Off on a Comet

tents of the nomad Arabs, was yet far inferior to any habitation built of brick or stone. It adjoined an old stone hostelry, previously occupied by a detachment of e

his orderly to stow away the remains of the repast in what he was pleased to term the “cupboard of his stomach.” Captain Servadac turned out into the open air to smoke his pipe upo

e suffused with a rosy glare. No well-defined fringe of light, nor arch of luminous rays, betokened a display of aurora borealis, even had such a phenomenon been possible in these lat

thoughts to occupy his mind. The prospects of the morrow offered serious matter for consideration. The captain was actuated by no personal animosity against the count;

o retire, and ensconcing himself in a corner of the gourbi, he endeavored to doze — a task which the unusual agitation of his master rendered somewhat difficult. Captain Servadac was evidently in no hurry to betake himself to rest, but seating himself at his table, with a pair of compasses and a sheet of tracing-paper, he began to draw, with red and blue crayons, a variety of colored lines, which could hardly be supposed to have much connection with a topo

hymes as to rally fugitive in a battle. But, by all the powers! it shan’t be said that a Fre

o lines, one red, the other blue, appeare

e words, ca

e heart’s t

of; “for the last hour he has been as fidgety a

, and as he paced the room with all the

ords can

r’s heart

Ben Zoof to himself, as he roused himself in his corner. “Imposs

said the captain shar

ir, only th

nterrupted me!” ejaculated the ca

y was upon his feet, standing in a military attitude, one hand

st thought of the end of my rondo.” And in a voice of inspiration, acc

onsent to be my spouse; Constant

tterable violence, the captain and his orderly were