Chapter 3 3.uninvited guest

We have already said that Lady Helene was a generous and generous person.Her performance just now is a proof.Sir Glenarvan was proud to have such a virtuous wife who both knew him and followed him.When he saw in London that his request had been refused, he intended to go out himself to the rescue of Captain Grant.But he didn't say it in front of Mrs. Helen, because he thought about it and couldn't bear to leave his wife.Now that Madam has spoken first, all worries are gone.The servants of the whole family enthusiastically supported this suggestion, because the master was to rescue all Scots, and they were all their countrymen like themselves!When they cheered and expressed their support for Mrs. Luce, Sir also joined in and applauded Mrs. Luce heartily.

Now that the voyage had been decided, not a minute was to be wasted.On the same day, the Sir ordered Mengele to drive the Duncan to the port of Glasgow to prepare for the sea voyage, and said that this voyage might circle the earth for one week.It should be stated that when Mrs. Helene made her suggestion, she did not overestimate the quality of the Duncan. The Duncan did have the advantages of strength and lightness, and could make a long voyage.The Duncan was a beautiful cruise ship with a steam engine.The load is 210 tons.We know that the first few ships that explored the New World were much smaller in tonnage than the Duncan, such as Columbus, Westpton, Pinton, and Magellan.

The Duncan had two mainmasts: the foremast with mainsail, trapezoidal sail, jibsail, jibsail, and mainmast with gaff and mastsail; and many auxiliary sails.The sails on board are adequate, and it can take advantage of all levels of wind, as with ordinary clipper ships, but it relies mainly on the power of its internal machinery.Its machine is the latest, with 160 horsepower, and it is equipped with a steam engine, which is a machine with high pressure performance, which can increase the steam pressure and drive the twin propellers.With full power, the Duncan could reach a speed higher than the highest speed recorded by all ships at that time.is not that right?During the sea trial in the Firth of Clyde, according to the odometer, his top speed had reached 32 kilometers per hour.With this speed, it can travel around the world.Mengele had only to modify the cabin.

He first expanded the coal bunker and loaded as much coal as possible, because it was not easy to replenish fuel along the way.In the same way, he also enlarged the grain compartment to accommodate two years' worth of grain. As for the money, he even bought a cannon with a rotating shaft and installed it on the bow deck. Who knows if there will be any accidents in the future? ?Being able to send an eight-pound shell up to 7 kilometers is always a good idea. It should also be said that Menger was very knowledgeable about his business, and although he commanded only one pleasure boat, he was one of the best captains in the Port of Glasgow.He was only 30 years old, and although his face was serious, he also showed bravery and kindness.He was brought up in Glenarvan's house.Glenarvan's family brought him up and trained him to be an excellent seaman.During several long-distance voyages in the past, Mengele has repeatedly demonstrated his agility, fortitude and composure.When his sergeant asked him to be captain of the Duncan, he accepted it with all his heart, for he loved the lord of Malcolm House as much as a brother loves his brother, and had always wanted to serve him, but had never found the opportunity.

The first mate, Tom Austin, is an old sailor and worthy of full confidence.There were a total of 25 people on board, including the captain's mate, forming the crew on the Duncan.They were all Dumbartonshire men, both weathered sailors, and sons of the Corinavans.They formed a sort of honest man's society on board, well-staffed, not even lacking for the traditional bagpipers.With such a crew, Sir Glenarvan is equivalent to having an elite army.They are all satisfied with their occupations, all are enthusiastic, brave, good at handling weapons and steering ships, and they are all willing to follow their masters on adventurous expeditions.When the Duncan's fleet heard the purpose of the voyage, every one was overjoyed, and the cheers of "Hurrah!" echoed through the valley of Dumbarton.

Although Menger was busy repairing cabins and storing provisions, he did not forget to prepare two rooms for the Jazz and his wife for a long-distance voyage. At the same time, he also arranged cabins for Captain Grant’s two children, because Mrs. Helen had promised Mary to accompany her on the Duncan . As for little Robert, if you don't ask him to go, he will hide in the cargo hold and set off without anyone accompanying him.If you asked him to live the life of a cadet on a ship like Franklin and Nelson when they were children, he would climb aboard without fear.Such a little hero, can you beat him?Don't think about it, everyone.They even agreed that he should not board the ship as a passenger, because whether he was an apprentice sailor, a junior sailor, or a senior sailor, he was there to serve, and Mengele was asked to teach him how to be a seaman. business.

"Good!" said Robert, "I'm not good at school, and he says he'll whip me." "Well, don't be afraid, my boy." Sir Glenarvan said with seriousness. Reply.Needless to say, "nine-tailed cats" (made of nine leather whips and used to beat apprentice sailors) are prohibited on board, and there is absolutely no need to use "nine-tailed cats" on the Duncan. The ship's list of passengers, plus Major McNabbs, was complete.The major was a man of fifty, calm and irreproachable, modest and silent, kind and gentle; he always took the opinion of others, and never disputed them, with respect to anything or anyone. He never quarreled with anyone, never lost his temper with anyone, climbed the enemy's fort with the same calmness as he went up the stairs of the bedroom, he was not afraid of anything, even if the shells fell around him, he would not move, no doubt. , he will never find a chance to get angry until he dies.If he had to find one fault, it was that he was a Scotchman from head to toe, a Scotchman of pure blood, obstinately adhering to the old customs of his native land.That's why he didn't want to serve in the British Empire. He got the rank of major in the 42nd Regiment of the Highland Black Guard, a team composed of purely Scottish nobles.Major McNabbs, who lived at Macomb Hall as a cousin, now found it only natural for him to live on board the Duncan as a major.

These are the whole crew of Duncan's cruise ship, which, by an unexpected opportunity, is going to make one of the most amazing voyages of modern times.Since it arrived at the steamship docks in the Port of Glasgow, it has captured the curiosity of a whole society.A large number of people come to visit every day, and everyone cares about it and talks about it, which makes the captains of all other ships moored in the port red-eyed, especially Captain Bulton of the Scotia. The Scotia is also a beautiful cruise ship, which is next to the Duncan, and is going to Calcutta. In size, the Scotia had a right to regard the Duncan as a small boat.However, people's interest was only concentrated on Sir Glenarvan's yacht, and it seemed to be more and more day by day.

Yes, the day of departure is approaching day by day.Mengele is really shrewd and capable: only one month after the trial voyage in the Firth of Clyde, the Duncan has been refitted, enough coal and provisions have been stored, everything has been arranged, and it can set off.It was scheduled to depart on August 25, so that it could enter the southern latitudes before early spring. When his plans were made public, he was dissuaded, as the voyage was too tiring and dangerous; but he despised it, and prepared to leave Malcolm Hall.Many of his critics are actually people who admire him from the bottom of their hearts.And the whole public opinion was clearly in favor of the Scotch Lord, and all the papers, except the government papers, were unanimous in condemning the attitude of the Board of Auditors of the Admiralty to the matter.Besides, Jazz has always been a man who doesn't care about personal gains and losses. He only works hard and fulfills his duties without complaint.

On August 24, Mr. and Mrs. Glenarvan, the major, the Grant sister and brother, Mr. Obiney, the steward, and Mrs. Aubinet, who accompanied Mrs. Glenarvan, left Macomb House under the warm welcome of the servants of the house. .After a few hours, they were all settled in the boat.The residents of Glasgow sent off Lady Helen with great admiration, for she was a young and brave young woman who gave up her easy and luxurious life to rescue her compatriots in distress! The Jazz and his wife lived in the cabin aft of the Duncan.There are a total of: two bedrooms, a living room, and two dressing rooms.Then there was a drawing-room, on either side of which were six rooms divided between the Grants, the Aubinets, and the major.As for the room of Menger and Austin, it is at the other end of the living room, facing away from the living room and facing the middle deck.The crew lived in trimmed cabins, which were also very spacious and comfortable, because the ship was loaded with nothing but coal, provisions, and arms.So, there are plenty of empty places.Captain Mengele has cleverly used these spaces to adjust the interior.

The Duncan decided to set sail at 3 o'clock on the night of August 24th and 25th, when the tide fell.But before sailing, the citizens of Glasgow saw a moving ceremony.At seven o'clock in the evening, Sir and his traveling companions and the whole crew, from the stoker to the captain, who participated in this rescue voyage, left the pleasure ship and went to the ancient St. Mongol's Church in Glasgow.This is an ancient church that survived the destruction of the "Reformation Movement", and Walter Scott once described it with his wonderful pen, and its doors are now open to welcome the passengers and crew of the Duncan.Countless people followed behind them.In this church, in front of the ancient sanctuary, Reverend Moulton blessed them and asked God to bless the expedition.At this time, Mary Grant's voice was particularly loud in this ancient church.She was praying for her benefactors, and wept tears of gratitude before God.After praying, all the staff left the church with great affection. At 11 o'clock, everyone returned to the boat.Mengele and the crew were busy making final preparations. In the middle of the night, the machine started a fire.The captain ordered more firepower.After a while, a large plume of thick smoke was mixed in the sea fog of the night.The Duncan's sails were all furled up in the cowlings to protect them from the soot, for the wind was blowing from the south-west at that time and was not conducive to sailing. At two o'clock in the night, the Duncan began to vibrate under the vibration of the machine.The steam pressure gauge pointed to the pressure of the fourth stage, and the boiling steam was buzzing in the cylinder.When the tide was at full tide, the dawn could make out the Clyde Channel between the buoys and cairns whose signal lights were gradually dimming in the morning light.Now is the time to set sail. The captain called someone to inform Sir, and Sir immediately ran to the deck. After a while, the tide was falling.The Duncan's whistle whined.It loosened the cable, turned on the propeller, left the surrounding ships, and sailed into the channel of Clyde Bay.The captain did not look for the navigator, who knew the depths and twists and turns of the bay very well.No pilot who came to his ship could command better than he did.With a movement of his hand, the boat turned.Therefore, with his right hand steering the machine and his left steering the rudder, he is calm and experienced.After a while, the last few factories disappeared, scattered villas appeared on the hills above the river, and the noise of the city became farther and farther away, and finally disappeared. An hour later the Duncan followed the crags of Dumbarton.After another two hours it entered the Firth of Clyde.At six o'clock in the morning, she rounded the Cape Cantale, out of the North Channel, and began sailing on the Atlantic Ocean. The first day of the voyage was fairly rough and the wind picked up in the evening.The Duncan was jolting badly.So the ladies didn't come on deck, they were all in the rooms, and they were all doing well. But the next day the wind turned, and the captain hoisted the mainsail, gaff and jib.The Duncan pressed against the waves so strongly that the pitching would not be so severe.Lady Helene and Mary Grant came out on deck early in the morning, and joined the Sir, the Major, and the Captain.The sight of the sunrise is magnificent.The sun rises like a golden disk from the sea.The Duncan glided in the brilliant light, her sails seeming to be inflated by the sun's rays. Passengers are quietly, ecstatically admiring the glorious sunrise. "What a beauty!" said the lady at last. "It is the beginning of a fine day, and I hope the wind will not divert and keep the Duncan going." My dear Helen," replied the Sir, "we cannot expect anything from Heaven on such a smooth start to a journey as this." "Will this voyage be long, my dear Edward?" "That's all right, Captain, Mengele? Are you satisfied with the ship?" "Very satisfied, sir," replied the captain. "It's a fine boat, and any sailor would be delighted to be on board. The whistle and the engine work together so well. You see how even the trough is after the boat, and how lightly the boat avoids the waves. .We are now walking 30 kilometers an hour. If this continues, we will be able to cross the equator in 10 days and around Cape Horn in less than five weeks." "Did you hear, Mary?" went on Lady Helene, "not five weeks!" "Yes, madam, I did, and the Captain's words really pleased me," said Mary. "Can you bear this voyage, Miss Mary?" asked sir "Yes, sir, it feels all right, and I'm getting used to it soon. " "Where's your little Robert?" "Ah! Don't ask Robert, he's either in the engine room or on the masthead. I assure you the boy doesn't know what seasickness is. Here! Look. The captain pointed, and all eyes turned to the fore-mast, where Robert was hanging on the rigging of the small topsail, at a height of thirty meters. Mary was astonished. "Ah! Don't worry, ma'am," said Mengele, "I'll be sure, and I promise, that I'll present Captain Grant with a wonderful little rascal. The admirable captain, we'll have him soon. of!" "I hope Heaven hears you, Mr. Captain," answered Mary. "My dear child, all this is God's will, and will give you great hope. We are not walking by ourselves, but someone is leading us. We are not looking around, someone is pointing us. In response to this You have only to look at this fine group of people who have been assembled for a good cause, and you can see that our business can not only be successful, but it will not be difficult. I have promised my wife to take a tour, and I believe I am right. gone." "Edward, you are the best man," said Mrs. "It's not that I'm the best, it's that I have the best crew, and the best ship. Don't you compliment our Duncan, Miss Mary?" "Why not, ser! I admire it, and with an expert eye." "Ah! Really?" "I have often played on my father's boat since I was a child. My father may have planned to train me to be a sailor. If necessary, I can adjust the sail surface and weave the rigging. I can't do it." "Hey, miss, what are you talking about?" cried the captain. "In this way, you are Mengele's friend. Captain Mengele believes that there is no profession in the world that can compare to being a sailor. Even for women, sailors are the best! Am I right? Mengele!" said the Sir. "Certainly, sir. However, I think Miss Grant should be the guest of honor in the cabin, which is more her status than pulling the halyard on the deck. But I am very glad to hear her say that." "Especially if you hear her praise the Duncan, you'll be happier." Sir added. "The Duncan deserves admiration in her own right!" replied the captain. "Really, I see you praise and like your ship so much, I would like to go down to the hold to see how our sailors live below the middeck," said the lady. "It's a great stay, they feel like they're living at home." "They do live at home, my dear Helen. The pleasure-boat is part of our Scotland, it is an allotment of Dumbartonshire, but it floats on the sea by special grace, so , we have not left our country! The Duncan is Macomb Hall, and the ocean is Loch Lemont." "Then, my dear Edward, let us visit your house." Madame replied. "Please, madam, but first let me inform Aubinette." The purser on the cruise ship was a good cook in the mansion, he was Scotch, but he looked like a Frenchman, and he was earnest and intelligent.When the master calls, he comes. "Aubinet, we're going to walk before breakfast," said Sir, as if he were usually going for a walk at Talbai and Lake Katrin; "I hope we'll have breakfast ready when we get back." Aubinet bowed gravely. "Would you like to come with us, Major?" asked the lady. "If you want me to go, I will," replied the major. "Ah!" said Sir, "he's gone into the cloud of his cigar smoke, and he shouldn't be pulled out of it. Now, Miss Mary, he's a great smoker, I smoke all day long, even when I sleep." The major nodded in agreement.Sir and the other guests went below the middle deck. The major remained alone, thinking as usual, but never thinking of unpleasant things.He puffed a thicker puff of smoke around himself, and he stood still, watching the trough behind the boat.After watching silently for several minutes, he turned around again and suddenly found a stranger standing in front of him.If there is anything surprising in the world, it should surprise him, because he has never seen this passenger before.The man was tall and slender, about forty, and he looked like a tack.Isn't it? His head is big and broad, with a high forehead, a long nose, a big mouth, and a long chin.As for the eyes, they are covered with large round glasses, and their flickering eyes seem to be night vision eyes.He appeared to be an intelligent and pleasant fellow.There are such solemn characters in the world who use not to laugh as their principle and cover up their meanness with a serious mask, but this stranger is not as daunting as them.Not only is he not intimidating, but his casual, unrestrained and cute appearance shows that he is a good gentleman who knows how to look at everything from a positive perspective.Before he even opened his mouth, people felt that he liked to talk.Especially looking at his demeanor of turning a blind eye, hearing nothing, you can tell that he is a very careless person.He wore a cap for traveling on his head, thick yellow leather boots with leather boots on his feet, chestnut velvet trousers, a maroon velvet jacket, and countless pockets, which seemed to be filled with notebooks. Booklets, pocketbooks, wallets, and all sorts of miscellaneous useless things, plus a large telescope, slanted on his waist. The liveliness of the stranger formed a striking contrast to the major's quiet silence.He was walking around MacNabbs, looking at him, staring at him, and the major didn't care and didn't want to ask him where he came from, where he was going, why he was on the Duncan. . Seeing that all his provocations failed to attract the major's attention, the guest of unknown origin had no choice but to pick up his large binoculars, which could reach 1.2 meters, spread his legs, motionless, and Like the road signs on the road, he pointed the telescope at the place where the water and the sky meet at the end of the sky, and watched it for 5 minutes.But, suddenly, the hinges of the mirror shifted, and they slipped one after the other, and the mirror suddenly retracted, and the stranger lost his balance, and fell almost full length at the foot of the main-mast. Anyone who saw it would have at least smiled, but the Major did not even wrinkle his brow, and the stranger spoke. "Secretary!" he called, with a foreign accent. He waited a while, but no one came out. "Secretary!" he called again, raising his voice. Mr. Aubinet was passing there at the moment, on his way to the galley on the forward deck. How surprised he was when he suddenly heard a big strange man calling him! "Where is such a man?" thought he, "a friend of Sir Glenarvan's? Impossible. " However, he climbed onto the deck of the building and approached the stranger. "Are you the steward?" asked the stranger. "Yes, sir, but I haven't asked you for advice..." "I am a passenger in Room 6." "Room 6?" asked the steward. "That's right. Are you expensive?..." "Aubine." "Well, Aubine, my friend," said the No. 6 passenger, "it's time for breakfast, and as soon as possible. I haven't eaten for thirty-six hours, or rather I've slept enough. It’s been 36 hours, and it’s only natural for a person who ran from Paris to Glasgow to wait for food. Excuse me, what time do you serve dinner?” "Nine o'clock," replied Aubinette mechanically. The stranger wanted to check his watch, but he took a long time to touch it, and he didn't find it until he reached the ninth pocket. "Okay. It's only eight o'clock, so first you have a biscuit and a cup of white wine. I'm so hungry." Aubinette was baffled.And this stranger is still rambling, talking non-stop. "I still want to ask you, where's the captain? The captain hasn't got up yet! Where's the first mate? Are you still sleeping? Fortunately, the weather is fine and the wind is favorable, so the ship can go without anyone in charge." At this moment, Mengele was walking up the ladder in the cabin. "This is the captain," said Aubinet. "Ah! I am delighted, Captain Bulton. I am delighted to meet you." The one who was surprised was obviously Mengele. He was not only surprised to see this stranger, but also surprised to hear him being called "Captain Bourton". But the stranger opened the chatterbox and continued: "Permit me to shake your hand. The reason I didn't shake your hand the night before was because I didn't want to disturb you while we were sailing. But today, Captain, I am very glad to be making your acquaintance." Mengele opened his eyes wide, looking from Obinet to the new visitor. "Now, my dear Captain, we know each other, and we are old friends. Just talk about it.Please tell me, are you satisfied with the Scotia? " "What is the Scotia?" finally the captain also spoke. "Oh, this is the Scotia that carried us, a fine ship. I was once praised for its good material condition and good care of the earnest Captain Bulton. The great traveler of my country is also named Porton, and you are not in the same family? What a courageous man! I envy you for being in the same family as him!" "Sir, I am not only not the traveler Bulton's family, but I am not Captain Bulton at all." "Oh! I am speaking, then, to Mr. Burnes, the mate of the Scotia?" "Mr. Burnes?" Mengele began to wonder what was going on.He was about to give him a blunt explanation, when the Sir, his Lady, and Mary came out on the lower deck, and the stranger, seeing them, called out: "Ah, there are male passengers! Female passengers! Wonderful. I wish you would introduce me, Mr. Burnes..." As he spoke, he walked forward gracefully, and before Mengele could speak, he said to Miss Grant, "Ma'am," called to Lady Helen, "Miss," and turned to Sir Glenarvan to add, "Mr. ." "This is Sir Glenarvan," Mengele said. "Sir," followed the stranger, "excuse me for introducing myself. You can't be too formal on board, and I hope we get to know each other quickly, and with these ladies we sail on the Scotia It will be very pleasant and the time will pass faster" Lady Helene and Miss Grant could not answer.They did not know how such an uninvited guest had been found in the Duncan's cabin. "Sir," Sir began, "I ask..." "I am Jacques Paganel, Secretary of the Geographical Society of Paris, Correspondent of the Geographical Societies of Berlin, Bombay, Darmstadt, Leipzig, London, Petersburg, Vienna, New York, Honorary of the Royal East Indies Geographical Ethnographic Society Member, I have studied geography for twenty years in the laboratory, and now I want to do some practical investigations, I want to go to India, and continue the work of many great travelers."