in search of the castaways-第114章

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hen　they　saw　Glenarvan's　features　contract　and　grow　pale；　and　the　glass　drop　from　his　hands。　　One　word　explained　it。　〃The　DUNCAN！〃　exclaimed　Glenarvan。　　〃The　DUNCAN；　and　the　convicts！〃　〃The　DUNCAN！〃　cried　John；　letting　go　his　oar　and　rising。　〃Yes；　death　on　all　sides！〃　murmured　Glenarvan；　crushed　by　despair。　It　was　indeed　the　yacht；　they　could　not　mistake　herthe　yacht　and　her　bandit　crew！　The　major　could　scarcely　restrain　himself　from　cursing　their　destiny。　The　canoe　was　meantime　standing　still。　　Where　should　they　go？　Whither　fly？　　What　choice　was　there　between　the　convicts　and　the　savages？　A　shot　was　fired　from　the　nearest　of　the　native　boats；　and　the　ball　struck　Wilson's　oar。　A　few　strokes　then　carried　the　canoe　nearer　to　the　DUNCAN。　The　yacht　was　coming　down　at　full　speed；　and　was　not　more　than　half　a　mile　off。　John　Mangles；　between　two　enemies；　did　not　know　what　to　advise；　whither　to　fly！　　The　two　poor　ladies　on　their　knees；　prayed　in　their　agony。　The　savages　kept　up　a　running　fire；　and　shots　were　raining　round　the　canoe；　when　suddenly　a　loud　report　was　heard；　and　a　ball　from　the　yacht's　cannon　passed　over　their　heads；　and　now　the　boat　remained　motionless　between　the　DUNCAN　and　the　native　canoes。　John　Mangles；　frenzied　with　despair；　seized　his　ax。　　He　was　about　to　scuttle　the　boat　and　sink　it　with　his　unfortunate　companions；　when　a　cry　from　Robert　arrested　his　arm。　〃Tom　Austin！　　Tom　Austin！〃　the　lad　shouted。　　〃He　is　on　board！　I　see　him！　　He　knows　us！　　He　is　waving　his　hat。〃　The　ax　hung　useless　in　John's　hand。　A　second　ball　whistled　over　his　head；　and　cut　in　two　the　nearest　of　the　three　native　boats；　while　a　loud　hurrah　burst　forth　on　board　the　DUNCAN。　The　savages　took　flight；　fled　and　regained　the　shore。　〃Come　on；　Tom；　come　on！〃　cried　John　Mangles　in　a　joyous　voice。　And　a　few　minutes　after；　the　ten　fugitives；　how；　they　knew　not；　were　all　safe　on　board　the　DUNCAN。

CHAPTER　XVI　WHY　THE　〃DUNCAN〃　WENT　TO　NEW　ZEALAND

IT　would　be　vain　to　attempt　to　depict　the　feelings　of　Glenarvan　and　his　friends　when　the　songs　of　old　Scotia　fell　on　their　ears。　The　moment　they　set　foot　on　the　deck　of　the　DUNCAN；　the　piper　blew　his　bagpipes；　and　commenced　the　national　pibroch　of　the　Malcolm　clan；　while　loud　hurrahs　rent　the　air。　Glenarvan　and　his　whole　party；　even　the　Major　himself；　were　crying　and　embracing　each　other。　　They　were　delirious　with　joy。　The　geographer　was　absolutely　mad。　　He　frisked　about；　telescope　in　hand；　pointing　it　at　the　last　canoe　approaching　the　shore。　But　at　the　sight　of　Glenarvan　and　his　companions；　with　their　clothing　in　rags；　and　thin；　haggard　faces；　bearing　marks　of　horrible　sufferings；　the　crew　ceased　their　noisy　demonstrations。　These　were　specters　who　had　returnednot　the　bright；　adventurous　travelers　who　had　left　the　yacht　three　months　before；　so　full　of　hope！　　Chance；　and　chance　only；　had　brought　them　back　to　the　deck　of　the　yacht　they　never　thought　to　see　again。　And　in　what　a　state　of　exhaustion　and　feebleness。　But　before　thinking　of　fatigue；　or　attending　to　the　imperious　demands　of　hunger　and　thirst；　Glenarvan　questioned　Tom　Austin　about　his　being　on　this　coast。　Why　had　the　DUNCAN　come　to　the　eastern　coast　of　New　Zealand？　　How　was　it　not　in　the　hands　of　Ben　Joyce？　　By　what　providential　fatality　had　God　brought　them　in　the　track　of　the　fugitives？　Why？　how？　and　for　what　purpose？　　Tom　was　stormed　with　questions　on　all　sides。　　The　old　sailor　did　not　know　which　to　listen　to　first；　and　at　last　resolved　to　hear　nobody　but　Glenarvan；　and　to　answer　nobody　but　him。　〃But　the　convicts？〃　inquired　Glenarvan。　　〃What　did　you　do　with　them？〃　〃The　convicts？〃　replied　Tom；　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　does　not　in　the　least　understand　what　he　is　being　asked。　〃Yes；　the　wretches　who　attacked　the　yacht。〃　〃What　yacht？　　Your　Honor's？〃　〃Why；　of　course；　Tom。　　The　DUNCAN；　and　Ben　Joyce；　who　came　on　board。〃　〃I　don't　know　this　Ben　Joyce；　and　have　never　seen　him。〃　〃Never　seen　him！〃　exclaimed　Paganel；　stupefied　at　the　old　sailor's　replies。　　〃Then　pray　tell　me；　Tom；　how　it　is　that　the　DUNCAN　is　cruising　at　this　moment　on　the　coast　of　New　Zealand？〃　But　if　Glenarvan　and　his　friends　were　totally　at　a　loss　to　understand　the　bewilderment　of　the　old　sailor；　what　was　their　amazement　when　he　replied　in　a　calm　voice：　〃The　DUNCAN　is　cruising　here　by　your　Honor's　orders。〃　〃By　my　orders？〃　cried　Glenarvan。　〃Yes；　my　Lord。　　I　only　acted　in　obedience　to　the　instructions　sent　in　your　letter　of　January　fourteenth。〃　〃My　letter！　my　letter！〃　exclaimed　Glenarvan。　The　ten　travelers　pressed　closer　round　Tom　Austin；　devouring　him　with　their　eyes。　　The　letter　dated　from　Snowy　River　had　reached　the　DUNCAN；　then。　〃Let　us　come　to　explanations；　pray；　for　it　seems　to　me　I　am　dreaming。　You　received　a　letter；　Tom？〃　〃Yes；　a　letter　from　your　Honor。〃　〃At　Melbourne？〃　〃At　Melbourne；　just　as　our　repairs　were　completed。〃　〃And　this　letter？〃　〃It　was　not　written　by　you；　but　bore　your　signature；　my　Lord。〃　〃Just　so；　my　letter　was　brought　by　a　convict　called　Ben　Joyce。〃　〃No；　by　a　sailor　called　Ayrton；　a　quartermaster　on　the　BRITANNIA。〃　〃Yes；　Ayrton　or　Ben　Joyce；　one　and　the　same　individual。　Well；　and　what　were　the　contents　of　this　letter？〃　〃It　contained　orders　to　leave　Melbourne　without　delay；　and　go　and　cruise　on　the　eastern　coast　of〃　〃Australia！〃　said　Glenarvan　with　such　vehemence　that　the　old　sailor　was　somewhat　disconcerted。　〃Of　Australia？〃　repeated　Tom；　opening　his　eyes。　　〃No；　but　New　Zealand。〃　〃Australia；　Tom！　　Australia！〃　they　all　cried　with　one　voice。　Austin's　head　began　to　feel　in　a　whirl。　　Glenarvan　spoke　with　such　assurance　that　he　thought　after　all　he　must　have　made　a　mistake　in　reading　the　letter。　　Could　a　faithful；　exact　old　servant　like　himself　have　been　guilty　of　such　a　thing！　He　turned　red　and　looked　quite　disturbed。　〃Never　mind；　Tom；〃　said　Lady　Helena。　　〃God　so　willed　it。〃　〃But；　no；　madam；　pardon　me；〃　replied　old　Tom。　　〃No；　it　is　impossible；　I　was　not　mistaken。　　Ayrton　read　the　letter　as　I　did；　and　it　was　he；　on　the　contrary；　who　wished　to　bring　me　to　the　Australian　coast。〃　〃Ayrton！〃　cried　Glenarvan。　〃Yes；　Ayrton　himself。　　He　insisted　it　was　a　mistake：　that　you　meant　to　order　me　to　Twofold　Bay。〃　〃Have　you　the　letter　still；　Tom？〃　asked　the　Major；　extremely　interested　in　this　mystery。　〃Yes；　Mr。　McNabbs；〃　replied　Austin。　　〃I'll　go　and　fetch　it。〃　V。　IV　Verne　He　ran　at　once　to　his　cabin　in　the　forecastle。　　During　his　momentary　absence　they　gazed　at　each　other　in　silence；　all　but　the　Major；　who　crossed　his　arms　and　said：　〃Well；　now；　Paganel；　you　must　own　this　would　be　going　a　little　too　far。〃　〃What？〃　growled　Paganel；　looking　like　a　gigantic　note　of　interrogation；　with　his　spectacles　on　his　forehead　and　his　stooping　back。　Austin　returned　directly　with　the　letter　written　by　Paganel　and　signed　by　Glenarvan。　〃Will　your　Honor　read　it？〃　he　said；　handing　it　to　him。　Glenarvan　took　the　letter　and　read　as　follows：　〃Order　to　Tom　Austin　to　put　out　to　sea　without　delay；　and　to　take　the　Duncan；　by　latitude　37　degrees　to　the　eastern　coast　of　New　Zealand！〃　〃New　Zealand！〃　cried　Paganel；　leaping　up。　And　he　seized　the　letter　from　Glenarvan；　rubbed　his　eyes；　pushed　down　his　spectacles　on　his　nose；　and　read　it　for　himself。　〃New　Zealand！〃　he　repeated　in　an　indescribable　tone；　letting　the　order　slip　between