Chapter 27 Chapter 12 Tit for Tat

In 1520, the famous Portuguese navigator discovered the Strait of Magellan.Since then, especially since the advent of steamship navigation, the Strait of Magellan has become the only way to connect the oceans. On November 28, Evans pointed out the strait to Bryant and his companions on a map. Now, he explained, you see, there is an island in the Strait of Magellan, separated from Cambridge Island on the south, and separated from Madhedion Island and the Chasm Islands on the north.This island is located at fifty-one degrees south latitude, and is called Hanover Island, which is what you call Charman Island.You have lived here for twenty months.

Bryant, Gordon, and Donagan hunched over the map, staring curiously at the island.They thought it was very far away from other landmass, but they did not expect it to be so close to the coast of America. What!Gordon exclaimed that we were only separated by a bay from Chile. Yes, boys, said Evans, but there are only desert islands like this between Hanover and the mainland.Once we reach the mainland, we still have to walk a hundred miles to reach a village in Chile or the Argentine Republic.It would be a difficult trip, not to mention the dangers posed by the Burchi Indians.They live in groups in the pampas and are very unfriendly!I think it's a good thing you didn't leave the island.Here you have had the means of living; but now, with God's help, we will get out of here together.

The strait which encircles the island of Hanover is not, in reality, fifteen or twenty miles wide.On a clear day, Moko can be easily sailed across in a small sailing boat.Bryant and others never saw the islands during their expedition because they were so low-lying.The white dot was a distant glacier, and the jutting peak was one of the many Magellan volcanoes. Plus, as Bryant points out, they've been to the coast farthest from the neighboring islands.When Donagan reached Severnbank, he could have seen the south coast of Chasham Island if the horizon had not been obscured by clouds.This is absolutely true.Deception Bay carves Hanover Island and Bear Rock in a deep zigzag at the mouth of the East River.Nothing of the eastern isles could be seen from Deception Bay, nor Esperance Island, only twenty miles away.To see nearby land, children must go to the North Cape, where Chasm Island and Madhedion Island can be seen across the Concepcion Strait, or to the South Cape, where Queen Adelaide can be seen and Cambridge Island; or to the very edge of the lowlands, where they could catch a glimpse of Owen Island and the glacier to the southeast.

But the kids had never traveled this far.Evans could not explain why these islands and landmass were not shown on Bowding's map.The Frenchman who died was unable to draw the exact topography of Hanover Island, perhaps because the fog obscured his vision. Now, if they could get the boat and fix it, where would Evans go with it? That was exactly what Gordon wanted to know. I'm going neither north nor east, said Evans, and with a gentle breeze we might reach some port in Chile.There we will be welcomed.But the waters of these coasts are very rough, and it may be easier to walk through the channel of the archipelago.

But will there be villages in these places?Bryant asked, can we get a boat home from those places? I think there will be, Evans replied, look at the map, after passing through the Queen Adelaide Islands, we go down the Smith Strait and reach the Strait of Magellan.Its entrance is the port of Tema, Desolate Isle.We can go home by boat there. If we can't touch the boat, do we have to wait until a boat passes by?Bryant asked.No, you see, down the Channel is the Brunswick Peninsula.You see, Galante Harbor is at the bottom of Fortesco Bay.Ships often pass by Galante Harbour.If we go round Cape Froward from above, we reach St. Nicholas Bay or Bougainville Bay, where almost all steamships anchor.A little further on are Farming Harbor and Patana Harbor.

The sailor was right.As long as the children can reach the Strait of Magellan, they are safe.To get there, they had to fix the boat; to fix the boat, they had to get the boat.But that's only possible if Walston and his cohorts are dealt with. If the boat was still where Donagan saw it, there was a chance the kids could get it over.Fifteen miles from the East River, Walston would not have known about the plan.Evans would do his best to tow the boat to the Zeeland River, not Bear Rock, and haul it down the river back to Frenchman's Hole.This way, it can be repaired in the best possible condition.With sails on and the requisite equipment in place, it can set sail and leave the island before the gang can snipe at it.

Unfortunately, this plan didn't work out.The problem can only be solved by force.Either take the initiative to attack, or shrink the defense.Nothing can be done without beating Walston. The children have full confidence in Evans.Kate had spoken so warmly of him, and now that his hair had been cut and his beard shaved, he was a brave, handsome lad indeed.He is full of energy and fearless.At the same time they found him to be kind, decisive, and self-sacrificing.As Kate said: God sent a big man to help these children. The first thing Evans did was investigate his men's weapons and equipment.The pantry and the hall both seem like good defenses.One controls the river and the other controls the lake.Defenders can shoot through loopholes under cover.With their eight guns the boys were able to keep the intruders at a distance, and if they came near they could use the two little cannons to shoot them straight in the face.Revolvers, axes, and scimitars can all come in handy for hand to hand combat.

These defenders are still strong if they are in the hole; they are weak when they are out of the hole.With only six older children facing seven outlaws who are accustomed to using weapons, it is enough for the children to take risks without retreating. Do you think they are outlaws?asked Gordon. Yes, Evans affirmed, none of them wanted to eat with their lives. He's not as bad as the others except for one, Kate retorted, Forbes, he saved my life. Forbes?Evans said that perhaps he was bewitched by the devil, perhaps because of his fear of his accomplices, and he played a part in the massacre.It was he and Locke who were after me.He's the one who shot me like a beast.Thought I sank to the bottom of the river, wasn't he a happy one?uh kateI don't think he's much better than the others.He saved you because he thought you might still be useful to them.If they kill them, he will definitely not lag behind.

A few days later.To Evans' surprise, the sentinels on Oakland Hills found nothing suspicious.He knew Walston's plan. For him, the key was to hurry up and make a quick decision.Why was there no movement from November 27th to 30th?He thought for a long time, and finally realized that Walston was going to outwit the Frenchman rather than use force. Since we were in the hole, he told Bryant that Walston must take one of the doors by force unless someone opened it for him!He'll pull tricks and get into caves! How to get in?asked Gordon. Maybe so, you know, only Kate and I know he's the leader of a gang of muggers who're going to take your place.But he thinks Kate died early in the shipwreck.As for me, I also drowned in the river, you know.He doesn't know that you know the whole truth, or even that he's on the island.If he came here pretending to be a victim, he thought you might welcome him.Once one of them enters the hole, he can let his accomplices in too, and it will be too late for you to resist.

Well, Bryant said, if Walston or any of them came looking for a place to stay, we'd shoot. Or treat each other with courtesy?Which is better?asked Gordon. The latter may be better.said the sailor. Outsmarts wits, doesn't it?Let's discuss it. The next morning was still safe and sound.Evans, Donagan, and Baxter walked half a mile out to Trap Wood, where they took shelter in the woods below Oakland Hills.They didn't find anything unusual, and the little fan who went with them didn't make a sound. But in the evening, before sunset, Webb and Cross hurried down from their sentry on the hill to report that two men were coming along the south side of the lake across the Zeeland.

Kate and Evans didn't want to be seen by them, so they immediately hid in the storage room.Looking out through the gunhole, Locke and Forbes were soon seen. Apparently, said the sailors, they were here to deceive, by pretending to be sailors of the wrecked ship. what should we do?Bryant asked. welcome them!Evans told him! Welcome those bastards?Bryant countered, I never will. I can.Gordon interjected. Fine, just do that!But don't give them the slightest suspicion that we're here, said Evans.When the time comes, Kate and I will show up. He and Kate hid in a cupboard in the hallway of the cave. A few minutes later, Gordon, Bryant, Donagan and Baxter all ran to the bank.The two men were now very close to the opposite bank.They pretended to be surprised to see them, and Gordon looked even more surprised. who are you?he asks. Our ship Severn was wrecked south of the island. Are you British? No, we are Americans. Where are your companions? All dead.We're the only survivors, and we're dying.May I ask who are you? Colonists of Charman Island. Well-intentioned colonists.Please take pity on us and help us, we have nothing left. All shipwrecked people deserve help, Gordon assured them, welcome. He made a gesture, and Moko boarded the small sailboat parked aside, rowed a few times, and brought the two men over. Walston certainly had no choice.But I have to admit, as long as you see Locke's face, it's hard for people to trust him.Even these ignorant children will act according to their faces.Although Locke tried his best to put on an honest look, how could his monkey-cheeked face conceal his fierce nature?Forbes, according to Kate, has not lost all of his humanity.The guy was much better looking, which was probably why Walston sent him. They dress up to look good.They can appear overwhelmed when asked a more direct question.Then they pleaded that they were very tired and hoped to rest in the cave for a night.Gordon saw them glance around hurriedly as they entered the Frenchman's Cave, and noted the astonishment in their faces at the sight of the defenses, especially the small cannons pointed out of the embrasures.If the two fellows had not asked for a break, and put off their adventure until the next morning, the children might not have been able to carry on the play either. It is enough to give us a bed made of leaves, Locke said, so as not to disturb you, do you have another room? Yes, Gordon replied, we have a kitchen room where you can stay until tomorrow. Locke and his accomplice passed through the storage room, inspected the house carefully, and noticed that the door opened towards the river. They lay down in a corner.They were not the only ones in the room, Moko slept there too.But they didn't pay much attention to him, because if they decided they'd wring his neck as soon as they found him asleep.Just wait until the time comes when they will open the storeroom door, and Woolston, who has been lying in wait nearby, will soon be the master of the French lair. About nine o'clock, Locke and Phoebes appeared to be fast asleep, and Moco went in and threw himself on the bed, ready to sound the alarm at any moment.Bryant stayed in the hall with the others, shutting the door to the aisle, and Evans and Kate came out of hiding to be with them.Things went as the sailor expected.He was sure that Walston was nearby, and they would break in at the first signal. We have to strengthen our defense.He said. Two hours passed, and Moko was wondering if Locke and Forbes had pushed their plans until the next night, when he noticed a slight sound in the corner. By the light hanging on the ceiling of the cave, Moko saw the two people get out of bed and tiptoe towards the door. The door is supported by a large pile of boulders, and it will not be easy to clear the wall. The two men began to remove the stones, placing them one by one against the wall.In a few minutes the door was clear, and all they had to do was remove the great wooden bar. As soon as Locke had removed the wooden bar and pushed open the door, a hand was on his shoulder.He turned his head and recognized Evans. Evans!He exclaimed, Evans is here! Come here, children.cried Evans. All of a sudden, Bryant and his companions rushed in.Four boys grabbed Forbes, threw him to the ground, and locked him up. Locke quickly got rid of Evans, stabbed him with the knife, and escaped through the open door.He hadn't gone ten yards when he heard a shot.Evans fired, but apparently missed the assailant.Because he didn't hear the cry of pain. Let him run away!Said the sailor, but there was another one.We can settle accounts with him. He approached Forbes with a machete in his hand. spare my life!spare my life!pleaded the wretch.Numerous children pressed him to the ground. yes!Spare his life, Evans!Kate went up to block him with her body and let him go because he had saved me. All right!Evans agrees, I agree, Kate, at least for now.Forbes was bound and locked in a hole in the passageway.That would have been a cupboard. The storage room door was closed and blocked.The children remained on alert until dawn.