A long trail of smoke betokened her to be a steamer; and very soon, by the aid of the glass, it could be ascertained that she was a schooner-yacht, and making straight for the island.

A flag at her mast-head fluttered in the breeze, and towards this the two officers, with the keenest attention, respectively adjusted their focus.
Simultaneously the two telescopes were lowered.

The colonel and the major stared at each other in blank astonishment.

"Russian!" they gasped.
And true it was that the flag that floated at the head of yonder mast was the blue cross of Russia..