Chapter 6 Six debates before action

Eight days after rounding Cape Pollard, the ship steamed into Talcahuano Bay, a marvelous bay twenty-two kilometers long and eighteen kilometers wide.The weather is fantastic.From November to March in this place, the sky is clear, and the whole coast is blocked by the Andes, so the south wind often blows.Menger had followed Sir's order to sail the ship close to Ji Luo Island and the scattered islands on the west coast of America.A rotten plank, a broken mast, and a small piece of wood processed by human hands will all provide people with clues to the sinking of the Britannia.However, nothing was found.The Duncan had to continue sailing, and finally anchored in the port of Talcahuano.It was now forty-two days since he had left the misty waters of the Firth of Clyde.

As soon as the boat came to a halt, Sir Glenarvan let the skiff be lowered, and Paganel, with him, rowed down to the foot of the bank and landed.The learned geographer wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to say something about his painstakingly studied Spanish.But the natives couldn't understand a word he said, which surprised him greatly. I spoke in the wrong tone.He said. Let's go to customs.Sir said. When they arrived at the customs, they told them with a few English words mixed with expressive gestures that the US consulate was in Concepcion.It can be reached by horseback in one hour.The knight found two fast horses at once, and they were both in the city before long.This is a great city, founded by the brave companion of the Pisar brothers, the gifted adventurer Valdivia.

How prosperous the city was at the beginning, but now it is so depressed!It was often plundered by the natives, and in 1819 there was a fire throughout the city, which burned many houses, and the city walls were still blackened by smoke.It had been made obsolete by Port Talcahuano, whose inhabitants now numbered less than eight thousand, and whose feet were so lazy that the streets had turned into grass.Without commerce, without activity, trade is impossible.Mandolins blared from every balcony [note: a lute-like instrument. 】, soft singing from the curtains, Concepcion was originally a man's ancient city, but now it has become a village of women and children.

Sir had no intention of studying the causes of its depression, and even if Paganel urged him to do so, he did not delay a moment to find the American consul, Pentock.The consul received him very courteously, and as soon as he heard of Captain Grant's death, he agreed to take charge of the investigation along the coast. To the question whether the three-masted Britannia was wrecked near the thirty-seventh parallel off the coast of Chile or the Arogania, the answer is no.Because the British consul and the consuls of other countries have never received relevant or similar reports.The Jazz are not discouraged.He returned to Talcahuano, negotiated in the east, moved in the west, spared no pains and money, and sent people to the coasts to investigate.All this is in vain.Detailed surveys of coastal dwellers have been ineffective.In the end it had to be assured that the Britannia had left no trace of the wreck here.

So the Jazz told the results to his companions on board.Mary and her brother couldn't help showing their inner pain.This was six days after the Duncan arrived at Talcahuano.At this time, everyone gathered in the cabin.Mrs. Helen comforted Mary and her brother.Not to comfort with words, but to comfort with affection, because what else can she say?At this moment, Paganel took out the document again and examined it carefully with concentrated attention, as if he wanted to force it to reveal new secrets.A full hour had passed after he had looked at it in this way, when the Sir called to him and said to him: "Paganel, let your wisdom judge."Have we interpreted the document wrong?Isn't the meaning of these words illogical?

Paganel did not answer, he was thinking. Have we got the place wrong?The jazz asked again, from the eyes of the most stupid people: Isn't the word Patagonia very clear? Paganel remained silent. Finally, there is the indien [Note: Indians. 】Isn't this more supportive of our thesis?Sir said again. That's right!The major also chimed in. Isn't it obvious, then, that the shipwrecked crew members were to be captured by the Indians at the time this document was written? I'm going to interrupt you here, sir.Paganel finally answered, your assertion is correct in everything else, but it is this last point that I find unreasonable.

What do you mean?Lady Helene asked, while all eyes turned to the geographer. What I mean is: Captain Grant was a captive of the Indians when he wrote the papers.And, I would add, there is no room for doubt about this in this case.Paganel puts particular emphasis on the last sentence. Please explain, sir!said Miss Grant. It is too easy to explain, my dear Mary.The gaps in the document, we should not read that we will be captured, but that we should read that we have been captured, so that everything will be clear. That's impossible! impossible? !why, my good friend?Paganel spoke to Sir with a smile.

Because the bottle can only be thrown into the sea when the ship hits the rocks.Therefore, the latitude and longitude on the document must point to the location of the incident. Your point is groundless, Paganel quickly retorted. I don't understand why the sailors who died were taken captive by the Indians and they couldn't try to drop a bottle and let others know where they were detained. The reason is very simple, my dear Paganel, to throw the bottle into the sea, there must be a sea. If there is no sea, why not just throw it into the river that flows into the sea?Paganel replied.

A surprised silence accepted this unexpected and reasonable answer.Paganel saw the light in everyone's eyes and knew that everyone had grasped a new hope.Mrs. Helen was the first to speak: What a thought!she cried. What a brilliant idea.He added naively himself. Well, you mean Sir asked. What I mean is to first determine where the 37th parallel to the south passes through the coast of America, and then follow the 37th parallel inland, without leaving the peninsula, until you find the Atlantic Ocean.Perhaps on the thirty-seventh parallel we'll find the crew of the Britannia. Little hope!said the major.

We cannot ignore hope, great or small.If my conjecture is correct, and the bottle did flow from an inland river to the sea, we will surely find clues to the captives.Look at the map of this place, my friends, and I want you to take my word for it. As he spoke, he spread out a map of the provinces of Chile and Argentina on the table. You see, he said, you're just taking a transcontinental walk with me.We crossed this long and narrow Chile, crossed the high and low rocks of the Andes Mountains, and then descended into the middle of the grassland.Do these areas lack big rivers?Lack of great rivers?Lack of waterways?Not lacking.This is the Negro River [Note: The river in Argentina is formed by the confluence of the Limay River and the Neuquen River and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. ], this is the Colorado River, here are the many tributaries of the two rivers, all crossed by the 37th parallel south, all of which can send documents to the sea.In these places, maybe in the hands of a native tribe, in the hands of some settled Indians, on the banks of these rivers where the outside world does not understand the situation, in these valleys, Captain Grant and the others are waiting for God's will to rescue them!Can we disappoint them?Do you agree to go through this area along the straight line I am now pointing out on the map?In case it was not what I expected, I was wrong again.Don't we also have the responsibility to find the bottom along the 37th parallel?Shouldn't we circle the globe along the thirty-seventh parallel if it is necessary to find the lost crew? !

What an impassioned speech, everyone was quite moved after listening to it, and they all stood up and shook hands with him. Yes, my father is there!Robert kept screaming, his eyes wanted to swallow the map. Where is your father, we shall find him there, my child.The Sir said that our friend Paganel's interpretation was absolutely correct, and that the line he had drawn should now be followed without hesitation.Captain Grant was either in the hands of a large number of Indians, or a small tribe.If it falls into the hands of a small tribe, we will rescue him directly. If it is in the hands of a large number of Indians, we will go to the east coast and return to the ship after scouting the situation. We will go to the capital of Argentina to recruit a group of people. Organized by a major, it would be sufficient to deal with all the Indians in the interior of Argentina. good!Sir, that's it, good!Munger said, and I may add, that this trans-American trip will be made safely. Safe and less tiring.There are many, says Paganel, who have made the transcontinental journey, who are less equipped than we are, and not inspired by such great causes as we are!Didn't a man named Vilamour walk from Carmen to High and Low Rock in 1782?In 1806 there was not a Chilean, the judge of Concepción Province Dong.Louis, from the Andu Valley, crossed the Andes, walked forty days, arrived in Buenos Aires?Finally, Colonel Cassia, Monsieur Daubigny, and my venerable colleague Dr. Musi have traveled all over the country?They can do this for scientific research, but can't we do it for saving people? gentlemen!Mary said with a trembling voice, you are so generous to save people, you are not afraid to take so many risks, we should be grateful to you! Danger!Who said it was dangerous?cried Paganel. not me!replied Robert, his eyes wide and determined. Danger!Where is the danger?And, what are we going to do?It's just a trip of only 648 kilometers. We are walking in a straight line. The latitude followed by this trip is the same as that in Spain, Sicily, Greece and other places in the northern hemisphere, and the climate is roughly the same. .This trip will not exceed one month at most, we are like taking a walk! Mr. Paganel, Mrs. Helene interrupted, do you believe that the lives of the wrecked crew were safe after they fell into the hands of the Indians? Do you even need to ask, madam!Indians are not savages who eat people!They are definitely not like that.In the Geographical Society I knew a Frenchman, M. Quinard, who had been held captive by the Indians of the Steppes for three years.He suffered a lot and was abused, but he stood the test and came back victorious.A European is like a useful animal in this area.The Indians knew his value, and they loved him as valuable cattle. That being the case, there is no longer any hesitation, we should go, and start as soon as possible.Which way should we go?Sir asked. It is a convenient and comfortable road, starting with a little mountain road, then a small slope at the foot of the Andes Mountains, and finally a field of fine grass and flat sand, without rough places, it is simply a big garden. Just look at the map.said the major. Here is the map, my dear major.We start from the end of the thirty-seventh parallel between Cape Lumena and Bay of Carneiro on the Chilean coast.After passing through the capital of Arogania, we crossed the high and low rocks by the trail south of the Andu Valley Volcano, then slipped down the continuous slopes of this area, crossed the Neukon and Colorado Rivers, and we arrived at Judgment. Pa Prairie area, passing through Salt Lake, Guamini River, Tabalcon Mountain.That is the border of the province of Buenos Aires.We cross borders.Climb up Tanqiuer Mountain and search along the way until you find Cape Madanas on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. As he spoke, Paganel counted the places covered by this expedition without even looking at the map before him.He doesn't need to look at the map.He had read the works of Fleischer, Maurine, Hong Bao, Mière, Daubigny, etc., and his memory was very strong, and he was not wrong at all.After counting the series of place names, he said again: So, my dear friends, this road is straight.Thirty days to go.If the wind is a little rough, the Duncan will reach the east coast after us. According to you, the Duncan is supposed to cruise between Cape Corinth and Cape San Antonio, isn't it?asked the captain. Exactly. Who is going on this expedition?Sir asked. The less the better.We are only here to inquire about Captain Grant's situation, not to fight the Indians.I think Sir Glenarvan is of course our leader, the Major must be doing his part, and your faithful servant Paganel And I!cried little Robert. Don't interrupt me, brother!Mary said. Why not let him go?Paganel said that travel is the best form of exercise for youth.So it's the four of us, plus the three sailors from the Duncan Why, Menger said to his master, you don't nominate me? My dear Captain, said the sergeant, we have left our ladies on board, that is to say, our dearest ones!Who could tend them but the Duncan's devoted captain? Can't we go with you?Mrs. Helen said, looking at Sir, looking uneasy. My dear Helen, this trip must be back soon, we are only a little farewell, and Yes, I understand you guys, go ahead and wish you success!said Mrs. Helen. And, it's not a trip!Paganel said. What is it if it is not travel?the lady asked. Just take a look at the flowers and pass it by.As soon as we pass through it, it is like a good person passing through the world, doing good while walking.The ancients said: Do good deeds and go through the world, this is our motto. Paganel finished the sentence and the debate was over.Strictly speaking, not a debate, but a conversation, where everyone agrees.On the same day, preparations for the trip began.Everyone decided to keep it a secret, lest the Indians would startle the snake if they knew it. The date of departure was fixed for October fourteenth.When it came time to choose the accompanying sailors, everyone rushed to go, which made Jazz feel very embarrassed.He had to ask them to draw lots.The result of the lottery, first mate Tom.Austin, Sailor Wilson and Mullah drew.Wilson is a good guy, Murat beat London boxing king Tom.Sayos.All three of them were overjoyed. Sir Glenarvan made active preparations, and he asked to start on time.He actually did that too.On the other hand, the captain carried out coal storage so that he could sail again immediately.He was bent on reaching the coast of Argentina before the expedition.Therefore, there was almost a contest between the Jazz and the young captain, and the contest was to everyone's advantage. Sure enough, on October 14, at the scheduled time, everyone was ready.At the time of departure, all the passengers gathered in the square hall.The Duncan had her sails set, her propeller beating the clear waters of Talcahuano Bay.Sir, Paganel, Major, Robert, Austin, Wilson, and Muraty were all ready to leave the ship with their carbine and Gaut.The guide waited with the mule at the water fence. Time is up.Finally, said Sir Greenarvan. You go, friends!Mrs. Helen answered calmly. The sergeant held his lady close, and Robert jumped over and put his arms around his sister's neck.Now, dear friends, hold hands one last time until the shores of the Atlantic!Paganel said. Everyone came on deck, and the seven travelers left the ship.After a while, they arrived at the pier, and the cruise ship was also driving close to the shore, less than 100 meters away from the shore. Lady Helen shouted for the last time from the cabin: Friends, may God bless you! God will bless us, ma'am, please believe it, because we will help each other!Paganel replied. sail!The captain called to the mechanic. hit the road!Greenervan agreed. The pedestrians on land drove their mounts along the coast, and the Duncan drove to the ocean at full power.