"Jules Verne. Off on a Comet. WORKS" - читать интересную книгу автора

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
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