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wanted to kindle a fire to prepare the NARDOU bread； and he went out to pick up the dead wood scattered all over the ground。 But he found it would not light； the great quantity of albuminous matter which it contained prevented all combustion。 This is the incombustible wood put down by Paganel in his list of Australian products。 They had to dispense with fire； and consequently with food too； and sleep in their wet clothes； while the laughing jackasses； concealed in the high branches； seemed to ridicule the poor unfortunates。 However； Glenarvan was nearly at the end of his sufferings。 It was time。 The two young ladies were making heroic efforts； but their strength was hourly decreasing。 They dragged themselves along； almost unable to walk。 Next morning they started at daybreak。 At 11 A。 M。 Delegete came in sight in the county of Wellesley； and fifty miles from Twofold Bay。 Means of conveyance were quickly procured here。 Hope returned to Glenarvan as they approached the coast。 Perhaps there might have been some slight delay； and after all they might get there before the arrival of the DUNCAN。 In twenty…four hours they would reach the bay。 At noon； after a comfortable meal； all the travelers installed in a mail…coach； drawn by five strong horses； left Delegete at a gallop。 The postilions； stimulated by a promise of a princely DOUCEUR； drove rapidly along over a well…kept road。 They did not lose a minute in changing horses； which took place every ten miles。 It seemed as if they were infected with Glenarvan's zeal。 All that day； and night； too； they traveled on at the rate of six miles an hour。 In the morning at sunrise； a dull murmur fell on their ears； and announced their approach to the Indian Ocean。 They required to go round the bay to gain the coast at the 37th parallel； the exact point where Tom Austin was to wait their arrival。 When the sea appeared； all eyes anxiously gazed at the offing。 Was the DUNCAN； by a miracle of Providence； there running close to the shore； as a month ago； when they crossed Cape Corrientes； they had found her on the Argentine coast？ They saw nothing。 Sky and earth mingled in the same horizon。 Not a sail enlivened the vast stretch of ocean。 One hope still remained。 Perhaps Tom Austin had thought it his duty to cast anchor in Twofold Bay； for the sea was heavy； and a ship would not dare to venture near the shore。 〃To Eden！〃 cried Glenarvan。 Immediately the mail…coach resumed the route round the bay； toward the little town of Eden； five miles distant。 The postilions stopped not far from the lighthouse； which marks the entrance of the port。 Several vessels were moored in the roadstead； but none of them bore the flag of Malcolm。 Glenarvan； John Mangles； and Paganel got out of the coach； and rushed to the custom…house； to inquire about the arrival of vessels within the last few days。 No ship had touched the bay for a week。 〃Perhaps the yacht has not started；〃 Glenarvan said； a sudden revulsion of feeling lifting him from despair。 〃Perhaps we have arrived first。〃 John Mangles shook his head。 He knew Tom Austin。 His first mate would not delay the execution of an order for ten days。 〃I must know at all events how they stand；〃 said Glenarvan。 〃Better certainty than doubt。〃 A quarter of an hour afterward a telegram was sent to the syndicate of shipbrokers in Melbourne。 The whole party then repaired to the Victoria Hotel。 At 2 P。M。 the following telegraphic reply was received： 〃LORD GLENARVAN； Eden。 〃Twofold Bay。 〃The DUNCAN left on the 16th current。 Destination unknown。 J。 ANDREWS； S。 B。〃
The telegram dropped from Glenarvan's hands。 There was no doubt now。 The good； honest Scotch yacht was now a pirate ship in the hands of Ben Joyce！ So ended this journey across Australia； which had commenced under circumstances so favorable。 All trace of Captain Grant and his shipwrecked men seemed to be irrevocably lost。 This ill success had cost the loss of a ship's crew。 Lord Glenarvan had been vanquished in the strife； and the courageous searchers； whom the unfriendly elements of the Pampas had been unable to check； had been conquered on the Australian shore by the perversity of man。 END OF BOOK TWO
In Search of the Castaways or The Children of Captain Grant New Zealand ＇page intentionally blank＇
In Search of the Castaways New Zealand
CHAPTER I A ROUGH CAPTAIN
IF ever the searchers after Captain Grant were tempted to despair； surely it was at this moment when all their hopes were destroyed at a blow。 Toward what quarter of the world should they direct their endeavors？ How were they to explore new countries？ The DUNCAN was no longer available； and even an immediate return to their own land was out of the question。 Thus the enterprise of these generous Scots had failed！ Failed！ a despairing word that finds no echo in a brave soul； and yet under the repeated blows of adverse fate； Glenarvan himself was compelled to acknowledge his inability to prosecute his devoted efforts。 Mary Grant at this crisis nerved herself to the resolution never to utter the name of her father。 She suppressed her own anguish； when she thought of the unfortunate crew who had perished。 The daughter was merged in the friend； and she now took upon her to console Lady Glenarvan； who till now had been her faithful comforter。 She was the first to speak of returning to Scotland。 John Mangles was filled with admiration at seeing her so courageous and so resigned。 He wanted to say a word further in the Captain's interest； but Mary stopped him with a glance； and afterward said to him： 〃No； Mr。 John； we must think of those who ventured their lives。 Lord Glenarvan must return to Europe！〃 〃You are right； Miss Mary；〃 answered John Mangles； 〃he must。 Beside； the English authorities must be informed of the fate of the DUNCAN。 But do not despair。 Rather than abandon our search I will resume it alone！ I will either find Captain Grant or perish in the attempt！〃 It was a serious undertaking to which John Mangles bound himself； Mary accepted； and gave her hand to the young captain； as if to ratify the treaty。 On John Mangles' side it was a life's devotion； on Mary's undying gratitude。 During that day； their departure was finally arranged； they resolved to reach Melbourne without delay。 Next day John went to inquire about the ships ready to sail。 He expected to find frequent communication between Eden and Victoria。 He was disappointed； ships were scarce。 Three or four vessels； anchored in Twofold Bay； constituted the mercantile fleet of the place； none of them were bound for Melbourne； nor Sydney； nor Point de Galle； at any of which ports Glenarvan would have found ships loading for England。 In fact； the Peninsular and Oriental Company has a regular line of packets between these points and England。 Under these circumstances； what was to be done？ Waiting for a ship might be a tedious affair； for Twofold Bay is not much frequented。 Numbers of ships pass by without touching。 After due reflection and discussion； Glenarvan had nearly decided to follow the coast road to Sydney； when Paganel made an unexpected proposition。 The geographer had visited Twofold Bay on his own account； and was aware that there were no means of transport for S