Chapter 23 Twenty-three to explore the scope of the missing

At three o'clock in the morning on December 7th, the boiler of the Duncan rumbled, the sailors turned the windlass, the anchor was hoisted up, left the sandy bottom of the small harbor, returned to the anchor frame, the propeller started to turn, and the cruise ship entered the sea again up.At eight o'clock, when the passengers boarded the deck, the island of Amsterdam had gradually disappeared in the clouds and mist in the sky.This is the last berth on the 37° trip, and there are still 1,620 kilometers away from the coast of Oceania. As long as the westerly wind can last for ten days, and as long as there are no accidents at sea, the Duncan can reach its destination.

When Miss Mary and her younger brother Robert saw the raging waves on the sea, they couldn't help feeling a little bit in their hearts. These waves might have been broken by Grant's ship a few days before the wreck, or maybe it was here that Grant's ship was wrecked and the crew disappeared, only his father himself Battling a storm in the Indian Ocean, only to be dragged to a distant shore by an irresistible force.The captain drew the directions of the currents on the chart for the girl to see.One of the transverse currents of the Indian Ocean is powerful and flows towards Oceania in a direction from west to east.So perhaps the Britannia was mast broken and rudder out of tune, that is to say, completely disarmed before the violence of sea and sky, only to run with this current to the shore ahead, only to be smashed to pieces.

However, there is a problem here.According to the Merchant Shipping Daily, Captain Grant's last message was sent from Callao on May 30, 1862. Why did the Britannia enter the Indian Ocean on June 7 after leaving the coast of Peru for only eight days?Paganel has a reasonable answer to this question, which is unlikely to be objected to by the best contrary view. It was the night of December 12th, six days since I left Amsterdam.The Glenarvans, the Grants, the major, and the captain were all gossiping in the cabin.As always, the Britannia was the crew's sole concern.During the discussion, the above-mentioned question was raised, and everyone seemed to have poured a basin of ice water on their heads when they mentioned it.

Paganel raised his head immediately when he was caught off guard by such a question.Then, go to the file without saying a word.When he came back, he just shrugged his shoulders, as if one were stumped by an innocuous little problem. You shrug, my dear scholar, that the non-questionable question has gone awry, and in that case you must have an answer.Sir said. Don't worry, said the geographer, I'll ask the captain a question first. Speak, Monsieur Paganel.said the captain. Can a speedboat cross the Pacific Ocean from America to Oceania in one month? Yes, if you sail at a speed of 110 kilometers per day.

Is it the fastest? No, the speed of the clipper is much faster than this. Well then!The geographer also said that there is a large gap between the words "June 7th" on the document. Is it really June 7th? !If the sea water erodes the word before the seven, and it turns out to be June 17 or June 27, wouldn't the problem be solved? Yes!Lady Helene replied, from the 31st of May to the 27th of June The Britannia had plenty of time to cross the Pacific and reach the Indian Ocean! All accepted with great satisfaction the learned geographer's explanation. I figured it out again!Sir said, also thanks to our friend's assistance.Now, we only have to go to Oceania, and look for Captain Grant on the west coast.

Does it have to be on the west coast?Menger asked. Yes, the captain was right, there was nothing in the papers to indicate that the wrecked ship was on the west coast and not the east coast.Therefore, our search targets should be located at the east and west ends of the Oceania coast at the thirty-seventh parallel. So, isn't there another problem, sir?Miss Mary asked. Ah, no, miss.The captain hastened to answer.His words relieved Miss Mary's doubts. Please note, Your Excellency, that if the Britannia had anchored on the eastern coast of Oceania, he would have been rescued and helped at once.Because almost all the people in this area are British, and the people who live here are all British expatriates.Captain Grant could not walk sixteen kilometers before meeting his countrymen.

Yes, Captain Mengele, said Paganel, I agree with you.Had it been Tuff Bay on the east coast, at Eden City, Captain Grant would not only have found a place in the English colony, but also a means of transport back to Europe. In this way, Mrs. Helene said, if we go to the west coast of Oceania, the crew will not find the same convenience after the shipwreck? Yes, madam, the geographer replied, there is no road leading to Adelaide in that coastal desert. ] or Melbourne.If the Grant ship was wrecked, it would not be rescued, any more than it would be wrecked on the unforgiving beaches of Africa.

So, asked Miss Mary, how has my father lived for two years? My dear lady, replied the geographer, you always think that after the shipwreck your father landed in Oceania without any problem, don't you? Yes, Monsieur Paganel. So, what did Captain Grant do once he landed?I guess there are three possibilities: either he and his companions arrived in the British settlement area; or they fell into the hands of the local natives; or they got lost in the desert in Oceania. People's winks are for or against this speculation. Go on, sir.Jazz encouraged him. First of all, he went on, and I denied the first speculation.Captain Grant couldn't have gone to the British colony.Otherwise, his safety is not a problem, and it is time to return to his hometown and reunite with his relatives.

Poor father!The girl said to herself that it has been two years since he left us. Let Monsieur Paganel go on, sister, said little Robert, he'll tell us at last O my child!I can't tell you the exact situation.All I can say is that your father was taken captive by the natives of Oceania, or Will these natives?Mrs. Helen was in a hurry. Don't worry, ma'am.He knew what Madam Helen was going to say. Although these natives were uncivilized and stupid, they were gentle in nature and not as murderous as their neighbors in New Zealand.If the shipwrecked crew were captured by them, they would never be life-threatening.This, I can guarantee.All the travelers affirmed with one voice: the natives of Oceania are most afraid of bloodshed, and several times, the travelers joined forces with them.Repel an attack by hordes of exiled prisoners.They are faithful and reliable, but the prisoners are cruel and inhumane.

Did you hear Paganel?Lady Helene said to Miss Mary that if your father fell into the hands of the natives we would find him, and the papers seem to tell us that he fell into the hands of the natives. What if he got lost in the desert?The girl continued.Inquiring eyes fixed on the geographer. Lost, we'll find him too, won't we, friends?The geographer answered her confidently. Undoubtedly, Sir replied, he was reversing the pessimistic trend of the conversation, I do not believe that human beings can really lose their way I don't believe it either.Geographers have confirmed his statement.

So, is Oceania big?asked Robert Jr. Oceania, my child, is about 7.75 million square kilometers, which is equivalent to four-fifths of the size of Europe. Is it that big?McNabbs asked back. It is that big, sir, by a yard at most.The word "Continent" is written on the document. You should believe that this piece of land is qualified to accept the title of "Continent", right? ! So big, of course it can be called a continent. I should also add, Paganel added, that there are not many precedents of travelers getting lost in vast regions.All I know is Reshad, whose whereabouts are unknown.Some time before my departure, I heard at the Geographical Society that he had been found. Hasn't the Australian continent been fully explored?Lady Helene asked. Not yet, madam.Still a long way to go!People don't know as much about the interior of this continent as Africa, however, this is not the fault of human beings, but the heavens do not recognize explorers.From 1606 to 1862, no fewer than 50 people were engaged in exploration work in the mainland or along the coast. Ah, over fifty, said MacNabbs suspiciously. Yes, sir, don't you believe me?I am including the crew of the Adventure Trial and the Traveler of the Continental Expedition. That fifty is too much, right?The major retorted. You talk too much, I think too little!A geographer is always like this, and when people disagree with him, he looks very excited. Then you speak out! If you don't believe me, I can name fifty of them right away. ah!Calm down, geographer, we are responsible for what we say! Major, will you bet your carbine against my binoculars? What dare I not, Paganel, if you like? ! good!It's a deal!If you lose, you can no longer shoot antelopes or foxes with a carbine.Unless I lend it to you.However, if you want to borrow it, I will still borrow it. Paganel, it's still unknown who will win the game, so don't have too much hope of defeating me. So here we go, the geographer raises his voice, ladies and gentlemen, referee.You, Robert Jr., to be the counter.The Glenarvans, Mary, Robert, the major, and the captain, all cheered and eagerly awaited the outcome of the argument.At the center of this debate is Oceania, which is exactly where the Duncan is going. At this time, it is very appropriate to talk about its history.Paganel, therefore, is begged to immediately begin to show his memory. O Nemusim, god of memory!He began to cry aloud, Mother of the Goddess of Art, give me inspiration, your faithful worshiper!Two hundred and fifty years ago, my friends, who didn't know there was Oceania!From the seventeenth century, beginning in 1606, countless navigators and explorers set foot on this land.In this year, the Spanish navigator Queiroz discovered and named it Australia of the Holy Spirit.Robert, take the navigator's name, and I'll give you the second. take note of it.Robert said. In the same year, Torres, the second-in-command of Queiroz's fleet, went to the south of those new lands to survey.However, the major discovery is due to the Dutchman Hightoge.When he landed at twenty-five degrees south-west latitude, he named the land Endra.There were many navigators after him. In 1618, Qishen surveyed places such as Anheng and Fandimen on the north coast.In 1619, Edale explored around the west coast for a period of time, and named the coast he explored as Edale.In 1622 Raven went down to the cape which now bears his name.In 1627, two people, Nez and Weiwei, one in the west and one in the south, perfected the discoveries of the predecessors.Later, Captain Carpenta led his fleet all the way into the big bay in the north of Australia, which is still called the Gulf of Carpentaria.Finally, in 1642, the famous navigator Tasman circled the island of Navandimen. He mistakenly believed that the island was connected with the mainland, and after circumventing it, he named the island Batavia. Governor's name.For the sake of fairness, later generations canceled the name of the governor and renamed it Tasmania.At this time, the Australian mainland was circumvented for a week; everyone knows that this continent is surrounded by a vast ocean of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. In 1665, the big Australian island was forced to be named New Holland, and not long after that. At that time, the activities of the Dutch navigators ended, and the names were forgotten.How many people have I mentioned now? Talked to ten people.Robert replied. Well, said Paganel again, I will now speak of the English.In 1686, a man who hunted bison, skinned them and sold them for business, and engaged in robbery, was raided by the Spaniards and entered the sea as a pirate.Called William.Danbel, who has experienced many dangers, escaped by chance, and finally reached the northwest coast of New Holland in the ship Sienne, and landed at 16 degrees and 50 degrees south latitude; Poverty, customs, and wisdom make a very complete description.In 1699, he returned to the bay where Hightoge had first been, and now he was no longer a pirate, but the captain of HMS Robock in the Royal Navy.Up to this point, however, the appearance of New Netherland was a mere fact of geography and nothing else, and for more than seventy years, from 1699 to 1770, no navigator returned. been here.In 1770, due to the appearance of Captain Cook, the best navigator, European immigrants set their sights on this new continent.Cook made three sensational trips, and on March 31, 1770, he landed for the first time in New Holland.He successfully observed Venus passing through the sun in Ortahidi [Note: It is an astronomical phenomenon in which Venus passes in front of the sun. ], he sailed his boat Endeavor to the west of the Pacific Ocean.After surveying New Zealand, he came to a bay on the east coast of Australia.He found that there are too many novel plants in this bay, so he called this bay Botany Bay, which is now Botany Bay.He is not very interested in interacting with the half-civilized natives in the area.He had to sail north, and not far from Cape Sorrow, the boat Endeavor ran aground.Sinking is already inevitable.Food and gunfire were quickly thrown into the sea.But at high tide in the evening, the lightened boat floated again.Fortunately, there happened to be a piece of coral blocking the breach and the boat did not sink.So Cook was able to drive the boat into a small sea branch, where a river flows into the sea. Since then, the name of this river has been called Fen Mian.The Englishmen spent three months repairing the ship here, during which time they tried to make some necessary contacts with the natives; but with little success, they set sail again.The Endeavor continued sailing north.Cook wondered if a strait separated the land from New Guinea to New Holland; after many trials of life and death, he reached an open country to the southwest.The strait does exist, and Cook did pass through it.Cook landed on a small island, and, taking possession of that long stretch of coast he surveyed, in the name of the English state, gave it the very English name of New South Wales.The navigator led a group of people to revisit the old place three years later.This time only the captain of the Resolution, Furno, went to survey the coast of the Vendemon, and when he returned he assumed that this island was also part of New Holland.It was only in 1777, on his third voyage, that Cook moored his ships Discovery and Resolve in Adventure Bay, next to the land at Vendimen; left, left the Sandwich Islands, and died on this island. What a great man he is.Greenervan said. Yes, the unprecedented great navigator.Later, it was his traveling companion Penkes who suggested that the British government go to Botany Bay to establish a colony.Since then, it has been the place where navigators from all over the world yearn for and visit.La Perouse's last letter was written at Botany Bay on February 7, 1787.The unfortunate navigator reported his intention to survey the Gulf of Carpentaria and the whole coast of New Holland as far as the Vendimen.Since then, there has been no news of him.In 1788, Captain Philip established the first British colony at Yorkson Harbour.Captain Van Coffe made another expedition around the south coast of the New World in 1791.Sent in 1792 to find La Perouse, Dentelgasto made another voyage around New Holland on both sides of the southwest, discovering islands that had never been known.In 1795 and 1797 two young men, Flinders and Bath, bravely surveyed the southern coast in a small wooden boat eight feet long; The strait passed between the Van Dimens land and New Holland is now called the Bass Strait.In this year, he also discovered Flaming on the island of Amsterdam, and explored the east bank of the Swan River with beautiful swans.As for Flinders, he continued his curious expeditions in 1801, and reached longitude 138° 58' and latitude 35° 40', in Encounter Bay. Also encountered two French ships, the Geographer commanded by Captain Bodin and the Naturalist commanded by Captain Hamran. Is it Captain Bodin?said the major. yes!Why are you surprised!asked Paganel. ah!there is nothing.Go on, my dear Paganel. Well, I go on, and after the names of those navigators I add the name of Captain King, who from 1817 to 1822 made surveys of the coast between the Tropic of Cancer and New Holland of. Twenty-four names.Robert said. Great, said Paganel, I am half done, and now I will speak of explorers on land.Everyone here was amazed and praised again and again, and Paganel also said very modestly that it was nothing at all, nothing more than that. The twenty-fifth was Captain Taos.That was a year after Yorkson Harbor Colony was established.Before this, the periphery of this new continent has been surrounded by everyone; but no one can say what is inside.There is a long mountain range parallel to the east coast, which seems to deliberately keep outsiders from entering its territory.Captain Taos walked for nine days, and had to return to Yorkson Harbor by the same route.In the same year, Captain Tunzhi attempted to cross the mountain again, but also failed.These two failures made no traveler dare to try this arduous work again for the next three years.In 1792 the African explorer Colonel Patson did the same thing with no results.In the second year, an ordinary private in the British Navy, the courageous Hawkins, advanced twenty miles beyond the line that no one else could go before.During the eighteen years that followed I had but two names to speak of: one was that famous seaman, Bass, and the other, Mr. Barel, the engineer of the colony, who made no more successful expedition than any that had preceded them.Now I will be counting to 1813, the year that the defile west of Sydney was discovered.The city of Bassast was established on the other side of the Blue Mountains due to Governor Macquarie's personal exploration of this pass in 1815.Since then the colony has grown considerably with facts given to geographers by many travelers.There is Oxley, who penetrates three hundred miles inland; there is Howell and Hughner, whose starting point is the Tuff Bay where the thirty-seventh parallel passes; and Captain Stuart, who surveyed twice successively The Darling and the Murray, in 1829 and 1830 respectively. Thirty-six.Robert said. Great, it's almost over soon, said Paganel, followed by Al and Reshad, who traveled a part of the interior.Stuart made another trip in 1845; the Gregory brothers and Hepman toured Western Australia in 1846; traveled northern Australia in 1848; Gregory made another trip in 1852; Austin traveled once in 1854; In 1858 he traveled to the northeastern part of the mainland; Babaizhi traveled from Lake Torrance to Lake Nell; and finally I will say that Stuart, a traveler who is well-known in the Australian Almanac, has crossed the Australian mainland three times. .His first inland expedition was in 1860.In the future, if you are willing to listen, I will tell you how Australia has been crossed four times from south to north.I just want to finish this long list today; from 1860 to 1862, on the list of those bold pioneers of science, there are Dunst Brothers, Clarkson and Halb, Burke and Wells, Nelson, Waco, Landsboro, Makinai, Horwitt Fifty-six!cried Robert. Well, Major, went on Paganel, listen carefully, because I haven't mentioned Guberly, Bogenville, Feroz and deVikum, Stokes enough.The major said he was overwhelmed. I haven't mentioned Peilu, Kuoyi, and Paganel counted on like a fast train, Bernard, Terriga, Cunningham, Tiers forgive me!The major was evidently convinced. That's the end of the count, Jazz interceded on behalf of the major, it's McNabbs' fault, he's started too hard, but he's given up now. Where is his carbine?asked Paganel, triumphantly. Of course it belongs to you, McNabbs replied, I am naturally reluctant to part with it, but I am helpless, your memory is very good, you can win even an armory! Regarding the history of Australia, Mrs. Helen said that it is impossible for someone to remember more clearly and detailedly than him.Even a small place or person's name, the slightest fact oh!The tiniest of facts!The major shook his head in disbelief. Are you not convinced?Mr Major.exclaimed the geographer. I mean lots of little facts about Oceania, maybe you don't know all of them. How unreasonable!The geographer said with a straight chest, expressing great confidence. If I bring up a fact that you don't know, will you still give me the carbine?asked the major. Say it! Keep your word? certainly! good.Do you know why Australia is not part of France? this, i think Or at least be able to say what reason the British have for the matter. I can't tell, Major.The geographer replied angrily. The reason is very simple, just because your not-so-cowardly compatriot, Captain Ball, was terrified when he heard the frogs croaking in Oceania in 1802, he pulled his anchor and left, never to return. how!Paganel yelled, in England, does everyone say that?This is simply a big bad joke! Mischief, I admit, replied McNabbs, but in Great Britain it is historical fact. boring!boring!That patriotic geographer can't take it anymore, people don't say that now! Still saying that, I have to tell you the truth.Dear Doctor of Geography, Sir replied, and the audience burst into laughter, but how can you know nothing about this historical fact? I have no idea.But, I want to protest!The British usually refer to the French as frog lovers.If you eat frogs, why are you afraid of them?Nonsense! Although truth is truth, fact is still fact.McNabbs replied with a modest smile. And so it was, the snatched carbine remained in the hands of its master, Major McNabbs. On the third day of the wager, the captain made his calculations at noon, and reported that the Duncan was at longitude 133 degrees 37 minutes east.The passengers looked at the chart and felt very satisfied knowing that they were very close to Bainuyijiao.Between Cape Penuil and Cape Dantelgas, the coast of Oceania is like a bow, and the thirty-seventh parallel is like a bowstring.Had the Duncan headed for the equator, she would have reached Cape Chatham in no time. But at the moment, it is sailing eastward in the Indian Ocean, which is blocked from wind and waves by the Australian mainland. It is estimated that Cape Benoy will appear on the horizon in four days.Up to this point, the westerly wind has been driving the cruise ship forward.However, in recent days, the wind has tended to weaken and is now gradually decreasing.By the thirteenth of December there was no wind at all, and the sails were tight to the mast. Had it not been for her powerful steam turbines, the Duncan would have been stranded in this endless ocean. This lack of wind could continue indefinitely.In the evening the jazz spoke to the captain about the matter.Seeing that the ship's coal was running out, the young captain seemed disturbed by the weakening of the wind.He stretched all the sails on the ship, even the small sails and auxiliary sails, hoping to use even the slightest wind.But, as sailors say, there is not even wind to fill a hat. Anyway, let's not complain to God, Sir said, no wind is better than headwind! Your Excellency is right, Captain John replied, but this sudden calm just means that the weather is going to change, so I am very anxious.We were sailing on the fringes of the monsoon, which is northeasterly from October to April, and if it picked up even a little it would certainly delay my voyage considerably. What can I do? !If this really happens, we have no choice but to endure it, and at most it will only delay for a few days. Naturally, if the headwind does not bring a storm. Are you afraid that the sky will change?Sir said, looking at the sky, which was cloudless. Yes, I am afraid that the weather will change, the captain replied, I can only tell your Excellency, I don’t want to let Lady Helen and Miss Mary hear it, and make them panic. You're thoughtful, but what's so scary? I'm afraid it's really going to be a storm.Don't believe in the superficial phenomena in the sky, because superficial phenomena are often unreliable.For two days the barometer had been worryingly low, and now it was only seven or three centimeters.This warning cannot be ignored. I have tasted the taste of the storm in the southern Indian Ocean.The condensation of vapors from the Antarctic icebergs produces an extremely violent attraction, from which the battle of polar and equatorial winds takes place, resulting in cyclones, hurricanes, and storms of all kinds, and the ship encounters no harm. Mungle, said my sergeant, the Duncan is a strong ship, and the captain is a capable seaman, let the storm come, and we shall have a way of dealing with it! The captain's apprehension and fear are instinctive among the crew.He is what the British call a weatherman.The constant dipping of the weather gauge made him take every precaution on board. He expected a violent storm to come.There were no signs in the sky at present, but the infallible weather watch would not deceive him.Usually, airflow in the sky flows from high latitudes to low latitudes, and the closer the two places are, the greater the pressure gradient force and the faster the wind speed. The captain stayed on deck all night.Just before eleven o'clock, patches of cloud appeared in the southern sky.Menger brought up all the sailors, let down the small sails, and kept only the mainsail, schooner, foresail, and tacksail.In the middle of the night, the wind picked up, and the wind was very strong, advancing at a speed of twenty meters per second.The rattling of the mast, the snapping of the rigging, and the whimpering of the ship's cabin all made the passengers who had never known the storm know what was going on.Geographers, Sirs, Majors, and Roberts all went on deck, some out of curiosity, some ready to contribute.When they went to bed, the sky was cloudless and starry, but now it was cloudy and windy. Is it a hurricane?Jazz asked Mengle loudly. Not yet, but coming soon. At this time, the captain ordered the lower constriction of the jib to be furled.The sailors climbed up the ladder, and with great difficulty reeled up the underboss of the jib, tied it with rigging, and tied it to the lowered sail stand.Menger wants to keep some sail surface as much as possible in order to balance the cruise ship and ease the degree of side-to-side swing. This preparation was done, and the captain ordered Austin and the boatswain to prepare for the coming hurricane.The bridle-ropes and spar-ropes were thickened and doubled, the cannon tackles were fastened, the shrouds and backstays were taut, and the hatches were closed.Like a general next to the cannon, Meng Geer never left the windshield side of the ship. He watched the sky full of wind and clouds from the top of the cabin, as if he wanted to drill out the secret of the weather. At this time, the barometer was already as low as 36 centimeters. This kind of scale was rare in the past. At the same time, the color of the storm mirror also indicated the coming of the storm. It was one o'clock in the morning, and Lady Helene and Miss Mary felt so jolted in the room that they ventured out onto the deck.At this time, the wind speed reached 28 meters per second, beating the cable extremely violently, as if beating the strings of a musical instrument, making a rapid vibrating sound; , making a screeching sound; the canvas was bouncing back and forth; Meng Geer caught a glimpse of the two female passengers, walked up to them quickly, and asked them to go back to the cabin.There have been several waves hitting the ship, and the deck may be washed away at any time.The roar of the wind and waves was so loud that Lady Helen could hardly hear the captain's words. There is no danger, is there?she asked while the waves were a little calmer. There is no danger, ma'am, please go back immediately! Mrs. Helen and Miss Mary couldn't resist this pleading order, and they all went back to the cabin.At this time, a big wave rolled under the stern mast, shaking the cabin glass around them.At the same time, the wind became stronger.The masts were bent under the pressure of the sails, and the cruise ship seemed to jump over the waves. Furl up the mainsail!Cries Munger, lower the jib and touch the sails! The sailors went back to their posts.The halyards were loose, the furlings were twisted tight, and the jigsaws were pulled down with the cables, louder than the sound of the wind.Then, the Duncan's funnel belched thick smoke, and the blades of the steam engine beat the waves lightly and hard, and sometimes the blades lifted straight out of the water. Grenardin, the Major, Paganel, and Robert watched the Duncan wrestle with the waves with a mixture of admiration and horror, clinging to the rails so tightly that they could not exchange a word with each other.They watched a large group of seabirds soaring in the strong wind. This kind of storm bird flew more vigorously when the wind and waves got bigger, which made people's hearts jump. Suddenly, a deafening chichi sound was heard, higher than the sound of the storm.The steam spurted violently, and the siren of the alarm screamed strangely.The cruise ship swayed suddenly and tilted terribly. Wilson was holding on to the rudder when he was knocked down by the rudder.The Duncan ran across the wave and lost control. What's wrong?Meng Geer yelled and ran to the podium. The boat fell asleep!Austin is always so humorous. Is the rudder knocked off? Save the machine!Save the machine!The mechanic's voice called. Meng Geer ran to the machine room again, running and rolling down the ladder.A cloud of steam filled the machine room: the pistons were motionless in the cylinders; the linkage could not move the cross shaft.At this time, the mechanic saw that the connecting rod had lost its function, and was afraid that the cylinder would explode, so he simply closed the valve to let the steam escape from the exhaust pipe. What happened?Menger asked. The steam turbine was bent or stuck, the mechanic replied, and it wouldn't turn. What, can't you get it out if it's embedded? impossible. Now is not the time to rush to repair this accidental loss, the steam engine stopped running, the steam escaped from the valve, and it no longer worked.The captain, therefore, had no choice but to make use of the sails and find some help from the wind which was his dangerous enemy. He ran to the deck again and briefly reported the situation to Jazz.Then, Sir please take the other three back to the cabin.Greenarvan insisted. No, sir, said Mengel firmly, I must be here alone with the crew.go in!The boat may sometimes be buried in the waves, but the waves are merciless and will sweep you in. But we can also help go in!go in!Sir, you must go in!In a way, I'm in charge of the boat!Go back to the cabin, I ask you to do so. Menger said firmly and decisively that the situation must be very serious, and Sir knew that he should lead by example and obey first.So he left the deck with his three companions.They reached the two ladies, the two female passengers who were anxiously awaiting the outcome of this battle with the wind and the sea. Meng Geer is really a brave and strong man!Sir entered the square hall and said. Yes!The geographer chimed in, reminding me of the anchorman in the great Shakespeare's The Tempest, who yells to the king in his galley: Go away!Don't make a sound!Go back to the cabin!If you can't calm these storms, don't talk!Don't stand in my way, I tell you! At this time, Meng Geer did not waste a second, he tried his best to find ways to rescue the ship from danger.He decided to sail with light sails so that the ship would not be blown off course.Therefore, some sails have to be hoisted on the ship and drawn obliquely so that it is exposed to the wind on its side.The foresails were stretched out, the sails lowered, and a jib was hoisted on the secondary mast, with the tiller pointing to the leeward side. That pleasure boat already had very good driving performance, and it was blown by the strong wind as fast as a fast horse, and let the wind blow and the waves beat.Can the sail be supported with such a small reduction?The sails were of the finest Dundee sail-cloth; but the wind was so violent that nothing good could stand it! The advantage of leaning in with the wind force with the smallest sail is that the strongest part of the hull faces the waves and maintains the original course.However, such driving is not without danger, for the boat may fall into a wide and deep groove between two waves and cannot get up.However, Meng Geer had no choice at this time, so he had to use the method of sailing with a small sail, as long as the mast and sail were not knocked down by the wind.The crew was before him, ready to go wherever he needed them.The captain tied himself with ropes to the shrouds, and watched the furious sea. The night was spent like this.It was hoped that the storm would die down by daylight.But hopes were dashed.Towards eight o'clock in the morning the wind was stronger than ever and became a hurricane. Meng Geer said nothing, but he was worried about the safety of the ship and everyone on board.The Duncan was heeling so badly that the stanchions of the deck creaked and sometimes the waves hit the outspouts of the mainmast.For a while, the whole crew thought the ship could not get up!當帆被吹出帆框，像隻大白鷗要飛掉似的，已經有些水手拿著斧頭要砍斷那大桅杆的護桅索了。 船居然又漂起來了，但貼不住浪，又沒有方向，顛簸的很，桅杆幾乎要折斷。像這樣駛法，不能再進行下去了，船體已經受不住了，只要邊板一散，接縫一裂，波浪就會沖進來。 船長現在只有一個辦法：就是扯起一個三角帆，任風吹。這片小帆不知扯了多少次，費了幾個鐘頭的工夫才扯好。直到下午三點鐘，那三角帆才拉在主桅的輔杆上，聽風擺佈了。 於是，鄧肯號在一塊小帆布的作用下被拖帶起來，它開始以無法計算的速度飛駛著。就是這樣，它向風暴趕著它去的東北方駛去。它必須保持最大速度，因為只有靠速度才能獲得安全。有時，它越過巨浪，以那鋒利的船尖劃開浪條，像鯨魚一樣鑽了進去，浪頭從甲板掃過，由船頭掃到船尾。有時，它的速度和浪頭一樣，舵已失去作用，因而左閃右閃，幾乎把船閃翻掉。有時，在颶風的推動下，浪比它快，於是浪頭跳得比船頂還高，以迅猛不可阻擋之勢，從船頭到船尾，掃過甲板。 十二月十五日一天一夜就在這樣的險境中度過的，一會兒看來有點希望，一會兒又失望了。船長一會兒也沒離開自己的崗位，一點東西也未吃，雖然表面上保持冷靜，但是內心卻驚慌失措，那雙眼睛老盯著北方的朦朧霧影。 可不是嗎，一切危險都是有可能的。鄧肯號被打出了航線，以無法駕馭的速度向大洋洲海岸奔去。船長自然而然地感覺到有一種災禍在威脅著他。他時刻怕觸礁失事，碰得個粉身碎骨。他估計大洋洲海岸在風前距離不會少於十公里，然而，在這種情況下靠岸就是遇難，就是沉船。在無邊無際的大海奔馳要比觸礁好萬倍，因為海浪雖急，總有法子自衛，至多聽命它擺佈罷了；若是風暴把船吹到岸邊一撞，那可就完蛋了。 孟格爾找到爵士，和他作了一次特別談話。他毫不掩飾，說明當前處境；他是個不怕犧牲的海員，將無比鎮靜地面對現實；最後，他說也許不得已而為之，讓鄧肯號向海岸撞去。 為了救船上的人，你看怎麼辦就怎麼辦好了。Sir said. 海倫夫人怎麼辦？格蘭特小姐怎麼辦？船長又說。 我到最後關頭會告訴她們的。船果真沒有任何希望的時候，你通知我一聲。 我那時自然會通知您，閣下！ 爵士又回到女客們身邊。女乘客也感覺到危險就要到來，但不知道危險到什麼程度。她們也表現出很大的勇氣，至少不在男同胞之下。這時，地理學家不合時宜地大講大氣環流理論，小羅伯特直豎著耳朵聽著。他給小羅伯特講述西非旋風、羊角颶風、直線颱風之間的許多有趣的比較。至於麥克那布斯，帶著宿命論觀點唉聲嘆氣，靜候世界末日的降臨。 快到十一點鐘的時候，風暴彷彿軟了點，溼霧散開了。在迅速地明朗當中，船長看見了一片低地，在下風三公里遠的光景。船正對著陸地奔去，前面濁浪淘天，高得出奇。孟格爾立刻明白浪頭遇到堅實的阻擋才會掀得這樣高。 有暗礁。他對奧斯丁說。 我也是這樣認為。大副回答。 我們的命是懸在上帝手中了，船長又說，如果暗礁有缺口能讓鄧肯號駛過去，如果上帝不能把船對準那缺口，那我們就完了。 此刻潮正高，也許我們能過去，船長。 你看那浪頭跳得多高，奧斯丁，什麼船能闖過去呢？只有禱告上帝來幫助我們吧，夥計！ 這時，鄧肯號由於它的小三角帆讓風推動著，正以駭人的速度急駛。不一會兒，它離暗灘只有二公里遠了，水汽遮住了船長的眼睛。但是孟格爾卻還能看出滿是泡沫的水面的那邊有一片平靜的水面。如果鄧肯號能達到那裡就比較完全了。但是，怎麼能進去呢？船長把所有乘客請到甲板上來，他不願意到沉船之際，還讓他們關在艙裡。爵士和旅伴們看著那片滔天巨浪。瑪麗小姐臉都嚇白了。 孟格爾，爵士輕聲說，我設法救我的妻子，救不成就一同死；你負責瑪麗小姐吧。 就這樣吧，閣下。船長回答，拉著爵士的手貼在自己眼淚汪汪的眼睛上。 鄧肯號離灘更近了。當時潮正高，本來船底有足夠水時載它過暗灘是可以的。可是，浪太大了，把船向上一拋，又向下一放，必然使船體後部觸礁。沒法子使浪頭低點，水流得平滑點嗎？總之，能使這帶狂瀾平靜點就行。 孟格爾最後想到一個辦法。 油！他大叫起來，朋友們，倒油！倒油！ 這句話的含義船員們立刻明白了。這正是通往成功之路的計策：狂浪的上面如果蓋上一層油，狂浪就會平息下去，這層油在水上漂著，可以使浪頭潤滑，因而減少激盪。這辦法見效快，但效力消失得也快。在人為的平靜海面上一條船過後，狂浪比以前湧得更厲害，有可能給後來船隻以致命威脅。 裝海豹油的許多大桶滾到船頭，船員們在死裡逃生的關頭，力氣彷彿增加百倍，他們用斧頭砍破木桶，掛到左右舷的欄板外。 ready!孟格爾叫著，等候著合宜時機。 只有二十秒，船就到了那條被咆哮的水浪攔住船可以駛進的缺口。Now is the time. 動手呀！ 船長一聲令下，油桶一齊傾倒了，油滔滔地湧出木桶來。頓時那片油竟把那白浪滔天的海面壓下去。鄧肯號在壓平的水面上一晃而過，一眨眼的工夫，駛進那片平靜的水域。這時，船後面的洋面掙脫了油層的束縛，翻滾得更加洶湧澎湃了。