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

"Incredible!" ejaculated the colonel.

"Incredible!" echoed the major.

"Six miles at least!" observed the one.

"Ay, more than that!" replied the other.

Awhile, they gazed at the sea and at each other in mute amazement. But in
the midst of their perplexity, what sound was that which startled them?
Was it mere fancy? Was it the reverberation of the cannon still booming
in their ears? Or was it not truly the report of another and a distant
gun in answer to their own? Attentively and eagerly they listened.
Twice, thrice did the sound repeat itself. It was quite distinct.
There could be no mistake.

"I told you so," cried the colonel, triumphantly. "I knew our country
would not forsake us; it is an English ship, no doubt."

In half an hour two masts were visible above the horizon. "See! Was I
not right? Our country was sure to send to our relief.
Here is the ship."

"Yes," replied the major; "she responded to our gun."

"It is to be hoped," muttered the corporal, "that our ball has done
her no damage."

Before long the hull was full in sight. A long trail of smoke betokened
her to be a steamer; and very soon, by the aid of the glass, it could
be ascertained that she was a schooner-yacht, and making straight
for the island. A flag at her mast-head fluttered in the breeze,
and towards this the two officers, with the keenest attention,
respectively adjusted their focus.

Simultaneously the two telescopes were lowered. The colonel
and the major stared at each other in blank astonishment.
"Russian!" they gasped.

And true it was that the flag that floated at the head of yonder mast
was the blue cross of Russia.




CHAPTER XIV

SENSITIVE NATIONALITY