in search of the castaways-第115章

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it　for　himself。　〃New　Zealand！〃　he　repeated　in　an　indescribable　tone；　letting　the　order　slip　between　his　fingers。　That　same　moment　he　felt　a　hand　laid　on　his　shoulder；　and　turning　round　found　himself　face　to　face　with　the　Major；　who　said　in　a　grave　tone：　〃Well；　my　good　Paganel；　after　all；　it　is　a　lucky　thing　you　did　not　send　the　DUNCAN　to　Cochin　China！〃　This　pleasantry　finished　the　poor　geographer。　　The　crew　burst　out　into　loud　Homeric　laughter。　　Paganel　ran　about　like　a　madman；　seized　his　head　with　both　hands　and　tore　his　hair。　He　neither　knew　what　he　was　doing　nor　what　he　wanted　to　do。　He　rushed　down　the　poop　stairs　mechanically　and　paced　the　deck；　nodding　to　himself　and　going　straight　before　without　aim　or　object　till　he　reached　the　forecastle。　　There　his　feet　got　entangled　in　a　coil　of　rope。　　He　stumbled　and　fell；　accidentally　catching　hold　of　a　rope　with　both　hands　in　his　fall。　Suddenly　a　tremendous　explosion　was　heard。　　The　forecastle　gun　had　gone　off；　riddling　the　quiet　calm　of　the　waves　with　a　volley　of　small　shot。　　The　unfortunate　Paganel　had　caught　hold　of　the　cord　of　the　loaded　gun。　　The　geographer　was　thrown　down　the　forecastle　ladder　and　disappeared　below。　A　cry　of　terror　succeeded　the　surprise　produced　by　the　explosion。　Everybody　thought　something　terrible　must　have　happened。　　The　sailors　rushed　between　decks　and　lifted　up　Paganel；　almost　bent　double。　The　geographer　uttered　no　sound。　They　carried　his　long　body　onto　the　poop。　　His　companions　were　in　despair。　　The　Major；　who　was　always　the　surgeon　on　great　occasions；　began　to　strip　the　unfortunate　that　he　might　dress　his　wounds；　but　he　had　scarcely　put　his　hands　on　the　dying　man　when　he　started　up　as　if　touched　by　an　electrical　machine。　〃Never！　never！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　pulling　his　ragged　coat　tightly　round　him；　he　began　buttoning　it　up　in　a　strangely　excited　manner。　〃But；　Paganel；〃　began　the　Major。　〃No；　I　tell　you！〃　〃I　must　examine〃　〃You　shall　not　examine。〃　〃You　may　perhaps　have　broken〃　continued　McNabbs。　〃Yes；〃　continued　Paganel；　getting　up　on　his　long　legs；　〃but　what　I　have　broken　the　carpenter　can　mend。〃　〃What　is　it；　then？〃　〃There。〃　Bursts　of　laughter　from　the　crew　greeted　this　speech。　Paganel's　friends　were　quite　reassured　about　him　now。　They　were　satisfied　that　he　had　come　off　safe　and　sound　from　his　adventure　with　the　forecastle　gun。　〃At　any　rate；〃　thought　the　Major；　〃the　geographer　is　wonderfully　bashful。〃　But　now　Paganel　was　recovered　a　little；　he　had　to　reply　to　a　question　he　could　not　escape。　〃Now；　Paganel；〃　said　Glenarvan；　〃tell　us　frankly　all　about　it。　I　own　that　your　blunder　was　providential。　　It　is　sure　and　certain　that　but　for　you　the　DUNCAN　would　have　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　convicts；　but　for　you　we　should　have　been　recaptured　by　the　Maories。　　But　for　my　sake　tell　me　by　what　supernatural　aberration　of　mind　you　were　induced　to　write　New　Zealand　instead　of　Australia？〃　〃Well；　upon　my　oath；〃　said　Paganel；　〃it　is〃　But　the　same　instant　his　eyes　fell　on　Mary　and　Robert　Grant；　and　he　stopped　short　and　then　went　on：　〃What　would　you　have　me　say；　my　dear　Glenarvan？　　I　am　mad；　I　am　an　idiot；　an　incorrigible　fellow；　and　I　shall　live　and　die　the　most　terrible　absent　man。　　I　can't　change　my　skin。〃　〃Unless　you　get　flayed　alive。〃　〃Get　flayed　alive！〃　cried　the　geographer；　with　a　furious　look。　〃Is　that　a　personal　allusion？〃　〃An　allusion　to　what？〃　asked　McNabbs；　quietly。　　This　was　all　that　passed。　The　mystery　of　the　DUNCAN'S　presence　on　the　coast　was　explained；　and　all　that　the　travelers　thought　about　now　was　to　get　back　to　their　comfortable　cabins；　and　to　have　breakfast。　However；　Glenarvan　and　John　Mangles　stayed　behind　with　Tom　Austin　after　the　others　had　retired。　　They　wished　to　put　some　further　questions　to　him。　〃Now；　then；　old　Austin；〃　said　Glenarvan；　〃tell　me；　didn't　it　strike　you　as　strange　to　be　ordered　to　go　and　cruise　on　the　coast　of　New　Zealand？〃　〃Yes；　your　Honor；〃　replied　Tom。　　〃I　was　very　much　surprised；　but　it　is　not　my　custom　to　discuss　any　orders　I　receive；　and　I　obeyed。　　Could　I　do　otherwise？　　If　some　catastrophe　had　occurred　through　not　carrying　out　your　injunctions　to　the　letter；　should　not　I　have　been　to　blame？　Would　you　have　acted　differently；　captain？〃　〃No；　Tom；〃　replied　John　Mangles。　〃But　what　did　you　think？〃　asked　Glenarvan。　〃I　thought；　your　Honor；　that　in　the　interest　of　Harry　Grant；　it　was　necessary　to　go　where　I　was　told　to　go。　　I　thought　that　in　consequence　of　fresh　arrangements；　you　were　to　sail　over　to　New　Zealand；　and　that　I　was　to　wait　for　you　on　the　east　coast　of　the　island。　Moreover；　on　leaving　Melbourne；　I　kept　our　destination　a　secret；　and　the　crew　only　knew　it　when　we　were　right　out　at　sea；　and　the　Australian　continent　was　finally　out　of　sight。　But　one　circumstance　occurred　which　greatly　perplexed　me。〃　〃What　was　it；　Tom？〃　asked　Glenarvan。　〃Just　this；　that　when　the　quartermaster　of　the　BRITANNIA　heard　our　destination〃　〃Ayrton！〃　cried　Glenarvan。　　〃Then　he　is　on　board？〃　〃Yes；　your　Honor。〃　〃Ayrton　here？〃　repeated　Glenarvan；　looking　at　John　Mangles。　〃God　has　so　willed！〃　said　the　young　captain。　In　an　instant；　like　lightning；　Ayrton's　conduct；　his　long…planned　treachery；　Glenarvan's　wound；　Mulrady's　assassination；　the　sufferings　of　the　expedition　in　the　marshes　of　the　Snowy　River；　the　whole　past　life　of　the　miscreant；　flashed　before　the　eyes　of　the　two　men。　And　now；　by　the　strangest　concourse　of　events；　the　convict　was　in　their　power。　〃Where　is　he？〃　asked　Glenarvan　eagerly。　〃In　a　cabin　in　the　forecastle；　and　under　guard。〃　〃Why　was　he　imprisoned？〃　〃Because　when　Ayrton　heard　the　vessel　was　going　to　New　Zealand；　he　was　in　a　fury；　because　he　tried　to　force　me　to　alter　the　course　of　the　ship；　because　he　threatened　me；　and；　last　of　all；　because　he　incited　my　men　to　mutiny。　　I　saw　clearly　he　was　a　dangerous　individual；　and　I　must　take　precautions　against　him。〃　〃And　since　then？〃　〃Since　then　he　has　remained　in　his　cabin　without　attempting　to　go　out。〃　〃That's　well；　Tom。〃　Just　at　this　moment　Glenarvan　and　John　Mangles　were　summoned　to　the　saloon　where　breakfast；　which　they　so　sorely　needed；　was　awaiting　them。　They　seated　themselves　at　the　table　and　spoke　no　more　of　Ayrton。　But　after　the　meal　was　over；　and　the　guests　were　refreshed　and　invigorated；　and　they　all　went　upon　deck；　Glenarvan　acquainted　them　with　the　fact　of　the　quartermaster's　presence　on　board；　and　at　the　same　time　announced　his　intention　of　having　him　brought　before　them。　〃May　I　beg　to　be　excused　from　being　present　at　his　examination？〃　said　Lady　Helena。　　〃I　confess；　dear　Edward；　it　would　be　extremely　painful　for　me　to　see　the　wretched　man。〃　〃He　must　be　confronted　with　us；　Helena；〃　replied　Lord　Glenarvan；　〃I　beg　you　will　stay。　　Ben　Joyce　must　see　all　his　victims　face　to　face。〃　Lady　Helena　yielded　to　his　wish。　　Mary　Grant　sat　beside　her；　near　Glenarvan。　　All　the　others　formed　a　group　round　them；　the　whole　party　that　had　been　compromised　so　seriously　by　the　treachery　of　the　convict。　The　crew　of　the　yacht；　without　understanding　the　gravity　of　the　situation；　kept　profound　silence。　〃Bring　Ayrton　here；〃　said　Glenarvan。

CHAPTER　XVII　AYRTON'S　OBSTINACY

AYRTON　came。　　He　crossed　the　deck　with　a　confident　tread；　and　mounted　the　steps　to　the　poop。　　His　eyes　were　gloomy；　his　teeth　set；　his　fist