"What use," continued Tom Austin, "if Mr. Paganel does not find the means of manufacturing powder?"
"It is not necessary," replied MacNabb, showing a full flask.
"Where did you get that, major?" inquired Paganel.
"Of Thalcave. He thought it might be useful to us, and gave it to me before going back to Thaouka."
"Brave and generous Indian!" cried Glenarvan.
"Yes," added Tom Austin, "if all the Patagonians are fashioned after this model, I pay my respects to Patagonia."
"I desire that the horse be not forgotten," said Paganel. "He forms part of the Patagonian, and, if I am not greatly mistaken, we shall see them again."
"How far are we from the Atlantic?" inquired the major.
"Not more than forty miles," answered Paganel. "And now, my friends, since each is free to act, I ask permission to leave you. I am going to choose an observatory above, and, with the aid of my telescope, will keep you acquainted with what goes on here."
The geographer was allowed to go. He very adroitly swung himself from branch to branch, and disappeared behind the thick curtain of foliage. His companions at once occupied themselves with making the sleeping-room and preparing their beds, which was neither a difficult nor a lengthy task. As there were no bedclothes to fix nor furniture to arrange, each soon resumed his place by the fire.
They then conversed, but not about their present condition, which they must patiently endure. They returned to the inexhaustible subject of Captain Grant's recovery. If the waters subsided, in three days the travelers would be again on board the Duncan. But the captain and his two sailors, those unfortunate castaways, would not be with them; and it even seemed after this failure, after this vain search in South America, as if all hope of finding them were irrevocably lost. Whither direct a new search? What, too, would be the grief of Lady Helena and Mary Grant on learning that the future had no hope in store for them!
"Poor sister!" exclaimed Robert; "all is over for us!"
[Illustration: Glenarvan, Paganel, the major, Austin, and Mulready were seated astraddle, or dangling in the branches, according to their own inclinations.]
Glenarvan, for the first time, had no consoling answer to make. What hope could he give the child? Had he not followed with rigorous exactitude the directions of the document?