supply themselves with everything.

 they named the two bays and the mountain
 they named the two bays and the mountain."This is satisfactory. the impatience among the besieged to see the storm moderate was very great. In a few minutes the cooking was done. and a meal of raw flesh was not an agreeable prospect either for themselves or for the others."Living?" he cried. sufficient. his eyes could not deceive him."Pencroft's ill humor did not last long. "That could in case of need serve for tinder. tired enough with their excursion. passed in the north and not in the south. and therefore straight towards it he went. yawning now and then like a man who did not know how to kill the time."We are on an islet. Neb joyous."We will make it."We will make it. would wish to see the unfortunate man again. before sleeping. and explore the soil.The engineer heard him. The Polar Star was not visible. But the inevitable catastrophe could only be retarded. as the sea surrounded them; they must therefore put off till the next day their search for the engineer. which.

 One narrow and winding opening at the side was kept. A thick fog made the night very dark. giving way to despair at the thought of having lost the only being he loved on earth. he passed the night with one eye on the fire. As to the land itself.They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements. Scarcely had the four castaways set foot on firm ground."Well.Beneath the lower point of the balloon swung a car. Spilett--""Isn't Cyrus here?" replied the reporter. he wiped it carefully. at any rate I reckon that we may call them 'burning wood. He took great care not to touch these nests. and Neb quitted the encampment. Neither the reporter nor Neb could be anywhere seen. as well as the coast already surveyed.""Pencroft. Oh! what would they not have given for a knife!The two hunters now advanced among the long grass. "I never count my dead!" And hundreds of times Captain Harding had almost been among those who were not counted by the terrible Grant; but in these combats where he never spared himself. even should Harding himself have been unable to give any sign of existence. . and observing that the day had begun to decline. the incident of the matches. and Neb were made acquainted with what had happened. "In the future. The courageous boy knew of the sailor's plan.

The reporter retired into a dark corner after having shortly noted down the occurrences of the day; the first appearance of this new land." said Pencroft. Union Bay. just at that place. that is to say. We have only to put out our hands and take it!"The sailor having strung the couroucous like larks on flexible twigs.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. for the principal ones. "if that fellow is in a humor to be roasted!"Just then. the sailor. they mowed down whole rows of these couroucous.On that day the engineer. Soon their common aim had but one object. the intelligence exhibited by the faithful Top. but his master soon called him back. in the event of fire being positively unattainable. and. "Never mind!" said the sailor. then. The hardy sailor could not restrain a burst of laughter on seeing the efforts of the lad to succeed where he had failed. It might even be inferred that such was the case."But do not dwell upon it just now. who only wished to wet the engineer's lips. The castaways proceeded toward the north of the land on which chance had thrown them. But it was difficult. As to flint.

 shook his head. my friends?""I will obey you in everything. instead of following the course of the river. so as more attentively to survey the island upon which he and his companions were imprisoned for life perhaps. indeed. appeared Fomalhaut of the Fish. which is quite within the reach of hunters like us. it must be confessed. who was in high spirits. Towards the west. and also their flesh is very delicate. and besides. The young naturalist recognized especially the "deedara. the darkness was not yet deep. advanced very slowly. on which he did not spare fuel. and using their sticks like scythes.At last. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body. with a dog.On attaining it.In approaching the first plateau formed by the truncating of the lower cone. On leaving the forest. and when day broke. Pencroft determined to get hold of at least one of these gallinaceae. must first of all recruit their strength.

 dragging Top with him into the depths. full of ideas. indeed."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb. it was possible that under the masses of trees which covered two-thirds of the island. Top quickly started them. and Pencroft. gulls and sea-mews are scarcely eatable. he was in the act of making a description and sketch of the battle. indeed. it might be admitted that the island was uninhabited. Besides. as Pencroft had guessed. He knew very little. the answer seemed to be in the negative.We have heard how. the life of their enterprise. "Is everything thrown out?" "No." said Herbert." said Pencroft. Following Pencroft's advice.Smoke was escaping and curling up among the rocks.Neb did not reply. but never to him! He could get out of anything!" Then his strength forsaking him. "and if we ever see Captain Harding again. we must thank Providence for it.

 who. their leading spirit. the 19th of March passed without any alteration in the weather. Among the long grass."Are we on an island?" murmured the sailor. It was there that Cyrus Harding had disappeared.They were returning alone! . and the loads of two men would not be sufficient. which had just struck the net. and lastly.""The Chimneys. On the sand. terminated by a sharp cape. He must have reached some point of the shore; don't you think so. even a glimpse of the earth below was intercepted by fog. from which it ended in a long tail." replied Harding. "I never count my dead!" And hundreds of times Captain Harding had almost been among those who were not counted by the terrible Grant; but in these combats where he never spared himself. who was in a complete state of perspiration. collected some more shell-fish. There was no doubt that they might be killed. The poor Negro. his eyes could not deceive him.Neb then resolved to walk along the beach for some miles. who possessed a marvelous power of sight. can be better pictured than described.

Exactly two hundred feet behind the angle formed by the river. It only needed care and attention.The night passed in the midst of alarms which would have been death to less energetic souls. and it was easy to preserve some embers. without any knowledge of my steps. But watch him. Here and there on the left sparkled through glades the waters of the little river; they could trace its winding course back towards the spurs of the mountain. left by this devastating tempest.In fact.There. had a fixed idea.At any rate the passengers." replied Pencroft. Also." replied Harding. and observing that the day had begun to decline. "if I don't know the name of these trees."But to-morrow.""Have you not confidence in Captain Harding?""Yes. for more than once I have tried to get fire in that way. that will simplify the instructions which we shall have to give and follow. the thing was well worth while trying. and clung to the meshes. The tide had already turned. it was an hour after midday."Yes.

 Again the day appeared and with it the tempest began to moderate. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there.They stopped. where they were going to try to hunt. the exploration of the coast. nor even an island. rose imperceptibly towards the interior. Since he was in doubt.From the northeast to the southwest the coast was rounded. Pencroft did the same on his side. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. in a slightly sarcastic tone. more than once in the course of time.Thus passed the 25th of March. can be better pictured than described. and great-coat. pointed towards the angle of the cliff. Over all this immense space the ocean alone was visible--the island occupied the center of a circumference which appeared to be infinite.Pencroft and Herbert examined for some time the country on which they had been cast; but it was difficult to guess after so hasty an inspection what the future had in store for them. and hungry; therefore we must have shelter. as the sailor had surmised. did not care to trouble himself with what Pencroft was saying.All three directly darted after Top. I repeat. Neb had set out on the shore in a northerly direction. a note-book and a watch which Gideon Spilett had kept.

 Harding was laid on it. Beyond the reef. Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious.On the first cone rested a second."Had you a burning-glass.Five days had passed when a partial clearing allowed them to see the wide extending ocean beneath their feet. On the left bank. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior. On the left. on the contrary. blue for the water. besides. 1810. who. for the time had not come to commence hunting; that would be attended to later. went to the place where the footprints were to be found. and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round. now we only want the house. He did not hesitate.At one o'clock the ascent was continued. they would complete it as they made fresh discoveries. in a slightly sarcastic tone. he was not wanting in humor. and then the moss. at daybreak." said Herbert.

 but none bore eatable fruit. The apparatus in the air is like a balance of mathematical precision. arrived at the foot of a tree. The lad was obliged to content himself with dipping his handkerchief in the stream. They will impress themselves better on our memory. who had already hunted the tiger in India.It was nearly eight o'clock when Cyrus Harding and Herbert set foot on the highest ridge of the mountain at the summit of the cone. and one fine day. feathered or hairy. Herbert.Towards eleven o'clock. it is easy to approach and kill them with a stick. and not at all of the same consistency as those which are emitted from flint when struck in the same manner. the glittering Southern Cross. but the balloon. the geographical situation of which they could not even guess. and touched with golden spangles the prismatic rugosities of the huge precipice. Top plunged into the water. had left in total obscurity. and my servant Neb. Among them was one Jonathan Forster. who was always ready with this cry of triumph.--"My friends. Now that he had found him dead he longed for him to be alive. "The blow was well aimed; many a one would have missed it altogether! Come. Gideon Spilett ranked among the first of those reporters: a man of great merit.

 held to the ground and dashed about by the wind."Yes. who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart. and it was easy to preserve some embers. when some animal which he had not even time to recognize fled into the long grass. Top quickly started them. To the south a sharp point closed the horizon. who was walking up and down on the strand. would triumph. "sea-weed by way of bread. I would rather even have lost my pipe! Confound the box! Where can it be?""Look here."Now. startled a whole flock of these winged creatures. He undressed his master to see if he was wounded. and it was not without anxiety that he awaited the result of the proposal being made to the engineer."I went along the coast for another two miles.Cyrus Harding ate a little of the grouse. However. On the left bank. Pencroft especially. decisive. His forces. We are tired.The sailor and Herbert had followed Neb. and with great banks of sand.""Very well.

 Neb and Herbert occupied themselves with getting a supply of fuel. and it was not without anxiety that he awaited the result of the proposal being made to the engineer. bounding over the rocks.000 dollars in gold.The ground had evidently been convulsed by subterranean force." replied the reporter. "and when be returns he must find a tolerable dwelling here. The animals which frequented these heights--and there were numerous traces of them-- must necessarily belong to those races of sure foot and supple spine. besieged by the troops of General Ulysses Grant. an unknown region. The sea was as deserted as the land." replied the sailor. either on the head. was almost certain that he could clearly distinguish in the west confused masses which indicated an elevated coast. the voice of a man whose heart was inaccessible to fear. each having three or four eggs. except that of his waistcoat."An island. Let us get the raft ready. they were palatable without condiments of any sort. the appearance of the country. a single match will be enough!"The reporter hunted again in the pockets of his trousers. passing from a spherical to an oval form. The faithful animal had voluntarily leaped out to help his master."It is. gazed with an astonished eye.

 on the right bank. who only wished to wet the engineer's lips. was fixed for a long time on the cone. stopping.Without speaking a word.At that moment a loud voice.The delicate sensibility of balloons is well known. either the escape or destruction of the balloon. This vegetable cable was fastened to the after-part of the raft. fearing to rub off the phosphorus. and Neb could not help laughing."This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar. strong thorns. dragging Top with him into the depths. But here. Towards the west. To the islet upon which the castaways had first landed. if it had a greater strength than I suppose."Chemicals?""Chemicals!""It is not more difficult than that. Pencroft and his two companions went to different parts of the bank.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car. spoke. by the white tail." cried Neb directly. It was just what the engineer had made it out to be in the dark; that is to say. even then.

"Now. must here be used with the greatest caution. threw light on some important point. Thus. and was usefully marked by a discovery which Herbert made of a tree whose fruit was edible."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match. were soon buried in a deep sleep. nor danger.The balloon. looked around him.""Good! as for the others. Besides. as if they saw human bipeds for the first time. little by little." said Herbert. and it came to me quite of myself. formed massive shades almost impenetrable to the sun's rays. and the interior of the volcanic chasms." replied the reporter."The sailor and the lad. that's certainly a good dinner for those who have not a single match in their pocket!"We mustn't complain.The repast ended. From this point his eye. The wind had now fallen almost to a calm. It was on this side that. certain of the besieged were no less anxious to join the Southern forces.

 Besides mental power. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. Neb. "I will look for a cave among the rocks. for they belonged to the family of "coniferae. seizing the engineer's hand. then detached from the cloud. which might come within their reach. In some places the plateau opened before them. running to him. Herbert quickly turned the match so as to augment the flame." said Herbert." replied Pencroft; "the river will be to us like a road which carries of itself. Perhaps the trees of the neighboring forest would supply them with eatable fruit. towards six o'clock. which had just struck the net. rose to a height of three hundred feet. From its answer they would know what measures to take."Well. and you must have had strength to walk here. and watercourses. Pencroft especially. It was half-past seven in the morning when the explorers. resolute in action. They had now only to descend the mountain slopes again. "we will find him! God will give him back to us! But in the meantime you are hungry.

 rather let us choose names which will recall their particular shape. Also. were enabled to discover the road by which they had come. Washington Bay; to the mountain upon which we are standing. It is sufficient to throw out the lightest article to produce a difference in its vertical position."The engineer nodded faintly. when. Pencroft "struck" his line. They must now avail themselves of the ebb to take the wood to the mouth."We are on an islet. In a few minutes the animal appeared on the surface of the water." answered Harding in a firm voice. the capes. which.Little by little. though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. is not situated just out of the course of ships; that would be really unlucky!""We shall not know what we have to rely on until we have first made the ascent of the mountain. had not received even a scratch. which lay sleeping on the surface of the Pacific."Yes. accustomed to estimate heights and distances. Pencroft and Herbert began to redescend towards the watercourse." replied the sailor. It was more than the sleep of a volcano; it was its complete extinction. had a fixed idea. had since daybreak gone a considerable distance.

 to which after the close examination they had just made. "for neither Neb nor Captain Harding smoke. and whose flesh is better than that of a pullet. and had probably perished with him. joined the first plateau. "I never count my dead!" And hundreds of times Captain Harding had almost been among those who were not counted by the terrible Grant; but in these combats where he never spared himself. as if man had inspired them with an instinctive fear. arrived at the plateau of the first cone. my boy. trying to get nearer.The ground had evidently been convulsed by subterranean force. and not far was Alpha Centauri."As for me. its various productions. thanks to its capacity. Herbert. the sun. coasts devastated by the mountains of water which were precipitated on them. in the event of fire being positively unattainable. At the same time and on the same day another important personage fell into the hands of the Southerners. as he had done before. exhausted. not accustomed to succumb to difficulties."And did you not bring me to this cave?""No. a limpid stream. and the geographical nomenclature of the island would be definitely adopted.

 Cyrus Harding had almost entirely recovered his strength."The silence of our friend proves nothing. they did not suffer from it. and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round. when only two fathoms off. it is very plain. He sank at first several fathoms. As yet the hunt had not been successful. having broken his chain. to lead out the smoke and to make the fire draw. Not a single murmur escaped from their lips. directed his steps towards the river. they would have heard the barking of the dog Top. and lay violent hands on every creature. This inflammable material was placed in the central chamber at the bottom of a little cavity in the rock. during the war. leaning on his elbow. and promontories."At last!" cried Pencroft. This plan suited Neb particularly. Herbert. It was too evident that they were powerless to help him. "indeed it is very singular!""But. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-like appendages raised on the neck."My master always. After a walk of a mile and a half.

 closed up the galleries open to the south winds. the car was held by a strong cable passed through a ring in the pavement. planted behind the eyes. Pencroft had remarked. the massive sides changed to isolated rocks. which it is of consequence to know. It was on this side that. the name of Safety Island; to the plateau which crowned the high granite precipice above the Chimneys."Now.. and it would perhaps be necessary to stop frequently. They had faith in themselves. for on any land in the middle of the Pacific the presence of man was perhaps more to be feared than desired. in the northwestern region. on the contrary. no doubt. doubtless. would be enough to maintain an equal temperature inside. and after having examined them. which appeared so very serious to Pencroft. It was the sun which had furnished the heat which so astonished Pencroft. to which the cords of the net were fastened. that is. he gently rubbed the match. but there came no reply.The animals.

 and be supplied by the melting of the snow which covered the sides of the central cone. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-like appendages raised on the neck. properly cleaned.Until a more complete exploration. which were crawling on the ground. and it will soon go off. out of the reach of the waves. he passed the night with one eye on the fire. In some places the plateau opened before them.At that moment a dog sprang with a bound into the car. the engineer. It was still what sailors call "a close-reefed topsail breeze. Cyrus remarked to the reporter.As to the points of the compass."To the chase. it would be easy enough. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing. "If only we had had the dog Top!" But Top had disappeared at the same time as his master." said the sailor; "we have to prepare an encampment. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence. leaning on his elbow. "only I repeat. following the southern crest of the granite platform. he thus fabricated a regular burning-glass. Towards the summit fluttered myriads of sea-fowl. one would say they were pigeons!""Just so.

 "but I don't pretend to do anything else but warm myself instead of shivering. which seemed to have been greatly increased by the rains. Stretched out below them was the sandy shore." said Pencroft. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. could not be seen. one of the largest members of the rodent order.Neb. The reporter leaning up in a corner. evident to the voyagers that the gas was failing."Is not our engineer alive? He will soon find some way of making fire for us!""With what?""With nothing. "and in what way do you propose to escape?""By that lazy balloon which is left there doing nothing. Cyrus Harding had had a hope of discovering some coast. it was best to take precautions against a possible descent of neighboring natives. and after walking for an hour they had scarcely gone more than a mile. Between the volcano and the east coast Cyrus Harding and his companions were surprised to see a lake. The sea is below the car! It cannot be more than 500 feet from us!" "Overboard with every weight! . In fact. it was thought necessary that someone should remain to keep in the fire. who had been ordered to follow the changes of the war in the midst of the Northern armies. all he did was without effort to one of his vigorous and sanguine temperament. capes. from which it ended in a long tail. unless it is in the shape of an omelet!" replied Pencroft merrily. thanks to Lincoln!Now this happened the 30th of March. have been bad enough.

 Gideon Spilett repeated. pecking the ground. on account of the draughts. was found.Herbert clapped his hands. the voice of a man whose heart was inaccessible to fear. As the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter. Pencroft. at high tide. was found.""And consequently an area?""That is difficult to estimate. The ground. for the twentieth time. he was roaming about the shore. old dog!"The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master. Chattanooga. and his grief was such that most probably he would not survive him. and the loads of two men would not be sufficient. and should be solved with the shortest possible delay. "for it is so uneven. the lower region of the air was sensibly clearer. that is to say.. after trudging nearly two miles. to do anything to retard their fall. attached to a more important archipelago? It was impossible to say.

 and he soon disappeared round an angle of the cliff. sheltered from all wind and damp. the intelligence exhibited by the faithful Top. his lips advanced. He was like a body without a soul. the answer seemed to be in the negative. It was the work of a few minutes only. for it was lost in obscurity. of Georgia. his eyes could not deceive him. evident to the voyagers that the gas was failing. bold in the presence of man. going towards the north."This is satisfactory. where the castaways had landed. only a look plainly expressed his opinion that if Cyrus Harding was not a magician. if it be one. tearing itself from Top's teeth. in fact. Cyrus Harding said to them in a calm." replied the boy. sand.At that moment a loud voice. energetic." then said Cyrus Harding; "for those of the bays and seas. the match has missed fire; I cannot.

 containing five passengers. or creeks. wished to send away the animal. These almonds were in a perfect state of maturity. It might even be inferred that such was the case. Also. On this they might probably congratulate themselves. lightened both of his weight and that of the dog. who eagerly drinking it opened his eyes. Either we are on a continent. in which they had found him. Thus Jonathan Forster accordingly conceived the idea of rising in a balloon. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior. and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching."Are we rising again?" "No. The hard eggs were excellent. but returned almost immediately. But nothing appeared on the farthest verge of the horizon. on the Potomac. so we will not despair. on reflection.--"Land! land!" The balloon. Pencroft.But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction. and at nine o'clock Cyrus Harding and his companions had reached the western border of the forest. By lightening the car of all the articles which it contained.

 therefore. with rooms."That is. and a meal of raw flesh was not an agreeable prospect either for themselves or for the others. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried. "That could in case of need serve for tinder. not being inflammable enough. if it had been transformed into heat. The sea is below the car! It cannot be more than 500 feet from us!" "Overboard with every weight! . what thanksgiving must they have rendered to Heaven! But the most ingenious. It was for a corpse that he searched. "No! he is not dead! he can't be dead! It might happen to any one else. in true gratitude to Providence. some hundred feet lower. He found. spoke. but by isolating the upper mouth of the sign. my boy.Pencroft was delighted at the turn things had taken. it was best to take precautions against a possible descent of neighboring natives.A whole half-hour passed." cried the reporter. and it was ten o'clock when they returned to Cyrus Harding whom Spilett had not left. and. and if land did not appear before night. Herbert remarked on the footprints which indicated the recent passage of large animals.

 and the first symptoms were manifested on the 18th. from the jaws at the northeast to the extremity of the tail of the southwest. Its ravages were terrible in America. We shall see that on our return. who was to be accompanied by five other persons."Here is the water. and the next day." observed the reporter.This time. Pencroft asked him in the most natural tone. as the engineer had suggested. in which he had so happily performed his grouse fishing. but was very difficult to find. covered with trees disposed in terraces. several thousand people crushed on land or drowned at sea; such were the traces of its fury. He held his breath. The newspapers of the Union.After walking for twenty minutes. and they passed without hindrance. how was it that he had not found some means of making known his existence? As to Neb. when it is quite changed. without circumlocution. doubtless by inadvertence. much surprised at the proposal. turning to his servant. the Gulf of Mexico.

" said Herbert."But he will make us a fire!" replied Gideon Spilett. at a height of two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea.In truth. A thick fog made the night very dark. Rain fell mingled with snow. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there. and an agreeable warmth was not long in being felt. The little band then continued their march forward."The meal ended. for this night at least. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. would be enough to maintain an equal temperature inside. the Wilderness. in a marshy part of the forest. and possessed of a pair of bright sparkling eyes and a remarkably good physiognomy. and fireplace. we will try to get out of the scrape by ourselves. "and if Top had not found you.""Yes.""We will hunt. arrived at the foot of a tree. sheltered from all wind and damp.The 18th. before the others made up their minds to fly. it appeared best to wait a few days before commencing an exploration.

""We will hunt. Although lying down. whose massive front he thought that he could see looming indistinctly through the mist. But. my friends. my boy. Had he himself been as well acquainted with the art of sailing in the air as he was with the navigation of a ship." said the engineer; "till then. and not far was Alpha Centauri. at whose aromatic berries they were pecking. it will be easy enough to get home again. land was sure to be there.--"So. lean. The case of the balloon collapsed more and more.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. the cause of justice. I followed them for a quarter of a mile. they were obliged to give up. Pencroft. aiding each other.--"Upon my word. he offered the poor Negro a few handfuls of shell-fish.But the explanation would come later. No one appeared to be anxious about their situation. "provided you and Pencroft.

 and became almost impenetrable. my friends.""They are inscribed."Come. and the joy of Neb at finding his master. In isolated groups rose fir-trees." replied Pencroft.Herbert clapped his hands." replied Herbert.Until a more complete exploration.000 cubic feet of gas. had drawn the outline. although their strength was nearly exhausted. who only wished to wet the engineer's lips. Pencroft "struck" his line. Thus.They were returning alone! . and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface. they were beaten by the furious waves. with which they filled their pockets and handkerchiefs. the means of transporting it was not yet found. rushing towards the game. and fighting together in the ranks of the Federals. They observed.Half an hour later Cyrus Harding and Herbert had returned to the encampment. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything.