Chapter 31 Thirty one or two young people sitting on the floor

At one hundred and forty-six degrees and fifteen minutes east longitude the caravan passed the night in silence.At seven o'clock the next morning, I continued on my way.They kept advancing towards the place where the sun rose, and their tracks drew a straight line across the plain.Their tracks were hardly different from those of the men on the ground, except that Sir's horse had left the leaf-shaped hoof prints in the dust that marked Blackpoint Station. Sometimes there are some meandering rivers in the plain, with boxwood trees beside the river, and the river water sometimes swells and sometimes dries up.These rivers all originate from the mountainous Bison Mountain, which undulates beautifully on the horizon.

Everyone decided to stay at the foot of the mountain that night.Ayrton drove the ox faster, walking fifty-five kilometers that day, and the ox seemed tired.It was getting dark, and they finally arrived here on time.The tent was pitched under a big tree, and dinner was rushed.Exhaustion has made them feel more urgent to sleep than to eat. It was the geographer's turn to be on duty that night.He didn't sleep, walking back and forth around with his carbine on his back, checking the movement outside.Although there was no moon in the sky, the stars twinkled and the night was almost bright.The scholar admired the constellations in the sky, as if the sky is a big star map, and whoever can read it can appreciate the fun in it.

The sleeping nature is silent, only the rattling of the trip wires on the horse's feet breaks the silence. Thus Paganel sank into occult fantasies.His heart is in heaven, not on earth.At this time, a pleasant piano sound suddenly came, pulling him back from his fantasy. He listened carefully to the music, some rhythms were played high-pitched, and the loud and thick sound waves shook his eardrums. How can there be a piano sound in this barren mountain?He was so amazed that I would never believe it for the rest of my life. Sure enough, this matter is indeed a bit bizarre.Geographers wonder if there is a strange bird here that can learn from Breyer or Erard [Note: The two are famous French piano makers. 】How about the tone of the piano, just like some birds learn the sound of bells and knives?

However, at this time, there was a crisp singing sound.A pianist plus a singer!The geographer listened, unable to believe such a strange thing.However, he could tell that it was a very famous piece of music, a passage from the opera "Don Giovanni".How strange!The geographer thought again, even if the birds on the Australian continent can sing, they can't sing Mozart's famous songs? ! He listened to the culmination of this masterpiece in one sitting.This kind of wonderful music, coupled with such a night scene, has such a good performance effect that it can only be understood, but cannot be expressed in words.Geographers have long been intoxicated in that indescribable wonderland.After a while, the singing stopped and everything became silent again.

When Wilson came to take over, he was still in the same ecstasy.But Paganel did not tell the sailor about this, and he was going to tell everyone about the strange story tomorrow.So, after his shift, he went back to his tent to sleep. The next day, a burst of dog barking woke up the passengers.Sir got up at once, and there were some fierce hounds of the best breed in England standing beside the grove.As the travelers approached, they shrank back again and screamed louder. Are there people sitting in this desolate place?Sir said, since there are hounds, there must be hunters. The geographer was just about to start talking about yesterday when two young hunters appeared on strong thoroughbred horses.

I saw them looking like gentlemen, wearing beautiful hunting clothes, and stopped when they saw the wandering caravan.It seemed that they were thinking, how could there be such a group of fully armed homeless people here.At this moment, the two female passengers got out of the car. The two hunters dismounted immediately, took off their hats, and came to the ladies. The jazz also greeted him.Because they were strangers from outside, they first reported their names and identities.The two young men bowed, and the older one began: Sir, if Ma'am is not idle, would you please go to the humble house to rest for a while?

You two are sirs asking. Oh, I'm Michelle and he's Sandy.We are the masters of Huotan Station, since we have come to the humble place, we should sit in the house for a while, right?said the older youth. You are too polite to bother us Sir, if you are willing to accept the invitation, Michelle said, we are very grateful, because we are all drifters, and it is our honor for you to visit the humble house. Jazz had no choice but to nod in agreement. Sir, the geographer has spoken. If you don't mind being presumptuous, is it you who sang Mozart's famous piece yesterday? It's me, sir, Michelle replied, accompanied by my cousin Sandy.

You sing so well, please accept my heartfelt compliments.The geographer held out his hand, and the young gentleman shook it very gracefully.Then, Michele pointed to the road to the right, took the lead, and everyone set off.While talking, they enjoyed the roadside scenery and walked towards Hotan Station. It was a beautiful manor house, as neatly arranged as an English park.Gray fences enclose the endless grasslands, tens of thousands of cattle and sheep are grazing, and many shepherds and dogs guard this noisy army: the roaring of cattle, the sound of sheep bleating, the sound of dogs barking, and the sound of whipping .

Looking east, there is a forest, and beyond the forest stands Mount Huotan, which is majestic and majestic, with a height of more than 5,000 meters.Evergreen trees are lined up, obviously carved by humans.There were clumps of grasses here and there, which were actually low shrubs like palms, whose whole body was lost in leaves as long and thin as hair.There was a scent of peppermint and cinnamon in the air, for the trees were in white blossom, giving off a delicate fragrance. There is a little red among the green bushes. In this green bush, there are also many fruit trees imported from Europe: peach trees, pear trees, apple trees, fig trees, orange trees, and even oak trees. The tourists cheered when they saw it. stand up.They were not overly surprised when they walked under the fruit trees in their hometown. What really surprised them were the birds singing on the branches; there were satin birds with feathers like satin, and silky birds with feathers that were half golden and half down.Among these birds was McNear they saw for the first time.This kind of bird is also called lyre bird, and its tail is like Orpheus. ] the elegant guqin that he played.It weaves through the woody ferns, but when its tail touches between the branches, no amphion is heard. 】The melodious melody played for rebuilding Sebai City.Geographers can't wait to grab a Mai Nier and play a song on the guqin on the bird's tail.

As they walked and talked, the farmhouse appeared at the end of a passage lined with casuarina trees. It was a handsome house of wood and masonry, hidden deep in the Elmophylla grove.The shape is beautiful, it is a Swiss-style villa, surrounded by a corridor outside the wall, and Chinese-style lanterns are hung under the corridor eaves, just like the vestibule of an ancient Roman building.There are colorful flowers outside the window.Nothing could be more comfortable or beautiful than this building.On the lawn outside, at a short distance, there is a copper lamp post with an elegant lamp bulb on the top. At night, the whole garden is illuminated as if it were day. It is sent from a small gas machine hidden in the shed.

Moreover, there are no foot houses, stables and sheds around the house, and there is no sign that this is a farm.There are a total of twenty or so houses like this, all located in a valley half a kilometer away, forming a small village.The houses are equipped with telephones, and they can talk at any time.This kind of residence seems to be hidden in a jungle of exotic scenery, without hearing a little noise of the world. In a short while, after walking through the green avenue, there is a small and exquisite iron bridge, which crosses the gurgling water, and the other end passes through the garden outside the house.After crossing the small bridge, Mr. Housekeeper with a red face came out to greet him.The foreign guests at Huotan Station walked into the gorgeous hall, and the luxurious furniture and furnishings caught everyone's eyes. The guests saw that the master's artistic and fashionable life was rich.First look at the front hall, which is filled with various exquisite artworks drawn from horseback riding and hunting.Opposite the vestibule was a large drawing-room with open windows, in which there was a piano, on which stood a pile of scores, from various periods.Paintings are spread out on several easels; there is a base with marble portraits; famous Western European paintings are hung on the wall, soft and luxurious carpets are spread under the feet, pictures of beauties are embroidered on the tapestries, and a bronze statue is hung on the ceiling. chandelier.In addition, there are many rare antiques.It would surprise anyone to see such valuables in an Australian house, which speaks volumes of the owner's appreciation of art and his understanding of life.In short, everything that can amuse people in wandering life and remind people of their hometown is arranged in the living room.When people come here, it is almost like going to a high-end villa in England or France. Soft light came in through the screen window, and Mrs. Helen approached the window, repeatedly admiring the scenery outside.It turns out that there is a wide valley below the house, extending to the foot of the east mountain.The continuous grasslands and woods, the sparse open spaces, the undulating hills, and the rugged terrain all constitute an exquisite landscape painting.And this landscape painting is alive, it changes every moment with the direction of the sun.No matter how rich the imagination is, it is difficult for anyone to draw this landscape painting. This beautiful natural scenery will feast your eyes. At this time, Sandy had already ordered the cook to prepare the breakfast.In less than a quarter of an hour, everyone was seated.It goes without saying that the food and wine are excellent, and the guests are free to speak freely.The two young people were the happiest. They thought it was a great honor to entertain guests in their own home. The host soon knew the purpose of the caravan, and they were very moved by the fearless search spirit of the team members.They also spoke words of comfort to Grant's children. Captain Grant, said Michel, since he was not in the coastal settlements, must have fallen into the hands of the natives.Documents prove that he knew exactly where he was, and it can be seen that he was captured by the natives as soon as he landed. His sailor, Ayrton, fell into the hands of the natives and escaped from the tiger's mouth.said Captain Mengel. Have any of you heard the news of the wreck of the Britannia?The lady asked the master. Never heard of it. In your opinion, will Captain Grant be treated inhumanly after being taken prisoner? The natives are not cruel, ma'am, the young man replied, don't worry, they are gentle.Many Europeans used to live with them and were never mistreated. To prove this point, Paganel said: Ginger, the only surviving member of Burke's expedition, is an example. Not only the bold explorer, but also a British soldier named Buckley, according to Sandy, escaped to Port Phillip in 1803 and was taken in by the natives. It took 33 years. Also, recently, it was published in an Australian magazine that a man named Maurier, and Michelle also said that after sixteen years of slavery, he finally returned to his hometown.Captain Grant's experience may have been the same as that of Maurier.I think you have every hope of finding Captain Grant. These words confirmed what the geographer and Ayrton had said in the past, and everyone was pleased to hear them. Later, after the ladies had left the table, the rest of the group spoke of the Camden Bridge tragedy.The two sitting people also heard about it, but it didn't arouse their uneasiness.There are more than a hundred people in their animal husbandry station, and these gangsters will never dare to attack.And, with nothing to grab in this barren land of the Murray, they wouldn't venture here.Besides, New South Wales is heavily guarded, and it is difficult for them to come, and Ayrton's opinion is the same. The two hosts were so hospitable that the jazz's kindness was hard to resist, so they had to stay at Hotan Station for a day.These twelve hours became their leisure time, and the cattle and horses could take advantage of this to recover their strength.Therefore, the host and the guest agree to come up with a good plan to pass the time.Everyone accepted. At noon, seven majestic hunting horses galloped out of the courtyard gate, and the light carriage of the female guests also set off, followed by hunting servants.Hunters carry standard shotguns.At the same time, a group of hounds were also barking happily, running ahead. In four hours the hunters rode all the roads and byways of the park.This garden is like a small German land, although the inhabitants are pitifully small, the goats are countless.As for the birds and beasts available for hunting, they gathered from all directions, but not many would jump to the gunpoint and die in vain.Therefore, once the gunshot sounded, the small animals living in the forest and the plains became uneasy.Robert Jr. was very excited and lively when he was with the major.No matter how much his sister told him to be careful, he was always the first to shoot.Fortunately, Captain Menger took care of him, so Miss Mary was relieved. The most notable prey in this hunt are the native wombats and quolls. A species of marsupial, the quoll is more cunning than the European fox, and can be the fox's master by stealing chickens.It was rather ugly, however, only fifteen inches long.Paganel killed one with one shot. Because the hunter had a strong vanity, he still thought this beast was very cute, what a beautiful little beast!He said. Robert Jr. also dexterously shot a number of game, among which was a marsupial fox, a small fox with black fur and white spots, and whose fur was as valuable as a ermine.In addition, I also shot a pair of small squirrels resting at the tree hole. But the most thrilling part of the hunt was the hunt for the kangaroo.Before four o'clock in the afternoon, the hounds startled a group of this strange marsupial.The young rats quickly got into the mother's pouch, and the big kangaroos ran away one by one.This long jump world champion, the hind legs are twice as long as the front legs, flexing and stretching, jumping extremely far, like a spring.The male kangaroo who took the lead in fleeing had one.Four meters high, it is the most beautiful one, and the locals call it the old man. After running four or five miles, the kangaroos were not tired at all, and the hounds did not dare to approach them because of the sharp claws on the back feet of the kangaroos.But at last, exhausted from running, they stopped, and the old man leaned against a tree, ready to defend himself.One of the hounds was running too fast and rolled beside it.In an instant, the hound was kicked into the air, fell down, and his stomach burst open.So even if this group of hounds go up together, they can't help those powerful marsupials.It seems that only bullets can kill those huge animals. At this moment, Robertal almost died.He wanted to shoot the gun more accurately, so he moved closer to the big kangaroo, but the beast jumped up and rushed over. Robert gave a cry and fell.Miss Mary was stupefied in the carriage.At this time, no one dared to shoot, for fear of hurting the child. It was still the captain who was quick-witted and quick-witted. At the risk of his life, he pulled out his hunting knife, threw himself at the kangaroo, and stabbed it in the chest, killing it.Robert got up, but was not hurt.He hurried to Miss Mary, and the two hugged each other. Thank you, Mr. Mengel!Miss Mary said, holding the captain's hand tightly. I should be responsible for protecting him, this is my obligation.This accident ended the hunting activity, the group of dragons had no leader, and the group of kangaroos naturally scattered like birds and beasts.The kangaroo that was killed became everyone's trophies.At the dinner party, the kangaroo tail soup made according to local method was the most popular. After dinner, some ice cream and sherbet, everyone gathered in the big living room to savor the concert carefully.Mrs. Helen is a good pianist, and she specially congratulated everyone.Michelle and Sandy are also good at singing, they sang the famous French composers Gounod, Marseille.Some passages in David's famous songs were sung, and the famous songs of the talented composer Wagner in Germany were sung. At the end of the song, everyone drank some famous Australian tea.But the geographer insisted on tasting the local tea, so he was given a cup of drink as black as ink, which was the result of one liter of water, half a catty of tea leaves, and boiled for four hours.Paganel, though grinning, said it was excellent tea. It was late at night, and the guests fell asleep, but the happy scenes of the day continued in the good dreams. At dawn, the jazz and his party bid farewell to the two young people sitting on the ground.After greeting each other, they made an appointment to see each other at Macomb House in Europe.After that, the wheels rolled around the foot of the mountain, and the luxurious house disappeared like a phantom.After walking eight kilometers, the carriage has not yet stepped out of the boundary of Huotan Station. At nine o'clock in the morning, the travelers stepped out of the last barn of the cattle station, and entered that part of Victoria that they did not even know the name of. In the southeast, a row of barriers blocks the way, which is the Australian Alps.This mountain range seems to be a great defense project, stretching for 2,200 kilometers, and the steep cliffs prevent the flowing clouds in the sky. The sky is cloudy and the heat is so hot that you can't breathe. Not to mention, the rough road makes it even more difficult to travel.The hills on the plain are all over the place, and there are sparse small gum trees everywhere.A little further on, the hills rise higher and higher, forming the first steps of the Alps.People were obviously going higher and higher, which was easy to see, because the ox was pulling very hard, the yoke was creaked by the ox, and the ox was panting heavily with exhaustion, and the tendons on the legs were exposed.Although Ayrton is an expert at driving, sometimes accidental collisions are unavoidable, causing the boards to sigh.The female passengers in the car had no complaints. The captain and two other sailors led the way ahead, picking their way as best they could.There are almost no roads here, the uneven ground is similar to the reefs by the sea, and the bullock cart is like a boat looking for a channel in the crevices of the reefs.We seem to be sailing on rough seas. This journey is quite difficult and dangerous.Encountering deep thorn bushes, Wilson had to use an ax to open the way.The wet clay ground sinks as soon as the foot steps on it.The distance seems to be very long, because there are too many obstacles, such as towering granite rocks, deep valleys, and unfathomable river beaches, it is necessary to detour.Therefore, their speed is not fast.In the evening, they camped on the Gombembera River at the foot of the Alps.Here is a small plain, full of shrubs with reddish leaves, about one meter high. Are our troubles still to come?Then said the Sir, Alps!The name is enough to make you think. The name should be discounted. The geographer replied that it is a similar name. Just like Australia and Europe, there are Granbian Mountains, Pyrenees Mountains, Alps, and Blue Mountains, but All are scaled down models.This misnomer only shows that geographers have limited imagination and cannot think of new terms, or their vocabulary is too poor. From what you've said, this Alpine mountain range is Madame Ask. Pocket mountains, replied the geographer, we have walked over them and can't feel them. Only a careless person like you who walks over a mountain does not feel like climbing a mountain, the major retorted, you are speaking for yourself! Why do you still call me careless?The geographer is not happy, I have stopped being careless, and asked the two ladies to comment, am I right?Can you guys find my mistake? Yes, there is not a single fault to be found, M. Paganel, said Miss Mary, and you are perfect. It's too perfect, but it's not good, Madam Helen added, you'd better be the same as before, it's the most suitable. Really?Ma'am, replied the geographer, if I didn't make a little mistake, I'd be like a common man.Therefore, I hope that I will make some small mistakes to make you laugh.If I don't make mistakes, it seems that I am not doing my duty. The next day, January 9, despite the assurances of the optimistic Paganel, the difficulties did not recede, on the contrary, they increased.There is no ready-made road, so we have to search everywhere, sometimes drilling into narrow and deep mountain depressions, and the result is very likely that the road will not pass. After walking for about an hour, when Ayrton felt in a dilemma, he accidentally found a small hotel beside the mountain road, which was not a decent hotel. How can there be a hotel here?The boss can't make a fortune here.cried Paganel. However, it played the role of guiding us, Sir said, let's go in and sit down. Sir and Ayrton stepped across the threshold of the shop one after the other.This hotel is called the Green Forest Hotel, and the owner is a savage with a stern look on his face.The shop sold schnapps, brandy, and whiskey, and he himself was the main customer.When there are no customers, he drinks by himself.Sometimes you can also see a few people sitting on the ground or driving the herd. Sir asked the hotel owner a few questions.According to his unhappy answer, I figured out the direction of the journey.The Jazz tipped the boss.When they went out, they suddenly saw a notice posted on the wall. This is a circular from the Colonial Police Department.The notice said that a group of exiles from Perth had absconded, and now the chief criminal, Peng.Juss, a reward of one hundred pounds will be given to anyone who captures this criminal and delivers them to the authorities. This big villain should really be hanged!Sir said. You have to catch him first!A hundred pounds of gold, replied the boatswain!It's not a small amount, in fact, that guy is not worth so much. This boss, in my opinion, doesn't look like a nice guy either.Sir said again. I don't look like a nice guy either.The boatswain agreed. Ayrton hitched the ox cart and continued on his way.They walked towards the end of the Lukeno road.There is a winding path winding across the mountainside.Everyone started to climb the mountain road again. This mountain road has a steep slope, and more than once the people on the horse and the car had to get down and walk.When going uphill, the car is too heavy, and people have to help push it; when going downhill, the speed is too fast, and people have to pull behind the car; .Sometimes the ascent was so difficult that the exhausted horses had to be called in to help. On this day, the unfortunate thing finally happened.Whether it was due to fatigue or illness, Mudira's horse fell down and never got up again. The boatswain examined the dead animal, but saw no apparent cause. The animal must have died of a burst blood vessel.Sir said. Maybe so.replied the bosun. Glenarvan gave up his horse to Murady, and he drove with his wife.The pedestrian went on again, and the dead horse had to be left alone, and became a good meal for the eagle. This mountain range in Australia is not tall, with a width of only five kilometers. If you choose the right mountain road, you can climb this mountain within 48 hours.After reaching the other side of the mountain, there are no more insurmountable obstacles on the way. On January 10th, pedestrians finally arrived at the mountain peak, which was about 600 meters above sea level. From a distance, it looked like a mountain, but from a close, it looked like a river. This sentence could not be more appropriate to describe the top of the Alps.The terrain is open, there are no obstacles around, and you can see far away at a glance.To the north is Lake Omeeo, with sparkling water and water birds floating on it.Beyond the lake lies the low-lying floodplain of the Murray River basin.In the south, there is a green carpet-like pasture, where the strata are rich in gold, and the dense forest looks like a primitive area.The products, rivers, flora and fauna there are so far nature's masters, provided they are not destroyed by human beings.The towering Alps are the dividing line between the civilized area and the primitive area.At this time, the sun was slanting to the west, and several rays of sunlight passed through the colorful clouds in the western sky, illuminating the earth brightly.On the contrary, in the south of the mountains, there is a vast expanse, only the shadows are shaking, as if the night in the south of the mountains has opened very early.After a while, the entire south of the mountain was submerged in night shadows.Pedestrians are on the boundary line between the two situations, and they can vividly see the contrast between light and darkness.They looked around and looked at the vast and almost unfamiliar ground, which inevitably caused a kind of sadness in their hearts. That night, they slept on the top of the mountain.The next morning, we started to descend the mountain.They walked fast down the mountain, but encountered a fierce hailstorm on the way, forcing them to retreat under a large rock.Those are not ordinary small snowdrops, they are as big as ice bricks, rushing straight down from the dark clouds, even the stones emitted by the stone cannon are not so urgent.Paganel was hit with two big bumps on his head, and several holes were punched in the hood of the car. The sharp ice cubes sometimes got embedded in the bark of the trees.If he wanted to avoid being beaten badly, he had to wait for the hailstorm to stop before leaving.An hour later, the hail finally stopped.The caravan moved slowly on the sloping rocks again, the ground was wet and the rocks were slippery. The old ox cart wobbled and squeaked hoarsely along the way, and a few places had come off its tenons, but the whole body was still solid.In the evening they descended the last few steps of the Alps to a grove of isolated fir trees.The road ahead leads to the Gippsland Plains.The Alps were finally crossed safely, and they camped at night as usual. After a night of nothing, they went on the road again the next day. Everyone was full of joy and energy, and they all wished to find their target and reunite with Captain Grant.Only by reaching the Pacific coast can it be possible to find traces of the wrecked crew, and it is useless to search for them on the plains of Gippsland.Therefore, Bosun Ayrton urged Sir to order the Duncan to come to the Pacific coast, so as to facilitate the search.Because there is a road from Lukenow to Melbourne, and the traffic is convenient. According to him, if he doesn't send people there now, he won't be able to find a road leading directly to the provincial capital in the future. The bosun's words seemed to make sense.Geographers also advised Sir to accept this suggestion.He thought it would be helpful to call a cruise ship, adding that it would be difficult to get in touch with Melbourne after this point. The Sir hesitated, and perhaps he would have accepted it had the Major not objected.But McNabbs said that Ayrton was indispensable for the journey, and he knew best the way near the coast; once the caravan found Harry.Grant's clues were to be pursued, and at this time there was no one more suitable than the boatswain.And no one but Ayrton knew where the ship wrecked. The major's suggestion, therefore, was justified, and the captain agreed with him, and supported him.Meng Geer's reason is: sending people from Tufu Bay is much closer from here, and there is no need to cross the wilderness of 320 kilometers.In the end, everyone decided to go to Tufu Bay to make another plan.Ayrton seemed a little disappointed, McNabbs glanced at it, but didn't say anything, he was used to keeping everything he saw in his stomach. The Gippsland Plains are flat and slightly sloped from east to west.At a glance, there are sparse woody mimosa, eucalyptus, and various gum trees everywhere, breaking the monotony of the scenery.There are shrubs of large-bodied legumes with bright flowers; a few inconspicuous streams are covered with cattail grass, and the banks of the rivers are full of orchids.The river is gurgling and very shallow, and people are wading through the shallows. Flocks of bustards and emus flee when they see people in the distance. The kangaroos in the woods are jumping like puppets in cartoons.At this time, the traveling team members were not in the mood to hunt, because their horses were too skinny and skinny.Moreover, the weather is sultry and unbearable for humans and animals.They want nothing but to move on quickly.Now and then one or two voices broke the silence, those of Ayrton shouting to the cattle. From noon to two o'clock in the afternoon they walked through a strange patch of bracken.Although the good times are still there, they have no intention of watching them.This is a tree-like herbaceous plant that is three meters high and is blooming.People and horses walked under the soft twigs.Under the shade of these fixed big umbrellas, pedestrians are quite satisfied.Geographers, in particular, beam with joy.I always gave out admiration, but I didn't expect to startle a large group of parrots and parrots, and suddenly there was a deafening chirp in my ears. While Paganel was enjoying himself, he suddenly wobbled from his horse and fell down like a door panel.Was he dizzy from the heat?Everyone rushed to the rescue. Paganel!Paganel, what's the matter?Sir cried. Nothing, my friends, I have no horse to ride.The geographer laughed, taking his foot off the stirrup. Is your horse dead too? That's right, death is death, just like Murat's horse. At this time, the Sir, the captain, and the major all came to check the cause of the horse's death, but there was still no result, and it had died. What a strange thing.Mengel said. Yes, what's going on?The major also babbled. The occurrence of this accident began to make the group uneasy.Because it is impossible to replenish horses in this desolate place.If all these horses had the plague, they would not be able to move on. Misfortunes never come singly. Before evening, Wilson's horse also died, and what was more serious this time was that three cows fell down. Horse plague seemed to have become a fact.This left the cart and rider with three oxen and four horses. The problem quickly became serious.People who ride horses can still walk without horses. Many people who sit on the ground have walked through this barren area.But without a car, what would the two female compatriots do?At this time, there are still 200 kilometers away from Tufu Bay. Can they make it through? The captain and Sir were very anxious. They checked the rest of the animals and tried to prevent another accident.But nothing bad, not even a slight ailment, was found.Every animal is healthy, and they can also withstand the hardships of the long journey.I hope that the strange and terrible plague will stop here, and the cattle and horses will not fall again. Although everyone was baffled by this strange phenomenon, they started to move forward again.People without horses take turns to sit in the bullock cart for a while when they are tired from walking.The movement was slow that day, and we walked a total of 16 kilometers.At night, as soon as the signal to stop the march was given, everyone fell asleep immediately.The night was passed without much trouble among the tall fern grass, where the gigantic bats, known locally as flying foxes, flitted about. January 13th was an uneventful day.Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that the dead animals did not happen again.The cows and horses do their own things, and they are in good spirits.Mrs. Helen's living room was the most lively, because there were more people sitting there.The temperature of thirty degrees was so hot that everyone felt the need to drink cold drinks, so Obier, the chief secretary, was busy.At this time, Scotch beer is the best seller.Everyone praised the owner of Buckley Winery as the greatest figure in Great Britain, even greater than the famous British general Wellington, because no matter how great Wellington was, he could not make such good wine.Geographers drink a lot and talk a lot, talking endlessly about the past and the present. The day had started off smoothly, and it seemed bound to work out to the end.We walked through a piece of uneven red earth in one breath, a total of 25 kilometers.They planned to reach the Snowy River, which empties into the Pacific Ocean in southern Victoria, in the evening, and camp on its banks.Soon, the ox cart was walking on the plain of black soil. On one side of the road was wild grass, on the other side was a field full of peas. It was getting late, and a fog appeared in the sky, where the Snowy River ran.Everyone hurried on, and just behind a mound, a forest appeared at the bend of the road.Ayrton drove the ox cart through the towering ancient trees. On the road less than half a kilometer away from the Snowy River, the ox cart suddenly fell into the swamp and sank to the axle. People behind beware!Ayrton turned quickly. Watch out for what?the person behind asked. The ox cart got stuck in a swamp.While he was twitching his whip, with the strength of those cows, the car did not move at all, and sank deeper and deeper. Let's camp here, wait until tomorrow, and then pull the car out!said the bosun over his shoulder. Jazz agreed. Dusk was short and night was approaching, but the heat remained.The air was filled with water vapor, making people breathless, and the sky was illuminated by streaks of lightning, as if a storm was coming.Everyone quickly set up the barracks under the big tree. As long as it doesn't rain, they can spend the night here quietly. If it rains, it will be more difficult for the car to get out of the swamp.So Ayrton spent a lot of effort overnight to pull the three oxen and the cart out of the swamp.The mud sticks all the way to the belly of the cow.The boatswain took them with the horses, and took good care of them.That night, Jazz was even more thoughtful in every possible way, and he was very grateful to this old scalper who couldn't speak and worked hard, because there was nothing more important than them now. The passengers had a light supper.They are hot and can't eat. What they need most is not food but rest.Madame and Mary said good night, and returned to their comfort zone.As for the male guests, some got into the tents, and some simply lay down on the grass. In this climate, there is no harm in sleeping in the open. Everyone fell asleep, the dark clouds in the sky were moving, and the night became darker and darker under the cover of the dark clouds.In the dead of night, without even a breath of wind, you can sometimes hear the hooting of an owl, singing a small third in a low key, just like the sentimental cuckoo bird in Europe, very sad. Towards eleven o'clock the major awoke with half-closed eyes, unwilling to rise from exhaustion.Suddenly, I saw a faint light flowing in the woods.It was like a white satin, and it shone like a lake in the sun, and at first the major thought it was a wildfire. He got up and walked towards the woods. After a closer look, he was immediately surprised.原來這是一種奇特的自然現象，發磷光的是許多菌類植物。這種植物的胞子囊在黑暗可以發射出高強度的光線。 少校是個大公無私的人，他正要去叫巴加內爾，讓這地理學家也飽飽眼福，看一下這奇景。不料這時發生意外了。 那磷光照亮的樹林面積並不大，少校藉著光亮隱約看見在樹林邊緣幾個人影迅速走過。這是真的呢？還是一種幻覺呢？ 少校伏在地上仔細地觀察著，他看清了幾個人在忽起忽伏，似乎在地上尋找什麼。 這些人在幹什麼呢？我一定要弄明白。少校毫不猶豫，並沒有帶上旅伴，獨自一人在地上匍匐前進，像個草原上的土人，躲到草叢中去了。