APPLIED GEOGRAPHY.
"And you, my friends," added the major, addressing the sailors, "are you not of my opinion?"
"Entirely," answered Tom Austin, while Wilson and Mulready nodded assent.
"Listen to me, my friends," continued Glenarvan, after a few moments of reflection, "and you too, Robert, for this is a serious question. I shall do everything possible to find Captain Grant, as I have undertaken to do, and shall devote my entire life, if necessary, to this object. All Scotland would join me to save this noble man who sacrificed himself for her. I too think, however slight may be the chance, that we ought to make the tour of the world on the thirty-seventh parallel; and I shall do so. But this is not the point to be settled: there is a much more important one, and it is this: Ought we once and for all to abandon our search on the American continent?"
This question, so directly asked, was unanswered. No one dared to declare his opinion.
"Well?" resumed Glenarvan, addressing the major more especially.
"My dear Edward," replied MacNabb, "it would involve too great a responsibility to answer you now. The case requires consideration. But first of all I desire to know what countries the thirty-seventh parallel crosses."
"That is Paganel's business," replied Glenarvan.
"Let us ask him, then," said the major.