Through the Straits of Magellan

           THEjoyonboardwasuniversalwhenPaganel’sresolutionwasmadeknown.

           LittleRobertflunghimselfonhisneckinsuchtumultuousdelightthathenearlythrewtheworthysecretarydown,andmadehimsay,"Rudepetitbonhomme.I’llteachhimgeography."

           Robertbadefairtobeanaccomplishedgentlemansomeday,forJohnMangleswastomakeasailorofhim,andtheMajorwastoteachhimsang-froid,andGlenarvanandLadyHelenaweretoinstilintohimcourageandgoodnessandgenerosity,whileMarywastoinspirehimwithgratitudetowardsuchinstructors.

           TheDuncansoonfinishedtakingincoal,andturnedherbackonthedismalregion.ShefellinbeforelongwiththecurrentfromthecoastofBrazil,andonthe7thofSeptemberenteredtheSouthernhemisphere.

           Sofar,then,thevoyagehadbeenmadewithoutdifficulty.Everybodywasfullofhope,forinthissearchforCaptainGrant,eachdayseemedtoincreasetheprobabilityoffindinghim.Thecaptainwasamongthemostconfidentonboard,buthisconfidencemainlyarosefromthelongingdesirehehadtoseeMissMaryhappy.Hewassmittenwithquiteapeculiarinterestforthisyounggirl,andmanagedtoconcealhissentimentssowellthateveryoneonboardsawitexcepthimselfandMaryGrant.

           Asforthelearnedgeographer,hewasprobablythehappiestmaninallthesouthernhemisphere.Hespentthewholedayinstudyingmaps,whichwerespreadoutonthesaloontable,tothegreatannoyanceofM.Olbinett,whocouldnevergettheclothlaidformeals,withoutdisputesonthesubject.