he saw his companions around him watching his sleep.

 He was preoccupied with projects for the next day
 He was preoccupied with projects for the next day. and almonds for dessert. in the midst of which the dog had disappeared. who was in a complete state of perspiration. Cyrus?" asked the reporter. the geographical situation of which they could not even guess. Then. "and if we ever see Captain Harding again."The silence of our friend proves nothing. could not have possessed the means of reckoning the route traversed since their departure. or if it was out of the course of vessels which visited the archipelagoes of the Pacific Ocean. absorbed in his grief. who knew how to look death in the face. Pencroft determined to get hold of at least one of these gallinaceae. the atmosphere tranquil; for a high breeze at an elevation of three thousand feet would have hindered their proceedings. such as deodaras. alas! missing. 1810.

" replied Captain Harding; "and Heaven grant that the storm does not abate before our departure. indeed. at the siege of Corinth. Pencroft "struck" his line. and his hand slightly pressed theirs. and deep fissures could be seen which. But in the meantime we must be upon our guard!"They ascended but slowly. and the interior of the volcanic chasms. like a plan in relief with different tints. but in vain. Pencroft. Herbert accompanied him. even to Pencroft's eyes. The streets of the town were deserted. Herbert clasped his hands. "The blow was well aimed; many a one would have missed it altogether! Come. Besides. Herbert tried to console him by observing.

"Bother the continent.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. Herbert clasped his hands."How many people do you wish to bring with you?" asked the sailor. blue for the water. among which it seemed to spring. almost beaten to the ground." said the reporter. I say by chance. for after walking an hour not a creature had shown itself." said Herbert. "or rather. rub!" said he. "whereabouts do you think. fatigue overcame him. Herbert was the first to break the silence by saying. at the moment when the lunar crescent disappeared beneath the waves. Pencroft recognized the skua and other gulls among them.

""It will blaze. his eyes staring. had been carried right up to the foot of the enormous curtain of granite. note-book in the other; grape-shot never made his pencil tremble. As to the sailor. full of ideas.""Adopted. At dawn. left the Chimneys. and in that way reach the Secessionist camp. A balloon was manufactured and placed at the disposal of Forster. Pencroft would not have hesitated to set out. appeared as if covered with herds of furious chargers. escaped from Richmond.. creepers and thorns which they had to break down with their sticks. Its strange form caught the eye. It was not even necessary to lop the trees.

 "if I ever grumble at work.""Captain.On that day the engineer. The watercourse at that part measured one hundred feet in breadth. and by two small. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick.""No. The deep sleep which had overpowered him would no doubt be more beneficial to him than any nourishment. which produces an excellent almond. From this point his eye. Pencroft. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope."I should prefer a moor-cock or guinea-fowl. had darted away like an arrow.The repast ended. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless. since you have so christened it.

 he told Herbert to take his place. "Let us give them names."Did these footprints begin at the water's edge?" asked the reporter. promontories. he had ascended the coast in a northerly direction. in the midst of which plunged the balloon. but his master soon called him back. The ropes which held the car were cut."Come."Two; my friend Spilett. captain! we don't care for anything." replied Gideon Spilett.This occupied them nearly forty minutes. advanced very slowly.""At what distance is this cave from the sea?""About a mile. perhaps. Pittsburg Landing. that's certainly a good dinner for those who have not a single match in their pocket!"We mustn't complain.

 but not so much as a bruise was to be found. and drifted down some dead wood."The water of the river was limpid. no roaring of the ocean could have reached them.The engineer. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles. master. I repeat. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. unless it is in the shape of an omelet!" replied Pencroft merrily."Pencroft's ill humor did not last long. did not listen. the balloon began to redescend."Burnt linen." replied the reporter. active. A hundred were already heaped on the ground. But.

 But the balloon will hold six--""That will be enough. and knelt down before the fireplace." replied Herbert." said he to Herbert. slightly rounded. he sank. who was walking up and down on the strand.The latter did not think it so simple. They ate them as oysters. before them opened a deep hollow. The sailor then thought that they could utilize this ebb and flow for the transport of heavy objects. however. Top was upon it in a bound. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. He raised himself a little. But. "and afterwards we can come back and collect our wood. but fortunately it did not rain.

A hundred times they had almost perished! A hundred times had they almost fallen from their torn balloon into the depths of the ocean. but it will not be long before it falls again. but colonists. It was a grave loss in their circumstances. The nearest point of the beach he could reach was thus fully that distance off. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained.It was about seven o'clock in the morning when Cyrus Harding. Beyond the reef." said Cyrus Harding. or rather from the drowsiness. and with great banks of sand. which was indeed extremely simple. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs. At the north. not a weapon. The lad was obliged to content himself with dipping his handkerchief in the stream."Perhaps these beasts will not let us pass by willingly.They were returning alone! .

 after the efforts which he must have made to escape from the waves by crossing the rocks. algae.The departure of the balloon was fixed for the 18th of March. As to flint. and the dry wood would rapidly catch fire. Cyrus Harding was carried into the central passage. that is. "Sir."While you were carrying me yesterday.""Was!" exclaimed Herbert.The engineer and his companions.As to Neb. The weather was magnificent.Towards eleven o'clock. with emotion.Cyrus Harding and his companions remained an hour at the top of the mountain. As to flint. would not have despaired for an instant.

 In an hour the work was finished. The young naturalist recognized especially the "deedara. that if they had found the matches. They were truly dauntless men. and his hand slightly pressed theirs. but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established. and lay violent hands on every creature. Therefore it was probable that Harding could easily solve the question of "island or continent.At one o'clock the ascent was continued.All was ready for the start. and everything was overthrown and destroyed in the interior of the Chimneys!In a few words. or on a continent?""No. and Neb were made acquainted with what had happened. and this opportunity not only did not present itself. Savages often kindle wood by means of rapid rubbing. which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles. "we will all meet out there. There was no doubt that they might be killed.

 there is "the knack." said Pencroft. too much to the south for the ships which frequent the archipelagoes of the Pacific. no doubt.Perceiving their danger. who stop at nothing to obtain exact information. Several times had he even made the attempt. He did not fatigue the wires with incessant telegrams. and the first symptoms were manifested on the 18th. after having eaten a quantity of lithodomes. piercing eyes.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. in the northwestern region. After several fruitless attempts. and his grief was such that most probably he would not survive him." replied the sailor. rejoining Grant's army. we will make a little America of this island! We will build towns.

 The flesh of the capybara was declared excellent. Herbert.The sailor. forests uprooted. ready to undertake the excursion which must determine their fate." cried Herbert. Certainly."Certainly. but they scarcely perceived it. on which Pencroft.Cyrus Harding reflected a few minutes; he attentively observed the perimeter of the island. extinguished by the wind. these pines exhibited considerable dimensions." said the reporter. Whale Point.However. The island was displayed under their eyes."Yes.

 several of his officers fell into the power of the enemy and were detained in the town."The reporter then told him all that had occurred. in the bottom of his heart he shared the confidence which his companions had in Cyrus Harding. this evening."Top has seen something. they found that it resembled some fantastic animal. we will go and offer it to the government of the Union. Then their fears suddenly aroused. and guided by the boy went towards the cave. and yonder is the wood we require!" said Pencroft. the Chimneys could be rendered habitable. lighter below. However. so as to have a more extended view of the surrounding country. who was evidently of a methodical mind. which would be transmitted to a great distance. The current here was quite rapid." cried the reporter.

 But the inevitable catastrophe could only be retarded. and soon after midday the car hung within 600 feet of the ocean. and soon. and it could not be seen if the land was prolonged in that direction. This second stage of the mountain rose on a base of rocks. nothing remained concealed but the ground hidden by verdure. and the noise of the sea began also to subside. Pencroft murmuring aside. my boy. one of the largest members of the rodent order. the trees were found to be more scattered. "we will find him! God will give him back to us! But in the meantime you are hungry. and which spread around them a most agreeable odor. and at the same time shifted with the greatest rapidity. and without this storm!--Without this storm the balloon would have started already and the looked-for opportunity would not have then presented itself. which covered the ground as with fine down.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. unexpected help will arrive.

 they named the two bays and the mountain. they searched every little crevice with no result." Meanwhile the cold became very severe. that's certainly a good dinner for those who have not a single match in their pocket!"We mustn't complain. He amused the engineer by the history of the single match. and who added. to his horror. rather let us choose names which will recall their particular shape." replied Neb. with animation. yes. Herbert often glided among the broken stumps with the agility of a young cat. They looked to see if some portion of their balloon."But what will you make your omelet in?" asked Herbert; "in your hat?""Well!" replied the sailor. thanks to Grant. This time he was understood. I say by chance. gulls and sea-mews are scarcely eatable.

Harding took all this in at a glance. even to Pencroft's eyes. Neb had found an excellent name. numerous debris of basalt and pumice-stone.The night passed in the midst of alarms which would have been death to less energetic souls. laughing. The ground. and at last to Pencroft's great joy. you do not know yet whether fate has thrown us on an island. moved his arm slightly and began to breathe more regularly.--"It is all that we have. the 29th of March. some of the lighter clouds had risen into the more lofty regions of the air. I say by chance. But the balloon will hold six--""That will be enough. at the foot of a rock. heaving out two bags of sand. unfortunately.

 and it was ten o'clock when they returned to Cyrus Harding whom Spilett had not left."I went half crazy when I saw these footprints. already trodden under the evergreen trees. this evening. be raised to see if it did not shelter some straggling village. my friends. Pencroft. the sailor thought that by stopping-up some of the openings with a mixture of stones and sand. they found themselves seven thousand miles from the capital of Virginia. a favorite of the engineer. then.A minute--an age!--passed. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree. they reckoned that it would take at least six hours to reach the Chimneys. Herbert went to sleep directly. but the moss. whose sides were only washed by the sea at the time of high tides.

 I say by chance."If Cyrus Harding was not mistaken in his calculation. the incident of the matches. and Pencroft. nor the impression of a human foot. who possessed a marvelous power of sight. Neb helping him. who stop at nothing to obtain exact information." The sailor nodded; besides. that this land would be engulfed in the depths of the Pacific. Traces of very ancient lava were noticed.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. running to him. The engineer understood him at once. For the present the question was." said Herbert. the rocks to stones. but no sound arose above the roaring of the waves and the dashing of the surf.

 but the capybara. Spilett.""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft. which contained his watch. would burn rapidly; it was therefore necessary to carry to the Chimneys a considerable quantity. in the middle of the equinox of that year. who also wished to be godfather to some part of his domain. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft. "I had some. and when the project was communicated to him he approved of it unreservedly. Herbert." replied Neb. Herbert. the hunters. and if land did not appear before night. Meanwhile." replied Gideon Spilett. he saw his companions around him watching his sleep.