Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 64: Dabao Island (2)
"I had no choice but to swim back to the island with my head down. I suddenly felt that I had almost no strength in my body. The anxiety in my heart was beyond words. The hope was shattered again. They hurriedly pulled me ashore, and I was powerless. I can barely move."

"This is really a night I will never forget in my life. We were a little desperate at that time-yes, maybe there will be no chance in the future, maybe we are really forgotten by the world! We can only wait for old age to die here."

"Fortunately, there is no unparalleled road, maybe it is the arrangement of the heavens! As soon as it was dawn, I found that the boat had slowed down and was still circling around the island. After a while, you really put down the boat..."

"We're saved! We're saved! God! God! I couldn't believe my eyes at that moment—aren't those my sons and daughters in front of me? They're waving at me!"

Marie and Robert kissed and hugged their father passionately, with mixed feelings that they could hardly express and control themselves.

It was only now that Captain Grant suddenly realized: if there were no drifting bottles, and if there was no that bible-like document - which was sent out on the eighth day after their death, they would never have a happy day today!It should be said that this is an unexpected and exciting story.

What was Paganel thinking while Grant was speaking?He was pondering over the letter in the drifting bottle over and over again—it now appears that all three of his explanations are wrong!How can I not find this Maria Theresa Island on the letter paper?strangeness!
Finally, Paganel couldn't bear it any longer. He impatiently grabbed Grant's hand and asked, "Captain, can you explain to us the letter in the drifting bottle now?"

The geographer's request immediately aroused everyone's curiosity-yes, for nine months, everyone has been guessing the correct content of the letter.

"Is that all right? Captain," Paganel said anxiously and anxiously, "you must remember the words you wrote yourself, right?"

"Of course I remember!" Grant replied briskly, "I meditate on these few words every day—this is our hope for survival, and this is a matter of life and death!"

"What's that written? Captain?" Glenarvan couldn't help it anymore, "Please repeat it again. We didn't guess right no matter how hard we tried."

"Okay, that's easy enough," Grant agreed, "but I'm not quite sure which one you want me to say, because I wrote three letters in three languages—this is also to add another way of life." considerate."

"Oh, no wonder! You wrote three kinds?" Paganel almost blurted out. "However, the three are the same. It's just that only one place name is different."

"Hey! You speak French," said Glenarvan thoughtfully. "French is the best and most complete language; we have relied on it for many studies."

"Sir, this is written in French: On June 1862, 6, the three-masted ship Britannia was wrecked and sank in the southern hemisphere ocean 27 nautical miles from Patagonia. The three survivors of the ship The latter—two sailors and Captain Grant are now on Tabor Island."

"Alas!" Paganel sighed suddenly.Captain Grant continued to recite the letter: "We are desperate because we are far away from human habitation. I am throwing this letter today to ask for help. The location is longitude 153°, latitude 37°11'. See this, please hurry!..."

Paganel stood up involuntarily before he finished listening, and asked loudly suspiciously: "Why is it called Dabao Island again? Isn't it Maria Theresa Island?"

"Let me tell you slowly, Mr. Paganel," Grant explained, "England and Germany call this place Maria Theresa Island, and French maps mark this place as - Tabor Island!"

The heavy punch on Paganel's shoulder was enough to make him tremble.The punch was not someone else but the major—he uncharacteristically expressed his "respect" to the geographer, and at the same time jokingly called out: "My great geographer!"

But our geographer was hit far more than this blow, he felt that his knowledge was too ridiculous.

In fact, his conjecture about the letter was basically correct.He spent a lot of effort to confirm these vague "Patagonia", "Australia", and "New Zealand".Another example: deduce the meaning of "far away" from the word "mainland"; transform "Indians" and "indigenous people" into "desperate people".All of this is true.It is to analyze the most critical place name "Dabao" into "Dayu", which is obviously quite different!The geographers are not all to blame, however, for the Duncan's map clearly and clearly shows "Maria Theresa Island."

"What a joke!" Paganel scolded himself, scratching his head. "It's shameful to say it! How did I forget that it has two names? Well, it's called the Geographical Society." What about the secretary! I'm really ashamed!" "Look at what you said! Mr. Paganel," Madame Helene comforted him, "if you want to be open, don't be narrow-minded."

"Can I not be narrow-minded? Madame, look at my joke! I'm as stupid as a donkey!" "Not much? Too much! Can it compare to a circus donkey?" The major continued to tease him.Everyone laughed happily.

Glenarvan intended to set sail that very day, so he sent Ayrton down.

"You don't know me, Ayrton?" Grant asked the man standing before him.

Ayrton, who was brought to the front cabin, still replied calmly: "Yes. Captain, I am very happy to see you again. It seems that you are all well."

"Ayrton, it does not seem right to me to drive you to a place where people live?"

"That's right, Captain." "Then it doesn't seem wrong to let you look at this uninhabited desert island for me?"

"Yes, Captain."

"May God touch you, and the prodigal son returns..." "I hope!" Ayrton replied honestly.At this moment, Glenarvan interjected: "Is this still the only choice for you, Ayrton?" "Yes, sir." "Are you satisfied with Tabor Island?" "Very satisfied."

"Ayrton, let me say one last thing to you. This place is indeed far away from the world. Besides, it is quite difficult for you to get in touch with your friends, and there are not many whimsical things. The Duncan put you here, and it is fine. Said it killed you. But then again, you can't be in the same situation as Captain Grant, who's been here for more than two years and no one came to rescue him because no one knew he was there. As for you, we know everything about you, and of course more people will know and remember where you are. Although you are not worthy of being remembered by everyone." "May God bless you, sir!" Ayrton said only Said this sentence.The boat took Ayrton to the island.

Before sending Ayrton, John had sent some boxes of food, some tools, bullets, etc. to the island.

Therefore, this sailor can live a life of adequate food and clothing on this small island, and he can even study and study after working.

Regardless of the outcome, parting is always a bit sad.All the crew and passengers were on deck, and everyone seemed a little uncomfortable.Lady Helene and Mary, especially, were too soft-hearted to bear such a scene.

Helen couldn't help asking her husband: "Does it have to be like this? Leave this guy here alone?"

Sir Glenarvan told her, yes, "It has to be like this! Only by leaving him here alone for him to experience, think, and repent, can he be a man again!" John has slowly left the big ship with the boat .

Ayrton stood on the boat in a daze, took off his hat silently, and saluted solemnly.

Seeing Ayrton like that, Glenarvan took off his hat too.So the crew took off their hats and saluted one after another, as if they were seeing off a dead man.

The boat rowed towards the island amidst the seeing off.When he was about to approach the beach on the shore, Ayrton leaped onto the island with all his might.

The boat turned around and came back to the side of the big ship.4:[-] p.m. sharp.

People standing on the roof of the cabin can see Ayrton on the island clearly.

I saw him standing there motionless, clasping his arms with both hands, staring blankly at the big boat here, like a stone sculpture standing there.

"Shall we set sail at once, sir?" asked John. "Start the boat, John." Glenarvan replied quickly, trying to hide his uneasiness. "Ship—" John ordered the mechanic loudly.

The engine rang immediately, and countless waves were rolled up by the propeller.8pm.

The Duncan left Tabor Island far behind.This deserted and lonely island is completely lost in the night...

(End of this chapter)