Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

Immediately, crowds of people flocked out everywhere. After the news spread in a blink of an eye, the tourists and the people of Greenland were shocked, and the crew all abandoned their ships at berth.The flow of people rushed towards the direction pointed by the native messenger. If everyone hadn't been so focused on the shooting star, at this moment, they would have noticed an incredible thing.A ship moored in the harbour, whose funnels had been smoking since dawn, weighed anchor as if following some mysterious signal, and sailed swiftly out to sea.It was a long steamer, and looked like a quick-witted scud.In a few minutes, it was hidden behind the cliff.

Such behavior is really surprising.Why come all the way to Ubernivik and leave here at the very moment when the show is about to begin?However, because everyone was in such a hurry, no one noticed that it was gone, although it was quite strange. To get there as soon as possible was the only thing on everyone's mind, and there were some women among them, and even some children.Everyone ran forward in a mess, you pushed me, you knocked me down, and I knocked you down.However, at least one of them is still very calm and collected.Mr. Sean Stanford is an "Earth Runner" and a veteran at that.Nothing could move his heart.In the midst of this chaos, he still maintains that disdainful, tasteful taste, even—is it purely for etiquette, or has other completely different emotions? —he simply turned and ran away from the group, and met Mrs. Arcadia Walker, and accompanied her.Given their friendship, wouldn't it be natural that they would go together to discover Bolides?

"It's come down at last, Mr. Stanford!" were Mrs. Arcadia Walker's first words. "It's finally falling!" replied Mr. Seth Stanford. "It's finally falling!" was repeated over and over again, and they were still repeating, as they ran towards the northwestern point of the island. There are five people who have been running ahead of others.First of all, Herr Eduard de Schneck, Greenland's representative to the International Congress, to whom even the most impatient people gave way. In this way, the space was given up, and the two tourists immediately took advantage of the gap.Mr. Dean Forsyth and Mr. Huddleson now lead the way, faithfully accompanied by Francis and Jenny, the two young men who continue to reverse their roles, as in "Mo Zeke did.Jenny hurried past Mr. Dean Forsyth, while Frances Gordon circled Dr. Sidney Hudson thoughtfully.Their concerns are not always well received, and it should be acknowledged.This time, however, the two opponents were so distraught that they did not notice the other's presence, so that there was no question of denouncing the mischief of the two young men who walked side by side between them.

"That representative will be the first to take possession of the Bolide," muttered Mr. Forsyth. "Be the first to occupy it," added Dr. Hudson, thinking he was answering Francis Gordon. "But that won't stop me from exercising my rights!" Mr. Dean Forsyth declared to Jenny. "Of course!" agreed Mr. Sidney Hudson, thinking of his own rights. The daughter of the one and the nephew of the other were overjoyed, as if the two rivals had really forgotten their personal grievances and united their hatreds against a common enemy. As a result of a confluence of favorable conditions, the atmospheric conditions changed drastically.As the wind turned south, the storm had died down, and the sun, though only a few degrees above the horizon, was at least shining through the remaining clouds.Under the sunshine, the clouds became thin.There was no rain, no strong wind, the weather was clear, the sky was peaceful, and the temperature remained at 89 degrees Celsius above zero.

It was a full league to walk from the mooring to the tip of the island.Uber Nivik will not provide any vehicles.In addition, walking is quite smooth on a fairly flat rocky ground, and it is only in the center and near the coast that the topography of this area is greatly exposed. The bolide just happened to land on that side of the cliff.It is not visible from the mooring station. The first native to report is leading the way.Not far behind him were Mr. de Schneck, Mr. Forsyth and Mr. Huddleson, and Jenny and Francis.Behind them came Omicron, the Boston astronomers, and a throng of tourists.

A little later, Mr. Seth Stanford is walking beside Mrs. Arcadia Walker.The former couple was not ignorant of the legendary break-up between the two families.When crossing the ocean, Francis got acquainted with Mr. Seth Stanford, and confided his heartfelt love to him, which made Mr. Stanford know the consequences of the two families breaking off the relationship. "It'll be all right," predicted Mrs. Arcadia Walker when she heard it. "I hope so," said Mr. Seth Stanford approvingly. "Of course!" said Mrs. Arcadia. "Everything is better later on. You know, Mr. Stamford, it's not bad if there's a little hardship and a little fear before marriage. A marriage that goes too smoothly can also have a breakup." Danger! . . . You disagree with that?"

"Totally agree, Mrs. Arcadia. From this point of view, the two of us, we are a convincing example, within five minutes ... on the horse ... only time to solve the problem" to solve again six weeks later The problem, this time we worked it out with each other," interrupted Mrs. Arcadia Walker with a smile. Will be more sure of happiness. " Needless to say, among this group of troublemakers, probably only Mr. Seth Stanford and Mrs. Arcadia Walker (if you exclude the two young married couples) were neither concerned with meteors at this time, nor Not to talk about it; but, like Mr. John Prowse, - as he probably will - to talk about his philosophy.What they had just said reminded them of Mr. Prowth's shrewd, good-natured countenance.

As they walked briskly up a plateau dotted with clumps of thin, bristly shrubs, a flock of frightened birds-much more disturbed than they had been before near Ubernivik —scattered from the bushes.Three-quarters of a mile in half an hour, and a kilometer to go, came to Bolide, which was still invisible behind the rugged cliffs.According to the guides in Greenland, it will be found after that.The native was unmistakable, for while he was plowing the field he saw the flash of the shooting star distinctly, and heard the crash of the falling star.Many others, though at a distance, also heard the sound.

A situation that seems quite unusual in this area has given these tourists a break.Hot weather.Yes, it seemed unbelievable, but everyone was wiping their brows as if they were in a milder latitude.Could it be that the running made these good-for-nothings sweat?No doubt running helped this liquefaction.However, it is undeniable that the temperature of the air also tends to rise. In this place near the northwestern tip of the island, the temperature marked by the thermometer must be several degrees different from that of Ubernivik, and it even seems to be getting closer to the destination. , the hotter it gets.

"Will the presence of the bolide change the climate of the archipelago?" Mr. Stanford asked with a smile. "It's a very happy event for the Greenlanders!" replied Mrs. Arcadia in the same tone. "It is likely that this nugget is still hot because it has been heated by friction in the atmosphere." The Boston astronomer explained: "And, its radiant heat is felt up to here." "Well, good!" exclaimed Mr. Seth Stanford, "shall we wait for it to cool?" "If it had fallen off the island, instead of on it, it would have cooled much more quickly," Francis Gordon reminded himself, repeating his old happy tune.

He was hot too, but he wasn't alone.Mr. de Schneck, Mr. Walff, sweated like him, and so did the whole crowd, and all the Greenlanders, who had never had such a good time. After panting for a while, everyone was on the road again, and there were still 500 meters left. After turning over the cliff, the meteor will appear in front of our eyes, dazzling!Luxurious and spectacular! Unfortunately, at the end of two hundred paces, Mr. de Schneck, who was in the lead, stopped again, while Mr. Forsyth and Mr. Hudson behind him, and the crowd behind them, had to do the same. stop.It was not because of the heat, but because of an unexpected obstacle, a sudden obstacle that was never expected in such a place. This is a fence made of stakes threaded with three wires.It twists and turns, runs out of sight, extends to the shore on both sides, and blocks the way on all sides.Every other lot, the tree has some taller piles, and there are notice boards on the piles, with the same words written repeatedly in English, French and Danish. Mr. de Schneck happened to have a board in front of him. Shocked to see it read: "Private property, no entry." This is truly extraordinary for private property in this remote area!Sea holidays are understandable on the sunny shores of the Mediterranean, or on the smoky shores of the Atlantic, but here on the shores of the Arctic Ocean! ... What on earth could his ingenious proprietor do with this rocky barren land? In any case, there was nothing M. de Schneck could do.Whether it was absurd or not, a piece of private property had already blocked his way, and this purely spiritual obstacle knocked down his vigor at once.An official representative, of course, respects the principles on which civilized society is founded, and non-violation of the private home is the unanimously declared principle. Moreover, the proprietor is careful to remind those who want to forget this well-established principle. The words "no entry" express the true meaning of the principle on the plaque in three languages. M. de Schneck was at a loss.It seemed very embarrassing to him to be there.But to infringe upon another's property, and in defiance of all the sacred laws of man! ... The murmuring became louder every minute, first coming from the front of the line, and then spreading to the end of the line in an instant.The last few rows, not knowing the origin of these whispers, protested impatiently to the front.When they learned the truth of the matter, they were still dissatisfied, and gradually this dissatisfaction spread, and soon it became a deafening din.Amidst the uproar, everyone was talking at the same time. Is it just dragging on indefinitely in front of this fence?After traveling thousands of miles to come here, do you want to let this nasty wire block your way?The owner of this land would not have such crazy ambitions, trying to be the Lord of Meteors in vain.Therefore, he has no reason to block the way.Besides, if he blocks the way, it's very simple, just break through. Did M. de Schneck waver before this uproarious discussion?What is certain is that he finally gave in to these principles.In the fence directly opposite him was a small gate, fastened only by a string, which M. de Schneck cut with a knife.He didn't even think about it, to do such an outright act of breaking and picking locks has become a thief's bone.That's how he broke into this forbidden area. Some people walked through the small gate, some people stepped over the barbed wire fence, and the rest followed suit and rushed into this forbidden area.In a short while, more than 3,000 people invaded this "private property".Everyone was noisy and chattering, discussing this unexpected incident. Suddenly, however, the crowd fell silent, as if by magic. A hundred meters away from the fence, there is a small shed built of wooden boards, which had been blocked by the raised part of the ground before, and now it has been erected steeply in front of my eyes.The door of this shabby room was just opened, and a strange figure stood in the door frame.The strange man was yelling loudly at the invaders who were driving straight. "Ah, ah!" he cried in French, in a firm voice, "don't be restrained. You're welcome!" M. de Schneck knew French, so he stopped right there, and the tourists behind him stopped in the same way, and turned their three thousand stunned faces at the same time to the grotesque Shouters.