The "Albatross" would then abandon the continents and fly not over the Bering Sea, or the Caspian Sea, or the North Sea, or the Mediterranean, but over the Atlantic Ocean.
This look-out was not particularly pleasing to the two friends, whose chances of escape had sunk to below zero.

But the "Albatross" had slackened speed as though hesitating to leave Africa behind.

Was Robur thinking of going back?
No; but his attention had been particularly attracted to the country which he was then crossing.
We know--and he knew--that the kingdom of Dahomey is one of the most powerful on the West Coast of Africa.

Strong enough to hold its own with its neighbor Ashantee, its area is somewhat small, being contained within three hundred and sixty leagues from north to south, and one hundred and eighty from east to west.

But its population numbers some seven or eight hundred thousand, including the neighboring independent territories of Whydah and Ardrah.
If Dahomey is not a large country, it is often talked about.