1x8 FOR THE FLAG

Serké, too, is the only one who manifests, if not a little
sympathy, at least a faint interest in me.

As for the inventor, I did not see him all the morning,
and he must be in his cabin still suffering from yesterday’s
paroxysm.

I was certain of this when towards three‘o’clock in the
afternoon the Count, as he was about to go down below,
signed to me to approach him,

I did not know what he wanted, but I knew what I was
going to say to him.

“Do those paroxysms which M. Roch suffers from last
long ?” he asked.

“ Sometimes forty-eight hours,” I answered,

“ What has to be done ?” :

“Nothing but to leave him quiet until he sleeps.
After a night’s rest the attack is over and then he falls
into his usual callous state.”

“Well, Keeper Gaydon, you will continue your atten-
dance on him as at Healthful House, if necessary.”

“My attendance ?”

“Yes—on board the schooner—until we have landed.”

“Where ?”

“Where we shall be to-morrow afternoon,’ Count
d’ Artigas contented himself with saying.

To-morrow, I thought ; then he is not making for the
coast of Africa, nor even for the Azores! But there still
remained the Bermudas.

The Count had put his foot on the first step of the
companion, when I challenged him in turn.