Chapter 14 Fourteen Dry Salt Lakes

A series of lakes stretches here from the two mountain ranges of Ventana and Guamini, ending in Salt Lake.In the past, many expeditions set off from Buenos Aires to get salt here, because the water in the lake contains a lot of sodium chloride [Note: The main component of table salt. ], but now the water has been evaporated by the hot climate, and all the salt contained in it condenses at the bottom of the lake.The lake becomes a giant mirror. When Tarcaf foretells that the Salt Lake will have water to drink, he means the many freshwater rivers that flow into it.Unexpectedly, those rivers are as dry as lakes at this moment: the scorching sun drank all the water.Therefore, when the thirsty caravan reached the shore of the salt lake, there was no one who was not surprised.A decision must be made immediately.The little water left in the bucket was a bit spoiled and undrinkable.Everyone began to suffer from thirst.Hunger and fatigue vanish in the face of this urgent need.They found a ruka tent abandoned by the natives, pitched in an earthen pit, where the weary travelers settled, their horses lying on the muddy banks of the lake, chewing wickedly. with salty grass and dry reeds.

After everyone settled down in Rucari, Paganel asked Tarcaf what he thought and what everyone should do.The two started a conversation, and the conversation was very fast, and Glenarvan understood a few words from the side.Takaf was always talking calmly, but Paganel danced and danced. After talking for a few minutes, Takaf hugged his arms. What did he say?Glenarvan asked, and I seemed to hear him urging us to separate. Yes, in two teams, replied Paganel, and among us, whichever horse is too tired and thirsty to walk, will go slowly along the road of the thirty-seventh parallel.If the horses could walk, they went ahead and scouted the Guamini River, which emptied into Lake San Luke, fifty kilometers from here.If there is enough water in the river, they wait on the bank for those who follow.If there is no more water, they will rush back to meet the person behind and tell him not to go on the wrong road again.

What if there is no water?Austin asked. If there is no water, you have to go south for 120 kilometers, until you reach the first few branches of the Ventana Mountains, where there are many rivers. ah!Ser, take me too.Robert said, as if going to play a trip. But how can you catch up with us, my child? catch up!My horse is fine, it is always going forward.Will you take me, sir?Please take me there. Come on, my child.Greenervan said he was also extremely reluctant to leave him.The three of us, he went on, would be foolish if we couldn't get to a cool reservoir. What about me?asked Paganel.

ah!You, my dear Paganel, said the major, you'd better stay behind with the reserves.You know the thirty-seventh parallel too well, you know the Guamini, you know the whole Panpa, you can't leave us.Neither Mugala, Wilson nor I can catch up with Tarcaf, nor can we reach the appointed place with him. We can only walk forward slowly under your banner with full confidence. I had to be patient.The geographer said that he was very happy to get the leadership. However, you can't be careless!The major said again, don't lead us where we don't want to go, for example, don't lead us back to the shores of the Pacific Ocean!

That's all right, you nasty major.But, my dear Glenarvan, how can you understand Tarcalf? said Paganel, laughing. I think he and I have nothing to talk about.And I use the few bits of Spanish I can speak, and in an emergency I can tell him to understand me, and I can understand him. So go, my dear friend. Let's have dinner first.Sleep, if you can, until it's time to set off.Greenervan said. Everyone ate dinner and didn't drink water, and they all felt that it was not refreshing enough.However, there was no better way, so I had to sleep.Paganel dreamed of torrents, waterfalls, rivers, rivers, ponds, streams, and even pitchers filled with cold water, in short, wherever there was water to drink.It's a dark place, a dream.

The next day, at six o'clock in the morning, the horses of Tarcafe, Glenarvan, and Robert were ready.They drank the last of the water, which stinks, and they drank it as a last resort.Then, the three of them stepped into the saddle. goodbye!goodbye!Major, Austin, Wilson, and Murady said together. The most important thing is to try to find water, don't run any further!Paganel added. After a while, the Patagonian, Glenarvan, and Robert looked back, and they couldn't see the group of people led by the geographer, and they couldn't help feeling a little puzzled. The salt lake they crossed was still a great clay plain, full of life.Eight-meter-tall curly shrubs, woody mimosa, clumping shrubs rich in soda content called woody.The sun's rays are reflected from the scattered large salt fields, and the light is astonishingly intense.This salt flat is called Ballero.At first glance it looked like frozen water, but the blazing sun quickly dispelled the misconception that it was solid ice.Nevertheless, the juxtaposition of the whole scorched barren soil with these glistening icy lakes of salt gives this wilderness a peculiar face.

As mentioned earlier, if the Guamini River also dries up, pedestrians will have to go 120 kilometers south to the Ventana Mountains, but the appearance of this area is completely different from that of the Salt Lake Desert.This area is 1835 Fitz.Captain Roy led the expedition ship Beagle to explore. The soil is extremely fertile, where the best pastures in the entire Indian field grow, and it spreads to the forests full of various trees at the foot of the mountain.There is a kind of cassia tree called Algaropo. The fruit is dried and ground into powder, which can be made into a kind of bread that Indians love to eat.There is also a white broken axe tree, the wood is very strong.There is also the Nuo Dubo tree, which catches fire and often causes tragic fires.There is also the Villaro tree, with layers of purple flowers forming a pyramid shape.Finally, there is the fanbo tree, which props up a 24-meter-high umbrella in the air, and the whole herd of cattle and sheep can enjoy the shade under it.The Argentines tried several times to colonize the area, but they could not overcome the hatred of the Indians.

One would of course suspect that such a fertile country must have had great rivers flowing from the mountainsides to supply it with sufficient water.This guess is good, those big rivers will not dry up even in the driest time.However, to reach these great rivers, one hundred and twenty kilometers further to the south.Therefore, Tarcave was right in arguing that he should first go to the Guamini River to find water. In this way, he would not deviate from the original route, and it would be much closer than going to the Ventana Mountains. All three horses ran vigorously.These clever animals must have known instinctively where their masters were taking them.Especially Taojia, it showed the courage that no fatigue, hunger and thirst could thwart. Like a bird, it jumped over the dry swamp and jumped into the Gula Mafeidong bush, making an optimistic hiss.Glenarvan and Robert's horses, more heavily on their feet, but encouraged by Taojia's example, also galloped behind.Tarcaf hardly moved in the saddle, inspiring his fellow travelers by his own example, just as Toka inspired his fellow travelers.

Often Tarcafe looked back at Robert. This child is young, but he sits firmly on the horse, his waist is flexible, his shoulders are slanted, his feet hang down naturally, and his knees are in the saddle.Takaf was very satisfied and cheered.Really, Robert had become a first-rate rider and deserved his admiration. Well, Robert, said Glenarvan, look at Tarcalf's air to compliment you!He's applauding you, my boy. Why cheer, sir? Because of your riding posture. ah!I just rode steadily.He blushed with joy when he heard the compliment. The main thing is to ride well, Robert, but you are too modest, and I can predict that you will be a good sportsman in the future.

Well, grandpa is going to make me a sailor and I'm a sportsman, what's he gonna say?Robert laughed. Being a sportsman does not hinder being a sailor. A good rider does not necessarily make a good sailor, but a good sailor can become a good rider.Once you get used to riding on the sail stand, you can ride steadily on the horse.As for how to rein in the horse and how to circle around, that's easy and nothing more natural. My poor father!Robert went on to say, ah!You saved him, ser, how grateful he will be to you! You love your father very much, Robert? Yes, ser, he was too kind to my sister and me.He thought only of us!Every time he came back from a trip, wherever he went, he would bring us some souvenirs, and when he got home, he would caress us and speak kind words to us.ah!You will know him in the future and you will love him!Mary is like him.He spoke in a soft voice, just like Mary!Strange, isn't it, for a sailor to speak so softly?

Yes, very strange, Robert. I still seem to see him in front of my eyes.The child seemed to be talking to himself, loving father!Good dad!When I was little he would hold me on his lap and rock me to sleep, and he would always hum a Scottish song in praise of our lakes.I remember that tune sometimes, but only vaguely.Mary remembered too.ah!Sir, how we love him!Well!I think the younger a person is, the more he loves his father! The older you are, the more you respect your father, my child.Glenarvan replied that he was very moved by the few words that flowed from the little heart. While they were talking like this, the horse had already slowed down and moved forward at a slow pace. We've got to find my father, haven't we?Robert was silent for a while, then spoke again. Yes, he must be found.Tarcaf provided the clues we were looking for, and I trusted him.Sir replied. What a righteous Indian, this Tarcafe!said the child. Indeed. One more thing, do you know, sir? You say it first and I will answer you later. Everyone with you is good!Lady Helene, I really love her; the Major, always calm; the Captain Mengel; and the Monsieur Paganel; and all the sailors on the Duncan, brave and eager! Yes, I know, my boy. Did you also know that you are the best of the good guys? ah!Where did this come from, I don't know yet! Well, you ought to know, sir.As he spoke, he took Jazz's hand and put it on his lips for a kiss. Glenarvan shook his head slightly.The conversation did not continue, for they fell behind unconsciously, and Tarcaf beckoned them ahead.We know that time at that time is precious, and we should think of the people behind who are living like years! The three urged the horse to run again.But after a while, they clearly saw that except for Taojia, the other two horses couldn't run anymore.At noon, the horses had to rest for an hour, they were too tired.The large clumps of alfalfa were dried up, and they refused to eat them. Glenarvan became uneasy: the dry climate has not changed, and if water can no longer be found, the consequences will be unimaginable.Tarcave said nothing, and if an Indian feels disappointed in his heart, he may think: If the Guamini River also dries up, then it will be a real disappointment! They set off again, for better or worse, with whips and spurs, forcing the horses to go on the road, but only at a slow pace, and it was impossible to go fast. Tarcaf could have gone ahead, for Toka could have brought him to the banks of the Guamini in a few hours.No doubt he had thought a little, but it also occurred to him that he could not leave his two traveling companions in this wilderness.So, in order not to get too far ahead of them, he reined in Taojia tightly, forcing it to slow down. It is not easy for Taojia to walk at a slow pace frequently, it resists, jumps and neighs fiercely.So his master is not only strangling it hard, but also comforting it with kind words.Tarcaf was talking to the horse, although Taojia couldn't answer, at least he understood what the master meant.Tarcaf must have given his horse a lot of reasons, so after discussing for some time, Toka finally accepted his opinion and walked slowly, but he couldn't help biting the iron and expressing his impatience. Togya knew Tarcaf, and Tarcaf knew it as well.The clever animal, with its highly sensitive sense of smell, already sensed the moisture in the air, and sucked it in violently, twitching and thumping its tongue as if in a cool spring.Takaf could not be mistaken, it was not far from the water source. So he explained the reasons for Taojia's impatience to Glenarvan and the others, and encouraged them. At the same time, the other two horses soon understood Taojia's psychology.They made one last effort and galloped after Tarcave.Just before three o'clock, a white line appeared in a recess in the terrain.The sun shone on it and quivered. It's water!Greenervan said. It's water!Yes, it is water!cried Robert. There was no need for them to urge the horses, and the three poor beasts felt so full of energy that they could run beyond the iron walls.In a few minutes he was on the bank of the Guamini, saddled and leading, and plunged into the life-saving river, up to his chest. Their owners couldn't help being carried into the river and took a cold shower. Although their clothes were all wet, they didn't complain at all. ah!That's great!The children were just screaming and drinking in the middle of the river. Drink slowly, boy!Jazz warned him, but he did not lead by example. At this time, only the sound of drinking water was heard. Tarcaf drank, too, but calmly and unhurriedly, taking sips and sips, and he drank so much that he would have drained the whole river. Well, our friends will not be disappointed.As soon as they reached the Guamini they would have water to drink, clear and plentiful, but let Tarcave not drink up the river in one sitting! Can't we go and meet them?We can reduce their anxiety and pain for a few hours by welcoming them.asked Robert. You are right, my child, but how can you bring water?The buckets are in Wilson's hands.Just to meet it.It would be better to wait for them here according to the original plan.According to the time required, according to the speed of their horses, they can arrive at night.Let's get them a good lodging and a good supper. Tarcaf went to the camp without waiting for Glenarvan to speak.On the bank of the river, he was lucky enough to find a horse-drawn yard surrounded by three walls for keeping cattle and horses.As long as you are not afraid of sleeping in the open air, this courtyard is a good place to stay.And Tarcaf's traveling companions did not insist on spending the night in the house.So, they didn't have to find another place, and everyone dried their soaked clothes in the sun. Now that we have a place to live, let's try to prepare dinner.We must keep our friends satisfied with their advance troops.I thought, when they arrived, there would be nothing to complain about.Now, I think hunting for an hour is not a waste of time.Are you ready, Robert? Get ready, sir.The boy replied, getting up all at once, with the gun in his hand. Glenarvan thought of hunting because the banks of the Guamini seemed to be the congregation of all the beasts of the neighboring plains.People saw all kinds of birds flying up in flocks, including a red partridge, which is a special product in Panpa District, called Tinamu.There were black partridges; there was a kind of dove called the terrudro, there were many yellow crakes, and there were grouse, which were lovely green. Beasts are invisible.But Tarcaf pointed to the tall grass and bushes, and said that the beasts were hiding there.Our hunters are just a few steps away from some of the richest hunting areas in the world. They started hunting.They thought the birds were bad, so they shot the wild animals first, and fired a few shots at the hiding place of the big beasts in the Panpa area.At once hundreds of deer and guanacos arose before them, the same guanacos that had driven them down that night on the high and low rocky fronts.But these cowardly beasts are too fast to catch and shoot.They had no choice but to lower their requirements and beat the slower-running beasts, which were excellent for cooking.A dozen or so red partridges and crakes were shot down, and Sir also skillfully shot down a wild boar called Tetetur. This kind of thick-skinned beast has excellent meat, and the shot was really worthwhile. In less than half an hour, I had all the game I needed, and I didn't feel very tired in spirit.Robert had caught a toothless monster called the Almaero, a kind of armadillo covered with mobile scales, half a meter long and very fat, which, according to the Patagonians, was It is a delicious dish.Robert is proud of his achievements.As for Tarcaf, I showed my traveling companions a Nandu, an ostrich native to the Panpa district, which runs surprisingly fast.Tarcaf didn't try to block this fast bird, he rushed to it as soon as he ran along Taojia, because Nandu circled in circles, and if he missed a single shot, he would follow you in countless circles, so that You can't beat it even if you are exhausted.As soon as Tarcaf got in front of it, he threw his Paola violently.He threw it so skillfully that he wrapped the ostrich's leg at once, making it unable to exert force.In a few seconds, it was lying on the ground.Tarcaf caught it at once, and it was not only for the sport of shooting, but Nandu was also very tasty, and he made a big feast for his guests. A great colony of partridges and crakes, Tarcafe's ostriches, Glenarvan's boars, Robert's armadillos were all brought back into the yard.Both the ostrich and wild boar were skinned and sliced ​​at once.As for the armadillo, which is a rare beast, it has a barbecue socket on its body, so the shell is grilled on hot coals. The three hunters only ate the partridges and crakes for dinner, and left the good things for the friends behind.As they ate, they drank water, which they thought was better than any wine in the world, not even the famous whiskey so revered in the Highlands of Scotland. Horses have not been forgotten either.A lot of dry grass piled up in the yard is enough to feed them.Everything was ready, and the three of them wrapped themselves in the canopy and lay down on the pile of soft alfalfa grass, which is the usual bed mat for hunters in Pampa.