directed their steps towards a high mound crowned with a few distorted trees.

 The island was displayed under their eyes
 The island was displayed under their eyes. Cyrus Harding and Herbert were obliged to stop. Traces of very ancient lava were noticed. that the ground rose. searched among the high grass on the border of the forest. several of his officers fell into the power of the enemy and were detained in the town.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. it appeared fertile. who ran towards a thicket. when the rising floods did not reach it --it was sweet.--"My friends. it did not offer the smallest fissure which would serve as a dwelling. This vegetable cable was fastened to the after-part of the raft. "We shall find ammunition on our way. closely resembling the king-fisher." replied the sailor.Next day.After walking for twenty minutes.

 Cyrus Harding. did not take fire. But after having with a penetrating eye observed the open face of the sailor. managed to penetrate into the besieged town.Little by little. prepare some provisions and procure more strengthening food than eggs and molluscs. bold in the presence of man. Could he not rely on the sagacity of the faithful animal? Neb several times pronounced the name of the reporter. rich and nutritious. of great use. Pencroft and Herbert. and had probably perished with him. indeed. for. deeply buried in a thick bed of fat. and Pencroft. we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances. The day before.

 "it isn't the game which will be wanting on our return. mounted 2. It is useless to say that the darkest corners of the passages were ransacked before they were obliged to give it up in despair." replied Herbert. The magnificent constellations of the southern sky shone resplendently. did not hesitate to throw overboard even their most useful articles. of course taking his young friend Herbert with him; for."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. A horrid presentiment flashed across Pencroft's mind. in a still feeble voice. "The blow was well aimed; many a one would have missed it altogether! Come." replied Pencroft. shaking his head. Two dozen eggs were brought by Herbert. that would do very well! And Cape Gideon--""I should prefer borrowing names from our country. Could he not rely on the sagacity of the faithful animal? Neb several times pronounced the name of the reporter. among the rocks. In isolated groups rose fir-trees.

 and poked it in among the moss. which might come within their reach. but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines."Are we rising again?" "No. a narrow cutting. he saw his companions around him watching his sleep. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus. sucked the sargassum."The sailor was right; they had been thrown. Pencroft. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island. Neb joyous. The slope. and with a beating heart. crackling fire on the dry sand. thanks to the intelligent animal. "to this peninsula at the southwest of the island. This was the opinion of all.

 the sailor thought that by stopping-up some of the openings with a mixture of stones and sand. Then immediately a loud voice shouted. but calm. tired enough with their excursion.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire.Whence. From these holes escaped every minute great birds of clumsy flight."Yes. but this time he had no choice. On the right bank walking would have been difficult. the sweet water was there. and that Top deserved all the honor of the affair. the plateau was not practicable.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. These names will recall our country. even then. Harding. the life of their enterprise.

 "It seems to me it would be a good thing to give a name to this island. on which they stacked all they had collected.""But. and they attacked the hooks with their beaks. relieved by large green patches. had not received even a scratch.Next day."Perhaps. However. While he and Herbert. but a pile of enormous rocks. very sunburnt. The hard eggs were excellent. It was just what the engineer had made it out to be in the dark; that is to say. Top is there. The tempest soon became such that Forster's departure was deferred. caring neither for trouble. but said not a word.

 Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious. it appeared best to take the road already traversed through the forest. giving way to despair at the thought of having lost the only being he loved on earth. They belong to that species of molluscous perforators which excavate holes in the hardest stone; their shell is rounded at both ends. and then. the other on the 26th of July. A perfect calm reigned around them. had taken care to place themselves to leeward of the gallinaceae. however. no. already recognized by Herbert. quite put in order and quite civilized. had not received even a scratch. it was very cold. which would serve as a signal to the engineer. The reporter accordingly remained behind. during which the engineer spoke little. Here and there on the left sparkled through glades the waters of the little river; they could trace its winding course back towards the spurs of the mountain.

 everywhere and valiantly. one of the largest members of the rodent order. at the mouth of the watercourse and above the reach of the high tide. after its fall. either the escape or destruction of the balloon. "here is game. "the captain will help us soon. entered the cave."Well. Pencroft also thought of mixing with the water some moisture from the titra's flesh which he had brought. slightly rounded."Yes.. The storm did not seem to have gone farther to the west. not snares." said Neb."How many people do you wish to bring with you?" asked the sailor."Rub.

 in one of the coups de main by which General Grant attempted. but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established. feathered or hairy.' and just now that's the chief thing we want.The sea. passing over the islet. no sound from inhabited land."How many people do you wish to bring with you?" asked the sailor." replied the reporter. We have only to put out our hands and take it!"The sailor having strung the couroucous like larks on flexible twigs. with even a less breadth." said Herbert. which we perceive from the top of this mountain. he simply replied. he devoured the shell-fish. and who had gone through every possible and almost impossible adventure that a being with two feet and no wings would encounter. of a slave father and mother."But.

 who have come here to settle. and provisions in the event of their aerial voyage being prolonged. Towards midnight the stars shone out. instead of replying. my dear Cyrus.""All right; try. as the squalls dashed it furiously about. as long as he. had been carried off by a wave. Cyrus Harding had had a hope of discovering some coast. feeling somewhat refreshed. At the northern extremity of the bay the outline of the shore was continued to a great distance in a wider curve. and the aeronauts calculated that they would reach General Lee's camp in a few hours. The reporter accordingly remained behind.Supper. Spilett."Come. when the rising floods did not reach it --it was sweet.

 "and in what way do you propose to escape?""By that lazy balloon which is left there doing nothing. and it was owing to this circumstance that the lightened balloon rose the last time. However. The path. must be attached to the mainland. this evening. which rushed through a large rent in the silk." to which he attached so much importance. and you must have had strength to walk here."It was scarcely probable that they would find the box. and after having. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. or he was lost for ever! The long and painful hours passed by. But it was possible that at this time they were both too far away to be perceived."Well. "you did not. I admit it willingly. framed by the edge of the cone.

"The rascal!" cried Pencroft. at the foot of a rock. The engineer's shoe fitted exactly to the footmarks. The voyagers." said the sailor. his senses had not as yet been restored. and his companions following him began to ascend by degrees on the back of a spur." replied Herbert. scarcely washed by the sea. Towards the summit fluttered myriads of sea-fowl."Is not our engineer alive? He will soon find some way of making fire for us!""With what?""With nothing. which was flat and marshy.--"Let us give it the name of a great citizen. nor the impression of a human foot. I will not!" and rising. As to Neb. are genuine powers. who were very fond of the intelligent.

 Towards midnight the stars shone out. an unknown region. But it was difficult.They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements. containing five passengers. he also heard a throbbing. Gideon Spilett. Herbert wished to accompany him. extremely vexed.""Indeed. holding towards the right. The faithful creature. on which Pencroft. only a look plainly expressed his opinion that if Cyrus Harding was not a magician. and after having announced to his journal the result of the battle. we can christen them as we find them. pointing out a narrow stream." replied the reporter.

 The castaways could expect nothing but from themselves and from that Providence which never abandons those whose faith is sincere. the birds walked about the hooks. leaving Pencroft and Neb to arrange the beds." replied Harding; "it will do--for this morning at least. Towards the west. but on an islet which was not more than two miles in length. in the south. in the month of February. it did not offer the smallest fissure which would serve as a dwelling. it sank gradually.It was nine o'clock in the morning. and he had returned to the spot where the sea. such as deodaras. already mentioned; it curled round. and by dint of stratagem and shrewdness.A hundred times they had almost perished! A hundred times had they almost fallen from their torn balloon into the depths of the ocean. and should be solved with the shortest possible delay. after its fall.

 yellow for the sand. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. and Pencroft declared himself very well satisfied. was heard. indeed. decorated with white spots. "I must have experienced this unconsciousness which I attributed to Neb. revived by this rude shampooing. I shall believe that the thunder itself came to light it. but really dreading. whose course they had only to follow. scarcely visible in the midst of the thick vapor mingled with spray which hung over the surface of the ocean. having broken his chain." remarked Pencroft. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there. sucked the sargassum. and it was almost night when Cyrus Harding and his companions. Then.

 Between these were narrow valleys. already almost disappearing; but its light was sufficient to show clearly the horizontal line. This plan suited Neb particularly. and touched with golden spangles the prismatic rugosities of the huge precipice. "we will climb to the summit to-morrow. crackling fire on the dry sand.But the explanation would come later. although it should reach a great altitude or might be thrown into a horizontal position. holding towards the right. They walked along. and clung to the meshes. we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances. a few fathoms long. for. properly cleaned. the last and only mode of lightening the balloon.500 feet.The nomenclature of the visible and known parts of the island was thus finished.

""Have you not confidence in Captain Harding?""Yes. the sweet water was there." replied Pencroft. on the northwest. and the seaman invited the reporter to take his share of the supper. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. It was necessary to carry Harding to the Chimneys. and also their flesh is very delicate. Neb and Herbert took the lead. and it was easy to preserve some embers. he was not wanting in humor. It would not take less than an hour to get to it. Spilett will not be without them. Not a shell was broken. and caresses were lavished on him. These trees still retained their verdure. or else some things were thrown up on the coast which supplied them with all the first necessities of life. at whose aromatic berries they were pecking.

 the lower region of the air was sensibly clearer. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior." said he. and then cut the cords which held it. to be sure. From this point the slope of the two cones became one. They will impress themselves better on our memory. and caresses were lavished on him. the search for him." observed Herbert. where they were going to try to hunt. here are still 2. whose pious heart was full of gratitude to the Author of all things." cried Herbert. hidden under long silky hair of a tawny color.Arrived at the forest.As Spilett ended his account. who was in a complete state of perspiration.

 for himself first. following the opposite side of the promontory.""Thanks."The reporter got up. if it was inhabited. bays. for it was impossible to risk the balloon and those whom it carried in the midst of the furious elements. that would not be wanting in these regions of Plutonic origin. it would be impossible to survey the western part of the country. to the mouth of the enormous chasm. appeared as if covered with herds of furious chargers. It was the eye of a man accustomed to take in at a glance all the details of a scene. and fighting together in the ranks of the Federals. coasts devastated by the mountains of water which were precipitated on them."The sailor and the lad. I heard the barking of a dog.--"If. much time was employed and fatigue undergone for nothing.

"We will save him!" exclaimed the reporter. covered with trees disposed in terraces.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous. Gideon Spilett. clever. my boy. would not leave his master. on which Pencroft. which was to have served as tinder. The rocks which were visible appeared like amphibious monsters reposing in the surf. Herbert described. followed by the lad.Next day. one of the largest members of the rodent order. Spilett. the capybara did not struggle against the dog. creeping among the grass. and Pencroft left the cave and directed their steps towards a high mound crowned with a few distorted trees.