Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 37
Ayrton stood up suddenly, raised his pistol, and fired with a bang. Glenarvan fell to the ground injured.

Meng Geer and two sailors froze when they heard the gunshots begin, then swooped in to grab Peng Jues.But the convict hastened off to the gum grove and joined his accomplices.

As soon as Peng Juesi ran into the woods, the gunfire died down.The major and Munger went to the woods to make reconnaissance, and made sure that the gang of exiles had escaped.And there are some footprints and smoking gunpowder primers on the ground.

Lady Helen and Mary Grant hurriedly bandaged Glenarvan's wound.Fortunately, Jazz was only lightly scratched by the bullet, and his bones and tendons were not injured. The wound bled profusely, but Glenarvan repeatedly said that it was nothing, and asked everyone to rest assured.Next, please talk about the truth of the matter.

When they first met, the major instinctively distrusted Ayrton and disliked him.

The major noticed many details, such as the exchange of glances with the blacksmith on the Vimera; Ayrton's hesitation in crossing towns, and his repeated transfer of the Duncan to the east coast; Inexplicably dead animals in the village, and so on.In addition, his manner of speech was always evasive and evasive; all this increased the major's suspicion of him.

Last night, the major spotted several suspicious figures.Then, he quietly got into the bush and touched them.

"That's them," said one.

"Yes, the traces of the 3-lobed horseshoe are still here," said another. "It's been that way since the Vimera River."

"All their horses are dead."

"The poisonous horse herb is nearby."

"There's so much here that even a cavalry horse can be poisoned to death! This Stomach Grass is really good."

"Later, those three people stopped talking, and then walked away. I wanted to hear more details, so I followed them forward."

"Pen Juss can do it! The blacksmith said he arranged the shipwreck so well that he was worthy of a sailor. If his plan succeeds, we will be saved. That fellow Ayrton is not easy!"

"Another guy said: 'Let's call him Penn Juss, it's a good name.' After that, the guys left the gum grove."

Glenarvan turned pale with anger when he heard this, and he said: "That guy Ayrton has brought us here to rob and kill us. From the Vimera River, his gang Just follow us secretly, looking for an opportunity to start?"

"Yes," said the major. "Then it appears that this fellow is not a sailor on the Britannia, but that he has merely used Ayrton's name and his certificate of service on board."

The major said very calmly: "The matter here is complicated, but we judge that this man's real name is Ayrton, and Pen Juce is his nickname. He must also know Captain Harry Grant, and he has been in Britannia. Sailors on the SS. This can be judged and proved by the factual details that Ayrton told us. It is certain that Ayrton and Pen Juce are the same person. That is to say, one of the Britannia. The sailor is the leader of a band of exiles."

As soon as Ayrton's plot was discovered, all hopes were dashed.The Britannia did not run aground in Tuff Bay at all!Captain Harry Grant never set foot on the Australian mainland.

"Ah! This document of yours! It's not the beauty of an adult! You have fooled a dozen of us and made them go to great lengths." Paganel said full of annoyance.

Glenarvan went outside to find Murady and Wilson. "Has anything happened this hour?"

"Nothing at all, sir," replied Wilson. "I reckon those guys were miles away."

"They must have left because they were powerless to attack us. That Peng Juesi must have wanted to gather a few more bandits to help us besiege us," Mulla said. "Very likely, Murady, these bandits know that we are well-armed. Maybe they will come at night. So when it gets dark, we must take extra precautions in all aspects. Alas, if we can leave this swamp as soon as possible and reach the coast That's all right. And the swollen river has blocked our way. If I can have a raft to cross the river now, I don't care how much it costs." Glenarvan said.

"Then why don't we make a raft quickly? Besides, there are plenty of trees here." Wilson said instinctively.

"No, Wilson, the Snowy River is not an ordinary river. It is so fast and powerful that it is not so easy to cross." Glenarvan replied.

"However, we can't do this and wait for a solution. We still have to do what Ayrton said." Menger said.

"How can you say such things now, John," said Glenarvan.

"I think we need to ask for help as soon as possible. If we can't reach Tuff Bay, we have to send someone to contact Melbourne. We still have a horse. Please give me the horse. I will go to Melbourne." It's too risky, John. I can't let you go. I don't need to say more about the dangers of walking two miles in this lonely place. They must guard the big and small intersections in this area, and will not miss any opportunity." Glenarvan said.

"I've expected that. We're in a desperate situation and there's no time to delay any further. It will take Ayrton eight days to get the men on the Duncan here, and I'm determined to get back to Stanley in six." By the Norwich River, what do you think!"

"I think sending someone to Melbourne immediately is the top priority. However, Menger is the captain, so it is not appropriate to take this risk. The sacrifice is too great, so let me go." Paganel said resolutely.

"You are right," continued the major, "but why should you be chosen, Paganel?"

"We can go too!" Murady and Wilson said at the same time.Everyone who fights with me will go.

"Friends, if you need to go to Melbourne alone, let God make the decision by drawing lots! Paganel, now please write our names on a note..."

"However, your name must not be written, Your Excellency." Meng Geer interjected. "Why?" Glenarvan asked back. "Because your wound hasn't healed yet, you can't leave Madam Helen."

"Glenarvan, you cannot leave the caravan, and you are our backbone!" Paganel also said.

"You can't leave at this time, Edward, it's your responsibility to stay here." The major also hurriedly said.

"The journey to Melbourne is dangerous, I should share it with everyone, and how can I pass the responsibility to you? Paganel, put my name with everyone, I hope I can Drawn," said Glenarvan.

Glenarvan was so determined that everyone obeyed him and included his name in it.

In the end, the result of the lottery was that Mullah won the lottery. He jumped up and down with a "Ulla" and cheered. "Sir, I request to be ready to go at once," he said.

As we all know, Murady is quick-witted, brave, physically strong, and able to overcome all difficulties.The result of the draw was really satisfactory.Glenarvan shook his hand, and Mrs. Helen also said some words of encouragement to him, which moved him very much.

Everyone decided that at 8 o'clock in the evening, Mu Ladi set off.Wilson was in charge of preparing his horse.Take the trefoil shoe off the horse's left front hoof, and replace it with one of the dead horses.In this way, the gang of exiles will not recognize the traces of Muradhi.At the same time, his danger level will be reduced.

Glenarvan was going to write to First Mate Tom Austin.Because my arm is still injured, I can't do it myself, so I want to ask Paganel to write it for me.

At this time, the scholar was immersed in quiet thinking, completely unaware of everything around him.He was obsessed with the document he had misunderstood, thinking over and over the words on the document, hoping to get a clue out of it.However, no matter how he explained, he couldn't find a suitable answer.

He didn't hear Glenarvan's words at all, and he didn't answer absent-mindedly until Sir repeated it again, "Oh, well, I'll write it for you."

Glenarvan began by reading: "Tom Austin, please set sail immediately and take the Duncan to..."

When Paganel finished writing the word "to", his eyes suddenly fell to the newspaper "Australia and New Zealand" on the floor. (Australia and-Newzealand).

Only "aland" was exposed outside. At this moment, Paganel stopped the pencil in his hand and forgot all about writing letters.

"What's the matter, Paganel?" Glenarvan asked, seeing that something was wrong.

"Oh!" Paganel came back from his thoughts with a sudden start. "What's on your mind?"

"No, nothing." He kept whispering: "Alan! Alan! Alan!"

While talking, he actually stood up, grabbed the newspaper and weighed it back and forth in his hand.It seems that there is a lot to say, but I don't know where to start.He just stayed there in a daze.Lady Helen, Mary, Robert, and Glenarvan were all baffled and looked at him with that look, not knowing what he wanted to do.

"Read on, ser, I'll write for you," he said after a while, calming down.

"Tom Austin, please set sail as soon as you receive the letter, and drive the Duncan to the place where the 37th parallel south crosses the east coast of Australia..."

"Australia? Oh, yes, Australia!" said Paganel.He finished the letter in one breath and handed it to Glenarvan for his signature.Because Glenarvan's arm was still sore, he signed it hastily.After the envelope was sealed, Paganel's hands were shaking with emotion, and he wrote his name and address on the envelope:

First Mate Tom Austin of the Melbourne Duncan

Then Paganel got out of the ox cart.As he walked, he danced and said a few words: "Alan! Alan! Alan! (Zealand)"

(End of this chapter)