Chapter 30 Chapter 15 Go home!

It is not necessary here to recount the journal of the sloop's voyage along the Magellan Islands.There were no major adventures along the way.The weather has been fine, the straits are six or seven miles wide, and the sea has been calm. Celebrate that the waterway is uninhabited, as the natives of the island were not always so hospitable.Once or twice during the night gunshots were heard from the island, but no one appeared on shore. On February 11, the sailing ship sailed with a fair wind and entered the Strait of Magellan, which is below Smith Strait, between Queen Adelaide Island and the highlands of William Work Island.On the right are the peaks of Santa Ana, and on the left the bottom of Beaufort Sound are the tops of some glaciers.Bryant had seen these glaciers on Hanover Island.

Everything went well on board.The sea air suited Donagan well.He even felt that if necessary, he could go ashore again and continue the life of Crusoe. On February 12, Taima Island could be seen from the boat.At that time, there were no moorings in the harbor and the cove.Evans did not stop here, bypassed Cape Tamar, and entered the strait southeast. One side of the desolate island is all flat and dry coast, without the shadow of rich vegetation like Charman Island, and the other side is the jagged Croco Peninsula.Evans wanted to sail along the peninsula's shore, so that he could round Frowater Head and reach Patta Ana Harbor from above the Brucewick Peninsula.

But he didn't have to go this far. In the early morning of the 13th, Sovis, who was watching from the bow, shouted: "There is smoke on the starboard side!" "Is it the smoke from the fisherman's gun?" asked Gordon. "No," said Evans, "it's the steamer's smoke." Bryant climbed up the mast immediately. "There's a boat! There's a boat!" he cried. Soon the ship was visible from the deck too.It was a steamship of about 800 tons.It was coming at 11 knots. There was cheering from the sloop, some fired, and it was noticed. Ten minutes later, the steamer Granfton, bound for Australia, was alongside the sloop.

Captain Dragon of the Granfton listened to their account of the shipwreck.This is already well-known news in the UK and the US.Then immediately pick up everyone on the sailboat to the steamer.He even offered to send them directly to Oakland.It wasn't too far off his course.Because the destination of the Granfton is Melbourne in southern Australia. The steamer sailed quickly, and on February 25th she docked at the Port of Oakland. Two years had passed since the 15 students of the Charmain School had set out for a rafting trip in the Pacific, but now it felt like only a few days. We need not dwell on the joy of the boys' families.They returned safely, one by one, after a long 1,800 league voyage from New Zealand.When they heard that the ship Granfton was at the harbor to bring the children back, the whole town rushed to welcome them.

Everyone can't wait to hear the details of Charman Island!Soon, curiosity was satisfied.Donagan has done a number of presentations on this topic, with considerable success.Baxter's journal, shall we say, was printed almost non-stop, and then sold out in hundreds of copies.The newspapers remarked that the adventure was fun, but nothing too much trouble.In short, all Australians have developed a keen interest in this strange adventure story.Gordon's shrewdness, Bryant's unselfishness, Donagan's bravery and true manliness by all were the subjects of admiration. Kate and Evans were of course given a grand reception.A public signature fundraiser was held for them, and a ship was bought, named "Charmain".Evans will be its owner and captain.Provided the Port of Oakland is its home port.When it came home it was always greeted with the warmest welcome by his friends and those children.

What's next for Kate?The Bryants, Garnetts, Wilcoxes, and many others wanted her to live with them.In the end, she decided to go to the Donagan's because she had taken care of him and saved his life. These children have never spent their vacation like this, but, as all children should know, with skill, enthusiasm and courage, no matter how dangerous it is, it is possible to escape.Our heroes have passed a severe test.Difficult experiences have strengthened their characters.During their incredible two-year "vacation," the little boy grew up and the teenager almost became a man.