"I hope we shall show them better manners when they condescend to visit us." "Ay," said Servadac, "we must remember that we are all one people now; no longer Russian, French, or English.

Nationality is extinct." "I am sadly afraid, however," continued the count, "that an Englishman will be an Englishman ever." "Yes," said the captain, "that is always their failing." And thus all further thought of making their way again to the little garrison of Gibraltar was abandoned.
But even if their spirit of courtesy had disposed them to renew their acquaintance with the British officers, there were two circumstances that just then would have rendered such a proposal very unadvisable.

In the first place, Lieutenant Procope was convinced that it could not be much longer now before the sea would be entirely frozen; and, besides this, the consumption of their coal, through the speed they had maintained, had been so great that there was only too much reason to fear that fuel would fail them.

Anyhow, the strictest economy was necessary, and it was accordingly resolved that the voyage should not be much prolonged.

Beyond the volcanic peak, moreover, the waters seemed to expand into a boundless ocean, and it might be a thing full of risk to be frozen up while the yacht was so inadequately provisioned.