A prolonged silence followed this remark. Lady Helena frequently cast a questioning glance at her companions, but without eliciting a responsive sign. Paganel himself was silent, contrary to his custom. His usual ingenuity now failed him. Captain Mangles paced the room with long strides, as if he had been on the deck of his vessel, involved in some difficulty.
"And you, Mr. Ayrton," said Lady Helena, at length, to the quartermaster, "what would you do?"
"Madam," replied he, promptly, "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."
"Very good," said Glenarvan; "but we must wait till the Duncan is repaired."
"Ah! you have suffered injuries?" inquired Ayrton.
"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."
"Can you not sail?" asked the quartermaster.
"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."
"Well, let the yacht go to Melbourne," said Paganel, "and we will go without her to Twofold Bay."
"By crossing Australia, as we crossed South America."
"But the Duncan?" added Ayrton, with singular persistency.
"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?"
"No," replied MacNabb, "if it is practicable."
"So practicable," said Paganel, "that I propose that Lady Helena and Miss Grant accompany us."
"Do you speak seriously, Paganel?" asked Glenarvan.
"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."
"But the ferocious animals?" said Glenarvan, wishing to state all possible objections.
"There are none in the course we shall take."
"There are no convicts in the southern provinces of Australia, but only in the eastern colonies."