with the idea that he would do well to investigate whether there
was any suitable mooring towards which he might signal her.
Zephyr and Galette were soon saddled, and in twenty minutes
had carried their riders to the western extremity of the island,
where they both dismounted and began to explore the coast.

They were not long in ascertaining that on the farther side
of the point there was a small well-sheltered creek of sufficient
depth to accommodate a vessel of moderate tonnage. A narrow
channel formed a passage through the ridge of rocks that protected
it from the open sea, and which, even in the roughest weather,
would ensure the calmness of its waters.

Whilst examining the rocky shore, the captain observed,
to his great surprise, long and well-defined rows of seaweed,
which undoubtedly betokened that there had been a very considerable
ebb and flow of the waters--a thing unknown in the Mediterranean,
where there is scarcely any perceptible tide. What, however,
seemed most remarkable, was the manifest evidence that ever
since the highest flood (which was caused, in all probability,
by the proximity of the body of which the huge disc had
been so conspicuous on the night of the 31st of December)
the phenomenon had been gradually lessening, and in fact was
now reduced to the normal limits which had characterized it
before the convulsion.

Without doing more than note the circumstance, Servadac turned his
entire attention to the _Dobryna_, which, now little more than a mile
from shore, could not fail to see and understand his signals.
Slightly changing her course, she first struck her mainsail,