in search of the castaways-第78章

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locks　where　he　had　left　them　the　preceding　night。　　They　could　not　have　wandered　far　with　the　hobbles　on　their　legs。　They　looked　over　the　wood；　but　saw　no　signs　of　them；　and　Ayrton　returned　to　the　banks　of　the　river；　where　magnificent　mimosas　were　growing。　He　gave　a　cry　well　known　to　his　team；　but　there　was　no　reply。　The　quartermaster　seemed　uneasy；　and　his　companions　looked　at　him　with　disappointed　faces。　　An　hour　had　passed　in　vain　endeavors；　and　Glenarvan　was　about　to　go　back　to　the　wagon；　when　a　neigh　struck　on　his　ear；　and　immediately　after　a　bellow。　〃They　are　there！〃　cried　John　Mangles；　slipping　between　the　tall　branches　of　gastrolobium；　which　grew　high　enough　to　hide　a　whole　flock。　Glenarvan；　Mulrady；　and　Ayrton　darted　after　him；　and　speedily　shared　his　stupefaction　at　the　spectacle　which　met　their　gaze。　Two　bullocks　and　three　horses　lay　stretched　on　the　ground；　struck　down　like　the　rest。　　Their　bodies　were　already　cold；　and　a　flock　of　half…starved　looking　ravens　croaking　among　the　mimosas　were　watching　the　unexpected　prey。　Glenarvan　and　his　party　gazed　at　each　other　and　Wilson　could　not　keep　back　the　oath　that　rose　to　his　lips。　〃What　do　you　mean；　Wilson？〃　said　Glenarvan；　with　difficulty　controlling　himself。　　〃Ayrton；　bring　away　the　bullock　and　the　horse　we　have　left；　they　will　have　to　serve　us　now。〃　〃If　the　wagon　were　not　sunk　in　the　mud；〃　said　John　Mangles；　〃these　two　animals；　by　making　short　journeys；　would　be　able　to　take　us　to　the　coast；　so　we　must　get　the　vehicle　out；　cost　what　it　may。〃　〃We　will　try；　John；〃　replied　Glenarvan。　　〃Let　us　go　back　now；　or　they　will　be　uneasy　at　our　long　absence。〃　Ayrton　removed　the　hobbles　from　the　bullock　and　Mulrady　from　the　horse；　and　they　began　to　return　to　the　encampment；　following　the　winding　margin　of　the　river。　　In　half　an　hour　they　rejoined　Paganel；　and　McNabbs；　and　the　ladies；　and　told　them　of　this　fresh　disaster。　〃Upon　my　honor；　Ayrton；〃　the　Major　could　not　help　saying；　〃it　is　a　pity　that　you　hadn't　had　the　shoeing　of　all　our　beasts　when　we　forded　the　Wimerra。〃　〃Why；　sir？〃　asked　Ayrton。　〃Because　out　of　all　our　horses　only　the　one　your　blacksmith　had　in　his　hands　has　escaped　the　common　fate。〃　〃That's　true；〃　said　John　Mangles。　　〃It's　strange　it　happens　so。〃　〃A　mere　chance；　and　nothing　more；〃　replied　the　quartermaster；　looking　firmly　at　the　Major。　Major　McNabbs　bit　his　lips　as　if　to　keep　back　something　V。　IV　Verne　he　was　about　to　say。　　Glenarvan　and　the　rest　waited　for　him　to　speak　out　his　thoughts；　but　the　Major　was　silent；　and　went　up　to　the　wagon；　which　Ayrton　was　examining。　〃What　was　he　going　to　say。　　Mangles？〃　asked　Glenarvan。　〃I　don't　know；〃　replied　the　young　captain；　〃but　the　Major　is　not　at　all　a　man　to　speak　without　reason。〃　〃No；　John；〃　said　Lady　Helena。　　〃McNabbs　must　have　suspicions　about　Ayrton。〃　〃Suspicions！〃　exclaimed　Paganel；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃And　what　can　they　be？〃　asked　Glenarvan。　　〃Does　he　suppose　him　capable　of　having　killed　our　horses　and　bullocks？　　And　for　what　purpose？　Is　not　Ayrton's　interest　identical　with　our　own？〃　〃You　are　right；　dear　Edward；〃　said　Lady　Helena！　〃and　what　is　more；　the　quartermaster　has　given　us　incontestable　proofs　of　his　devotion　ever　since　the　commencement　of　the　journey。〃　〃Certainly　he　has；〃　replied　Mangles；　〃but　still；　what　could　the　Major　mean？　　I　wish　he　would　speak　his　mind　plainly　out。〃　〃Does　he　suppose　him　acting　in　concert　with　the　convicts？〃　asked　Paganel；　imprudently。　〃What　convicts？〃　said　Miss　Grant。　〃Monsieur　Paganel　is　making　a　mistake；〃　replied　John　Mangles；　instantly。　〃He　knows　very　well　there　are　no　convicts　in　the　province　of　Victoria。〃　〃Ah；　that　is　true；〃　returned　Paganel；　trying　to　get　out　of　his　unlucky　speech。　　〃Whatever　had　I　got　in　my　head？　　Convicts！　who　ever　heard　of　convicts　being　in　Australia？　　Besides；　they　would　scarcely　have　disembarked　before　they　would　turn　into　good；　honest　men。　The　climate；　you　know；　Miss　Mary；　the　regenerative　climate〃　Here　the　poor　SAVANT　stuck　fast；　unable　to　get　further；　like　the　wagon　in　the　mud。　　Lady　Helena　looked　at　him　in　surprise；　which　quite　deprived　him　of　his　remaining　_sang…froid；_　but　seeing　his　embarrassment；　she　took　Mary　away　to　the　side　of　the　tent；　where　M。　Olbinett　was　laying　out　an　elaborate　breakfast。　〃I　deserve　to　be　transported　myself；〃　said　Paganel；　woefully。　〃I　think　so；〃　said　Glenarvan。　And　after　this　grave　reply；　which　completely　overwhelmed　the　worthy　geographer；　Glenarvan　and　John　Mangles　went　toward　the　wagon。　They　found　Ayrton　and　the　two　sailors　doing　their　best　to　get　it　out　of　the　deep　ruts；　and　the　bullock　and　horse；　yoked　together；　were　straining　every　muscle。　　Wilson　and　Mulrady　were　pushing　the　wheels；　and　the　quartermaster　urging　on　the　team　with　voice　and　goad；　but　the　heavy　vehicle　did　not　stir；　the　clay；　already　dry；　held　it　as　firmly　as　if　sealed　by　some　hydraulic　cement。　John　Mangles　had　the　clay　watered　to　loosen　it；　but　it　was　of　no　use。　After　renewed　vigorous　efforts；　men　and　animals　stopped。　Unless　the　vehicle　was　taken　to　pieces；　it　would　be　impossible　to　extricate　it　from　the　mud；　but　they　had　no　tools　for　the　purpose；　and　could　not　attempt　such　a　task。　However；　Ayrton；　who　was　for　conquering　this　obstacle　at　all　costs；　was　about　to　commence　afresh；　when　Glenarvan　stopped　him　by　saying：　〃Enough；　Ayrton；　enough。　　We　must　husband　the　strength　of　our　remaining　horse　and　bullock。　　If　we　are　obliged　to　continue　our　journey　on　foot；　the　one　animal　can　carry　the　ladies　and　the　other　the　provisions。　They　may　thus　still　be　of　great　service　to　us。〃　〃Very　well；　my　Lord；〃　replied　the　quartermaster；　un…yoking　the　exhausted　beasts。　〃Now；　friends；〃　added　Glenarvan；　〃let　us　return　to　the　encampment　and　deliberately　examine　our　situation；　and　determine　on　our　course　of　action。〃　After　a　tolerably　good　breakfast　to　make　up　for　their　bad　night；　the　discussion　was　opened；　and　every　one　of　the　party　was　asked　to　give　his　opinion。　　The　first　point　was　to　ascertain　their　exact　position；　and　this　was　referred　to　Paganel；　who　informed　them；　with　his　customary　rigorous　accuracy；　that　the　expedition　had　been　stopped　on　the　37th　parallel；　in　longitude　147　degrees　53　minutes；　on　the　banks　of　the　Snowy　River。　〃What　is　the　exact　longitude　of　Twofold　Bay？〃　asked　Glenarvan。　〃One　hundred　and　fifty　degrees；〃　replied　Paganel；　〃two　degrees　seven　minutes　distant　from　this；　and　that　is　equal　to　seventy…five　miles。〃　〃And　Melbourne　is？〃　〃Two　hundred　miles　off　at　least。〃　〃Very　good。　　Our　position　being　then　settled；　what　is　best　to　do？〃　The　response　was　unanimous　to　get　to　the　coast　without　delay。　Lady　Helena　and　Mary　Grant　undertook　to　go　five　miles　a　day。　The　courageous　ladies　did　not　shrink；　if　necessary；　from　walking　the　whole　distance　between　the　Snowy　River　and　Twofold　Bay。　〃You　are　a　brave　traveling　companion；　dear　Helena；〃　said　Lord　Glenarvan。　　〃But　are　we　sure　of　finding　at　the　bay　all　we　want　when　we　get　there？〃　〃Without　the　least　doubt；〃　replied　Paganel。　　〃Eden　is　a　municipality　which　already　numbers　many　years　in　existence；　its　port　must　have　frequent　communication　with　Melbourne。　　I　suppose　even　at　Delegete；　on　the　Victoria　frontier；　thirty…five　miles　from　here；　we　might　revictual　our　expedition；　and　find　fresh　means　of　transport。〃　〃And　the　DUNCAN？〃　asked　Ayrt