in search of the castaways-第79章

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　we　might　revictual　our　expedition；　and　find　fresh　means　of　transport。〃　〃And　the　DUNCAN？〃　asked　Ayrton。　　〃Don't　you　think　it　advisable　to　send　for　her　to　come　to　the　bay？〃　〃What　do　you　think；　John？〃　said　Glenarvan。　〃I　don't　think　your　lordship　should　be　in　any　hurry　about　it；〃　replied　the　young　captain；　after　brief　reflection。　〃There　will　be　time　enough　to　give　orders　to　Tom　Austin；　and　summon　him　to　the　coast。〃　〃That's　quite　certain；〃　added　Paganel。　〃You　see；〃　said　John；　〃in　four　or　five　days　we　shall　reach　Eden。〃　〃Four　or　five　days！〃　repeated　Ayrton；　shaking　his　head；　〃say　fifteen　or　twenty；　Captain；　if　you　don't　want　to　repent　your　mistake　when　it　is　too　late。〃　〃Fifteen　or　twenty　days　to　go　seventy…five　miles？〃　cried　Glenarvan。　〃At　the　least；　my　Lord。　　You　are　going　to　traverse　the　most　difficult　portion　of　Victoria；　a　desert；　where　everything　is　wanting；　the　squatters　say；　plains　covered　with　scrub；　where　is　no　beaten　track　and　no　stations。　　You　will　have　to　walk　hatchet　or　torch　in　hand；　and；　believe　me；　that's　not　quick　work。〃　Ayrton　had　spoken　in　a　firm　tone；　and　Paganel；　at　whom　all　the　others　looked　inquiringly；　nodded　his　head　in　token　of　his　agreement　in　opinion　with　the　quartermaster。　But　John　Mangles　said；　〃Well；　admitting　these　difficulties；　in　fifteen　days　at　most　your　Lordship　can　send　orders　to　the　DUNCAN。〃　〃I　have　to　add；〃　said　Ayrton；　〃that　the　principal　difficulties　are　not　the　obstacles　in　the　road；　but　the　Snowy　River　has　to　be　crossed；　and　most　probably　we　must　wait　till　the　water　goes　down。〃　〃Wait！〃　cried　John。　　〃Is　there　no　ford？〃　〃I　think　not；〃　replied　Ayrton。　　〃This　morning　I　was　looking　for　some　practical　crossing；　but　could　not　find　any。　It　is　unusual　to　meet　with　such　a　tumultuous　river　at　this　time　of　the　year；　and　it　is　a　fatality　against　which　I　am　powerless。〃　〃Is　this　Snowy　River　wide？〃　asked　Lady　Helena。　〃Wide　and　deep；　Madam；〃　replied　Ayrton；　〃a　mile　wide；　with　an　impetuous　current。　　A　good　swimmer　could　not　go　over　without　danger。〃　〃Let　us　build　a　boat　then；〃　said　Robert；　who　never　stuck　at　anything。　〃We　have　only　to　cut　down　a　tree　and　hollow　it　out；　and　get　in　and　be　off。〃　〃He's　going　ahead；　this　boy　of　Captain　Grant's！〃　said　Paganel。　〃And　he's　right；〃　returned　John　Mangles。　　〃We　shall　be　forced　to　come　to　that；　and　I　think　it　is　useless　to　waste　our　time　in　idle　discussion。〃　〃What　do　you　think　of　it；　Ayrton？〃　asked　Glenarvan　seriously。　〃I　think；　my　Lord；　that　a　month　hence；　unless　some　help　arrives；　we　shall　find　ourselves　still　on　the　banks　of　the　Snowy。〃　〃Well；　then；　have　you　any　better　plan　to　propose？〃　said　John　Mangles；　somewhat　impatiently。　〃Yes；　that　the　DUNCAN　should　leave　Melbourne；　and　go　to　the　east　coast。〃　〃Oh；　always　the　same　story！　　And　how　could　her　presence　at　the　bay　facilitate　our　means　of　getting　there？〃　Ayrton　waited　an　instant　before　answering；　and　then　said；　rather　evasively：　　〃I　have　no　wish　to　obtrude　my　opinions。　What　I　do　is　for　our　common　good；　and　I　am　ready　to　start　the　moment　his　honor　gives　the　signal。〃　　And　he　crossed　his　arms　and　was　silent。　〃That　is　no　reply；　Ayrton；〃　said　Glenarvan。　　〃Tell　us　your　plan；　and　we　will　discuss　it。　　What　is　it　you　propose？〃　Ayrton　replied　in　a　calm　tone　of　assurance：　　〃I　propose　that　we　should　not　venture　beyond　the　Snowy　in　our　present　condition。　It　is　here　we　must　wait　till　help　comes；　and　this　help　can　only　come　from　the　DUNCAN。　　Let　us　camp　here；　where　we　have　provisions；　and　let　one　of　us　take　your　orders　to　Tom　Austin　to　go　on　to　Twofold　Bay。〃　This　unexpected　proposition　was　greeted　with　astonishment；　and　by　John　Mangles　with　openly…expressed　opposition。　〃Meantime；〃　continued　Ayrton；　〃either　the　river　will　get　lower；　and　allow　us　to　ford　it；　or　we　shall　have　time　to　make　a　canoe。　This　is　the　plan　I　submit　for　your　Lordship's　approval。〃　〃Well；　Ayrton；〃　replied　Glenarvan；　〃your　plan　is　worthy　of　serious　consideration。　　The　worst　thing　about　it　is　the　delay　it　would　cause；　but　it　would　save　us　great　fatigue；　and　perhaps　danger。　What　do　you　think　of　it；　friends？〃　〃Speak　your　mind；　McNabbs；〃　said　Lady　Helena。　　〃Since　the　beginning　of　the　discussion　you　have　been　only　a　listener；　and　very　sparing　of　your　words。〃　〃Since　you　ask　my　advice；〃　said　the　Major；　〃I　will　give　it　you　frankly。　I　think　Ayrton　has　spoken　wisely　and　well；　and　I　side　with　him。〃　Such　a　reply　was　hardly　looked　for；　as　hitherto　the　Major　had　been　strongly　opposed　to　Ayrton's　project。　　Ayrton　himself　was　surprised；　and　gave　a　hasty　glance　at　the　Major。　　However；　Paganel；　Lady　Helena；　and　the　sailors　were　all　of　the　same　way　of　thinking；　and　since　McNabbs　had　come　over　to　his　opinion；　Glenarvan　decided　that　the　quartermaster's　plan　should　be　adopted　in　principle。　〃And　now；　John；〃　he　added；　〃don't　you　think　yourself　it　would　be　prudent　to　encamp　here；　on　the　banks　of　the　river　Snowy；　till　we　can　get　some　means　of　conveyance。〃　〃Yes；〃　replied　John　Mangles；　〃if　our　messenger　can　get　across　the　Snowy　when　we　cannot。〃　All　eyes　were　turned　on　the　quartermaster；　who　said；　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　knew　what　he　was　about：　〃The　messenger　will　not　cross　the　river。〃　〃Indeed！〃　said　John　Mangles。　〃He　will　simply　go　back　to　the　Lucknow　Road　which　leads　straight　to　Melbourne。〃　〃Go　two　hundred　and　fifty　miles　on　foot！〃　cried　the　young　Captain。　〃On　horseback；〃　replied　Ayrton。　　〃There　is　one　horse　sound　enough　at　present。　　It　will　only　be　an　affair　of　four　days。　Allow　the　DUNCAN　two　days　more　to　get　to　the　bay　and　twenty　hours　to　get　back　to　the　camp；　and　in　a　week　the　messenger　can　be　back　with　the　entire　crew　of　the　vessel。〃　The　Major　nodded　approvingly　as　Ayrton　spoke；　to　the　profound　astonishment　of　John　Mangles；　but　as　every　one　was　in　favor　of　the　plan　all　there　was　to　do　was　to　carry　it　out　as　quickly　as　possible。　〃Now；　then；　friends；〃　said　Glenarvan；　〃we　must　settle　who　is　to　be　our　messenger。　　It　will　be　a　fatiguing；　perilous　mission。　　I　would　not　conceal　the　fact　from　you。　Who　is　disposed；　then；　to　sacrifice　himself　for　his　companions　and　carry　our　instructions　to　Melbourne？〃　Wilson　and　Mulrady；　and　also　Paganel；　John　Mangles　and　Robert　instantly　offered　their　services。　　John　particularly　insisted　that　he　should　be　intrusted　with　the　business；　but　Ayrton；　who　had　been　silent　till　that　moment；　now　said：　　〃With　your　Honor's　permission　I　will　go　myself。　I　am　accustomed　to　all　the　country　round。　　Many　a　time　I　have　been　across　worse　parts。　　I　can　go　through　where　another　would　stick。　I　ask　then；　for　the　good　of　all；　that　I　may　be　sent　to　Melbourne。　　A　word　from　you　will　accredit　me　with　your　chief　officer；　and　in　six　days　I　guarantee　the　DUNCAN　shall　be　in　Twofold　Bay。〃　〃That's　well　spoken；〃　replied　Glenarvan。　　〃You　are　a　clever；　daring　fellow；　and　you　will　succeed。〃　It　was　quite　evident　the　quartermaster　was　the　fittest　man　for　the　mission。　　All　the　rest　withdrew　from　the　competition。　John　Mangles　made　this　one　last　objection；　that　the　presence　of　Ayrton　was　necessary　to　discover　traces　of　the　BRITANNIA　or　Harry　Grant。　　But　the　Major　justly　observed　that　the　expedition　would　remain　on　the　banks　of　the　Snowy　till　the　return　of　Ayrton；　that　they　had　no　idea　of　resuming　their　search　without　him；　and　that　consequently　his　absence　would　not　in　the　least　prejudice　the　Captain's　inte