A Cry in the Night

           THEcrewsoonheardthatnolighthadbeenthrownonthesituationofCaptainGrantbytherevelationsofAyrton,anditcausedprofounddisappointmentamongthem,fortheyhadcountedonthequartermaster,andthequartermasterknewnothingwhichcouldputtheDuncanontherighttrack.

           Theyachtthereforecontinuedhercourse.TheyhadyettoselecttheislandforAyrton’sbanishment.

           PaganelandJohnManglesconsultedthechartsonboard,andexactlyonthe37thparallelfoundalittleislemarkedbythenameofMariaTheresa,asunkenrockinthemiddleofthePacificOcean,3,500milesfromtheAmericancoast,and1,500milesfromNewZealand.ThenearestlandonthenorthwastheArchipelagoofPomotou,undertheprotectorateofFrance;onthesouththerewasnothingbuttheeternalice-beltofthePolarSea.Noshipwouldcometoreconnoiterthissolitaryisle.Noechoesfromtheworldwouldeverreachit.Thestormbirdsonlywouldrestawhileonitduringtheirlongflight,andinmanychartstherockwasnotevenmarked.

           Ifevercompleteisolationwastobefoundonearth,itwasonthislittleout-of-the-wayisland.Ayrtonwasinformedofitssituation,andexpressedhiswillingnesstolivethereapartfromhisfellows.Theheadofthevesselwasinconsequenceturnedtowarditimmediately.

           Twodayslater,attwoo’clock,themanonwatchsignaledlandonthehorizon.ThiswasMariaTheresa,alow,elongatedisland,scarcelyraisedabovethewaves,andlookinglikeanenormouswhale.