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  .., 2026.



Jules Verne "CHILDREN OF CAPTAIN GRANT"     

Part One  

Chapter I  I

Hammerhead shark -

On July 26, 1864, a magnificent yacht was steaming along the waves of the North Channel in a strong north-easterly gale. 26 1864            -  . The English flag was flying from its mizzenmast, and on the blue pennant of the mainmast were visible the letters "E.   -  ,     -    ." and "G.   ." embroidered in gold. . This yacht was called "Duncan" and belonged to Edward Glenarvan, a prominent member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, so famous throughout England.         ,         - .

On board the Duncan were Glenarvan with his young wife Helen and one of his cousins, Major McNabbs.                ,  -.

This yacht had recently been tested on the open sea, a few miles from the Firth of Clyde, and was now sailing back to Glasgow.    ,      ,     ,       .

The island of Arran was already looming on the horizon when the sailor on watch signalled that a huge fish was swimming astern of the Duncan.      ,        ,      -  . Captain John Mangles immediately ordered Glenarvan to be informed, and he, accompanied by Major McNabbs, immediately climbed up to the poop deck.         ,      -     .

Tell me, what kind of fish is this, in your opinion?  ,    , -? he asked the captain.     .

"I think it is a large shark, sir," replied John Mangles.   , ,    ,    .

Theres a shark in these waters!     ! exclaimed Glenarvan.    .

There is no doubt about it, continued the captain, such sharks are found in all seas and in all latitudes.      ,              . This is a hammerhead fish.  -. Either I am greatly mistaken, or we are dealing with one of these vile creatures.    ,          . If you, sir, agree and Mrs. Glenarvan will give her the pleasure of being present at such a curious catch, then we will not hesitate to find out exactly what kind of fish it is.  , ,           ,       ,    .

And what do you think, McNabbs?     , -? Glenarvan asked the major.      . Should we take up this fishing?        ?

I agree with your opinion in advance, the major answered calmly.       ,    .

In general, we should destroy as many of these predatory creatures as possible, remarked John Mangle.          ,    . Lets take advantage of this opportunity, and we will see an extraordinary spectacle and at the same time do some good.     ,         .

Then lets get to work, John, said Glenarvan.    , ,   .

Following this, he ordered his wife to be warned, and Helen, very interested in the prospect of such exciting fishing, hurried to the stern to her husband.       ,  ,       ,     .

From the captain's bridge it was easy to follow all the movements of the shark: it would dive, then jump to the surface of the water with surprising force.          :   ,        .

John Mangles gave the necessary orders.     . The sailors dropped from the starboard side of the yacht a strong rope with a hook, on which the bait was put - a large piece of pork fat.          ,         . The voracious shark, although it was about fifty yards from the Duncan, smelled the bait and quickly began to catch up with the yacht.  ,        ,       . One could see how its fins, gray at the ends and black at the base, powerfully cut through the waves, while the tail appendage helped it to maintain an impeccably straight course.  ,   ,       ,    ,          . As the shark approached the yacht, its large, bulging eyes, burning with greed, stood out more and more clearly; When it turned over, four rows of teeth protruded from its gaping mouth.        ,     ,    ;    ,       . Its head was wide and resembled a double hammer mounted on a handle.         ,   . John Mangles was not mistaken - it really was a fish, the most voracious representative of the shark family: the hammerhead fish.         ,      : -.

Both the passengers and the crew of the Duncan watched the shark with rapt attention.           . Now it was very close to the hook, now it turned over on its back to grab it more easily.        ,    ,    . In an instant, the huge bait disappeared into its capacious mouth.          . Another instant, and the shark, with a strong tug on the rope, impaled itself on the hook.     ,    ,     . Then the sailors, without wasting time, began to pull in the prey.  ,   ,   .

The shark, feeling that it was being torn from its native element, desperately thrashed, but they quickly dealt with it, throwing a noose around its tail and thus paralyzing its movements. , ,      ,  ,     ,          . A few more moments - and the shark was lifted above the side nets and thrown onto the deck.               . Immediately one of the sailors carefully approached the shark and with a strong blow of an axe cut off its terrible tail.                 .

The fishing was over.   . There was no longer anything to fear from the monster.     . The sailors' sense of revenge was satisfied, but not their curiosity.     ,    . It must be said that on all ships it is customary to carefully examine the stomach of sharks.  ,   ,      . The sailors, knowing how indiscriminate this voracious fish is, usually expect some kind of surprise from such an examination, and their expectations are not always in vain. , ,       ,      - ,       .

Helen Glenarvan did not wish to be present at this disgusting "inspection" and went to the wheelhouse.             . The shark was still breathing.   . It was ten feet long and weighed more than six hundred pounds.         . Such a length and weight are typical for hammerhead sharks.       -. But, although not the largest of the shark species, it is considered one of the most dangerous. ,       ,      .

Soon, without further ceremony, the huge fish was opened with blows of an axe.         . The hook penetrated into the stomach itself, which turned out to be completely empty.     ,   . Apparently, the shark had been fasting for a long time. ,   . The disappointed sailors were about to throw the shark into the sea, when suddenly the attention of the captain's mate was attracted by some rough object firmly lodged in its entrails.         ,       -  ,     .

- Hey!  ! What is this?   ? - he shouted.    .

Yes, thats right, a piece of rock swallowed by a hungry shark to load itself with ballast, answered one of the sailors.  , ,  ,   ,   ,     .

Tell me!  !  another responded.    .  Its just a cannonball: it got into the stomach of this creature and hasnt had time to be digested yet.    - :            .

Keep quiet, you!  , !  Captains mate Tom Austin intervened in the conversation.         .  Dont you see that this creature was a bitter drunkard and, in order not to lose anything, not only drank all the wine, but swallowed the bottle as well?      ,       ,    ,     ,     ?

- What!  ! - exclaimed Glenarvan.    . - A bottle in the belly of a shark?      ?

Its a real bottle, confirmed the captains mate, but, apparently, it left the cellar a long time ago.   ,    ,  ,  ,     .

Well then, Tom, take it out, and be careful, said Glenarvan, after all, bottles found in the sea often contain important documents.  , , ,  ,  ,      ,   ,      .

You think so?    ? said Major McNabbs.     -.

- At least, it seems to me that it is possible.    ,  ,   .

Oh, Im not arguing with you, the major responded.  ,     ,   . Perhaps there is some secret hidden in this bottle.    ,      - .

Well find out now, said Glenarvan.     ,   . Well, how about it, Tom?    , ?

Here, replied the captains mate, showing some shapeless object that he had extracted with some difficulty from the sharks entrails.  ,    ,  -  ,        .



Good!  ! said Glenarvan.    . Have this unappetizing thing washed and then brought to the wheelhouse.       ,      .

Tom carried out the order, and the bottle, found under such strange circumstances, was soon placed on the table in the wardroom.   ,  ,     ,       -. Around the table sat Glenarvan, Major McNabbs, Captain John Mangles and Helen - after all, they say that women are always a little curious.    ,  -,        ,     .

At sea, everything is an event.     . For a minute, everyone was silent.    . Everyone looked at the fragile vessel, trying to guess what it contained: the secret of some shipwreck or an insignificant note entrusted to the waves by an idle sailor.     ,  ,     :   -    ,    .

Still, it was necessary to finally find out what the matter was, and Glenarvan began examining the bottle, taking all the precautions necessary in such cases.      ,    ,     ,        . At that moment, Glenarvan resembled a coroner delving into the circumstances of a crime committed.      ,    . And he, of course, was right in treating the matter so carefully, for often some, apparently the most insignificant, sign can reveal a great deal.  , ,  ,     ,   -, -  ,     .

Before looking inside the bottle, Glenarvan examined it from the outside.     ,    . The bottle had a long, strong neck, on which a piece of rusty wire still remained.      ,       . Its walls were so dense that they could withstand pressure of several atmospheres.     ,       . This indicated that the bottle came from Champagne.    ,     . It is with such bottles that the winegrowers of Epernay upholster the backs of chairs, and not even the smallest crack remains on the glass.        ,         . Undoubtedly, this bottle could also withstand the trials of long journeys with impunity. ,         .

A bottle of Clicquot, announced the major.    ,   .

And since McNabbs was considered competent in this matter, no one thought of refuting his words.    -     ,      .

Dear Major, Helen said to him, its of little use that we know the origin of this bottle if we dont know where it came from.   ,     ,     ,      ,    ,   .

We will find out, my dear Helen, said Glenarvan.    ,  ,   . And now we can already say that it came to us from afar.        ,      . Pay attention to the stone growth that covers it.     ,   . These are mineral deposits of sea water.     . The bottle was carried for a long time by the waves of the ocean before it ended up in the belly of a shark.      ,      .

Its impossible not to agree with you, the major responded.      ,   . Of course, this fragile vessel in its rocky shell could have made a long journey.   ,           .

But where is he from?    ? asked Helen.    .

- Wait, wait, dear Helen: bottles require aging.  , ,  :    . I think I wont be mistaken if I say that the bottle itself will answer all our questions.  ,   ,  ,         .

With these words, Glenarvan began to scrape the growth off the neck of the bottle, and soon the cork appeared, badly damaged by sea water.          ,    ,     .

Its an unfortunate circumstance, Glenarvan remarked, if there is any paper there, it must be badly damaged.   ,         - ,     .

Im afraid so, the major agreed.  ,  ,   .

I may also add, continued Glenarvan, that this poorly sealed bottle was in danger of sinking.    ,   ,           . Fortunately, the shark swallowed it in time and delivered it on board the Duncan.  ,         .

"No doubt so," said John Mangles, "but it would still be better if we caught it in the open sea, under a certain latitude and longitude."   , ,    ,       ,        ,     . Then, by studying the air and sea currents, it would be possible to determine the path taken by this bottle, but now, with such a postman as a shark swimming against the wind and current, it will be very difficult to figure it out. ,     ,        ,  ,    ,  ,     ,      .

Well see, said Glenarvan, and began to pull out the cork with the utmost care.  ,          .

When the bottle was uncorked, a strong smell of sea salt spread throughout the wardroom.    ,  -     .

Well?  ?  Helen asked with purely feminine curiosity.        .

Yes, I was right, Glenarvan responded, there are papers there.  ,   ,      .

 Documents!  ! Documents! !  exclaimed his wife.     .

Only, apparently, they are spoiled by dampness, Glenarvan remarked, and it is impossible to pull them out, they are so stuck to the walls of the bottle.  , -,   ,   ,     ,       .

Lets break it, McNabbs suggested.   ,   -.

I would prefer to keep the bottle intact, replied Glenarvan.        ,   .

Me too, agreed the major.   ,   .

It would certainly be good to keep the bottle, Helen intervened, but the contents are more valuable than the vessel itself, and therefore it is better to sacrifice the latter.  ,     ,   ,      ,   ,     .

It will be enough to break off the neck, advised John Mangle, and then you can take out the documents without damaging them.     ,    ,           .

Well, then do it, dear Edward!  ,   ,  ! exclaimed Helen.    .

In fact, it would have been difficult to extract the papers in any other way, and Glenarvan decided to break off the neck of the precious bottle.   ,       ,       . Since the stony growth on it had acquired the hardness of granite, it was necessary to resort to a hammer.         ,    . Soon, fragments fell onto the table, and stuck together scraps of paper appeared from the bottle.     ,       . Glenarvan carefully extracted them and laid them out in front of him.        . Helen, the major and the captain surrounded him. ,     .




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