THE native troops organized by Lord Glenarvan consisted of three men and a boy. The captain of the muleteers was an Englishman, who had become naturalized through twenty years’ residence in the country. He made a livelihood2 by letting out mules3 to travelers, and leading them over the difficult passes of the Cordilleras, after which he gave them in charge of a BAQUEANO, or Argentine guide, to whom the route through the Pampas was perfectly4 familiar. This Englishman had not so far forgotten his mother tongue among mules and Indians that he could not converse5 with his countrymen, and a lucky thing it was for them, as Lord Glenarvan found it far easier to give orders than to see them executed, Paganel was still unsuccessful in making himself understood.
The CATAPEZ, as he was called in Chilian, had two natives called PEONS, and a boy about twelve years of age under him. The PEONS took care of the baggage mules, and the boy led the MADRINA, a young mare6 adorned7 with rattle8 and bells, which walked in front, followed by ten mules. The travelers rode seven of these, and the CATAPEZ another. The remaining two carried provisions and a few bales of goods, intended to secure the goodwill9 of the Caciques of the plain. The PEONS walked, according to their usual habit.
Every arrangement had been made to insure safety and speed, for crossing the Andes is something more than an ordinary journey. It could not be accomplished10 without the help of the hardy11 mules of the far-famed Argentine breed. Those reared in the country are much superior to their progenitors12. They are not particular about their food, and only drink once a day, and they can go with ease ten leagues in eight hours.
There are no inns along this road from one ocean to another. The only viands13 on which travelers can regale14 themselves are dried meat, rice seasoned with pimento, and such game as may be shot en route. The torrents15 provide them with water in the mountains, and the rivulets16 in the plains, which they improve by the addition of a few drops of rum, and each man carries a supply of this in a bullock’s horn, called CHIFFLE. They have to be careful, however, not to indulge too freely in alcoholic17 drinks, as the climate itself has a peculiarly exhilarating effect on the nervous system. As for bedding, it is all contained in the saddle used by the natives, called RECADO. This saddle is made of sheepskins, tanned on one side and woolly on the other, fastened by gorgeous embroidered19 straps21. Wrapped in these warm coverings a traveler may sleep soundly, and brave exposure to the damp nights.
Glenarvan, an experienced traveler, who knew how to adapt himself to the customs of other countries, adopted the Chilian costume for himself and his whole party. Paganel and Robert, both alike children, though of different growth, were wild with delight as they inserted their heads in the national PONCHO22, an immense plaid with a hole in center, and their legs in high leather boots. The mules were richly caparisoned, with the Arab bit in their mouths, and long reins24 of plaited leather, which served as a whip; the headstall of the bridle25 was decorated with metal ornaments26, and the ALFORJAS, double sacks of gay colored linen27, containing the day’s provisions. Paganel, DISTRAIT28 as usual, was flung several times before he succeeded in bestriding his good steed, but once in the saddle, his inseparable telescope on his shoulder-belt, he held on well enough, keeping his feet fast in the stirrups, and trusting entirely29 to the sagacity of his beast. As for Robert, his first attempt at mounting was successful, and proved that he had the making in him of an excellent horseman.
The weather was splendid when they started, the sky a deep cloudless blue, and yet the atmosphere so tempered by the sea breezes as to prevent any feeling of oppressive heat. They marched rapidly along the winding30 shore of the bay of Talcahuano, in order to gain the extremity31 of the parallel, thirty miles south. No one spoke32 much the first day, for the smoke of the Duncan was still visible on the horizon, and the pain of parting too keenly felt. Paganel talked to himself in Spanish, asking and answering questions.
The CATAPEZ, moreover, was a taciturn man naturally, and had not been rendered loquacious33 by his calling. He hardly spoke to his PEONS. They understood their duties perfectly. If one of the mules stopped, they urged it on with a guttural cry, and if that proved unavailing, a good-sized pebble34, thrown with unerring aim, soon cured the animal’s obstinacy35. If a strap20 got loose, or a rein23 fell, a PEON came forward instantly, and throwing off his poncho, flung it over his beast’s head till the accident was repaired and the march resumed.
The custom of the muleteers is to start immediately after breakfast, about eight o’clock, and not to stop till they camp for the night, about 4 P. M. Glenarvan fell in with the practice, and the first halt was just as they arrived at Arauco, situated36 at the very extremity of the bay. To find the extremity of the 37th degree of latitude37, they would have required to proceed as far as the Bay of Carnero, twenty miles further. But the agents of Glenarvan had already scoured38 that part of the coast, and to repeat the exploration would have been useless. It was, therefore, decided39 that Arauco should be the point of departure, and they should keep on from there toward the east in a straight line.
Since the weather was so favorable, and the whole party, even Robert, were in perfect health, and altogether the journey had commenced under such favorable auspices40, it was deemed advisable to push forward as quickly as possible. Accordingly, the next day they marched 35 miles or more, and encamped at nightfall on the banks of Rio Biobio. The country still presented the same fertile aspect, and abounded41 in flowers, but animals of any sort only came in sight occasionally, and there were no birds visible, except a solitary42 heron or owl43, and a thrush or grebe, flying from the falcon44. Human beings there were none, not a native appeared; not even one of the GUASSOS, the degenerate45 offspring of Indians and Spaniards, dashed across the plain like a shadow, his flying steed dripping with blood from the cruel thrusts inflicted46 by the gigantic spurs of his master’s naked feet. It was absolutely impossible to make inquiries47 when there was no one to address, and Lord Glenarvan came to the conclusion that Captain Grant must have been dragged right over the Andes into the Pampas, and that it would be useless to search for him elsewhere. The only thing to be done was to wait patiently and press forward with all the speed in their power.
On the 17th they set out in the usual line of march, a line which it was hard work for Robert to keep, his ardor48 constantly compelled him to get ahead of the MADRINA, to the great despair of his mule1. Nothing but a sharp recall from Glenarvan kept the boy in proper order.
The country now became more diversified49, and the rising ground indicated their approach to a mountainous district. Rivers were more numerous, and came rushing noisily down the slopes. Paganel consulted his maps, and when he found any of those streams not marked, which often happened, all the fire of a geographer50 burned in his veins51, and he would exclaim, with a charming air of vexation:
“A river which hasn’t a name is like having no civil standing52. It has no existence in the eye of geographical53 law.”
He christened them forthwith, without the least hesitation54, and marked them down on the map, qualifying them with the most high-sounding adjectives he could find in the Spanish language.
“What a language!” he said. “How full and sonorous55 it is! It is like the metal church bells are made of — composed of seventy-eight parts of copper56 and twenty-two of tin.”
“But, I say, do you make any progress in it?” asked Glenarvan.
“Most certainly, my dear Lord. Ah, if it wasn’t the accent, that wretched accent!”
And for want of better work, Paganel whiled away the time along the road by practising the difficulties in pronunciation, repeating all the break-jaw words he could, though still making geographical observations. Any question about the country that Glenarvan might ask the CATAPEZ was sure to be answered by the learned Frenchman before he could reply, to the great astonishment57 of the guide, who gazed at him in bewilderment.
About two o’clock that same day they came to a cross road, and naturally enough Glenarvan inquired the name of it.
“It is the route from Yumbel to Los Angeles,” said Paganel.
Glenarvan looked at the CATAPEZ, who replied:
“Quite right.”
And then, turning toward the geographer, he added:
“You have traveled in these parts before, sir?”
“Oh, yes,” said Paganel, quite gravely.
“On a mule?”
“No, in an easy chair.”
The CATAPEZ could not make him out, but shrugged58 his shoulders and resumed his post at the head of the party.
At five in the evening they stopped in a gorge18 of no great depth, some miles above the little town of Loja, and encamped for the night at the foot of the Sierras, the first steppes of the great Cordilleras.
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1
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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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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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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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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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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progenitors
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| n.祖先( progenitor的名词复数 )；先驱；前辈；原本 | |
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viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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regale
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| v.取悦，款待 | |
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torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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rivulets
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| n.小河，小溪( rivulet的名词复数 ) | |
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alcoholic
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| adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者 | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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poncho
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| n.斗篷，雨衣 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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distrait
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| adj.心不在焉的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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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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loquacious
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| adj.多嘴的，饶舌的 | |
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pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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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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38
scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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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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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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43
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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46
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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48
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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49
diversified
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| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
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50
geographer
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| n.地理学者 | |
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51
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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52
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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53
geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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54
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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55
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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56
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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57
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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