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Ayrton unfastened the bullocks and turned them out to feed at will. The tent was pitched, and Olbinett got the supper ready. Toline consented, after some difficulty, to share it, though he was hungry enough. He took his seat beside Robert, who chose out all the titbits for his new friend. Toline accepted them with a shy grace that was very charming.
Paganel pricked up his ears at this, and said, "Indeed, geography!" "Yes, sir," said Toline; "and I had the first prize for geography before the Christmas holidays." "You had the first prize for geography, my boy?" "Yes, sir. Here it is," returned Toline, pulling a book out of his pocket. It was a bible, 32mo size, and well bound. On the first page was written the words: "Normal School, Melbourne.
"What are they?" replied the child, not the least disconcerted. "Spain, Russia, Austria, Prussia, France," answered Paganel. "They are provinces, not states," said Toline. "Well, that beats all!" exclaimed Paganel, tearing off his spectacles. "Yes," continued the child. "Spain capital, Gibraltar." "Admirable! perfect! sublime!
And as to South America, with its Guiana, its archipelago of South Shetland, its Georgia, Jamaica, Trinidad, etc., that belongs to the English, too! Well, I'll not be the one to dispute that point! But, Toline, I should like to know your opinion of Europe, or rather your professor's." "Europe?" said Toline not at all understanding Paganel's excitement. "Yes, Europe! Who does Europe belong to?"
"Capital!" said Paganel, beginning to enter into this perfectly taught but Anglo-colored fanciful geography. "As to Algeria, Morocco, Egypt they are all struck out of the Britannic cities." "Let us pass on, pray, to America." "It is divided," said Toline, promptly, "into North and South America.
"Ah! I think that means 'bark of a tree' in Australian." Toline nodded, and looked again at the travelers. "Where do you come from?" inquired Lady Helena. "From Melbourne, by the railway from Sandhurst." "Were you in the accident at Camden Bridge?" said Glenarvan. "Yes, sir," was Toline's reply; "but the God of the Bible protected me." "Are you traveling alone?"
This was too much for Paganel's risible faculties. He burst out laughing. Toline did not know what to make of him. He had done his best to answer every question put to him. But the singularity of the answers were not his blame; indeed, he never imagined anything singular about them. However, he took it all quietly, and waited for the professor to recover himself.
Chief Towns Bombay, Madras, Calicut, Aden, Malacca, Singapore, Pegu, Colombo. The Lacca-dive Islands, the Maldives, the Chagos, etc., belonging to the English." "Very good, pupil Toline. And now for Africa." "Africa comprises two chief colonies the Cape on the south, capital Capetown; and on the west the English settlements, chief city, Sierra Leone."
"Yes, sir. Isn't it right?" "Oh, yes, yes, perfectly right. All Oceanica belongs to the English. That's an understood thing. Go on." Paganel's face betrayed both surprise and annoyance, to the great delight of the Major. "Let us go on to Asia," said the geographer. "Asia," replied Toline, "is an immense country. Capital Calcutta.
"Yes, Australians of the Lachlan," replied Toline. "Have you a father and mother?" said Robert Grant. "Yes, my brother," replied Toline, holding out his hand to little Grant. Robert was so touched by the word brother that he kissed the black child, and they were friends forthwith.
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