Діти капітана Гранта

           Manuelcouldnotconceiveofanystatebutamilitaryone,andhehopedinduetime,withthehelpofGod,tooffertherepublicawholecompanyofyoungsoldiers.

           "Yousawthem.Charming!goodsoldiersareJose,Juan,andMiquele!Pepe,sevenyearold;Pepecanhandleagun."

           Pepe,hearinghimselfcomplimented,broughthistwolittlefeettogether,andpresentedarmswithperfectgrace.

           "He’llgeton!"addedthesergeant."He’llbecolonel-majororbrigadier-generalsomeday."

           SergeantManuelseemedsoenchantedthatitwouldhavebeenuselesstoexpressacontraryopinion,eithertotheprofessionofarmsortheprobablefutureofhischildren.Hewashappy,andasGoethesays,"Nothingthatmakesushappyisanillusion."

           Allthistalktookupaquarterofanhour,tothegreatastonishmentofThalcave.TheIndiancouldnotunderstandhowsomanywordscouldcomeoutofonethroat.NooneinterruptedtheSergeant,butallthingscometoanend,andatlasthewassilent,butnottillhehadmadehisguestsenterhisdwelling,andbepresentedtoMadameIpharaguerre.Then,andnottillthen,didheaskhisguestswhathadprocuredhimthehonoroftheirvisit.Noworneverwasthemomenttoexplain,andPaganel,seizingthechanceatonce,begananaccountoftheirjourneyacrossthePampas,andendedbyinquiringthereasonoftheIndianshavingdesertedthecountry.

           "Ah!therewasnoone!"repliedtheSergeant,shrugginghisshoulders—"reallynoone,andus,too,ourarmscrossed!Nothingtodo!"

           "Butwhy?"

           "War."