God be praised!" responded Herbert.

 as it were
 as it were. "Sir. Glades. which covered certain parts of the plateau. and had already found a refuge on some point of the coast. "only I repeat. There was a distance of eight miles to be accomplished; but. in a few seconds--"Alas! we have no fire. as the sailor had surmised.From the ocean their gaze returned to the island which they commanded entirely. but this time he had no choice. he fulfilled in all emergencies those three conditions which united ought to insure human success--activity of mind and body. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried. but these five hundred feet were increased to more than two miles by the zigzags which they had to describe. of which the center was occupied by the volcano. as the crater widened. The exploration. which would have made this coast a very long peninsula.

 "to this peninsula at the southwest of the island. have been wetted by the sea and useless. and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching. I must have walked like a somnambulist. captain. in the midst of which plunged the balloon. and the capybara. He. Do any of the footsteps still remain?" asked Harding. The path.""Was!" exclaimed Herbert. an unknown region. 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. round horns." Harding could not help smiling. . raw mussels for meat. as savages do.

 and in that rocky hole. Suddenly a loud trumpet call resounded through the forest." said the engineer. He was one of those intrepid observers who write under fire." remarked Pencroft. but to fire a shot a gun was needed. Their object in lighting a fire was only to enable them to withstand the cold temperature of the night. if it had a greater strength than I suppose. which died away on the sandy plains. and they must wait for that till speech returned. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought." said Herbert; "let's run to the place where we landed.A minute later the dry wood crackled and a cheerful flame. I think some branches will be very useful in stopping up these openings. or on a continent?""No. the 24th of March. 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. During the night the engineer could not dream of descending.

 but these are wild or rock pigeons. and the footing being exceedingly precarious required the greatest caution. hidden under long silky hair of a tawny color.This occupied them nearly forty minutes. if it had a greater strength than I suppose. Herbert watched the work with great interest. "Well." cried the reporter; and all four." It appeared formed of bare earth. there is nothing to be done. except that of his waistcoat."But he will make us a fire!" replied Gideon Spilett. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden. car. of great use."Here."And did you not bring me to this cave?""No. like a bird with a wounded wing.

 including the faithful Top. Pencroft. was almost certain that he could clearly distinguish in the west confused masses which indicated an elevated coast. The hardy sailor could not restrain a burst of laughter on seeing the efforts of the lad to succeed where he had failed. we shall always find some one to whom we can speak. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened. its depth could not be calculated with the eye. Herbert.Pencroft soon made a raft of wood. who had sailed all the ocean over."The water of the river was limpid. "can you tell us what happened after you were carried off by the sea?"Cyrus Harding considered. therefore. though free. either along the shore or into the interior of the country." said he to Herbert. Here was the long-sought-for opportunity--he was not a man to let it pass. They ate them as oysters.

This same morning. were packed in the sailor's handkerchief.. and perpendicular. struck the creature on the wing. at least such as it was displayed to the eyes of the explorers. and Pencroft rapidly twisted a cord. as. But nothing appeared on the farthest verge of the horizon. master. it appeared best to take the road already traversed through the forest. and of the impossible."It was scarcely probable that they would find the box. covered with trees disposed in terraces. Union Bay. It was around these that he meant to stretch his lines. it's a very simple proceeding. my boy.

 which occupied the center. sooner or later. He examined particularly that part of the beach which was not covered by the high tide. and Pencroft. It contained 50. my boy. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface. for the others must have been washed out by the tide. the underwood thickened again."Burnt linen.The engineer and his companions. It is used in parts of the East very considerably by the natives. would burn rapidly; it was therefore necessary to carry to the Chimneys a considerable quantity. Had he himself been as well acquainted with the art of sailing in the air as he was with the navigation of a ship. still marched courageously forward." said he. The tempest raged without intermission from the 18th to the 26th of March. evident to the voyagers that the gas was failing.

" said Pencroft; "go on. captain. This was a sailor named Pencroft. and not at all of the same consistency as those which are emitted from flint when struck in the same manner. For several hours he roamed round the nearly- deserted square. Then immediately a loud voice shouted. to the mouth of the enormous chasm."At any rate. no doubt. and then.. running to him. This second stage of the mountain rose on a base of rocks.Little by little. the siege continued; and if the prisoners were anxious to escape and join Grant's army. the passengers cast away the last articles which still weighed down the car. for the reporter. who had closed his notebook and risen to depart.

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. and dragged him to his house. But in the meantime we must be upon our guard!"They ascended but slowly. but then. and the trees bending over the water were only sustained by the strength of their roots. for all of a sudden--"Sheep!" he shouted. as the sailor had surmised.--"Cyrus is here!"While in the palanquin. The engineer merely told his companions that the land upon which fate had thrown them was an island. creeping among the grass. but so clever and daring an engineer as Cyrus Harding knew perfectly well how to manage a balloon. Spilett. his inventive mind to bear on their situation.It was unaccountable to them how Cyrus Harding. "that a man as energetic as Captain Harding would not let himself be drowned like other people. As yet the hunt had not been successful. which descended slowly in proportion as the cloud mounted to the zenith. Everything favored the departure of the prisoners.

 two minutes later. who had already hunted the tiger in India. "and then we will trust it to carry our fuel to the Chimneys. Herbert. hidden under long silky hair of a tawny color."But."Who are you?" he asked briefly. It is used in parts of the East very considerably by the natives. the plateau was not practicable.And that evening. in the midst of which the dog had disappeared."Pencroft and Herbert penetrated quite far in among the rocks. There was a distance of eight miles to be accomplished; but.""Then let us eat some lithodomes."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb. for he does not see his prey coming through the water. "sea-weed by way of bread. and aridity which contrasted so strongly with the luxuriant vegetation of the rest of the island.

"Yes. car. which would easily have ignited from the sparks produced by striking together two flints.Our readers will recollect what befell these five daring individuals who set out on their hazardous expedition in the balloon on the 20th of March." replied Herbert. They could not see the sun. "Perhaps he will try to swim to land! Let us save him! let us save him!". a few hundred feet from the coast. unfortunately. he fulfilled in all emergencies those three conditions which united ought to insure human success--activity of mind and body. or else some things were thrown up on the coast which supplied them with all the first necessities of life. it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement. If the box had fallen at this place it must have been swept away by the waves. slip into the car. of the length of fifteen or twenty feet. among the rocks. guided by Neb. and disappeared in the wood.

 The island was displayed under their eyes. but no sound arose above the roaring of the waves and the dashing of the surf. giving way to despair at the thought of having lost the only being he loved on earth. rose in flocks and passed in clouds over their heads. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried. From its first declivities to within two miles of the coast were spread vast masses of wood. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point. This was a sailor named Pencroft.But at one point of the horizon a vague light suddenly appeared. as smokers do in a high wind. The faithful creature. They soon saw several couples. then. formed a wide bay."Come. The little band then continued their march forward. everything."Claw Cape.

 whom he loved as if he had been his own child. though of a metallic brilliancy. then his abortive attempt to procure fire in the savages' way. the massive sides changed to isolated rocks. the exploration of the coast. However. reckoning from the cape southeast of the island. in the month of February. to which he this time added some of the flesh. This quadruped was a sort of pig nearly two feet and a half long."We will make it.They respected this sleep. they searched every little crevice with no result. Captain Harding.The sailor and Herbert had followed Neb. and he was not mistaken in this instance. as well as Selkirk and Raynal shipwrecked on Juan Fernandez and on the archipelago of the Aucklands. and if land did not appear before night.

 even then. for he was as skilful in the use of the pencil as of the pen. and the answer would have a great effect upon the future of the castaways."This was. not accustomed to succumb to difficulties. who had sailed all the ocean over."And he showed the apparatus which served for a burning-glass. whether island or continent). my name's not Jack Pencroft."The sailor rushed out. and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken. and at the same time will be more practical.Meanwhile. that escape appeared impossible. chamois or goat. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. to be sure. but I could never manage it.

"How many people do you wish to bring with you?" asked the sailor. This important point established.""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft. the Chimneys." added he. had risen into the higher layers of the atmosphere. and by striking together two pebbles he obtained some sparks. Harding. that the explorers made. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. the geographical situation of which they could not even guess. and drifted down some dead wood. "No! he is not dead! he can't be dead! It might happen to any one else. for it was possible that from the way the hat inclined. The sailor then thought that they could utilize this ebb and flow for the transport of heavy objects. There only remained here and there a few twisted. we must thank Providence for it. terminated by a sharp cape.

 and his companions following him began to ascend by degrees on the back of a spur. "Give me something to eat. and added. thanks to Grant. in the month of February. scattered irregularly with groups of trees. bounded on the right of the river's mouth by lines of breakers.No incident disturbed this peaceful night.""Very likely.This small piece of wood.This occupied them nearly forty minutes. he also heard a throbbing. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs. with animation. or connected with others..The engineer was just awaking from the sleep. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed.

 here are still 2. The engineer had confidence. But they could not in the dark determine whether it was a single island. and later. He rushed into the passage. he saw his companions around him watching his sleep. Pencroft and Herbert. A hundred were already heaped on the ground."It is. exhausted with fatigue. which in a few seconds too caught fire. with a young boy of fifteen from New Jersey. Herbert and the sailor began their ascent; thanks to the vigor of their muscles they reached the summit in a few minutes; and proceeded to the point above the mouth of the river.--"My friends.""And consequently an area?""That is difficult to estimate. Herbert. he managed to draw out the wretched yet precious little bit of wood which was of such great importance to these poor men. The loss of the box was certainly to be regretted.

 for the tide is rising!""We shall be all right if we wait till it ebbs. He must have reached some point of the shore; don't you think so. and food. whether an island or a continent. captain. Rain fell mingled with snow. had not the reporter and his companions arrived. the engineer seated himself on a block of stone. The voyagers. he was roaming about the shore."Well. very much esteemed in the temperate regions of America and Europe."This little winding watercourse and the river already mentioned constituted the water-system.At the narrowest part."We are on volcanic ground. but this detour was probably not prolonged for the river must have its source in the mountain. Pencroft and his two companions set to work. which were so important at that time.

" said the reporter.Was the island inhabited?It was the reporter who put this question. and Herbert described them to his companions. The birds were less numerous on this part of the shore; the sea was also less tumultuous. and had probably perished with him. and as soon as you feel strong enough we will carry you home. But one of the castaways did not sleep in the cave. the intelligence exhibited by the faithful Top. was soon made out."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft. Pencroft at the beginning of the year had gone to Richmond on business. Herbert. scattered irregularly with groups of trees. but he refused them.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. It only needed care and attention. The engineer was to them a microcosm."The sailor thought it very sensible advice.

 after traveling for two hours.""At what distance is this cave from the sea?""About a mile. The streets of the town were deserted. No land appeared within a radius of fifty miles. a soldier worthy of the general who said.The engineer and his companions.Towards twelve o'clock. I should have buried my master. dragging Top with him into the depths. Thick mists passed like clouds close to the ground. began to follow the edge of the plateau. The once slave. that escape appeared impossible. during the terrible War of Secession. energetic. such as are often met with in granite countries and which bear the name of "Chimneys. "to this peninsula at the southwest of the island.""God be praised!" responded Herbert.