A WEEK after they had doubled the Cape1 Pilares, the Duncan steamed into the bay of Talcahuano, a magnificent estuary2, twelve miles long and nine broad. The weather was splendid. From November to March the sky is always cloudless, and a constant south wind prevails, as the coast is sheltered by the mountain range of the Andes. In obedience3 to Lord Glenarvan’s order, John Mangles4 had sailed as near the archipelago of Chiloe as possible, and examined all the creeks5 and windings6 of the coast, hoping to discover some traces of the shipwreck7. A broken spar, or any fragment of the vessel8, would have put them in the right track; but nothing whatever was visible, and the yacht continued her route, till she dropped anchor at the port of Talcahuano, forty-two days from the time she had sailed out of the fogs of the Clyde.
Glenarvan had a boat lowered immediately, and went on shore, accompanied by Paganel. The learned geographer9 gladly availed himself of the opportunity of making use of the language he had been studying so conscientiously10, but to his great amazement11, found he could not make himself understood by the people. “It is the accent I’ve not got,” he said.
“Let us go to the Custom-house,” replied Glenarvan.
They were informed on arriving there, by means of a few English words, aided by expressive12 gestures, that the British Consul13 lived at Concepcion, an hour’s ride distant. Glenarvan found no difficulty in procuring14 two fleet horses, and he and Paganel were soon within the walls of the great city, due to the enterprising genius of Valdivia, the valiant15 comrade of the Pizarros.
How it was shorn of its ancient splendor16! Often pillaged17 by the natives, burned in 1819, it lay in desolation and ruins, its walls still blackened by the flames, scarcely numbering 8,000 inhabitants, and already eclipsed by Talcahuano. The grass was growing in the streets, beneath the lazy feet of the citizens, and all trade and business, indeed any description of activity, was impossible. The notes of the mandolin resounded18 from every balcony, and languishing19 songs floated on the breeze. Concepcion, the ancient city of brave men, had become a village of women and children. Lord Glenarvan felt no great desire to inquire into the causes of this decay, though Paganel tried to draw him into a discussion on the subject. He would not delay an instant, but went straight on to the house of Mr. Bentic, her Majesty’s Consul, who received them very courteously20, and, on learning their errand, undertook to make inquiries21 all along the coast.
But to the question whether a three-mast vessel, called the Britannia, had gone ashore22 either on the Chilian or Araucanian coast, he gave a decided24 negative. No report of such an event had been made to him, or any of the other consuls25. Glenarvan, however, would not allow himself to be disheartened; he went back to Talcahuano, and spared neither pains nor expense to make a thorough investigation26 of the whole seaboard. But it was all in vain. The most minute inquiries were fruitless, and Lord Glenarvan returned to the yacht to report his ill success. Mary Grant and her brother could not restrain their grief. Lady Helena did her best to comfort them by loving caresses27, while Jacques Paganel took up the document and began studying it again. He had been poring over it for more than an hour when Glenarvan interrupted him and said:
“Paganel! I appeal to your sagacity. Have we made an erroneous interpretation28 of the document? Is there anything illogical about the meaning?”
Paganel was silent, absorbed in reflection.
“Have we mistaken the place where the catastrophe29 occurred?” continued Glenarvan. “Does not the name Patagonia seem apparent even to the least clear-sighted individual?”
Paganel was still silent.
“Besides,” said Glenarvan, “does not the word INDIEN prove we are right?”
“Perfectly so,” replied McNabbs.
“And is it not evident, then, that at the moment of writing the words, the shipwrecked men were expecting to be made prisoners by the Indians?”
“I take exception to that, my Lord,” said Paganel; “and even if your other conclusions are right, this, at least, seemed to me irrational30.”
“What do you mean?” asked Lady Helena, while all eyes were fixed31 on the geographer.
“I mean this,” replied Paganel, “that Captain Grant is now a prisoner among the Indians, and I further add that the document states it unmistakably.”
“Explain yourself, sir,” said Mary Grant.
“Nothing is plainer, dear Mary. Instead of reading the document seront prisonniers, read sont prisonniers, and the whole thing is clear.”
“But that is impossible,” replied Lord Glenarvan.
“Impossible! and why, my noble friend?” asked Paganel, smiling.
“Because the bottle could only have been thrown into the sea just when the vessel went to pieces on the rocks, and consequently the latitude32 and longitude33 given refer to the actual place of the shipwreck.”
“There is no proof of that,” replied Paganel, “and I see nothing to preclude34 the supposition that the poor fellows were dragged into the interior by the Indians, and sought to make known the place of their captivity35 by means of this bottle.”
“Except this fact, my dear Paganel, that there was no sea, and therefore they could not have flung the bottle into it.”
“Unless they flung it into rivers which ran into the sea,” returned Paganel.
This reply was so unexpected, and yet so admissible, that it made them all completely silent for a minute, though their beaming eyes betrayed the rekindling36 of hope in their hearts. Lady Helena was the first to speak.
“What an idea!” she exclaimed.
“And what a good idea,” was Paganel’s naive37 rejoinder to her exclamation38.
“What would you advise, then?” said Glenarvan.
“My advice is to follow the 37th parallel from the point where it touches the American continent to where it dips into the Atlantic, without deviating39 from it half a degree, and possibly in some part of its course we shall fall in with the shipwrecked party.”
“There is a poor chance of that,” said the Major.
“Poor as it is,” returned Paganel, “we ought not to lose it. If I am right in my conjecture40, that the bottle has been carried into the sea on the bosom41 of some river, we cannot fail to find the track of the prisoners. You can easily convince yourselves of this by looking at this map of the country.”
He unrolled a map of Chili23 and the Argentine provinces as he spoke42, and spread it out on the table.
“Just follow me for a moment,” he said, “across the American continent. Let us make a stride across the narrow strip of Chili, and over the Cordilleras of the Andes, and get into the heart of the Pampas. Shall we find any lack of rivers and streams and currents? No, for here are the Rio Negro and Rio Colorado, and their tributaries43 intersected by the 37th parallel, and any of them might have carried the bottle on its waters. Then, perhaps, in the midst of a tribe in some Indian settlement on the shores of these almost unknown rivers, those whom I may call my friends await some providential intervention44. Ought we to disappoint their hopes? Do you not all agree with me that it is our duty to go along the line my finger is pointing out at this moment on the map, and if after all we find I have been mistaken, still to keep straight on and follow the 37th parallel till we find those we seek, if even we go right round the world?”
His generous enthusiasm so touched his auditors45 that, involuntarily, they rose to their feet and grasped his hands, while Robert exclaimed as he devoured46 the map with his eyes:
“Yes, my father is there!”
“And where he is,” replied Glenarvan, “we’ll manage to go, my boy, and find him. Nothing can be more logical than Paganel’s theory, and we must follow the course he points out without the least hesitation47. Captain Grant may have fallen into the hands of a numerous tribe, or his captors may be but a handful. In the latter case we shall carry him off at once, but in the event of the former, after we have reconnoitered the situation, we must go back to the Duncan on the eastern coast and get to Buenos Ayres, where we can soon organize a detachment of men, with Major McNabbs at their head, strong enough to tackle all the Indians in the Argentine provinces.”
“That’s capital, my Lord,” said John Mangles, “and I may add, that there is no danger whatever crossing the continent.”
“Monsieur Paganel,” asked Lady Helena, “you have no fear then that if the poor fellows have fallen into the hands of the Indians their lives at least have been spared.”
“What a question? Why, madam, the Indians are not anthropophagi! Far from it. One of my own countrymen, M. Guinnard, associated with me in the Geographical48 Society, was three years a prisoner among the Indians in the Pampas. He had to endure sufferings and ill-treatment, but came off victorious49 at last. A European is a useful being in these countries. The Indians know his value, and take care of him as if he were some costly50 animal.”
“There is not the least room then for hesitation,” said Lord Glenarvan. “Go we must, and as soon as possible. What route must we take?”
“One that is both easy and agreeable,” replied Paganel. “Rather mountainous at first, and then sloping gently down the eastern side of the Andes into a smooth plain, turfed and graveled quite like a garden.”
“Let us see the map?” said the Major.
“Here it is, my dear McNabbs. We shall go through the capital of Araucania, and cut the Cordilleras by the pass of Antuco, leaving the volcano on the south, and gliding51 gently down the mountain sides, past the Neuquem and the Rio Colorado on to the Pampas, till we reach the Sierra Tapalquen, from whence we shall see the frontier of the province of Buenos Ayres. These we shall pass by, and cross over the Sierra Tandil, pursuing our search to the very shores of the Atlantic, as far as Point Medano.”
Paganel went through this programme of the expedition without so much as a glance at the map. He was so posted up in the travels of Frezier, Molina, Humboldt, Miers, and Orbigny, that he had the geographical nomenclature at his fingers’ ends, and could trust implicitly52 to his never-failing memory.
“You see then, friend,” he added, “that it is a straight course. In thirty days we shall have gone over it, and gained the eastern side before the Duncan, however little she may be delayed by the westerly winds.”
“Then the Duncan is to cruise between Corrientes and Cape Saint Antonie,” said John Mangles.
“Just so.”
“And how is the expedition to be organized?” asked Glenarvan.
“As simply as possible. All there is to be done is to reconnoiter the situation of Captain Grant and not to come to gunshot with the Indians. I think that Lord Glenarvan, our natural leader; the Major, who would not yield his place to anybody; and your humble53 servant, Jacques Paganel.”
“And me,” interrupted Robert.
“Robert, Robert!” exclaimed Mary.
“And why not?” returned Paganel. “Travels form the youthful mind. Yes, Robert, we four and three of the sailors.”
“And does your Lordship mean to pass me by?” said John Mangles, addressing his master.
“My dear John,” replied Glenarvan, “we leave passengers on board, those dearer to us than life, and who is to watch over them but the devoted54 captain?”
“Then we can’t accompany you?” said Lady Helena, while a shade of sadness beclouded her eyes.
“My dear Helena, the journey will so soon be accomplished55 that it will be but a brief separation, and —”
“Yes, dear, I understand, it is all right; and I do hope you may succeed.”
“Besides, you can hardly call it a journey,” added Paganel.
“What is it, then?”
“It is just making a flying passage across the continent, the way a good man goes through the world, doing all the good he can. Transire beneficiendo — that is our motto.”
This ended the discussion, if a conversation can be so called, where all who take part in it are of the same opinion. Preparations commenced the same day, but as secretly as possible to prevent the Indians getting scent56 of it.
The day of departure was fixed for the 14th of October. The sailors were all so eager to join the expedition that Glenarvan found the only way to prevent jealousy57 among them was to draw lots who should go. This was accordingly done, and fortune favored the chief officer, Tom Austin, Wilson, a strong, jovial58 young fellow, and Mulrady, so good a boxer59 that he might have entered the lists with Tom Sayers himself.
Glenarvan displayed the greatest activity about the preparations, for he was anxious to be ready by the appointed day. John Mangles was equally busy in coaling the vessel, that she might weigh anchor at the same time. There was quite a rivalry60 between Glenarvan and the young captain about getting first to the Argentine coast.
Both were ready on the 14th. The whole search party assembled in the saloon to bid farewell to those who remained behind. The Duncan was just about to get under way, and already the vibration61 of the screw began to agitate62 the limpid63 waters of Talcahuano, Glenarvan, Paganel, McNabbs, Robert Grant, Tom Austin, Wilson, and Mulrady, stood armed with carbines and Colt’s revolvers. Guides and mules64 awaited them at the landing stairs of the harbor.
“It is time,” said Lord Glenarvan at last.
“Go then, dear Edward,” said Lady Helena, restraining her emotion.
Lord Glenarvan clasped her closely to his breast for an instant, and then turned away, while Robert flung his arms round Mary’s neck.
“And now, friends,” said Paganel, “let’s have one good hearty65 shake of the hand all round, to last us till we get to the shores of the Atlantic.”
This was not much to ask, but he certainly got strong enough grips to go some way towards satisfying his desire.
All went on deck now, and the seven explorers left the vessel. They were soon on the quay66, and as the yacht turned round to pursue her course, she came so near where they stood, that Lady Helena could exchange farewells once more.
“God help you!” she called out.
“Heaven will help us, madam,” shouted Paganel, in reply, “for you may be sure we’ll help ourselves.”
“Go on,” sung out the captain to his engineer.
At the same moment Lord Glenarvan gave the signal to start, and away went the mules along the coast, while the Duncan steamed out at full speed toward the broad ocean.
收听单词发音 |
1
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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estuary
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| n.河口，江口 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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mangles
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| n.轧布机，轧板机，碾压机（mangle的复数形式）vt.乱砍（mangle的第三人称单数形式） | |
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creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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shipwreck
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| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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geographer
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| n.地理学者 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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pillaged
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| v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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chili
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| n.辣椒 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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consuls
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| 领事( consul的名词复数 )； （古罗马共和国时期）执政官 （古罗马共和国及其军队的最高首长，同时共有两位，每年选举一次） | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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irrational
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| adj.无理性的，失去理性的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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preclude
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| vt.阻止，排除，防止；妨碍 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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rekindling
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| v.使再燃( rekindle的现在分词 ) | |
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naive
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| adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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deviating
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| v.偏离，越轨( deviate的现在分词 ) | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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tributaries
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| n. 支流 | |
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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implicitly
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| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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boxer
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| n.制箱者，拳击手 | |
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rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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agitate
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| vi.(for,against)煽动，鼓动；vt.搅动 | |
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limpid
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| adj.清澈的，透明的 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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