按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e no mistake in giving this peculiar foliage to the tree； but men have erred in calling them EUCALYPTUS。〃 〃What does the word mean？〃 asked Mary Grant。 〃It comes from a Greek word； meaning I _cover well_。 They took care to commit the mistake in Greek； that it might not be so self…evident； for anyone can see that the ecualyptus covers badly。〃 〃I agree with you there；〃 said Glenarvan； 〃but now tell us； Paganel； how it is that the leaves grow in this fashion？〃 〃From a purely physical cause； friends；〃 said Paganel； 〃and one that you will easily understand。 In this country where the air is dry and rain seldom falls； and the ground is parched； the trees have no need of wind or sun。 Moisture lacking； sap is lacking also。 Hence these narrow leaves； which seek to defend themselves against the light； and prevent too great evaporation。 This is why they present the profile and not the face to the sun's rays。 There is nothing more intelligent than a leaf。〃 〃And nothing more selfish；〃 added the Major。 〃These only thought of themselves； and not at all of travelers。〃 Everyone inclined to the opinion of McNabbs except Paganel； who congratulated himself on walking under shadeless trees； though all the time he was wiping the perspiration from his forehead。 However； this disposition of foliage was certainly to be regretted； for the journey through the forest was often long and painful； as the traveler had no protection whatever against the sun's fierce rays。 The whole of this day the wagon continued to roll along through interminable rows of eucalyptus； without meeting either quadruped or native。 A few cockatoos lived in the tops of the trees； but at such a height they could scarcely be distinguished； and their noisy chatter was changed into an imperceptible murmur。 Occasionally a swarm of par…roquets flew along a distant path； and lighted it up for an instant with gay colors； but otherwise； solemn silence reigned in this vast green temple； and the tramp of the horses； a few words exchanged with each other by the riders； the grinding noise of the wheels； and from time to time a cry from Ayrton to stir up his lazy team； were the only sounds which disturbed this immense solitude。 When night came they camped at the foot of some eucalyptus； which bore marks of a comparatively recent fire。 They looked like tall factory chimneys； for the flame had completely hollowed them out their whole length。 With the thick bark still covering them； they looked none the worse。 However； this bad habit of squatters or natives will end in the destruction of these magnificent trees； and they will disappear like the cedars of Lebanon； those world monuments burnt by unlucky camp fires。 Olbinett； acting on Paganel's advice； lighted his fire to prepare supper in one of these tubular trunks。 He found it drew capitally； and the smoke was lost in the dark foliage above。 The requisite precautions were taken for the night； and Ayrton； Mulrady； Wilson and John Mangles undertook in turn to keep watch until sunrise。 On the 3d of January； all day long； they came to nothing but the same symmetrical avenues of trees； it seemed as if they never were going to end。 However； toward evening the ranks of trees began to thin； and on a little plain a few miles off an assemblage of regular houses。 〃Seymour！〃 cried Paganel； 〃that is the last town we come to in the province of Victoria。〃 〃Is it an important one？〃 asked Lady Helena。 〃It is a mere village； madam； but on the way to become a municipality。〃 〃Shall we find a respectable hotel there？〃 asked Glenarvan。 〃I hope so；〃 replied Paganel。 〃Very well； let us get on to the town； for our fair travelers； with all their courage； will not be sorry； I fancy； to have a good night's rest。〃 〃My dear Edward； Mary and I will accept it gladly； but only on the condition that it will cause no delay； or take us the least out of the road。〃 〃It will do neither；〃 replied Lord Glenarvan。 〃Besides； our bullocks are fatigued； and we will start to…morrow at daybreak。〃 It was now nine o'clock； the moon was just beginning to rise； but her rays were only slanting yet； and lost in the mist。 It was gradually getting dark when the little party entered the wide streets of Seymour； under Paganel's guidance； who seemed always to know what he had never seen； but his instinct led him right； and he walked straight to Campbell's North British Hotel。 The Major without even leaving the hotel； was soon aware that fear absorbed the inhabitants of the little town。 Ten minutes' conversation with Dickson； the loquacious landlord； made him completely acquainted with the actual state of affairs； but he never breathed a word to any one。 When supper was over； though； and Lady Glenarvan； and Mary； and Robert had retired； the Major detained his companions a little； and said； 〃They have found out the perpetrators of the crime on the Sandhurst railroad。〃 〃And are they arrested？〃 asked Ayrton； eagerly。 〃No；〃 replied McNabbs； without apparently noticing the EMPRESSMENT of the quartermasteran EMPRESSMENT which； moreover； was reasonable enough under the circumstances。 〃So much the worse；〃 replied Ayrton。 〃Well；〃 said Glenarvan； 〃who are the authors of the crime？〃 〃Read；〃 replied the Major； offering Glenarvan a copy of the _Australian and New Zealand Gazette_； 〃and you will see that the inspector of the police was not mistaken。〃 Glenarvan read aloud the following message： SYDNEY； Jan。 2； 1866。
It will be remembered that on the night of the 29th or 30th of last December there was an accident at Camden Bridge； five miles beyond the station at Castlemaine； on the railway from Melbourne to Sandhurst。 The night express； 11。45； dashing along at full speed； was precipitated into the Loddon River。 Camden Bridge had been left open。 The numerous robberies committed after the accident； the body of the guard picked up about half a mile from Camden Bridge； proved that this catastrophe was the result of a crime。 Indeed； the coroner's inquest decided that the crime must be attributed to the band of convicts which escaped six months ago from the Penitentiary at Perth； Western Australia； just as they were about to be transferred to Norfolk Island。 The gang numbers twenty…nine men； they are under the command of a certain Ben Joyce； a criminal of the most dangerous class； who arrived in Australia a few months ago； by what ship is not known； and who has hitherto succeeded in evading the hands of justice。 The inhabitants of towns； colonists and squatters at stations； are hereby cautioned to be on their guard； and to communicate to the Surveyor…General any information that may aid his search。 J。 P。 MITCHELL； S。 G。
When Glenarvan had finished reading this article； McNabbs turned to the geographer and said； 〃You see； Paganel； there can be convicts in Australia。〃 〃Escaped convicts； that is evident；〃 replied Paganel； 〃but not regularly transported criminals。 Those fellows have no business here。〃 〃Well； they are here； at any rate；〃 said Glenarvan； 〃but I don't suppose the fact need materially alter our arrangements。 What do you think； John？〃 John Mangles did not reply immediately； he hesitated between the sorrow it would cause the two children to give up the search； and the fear of compromising the expedition