Chapter XV: Conclusion

IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS A Romantic Narrative Of The Loss Of Captain Grant Of The Brig Britannia And Of The Adventures Of His Children And Friends In His Discovery And Rescue. By Jules Verne CONTENTS I. The Shark II. The Three Documents III. The Captain's Children IV. Lady Glenarvan's Proposal V. The Departure of the Duncan VI. An Unexpected Passenger VII. Jacques Paganel is Undeceived VIII. The Geographer's Resolution IX. Through the Strait of Magellan X. The Course Decided XI. Traveling in Chili XII. Eleven Thousand Feet Aloft [Pg 6] XIII. A Sudden Descent XIV. Providentially Rescued XV. Thalcave XVI. News of the Lost Captain XVII. A Serious Necessity XVIII. In Search of Water XIX. The Red Wolves XX. Strange Signs XXI. A False Trail XXII. The Flood XXIII. A Singular Abode XXIV. Paganel's Disclosure XXV. Between Fire and Water XXVI. The Return on Board XXVII. A New Destination [Pg 7] XXVIII. Tristan d'Acunha and the Isle of Amsterdam XXIX. The Storm on the Indian Ocean XXX. A Hospitable Colonist XXXI. The Quartermaster of the Britannia XXXII. Preparations for the Journey XXXIII. An Accident XXXIV. Australian Explorers XXXV. Crime or Calamity? XXXVI. Fresh Faces XXXVII. A Warning XXXVIII. Wealth in the Wilderness XXXIX. Suspicious Occurrences XL. A Startling Discovery XLI. The Plot Unveiled XLII. Four Days of Anguish XLIII. Helpless and Hopeless [Pg 8] XLIV. A Rough Captain XLV. The Wreck of the Macquarie XLVI. Vain Efforts XLVII. A Dreaded Country XLVIII. Introduction to the Cannibals XLIX. A Momentous Interview L. The Chief's Funeral LI. Strangely Liberated LII. The Sacred Mountain LIII. A Bold Stratagem LIV. From Peril to Safety LV. Why the Duncan went to New Zealand LVI. Ayrton's Obstinacy LVII. A Discouraging Confession LVIII. A Cry in the Night LIX. Captain Grant's Story LX. Paganel's Last Entanglement LIST OF PLATES "Good," said Glenarvan, "wash the dirty thing and bring it into the cabin." p. 13. The fragments soon strewed the table, and several pieces of paper were perceived adhering to each other. Glenarvan drew them out carefully. p. 17. Dumbarton Castle. p. 27. "Please, madam, speak! I am strong against grief, and can hear all." p. 33. "My father, my poor father!" cried Mary Grant, throwing herself at the feet of Lord Glenarvan. p. 41. The Rev. Mr. Morton implored the blessing of Heaven, and commended the expedition to the care of Providence. p. 52. This man, tall, lank, and shriveled, might have been forty years old. He resembled a long, broad-headed nail, for his head was large and thick, his forehead high, his nose prominent, his mouth wide, and his chin blunt. p. 57. Paganel was grandiloquent. He spoke with a lofty animation, and was carried away in the rapid flight of imagination. p. 65. They could scarcely see the city, which was on an elevated plain in the form of a terrace, resting on volcanic rocks three hundred feet in height. The appearance of the island through this rainy curtain was misty. p. 73. Peak of Teneriffe. p. 74. Sometimes the tips of her yards would graze the branches of the beeches that hung over the waves. p. 81 Port Famine. p. 83. In Concepcion p. 86. The mate, Tom Austin, Wilson, a powerful fellow, and Mulready, were the fortunate ones. p. 92. By means of a ford, they crossed the Rio Tubal, the mountains visible in the distance. p. 100. Two hours more of terrible exertion followed. They kept ascending, in order to reach the highest summit of this part of the mountain. p. 108. The internal rumblings, the din of the avalanche, the crash of the blocks of granite, and the whirlwinds of snow, rendered all communication with each other impossible. p. 117. The bird had raised him by his garments, and was now hovering in mid-air at least one hundred and fifty feet above the encampment. He had perceived the travelers, and was violently striving to escape with his heavy prey. p. 125. A man of lofty stature was standing, motionless, on one of the first ledges of the mountain. This individual had broad shoulders, and long hair tied with leathern thongs. p. 132. An important road--that from Carmen to Mendoza--distinguishable by the bones of such animals as mules, horses, sheep and oxen, whose remains were scattered by the birds of prey, and lay bleaching in the sun. p. 144. They set out at daybreak. The horses advanced at a brisk pace among the tufts of "paja-brava," a kind of grass that serves the Indians as a shelter during the storms. p. 149. "Poor father!" exclaimed Robert; "how he will thank you when you have found him!" And, so saying, he took his lordship's hand and pressed it to his lips. p. 157. Frightful howls resounded. The wolves, starting on the track of the horse, fled into the darkness with a terrible speed. p. 173. Arriving within range, Paganel fired a blank charge (for he would not needlessly destroy even a bird), and all the flamingoes flew away, while the geographer gazed at them attentively through his glasses. p. 181. In fact, they were a dozen young children and boys who were drilling very nicely. Their uniform consisted of a striped shirt confined at the waist by a leathern girdle. p. 185. "Ah, I am delighted! Welcome, welcome! I am almost a Frenchman," cried the commander, shaking the geographer's arm with rather painful violence. p. 188. More than once during the journey, the attention and interest of all, but especially of Paganel, were arrested by the curious illusion of the mirage. p. 193. "The flood! the flood!" replied Thalcave, spurring his horse towards the north. p. 201. A huge wave, forty feet high, overwhelmed the fugitives with a terrible roar. Men and beasts, everything, disappeared in a whirlpool of foam. A ponderous liquid mass engulfed them in its furious tide. p. 205. He turned his intelligent head towards his master, and, shaking his long mane, neighed for him beseechingly. p. 208. Glenarvan, Paganel, the major, Austin, and Mulready were seated astraddle, or dangling in the branches, according to their own inclinations. p. 213. A long body appeared. Paganel dangled from branch to branch. His hands could grasp nothing. Was he alive, or dead? p. 217. The hunt promised well, and gave hopes of culinary wonders. p. 223. However, the repast was as varied as it was delicate. The dried meat, the hard eggs, the broiled mojarras, and the roast sparrows and hilgueros, formed a repast which was long remembered. p. 225. They were agreed on this point, that it was necessary to have courage for every fortune, and be contented with a tree when one has neither palace nor cottage. p. 229. The incessant flashes assumed various forms. Some, darting perpendicularly towards the earth, were repeated five or six times in the same place; others spread in zigzag lines, and produced on the dark vault of the heavens astonishing jets of arborescent flame. p. 233. In a few moments the gigantic water-spout struck the ombu, and enveloped it in its watery folds. p. 237. The sound of a horse's hoofs was heard upon the plain, and the tall form of the Indian emerged from the darkness. p. 241. Glenarvan watched alone. He could not convince himself that the Duncan was so near him; but as for supposing that she had not arrived at her appointed rendezvous, it was impossible, for such a ship there were no delays. p. 245. They pushed off, and the boat was rapidly borne from the shore by the ebbing tide. For a long time the motionless outline of the Indian was seen through the foam of the waves. p. 249. Lady Helena and Mary Grant, while the boat was approaching the ship, had experienced all the anguish of suspense. From the deck they endeavored to count those who were returning. p. 252. "My object," said MacNabb, "is not to invalidate the arguments of my friend Paganel, still less to refute them." p. 257. At sunrise they saw the conical peak of Tristan, seemingly separated from all the rest of the rocky group. p. 260. A few hours of their united toil resulted in the death of a large number of seals who were "caught napping." p. 261. Our friends found a few voluntary exiles on the former island, who, by means of seal-fishing, eke out a scanty existence in this out-of-the-way spot. p. 264. Inasmuch as this was sufficient to cook fish, Paganel decided that it was not necessary for him to bathe here "geographically." p. 265. "Major," said Paganel, "will you wager your rifle against my telescope that I cannot name at least fifty Australian explorers?" p. 268. "Master Robert shall count for us." And forthwith the learned geographer opened his budget, and poured forth the history of the discovery of Australia. p. 269. Then, impelled by the hurricane, the billows outran her; they leaped over the taffrail, and the whole deck was swept with tremendous violence. p. 276. "Let go!" cried the young captain. The barrels were inverted, and from their sides streamed floods of oil. p. 280. As the boats containing the whole of the party were rowed ashore, they felt that the fate of their father would soon be probably decided. p. 284. A fair and comfortable locality, which the merry mill crowned with its pointed gable and caressed with the moving shadow of its sails. p. 288. He was a somewhat rough-looking, broad-shouldered man, of about forty-five. p. 292. "When I was washed from the forecastle, as I was hauling down the jib, the Britannia was driving towards the coast of Australia, which was not two cable-lengths distant." p. 293. When he came to himself, he was in the hands of the natives, who carried him into the interior of the country. p. 296. At last, exhausted and almost dead, he reached the hospitable dwelling of Mr. O'Moore, where his labor insured him a comfortable livelihood. p. 297. This business being settled, the party returned on board. p. 305. The vehicle was a cart twenty feet long and covered with an awning, the whole resting upon four wheels, without spokes, felloes, or tires. p. 308. Ayrton and Olbinett took their places respectively in front and in the rear part of the cart, while Glenarvan, the major, Paganel, Robert, Captain Mangles, and the two sailors, mounted their horses. p. 312. The "Mosquito Plains," whose very name describes them, and serves to tell of the tortures that our friends had to encounter. p. 313. Red-gum Station, the home and settlement of an emigrant engaged in the cattle-breeding which is the source of so much Australian wealth. p. 316. The major was skillful enough to shoot a very rare bird,--a "jabiru," or giant crane. This creature was five feet high; and its broad, black, sharp conical beak measured eighteen inches in length. p. 317. A crack was heard; the cart inclined at an alarming angle; the water reached the feet of the ladies, and the whole vehicle threatened to give way. It was an anxious moment. p. 324. After dinner the traveling party had, as if in anticipation, seated themselves at the foot of a magnificent banksia; the young moon was rising high into the heavens, lengthening the twilight, and prolonging it into the evening hour. p. 325. "When I am dead, place a pistol in my right hand, and leave me without burial." His forebodings were realized, and the next morning he died. p. 328. He beheld the waters of the Indian Ocean, and proudly unfurled the Australian flag from the topmost branch of the highest tree he could find. p. 329. A terrible accident had occurred, not a collision, but a running off the track and a fall into the river, which was filled with the fragments of cars and locomotives. p. 333. In the midst of the multitude two men were bearing a corpse. It was that of the guard, already cold. A poniard-thrust had pierced him to the heart. p. 337. A boy of eight years, with a notice pinned to the back of his jacket which read as follows: "Toliné, to be conducted to Echuca, care of Jeff Smith, Railway Porter. Prepaid." p. 340. Paganel and the others had now gathered round, and Toliné had to answer many a question. He came out of his examination very creditably. p. 341. In the streets, in connection with the strange sign-boards and announcements, the novel erections and purposes to which some of them were adapted, Paganel had a history and commentary for every one. p. 344. Here was the mineralogical museum, in which might be seen specimens illustrative of all the various ways in which the gold has been found. p. 345. Anon you might see him as in the illustration, when he had picked up a pebble and was sure that it was in itself so interesting as a mineralogical specimen that he must treasure it up for the Bank of France. p. 348. They were like so many columns exactly mated, and could be counted by hundreds. p. 352. At evening they encamped at the foot of some trees that bore the marks of a recent fire. They formed tall chimneys, as it were, for the flames had hollowed them out internally throughout their entire length. p. 353. Of these miserable beings there were about thirty, men, women, and children, dressed in ragged kangaroo-skins. p. 360. A sham fight, which lasted about ten minutes, the women urging on the combatants and pretending to mutilate those who fell in the fray. p. 361. Paganel did not lie down, but, rifle on shoulder, guarded the encampment, walking to and fro that he might the better resist sleep. p. 364. Here, for the first time, they saw the menure, or lyre-bird, whose tail has the form of the graceful instrument of Orpheus. p. 368. It was a charming house of wood and brick, surrounded by clusters of plants, and had the elegant form of a Swiss cottage. p. 372. Of all the sports of the day the most interesting was unquestionably a kangaroo hunt. p. 376. Not hailstones, but pieces of ice as large as one's hand, were precipitated from the angry clouds. p. 380. Early in the afternoon they passed through a curious forest of ferns. These arborescent plants, in full bloom, measured thirty feet in height. p. 384. Flashes of lightning, the dazzling forerunners of a coming storm, every now and then illumined the horizon. p. 385. He crouched down, and, after a long and attentive observation, distinctly perceived several men. p. 388. But the heavy vehicle did not stir. The clay, now dry, held it as if it had been cemented. p. 393. "If it please your lordship, I will go." p. 397. A report was heard; and Glenarvan fell, struck by a bullet. p. 401. A pair of cassowaries proved that the presence of man did not disturb these peaceful solitudes. p. 408. "Adieu, my lord," said he, in a calm voice, and soon disappeared by a path along the edge of the wood. p. 413. In the midst of these terrific gusts, Glenarvan, the major, and the captain bore the body of Mulready. The animal reared. Mulready seized his revolver and fired. p. 420. The animal reared, Mulready seized his revolver and fired. p. 424. However, the raft was entangled in the midst of the river, half a mile below where they started. p. 429. The two ladies exerted themselves heroically, but their strength was failing every hour. They dragged themselves along, they no longer walked. p. 433. It was a brig of two hundred and fifty tons, called the Macquarie, which traded between the different ports of Australia and New Zealand. p. 437. The landlord of Victoria Hotel furnished them with two horses, and they set out. p. 441. But on the next day seven canoes of the islanders attacked it most violently and suddenly, causing it to capsize. p. 445. It was on the sixth of October, 1769, that this navigator (Captain Cook) first landed on the shores. p. 447. Safe themselves, the French marksmen picked off the chief. p. 450. Day and night, heedless of the torrents of rain and the dashing spray of the sea, he remained on deck. p. 452. The sailor who was steering, and had been forcibly pushed aside, did not at all understand this sudden attack. p. 456. The mainmast went by the board with all its rigging, the brig heaved twice and was motionless, leaning over to starboard. p. 460. As the Macquarie lay over on her starboard beams, her opposite side was raised, and the defective seams were out of water. p. 461. They therefore anchored, half a cable's length distant, in ten fathoms of water. p. 468. The work was accordingly begun, and considerably advanced when night interrupted them. p. 472. Not long since, in the year 1864, one of these clergymen was seized by the chiefs and hung from the tree. p. 473. The yawl was drawn alongside. p. 477. Night approached. Already the sun's disk was disappearing beneath the horizon. p. 480. The ladies were carried in their companions' arms, and reached the shore without wetting a single fold of their garments. p. 481. While the fire served to dry their garments conversation beguiled the hours, as they lay or stood at ease. p. 484. Louper, with difficulty, managed to support himself on one of them. p. 485. These seals, with rounded heads, upturned look, expressive eyes, presented an appearance, almost a physiognomy, that was mild and wellnigh tender. p. 488. The New Zealand "kiwi," known to naturalists as the apteryx. p. 489. A boat might have been seen ascending the Waikato. It was a canoe seventy feet long and five broad. p. 496. At this point the river flowed between warm springs, and not a yard of firm earth could be seen. p. 501. At noon the whole fleet of boats entered Lake Taupo. p. 504. On their arrival, the captives were terribly impressed at sight of the heads that ornamented the stakes of the second inclosure. p. 505. Robert was scarcely within the hut before he climbed on Wilson's shoulders, and succeeded in thrusting his head through an opening. p. 508. At last his voice rose above the tumult. "Taboo! taboo!" cried he. p. 513. A terrible scene of cannibalism, which followed in all its horrible details. p. 519. The corpses, folded together, in a sitting posture, and tied in their clothes by a girdle of withes, were placed on this primitive bier. p. 521. First her husband, and then she, slid down the rope to the point where the perpendicular wall met the summit of the slope. p. 529. They saw, but were also seen. p. 533. "Be seated, my dear lord; breakfast is awaiting you." p. 537. The steward started back in terror. p. 545. The fugitives made themselves levers out of the stakes of the tomb. p. 552. An incandescent column poured forth towards the sky with loud explosions, while streams of boiling water and lava rolled towards the encampment of the natives. p. 553. On every side water-spouts, with spiral rings of vapor, spirted from the ground like the jets of a fountain. p. 560. A second ball whistled over their heads, and demolished the nearest of the three canoes. p. 564. As soon as they set foot on deck the bagpiper struck up a well remembered air, while hearty hurrahs welcomed the owner's return on board. p. 568. This sally finished the poor geographer. p. 569. Ayrton soon made his appearance. He crossed the deck with a confident step, and ascended the poop-stairs. p. 576. For an hour the two ladies were closeted with the quartermaster, but nothing resulted from this conference. p. 580. He contented himself with shrugging his shoulders, which so increased the rage of the crew, that nothing less than the intervention of the captain and his lordship could restrain them. p. 581. "Do you agree or not?" p. 584. The unfortunate girl arose, and, leaning over the bulwark, would have thrown herself into the sea. p. 600. A man was standing on the beach between two others. His form was tall and stout. p. 604. Harry Grant set his table in the shade, and all took seats around it. p. 608. The passengers could see the quartermaster, with folded arms, standing motionless as a statue, on a rock, and gazing at the vessel. p. 613. Early in the afternoon the travelers reached Malcolm Castle, amidst the hurrahs of their tenantry and friends. p. 617. Fifteen weeks after a marriage was celebrated with great pomp in the chapel of Malcolm Castle. p. 619.

IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS or THE CHILDREN OF CAPTAIN GRANT By Jules Verne

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME FOUR IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS SOUTH AMERICA CHAPTER I THE SHARK CHAPTER II THE THREE DOCUMENTS CHAPTER III THE CAPTAIN’S CHILDREN CHAPTER IV LADY GLENARVAN’S PROPOSAL CHAPTER V THE DEPARTURE OF THE “DUNCAN” CHAPTER VI AN UNEXPECTED PASSENGER CHAPTER VII JACQUES PAGANEL IS UNDECEIVED CHAPTER VIII THE GEOGRAPHER’S RESOLUTION CHAPTER IX THROUGH THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN CHAPTER X THE COURSE DECIDED CHAPTER XI TRAVELING IN CHILI CHAPTER XII ELEVEN THOUSAND FEET ALOFT CHAPTER XIII A SUDDEN DESCENT CHAPTER XIV PROVIDENTIALLY RESCUED CHAPTER XV THALCAVE CHAPTER XVI THE NEWS OF THE LOST CAPTAIN CHAPTER XVII A SERIOUS NECESSITY CHAPTER XVIII IN SEARCH OF WATER CHAPTER XIX THE RED WOLVES CHAPTER XX STRANGE SIGNS CHAPTER XXI A FALSE TRAIL CHAPTER XXII THE FLOOD CHAPTER XXIII A SINGULAR ABODE CHAPTER XXIV PAGANEL’S DISCLOSURE CHAPTER XXV BETWEEN FIRE AND WATER CHAPTER XXVI THE RETURN ON BOARD

AUSTRALIA CHAPTER I A NEW DESTINATION CHAPTER II TRISTAN D’ACUNHA AND THE ISLE OF AMSTERDAM CHAPTER III CAPE TOWN AND M. VIOT CHAPTER IV A WAGER AND HOW DECIDED CHAPTER V THE STORM ON THE INDIAN OCEAN CHAPTER VI A HOSPITABLE COLONIST CHAPTER VII THE QUARTERMASTER OF THE “BRITANNIA” CHAPTER VIII PREPARATION FOR THE JOURNEY CHAPTER IX A COUNTRY OF PARADOXES CHAPTER X AN ACCIDENT CHAPTER XI CRIME OR CALAMITY CHAPTER XII TOLINE OF THE LACHLAN CHAPTER XIII A WARNING CHAPTER XIV WEALTH IN THE WILDERNESS CHAPTER XV SUSPICIOUS OCCURRENCES CHAPTER XVI A STARTLING DISCOVERY CHAPTER XVII THE PLOT UNVEILED CHAPTER XVIII FOUR DAYS OF ANGUISH CHAPTER XIX HELPLESS AND HOPELESS

NEW ZEALAND CHAPTER I A ROUGH CAPTAIN CHAPTER II NAVIGATORS AND THEIR DISCOVERIES CHAPTER III THE MARTYR-ROLL OF NAVIGATORS CHAPTER IV THE WRECK OF THE “MACQUARIE” CHAPTER V CANNIBALS CHAPTER VI A DREADED COUNTRY CHAPTER VII THE MAORI WAR CHAPTER VIII ON THE ROAD TO AUCKLAND CHAPTER IX INTRODUCTION TO THE CANNIBALS CHAPTER X A MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW CHAPTER XI THE CHIEF’S FUNERAL CHAPTER XII STRANGELY LIBERATED CHAPTER XIII THE SACRED MOUNTAIN CHAPTER XIV A BOLD STRATAGEM CHAPTER XV FROM PERIL TO SAFETY CHAPTER XVI WHY THE “DUNCAN” WENT TO NEW ZEALAND CHAPTER XVII AYRTON’S OBSTINACY CHAPTER XVIII A DISCOURAGING CONFESSION CHAPTER XIX A CRY IN THE NIGHT CHAPTER XX CAPTAIN GRANT’S STORY CHAPTER XXI PAGANEL’S LAST ENTANGLEMENT

EIGHT HUNDRED LEAGUES ON THE AMAZON By Jules Verne

CONTENTS PART I. THE GIANT RAFT CHAPTER I A CAPTAIN OF THE WOODS CHAPTER II ROBBER AND ROBBED CHAPTER III THE GARRAL FAMILY CHAPTER IV HESITATION CHAPTER V THE AMAZON CHAPTER VI A FOREST ON THE GROUND CHAPTER VII FOLLOWING A LIANA CHAPTER VIII THE JANGADA CHAPTER IX THE EVENING OF THE FIFTH OF JUNE CHAPTER X FROM IQUITOS TO PEVAS CHAPTER XI FROM PEVAS TO THE FRONTIER CHAPTER XII FRAGOSO AT WORK CHAPTER XIII TORRES CHAPTER XIV STILL DESCENDING CHAPTER XV THE CONTINUED DESCENT CHAPTER XVI EGA CHAPTER XVII AN ATTACK CHAPTER XVIII THE ARRIVAL DINNER CHAPTER XIX ANCIENT HISTORY CHAPTER XX BETWEEN THE TWO MEN PART II. THE CRYPTOGRAM CHAPTER I MANAOS CHAPTER II THE FIRST MOMENTS CHAPTER III RETROSPECTIVE CHAPTER IV MORAL PROOFS CHAPTER V MATERIAL PROOFS CHAPTER VI THE LAST BLOW CHAPTER VII RESOLUTIONS CHAPTER VIII THE FIRST SEARCH CHAPTER IX THE SECOND ATTEMPT CHAPTER X A CANNON SHOT CHAPTER XI THE CONTENTS OF THE CASE CHAPTER XII THE DOCUMENT CHAPTER XIII IS IT A MATTER OF FIGURES? CHAPTER XIV CHANCE! CHAPTER XV THE LAST EFFORTS CHAPTER XVI PREPARATIONS CHAPTER XVII THE LAST NIGHT CHAPTER XVIII FRAGOSO CHAPTER XIX THE CRIME OF TIJUCO