Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 28 Return to the Duncan

As soon as Sir Glenarvan returned to the ship, he was overwhelmed by the joyous atmosphere of reunion.In order not to spoil everyone's interest, he said the first sentence: "Don't be discouraged! Friends! Although we failed to find Captain Grant this time, we firmly believe that we will find him." Sir's words brought everyone It provided comfort and made everyone still have hope.

After a hug, Sir Glenarvan told Mrs. Helen, Miss Grant and Captain Mengel about the difficulties and twists and turns of the land expedition and the unexpected situations encountered.Of course we should also mention Tarcafe.Lady Helene regretted that she had never had the opportunity to shake the hand of this enthusiastic Indian.

After the happy talk, McNabbs went to the quiet room to shave.

And Paganel vowed to kiss everyone on board, and insisted that Lady Helene and Miss Grant be included.It was not long before Mr. Aubinette was kissed.

For Paganel's enthusiasm, Mr. Aubinette really didn't know how to thank him.So it was announced that lunch was open.

"Is it really a lunch? Is it the kind where everyone eats around a table? Are there really cutlery and napkins?" Paganel felt as if he was in a dream.

"You won't eat dried meat, poached eggs, and ostrich ribs?"

"Then let's verify it! See if this lunch is real, Mr. Paganel!" Madam Helen replied with involuntary laughter. "Then let me take your arm, madam," said the geographer, smiling and courteously. "Then, do you have any orders for the Duncan?"

"Dear John, let's discuss the next step of the expedition after lunch," Sir Glenarvan said.All the passengers on board and the captain gathered in the dining room, but the captain ordered to maintain firepower and make an order to sail at any time.Paganel served double servings of everything and repeatedly claimed he was careless.The lunch prepared by Mr. Aubinet was a great feast for all.During the dinner, Sir Glenarvan discovered a secret.That was Captain Mengel and Miss Grant. The captain sat beside Miss Mary and treated her meticulously, attentively and caringly.

Carefully, Mrs. Helen winked with her husband, implying that was the case.Sir Glenarvan looked at the young man and woman in front of him lovingly, and called Menger suddenly. "Mungle, how did you feel about this voyage?"

"Very well, very glad, sir, that we did not pass through the Strait of Magellan."

The captain answered and told everyone about the sailing experience.During the period, they also praised the courage of Mrs. Helen and Miss Grant, and they would keep calm even when they were killed.

After a while, Menger finished his narration of the Duncan's voyage experience. Sir Glenarvan praised him and said:

"My dear lady, since the captain speaks so much of your merits, I think you will not be lonely in his ship."

"How could it be!" said Miss Grant to Mrs. Helen, but she looked at Mengle with affection.

"Oh, my sister loves you very much, Monger, and I love you too!" cried little Robert, clapping his hands. "I love you too!" said Mengel.The captain was a little embarrassed by Robert's words.She looked embarrassed, and at this moment Miss Grant's face was flushed.In order to break through the predicament and embarrassment, Meng Geer changed the topic along the way.Said: After lunch, everyone gathered in Mrs. Helen's small living room and sat around the table.Colored and plain maps lay on the table.Sir Glenarvan said:
"Dear Helen, my lady, I said when we got on board that we had hope of finding Captain Grant. But that ship was wrecked on neither the Pacific coast nor the Atlantic coast, and we misinterpreted the meaning of the document, simply Say, the interpretation about Patagonia is wrong."

"Thanks to Mr. Paganel's astuteness, he reinterpreted the document and proved that our judgment was wrong. Now, please Mr. Paganel to explain it to everyone so that everyone can understand it better."

He explained the meanings of the two incomplete words gonie and indi, and explained "Australia" (Australia) from ans ~ al, and then proved that when Captain Grant left the coast of Peru and returned to Europe, he might have been killed by the southern Pacific Ocean because of a loss of control of the ship. Currents hit the coast of Australia.

After Paganel had finished speaking, Sir Glenarvan announced that the Duncan would set sail for Australia immediately.

But just then Major McNabbs spoke, and he asked for a small suggestion.

"I don't want to overthrow M. Paganel's conclusions, because his reasoning is very careful, and it can be used as the basis for our future voyages, and it should be taken seriously. But I think we should put these documents to the final scrutiny, so as to achieve unmanned How perfect is the accusation. What do you think?"

"So, what I mean is that we should do the final verification before we set sail. According to the document, we will compare all the places where the 37-degree latitude line passes on the map to see if it meets the requirements specified in the document. location." Major McNabbs was known to be discreet.

"It's easy, it doesn't take much work, and it doesn't take long. Fortunately, the 37th parallel doesn't pass much land."

"Then let's study it!"

"As I said, after the 37th parallel across South America is the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Not a single word in the document has anything to do with this archipelago. So let's move on."

"Further down, pass through the Atlantic Ocean, pass through the Cape of Good Hope, and then enter the Indian Ocean. On this latitude line, there are only the Amsterdam Islands. Please check the documents again."

"Now, let's look at Australia. The 37th parallel enters Cape Benoy and exits Tuff Bay. Obviously, the 'stra' on the English document and the 'austral' on the French document are associated with the 'Australia'. The facts are so obvious, I don't need to say much."

"Oh, it's easy to travel on a map. Out of Australia, there's New Zealand. Obviously, the 'contin' on the French documents refers to the mainland, and New Zealand is an island, and it's obvious that Captain Grant couldn't have escaped there. Of course, in order to be more sure, we should study carefully to see if there is any possibility of going to New Zealand."

"Absolutely impossible." Captain Mengel said resolutely.The major agreed.

Then, further down the analysis, between the coast of the Americas and the island of New Zealand, the 37th parallel south latitude also passes through a deserted island - Maria - Teresa Island.

"Indeed not!" replied Glenarvan. "In that case, my friends, let's make a decision now, whether we should go to Australia or not!" "Of course we should, it's obvious, so is there any doubt?" All the passengers and captain of the ship agreed unanimously. "Very well, then, we are going to sail..." "I have another opinion." The major interrupted Sir Glenarvan at this moment. "Whether the trip to Australia will be successful or not we'll leave that alone. I'd still suggest staying a day or two in the Tristan da Cunha and Amsterdam archipelagos, and go down and look for some clues, see if there is a Britannia Traces, not to mention that we are still on the way!"

"Major, you are really overthinking, but you are really stubborn." Paganel yelled, looking indifferent. "Yes, I'm very stubborn. However, I don't want to go back in the future." "There is no harm in thinking more about it." Glenarvan hurriedly helped to smooth things over.

"I didn't say I was against it, I was also in favor." Paganel defended himself.

"Meng Geer, set sail immediately and go to Tristan da Cunha." "Yes! Your Excellency."

After walking for about 10 days, I finally arrived at Tristan - da Cunha.But no trace of the Britannia was found.It was completely deleted from people's minds, and everyone went straight to the next destination - Amsterdam.

(End of this chapter)