Chapter 45 Forty-five here is the forbidden mountain

There are still about thirty meters to the top of the mountain.The best way for these fugitives to escape the eyes and ears of the Maori was to climb to the top of the mountain and then turn to the other side of the mountain.There they hoped that there would be a ridge that would carry them to the neighboring peaks, which were intermingled in a vast range of mountains, which, had poor Paganel been with them, he would have found out. A complex spiraling mountains. So they climbed up quickly, and the shouting and cursing behind them came closer and closer.The earth crowd who came over by surprise had already reached the foot of the mountain.

cheer up!Friends, take courage!Glenarvan kept on yelling, yelling, and encouraging his fellow travelers with gestures. In less than five minutes, they reached the top of the mountain, and they looked back from there again, trying to judge the situation at the time, and trying to find a way to avoid the Maori. From this height, their eyes could see the entire Lake Dobo stretching westward. The lake is surrounded by many mountains, and the scenery is very beautiful.To the north are the peaks of Mount Bilongjia.To the south is the raging caldera of Tongjialiluo Mountain.But looking to the east, the line of sight is blocked by a large row of mountains connected with the Huaxitian Mountains. This Huaxitian Mountains is a large mountain range with a series of undulating peaks and ridges, from Cook Bay to the East Point. , obliquely across the entire territory of the North Island.Therefore, the fugitives had to run down from the other side of the mountain, and drilled into many narrow valleys, and they probably couldn't find a way out after drilling all over the place.

Glenarvan looked around in panic, for the fog had cleared under the sun, and he could see the smallest valley below.Every move of the Maori could not escape his sight. The top of the mountain was a flat top, and there was an isolated conical peak supported on the flat top. When they reached the top of the mountain, the natives were less than 150 meters away from them. At this time, Glenarvan could not stop even a single step.Whether you are tired or not, you have to keep running, or you will be surrounded. Let's go down!He shouted, before the road was cut off! But when the two poor women were scrambling to their feet in a last effort, the major stopped them, saying:

There's no need to run, Glenarvan, you see. Sure enough, everyone saw an incomprehensible change in the actions of the Maori. Their pursuit came to an abrupt halt.They were going to attack the top of the mountain, but now they stopped attacking, as if they had received a strict prohibition.The group of natives restrained their temper and stopped there at once, as if a wave touched an impassable rock. All those carnivorous natives are now lined up at the foot of the mountain, yelling, gesticulating, waving guns and axes, but they dare not take a step forward.Their dog also stopped there like them, as if rooted on the spot, barking frantically.

What exactly is this matter about?What kind of force stopped the natives?The group of fugitives stared at them, not knowing what to do, fearing that once the magic power controlling the Bonechewer tribe failed, they would catch up again. Suddenly, Meng Geer called out, and his companions all turned around.He pointed to a small blockhouse built on the conical peak to show them. That's Calate's grave!cried Robert. You are right, Robert?Sir asked. No, ser, it's the grave, I know it! Robert was certainly not mistaken.Fifteen meters further up, on the top of the mountain, there are many newly painted red wooden stakes, forming a fence.Glenarvan also recognized the grave of the Chief of New Zealand.It turned out that he was fleeing in a panic, but accidentally fled to the top of Mengganamu Mountain.

The lord first, and the traveling companions behind, they climbed the slope to the conical point, and stopped at the foot of the tomb.There was a big opening in front of the tomb, which was covered with straw mats, from which one could enter the tomb.Glenarvan was about to walk towards the tomb, but suddenly stepped back: There's a native in there! Will there be natives in this tomb?asked the major. Yes, McNabbs. ignore him!Let's go in. The Sir, the Major, Robert and Mengel all entered the tomb.Sure enough, there was a Maori man there, wearing a formion hemp coat. The inside of the tomb was dark, and his face could not be seen clearly.The Maori seemed very quiet. He was eating his breakfast leisurely.Glenarvan was about to speak to him, but the native had already spoken, and he said to him in fluent English in an amiable tone:

Sit down, my dear sir, breakfast is waiting for you. It was Paganel!When they heard his voice, they all rushed in, and all were embraced by the long arms of the wonderful geographer.Paganel found it again!With him, everyone is guaranteed!Everyone was about to ask him how and why he came here.But Jazz's words blocked these untimely questions back. The mountains are surrounded by natives!He said. native?I don't care about those guys at all! they won't They, those idiots!You just wait and see! Everyone followed Paganel out of the tomb.Those natives were still in place, surrounding the mountain, roaring terrifyingly.

Call it!Roar!Shout out, fools!Paganel said, let's see if you dare to climb this mountain! Why not?Glenarvan asked. Because the chief is buried here, because this tomb protects us, because this mountain is forbidden by God! God forbid? Yes, my friends!That's why I have fled here, just as the unfortunate people of Europe in the Middle Ages fled to an inviolable holy place. Thank you God bless!Lady Helen cried out, throwing up her hands to the sky. Yes, this mountain is a forbidden mountain, because it is the tomb of the chief, so it is exempt from the invasion of the superstitious natives.

The fugitives can't be regarded as losing their face when they arrive here, it can only be said that they are enjoying a moment of safety, but this kind of opportunity of safety for a while can be taken advantage of.Glenarvan couldn't tell what it was like, he stayed there silently, and the major kept shaking his head with a look of great joy on his face. Now, friends, if those fools want to keep us rounded up like this, they're dreaming.In two days we'll be out of their grasp.Paganel said. Of course we still have to escape!But what is the way to escape?Sir said. I don't know yet, but we're going to get away anyway.Paganel replied.

By this time, everyone wanted to know what had happened to Paganel.But it is very strange, a person who was good at talking now becomes taciturn. Just hew and haw a few words and it's over. They have exchanged our Paganel for another.The major was thinking. Sure enough, even the appearance of the venerable scholar was different from before.He wrapped himself tightly in his smock, as if to prevent everyone from looking too closely at him.When it comes to himself, everyone can see his embarrassment, but everyone always feels that it is inconvenient to ask, so they pretend not to notice him. Fortunately, as long as he is not talking about himself, he is still beaming. as usual.

As for what happened to him, when everyone sat around him at the foot of the fence outside the tomb, he chose something to say and told his traveling companions.Here's what he said: After Calate's assassination, he, like Robert, escaped from the outer city of the fort amidst the confusion of the natives.However, he was not as lucky as Robert, and as soon as he ran away, he went to another group of Maori camp.There, the Maori were commanded by a tall, intelligent-looking chieftain, who was evidently superior to all the warriors of the tribe.The chief, who spoke good English, greeted Paganel with the tip of his nose. Paganel was vigilant in his heart, did he become a prisoner again from then on?But when he saw that every time he moved, the chief accompanied him attentively, never leaving him, and he soon knew who he was then. The chief's name is Xiyi, which means the light of the sun, and he is not a wicked person.Paganel's large spectacles and telescope seemed to place him in high esteem, and he endeavored to make him his own, enticing people with small favors and using Formion's The rope held him.Especially at night. This new situation continued for three whole days.During these three days, was Paganel treated preferentially or ill-treated?Another preferential treatment, another abuse.He said without elaborating.In short, he was taken prisoner, and his life was not much better than that of his unfortunate companions, except for the absence of the horror of immediate death. Fortunately, one night he bit the rope and escaped.He had seen Karatet's funeral from a distance, and he knew that the chief was buried on the top of Mount Mengganam, so this mountain must be forbidden by the gods.He made up his mind to flee to this forbidden mountain, because his fellow travelers were still imprisoned in this district, and he would not escape without them.His risky attempt had finally succeeded.Last night he arrived in Karatet's tomb.Here he recuperates while he waits for an opportunity to free his friends. This is what Paganel narrated.Did he deliberately obliterate some details of his life in the natives' house?On more than one occasion his hesitation and hesitation gave the impression that he was doing it on purpose.But no matter what, he escaped at last, and everyone congratulated him. The past has been explained, and everyone is talking about the present. The current situation is still extremely serious.Although the natives did not dare to climb the mountain, they planned to besiege them so that they could not survive hunger and thirst, and finally ran down the mountain of their own accord.It was just a matter of time, and the natives had to be patient. Greenervan did not miscalculate the embarrassment of the situation at that time. He was determined to wait for opportunities and create opportunities when necessary. First of all, Glenarvan wanted to carefully reconnoitre the topography of Mt. Mengam, that is to say, the topography of his temporary blockhouse. His purpose was not to defend this blockhouse, because the natives would not attack it. His purpose was to How to get out of this bunker.The major, Menger, Paganel, and himself all went to inspect the mountain together to find out.They observed the direction, arrival point and slope of each mountain road.The ridge that connects Mt. Monganam to Mt. Wahitilian is a kilometer long and dips down towards the plain.The ridge on the ridge was narrow and irregularly undulating, and this was the only way to go if escape was possible.Had the escaped run up the ridge in the dark, out of sight, they might have been able to slip into the deep valley in the mountains, out of the reach of the Maori.But this path also has many dangers.Where the ridge lowered the bullets were within reach.The natives guarded the mountainside and fired guns, and they could form a fire net on that section of the ridge, and no one could pass through it safely. Glenarvan and his friends ventured forward, and when they reached the dangerous ridge, they were met by a hailstorm of projectiles, which luckily missed them.Several packets of gunpowder were blown towards them by the wind.The balls of paper were made of printed lettering paper, and Paganel picked up one out of pure curiosity to have a look, and he managed to recognize the writing on it. OK!Do you know, my friends, what the beasts use for their bullets? No idea, Paganel.Sir replied. Use paper torn from the Bible!If those sacred languages ​​are used for this purpose, I really feel sorry for the missionaries, they are wasting their efforts in vain!How difficult it must have been for them to establish several libraries among the Maori! Glenarvan and his companions climbed the steep slope on the conical summit again, and they approached the chamber to examine its interior again. While they were walking, they suddenly felt that the ground seemed to be moving one after another, and they were very surprised.It was not a kind of shaking, but it was like the side of a pot being washed by boiling water, it was constantly shaking.Apparently, the underground fire was burning, and a lot of strong steam was accumulated at the bottom of the mountain, which was sealed by the mountain and could not be ejected. They were all people who came from the boiling spring of Kuma Kato, and this special phenomenon certainly did not make them feel mysterious.They knew that the central part of this Ikanamawi island was basically volcanic.It was really like a sieve, with countless holes through which the steam from the subterranean escaped in the form of boiling springs or sulfur pits. Paganel had already observed this, and he called the attention of his friends that the mountain they were on was volcanic.It was just one of the many conical peaks that lined the middle of the North Island, which meant that it too was going to be a volcano in the future.The inner shell of the mountain is all pale white tuff, and the slightest vibration can create a large caldera on the mountain shell. You're right, but we're no more dangerous here than leaning against the boilers of the Duncan.The crust here is a solid and reliable steel plate!Sir said. I also agree with what you said, but a boiler, no matter how strong it is, will explode after a long time.said the major. Major, I don't want to stay on the top of this cone forever.As long as God shows me a way to go, I will go immediately.Paganel said. ah!Why can't this mountain carry us away!Meng Geer went on to say that there is so much steam in its belly!Maybe we have millions of horsepower under our feet, but it's useless and wasted!As long as our Duncan has one-thousandth of this horsepower, it can send us to the end of the sky one by one! After Meng Geer mentioned it, the Duncan aroused Glenarvan's infinite emotions.For this lord, however dangerous his own situation, sometimes forgot himself and lamented only the fate of his fleet. He was still in deep thought. At this time, he had already walked to the top of the mountain and was with his fellow sufferers. Lady Helene went up to him as soon as she saw him. My dear Edward, have you scouted our terrain yet?Is there hope?Still hopeless? There is hope, my dear Helen, the natives dare not step beyond this mountain boundary, and we will not have time to plan our escape. Now, go back to the tomb!Paganel exclaimed enthusiastically, this is our fortress, our mansion, our dining room, our study room, and no one will bother us!Ladies, allow me to entertain you in this beautiful house. Everyone followed the lovely Paganel.When the natives saw that the fugitives were about to desecrate the forbidden tomb again, there was another burst of gunshots and terrible roars, which were as loud as the gunshots.But, luckily, the bullets couldn't hit as far as the yelling. They flew to the mountainside and fell, while the insults rushed into the sky before slowly dissipating. Mrs. Helen, Mary and their traveling companions were completely relieved when they saw that the Maori superstition far exceeded their anger, and one by one they all got into the tomb. The burial chamber of this New Zealand chief is a palisade of red-painted wooden stakes.Many symbolic graphics can be said to be woodcut embroidered patterns, showing the nobility and achievements of the deceased.There are also many strings of objects to ward off evil spirits, made of shells or carved from stone, hanging between the pillars, swaying.The inner soil surface is completely covered by a layer of green tree leaves like a carpet.In the center, the soil surface is slightly higher, showing that it is a newly dug tomb. The Chief's weapons were all there: his guns, all loaded and corded, his spear, his beautiful green jade axe, and enough ammunition for the dead to hunt in the Underworld for countless years. . It's an armory, we'll take it for better use.The natives want weapons to go to the underworld when they die, which is helping us, what a wonderful idea they have!Paganel said. Well!What's going on!They are all British made guns!said the major. Of course, it was stupid to give the natives a gun as a gift!They got these guns and used them to fight against the invaders. We have to admit that they did the right thing. In any case, these guns are useful to us!Sir said. However, what is more useful is the food and drinking water prepared for Kalat.Paganel said. Sure enough, the relatives and friends of the deceased were really thoughtful in preparing for the deceased.This speaks of the reverence they had for the virtues of the dead.The food piled up here is enough for ten people to eat for half a month, or more correctly, enough for the dead to eat endlessly.These grains are all plants, including the roots of phoenix weeds, sweet potatoes called convolvulus by the natives, and potatoes transplanted from Europe very early.There were several large jars filled with the clear water that New Zealanders used to drink when they ate, and a dozen or so baskets, cleverly woven, filled with many long squares made of a kind of green gum that I don't know what to do with. Therefore, everyone can not worry about hunger and thirst.They eat him unceremoniously first. Glenarvan took out a portion that was enough for everyone to eat and handed it to O'Bill to process.The steward, always a man of formality, preferred not to dishonor the food even in a critical moment, and therefore he felt that the food was unworthy.And he doesn't know how to cook these grass roots, he has no fire at all. Or Paganel had a way, he told him to stuff those anchovy roots and sweet potatoes into the soil and leave it alone. Yes, the temperature of the outer crust here is very high. If a thermometer is inserted into the soil, it will definitely measure 60 to 65 degrees.Obir almost burned his hands. When he was digging and grilling grass roots, a gust of hot steam came up and sprayed to a height of two meters, scaring him so much that he fell a big somersault. Turn off the tap!cried the major, and the two sailors ran to help, and blocked up the hole with rubble.Paganel, meanwhile, was gazing at this phenomenon, with a look of astonishment on his face, and said to himself: Hi!laugh!laugh!Why not? You are not burned, are you?the major asked O'Bill. no sir major i did not expect that Didn't expect God to be so considerate to us, right? !Paganel exclaimed triumphantly, with Calate's drinking water and food, and the ground fire to burn!ha!What a paradise this mountain is!I suggest we build a colony right here, farm here, and live here for the rest of our lives!Let's just be Robinson Robinson on this mountain!Really, I can't think of anything else that's missing on this cozy round hilltop! There is really nothing missing, it would be nice if the crust was a little harder.Menger replied. You worry about this crust!It was not formed yesterday!It has resisted the fire of the center of the earth for a long time, and before we walk away, he still holds out.Paganel said. Breakfast is ready.O'Bill reported, with the same seriousness he had served his master at Malcolm Hall. Immediately, everyone was at the fence, eating their usual life-saving food of late. There were only two kinds of food, and there was nothing for everyone to pick and choose, but everyone had different opinions on the taste of the fern root.Some people find it sweet and delicious, while others find it creamy and tasteless and hard.As for the sweet potatoes baked in the hot soil, they are really croaking.Paganel expressed his thoughts and said: Karate has such good food to eat, and it is really better to be buried here. Then, when everyone was full, Greenarvan suggested that an escape plan should be discussed immediately. Just want to go?Such a good place, what's the rush?Paganel said, with genuine reluctance. But, Monsieur Paganel, even if we are now in a place of comfort and safety, we must not indulge in it!Lady Helene replied. Ma'am, how dare I disobey your orders!Since you want to negotiate, negotiate. First of all, I think we should run away quickly, not wait until the food is finished.We're all full of energy right now, and we're going to walk away while we're full of energy.Tonight we shall try to get into the valley to the east, and ride the darkness through the siege of the natives.Greenervan said. That would be great, if the Maori let us pass.Paganel replied. What if they won't let us pass?Menger asked. Then, we will come up with a magic method.Paganel replied. So you have a magic trick?asked the major. It's so wonderful that people are baffling!He answered one sentence and stopped explaining. Now there is only waiting, waiting for the dark to sneak past the native defenses. Those natives never left their original places.The number of people seemed to have increased a bit, probably because many people came later.There are piles of bonfires burning at the foot of the mountain, forming a fire circle.When night falls over the surrounding valleys, Mount Mengganamu appears to emerge from a great fire pit, while its summit disappears into deep darkness.One could hear commotion, clamor and noise in the enemy camp two hundred meters below. At nine o'clock, when it was very dark, Glenarvan and Mengel decided to do some more reconnaissance before leading their traveling companions to escape by that dangerous road.They ran down quietly, and after walking for about ten minutes, they reached the narrow ridge that was cutting through the encirclement of the natives, seventeen meters above the enemy camp. Until then, everything was going great.Lying by the fire, the Maori didn't seem to see the two of them running away, so they walked a few more steps.Suddenly, on the left and right sides of the ridge, gunshots rang out simultaneously. run back!The eyes of those gangsters are like cats, and their guns are accurate!Greenervan said. Immediately, they climbed the steep slope to the top of the mountain again, and hurried back to comfort those traveling companions who were disturbed by the gunshots.Glenarvan got two bullets in his hat.With this experience, I know that this long ridge is lined with skirmishers on both sides, and it is absolutely impossible to venture up. Let's talk about it tomorrow, since these natives are under strict surveillance and we can't escape, you can always let me give them a hand! The climate is quite cold.Fortunately, Karatet brought his best pajamas and thick quilts to the tomb, and everyone took a few without any politeness, wrapped them around their bodies, and after a while they were under the protection of the superstition of the natives. I fell asleep peacefully, blocked by the fence outside, and the warm ground below, trembling with the hot steam underground.