Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen

What a chance encounter!It would be more accurate to say that we should thank God for his intentional arrangement!What a change for the Clifton family that the father and husband are back!Although they are still in the plight of having nothing, but now they can see hope and a future. When Flip saw the man lying on the beach, he didn't even think about whether the man was dead or alive. He only thought of running to it.Harry Clifton was sprawled face to face in the sand, his limbs sprawled and motionless; his face was pale, his eyes were shut, his mouth was half open, with half of his tongue sticking out.His clothes were torn and covered with mud spots.Beside him, Flip also saw an old-fashioned marble pistol, a knife, and a crew's ax.

Flip stooped, undressed the poor man, felt his body, and found it still warm, but dreadfully thin from hunger and pain.Flip lifted Clifton's head to see a long gash on the skull, surrounded by blood clots. Flip put his ear to the wounded man's chest and listened. "He's breathing, he's still breathing," the sailor cried excitedly, "I'm going to save him, water, where is the water?" A few paces away, Flip saw a small stream springing up from the sandy bed beside the marsh, trickling down to the sea.He hurried over, dipped his handkerchief in the water, and returned to the wounded.He wiped Clifton's head first, carefully removed the bloody hair from the wound, cleaned the wound carefully, and then moistened the engineer's forehead, eyes and lips with a handkerchief.

Harry Clifton moved slightly.His tongue retracted into his half-open mouth, and Flip heard a faint voice: "Hungry, I'm hungry!" "Oh!" said Flip, "poor man, God knows how long he hasn't eaten!" But how was it possible to breathe life into the flesh of the unfortunate man?How can we save this life that is quietly passing away? Flapp thought suddenly of biscuits and bacon. "That's right! Heaven has inspired this venerable woman." Flip ran to the stream, brought back some water in a large shell, mashed the biscuits in it, and made a paste, and then fed the engineer little by little with a small shell.

Excessively weakened, Harry Clifton could barely eat, struggling to swallow batter.After a few spoonfuls, he seemed to wake up a bit. Flip fed him and encouraged the engineer like a mother comforting a sick child.Half an hour passed, and Harry Clifton opened his eyes, and his almost extinguished gaze rested on Flip's face, which he must have recognized, for a knowing smile appeared on the wounded man's face. . "Mr. Clifton, it's me, sailor of the Vancouver. Do you recognize me? Please don't say anything, I understand you, just listen to me. Your wife and children are Well, all is well, how glad they are to see you! Such exciting news!" said Flip.

The wounded man's fingers moved a little, and Flapp understood him at once, and putting his hand in that of the engineer, he said to him: "I understand what you mean, but you don't have to thank me, it's nothing. Instead, I should thank you, thank you for coming to us, you did a great job!" Good Flip smiled, and patted the Engineer's hand to reassure him.Fido joined in to show his comfort, and he licked his master's cheek obsequiously. Flip suddenly exclaimed: "Oh! I remembered, Fido, you are starving to death too! Eat quickly, your life is more precious than mine!"

So saying, Flip handed the faithful dog some bacon and biscuits.He gave away the precious store which saved the day.Yes, my father has been found, there is no need to worry about their family anymore. Harry Clifton seems to be in better spirits after eating some biscuit batter.Flip checked his wound again, it was a very bad contusion.Flip, who has dealt with many of these traumas, wrapped his handkerchief around the engineer's head.He spread dry and soft algae on the slope of the dune, gently moved the wounded to the "bed" he hastily prepared, and covered the wounded with his shirt and overcoat.

Clifton let Flip do it for him, and he could only look at him gratefully. "You don't say anything," said Flip to the engineer. "I don't need to know what happened now. You can tell later. The most important thing is to wait until this day. Thank God, you finally came!" Then he leaned into his ear and asked: "Can you hear me clearly, Mr. Clifton?" There was an affirmative answer in Harry Clifton's eyes. "Listen," said Flip again, "it's getting dark, but the night is beautiful, isn't it? There's our camp seven or eight kilometers from here, your wife and the brave The children are all there, and I will transport you there, but the road is rough on the coast, and I have a way."

Engineer Clifton looked at the sailor with grateful eyes, his spirits improving when he heard that his loved one was well. "I'm going to do that," continued Flip, "you need nursing, and I'm going to transport you to the cave as soon as possible. I'll leave you here alone for a few hours first. Here's a little biscuit and water, and a little Bacon, Fido won't touch these things, can you hear me? It's eight o'clock, and I'll be at the cave in two hours, and I'll come in a boat and take you back by boat You can wait for me here for up to four hours. At midnight, I can return, and then we wait for the sea to ebb. The boat will take us down the cliff in no time. At eight o'clock in the morning, you can lie down Here in the cave, in a comfortable bed of sandweed, among your dear family. Well, agree with my plan?"

"Yes," Clifton whispered feebly. "That's it, we agreed," continued the seaman. "I'm going, Mr. Clifton, and believe me, you'll see how punctual I am with my appointments." Flip made the wounded man's bed again to make him more comfortable, shook his hand again, and finally said to Fido: "You, Fido, you are a good boy, take good care of your master and don't touch his biscuit batter." Fido must have understood, for he barked, very much like a "yes," and Flip was satisfied.The venerable sailor strode quickly away. How excited Flapp was on the way back.He was overjoyed that he did not return empty-handed.He forgot the fatigue of the day, the fire that went out, the knife that was broken, and was not an engineer like Mr. Clifton enough to get everybody out of trouble?With him, everything can be created even with bare hands.Now there are countless plans and plans flooding Flip's mind, and he believes that he can complete all the plans.

By this time it was completely dark, and the coastline was lost in the black sea.The moon does not rise until late at night.Flip, in this dark night, can only rely on his instinct to discern the direction.In order not to take a long detour, he had to cross the swamp again and return to the cave along the cliff.In the dark night he had to find the path in the swamp by which he had come.He can't take a wrong step, otherwise he will fall into the quagmire.He explored cautiously and moved forward, startling wild birds living in the water grass from time to time. "Damn!" said Flip to himself. "This ground is like a colander, and nothing but holes. But I've never had worse swamps in my life. How could this rotten mire Stop me."

As long as you are calm and calm, you can overcome all difficulties.Flip was dripping with sweat and splashed with mud, but he kept on going.At last he reached the collapsed slope on which he had come down from the cliff.Perhaps twenty men would not have been able to find the path that had been trodden, but Flip, as if with the blind man's instinct of walking at night, found his way uphill in the dark.He scrambled up the cliff with the agility of a chamois. "There's a solid place!" said Flip. "This damn swamp is killing me! My leg's about to break, but I've got a little more to run." Flip did what he said, elbows at his sides, chest out like a professional long-distance runner, and in no time he was running the way over the cliff top and down to the right bank of the river.He quickly took off his trousers and the only tight-fitting shirt he had and folded it on his head. He jumped into the river and swam to the opposite bank in a few strokes. Before the water on his body dried up, he put on his clothes and continued to run along the river bank.Soon he arrived at the first campsite, so he ran towards the cave along the foot of the cliff. At a little after ten he had reached the last turning to the cave.At this time, he heard a call. "Hi, Flip!" "Hi, Mr. Mark!" The sailor and the boy met.Mark was worried about Flip, he couldn't fall asleep for a long time, so he walked out of the cave after his mother fell asleep.One is for the safety of the whole family, to go outside to inspect, and the other is to welcome Flip.It was the first time he had spent the night without Flip guarding him, so it seemed to Mark that the night would last forever. Flip didn't pay much attention to the young man's presence, he just wondered whether he should tell him what happened at once.In the end, he thought: "This boy is a real man, he has strong nerves, he can withstand all accidents, and good news will never hurt people." "Flap," Mark asked at this moment, "how is your detection?" Mark's heart jumped violently. "There's something new, Mr. Mark!" replied the seaman. "Ah! Flip," cried the boy, "have you brought back hope to mother? She needs strong consolation, she is crushed by misfortune!" "Mr. Mark," replied Flip, "I have brought you back such good news that if you don't thank God after hearing it, you are a heartless fellow!" "What is it, Flip, what is it?" asked the young man, trembling with excitement. "Calm down, sir," Flip said, "Listen, I've found Fido." "Fido! Our dog, my father's dog!" "Yes, Fido, thin, weak, almost dead Fido, but he recognized me." "And..." Mark asked hesitantly, "and... Come on, Flip, why didn't you bring it back?" "No sir, I left it there because someone needed guarding." "My father?" "yes." Mark barely fell, but Flip caught him just in time.The boy threw himself into the sailor's arms and wept bitterly.Flip told him about the chance encounter.Father is still alive!Hearing the news, Mark was overjoyed. "I'm sorry," said Mark, taking the seaman's arm, "but get him here quickly." "Yes," replied Flip, "not a moment's delay, it's my decision, Mr. Mark." Flip told Mark that he intended to get to where Harry Clifton was at high tide by boat, because he had promised to return by midnight, and he had to keep his promise, so he had to start as soon as possible. "Where's my mother?" Mark said. "Should I tell her?" "Mr. Mark," replied the seaman, "the matter seems a little difficult to deal with, and my instinct tells me that Mrs. Clifton should be told slowly..." "Aren't I going with you, Flip?" asked the boy. "I think it's better for you to stay for your mother's sake, Mr. Mark." "But my father, my father is waiting for me, and he needs my help." "No, my young sir, you are the eldest son, and you are obliged to take care of the whole family while I am away. Besides, we will be back at eight o'clock in the morning at the latest. You just have to wait patiently for a few more hours." "But," said the young man, still wanting to insist, "if my poor father is completely tormented and broken, and I'm not by his side, for him..." "Listen, Mr. Mark," said the honest seaman solemnly, "I announce to you that I have found my father alive. It is a father alive that I shall bring back to his family!" Mark agrees to Flip's plan.It could only be arranged that way, not only because Mark was the eldest son who was supposed to take care of the family, but because only he had the flexibility to tell his mother the great news.Besides, he couldn't go away with Flip without telling his mother, but she was still asleep and he didn't want to disturb her. Mark helps Flip prepare the boat.The sails were not furled, as Flip had recently sailed for oysters. At this time, the tide began to rise, and the sea water flowed northward.The wind blows from the southwest, which is very favorable for sailing.But the night was very dark, and the moon didn't fully rise until two o'clock in the middle of the night.Darkness, however, could not stop a sailor as experienced as Flip.Flip boarded the boat. "Hug my father for me!" the boy yelled. "Yes, Mr. Mark," replied the seaman, "I hug your father on behalf of you and your family." After speaking, the sailor tightened the sail rope, adjusted the direction of the ship, and quickly disappeared into the night. It was half past ten at night.Mark sat alone on the shore, shaking like a fever.He didn't want to go back to the cave, he needed some fresh night air.In any case, I can't wake up my mother now, and let her suffer unnecessary worries prematurely.But how could he remain silent in front of her? But why keep silent, didn't Flip let him inform his mother little by little?What will happen to a mother who never believed her husband would go missing when she learns that her husband will reappear in a few hours?What should he say to her?What should he do now? Mark thought, walking back and forth along the road from the coast to the cave.The moon gradually rises from the east, and the gentle moonlight hazy outlines the curved coastline.The surface of the sea is glowing with microwaves, shining with dots of light.It is already twelve o'clock.If all goes well, Flip should be back with Harry Clifton.There is also the loyal Fido by his father's side, which makes Mark's tense heart feel a little calmer.He imagined that he seemed to see the many contributions that Flip, the venerable seaman, had made for his father, which was what he himself wanted to do. Mark thought over and over how he should tell his mother. He could tell her that Flip had discovered an island not far from the shore. after all.He could also say that Flip had seen masts raised there, and that there might be wrecks living on the island.Mark alluded to the fact that these people might be from the Vancouver.Indeed, the devil knows that the sailors on the rebellious Vancouver, under the command of a bastard second officer, why didn't their ship run aground and die?They may also have been carried to this shore by the waves.Mark felt that his assumption was convincing to his mother. Mark sat on the rock like this, thinking wildly.At one moment he was afraid that the lie would go too far, and at another moment he was afraid that the lie would not be satisfactory enough.By this time the moon had passed its highest point.Gradually it began to set again, and a faint white light appeared in the east again, and the sun was about to come out.At this lower altitude it will soon be daylight at this time. Mark was sitting on the stone, immersed in his imagination, when he raised his head, he suddenly found his mother standing in front of him. "Aren't you asleep, my boy?" asked Mrs. Clifton. "No, mother," Mark replied, standing up. "I can't sleep when Flip is away, my job is to watch over you all." "My dear boy, my dear," said Mrs. Clifton, taking her son's hand. "Where's Flip?" she added. "Flap," Mark stammered, "he's back." "Back?" repeated Mrs. Clifton, looking around. "Yes, he's back, but he's gone again, and he's come to get the boat." Mark stammered.His mother looked at him, her eyes seemed to penetrate into his heart. "Why is Flip gone again?" she asked. "He's gone again... Mother..." "What's the matter, Mark, what are you hiding from me?" "No, mother, I told you... I don't know, but I hope..." Mrs. Clifton took her son's hand and paused for a moment without saying anything.Then she seemed to calm herself down a bit and said: "Mark, tell me, what happened again?" "Listen to me, mother," Mark replied. Mark tells Mrs. Clifton the fictitious story of going off again with Flip already in mind.When Mrs. Clifton heard that the people on the Vancouver might be on the island, she let go of her son's hand and walked to the shore. At this time, her other children ran towards her, and they all threw themselves into her arms and hugged her.For some reason, she held the children in her arms extremely nervously.She didn't ask any more questions, but felt that her heart was in a state of ups and downs, and it was very difficult to calm down.She began to wash Jack and Bell. And Mark then slipped up and down the bank.He resolved not to speak anymore, because he felt that if he continued, the secret would be revealed involuntarily.But he had to answer Robert's words, because Robert saw that the boat was gone. "Flap came back at night and drove it away, he's going farther north!" "Flap back?" "yes." "When will he come back?" "Probably around eight o'clock this morning." It was half-past seven, and Mrs. Clifton came down to the shore again and said: "Children, if you like, let's go up to the cliff to meet our friend Flip." There was unanimous agreement with this suggestion.Mark didn't dare to look at his mother, and he listened to these words with a pale face, only feeling that the blood all over his body was rushing to his heart. Mother and children walk along the beach towards the cliff.Soon, Robert found a white spot in the distance, which was unmistakable. It was a white sail, the sail of Flip's ship, which was approaching little by little around the northern end of the bay along the ebbing water. come over.It takes less than half an hour to reach the camp. Mrs. Clifton looked at Mark, who was on the verge of shouting, "My father, where is father?" but he restrained himself with great determination. The boat sailed along the coast, the waves were rolling with white foam, and the sea wind blew the sails bulging. For a moment, everything on the boat appeared clearly in front of my eyes.Finally Robert exclaimed: "Look! There's an animal on board!" "Yes, it's a dog." Mark answered involuntarily. His mother immediately came to his side. "It can only be our Fido!" Belle said. A few minutes later Robert said, as if answering his sister's question: "It's Fido, mother, I recognize it, it's Fido." "Fido," muttered Mrs. Clifton automatically. "It's Fido," cried Robert. "Mother, it's your brave Fido, but how did he get into Flip's boat?" There was a sound of dog barking. Then the boat, following the ebbing waves, was quickly on the shore below the cliff, and Flip, with a precise turn of the rudder, rounded the last rock. At this time, the dog jumped into the sea with a leap, and it did not care that the waves might sweep it away, and swam towards the shore with all its strength.It climbed ashore and ran towards the children who met it.Finally, the children hugged their pet again, petting it over and over in ecstasy. Now Mark ran to the boat, and Mrs. Clifton followed him like a ghost. The boat finally landed on the coast smoothly.Flip stood at the helm with a man lying beside him, and he sat up slowly.Mrs. Clifton couldn't help but fell into the arms of this man, and passed out in the arms of this man whom she thought about day and night and shed countless tears for him.