Chapter 27 Chapter 12 Tit for Tat

In 1520, the famous Portuguese navigator discovered the Strait of Magellan.Since then, especially since the advent of steamship navigation, the Strait of Magellan has become the only way to connect the oceans. On November 28, Evans pointed out the strait to Bryant and his companions on a map. "Now," he explained, "you see, there is an island above the Strait of Magellan, separated from the island of Cambridge on the south, and from the island of Madhedion and the Chasm Islands on the north. This island is located at 51 degrees south latitude and is called Hanover Island, which is what you call Charman Island. You have lived here for 20 months."

Bryant, Gordon, and Donagan hunched over the map, staring curiously at the island.They thought it was very far away from other landmass, but they did not expect it to be so close to the coast of America. "What!" exclaimed Gordon. "We are separated from Chile by a gulf." "Yes, boys," said Evans, "but between Hanover and the mainland there are only desert islands like this. Once we reach the mainland, we'll have to walk a hundred miles to reach a village in Chile or the Argentine Republic. It will be a tough trip, not to mention the dangers of the Burchi Indians. They live in groups on the pampa and are extremely unfriendly! I think it's a good thing you didn't leave the island. Here you already have We had no means of living; but now, with God's help, we're going to get out of here together."

The strait which encircles the island of Hanover is in reality no more than fifteen or twenty miles wide.On a clear day, Moko can be easily sailed across in a small sailing boat.Bryant and others never saw the islands during their expedition because they were so low-lying.The white dot was a distant glacier, and the jutting peak was one of the many Magellan volcanoes. Plus, as Bryant points out, they've been to the coast farthest from the neighboring islands.When Donagan reached Severnbank, he could have seen the south coast of Chasham Island if the horizon had not been obscured by clouds.This is absolutely true.Deception Bay carves Hanover Island and Bear Rock in a deep zigzag at the mouth of the East River.From Deception Bay you can't see anything on the eastern islets, nor the Isle of Esperance, only twenty miles away.To see nearby land, children must go to the North Headlands, where Chasm Island and Madhedion Island can be seen across the Concepcion Strait, or to the South Headlands, where Adelaide can be seen Queens Island and Cambridge Island; or to the very edge of the Lowlands, where they could have a glimpse of Owen Island and the glacier to the southeast.

But the kids had never traveled this far.Evans could not explain why these islands and landmass were not shown on Bowding's map.The Frenchman who died was unable to draw the exact topography of Hanover Island, perhaps because the fog obscured his vision. Now, if they could get the boat and fix it, where would Evans go with it? That was exactly what Gordon wanted to know. "I'm going neither north nor east," Evans said. "With a gentle breeze, we might reach some port in Chile. We'll be welcomed there. But these coasts are very rough." , perhaps it would be easier to walk across the straits of the archipelago."

"But will there be villages in these places?" Bryant asked. "Can we get a boat home from those places?" "I think there will be," Evans replied. "Look at the map. After passing through the Queen Adelaide Islands, we go down the Smith Strait and reach the Magellan Strait. Its entrance is the port of Tamar, Desolation Island. From there we can take a boat home." "If we don't touch a ship, do we have to wait until a ship passes by?" Bryant asked, "No, look, down the channel is the Brucewick Peninsula. Look, Gallant Harbor is located Bottom of Fortesco Bay. Ships often pass by Galante Port. If we go around Froward Point from above, we can reach St. Nicholas Bay or Bougainville Bay. Almost all ships are To anchor here. Farther along are Farming and Patana."

The sailor was right.As long as the children can reach the Strait of Magellan, they are safe.To get there, they had to fix the boat; to fix the boat, they had to get the boat.But that's only possible if Walston and his cohorts are dealt with. If the boat was still where Donagan saw it, there was a chance the kids could get it over.Fifteen miles from the East River, Walston would not have known about the plan.Evans would do his best to tow the boat to the Zeeland River, not Bear Rock, and haul it down the river back to Frenchman's Hole.This way, it can be repaired in the best possible condition.With sails on and the requisite equipment on board, he'll be able to sail off the island before the rogues stop him.

Unfortunately, this plan didn't work out.The problem can only be solved by force.Either take the initiative to attack, or shrink the defense.Nothing can be done without beating Walston. The children have full confidence in Evans.Kate had spoken so warmly of him, and now that his hair had been cut and his beard shaved, he was a brave, handsome lad indeed.He is full of energy and fearless.At the same time they found him to be kind, decisive, and self-sacrificing.As Kate puts it: "God sent a 'big man' to help these kids." The first thing Evans did was investigate his men's weapons and equipment.The pantry and the hall both seem like good defenses.One controls the river and the other controls the lake.Defenders can shoot through loopholes under cover.With their eight guns, the boys could keep the intruders at a distance, and if they got close, they could use the two little cannons to shoot them straight in the face.Revolvers, axes, and scimitars can all come in handy for hand to hand combat.

These defenders are still strong if they are in the hole; they are weak when they are out of the hole.With only 6 older children dealing with 7 outlaws who are accustomed to using weapons, it is enough for the children to take risks without retreating. "Do you think they are outlaws?" Gordon asked. "Yes," Evans said firmly, "they're all dying to eat." "He's not as bad as the others, except one," retorted Kate, "Forbes, he saved my life." "Forbes?" said Evans. "Maybe he was bewitched by the devil, maybe he was afraid of his fellows, and he was a part of the massacre. It was he and Locke who were after me. He was the one who started it." Whoever shot me thought I was a brute. Thought I sank to the bottom of the river, wasn't he one of those happy ones? Uh, Kate? I don't think he's much better than the rest. He saved you because he thought you might It will still be useful to them. If they come to kill him, he will definitely not be behind."

A few days later.To Evans' surprise, the sentinels on Oakland Hills found nothing suspicious.He knew Walston's plan. For him, the key was to hurry up and make a quick decision.Why is there no movement at all from November 27th to 30th?He thought for a long time, and finally realized that Walston was going to outwit the Frenchman rather than use force. "Because we're in the cave," he told Bryant, "Wolston must take one of the doors by force unless someone opens it for him! He's going to play tricks and get in the cave!" "How do you get in?" Gordon asked.

"Maybe, you know, only Kate and I knew he was the leader of a gang of robbers who were going to take over your land. But he thinks Kate died early in the shipwreck. As for me, I drowned in the river, you know." .He didn't know you knew the whole truth, or even that he was on the island. If he came here pretending to be a victim, he thought you might welcome him. Once one of them got in the hole, he could put his accomplices in too, Then it will be too late for you to resist.” "Well," Bryant said, "if Walston or any of them come looking for a place to stay, we'll shoot."

"Or courtesy? Which is better?" Gordon asked. "Perhaps the latter is better," said the sailor. "Wisdom outsmarts wit, doesn't it? Let's talk it over." The next morning was still safe and sound.Evans, Donagan, and Baxter walked half a mile out to Trap Wood, where they took shelter in the woods below Oakland Hills.They didn't find anything unusual, and the little fan who went with them didn't make a sound. But in the evening, before sunset, Webb and Cross hurried down from their sentry on the hill to report that two men were coming along the south side of the lake across the Zeeland. Kate and Evans didn't want to be seen by them, so they immediately hid in the storage room.Looking out through the gunhole, Locke and Forbes were soon seen. "Obviously," said the sailor, "they've come to deceive. They're pretending to be sailors of the wrecked ship." "What should we do?" Bryant asked. "They're welcome!" Evans told him! "Welcome the bastards?" Bryant retorted. "I never would." "I will," Gordon interrupted. "Fine, just do it!" said Evans, "but don't give them the slightest suspicion that we're here. When the time comes, Kate and I will show up." He and Kate hid in a cupboard in the hallway of the cave. A few minutes later, Gordon, Bryant, Donagan and Baxter all ran to the bank.The two men were now very close to the opposite bank.They pretended to be surprised to see them, and Gordon looked even more surprised. "Who are you?" he asked. "Our ship Severn was wrecked south of the island." "Are you British?" "No, we are Americans." "Where are your companions?" "They're all dead. We're the only survivors, and we're dying. Who are you?" "The colonists of Charman Isle." "Good colonists. Please have pity on us and help us, we have nothing left." "All shipwrecked people deserve help," Gordon assured them. "You are welcome." He made a gesture, and Moko boarded the small sailboat parked aside, rowed a few times, and brought the two men over. Walston certainly had no choice.But I have to admit, as long as you see Locke's face, it's hard for people to trust him.Even these ignorant children will act according to their faces.Although Locke tried his best to put on an honest look, how could his monkey-cheeked face conceal his fierce nature?Forbes, according to Kate, has not lost all of his humanity.The guy was much better looking, which was probably why Walston sent him. They dress up to look good.They can appear overwhelmed when asked a more direct question.Then they pleaded that they were very tired and hoped to rest in the cave for a night.Gordon saw them glance around hurriedly as they entered the Frenchman's Cave, and noted the astonishment in their faces at the sight of the defenses, especially the small cannons pointed out of the embrasures.If the two fellows had not asked for a break, and put off their adventure until the next morning, the children might not have been able to carry on the play either. "It will be enough to give us a bed made of leaves," said Locke. "Do you have another room so as not to disturb you?" "Yes," replied Gordon, "we have a kitchen room where you can stay until tomorrow." Locke and his accomplice passed through the storage room, inspected the house carefully, and noticed that the door opened towards the river. They lay down in a corner.They were not the only ones in the room, Moko slept there too.But they didn't pay much attention to him, because if they decided they'd wring his neck as soon as they found him asleep.Just wait until the time comes when they will open the storeroom door, and Woolston, who has been lying in wait nearby, will soon be the master of the French lair. At about nine o'clock, Locke and Forbes appeared to be fast asleep, and Moco went in and lay down on the bed, ready to sound the alarm at any moment.Bryant stayed in the hall with the others, shutting the door to the aisle, and Evans and Kate came out of hiding to be with them.Things went as the sailor expected.He was sure that Walston was nearby, and they would break in at the first signal. "We have to step up our defense," he said. Two hours had passed, and Moko was wondering if Locke and Forbes had pushed their plans until the next night, when he noticed a slight rumble in the corner. By the light hanging on the ceiling of the cave, Moko saw the two people get out of bed and tiptoe towards the door. The door is supported by a large pile of boulders, and it will not be easy to clear the wall. The two men began to remove the stones, placing them one by one against the wall.In a few minutes the door was clear, and all they had to do was remove the great wooden bar. As soon as Locke had removed the wooden bar and pushed open the door, a hand was on his shoulder.He turned his head and recognized Evans. "Evans!" he exclaimed. "Evans is here!" "Come here, boys," Evans called. All of a sudden, Bryant and his companions rushed in.Four boys grabbed Forbes, threw him to the ground, and locked him up. Locke quickly got rid of Evans, stabbed him with the knife, and escaped through the open door.He hadn't run ten yards when he heard a gunshot.Evans fired, but apparently missed the assailant.Because he didn't hear the cry of pain. "Let him go!" said the sailor, "but the other one remains. We can settle with him." He approached Forbes with a machete in his hand. "Forgive me! Forgive me!" pleaded the wretched man.Numerous children pressed him to the ground. "Yes! Spare his life, Evans!" Kate stepped forward to block him with her body, "Forgive him, because he saved me before." "Okay!" Evans agreed. "I agree, Kate, at least for now." Forbes was bound and locked in a hole in the passageway.That would have been a cupboard. The storage room door was closed and blocked.The children remained on alert until dawn.