Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 35 "How Did the Horse Die?" (1)
The group camped beside the Cobenberg River at the foot of the Alps.Glenarvan looked at the mountains disappearing into the darkness, and said: "If you want to cross these mountains, you will have to suffer! Alps! You will have to think about it for a long time when you hear the name."

On January 1th, a group of people still marched on the road in the Alps under many obstacles.

An hour later, if he hadn't found the small hotel by a mountain road, Ayrton really felt in a dilemma, and even gave up.

"Aha! Opening a tavern in a place like this? The proprietor will not make a fortune! Well, I wonder what he thinks?" cried Paganel.

On the signboard of the hotel was written the words "Green Forest Hotel". The owner was a strong man with a swollen face, and he didn't look like a good person.The shop sells liquor, whiskey and brandy.It seems that there are few customers at ordinary times, and occasionally, except for a few shepherds passing by, he himself is the customer.Glenarvan and Ayrton went up to him and asked him some questions, which the man answered reluctantly.But by his answers, Ayrton found out the direction of the road.

Glenarvan gave the boss some money as a token of gratitude.When he was about to leave, he suddenly looked up and saw a notice posted on the wall.

Said: A group of exiles absconded from Perth, the leader is Peng Juesi, who is wanted now.If someone captures the criminal, he will be sent to the authorities immediately, and a reward of 100 pounds will be given.

"This Penn Juss is such a villain that he should be hanged," Glenarvan said to the sailor Ayrton after reading the notice.

"Then he must be captured first. A hundred pounds! That's a lot of money, and it's not worth it for this fellow!" replied Ayrton.

I don't know whether it was due to fatigue or other reasons, but on this day, a horse suddenly died.There was no prior warning.It was Muradhi's horse. He tried hard to get the horse up, but it was already dead.

Ayrton examined the dead horse carefully, but could not tell the cause of death. "Then ride my horse and go, Murady, I'll go to the carriage." Glenarvan said again.

Everyone slept on the plateau at night, and started to descend the mountain on the second day.The way down the mountain is quite fast.

In the evening, the group finally descended the last steps of the Alps.The Alps are finally over.The road ahead leads straight to the Gippsland Plains.Everyone is still camping.

On the 12th, everyone set off at dawn.Everyone was elated and moved forward confidently, wishing they could reach the coast soon and find the place where the Britannia was wrecked.From there, traces of the wrecked crew can also be found.

At this time, Ayrton urged Sir Glenarvan again, asking him to send someone to order the Duncan to come to the Pacific coast immediately, and to list a series of conveniences.His words seemed to make sense.Even Paganel urged Glenarvan to consider it, saying that a cruise ship would certainly help.

Glenarvan had been hesitating, unable to make up his mind.If it hadn't been for the major's resolute opposition, he might have followed Ayrton's advice and let the Duncan come over immediately.

The major said that Ayrton must not be absent from the caravan.Near the coast, among so many people, only Ayrton knew the way.If the trace of Captain Grant is found soon, he must be tracked down. Besides, he is also the most suitable person, and he is the only one who knows the wreck of the Britannia.

So the major urged to go on.And John Mengel also supported his opinion, thinking that it would be more convenient to send someone to the Duncan to send a message to Tufu Bay.As a result, their claim prevailed.

Everyone decided to wait until Tufu Bay before making further plans.The major cast a brief glance at Ayrton, who seemed to express some disappointment, but the major said nothing.The geographer was complacently lamenting the strange scenery on the road, when suddenly he swayed on his horse, and then fell to the ground all at once.what happened?Is it because it's too hot?Seeing this situation, people hurried over. "Paganel! Paganel! what's the matter with you?" cried Glenarvan hastily.

"What's the matter? My dear friend, I have no horse to ride." Paganel replied, taking his foot out of the stirrup.

"What, your horse also..."

"It's dead too. It's the same as Murady's." Glenarvan, Meng Geer, and Wilson all ran over to check on the horse.

Indeed, his horse was dead. "How strange!" said John Mengel. "Yes, what a queer thing!" muttered the major.Another accident made Glenarvan very disturbed.Replenishment of horses was impossible in this backwoods environment.If the horses were all sick with equine plague, it would be very difficult to move on.Unexpectedly, before nightfall, "horse plague" seemed to be confirmed.Wilson's horse also died, and more seriously, 3 cattle.A rider can resolve to walk without a horse.But what would the two ladies do without the ox-drawn cart?120 miles to Tuff Bay, can they go?What's more, there are only 3 cows and 4 horses left with trailers and livestock for people to ride.

Things got serious.John Mengel and Glenarvan, distraught, checked the remaining animals, trying to prevent the accident from happening again.After examination, it was found that there were no symptoms.Each horse is strong enough to travel long distances.Only walked 10 miles that day.

The incident of animal death did not happen again.Everyone is in good spirits.Everyone was more energetic and walked a full 15 miles in one breath.Hoping to make it to the banks of the Snowy River that night.Everyone drove the oxen and horses for several miles.Halfway through a hill, a forest appeared in front of it.

Ayrton drove the exhausted cattle straight to the towering trees.Out of the woods want to rest.Less than 5 miles to the Snowy River.Suddenly, the ox cart sank into the mud, down to the axle. "Be careful!" said Ayrton hastily, turning to the rider. "Be careful of what?" Glenarvan asked with some doubts. "We are in the mud," answered Ayrton.Whether it was shouting or whipping, it could not move at all, because half of the cow's leg was sunk in the mud.

"Then let's camp here," said Menger. "That's the only way to go. We'll try to get the car out after dawn," Ayrton said. "Camp here." Glenarvan ordered.It took a lot of effort for Ayrton to finally pull the three cows out of the mud.He led them with four horses and fed them himself.

Glenarvan was very grateful to him for watching him so carefully.You know, the few cows pulling the cart are already very important.

They had a simple supper, tired and hot, and soon went to rest.Everyone gradually fell asleep.

About eleven o'clock the major awoke.Because of being overworked, he couldn't sleep well.He rubbed his sleepy eyes, and suddenly found a bright light.By light.The major suddenly noticed a few figures passing by the edge of the forest.hallucination?Or did you miss it?

In the middle of the night, what are these people looking for here?The major was determined to find out.The major crawled on the ground alone and hid in the tall grass.

The weather at night was terrible and it was pouring with rain.The tent could not keep out the rain at all, so Glenarvan and his companions hid in the ox cart.

I couldn't sleep anymore, so I had to chat and listen silently.He left the tent in the middle of the night without being noticed.

At last it was daylight and the rain had been falling incessantly, and there was a danger of the Snowy River flooding.So Murady, Ayrton, and John Mengel went out every now and then to check the water level, and came back drenched.It was finally dawn and the rain had stopped, but there was no sunshine.Glenarvan is most concerned about the car at the moment, and how to get the car out is the most urgent task.The front of the car was almost completely sunk in the slime, and the rear was sunk on the axles.It is not easy to drag such a heavy car out of the muddy nest, even if all the manpower, oxen and horses are used, it is difficult to say that it will work.

"You have to act fast anyway. Otherwise, the drier the slime, the harder it will be to pull it out," Menger said.

"Everyone, let's do it quickly." Ayrton echoed from the side.So Glenarvan, Menger, Ayrton and two other sailors went into the woods where the cattle and horses had been grazed the night before to lead the animals.The result surprised everyone, the cows and horses disappeared.They are all harnessed, so they shouldn't be too far away.

Ayrton also made his usual call, but there was no response after all.Just as Glenarvan was walking back a mile from the car.Suddenly, a neighing sound was heard.At the same time, a cow cry was heard.

"The animals are all there," cried John Mengel.Immediately burrowed into the stomach pea grass.The grass grows so tall that even if a herd of cows and horses are hidden inside, there will be no signs of it, let alone people discovering it.

Glenarvan, Murady, and Ayrton also rushed over at the same time.Immediately, they were as shocked and dumbfounded as Meng Geer by the sight in front of them.

Two cows and three horses lay dead on the ground, their bodies frozen.There was only one cow and one horse left, and they were taken back. "If the car hadn't been stuck in the mud, the two animals could barely pull the car to the seashore, but at a slower speed. But now we have to drag the annoying car out first." Meng Ge said.

"Let's try it, John. Now we go back, we've been out a long time, and they'll be worried," said Glenarvan.

"Why, what a pity! what a pity. Ayrton, if only all our cattle were shoed when crossing the Vimera," broke out the major.

"Why do you say that, sir?" asked Ayrton. "Because of all the horses, only the one you let the blacksmith shoe on escaped, and the rest died."

"Yes, what a coincidence." Meng Ge said. "A mere coincidence, I suppose," replied Ayrton, gazing at the major.

(End of this chapter)