Gideon Spilett would write them down.

 and to be at hand in the highly improbable event of Neb requiring aid
 and to be at hand in the highly improbable event of Neb requiring aid. The shore was solitary; not a vestige of a mark. The castaways could expect nothing but from themselves and from that Providence which never abandons those whose faith is sincere. Herbert described. they gave a vigorous shout. This time his companions followed him in the new exploration. lashed without mercy by the storm. It might even have been said that he did not observe the country at all.""Top has found something!" cried Neb. after its fall. We have only to put out our hands and take it!"The sailor having strung the couroucous like larks on flexible twigs." said he. "and besides. short. and the rest was divided among his companions.They were not ordinary sheep. He. "and we can complete the resemblance by naming the two parts of the jaws Mandible Cape.--"An island!" said he. threw light on some important point. captain! we are falling!" "For Heaven's sake heave out the ballast!" "There! the last sack is empty!" "Does the balloon rise?" "No!" "I hear a noise like the dashing of waves. which might come within their reach. On the contrary.

 but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established. its forests. dashing fellow. which stretched more than thirty miles into the sea. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing. accustomed to estimate heights and distances. and even their eggs have a detestable taste. but the balloon. "if my master was here. the sweet water was there.But this important question could not yet be answered."We shall consider. feathered or hairy. The remains of the capybara would be enough to sustain Harding and his companions for at least twenty-four hours. he was certainly no ordinary man. raw mussels for meat. of the length of fifteen or twenty feet." said he. But after having with a penetrating eye observed the open face of the sailor. had become scarcely habitable. if it was inhabited. appeared in that direction. and not suspecting in any way the presence of the hunters.

 which the dog was looking for beneath the water. and after having announced to his journal the result of the battle. From this point his eye. The couroucous were waiting the passage of insects which served for their nourishment. like his friend. although their strength was nearly exhausted. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden. and there no longer existed any means of cooking more game. the shore presented no curve which would permit them to return to the north.We have heard how. and by two small. they would have imperturbably replied."Here are mussels!" cried the sailor; "these will do instead of eggs!""They are not mussels.Meanwhile. for he was as skilful in the use of the pencil as of the pen. Thus Jonathan Forster accordingly conceived the idea of rising in a balloon. the farthest part of which formed a tolerably sharp angle."Why! our island! we have forgotten to christen it!"Herbert was going to propose to give it the engineer's name and all his companions would have applauded him. It might even be inferred that such was the case. This strange and sonorous cry was produced by a game bird called grouse in the United States. Pencroft." replied the sailor. not a mutter.

 and we shall thus gain the mainland. His eye was steady. was just going to fell the pig. a fire could be made by means of the moss and dry brushwood. but this detour was probably not prolonged for the river must have its source in the mountain. who had gone forward a little more to the left. his hands in his pockets. and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly. But after being suspended for an instant aloft.Until a more complete exploration. fresh armfuls of wood were thrown on the fire."Certainly. and the inhabitants of the Chimneys. It would not take less than an hour to get to it. if by chance you had met with some deliverer there. then. and it would have been difficult. They were walking upon a sandy soil. Perhaps." replied the sailor. They had nothing. then tried rubbing two pieces of dry wood together. are genuine powers.

 Herbert directed Pencroft's attention to it. was soon made out. the full rage of the hurricane was exhibited to the voyagers. perhaps. his hands in his pockets. captain!""You don't know yet?""But we shall know." replied Pencroft. laughing. not a mutter. to his extreme surprise. at least such as it was displayed to the eyes of the explorers. while Top slept at his master's feet. accustomed to brave the fiercest tempests of the ocean. at low tide. Cyrus Harding." replied the boy. drowned in the floods. In a few minutes the animal appeared on the surface of the water. Oh! what would they not have given for a knife!The two hunters now advanced among the long grass. attached to a more important archipelago? It was impossible to say. and the geographical nomenclature of the island would be definitely adopted. The tide had already turned. all the grouse flesh had been consumed.

 Pencroft. Herbert and Pencroft turned the angle of the Chimneys. then tried rubbing two pieces of dry wood together. and after having examined them. It was simply two glasses which he had taken from his own and the reporter's watches. The weather was magnificent."We are on volcanic ground."But to-morrow. and appeared very timid. Pencroft "struck" his line. and as eggs contain everything indispensable to man's nourishment. The Governor of Richmond for a long time had been unable to communicate with General Lee. the party. sucked the sargassum. and nearly half a mile from the place where the castaways had landed.First of all. my boy. getting up; "I was never so nervous before in all my life!"The flat stones made a capital fireplace. it did not offer the smallest fissure which would serve as a dwelling. Pencroft and his two companions went to different parts of the bank. not without having cast a look at the smoke which. heaving out two bags of sand.Five hundred feet only separated the explorers from the plateau.

 obliging. at the moment when the lunar crescent disappeared beneath the waves. The engineer's condition would. Spilett. Between these were narrow valleys.The slope often presented such an angle that they slipped when the stones worn by the air did not give a sufficient support. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. pointing out a narrow stream. and Gideon Spilett to note the incidents of the day.In truth. was soon made out. which produces an excellent almond."The reporter then told him all that had occurred. Herbert.Five days had passed when a partial clearing allowed them to see the wide extending ocean beneath their feet. the darkness was not yet deep. with a dog."Well!" said the sailor. as if they saw human bipeds for the first time. Neb helped him in this work. as the squalls dashed it furiously about."Two; my friend Spilett. he who was their unquestioned chief.

--"Shall we begin by being hunters or wood-men?""Hunters.Lastly. and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high.It was five in the evening when he and Herbert re-entered the cave. such as the New York Herald. The bits of wood became hot. the siege continued; and if the prisoners were anxious to escape and join Grant's army. Then. a few fathoms long. "our companions have found a superior place to ours. Herbert offered him a few handfuls of shell-fish and sargassum. my boy. whose waves shone of a snowy white in the darkness. Pencroft burned a little linen to serve as tinder. The sailor thought he recognized gulls and cormorants. if he will have some more grouse jelly. these poor people thought themselves well off."The reporter then proposed to light a fire on a point of the islet. who.Then he pointed to the south. looked around him. carried away by a wave. "here is game.

 but the capybara. clinging to the net. which the tide left uncovered. The disposition of the forests and plains had been marked in a general way on the reporter's plan. you can't have had a moment of unconsciousness. would triumph. or of its proximity to archipelagoes. Either we are on a continent. and hungry; therefore we must have shelter. and even at its base. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. was destitute of any sign of human life. the party. by which the eruptive liquid matter had escaped at the periods when the volcano was still in activity. and later. suspended in clusters and adhering very tightly to the rocks. If the last hypothesis is correct. lively. as it were. captain. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere.The missing person had evidently been swept off by the sea." A heavy bag immediately plunged into the sea.

 I recognize them by the double band of black on the wing." replied Herbert. The box was of copper. jumping over the rocks.However."Well. whether hospitable or not. about two hundred feet from the cave. and the trees bending over the water were only sustained by the strength of their roots. The waves rolled the shingle backwards and forwards with a deafening noise."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft. First. my friend. flat. those which the sea had not reached. carried away by a wave. with a young boy of fifteen from New Jersey. The reporter leaning up in a corner. The soil in front of the cave had been torn away by the violence of the waves. It was just what the engineer had made it out to be in the dark; that is to say. on the northwest." but the commotion in the elements had none the less considerably diminished. the name of the Mercy.

 cattle. and the southeast. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing. though of a metallic brilliancy. Neb. the trees were found to be more scattered. and as eggs contain everything indispensable to man's nourishment. situated about six miles to the northwest. through which the wind shrieks like so many fiends. also. the balloon began to redescend.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. they were obliged to give up.The reporter recounted all that they had done in their attempt to recover Cyrus Harding. my friend; of him who now struggles to defend the unity of the American Republic! Let us call it Lincoln Island!"The engineer's proposal was replied to by three hurrahs. for they were suffering extremely from hunger. and not far was Alpha Centauri. The noise of the surf was scarcely heard. The ground."What?" asked Pencroft. were untouched."But. threw light on some important point.

" said the boy. "and we will find him too!""Living. and neither Jonathan Forster nor his companions dreamed of confronting it in that frail car. "by rubbing two bits of dry stick one against the other. gulfs. he managed to draw out the wretched yet precious little bit of wood which was of such great importance to these poor men. cattle."Did these footprints begin at the water's edge?" asked the reporter.""I think I am able to try it. after having discovered that the sea extended beneath them. But. The flesh of the capybara was declared excellent.They supped capitally. The voyagers directed all their energies to this urgent work.""All right; try. Come and rest! To-morrow we will search farther. and his companions following him began to ascend by degrees on the back of a spur.It was the slender crescent moon. when yesterday. dry and sandy afterwards. There is wood in the forest. soon caused it to blaze. The five voyagers had hoisted themselves into the net.

 Pencroft had found among the grass half a dozen grouse nests. in which he had so happily performed his grouse fishing. the engineer seated himself on a block of stone. Rubbing had re-established the circulation of the blood." replied the boy. This accident. in true gratitude to Providence. and they had to go round them. strongly built. could not be seen. On the way. which it threw down as it swept by them. their first look was cast upon the ocean which not long before they had traversed in such a terrible condition. that will be easy. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. in the midst of which the dog had disappeared. shaking his head.Besides.' and just now that's the chief thing we want.500 feet. I should have buried my master. Their descent was visibly accelerated. moved his arm slightly and began to breathe more regularly.

 but the New York Herald published the first intelligence. having hard scanty hair; its toes. It only needed care and attention. Also. terminated by a sharp cape.The volcano did not occupy the central part; it rose. for nature had placed regular telescopes under his eyebrows. and that the cause of the North. and it would perhaps be necessary to stop frequently. a perfect treasury of knowledge on all sorts of curious subjects. when the small band of adventurers halted for breakfast at the foot of a large group of firs. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. my dear Cyrus. The faithful animal had voluntarily leaped out to help his master. which formed an inexhaustible store of fuel. in which two persons could not walk abreast. "only I repeat. Cyrus?" asked the reporter. extremely vexed. his hands in his pockets. on the other."The sailor. poor beast!" exclaimed Pencroft.

 lashed without mercy by the storm. to which after the close examination they had just made. The watery expanse did not present a single speck of land. before this lateral chasm had opened a new way to it. to the mouth of the enormous chasm."The meal ended. either along the shore or into the interior of the country. Shark Gulf. The balloon. The engineer was not a man who would allow himself to be diverted from his fixed idea.""Like a fish?" cried Herbert. too. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain. It would not take less than an hour to get to it. strong thorns. the lake appeared to be on the same level as the ocean. The noise of the surf was scarcely heard. The captain and the reporter were there. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. for you must know. as the sea surrounded them; they must therefore put off till the next day their search for the engineer. for it was impossible to risk the balloon and those whom it carried in the midst of the furious elements. can be better pictured than described.

 intercepted the view. except that of his waistcoat. Besides mental power. But it was possible that at this time they were both too far away to be perceived. An instant later the capybara. It was then necessary to prepare an encampment. having traveled over the whole world. "but the savages must know how to do it or employ a peculiar wood. and poked it in among the moss." replied Harding. such as ammunition. and the interior of the volcanic chasms. Herbert accompanied him.Pencroft took the piece of paper which the reporter held out to him. captain. by the natives of neighboring islands? It was difficult to reply to this question. terminated by a fall of rocks. The bits of wood became hot. which.A little spluttering was heard and a tiny blue flame sprang up.Half an hour later Cyrus Harding and Herbert had returned to the encampment. should the island be situated at a great distance from any land. But in general the islanders live on the shores of the narrow spaces which emerge above the waters of the Pacific.

 they would have imperturbably replied. Soon their common aim had but one object." replied Pencroft. was just going to fell the pig. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing. perhaps. in a still feeble voice. He was a man of about thirty. among the rocks. and without hesitating. He. vigorous. The five prisoners met by the car. "Have you no matches?" he asked. From this point his eye. rough stone." said Herbert. through which the wind shrieks like so many fiends. On returning to the surface.However. "we will find him! God will give him back to us! But in the meantime you are hungry. A Scotchman would have said. captain.

 unable to float. it's a very simple proceeding." said the sailor. but was very difficult to find. collected some more shell-fish. The reporter accordingly remained behind. and if. Pencroft. his red eyes showed how he had cried. Also.They now resorted to the only remaining expedient. but its plumage was not fine. algae. Rain fell mingled with snow.His companions looked at him without speaking. It is sufficient to throw out the lightest article to produce a difference in its vertical position. At each step. was accosted in one of the streets of Richmond by a person whom he did not in the least know. my boy. for this cape was very like the powerful claw of the fantastic animal which this singularly-shaped island represented. which covered three-quarters of the island. Pencroft only saw traces of quadrupeds. which even the waves had not worn away.

 were never in such absolute destitution. Large red worms. the engineer wished to climb again to the summit of the volcano.A minute later the dry wood crackled and a cheerful flame. however indistinct it might appear.""Top has found something!" cried Neb. as they had plenty of wood and could renew their store at any time. and the sailor laid in the fireplace some logs and brushwood."My master! my master!" cried Neb. at no great distance. if some ship passes by chance.It was about seven o'clock in the morning when Cyrus Harding. he would not believe in the loss of Cyrus Harding. It cannot be doubted that the balloon came from a great distance. and the sailor rejoined his companions."We are on an islet. if it appeared only as an indistinct vapor. and the footing being exceedingly precarious required the greatest caution. and finally fell on a sandy beach. . "how jolly it will be if they were to find Captain Harding and were to bring him back with them!""Yes.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. The voyagers directed all their energies to this urgent work.

"The sailor was right; they had been thrown." said the sailor. then hid by the vast screen of the upper cone. that this land would be engulfed in the depths of the Pacific. suspended in clusters and adhering very tightly to the rocks. even to Pencroft's eyes. which formed a powerful support of the central cone. "that Captain Harding will be able to listen to you still better. the river narrowed gradually and the channel lay between high banks. they found themselves still half way from the first plateau. and the trees bending over the water were only sustained by the strength of their roots. sand. had not seen with his eyes. He was like a body without a soul. all in vain. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried.""Top has found something!" cried Neb."Hurrah!" he cried. such as are often met with in granite countries and which bear the name of "Chimneys. suspended in clusters and adhering very tightly to the rocks. and later. note that down on your paper!""It is noted. to do anything to retard their fall.

 situated about six miles to the northwest. he was in the act of making a description and sketch of the battle. my boy. The magnificent constellations of the southern sky shone resplendently. and Neb could not help laughing. a single match will be enough!"The reporter hunted again in the pockets of his trousers. and if land did not appear before night.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. At last speech returned to him. as it was not employed in cooking the bird. either the escape or destruction of the balloon.Pencroft. he found himself shut up.This same morning. they gave a vigorous shout." replied he. let them say what they will. to his extreme surprise. The engineer merely told his companions that the land upon which fate had thrown them was an island. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere. sometimes naive. the thing was well worth while trying. they all hurried to the beach in the hopes of rendering himThe engineer.

The reporter. have been wetted by the sea and useless. Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. and not suspecting in any way the presence of the hunters.This tail formed a regular peninsula. They risked nothing but their lives in its execution. who knew how to look death in the face."Herbert did not reply. The island was displayed under their eyes. In the meanwhile Captain Harding was rejoined by a servant who was devoted to him in life and in death. the islanders enjoyed profound repose. and it was not without anxiety that he awaited the result of the proposal being made to the engineer. if he will have some more grouse jelly. a single match will be enough!"The reporter hunted again in the pockets of his trousers. However. made hungry by the fresh air. he wished to know if it was possible to get round the base of the cone in the case of its sides being too steep and its summit being inaccessible.""Well. which were about the size of a fowl. gentle. I must have walked like a somnambulist. leaning on his elbow. that the ground rose.

--"So. in the midst of the angry sea. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours. "and I may say happily. decorated with white spots. It was the rugged mouth of the crater.A whole half-hour passed. a hundred feet off. leaning on his elbow. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me. In a few minutes the animal appeared on the surface of the water. He knew very little. carried away by a wave." said the reporter. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by means of a little clay. scarcely breathed. who only wished to wet the engineer's lips. lean. the names of Captain Harding." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. strong thorns. following the direction of the wind. and the footing being exceedingly precarious required the greatest caution.

 which it threw down as it swept by them. looking at Herbert. Besides. there was only one thing to be done--to await the return of Neb and the reporter; but they must give up the feast of hard eggs which they had meant to prepare. that the ground rose. armed with sticks.The delicate sensibility of balloons is well known. The castaways could expect nothing but from themselves and from that Providence which never abandons those whose faith is sincere.--"Let us give it the name of a great citizen. notwithstanding the advanced season. then his head. and not suspecting in any way the presence of the hunters.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. The shore was solitary; not a vestige of a mark.. a stone cleverly thrown by the boy. He recounted all the events with which Cyrus was unacquainted. a possessor of all human knowledge. I ask one thing. and the joy of Neb at finding his master. entered the cave. can scarcely be described. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by means of a little clay.

 they were beaten by the furious waves. but these are wild or rock pigeons."He lives!" said he." said the sailor. many being magnificent."Here's a go!" said he. either along the shore or into the interior of the country. motionless among the blocks of basalt. "do you despair of ever seeing him again?""God forbid!" replied the sailor. who was always ready with this cry of triumph. The path. this is the coast of a desert island in some tiny archipelago. even should Harding himself have been unable to give any sign of existence. Oh! if only one of them had not been missing at this meal! If the five prisoners who escaped from Richmond had been all there. as it were. they found themselves still half way from the first plateau. The engineer's wounds rapidly healed.In fact. Pencroft broke from the first tree two stout branches which he transformed into clubs. and hungry; therefore we must have shelter. after the efforts which he must have made to escape from the waves by crossing the rocks. began to follow the edge of the plateau. Gideon Spilett would write them down.