Chapter 10 Chapter 10 At the Mouth of the Meta River

The three boats passed the rapids of Caliban safely by sticking to the left bank, and they never had to unload and carry the boats away. At six o'clock in the evening, the boats sailed into the small port of Caliban one by one. If they had come here a few years earlier, the tourists would have seen a developing town with a fairly small population and a business that had begun to take shape. Prosperity was just around the corner, but now it was a dilapidated scene. The reason we have already said.There were only five Indian huts left in the village, one less than when Xia Fangrong and General Ubrion came.

Here live the Yaluro Indians, and you can't be more comfortable in their huts than in a boat, in this decaying place.It is also impossible to replenish supplies.Fortunately, the passengers had already prepared enough necessities in Urbana, enough to last until Artures.Besides, the guns in the hands of hunters will not be idle during this period. The next day, the 31st of August, the convoy set out before sunrise, and the voyage would be smoother if the north wind could not stop blowing, for it was now almost due south, and Caliban Almost exactly at the midpoint of the San Fernando line in Urbana.

The wind direction was south, but the wind was not strong. The sails swelled up for two or three minutes, then collapsed, listlessly stuck to the mast, and could not get up again. A few kilometers upstream was the mouth of the Mehta River, a tributary The influx of river water made the water flow faster and faster, and it was necessary to drag the penny with a fiber rope to move forward. It is not that there are no other boats on this section of the river. The native boats going up and down the current can be seen, but none of the boats has the intention of approaching the foreign fleet. Most of the people who drive canoes around the mouth of the Meta River are Kiwa Indians.Don't be surprised, let alone regret that you didn't talk to them, because the Indians have such a bad reputation that they don't do them wrong.

At eleven o'clock, the wind stopped completely, and Valdez and the others simply pulled down the sails. Now they can only tow the boat forward, sticking to the river bank, where the boat can glide easily, and the water flow is slower. The fleet didn't go far that day, and the weather was always gloomy, and then it started to rain.At five o'clock in the afternoon the boat reached the mouth of the Metta River and stopped in a patch of calm water behind the spit on the right bank. When night fell, the rain stopped, the sky was clear again, there was no wind in the air, and on the western horizon, the setting sun cast the last rays of gold through the gaps in the clouds, and the water of the Meta River, which was flowing into the Orinoco River, shone. flickering.

The three boats were docked side by side, with the Garine Tower in the middle, as if the three rooms of a house were all open. Because of the rain, the passengers had to hide under the canopy for a long time, and now they naturally want to go outside to breathe the fresh air, have dinner, and have a good chat around the table like friends , but by no means refuse to join this circle. The four Frenchmen and the three Venezuelans were extremely speculative and enthusiastic, first led by Jacques.Ailoher started the conversation, and then everyone joined in, and those who disagreed even started to argue. Needless to say, everyone was talking about geography.

Jacques.Eloch said, as if he wanted to start a debate: Mr. Miguel, we are now at the Meta River Yes, Mr Elloher. Is it a tributary of the Orinoco? Yes, and it is a large tributary, pouring 4,500 cubic meters of water into the Orinoco every second. The Meta River flows out of the mountains in the Republic of Colombia, right? True, said Felipe, he hadn't thought of Jacques.Elloch asked what purpose these were. There are also many tributaries flowing into the Meta River along the way, right? There are many tributaries, Miguel said, the largest ones are the Upia River and the Humadia River. From the confluence of these two tributaries, the main trunk is called the Meta River, and there is another big tributary called Casana The Lei River flows through the vast grassland area.

My dear Jean, Jacques.ailoher turned to boy, may i be allowed to call you that The boy's face flushed slightly, and Sergeant Martial stood up like a spring. What's the matter with you, Sergeant?Miguel asked. nothing!The veteran sat down again. Jacques.Alloch continued. My dear Jean, I can't think of a better time to speak of the Meta River flowing right before our eyes. Also, Germain.Paterna turned to Miguel and the three of them and said, we can't ask for a more profound teacher. You are very kind, gentlemen, Varinus said, but we don't know as much about the Meta River as you think!if guaviare river

Or the Atabab River!Felipe cut the conversation right away. We'll see the two rivers, Jacques.I think Mr. Miguel knows the hydrology of the Meta River very well, said Elloch, so I went on to ask if this Orinoco tributary can sometimes be quite wide Yes, the water surface can be as wide as two kilometers in some places.Miguel said. what about the depth Beacons are now placed along the channel, and boats with a draft of six feet can go all the way up the Upia River in the wet season and a third of the way up in the dry season. So can it be said that JacquesElloch then asked, the Meta River is a natural passage between the Atlantic Ocean and Columbia

No doubt, says Miguel, some geographers have rightly said that the Meta River is the quickest route between Bogota and Paris. Well, gentlemen, why does the Meta have to be a tributary of the Orinoco, and is it not possible that it is the proper source of the Orinoco?I think Mr. Felipe and Mr. Varinas should abandon Guaviare and Atabab who have insufficient evidence and support Mehta. oh!So this is what the Frenchman wanted to say!It is not difficult to imagine that before he finished speaking, Felipe and Varinas stopped him, not with words, but with hands. The smoke of the debate was renewed, and unconvinced defenses were shot at this person who dared to provoke such a sensitive topic like a burst of arrows.He wasn't particularly interested in the question, and to him Miguel and most geographers were right.He just likes to watch people fight.But to be honest, his formulation is also comparable to that of Varinas and Felipe, and even more powerful, because in terms of flow, the Meta River must exceed Atabab and Guavia Lei, apart from jointly refuting Ai Luohe, the two scholars also refused to give in to each other. Seeing that this debate was about to drag on forever, at this time let.De.A question from Kellmer diverts everyone's attention, especially Miguel's.

Jean read from Xia Fangrong's travel notes that the Indians on both sides of the Meta River were not friendly, so he asked Miguel if he could tell everyone about this. This question is undoubtedly more practical for us at present.Miguel said that he was very happy to get everyone out of the fierce verbal battle just now. As with every argument, Felipe and Varinas had another tantrum, and what would happen when they reached the confluence of the three rivers? The Indians in this area belong to the Kiva tribe, and Miguel said that no traveler who passes through here to San Fernando knows them.This family is so famous for its viciousness that it is even said that a group of Kiwa people often cross the river to plunder and massacre the east bank area.

Isn't the leader of those gangs dead?Jacques.asked Elloch, who had also heard of the bandits. Yes, dead, Miguel said, about two years ago. What kind of person is that? A Negro, named Cesar Pia, was made leader of the gang, and when he died a fugitive convict took his place. So, let's ask, what about those Kivas left on the banks of the Orinoco Just as terrible, Miguel said unequivocally, most of the boats we encountered after leaving Caliban belonged to them, and we all must be more careful before we leave this area, there are so many criminals . This statement is not false at all.Not long ago, several San Fernando businessmen were murdered.It is said that the Venezuelan President and Congress have considered sending troops to the upper reaches of the Orinoco River to disperse these gangsters who are doing evil.The Kiva were driven out of Colombia and soon to be driven out of Venezuela, and if anyone survives this blow, they will turn to Brazil as a den of thieves.Before the arrival of government troops, they will continue to do harm, posing a great threat to passing passengers.They have grown even more rampant since an escaped convict from the Cayenne penitentiary became their leader.Therefore, the fleet members must be vigilant at all times during this section of the road, and they must not relax in the slightest. Fortunately, we have a large number of people, and with a loyal crew, our strength will be stronger, Jacques.Ailoher said, our weapons and ammunition are also sufficient My dear Jean, you can sleep in the cabin tonight and we will stand guard for you This seems to be my responsibility!said Sergeant Martial grimly. This is all of us, my brave sergeant, Jacques.All that matters is that your nephew doesn't lack for sleep at this age, says Ailoher. Thanks a lot, Mr Elloher, said the boy, smiling, but I think we'd better take turns keeping watch. One person is on one shift!Marshall agreed. But he thought in his heart, if the child is still asleep when it's Rang's turn, he won't call him, just watch it alone. The proposal passed unanimously.The shift from 8:00 to 11:00 is on duty by two French youths. Miguel and the others are on duty from 11:00 to 2:00 in the morning, and finally Jean.De.Kellmer and Martial replaced them until dawn. The passengers on the Garineta and Maripare lay down and fell asleep.The crew, exhausted by the tug, were finally able to lay down and rest. Jacques.Alloch and Germain.Paterna walked to the stern, and from this position, the upstream, downstream, and even the mouth of the Meta River were all within sight.There is nothing to fear on the river bank, and on the shore there is an impassable swamp. The two sat side by side and chatted.One was smoking a cigar, of which he had plenty, and tobacco was a favorite barter of coastal dwellers.Another was smoking a briar pipe, which was his favorite, just as Sergeant Martial was fond of his own. The stars on the sky are no longer wet and steamy like after a rainy night, but glow like diamonds.The wind had almost died down, with a few gentle blows now and then.The Southern Cross is twinkling not far above the horizon, the night is so quiet, even the slightest sound, even the sound of the water being parted by the boats and being moved by the oars, can be heard from a long distance. Be careful not to let any suspicious deeds slip by. The two young men were performing their duties as sentinels while talking intimately. let.De.Kellmer to Jacques.Ai Luohe deeply favored.The latter, on the other hand, was a little worried about the young boy's commitment to such a big adventure. He admired the child's noble and sincere motives, but his plan was too dangerous, and he didn't know where it would end if he just rushed forward Elloch had talked to Paterna about Colonel Kellmer's family several times. Paterna must have heard about this family fourteen or fifteen years ago, and he tried his best to recall something. You see, Germain, Jacques.I can't bear to see this boy, he's really just a boy, suffering on the upper Orinoco, says Elloch!Look at his guide again. The old man is very brave and good-hearted, I admit, but in a critical situation, I don't think he is suitable for the role of nephew's guide. Is he really the child's uncle?Germain.Paterna interjected, I don't believe it anyway! Regardless of whether Sergeant Marshall is Jean.De.Kellmer's uncle, Jacques.Elloch went on to say that it was no big deal, as long as the guide was a man of mature age and familiar with such expeditions, which was not the case!So I have been wondering how the old man agreed to come I agree with you, Jacques, Germain.Paterna knocked the ashes from his pipe and said, yes, I agree, there is no doubt that this idea came up with the boy, he brought his uncle to explore No this nagging old man is not his uncle, I remembered Well, Colonel Kellmer was deserted when he left Nantes. Where is he going? No one ever knew this. But didn't his son say his last letter was from San Fernando Seriously, it's too hasty for them to come here with that little information They hope to get more detailed information in San Fernando. Jacques, Colonel Kellmer must have stayed in San Fernando. Of course, that was thirteen or fourteen years ago. Yes, Germain, that's what worries me too!When Jean gets the new news in San Fernando, who knows if he will want to go further? Go farther and farther across the Atabab or Guaviare Rivers, all the way to Colombia, or To the source of the Orinoco!But this attempt can only lead him to failure At this moment, Germain.Paterna interrupted him, saying in a low voice: Do you hear anything, Jacques? Elloch stood up, bent over and walked to the bow, pricked up his ears, and quickly glanced at the area from the opposite bank to the mouth of the Meta River. I couldn't see anything, he told Germain who was following up.Paterna said, but yes, he listened for a while and said it sounded like water Wouldn't it be safer to wake everyone up? Wait, it doesn't sound like a boat, maybe it's the impact of the water from the Meta River meeting the Orinoco River look there!Germain.Paterna said. Following the direction of his finger, he could see a bunch of black spots moving a hundred feet downstream from the fleet. Jacques.Eloch took the carbine that lay on the side of the canopy and leaned out of the boat. Not a boat, he said, why do I feel as if I saw He was about to take aim, Germain.Paterna stopped him with a gesture. Don't shoot don't shoot!He said again and again, this is not the Kiva who came to rob!They are docile amphibians that come to the surface to breathe fresh air Amphibians? To three or four manatees and sea pigs, permanent inhabitants of the Orinoco! Germain.Paterna was quite right, and it was indeed couples of sea cows and sea pigs, which are abundant in Venezuela's rivers. The good-natured amphibians swam slowly towards the convoy; but they disappeared in the blink of an eye, as if frightened. The two young men returned to the stern.Germain.Paterna refilled and lit his pipe, and the interrupted conversation resumed. You just said, Jacques.Elloch, you remember Colonel Kellmer doesn't seem to have any family I'm sure of that, Jacques!And wait, I remembered a detail. A relative of the colonel's wife took him to court. The colonel lost the first trial in Nantes. He appealed to the court of Rennes and won the case. Yes, I remember Kyle. Colonel Merme's wife was of half-breed Martinique, and died in a shipwreck four or five years later on the way back to France from the colony. Their only daughter also drowned. Later, he handed in his resignation letter.As I said before, Jacques, he had no relatives. After a while, it was rumored that he had left France, but no one seemed to know where he went, except that he sent him from San Fernando. That letter to a friend yes indeed my memory won't fool me if we ask Sergeant Marshall and Jean I bet they will confirm my statement Don't ask them anything, Jacques.Elloch said, this is a private matter, and it is not good for us to get involved. All right, Jacques, but you see, I'm not mistaken, Sergeant Martial can't be Jean.De.Uncle of Kellmer, because after Colonel Kellmer's wife died, he has no close relatives Jacques.Ai Luohe crossed his arms, lowered his head, thinking about what his companion just said, could Paterna have made a mistake?Will not!Colonel Kellmer was living at home when he appealed to the court of Rennes, and these facts were mentioned in court. From this he proceeded to the following thought, which every one naturally thinks of: Not only is Sergeant Marshall not a relative of the Kellmer family, Jean.De.It is also impossible for Kellmer to be the son of Colonel Kellmer, because the colonel has only one daughter, and died together with her mother when she was very young. The matter is clear, Germain.Paterna said there was no way the teenager was the colonel's son But he said he was.Jacques.Elloch added. There must be some unknown insider or even secret about this matter.Could the boy be the victim of a mistake, a purely unnecessary adventure?No, Martial's uncle and nephew must have their own ideas about Colonel Kellmer and his kinship with Jean, and with Germain.Paterna's account contradicts.In short, the complicated and confusing development of the situation made Jacques.Ailoch's interest in Jean was intensified. The two good friends talked on and on about this topic until eleven o'clock, when Miguel and Felipe got up to replace them. Varinas, a supporter of Guaviare, was fast asleep and his companions did not call him. You didn't find anything suspicious, did you?asked Miguel, standing at the stern of Maripare. Nothing, Monsieur Miguel, Jacques.Elloch said the river and its banks were very still Very likely, Germain.Paterna said your vigil was as safe as ours. Well, good night, gentlemen.Felipe shook hands with them across the boat. During the few hours on duty, Miguel and Felipe probably also wanted to chat, but their topics were quite different from those of the two Frenchmen just now.Taking advantage of Varinas' absence, Felipe will definitely preach to Miguel the various reasons why Atababu is the source of Orinoco, and the other party will listen to him with the usual magnanimity . Time flies, everything is normal, at two o'clock, Martial comes out to take over, and the two go back to Maripare to sleep. Martial sat down in the stern, with the carbine by his side, lost in thought. His heart was full of worries like never before, oh God, not for himself!But worry about the child who is sleeping soundly in the cabin.This trip was proposed by Jean, and Martial couldn't resist him, so he had to agree. At this time, scenes from the past flashed in his mind again.Starting from Europe, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, a series of events after the two left the city of Bolivar, where are they going? Where will this search take them?What can I find in San Fernando?How happy was Colonel Kellmer's life at first, and how cruel the subsequent disaster was. Which remote town did he hide in for the rest of his life?In order to find him, what kind of difficulties and obstacles will his only relative in this world encounter? Besides, things didn't turn out the way Martial expected. He had hoped that no outsiders would be encountered during the trip. What happened was that from the very beginning they were on the Galineta with Maripare and On the side, the people on the other ship had contacts with his so-called nephew. How could the relationship between the two parties not be as close as the fellow travelers?Then something worse happened in Martial's view, and he met two Frenchmen unluckily. He could only watch helplessly as a closer compatriot relationship was established between Jean and them. Since the two parties have the same goal, and on the other hand, the two people are so eager to help, it is hard to refuse. What's more, these two people are not only compatriots with them, but also fellow countrymen, and they are both Bretons. It is said that accidental factors are sometimes like a daredevil, and things that have nothing to do with it have to be involved in the mess! At this moment, a subtle sound broke the tranquility of the night, the sound was quite rhythmic, and it was getting louder. But it was still not loud enough to be heard by Martial, lost in thought.He also didn't see that the four small boats were traveling along the right bank of the Meta River. They paddled and headed towards Martial and the others against the waves. There were more than 20 Kivas in the canoe, and now they are only 200 meters away from the three Falkas. If the passengers are not awakened immediately, they will be killed before they even have time to resist, but they just bow their heads The pensive Martial hadn't seen or heard anything yet. The distance between the canoe and Falka had narrowed to about sixty feet, when the sound of a shot was heard. Before the gunfire fell, there was a burst of screaming from the canoe at the front. It was Jacques who shot.Ai Luohe, then Germain.Paterna also pulled the trigger. It was five o'clock in the morning, and the sky was just getting dark.The sound of oars woke the two young men from their dreams.They sneaked to the stern of Moriche's boat, and seeing the emergency, they raised their guns and fired at the approacher. As soon as the gunshot rang out, the passengers and crew immediately woke up and went into battle. Miguel, Varinas and Felipe grabbed their guns and rushed out of the cabin. Martial had just fired a shot at the canoe before Jean was at his side.The old man was yelling angrily: Damn it!I didn't notice it at all! The Kivas fought back.Two dozen arrows whizzed over the top of Falka, and a few lodged in the roof of the boat, but did not hurt anyone. Miguel and the others responded with another burst of shooting.The bullets were far more accurate than the arrows, and the Kivas immediately became a mess. Go back in the cabin, let, go back in the cabin!Jacques.exclaimed Elloch, who felt that there was no need for the boy to take needless risks. At this time, another rain of arrows fell, and one of them hit Martial in the shoulder. deserve it!Well done!Oh, he exclaimed, a veteran negligent on his watch!I deserve this arrow! The carbines and revolvers fired a third time, and the canoes began to back away from Falka. The Kivas failed in their sneak attack, so they retreated and fled. Several Kiwas were killed and several others were seriously injured. The Kiwa people, whose wishful thinking failed, disappeared in a small boat in the direction of the lower reaches of the Orinoco River.