A bark carrying a little backward a massive block from which issued the straight funnel before the window of the Bravées, was made fast to the mooring-ring of the Durande. The bows of the bark stretched beyond the corner of the wall of the house, and were level with the quay.
There was no one aboard.
The vessel was of a peculiar shape. All Guernsey would have recognised it. It was the old Dutch sloop.
Lethierry jumped aboard; and ran forward to the block which he saw beyond the mast.
It was there, entire, complete, intact, standing square and firm upon its cast-iron flooring; the boiler had all its rivets, the axle of the paddle-wheels was raised erect, and made fast near the boiler; the brine-pump was in its place; nothing was wanting.
Lethierry examined the machinery.
The lantern and the moon helped him in his examination. He went over every part of the mechanism.
He noticed the two cases at the sides. He examined the axle of the wheels.
He went into the little cabin; it was empty.
He returned to the engine, and felt it, looked into the boiler, and knelt down to examine it inside.