Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 41 The Reef
February 2.Six days had passed on the Mercalli, and the journey had been tiring and more tiresome, and the destination seemed out of reach.

The sea was blowing from the southwest, and the waves were very strong. It seemed that they were specially designed to block the boats that were only going to Auckland.The ship was also pitched, and if the sails were pulled tighter, the masts on the ship would definitely fall down.

John's mood at this moment is very nervous, he seems to be silently saying that God blesses the safety of the ship and the friends on the ship.

It was still raining.Both Mrs. Helen and Mary hid in the toilet, endured the stuffiness and jolts, but never complained.Sometimes, when the rain stopped, they would come out on the deck to get some fresh air.The cabin was originally used for goods, so it is not suitable for people to live in, especially women. Staying here is almost like being tortured.

Sir Glenarvan was even more agitated. He couldn't stay in this narrow toilet at all. No matter the rain was heavy or light, he always stayed on the deck.Sometimes I lie down and think about things, and sometimes I pace back and forth.As soon as the rain stopped, he raised his binoculars to look ahead of the water and the sky.Not far from him is John, who takes good care of Sir no matter how bad the wind and rain are.

"Are you looking for the coast?" Sir shook his head.

"I understand how you feel," continued John, "we were supposed to have arrived in Oakland a day and a half ago."

Glenarvan still didn't speak, but just looked at the sea on the left with a telescope. "Your Excellency, please look to the right, the land is over there." John introduced. "I am not looking for land," Glenarvan replied. "Then what are you looking for?" "My ship! My Duncan!" said Glenarvan indignantly at the mention of this, "it might be out there! Let the pirates be driving around doing bad things! John, believe it or not? It's right between Australia and New Zealand..."

"Sir! Don't you look for it!" "What? John?"

"If we really meet the Duncan, can we still run? Look, it's just such a wreck!"

"Let's not run!"

"Isn't it okay not to run? Oh, you have to run even if you are running! But do you think, those villains can easily let us go? Peng Juesi has lost his conscience! We can fight him, and it doesn't matter if we die .But what do you think of leaving Lady Glenarvan? Sir! And what about Mary?"

"Oh, how unfortunate are these women!" Glenarvan sighed to himself. "John, I feel very sad at this moment! Especially when I think of them! . . . "

"Don't do this!" "I'm not doing it for myself, John, I'm doing it for the two of them..." John hurriedly comforted the Sir: "Don't worry! The Macquarie, whether it's going slowly or something else , it is always walking. As long as I am on this boat, I guarantee that the boat will be fine, and it will never hit the rocks while swinging on the sea; as for the Duncan, if you see it, please tell me quickly , let's 'go' is the best policy!" Pirates are rampant in this area of ​​the sea, once they are robbed, it is impossible to return to the country.

7 p.m.The sky over the sea seemed to have suddenly changed its face.The wind at sea was getting stronger and stronger, and the wind direction was also from west to east, as if deliberately blowing the Macquarie towards New Zealand.

Walked for another two hours.The waves beat more and more violently on the Mercalli, and the waves continued to crash on the deck, and there was a lot of sea water in the ship.It is very likely to continue to sink-the drain will not release the water on board for a short time.And the waves also wiped out the boat hanging from the port side pole.

In addition to this, the ship faced another, greater danger, which could not be prevented.Those dangers can be seen on the surface, but there are still "lurking" dangers waiting behind!
It's past 11 o'clock.

John, Wilson and others standing on the deck at 11 o'clock heard a terrifying but familiar sound.They were on the alert at once—all out of their nautical experience.

John couldn't help but grabbed Wilson: "Oh, it's a reverse wave!"

"Yes! That's right! It's the sound of the waves hitting the rocks!" replied the sailor.John had already leaned out to check the waves overboard: "Test the water! Wilson! Quick!"

"Ah, only 9 meters!" Wilson exclaimed.John jumped in front of Will angrily, and said angrily: "Captain, your ship has sailed onto a reef!" The stupid captain shrugged in bewilderment.John felt that there was no need to talk to him, so he went straight to the tiller, and turned the tune as soon as he stretched out his hand.

"Take advantage of the wind as much as possible! Let go of the buckle!" The young captain issued an order, trying every means to make the Megali avoid the reef.Fortunately, there is a young captain John on board, who can save the day by making prompt decisions!

However, what is the situation at the bottom of the sea ahead?Perhaps there are still reefs?After all, John is not familiar with the bay here, and cannot easily judge it.

The westerly wind blew harder and threw the Mercalli up and down.The more this is the case, the more attention must be paid-it is easy to run into a hidden reef and cause the ship to be destroyed.

At this time, there was another sound of headwind on the starboard side of the ship.John had to turn the rudder again, and ordered to immediately adjust the sails and turn the bow.Can such a weak and windless boat make a sharp turn against the wind?It's really uncertain!Even if you are not sure, you have to try it, it is better than running into a reef!

John commanded Wilson bravely and decisively: "Turn the tiller! Downwind!"

At this moment, the other side discovered that the reef is really ruthless, and the reef is even more ruthless.

what!The boat hit the rocks immediately.The staystays that touched the mast snapped in an instant.The foremast wobbled.

So the Macquarie still hasn't turned the corner.The waves are ruthlessly rushing against the Mercalli, from the back to the front, from left to right, the river-like water jet runs through the entire hull, it's really hard to escape! "What's the matter? John, tell the truth." Glenarvan asked calmly. "There are sand and rocks under the boat! Right now, I'm afraid that the waves will break the boat!" John answered bluntly without hiding anything. "What time is it?" "It's midnight. Sir, we'll have to wait until dawn." "How about putting down the boat and going ashore?" "It's so dark and the waves are so big, no! I can't even figure out the direction!"

"Then let's wait until dawn, John." Will jumped up and down in a panic like a madman, sometimes stamping his feet and beating his chest, sometimes crying about his uninsured cargo. "I'm fucked! I lost everything! I lost my fortune...what!" Those drinking guys complained and cursed, looking desperate and angry, and their eyes were bloodshot.And John is a caring young man, he quietly asked his friends to prepare weapons at any time to prevent these vicious drunkards from plotting money and murder.In fact, John had already planned it in his heart: immediately after dawn, he found out the distance to the coast, and then sent the people on the boat to the shore with the small boat on the starboard side.It's a pity that this small boat is too small, and it can carry up to 4 people at a time.There is no way, this is the only tool on board.

The sky shone through the sea, and a large red cloud appeared in the east.Ah, the coast is just around the corner, no more than 9 nautical miles at the most. "Ah! Harbor!" exclaimed John excitedly.The awakened people rushed to the deck to get a clear view of the land in the distance.Yes, regardless of whether the land is auspicious or inauspicious, but after all, when we reach our destination, we feel hopeful. "Where's the owner of the ship?" Glenarvan asked suddenly, as if remembering something. "No!" John replied.

"Where are his sailors?" "Slip away."

"Did you get drunk again?" the major quipped. "Let's look for it!" Glenarvan suggested kindly, "Don't leave them behind."

"Not one left?" Glenarvan asked a little puzzled. "Did they all jump into the sea?" Paganel deduced. "It's possible!" John replied, feeling sorry for them, "Let's hurry up and prepare the boat!"

Wilson and Mulla quickly followed John to the starboard side to pick up the canoe, but the canoe had disappeared without a trace.

(End of this chapter)