"Here it is, my dear McNabbs. We shall go through the capital
of Araucania, and cut the Cordilleras by the pass of Antuco,
leaving the volcano on the south, and gliding gently down the
mountain sides, past the Neuquem and the Rio Colorado on to the Pampas,
till we reach the Sierra Tapalquen, from whence we shall see
the frontier of the province of Buenos Ayres. These we shall
pass by, and cross over the Sierra Tandil, pursuing our search
to the very shores of the Atlantic, as far as Point Medano."

Paganel went through this programme of the expedition without
so much as a glance at the map. He was so posted up in the travels
of Frezier, Molina, Humboldt, Miers, and Orbigny, that he had
the geographical nomenclature at his fingers' ends, and could
trust implicitly to his never-failing memory.

"You see then, friend," he added, "that it is a straight course.
In thirty days we shall have gone over it, and gained the eastern
side before the DUNCAN, however little she may be delayed
by the westerly winds."

"Then the DUNCAN is to cruise between Corrientes and Cape Saint Antonie,"
said John Mangles.

"Just so."

"And how is the expedition to be organized?" asked Glenarvan.

"As simply as possible. All there is to be done is to reconnoiter
the situation of Captain Grant and not to come to gunshot with