Chapter 26 Chapter Eleven Brave Escape

Evans' arrival was a surprise.The children froze for a moment, and then in a rush, they all rushed towards him as if he had been sent to rescue them. Evans was about twenty-eight or twenty-eight years old, broad-shouldered, with a firm gait, piercing eyes, slightly sparse eyebrows, and an intelligent, compassionate face; Hasn't been scraped since shipwreck. Once Evans entered, he quickly closed the door.He listened carefully, but did not hear any movement outside.He just walked to the center of the hole, and then looked at the group of little guys around him. All boys!He said, only boys!

Suddenly his eyes lit up. Kate!He exclaimed, what!Kate is still alive? He grabs her hand, as if to make sure it's really her. Yes, alive as you are, Evans, God saved you, saved me, and sent us to help these kids. The sailor looked around at the children, who had gathered around the hall table. Fifteen, he said, and only five or six could defend themselves.Never mind, though. Are we in danger of being attacked, Mr. Evans?Bryant asked. No, child.At least not yet. There is no need to exaggerate the eagerness of the children to hear the sailor's story, especially after the boat arrived on the island.They will not want to go to sleep until they hear these vital things.But Evans had to get off his wet clothes before eating.He swam in from the river, his clothes were soaked, and he was tired and hungry.Because he hasn't eaten for twelve hours, and hasn't closed his eyes since morning.

Bryant immediately took him to the storage room.Gordon put on a suit of clothes for him at once, and Moko put some cold game, biscuits, and fresh tea on the table.A quarter of an hour later, Evans sat down at the table and began to describe what had happened since his arrival on the island. Just minutes before the boat docked, he said, five people, including myself, jumped onto the reef and none were seriously injured.But it was not easy to cross the rough sea in the dark, but we finally made it safely.Two of us were missing, Phoebes and Peake, who had been aboard and perhaps washed down again.As for Kate, I thought she was drowned in the sea and never to be seen again.It took us a while to find the boat when we got there, it came about seven o'clock, but we didn't find it until almost twelve o'clock, and we walked along the coast first.

Severnbank, Bryant told him, was the name some of us here had given the ship when we found it, before Kate told us the ship was lost. Before?Evans looked surprised. Yes, Mr. Evans.Donagan said that we were there on the night of the accident, and your two companions were lying on the beach, but after dawn, when we were going to bury their bodies, we found that they had disappeared. I see how it is, said Evans, we thought Phoebes and Peek were drowned and gone to Heaven, and two less rascals.But they were only thrown some distance by the boat, and it was there that Walston and others found them and brought them back to consciousness.To their delight and to ours' misfortune, the ship's storage boxes were neither damaged nor fell into the sea.When the Severn caught fire, the stores, powder, five guns, and provisions they had hastily thrown aboard were carried overboard.We thought the second wave would wreck the boat.When it was all over, we left that place, and went east along the coast, and presently a man, I think it was Locke, said we hadn't found Kate.Woolston replied: "She was swept away by the waves, just off a load!It made me think that Kate was useless to them and they were just happy to get rid of her.If I'm no longer useful, they'll kill me too.But where were you then, Kate?

I'm near the boat, between the boat and the sea, Kate replied, right where the boat dropped me.They couldn't see me, but I heard everything Walston and the others said.As soon as they left, I got up.Fearing to fall into the hands of Woolston again, I fled in the opposite direction.Thirty-six hours later, I was found by these brave boys and taken to the French Den, half starving. French hole.Evans repeated. That's the name we gave the hole, said Gordon, in honor of a shipwrecked Frenchman who lived here for several years before us. French cave, Severnbank?Evans said, I think it's so interesting that you guys have names for various places on the island!

Yes, Sauvis said, they were all interesting names, and there were others, Family Lake, Southern Wilds, Zeeland River, Trapwood, and so on. great!great!You can talk to me about this later, maybe tomorrow.Now I'm going to continue my story, did you hear anything outside? No.Moko said.He was still on guard at the gate. Well, said Evans, and an hour after we left the boat, we came to a grove of trees, where we camped.The next day and the next few days we were back at the wreck of the ship and we wanted to fix it.But we have no tools but an axe.With the ax alone, we couldn't replace the damaged strake to make it more or less weatherworthy.Also, that place is not a good place for repairs.So we set out to find a camp in another, slightly drier place where we could get enough game to feed our stomachs, and at the same time it was near a river.

east river.Sauvis interrupted him. Even the East River, Evans agreed, had a pretty big bay there. Deception Bay!Jenkins said. Even if it is Deception Bay!Evans laughed, and there was a place that could barely be called a small harbor among a pile of rocks. Bear Rock.This time it was Costa who chimed in. Well, it's Bear Rock, my boy, Evans nodded, and it's not hard to find a place to camp there.If we can get the boat there, maybe we can fix it in time.So we went there, and though it was more than half in the water, we towed it in the little harbor where the boat still stands. The boat is still in Bear Rock?Bryant asked.

Yes, boy, and I think it's still possible to fix it, given the tools. We have the tools, Mr. Evans.Donagan cut him off again. So Walston had wondered when he would accidentally discover that the island was inhabited, and guessed who the inhabitants were. how did he do itasked Gordon. Eight days ago, Evans said, Walston and all of us, because I've never been left behind, scouted the woods.After walking along the east bank for three or four hours, we came to a large lake, out of which flowed a small stream.We found a curious contraption that had washed ashore.Our surprise at the time can be imagined.It was a frame made of sticks, still attached

Our kite!Donagan exclaimed. Our kite!cried Bryant too, it fell in the lake and was blown there by the wind. Oh, it's a kite, isn't it?"We didn't think that way," Evans said.I can tell you, this stuff gives us a lot of headaches.In any case, we knew it couldn't have grown on its own.There is no doubt that this thing must have been made by the islanders.This also shows that there must be someone on the island!who is it?That's exactly what Walston wanted to know.As for me, from the day of the murder I had made up my mind to escape.Who lives on the island?Even the wildlings were no more ruthless than the scoundrels of the Severn.But from that moment on, I was watched by them day and night.

How did they discover the French cave?asked Baxter. I'm about to say, Evans replied, but before I do, tell me what you're using that big kite for.Is that a signal? Gordon told the sailors what they had done, their past goals, how Bryant put his life at risk for everyone's safety, and how he found out all about Walston on the island. You are a brave boy.Evans said while shaking Bryant's hand affectionately. Then he went on: You know, since then, Walston has only been troubled by one thing, and that is who inhabits the island.If it was the natives, could he communicate with them?If it's someone who died, do they have the tools we need?If so, he would not refuse their help in repairing the ship.So we started looking, needless to say, very cautiously of course.We moved slowly, carefully searching the right bank of the lake to its southernmost corner.But we saw no one, nor heard a sound.

That's because, Bryant explained, we've been in the French cave, and we've been ordered not to fire a shot under any circumstances. But we found you anyway, said Evans, how did we find it?On the night of the 23rd one of us saw Frenchman's Den on the south shore of the lake.As luck would have it, for a split second there was a light shining directly on the cliff, perhaps from the moment you opened the door.The next morning Walston went out to scout, and until night he hid in the tall grass only a few yards from the creek. we know.Bryant interjected. How do you know? Gordon and I found a fragment of a pipe.Kate recognized the pipe as Walston's. Exactly!The sailor said that Woolston had lost his pipe while he was away.When I came back, I complained a lot about it.So you understand that we already know about the existence of your little territory.And when he was hiding in the tall grass, he saw you running across the stream.It is really easy for seven big men to subdue these children.He returned to camp and told his companions what he had seen.I happened to overhear him and Brant talking about their plans to take the Frenchman's Cave. A group of devils!Kate yelled that they didn't spare the children. Yes, Kate, they were as vicious as they were to the captain and passengers of the Severn.What a bunch of devils!You can totally call them devils!And they were at the beck and call of the worst Woolston.I hope this guy doesn't get away with what he deserves. About twelve hours ago, when Woolston and the others were absent, and Phoebes and Locke were the only guards, I escaped while they were not looking.To get rid of the jerks, or more to get off to a good start, I ran some distance beforehand.About ten o'clock, I started running in earnest.As soon as they saw me start to run away, they gave chase.They had guns in their hands, but I had nothing but a sailor's knife. They chased me all day.I went diagonally through the woods and reached the left bank of the lake.I have to go around the southern end of the lake.For I have overheard that your camp is on the banks of a river that flows westward.I have never run like this in my life.Those guys can run as fast as I can, but their bullets fly much faster than mine.Sometimes bullets whiz past me.You see, I know their secret!If let me escape, I will tip you off, and if they don't have a gun, I will stop and wait for them with a knife.Yes, I'd rather die than go back, but I hope they stop before dark. This is simply not possible.I rounded the lake and ran along this bank, finding Phoebes and Locke following me.Then it rained heavily, which made it even more difficult for me to run.For the blinding lightning will make me visible to those who pursue me.At last I reached the small river.If I can see those bad guys across the river, I think I'm safe.So I ran as fast as I could, and jumped into the river, when I saw a bright flash of lightning in the sky, and immediately I heard a gunshot. We heard the gun go off.Donagan cut him off. Obviously hear it!A bullet grazed my shoulder, Evans said.I jumped into the river, and with just a few strokes of my arms, I swam this way and hid in the bushes.Locke and Forbes yelled at each other from the opposite bank, did you hit him?I think so!Then he must have sunk!That's right, dead!dead!here you go!Then they left.Luckily, they'll think I'm going to die soon!I quickly walked out of the bushes and walked towards the corner of the cliff.I heard the dogs barking and I yelled a few times and the door opened and I came here to help you clear these villains off the island. He spoke with such vigor that the children were on their feet, ready to take what he had to say. Then the boys told Evans all that had happened during the last twenty months.How sailing ships left New Zealand, crossed the Pacific, and were wrecked on the island; how they found the shipwrecked French; how they lived and worked in French caves; Live until Walston and his cohorts come to the island. For twenty months, Evans asked, had the ship not been seen? Not one.Bryant replied. Have you sent a signal? Yes, there is a mast on top of the cliff. Did no one see it? No, replied Donagan, but we had taken it down six weeks ago so it wouldn't come to Walston's attention. Well done boys, but now he knows where you are, so you must guard day and night. Why?Gordon exclaimed suddenly, must we treat them as villains instead of faithful friends?We will be happy if they come to help us.Our colony is not indestructible!Now a battle is coming and everyone is involved.No one knows what the outcome will be. Children, God has always protected you, Kate said, and God will not abandon you now.This man was sent here to aid you. You can depend on me, children, and I can depend on you.And I promise you we will guard it well. But, Gordon said, if Walston agreed to leave the island, wouldn't it be possible to avoid a war? What do you mean, Gordon?Bryanton asked. I mean if they could fix that boat, he and his gang would be off!Don't you, Mr. Evans? certainly. Well, if you negotiate with them and give them the tools they need, will they accept the terms?I know it's disgusting to negotiate with the Severn's murderers, but it's worth it to get rid of them and avoid a potentially bloody melee.What do you say, Mr. Evans? Evans listened intently. Gordon's suggestion showed that his thoughts were realistic, and that he was a person who could calmly look at problems from all aspects.He thought he was right, that he was the real leader of the colony, and that what he said deserved serious consideration. Evans replied: Anything is worth doing to get rid of these bad guys.If they would agree to leave, it would be much better to help them fix the ship than to have an undecided war.But can we trust Walston?Does he think you have amassed a lot of money from wrecks?Believe me, gangsters only return evil for good.There is no room for gratitude in their hearts!Negotiating with them is simply putting your destiny in their hands. No.Baxter and Donagan yelled.No!"We will never negotiate with Walston and his associates," Bryant said. Plus, Evans added, they wanted more than just tools, they wanted ammo!They have enough ammunition to attack you, it is true; but to go elsewhere, they need more.They will not only ask you!They will also loot!will you give them of course not.cried Gordon. Well, they will definitely seek a solution by force.Doing so will only delay the war one step, but the situation will be even more unfavorable to you. You're right, Mr. Evans, agrees Gordon, let's go on the defensive and play by the book! That's the best.Plus, there's another reason why I'm in line with everyone else. what is it Look, you know, Walston can't leave the island without a boat. Yes.Bryant said. I'm sure the boat can be repaired.Walston temporarily gave up repairing the ship only because of a lack of tools. If it wasn't for this, he might have gone far before then.Baxter said. As you said, boy.Now, if you help Walston fix the ship, even if he doesn't come to plunder the French lair, he won't bother you and leave. So what will he do?Sauvis asked. Hey, says Evans, how do you leave if the boat isn't there? What!exclaimed Gordon, are you sure the boat will take us off the island? Yes. Back to New Zealand?across the Pacific Ocean?asked Donagan. Pacific Ocean?No, boys, just to a place not too far from here.There we can bide our time back to Auckland. is that true?Bryant asked. How is it possible, asked Baxter, how could that little boat carry us hundreds of miles? hundreds of miles?cried Evans, only thirty miles, you know. So, isn't the sea surrounding the island?asked Donagan. To the west, yes, Evans said, but to the east, south, and north were mere straits that could be crossed in a few hours. So we're not wrong to think there's land nearby?asked Gordon. Yes, replied Evans, there was a considerable landmass to the east. Yes!To the east, I saw a white spot and a blinding light, Bryant said. Do you mean a blob of white dots?That's a glacier.blinding light?That's the fire from the volcano.The location of the volcano is marked on the map, do you know where you are? On an isolated island in the Pacific Ocean.Gordon said. On an island, but not an island!It belongs to one of countless archipelagos off the coast of South America!You have named the headland, the bay, and the creek here, and I think you must have named this island too. What do you call it? Charman Island, following the name of our school.Donagan said. Charman Island!Well, repeated Evans, now it has two names; for it was originally called Hanover Island!