Chapter 21 chapter Five

Today, the transport networks of Tunisia and Algeria are integrated, but they were not then.Our travelers intend to take the train from Pony to Constantinople, Algiers and Oran. At dawn, Master Antipher and his companions left Tunisia.Bankers are naturally one of them.Boo Omar and his shadow, Najem, arrived just in time to join the party.It's a real caravan of six people -- and this time, they know where the lust of billions of dollars will lead them.No secrecy from Notary Bob Omar.Therefore, Savuk also knew that this expedition to find the No. 2 island would be centered in the Gulf of Guinea, including the Congo waters in southern Africa.

"It's a long journey," said Jewell to Bob O'Bard. "If you are afraid of the hardships of the journey, you can forego the reward!" In fact, hundreds of nautical miles to sail from Algiers to the Congo! But Bo Omar followed without hesitation. In fact, Savuk didn't allow him the slightest hesitation.Also, the one percent fee dazzled him... So, on April 24th, Antifel took Gilda and Joule; Sawuk took Bo Omar; Zambugo took care of himself and boarded a four-wheeled carriage, which was specially used to travel to and from Tunisia. City and Pawnee's stagecoach.Although everyone travels together, they don't talk to each other.

Just the day before, Jewell had written another letter to Enocuta.In a few days, the girl and her mother will know where the treasure hunter, Master Antipher, is heading towards the earth.At this moment, only 50% of the treasure belongs to him.It is estimated that the second stage of the journey will take about one month, which is not an exaggeration.How disappointed Enokat must have been to receive this letter!She originally thought that when Jewele came back, all obstacles would be eliminated, and the wedding would be held immediately without further delay! - God!With such an uncle, everything is still unknown.

About Gilda Tregman, barge captain on the Rance, who was destined to cross the equator and sail the southern hemisphere!what else can we do?Some things in life are inconceivable, and this venerable man is not surprised by them, nor would he be surprised to find Camilque's three oak barrels in the heart of Isle No. 2. This thought did not prevent him from seeing with curious eyes that the country through which the carriage passed was very different from the plains of Brittany, and even from the rough and uneven terrain of the mountains.Perhaps he was the only one of the six travelers who wanted to keep the Tunisian countryside in his heart.

The carriage moved slowly and was not very comfortable. The three horses ran wearily from one post to another.The road is rough, with steep hills and winding paths, especially the unfathomable gullies of Majjerda, and the swift, unbridged streams that overwhelm the wheels. The weather is bright and clear, the sky is blue, and the sun does not feel hot. On the left, Bey's Palace of Bardo is faintly visible in the sun, looking extraordinarily white.Other palaces also seem to be dotted in the green jungle, surrounded by thick fig trees and pepper trees like weeping willows.Arab huts are gathered everywhere, and the roofs are covered with Dongshan thatch, like the stripes on zebras. From time to time, Arab women with serious expressions can be seen sticking their heads out, and children who have been beaten by wind and rain together with them Mother's serious face.In the far fields and hillsides, by the ravines, flocks of sheep were grazing, black goats running around like crows in flocks. ...

The coachman raised his whip to urge the horse, and wherever he went, the crisp sound echoed in the air, and the birds flew away in fright.Among them are the colorful parakeet brothers, which are different from others.There are thousands of these birds, and it would be great if nature taught them to sing, and man taught them to speak!In short, travel is carried out in the symphony played by nature. One after another, the old man Gilda and Jewell got out of the car to stretch their legs every time they stopped.The banker Zambogo did not say a word all the way, and sometimes he jumped out of the carriage and stretched his legs like his traveling companions did.

"It seems to me that this old man, like our Antipher, covets the governor's billions of wealth!" said the barge captain. "That's right, Mr. Tregoman, these two heirs are comparable!" Every time Savuk got out of the car, he was always trying to extract a few words from the conversation that he found unclear.And Bo Omar hid in a corner, motionless.Thinking, soon he had to go to sea again, first to experience the waves of the Mediterranean, and then to meet the rough waves of the Atlantic. Pierre Servan Marlowe never left his seat and devoted all his energies to the small island No. 2 floating in the tropical African waters.

On this day, before the sunset, mosques and Islamic tombs came into view, some with pointed towers and some with white domes.This is the town of Tabulka, surrounded by greenery, completely maintaining the architectural style of Tunisian cities. The carriage stopped in the town for a few hours, and the travelers found a small inn at the posting station, where they had a decent meal.As for sightseeing towns, that's delusional.Among the six people, maybe only the captain of the barge would have such a plan, maybe Jewele would agree with him, and who else would have such a leisurely mind except the two of them?Besides, Maester Antiffel strictly forbade them to go far, for fear of delaying the departure time-they must strictly obey.

At 9 o'clock in the evening, the stars were twinkling, the moon was bright and the sky was clear, and they embarked on the journey again.Traveling at night, however, has to be somewhat risky.The carriage was galloping across the barren field, and the road was not easy to walk, so it might be attacked by ferocious beasts.In the silent night, beside the dense forest, you can clearly hear the neighing of the leopard and the roar of the fierce lion.The frightened horses galloped and only a savvy and experienced coachman could handle them.As for the wolves and the like, they can be regarded as bold night owls at best. Although they howl from time to time, it is not a cause for concern.Maybe there will be stupid thieves who block the road and rob, such as Jiang Yang's bandit.That's what makes people frightened!

At about 4 o'clock in the morning, the east is pale.The sun shines on the field, and it suddenly becomes clear, and the scenery comes into view clearly again. The undulating peaks and canyons are like an Arabian coat thrown on the earth, and the end of the horizon cannot be seen.Below you lies the winding Mejerda valley, where yellow streams rush and flow between blooming eucalyptus and laurel trees.In this part of the country bordering Krumiri and Regens, a forlorn scene presented itself.If the captain of the barge had traveled in the mountains at low altitudes, he would have thought that he had come to the barren land of the Alps at this moment.But this is not Tyrol, he is no longer in Europe, away from his native land every day.He fell into deep thought, his brows were not heavy, and the corners of his mouth were twitching, indicating that he was in a state of anxiety at the moment.

Sometimes, the young captain and him stared at each other for a long time, and this gaze was equivalent to a conversation. This is how they exchanged thoughts in silent language. This morning, Antiphere asked his nephew: "Where can we go before dark?" "To Galdi Station, Uncle." "When will you be in Bonnie?" "Tomorrow evening." "The gloomy Saint-Malo man fell back into his habitual state of contemplation, or rather into dreams. The wild, torrent of thoughts carried him from the waters of the Gulf of Oman to that seductive place in the Gulf of Guinea." Point. He thought that other people's eyes are also coveting this point - this is the eyes of the banker Zambugo. These two people, different races, different personalities, could never meet in the world, but now they are the same To have one soul is like two prisoners on a chain, but it is a golden chain. The fig forest is getting denser and greener, and a few Arab villages appear from time to time in the sparse places.The flowers and leaves of the castor plant are also dyed green.Sometimes the hillside reveals an uneven patch of land, which is often called a "barley field".From time to time, you can see a few small sheds made of scattered branches, sheep grazing beside the rushing stream, and finally, there is another posting station—a rough house almost like a stable, where people and animals often live together. In the evening, arrive at Garm Station, which is a wooden house surrounded by other houses. Twenty years later, it became a station on the Pawnee-Tunisia railway line.After resting for two hours, they only ate a simple meal, which seemed too long, and the four-wheeled carriage started on the road again.The road in the valley was rough, and the car sometimes crossed the stream where the river did not cross the bottom of the carriage, and sometimes ran along the foot of the Maijar Mountain, or climbed up the steep slope with difficulty, and then went straight down the slope without stopping. This area has beautiful scenery, especially around Mughtar.However, who can enjoy the natural scenery in this dark night shrouded in mist!Besides, after 43 hours of turbulence, people were already too sleepy to keep their eyes open. It was another dawn, and Master Antiphere and his companions arrived. A winding path connected the town with the mountain stream in the deep valley. The Tacaster Hotel, a lavish hotel near the Place Tacaster, welcomes the weary traveler.This time, there was a 3-hour stop, but it didn't seem long. If you want to visit this beautiful town, you will feel that the time is short. Anticipation and Zambugo naturally strongly objected to wasting time here.However, horse-drawn carriages are not allowed on the road before 6 o'clock in the morning. "Calm down," Tregoman urged his irate companion repeatedly. "Will be in Pawnee on time for the train tomorrow morning..." "Why can't you take the train tonight?" Antiphere retorted. "There's no night bus, Uncle," reminded Jewell. "What's going on here!... Why are you staying in this ravine?" "Look, my friend," said the barge captain, "here is a little stone I picked up for you. . . . Yours may be too chewy to use!" Gilda Tregoman handed Maester Antifel a beautiful little Mejerda pebble.The little stone was the size of a pea, and the St. Malo man took it right away and chewed it in his mouth. The captain of the barge suggested a walk in the Grand Place.He refused.He took out the atlas and turned to the page of Africa, preferring to risk his sanity being drowned by throwing his energies back into the waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Gilda and Jewelle strolled in Tarst Square--a square square surrounded by trees and surrounded by oriental houses.The cafe opened early in the morning, and there was an endless stream of local customers.The morning light had lifted the mist, and it appeared to be a sunny, hot day. The captain of the barge was distracted, and although he didn't buy or drink anything, he kept looking into the small shops and cafes.He listened to what people said, but he couldn't understand a word.The unpredictable fate led him to this extraordinary journey, and he should at least bring back some knowledge. He said thoughtfully: "No, Jewell, can't travel like we do!...and don't see there either!...3 hours stop at Soukahras...1 hour stop at Pawnee...then, 2 days by train , and the stops at each station are so short!...Have I ever seen the city of Tunisia?...What will I see in Algeria?" "I feel the same way, Monsieur Tregman. . . . It's not natural! . . . But you'll have to ask my uncle how he'll reciprocate you!—it's not a tour, it's a business trip—" — who knows what the consequences will be?" "I don't have that guts, and I'm not going to be fooled by that!" replied the captain of the barge. "That's right!" Jewell continued, "Why isn't another letter buried on Island 2, and then we are sent to Island 3 again!" "And then Island No. 4, Island No. 5, and all the islands on the five continents!" Tregoman added, shaking his head constantly. "Mr Tregman, wherever my uncle goes, you will follow—" "I?" "That's right, it's you...you obey him!" "It's true. . . The poor fellow has done me a lot. I'm afraid he'll--" "But me...Mr. Tregoman, I am determined to go only to Island No. 2 with him...Do I need to marry a princess, and does Enoch want to marry a prince?..." "Of course not! Besides, a crocodile named Zambugo has been killed on the way to share the property. You can only marry a daughter of the duke's mansion at the moment, and she has to marry a duke..." "Stop joking, Mr. Tregoman!" "Okay! Boy, if I go on with the expedition, I don't think it's any fun. . . . " "Continue?" Joule shouted, "No... we'll go to the Luango waters! No matter how far... Don't think... I'll force uncle to return to St. Malo!" "What if he insists on it?" "If he refuses,... I will leave him alone... I will go back to Anokat... In a few months, he will be an adult, I will marry her immediately, forget it!" "Be patient, my dear child, and don't be too hot-headed, . . . everything will be all right, I think! . . . There's a bridal chamber!...Let's go back to the hotel, don't miss it...I think it's not too much to go to Pawnee before dark, and have a look at this town?—Because other towns like Constantine, Philipville, etc. It's all located along the railway line, and you can't see anything along the way!... In short, if all this is impossible, I will have to make up for Algiers..." I don't know why Gilda just said: "Algiers..." "Yes . . . Algiers, I think in a few days we shall stop there . . . " "Yes," replied Jeulele, "the ship is going to the coast of West Africa and must wait." "We'll have to wait for the boat, ... for the boat—" said the barge captain, smiling at the thought of seeing the Algerian capital. "Juel, do you know Algiers?" "Yes, Mr. Tregoman." "I heard from the sailors that it is very beautiful. The whole city is like a theater, with docks, squares, arsenals, and Esser Park, Mustafa, Narrative...especially the king's tomb..." "Very beautiful, Monsieur Tregoman," replied Jewell. "But I know something more beautiful than that--that is Saint-Malo..." "And the house in the Rue de la Résidence...a beautiful bedroom on the second floor...the charming girl is there! I agree with you, my boy, and since we're passing through Algiers now, let the Let's go sightseeing!" The captain of the barge, in the company of his young friend, was thinking of all this, and did not realize that he had arrived at the Tacaster Hotel.It was just in time, and people were setting up their cars.Maître Antiphere walked up and down, getting angry at the latecomers.In fact, they were not late. Gilda lowered her eyes hastily when she saw the menacing gaze cast by her friend.After a while, everyone took their places, and the carriage drove straight along the steep slope of Suka Heras. It was indeed a pity that the captain of the barge had not been able to take a closer look at the country of Tunisia.What a view—high hills, forested ravines, through which the future railway line had to weave.On a piece of verdant land, huge rocks rise from the ground from time to time.Tents of local nomads abound.After dark, piles of bonfires can be seen to ward off beasts of prey. Gilda recounted with relish the gossip he had heard from the coachman with whom he chatted whenever he could. In this wild forest, at least 50 fierce lions and hundreds of leopards were killed within a year.As for the embarrassment and the like, there are simply too many to count.As people guessed, since Savuk pretended not to understand the words of others, he was naturally indifferent after hearing these thrilling stories.Master Antiphere was not worried about Tunisian lions and leopards at all.Even if there are several million on the small island No. 2, he will not take a step back... But the bankers and notaries listened to Gilda Tregoman's rumors.Just like Omar, Zambugo frowned when he heard ferocious beasts roaring in the jungle beside the road, and sometimes he frowned and glanced sideways at the car door. God!The captain of the barge spoke again that day, "I heard from the coachman that a carriage was attacked recently--to be shot against the beasts--just the night before, and had to be set ablaze and dispersed with flames. A group of leopards..." "Where are the passengers?" Boo Omar asked. "I have to walk to the next station." Tregoman replied. "Walk! . . . I . . . I cannot walk . . . " cried the notary in a trembling voice. "Okay... Then you go behind and press the tail, Mr. Omar, we won't wait for you, just watch!" It can be guessed that this unfriendly and worrying answer came from the mouth of Maester Antiphere.That's how he got into the conversation.Bob Omar must have realized that he was not born to travel, on land or at sea. However, the day was uneventful, except for the roar of wild animals in the distance.To Gilda Tregman's annoyance, it was already dark when the carriage reached Pawnee. It was already 7 o'clock in the evening when the car was 3 to 4 kilometers away from Pony, that is, when it was close to the town of Hippani.Hibernia is a famous town, which is associated with the immortal name of St. Justin.One of the wonders of the city are the deep pools where old Arab women often come to burn incense and worship.It took another 20 years or so before people probably saw the foundations of the natural Roman cathedral hospital.This is due to the Archbishop, who with his mighty giant hand drew the water from the center of the earth. In short, the whole town of Pawnee is in darkness: the seaside resort along the city outline, the long and narrow harbor ending in a cone-shaped sandy beach in the west, the shady green trees on the pier, the new town with its wide square, and The bronze statue of Mr. Thiers standing on the square was swallowed up by the night.Also, the tomb of the king, the captain of the barge was not able to see it either.From here he could have had a cursory view of the peculiar landscape of Algiers. To tell the truth, this good man never had good luck.He tried to comfort himself by trying to make up for the loss. The travelers chose an inn situated on the square, had dinner, and went to bed at ten o'clock in order to catch the next morning's train.After riding for 60 hours in a carriage, everyone's backs were sore and their legs ached. It seemed that they all slept soundly that night—even the fearless Master Antipher.