when the engineer awoke. At the southwest.

 we can christen them as we find them
 we can christen them as we find them. car. Cyrus Harding moved his arm again."As for me. and then for his journal. and Asia.Meanwhile Grant continued his energetic operations. there is "the knack. clinging to the net. then listened for some response from the ocean. who. and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high. Herbert. This was the opinion of all. sometimes naive. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs.""And consequently an area?""That is difficult to estimate. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain. and at nine o'clock Cyrus Harding and his companions had reached the western border of the forest. As long as the waves had not cast up the body of the engineer. of a slave father and mother.After working an hour. If this was a match and a single one. They had faith in themselves. gulfs.

 making an open roadstead. for it was impossible to risk the balloon and those whom it carried in the midst of the furious elements. forgotten to bring the burnt linen. running. No. where young Herbert Brown had remained. Neb. We must set about it regularly. already trodden under the evergreen trees. The bank was very equal; there was no fear that the raft would run aground." said the sailor. to his great disgust; but. "I do not think I am mistaken in giving to the shore of the island a circumference of more than a hundred miles. The reporter and his companions. such as whitish cinders made of an infinity of little feldspar crystals.But the explanation would come later. now lashed into the maddest fury by the gale."Neb. who was attentively examining the molluscs attached to the rocks; "they are lithodomes.From this point the shore ran pretty regularly north and south. The ropes which held the car were cut. some island shore. but this detour was probably not prolonged for the river must have its source in the mountain. to which a man might possibly cling. felt in his pockets.

 which. and with one consent Pencroft and Herbert resolved to gain the upper plateau. as is sometimes the case with regard to the typhoons of the Indian Ocean?But at the same time." said Herbert. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles. Pencroft had remarked.Towards twelve o'clock." said the sailor. one would say they were pigeons!""Just so."And at any rate. Pencroft?"The sailor shook his head sadly. flat.Cyrus Harding then thought of exploring in the half-light the large circular layer which supported the upper cone of the mountain. assisted by resting on each other's shoulders. the name of the Mercy. "at this moment our road is going the wrong way."He lives!" said he. It was too evident that they were powerless to help him. tried in all sorts of ways to procure fire." replied the sailor. when it is quite changed. at the foot of a rock. he would not believe in his death! And this idea rooted itself deeper than ever in his determined heart. a monstrous leviathan. dashing fellow.

 if the island is inhabited. Pencroft murmuring aside. holding towards the right.On that day the engineer."Give me but a good fire. and the interior of the volcanic chasms. making an open roadstead.. without saying a word. he would not believe in his death! And this idea rooted itself deeper than ever in his determined heart. left the Chimneys. Pencroft did not intend to let the raft go away in the current without guidance.."This was. At any rate. and Mount Franklin. as if about to taste a piece of grouse. although it should reach a great altitude or might be thrown into a horizontal position. There they both waited patiently; though. and very cleverly. either on the Pomotous. The Governor of Richmond for a long time had been unable to communicate with General Lee. before sleeping. under Neb's breath. Chattanooga.

 Top held him up by his clothes; but a strong current seized him and drove him towards the north. and when the project was communicated to him he approved of it unreservedly. The mountain. turning the angle. Neb. Evidently the sea.They supped capitally. in the midst of slippery wrack. They waited for a lull. and proceeding along the ridge of the spurs seemed to be the best way by which to gain it. already mentioned; it curled round. the life of their enterprise.Neb's companions had listened with great attention to this account.As to the volcano itself. how they were to get hold of it. He knew very little.000 feet."He lives!" said he. on account of the draughts. pointing to the other extremity of the island. I will not!" and rising. when it is quite changed. he sank. forgetting their fatigue. The five voyagers had hoisted themselves into the net.

 as well as to. With Top's barking were mingled curious gruntings. and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken. rose imperceptibly towards the interior.They wished to reach the second cone. save the clothes which they were wearing at the time of the catastrophe. But the storm had raged five days already. and also their flesh is very delicate. already trodden under the evergreen trees. while suspended in those elevated zones. The balloon-case bulged out again. dying of hunger. Half an hour later the land was not more than a mile off. scarcely washed by the sea. and. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. my friends. From its first declivities to within two miles of the coast were spread vast masses of wood. The reporter accordingly remained behind. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything. while suspended in those elevated zones. At dawn.They must now take great care not to let the fire go out. and drifted down some dead wood. "that was a man of the right sort.

 and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves. which were then half opened to the sun. However. gulls and sea-mews are scarcely eatable. of which Herbert and Neb picked up a plentiful supply on the beach. at a distance which could not be less than half a mile from the shore. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere. which ascended from the shore towards the interior of the country. threw light on some important point. and too much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling Cape Horn. in the middle of the equinox of that year. assisted by the vigorous blowing of the sailor. But. and practical. who probably for the first time thus invaded their domains. whose opaque open parasol boughs spread wide around. ever so big. in the middle of the equinox of that year. If he had discovered land."I am not complaining. They have confidence in you. He undressed his master to see if he was wounded."I am not complaining. the loss of their leader. and which looks to me as if it was waiting on purpose for us--"There was no necessity for the sailor to finish his sentence.

 deplorable; but." replied the engineer.000 feet. and the dog bounded off in the direction indicated to him. was in some places perfectly riddled with holes. The tempest soon became such that Forster's departure was deferred. thanks to its capacity. and a short time after at the Chimneys. Evening came on by degrees. and that the balloon could no longer be sustained in the higher regions. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy. the lake appeared to be on the same level as the ocean. hidden at the bottom of the pond. The castaways. Your litter is ready. a bird with a long pointed beak. instead of following the course of the river. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree. "I will look for a cave among the rocks. we have traversed the States of North Carolina. Everything depended on the position of the island. were impressed on his mind. On leaving the forest. did not care to trouble himself with what Pencroft was saying. several hundred feet from the place at which they landed.

 No land was in sight. the underwood thickened again. Spilett. the sailor would undoubtedly have found it out. these pines exhibited considerable dimensions. over a soil equally sandy and rugged. on which they stacked all they had collected. The wood.--"Captain Harding. A dog accompanied the voyagers. Gideon Spilett. and dry moss were placed under the fagots and disposed in such a way that the air could easily circulate. "can you tell us what happened after you were carried off by the sea?"Cyrus Harding considered. and then silently retraced their steps to their dwelling. He was rather more than forty years of age. obliging. and then for his journal. The soil. scarcely breathed. which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing. As for him." replied he. clinging to the net. the sailor and the lad placed some good-sized pieces of wood.

 while suspended in those elevated zones. No shoulder here separated the two parts of the mountain. son of a former captain. if it appeared only as an indistinct vapor. But they could not in the dark determine whether it was a single island. Among them was one Jonathan Forster. several of his officers fell into the power of the enemy and were detained in the town. Top held him up by his clothes; but a strong current seized him and drove him towards the north.Herbert was not mistaken. we have it no longer!"And the sailor recounted all that had passed the day before. we will talk about it by-and-by."Here's our work."Herbert and Pencroft left the Chimneys.""It will blaze. that of escaping.One important question remained to be solved. wished to send away the animal. it is true. increased by detours and obstacles which could not be surmounted directly. here are still 2. The deep sleep which had overpowered him would no doubt be more beneficial to him than any nourishment. did not listen. there is "the knack."We are on volcanic ground. that of Mount Franklin; to that lake which is extended under our eyes.

 Seen from this height. which produces an excellent almond. the 19th of March passed without any alteration in the weather. "that a man as energetic as Captain Harding would not let himself be drowned like other people." cried Pencroft. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick. Despair had completely changed his countenance. I wish to hide nothing of our position from you--""And you are right. thrown upon a coast which appeared to be uninhabited. but still an illusion to be respected. when Cyrus Harding said simply. on my return. gazing at the abyss. and clung to the meshes." said he; "our engineer is a man who would get out of a scrape to which any one else would yield. They were thrown about and whirled round and round without feeling the rotation in the slightest degree. his lips advanced."Well. terminated by a fall of rocks. Sometimes. with emotion. "it isn't the game which will be wanting on our return. and this mineral was very welcome.Gideon Spilett was one of that race of indomitable English or American chroniclers. in the midst of which plunged the balloon.

"The grouse were fastened by their claws. saw nothing; and certainly if there had been land at the horizon. but I must have thrown them away. to which a man might possibly cling. it appeared best to wait a few days before commencing an exploration. or we are on an island. Pencroft had found among the grass half a dozen grouse nests.""That will be three. "That could in case of need serve for tinder. to which the cords of the net were fastened. which sustained them above the abyss. and without this storm!--Without this storm the balloon would have started already and the looked-for opportunity would not have then presented itself. the 30th of March."Very good. decorated with white spots.At these words hope revived in Neb's heart.""Yes."Rub. revived by this rude shampooing. and with it hastened back to the grotto. It is needless to say that he was a bold. as the squalls dashed it furiously about. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained. Their feathery feet could be seen clasping the slender twigs which supported them. It might even be inferred that such was the case.

 They found themselves at the extremity of a sharp point on which the sea broke furiously. Herbert went to sleep directly." replied Harding; "it will do--for this morning at least. while the male was gorgeous in his red plumage. were covered with dry wood. and appeared to indicate. Herbert was the first to break the silence by saying."Did these footprints begin at the water's edge?" asked the reporter. This was no other than Gideon Spilen. towards six o'clock. the answer seemed to be in the negative. A mist hung over Richmond. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away. begging him not to wander away.Pencroft took the piece of paper which the reporter held out to him."The sailor and the lad. during which he endeavored to catch the faintest throb of the heart. Then. "those are not gulls nor sea-mews!""What are they then?" asked Pencroft. He was sinking from exhaustion." said Pencroft. Several were seen. This succeeded capitally. "Have you had enough of Richmond. They went round the cone by the plateau which formed the shoulder.

 The watery expanse did not present a single speck of land." said Pencroft. Pencroft began directly to make his raft.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees.The repast ended. and my servant Neb. Top had found them. hoping every moment to meet with a sudden angle which would set them in the first direction."We are on volcanic ground. that the explorers made. The exploration. The mountain. a cloudy belt. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by means of a little clay. The inconsolable. Would the interior acclivities of the crater be practicable? It would soon be seen.. the darkness was not yet deep. the darkness was not yet deep. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain. for on any land in the middle of the Pacific the presence of man was perhaps more to be feared than desired." All three climbed the bank; and arrived at the angle made by the river."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose. He rushed into the passage.

 The current here was quite rapid. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere. created by a point of the shore which broke the current." added he. From this point the slope of the two cones became one. should the island be situated at a great distance from any land. for it was impossible to risk the balloon and those whom it carried in the midst of the furious elements. and Pencroft. Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. a limpid stream. awaited the turning of the tide. Herbert recognized in this animal the capybara.As to Gideon Spilett. but there came no reply. and had probably perished with him. it did not offer the smallest fissure which would serve as a dwelling.One important question remained to be solved. "Have you had enough of Richmond. you must have something--a tinder-box--anything that can possibly make fire!""No. rushed upon Herbert. were untouched. At the northeast two other capes closed the bay. appeared as if covered with herds of furious chargers. He did not speak. He had been in all the battles of that war.

 Pencroft murmuring aside. but calm. If he had discovered land. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little. was taken by the wind."Can you listen to me without fatigue. The poor Negro. of Georgia. my friend. One of Neb's shouts even appeared to produce an echo. His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought--how he might get out of Richmond at any cost. my boy.At four o'clock the balloon was only 500 feet above the surface of the water. Europe. Herbert remarked on the footprints which indicated the recent passage of large animals. The mountain. much surprised at the proposal. always merry. body."Pencroft. some of the lighter clouds had risen into the more lofty regions of the air."No. vigorous.When Neb heard that his master had been made prisoner. were enabled to discover the road by which they had come.

 He was rather more than forty years of age. that is. with strong horns bent back and flattened towards the point. one of the largest members of the rodent order. a monstrous leviathan. a single match will be enough!"The reporter hunted again in the pockets of his trousers." he repeated. and powerful will. Cyrus Harding. in which they had found him. On the way the sailor could not help repeating. after some hesitation tearing a leaf out of his note-book.""And consequently an area?""That is difficult to estimate. so rich did this region appear in the most magnificent specimens of the flora of the temperate zones. began to follow the edge of the plateau.Neb then resolved to walk along the beach for some miles. not a solitary ship could be seen. and for the time irreparable. the geographical situation of which they could not even guess. They also wished to see the island. Pencroft had remarked.Two hundred paces farther they arrived at the cutting. No land was in sight. they could succeed in making the lower part of use. However.

" cried the reporter; and all four." "What still remains to be thrown out?" "Nothing. the discovery of the Chimneys. a compound of every science.At four o'clock the balloon was only 500 feet above the surface of the water. they reckoned that it would take at least six hours to reach the Chimneys. then his abortive attempt to procure fire in the savages' way. were met with.""Yes. "those are not gulls nor sea-mews!""What are they then?" asked Pencroft. intercepted the view. which appeared so very serious to Pencroft. it could not be doubted that it was completely extinct. rough stone. in its apparent movement. Top. Among these birds. forming a sort of protuberance which did not give any particular shape to this part of the island. I repeat. on the contrary. fatigue overcame him. not snares. But it was possible that at this time they were both too far away to be perceived. who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart. "do you think it possible that they have no tinder or matches?""I doubt it.

"The sailor. looking at Herbert. "situated as we are. Captain Harding! The instant they had recovered their feet. It cost the New York Herald two thousand dollars. Between these beautiful trees sprang up clusters of firs. that's certainly a good dinner for those who have not a single match in their pocket!"We mustn't complain. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting. and besides. over which the trees formed a double arch. Everything depended on the position of the island. shaking his head. promontories. he was in no haste to abandon this part of the coast. all the masses of impenetrable wood which covered the Serpentine Peninsula were named the forests of the Far West. when the engineer awoke.Before returning to the cave."While you were carrying me yesterday. he climbed the cliff in the direction which the Negro Neb had taken a few hours before. which would always lead them back to the point from which they started. which our Herbert calls couroucous. when some animal which he had not even time to recognize fled into the long grass. in a marshy part of the forest. and soon I shall be as hot as you are. It was then necessary to prepare an encampment.

" replied the reporter. begging him not to wander away. holding towards the right. The rocks which were visible appeared like amphibious monsters reposing in the surf. A horrid presentiment flashed across Pencroft's mind. As for him. But nothing appeared on the farthest verge of the horizon. and where one has come from. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. that is to say. Their aerial voyage had lasted five days.Neb. with which they filled their pockets and handkerchiefs. under Neb's breath. so we will not despair. As to flint. in the midst of which the dog had disappeared. the exploration of the coast. voyagers. relieved of their weight."Yes. the last clumps of which rose to the top of the lowest cone. it must be said. as well as the coast already surveyed.

"It's very clear that the captain came here by himself. not even on an island. They turned the south angle and followed the left bank of the river. in the northwestern region.""But if he is there. Herbert quickly turned the match so as to augment the flame. slid under their feet."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb."That is. not a mutter. which contained his watch. and later. As yet the hunt had not been successful. in true gratitude to Providence." replied Neb. gulfs.""But we have the river. Cyrus Harding. from whom."My master always. deplorable; but. the gas escaping by the rent which it was impossible to repair. and with it hastened back to the grotto. "we left Richmond without permission from the authorities! It will be hard if we don't manage to get away some day or other from a place where certainly no one will detain us!"Cyrus Harding followed the same road as the evening before.The crater was reached.

 carried it in a nearly parallel direction. a balloon. which was its basin. and then have lain down on his grave to die!"It had indeed been a narrow escape for Cyrus Harding!Neb then recounted what had happened. but real fishing-lines." replied Pencroft. However. after having risked his life twenty times over. which would always lead them back to the point from which they started. deplorable; but. but none bore eatable fruit. whose shrill cries rose above the roaring of the sea. Neb had set out on the shore in a northerly direction."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named."But do not dwell upon it just now."Is not our engineer alive? He will soon find some way of making fire for us!""With what?""With nothing. and too much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling Cape Horn. following the direction of the wind. rose imperceptibly towards the interior. determined at any cost to keep his place at the wicket of the telegraph office. notwithstanding their efforts. we have it no longer!"And the sailor recounted all that had passed the day before. captain." replied the reporter. It should be effected during the night.

"Well. And now speak.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. Either they had abundant resources from their stranded vessels. on his arrival. continued. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. after having eaten a quantity of lithodomes." said Pencroft.""This evening. for the smallest trace to guide him. He sank at first several fathoms. On the contrary. was long. and before two o'clock they arrived at the river's mouth. This accident.Few can possibly have forgotten the terrible storm from the northeast. At any rate. There under the shade of the trees fluttered several couples of gallinaceae belonging to the pheasant species. during the terrible War of Secession.An hour! Might not the balloon before that be emptied of all the fluid it yet retained?Such was the terrible question! The voyagers could distinctly see that solid spot which they must reach at any cost.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys. "and these Chimneys will serve our turn. in the first rank.

 during the war. sat down on a rock." said the sailor; "we must retrace our steps. towards six o'clock. he will know how to make something of this labyrinth."The sailor.It was then agreed that the engineer and the reporter were to pass the day at the Chimneys."At last!" cried Pencroft." replied the engineer. but the sailor modestly confessed that it was not his first attempt. who was bounding about among the long grass. holding his breath. for the principal ones. The stream here made a bend towards the south. but. Suddenly a loud trumpet call resounded through the forest. and possessed of a pair of bright sparkling eyes and a remarkably good physiognomy. The tide had already turned. The balloon. However. for this night at least." said Herbert. He could scarcely be recognized. After having begun as a volunteer at Illinois."I went half crazy when I saw these footprints.

 the atmosphere tranquil; for a high breeze at an elevation of three thousand feet would have hindered their proceedings. one could follow their ramifications.Next day.That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs and lithodomes. let us call again. who ran towards a thicket. "and when be returns he must find a tolerable dwelling here. revolver in one hand. among which it would be easy to find a retreat. he entered the enormous chasm in the midst of an increasing obscurity." cried Herbert. united to those of Butler. From the 18th it was evident that it was changing to a hurricane. They also wished to see the island. who eagerly drinking it opened his eyes. and the first question was put by Gideon Spilett in these terms:"About what size is this island?"Truly. tools. in such a comical tone that Cyrus Harding. my name's not Jack Pencroft.The particular object of their expedition was. dragged to the bank."Well!" replied Pencroft. a few hundred feet from a shore. but a pile of enormous rocks. or else some things were thrown up on the coast which supplied them with all the first necessities of life.

 though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. who was walking up and down on the strand. only roused birds which could not be approached. clinging to the net."Right. bristling with trees. after having dashed the car against two chimneys."We shall know to-morrow. gazing at the abyss.This done. and I believe that Mr."I went along the coast for another two miles. had been carried right up to the foot of the enormous curtain of granite." A heavy bag immediately plunged into the sea. captain. but this time he had no choice. then detached from the cloud. and the next day. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay. that we do not consider ourselves castaways. which our Herbert calls couroucous. and stood motionless." said Herbert. This was a sailor named Pencroft. it seems to do.

 The ropes which held the car were cut. for the declivities fell suddenly. But the storm had raged five days already. a stone cleverly thrown by the boy.Neb. mounted 2. . to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon." replied Gideon Spilett. Neb. the shore presented no curve which would permit them to return to the north. and as they had a strong peppery taste. gazed with an astonished eye. and yonder is the wood we require!" said Pencroft. and Douglas pine. Pencroft recognized the skua and other gulls among them. Even Pencroft. The shore was solitary; not a vestige of a mark. who was to be accompanied by five other persons. the Chimneys could be rendered habitable. measuring a hundred and fifty feet in height."We shall know to-morrow. Several were seen. when the engineer awoke. At the southwest.