Таинственный остров

           LordGlenarvan,therefore,believedinthefidelityofthismanand,byhisadvice,resolvedtocrossAustralia,followingthethirty-seventhparallel.LordGlenarvan,hiswife,thetwochildren,themajor,theFrenchman,CaptainMangles,andafewsailorscomposedthelittlebandunderthecommandofAyrton,whilethe‘Duncan,’underchargeofthemate,TomAustin,proceededtoMelbourne,theretoawaitLordGlenarvan’sinstructions.

           "Theysetoutonthe23rdofDecember,1854.

           "ItistimetosaythatAyrtonwasatraitor.Hewas,indeed,theboatswain’smateofthe‘Britannia,’but,aftersomedisputewithhiscaptain,heendeavoredtoincitethecrewtomutinyandseizetheship,andCaptainGranthadlandedhim,onthe8thofApril,1852,onthewestcoastofAustralia,andthensailed,leavinghimthere,aswasonlyjust.

           "Thereforethiswretchedmanknewnothingofthewreckofthe‘Britannia’;hehadjustheardofitfromGlenarvan’saccount.Sincehisabandonment,hehadbecome,underthenameofBenJoyce,theleaderoftheescapedconvicts;andifheboldlymaintainedthatthewreckhadtakenplaceontheeastcoast,andledLordGlenarvantoproceedinthatdirection,itwasthathehopedtoseparatehimfromhisship,seizethe‘Duncan,’andmaketheyachtapirateinthePacific."

           Herethestrangerstoppedforamoment.Hisvoicetrembled,buthecontinued,—

           "TheexpeditionsetoutandproceededacrossAustralia.