Chapter 6 Chapter 6 In the Elgow Bay
At last the task of re-launching the two-masted ship was successfully accomplished.But the matter is not over.That boat is not 100 percent safe in the creek.There is no shade here, and the waves from the sea and the gale from the northwest will beat it.If it is during the spring and autumn equinox period of the big tide, it will not even be able to stay at the current anchorage for 24 hours.
Kang Garman understands this.Therefore, his plan was to drive out of the creek the next day when the tide was low.
But before leaving, the entire hull must be checked, especially the interior of the hull.Although the hull did not leak water, the planks at the bottom of the boat, at least those ribs, might be damaged when it ran aground.Therefore, it may have to go through some repairs before starting a long-distance voyage.
Conga immediately sent his followers to remove the ballast iron in the hold; the scrap iron was piled up to the level of the upper decks on the left and right sides, and filled the hold to the brim.These ballast irons do not need to be fully unloaded from the boat, which saves time and effort.Since Moore's current situation is far from safe, time must be seized.
They first moved the scrap iron from the front of the bilge to the rear, so that they could inspect the planks of the front shell.
Conga and Cargante carried out the careful inspection, assisted by a Chilean named Fargas, who had worked as a carpenter in a shipyard in Farbareso and was quite expert in repairs.
Between the bow keel and the foremast block, no damage was found.The floor, ribs, and planks were all sound; they were so firmly nailed that the shock of the beaching on the sand had not disturbed them.
They moved the weight a little further, and found that the hull between the foremast and mainmast was also undamaged.The pillars of the masts were neither bent nor turned.The ladder leading to the middle hatch has no mobile status either.
Attention was now drawn to the last third of the cabin, from the end of the hold to the stern keel.
Here a rather serious damage was found, not really a breach, but the starboard ribs sunk in, about four or five inches deep.The damage may have been caused by the two-masted ship hitting some rock point before it ran aground on shore.Although the wooden boards here have not been completely separated, and the padding in the middle of the wooden boards has not fallen off, so the sea water can still be prevented from pouring in, but the damage is still serious.
The ship must be repaired before it can go out to sea.It seems that even if the repair materials and tools are ready, it will probably take a whole week.
When Conga and his companions found out this was the case, the cheers that had been celebrated at the launch of the two-masted ship gave way to cursing, as was natural in the circumstances.Is this boat a waste?Could it be that they could never leave Starn Island?
Conga interrupted their whining.
"The damage is, of course, severe. In the state of the Mole, we cannot use it; in a major storm it will break open. It's a few hundred nautical miles to the Pacific. Halfway it will be broken." Danger of sinking. But this damage can be repaired, and we will."
"Where can it be repaired?" asked a Chilean man who couldn't bear the anxiety.
"Not here anyway," said an accomplice.
"Of course not here," Conga answered resolutely, "over Elgo Bay."
In fact, the two-masted ship could make the voyage to the Elgow Sound in forty-eight hours.Just follow the south or north shore of the island and go around.They have left in the cave yonder what they plundered from the wrecked ship; where Fargas, the carpenter, will find wood and tools necessary for repairs, and the fair weather will last two months. Soon, when Kanga and his gang left Starn Island, they would be able to board a boat that was absolutely safe.
Not only that, but according to Kanga's thoughts, he had originally planned to stay at Elgo Bay for a while before leaving Cape San Basiloma.The lighthouse was being built over there at the time, forcing them to drop everything in the cave and take refuge on this side of the island; that was only out of Motona.So the delay at Elgow Bay was only a little longer than originally planned, and did not change the plan entirely.
Everyone's confidence was restored, so they started to set up and prepare to set off at the climax of the next day.
In the eyes of this group of pirates, the lighthouse staff had absolutely no need to worry.Kang Jia made his plan clear in a few simple words.
As soon as he was alone with Cargante he told him: I was determined to take Elgow Sound before this two-masted ship appeared.This idea has not changed yet.However, we need not pass over the island quietly so as not to be seen, on the contrary, we will openly enter by sea, and anchor the two-masted ship in the creek; then instead of arousing the suspicion of those people, And to welcome us: there was only one gesture to end his speech, and Cargante understood it all.
The villain's plot was indeed a million dollars lost.It would be a wonder if Fasquez, Philippe and Maurice had not been murdered by them!
They began preparations for departure that afternoon.Kanga ordered the ship's irons to be put back where they were, and he busied himself loading the grain, guns, and other supplies brought to Cape San Basuloma on board.
The goods will be packed soon.It turned out that Conga and his gang had lived mainly on stored provisions since they left Elgow Bay more than a year ago, and what was left was now kept in the ship's store room.Bedding, clothing, utensils, gold and silver, and the crew's berths were stuffed in the Moore's berths and bilges to carry on board what was stored in the caves of Elgow Bay.
Things went on very quickly, and all the goods were on board about four o'clock in the afternoon.The two-masted ship could have weighed anchor immediately, but Kanga was not in a hurry because of the rugged rocks along the coast and the danger of sailing at night.He hadn't even decided whether to go through La Mer Strait before rounding Cape Sanchouan, depending on the direction of the wind.But with or without the La Mer Strait, he estimated that the total voyage, including night stops, would take less than thirty hours.
In the evening, the weather was still the same, and there was no mist at sunset; the sky was very clear, and when the sun's disk sank below the horizon, a dark green light lit up the sky.
All signs point to no storm tonight.And so it was at night.Most people spend the night on board, some sleep in bunks, some sleep in the bilge.Conga lived in Captain Barra's room to the right of the non-commissioned officer's quarters, and Cargant lived in the first mate's room to the left.
They got up several times during the night to look at the sky and the sea, and they were relieved to see that the boat was safe at high tide and would not delay the departure time of the next day.
When the sun comes out, it is simply gorgeous. In such high latitudes, it is rare to see such absolute clarity when the sun disc rises on the horizon.
At dawn, Kanga went ashore in a boat; he crossed a narrow gorge.Climb to the top of the cliff.
From this height he could see a vast expanse of sea, three-quarters of the angle of the compass.Only when looking to the east was the line of sight blocked by a range of mountains between Cape San Antonio and Cape Cape.
To the south the sea was calm, but at the mouth of the strait there was a considerable storm, for the wind became stronger here.
There was not a ship in sight, not even a wisp of smoke, and I daresay the Moore would meet no other ship on her way to Cape Sanchouan.
Conga immediately made up his mind that he was right to be afraid of the strong wind again; the wind and waves in the channel are the strongest between the high tide and the low tide, and the two-masted ship may not be able to withstand it; Landing on the south coast of the island, round Cape Camp, Cape Webster, Cape Several and Cape Diego to Elgow Bay.
Kanga came down from the top of the cliff to the sea again, and walked into the cave to see what else had been forgotten.
It was just past seven o'clock.The tide was just beginning to fall, just in time to drive the two-masted barge out of the creek.
Everyone anchored, and the staysails and staysails were hoisted.With these two sails, coupled with a northeasterly wind, the two-masted ship can be led off the beach.
Conga was at the helm and Cargante was on the bow.It took ten minutes to pass those reefs, and the hull soon began to shake a little.
Conga ordered Cargante to hoist the foresail and square sail; this square sail would be the mainsail on a two-masted ship.Then he ordered Cargante to hoist the gaffsail.The Moore, with these sails all hoisted on board, and close together, steamed south-west with full wind, so as to round the tip of Cape San Basuloma.
Within half an hour it had passed the rocks and turned and headed east, against the wind.But it was only good for him, for the south coast was just sheltering her from the wind; her position to leeward was always three miles from the shore.
Conga and Cargante both saw by this time that the boat was behaving very satisfactorily.Certainly, as long as the weather is fine, it will never be dangerous to drive it out of the Strait of Magellan into the Pacific Ocean.
Conga believed that it would be possible to reach the mouth of the Elgow Bay in the evening, but he preferred to stop the boat near a corner of the coast before sunset.So he didn't put all the sails up, neither the foresail nor the mastsail.Just plan to travel an average of five or six nautical miles per hour.
The Moore met no ships during the first day's voyage; it was nearly dark when she anchored east of Webster's Point;
The boulders in this area overlap, and the high cliffs stand tall; no mountain on the island is as high as this one.The two-masted ship swung down in the little bay six hundred feet from shore, with Webster's Cape as its screen; a ship could not have been so well in port or in a dock.
It would be dangerous for the Moore to stop at this spot if the wind turned southerly, for the sea was disturbed by Antarctic storms, and the wind and waves would be as rough as those on the Cape Horn side.But it seems that the weather has always been peaceful, and a northeasterly wind like this is nothing more pleasing to Kanga and his gangsters. On the night of the 25th there was hardly any wind or waves.The wind died down around ten o'clock, and it didn't pick up until dawn at about four o'clock.
When it was light, Conga was ready to weigh anchor.The sails, which had not been let down during the night, but were rigged with the coils, were now furled, and the anchors were hooked, and the Mole sailed again.
Cape Webster stretches five or six miles across the sea from north to south.So the two-masted ship had to go back east along the coast to Cape Several, a distance of twenty miles.The coast, protected by high cliffs, had the calmest waters; and as soon as the Mole was within a short distance of the shore, she resumed her journey, and went as smoothly as on the previous day.
The coast in this area is very dangerous, even more terrible than the channel.Countless huge reefs stand along the coast, some of which stretch into the sea and are only exposed when the tide ebbs.There is not a small river to drive in, no sandy beach to wade in.Starn Island relies on this huge fortress to resist the huge waves that wash down from the mountains.
The two-masted vessel sailed halfway, and was less than three nautical miles from the shore. Kanga was not familiar with this coast, so he was smart enough to dare not sail too close to the shore.On the other hand, he was worried that the Moore would not be able to withstand the impact of the waves, so he was careful, always driving in calm shallow water, and did not dare to drive too far into the sea.
But at ten o'clock, he had already driven outside the mouth of Huahua Bay. At this time, he could no longer completely avoid the waves. Since Huahua Bay went deep into the land, the sea breeze kept pouring into the bay, causing the sea water to stir up long waves. , slanted towards the Moore, shaking the hull of the ship creaking.
Conga kept the boat clear so as to round the eastern headland of Flower Bay.After rounding the headland, he turned the bow to face the wind, and let the wind push the port side, facing the sea.
He had to steer himself and he was trying to steer against the wind and the sail was ripped tight.It wasn't until four o'clock in the afternoon, when he thought he had sailed a long way against the wind, that he could go straight to his destination, that he turned the bow and let the wind push the starboard side all the way to Elgow Sound, when Cypher Cape Lal was on the northwest corner, about four nautical miles from him.
From this distance the whole coast was visible as far as Cape Sanjoen.At the same time, on the other side of Cape Dieguo, the top of the Skyrim Lighthouse was exposed. This was the first time Kanga had seen it. He used a telescope he found in Captain Barra's room, and even Visible to a lighthouse crew on top of the lighthouse.At this time, the lighthouse personnel were on duty on the platform, looking towards the sea, and there were still three hours before sunset. It was certain that the Moore could reach the berthing place before dark.The two-masted ship had of course been seen by the lighthouse keeper.In fact, it had already been noticed as soon as it sailed into the water of Staten Island.When Fasquez and his companions saw the ship heading out to sea, they would have taken it for the Falkland Islands.
It wasn't until the Moore pulled up to starboard against the wind that they realized that she was heading for the Elgow Sound.
But it mattered little to Conga that they had sighted the Mole, and even her intention to sail into the Elgow Sound had been seen.His plans will not change in the slightest.
To his greatest satisfaction, the last part of the voyage went very smoothly.The easterly wind was stronger, and the sails were hoisted up, ready to be set up at any time. When the two-masted ship sailed back, it did not need to turn the sails while rounding Cape Ego.
This is big luck.Judging from the current condition of the hull, the boat would definitely not be able to withstand turning left and right. In that case, the hull would be too violently rushed, and it might not be able to enter the creek without cracks.
In fact, this has already happened.When the Moore was still two nautical miles away from the bay, a bandit who had slipped into the bilge hurried to catch up again, and said loudly that there was a leak in the bottom of the ship.
The cracks are where the planks were broken by the reef.Those boards have always been good, but now they are cracking, though only a few inches long.
The damage here is actually not serious.Fargas removed the weight and the crack was easily plugged with a piece of wadding.
Of course, it had to be repaired afterward. After the grounding at Cape San Basuloma, the two-masted ship was about to sail into the dangerous Pacific Ocean, and it was bound to sink.
It was six o'clock in the afternoon when the Moore was a mile and a half from the mouth of Elgow Bay.Conga ordered all the gaffsails to be taken down, as they were no longer needed, and only the topsails, jibs, and spars remained.The boat, under such circumstances, with Conga at the helm, could easily sail down the little river of Elgow Bay; and as I have said, Conga was well acquainted with this waterway, and could serve as a port guide. people.
It turned out to be more smooth than they imagined.At half past six in the evening, a bright light shot onto the surface of the sea.Who would have thought that the lighthouse had just been lit, and that the ship sailing into the bay under its light was destined to be a Chilean ship that fell into the hands of a group of pirates?
It was nearly seven o'clock, and the sun was sinking behind the high peaks of Staten Island, when the Moore left Cape Sanchouan on her starboard side.The bay unfolds before it.Kanga sailed into the bay facing the phoenix.
When they passed the two caves, Conga and Cargante could see that the caves had not been discovered; There is no sign of them anywhere in this country, so their loot will be as intact as they left it.
"It's fine over there," Cargante told Conga, who was standing just behind him.
"Better soon," Conga answered him.
Twenty minutes later, the Moore had arrived in the swirling creek.
At the same time, two people came down from the flat slope to the river and greeted them.
These two were Philip and Maurice.They came out in a small boat, ready to board a two-masted ship.
Fasquez was on duty in the lookout room.
When the two-masted ship reached the middle of the creek, her mast and jibsails already furled, and she was sailing on the jib alone, Cargante ordered the jib to be unloaded as well.
As soon as the anchor dropped to the bottom of the river, Maurice and Philip jumped on the Moore's deck.
Kanga made a gesture, and Maurice was immediately hit on the head with an ax and fell to the ground.At the same time, two pistols hit Philip next to him.The two were killed instantly.
From the window of the lookout room, Fazquez heard gunshots and saw his two companions killed.
If he falls into the hands of these people, it will be the same fate.These murderous robbers, don't think they have the slightest mercy.Poor Philip, poor Maurice!There was nothing he could do to save them, and he was dumbfounded at the brutal crime that took place in just a few seconds.
Fasquez was petrified at first, then his mind cleared up, and he quickly considered how to deal with the current situation.In any case he must escape from the hands of these robbers, who may not have noticed him yet, but when the two-masted ship is moored, some of the robbers will come to the lighthouse and put out the light, so that at least until daybreak. , it is impossible to drive in the harbor.
Fasquez left the viewing room without hesitation, hurried down the stairs, and reached the dormitory below.
There is no time to lose a second now.Outside, the small boat could already be heard leaving the big ship, carrying the pirates on board and rowing towards the land.
Fasquez snatched two pistols, put them in his belt, stuffed some rations in a pocket, and slung them over his shoulders.Then he slipped out of the dormitory, ran down the flat slope outside the yard, and quietly hid in the darkness.
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