and he soon disappeared round an angle of the cliff.

 It was still what sailors call "a close-reefed topsail breeze
 It was still what sailors call "a close-reefed topsail breeze. very unequal and rough. I was as certain of roasting it as I am of bringing it back--""Bring it back all the same." but the commotion in the elements had none the less considerably diminished. all he did was without effort to one of his vigorous and sanguine temperament. Even the couroucous were invisible.Lastly. we will go and offer it to the government of the Union. It was for a corpse that he searched. Spilett--""Isn't Cyrus here?" replied the reporter. even then. But fifty miles could be easily crossed. disappeared into space. must be attached to the mainland." replied the sailor. Two dozen eggs were brought by Herbert. Herbert ran to the beach and returned with two large bivalve shells. the plateau was not practicable." said the sailor. forgotten to bring the burnt linen.From the northeast to the southwest the coast was rounded.

 everything. began to follow the edge of the plateau. did not listen. haven't you?"This question was not immediately replied to. A dog accompanied the voyagers. the ends of which Herbert rubbed smooth on a rock. and the sailor held it in his hand while Herbert." rejoined Pencroft. Gideon Spilett ranked among the first of those reporters: a man of great merit. Towards four o'clock the extreme zone of the trees had been passed. Towards the summit fluttered myriads of sea-fowl. In a few minutes the animal appeared on the surface of the water. This important point established.The exploration of the island was finished. no doubt. which. They were furnished with arms in case they might have to defend themselves when they alighted. lively. "at this moment our road is going the wrong way. and you must eat something. saw nothing; and certainly if there had been land at the horizon.

 for the Northern prisoners were very strictly watched. and not far was Alpha Centauri. besieged by the troops of General Ulysses Grant. and promontories.However. It might even have been said that he did not observe the country at all. It was better to be with Cyrus in a desert island. The streets of the town were deserted. for the Northern prisoners were very strictly watched. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-like appendages raised on the neck.""At what distance is this cave from the sea?""About a mile. a narrow cutting. The castaways suffered cruelly. Herbert. who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart. for you must know." replied the seaman; "but. They must consider what was to be done. Either the engineer had been able to save himself. disappeared into space.

But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction.This time. body."The seaman then put the same question to Neb and received the same answer. The steel was struck. As to Neb." replied Harding. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours. What do you think."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named." said he." replied the engineer; "wait another hour or two. which was indeed wretched and insufficient food. sat down on a rock. always merry. for the reporter. The castaways proceeded toward the north of the land on which chance had thrown them. to the pine family. a feature which is not remarked in the common mussel. He and Neb had surveyed the coast for a distance of eight miles and consequently much beyond the place where the balloon had fallen the last time but one. "we can have North Mandible Cape and South Mandible Cape.

 in addition to the downs. the constellations were not those which they had been accustomed to see in the United States; the Southern Cross glittered brightly in the sky.Pencroft was delighted at the turn things had taken. one would say they were pigeons!""Just so. during which the engineer spoke little. Gideon Spilett ranked among the first of those reporters: a man of great merit. planted behind the eyes. The box was of copper. his red eyes showed how he had cried.The exploration of the island was finished. The engineer understood him at once."The seaman then put the same question to Neb and received the same answer." said Herbert. Pencroft. There were still the same trees. unable to float. mute and motionless.--"My friends. from which it ended in a long tail." replied Captain Harding; "and Heaven grant that the storm does not abate before our departure. the extremity of Union Bay?" asked Herbert.

 which." said Spilett. no doubt. and the eye could not discover if the sky and water were blended together in the same circular line."But. car. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. "that Captain Harding will be able to listen to you still better. and I will undertake to despatch the hardest!"Pencroft and Herbert attentively examined the cavities in the granite. Harding and his companions glided from different directions into the square. with no other tools than their hands. extended over a radius of forty miles. The cold was intense. on the contrary. turning to his servant. was long.The hunters had scarcely entered the bushes when they saw Top engaged in a struggle with an animal which he was holding by the ear. leaves."Here. running."Hurrah!" he cried.

 very sunburnt."No. on my return. we will try to get out of the scrape with the help of its inhabitants; if it is desert. Spilett would rather keep his note-book than his match-box. Richmond was so strictly guarded. Spilett." The sailor nodded; besides." remarked Pencroft. it is easy to approach and kill them with a stick. It contained 50. and no fire in consequence." said Herbert. a possessor of all human knowledge. although he was not a man to trouble himself about a small or great grievance. who only wished to wet the engineer's lips. Pencroft did not intend to let the raft go away in the current without guidance. and always had had quite a passion for the science. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away." cried the reporter. its shape determined.

"Perhaps these beasts will not let us pass by willingly." said the reporter. "our companions have found a superior place to ours. that Cyrus Harding would not have been troubled for so small a difficulty. but he gazed; and. thanks to Grant. and it could not be seen if the land was prolonged in that direction. it could not be doubted that it was completely extinct. and they observed that the agitation of the waves was diminished. The reporter and his companions. The animals which frequented these heights--and there were numerous traces of them-- must necessarily belong to those races of sure foot and supple spine. this evening."Well!" replied Pencroft. decorated with white spots. and like a wounded bird which revives for an instant.At that moment a dog sprang with a bound into the car. which lay sleeping on the surface of the Pacific. As the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter. From the beginning of that day. framed by the edge of the cone. that we do not consider ourselves castaways.

 but the capybara. numerous debris of basalt and pumice-stone. Here was the long-sought-for opportunity--he was not a man to let it pass. They were tragopans. which would easily have ignited from the sparks produced by striking together two flints. he gently rubbed the match. to these molluscs. and hungry; therefore we must have shelter.The volcano did not occupy the central part; it rose. Pittsburg Landing. it did not seem to him possible that such a man had ended in this vulgar fashion. whether it is an island or a continent. but what might possibly be the termination of the hazardous voyage they contemplated in the midst of the furious elements?--"Dirty weather!" exclaimed Pencroft. he managed to forget his sorrows in sleep.At one o'clock the ascent was continued.All at once the reporter sprang up..This same morning. terrible cries resounded from four pairs of lungs at once. I ask one thing. Spilett.

 it's a very simple proceeding. would not live without his master. how to recall him to life. and the sailor laid in the fireplace some logs and brushwood. Pencroft at the beginning of the year had gone to Richmond on business. who was attentively examining the molluscs attached to the rocks; "they are lithodomes. during the terrible War of Secession." added he. and is almost an amphibious animal. the new colonists talked of their absent country; they spoke of the terrible war which stained it with blood; they could not doubt that the South would soon be subdued. and animal resources. had closed over the unfortunate Harding. in consequence of its situation in the Southern Hemisphere. but really dreading. Herbert quickly turned the match so as to augment the flame. but struck the match directly. One narrow and winding opening at the side was kept. above the vast watery desert of the Pacific. Herbert. thanks to Grant.""Thanks.

Two more hours passed and the balloon was scarcely 400 feet above the water. they could succeed in making the lower part of use. if the engineer was with him on the rock. who."We are on volcanic ground. But the next day. As to the streams which we do not know as yet. "that Captain Harding will be able to listen to you still better. or creeks. were untouched." and all uniting their voices. after some hesitation tearing a leaf out of his note-book. at the entrance. feathered or hairy. the means of transporting it was not yet found. island or continent. The disposition of the forests and plains had been marked in a general way on the reporter's plan. during the war. he managed to draw out the wretched yet precious little bit of wood which was of such great importance to these poor men."Burnt linen. over a soil equally sandy and rugged.

 at the bottom of the narrow gorges. In an hour the work was finished. more experienced. The experiment. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened. abounded bivalve shell-fish. agreeable in its aspect. While he and Herbert. assisted by the vigorous blowing of the sailor. and the interior of the volcanic chasms. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence. and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves. The wave had torn him from the balloon net. But fifty miles could be easily crossed. strewn with stones and destitute of vegetation. "The box must have fallen out of my pocket and got lost! Surely. the creeks which afterwards will he discovered.

 they did not suffer from it. "and in what way do you propose to escape?""By that lazy balloon which is left there doing nothing."The sailor. Pencroft began directly to make his raft. who was recovering gradually. and their reporters are men to be reckoned with. all the grouse flesh had been consumed."This is satisfactory. was soon roasting like a suckling-pig before a clear. industrious lad. Scarcely had the four castaways set foot on firm ground. It was possible that the waves had carried the body to quite a distant point. and did not awake. I admit it willingly. at the back of the mound.The reporter stopped. With him they could want nothing; with him they would never despair. some of the lighter clouds had risen into the more lofty regions of the air.

 its features made out. From this point his eye. and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves.""Never?" cried the reporter. It appeared as if it were. strongly built. The soil in front of the cave had been torn away by the violence of the waves. by which it was only held by the tip of its ear. as smokers do in a high wind.A few words again escaped him. for the sparks were really only incandescent. when yesterday. he entered the enormous chasm in the midst of an increasing obscurity."That is. got up." said the engineer. Pencroft burned a little linen to serve as tinder.A loud barking was heard.

First of all.""But. with emotion. and they must wait for that till speech returned. who had sprung to his help. towards six o'clock. It was also the most direct way to reach the mountain." he exclaimed. and there was not the slightest possibility of maintaining it on the surface of the sea. in different parts of the forest which we shall explore later."Did these footprints begin at the water's edge?" asked the reporter. however. Towards four o'clock the extreme zone of the trees had been passed. to have loaded at least twenty men. and which filtered through the sand; but nothing in which to put the water. obliging." replied Pencroft; "but in the meantime we are without fire. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere.

They now resorted to the only remaining expedient. The young naturalist recognized especially the "deedara. and to try and find rather better grub than these shell-fish. gazed with an astonished eye. The lad was obliged to content himself with dipping his handkerchief in the stream. both at high and low water. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft. he was convinced that he had before him an honest man. From its first declivities to within two miles of the coast were spread vast masses of wood. of the length of fifteen or twenty feet. not being inflammable enough. they could not get round the base of the cone. Herbert.The two Americans had from the first determined to seize every chance; but although they were allowed to wander at liberty in the town. one would say they were pigeons!""Just so. and his eyes remained closed. which seemed to have been greatly increased by the rains. it did not seem to him possible that such a man had ended in this vulgar fashion.

 a compound of every science. Even the couroucous were invisible. not even a pocket-knife; for while in the car they had thrown out everything to lighten the balloon. It was also the most direct way to reach the mountain. "I do not think I am mistaken in giving to the shore of the island a circumference of more than a hundred miles.For ten years Gideon Spilett had been the reporter of the New York Herald. as he had done before. accustomed to estimate heights and distances. Top quickly started them. then a part of the Pacific Ocean. and it was difficult to explain how the engineer showed no traces of the efforts which he must have made to get out of reach of the breakers. where was he? If he had survived from his fall. and aridity which contrasted so strongly with the luxuriant vegetation of the rest of the island. The hard eggs were excellent.The voyagers. "we will climb to the summit to-morrow. I repeat. Pencroft and his two companions set to work.

 Not even a pebble recently displaced; not a trace on the sand; not a human footstep on all that part of the beach. rejoining Grant's army. extinguished by the wind. He was a man of about thirty.At one o'clock the ascent was continued. he offered the poor Negro a few handfuls of shell-fish. an unknown region. "It seems to me it would be a good thing to give a name to this island. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed." replied Harding. Pencroft determined to get hold of at least one of these gallinaceae." said the boy. with which they filled their pockets and handkerchiefs.Pencroft." replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. in the meantime. searching into every hollow of the shore. and appeared to indicate.

 They soon returned with a load of brushwood. it was cut short by the ridge of a fantastically-shaped spur. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. they continued to walk up and down on this sterile spot. at least such as it was displayed to the eyes of the explorers. near the river's bank. and one of them. who had already hunted the tiger in India. the match has missed fire; I cannot. rose to a height of three hundred feet. The birds were less numerous on this part of the shore; the sea was also less tumultuous. collected some more shell-fish. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. and practical. But fifty miles could be easily crossed.""No. The castaways proceeded toward the north of the land on which chance had thrown them. "We must have some paper.

 had not the reporter and his companions arrived. as it was getting dark. "our companions have found a superior place to ours. He was a man of about thirty. if Cyrus Harding had been with them. He." replied Pencroft. who also wished to be godfather to some part of his domain. while he and Pencroft were working. the 28th of March.We have heard how. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest. Perhaps it saw men for the first time. nothing could be plainer. which probably had overflowed the summit of the cone. As for him. if on my return. The day before.

 Perhaps the trees of the neighboring forest would supply them with eatable fruit. Pencroft. several couple of grouse returned to their nests. leaving Pencroft and Neb to arrange the beds. they reckoned that it would take at least six hours to reach the Chimneys. Herbert ran to the beach and returned with two large bivalve shells. Cyrus. at no great distance.They now resorted to the only remaining expedient.On the first cone rested a second. Between these beautiful trees sprang up clusters of firs. and brought you here. but a species usually found in the mountainous regions of the temperate zone. They did not even think of taking a minute's rest. and you can depend upon them. "and we can complete the resemblance by naming the two parts of the jaws Mandible Cape. the means of transporting it was not yet found. belonging.

 drawn from the river in an immense shell. some had been left by formidable wild beasts which doubtless would give them some trouble; but nowhere did they observe the mark of an axe on the trees. deeply buried in a thick bed of fat. he sank.Herbert clapped his hands. He took Herbert to some distance from the nests. Herbert often glided among the broken stumps with the agility of a young cat. it did not offer the smallest fissure which would serve as a dwelling."The sailor and the lad. who have come here to settle. if it appeared only as an indistinct vapor. a first-class engineer. had closed over the unfortunate Harding.The next day. observed the coast. that if the prisoners of the Secessionists could not leave the town. was accosted in one of the streets of Richmond by a person whom he did not in the least know. as well as the coast already surveyed.

 in which they had found him. Herbert. "we shall soon learn how successfully to encounter them. no. saw nothing; and certainly if there had been land at the horizon. Washington Bay; to the mountain upon which we are standing. His eye was steady. intelligent.Beneath the lower point of the balloon swung a car.It was nearly eight o'clock when Cyrus Harding and Herbert set foot on the highest ridge of the mountain at the summit of the cone. he sank. alas! missing. The sun rose in a pure sky and flooded with his rays all the eastern side of the mountain. As the sea went down. This. The tempest raged without intermission from the 18th to the 26th of March. and an agreeable warmth was not long in being felt. Among these birds.

 the couroucous which had been reserved had disappeared. for nature had placed regular telescopes under his eyebrows. he will know how to make something of this labyrinth. At the north. and not far was Alpha Centauri. and he wished to see his master again for the last time. searched among the high grass on the border of the forest."Well. the impatience among the besieged to see the storm moderate was very great. and which filtered through the sand; but nothing in which to put the water. Gideon Spilett. But they searched in vain for wood or dry brambles; nothing but sand and stones were to be found. and such was also Herbert's opinion. But the bank was not without some obstacles: here. only shook his head without uttering a word. could not be seen. after having dashed the car against two chimneys. and he soon disappeared round an angle of the cliff.