Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 61 Negotiations (2)
"I poisoned cows and horses with peagrass and bogged wagons in the mud. It was all my plan, and then...you know all about it, ser, so don't talk about it. Well, if it hadn't been for Paganet Mr. Er sloppyly wrote the wrong location, and now, the Duncan belongs to me long ago!"

"It's that simple. Everyone, I'm sorry, my words are useless, at least they are useless for you to find Captain Grant. I have already said the ugly things before, and you can't argue with me."

Ayrton immediately shut up.He folded his arms with both hands, and resumed his calm demeanor.

All the experiences flashed in their minds one by one, and what the villain did was all too clear.If Paganel hadn't made a careless mistake, it would have been a big mistake!It seems that this may really be a "coincidence" from "clumsy".Paganel should be thanked.

The major seemed to remember something again, so he asked Ayrton again: "In other words, the day you were kicked off the ship on the west coast of Australia must have been April 1862, 4?"

"Not at all!" replied Ayrton. "At that time, what were Grant's thoughts or plans, did you know clearly?"

"I don't know much, I only know a little bit."

"Then tell me, Ayrton, a little bit, maybe we can get a little clue."

"All I know is that Captain Grant wanted to go to New Zealand. However, after I got off the ship, I don't know whether he arrived in New Zealand. Perhaps, it is also possible. This is the same day as the three-masted ship accident mentioned in the distress letter. , June 1862, 6, really unanimous!"

"Of course they agree!" Paganel added.Glenarvan insisted: "However, this is not consistent with the location on the letter! Where is the word 'New Zealand' in the letter?"

"I cannot tell," said Ayrton in a low voice.Glenarvan paused and said, "That's it! Ayrton, you have done what you should do, and now it's up to me to do what I should do. Let's discuss and plan to find you a little girl in the Pacific Ocean." island."

"Anything you want! Sir!" The fellow looked quite at ease. "You go back first, and we'll tell you after our research is finalized!" Glenarvan ordered.

The major sighed involuntarily: "This guy has a lot of skills."

"Well, it would be great if you can abandon evil and do good! You have brains, scheming, and perseverance!"

"I wonder how Grant is doing now?"

"It may be more dangerous than good! Poor these two children! If you want to find your father, where can you find it?"

Paganel said suddenly: "Where to find it, I know! I must tell them!"

The geographer remained silent throughout the interrogation process, and hardly even asked any questions, but suddenly said such words at this time, it was unexpected and a little suspicious!
Glenarvan asked in surprise: "You? Paganel, what do you know? Do you know where Captain Grant is?"

"Of course I know! As everyone knows." The geographer answered unhurriedly.

"Stop joking!"

"No kidding!"

"Where is that?"

"In the letter."

"Hi!" The major sighed disapprovingly, he thought it was impossible!
Paganel said seriously: "Listen to me, MacNabbs, don't shrug your shoulders! I was afraid you wouldn't believe me, so I never dared to say it. Of course, I said it at the time." It is useless! Now, today, I dare to say it because Ayrton's words prove my opinion!"

"Or New Zealand?" Glenarvan asked. "Don't worry about asking, just listen to me first." Paganel looked very serious, "I mistyped a place name but saved so many of our lives! Actually, at that time, I really didn't mistype on purpose. Yes, I have to thank the "Australia New Zealand Daily" for the investigation. I don't know if you two still remember, we ran to the bullock cart to avoid those villains. Later, it was you, Major, who finished the passage with Mrs. Helen. After the incident of the fugitive, I handed her the newspaper that published the Camden Bridge tragedy. I was writing a letter at the time, and the newspaper fell to the ground, and the newspaper was folded, just exposing the second half of the application .”

"Needless to me, the second half is exactly aland. My eyes lit up at the time, ah! Isn't this the location on the letter? It's wrong for us to think of it as 'landing', it should be 'Iealand' (Iealand) ) the remnants of the word!"

"Oh!" Glenarvan uttered a single note.Paganel said excitedly but firmly: "Yes! Why didn't I think of this explanation? It's all because of the French letter! Because it's relatively complete, I keep staring at it! And it's just that the French letter contains No such word!" The major could not help but sarcastically said: "Yo! Yo! Paganel, you are too good at daydreaming! You are a mouse, put your claws down and forget! Have you forgotten your previous Are there two ways of saying it? It’s just fantasy!”

"You don't dream? Then you use your reality to defeat my fantasy! Major, I will fight!"

"So, what is the interpretation of the word austral?" "Of course it is the 'south hemisphere' (australes), the same as before!" "What about indi? You first said it was 'Indiens', and then you said it was 'Indiens' Which one does 'indigines' mean?" "I have a third meaning, and of course the last one, which is 'desperate people'!" Paganel replied loudly and forcefully.

"And the word contin!" McNabbs raised his voice at the same time, "It's still 'continent', right?"

"New Zealand is an island, not a 'mainland'." "Then what would it be?" Glenarvan asked eagerly.

At this time, Paganel showed a confident look, and said: "My dear Sir, I will explain the whole text to you first, and then you can tell me whether I am right or wrong! Okay? I ask you to just Pay attention to two points: [-]. Forget the previous explanation and let your mind accept it completely; [-]. Maybe some places are far-fetched, but they are all irrelevant, such as the word 'gonie', I think it is' "The wind and the waves are dangerous" may be a bit inappropriate, but I can't think of other meanings at the moment. Moreover, I mainly refer to the French letter. You know that the letter is written by an Englishman. He is not very familiar with French... These explanations After that, I will read the full text for you.”

So, Paganel read it slowly: "On June 1862, 6, the three-masted ship Britannia was unfortunately killed and sank in the dangerous southern hemisphere ocean. Near New Zealand-this is the English letter. 'Landing'. The 27 survivors of the ship - the two sailors and Captain Grant have now reached the island. We are cornered by our distance from the world. Gint drops this letter for assistance at... 3 S °37'. See this please hurry!"

It sounds plausible.The first two times were also very reasonable, but in the end, they were also wrong, right?So, is it wrong this time?

Both Glenarvan and the major were murmuring, but did not wish to argue further.It has been shown that neither the Patagonian coast nor the Australian coast on the 37th parallel has Captain Grant.That is to say, is it possible in New Zealand?
Glenarvan and the major were impressed by Paganel's third theory. "Paganel, that's really good! In the past two months, you haven't missed a single word. Why didn't you say it sooner if you had this idea? Huh?" Jazz asked strangely.

"Isn't that obvious? I don't want to let you down again! At that time, I wanted to go to Oakland, because it is also on the 37th line."

"But then we were off the route to Auckland, why didn't you say so?"

"Oh, even if I say it, I can't save Captain Grant's crisis. I have more energy than I want!"

"What do you mean, Paganel?" "That's what it means! If Grant really sank the ship in New Zealand, it has been two years now, and he either drowned at that time or was killed by the Maori." "Then, are you Say...?" Glenarvan asked suspiciously. "I mean, the wreck may be found, but the Britannia will never be found!"

Glenarvan said with a heavy heart: "Don't say it yet! Let me find a chance to tell Captain Grant's two children slowly about it."

(End of this chapter)