The Geographer’s Resolution

           MEANTIMEtheyacht,favoredbythecurrentsfromthenorthofAfrica,wasmakingrapidprogresstowardtheequator.Onthe30thofAugusttheysightedtheMadeiragroupofislands,andGlenarvan,truetohispromise,offeredtoputinthere,andlandhisnewguest.

           ButPaganelsaid:

           "MydearLord,Iwon’tstandonceremonywithyou.Tellme,didyouintendtostopatMadeirabeforeIcameonboard?"

           "No,"repliedGlenarvan.

           "Well,then,allowmetoprofitbymyunluckymistake.Madeiraisanislandtoowellknowntobeofmuchinterestnowtoageographer.Everythingaboutthisgrouphasbeensaidandwrittenalready.Besides,itiscompletelygoingdownasfaraswinegrowingisconcerned.JustimaginenovinestospeakofbeinginMadeira!In1813,22,000pipesofwineweremadethere,andin1845thenumberfellto2,669.Itisagrievousspectacle!Ifitisallthesametoyou,wemightgoontotheCanaryIslesinstead."

           "Certainly.Itwillnottheleastinterferewithourroute."

           "Iknowitwillnot,mydearLord.IntheCanaryIslands,yousee,therearethreegroupstostudy,besidesthePeakofTeneriffe,whichIalwayswishedtovisit.Thisisanopportunity,andIshouldliketoavailmyselfofit,andmaketheascentofthefamousmountainwhileIamwaitingforashiptotakemebacktoEurope."

           "Asyouplease,mydearPaganel,"saidLordGlenarvan,thoughhecouldnothelpsmiling;andnowonder,fortheseislandsarescarcely250milesfromMadeira,atriflingdistanceforsuchaquicksailerastheDuncan.

           Nextday,about2P.M.