Chapter 6 6.debate before action

Eight days after rounding Cape Pollard, the ship sailed at full steam into Talcahuano Bay, a marvelous bay 22 kilometers long and 18 kilometers wide.The weather is fantastic.From November to March in this place, the sky is clear, and the whole coast is blocked by the Andas Mountains, so the south wind often blows.Mengele had followed Sir's order to sail the ship close to Jiro Island and the scattered islands on the west coast of America.A rotten plank, a broken mast, and a small piece of wood processed by human hands will all provide people with clues to the sinking of the Britannia.However, nothing was found.The Duncan had to continue sailing, and finally anchored in the port of Talcahuano.It had now been forty-two days since it had left the misty waters of the Firth of Clyde.

As soon as the boat came to a halt, Sir Glenarvan ordered the boat to be lowered, and he and Paganel rowed to the foot of the bank and landed.The learned geographer wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to say something about his painstakingly studied Spanish.But the natives didn't understand a word of what he said, which surprised him greatly. "I didn't speak in the right tone," he said. "Let's go to Customs," said Sir. When they arrived at the customs, they told them with a few English words mixed with expressive gestures that the US consulate was in Concepcion.It can be reached by horseback in one hour.The knight found two fast horses at once, and they were both in the city before long.This is a great city, founded by Valdivia, the brave companion of the Pisar brothers, the gifted adventurer.

How prosperous the city was at the beginning, but now it is so depressed!It was often plundered by the natives. In 1819, the whole city suffered a fire, and many houses were burned down. The city walls were still blackened by smoke.It had been eliminated by the port of Talcahuano, whose inhabitants now numbered less than eight thousand, and whose feet were so lazy that the streets had turned into grass.Without commerce, without activity, trade is impossible.From every balcony there was the sound of the mandolin (a lute-like instrument), and from the curtains soft songs rang out. Concepcion, once an ancient city of men, was now a village of women and children.

Sir had no intention of studying the causes of its depression, and even if Paganel urged him to do so, he did not delay a moment to find the American consul, Pentock.The consul received him very courteously, and as soon as he heard of Captain Grant's death, he agreed to take charge of the investigation along the coast. To the question whether the three-masted Britannia was wrecked near the 37th parallel off the coast of Chile or the Arogania, the answer is no.Because the British consul and the consuls of other countries have never received relevant or similar reports.The Jazz are not discouraged.He returned to Talcahuano, negotiated in the east, moved in the west, spared no pains and money, and sent people to the coasts to investigate.All this is in vain.Detailed surveys of coastal dwellers have been ineffective.In the end it had to be assured that the Britannia had left no trace of the wreck here.

So the Jazz told the results to his companions on board.Mary and her brother couldn't help showing their inner pain.This was six days after the Duncan arrived at Talcahuano.At this time, everyone gathered in the cabin.Mrs. Helen comforted Mary and her brother.Not to comfort with words, but to comfort with affection, because what else can she say?At this moment, Paganel took out the document again and examined it carefully with concentrated attention, as if he wanted to force it to reveal new secrets.A full hour had passed after he had looked at it in this way, when Sir called to him, and said to him:

"Let your wits judge, Paganel. Is our interpretation of the document wrong? Is the meaning of the words illogical?" Paganel did not answer, he was thinking. "Have we misunderstood the place of the accident?" asked the sergeant again, "isn't the word Patagonia so obvious to the most stupid people?" Paganel remained silent. "Finally, isn't there indien (Indians) that supports our thesis more?" Jazz said again. "Quite right," echoed the major. "Isn't it obvious, then, that the shipwrecked crew, at the time this document is written, are to be taken captive by the Indians?"

"Here I want to interrupt you, sir." Paganel finally replied, "Your argument is correct in everything else, but this last point does not seem very reasonable to me." "What do you mean?" Helen asked the Madame, while all eyes turned to the geographer. "What I mean is that Captain Grant was a captive of the Indians when he wrote the papers. And, I must add, there is no room for doubt about that in this matter." Paganel emphasized the last sentence talk. "Please explain, sir!" said Miss Grant. "It's too easy to explain, my dear Mary. The gaps in the document, we should read not as being captive, but as being captive, so that everything will be clear."

"That's impossible!" "Impossible! Why, my good friend?" Paganel said to Sir with a smile. "Because the bottle can only be thrown into the sea when the ship hits the rocks. Therefore, the latitude and longitude on the document must indicate the place of the accident. "Your point is groundless," retorted Paganel hastily, "I don't understand why those sailors who were killed by the Indians and taken to the interior couldn't try to drop a bottle and let people know where they were detained. ""The reason is quite simple, my dear Paganel, that the sea must be present in order to throw the bottle into the sea."

"If there is no sea, why not just throw it into the river that flows into the sea?" Paganel replied. A surprised silence accepted this unexpected and reasonable answer.Paganel saw the light in everyone's eyes and knew that everyone had grasped a new hope.Mrs. Helen was the first to speak: "What a thought!" she exclaimed. "What a brilliant idea," he added naively himself. "So, you mean..." Sir asked. "What I mean is to first find out where the 37th parallel to the south crosses the coast of America, and then follow the 37th parallel inland, without leaving the peninsula, until we find the Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps on the 37th parallel we will find Britannia Ya's crew."

"Not much hope!" said the major. "We can't ignore it, great or small. If I'm right, and the bottle did come to sea from some inland river, we'll have a clue to the captor. Look at the map of the place, my friend. Gentlemen, I want you to take my word for it." As he spoke, he spread out a map of the provinces of Chile and Argentina on the table. "Look," he said, "you're just taking a transcontinental walk with me. We're going across this long and narrow Chile, over the high and low rocks of the Andas and down into the middle of the prairies. Don't these regions lack great rivers? Is there a lack of great rivers? A lack of waterways? No lack. This is the Rio Negro, this is the Corododo, and here are the many tributaries of the two rivers, all of which are crossed by the 37th parallel south. In these places, perhaps in the hands of a tribe of natives, in the hands of some settled Indians, on the banks of these rivers that the outside world does not understand, in these valleys, Captain Grant and the others are waiting for God's will to rescue them What! Can we disappoint them? Do you agree to go through this area along the straight line I am pointing out on the map at this moment? In case it is not what I expected, I am wrong again. We are not also responsible Are we going to find the bottom along the 37th parallel again? If it is necessary to find those shipwrecked crew members, shouldn't we go around the earth along the 37th parallel?!"

Hearing such impassioned words, everyone was quite moved and stood up to shake hands with him. "Yes, my father is there!" cried Robert, his eyes eager to swallow the map. "Where your father is, we shall seek him there, my boy," said the Sir. "Our friend Paganel's explanation is so correct that we should now follow him without hesitation. Go along this line. Captain Grant is either in the hands of a large number of Indians or a small tribe. If he falls into the hands of a small tribe, we will rescue him directly. If he is in the hands of a large number of Indians, we will After scouting the situation, we will go to the east coast and return to the ship, and we will go to the capital of Argentina to recruit a group of people, organized by the major, which will be enough to deal with all the Indians in the interior of Argentina." "Good! Sir, that's it, good!" said Mengele, "and I may add that this journey across America will be completed safely." "Safe, and less fatigued," said Paganel, "there are many who have made transcontinental voyages, less equipped than we, and encouraged by a cause so great as ours." Didn’t a man named Vilamour walk from Carmen to the High and Low Rocks in 1782? In 1806, a Chilean, Don Louis, a judge in the province of Concepción, set out from the Andu Valley and crossed the Andas Mountains. After 40 days of walking, did you reach Buenos Aires? Finally, Colonel Cassia, Mr. Daubigny, and my venerable colleague Dr. Musi traveled all over this area? They did it for scientific research. If we can do this, can't we do it to save people?" "Sir!" said Mary with a trembling voice, "we should be grateful to you for being so generous and not afraid to take so many risks!" "Danger! Who said there was danger?" cried Paganel. "Not me!" replied Robert, his eyes wide open and determined. "Danger! How can there be danger? Besides, what are we going to do? It's just a trip of only 648 kilometers. We are walking in a straight line. The latitude followed by this trip is the same as that of Spain and Sicily in the northern hemisphere. , Greece and other places have the same latitude, and the climate is roughly the same. This journey will not exceed a month at most, and we are like taking a walk!" "Mr. Paganel," interposed Lady Helene, "do you believe that the lives of the wrecked crew were safe when they fell into the hands of the Indians?" "Don't ask, ma'am! Indians are not man-eating savages! They are definitely not like that. I know a Frenchman, Mr. Quinard, in the Geographical Society. He was held captive by Indians in the steppe for three years. He suffered a lot and was mistreated, but he stood the test and came back victorious. A European is like a useful animal in this area. The Indians know his value and they love him Just like caring for valuable livestock." "In that case, don't hesitate any longer, we should go, and start as soon as possible. Which way should we go? ' Sir asked. "A convenient and pleasant road. It begins with a little mountain road, then a small slope at the foot of the Andas mountain, and finally a field of fine grass and flat sand. There is no rough place. It is simply a big garden." "Look at the map," said the major. "Here is the map, my dear major. We will start from the end of the 37th parallel between Cape Lumena and the Bay of Canelo on the Chilean coast. After passing through the capital of Arogania, we will pass by the Andu Valley volcano. The trail to the south cuts across the high and low rocks, then slides down the long slopes of this area, crosses the Neucon and Colorado Rivers, and we reach the Pampa Prairie, passing the Salt Lake, the Guamini River, and Mount Tabalcon. Yes, the border of the province of Buenos Aires. We crossed the border. We climbed Mount Tanciul and searched along the way until we found Cape Madanas on the Atlantic coast." As he spoke, Paganel counted the places covered by this expedition without even looking at the map before him.He doesn't need to look at the map.He had been familiar with the works of Fleischer, Maurinard, Hong Bao, Banaier, Daubigny, etc., and his memory was very strong, and he was not wrong at all.After counting the series of place names, he added: "So, my dear friends, the road is straight. It can be covered in 30 days. If the wind is a little bit rough, the Duncan will arrive after us." What about the East Coast?" "According to you, the Duncan is supposed to cruise between Cape Glennde and Cape St. Anthony?" asked the captain. "Exactly." "Who are we going on this expedition?" asked the sergeant. "The less the better. We just want to find out about Captain Grant's situation, and we don't want to fight the Indians. I think Sir Glenarvan is our leader, and the major must also do his part. And your loyalty Servant Paganel..." "And me!" cried little Robert. "Don't interrupt, brother!" said Mary. "Why not let him go?" said Paganel. "Traveling is the best exercise for youth. Therefore, it is these four of us, and the three sailors of the Duncan..." "Why," said Mengele to his master, "won't you make me a nomination?" The darlings are all on board! Who can take care of them but the Duncan's earnest captain?" "Can't we go with you?" said Lady Helene, looking at Sir with concern. "My dear Helen, I am sure we will be back soon from this trip, we are only a little farewell, and..." "Yes, I understand you, you go, I wish you success!" said Mrs. Helene. "Besides, it's not travel!" said Paganel. "What is it if it's not travel?" asked the lady. "It's just a matter of walking through the world. Once we pass through it, it's like a good person passing through the world. While walking, we are doing good. The ancients said: Doing good deeds and walking through the world, this is our life." motto." Paganel finished the sentence and the debate was over.Strictly speaking, not a debate, but a conversation, where everyone agrees.On the same day, preparations for the trip began.Everyone decided to keep it a secret, lest the Indians would startle the snake if they knew it. The date of departure was fixed for October 14th.When it came time to choose the accompanying sailors, everyone rushed to go, which made Jazz feel very embarrassed.He had to ask them to draw lots.As a result of the lottery, first mate Tom Austin, sailor Wilson and Mouradi were drawn.Wilson was a good guy, and he beat the London boxing king Tom Saijos.All three of them were very happy. Sir Glenarvan was actively preparing, and he asked to start on time.He actually did that too.On the other hand, the captain carried out coal storage so that he could sail again immediately.He was bent on reaching the coast of Argentina before the expedition.Therefore, there was almost a contest between the Jazz and the young captain, and the contest was to everyone's advantage. Sure enough, on October 14, at the scheduled time, everyone was ready.At the time of departure, all the passengers gathered in the square hall.The Duncan had her sails set, her propeller beating the clear waters of Talcahuano Bay.Sir, Paganel, Major, Robert, Austin, Wilson, and Murady were all ready to leave the ship with their carbine and "Gault" pistol.The guide waited with the mule at the water fence. "The time has come," said Ser Glenarvan at last. "You go, friend!" Mrs. Helen replied calmly. The sergeant held his lady close, and Robert jumped to put his arms around his sister's neck. "Now, my dear fellows, hold hands one last time till the shores of the Atlantic!" said Paganel. Everyone came on deck, and the seven travelers left the ship.After a while, they arrived at the pier, and the cruise ship was also driving close to the shore, less than 100 meters away from the shore. Lady Helen shouted for the last time from the cabin: "Friends, may God bless you!" "God will bless us, Madame, please believe, because we will help each other!" Paganel replied. "Ship!" the captain called to the mechanic. "Let's go!" Golinafan agreed. The pedestrians on land drove their mounts along the coast, and the Duncan drove to the ocean at full power.