Дети капитана Гранта

           Indeed,IbelieveLeichardtistheonlyoneofwhosefateweareignorant,andsometimebeforemydepartureIlearnedfromtheGeographicalSocietythatMcintyrehadstronghopesofhavingdiscoveredtracesofhim."

           "ThewholeofAustralia,then,isnotyetexplored?"askedLadyHelena.

           "No,madam,butverylittleofit.ThiscontinentisnotmuchbetterknownthantheinteriorofAfrica,andyetitisfromnolackofenterprisingtravelers.From1606to1862,morethanfiftyhavebeenengagedinexploringalongthecoastandintheinterior."

           "Oh,fifty!"exclaimedMcNabbsincredulously.

           "No,no,"objectedtheMajor;"thatisgoingtoofar."

           "AndImightgofarther,McNabbs,"repliedthegeographer,impatientofcontradiction.

           "Yes,McNabbs,quitethatnumber."

           "Fartherstill,Paganel."

           "Ifyoudoubtme,Icangiveyouthenames."

           "Oh,oh,"saidtheMajor,coolly."That’sjustlikeyouSAVANTS.Youstickatnothing."

           "Major,willyoubetyourPurdy-Moorerifleagainstmytelescope?"

           "Whynot,Paganel,ifitwouldgiveyouanypleasure."

           "Done,Major!"exclaimedPaganel."Youmaysaygood-bytoyourrifle,foritwillnevershootanotherchamoisorfoxunlessIlendittoyou,whichIshallalwaysbehappytodo,bytheby."

           "Andwheneveryourequiretheuseofyourtelescope,Paganel,Ishallbeequallyobliging,"repliedtheMajor,gravely.

           "Letusbegin,then;andladiesandgentlemen,youshallbeourjury.Robert,youmustkeepcount."

           Thiswasagreedupon,andPaganelforthwithcommenced.