Дети капитана Гранта

           "Well,Ayrton,"repliedGlenarvan,"yourplanisworthyofseriousconsideration.Theworstthingaboutitisthedelayitwouldcause;butitwouldsaveusgreatfatigue,andperhapsdanger.Whatdoyouthinkofit,friends?"

           "Speakyourmind,McNabbs,"saidLadyHelena."Sincethebeginningofthediscussionyouhavebeenonlyalistener,andverysparingofyourwords."

           "Sinceyouaskmyadvice,"saidtheMajor,"Iwillgiveityoufrankly.IthinkAyrtonhasspokenwiselyandwell,andIsidewithhim."

           Suchareplywashardlylookedfor,ashithertotheMajorhadbeenstronglyopposedtoAyrton’sproject.Ayrtonhimselfwassurprised,andgaveahastyglanceattheMajor.However,Paganel,LadyHelena,andthesailorswereallofthesamewayofthinking;andsinceMcNabbshadcomeovertohisopinion,Glenarvandecidedthatthequartermaster’splanshouldbeadoptedinprinciple.

           "Andnow,John,"headded,"don’tyouthinkyourselfitwouldbeprudenttoencamphere,onthebanksoftheriverSnowy,tillwecangetsomemeansofconveyance."

           "Yes,"repliedJohnMangles,"ifourmessengercangetacrosstheSnowywhenwecannot."

           Alleyeswereturnedonthequartermaster,whosaid,withtheairofamanwhoknewwhathewasabout:"Themessengerwillnotcrosstheriver."

           "Indeed!"saidJohnMangles.

           "HewillsimplygobacktotheLucknowRoadwhichleadsstraighttoMelbourne."

           "Gotwohundredandfiftymilesonfoot!"criedtheyoungCaptain.

           "Onhorseback,"repliedAyrton.