in search of the castaways-第26章

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f　by　these　innumerable　MEDANOS；　which　was　so　impalpable　that　close　one's　eyes　as　they　might；　it　found　its　way　through　the　lids。　This　phenomenon　lasted　the　greater　part　of　the　day。　The　travelers　made　good　progress；　however；　and　about　four　o'clock　the　Cordilleras　lay　full　forty　miles　behind　them；　the　dark　outlines　being　already　almost　lost　in　the　evening　mists。　They　were　all　somewhat　fatigued　with　the　journey；　and　glad　enough　to　halt　for　the　night　on　the　banks　of　the　Neuquem；　called　Ramid；　or　Comoe　by　certain　geographers；　a　troubled；　turbulent　rapid　flowing　between　high　red　banks。　No　incident　of　any　importance　occurred　that　night　or　the　following　day。　They　rode　well　and　fast；　finding　the　ground　firm；　and　the　temperature　bearable。　　Toward　noon；　however；　the　sun's　rays　were　extremely　scorching；　and　when　evening　came；　a　bar　of　clouds　streaked　the　southwest　horizona　sure　sign　of　a　change　in　the　weather。　The　Patagonian　pointed　it　out　to　the　geographer；　who　replied：　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　and　turning　to　his　companions；　added；　〃see；　a　change　of　weather　is　coming！　　We　are　going　to　have　a　taste　of　PAMPERO。〃　And　he　went　on　to　explain　that　this　PAMPERO　is　very　common　in　the　Argentine　plains。　　It　is　an　extremely　dry　wind　which　blows　from　the　southwest。　　Thalcave　was　not　mistaken；　for　the　PAMPERO　blew　violently　all　night；　and　was　sufficiently　trying　to　poor　fellows　only　sheltered　by　their　ponchos。　　The　horses　lay　down　on　the　ground；　and　the　men　stretched　themselves　beside　them　in　a　close　group。　Glenarvan　was　afraid　they　would　be　delayed　by　the　continuance　of　the　hurricane；　but　Paganel　was　able　to　reassure　him　on　that　score；　after　consulting　his　barometer。　〃The　PAMPERO　generally　brings　a　tempest　which　lasts　three　days；　and　may　be　always　foretold　by　the　depression　of　the　mercury；〃　he　said。　　〃But　when　the　barometer　rises；　on　the　contrary；　which　is　the　case　now；　all　we　need　expect　is　a　few　violent　blasts。　So　you　can　make　your　mind　easy；　my　good　friend；　by　sunrise　the　sky　will　be　quite　clear　again。〃　〃You　talk　like　a　book；　Paganel；〃　replied　Glenarvan。　〃And　I　am　one；　and　what's　more；　you　are　welcome　to　turn　over　my　leaves　whenever　you　like。〃　The　book　was　right。　　At　one　o'clock　the　wind　suddenly　lulled；　and　the　weary　men　fell　asleep　and　woke　at　daybreak；　refreshed　and　invigorated。　It　was　the　20th　of　October；　and　the　tenth　day　since　they　had　left　Talcahuano。　　They　were　still　ninety　miles　from　the　point　where　the　Rio　Colorado　crosses　the　thirty…seventh　parallel；　that　is　to　say；　about　two　days'　journey。　　Glenarvan　kept　a　sharp　lookout　for　the　appearance　of　any　Indians；　intending　to　question　them；　through　Thalcave；　about　Captain　Grant；　as　Paganel　could　not　speak　to　him　well　enough　for　this。　　But　the　track　they　were　following　was　one　little　frequented　by　the　natives；　for　the　ordinary　routes　across　the　Pampas　lie　further　north。　If　by　chance　some　nomadic　horseman　came　in　sight　far　away；　he　was　off　again　like　a　dart；　not　caring　to　enter　into　conversation　with　strangers。　　To　a　solitary　individual；　a　little　troop　of　eight　men；　all　mounted　and　well　armed；　wore　a　suspicious　aspect；　so　that　any　intercourse　either　with　honest　men　or　even　banditti；　was　almost　impossible。　Glenarvan　was　regretting　this　exceedingly；　when　he　unexpectedly　met　with　a　singular　justification　of　his　rendering　of　the　eventful　document。　In　pursuing　the　course　the　travelers　had　laid　down　for　themselves；　they　had　several　times　crossed　the　routes　over　the　plains　in　common　use；　but　had　struck　into　none　of　them。　　Hitherto　Thalcave　had　made　no　remark　about　this。　　He　understood　quite　well；　however；　that　they　were　not　bound　for　any　particular　town；　or　village；　or　settlement。　Every　morning　they　set　out　in　a　straight　line　toward　the　rising　sun；　and　went　on　without　the　least　deviation。　　Moreover；　it　must　have　struck　Thalcave　that　instead　of　being　the　guide　he　was　guided；　yet；　with　true　Indian　reserve；　he　maintained　absolute　silence。　But　on　reaching　a　particular　point；　he　checked　his　horse　suddenly；　and　said　to　Paganel：　〃The　Carmen　route。〃　〃Yes；　my　good　Patagonian；〃　replied　Paganel　in　his　best　Spanish；　〃the　route　from　Carmen　to　Mendoza。〃　〃We　are　not　going　to　take　it？〃　〃No；〃　replied　Paganel。　〃Where　are　we　going　then？〃　〃Always　to　the　east。〃　〃That's　going　nowhere。〃　〃Who　knows？〃　Thalcave　was　silent；　and　gazed　at　the　geographer　with　an　air　of　profound　surprise。　　He　had　no　suspicion　that　Paganel　was　joking；　for　an　Indian　is　always　grave。　〃You　are　not　going　to　Carmen；　then？〃　he　added；　after　a　moment's　pause。　〃No。〃　〃Nor　to　Mendoza？〃　〃No；　nor　to　Mendoza。〃　Just　then　Glenarvan　came　up　to　ask　the　reason　of　the　stoppage；　and　what　he　and　Thalcave　were　discussing。　〃He　wanted　to　know　whether　we　were　going　to　Carmen　or　Mendoza；　and　was　very　much　surprised　at　my　negative　reply　to　both　questions。〃　〃Well；　certainly；　it　must　seem　strange　to　him。〃　〃I　think　so。　　He　says　we　are　going　nowhere。〃　〃Well；　Paganel；　I　wonder　if　it　is　possible　to　make　him　understand　the　object　of　our　expedition；　and　what　our　motive　is　for　always　going　east。〃　〃That　would　be　a　difficult　matter；　for　an　Indian　knows　nothing　about　degrees；　and　the　finding　of　the　document　would　appear　to　him　a　mere　fantastic　story。〃　〃Is　it　the　story　he　would　not　understand；　or　the　storyteller？〃　said　McNabbs；　quietly　〃Ah；　McNabbs；　I　see　you　have　small　faith　in　my　Spanish　yet。〃　〃Well；　try　it；　my　good　friend。〃　〃So　I　will。〃　And　turning　round　to　the　Patagonian　he　began　his　narrative；　breaking　down　frequently　for　the　want　of　a　word；　and　the　difficulty　of　making　certain　details　intelligible　to　a　half…civilized　Indian。　　It　was　quite　a　sight　to　see　the　learned　geographer。　　He　gesticulated　and　articulated；　and　so　worked　himself　up　over　it；　that　the　big　drops　of　sweat　fell　in　a　cascade　down　his　forehead　on　to　his　chest。　When　his　tongue　failed；　his　arms　were　called　to　aid。　Paganel　got　down　on　the　ground　and　traced　a　geographical　map　on　the　sand；　showing　where　the　lines　of　latitude　and　longitude　cross　and　where　the　two　oceans　were；　along　which　the　Carmen　route　led。　Thalcave　looked　on　composedly；　without　giving　any　indication　of　comprehending　or　not　comprehending。　The　lesson　had　lasted　half　an　hour；　when　the　geographer　left　off；　wiped　his　streaming　face；　and　waited　for　the　Patagonian　to　speak。　〃Does　he　understand？〃　said　Glenarvan。　〃That　remains　to　be　seen；　but　if　he　doesn't；　I　give　it　up；〃　replied　Paganel。　Thalcave　neither　stirred　nor　spoke。　　His　eyes　remained　fixed　on　the　lines　drawn　on　the　sand；　now　becoming　fast　effaced　by　the　wind。　〃Well？〃　said　Paganel　to　him　at　length。　The　Patagonian　seemed　not　to　hear。　　Paganel　fancied　he　could　detect　an　ironical　smile　already　on　the　lips　of　the　Major；　and　determined　to　carry　the　day；　was　about　to　recommence　his　geographical　illustrations；　when　the　Indian　stopped　him　by　a　gesture；　and　said：　〃You　are　in　search　of　a　prisoner？〃　〃Yes；〃　replied　Paganel。　〃And　just　on　this　line　between　the　setting　and　rising　sun？〃　added　Thalcave；　speaking　in　Indian　fashion　of　the　route　from　west　to　east。　〃Yes；　yes；　that's　it。〃　〃And　it's　your　God；〃　continued　the　guide；　〃that　has　sent　you　the　secret　of　this　prisoner　on　the　waves。〃　〃God　himself。〃　〃His　will　be　accomplished　then；〃　replied　the　native　almost　solemnly。　〃We　will　march　east；　and　if　it　needs　be；　to　the　sun。〃　Paganel；　triumphing