FOR two hours the OMBU navigated1 the immense lake without reaching terra firma. The flames which were devouring2 it had gradually died out. The chief danger of their frightful3 passage was thus removed, and the Major went the length of saying, that he should not be surprised if they were saved after all.
The direction of the current remained unchanged, always running from southwest to northeast. Profound darkness had again set in, only illumined here and there by a parting flash of lightning. The storm was nearly over. The rain had given place to light mists, which a breath of wind dispersed4, and the heavy masses of cloud had separated, and now streaked5 the sky in long bands.
The OMBU was borne onward6 so rapidly by the impetuous torrent7, that anyone might have supposed some powerful locomotive engine was hidden in its trunk. It seemed likely enough they might continue drifting in this way for days. About three o’clock in the morning, however, the Major noticed that the roots were beginning to graze the ground occasionally, and by sounding the depth of the water with a long branch, Tom Austin found that they were getting on rising ground. Twenty minutes afterward8, the OMBU stopped short with a violent jolt9.
“Land! land!” shouted Paganel, in a ringing tone.
The extremity10 of the calcined bough11 had struck some hillock, and never were sailors more glad; the rock to them was the port.
Already Robert and Wilson had leaped on to the solid plateau with a loud, joyful12 hurrah13! when a well-known whistle was heard. The gallop14 of a horse resounded15 over the plain, and the tall form of Thalcave emerged from the darkness.
“Thalcave! Thalcave!” they all cried with one voice.
“Amigos!” replied the Patagonian, who had been waiting for the travelers here in the same place where the current had landed himself.
As he spoke16 he lifted up Robert in his arms, and hugged him to his breast, never imagining that Paganel was hanging on to him. A general and hearty17 hand-shaking followed, and everyone rejoiced at seeing their faithful guide again. Then the Patagonian led the way into the HANGAR of a deserted18 ESTANCIA, where there was a good, blazing fire to warm them, and a substantial meal of fine, juicy slices of venison soon broiling19, of which they did not leave a crumb20. When their minds had calmed down a little, and they were able to reflect on the dangers they had come through from flood, and fire, and alligators21, they could scarcely believe they had escaped.
Thalcave, in a few words, gave Paganel an account of himself since they parted, entirely23 ascribing his deliverance to his intrepid24 horse. Then Paganel tried to make him understand their new interpretation25 of the document, and the consequent hopes they were indulging. Whether the Indian actually understood his ingenious hypothesis was a question; but he saw that they were glad and confident, and that was enough for him.
As can easily be imagined, after their compulsory26 rest on the OMBU, the travelers were up betimes and ready to start. At eight o’clock they set off. No means of transport being procurable27 so far south, they were compelled to walk. However, it was not more than forty miles now that they had to go, and Thaouka would not refuse to give a lift occasionally to a tired pedestrian, or even to a couple at a pinch. In thirty-six hours they might reach the shores of the Atlantic.
The low-lying tract28 of marshy29 ground, still under water, soon lay behind them, as Thalcave led them upward to the higher plains. Here the Argentine territory resumed its monotonous30 aspect. A few clumps31 of trees, planted by European hands, might chance to be visible among the pasturage, but quite as rarely as in Tandil and Tapalquem Sierras. The native trees are only found on the edge of long prairies and about Cape22 Corrientes.
Next day, though still fifteen miles distant, the proximity32 of the ocean was sensibly felt. The VIRAZON, a peculiar33 wind, which blows regularly half of the day and night, bent34 down the heads of the tall grasses. Thinly planted woods rose to view, and small tree-like mimosas, bushes of acacia, and tufts of CURRA-MANTEL. Here and there, shining like pieces of broken glass, were salinous lagoons35, which increased the difficulty of the journey as the travelers had to wind round them to get past. They pushed on as quickly as possible, hoping to reach Lake Salado, on the shores of the ocean, the same day; and at 8 P. M., when they found themselves in front of the sand hills two hundred feet high, which skirt the coast, they were all tolerably tired. But when the long murmur36 of the distant ocean fell on their ears, the exhausted37 men forgot their fatigue38, and ran up the sandhills with surprising agility39. But it was getting quite dark already, and their eager gaze could discover no traces of the Duncan on the gloomy expanse of water that met their sight.
“But she is there, for all that,” exclaimed Glenarvan, “waiting for us, and running alongside.”
“We shall see her to-morrow,” replied McNabbs.
Tom Austin hailed the invisible yacht, but there was no response. The wind was very high and the sea rough. The clouds were scudding41 along from the west, and the spray of the waves dashed up even to the sand-hills. It was little wonder, then, if the man on the look-out could neither hear nor make himself heard, supposing the Duncan were there. There was no shelter on the coast for her, neither bay nor cove40, nor port; not so much as a creek42. The shore was composed of sand-banks which ran out into the sea, and were more dangerous to approach than rocky shoals. The sand-banks irritate the waves, and make the sea so particularly rough, that in heavy weather vessels43 that run aground there are invariably dashed to pieces.
Though, then, the Duncan would keep far away from such a coast, John Mangles45 is a prudent46 captain to get near. Tom Austin, however, was of the opinion that she would be able to keep five miles out.
The Major advised his impatient relative to restrain himself to circumstances. Since there was no means of dissipating the darkness, what was the use of straining his eyes by vainly endeavoring to pierce through it.
He set to work immediately to prepare the night’s encampment beneath the shelter of the sand-hills; the last provisions supplied the last meal, and afterward, each, following the Major’s example, scooped47 out a hole in the sand, which made a comfortable enough bed, and then covered himself with the soft material up to his chin, and fell into a heavy sleep.
But Glenarvan kept watch. There was still a stiff breeze of wind, and the ocean had not recovered its equilibrium48 after the recent storm. The waves, at all times tumultuous, now broke over the sand-banks with a noise like thunder. Glenarvan could not rest, knowing the Duncan was so near him. As to supposing she had not arrived at the appointed rendezvous49, that was out of the question. Glenarvan had left the Bay of Talcahuano on the 14th of October, and arrived on the shores of the Atlantic on the 12th of November. He had taken thirty days to cross Chili50, the Cordilleras, the Pampas, and the Argentine plains, giving the Duncan ample time to double Cape Horn, and arrive on the opposite side. For such a fast runner there were no impediments. Certainly the storm had been very violent, and its fury must have been terrible on such a vast battlefield as the Atlantic, but the yacht was a good ship, and the captain was a good sailor. He was bound to be there, and he would be there.
These reflections, however, did not calm Glenarvan. When the heart and the reason are struggling, it is generally the heart that wins the mastery. The laird of Malcolm Castle felt the presence of loved ones about him in the darkness as he wandered up and down the lonely strand51. He gazed, and listened, and even fancied he caught occasional glimpses of a faint light.
“I am not mistaken,” he said to himself; “I saw a ship’s light, one of the lights on the Duncan! Oh! why can’t I see in the dark?”
All at once the thought rushed across him that Paganel said he was a nyctalope, and could see at night. He must go and wake him.
The learned geographer52 was sleeping as sound as a mole53. A strong arm pulled him up out of the sand and made him call out:
“Who goes there?”
“It is I, Paganel.”
“Who?”
“Glenarvan. Come, I need your eyes.”
“My eyes,” replied Paganel, rubbing them vigorously.
“Yes, I need your eyes to make out the Duncan in this darkness, so come.”
“Confound the nyctalopia!” said Paganel, inwardly, though delighted to be of any service to his friend.
He got up and shook his stiffened54 limbs, and stretching and yawning as most people do when roused from sleep, followed Glenarvan to the beach.
Glenarvan begged him to examine the distant horizon across the sea, which he did most conscientiously55 for some minutes.
“Well, do you see nothing?” asked Glenarvan.
“Not a thing. Even a cat couldn’t see two steps before her.”
V. IV Verne
“Look for a red light or a green one — her larboard or starboard light.”
“I see neither a red nor a green light, all is pitch dark,” replied Paganel, his eyes involuntarily beginning to close.
For half an hour he followed his impatient friend, mechanically letting his head frequently drop on his chest, and raising it again with a start. At last he neither answered nor spoke, and he reeled about like a drunken man. Glenarvan looked at him, and found he was sound asleep!
Without attempting to wake him, he took his arm, led him back to his hole, and buried him again comfortably.
At dawn next morning, all the slumberers started to their feet and rushed to the shore, shouting “Hurrah, hurrah!” as Lord Glenarvan’s loud cry, “The Duncan, the DUNCAN!” broke upon his ear.
There she was, five miles out, her courses carefully reefed, and her steam half up. Her smoke was lost in the morning mist. The sea was so violent that a vessel44 of her tonnage could not have ventured safely nearer the sand-banks.
Glenarvan, by the aid of Paganel’s telescope, closely observed the movements of the yacht. It was evident that John Mangles had not perceived his passengers, for he continued his course as before.
But at this very moment Thalcave fired his carbine in the direction of the yacht. They listened and looked, but no signal of recognition was returned. A second and a third time the Indian fired, awakening56 the echoes among the sand-hills.
At last a white smoke was seen issuing from the side of the yacht.
“They see us!” exclaimed Glenarvan. “That’s the cannon57 of the Duncan.”
A few seconds, and the heavy boom of the cannon came across the water and died away on the shore. The sails were instantly altered, and the steam got up, so as to get as near the coast as possible.
Presently, through the glass, they saw a boat lowered.
“Lady Helena will not be able to come,” said Tom Austin. “It is too rough.”
“Nor John Mangles,” added McNabbs; “he cannot leave the ship.”
“My sister, my sister!” cried Robert, stretching out his arms toward the yacht, which was now rolling violently.
“Oh, how I wish I could get on board!” said Glenarvan.
“Patience, Edward! you will be there in a couple of hours,” replied the Major.
Two hours! But it was impossible for a boat — a six-oared one — to come and go in a shorter space of time.
Glenarvan went back to Thalcave, who stood beside Thaouka, with his arms crossed, looking quietly at the troubled waves.
Glenarvan took his hand, and pointing to the yacht, said: “Come!”
The Indian gently shook his head.
“Come, friend,” repeated Glenarvan.
“No,” said Thalcave, gently. “Here is Thaouka, and there — the Pampas,” he added, embracing with a passionate58 gesture the wide-stretching prairies.
Glenarvan understood his refusal. He knew that the Indian would never forsake59 the prairie, where the bones of his fathers were whitening, and he knew the religious attachment60 of these sons of the desert for their native land. He did not urge Thalcave longer, therefore, but simply pressed his hand. Nor could he find it in his heart to insist, when the Indian, smiling as usual, would not accept the price of his services, pushing back the money, and saying:
“For the sake of friendship.”
Glenarvan could not reply; but he wished at least, to leave the brave fellow some souvenir of his European friends. What was there to give, however? Arms, horses, everything had been destroyed in the unfortunate inundation61, and his friends were no richer than himself.
He was quite at a loss how to show his recognition of the disinterestedness62 of this noble guide, when a happy thought struck him. He had an exquisite63 portrait of Lady Helena in his pocket, a CHEF-D’OEUVRE of Lawrence. This he drew out, and offered to Thalcave, simply saying:
“My wife.”
The Indian gazed at it with a softened64 eye, and said:
“Good and beautiful.”
Then Robert, and Paganel, and the Major, and the rest, exchanged touching65 farewells with the faithful Patagonian. Thalcave embraced them each, and pressed them to his broad chest. Paganel made him accept a map of South America and the two oceans, which he had often seen the Indian looking at with interest. It was the most precious thing the geographer possessed66. As for Robert, he had only caresses67 to bestow68, and these he lavished69 on his friend, not forgetting to give a share to Thaouka.
The boat from the Duncan was now fast approaching, and in another minute had glided70 into a narrow channel between the sand-banks, and run ashore71.
“My wife?” were Glenarvan’s first words.
“My sister?” said Robert.
“Lady Helena and Miss Grant are waiting for you on board,” replied the coxswain; “but lose no time your honor, we have not a minute, for the tide is beginning to ebb72 already.”
The last kindly73 adieux were spoken, and Thalcave accompanied his friends to the boat, which had been pushed back into the water. Just as Robert was going to step in, the Indian took him in his arms, and gazed tenderly into his face. Then he said:
“Now go. You are a man.”
“Good-by, good-by, friend!” said Glenarvan, once more.
“Shall we never see each other again?” Paganel called out.
“Quien sabe?“ (Who knows?) replied Thalcave, lifting his arms toward heaven.
These were the Indian’s last words, dying away on the breeze, as the boat receded74 gradually from the shore. For a long time, his dark, motionless SILHOUETTE75 stood out against the sky, through the white, dashing spray of the waves. Then by degrees his tall form began to diminish in size, till at last his friends of a day lost sight of him altogether.
An hour afterward Robert was the first to leap on board the Duncan. He flung his arms round Mary’s neck, amid the loud, joyous76 hurrahs of the crew on the yacht.
Thus the journey across South America was accomplished77, the given line of march being scrupulously78 adhered to throughout.
Neither mountains nor rivers had made the travelers change their course; and though they had not had to encounter any ill-will from men, their generous intrepidity79 had been often enough roughly put to the proof by the fury of the unchained elements.
End of Book One
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navigated
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的过去式和过去分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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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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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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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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broiling
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| adj.酷热的，炽热的，似烧的v.（用火）烤（焙、炙等）( broil的现在分词 )；使卷入争吵；使混乱；被烤（或炙） | |
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crumb
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| n.饼屑，面包屑，小量 | |
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alligators
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| n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 ) | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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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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intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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compulsory
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| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
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procurable
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| adj.可得到的，得手的 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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marshy
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| adj.沼泽的 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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lagoons
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| n.污水池( lagoon的名词复数 )；潟湖；（大湖或江河附近的）小而浅的淡水湖；温泉形成的池塘 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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scudding
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| n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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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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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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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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chili
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| n.辣椒 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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geographer
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| n.地理学者 | |
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mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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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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awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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inundation
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| n.the act or fact of overflowing | |
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disinterestedness
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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67
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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68
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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69
lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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71
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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72
ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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73
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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74
receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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75
silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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76
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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77
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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78
scrupulously
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| adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地 | |
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79
intrepidity
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| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
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