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struck him。 He had an exquisite portrait of Lady Helena in his pocket； a CHEF…D'OEUVRE of Lawrence。 This he drew out； and offered to Thalcave； simply saying： 〃My wife。〃 The Indian gazed at it with a softened eye； and said： 〃Good and beautiful。〃 Then Robert； and Paganel； and the Major； and the rest； exchanged touching farewells with the faithful Patagonian。 Thalcave embraced them each； and pressed them to his broad chest。 Paganel made him accept a map of South America and the two oceans； which he had often seen the Indian looking at with interest。 It was the most precious thing the geographer possessed。 As for Robert； he had only caresses to bestow； and these he lavished on his friend； not forgetting to give a share to Thaouka。 The boat from the DUNCAN was now fast approaching； and in another minute had glided into a narrow channel between the sand…banks； and run ashore。 〃My wife？〃 were Glenarvan's first words。 〃My sister？〃 said Robert。 〃Lady Helena and Miss Grant are waiting for you on board；〃 replied the coxswain； 〃but lose no time your honor； we have not a minute； for the tide is beginning to ebb already。〃 The last kindly adieux were spoken； and Thalcave accompanied his friends to the boat； which had been pushed back into the water。 Just as Robert was going to step in； the Indian took him in his arms； and gazed tenderly into his face。 Then he said： 〃Now go。 You are a man。〃 〃Good…by； good…by； friend！〃 said Glenarvan； once more。 〃Shall we never see each other again？〃 Paganel called out。 〃_Quien sabe？_〃 （Who knows？） replied Thalcave； lifting his arms toward heaven。 These were the Indian's last words； dying away on the breeze； as the boat receded gradually from the shore。 For a long time； his dark； motionless SILHOUETTE stood out against the sky； through the white； dashing spray of the waves。 Then by degrees his tall form began to diminish in size； till at last his friends of a day lost sight of him altogether。 An hour afterward Robert was the first to leap on board the DUNCAN。 He flung his arms round Mary's neck； amid the loud； joyous hurrahs of the crew on the yacht。 Thus the journey across South America was accomplished； the given line of march being scrupulously adhered to throughout。 Neither mountains nor rivers had made the travelers change their course； and though they had not had to encounter any ill…will from men； their generous intrepidity had been often enough roughly put to the proof by the fury of the unchained elements。 END OF BOOK ONE
In Search of the Castaways or The Children of Captain Grant Australia ＇page intentionally blank＇
In Search of the Castaways Australia CHAPTER I A NEW DESTINATION
FOR the first few moments the joy of reunion completely filled the hearts。 Lord Glenarvan had taken care that the ill…success of their expedition should not throw a gloom over the pleasure of meeting； his very first words being： 〃Cheer up； friends； cheer up！ Captain Grant is not with us； but we have a certainty of finding him！〃 Only such an assurance as this would have restored hope to those on board the DUNCAN。 Lady Helena and Mary Grant had been sorely tried by the suspense； as they stood on the poop waiting for the arrival of the boat； and trying to count the number of its passengers。 Alternate hope and fear agitated the bosom of poor Mary。 Sometimes she fancied she could see her father； Harry Grant； and sometimes she gave way to despair。 Her heart throbbed violently； she could not speak； and indeed could scarcely stand。 Lady Helena put her arm round her waist to support her； but the captain； John Mangles； who stood close beside them spoke no encouraging word； for his practiced eye saw plainly that the captain was not there。 〃He is there！ He is coming！ Oh； father！〃 exclaimed the young girl。 But as the boat came nearer； her illusion was dispelled； all hope forsook her； and she would have sunk in despair； but for the reassuring voice of Glenarvan。 After their mutual embraces were over； Lady Helena； and Mary Grant； and John Mangles； were informed of the principal incidents of the expedition； and especially of the new interpretation of the document； due to the sagacity of Jacques Paganel。 His Lordship also spoke in the most eulogistic terms of Robert； of whom Mary might well be proud。 His courage and devotion； and the dangers he had run； were all shown up in strong relief by his patron； till the modest boy did not know which way to look； and was obliged to hide his burning cheeks in his sister's arms。 〃No need to blush； Robert；〃 said John Mangles。 〃Your conduct has been worthy of your name。〃 And he leaned over the boy and pressed his lips on his cheek； still wet with Mary's tears。 The Major and Paganel； it need hardly be said； came in for their due share of welcome； and Lady Helena only regretted she could not shake hands with the brave and generous Thalcave。 McNabbs soon slipped away to his cabin； and began to shave himself as coolly and composedly as possible； while Paganel flew here and there； like a bee sipping the sweets of compliments and smiles。 He wanted to embrace everyone on board the yacht； and beginning with Lady Helena and Mary Grant； wound up with M。 Olbinett； the steward； who could only acknowledge so polite an attention by announcing that breakfast was ready。 〃Breakfast！〃 exclaimed Paganel。 〃Yes； Monsieur Paganel。〃 〃A real breakfast； on a real table； with a cloth and napkins？〃 〃Certainly； Monsieur Paganel。〃 〃And we shall neither have CHARQUI； nor hard eggs； nor fillets of ostrich？〃 〃Oh； Monsieur；〃 said Olbinett in an aggrieved tone。 〃I don't want to hurt your feelings； my friend；〃 said the geographer smiling。 〃But for a month that has been our usual bill of fare； and when we dined we stretched ourselves full length on the ground； unless we sat astride on the trees。 Consequently； the meal you have just announced seemed to me like a dream； or fiction； or chimera。〃 〃Well； Monsieur Paganel； come along and let us prove its reality；〃 said Lady Helena； who could not help laughing。 〃Take my arm；〃 replied the gallant geographer。 〃Has his Lordship any orders to give me about the DUNCAN？〃 asked John Mangles。 〃After breakfast； John；〃 replied Glenarvan； 〃we'll discuss the program of our new expedition _en famille_。〃 M。 Olbinett's breakfast seemed quite a FETE to the hungry guests。 It was pronounced excellent； and even superior to the festivities of the Pampas。 Paganel was helped twice to each dish； through 〃absence of mind；〃 he said。 This unlucky word reminded Lady Helena of the amiable Frenchman's propensity； and made her ask if he had ever fallen into his old habits while they were away。 The Major and Glenarvan exchanged smiling glances； and Paganel burst out laughing； and protested on his honor that he would never be caught tripping again once more during the whole voyage。 After this prelude； he gave an amusing recital of his disastrous mistake in learning Spanish； and his profound study of Camoens。 〃After all；〃 he added； 〃it's an ill wind that blows nobody good； and I don't regret the mistake。〃 〃Why not； my worthy friend？〃 asked the Major。 〃Because I not only know Spanish； but Portuguese。 I can speak two languages instead of one。〃 〃Upon my word； I never thought of that；〃 said McNabbs。 〃My c