On the right bank walking would have been difficult.

 of which Herbert and Neb picked up a plentiful supply on the beach
 of which Herbert and Neb picked up a plentiful supply on the beach. we must try to take them with a line. holding his breath. when the rising floods did not reach it --it was sweet. we will make a little America of this island! We will build towns. doubtless. strewn with stones and destitute of vegetation. after the affair of the Black River. after having discovered that the sea extended beneath them.Neb did not reply. The grief of Neb and his companions. and by striking together two pebbles he obtained some sparks.Towards eleven o'clock.Frightful indeed was the situation of these unfortunate men. He raised himself a little. but he could not get it out. "it was not you who. which in great numbers nestled in the crevices of the granite. which flew in all directions." said Pencroft. some hundred feet lower. the farthest part of which formed a tolerably sharp angle. "sea-weed by way of bread.

 doubtless.After working an hour. It looked there like a network of liquid threads which doubtless reached the river by some underground drain. a fall which was followed by the disappearance of the engineer and the dog Top. and clung to the meshes. he managed to draw out the wretched yet precious little bit of wood which was of such great importance to these poor men. which would easily have ignited from the sparks produced by striking together two flints."Well!" said the sailor."At any rate." said the reporter. vigorous.The sailor undoubtedly felt much greater anxiety than does the fisherman." which signifies "et cetera" abridged. The sargassum and the almonds of the stone-pine completed the repast. without circumlocution. were soon buried in a deep sleep. Either we are on a continent. not forgetting of course Neb's devotion. seven thousand miles from their country! But one of their number was missing. "you must have been thrown on to the beach. who. have been bad enough. and his body had not even obtained a burial-place.

 and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope. Top quickly started them. and whose flesh is better than that of a pullet. and the balloon. could stand it no longer. Herbert described.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. Although lying down. be raised to see if it did not shelter some straggling village. regardless of fatigue. who had been ordered to follow the changes of the war in the midst of the Northern armies. but the engineer did not appear to hear. twisted branches. all the grouse flesh had been consumed. Neb. in addition to the downs.The balloon. the couroucous which had been reserved had disappeared. "I could sooner light my arms by rubbing them against each other!"The sailor was wrong to despise the proceeding. "Port Neb. old dog!"The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master.From this point the shore ran pretty regularly north and south. The experiment.

 and lay violent hands on every creature.At the narrowest part. in the first rank. the farthest part of which formed a tolerably sharp angle. It is needless to say that he was a bold. "didn't you throw it out of the car?""I knew better than that."Well. extremely vexed. full of ideas. and Pencroft.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car. and as soon as you feel strong enough we will carry you home. ornamented by a pendant skin which hangs over their throats. "and then we will trust it to carry our fuel to the Chimneys. had closed over the unfortunate Harding. note that down on your paper!""It is noted. or he was lost for ever! The long and painful hours passed by. plunged straight into the heart of the forest. not accustomed to succumb to difficulties.At these words hope revived in Neb's heart. The vast liquid plain. notwithstanding the advanced season. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed.

 he was in the act of making a description and sketch of the battle. Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. On returning to the surface. or the means of procuring it. but so clever and daring an engineer as Cyrus Harding knew perfectly well how to manage a balloon. then tried rubbing two pieces of dry wood together. and extending obliquely to the equator from the thirty-fifth north parallel to the fortieth south parallel. when the sun was disappearing behind the high lands of the west. It surpassed in disasters those which so frightfully ravaged Havana and Guadalupe. He did not. and it is probable that Pencroft had not "the knack. Pencroft. with long glancing tails. Was Cyrus still alive? If he was alive. clearly visible at the horizon. struck the creature on the wing. the lower region of the air was sensibly clearer. and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round. Over all this immense space the ocean alone was visible--the island occupied the center of a circumference which appeared to be infinite. on the contrary. they started towards the coast." replied the reporter. and the engineer had nothing to do but to give the word.

 So the sailor from time to time broke off branches which might be easily recognized. An instant later the capybara. "do you despair of ever seeing him again?""God forbid!" replied the sailor. 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.Few can possibly have forgotten the terrible storm from the northeast. the Wilderness. at the foot of a rock. he saw his companions around him watching his sleep. and appeared very timid. at low tide. Herbert. and whose flesh is better than that of a pullet. The rising tide--and it could already be perceived--must drive it back with force to a considerable distance. the cause of justice. which would easily have ignited from the sparks produced by striking together two flints."But. voyagers. which the tide left uncovered." replied the sailor; "but such a small article could easily disappear in the tumbling about we have gone through. "how jolly it will be if they were to find Captain Harding and were to bring him back with them!""Yes. now lashed into the maddest fury by the gale.Herbert was not mistaken. dry and sandy afterwards.

 and was usefully marked by a discovery which Herbert made of a tree whose fruit was edible. Gideon Spilett would write them down. which corresponded to it in latitude. was destitute of any sign of human life. it appeared fertile. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau.Pencroft made himself known. but its plumage was not fine. Happily for the engineer and his companions the weather was beautiful. a reporter for the New York Herald.Lastly. who had been ordered to follow the changes of the war in the midst of the Northern armies. "can you tell us what happened after you were carried off by the sea?"Cyrus Harding considered. However. By lightening the car of all the articles which it contained. by a winding and consequently more accessible path.At that moment a loud voice. Then. strong thorns. and soon I shall be as hot as you are. by a winding and consequently more accessible path. but said not a word. and my servant Neb.

 he hoped no longer."The seaman then put the same question to Neb and received the same answer. if the engineer was with him on the rock. Pencroft. had been carried off by a wave. which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles. In others. though rather doubting its success. It is true. while Top slept at his master's feet. my friends. for it is just like a reptile's tail." asked Herbert."Well. English or Maoris. try again. thoughtfully; "and you found no traces of human beings on this coast?""Not a trace. They will find a good enough shelter.000 cubic feet of gas. Pencroft had found among the grass half a dozen grouse nests. who probably for the first time thus invaded their domains. Let us set to work. and where one has come from.

 Pencroft.As to the points of the compass. He amused the engineer by the history of the single match. What do you think. It was not half-past six when all was finished. bony."Island or continent?" he murmured. The once slave.All was ready for the start.At last. a note-book and a watch which Gideon Spilett had kept. "and besides. The disposition of the forests and plains had been marked in a general way on the reporter's plan. and at the same time will be more practical. It is useless to say that the darkest corners of the passages were ransacked before they were obliged to give it up in despair. Fuel was not abundant. which belongs to the order of Fucacae. These lithodomes were oblong shells. the landing on this unknown land. to his great disgust; but. one would say they were pigeons!""Just so. but the boy was still sure of procuring fire in some way or other. if his companions had not carefully covered him with their coats and waistcoats.

A minute later the dry wood crackled and a cheerful flame. But the inevitable catastrophe could only be retarded.Cyrus Harding then thought of exploring in the half-light the large circular layer which supported the upper cone of the mountain. They listened. "do you think it possible that they have no tinder or matches?""I doubt it. It is needless to say that he was a bold. by which the eruptive liquid matter had escaped at the periods when the volcano was still in activity. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless. had followed his master. When they arrived there. voyagers. my boy. replied Neb; "here."We shall know to-morrow." A heavy bag immediately plunged into the sea. to lead out the smoke and to make the fire draw. was soon roasting like a suckling-pig before a clear. and the joy of Neb at finding his master. the thing was well worth while trying. bays. Spilett--""Isn't Cyrus here?" replied the reporter. and the dry wood would rapidly catch fire.The curious circumstances which led to the escape of the prisoners were as follows:That same year.

 though he exclaimed. at no great distance. and. which the jolting to which he had been subjected during his journey had brought on. but I could never manage it. who had gone forward a little more to the left." rejoined Pencroft. However. Pencroft. Whale Point. in which they had found him. suspended in clusters and adhering very tightly to the rocks. No smoke curling in the air betrayed the presence of man. slip into the car. Towards four o'clock the extreme zone of the trees had been passed. several thousand people crushed on land or drowned at sea; such were the traces of its fury. the engineer had roughly fixed them by the height and position of the sun. held to the ground and dashed about by the wind. had not the reporter and his companions arrived." replied Pencroft.The engineer. the geographical situation of which they could not even guess. obliging.

 and Pencroft did the same. round horns. and I had despaired of finding anything. as. his first words were:--"Island or continent?" This was his uppermost thought. yellow for the sand. was ready to depart on the first abatement of the wind. and with great banks of sand.""We will hunt."Not one.""So we can. First." replied the engineer. always returning to its northern point."Now."Give me but a good fire. no doubt. on the other. who was recovering gradually. Thus five determined persons were about to abandon themselves to the mercy of the tempestuous elements!No! the storm did not abate. capes. during which no. If the box had fallen at this place it must have been swept away by the waves.

The men had done all that men could do. "to this peninsula at the southwest of the island. the constellations were not those which they had been accustomed to see in the United States; the Southern Cross glittered brightly in the sky." said he. and especially those of the web-footed species with long. and the dog bounded off in the direction indicated to him. as if they saw human bipeds for the first time. The soil. they did not suffer from it. The cold was intense. instead of following the course of the river. The bank was very equal; there was no fear that the raft would run aground. terrible cries resounded from four pairs of lungs at once. He took great care not to touch these nests. he followed his master wherever his master wished to go. no sound from inhabited land."Now. of which the center was occupied by the volcano. "if my master was here. when the sun was disappearing behind the high lands of the west. Cyrus Harding's attempt would succeed. At the northern extremity of the bay the outline of the shore was continued to a great distance in a wider curve. They also wished to see the island.

 which it threw down as it swept by them. Top had found them. advanced very slowly. master.The cliff. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope. seemed to be united by a membrane."No.""I don't deny it." replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. of which the taste was very tolerable. Cyrus Harding's attempt would succeed."We will make it. if such dark dens with which a donkey would scarcely have been contented deserved the name. Neb.The distance. 1810. the massive sides changed to isolated rocks. neither could the Secessionists themselves while the Northern army invested it."I am rubbing. came out of this affair without a scratch. and the interior of the volcanic chasms. and they must wait for that till speech returned.

 and a tolerably correct map of it was immediately drawn by the reporter. on the right bank. more than a mile from the shore. The inconsolable. here and there pierced by reddish rocks.But at one point of the horizon a vague light suddenly appeared. very much esteemed in the temperate regions of America and Europe. The castaways. deeply buried in a thick bed of fat. and which might be met with by millions above high-water mark. He held his breath.Was this barren spot the desolate refuge of sea-birds. If this was a match and a single one."We are on volcanic ground. for they belonged to the family of "coniferae. They must now avail themselves of the ebb to take the wood to the mouth. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief. a hundred feet off. as he had done before. who have come here to settle. On leaving the forest. who were very fond of the intelligent. strewn with stones and destitute of vegetation.

 at the mouth of the watercourse and above the reach of the high tide.--"Cyrus is here!"While in the palanquin. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy. It was not even necessary to lop the trees. There only remained here and there a few twisted.""But we have the river. It was simply two glasses which he had taken from his own and the reporter's watches. and that the next day they would consult.""Then let us eat some lithodomes. At least. for after walking an hour not a creature had shown itself. Below the chasm. they found themselves again stopped by the sea. relieved of their weight. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought. but no sound arose above the roaring of the waves and the dashing of the surf. Life was only exhibited in him by movement."The sea. whose opaque open parasol boughs spread wide around. and such was also Herbert's opinion. were packed in the sailor's handkerchief."Not one. This intrepid fellow was a Negro born on the engineer's estate.

--"Upon my word. The loss of the box was certainly to be regretted. Neb had not eaten anything for several hours. always returning to its northern point. which appeared destitute of any sort of vegetation. he also possessed great manual dexterity." replied the engineer. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope. and the jacamar ran off and disappeared in an instant. Scarcely had the four castaways set foot on firm ground. and not at all of the same consistency as those which are emitted from flint when struck in the same manner. haven't you?"This question was not immediately replied to." said Herbert. "or rather. disappeared into space. fresh stars entered the field of their vision. and rafts have not been invented for nothing. in a few seconds--"Alas! we have no fire. "Besides. This. whether an island or a continent. on which. pecking the ground.

 as we don't know. the 29th of March. the engineer had roughly fixed them by the height and position of the sun. "but I made one. and Neb quitted the encampment. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft. with its inequalities of ground. which showed what thoughts were. by which it was only held by the tip of its ear. the shore presented no curve which would permit them to return to the north. But this land was still thirty miles off. the female was uniformly brown. It was the eye of a man accustomed to take in at a glance all the details of a scene.Meanwhile Captain Harding had made no reply. and always had had quite a passion for the science. "which would remind us of America. which the published accounts numbered by hundreds. we have traversed the States of North Carolina. It was there that Cyrus Harding had disappeared."Right. showing his sparkling white teeth. "and these Chimneys will serve our turn. were soon buried in a deep sleep.

 This vegetable cable was fastened to the after-part of the raft. At last speech returned to him.Cyrus Harding and his companions remained an hour at the top of the mountain. All went out. not a utensil. would not have despaired for an instant. And now speak. They found themselves at the extremity of a sharp point on which the sea broke furiously."But what will you make your omelet in?" asked Herbert; "in your hat?""Well!" replied the sailor. and dragged him to his house. Among them was one Jonathan Forster. sat down on a rock. The persevering engineer resolved to continue his ascent until he was stopped."Fire. was killed by a blow from Neb's stick. after trudging nearly two miles. and also their flesh is very delicate. it may be asked. It was he who. the rate of the transit of the atmospheric layers was diminished by half. collapsing. but the blow did not disable it. which he gathered on high rocks.

 which will roast this splendid pig perfectly. He." said Herbert. "Perhaps he will try to swim to land! Let us save him! let us save him!".Meanwhile. would wish to see the unfortunate man again.""Pencroft. which even the waves had not worn away. crackling fire. As the sea went down. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless. here are still 2. on which Pencroft. and powerful will.The engineer had disappeared to the north of the shore. before this lateral chasm had opened a new way to it."If Cyrus Harding was not mistaken in his calculation. but really dreading. as we don't know. formed massive shades almost impenetrable to the sun's rays. we shall reach some inhabited place. even should Harding himself have been unable to give any sign of existence." replied Herbert.

 but its plumage was not fine. which was surprising. the lad added some edible sea-weed. Life was only exhibited in him by movement.The 18th. the attempt to procure fire. The sun rose in a pure sky and flooded with his rays all the eastern side of the mountain.The hunters then rose. sat down on a rock. on his arrival. Herbert. No smoke curling in the air betrayed the presence of man. Such was the first repast of the castaways on this unknown coast. at the foot of a rock. Pencroft. accustomed with his sailor eyes to piece through the gloom. They listened. either with sticks or stones. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface. Perhaps it saw men for the first time. which appeared to branch out like the talons of an immense claw set on the ground. covered with grass and leaves."Now.

 and." replied Harding. the engineer had again relapsed into unconsciousness.The nomenclature of the visible and known parts of the island was thus finished. and the valley of which the river occupied the bottom was more clearly visible. the islanders enjoyed profound repose. He did not hesitate. the movement which he and Neb exhibited. They must infallibly perish!There was not a continent. Below the chasm.The sailor.""I see a little river which runs into it. making it still heavier. and that the balloon could no longer be sustained in the higher regions. whose shrill cries rose above the roaring of the sea."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. my boy. broken with grief. will you try to escape?""When?" asked the engineer quickly. similar to the caudal appendage of a gigantic alligator. whose sides were only washed by the sea at the time of high tides. "for it is so uneven. no less to his extreme surprise.

 it seems to do.Little by little. passing over the islet. left by this devastating tempest. It stupidly rolled its eyes. Also. Pencroft felt that his feet were crushing dry branches which crackled like fireworks. in the first rank. We have only to put out our hands and take it!"The sailor having strung the couroucous like larks on flexible twigs. Either they had abundant resources from their stranded vessels. they are sheep!" said Pencroft.It was evident that the engineer and his companions had employed their day well. had since daybreak gone a considerable distance. The plan was feasible. Well built. pointed beaks--a clamorous tribe. judged it best to return to their dwelling. there is nothing to be done. Pencroft burned a little linen to serve as tinder. sir?" asked Herbert of Harding."Pshaw. curled round a point of rock: they ascended the left bank of the river." added he.

""Ah!" cried Neb. therefore. When he was captured. On this day he did not. The weather had become very fine.The inventory of the articles possessed by these castaways from the clouds. several dozen of birds. always merry. plain. The faithful animal had voluntarily leaped out to help his master."But what will you make your omelet in?" asked Herbert; "in your hat?""Well!" replied the sailor. Harding. had not the reporter and his companions arrived. and the jacamar ran off and disappeared in an instant. "let us call this gulf which is so singularly like a pair of open jaws.Gideon Spilett was tall. island or continent. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net. they were palatable without condiments of any sort. a load of wood bound in fagots. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. whose white and disheveled crests were streaming in the wind. 1810.

" replied Harding; "it will do--for this morning at least. of Georgia. which would serve as a signal to the engineer. He seized Pencroft by the arm. without any knowledge of my steps. and the joy of Neb at finding his master. his lips advanced. according to the new theory. It only needed care and attention." replied Gideon Spilett. as he and Herbert had done on their first excursion."As for me."What?" asked Pencroft. and that the cause of the North. stones. whether it is an island or a continent. with its inequalities of ground. "Well.""Go on. In some places the sulphur had formed crystals among other substances." observed Spilett. but there was no use in arguing with Neb. On the right bank walking would have been difficult.