Chapter 48 Forty-eight Duncan reappears

The old Scotch song rang in the ears of Glenarvan and his friends, and we cannot describe what they felt at that moment.As soon as they stepped on the deck of the Duncan, the bagpiper played his bagpipes and played the traditional folk song of Malcolm House, and the crew welcomed the captain's return with warm cheers.Glenarvan, Menger, Paganel, Robert, and even the major were moved to tears and hugged each other.First of all, there was some joy, and then there was a burst of carnival.The geographer was simply insane.Jumping up and down, he picked up his big binoculars, which he never left, and used it as a gun, aiming at the two canoes fleeing towards the coast.

But the cheering of the ship's crew ceased as soon as they saw that Sir and his traveling companions were in rags and swarthy faces, evidently suffering.Three months ago, the group of courageous travelers who had hoped to find the shipwrecked crew members now all looked like ghosts, as if they were ghosts after death and ran into the cruise ship.They had already given up on this cruise ship, and they didn't intend to see them again, but now they are back on this cruise ship again. This is completely accidental, just a coincidence!And how embarrassed and haggard everyone was when they got back to the boat, they really looked like they had narrowly escaped death!

At this time, fatigue and hunger and thirst have long been thrown aside, the Jazz must first ask Tom.Austin, how could he come to the sea in this area. How did the Duncan appear off the east coast of New Zealand?Why didn't it fall to Peng.What about Jues' hands?How did God guide it to the fugitives? Why?how come?On what grounds?Everyone started with these words and asked Austin questions one after another.The old seaman didn't know who to listen to first.Therefore, he decided to listen to Jazz alone and answer his own questions. So what about the exiles?Sir asked, how did you deal with those exiles?

Convict?Austin replied with a tone that seemed to have no understanding of the meaning of the other party's question. yes!Those bastards who hijacked the cruise ship! Hijacking a cruise ship?Hijacking your cruise ship? of course!Tom!This is the Duncan, the Peng who came on board.What about Jues? I don't know what Peng.Juss, I never saw him.Austin replied. there has never been?exclaimed Sir, more and more confused by the old seaman's answer, tell me, then, Tom, why is the Duncan coming off the east coast of New Zealand? Austen's astonished look had already baffled Sir, Lady Helen, Mary, Paganel, Major, Robert, Menger, Obier, Murady, and Wilson. Wait until Tom.When Austin answered the following sentence in a quiet voice, everyone was even more astonished.

It is by your order that the Duncan came here. Follow my orders? yes sir.I just followed everything you told me in your letter of January 14th. Show me the letter quickly!Show me the letter quickly!Jazz cried. At this time, ten travelers returning to the ship surrounded Austin and looked at him eagerly.The letter from the Snowy River was delivered to the Duncan! What's the matter, tell us quickly, I really thought it was a dream, did you really get the letter, Tom? Yes, received a letter from you. Received in Melbourne? Received in Melbourne, just as we got the boat fixed. What about the letter?

The letter was not written by you, sir, but signed by you. Exactly, exactly.My letter was from a man named Peng.Was it given to you by the exile from Juss? No, it was a sailor named Ayrton, who was bosun of the Britannia, and it was he who sent me the letter. correct!Ayrton, Peng.Jues is all alone.Besides, what did I write in that letter? You order me to leave Melbourne at once, and to sail out, at Isn't it called on the east coast of Australia?Jazz shouted impatiently, which surprised Austin a little. Why is it on the east coast of Australia!No!It's on the east coast of New Zealand!He said, staring at two big eyes.

It's on the east coast of Australia!Tom!It's from the east coast of Australia!The traveling companions answered in unison. At this moment, Austin's eyes blurred and he almost passed out.Glenarvan was so sure that he might have misread the letter himself.How could he have made such a big mistake when he was a faithful and uncompromising old sailor?He blushed and panicked. Don't worry, Tom, said Lady Helene, it is God's will No, madam, please forgive me!wrong!Absolutely impossible!I read the letter correctly!What Ayrton read in the letter was the same as what I saw, it was he, on the contrary, he wanted to lead me to the east coast of Australia!

Is Ayrton going?Jazz cried. He is going!He stubbornly said to me that there was a mistake in the letter, and he insisted that you wanted me to join you at Tuff Bay! Is your letter still there, Tom?asked the major, who, too, was quite bewildered. It's still there, Mr. Major, and I'll fetch it. Austin immediately ran to his room on the forecastle.During the minute when he walked away, everyone looked at me and I looked at you, and there was no word for each other. Only the major, keeping his eyes on Paganel, folded his arms on his chest, and said to him: hum!Paganel, I have to admit that the mistake was a bit too big!

Um?Paganel was puzzled, bent over, lowered his head, and wore big glasses on his forehead, like a long and big question mark. Austin is back.In his hand was the letter signed by Sir Paganel. Please take a look.Austin said. Greenarvan took the letter and read: Make Tom.Austin quickly set sail and drove the Duncan to the place where the 37th parallel south crosses the east coast of New Zealand! Is it the east coast of New Zealand? !cried Paganel. He snatched the letter from Sir, rubbed his eyes, and pulled his spectacles up to his nose to see for himself. Really write New Zealand!He said, in an indescribable tone, as the letter slipped through his fingers.

At this moment, he felt a hand on his shoulder.He raised his head abruptly, and was meeting the major face to face. Well, my good Paganel, it was a luck that you didn't send the Duncan to Indochina!said the major with a solemn air. The joke was too much for the poor geographer.All the crew members on the cruise ship burst into laughter, shaking their heads back and forth.Paganel walked up and down like crazy, holding his head in his hands and scratching his hair.What he is doing, he does not know; what he wants to do, he does not know!He ran down the cabin ladder mechanically, strode across the middle deck, staggered, walked straight ahead, aimless, and climbed up the forecastle again.On the foredeck, feet caught on a bundle of cables.Instead of two hands grabbing a rope so quickly, he nearly fell over.

Suddenly, there was a bang, which frightened people.The gun on the foredeck fired.The scatter-shots made the calm sea seething like a boil, and the unlucky Paganel was grasping the rope on the gun, which was loaded, and the trigger touched the powder with the movement of the rope. Introduction.That's why such a bolt from the blue came.The geographer was startled, rolled down the ladder on the forecastle, rolled from the center panel to the marine room, and disappeared. The sound of the cannon started a crowd of shouts.Everyone thought something was wrong.Ten sailors rushed below the middeck and lifted Paganel up on his buttocks, head and feet together.It seems to be broken into two parts. The geographer fell silent. People carried the long body into the cabin and spread it out.That honest Frenchman, for whom all his companions were alarmed.The Major, who becomes a doctor in every critical moment, was at once ready to undress the unfortunate Paganel in order to bind up his wounds.But as soon as he stretched out his hand to untie his clothes, the half-dead man sat up suddenly as if he had been electrocuted. Can't take it off!Never take it off!he shouted.Then he pulled his tattered suit back over his thin frame and buttoned it up, with a curious sense of haste. Clothes must be taken off, Paganel!said the major. I said you can't take it off! i want to check Don't you check! Maybe broke the major again. Broken?If it breaks, call a carpenter to fix it!He replied, and stood up with a jump on his long legs. What did you call a carpenter to fix? Repair the pillar of the middle cabin, I broke the pillar when I fell! Everyone laughed again when they heard this sentence, laughing harder than before.This answer reassured all his friends that the venerable Paganel was not in the least injured in the wrestling scene. Even so, the geographer was too ashamed, surprisingly ashamed!thought the major. Now, Paganel, answer me frankly.I admit that your carelessness is driven by God.There is no doubt that the Duncan would have fallen into the hands of the exiles if it hadn't been for you, and we would have been taken again by the Maori, but, for God's sake, please tell me, By what strange association, by what kind of insane insanity, did you write Australia as New Zealand? Why!Isn't that very simple!cried Paganel, it was But at this point, he looked from Robert to Mary, and stopped talking for a while.Then he replied: what else can we do?my dear Glenarvan?I was originally a crazy person, I was a fool, a ridiculous ghost that could never be changed for the rest of my life, and I would still keep that careless face when I took off my skin after death Unless the skin is peeled off of yours, the Major adds up. Take my skin off!Paganel suddenly yelled aggressively, I'm afraid your words mean something? Meaning?What do you mean, Paganel?The major asked back, his tone still calm. The interlude has nothing to do with it. Now, why the Duncan came to the east coast of New Zealand, this dumb fan finally figured it out.The travelers who were rescued as if by a miracle thought of nothing else but going back to their rooms to get comfortable and eat. At this time, Jazz and John.After Munger waited for Mrs. Helen, Mary, the major, Paganel, and Robert to enter the cabin, he took Tom.Austin was left alone.They still have to ask him. Now, my old Tom, please answer me.Don't you find it strange that you have been ordered to come near the coast of New Zealand?Sir asked. Why don't you think it strange, sir, I was surprised at the time, but I'm never in the habit of commenting on orders I receive, so I obeyed them.How could I disobey orders?If I make up my own mind and don't act according to the express letter of the order, and something goes wrong, wouldn't it be my fault?Wouldn't you do the same if you were in my position?captain? Of course, Tom.Menger replied. So, what was your guess at the time?Jazz asked again. What do I suppose, sir?I was thinking, always looking for Harry.Grant is going to the place you appointed.I think you must have an arrangement, and another ship has taken you to New Zealand, so I want to wait for you on the east coast of New Zealand.Moreover, when I left Melbourne, I kept the destination of the cruise ship strictly a secret. I didn't announce it to the crew until the ship sailed into the sea and the land of Australia was out of sight.At that time, there was a small disturbance on board, and I felt very embarrassed for a while. What are you talking about, Tom?Sir asked. I mean, replied Austin, that Ayrton knew the Duncan's destination on the second day of sailing. Ayrton!is he on boardJazz cried. Still on board, ser. Ayrton is still here!Sir repeated, looking at Mengle. God has eyes!Mengel said. In a moment, and with lightning speed, Ayrton's deed, his long-prepared plot, Glenarvan's wound, Murady's sniped, the caravan in the marshes of the Snowy River His sufferings, and, in short, all the past deeds of the rascal were laid before the eyes of both the sir and the captain.Now, by an inconceivable turn of events, the exile had fallen into their hands again! Where is he now?Jazz asked eagerly. In a room below the foredeck he was closely watched. Why lock him up like this? Because as soon as he saw that the ship was heading for New Zealand, he lost his temper. He threatened me to change course, he threatened me, and finally, he encouraged the crew to rebel.I know he's a dangerous guy, so I can't help but take precautions against him. What about after that? Since then, he has been staying in his room, and he doesn't want to come out. all right, tom. At this time, Glenarvan and Mengel were invited to the cabin.The breakfast they so desperately needed was ready, and they sat down at the table in the upper hall without mentioning Ayrton at all. But as soon as the meal was over, and when they were all assembled on deck, fed and refreshed, Glenarvan informed them that Ayrton was still on board.At the same time, he said that he was going to call Alton in front of everyone for interrogation. Can I be exempted from participating in this interrogation?asked Lady Helene, and I tell you frankly, my dear Edward, that I felt sorry for myself when I saw that scoundrel. This is a confrontation, Helen, you better stay, I ask you.I must Peng.Juce saw himself again standing face to face with all the victims. Lady Helen accepted this opinion.Mary sat beside him with her.On either side of Glenarvan were the Major, Paganel, John, Menger, Robert, Wilson, Murady, Osney, all those who had been framed by the exile and nearly lost their lives.All the crew on the cruise ship did not understand the seriousness of this scene, and they all maintained a deep silence. Bring Ayrton!Sir said.