The young wife went up to her husband, and said, with tears in her eyes, though her voice was firm, and her face beamed with animation: “Edward, when Captain Grant wrote that letter and threw it into the sea, he committed it to the care of God. God has sent it to us--to us! Undoubtedly God intends us to undertake the rescue of these poor men.” “What do you mean, Helena?” “I mean this, that we ought to think ourselves fortunate if we can begin our married life with a good action. Well, you know, Edward, that to please me you planned a pleasure trip; but what could give us such genuine pleasure, or be so useful, as to save those unfortunate fellows, cast off by their country?” “Helena!” exclaimed Lord Glenarvan. “Yes, Edward, you understand me. The DUNCAN is a good strong ship, she can venture in the Southern Seas, or go round the world if necessary. Let us go, Edward; let us start off and search for Captain Grant!” Lord Glenarvan made no reply to this bold proposition, but smiled, and, holding out his arms, drew his wife into a close, fond embrace. Mary and Robert seized her hands, and covered them with kisses; and the servants who thronged the courtyard, and had been witnesses of this touching scene, shouted with one voice, “Hurrah for the Lady of Luss. Three cheers for Lord and Lady Glenarvan!” CHAPTER V THE DEPARTURE OF THE “DUNCAN” WE have said already that Lady Helena was a brave, generous woman, and what she had just done proved it in-disputably. Her husband had good reason to be proud of such a wife, one who could understand and enter into all his views. The idea of going to Captain Grant’s rescue had occurred to him in London when his request was refused, and he would have anticipated Lady Helena, only he could not bear the thought of parting from her. But now that she herself proposed to go, all hesitation was at an end. The servants of the Castle had hailed the project with loud acclamations--for it was to save their brothers--Scotchmen, like themselves--and Lord Glenarvan cordially joined his cheers with theirs, for the Lady of Luss. The departure once resolved upon, there was not an hour to be lost. A telegram was dispatched to John Mangles the very same day, conveying Lord Glenarvan’s orders to take the DUNCAN immediately to Glasgow, and to make preparations for a voyage to the Southern Seas, and possibly round the world, for Lady Helena was right in her opinion that the yacht might safely attempt the circumnavigation of the globe, if necessary. The DUNCAN was a steam yacht of the finest description. She was 210 tons burden--much larger than any of the first vessels that touched the shores of the New World, for the largest of the four ships that sailed with Columbus was only 70 tons. She had two masts and all the sails and rigging of an ordinary clipper, which would enable her to take advantage of every favorable wind, though her chief reliance was on her mechanical power. The engine, which was constructed on a new system, was a high-pressure one, of 160-horse power, and put in motion a double screw. This gave the yacht such swiftness that during her trial trip in the Firth of Clyde, she made seventeen miles an hour, a higher speed than any vessel had yet attained. No alterations were consequently needed in the DUNCAN herself; John Mangles had only to attend to her interior arrangements. His first care was to enlarge the bunkers to carry as much coal as possible, for it is difficult to get fresh supplies -en route-. He had to do the same with the store-rooms, and managed so well that he succeeded in laying in provisions enough for two years. There was abundance of money at his command, and enough remained to buy a cannon, on a pivot carriage, which he mounted on the forecastle. There was no knowing what might happen, and it is always well to be able to send a good round bullet flying four miles off. John Mangles understood his business. Though he was only the captain of a pleasure yacht, he was one of the best skippers in Glasgow. He was thirty years of age, and his countenance expressed both courage and goodness, if the features were somewhat coarse. He had been brought up at the castle by the Glenarvan family, and had turned out a capital sailor, having already given proof, in some of his long voyages, of his skill and energy and -sang-froid-. When Lord Glenarvan offered him the command of the DUNCAN, he accepted it with right good will, for he loved the master of Malcolm Castle, like a brother, and had hitherto vainly sought some opportunity of showing his devotion. Tom Austin, the mate, was an old sailor, worthy of all confidence. The crew, consisting of twenty-five men, including the captain and chief officer, were all from Dumbartonshire, experienced sailors, and all belonging to the Glenarvan estate; in fact, it was a regular clan, and they did not forget to carry with them the traditional bagpipes. Lord Glenarvan had in them a band of trusty fellows, skilled in their calling, devoted to himself, full of courage, and as practiced in handling fire-arms as in the maneuvering of a ship; a valiant little troop, ready to follow him any where, even in the most dangerous expeditions. When the crew heard whither they were bound, they could not restrain their enthusiasm, and the rocks of Dumbarton rang again with their joyous outbursts of cheers. But while John Mangles made the stowage and provisioning of the yacht his chief business, he did not forget to fit up the rooms of Lord and Lady Glenarvan for a long voyage. He had also to get cabins ready for the children of Captain Grant, as Lady Helena could not refuse Mary’s request to accompany her. As for young Robert, he would have smuggled himself in somewhere in the hold of the DUNCAN rather than be left behind. He would willingly have gone as cabin-boy, like Nelson. It was impossible to resist a little fellow like that, and, indeed, no one tried. He would not even go as a passenger, but must serve in some capacity, as cabin-boy, apprentice or sailor, he did not care which, so he was put in charge of John Mangles, to be properly trained for his vocation. “And I hope he won’t spare me the ‘cat-o-nine-tails’ if I don’t do properly,” said Robert. “Rest easy on that score, my boy,” said Lord Glenarvan, gravely; he did not add, that this mode of punishment was forbidden on board the DUNCAN, and moreover, was quite unnecessary. To complete the roll of passengers, we must name Major McNabbs. The Major was about fifty years of age, with a calm face and regular features--a man who did whatever he was told, of an excellent, indeed, a perfect temper; modest, silent, peaceable, and amiable, agreeing with everybody on every subject, never discussing, never disputing, never getting angry. He wouldn’t move a step quicker, or slower, whether he walked upstairs to bed or mounted a breach. Nothing could excite him, nothing could disturb him, not even a cannon ball, and no doubt he will die without ever having known even a passing feeling of irritation. This man was endowed in an eminent degree, not only with ordinary animal courage, that physical bravery of the battle-field, which is solely due to muscular energy, but he had what is far nobler--moral courage, firmness of soul. If he had any fault it was his being so intensely Scotch from top to toe, a Caledonian of the Caledonians, an obstinate stickler for all the ancient customs of his country. This was the reason he would never serve in England, and he gained his rank of Major in the 42nd regiment, the Highland Black Watch, composed entirely of Scotch noblemen. As a cousin of Glenarvan, he lived in Malcolm Castle, and as a major he went as a matter of course with the DUNCAN. Such, then, was the PERSONNEL of this yacht, so unexpectedly called to make one of the most wonderful voyages of modern times. From the hour she reached the steamboat quay at Glasgow, she completely monopolized the public attention. A considerable crowd visited her every day, and the DUNCAN was the one topic of interest and conversation, to the great vexation of the different captains in the port, among others of Captain Burton, in command of the SCOTIA, a magnificent steamer lying close beside her, and bound for Calcutta. Considering her size, the SCOTIA might justly look upon the DUNCAN as a mere fly-boat, and yet this pleasure yacht of Lord Glenarvan was quite the center of attraction, and the excitement about her daily increased. The DUNCAN was to sail out with the tide at three o’clock on the morning of the 25th of August. But before starting, a touching ceremony was witnessed by the good people of Glasgow. At eight o’clock the night before, Lord Glenarvan and his friends, and the entire crew, from the stokers to the captain, all who were to take part in this self-sacrificing voyage, left the yacht and repaired to St. Mungo’s, the ancient cathedral of the city. This venerable edifice, so marvelously described by Walter Scott, remains intact amid the ruins made by the Reformation; and it was there, beneath its lofty arches, in the grand nave, in the presence of an immense crowd, and surrounded by tombs as thickly set as in a cemetery, that they all assembled to implore the blessing of Heaven on their expedition, and to put themselves under the protection of Providence. The Rev. Mr. Morton conducted the service, and when he had ended and pronounced the benediction, a young girl’s voice broke the solemn silence that followed. It was Mary Grant who poured out her heart to God in prayer for her benefactors, while grateful happy tears streamed down her cheeks, and almost choked her utterance. The vast assembly dispersed under the influence of deep emotion, and at ten o’clock the passengers and crew returned on board the vessel. CHAPTER VI AN UNEXPECTED PASSENGER THE ladies passed the whole of the first day of the voyage in their berths, for there was a heavy swell in the sea, and toward evening the wind blew pretty fresh, and the DUNCAN tossed and pitched considerably. But the morning after, the wind changed, and the captain ordered the men to put up the foresail, and brigantine and foretopsail, which greatly lessened the rolling of the vessel. Lady Helena and Mary Grant were able to come on deck at daybreak, where they found Lord Glenarvan, Major McNabbs and the captain. “And how do you stand the sea, Miss Mary?” said Lord Glenarvan. “Pretty well, my Lord. I am not very much inconvenienced by it. Besides I shall get used to it.” “And our young Robert!” “Oh, as for Robert,” said the captain, “whenever he is not poking about down below in the engine-room, he is perched somewhere aloft among the rigging. A youngster like that laughs at sea-sickness. Why, look at him this very moment! Do you see him?” The captain pointed toward the foremast, and sure enough there was Robert, hanging on the yards of the topgallant mast, a hundred feet above in the air. Mary involuntarily gave a start, but the captain said: “Oh, don’t be afraid, Miss Mary; he is all right, take my word for it; I’ll have a capital sailor to present to Captain Grant before long, for we’ll find the worthy captain, depend upon it.” “Heaven grant it, Mr. John,” replied the young girl. “My dear child,” said Lord Glenarvan, “there is something so providential in the whole affair, that we have every reason to hope. We are not going, we are led; we are not searching, we are guided. And then see all the brave men that have enlisted in the service of the good cause. We shall not only succeed in our enterprise, but there will be little difficulty in it. I promised Lady Helena a pleasure trip, and I am much mistaken if I don’t keep my word.” “Edward,” said his wife, “you are the best of men.” “Not at all,” was the reply; “but I have the best of crews and the best of ships. You don’t admire the DUNCAN, I suppose, Miss Mary?” “On the contrary, my lord, I do admire her, and I’m a connoisseur in ships,” returned the young girl. “Indeed!” “Yes. I have played all my life on my father’s ships. He should have made me a sailor, for I dare say, at a push, I could reef a sail or plait a gasket easily enough.” “Do you say so, miss?” exclaimed John Mangles. “If you talk like that you and John will be great friends, for he can’t think any calling is equal to that of a seaman; he can’t fancy any other, even for a woman. Isn’t it true, John?” “Quite so,” said the captain, “and yet, your Lordship, I must confess that Miss Grant is more in her place on the poop than reefing a topsail. But for all that, I am quite flattered by her remarks.” “And especially when she admires the DUNCAN,” replied Glenarvan. “Well, really,” said Lady Glenarvan, “you are so proud of your yacht that you make me wish to look all over it; and I should like to go down and see how our brave men are lodged.” “Their quarters are first-rate,” replied John, “they are as comfortable as if they were at home.” “And they really are at home, my dear Helena,” said Lord Glenarvan. “This yacht is a portion of our old Caledonia, a fragment of Dumbartonshire, making a voyage by special favor, so that in a manner we are still in our own country. The DUNCAN is Malcolm Castle, and the ocean is Loch Lomond.” “Very well, dear Edward, do the honors of the Castle then.” “At your service, madam; but let me tell Olbinett first.” The steward of the yacht was an excellent -maitre d’hotel-, and might have been French for his airs of importance, but for all that he discharged his functions with zeal and intelligence. “Olbinett,” said his master, as he appeared in answer to his summons, “we are going to have a turn before breakfast. I hope we shall find it ready when we come back.” He said this just as if it had been a walk to Tarbert or Loch Katrine they were going, and the steward bowed with perfect gravity in reply. “Are you coming with us, Major?” asked Lady Helena. “If you command me,” replied McNabbs. “Oh!” said Lord Glenarvan; “the Major is absorbed in his cigar; you mustn’t tear him from it. He is an inveterate smoker, Miss Mary, I can tell you. He is always smoking, even while he sleeps.” The Major gave an assenting nod, and Lord Glenarvan and his party went below. McNabbs remained alone, talking to himself, as was his habit, and was soon enveloped in still thicker clouds of smoke. He stood motionless, watching the track of the yacht. After some minutes of this silent contemplation he turned round, and suddenly found himself face to face with a new comer. Certainly, if any thing could have surprised him, this RENCONTRE would, for he had never seen the stranger in his life before. He was a tall, thin, withered-looking man, about forty years of age, and resembled a long nail with a big head. His head was large and massive, his forehead high, his chin very marked. His eyes were concealed by enormous round spectacles, and in his look was that peculiar indecision which is common to nyctalopes, or people who have a peculiar construction of the eye, which makes the sight imperfect in the day and better at night. It was evident from his physiognomy that he was a lively, intelligent man; he had not the crabbed expression of those grave individuals who never laugh on principle, and cover their emptiness with a mask of seriousness. He looked far from that. His careless, good-humored air, and easy, unceremonious manners, showed plainly that he knew how to take men and things on their bright side. But though he had not yet opened his mouth, he gave one the impression of being a great talker, and moreover, one of those absent folks who neither see though they are looking, nor hear though they are listening. He wore a traveling cap, and strong, low, yellow boots with leather gaiters. His pantaloons and jacket were of brown velvet, and their innumerable pockets were stuffed with note-books, memorandum-books, account-books, pocket-books, and a thousand other things equally cumbersome and useless, not to mention a telescope in addition, which he carried in a shoulder-belt. The stranger’s excitement was a strong contrast to the Major’s placidity. He walked round McNabbs, looking at him and questioning him with his eyes without eliciting one remark from the imperturbable Scotchman, or awakening his curiosity in the least, to know where he came from, and where he was going, and how he had got on board the DUNCAN. Finding all his efforts baffled by the Major’s indifference, the mysterious passenger seized his telescope, drew it out to its fullest extent, about four feet, and began gazing at the horizon, standing motionless with his legs wide apart. His examination lasted some few minutes, and then he lowered the glass, set it up on deck, and leaned on it as if it had been a walking-stick. Of course, his weight shut up the instrument immediately by pushing the different parts one into the other, and so suddenly, that he fell full length on deck, and lay sprawling at the foot of the mainmast. Any one else but the Major would have smiled, at least, at such a ludicrous sight; but McNabbs never moved a muscle of his face. This was too much for the stranger, and he called out, with an unmistakably foreign accent: “Steward!” He waited a minute, but nobody appeared, and he called again, still louder, “Steward!” Mr. Olbinett chanced to be passing that minute on his way from the galley, and what was his astonishment at hearing himself addressed like this by a lanky individual of whom he had no knowledge whatever. “Where can he have come from? Who is he?” he thought to himself. “He can not possibly be one of Lord Glenarvan’s friends?” However, he went up on the poop, and approached the unknown personage, who accosted him with the inquiry, “Are you the steward of this vessel?” “Yes, sir,” replied Olbinett; “but I have not the honor of--” “I am the passenger in cabin Number 6.” “Number 6!” repeated the steward. “Certainly; and your name, what is it?” “Olbinett.” “Well, Olbinett, my friend, we must think of breakfast, and that pretty quickly. It is thirty-six hours since I have had anything to eat, or rather thirty-six hours that I have been asleep--pardonable enough in a man who came all the way, without stopping, from Paris to Glasgow. What is the breakfast hour?” “Nine o’clock,” replied Olbinett, mechanically. The stranger tried to pull out his watch to see the time; but it was not till he had rummaged through the ninth pocket that he found it. “Ah, well,” he said, “it is only eight o’clock at present. Fetch me a glass of sherry and a biscuit while I am waiting, for I am actually falling through sheer inanition.” Olbinett heard him without understanding what he meant for the voluble stranger kept on talking incessantly, flying from one subject to another. “The captain? Isn’t the captain up yet? And the chief officer? What is he doing? Is he asleep still? It is fine weather, fortunately, and the wind is favorable, and the ship goes all alone.” Just at that moment John Mangles appeared at the top of the stairs. “Here is the captain!” said Olbinett. “Ah! delighted, Captain Burton, delighted to make your acquaintance,” exclaimed the unknown. John Mangles stood stupefied, as much at seeing the stranger on board as at hearing himself called “Captain Burton.” But the new comer went on in the most affable manner. “Allow me to shake hands with you, sir; and if I did not do so yesterday evening, it was only because I did not wish to be troublesome when you were starting. But to-day, captain, it gives me great pleasure to begin my intercourse with you.” John Mangles opened his eyes as wide as possible, and stood staring at Olbinett and the stranger alternately. But without waiting for a reply, the rattling fellow continued: “Now the introduction is made, my dear captain, we are old friends. Let’s have a little talk, and tell me how you like the SCOTIA?” “What do you mean by the SCOTIA?” put in John Mangles at last. “By the SCOTIA? Why, the ship we’re on, of course--a good ship that has been commended to me, not only for its physical qualities, but also for the moral qualities of its commander, the brave Captain Burton. You will be some relation of the famous African traveler of that name. A daring man he was, sir. I offer you my congratulations.” “Sir,” interrupted John. “I am not only no relation of Burton the great traveler, but I am not even Captain Burton.” “Ah, is that so? It is Mr. Burdness, the chief officer, that I am talking to at present.” “Mr. Burdness!” repeated John Mangles, beginning to suspect how the matter stood. Only he asked himself whether the man was mad, or some heedless rattle pate? He was beginning to explain the case in a categorical manner, when Lord Glenarvan and his party came up on the poop. The stranger caught sight of them directly, and exclaimed: “Ah! the passengers, the passengers! I hope you are going to introduce me to them, Mr. Burdness!” But he could not wait for any one’s intervention, and going up to them with perfect ease and grace, said, bowing to Miss Grant, “Madame;” then to Lady Helena, with another bow, “Miss;” and to Lord Glenarvan, “Sir.” Here John Mangles interrupted him, and said, “Lord Glenarvan.” “My Lord,” continued the unknown, “I beg pardon for presenting myself to you, but at sea it is well to relax the strict rules of etiquette a little. I hope we shall soon become acquainted with each other, and that the company of these ladies will make our voyage in the SCOTIA appear as short as agreeable.” Lady Helena and Miss Grant were too astonished to be able to utter a single word. The presence of this intruder on the poop of the DUNCAN was perfectly inexplicable. Lord Glenarvan was more collected, and said, “Sir, to whom have I the honor of speaking?” “To Jacques Eliacin Francois Marie Paganel, Secretary of the Geographical Society of Paris, Corresponding Member of the Societies of Berlin, Bombay, Darmstadt, Leipsic, London, St. Petersburg, Vienna, and New York; Honorary Member of the Royal Geographical and Ethnographical Institute of the East Indies; who, after having spent twenty years of his life in geographical work in the study, wishes to see active service, and is on his way to India to gain for the science what information he can by following up the footsteps of great travelers.” CHAPTER VII JACQUES PAGANEL IS UNDECEIVED THE Secretary of the Geographical Society was evidently an amiable personage, for all this was said in a most charming manner. Lord Glenarvan knew quite well who he was now, for he had often heard Paganel spoken of, and was aware of his merits. His geographical works, his papers on modern discoveries, inserted in the reports of the Society, and his world-wide correspondence, gave him a most distinguished place among the LITERATI of France. Lord Glenarvan could not but welcome such a guest, and shook hands cordially. “And now that our introductions are over,” he added, “you will allow me, Monsieur Paganel, to ask you a question?” “Twenty, my Lord,” replied Paganel; “it will always be a pleasure to converse with you.” “Was it last evening that you came on board this vessel?” “Yes, my Lord, about 8 o’clock. I jumped into a cab at the Caledonian Railway, and from the cab into the SCOTIA, where I had booked my cabin before I left Paris. It was a dark night, and I saw no one on board, so I found cabin No. 6, and went to my berth immediately, for I had heard that the best way to prevent sea-sickness is to go to bed as soon as you start, and not to stir for the first few days; and, moreover, I had been traveling for thirty hours. So I tucked myself in, and slept conscientiously, I assure you, for thirty-six hours.” Paganel’s listeners understood the whole mystery, now, of his presence on the DUNCAN. The French traveler had mistaken his vessel, and gone on board while the crew were attending the service at St. Mungo’s. All was explained. But what would the learned geographer say, when he heard the name and destination of the ship, in which he had taken passage? “Then it is Calcutta, M. Paganel, that you have chosen as your point of departure on your travels?” “Yes, my Lord, to see India has been a cherished purpose with me all my life. It will be the realization of my fondest dreams, to find myself in the country of elephants and Thugs.” “Then it would be by no means a matter of indifference to you, to visit another country instead.” “No, my Lord; indeed it would be very disagreeable, for I have letters from Lord Somerset, the Governor-General, and also a commission to execute for the Geographical Society.” “Ah, you have a commission.” “Yes, I have to attempt a curious and important journey, the plan of which has been drawn up by my learned friend and colleague, M. Vivien de Saint Martin. I am to pursue the track of the Schlaginweit Brothers; and Colonels Waugh and Webb, and Hodgson; and Huc and Gabet, the missionaries; and Moorecroft and M. Jules Remy, and so many celebrated travelers. I mean to try and succeed where Krick, the missionary so unfortunately failed in 1846; in a word, I want to follow the course of the river Yarou-Dzangbo-Tchou, which waters Thibet for a distance of 1500 kilometres, flowing along the northern base of the Himalayas, and to find out at last whether this river does not join itself to the Brahmapoutre in the northeast of As-sam. The gold medal, my Lord, is promised to the traveler who will succeed in ascertaining a fact which is one of the greatest DESIDERATA to the geography of India.” Paganel was magnificent. He spoke with superb animation, soaring away on the wings of imagination. It would have been as impossible to stop him as to stop the Rhine at the Falls of Schaffhausen. “Monsieur Jacques Paganel,” said Lord Glenarvan, after a brief pause, “that would certainly be a grand achievement, and you would confer a great boon on science, but I should not like to allow you to be laboring under a mistake any longer, and I must tell you, therefore, that for the present at least, you must give up the pleasure of a visit to India.” “Give it up. And why?” “Because you are turning your back on the Indian peninsula.” “What! Captain Burton.” “I am not Captain Burton,” said John Mangles. “But the SCOTIA.” “This vessel is not the SCOTIA.” It would be impossible to depict the astonishment of Paganel. He stared first at one and then at another in the utmost bewilderment. Lord Glenarvan was perfectly grave, and Lady Helena and Mary showed their sympathy for his vexation by their looks. As for John Mangles, he could not suppress a smile; but the Major appeared as unconcerned as usual. At last the poor fellow shrugged his shoulders, pushed down his spectacles over his nose and said: “You are joking.” But just at that very moment his eye fell on the wheel of the ship, and he saw the two words on it: Duncan. Glasgow. “The DUNCAN! the DUNCAN!” he exclaimed, with a cry of despair, and forthwith rushed down the stairs, and away to his cabin. As soon as the unfortunate SAVANT had disappeared, every one, except the Major, broke out into such peals of laughter that the sound reached the ears of the sailors in the forecastle. To mistake a railway or to take the train to Edinburgh when you want to go to Dumbarton might happen; but to mistake a ship and be sailing for Chili when you meant to go to India--that is a blunder indeed! “However,” said Lord Glenarvan, “I am not much astonished at it in Paganel. He is quite famous for such misadventures. One day he published a celebrated map of America, and put Japan in it! But for all that, he is distinguished for his learning, and he is one of the best geographers in France.” “But what shall we do with the poor gentleman?” said Lady Helena; “we can’t take him with us to Patagonia.” “Why not?” replied McNabbs, gravely. “We are not responsible for his heedless mistakes. Suppose he were in a railway train, would they stop it for him?” “No, but he would get out at the first station.” “Well, that is just what he can do here, too, if he likes; he can disembark at the first place where we touch.” While they were talking, Paganel came up again on the poop, looking very woebegone and crestfallen. He had been making inquiry about his luggage, to assure himself that it was all on board, and kept repeating incessantly the unlucky words, “The DUNCAN! the DUNCAN!” He could find no others in his vocabulary. He paced restlessly up and down; sometimes stopping to examine the sails, or gaze inquiringly over the wide ocean, at the far horizon. At length he accosted Lord Glenarvan once more, and said-- “And this DUNCAN--where is she going?” “To America, Monsieur Paganel,” was the reply. “And to what particular part?” “To Concepcion.” “To Chili! to Chili!” cried the unfortunate geographer. “And my mission to India. But what will M. de Quatre-fages, the President of the Central Commission, say? And M. d’ Avezac? And M. Cortanbert? And M. Vivien de Saint Martin? How shall I show my face at the SEANCES of the Society?” “Come, Monsieur Paganel, don’t despair. It can all be managed; you will only have to put up with a little delay, which is relatively of not much importance. The Yarou-Dzangbo-Tchou will wait for you still in the mountains of Thibet. We shall soon put in at Madeira, and you will get a ship there to take you back to Europe.” “Thanks, my Lord. I suppose I must resign myself to it; but people will say it is a most extraordinary adventure, and it is only to me such things happen. And then, too, there is a cabin taken for me on board the SCOTIA.” “Oh, as to the SCOTIA, you’ll have to give that up meantime.” “But the DUNCAN is a pleasure yacht, is it not?” began Paganel again, after a fresh examination of the vessel. “Yes, sir,” said John Mangles, “and belongs to Lord Glenarvan.” “Who begs you will draw freely on his hospitality,” said Lord Glenarvan. “A thousand thanks, my Lord! I deeply feel your courtesy, but allow me to make one observation: India is a fine country, and can offer many a surprising marvel to travelers. These ladies, I suppose, have never seen it. Well now, the man at the helm has only to give a turn at the wheel, and the DUNCAN will sail as easily to Calcutta as to Concepcion; and since it is only a pleasure trip that you are--” His proposal was met by such grave, disapproving shakes of the head, that he stopped short before the sentence was completed; and Lady Helena said: “Monsieur Paganel, if we were only on a pleasure trip, I should reply, ‘Let us all go to India together,’ and I am sure Lord Glenarvan would not object; but the DUNCAN is going to bring back shipwrecked mariners who were cast away on the shores of Patagonia, and we could not alter such a destination.” The Frenchman was soon put in possession of all the circumstances of the case. He was no unmoved auditor, and when he heard of Lady Helena’s generous proposition, he could not help saying, “Madame, permit me to express my admiration of your conduct throughout--my unreserved admiration. Let your yacht continue her course. I should reproach myself were I to cause a single day’s delay.” “Will you join us in our search, then?” asked Lady Helena. “It is impossible, madame. I must fulfill my mission. I shall disembark at the first place you touch at, wherever it may be.” “That will be Madeira,” said John Mangles. “Madeira be it then. I shall only be 180 leagues from Lisbon, and I shall wait there for some means of transport.” “Very well, Monsieur Paganel, it shall be as you wish; and, for my own part, I am very glad to be able to offer you, meantime, a few days’ hospitality. I only hope you will not find our company too dull.” “Oh, my Lord,” exclaimed Paganel, “I am but too happy to have made a mistake which has turned out so agreeably. Still, it is a very ridiculous plight for a man to be in, to find himself sailing to America when he set out to go to the East Indies!” But in spite of this melancholy reflection, the Frenchman submitted gracefully to the compulsory delay. He made himself amiable and merry, and even diverting, and enchanted the ladies with his good humor. Before the end of the day he was friends with everybody. At his request, the famous document was brought out. He studied it carefully and minutely for a long time, and finally declared his opinion that no other interpretation of it was possible. Mary Grant and her brother inspired him with the most lively interest. He gave them great hope; indeed, the young girl could not help smiling at his sanguine prediction of success, and this odd way of foreseeing future events. But for his mission he would have made one of the search party for Captain Grant, undoubtedly. As for Lady Helena, when he heard that she was a daughter of William Tuffnell, there was a perfect explosion of admiring epithets. He had known her father, and what letters had passed between them when William Tuffnell was a corresponding member of the Society! It was he himself that had introduced him and M. Malte Brun. What a -rencontre- this was, and what a pleasure to travel with the daughter of Tuffnell. He wound up by asking permission to kiss her, which Lady Helena granted, though it was, perhaps, a little improper. CHAPTER VIII THE GEOGRAPHER’S RESOLUTION MEANTIME the yacht, favored by the currents from the north of Africa, was making rapid progress toward the equator. On the 30th of August they sighted the Madeira group of islands, and Glenarvan, true to his promise, offered to put in there, and land his new guest. But Paganel said: “My dear Lord, I won’t stand on ceremony with you. Tell me, did you intend to stop at Madeira before I came on board?” “No,” replied Glenarvan. “Well, then, allow me to profit by my unlucky mistake. Madeira is an island too well known to be of much interest now to a geographer. Every thing about this group has been said and written already. Besides, it is completely going down as far as wine growing is concerned. Just imagine no vines to speak of being in Madeira! In 1813, 22,000 pipes of wine were made there, and in 1845 the number fell to 2,669. It is a grievous spectacle! If it is all the same to you, we might go on to the Canary Isles instead.” “Certainly. It will not the least interfere with our route.” “I know it will not, my dear Lord. In the Canary Islands, you see, there are three groups to study, besides the Peak of Teneriffe, which I always wished to visit. This is an opportunity, and I should like to avail myself of it, and make the ascent of the famous mountain while I am waiting for a ship to take me back to Europe.” “As you please, my dear Paganel,” said Lord Glenarvan, though he could not help smiling; and no wonder, for these islands are scarcely 250 miles from Madeira, a trifling distance for such a quick sailer as the DUNCAN. Next day, about 2 P. M., John Mangles and Paganel were walking on the poop. The Frenchman was assailing his companion with all sorts of questions about Chili, when all at once the captain interrupted him, and pointing toward the southern horizon, said: “Monsieur Paganel?” “Yes, my dear Captain.” “Be so good as to look in this direction. Don’t you see anything?” “Nothing.” “You’re not looking in the right place. It is not on the horizon, but above it in the clouds.” “In the clouds? I might well not see.” “There, there, by the upper end of the bowsprit.” “I see nothing.” “Then you don’t want to see. Anyway, though we are forty miles off, yet I tell you the Peak of Teneriffe is quite visible yonder above the horizon.” But whether Paganel could not or would not see it then, two hours later he was forced to yield to ocular evidence or own himself blind. “You do see it at last, then,” said John Mangles. “Yes, yes, distinctly,” replied Paganel, adding in a disdainful tone, “and that’s what they call the Peak of Teneriffe!” “That’s the Peak.” “It doesn’t look much of a height.” “It is 11,000 feet, though, above the level of the sea.” “That is not equal to Mont Blanc.” “Likely enough, but when you come to ascend it, probably you’ll think it high enough.” “Oh, ascend it! ascend it, my dear captain! What would be the good after Humboldt and Bonplan? That Humboldt was a great genius. He made the ascent of this mountain, and has given a description of it which leaves nothing unsaid. He tells us that it comprises five different zones--the zone of the vines, the zone of the laurels, the zone of the pines, the zone of the Alpine heaths, and, lastly, the zone of sterility. He set his foot on the very summit, and found that there was not even room enough to sit down. The view from the summit was very extensive, stretching over an area equal to Spain. Then he went right down into the volcano, and examined the extinct crater. What could I do, I should like you to tell me, after that great man?” “Well, certainly, there isn’t much left to glean. That is vexing, too, for you would find it dull work waiting for a vessel in the Peak of Teneriffe.” “But, I say, Mangles, my dear fellow, are there no ports in the Cape Verde Islands that we might touch at?” “Oh, yes, nothing would be easier than putting you off at Villa Praya.” “And then I should have one advantage, which is by no means inconsiderable--I should find fellow-countrymen at Senegal, and that is not far away from those islands. I am quite aware that the group is said to be devoid of much interest, and wild, and unhealthy; but everything is curious in the eyes of a geographer. Seeing is a science. There are people who do not know how to use their eyes, and who travel about with as much intelligence as a shell-fish. But that’s not in my line, I assure you.” “Please yourself, Monsieur Paganel. I have no doubt geographical science will be a gainer by your sojourn in the Cape Verde Islands. We must go in there anyhow for coal, so your disembarkation will not occasion the least delay.” The captain gave immediate orders for the yacht to continue her route, steering to the west of the Canary group, and leaving Teneriffe on her larboard. She made rapid progress, and passed the Tropic of Cancer on the second of September at 5 A. M. The weather now began to change, and the atmosphere became damp and heavy. It was the rainy season, “-le tempo das aguas-,” as the Spanish call it, a trying season to travelers, but useful to the inhabitants of the African Islands, who lack trees and consequently water. The rough weather prevented the passengers from going on deck, but did not make the conversation any less animated in the saloon. On the 3d of September Paganel began to collect his luggage to go on shore. The DUNCAN was already steaming among the Islands. She passed Sal, a complete tomb of sand lying barren and desolate, and went on among the vast coral reefs and athwart the Isle of St. Jacques, with its long chain of basaltic mountains, till she entered the port of Villa Praya and anchored in eight fathoms of water before the town. The weather was frightful, and the surf excessively violent, though the bay was sheltered from the sea winds. The rain fell in such torrents that the town was scarcely visible through it. It rose on a plain in the form of a terrace, buttressed on volcanic rocks three hundred feet high. The appearance of the island through the thick veil of rain was mournful in the extreme. Lady Helena could not go on shore as she had purposed; indeed, even coaling was a difficult business, and the passengers had to content themselves below the poop as best they might. Naturally enough, the main topic of conversation was the weather. Everybody had something to say about it except the Major, who surveyed the universal deluge with the utmost indifference. Paganel walked up and down shaking his head. “It is clear enough, Paganel,” said Lord Glenarvan, “that the elements are against you.” “I’ll be even with them for all that,” replied the Frenchman. “You could not face rain like that, Monsieur Paganel,” said Lady Helena. “Oh, quite well, madam, as far as I myself am concerned. It is for my luggage and instruments that I am afraid. Everything will be ruined.” “The disembarking is the worst part of the business. Once at Villa Praya you might manage to find pretty good quarters. They wouldn’t be over clean, and you might find the monkeys and pigs not always the most agreeable companions. But travelers are not too particular, and, moreover, in seven or eight months you would get a ship, I dare say, to take you back to Europe.” “Seven or eight months!” exclaimed Paganel. “At least. The Cape Verde Islands are not much frequented by ships during the rainy season. But you can employ your time usefully. This archipelago is still but little known.” “You can go up the large rivers,” suggested Lady Helena. “There are none, madam.” “Well, then, the small ones.” “There are none, madam.” “The running brooks, then.” “There are no brooks, either.” “You can console yourself with the forests if that’s the case,” put in the Major. “You can’t make forests without trees, and there are no trees.” “A charming country!” said the Major. “Comfort yourself, my dear Paganel, you’ll have the mountains at any rate,” said Glenarvan. “Oh, they are neither lofty nor interesting, my Lord, and, beside, they have been described already.” “Already!” said Lord Glenarvan. “Yes, that is always my luck. At the Canary Islands, I saw myself anticipated by Humboldt, and here by M. Charles Sainte-Claire Deville, a geologist.” “Impossible!” “It is too true,” replied Paganel, in a doleful voice. “Monsieur Deville was on board the government corvette, La Decidee, when she touched at the Cape Verde Islands, and he explored the most interesting of the group, and went to the top of the volcano in Isle Fogo. What is left for me to do after him?” “It is really a great pity,” said Helena. “What will become of you, Monsieur Paganel?” Paganel remained silent. “You would certainly have done much better to have landed at Madeira, even though there had been no wine,” said Glenarvan. Still the learned secretary was silent. “I should wait,” said the Major, just as if he had said, “I should not wait.” Paganel spoke again at length, and said: “My dear Glenarvan, where do you mean to touch next?” “At Concepcion.” “Plague it! That is a long way out of the road to India.” “Not it! From the moment you pass Cape Horn, you are getting nearer to it.” “I doubt it much.” “Beside,” resumed Lord Glenarvan, with perfect gravity, “when people are going to the Indies it doesn’t matter much whether it is to the East or West.” “What! it does not matter much?” “Without taking into account the fact that the inhabitants of the Pampas in Patagonia are as much Indians as the natives of the Punjaub.” “Well done, my Lord. That’s a reason that would never have entered my head!” “And then, my dear Paganel, you can gain the gold medal anyway. There is as much to be done, and sought, and investigated, and discovered in the Cordilleras as in the mountains of Thibet.” “But the course of the Yarou-Dzangbo-Tchou--what about that?” “Go up the Rio Colorado instead. It is a river but little known, and its course on the map is marked out too much according to the fancy of geographers.” “I know it is, my dear Lord; they have made grave mistakes. Oh, I make no question that the Geographical Society would have sent me to Patagonia as soon as to India, if I had sent in a request to that effect. But I never thought of it.” “Just like you.” “Come, Monsieur Paganel, will you go with us?” asked Lady Helena, in her most winning tone. “Madam, my mission?” “We shall pass through the Straits of Magellan, I must tell you,” said Lord Glenarvan. “My Lord, you are a tempter.” “Let me add, that we shall visit Port Famine.” “Port Famine!” exclaimed the Frenchman, besieged on all sides. “That famous port in French annals!” “Think, too, Monsieur Paganel, that by taking part in our enterprise, you will be linking France with Scotland.” “Undoubtedly.” “A geographer would be of much use to our expedition, and what can be nobler than to bring science to the service of humanity?” “That’s well said, madam.” , , , 1 , : « , 2 , 3 . - - ! 4 . » 5 6 « , ? » 7 8 « , 9 . , , , 10 ; 11 , , , 12 ? » 13 14 « ! » . 15 16 « , , . , 17 , . 18 , ; ! » 19 20 , , , 21 , , . 22 , ; 23 , 24 , , « . 25 ! » 26 27 28 29 30 « » 31 32 33 , , 34 - . 35 , 36 . 37 , 38 , 39 . , 40 . 41 - - 42 - - , - - 43 , . 44 45 , . 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , . 51 52 . 53 - - 54 , 55 . 56 , 57 , 58 . , , 59 - , - , . 60 61 , , 62 . 63 ; 64 . 65 66 67 , - - . 68 - , 69 . 70 , , 71 , . 72 , 73 . 74 75 . 76 , . 77 , 78 , . 79 , 80 , , , 81 - - - . 82 , , 83 , , 84 . 85 86 , , , . 87 , - , 88 , , , 89 ; , , 90 . 91 , 92 , , , 93 - ; 94 , , 95 . , 96 , 97 . 98 99 100 , 101 . 102 , 103 . 104 105 , 106 . 107 - , . 108 , , , . 109 , , - , 110 , , , 111 . 112 113 « - - - 114 , » . 115 116 « , , » , ; 117 , , 118 , . 119 120 , . 121 , 122 - - , , , 123 ; , , , , 124 , , , 125 . , , 126 . , 127 , , 128 . 129 130 , 131 , - , 132 , - - , 133 . 134 , , 135 . 136 , 137 , , 138 . 139 140 , , 141 . 142 143 , , , 144 . 145 , 146 . , 147 , 148 , 149 , , 150 , . , 151 - , 152 , 153 . 154 155 156 . , 157 . 158 , , , 159 , 160 - , . , 161 . , 162 , 163 ; , , 164 , , 165 , 166 , 167 . . . , 168 , 169 . 170 , 171 , . 172 , 173 . 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 , , 183 , . 184 185 , , 186 , , 187 . 188 , , 189 . 190 191 « , ? » . 192 193 « , . . 194 . » 195 196 « ! » 197 198 « , , » , « 199 - , 200 . - . , 201 ! ? » 202 203 , 204 , , 205 . , : 206 207 « , , ; , ; 208 , 209 , . » 210 211 « , . , » . 212 213 « , » , « 214 , . 215 , ; , . 216 217 . , 218 . , 219 . » 220 221 « , » , « . » 222 223 « , » ; « 224 . , , ? » 225 226 « , , , 227 , » . 228 229 « ! » 230 231 « . . 232 , , , 233 . » 234 235 « , ? » . 236 237 « , 238 ; 239 , . , ? » 240 241 « , » , « , , 242 . 243 , . » 244 245 « , » . 246 247 « , , » , « 248 ; 249 . » 250 251 « - , » , « 252 . » 253 254 « , , » . 255 « , 256 , , 257 . , 258 . » 259 260 « , , . » 261 262 « , ; . » 263 264 - - , 265 , 266 . 267 268 « , » , , 269 « . 270 . » 271 272 273 , . 274 275 « , ? » . 276 277 « , » . 278 279 « ! » ; « ; 280 . , , 281 . , . » 282 283 , 284 . 285 286 , , , 287 . , 288 . 289 , 290 . , , 291 , . 292 293 , , - , , 294 . , 295 , . 296 , 297 , 298 , 299 . 300 , ; 301 , 302 . . 303 , - , , , 304 . 305 , 306 , , 307 , . 308 , , , 309 . , 310 - , - , 311 - , - , 312 , , 313 - . 314 315 316 . , 317 318 , , 319 , , 320 . 321 322 , 323 , 324 , , , 325 . 326 , , , 327 - . , 328 329 , , , 330 . 331 332 , , 333 ; . 334 335 , , 336 : 337 338 « ! » 339 340 , , , 341 , « ! » 342 343 . 344 , 345 . 346 347 « ? ? » . « 348 ? » 349 350 , , , 351 , « ? » 352 353 « , , » ; « - - » 354 355 « . » 356 357 « ! » . 358 359 « ; , ? » 360 361 « . » 362 363 « , , , , 364 . - , 365 - - - 366 , , . 367 ? » 368 369 « , » , . 370 371 ; 372 . 373 374 « , , » , « . 375 , 376 . » 377 378 379 , 380 . 381 382 « ? ? ? 383 ? ? , , 384 , . » 385 386 . 387 388 « ! » . 389 390 « ! , , , » 391 . 392 393 , 394 « . » 395 396 . 397 398 « , ; 399 , 400 . - , , 401 . » 402 403 , 404 . 405 406 , : 407 408 « , , . 409 , ? » 410 411 « ? » . 412 413 « ? , , - - 414 , , 415 , . 416 . 417 , . . » 418 419 « , » . « 420 , . » 421 422 « , ? . , , 423 . » 424 425 « . ! » , 426 . , 427 ? 428 , 429 . , : 430 431 « ! , ! 432 , . ! » 433 434 , 435 , , , « ; » 436 , , « ; » , « . » 437 438 , , « . » 439 440 « , » , « 441 , 442 . , 443 444 . » 445 446 447 . 448 . 449 450 , , « , 451 ? » 452 453 « , 454 , 455 , , , , , . , , 456 ; 457 ; , 458 , 459 , 460 . » 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 , . 470 , 471 , . , 472 , , 473 - , 474 . 475 476 , 477 . 478 479 « , » , « , 480 , ? » 481 482 « , , » ; « 483 . » 484 485 « ? » 486 487 « , , . 488 , , 489 . , , 490 . , , 491 - 492 , ; , , 493 . , 494 , , - . » 495 496 , , 497 . , 498 . . 499 . , 500 , ? 501 502 « , . , 503 ? » 504 505 « , , 506 . , 507 . » 508 509 « , 510 . » 511 512 « , ; , 513 , - , 514 . » 515 516 « , . » 517 518 « , , 519 , . 520 . ; 521 , ; , 522 ; . , 523 . , 524 ; , 525 - - , 526 , , 527 528 - . , , 529 530 . » 531 532 . , 533 . 534 . 535 536 « , » , , 537 « , 538 , 539 , , , 540 , . » 541 542 « . ? » 543 544 « . » 545 546 « ! . » 547 548 « , » . 549 550 « . » 551 552 « . » 553 554 . 555 . 556 557 , 558 . , 559 ; 560 . , 561 : 562 563 « . » 564 565 , 566 : . 567 . 568 569 « ! ! » , , 570 , . 571 572 , , 573 , 574 . 575 ; 576 577 - - ! 578 579 « , » , « 580 . . 581 , ! , 582 , 583 . » 584 585 « ? » ; « 586 . » 587 588 « ? » , . « 589 . , 590 ? » 591 592 « , . » 593 594 « , , , ; 595 . » 596 597 , , 598 . 599 , , 600 , « ! ! » 601 602 . 603 ; , 604 , . 605 , - - 606 607 « - - ? » 608 609 « , , » . 610 611 « ? » 612 613 « . » 614 615 « ! ! » . « 616 . . - , 617 , ? . ? . ? . 618 ? ? » 619 620 « , , . ; 621 , 622 . - - 623 . , 624 . » 625 626 « , . ; 627 , 628 . , , 629 . » 630 631 « , , . » 632 633 « , ? » , 634 . 635 636 « , , » , « . » 637 638 « , » . 639 640 « , ! , 641 : , 642 . , , 643 . , , 644 ; 645 - - » 646 647 , , 648 ; 649 : 650 651 « , , , 652 , 653 ; 654 , 655 . » 656 657 658 . , 659 , , 660 661 « , 662 - - . 663 . . » 664 665 « , ? » . 666 667 « , . . 668 , . » 669 670 « , » . 671 672 « . , 673 . » 674 675 « , , ; , 676 , , , 677 . . » 678 679 « , , » , « 680 . , 681 , 682 ! » 683 684 , 685 . , 686 , . 687 . , 688 . 689 , 690 . 691 . ; , 692 , 693 . 694 , . 695 696 , 697 , . 698 , 699 ! 700 . . - - , 701 . 702 703 , , 704 , , . 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 , , 713 . 714 , , 715 , , . 716 717 : 718 719 « , . , 720 ? » 721 722 « , » . 723 724 « , , . 725 . 726 . , 727 . 728 ! , , 729 , , . 730 ! , 731 . » 732 733 « . . » 734 735 « , . , , 736 , , 737 . , 738 , 739 . » 740 741 « , , » , 742 ; , 743 , 744 . 745 746 , . . , 747 . 748 , , 749 , : 750 751 « ? » 752 753 « , . » 754 755 « . ? » 756 757 « . » 758 759 « . , 760 . » 761 762 « ? . » 763 764 « , , . » 765 766 « . » 767 768 « . , , 769 770 . » 771 772 , 773 . 774 775 « , , » . 776 777 « , , , » , , 778 « ! » 779 780 « . » 781 782 « . » 783 784 « , , , . » 785 786 « . » 787 788 « , , 789 . » 790 791 « , ! , ! 792 ? . 793 , 794 . - - 795 , , , 796 , , , . 797 , 798 . , 799 . 800 , . , 801 , ? » 802 803 « , , . , , 804 805 . » 806 807 « , , , , 808 ? » 809 810 « , , . » 811 812 « , 813 - - - , 814 . 815 , , ; 816 . . 817 , 818 - . , 819 . » 820 821 « , . 822 . 823 , 824 . » 825 826 , 827 , 828 . , 829 . . 830 831 , 832 . , « - - , » 833 , , 834 , . 835 , 836 . 837 838 839 . . 840 , , 841 . , 842 , 843 . 844 , , 845 . 846 . 847 , . 848 849 . 850 851 ; , 852 , 853 . , 854 . 855 , 856 . . 857 858 « , , » , « 859 . » 860 861 « , » . 862 863 « , , » . 864 865 « , , , . 866 . . » 867 868 « . 869 . 870 , 871 . , , 872 , , , 873 . » 874 875 « ! » . 876 877 « . 878 . . 879 . » 880 881 « , » . 882 883 « , . » 884 885 « , , . » 886 887 « , . » 888 889 « , . » 890 891 « , . » 892 893 « , » 894 . 895 896 « , . » 897 898 « ! » . 899 900 « , , 901 , » . 902 903 « , , , , , 904 . » 905 906 « ! » . 907 908 « , . , 909 , . - , 910 . » 911 912 « ! » 913 914 « , » , . « 915 , , 916 , 917 , . 918 ? » 919 920 « , » . « , 921 ? » 922 923 . 924 925 « , 926 , » . 927 928 . 929 930 « , » , , « 931 . » 932 933 , : 934 935 « , ? » 936 937 « . » 938 939 « ! . » 940 941 « ! , 942 . » 943 944 « . » 945 946 « , » , , « 947 948 . » 949 950 « ! ? » 951 952 « 953 . » 954 955 « , . 956 ! » 957 958 « , , . 959 , , , 960 . » 961 962 « - - - - ? » 963 964 « . , 965 966 . » 967 968 « , ; . , 969 970 , 971 . . » 972 973 « . » 974 975 « , , ? » , 976 . 977 978 « , ? » 979 980 « , , » 981 . 982 983 « , . » 984 985 « , . » 986 987 « ! » , . « 988 ! » 989 990 « , , , , 991 . » 992 993 « . » 994 995 « , 996 ? » 997 998 « , . » 999 1000