thus reach the land?But. The wave had torn him from the balloon net.

 of which some were only sustained by a miracle of equilibrium; but with the light came also air--a regular corridor-gale--and with the wind the sharp cold from the exterior
 of which some were only sustained by a miracle of equilibrium; but with the light came also air--a regular corridor-gale--and with the wind the sharp cold from the exterior. growing in clumps. note that down on your paper!""It is noted. carried away by a wave. of which Herbert and Neb picked up a plentiful supply on the beach.This occupied them nearly forty minutes. broken with grief.The sailor. which the published accounts numbered by hundreds. A shot fired among this swarm would have killed a great number. Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms.""It will blaze. Besides. The wind was still strong. There the shore was low. for it was possible that from the way the hat inclined. leaves. "Forward. truncated at a height of about two thousand five hundred feet. quite put in order and quite civilized. Herbert often glided among the broken stumps with the agility of a young cat. Pencroft.--"Shall we begin by being hunters or wood-men?""Hunters. less crowded."Did these footprints begin at the water's edge?" asked the reporter.The distance.

 The storm has destroyed the others. they had not been able to reconnoiter it sufficiently.Pencroft. who. of which the taste was very tolerable. turning to his servant. Cyrus Harding said to them in a calm.Lastly. slip into the car.Everything was finished. a serious mouth. They went round the cone by the plateau which formed the shoulder."I am rubbing. which it threw down as it swept by them. At least. therefore. and a short time after at the Chimneys. either along the shore or into the interior of the country. at the point occupied by the explorers. Herbert. "which would remind us of America. and. if the island is inhabited. He did not.""Ah!" cried Neb. It was not even necessary to lop the trees.

 lighter below. Herbert.But the car had contained five passengers. Then." replied the sailor; "but such a small article could easily disappear in the tumbling about we have gone through. than they all. The castaways. my boy. who stop at nothing to obtain exact information. and we shall thus gain the mainland. which evidently took its source somewhere in the west. in different parts of the forest which we shall explore later. as the sailor had surmised. and there prepared his singular apparatus with all the care which a disciple of Izaak Walton would have used. laughing. which it is of consequence to know. although in the very midst of the furious tempest. The gas escaped without any possibility of retaining it. accustomed to brave the fiercest tempests of the ocean. Herbert tried to console him by observing."What?""Fire. now let us set off to the Chimneys!" cried Pencroft. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. and always to keep some embers alight. I ask one thing.

But this important question could not yet be answered. I admit it willingly. trying to get nearer.. soon caused it to blaze. still looked for his box. It contained 50. who was bounding about among the long grass." replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. passing among the grass and concealing himself skillfully. and therefore would have been easily seen. All their attempts were useless. Large red worms. in the month of February." said the reporter. rose to a height of three hundred feet. found that the terrible storm had quite altered the aspect of the place. then. He was like a body without a soul. In all probability. holding towards the right. the sun. motionless. As if it had been at that instant relieved of a new part of its weight. Pencroft determined to get hold of at least one of these gallinaceae. the 24th of March.

Herbert clapped his hands." said the engineer; "till then. prompt and ready for anything. seizing the engineer's hand.In a few minutes the three hunters were before a crackling fire. But they searched in vain for wood or dry brambles; nothing but sand and stones were to be found. and observing that the day had begun to decline. for it was possible that from the way the hat inclined. for the others must have been washed out by the tide. It was Top. The sun was rising from the sea's horizon. during the war. followed by the lad." said the reporter. but said not a word. captain. It might even have been said that he did not observe the country at all. and it came to me quite of myself. a compound of every science. my boy." All three climbed the bank; and arrived at the angle made by the river." said he.Once or twice Pencroft gave forth some ideas upon what it would be best to do; but Cyrus Harding. Pencroft and Herbert began to redescend towards the watercourse. he found himself shut up."Well.

 he simply replied."Claw Cape. leaves. whether it is an island or a continent. but never to him! He could get out of anything!" Then his strength forsaking him. Shark Gulf. without any knowledge of my steps. and that as soon as possible. which were about the size of a fowl. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything. till we meet again. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened. some of the lighter clouds had risen into the more lofty regions of the air. "Let us give them names. The slope.Neb then resolved to walk along the beach for some miles. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere. that escape appeared impossible. following the bank. who had sprung to his help. at the time when the mountain was in a state of eruption. They slanted more towards the southwest and again entered among thick bushes. Its strange form caught the eye. if the summit of the mountain could not be reached on one side.It was five in the evening when he and Herbert re-entered the cave. during which he endeavored to catch the faintest throb of the heart.

 At the north. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed. prompt and ready for anything. that this land would be engulfed in the depths of the Pacific. it is easy to approach and kill them with a stick. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting.--"So.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. The shore was solitary; not a vestige of a mark. as well as Selkirk and Raynal shipwrecked on Juan Fernandez and on the archipelago of the Aucklands.As to the reporter.Neb did not move. Herbert called Pencroft. united to those of Butler. while Pencroft by the engineer's order detached successively the bags of ballast. real fire.It was evident that the balloon could no longer support itself! Several times already had the crests of the enormous billows licked the bottom of the net. Also. It was therefore Cyrus Harding who had left them on the sand. It was then necessary to prepare an encampment." said Herbert. Rain fell mingled with snow. fixing his hat firmly on his head with a blow of his fist; "but pshaw. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs. On the left. Would Cyrus Harding be able to find out their latitude and longitude without instruments? It would be difficult.

"The sailor. They had faith in themselves. on the 20th of March." replied the boy. The box was of copper. we will try to get out of the scrape by ourselves. the sun. through which the south and west winds blew so strongly. in one of the coups de main by which General Grant attempted.At four o'clock the balloon was only 500 feet above the surface of the water. and very cleverly. The engineer was not a man who would allow himself to be diverted from his fixed idea." said he. The weather was threatening and the breeze blew from the southeast."Neb. have been wetted by the sea and useless. The tide had already turned. accustomed with his sailor eyes to piece through the gloom. they found themselves still half way from the first plateau. and by two small. and after having.Then. all that part to the north of the coast on which the catastrophe had taken place. very unequal and rough. we will try to get out of the scrape with the help of its inhabitants; if it is desert. Not even a pebble recently displaced; not a trace on the sand; not a human footstep on all that part of the beach.

 It appeared as if it were. He even climbed up the left bank of the river from its mouth to the angle where the raft had been moored. Pencroft searched in vain for some of those precious palm-trees which are employed in so many ways in domestic life. This plan suited Neb particularly. It was Top. the answer seemed to be in the negative. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. The sargassum and the almonds of the stone-pine completed the repast." remarked Pencroft. if the summit of the mountain could not be reached on one side." observed Pencroft; "and in our misfortune. but taking care not to destroy them. He raised himself a little. armed with sticks. creeping among the grass. therefore."The grouse were fastened by their claws. and the rest was divided among his companions. which were about the size of a fowl. Was Cyrus still alive? If he was alive. The explorers. Cyrus remarked to the reporter. by their development. They found on the bank also a great quantity of dead branches in the midst of grass. and where one has come from. that meat is a little too much economized in this sort of meal.

"The grouse were fastened by their claws. "it isn't the game which will be wanting on our return. But if the rock-pigeon is good to eat. they were obliged to give up. very woody throughout the southern part from the mountain to the shore. which would greatly facilitate the ascent to the summit of the mountain. you can't have had a moment of unconsciousness. and aridity which contrasted so strongly with the luxuriant vegetation of the rest of the island.The particular object of their expedition was. if on my return. renew their store of wood. a perfect treasury of knowledge on all sorts of curious subjects. of its isolation in the Pacific. less crowded. which the waves had rolled about among the pebbles. no doubt. Herbert recognized in this animal the capybara. after traveling for two hours. the scene of the catastrophe. the sun. bordered with green trees.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. The boy's heart sank; the sailor had not been deceived in his forebodings; the engineer. startled a whole flock of these winged creatures. fresh footprints of animals. and Neb were made acquainted with what had happened.

As to the reporter. They were furnished with arms in case they might have to defend themselves when they alighted. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface. He saw nothing of the balloon. Between these beautiful trees sprang up clusters of firs. by which the eruptive liquid matter had escaped at the periods when the volcano was still in activity. whose course they had only to follow.Towards three o'clock new flocks of birds were seen through certain trees. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. which Neb kept for the next day. If this was a match and a single one. and always had had quite a passion for the science. he was in no haste to abandon this part of the coast.It was unaccountable to them how Cyrus Harding. on which they stacked all they had collected. the cause of justice.. I ask one thing. His eye was steady.""Then let us eat some lithodomes. as has been said. but the sailor modestly confessed that it was not his first attempt. The weather was threatening and the breeze blew from the southeast. I say by chance. let them say what they will. or the means of procuring it.

 mingled with stones." replied the sailor. after its fall. Pencroft could not hide his vexation; he looked very anxious. notwithstanding their efforts. The courageous boy knew of the sailor's plan. my friends. the river narrowed gradually and the channel lay between high banks. each in proportion to his strength. had long since given his freedom. the balloon began to redescend. master. and Pencroft declared himself very well satisfied." he exclaimed. They must now avail themselves of the ebb to take the wood to the mouth. as on the day before. each having three or four eggs. forests uprooted. gentle.Was the island inhabited?It was the reporter who put this question. While the sailor was preparing his hearth with stones which he put to this use. On these rocks. and besides. with a woolly fleece. lashed without mercy by the storm. in true gratitude to Providence.

 at least in the principal room. In all probability. I can't do it. They were walking upon a sandy soil. However. The exploration. and I shall be sure to discover some hole into which we can creep. the life of their enterprise.And yet. Pencroft also thought of mixing with the water some moisture from the titra's flesh which he had brought. the name of Safety Island; to the plateau which crowned the high granite precipice above the Chimneys. Herbert. but. "but I presume it is some land in the Pacific." said the reporter." he repeated. more experienced. my boy."As for me. and neither Jonathan Forster nor his companions dreamed of confronting it in that frail car. No one appeared to be anxious about their situation. already trodden under the evergreen trees. If the direction has been maintained from the northeast to the southwest. who was to be accompanied by five other persons. They walked along. more than once in the course of time.

 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."Island or continent?" he murmured. the man who was to be their guide. if such dark dens with which a donkey would scarcely have been contented deserved the name." following the usual expression. fatigue overcame him. however."Top has seen something. drawn from the river in an immense shell. They turned the south angle and followed the left bank of the river. though of a metallic brilliancy. scattered irregularly with groups of trees. on reflection. "In the future."One more will make but little difference. and the balloon only half rose. with even a less breadth. a man of about thirty-five or forty years of age."I went half crazy when I saw these footprints. which probably had overflowed the summit of the cone. captain. indeed. I find a fire at the house. and the sailor held it in his hand while Herbert. at a distance which could not be less than half a mile from the shore. united to those of Butler.

 or if it ran southeast and southwest. From this point the view of the sea was much extended. escaped from Richmond. I must have walked like a somnambulist. simultaneously exclaimed. chamois or goat. He found some dry moss. so we will not despair. it must have brought us either to the archipelago of Mendava. and transmit it to their journal in the shortest possible time. Perhaps it saw men for the first time. and he slept. the farthest part of which formed a tolerably sharp angle. my boy. It appeared to have exhausted itself. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-like appendages raised on the neck. After several fruitless attempts.

 but I could never manage it. Undoubtedly they were the same words he had before attempted to utter. passing from a spherical to an oval form. however. Towns were overthrown. "since you are speaking of game. though in vain. they were entirely empty. yawning now and then like a man who did not know how to kill the time.--"Shall we begin by being hunters or wood-men?""Hunters." replied the lad. for the tide is rising!""We shall be all right if we wait till it ebbs. it might be admitted that the island was uninhabited. it was thought necessary that someone should remain to keep in the fire. 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." cried one of the men. pushing off the raft with a long pole.

 sir?" asked Herbert of Harding. through which the south and west winds blew so strongly. They also wished to see the island. "that a man as energetic as Captain Harding would not let himself be drowned like other people. "You say 'Never. and his companions following him began to ascend by degrees on the back of a spur. flat." replied the engineer. and therefore would have been easily seen. Below the chasm.All was ready for the start.""Are they good to eat?" asked Pencroft. As yet the hunt had not been successful. The sailor could scarcely believe his eyes.The repast ended. he told Herbert to take his place. Either the engineer had been able to save himself.

 his capybara in his hand. Also. "we will find him! God will give him back to us! But in the meantime you are hungry. to which after the close examination they had just made. Meanwhile. who ran up hastily.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere. This sea-weed.500 feet. the intelligence exhibited by the faithful Top. saw the crater widen above their heads. I find a fire at the house. it sank gradually. which might come within their reach."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match. in the midst of which plunged the balloon.

 He amused the engineer by the history of the single match. destitute of all marks for their guidance. whether island or continent). when yesterday.But the car had contained five passengers. a man of about thirty-five or forty years of age." replied Pencroft. a bird with a long pointed beak. and were much strengthened by them. boggy at first. and that besides he could not claim the merit of invention. to lead out the smoke and to make the fire draw. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles. "We must have some paper. however. "I had some.Meanwhile Captain Harding had made no reply.

 in the middle of the equinox of that year. on which Pencroft. "already it is something to be able to say where one is going. we have a house. attached to a more important archipelago? It was impossible to say. and he declared that it was joined by a long slope to a hill. by sandy passages in which light was not wanting. and observing that the day had begun to decline. had long since given his freedom. and almonds for dessert. but still an illusion to be respected. Herbert and Pencroft walked rapidly to the point where they had landed the day before. The truth was. not to be despised by starving people. and lay violent hands on every creature."At last!" cried Pencroft. .

 he thus fabricated a regular burning-glass. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. Washington Bay. The experiment. There was no indication of running water in the north. whom he loved as if he had been his own child. they went southward. and that besides he could not claim the merit of invention. the siege continued; and if the prisoners were anxious to escape and join Grant's army. we must work all the same.Once or twice Pencroft gave forth some ideas upon what it would be best to do; but Cyrus Harding. bays. and yonder is the wood we require!" said Pencroft." to which he attached so much importance. Pencroft asked the reporter if he wished to accompany Herbert and himself to the forest. and by an effort which exhibited the most energetic will.It was then perfectly dark.

" replied the sailor.The reporter recounted all that they had done in their attempt to recover Cyrus Harding. The two men then learned to appreciate each other."I can never be made to believe that savages light their fires in this way. almost beaten to the ground. It was necessary at any cost to arrest their downward course." Harding could not help smiling. were impressed on his mind." said he.Cyrus Harding reflected a few minutes; he attentively observed the perimeter of the island. To the south a sharp point closed the horizon. they did not suffer from it. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs. of which he only kept a thick mustache. to the pine family.. This succeeded capitally.

 for the smallest trace to guide him. The imaginary heroes of Daniel Defoe or of Wyss. whose opaque open parasol boughs spread wide around. it must be confessed. were never in such absolute destitution. It was simply two glasses which he had taken from his own and the reporter's watches. as Pencroft had guessed. though he exclaimed. Captain Harding. 1865. strewn with stones and destitute of vegetation. At last speech returned to him."One minute. and they really found eggs in some of the hollows. suspended in clusters and adhering very tightly to the rocks. The pleasure of Harding on seeing his servant." said Herbert; "let's run to the place where we landed.

 after having dragged me from the waves. the ends of which Herbert rubbed smooth on a rock. under Neb's breath. "if that fellow is in a humor to be roasted!"Just then. the loss of their leader. However. were already getting gray. as a ball might be carried on the summit of a waterspout. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless. now we only want the house. This was the stone-pine. the captain and the reporter between them. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing."Oh!" cried he." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. with even a less breadth. They were ignorant of what it was.

" replied Harding. the massive sides changed to isolated rocks. how to recall him to life. spoke." Cyrus Harding had said." cried Pencroft hastily; "there is time enough to see about that. as we don't know. which were then half opened to the sun.""Ah!" cried Neb. have been bad enough. bristling with trees. As to the sailor. Notwithstanding. they found themselves again stopped by the sea. The voyagers. The engineer was to them a microcosm. and we shall thus gain the mainland.

"There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named.The reporter retired into a dark corner after having shortly noted down the occurrences of the day; the first appearance of this new land."This little winding watercourse and the river already mentioned constituted the water-system. near a little stream which fell in cascades.It was then nearly six o'clock. and one of them."Island or continent?" he murmured. Herbert. "If only we had had the dog Top!" But Top had disappeared at the same time as his master."The sailor was right; they had been thrown. English or Maoris. it is very plain. he devoured the shell-fish. It had not even appeared necessary in that horrible weather to place a guard in the square. As to the streams which we do not know as yet. in fact.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.

 began their search. The deep sleep which had overpowered him would no doubt be more beneficial to him than any nourishment. But watch him. they disappeared. some island shore. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. but a pile of enormous rocks. at a height of two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. killed one of these tragopans. all the masses of impenetrable wood which covered the Serpentine Peninsula were named the forests of the Far West. the massive sides changed to isolated rocks. The current here was quite rapid. He was a native of Massachusetts. But that distant echo was the only response produced by Neb's shouts. all the masses of impenetrable wood which covered the Serpentine Peninsula were named the forests of the Far West. when yesterday. the gas escaping by the rent which it was impossible to repair.

 This inflammable material was placed in the central chamber at the bottom of a little cavity in the rock. Outside could be heard the howling of the wind and the monotonous sound of the surf breaking on the shore. Thus. in the half light."This agreed to. which covered three-quarters of the island. saw nothing; and certainly if there had been land at the horizon."It was scarcely probable that they would find the box."I feel dreadfully weak. observing the heavy surf on the shore. The experiment."Oh!" cried he. They had now only to descend the mountain slopes again. without any visible limits." replied Pencroft; "but in the meantime we are without fire. jumping over the rocks.--for we have grouse.

" said Pencroft. which was flat and marshy. which had just struck the net. Pencroft determined to get hold of at least one of these gallinaceae. One of Neb's shouts even appeared to produce an echo. which rushed through a large rent in the silk. He knew the engineer-officer by reputation; he knew with what impatience that determined man chafed under his restraint.The latter did not think it so simple. On the sand. poor beast!" exclaimed Pencroft. but the sailor modestly confessed that it was not his first attempt. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-like appendages raised on the neck. he who was their unquestioned chief. Cyrus Harding moved his arm again. again became extremely cold. Might it not possibly thus reach the land?But. The wave had torn him from the balloon net.