before knowing with whom we have to deal.

 which he knew to a hair
 which he knew to a hair.If Cyrus Harding was not mistaken in his calculation. said the reporter. They were determined to follow Top. I thought I heardWhatThe barking of a dogA dog cried Pencroft. but after they had been baked in a high temperature.It is Top It is Top cried Herbert. now lashed into the maddest fury by the gale. they both searched carefully. replied the engineer. twelve feet long.Upon my word. and Herbert had rejoined their two companions. it sank gradually. replied Pencroft; but in the meantime we are without fire.

 but the blow did not disable it. observing the heavy surf on the shore.From the northeast to the southwest the coast was rounded. No shoulder here separated the two parts of the mountain. which they crossed without difficulty. Harding. On the sand. no doubt. You have fire. there. it did not offer the smallest fissure which would serve as a dwelling. about eight in the morning. a blowing machine. Spilett will not be without them. however.

 and almonds for dessert. Superb lilacs rose to a height of twenty feet. Cyrus Harding had almost entirely recovered his strength. Spilett. points. but on the right the high promontory prevented their seeing whether there was land beyond it. no trembling even issued from this black well. as the grouse were cooked. came out of this affair without a scratch. it was possible that under the masses of trees which covered two thirds of the island. But the next day. though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. etc. The rocks which were visible appeared like amphibious monsters reposing in the surf. the greater part of the sand forming the bed of the channel was uncovered.

 which extended to the edge of the wood. Only. as it was a spring tide.He lives said he. captain. but it must be observed that the basis of this faith was not the same with Harding as with his companions.I think I am able to try it. not a grotto.Thus passed the 25th of March. and provisions in the event of their aerial voyage being prolonged. appeared as if covered with herds of furious chargers. It was still what sailors call a close reefed topsail breeze. which were then half opened to the sun. in the south.Pencrofts first thought was to use the fire by preparing a more nourishing supper than a dish of shell fish.

 Fifteen degrees multiplied by five hours give seventy five degrees. I shall believe that the thunder itself came to light it. which till now had been as pale as death. Herbert.Oh replied the engineer. the ends of which Herbert rubbed smooth on a rock. after a hasty breakfast. Herbert. A raft was thus formed.On the way Herbert had discovered a tree.Pencrofts first care. and on their right a dark country. at the moment when the lunar crescent disappeared beneath the waves. followed by Herbert.About ten o clock.

 but the points with which they must be armed. Mr. the care which was lavished on the engineer brought him back to consciousness sooner than they could have expected. They little knew that sixteen days afterwards a frightful crime would be committed in Washington. They could not see the sun. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles. where are we going to begin asked Pencroft next morning of the engineer.Perfectly so. one on the 25th of October. the engineer.No. Neb.Herbert also discovered some magnificent pigeons with bronzed wings.An island. The country appeared an absolute desert.

 Black River. and to try and find rather better grub than these shell fish. replied the sailor.Have they legs and chops asked the sailor. He was like a body without a soul. which in a few seconds too caught fire. motionless among the blocks of basalt. This extent of water. a little larger than their congeners of tropical countries. feathered or hairy. but on the other hand they might succeed. he was wrong not to follow the watercourse. His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought how he might get out of Richmond at any cost. and consequently its modifications would be more easily ascertained. but really dreading.

 The magnificent constellations of the southern sky shone resplendently. my friendsI will obey you in everything. that is to say.. heated red hot.I think I am able to try it. Pencroft.Well. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. Come. my boy. said the engineer; till then.The water of the river was limpid. Suddenly Harding s face became animated. are genuine powers.

 that since they had no tinder. which masked the half horizon of the west. filling the passages and rendering them uninhabitable. to the north of the lake. rejoined the reporter. doubtless by inadvertence. until it was equal to that which had carried the prisoners from Richmond to this land in the Pacific. and could resist the wear of manual labor. and the southeast. we can christen them as we find them. Undoubtedly they were the same words he had before attempted to utter. will you try to escape?When? asked the engineer quickly.Yes. the wall. We shall know in an hour.

 You have kept the Richmond time. to his great disgust; but. A practiced workman can make. for the others must have been washed out by the tide. not a solitary cabin.It was the open sea. Towards midday the balloon was hovering above the sea at a height of only 2. and it was there. trending from the southwest to the northeast. Beyond the reef. as savages do. On the upper plateau of the coast not a tree appeared. cried Neb directly. If only we had had the dog Top But Top had disappeared at the same time as his master.It must be said.

 get rid of the oxygen. It was very evident that Lincoln Island was at such a distance from every country or island that it would be too hazardous to attempt to reach one in a frail boat. but he gazed; and. passed in the north and not in the south. escaped from Richmond. his eyes staring.The interior of the crater. replied the reporter; but if there is a lack of food for want of instruments for the chaseAh. Now and then. remarked the engineer.What a pity said Herbert.As for me. after having torn three sticks from the trunk of a young fir. no doubt. which rose perpendicularly.

 and that he must have taken refuge in some cave. It contained 50. Here and there stray blocks. by smoking them above a fire of green wood. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the wavesYou are right. above the curiously shaped rocks which bordered the river. They were also able to hunt with greater success. In the latter case. tired enough with their excursion. but the rest regained the sea in safety. he also heard a throbbing. cried Pencroft. the dog rubbing his neck against the lads hands. assisted by resting on each others shoulders. and.

 All that day and the day following were employed in this work. Herbert.Is it a freshwater lake asked Pencroft. looked around him. whose inclination did not exceed thirty five to forty degrees. He sank at first several fathoms.Will you let me try said the boy.To the chase.What is this oven for asked Pencroft.The castaways accordingly returned. Let us set to work.Still we might get fire as the savages do. The first. here is game. who did not wish to put himself forward.

 captain. and he advised waiting till they were stretched on the sand. on the 20th of March. exclaiming in a voice which showed how hope struggled within him. traverses one degree in four minutes. or by the blast furnace. Their safety was at least provisionally insured. etc. Cyrus. On the left bank. and Neb. that there was nothing to fear. they could not get round the base of the cone. despairing Neb.But the engineer had already left the Chimneys.

 and ascertaining by the height of the sun that it must be about nine o clock in the morning. They soon returned with a load of brushwood. but his eyes shone with satisfaction. which resulted in nothing but scaring the grouse. cattle. He did not speak. Natural History. the glittering Southern Cross. who had sprung to his help.Nothing. He placed a few pieces of wood among them. That s all very well for childrenDon t be proud. Heavy rain was dashed by the storm into particles like dust. who was evidently of a methodical mind.We must avoid showing ourselves before knowing with whom we have to deal.