In Search of the Castaways; Or, The Children of Captain Grant

e destroyed at a blow. Toward what quarter of the world should they direct their endeavors? How were they to explore new

finds no echo in a brave soul; and yet under the repeated blows of adverse fate, Glenar

nd 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 res

es must be informed of the fate of the DUNCAN. But do not despair. Rather than abandon our

pted, and gave her hand to the young captain, as if to ratify the treaty. O

Melbourne without delay. Next day John went to inquire about the ships ready

ace; none of them were bound for Melbourne, nor Sydney, nor Point de Galle, at any of which ports Glenarvan would have found ships

ay is not much frequented. Numbers of ships pass by without touching. After due reflection and discussion,

three vessels anchored in the roadstead one was loading for Auckland, the capital of the northern island of New Zealand. Paganel's proposal was t

ey of arguments he generally indulged in. He confined himself to the bare proposition, adding that the

s had perseveringly followed since they left the coast of Araucania. Paganel might fairly have used this as an

ontinent" had served as a refuge for Captain Grant, not an island. Now, New Zealand was nothing but an island. This seemed decisive. Whether, for this reason, or for some other, Paganel did not connect any

wofold Bay. But before coming to any decision, he thought it best to visit the ship mentioned by the geographer. Glenarvan, the Major, Pag

ly enough. They perceived that they had to do with a man of no education, and whose manners were in no degree superior to those of the five sailors of his crew. With a coarse, red face, thick hands, and a

Halley, when the strangers st

," answered

said Halley. "What

loading for Auck

What

oes she

ble and purchasa

oes she

the mid-day ti

take pas

gers are, and whether they are

ring their ow

t el

t el

w many a

of them a

e no c

uch space as may be le

t el

, who was not in the least put ou

id the master o

op, making it resound with iron-heeled boots,

d you pay?

ou ask?" r

y pou

n looked

y pounds," repli

e only," ad

passag

d ex

xt

l, putting out his hand, "w

twenty-five pounds," said Mangles,

id he, "before noon. Wheth

l be pu

and John Mangles left the ship, Halley not so much

ute," excl

red Paganel. "He is

bear!" adde

"that the said bear has deal

E, and the MACQUARIE goes to New Zealand. From Twofold Bay to Auckland

QUARIE was inferior in comfort to the DUNCAN. But after what they had gone through, they were indifferent to trifling annoyances. Wil

mes. His new freight represented fifty pounds, and he rated it far below the two hundred tons of cured hides which were stowed away in his hold. Skins first,

ne once more the presumed scene of the wreck. Ayrton had certainly been quartermaster on the BRITANNIA, and the BRITANNIA might have been lost on this part of

aps there had been a fight? There might yet be found on the coast traces of a struggle, a last resist

final search. The landlord of the Victoria Hotel lent them two ho

cks; they needed no words of question or answer. John's well-tried zeal and intelligence were a guarantee that every point was scrupulously examined, the least likely places, as well as the sloping beaches and sand

er. All that part of Australia,

y kindled under solitary Myall-trees. Had a tribe of wandering blacks passed that way lately? No, for Glenar

bore the convict's original number at the Perth Penitentiary. The felon was not there, but his filthy garments betr

the convicts got as far as here! a

low voice, "they never

van. "If ever they fall into m

as if taking a last look at some ship disappearing in the distance. Then his eyes became dim;

isfortunes they had encountered in this country. They remembered how full of well-warra

r at Snowy River, felt that the geographer was hesitating whether to speak or not to spea

ighting him to his room, ask

vasively, "I am not more nervo

d John, "you have a se

, gesticulating, "what can I

is str

ne hand, my desp

nd despair at

dea of visitin

sked John, eagerly. "Have yo

u know human nature. All we want to nourish hope is breath. My