Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 34 Going to the Inland (2)
When everyone was in a dilemma, Ayrton volunteered to find a blacksmith at Blackpoint Station, 20 miles north of here. "Okay, then you go, Ayrton, how long will it take you to go back and forth?" Glenarvan asked.

"It will take about 15 hours, no more." "You go, we will camp on the Vimera River." During the waiting day, people walked and chatted on the Vimera River, admiring the surrounding scenery.Be mesmerized by the beauty of nature.The beautiful night scene cannot be wasted. Everyone was looking for topics and chatting all the time, full of laughter.It was late at night, we said good night to each other and fell asleep peacefully.A few hours of night passed while everyone was sleeping soundly, and the sun still rose from the horizon.Fortunately, Ayrton did not disappoint everyone, and did not waste time on the road.

At dawn the next day, he really brought a person back.

The man claimed to be the blacksmith who nailed the horseshoes at the black point station. He was tall and strong, but his face was hideous.Although the appearance is a bit rude, people should not be judged by their appearance, as long as they have good craftsmanship.

"Is this man okay?" Menger asked the sailor. "Like you, Captain, I don't know him at all. Just watch him do it."

Although the blacksmith is not a good talker, he is very good at his work, and he is very skilled in repairing carriages.

When the man was repairing the carriage, the major carefully observed that both wrists of the man had been cut off a circle of flesh, which was maroon, as if wearing a pair of bracelets. Obviously, the scars were left recently.

The major then took the opportunity to ask the blacksmith if the scar was painful, but the blacksmith was so absorbed in his work that he ignored it.

The carriage was quickly repaired, and the blacksmith brought ready-made horseshoes to be nailed to Glenarvan's horse.

It was the major who had sharp eyes, and immediately saw that there was something strange about the horseshoe.This horseshoe is in the shape of a trefoil with engraved outlines of leaves.

MacNabbs showed Ayrton the horseshoe.Ayrton explained: "That's the mark of the black spot station. The horses in the station make this mark. If they get lost, they can be easily found again, and they won't be confused with other horses." After a while, the horseshoes were nailed.The blacksmith asked for his wages and left.

From the beginning to the end, I didn't say 4 words to everyone.Everyone cleaned up, and half an hour later, the traveling team was on the road again.

On the second day, at 2 o'clock on December 12, we arrived in Karlsbrook.Entering the mountainous area, there are many mountain roads, everyone walks a little slowly, and it takes a while to get used to it.

Ayrton, on the other hand, did not advocate going into the city, and planned to go around the city, saying that it would save time.Glenarvan agrees.

As usual, Paganel led Robert on a general tour of the city.The city is too simple and too boring. After an hour, the visit is over.The two quickly caught up with the traveling team.

By this time the party was within a mile of the railroad.A locomotive from the south was moving slowly and stopped at the intersection of the road the bullock carts took and the railway.

The 37th parallel crosses the railway a few miles up Castlegate.There is exactly one bridge there, the Camden Bridge, which spans the Lytton, a tributary of the Murray.

Ayrton drove the ox cart straight to the bridge.The horse riders also rushed to the horse, and everyone wanted to take a look at the Camden Bridge.

There happened to be a group of people running towards the bridge. They turned out to be nearby residents and herdsmen.They all ran away from their houses and herds for reasons unknown.I just vaguely heard someone shouting: "Go to the railway! Go to the railway and have a look."

Hearing the shouts of all, Glenarvan urged the horse, followed by his companion.A few minutes later, we reached the Camden Bridge.

Glenarvan, Paganel, the major, and Menger were among the crowd, listening to the conversation.It turned out that there was an accident of a train derailment here, and the situation was quite tragic.Severed limbs and broken arms were everywhere, bloodstained, and charred corpses were scattered all over the place.

Three hours later, the local colonial governor and the police came to organize rescue efforts.Through investigation and investigation, the final result was obtained - those exiles did it.

Glenarvan didn't want the female guests to see the miserable scene under the bridge, so he didn't tell Mrs. Helen the truth of the matter, only said that there was a train accident, and didn't mention the crime.

Jazz wanted to find an opportunity to tell Ayrton about this matter alone in the future.At this time, the traveling team had already crossed the railway, and was still heading east in the original direction.

Since the scene at Camden Bridge, the order of the traveling procession has changed somewhat.The first is to prevent hunters from being too far away from the ox cart, the second is to have people take turns watching the night when camping, and the third is to keep ammunition in the gun at all times.Had to take some precautions.

But Mrs. Helen and Miss Mary Grant knew nothing about this.Because Glenarvan did not want to frighten them.

Since the tragedy happened, everyone has stepped up their vigilance.Residents in towns and people in animal husbandry stations closed their windows as soon as it got dark, and herdsmen always carried guns when grazing.The local government is even more cautious, and at the same time strengthened the protection of post and telecommunications traffic.

After driving for a whole day, the ox cart traveled through the endless woods without even encountering a single wild animal, let alone a single aborigine.It was getting late, and people pitched tents under some recently burned eucalyptus trees.Paganel had Obinet carefully build a fire in a hollow tree trunk to cook.After dinner, Ayrton, Murady, Wilson, and Menger took turns on duty until the next morning.

On the evening of January 1, we walked for a few miles, and a small plain appeared in front of us, with houses neatly arranged on it.

"It's Samuel!" Paganel exclaimed. "Through this town, we're out of Victoria."

"Can a decent hotel be found in this town?" asked Glenarvan.

"I think we can find it." "Then we'll go to town! I don't think brave ladies would object to a night in a hotel." "My dear Edward," said Mrs. Helen, "I and Mary both Agree to do so, but don't go too far, so as not to delay our trip." "Not far at all," Glenarvan replied. "The driving ox is tired. Besides, we'll start at dawn tomorrow."

At 9 p.m., the moon is close to the horizon.The moonlight shone obliquely on the earth through a thin mist.Paganel, leading by instinct, led them all to the Conle Hotel.The carriage was parked in the parking lot, and the guests were taken to rest in their comfortable rooms.

At 10 o'clock, everyone sat around the table to eat.M. Aubinet, in his capacity as head steward, had inspected the supper beforehand.You can see how cautious he is!

The major hadn't gone far before dinner when he noticed something unusual in the town.He talked for 10 minutes with Dixon, the hotel owner, and learned the truth.

But under the circumstances at the time, he didn't say anything.After dinner, Mrs. Helen and the Grant siblings went back to their room to rest. He left them behind and said to them:
"Everybody knows who the murderer was on the Stadt railway."

"Have you caught it?" asked Ayrton hastily. "Not yet." Although the major was aware of the sailor's impatience, he didn't show anything. "What a pity!" added Ayrton. "Who did the murder?" Glenarvan asked. "You read the newspaper," replied the major.Pass Glenarvan a copy of the Australia New Zealand Daily. "You'll know the answer when you read the newspaper, and the police officer guessed right." Glenarvan read the following news aloud.

1865年1月2日，悉尼消息。——大家还记得，12月29日夜间，在墨散铁路距卡斯尔门车站5英里的康登桥上发生一起大惨案，11时45分的夜班快车高速驶到吕顿河里去了。

Camden Bridge was open when the train passed.The robbery after the wreck and the discovery of the bridgekeeper's body half a mile from Camden Bridge suggested that a gang of criminals had been responsible for the tragedy.According to the results of the prosecutor's investigation, six months ago, the Perth Detention Camp in Western Australia was preparing to escort a group of exiles to Norfolk Island, but the convicts escaped during the escort.The Camden Bridge tragedy was committed by these exiles.

There were 29 exiled criminals in total, and the leader was Peng Juesi.Peng Jue Si is a most cunning gangster.A few months ago, he came to Australia by some unknown ship. Although the government tried its best to arrest him, he still found nothing.

It is hoped that residents of all towns, nomads and herdsmen in the countryside will take precautions and provide assistance to the government.If there is news of criminals, the governor of this colony shall be notified at any time.After Colonial Governor Glenarvan read the letter, Menger said: "If Mrs. Helen and Miss Grant are not with us now, I don't care about those guys at all."

Glenarvan understood what he meant, and continued: "There are two female companions. For the sake of safety, we will go to Melbourne first, return to the Duncan, and then take a boat to the east coast to look for Captain Grant. What do you think? , McNabbs?"

"I want to hear Ayrton's opinion first, what do you think?" The major threw the question to Ayrton.

The sailor seemed a bit at a loss when he was named to speak.So, he kept looking at Glenarvan.Said: "I think we are now 200 miles from Melbourne. If there is danger, it will be the same whether you go east or south. And the conditions of the two roads are almost the same. I believe that 30 or so criminals can frighten our 8 heroes with sufficient weapons and ammunition. If I were me, unless I came up with a better way, I would still stick to the same path.”

"Well said, Ayrton." Pagane praised Doyle, "Let's keep going, maybe we may find Captain Grant's trace. If we turn to the south, then we will go in the opposite direction and go farther and farther. Me and As you can imagine, I don't care about those Perth fugitives. A brave man would never take them seriously."

In this way, everyone will vote on the motion without changing the itinerary.As a result, all passed.

"I have one more suggestion, sir," said Ayrton, as they all parted.

"Tell me, Ayrton." "Wouldn't it be better to send someone to the Duncan and send it to the east coast at once?" "What's that for?" "We should get to Tuff Bay before issuing the order. .If it is sent early, in case we encounter any accident, we will have to return to Melbourne. Wouldn’t it be more regrettable. Besides, the ship has not been repaired at this moment. Therefore, I think it is not too late to wait for the order.”

"Alright!" Ayrton didn't insist anymore.

On the second day, everyone left Samuel town fully armed, ready to deal with any accidents.

(End of this chapter)