take Ben Zoof on board, and then make away for Gibraltar,
where we should be sure to learn something, at least,
of European news."

With his usual air of stately courtesy, Count Timascheff
begged the captain to consider the yacht at his own disposal,
and desired him to give the lieutenant instructions accordingly.

Lieutenant Procope, however, hesitated, and after revolving
matters for a few moments in his mind, pointed out that as
the wind was blowing directly from the west, and seemed likely
to increase, if they went to the west in the teeth of the weather,
the schooner would be reduced to the use of her engine only,
and would have much difficulty in making any headway;
on the other hand, by taking an eastward course, not only would
they have the advantage of the wind, but, under steam and canvas,
might hope in a few days to be off the coast of Egypt, and from
Alexandria or some other port they would have the same opportunity
of getting tidings from Europe as they would at Gibraltar.

Intensely anxious as he was to revisit the province of Oran, and eager,
too, to satisfy himself of the welfare of his faithful Ben Zoof, Servadac
could not but own the reasonableness of the lieutenant's objections,
and yielded to the proposal that the eastward course should be adopted.
The wind gave signs only too threatening of the breeze rising to a gale;
but, fortunately, the waves did not culminate in breakers, but rather
in a long swell which ran in the same direction as the vessel.

During the last fortnight the high temperature had been gradually
diminishing, until it now reached an average of 20 degrees Cent.