1Io FOR THE FLAG

His mental state had not changed, his reason would not
return until his discoveries were mentioned to him. Count
d’Artigas was aware of his state of mind, and was
evidently relying upon it to enable him to detect the
inventor’s secret sooner or later.

But what could he do with it ?

I addressed him,—

“ML. Roch.”

My voice made an impression on him, and after fixing
his eyes on me for a moment, he turned them away
quickly.

I took his hand and pressed it; but he withdrew it
hurriedly, moved off without having recognized me—and
walked towards the stern where the engineer and the captain
stood.

Was he about to address one of the two men? and if
they spoke to him, would he answer ?

Just then a gleam of intelligence came into his face, and
his attention was attracted—I did not doubt—by the
extraordinary sailing of the schooner.

His eyes ran over the masts with their furled sails as the
Ebba glided rapidly over the surface of these smooth
waters. Hethen stepped back, turned,and went to the place
where the funnel, had the £4da been a steam yacht, should
have been; a funnel emitting clouds of black smoke.

The fact that had appeared so strange to me struck
M. Roch also. He could not understand what I had found
inexplicable, and as I had done, he went to the stern to
see the working of the screw.