Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 58 Seeing the Duncan Again

Rejoice aboard the Duncan.The bagpipes blew, and Scottish songs sang, as if at Malcolm Hall.The owner of the ship came back, and everyone was indescribably happy.They embraced each other, like relatives who met suddenly after a long absence.When the people on board saw the faces of Jazz and his companions clearly, they realized their hunger and hardship, so they consciously stopped the carnival.Glenarvan and the rest of the group were indeed haggard and shabby, and they were a far cry from what they looked like three months ago.

To be honest, everyone no longer has any hopes and illusions about the Duncan. Time and reality have made them give up their confidence in searching.But today's coincidence made it impossible for everyone to adapt to it all at once.Seeing the Duncan again aroused Glenarvan's premonition earlier.He forgot hunger and thirst and fatigue, and was anxious to know what had happened to the Duncan.

How did the Duncan end up on the east coast of New Zealand?Didn't that Peng Juesi succeed?Is all this really God's arrangement?

Everyone asked Tom in unison.Tom was so asked that he didn't know who to answer first. After supporting him for a long time, he decided to answer Sir's question first.

Glenarvan asked with concern: "What? What about those scoundrels? Where did you get them?"

"Who are the villains?..." Tom didn't understand what it meant for a while, but he didn't react. "It's those villains who hijacked the ship!"

"Hacking a ship? Hijacking a ship, whose ship? Yours? Your Excellency?" Tom asked in surprise.

"Yes! My ship! This is the Duncan! Where's that Pen Juce who came aboard?"

"Who's Pen Juce? I don't know him, really," answered Tom solemnly.

"You don't know?" Glenarvan was really confused now. "Then tell me, how did the Duncan get here, Tom?"

Tom replied calmly: "I came from the Duncan at your request and instruction."

"According to my request?" Glenarvan became more and more confused as he listened, and he became less and less able to understand.

"Yes! Sir! Didn't you send me a letter? On the 1th of January, in which you asked me to come here."

"Get out the letter quickly, let me see it! Come on, let me see it!" Glenarvan was impatient.Ten pairs of eyes were fixed on Tom.

"What's the matter?" Glenarvan was still more astonished. "Tell me! What's the matter? Tom, you really got my letter?"

"I really got it."

"Received in Melbourne?"

"Yes, it was received in Melbourne. At that time, we had repaired the ship."

"Where is the letter?"

"Your Excellency, the letter is not in your handwriting, but the signature is your own. It is absolutely true!"

"Yes, yes! My letter was given to you by a convict, right? His name is Peng Jues!"

"No, no, it was given to me by a sailor named Ayrton. This man was also a sailor on the Britannia. He gave me your letter."

"It's possible! Ayrton, Peng Jues is alone. By the way, what did I say in that letter?"

"You order me to leave Melbourne at once, and to put the ship out, at--"

"On the east coast of Australia!" Glenarvan couldn't help it.The old seaman was taken aback when he heard this. "What? On the east coast of Australia? Isn't that right? It's clearly written on the east coast of New Zealand! It's written in black and white, so I can't read it wrong!" Tom's eyes widened.

"East Coast of Australia! Tom! Really, I'm really writing about the East Coast of Australia!" Glenarvan and others emphasized.

The old seaman suddenly felt a little embarrassed, and he thought to himself—could it be that I was wrong?How could there be such a big mistake?
His face turned red up to the neck, and his eyes were also avoiding everyone in a panic.No idea what happened?Mrs. Helen comforted her kindly: "Tom, don't worry, it's nothing. Maybe this is God's will. It just so happens..."

"No, ma'am! No! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I read it right! That's what it said in the letter, and Ayrton was there, and he saw it! Oh, yes, he wants me to go to Australia." What about the East Coast!"

"He wants you to go?" Glenarvan couldn't even believe his ears.

"Yes! Yes! He told me over and over again that you wrote the wrong place in the letter, saying that you were waiting for me and the boat at Tuff Bay."

At this moment the major interrupted and asked, "Tom, do you still have that letter?"

"Yes, yes! Mr. McNabbs, I'll get it right away!" Tom promised while running back to his residence.The major crossed his arms and taunted Paganel: "How should I put it? Paganel, you have made a big mistake again, right?"

"What? Did I make a big mistake?" Although the geographer was not convinced, his heart was a little helpless.Then Tom brought the letter.

This was the very letter Paganel had ghostwritten and Glenarvan had signed.The old seaman said out of breath: "Your Excellency, look!" Glenarvan took it and read aloud:

Tom is ordered to drive the Duncan to the east coast of New Zealand at 37 degrees south latitude! ... "The east coast of New Zealand? How is that possible?" Paganel felt as if he had been burned, jumped up and snatched the letter, wanting to see it for himself to be sure.

He blinked vigorously first, then wiped his eye sockets with his hand, and pushed his glasses vigorously.Make sure you can't read it wrong.

"My God! I'm really writing about New Zealand!" His tone of wistful exasperation was barely expressible as the letter slipped from his fingertips.

At this time, the major came over and asked Paganel seriously: "Now, please tell me the truth, why did you write - Australia as - New Zealand? Is it careless? Careless? Sloppy? Sloppy? Thank you for your mistake! Otherwise, the Duncan must have fallen into the wrong hands, and we must have been taken care of by the Maori..."

"Why? Well, it's obvious!" Paganel said lightly. "Isn't that..."

He broke off the conversation suddenly, and glanced at Robert and Marie.After this, he thought for a while and continued: "Oh, what should I say? My dear Glenarvan! It's all my fault for being too careless! Oh, sloppy! I'm afraid I can't get rid of this in my life! Even if I Don't repent! Such a big joke has been made! It's too shameful!...Even if you peel off the skin, you can't change this sloppy..."

"If only I could peel off your skin!" the major joked. "Peel off my skin?" The geographer was really on fire. "What do you mean?" "What do I mean? What can I mean? Paganel." McNabbs still said one word. a meal.After everyone understood the story of the Duncan, they felt their stomachs growling.Isn't it, the spirit is no longer tense and relaxed, so I feel the need to rest and eat.

They all entered the room.Glenarvan and John turned around again and stayed on the deck.

They called Tom over again.

Glenarvan still asked strangely: "My old Tom, you tell me that at that time, you received a letter from me saying that you were asked to come to New Zealand, didn't you think about it? You didn't suspect it at all. ?”

"Why not," Tom answered eagerly. "I was thinking, why should I let go to New Zealand? But I have a habit of obeying orders and obeying directions. I don't think I can lose time. Hurry up and sail! If Make up your own mind, what if you make a mistake? Captain, I think if you were me, I would do the same!"

"That's right, Tom!" said John. "Then what were you thinking about then?" Glenarvan was still asking reluctantly.

"What am I thinking about? Your Excellency, I thought it must be to find Captain Grant. You must have other arrangements. You must have taken another ship to New Zealand. That's why I was asked to pick you up on the east coast of New Zealand. When I left Melbourne, I kept it a secret from the crew and didn't say where I was going. I didn't tell everyone that I was coming to New Zealand until the ship was out on the ocean and I couldn't even see Australia. It doesn't matter that way, something happened Trouble, it's hard for me to handle!" "Some trouble? What's going on? Tom?" Glenarvan continued to ask even more suspiciously.

Tom was obviously a little uncomfortable at this time, and hurriedly said: "I mean, on the second day after sailing, the Elton knew that the Duncan was coming to New Zealand..."

"Ayrton?" Glenarvan interrupted Tom, "is he on board?" "On board, sir." "Ayrton is still on board!" Eyes on John.John said knowingly: "God has eyes!"

As a result, a series of scenes were like a movie, one thing after another emerged before the eyes of the Sir and the captain, and all the questions about Ayrton also flashed in their brains: Glenarvan's injury, Murat The accident, the hardships this group of people had to endure in the swamp of the Snowy River... this scoundrel!This hateful thing!It seems that he had premeditated.

However, the Skynet has been restored without any omissions.Where is he going today? "What about others?" Glenarvan was impatient. "He's locked up in a room below deck, and I've got someone to watch him!" answered Tom. "Huh? Why did you lock him up?"

"When he saw that the ship was heading towards New Zealand, he immediately became furious. He jumped over and asked me to change the course. He first threatened me, but I refused; then, he planned a crew riot. Is this okay? I Lock him up."

"It's been closed all the time?" "It's been closed all the time. He's too honest to come out." "Great! Tom!" Glenarvan and John knew it well.

By this time breakfast was ready, and they were invited into the dining-room to dine, but nothing was said about Ayrton.

Everyone had a good meal, their physical strength was obviously restored, and their spirits were lifted up at once.

Glenarvan gave the good news that Ayrton was still detained on board, and ordered that the villain be brought on board at once.

Mrs. Helen asked her husband in a low voice: "Can I avoid it for a while? Darling, I'm telling you the truth, I'm really afraid I can't stand it. This interrogation is chilling, and it also reminds me of the pain of the past!"

Glenarvan comforted: "This is a critical time! Helen, don't go away! No matter what, I hope you are there. Let's let this damned Peng Jues take a good look at it. Does he have the result he wants? If he succeeds, the people he wants to kill will still live in the world intact, and live in front of his eyes!"

After hearing what her husband said, Mrs. Helen said nothing more, and it was her expectation to vent her anger in front of this villain.

She sat quietly beside Jazz.Mary also sat down with Lady Helene.

On the other side of Glenarvan were the Major, Paganel, John, Robert, Wilson, Murady, Aubinet.

"Bring me up Ayrton!" commanded Glenarvan sternly.

(End of this chapter)