Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The Sailing Ship "Aiba"

The next day, the "Aiba" began to prepare for departure without any haste.From a corner of the New Bourne wharf, the crew can be seen cleaning the decks, removing the sails from their holsters, untying the slings, fitting the slings, hoisting the boat and preparing for departure . At eight o'clock in the morning, Count Atticus had not yet appeared.His companion, Engineer Sokol (as the crew called him), remained in his chamber.As for Captain Spard, he was busy giving various orders to the sailors to prepare to set sail immediately. The Alba was clearly a racing boat, although she never competed in any North American or United Kingdom races.The high mast, the broad sails, the crossed yards, and the depth of the water ensure that it rides very smoothly, the slender bow, the slender stern, and the admirably drawn waterline, all of which show that It is a very fast, wind-resistant sailing boat that can sail in bad weather.

In fact, if the wind was strong, the Alba could cover twelve knots an hour with ease. Indeed, sailing ships are always subject to the vagaries of the atmosphere.When the weather is calm, they have to stop sailing.Therefore, although they have certain sailing advantages that steam ships cannot match, there is no guarantee that they can set sail at any time like the latter. Therefore, when all the advantages and disadvantages are weighed, it can be seen that the advantage undoubtedly belongs to the ship that combines the advantages of both sails and propellers.But it is possible that Count Atticus took this lightly, since he only sailed the seas in sailing ships, even when he crossed the Atlantic.

There was a gentle breeze blowing from the west that morning.If the "Aiba" wants to sail out of the bay of the Nez, pass through the Bomprico Sovind Lake, and reach a channel connecting this lake with the open sea, then this wind will be very favorable for her navigation. . Two hours later, the "Aiba" was still moored in place, and the sea water at low tide pulled its anchor chain straight.In order to avoid the impact of the ebbing water, the sailboat turned its bow towards the mouth of the Nez River.The buoy floating on the port side the previous night may have been hoisted up to the sailboat during the night, as it was not seen in the water.

Suddenly, there was a cannon shot from a mile away.A wisp of smoke rose above the gun platoon by the sea.Then, there was another explosion on the small island in the middle of the sea. At this moment, Count Atticus and engineer Sokol came to the deck. Captain Spard came up to them. "It's the cannon ..." he said. "As we expected," Sokol said, shrugging slightly. "It looks like people at the nursing home have figured out what we're doing," Spade said. "Undoubtedly," Sokol replied, "these explosions were an order to block the passage."

"What has all this to do with us?..." Count Atticus said calmly. "It doesn't matter," Sokol said. Spade was right. At this time, the staff of the nursing home had already discovered the disappearance of Thomas Roche and the nurse. In fact, at dawn, when the doctor came to Building No. 17 for outpatient consultation as usual, he found that the room was empty.As soon as the dean learned of this, he immediately sent people to search in the courtyard.Through investigation it was found that although the gate of the wall in the low valley of the hill was locked, the key was missing, and the bolt had been pushed from the bolt hole.

No doubt the kidnappers came in and out through this door at night or in the middle of the night.Who did it? ...There is no speculation or even suspicion about this.It is only known that at half-past seven that evening Thomas Roche was visited by a doctor from the sanatorium, who was in severe pain.He gave him some necessary care. When he left the small building, Thomas Roche was in a state of unconsciousness, and Gaidon sent him to the small road beside the building. What happened next? ...and everyone knows nothing about it. News of the kidnapping of Roche and Guyton was telegraphed to Newborn, and from there to Rilegue.The governor of North Carolina sent urgent telegrams ordering no vessel to sail out of Bomberico Sauvender Lake without a careful search.Another urgent telegram informed the cruiser "Falcon" stationed nearby to prepare to implement these measures.At the same time, urban and rural areas across the state are being closely monitored.

It was, therefore, on account of this order that Count Atticus saw, two miles east of the bend in the river, the cruiser Falcon preparing to set sail.However, sailboats can go at least for an hour without fear of being pursued by cruisers. "Shall we weigh anchor? . . . " asked Captain Spade. "Heavy anchor, since the wind is so good, but show no haste," said Count Atticus. "Indeed," interjected the Sokol engineer, "the various outlets on Lake Bomberico Sovender are probably being watched now, and no ship can escape the visits of these curious and presumptuous gentlemen before entering the deep sea... ..."

"Get ready to set sail," ordered Count Atticus, "after the cruiser's officers or customs officials have searched the 'Aiba', they will lift the blockade, if they don't let it pass freely by then. , I would be amazed..." "We have every reason to wish for a smooth trip and a speedy return!" replied the Sokol engineer, laughing as he finished. When the New Bern authorities heard the news, the first thing that came to their mind was whether Thomas Roche and Guyton escaped or were kidnapped.Thomas Roche could not escape without Guyton's assistance, so the idea was dismissed.From the perspective of the director of the nursing home and the administrative authorities, there is no doubt about Gaidon's actions.

They had therefore been hijacked, and one can imagine the repercussions of this news in New Bern.how!The French inventor disappeared under close guard, and with him the secret of "Lightning", which no one has yet grasped! ...Will this have serious consequences? …Has the United States lost forever the invention of the new missile? … Had the kidnapping been at the behest of another country, would he have gotten from Thomas Roche, who was in his hands, what the Federal Government had not? ...and how could one imagine the kidnappers taking this action solely for someone's benefit?

Therefore, corresponding measures have been extended to various counties in North Carolina.Special monitoring measures have been taken along roads and railways, in urban residential areas and in rural areas.The same surveillance measures were in place along the coast from Wilmington to Norfolk.No ship was immune to visits by cruiser officers or customs officials, who were immediately detained if they looked suspicious.Moreover, not only the "Falcon" cruiser is preparing to set sail, but also several steamboats on standby on Lake Bomblico Sovind are also preparing to search for merchant ships, cruise ships, and fishing boats from all directions, whether they are moored or not. Whether you are on the spot or preparing to sail to sea, you must be searched, including the cargo hold.

However, the "Aiba" began to weigh anchor.In short, the Count of Atticus did not seem apprehensive either about the measures taken by the administration, or about the danger he would face if Thomas Roche and Guyton were found on board his ship. Near nine o'clock, the last few preparations for sailing were completed.The crew spins the capstan.Through the fairlead, the hawse chain is hoisted, the anchor is straightened, and the sheet is quickly taut. After the jib, jib, foresail, and mainsail were hoisted from the topmast, the "Aiba" sailed eastward around the left bank of the Nez River. Twenty-five kilometers from the city of New Bern, the river bends suddenly to the northwest and becomes more and more open.After passing Croton and Havelock, the Aiba reached this bend in the river, and headed north along the left bank before the crosswind.At eleven o'clock the Aiba sailed with the wind for the island of Sivan, beyond which lay the Bomblico Sovender Lake.Before that, it had encountered neither a cruiser nor a steamboat. The vast Bomprico Sovind Lake is more than 100 kilometers wide and extends from Siven Island to Robek Island.Where it meets the sea there is a long and narrow chain of islands, surrounded by natural dykes on the south and north, from Point Lookout to Cape Hatteras to Cape Ginley, which lies on the north. Next to Norfolk, Virginia, which borders the Carolinas. Several lighthouses have been set up on Lake Bomplico Sovender, distributed among the islands, to guide ships at night.Therefore, ships can easily find a suitable anchorage to avoid the wind and waves on the Atlantic Ocean. There are several headlands between Lake Bomperico Sovender and the Atlantic Ocean.Beyond the lighthouse on Siven Island is the Cape of Oakley Cook, and beyond that is Cape Hadris, followed by Roger Hard Strait, Cape Newell, and Cape Ohogon. Under this layout, the sailing vessel is likely to take the Cape of Okeri Cook, and the "Aiba" is likely to sail to the Cape of Okeri Cook, so as not to replace the front lower corner rope. The Falcon was indeed patrolling this stretch of Lake Bomberico Sovind, searching for merchant and fishing vessels preparing to go to sea. Therefore, according to the government's order, at this time, every outlet to the sea is guarded by government ships, and the artillery and fleet are patrolling the open sea. Crossing the head of Oakrickook, the Aiba neither approached nor tried to avoid the steamboats cruising on Lake Bomblico Sovender.Appearing to be taking a morning walk, the pleasure boat sailed calmly toward Cape Hadrias. Fifteen minutes after arriving at the Cape of Oakrickook, Earl Atticus ordered the sailboat to sail to Cape Hadris. Maybe he wanted to pass through the sea of ​​clouds on this cape. Only he himself knows the reason. Neither the customs officials nor the officers of the cruiser have hitherto been searched on the galleon, though it has not evaded such searches.And, how can it hide it? What if the government would give them special treatment so that the sailboat would not be searched? ...Do people think that the Count of Atticus is too important to disturb his voyage, even for an hour? ... These conjectures seem improbable, since Count Atticus was a foreigner with great property and a luxurious life, and no one had even the slightest idea who he was, where he came from, or where he was going. The sailing boat continued to sail gracefully and quickly on the calm waters of the Bomprico Sovender Lake.The bright red flag on the gaff is fluttering in the wind, and a golden crescent moon is embroidered on one corner of the flag... Count Atticus was sitting in a wicker chair in the stern (a type of chair commonly used on cruise ships), chatting with Engineer Sokol and Captain Spard. "It seems that the officers and gentlemen of the Federal Navy are not in a hurry to come and take off their hats to us." Engineer Sokol said. "They may come whenever they like," said Count Atticus indifferently. "Perhaps they are waiting for us to reach Cape Hadris," said Captain Spard. "Let them stay," said the rich owner. After finishing speaking, he returned to his usual cold attitude. It must be believed that Captain Spard's conjectures are likely to come true, because it is obvious that the "Aiba" is heading for the Cape of Hadris.Although the "Falgon" has not yet come to "theory", but as soon as the sailboat reaches the mouth of Hadris, it will undoubtedly come to search.If the sailing vessel were to sail out of Lake Bomperico Sovender and into the open sea, it could not refuse an order from federal officials to carry out a search when it reached Cape Hadreth. Also, it doesn't look like the people on the sailboat are trying to evade searches in any way.Could it be that Thomas Roche and Guyton were properly hidden on the ship so that government officials could not find them! ... This conjecture was possible, but perhaps Count Atticus would have acted less confidently if he had known that the "Aiba" was under special surveillance by cruisers and customs boats. In fact, Count Atticus' visit to the Sanatorium drew attention to him from the very beginning.The Dean has no reason to doubt the motives of this visit.But just hours after he left the nursing home, both the patient and the caretaker were hijacked.Moreover, since he left, no one else has been to Building 17, and no one has had contact with Thomas Roche.Suspicion, therefore, fell on him, and authorities began to wonder whether he had been involved in the kidnapping.Perhaps the person who accompanied Count Atticus had observed the layout and conditions around the small building, unlatched the door, took out the key, and returned when night fell, sneaking into the sanatorium quietly. They hijacked Rosh and Gaidon, because the sailboat "Aiba" was moored four or five hundred meters away from the wall of the sanatorium. Is that true? ... At the beginning of the investigation, neither the superintendent nor the staff of the sanatorium aroused any such suspicions, but when they saw the sailboat set sail, headed down the bend of the Nez, toward Bomberico. This suspicion began to grow and grow when one of the mouths of the Solvand Lake was approached. The city of New Bern, therefore, ordered the cruiser Falcon and the steamer of the Customs House to follow the schooner Alba, intercept her before she sailed into the open sea, and search her most rigorously, not sparing an inch. Places, including cabins, crew rooms, and cargo holds.Do not let it pass freely unless you are sure that Thomas Roche and Guyton are indeed not on board. Count Atticus did not suspect that he was under special suspicion, and his steamer was under the special watch of the cruiser and the customs boat.But even if he knew, would this defiant, high-spirited man have the slightest unease? ... About three o'clock in the afternoon the schooner was within a mile of Cape Hadrias, and moved slowly in order to pass through the middle of the estuary. After the "Falgon" searched a few fishing boats that were about to sail into the open sea, it was ready at the entrance of the cape.All indications were that the Aiba had no intention of sailing out of the lake in the dark, nor did she intend to sail at full speed to evade the formalities obligatory to all ships on Lake Bomberico Sovender.A small sailing ship cannot escape the pursuit of a battleship. If the sailing ship fails to stop and advance, a shell will immediately force it to stop. At this time, a small boat carrying two officers and a dozen sailors left the cruiser, and then, with several oars at once, quickly cut off the path of the "Aiba". Count Atticus sat in the stern chair, lit a solid Havana cigar, and watched all this with indifference. When the boat was a hundred meters away from the sailboat, a man stood up from the boat and waved a flag. "Signal to stop the ship," said Engineer Sokol. "Indeed," replied Count Atticus. "Order us to stand by..." "Then stay put and stand by." Captain Spard immediately went to prepare to stop the ship.The staysail, jib and mainsail are drawn across, and the foresail is hoisted above the foremast. Immediately the sailboat stopped gliding, rocking it gently by the receding water rushing towards the headland. The people on the "Falgon" rowed a few more times and came to the sailboat.The hook rod caught the outer plank of the rigging.A ladder ran along the porthole, and the two officers, followed by eight sailors, went on deck, and the two sailors remained in the skiff. The crew of the sailboat lined up along the forecastle. The highest-ranking officer, the lieutenant of the cruiser, walked up to the owner of the "Aiba", who had just risen from his chair, and the following was the exchange between them. "Is it Count Atticus, the owner of this sailboat, standing in front of me?" "Yes, sir." "What's the name of this ship?" "'Aiba'." "Who directs it?" "Captain Sparder." "Which country is he from?..." "Indian Malaysia." The officer glanced at the flag, while Count Atticus said: "Sir, may I know why you are here?" "Ordered to search all vessels presently moored on Bomberico Sovind Lake or going to sea," replied the officer. He did not think it necessary to emphasize that the Alba was subject to a more stringent search than other ships. "Monsieur Count, you may not refuse..." "Not at all, sir," said Count Atticus, "my galley is at your disposal, from the top of the mast to the bottom of the hold. I just wanted to ask you why you are now moored at Bomberico Sauvin Ships on Lake De have to go through this procedure?..." "I have no need to hide anything from you, Mr. Earl," replied the officer. "The Governor of Carolina has just learned of a kidnapping in a sanitarium. The government wants to make sure that the kidnapped people from yesterday to night have not been sent to the ship..." "Really?..." Count Atticus pretended to be surprised, "Who is the person who disappeared from the nursing home?..." "An inventor, a madman, who was kidnapped along with his caretaker..." "A madman? Monsieur, . . . the Frenchman named Thomas Roche?" "Exactly." "I saw this Thomas Roche yesterday when I visited the Sanitarium... I asked him a few questions in the presence of the superintendent... When Captain Spade and I left he had a very severe fit and was Is he the one who kidnapped?..." The officer watched Count Atticus with the utmost care, trying to detect something suspicious in his manner and speech. "It's unbelievable!" repeated Count Atticus. He spoke as if he was hearing for the first time about the kidnapping in the nursing home. "Sir," he continued, "in view of Thomas Roche's status, I understand the government's apprehensions, and I agree with the measures taken. There is no need to stress to you that the French inventor and his attendants were not on board the 'Aiba'." .You will believe it when you have searched the schooner carefully. Captain Spard, please take these gentlemen to search." After saying this, Count Atticus bowed coldly to the lieutenant, then sat back on his chair and picked up his cigar again. Accompanied by Captain Spade, two officers and eight sailors immediately began a search. First, they came to the living room at the stern. The living room was very luxuriously furnished and furnished. The hall door was made of precious wood, and there were expensive artworks and priceless carpets and wall hangings. It cannot be denied that this drawing-room, and the adjoining room, the count's bedroom, were searched with the utmost care, even by the most experienced police.Besides, Captain Spade made every facility possible for these inspections, and he did not want the officer to have the slightest suspicion of the owner of the sailboat. After searching the quarters, they came to the sumptuously furnished dining room.Storerooms, galleys, the cabins of Captain Spud and the bosun in the bow, and the cabins of the sailors were searched one after another, but Thomas Roche and Guyton were not found. The hold and its contents remain to be carefully inspected.Therefore, after the hatch was lifted, Captain Spard had two lamps lit to facilitate the officers' search. There are only water tanks in the cargo ship, food of all kinds, barrels of wine, brandy, gin, grape wine and whiskey, beer, spare coal, everything is in abundance, as if sailing ships need Take a long trip.The sailors got into the space between the cargo boxes and carefully checked, including the inner guard, the box wall, the wooden barrel, and the gaps between the packages...it can be said that no effort was spared. Obviously, it would be absurd to suspect that Count Atticus was involved in the kidnapping of Thomas Roche and his nurse. A nearly two-hour search was fruitless. At 5:30, the officers and men of the "Falgon" returned to the deck of the sailboat. After a careful search of the interior of the sailboat, they were absolutely sure that Thomas Roche and Guyton were not on board.Externally, they searched the forecastle and the dinghy on the galleon in vain.They were sure that the Alba had been wrongly suspected. All the two officers had to do was say goodbye to Count Atticus, whom they walked up to. "Forgive us for disturbing you, Monsieur Count," said the lieutenant. "You are only here to do what you are told, gentlemen..." "Also, this is just a formality." The lieutenant thought it necessary to add this sentence. Count Atticus nodded slightly, agreeing with what he said. "Gentlemen, I have already stated that I have nothing to do with this kidnapping..." "We have no doubts about that, Monsieur Earl, we just need to get back to our ship." "Please go ahead. Is the 'Aiba' free to sail now..." "of course can." "Good-bye, gentlemen, good-bye, as I am a frequent visitor to this part of the sea, and I will be back soon. I hope that when I return, you will have found the real culprit of the kidnapping and sent Thomas Roche back to the sanitarium .It's not just for the good of the United States, it's for the good of all of humanity." After speaking, the officers bowed politely to the count, who responded with a nod. Captain Spade sent them to the port, followed by the sailors, and they returned to the waiting cruiser four hundred meters away. Earl Atticus signaled Captain Spard to set sail again, returning to the state before the sailing ship stopped.The wind was stronger, and the Alba sailed swiftly for Cape Hadris. Half an hour later, the sailboat crossed the headland and sailed on the boundless ocean. For an hour, the course was east-north-east.But it often happens that the wind from the land is no longer felt a few nautical miles from the shore.Since there was not a breath of wind on the sea, the "Aiba" had to stop, the sail beat the mast, and the rudder turned in vain. It seems that from now on it will be impossible for sailing ships to sail at night. Captain Spard stayed in the bow and watched.Since crossing the headland he had been looking to port and to starboard constantly, as if trying to find something floating in the nearby waters. At this moment, he shouted loudly: "Kink sail!" Immediately the sailors obeyed the order to let go the slings, and the fallen sails crowded the beams without anyone refitting them in their nooses. Did Count Atticus want to stay here until dawn, waiting for the morning wind to blow?However, people usually wait with their sails up to take advantage of favorable winds. Captain Spard and a sailor came to the surface of the sea in a small boat. The sailor shook the bow and oars, and the small boat sailed towards an object floating on the sea surface more than ten meters away from the port side. It was a buoy, much like the one that floated on the Nez when the Alba was moored on the beach near the Sanitarium. The buoy was raised and the boat carried it forward. Under the direction of the boatswain, a towline was hoisted down the side of the ship and tied to the cables on the small buoys.Then Captain Spade and the sailor re-boarded the sailboat and hoisted the boat up by the davits.When the towline was taut, the "Aiba" began to sail without sail.Head east, at a speed of no less than ten knots. The night ended, and the lighthouses on the American coast were soon lost in the mist on the horizon.