The Collected Works of Jules Verne: 36 Novels and Short Stories (Unexpurgated Edition) (Halcyon Classics)

by Jules Verne

  "And I hope the inundation will have gone down in twenty-four hours," said Glenarvan.

  "Or that we shall have found some way of regaining _terra firma_," added Paganel.

  "Our first business, then, now is to breakfast," said Glenarvan.

  "I suppose you mean after we have made ourselves dry," observed the Major.

  "And where's the fire?" asked Wilson.

  "We must make it," returned Paganel.

  "Where?"

  "On the top of the trunk, of course."

  "And what with?"

  "With the dead wood we cut off the tree."

  "But how will you kindle it?" asked Glenarvan. "Our tinder is just like wet sponge."

  "We can dispense with it," replied Paganel. "We only want a little dry moss and a ray of sunshine, and the lens of my telescope, and you'll see what a fire I'll get to dry myself by. Who will go and cut wood in the forest?"

  "I will," said Robert.

  And off he scampered like a young cat into the depths of the foliage, followed by his friend Wilson. Paganel set to work to find dry moss, and had soon gathered sufficient. This he laid on a bed of damp leaves, just where the large branches began to fork out, forming a natural hearth, where there was little fear of conflagration.

  Robert and Wilson speedily reappeared, each with an armful of dry wood, which they threw on the moss. By the help of the lens it was easily kindled, for the sun was blazing overhead. In order to ensure a proper draught, Paganel stood over the hearth with his long legs straddled out in the Arab manner. Then stooping down and raising himself with a rapid motion, he made a violent current of air with his poncho, which made the wood take fire, and soon a bright flame roared in the improvised brasier. After drying themselves, each in his own fashion, and hanging their ponchos on the tree, where they were swung to and fro in the breeze, they breakfasted, carefully however rationing out the provisions, for the morrow had to be thought of; the immense basin might not empty so soon as Glenarvan expected, and, anyway, the supply was very limited. The OMBU produced no fruit, though fortunately, it would likely abound in fresh eggs, thanks to the numerous nests stowed away among the leaves, not to speak of their feathered proprietors. These resources were by no means to be despised.

  The next business was to install themselves as comfortably as they could, in prospect of a long stay.

  "As the kitchen and dining-room are on the ground floor," said Paganel, "we must sleep on the first floor. The house is large, and as the rent is not dear, we must not cramp ourselves for room. I can see up yonder natural cradles, in which once safely tucked up we shall sleep as if we were in the best beds in the world. We have nothing to fear. Besides, we will watch, and we are numerous enough to repulse a fleet of Indians and other wild animals."

  "We only want fire-arms."

  "I have my revolvers," said Glenarvan.

  "And I have mine," replied Robert.

  "But what's the good of them?" said Tom Austin, "unless Monsieur Paganel can find out some way of making powder."

  "We don't need it," replied McNabbs, exhibiting a powder flask in a perfect state of preservation.

  "Where did you get it from, Major," asked Paganel.

  "From Thalcave. He thought it might be useful to us, and gave it to me before he plunged into the water to save Thaouka."

  "Generous, brave Indian!" exclaimed Glenarvan.

  "Yes," replied Tom Austin, "if all the Patagonians are cut after the same pattern, I must compliment Patagonia."

  "I protest against leaving out the horse," said Paganel. "He is part and parcel of the Patagonian, and I'm much mistaken if we don't see them again, the one on the other's back."

  "What distance are we from the Atlantic?" asked the Major.

  "About forty miles at the outside," replied Paganel; "and now, friends, since this is Liberty Hall, I beg to take leave of you. I am going to choose an observatory for myself up there, and by the help of my telescope, let you know how things are going on in the world."

  Forthwith the geographer set off, hoisting himself up very cleverly from bough to bough, till he disappeared beyond the thick foliage. His companions began to arrange the night quarters, and prepare their beds. But this was neither a long nor difficult task, and very soon they resumed their seats round the fire to have a talk.

  As usual their theme was Captain Grant. In three days, should the water subside, they would be on board the DUNCAN once more. But Harry Grant and his two sailors, those poor shipwrecked fellows, would not be with them. Indeed, it even seemed after this ill success and this useless journey across America, that all chance of finding them was gone forever. Where could they commence a fresh quest? What grief Lady Helena and Mary Grant would feel on hearing there was no further hope.

  "Poor sister!" said Robert. "It is all up with us."

  For the first time Glenarvan could not find any comfort to give him. What could he say to the lad?

  Had they not searched exactly where the document stated?

  "And yet," he said, "this thirty-seventh degree of latitude is not a mere figure, and that it applies to the shipwreck or captivity of Harry Grant, is no mere guess or supposition. We read it with our own eyes."

  "All very true, your Honor," replied Tom Austin, "and yet our search has been unsuccessful."

  "It is both a provoking and hopeless business," replied Glenarvan.

  "Provoking enough, certainly," said the Major, "but not hopeless. It is precisely because we have an uncon-testable figure, provided for us, that we should follow it up to the end."

  "What do you mean?" asked Glenarvan. "What more can we do?"

  "A very logical and simple thing, my dear Edward. When we go on board the DUNCAN, turn her beak head to the east, and go right along the thirty-seventh parallel till we come back to our starting point if necessary."

  "Do you suppose that I have not thought of that, Mr. McNabbs?" replied Glenarvan. "Yes, a hundred times. But what chance is there of success? To leave the American continent, wouldn't it be to go away from the very spot indicated by Harry Grant, from this very Patagonia so distinctly named in the document."

  "And would you recommence your search in the Pampas, when you have the certainty that the shipwreck of the BRITANNIA neither occurred on the coasts of the Pacific nor the Atlantic?"

  Glenarvan was silent.

  "And however small the chance of finding Harry Grant by following up the given parallel, ought we not to try?"

  "I don't say no," replied Glenarvan.

  "And are you not of my opinion, good friends," added the Major, addressing the sailors.

  "Entirely," said Tom Austin, while Mulrady and Wilson gave an assenting nod.

  "Listen to me, friends," said Glenarvan after a few minutes' reflection; "and remember, Robert, this is a grave discussion. I will do my utmost to find Captain Grant; I am pledged to it, and will devote my whole life to the task if needs be. All Scotland would unite with me to save so devoted a son as he has been to her. I too quite think with you that we must follow the thirty-seventh parallel round the globe if necessary, however slight our chance of finding him. But that is not the question we have to settle. There is one much more important than that is--should we from this time, and all together, give up our search on the American continent?"

  No one made any reply. Each one seemed afraid to pronounce the word.

  "Well?" resumed Glenarvan, addressing himself especially to the Major.

  "My dear Edward," replied McNabbs, "it would be incurring too great a responsibility for me to reply _hic et nunc_. It is a question which requires reflection. I must know first, through which countries the thirty-seventh parallel of southern latitude passes?"

  "That's Paganel's business; he will tell you that," said Glenarvan.

  "Let's ask him, then," replied the Major.

  But the learned geographer was nowhere to be seen. He was hidden among the thick leafage of the OMBU, and they must call out if they wanted him.

  "Paganel, Pagan
el!" shouted Glenarvan.

  "Here," replied a voice that seemed to come from the clouds.

  "Where are you?"

  "In my tower."

  "What are you doing there?"

  "Examining the wide horizon."

  "Could you come down for a minute?"

  "Do you want me?"

  "Yes."

  "What for?"

  "To know what countries the thirty-seventh parallel passes through."

  "That's easily said. I need not disturb myself to come down for that."

  "Very well, tell us now."

  "Listen, then. After leaving America the thirty-seventh parallel crosses the Atlantic Ocean."

  "And then?"

  "It encounters Isle Tristan d'Acunha."

  "Yes."

  "It goes on two degrees below the Cape of Good Hope."

  "And afterwards?"

  "Runs across the Indian Ocean, and just touches Isle St. Pierre, in the Amsterdam group."

  "Go on."

  "It cuts Australia by the province of Victoria."

  "And then."

  "After leaving Australia in--"

  This last sentence was not completed. Was the geographer hesitating, or didn't he know what to say?

  No; but a terrible cry resounded from the top of the tree. Glenarvan and his friends turned pale and looked at each other. What fresh catastrophe had happened now? Had the unfortunate Paganel slipped his footing?

  Already Wilson and Mulrady had rushed to his rescue when his long body appeared tumbling down from branch to branch.

  But was he living or dead, for his hands made no attempt to seize anything to stop himself. A few minutes more, and he would have fallen into the roaring waters had not the Major's strong arm barred his passage.

  "Much obliged, McNabbs," said Paganel.

  "How's this? What is the matter with you? What came over you? Another of your absent fits."

  "Yes, yes," replied Paganel, in a voice almost inarticulate with emotion. "Yes, but this was something extraordinary."

  "What was it?"

  "I said we had made a mistake. We are making it still, and have been all along."

  "Explain yourself."

  "Glenarvan, Major, Robert, my friends," exclaimed Paganel, "all you that hear me, we are looking for Captain Grant where he is not to be found."

  "What do you say?" exclaimed Glenarvan.

  "Not only where he is not now, but where he has never been."

  CHAPTER XXIV PAGANEL'S DISCLOSURE

  PROFOUND astonishment greeted these unexpected words of the learned geographer. What could he mean? Had he lost his sense? He spoke with such conviction, however, that all eyes turned toward Glenarvan, for Paganel's affirmation was a direct answer to his question, but Glenarvan shook his head, and said nothing, though evidently he was not inclined to favor his friend's views.

  "Yes," began Paganel again, as soon as he had recovered himself a little; "yes, we have gone a wrong track, and read on the document what was never there."

  "Explain yourself, Paganel," said the Major, "and more calmly if you can."

  "The thing is very simple, Major. Like you, I was in error; like you, I had rushed at a false interpretation, until about an instant ago, on the top of the tree, when I was answering your questions, just as I pronounced the word 'Australia,' a sudden flash came across my mind, and the document became clear as day."

  "What!" exclaimed Glenarvan, "you mean to say that Harry Grant--"

  "I mean to say," replied Paganel, "that the word AUSTRAL that occurs in the document is not a complete word, as we have supposed up till now, but just the root of the word AUSTRALIE."

  "Well, that would be strange," said the Major.

  "Strange!" repeated Glenarvan, shrugging his shoulders; "it is simply impossible."

  "Impossible?" returned Paganel. "That is a word we don't allow in France."

  "What!" continued Glenarvan, in a tone of the most profound incredulity, "you dare to contend, with the document in your hand, that the shipwreck of the BRITANNIA happened on the shores of Australia."

  "I am sure of it," replied Paganel.

  "My conscience," exclaimed Glenarvan, "I must say I am surprised at such a declaration from the Secretary of a Geographical Society!"

  "And why so?" said Paganel, touched in his weak point.

  "Because, if you allow the word AUSTRALIE! you must also allow the word INDIENS, and Indians are never seen there."

  Paganel was not the least surprised at this rejoinder. Doubtless he expected it, for he began to smile, and said:

  "My dear Glenarvan, don't triumph over me too fast. I am going to floor you completely, and never was an Englishman more thoroughly defeated than you will be. It will be the revenge for Cressy and Agincourt."

  "I wish nothing better. Take your revenge, Paganel."

  "Listen, then. In the text of the document, there is neither mention of the Indians nor of Patagonia! The incomplete word INDI does not mean INDIENS, but of course, INDIGENES, aborigines! Now, do you admit that there are aborigines in Australia?"

  "Bravo, Paganel!" said the Major.

  "Well, do you agree to my interpretation, my dear Lord?" asked the geographer again.

  "Yes," replied Glenarvan, "if you will prove to me that the fragment of a word GONIE, does not refer to the country of the Patagonians."

  "Certainly it does not. It has nothing to do with Patagonia," said Paganel. "Read it any way you please except that."

  "How?"

  "_Cosmogonie, theogonie, agonie_."

  "AGONIE," said the Major.

  "I don't care which," returned Paganel. "The word is quite unimportant; I will not even try to find out its meaning. The main point is that AUSTRAL means AUSTRALIE, and we must have gone blindly on a wrong track not to have discovered the explanation at the very beginning, it was so evident. If I had found the document myself, and my judgment had not been misled by your interpretation, I should never have read it differently."

  A burst of hurrahs, and congratulations, and compliments followed Paganel's words. Austin and the sailors, and the Major and Robert, most all overjoyed at this fresh hope, applauded him heartily; while even Glenarvan, whose eyes were gradually getting open, was almost prepared to give in.

  "I only want to know one thing more, my dear Paganel," he said, "and then I must bow to your perspicacity."

  "What is it?"

  "How will you group the words together according to your new interpretation? How will the document read?"

  "Easily enough answered. Here is the document," replied Paganel, taking out the precious paper he had been studying so conscientiously for the last few days.

  For a few minutes there was complete silence, while the worthy SAVANT took time to collect his thoughts before complying with his lordship's request. Then putting his finger on the words, and emphasizing some of them, he began as follows:

  "'_Le 7 juin_ 1862 _le trois-mats Britannia de Glasgow a sombre apres_,'-- put, if you please, '_deux jours, trois jours_,' or '_une longue agonie_,' it doesn't signify, it is quite a matter of indifference,--'_sur les cotes de l'Australie. Se dirigeant a terre, deux matelots et le Capitaine Grant vont essayer d'aborder_,' or '_ont aborde le continent ou ils seront_,' or, '_sont prisonniers de cruels indigenes. Ils ont jete ce documents_,' etc. Is that clear?"

  "Clear enough," replied Glenarvan, "if the word continent can be applied to Australia, which is only an island."

  "Make yourself easy about that, my dear Glenarvan; the best geographers have agreed to call the island the Australian Continent."

  V. IV Verne

  "Then all I have now to say is, my friends," said Glenarvan, "away to Australia, and may Heaven help us!"

  "To Australia!" echoed his companions, with one voice.

  "I tell you what, Paganel," added Glenarvan, "your being on board the DUNCAN is a perfect providence."

  "All right. Look on me as a messenger of providence, and let us drop the subject."

 
So the conversation ended--a conversation which great results were to follow; it completely changed the moral condition of the travelers; it gave the clew of the labyrinth in which they had thought themselves hopelessly entangled, and, amid their ruined projects, inspired them with fresh hope. They could now quit the American Continent without the least hesitation, and already their thoughts had flown to the Australias. In going on board the DUNCAN again they would not bring despair with them, and Lady Helena and Mary Grant would not have to mourn the irrevocable loss of Captain Grant. This thought so filled them with joy that they forgot all the dangers of their actual situation, and only regretted that they could not start immediately.

  It was about four o'clock in the afternoon, and they determined to have supper at six. Paganel wished to get up a splendid spread in honor of the occasion, but as the materials were very scanty, he proposed to Robert to go and hunt in the neighboring forest. Robert clapped his hands at the idea, so they took Thalcave's powder flask, cleaned the revolvers and loaded them with small shot, and set off.

  "Don't go too far," said the Major, gravely, to the two hunters.

  After their departure, Glenarvan and McNabbs went down to examine the state of the water by looking at the notches they had made on the tree, and Wilson and Mulrady replenished the fire.

  No sign of decrease appeared on the surface of the immense lake, yet the flood seemed to have reached its maximum height; but the violence with which it rushed from the south to north proved that the equilibrium of the Argentine rivers was not restored. Before getting lower the liquid mass must remain stationary, as in the case with the ocean before the ebb tide commences.

  While Glenarvan and his cousin were making these observations, the report of firearms resounded frequently above their heads, and the jubilant outcries of the two sportsmen--for Paganel was every whit as much a child as Robert. They were having a fine time of it among the thick leaves, judging by the peals of laughter which rang out in the boy's clear treble voice and Paganel's deep bass. The chase was evidently successful, and wonders in culinary art might be expected. Wilson had a good idea to begin with, which he had skilfully carried out; for when Glenarvan came back to the brasier, he found that the brave fellow had actually managed to catch, with only a pin and a piece of string, several dozen small fish, as delicate as smelts, called MOJARRAS, which were all jumping about in a fold of his poncho, ready to be converted into an exquisite dish.