Діти капітана Гранта

Helpless and Hopeless

           Thisfatalregionwasonlyadesert,unfrequentedevenbyanimals.Fortunately,Robertdiscoveredabustard’snestwithadozenoflargeeggsinit,whichOlbinettcookedonhotcinders.These,withafewrootsofpurslainwhichweregrowingatthebottomofaravine,wereallthebreakfastofthe22d.

           Theroutenowbecameextremelydifficult.ThesandyplainswerebristlingwithSPINIFEX,apricklyplant,whichiscalledinMelbournetheporcupine.Ittearstheclothingtorags,andmakesthelegsbleed.Thecourageousladiesnevercomplained,butfooteditbravely,settinganexample,andencouragingoneandanotherbywordorlook.

           TheystoppedintheeveningatMountBullaBulla,ontheedgeoftheJungallaCreek.Thesupperwouldhavebeenveryscant,ifMcNabbshadnotkilledalargerat,themusconditor,whichishighlyspokenofasanarticleofdiet.Olbinettroastedit,anditwouldhavebeenpronouncedevensuperiortoitsreputationhaditequaledthesheepinsize.Theywereobligedtobecontentwithit,however,anditwasdevouredtothebones.

           Onthe23dthewearybutstillenergetictravelersstartedoffagain.Afterhavinggoneroundthefootofthemountain,theycrossedthelongprairieswherethegrassseemedmadeofwhalebone.Itwasatangleofdarts,amedleyofsharplittlesticks,andapathhadtobecutthrougheitherwiththehatchetorfire.

           Thatmorningtherewasnotevenaquestionofbreakfast.Nothingcouldbemorebarrenthanthisregionstrewnwithpiecesofquartz.Notonlyhunger,butthirstbegantoassailthetravelers.

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