Chapter 29 Chapter Fourteen

Now the colonists of Charman Island are beginning to enter a new era. They have been fighting for survival and now they are ready to fight to escape the island. After the excitement caused by the battle, it is a natural and calm reaction. It can be said that they were immersed in the joy of victory.The danger is over and things are much better now than before.Indeed, it is much better than before.Since their first confrontation in the woods of traps, their chances of success have increased.But if Forbes hadn't joined, Walston, Cook and Brandt would have escaped.Moko didn't dare to fire at the risk of accidentally injuring Costa and Jack.

So what will happen?What would it cost to rescue the hostages from Walston? When Bryant and his partner look back on the experience calmly, they are still haunted.It won't be long before Locke and Cop are dealt with, and life on Charman Island can be considered perfectly safe. The heroes of the battle were congratulated as they deserved.Moko is credited with launching the cannonball; Jack is outstanding in his fearless performance.Xiao Shu received a loving caress and a plate of bone marrow.Moko used this to reward Xiaoshu for restraining that gangster Brant so cleverly. Moko pulled out the wine, and Bryant returned to where the stretcher was.A few minutes later, Donagan was lying in the hall.He still has not regained consciousness; and Phoebes is placed on the floor of the storage room.Kate, Gordon, Bryant, Wilcox and Mr. Evans attended to the wounded all night.

It was clear that Donagan was badly hurt, but since he was breathing normally, it didn't appear that his lungs were injured.To dress the wound, Kate used some leaves from the bushes that grew by the river.It was the leaf of the sapling tree, which was crushed and made into compresses, which worked wonders to stop the internal suppuration which might have been the chief danger.But Forbes was not the case, and Walston stabbed him in the abdomen.He knew the sword was fatal.When he awoke and saw Kate bent over him, he said softly: "Thank you, Kate! Thank you! It's no use! I deserve it!"

After speaking, his eyes filled with tears. "Cheer up, Forbes!" Evans reassured him. "You've atoned for your sins, and you'll live." No!The unfortunate man was dying.Despite their best efforts, his injuries continued to deteriorate, and at 4 o'clock he died. They buried him the next morning near Baoding's cemetery.There are now two crosses in that cemetery. But the presence of Locke and Cop is still dangerous.They are not completely safe until they can do no more evil.Evans decided to deal with them before setting off for Bear Rock.Evans and Gordon and Bryant bring weapons and buffs.Relying on the instinct of the little fans, they believe that they can find some traces soon.

The search was neither laborious nor long nor dangerous.Now fear no more of Walston's henchmen.They found Cope, dead, only a few yards from where he had been shot in the back.They found Peake's body at the spot where he was shot when the fighting started.The mystery of Locke's disappearance was quickly solved.They found him in a trap set by Wilcox.The trap soon became the grave of the three gangsters. Evans returns and reports that there is nothing to fear in the colony now.If Donagan hadn't been injured so badly, they could be completely relieved.However, we are still full of hope.

In the morning, they discussed their plans for the future.Obviously, the first thing they want to do is get the boat.Then there is the need to sail to Bear Rock and even spend some time there to fix the boat and make it seaworthy.Evans, Bryant, and Baxter agreed that they should take the lake and the East River, the safest and shortest route. They recovered the small sailboat in a backwater of the river.The three rogues had fallen overboard and been washed overboard, but Moko's cannon fire did not damage the ship.The shells flew over the ship.The schooner was retaken to Frenchman's Hole, loaded with tools and provisions. On November 6th, with Evans at the helm, the ship set sail in a moderate wind.

The little sailboat crossed the lake in no time.Less than 11:30, Bryant pointed to the creek.The little sailboat was soon down the river as the tide went down.On the sand near Bear Rock they found the Severn, high and dry.After a careful inspection, Evans reported, "We have the necessary tools, but we have no wood for the trimming and planking, and now the Frenchman's cave has material from the galley that we can use Take advantage, if we can get the boat to the Zeeland." "I'm afraid it's impossible," Bryant said. "I don't think so," continued Evans, "if the ship can go from the Severn to Bear's Rock, why can't it go from Bear's Rock to the Zeeland? Down to Sailboat Cove and sail home."

It would be great if the plan could be carried out, and decided to try it at high tide the next morning.The boat was towed by the little sailboat.Evans at once set to work plugging the leaks in the ship with short hemp shavings which he had brought from the Frenchman's lair.This kept him busy until late at night. At night they lived in a large cave.It was here that Donagan and his friends lived when they first came to Deception's Cove. The next morning, the boat was afloat.Small sailboats towed ahead.It is very laborious to drag, and when the tide is low, it is even more difficult to drag.They didn't drive it into the lake until 5pm.

Evans thought that driving at night was not prudent enough, so they camped under a beech tree on the bank, and they all slept comfortably until dawn. With a sound of "Sail!", the sail was pulled up, and the small sailboat dragged the heavy ship behind it to the French cave.The water in the boat rose to the thwarts.If it still sinks, it will drag the small sailboat into the water.So Evans stood there, ready to cut the tow rope.Fortunately, everything is fine. At five o'clock the schooner and its tug were in the Zeeland and moored at the quay. While the boys were out, Donagan's wound healed and he was now able to hold Bryant's hand back.His breathing was easier and his lungs were apparently intact.Although he ate very little, his strength began to return.Kate changed his dressings every two hours.Under this treatment, the wound began to heal.Maybe it will take a while to fully recover, but his strong vitality will definitely make him fully recover.

They got to work in earnest the next morning.First of all, it is necessary to pull the boat a long distance hard to pull it ashore. Evans was not only a good sailor, but also an excellent carpenter.He admired Baxter's skill.There was no want of materials or tools, and they replaced the torn battens and splintered sheaths with those from the schooner, and plugged every crack with old short hemp chips soaked in pine sap.This way it is completely watertight. That ship, perhaps we might call it a sloop, had a flat deck at the bow.It can be used as a shelter from the sun and rain.But it can also cause problems in the late summer season.Passengers can stay on deck or below deck if they want.The topmast of the sailing ship was converted into a mainmast.Kate, under Evans' direction, was about to cut a square mainsail, a square rearsail and a rather large jib from the useless foresail.With this complete set of equipment, the boat is able to remain stable and weather the storm.The work took 30 days and was not completed until January 8.During this period, Christmas was celebrated with some festivities, as was New Year's Day in 1862, which the colonists hoped would be their last New Year's Day on Charman Island.

Although still weak, Donagan recovered quickly.He can go out now.Fresh air and richer food helped his recovery.But his companion still thought about it for a few weeks, and waited until he was physically fit to sail before leaving, so as not to worsen the injury. The daily business was still going on in the French den, but the boys had long since forgotten the lesson and thought they should have a good time.So Wilcox, Cross, and Webb went out again.They made their excursions through the southern outskirts and dense trap forests.Now they disdain to make nooses and dig traps; and in spite of Gordon's advice, they shoot as much as they want.Gordon was always cautious about ammunition, and Moko's store of food began to contain fresh game, which could still be used when he went to sea. If Donagan could play to his strengths and become the colony's chief hunter, how enthusiastic would he be to hunt!Then he will definitely not save gunpowder and bullets now!It was such a disappointment that he couldn't share that joy with his companions.But he had to hold back everything, and he didn't dare to take it lightly. In the last days of January, Evans started loading.Bryant and the others wanted to take everything that was left on the sailboat, but that was impossible, so they had to pick a few. First, Gordon boarded the ship with the money from the sailboat.They might find the money useful on the way home.Moko took enough food for 17 people.Not only did he have provisions for the three-week short voyage, but he had surplus.I was afraid that some accident would cause them to be thrown on some small island before reaching the port.The remaining ammunition, rifles, and revolvers were stored in storage boxes.Donagan even ordered not to leave the two small cannons on the island. Also loaded on board, Bryant noted, were clothes of various styles, most of the books in the library, the main cooking utensils, including a stove in the store room; Lights, and of course that Howcott boat.Among his nets and lines Wilcox selected some of the most useful tools for sea fishing. They filled the boat with fresh water from the Zeeland River in barrels arranged by Gordon.Wine and beverages were also all loaded onto the boat. On February 3, all the goods were placed in place.If Donagan's wounds healed and he was able to sail, the only thing left was to confirm the date of sailing.The brave lad claims to have recovered.His wounds have become infatuated, and he has an appetite.Now all he has to do is not eat too much.Recently, with the help of Bryant and Kate, he has been taking daily walks on the level ground at the mouth of the cave. "Let's go," he begged, "let's go! I want to go home. The sea will make me well soon." The departure date is set for February 5th. The night before, Gordon released all the animals he raised.Llama, vicuna.The ostriches ran or flew away as fast as they could, without even saying "thank you" to the well-meaning people.The instinct to be free is unstoppable. "The ungrateful bunch!" Garnett exclaimed, "after all we've been feeding them for so long." "That's how things are in the world!" Sauvis said so solemnly, causing bursts of laughter. In the morning the boys got into the sloop with the little sailboat behind.Donagan was placed on deck next to Evans.With Evans at the helm, Bryant and Moko tended the sails in the bows, though they believed the current would carry them further down the river. Everyone else, including Mimi, went where they wanted to stay. The mooring ropes were untied, and the long oars beat the water. The boys cheered goodbye to the friendly cave.For so many months, it provided a safe haven for the children, who were a little bit reluctant when they saw the Oakland Hills disappear behind the trees. When going down the river, because the current is very fast, the boat moves relatively slowly.At noon, they arrived near the swamp forest.Evans dropped anchor, for the river was shallow, and it was better to wait for the high tide, so as not to be in danger of being stranded. During the time of stopping the ship, the people on board were enjoying the rich food to their heart's content.After dinner, Cross and Wilcox went to shoot snipe on the edge of the southern wilderness.Donagan shot two goosebirds in the stern, and needless to say, he has recovered quite well. It was late when the boat reached the mouth of the river.Evans, a sailor who has always been cautious, thought it best to wait until dawn, because it was not easy to steer the helm across a reef in the dark. The night was very quiet.The wind had died down, and by this time the seabirds had returned to their burrows in the rocks.Everything was silent in Sailboat Bay. In the early morning, the land breeze blows gently, and the sea calmly pushes to the shore of the southern wilderness.It was daylight, and Evans set sail, and the boat sailed out of the Zeeland River.Everyone was looking out over the Oakland Hills and the rock formations of Sailboat Bay.As the boat rounded Cape America, the rock formations were out of sight.The cannon fired a shell like a red flag heading straight for the top of the hill. Eight hours later, the boat entered the channel adjacent to the shore of Cambridge Island.Round the South Headlands and sail along the coast of Queen Adelaide Island as the last bit of Charman Island disappears on the horizon.