were telling me that my dinner was ready."

"Are we not philosophers, captain?" said the orderly.

But the captain was out of hearing.



CHAPTER IX

INQUIRIES UNSATISFIED


Fast as his legs could carry him, Servadac had made his way to
the top of the cliff. It was quite true that a vessel was in sight,
hardly more than six miles from the shore; but owing to the increase
in the earth's convexity, and the consequent limitation of the range
of vision, the rigging of the topmasts alone was visible above the water.
This was enough, however, to indicate that the ship was a schooner--
an impression that was confirmed when, two hours later, she came
entirely in sight.

"The _Dobryna_!" exclaimed Servadac, keeping his eye unmoved
at his telescope.

"Impossible, sir!" rejoined Ben Zoof; "there are no signs of smoke."

"The _Dobryna_!" repeated the captain, positively. "She is under sail;
but she is Count Timascheff's yacht."