see if there is a red light or a green light, or a port light or a starboard light?"

"It's true that there is nothing, it's pitch black." Paganel was dragged back and forth by Glenarvan, going from side to side, and from side to side.If you ask a question, you will answer it, if you don't ask, you won't answer it.I saw Paganel staggering, as if he was drunk—he was sleeping standing up!
Glenarvan took him by the hand and walked back to his sand nest. He changed from sleeping standing up to lying down.

Just before dawn, the sleeping people were awakened by the shouts. "The Duncan! The Duncan!" Everyone quickly got up and rushed to Glenarvan who was already on the shore, shouting loudly:

"Hooray! Hooray!"

At sea, just 5 miles away, the Duncan was slowly heading this way with all its sails furled and its engines running.The smoke from the ship mixed with the morning mist and disappeared into the vast sea of ​​sky.

Glenarvan borrowed Paganell's telescope to observe all the movements of the Duncan.Obviously, Meng Geer has not found them.

Natakaf fired three shots at the sky.There are distant echoes in the dunes.

At this time, a puff of white smoke rose from the waist of the Duncan. "It's the Duncan firing!"

Everyone cheered.After a short pause, everyone heard the cannon from the sea again.

The Duncan has hoisted its sails and turned its head, heading this way.

From the telescope it could be seen that a small boat had been lowered from the ship. "The waves are so big that Mrs. Helen can't come out," Austin said. "The one who can't come is Captain Mengle!" McNabbs went on.

"The captain cannot leave his ship." "My sister! My sister!"

Robert stretched out his long arms and called in the direction of the boat. "Now I really wish I could step onto the boat!" Glenarvan said emotionally. "Two more hours, don't worry." The major said comfortingly.Yes, it takes at least two hours for the small boat to go back and forth.At this time, Glenarvan turned his head and found that Tarcaf was standing far behind.There was too much confusion in his eyes and his Taojia looked at the boat coming from afar.

Glenarvan hurried over, pointed to the distant ship, took his hand and said:

"Come with me!" Takaf just shook his head slightly. "Come on, my friend."

"No." Takaf still said lightly.He also pointed to his horse and the mainland behind him, "Taojia, Pampas!"

Glenarvan knew and understood that it was impossible for Tarcaf to leave the land where he was born and raised.So, he shook Tarcaf's hand tightly again, and gave up his request.

Takaf still smiled and told him that he did it out of helping his good friends and didn't want any repayment at all.

Glenarvan had nothing to say.They really have nothing now, not even anything to leave Tarcaf as a souvenir.

Suddenly, he took out a small portrait in a particularly exquisite woodcarving frame from his bosom. It was the head portrait painted by the famous British painter Lawrence for Mrs. Helen.

"My wife," said Glenarvan, as he presented Tarcalf with the little frame.Takaf also looked at the portrait of Mrs. Helen with emotion, and said: "Beautiful and wise!" At this time, everyone ran up to say goodbye to Takaf one by one.We have been together day and night for so long, and we have also experienced the test of life and death together. Now it is too difficult to part ways suddenly.

Tarcaf stretched out his long arms and embraced the whole group in his arms.

Paganel also sent Thalcave the map of the Americas—a geographer's treasure!

Robert hugged Tarcaf tightly, kissed his savior, and turned to kiss Toka.

The boat gradually approached the shore.

"Where is my wife?" Glenarvan asked impatiently. "Where is my sister?" cried little Robert after him.

"They are all well aboard. Hurry aboard, sir, the tide is beginning to ebb!"

Said the rower hurriedly.Everyone gathered around Tarcaf for the last time, shaking hands, hugging and kissing him goodbye again.

The skiff was pushed into the water.But little Robert ran back again and threw himself into Tarcaf's arms.Takaf looked at him lovingly, and said softly, "Go, child, you have grown up."

"goodbye!"

"goodbye!"

"Goodbye!" everyone shouted emotionally. "Then shall we meet again?" cried Paganel. "God knows."

Tarcaf stretched out his long arms and pointed to the sky.The Indian's words curled away in the morning wind.The boat gradually went away with the tide.

Through the splashing waves, people watched Tarcaf's tall figure standing motionless on the shore, getting smaller and smaller... An hour later, Little Robert was The first to jump onto the deck of the Duncan and throw herself into her sister's arms.All the sailors on board shouted in unison:

"Long live!" Thus ended the trip across the South American continent.They overcame all the obstacles that nature set up for them with their incomparable courage and will.

(End of this chapter)