in search of the castaways-第61章

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　when　we　find　Mary　Grant's　father。〃　〃Oh！　your　Lordship；〃　murmured　John；　turning　pale。　　He　could　say　no　more；　but　grasped　Lord　Glenarvan's　hand。　Next　day；　John　Mangles　and　the　ship's　carpenter；　accompanied　by　sailors　carrying　provisions；　went　back　to　Paddy　O'Moore's　house　to　consult　the　Irishman　about　the　best　method　of　transport。　All　the　family　met　him；　ready　to　give　their　best　help。　Ayrton　was　there；　and　gave　the　benefit　of　his　experience。　On　one　point　both　he　and　Paddy　agreed；　that　the　journey　should　be　made　in　a　bullock…wagon　by　the　ladies；　and　that　the　gentlemen　should　ride　on　horseback。　　Paddy　could　furnish　both　bullocks　and　vehicle。　The　vehicle　was　a　cart　twenty　feet　long；　covered　over　by　a　tilt；　and　resting　on　four　large　wheels　without　spokes　or　felloes；　or　iron　tires　in　a　word；　plain　wooden　discs。　　The　front　and　hinder　part　were　connected　by　means　of　a　rude　mechanical　contrivance；　which　did　not　allow　of　the　vehicle　turning　quickly。　　There　was　a　pole　in　front　thirty…five　feet　long；　to　which　the　bullocks　were　to　be　yoked　in　couples。　These　animals　were　able　to　draw　both　with　head　and　neck；　as　their　yoke　was　fastened　on　the　nape　of　the　neck；　and　to　this　a　collar　was　attached　by　an　iron　peg。　　It　required　great　skill　to　drive　such　a　long；　narrow；　shaky　concern；　and　to　guide　such　a　team　by　a　goad；　but　Ayrton　had　served　his　apprenticeship　to　it　on　the　Irishman's　farm；　and　Paddy　could　answer　for　his　com…petency。　The　role　of　conductor　was　therefore　assigned　to　him。　There　were　no　springs　to　the　wagon；　and；　consequently；　it　was　not　likely　to　be　very　comfortable；　but；　such　as　it　was；　they　had　to　take　it。　But　if　the　rough　construction　could　not　be　altered；　John　Mangles　resolved　that　the　interior　should　be　made　as　easy　as　possible。　His　first　care　was　to　divide　it　into　two　compartments　by　a　wooden　partition。　　The　back　one　was　intended　for　the　provisions　and　luggage；　and　M。　Olbinett's　portable　kitchen。　　The　front　was　set　apart　especially　for　the　ladies；　and；　under　the　carpenter's　hands；　was　to　be　speedily　converted　into　a　comfortable　room；　covered　with　a　thick　carpet；　and　fitted　up　with　a　toilet　table　and　two　couches。　　Thick　leather　curtains　shut　in　this　apartment；　and　protected　the　occupants　from　the　chilliness　of　the　nights。　In　case　of　necessity；　the　gentlemen　might　shelter　themselves　here；　when　the　violent　rains　came　on；　but　a　tent　was　to　be　their　usual　resting…place　when　the　caravan　camped　for　the　night。　John　Mangles　exercised　all　his　ingenuity　in　furnishing　the　small　space　with　everything　that　the　two　ladies　could　possibly　require；　and　he　succeeded　so　well；　that　neither　Lady　Helena　nor　Mary　had　much　reason　to　regret　leaving　their　cosy　cabins　on　board　the　DUNCAN。　For　the　rest　of　the　party；　the　preparations　were　soon　made；　for　they　needed　much　less。　　Strong　horses　were　provided　for　Lord　Glenarvan；　Paganel；　Robert　Grant；　McNabbs；　and　John　Mangles；　also　for　the　two　sailors；　Wilson　and　Mulrady；　who　were　to　accompany　their　captain。　　Ayrton's　place　was；　of　course；　to　be　in　front　of　the　wagon；　and　M。　Olbinett；　who　did　not　much　care　for　equitation；　was　to　make　room　for　himself　among　the　baggage。　Horses　and　bullocks　were　grazing　in　the　Irishman's　meadows；　ready　to　fetch　at　a　moment's　notice。　After　all　arrangements　were　made；　and　the　carpenter　set　to　work；　John　Mangles　escorted　the　Irishman　and　his　family　back　to　the　vessel；　for　Paddy　wished　to　return　the　visit　of　Lord　Glenarvan。　　Ayrton　thought　proper　to　go　too；　and　about　four　o'clock　the　party　came　over　the　side　of　the　DUNCAN。　They　were　received　with　open　arms。　　Glenarvan　would　not　be　outstripped　in　politeness；　and　invited　his　visitors　to　stop　and　dine。　His　hospitality　was　willingly　accepted。　　Paddy　was　quite　amazed　at　the　splendor　of　the　saloon；　and　was　loud　in　admiration　of　the　fitting　up　of　the　cabins；　and　the　carpets　and　hangings；　as　well　as　of　the　polished　maple…wood　of　the　upper　deck。　Ayrton's　approbation　was　much　less　hearty；　for　he　considered　it　mere　costly　superfluity。　But　when　he　examined　the　yacht　with　a　sailor's　eye；　the　quartermaster　of　the　BRITANNIA　was　as　enthusiastic　about　it　as　Paddy。　　He　went　down　into　the　hold；　inspected　the　screw　department　and　the　engine…room；　examining　the　engine　thoroughly；　and　inquired　about　its　power　and　consumption。　He　explored　the　coal…bunkers；　the　store…room；　the　powder…store；　and　armory；　in　which　last　he　seemed　to　be　particularly　attracted　by　a　cannon　mounted　on　the　forecastle。　　Glenarvan　saw　he　had　to　do　with　a　man　who　understood　such　matters；　as　was　evident　from　his　questions。　Ayrton　concluded　his　investigations　by　a　survey　of　the　masts　and　rigging。　〃You　have　a　fine　vessel；　my　Lord；〃　he　said　after　his　curiosity　was　satisfied。　〃A　good　one；　and　that　is　best；〃　replied　Glenarvan。　〃And　what　is　her　tonnage？〃　〃Two　hundred　and　ten　tons。〃　〃I　don't　think　I　am　far　out；〃　continued　Ayrton；　〃in　judging　her　speed　at　fifteen　knots。　　I　should　say　she　could　do　that　easily。〃　〃Say　seventeen；〃　put　in　John　Mangles；　〃and　you've　hit　the　mark。〃　〃Seventeen！〃　exclaimed　the　quartermaster。　　〃Why；　not　a　man…of…war　not　the　best　among　them；　I　meancould　chase　her！〃　〃Not　one；〃　replied　Mangles。　　〃The　DUNCAN　is　a　regular　racing　yacht；　and　would　never　let　herself　be　beaten。〃　〃Even　at　sailing？〃　asked　Ayrton。　〃Even　at　sailing。〃　〃Well；　my　Lord；　and　you　too；　captain；〃　returned　Ayrton；　〃allow　a　sailor　who　knows　what　a　ship　is　worth；　to　compliment　you　on　yours。〃　〃Stay　on　board　of　her；　then；　Ayrton；〃　said　Glenarvan；　〃it　rests　with　yourself　to　call　it　yours。〃　〃I　will　think　of　it；　my　Lord；〃　was　all　Ayrton's　reply。　Just　then　M。　Olbinett　came　to　announce　dinner；　and　his　Lordship　repaired　with　his　guests　to　the　saloon。　〃That　Ayrton　is　an　intelligent　man；〃　said　Paganel　to　the　Major。　〃Too　intelligent！〃　muttered　McNabbs；　who；　without　any　apparent　reason；　had　taken　a　great　dislike　to　the　face　and　manners　of　the　quartermaster。　During　the　dinner；　Ayrton　gave　some　interesting　details　about　the　Australian　continent；　which　he　knew　perfectly。　He　asked　how　many　sailors　were　going　to　accompany　the　expedition；　and　seemed　astonished　to　hear　that　only　two　were　going。　He　advised　Glenarvan　to　take　all　his　best　men；　and　even　urged　him　to　do　it；　which　advice；　by　the　way；　ought　to　have　removed　the　Major's　suspicion。　〃But；〃　said　Glenarvan；　〃our　journey　is　not　dangerous；　is　it？〃　〃Not　at　all；〃　replied　Ayrton；　quickly。　〃Well　then；　we'll　have　all　the　men　we　can　on　board。　Hands　will　be　wanted　to　work　the　ship；　and　to　help　in　the　repairs。　Besides；　it　is　of　the　utmost　importance　that　she　should　meet　us　to　the　very　day；　at　whatever　place　may　be　ultimately　selected。　Consequently；　we　must　not　lessen　her　crew。〃　Ayrton　said　nothing　more；　as　if　convinced　his　Lordship　was　right。　When　evening　came；　Scotch　and　Irish　separated。　Ayrton　and　Paddy　O'Moore　and　family　returned　home。　Horses　and　wagons　were　to　be　ready　the　next　day；　and　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning　was　fixed　for　starting。　Lady　Helena　and　Mary　Grant　soon　made　their　preparations。　They　had　less　to　do　than　Jacques　Paganel；　for　he　spent　half　the　night　in　arranging；　and　wiping；　and　rubbing　up　the　lenses　of　his　telescope。　Of　course；　next　morning　he　slept　on　till　the　Major's　stentorian　voice　roused　him。　The　luggage　was　already　conveyed　to　the　farm；　thanks　to　John　Mangles；　and　a　b