Chapter 22 Chapter XXII Nicolas Ballandre Is Angry

At daybreak, the steamer docked on the north shore of the Great Lake, and there was no trace of the aborigines here. Colonel Everett and others, who were already ready to shoot, put down their rifles. The "Queen and Tsar" was moored in a cove sunken between two walls of rock. The Bushmen, Lord John, and a sailor went hunting nearby.There is no human habitation here, and there is no trace of the Marco Rolo, but fortunately for the hungry team, there are many wild animals.There are herds of antelope in the tall grass and under the coppice.In addition, there are many wild ducks and water birds on the shore of Ngami.The hunters returned with an abundance of food, and Colonel Everett and his friends were thus able to recover their strength, and they would never again be without such delicious meat.

Since the morning of March 5, they have been stationed under a large willow tree by a river on the shore of Ngami Lake. Here the Colonel and Strux awaited their colleagues, who would probably return in the best conditions and therefore sooner than they had gone.After so much fatigue, no one can complain about the wait.Ballendre used this time to calculate the results of the last set of geodesies.Morcombe and Lord John are to relax by hunting, and they haunt this game-rich, fertile, well-watered country like two madmen, and your lordship will be more than happy to buy the land for the British Government.

Three days later, on March 8, several shots indicated the arrival of Forobel's detachment.Amory, Zorn, two sailors, and the Bushmen returned in good health, and they brought with them the theodolite, the only instrument currently in possession of the Anglo-Russian Committee, in good condition. Now that the young scientists and their companions have returned, it goes without saying that they are not less praised.They also gave you a brief account of the round trip.There were many difficulties on the way there. They got lost in the long forest before they reached the mountain for two days. Since there were no bearings, they could only go forward by the vague instructions of the compasses.They would never have reached Mount Volgilia without a wise guide, and Forobel was always and everywhere wise and faithful.Climbing the mountain was very difficult, and they suffered no less pain and anxiety from such delays than their colleagues on Skolzew.Finally they climbed the main peak of Volgilia. On March 4th, they installed the electric lights. From the night of the same day to the daytime on the 5th, the electric lights were strengthened by powerful reflectors, and for the first time they were on the top of the mountain. stand up.Therefore, observers on Mount Skolzew saw it almost at the same time as it appeared.

Zorn and Amory also easily saw the strong flames of the main peak of Skolzew when the main tower was on fire. They had measured its angle with the theodolite, so they completed the survey with Volgilia Peak as the apex. Measurement of triangles. "Has the latitude of this mountain been determined?" asked Colonel Everett. "Yes, Colonel, by precise star observation," replied the young astronomer. "This mountain is located at..." "Latitude 19°37'35".337 South, approximately to 337/1000th of a second," said William Amory. "Excellent, gentlemen," said the colonel, "thus we can say that our task is accomplished. We have measured the arc of longitude and latitude across more than 8° with the help of 63 triangles. When the results of our experiments have been calculated, we will know exactly the length of the 1° meridian arc, and therefore the length of 'meters' in this part of the Earth's ellipsoid."

"Ulla! Ulla!" exclaimed the Englishman and the Russian, feeling the same emotion. "Now," added the colonel, "all we have to do is go down the Zambezi to the Indian Ocean, don't you think so, Mr. Strux." "I think so too, Colonel," replied the Brokova astronomer, "but I think that our experiments should be checked with precision, and I therefore propose to continue the triangular series in the east until we find a place favorable for the direct measurement of new bases." Where there is only this base, the agreement between the calculated lengths of this base and those directly measured on the ground indicates to us the degree of reliability of our geodetic experiments."

Strux's proposal was accepted without controversy, and a test for a series of triangle work from the first base is essential.So they decided to build a series of triangles in the east until the base of one of the triangles could be measured directly from the ground with a platinum ruler.Steamboats going down a tributary of the Zambezi were supposed to wait for the astronomers at the foot of the famous Victoria Falls. Everything was arranged in this way, four sailors boarded the "Queen and Tsar", and the others, led by the Bushmans, set off against the rising sun on March 6.Some observation points had been chosen on the west side, and the angles had been measured, and in this area suitable for pole-setting, they could hope to easily establish a series of auxiliary triangles.The Bushmen once subdued with great adroitness a Hawaga, a wild horse with a brown and white mane and a reddish back with horizontal stripes.Whether the horse wanted it or not, the Bushmans used it as a draft animal, carrying the baggage they had salvaged in the steamboat, the theodolite, and the ruler and stand for measuring the hem.

They moved faster, and their work caused them little delay.These small auxiliary triangles can easily find their fulcrum in this undulating area.The weather is fine, and there is no need to borrow night observations.Travelers are almost always sheltered in the dense woods, the temperature is kept at a tolerable degree, and the streams and ponds maintain the humidity of the atmosphere.In this way some vapor rises into the air and softens the sunlight. In addition, hunting can meet all the needs of the expedition.The natives are no longer a problem and the bandits are likely nomadic farther south of Lake Ngami.

As to the relationship between Strux and Colonel Everett, it no longer gave rise to any controversy, and it seemed that personal rivalries had been forgotten.Clearly, there was no real intimacy between the two scientists, but no more could be expected of them. During the twenty-one days from March 6 to March 27, not a single incident worth describing occurred.They were first looking for a suitable place to build the hem, but the area they visited didn't offer it.For this operation, a flat and wide area of ​​land for miles around is required, and the very undulations and protrusions of the ground, which are so favorable for setting a pole, prevent the direct measurement of the bottom edge.They would therefore head northeast along the right bank of the Korbe, one of the main tributaries of the Zambezi, avoiding Makodo, the main city of the Makororo.

Perhaps, they can hope that the return journey will be completed smoothly, that nature will no longer throw obstacles or material difficulties in front of the astronomers' feet, and that the period of suffering will not repeat itself.Because Everett and his companions were passing through relatively familiar territory, they would soon encounter the towns and villages along the Zambezi River that Dr. Livingstone had visited.They then thought, with good reason, that the hard part of their task was done.Perhaps they were not mistaken, but a more serious event nearly ruined the whole expedition irreparably.

The protagonist of the incident is Nicolas Ballendre, or rather, he considers himself a victim of this incident. The tenacious but bewildered calculator is known, always absorbed in his figures, to sometimes allow himself to distance himself from his fellows.In a flat country, the habit is not very dangerous, and people can quickly follow the tracks of absentees.But in a wooded country, Barendre's absent-mindedness had such serious consequences that Strux and the Bushmen told him about it a thousand times.Ballandre agreed to follow their advice, marveling at the excess of caution.The noble man is not even aware of his absent-mindedness.

However, on the 27th of March, Strux and the Bushmen had not seen Barendre for many hours.The procession traversed a low, very heavily wooded area, completely obscuring the horizon, in which case it was never possible to keep the procession close together, as it was difficult to spot a person lost in the woods.But Nicolas Ballandre, neither looking nor thinking, walked on the left side of the procession with a pencil in one hand and a record-book in the other, and soon disappeared. At four o'clock in the afternoon, they found that Barlander was no longer there. One can imagine the anxiety of Strux and his companions, the memory of the crocodile incident still appeared in their minds.Of all people, the casual calculator is probably the only one who has forgotten it! The small team was full of anxiety, as long as Barendre did not return, it was impossible for them to move forward. They shouted in vain.The Bushmans and sailors were scattered within 1/4 of a mile, in the scrub.The woods and tall grass were searched, guns fired, but nothing was found, and Nikolai did not appear again. Everyone felt great anxiety, but it should be said that Strux's anxiety was mixed with resentment at his hapless colleague.This is the second time that a similar incident has occurred due to Nicolas Ballendre.Indeed, if Colonel Everett had reproached Strux, the latter would have been at a loss as to what to answer. In this case, the only decision they could make was to camp in the woods and make the most careful search for the Calculator. Colonel Everett and his companions were about to take a short rest in a relatively large clearing when a cry—a voiceless cry sounded hundreds of paces to the left in the woods, and almost at the same time At that moment, Barlander appeared, running as fast as he could, with his head bare, his hair bristling, half of his clothes stripped off, and a few pieces of rags covering his waist. The poor man returned to his friends, who questioned him endlessly, but the poor man, with staring eyes, dilated pupils, and constricted nostrils, obstructed his intermittent and incomplete breathing.He was speechless, tried to answer but couldn't come up with a word. what's going on?Why was Ballandre lost, and why did his terrors show so strongly the most indubitable signs!They cannot imagine. Almost incomprehensible words finally came out of Barlander's throat: "Notebook! Notebook!" The astronomers shuddered at the same time when they heard these words, they understood!Those two logbooks, the logbooks that recorded the results of all the geodetic experiments, are gone!Ballandre did not return with a record book!lost?Was stolen?It doesn't matter?The notes are gone, everything has to be redone, everything has to start over! Companions, stupefied with fright—the words that can be used to describe them at this moment—you look at me, I look at you, in silence, but at last Strux's anger broke out, and he could not restrain himself.How he treated the poor man!And with what words to hit him!Without fear, he threatened him with all the fury of the Russian government, if not to die under the whip, to be forever exiled to Siberia! For all this, Ballendre just kept nodding his head up and down.He seems to agree with all these sentences, he seems to say that he deserves this sentence, this sentence is too light for him. "But he was stolen!" said Colonel Everett at last. "It doesn't matter!" snarled Strux. "Why does the bastard go away alone? Why doesn't he stay with us? How many times have we told him!" "Yes," replied Lord John, "but it must be ascertained whether the record-book has been lost by him, or has been stolen. Someone stole from you? Mr. Ballendre," turning to the poor tired man Man, "Someone stole from you?" Ballander affirmed. "Who stole you?..." Your Excellency John said again, "Indigenous people? Marco Lolo people?" Ballandre denies it. "European? White?" His Excellency John asked again. "No," replied Ballandre in a stiff voice. "Who the hell!" roared Strux, thrusting his clenched fists into the poor man's face. "No!" replied Ballendre, "not natives...not whites...baboons!" Indeed, Colonel Everett and his companions would have laughed aloud at this maneuver, had it not been for the seriousness of the incident!Balendre was stolen by monkeys! The Bushmans told friends that this sort of thing happens a lot.As far as he knows, travelers have been robbed many times by these "shakma" - baboons with pig's heads.In African forests, one encounters this animal in large groups.The calculator was blocked and robbed, and there was a fight, as evidenced by the shredded clothes.However, this does not excuse him in any way, if he had stayed well, this kind of thing would not have happened, and the records of the Scientific Committee would not have been lost.How many dangers, pains, sacrifices have been made worthless by this irreparable loss! "The truth is," said Colonel Everett, "we didn't have to go out into the interior of Africa to measure longitude just for a fool! . . . " He didn't finish.The poor man was crushed by himself.The irascible Strux kept throwing at him the most unsavory titles—what was the use of attacking the poor fellow? It was time to think about what to do, the Bushman thought.Only this loss did not touch him so directly and strongly, and in this case he remained calm.It should be admitted that these Europeans, without exception, were extremely depressed. "Gentlemen," said the Bushmen, "I understand your disappointment, but time is too precious to be wasted. Someone has stolen Mr. Ballendre's record book, and he has been robbed by a gang of baboons. Well, we will immediately Go after the thief, these Shakma are careful about the loot! However, the record book is not edible, if we find the thief, we can find the record book!" It was a good idea, and the Bushman lit a ray of hope that could not be extinguished, and at this suggestion, Ballandre revived, and another man was revealed in him.With the scraps of clothing covering him, he accepts a sailor's coat and another sailor's hat, announcing his readiness to lead his companions to the scene of the crime! That night, they changed the road according to the direction indicated by the calculator, and walked straight to the west. Neither that night nor the next day turned out well.In many places, the Bushmans and Forobel recognized that a baboon had just passed by marks left on the ground and on the bark of trees.Ballendre was sure that there were more than a dozen of these animals at the time, and they immediately determined that they had found the whereabouts of the group of baboons, so they concealed themselves and walked with extreme caution, because baboons are shrewd and dexterous animals, and they are not easy to approach.The Bushmen intended to succeed only in case of surprise attack. The next day, around eight o'clock in the morning, a Russian sailor at the head of the procession discovered, if not the thief who robbed Barendre, at least one of his comrades.He walked cautiously back toward the line. The Bushmen demanded a halt to the advance, and the Europeans, determined to obey, waited for his instructions.The Bushmen asked them to stay where they were, and, taking Monsieur John and Forobel with them, concealed themselves carefully among bushes or brambles, and proceeded towards the woods which the sailors had just searched. They quickly spotted the baboon they had just seen, and almost at the same time saw a dozen others jumping from tree to tree.The Bushmen and two companions hid behind the trunk and watched them intently. As Morcum said, it was indeed a herd of Shakmar.Its body is covered with dark green fur, its ears and face are black, and its long tail is always moving, sweeping the ground.This kind of strong animal is powerful, with well-developed upper and lower jaws, and sharp claws, which can even make wild animals fear.The Shakma is the real farm thief, the thieves of the wheat and cornfields, a dangerous animal of the Boers, who frequently destroys their houses.The group in front, shouting while playing, looked like some big dogs with bad shape.None of them noticed that the hunters were watching them. But was the baboon who stole Barendre among the group?This is an important point to be determined.Yet doubt was out of the question.For now Forobel pointed out to his companions one of them, which was still wrapped with a piece of cloth torn from Barendre's garment. what!Your Excellency John's heart is full of hope again!He had no doubts that the monkey was carrying the stolen record book!It must be retaken at all costs, and to do so, proceed with extreme caution.One wrong move, and they would flee through the woods, never to be seen again. "Stay here," Mocum said to Forobel, "Your Excellency and I will go back to find our companions and try to surround them. You must keep an eye on these guys who are stealing crops!" Forobel remained where he was supposed to be, and the Bushmen and His Excellency John went back to Colonel Everett. Surrounding the baboons was indeed the only way to catch the criminal.The Europeans were divided into two detachments, one consisting of Strux, Amory, Zorn, and three sailors, who went to join Forobel and spread out a semicircle around him.The other consisted of Morcombe, His Excellency John, the Colonel, Ballandre, and three other sailors, who rounded to the left to attack the monkeys. Following the orders of the Bushmen, they proceeded with the utmost caution.The weapons were at the ready, and it was decided that the Shakma with the rags on his body would be the target of all fire. Ballandre walked beside Morcum, and it is difficult to calculate his enthusiasm.Morcum watched him carefully, for fear that anger would make him do something stupid.Indeed, the venerable astronomer could no longer restrain himself, for him it was a matter of life and death. They walked a semicircular route in half an hour, with many stops.The Bushman thought the time had come for the counter-offensive, and his companions, at a distance of twenty paces from each other, advanced silently, without a word, without a risky movement, without a rattling of branches, like a Pavini's troops were prostrate on the front lines. The hunter stopped suddenly, as did his companions immediately, with their fingers on the triggers, ready to shoot. They looked at the group of Shakma.The animals seem to have sniffed something out and are on guard.One of them was a tall one, the one who stole the record-book, and showed unsuspecting concern.Ballendre recognized the highwayman in broad daylight.It's just that the monkey didn't seem to have the record book with him, at least people didn't see it. "It looks like a rogue!" the scientist whispered. This large, agitated monkey appears to be signaling to its mates.Several female monkeys gathered in a group with their young monkeys on their shoulders, and the male monkeys walked around them. The hunters continued to approach.Everyone recognized the thief, and had taken good aim, when an inadvertent movement caused the gun in Ballandre's hand to fire a bullet. "Damn it!" cried His Excellency John, firing a shot. What an effect?Ten gunshots answered. Three monkeys fell dead, while the others sprang up and flew as if winged over the heads of the Bushmen and their companions. Only one Shakma remained; the thief.Instead of fleeing, it pounced on the trunk of a fig tree, climbed up with the dexterity of an acrobat, and disappeared among the branches. "He hid the record-book there!" cried the Bushman, who was not mistaken. At this time, people fear that Shakma will jump from one tree to another in order to escape.Morcomb took aim at it calmly and fired, and the monkey, wounded in the leg, fell from one branch to the next, holding in one hand the record-book it had taken from a branch.Seeing this, Barendre jumped up like a chamois, rushed towards Shakma, and a struggle began. What a fierce struggle!Anger strongly stimulated the calculator.Barendre's growls mingled with the monkey's cries.What incongruous shouts uttered as they scuffled!People can no longer tell which is the voice of a monkey and which is the voice of a mathematician!They could not shoot at Shakmar for fear of hurting the astronomer. "Shoot, shoot them both!" shouted the furious Strux, who might have done so if his gun hadn't been out of bullets. The struggle continued.Balandre, alternately above and below, tried to strangle his opponent, his shoulder bleeding from Shakmar's claws.At last the Bushmen, ax in hand, seized a good opportunity, and struck the monkey's head with the axe, killing it. The companions lifted up the fainted Barendre, who was still clutching the newly recovered record book tightly to his chest.The monkey's body was carried back to the camp. For dinner, the guests at the banquet knew the feelings of their colleagues who had been stolen. For the sake of appetite and revenge, they chomped on the meat of the "thief" because it was delicious.