in search of the castaways-第12章

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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　zonesthe　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　inconsiderableI　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