way of opening conversation.

"Well, Ben Zoof?" was the captain's invariable response
to his servant's formula.

"What are we to do now, sir?"

"We can only for the present wait patiently where we are.
We are encamped upon an island, and therefore we can only be
rescued by sea."

"But do you suppose that any of our friends are still alive?"
asked Ben Zoof.

"Oh, I think we must indulge the hope that this catastrophe has not
extended far. We must trust that it has limited its mischief to some small
portion of the Algerian coast, and that our friends are all alive and well.
No doubt the governor general will be anxious to investigate the full
extent of the damage, and will send a vessel from Algiers to explore.
It is not likely that we shall be forgotten. What, then, you have to do,
Ben Zoof, is to keep a sharp lookout, and to be ready, in case a vessel
should appear, to make signals at once."

"But if no vessel should appear!" sighed the orderly.

"Then we must build a boat, and go in search of those who do not come
in search of us."

"Very good. But what sort of a sailor are you?"