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Strong horses were provided for Lord Glenarvan, Paganel, Robert Grant, McNabbs, and John Mangles; also for the two sailors, Wilson and Mulrady, who were to accompany their captain. Ayrton's place was, of course, to be in front of the wagon, and M. Olbinett, who did not much care for equitation, was to make room for himself among the baggage.
Glenarvan was just at this part of his letter, when McNabbs, who was following him with his eyes, asked him in a singular tone, how he wrote Ayrton's name. "Why, as it is pronounced, of course," replied Glenarvan. "It is a mistake," replied the Major quietly. "He pronounces it AYRTON, but he writes it Ben Joyce!" THE revelation of Tom Ayrton's name was like a clap of thunder.
Mulrady, though severely wounded, had the strength to drag himself to within three hundred paces from the camp, whence we found him almost dead. There," said McNabbs, "is the history of Mulrady; and now you can understand why the brave fellow was so determined to speak." This revelation terrified Glenarvan and the rest of the party. "Pirates! pirates!" cried Glenarvan.
But John Mangles succeeded, after some persuasion, in calming their well-grounded indignation. Still, the position of things filled him with anxiety; but, for fear of alarming Glenarvan, he spoke only to Paganel or the Major. McNabbs recommended the same course as Mulrady and Wilson.
They all knew the cause of her grief, and why tears fell from her eyes and her father's name came to her lips. The discovery of Ayrton's treachery had destroyed all hope; the convict had invented a shipwreck to entrap Glenarvan. In the conversation overheard by McNabbs, the convicts had plainly said that the BRITANNIA had never been wrecked on the rocks in Twofold Bay.
"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.
I say again, I supposed he was buried beneath the waves, or dashed to pieces against the rocks. It was from you I learned that he was still alive." "What then do you know?" "Simply this if Captain Grant is alive, he is in Australia." "Where did the shipwreck occur?" asked Major McNabbs.
"You wanted to speak to me, Ayrton?" said Glenarvan. "Yes, my Lord," replied the quartermaster. "Did you wish for a private interview?" "Yes, but I think if Major McNabbs and Mr. Paganel were present it would be better." "For whom?" "For myself." Ayrton spoke quite calmly and firmly. Glenarvan looked at him for an instant, and then sent to summon McNabbs and Paganel, who came at once.
"Well, then, John," said Glenarvan, "the next question is, have you provisions and coal enough?" "Yes, your honor, I took in an ample store at Talcahuano, and, besides, we can easily replenish our stock of coal at Cape Town." "Well, then, give orders." "Let me make one more observation," interrupted McNabbs. "Go on then."
"I was sure of it," said the geographer, with a satisfied air; "and yet the very proudest of modest men, my illustrious countryman, Chateaubriand, made the inaccurate comparison. Oh, Robert, comparison is the most dangerous figure in rhetoric that I know. Mind you avoid it all your life, and only employ it in a last extremity." "Are you satisfied with your experiment?" asked McNabbs. "Delighted."
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