“To America, Monsieur Paganel,” was the reply.
“And to what particular part?”
“To Concepcion.”
“To Chili! To Chili!” cried the unfortunate geographer.
“Come, Monsieur Paganel, don’t despair. It can all be managed. We shall soon put in at Madeira, and you will get a ship there to take you back to Europe.”
“Thanks, my Lord. But people will say it is a most extraordinary adventure, and it is only to me such things happen… But the Duncan is a pleasure yacht, is it not?” began Paganel again, after a fresh examination of the vessel.
“Yes, sir,” said John Mangles, “and belongs to Lord Glenarvan.”
Chapter VIII. The Geographer’s Resolution
Meantime the yacht was making rapid progress toward the equator. On the 30th of August they sighted the Madeira group of islands, and Glenarvan, true to his promise, offered to put in there, and land his new guest.
But Paganel said:
“My dear Lord! Tell me, did you intend to stop at Madeira before I came on board?”
“No,” replied Glenarvan.
“Well, then, if it is all the same to you, we might go on to the Canary Isles[40] instead.”
“Certainly. It will not the least interfere with our route.”
“I know it will not, my dear Lord. In the Canary Islands, you see, there is much to study. This is an opportunity, and I should make the ascent of the famous mountain while I am waiting for a ship to take me back to Europe.”
“As you please[41], my dear Paganel,” said Lord Glenarvan.
Next day, about 2 PM, John Mangles and Paganel were walking on the poop. The Frenchman was assailing his companion with all sorts of questions about Chili, when the captain interrupted him, and pointing toward the southern horizon, said:
“Monsieur Paganel?”
“Yes, my dear Captain.”
“Please look in this direction. Don’t you see anything?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re not looking in the right place. It is not on the horizon, but above it in the clouds.”
“In the clouds? I might well not see. I see nothing.”
“Then you don’t want to see. The weather is bad over there, we cannot go to the islands”.
“Take my advice, Monsieur Paganel,” Lady Helena appeared. “Look. It was providence that sent us the document. The same providence brought you on board the Duncan. Don’t leave it.”
“Shall I say yes, my good friends? Come, now, tell me, you want me very much to stay, don’t you?” said Paganel.
“And want to stay yourself, now, don’t you, Paganel?” returned Glenarvan.
“Exactly,” confessed the learned geographer; “but I was afraid it would be inconsiderate.”
Chapter IX. Through the Straits of Magellan [42]
The joy on board was universal when Paganel’s resolution was made known.
The voyage had been made without difficulty. Everybody was full of hope, for in this search for Captain Grant, each day seemed to increase the probability of finding him. The captain was among the most confident on board, but his confidence mainly arose from the longing desire he had to see Miss Mary happy.
As for the learned geographer, he was probably the happiest man in all the southern hemisphere. He spent the whole day in studying maps, which were spread out on the saloon table. Paganel also came across a regular cargo of old books in the chief officer’s chest. They were in a very damaged condition, but among them he found a few Spanish volumes, and determined to master the language of Cervantes[43], as no one on board understood it, and it would be helpful in their search along the Chilian coast. He studied it furiously, and kept constantly muttering Spanish words. He spent his leisure hours in teaching young Robert, and instructed him in the history of the country they were so rapidly approaching.
On the 25th of September, the yacht arrived off the Straits of Magellan, and entered them without delay. This route is generally preferred by steamers on their way to the Pacific Ocean. The exact length of the straits is 372 miles.
Paganel was vexed. He insisted that Patagonia without Patagonians was not Patagonia at all.
But Glenarvan replied:
“Patience, my dear geographer. We shall see the Patagonians yet.”
“I am not sure of it.”
“But there is such a people, anyhow,” said Lady Helena.
“I doubt it much, madam, since I don’t see them.”
“But surely the very name Patagonia means ‘great feet’ in Spanish.”
“Oh, the name is nothing,” said Paganel. “And besides, to speak the truth, we are not sure if that is their name.”
“They are tall,” said Glenarvan.
“I don’t know that.”
“Are they little, then?” asked Lady Helena.
“No one can affirm that they are.”
“About the average, then?” said McNabbs.
“I don’t know that either,” said Paganel.
“But what is the truth?” asked Lady Helena.
“Just this, madame; the Patagonians have short legs, and a large bust. But the Straits of Magellan are very magnificent, even without Patagonians.”
Just at this moment the Duncan was rounding the peninsula between splendid panoramas.
Chapter X. The Course Decided
A week after they had doubled the Cape Pilares[44], the Duncan steamed into the bay of Talcahuano[45], a magnificent estuary, twelve miles long and nine broad. The weather was splendid. From November to March the sky is always cloudless, and a constant south wind prevails.
John Mangles had sailed as near the archipelago of Chiloe[46] as possible, and examined the coast, hoping to discover some traces of the shipwreck: a broken spar, or any fragment of the vessel—but nothing whatever was visible, and the yacht continued its route, till she dropped anchor at the port of Talcahuano.
Glenarvan had a boat lowered immediately, and went on shore, accompanied by Paganel.
“Let us go to the Custom-house,” said Glenarvan.
They were informed that the British Consul lived at Concepcion, an hour’s ride distant. Glenarvan and Paganel were soon within the walls of the great city. They went straight on to the house of her Majesty’s Consul, who received them very courteously. But to the question whether a three-mast vessel, called the Britannia, had gone ashore, he gave a decided negative. No report of such an event had been made to him, or any of the other consuls.
Glenarvan went back to Talcahuano, and made a thorough investigation of the whole seaboard. But it was all in vain. Lord Glenarvan returned to the yacht to report his ill success. Mary Grant and her brother could not restrain their grief. Lady Helena did her best to comfort them by loving caresses, while Jacques Paganel took up the document and began studying