He was right. If the count were on board, a strange fatality
was bringing him to the presence of his rival. But no longer
now could Servadac regard him in the light of an adversary;
circumstances had changed, and all animosity was absorbed in
the eagerness with which he hailed the prospect of obtaining some
information about the recent startling and inexplicable events.
During the twenty-seven days that she had been absent, the _Dobryna_,
he conjectured, would have explored the Mediterranean,
would very probably have visited Spain, France, or Italy,
and accordingly would convey to Gourbi Island some intelligence
from one or other of those countries. He reckoned, therefore,
not only upon ascertaining the extent of the late catastrophe,
but upon learning its cause. Count Timascheff was, no doubt,
magnanimously coming to the rescue of himself and his orderly.

The wind being adverse, the _Dobryna_ did not make very rapid progress;
but as the weather, in spite of a few clouds, remained calm,
and the sea was quite smooth, she was enabled to hold a steady course.
It seemed unaccountable that she should not use her engine,
as whoever was on board, would be naturally impatient to reconnoiter
the new island, which must just have come within their view.
The probability that suggested itself was that the schooner's
fuel was exhausted.

Servadac took it for granted that the _Dobryna_ was endeavoring to
put in. It occurred to him, however, that the count, on discovering
an island where he had expected to find the mainland of Africa,
would not unlikely be at a loss for a place of anchorage.
The yacht was evidently making her way in the direction
of the former mouth of the Shelif, and the captain was struck