I will watch him this time, and if his boat touches the quay, he shall not succeed in avoiding me." I returned to the Green Cormorant, and took up my post behind the window panes, which were dimmed by the hissing rain.

There I waited, nervous, impatient, and in a state of growing irritation.

Two hours wore away thus.

Then, with the instability of the winds in the Kerguelens, the weather became calm before I did.

I opened my window, and at the same moment a sailor stepped into one of the boats of the _Halbrane_ and laid hold of a pair of oars, while a second man seated himself in the back, but without taking the tiller ropes.