human
And you, Mr. Ayrton, said Lady Helena, at length, to the quartermaster,
gpt
Madam, replied he, promptly,
human
I should re-embark on board the Duncan, and go straight to the place of the shipwreck. There I should act according to circumstances, or indications that chance might furnish.
gpt
Very good, said Glenarvan;
human
Ah! you have suffered injuries?
gpt
Yes,
human
Serious?
gpt
No; but they necessitate repairs which cannot be made on board. One of the flanges of the screw is bent, and this work can be done only at Melbourne.
human
Can you not sail?
gpt
Yes; but, if the wind is contrary, it would take considerable time to reach Twofold Bay, and at any rate we should have to return to Melbourne.
human
Well, let the yacht go to Melbourne, said Paganel,
gpt
But how?
human
By crossing Australia, as we crossed South America.
gpt
But the Duncan?
human
The Duncan will join us, or we will join her, according to circumstances. If Captain Grant is found during our journey, we will return together to Melbourne. If, on the contrary, we continue our search to the coast, the Duncan shall join us there. Who has any objections to make to this plan? Have you, major?
gpt
No, replied MacNabb,
human
So practicable, said Paganel,
gpt
Do you speak seriously, Paganel?
human
Quite seriously, my lord. It is a journey of three hundred and fifty miles. At the rate of twelve miles a day it would last scarcely a month,--long enough to give time for repairing the Duncan.
gpt
But the ferocious animals?
human
There are none in Australia.
gpt
But the savages?
human
There are none in the course we shall take.
gpt
Well, then, the convicts?
human
There are no convicts in the southern provinces of Australia, but only in the eastern colonies.
gpt
Mr. Paganel is perfectly right, said O'Moore;
human
And, for my part, I never met one,
gpt
You see, my friends, continued Paganel,
human
What do you think, Helena?
gpt
What we all think, replied she, turning towards her companions.
human
Forward!