Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen

At dawn, with the last stars still blinking in the western sky, the passengers were awakened by the sound of the crew preparing to depart.It looked like today was going to be the last leg of the trip, only about fifteen kilometers away from San Fernando.How everyone longed to sleep tonight in a room that was a real room, in a bed that was a real bed!Thirty-one days have passed since we set off from Kekara, that is to say, there have been thirty-one nights where passengers can only sleep on straw mats under the canopy. Of course, in Urbana, Attu They also lived in thatched huts and slept in Indian beds in the villages of Reis and Maipres, but how could this compare to the comfort of even a small European-style inn, let alone a hotel!There is no doubt that these wishes can be fulfilled in San Fernando.

When Miguel and the others came out of the boat tent, the boat had already sailed to the middle of the river, and was driven by the northeast wind. Unfortunately, the experienced crew of the Orinoco River soon discovered some certain It is a sign that the wind cannot continue to push the boat up to fifteen kilometers. The three boats are walking in a long line, Jacques.Elloch turned to Garinetta and said: Feeling good, this morning, my dear Jean?As he spoke, he raised his hand and greeted Rang. Thank you, Mr. Elloher.the boy replied. How about you, Sergeant Marshall? It's the same as usual.The veteran said only one thing.

I can see it, I can see it, Jacques.Ellohe's tone was cheerful, and I hope everyone arrives in San Fernando tonight in good health. tonight?Valdes, the captain of the ship, shook his head suspiciously. Miguel, who had been observing the sky for a while, joined the conversation: Are you not too happy with the weather, Valdes?he asks. Not very satisfied, Mr. Miguel, the clouds are coming from the south, and it doesn't look good! Can't the wind blow the clouds away? If it keeps blowing, that's possible.But I'm so worried if it stops!You see, there are storm clouds coming up from the south, and most of them will go against the wind.

Jacques.Ai Luohe glanced at the horizon, seeing that his expression agreed with the words of the ship's boss Valdes. Let's take advantage of the wind while it's still windy, Elloch said, and travel as much as we can. No problem, Mr Elloher.Valdes said. Throughout the morning the boat encountered little obstruction, and her bulging sails held her against the rather rapid current.There are broad grasslands on both sides, and a verdant Fangshan protrudes from time to time.A few more tributary streams were seen on the road, swelled up by the rains at the end of the monsoon season, but they would dry up in five or six weeks.

The boat went around the reef of Nelikawa, and it took a lot of effort to cross the Aji rapids. If it weren't for the wind, the difficulty would be even greater.The Aggie Rapids are relatively short and the water is deep enough for boats to navigate the numerous reefs.The danger is that once the boat is suddenly carried by the rapids and thrown onto the reef, it will definitely be smashed to pieces. This even came close to happening to Moriche, who was about to be pushed to the top of a large rock by the force of the current. If something happened to Moriche this time, Garineta and Maripare People and supplies should be rescued in time.In this case, Jacques.Elloch and his companions would then have to take two other ships, and Garinetta would, of course, be happy to take their fellows.

This possibility, to Sergeant Martial, was exasperating to say the least.It is certain that, even if he had agreed to admit the two Frenchmen, his countenance would have darkened after a few hours. After finally getting out of Aji, the crew came to the rapids of Castilito again, which was as difficult as the former and was the last navigational obstacle before reaching San Fernando. After lunch, Jacques.Elloch walked over to the bow of Moriche's boat to smoke a cigar. He was not without regret to see Valdez's prophecy come true.The wind is subsiding, and the feeble sails can no longer resist the reverse current. Only when a gust of wind blows suddenly, the puffed sails can drag the boat up a few chains. Two hundred meters.Translator's Note].

Apparently it wasn't long before the weather changed drastically.The sky to the south was gray and white with streaks of soot, like the fur of wild animals.Cloud strips like fluffy long tails are scattered in the distance. The sun has just risen to the mid-heaven, and it seems that it will soon be covered by thick clouds. This is even better!Germain.Paterna said.Beads of sweat were dripping down his dark face. This is not good!Jacques.Ai Luohe retorted that even being drenched in the sun was better than being drowned. In the case of heavy rain in this area, there is not even a place to take shelter.

It was almost breathless, Felipe said to his colleagues, if the wind stopped again, we would have to suffocate to death Do you know how many degrees the thermometer in the cabin points to?Varinas said, thirty-seven degrees!Even if it was one degree higher, we would have to steam it! I have never felt so hot!Miguel wiped the sweat from his forehead and said that compared with his two colleagues, he doesn't like to use exaggerated words. There is no way to stay under the canopy.Only by standing in the stern can I take a few breaths of air, but it is scorching hot air that seems to come out of the mouth of a furnace.Originally, the boat moved forward with the breeze, but now the wind was so weak that it could not be felt, and the rest time was getting longer and longer, which really made people anxious.

However, at three o'clock, Garineta, Maripare, and Moriche approached a large island called Amanameni Island on the map. The island is densely forested, full of greenery, and the coast of the island is steep and precipitous.The crew first marched along the shore of the island where the water flow was slower, and then dragged it with a fiber rope, and finally reached the southern end of the island. The sun has disappeared behind the clouds.The layers of clouds are like clumps, which seem to be rolling down at any time.The rumbling thunder resounded endlessly in the southern sky.Dashes of lightning flashed across the clouds, as if they were about to explode.Not a breath of wind blows from the north.The storm is spreading its charged wings, covering the sky from east to west, dark as night.Can the sun dispel the dark clouds and prevent a storm?This happens from time to time, but today, even the most confident meteorologists don't believe in miracles.

The sails should be furled even out of prudence, especially since they are now completely out of use.Also for the sake of safety, the crew pulled up the mast and lowered it on the ship.The boat began to retreat, and the penny was immediately put to use. The crew members resisted the oncoming current with the remaining strength under the pressure of the heat. After Amanameni is another large island, Guayativari.The crew uses tow ropes along the steep island shore.This was faster than pole poles, and they planned to use the ropes all the way to the other side of the island. When the crew members were tired, they stopped to rest, and when they were ready to continue, Miguel leaned over to Moriche and asked:

How far are we from San Fernando? There are still three kilometers, Jacques.Ai Luohe had just checked the map and replied immediately. Well, three kilometers, I should finish it this afternoon!Miguel said. Then, turning to the crew, he called out: Come on, friends, one last fight!You will not regret it, you will be rewarded handsomely for your hard work!If we make it to San Fernando tonight, you'll each get two coins! Other travelers pledged to keep the promise.The crews of the three ships were attracted by this tempting promise, and would fight against all odds for their reward, and the two coins were indeed their due, after all, they fought so hard under such harsh conditions. At this time, the fleet was near the Guaviare River, whose mouth has sunk the left bank of the Orinoco far inward.Of course, if Mr. Varinas's conclusion is correct, it should be said in reverse, that is, the mouth of the Orinoco has sunken the right bank of the Guaviare River very much. Not surprisingly, Guaviare's ardent supporters put on their glasses and watch hungrily as his lovely Guaviare River pours its clay-yellow water into the triangular bay.It is also conceivable that when the boat reached the mouth of the river, Mr. Felipe put on the most disdainful expression and asked in a pretentious manner: What is the name of this creek? The Guaviare River, which can be traveled by a ship for 1,000 kilometers. The area irrigated by the numerous tributaries of the Guaviare River extends to the foot of the Andes. The Guaviare River pours water into the Orinoco River every second. The Guaviare River with a volume of 3,200 cubic meters is actually called a small river ditch! No one answered the contemptuous question of Don Felipe, and no one had time to answer, because the crew of the three ships suddenly exclaimed simultaneously: Choo Basco Choo Basco! It's an Indian word for a storm, and it's sweeping across the horizon, down the Orinoco like an avalanche.And the direction of the wind, people who are not familiar with the unique phenomenon of the Venezuelan grasslands will find it strange or even unbelievable that it is the northeast. Just a moment ago, the air was calm, not only calm, but heavy, dense, as if solidified.The dark clouds split by the lightning bolts continued to spread in the sky.The torrential rain did not come from the south, but from the north. As soon as the water vapor-filled clouds reached the zenith, they encountered a storm, which blew the clouds to pieces, but brought wind, Clouds of hail and rain will toss the place where the two great tributaries and the main stem meet. As soon as the storm came, it blew the boat away from the mouth of the river, and kept pushing the boat forward. Now the boat did not use any tools, and went obliquely towards San Fernando.If the storm did not bring them any danger, the travelers would be more than happy to go in the direction it imposed. Unfortunately, Chubasco always has endless disasters.Those who have not experienced it personally cannot imagine its power in any way.The arrow-like raindrops are mixed with hail grains, which are like machine gun fire, which will smash through the boat awning, and people will definitely suffer. At the cries of Tyubasko, Tyubasko, the passengers hid in the canopy.Sails and masts had already been furled against what the crew called a damned wind, so Maripare, Maurice, and Garinetta withstood the first gust of wind.However, the danger has not been lifted because of this, and the sinking of the ship is not the only possibility.Not only is the wind raging, but the water waves are also surging like ocean waves.The three boats bumped back and forth on the waves, colliding with each other, and may be smashed into several pieces on the reef on the right bank at any time. Even if the passengers can swim to the shore by luck, all their supplies will be lost. At this moment, the three boats were tossing on the waves, and the bosses of the boats fiddled with the rudder in vain, unable to control the direction of the boats at all.They spun around in place, and when a wave hit, rushing water rushed onto the side of the boat.The boat was weighed down a lot at once. If the crew hadn't drained the water in time with the help of the passengers, the boat might have sunk.These flat-bottomed boats were built for flat waters, and were not of size or shape to stand up to.In the middle reaches of the Orinoco River, the frequent occurrence of Tiobasco during the rainy season has destroyed countless ships. The river here is very wide.From the southern tip of Guayativari, the estuary widens.It looks like a huge lake.The east is arc-shaped, and the west is the guaviare estuary that extends slightly southward into a funnel shape.The strong wind can naturally drive straight in from the mouth of the river, and there is no natural barrier such as a hill or a forest on the coastal plain.If a ship in this water area encounters a storm, it is impossible to escape like a ship at sea, and it can only run aground. The crew knew this, but could do nothing to avert disaster.They also thought that they should run for their lives before hitting the rocks, but there is also a condition for this, that is, they must have good swimming skills and be able to withstand the turbulent waves. Maripare has been beaten to the ground by the waves, but Miguel, Varinas and Felipe still brave the wind and rain to come out of the canopy, and they are ready to meet any challenge. One of them simply said: What a rare thing to call a shipwreck in a harbour! Martial struggles to keep his composure aboard Garrine Tower.If he is alone, if only his own safety is at stake, then as a veteran who has experienced countless hardships, he will resign himself to fate!But now there is his colonel's son who agrees to accompany the child on the expedition. If the ship sinks before reaching the shore, how can he rescue the child?Martial can't swim, and even if he can, what can he do in the rolling waves?But no matter what, he will jump down without hesitation when the time comes, if he can't save Rang's life, he would rather die with the child! Martial felt a little confused, but Jean remained calm and calm.He walked out of the cabin and stood firmly at the stern. He saw the danger and dared to face it. He murmured his father's name in his mouth. However, there is another person beside Jean who is watching him, although Jean is not aware of it.The three boats drifted in the same direction, sometimes they came together, and sometimes they were washed away by the waves.During this time, JacquesElloch's eyes never left Jean, and when the two boats were rushed towards each other by the waves and were about to collide, he ignored the immediate danger and just shouted words of encouragement to Jean.In fact, it was not necessary at all, this boy didn't even blink his eyes before the life-threatening danger! Hold on for another two minutes, and we'll be docked.Germain.Paterna stood on the bow of Moriche's boat and said. Let's get ready!Jacques.Elloch said in a serious tone, ready to rescue others! The left bank of the Orinoco was less than two hundred meters ahead of the boat after the bend where the Orinoco was cut by the mouth of the Guaviare.Through the raindrops and hail, white foam was faintly visible on the reefs on the shore.Chubasco's strength is getting stronger and stronger, and he should be able to reach the shore soon.The boat was tossed and tossed by the big waves, and from time to time, a wave was thrown onto the boat. There was a huge impact sound. Maurice ran into Garineta. The force of the impact was so great that the Garine Tower lurched violently to the other side and the water overflowed the side of the ship in a flash. Garine Tower didn't sink right away. However, an exclamation came to people's ears through the gust of wind and rain. The exclamation came from Sergeant Marshall. At the moment when the two ships collided, Jean fell into the rapids! My boy my boy!The old soldier kept calling, he was already dizzy, and his elbows didn't work anymore. He saw that he was about to jump into the river, but what if he jumped in? Jacques.Ai Luohe stretched out his strong arms to stop the old man and pushed him into the cabin. Jacques.Elloch just jumped up on Garine Tower to be nearer to Jean and to help him anytime When Jean just fell, Jacques.Elloch heard Martial blurt out a name Yes!He called another name instead of letting Let me do it, he said to the old man. Don't stop me Martial yelled. You can't swim and you're both going to die!I will save your child! Say it, Jacques.Alloch threw himself into the river. All the above words and actions are done within seconds. Jacques.After five or six strokes, Elloch came to Jean's side.Jean's head had come out of the water several times and was about to sink forever Jacques.Eloch hugged Jean by the waist, and floated his head on the surface of the water, letting the rapids wash them ashore. Hold on hold on!He kept talking. Keep your eyes closed, you've lost your senses, you can neither hear nor understand The boat was about twenty meters behind them.Valdes was trying his best to hold the crazy Martial, when he saw Jacques.Aloch supported the boy to the surface, and the wind was pushing them towards the shore.The boat finally arrived at the shore. Fortunately, they didn't hit the rocks, but happened to be lifted up by a huge wave rising from the bottom of the river, and the boat slid onto a sandy beach without any harm Big loss. At the same time, Jacques.Eloch also stood up from the water on the shore. He held Jean who was unconscious in his arms.He placed Rangping next to a rock, tilted his head back a little, and tried to regain consciousness. No one was killed in the storm, neither when the two ships collided nor when they ran aground. Miguel waited for the three of them to jump out of Malipare and then turned to Jacques who was kneeling beside Jean.Alloch ran over. Safe and sound Germain.Paterna also came running, and the crew was busy pulling the boat out further. When Martial arrived, Jean just opened his eyes and looked at his savior. My boy my boy!Marshall yelled. Martial My dear Martial!Jean murmured. He looked gratefully at the person who risked his life to save him, and then closed his eyes again. Five hundred meters to the left, the houses at the entrance of San Fernando Town came into view, and there was no delay, and we had to rush to the town immediately. Jacques.Elloch was about to pick Jean up again when Martial said to him: Although I can't swim, I can still walk sir, I have the strength to hold my own baby! That was all he had to say to the French youth. Martial held Jean in his arms, followed by Miguel and his colleague, Jacques.Alloch and Germain.In Paterna, a group of people walked along the river bank towards the town of San Fernando.