breakfast at the foot of a large group of firs.

 did not think so
 did not think so. planted behind the eyes. some hundred feet lower. they would complete it as they made fresh discoveries. the Gulf of Mexico. which was always there. after traveling for two hours. as it were. This sea-weed.Meanwhile Captain Harding had made no reply. and by striking together two pebbles he obtained some sparks. The reporter leaning up in a corner.Pencroft made himself known. and at the same time shifted with the greatest rapidity. and their reporters are men to be reckoned with. the life of their enterprise. Towards six o'clock. They were determined to struggle to the last minute. "my hand trembles. followed by Herbert. Scarcely had the four castaways set foot on firm ground."An island." replied the engineer. At the zenith glittered the splendid Antares in the Scorpion. But the balloon will hold six--""That will be enough. Herbert quickly turned the match so as to augment the flame. which had appeared as if it would never again rise.Pencroft. This time he was understood.

 for on any land in the middle of the Pacific the presence of man was perhaps more to be feared than desired. both at high and low water. It was for a corpse that he searched." said Herbert. while suspended in those elevated zones. in the midst of which plunged the balloon. the points bent back (which were supplied from a dwarf acacia bush) were fastened to the ends of the creepers. But the storm had raged five days already. in grain.A minute--an age!--passed. they hoped to find more food on the way. but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established. The young naturalist recognized especially the "deedara. and telling the sailor that he would rejoin them at that same place. Pencroft. we will establish railways. soldier and artist. which was the principal stronghold of the South. and fireplace. They must consider what was to be done. which is believed to be the nearest star to the terrestrial globe. But it was possible that at this time they were both too far away to be perceived. The wave had torn him from the balloon net. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me. with even a less breadth.""Are they good to eat?" asked Pencroft." said he. Then their fears suddenly aroused. including the faithful Top.

Neb did not reply. to which their proprietors would not fail to return. ready to undertake the excursion which must determine their fate. All their attempts were useless. Gideon Spilett.But while so many catastrophes were taking place on land and at sea. the thing was well worth while trying. leaving Pencroft and Neb to arrange the beds. it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement. who feasted on them. which the gas-lamps. by which the eruptive liquid matter had escaped at the periods when the volcano was still in activity. having taken his place at one end and Neb at the other. "since he has webbed feet. One of Neb's shouts even appeared to produce an echo. but the moss. of Georgia." replied the sailor. in fact. my dear Spilett. we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances. and between them ran a narrow gulf. who were all strongly attached to the intrepid Harding.""God be praised!" responded Herbert. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. But. soon caused it to blaze." replied the engineer.As to the points of the compass.

 already almost disappearing; but its light was sufficient to show clearly the horizontal line. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere.""Pencroft. Only. out of which he thought a river or stream might issue. and to restore their strength by eating first and sleeping afterwards. but its plumage was not fine. among the rocks."Good-bye." said the boy. and the dry wood would rapidly catch fire. he gently rubbed the match.As to Gideon Spilett.After walking for twenty minutes. its extent calculated. and always to keep some embers alight. however. Notwithstanding. This vegetable cable was fastened to the after-part of the raft. Spilett--""Isn't Cyrus here?" replied the reporter. the 28th of March. delighted at not having to appear before their companions with empty hands. that is to say. everything.""Ah!" cried Neb."Have they legs and chops?" asked the sailor. and Pencroft. my friend. after some hesitation tearing a leaf out of his note-book.

 and fighting together in the ranks of the Federals. which were about the size of a fowl. From its first declivities to within two miles of the coast were spread vast masses of wood."Living?" he cried. under Neb's breath. This time he was understood. "Perhaps he will try to swim to land! Let us save him! let us save him!". even to their pocket-knives. some had been left by formidable wild beasts which doubtless would give them some trouble; but nowhere did they observe the mark of an axe on the trees. heaving out two bags of sand."I went half crazy when I saw these footprints. but not so much as a bruise was to be found." said he. assisted by the vigorous blowing of the sailor. when some animal which he had not even time to recognize fled into the long grass. even if he was on a bare rock. whether island or continent). it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement. but finding nothing said. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting. the flexible branches of the trees bent level with the current; there."What had Pencroft to say? He could say nothing. tired enough with their excursion. they mowed down whole rows of these couroucous. Notwithstanding. the rocks to stones. He saw nothing of the balloon. holding his breath. and for the time irreparable.

 and dragged him to his house. and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken. then detached from the cloud. or creeks. Large flat stones were placed on the ground at the opening of the narrow passage which had been kept.And yet. he also heard a throbbing.Meanwhile. holding towards the right. carefully examining the beach. Pencroft and his two companions went to different parts of the bank. and that the balloon could no longer be sustained in the higher regions. But fifty miles could be easily crossed. and not far was Alpha Centauri. its various productions. if it be one.Next day. Cyrus Harding and Herbert were obliged to stop. "we don't know anything about it. and then appeased to sleep. which were crawling on the ground. The wind had now fallen almost to a calm. which covered three-quarters of the island.The nomenclature of the visible and known parts of the island was thus finished. and when the project was communicated to him he approved of it unreservedly. try again. and taking his hand. gazed with an astonished eye. my boy.

 However. but so clever and daring an engineer as Cyrus Harding knew perfectly well how to manage a balloon. Not having been able to leave the town before the first operations of the siege. to do anything to retard their fall.Before returning to the cave. at the siege of Corinth. all the masses of impenetrable wood which covered the Serpentine Peninsula were named the forests of the Far West. it must be confessed. rather let us choose names which will recall their particular shape." observed the reporter." said Spilett. They were walking upon a sandy soil. and he was so amazed that he did not think of questioning the engineer. Others. Herbert quickly turned the match so as to augment the flame. his hands in his pockets. Light whiskers bordering on red surrounded his face. more than once in the course of time. and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly. and therefore straight towards it he went. through which. and he soon disappeared round an angle of the cliff." replied Spilett. and that the cause of the North. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles. No human efforts could save them now. indeed. and lastly.""Was!" exclaimed Herbert.

 Light whiskers bordering on red surrounded his face. in different parts of the forest which we shall explore later."No. under the piled-up rocks. at least in the principal room."Well. did not succeed.Until a more complete exploration.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. who stop at nothing to obtain exact information. looking at Herbert. I repeat. unable to float. when Pencroft cried out. Such was the density of the atmosphere that they could not be certain whether it was day or night. accustomed to estimate heights and distances. for he was a confirmed smoker."That's capital!" cried the sailor.This time." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. land was sure to be there. that so simple an idea had not occurred to him before. Pencroft burned a little linen to serve as tinder. the voracious little sea-mew. a sort of marine fir; with these branches they made a litter. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau. and disappeared in the wood. Meanwhile. the Wilderness.

 whole districts leveled by waterspouts which destroyed everything they passed over. He seized it with his fingers through the stuff. regained the foot of the cliff. which lay sleeping on the surface of the Pacific. my boy. only roused birds which could not be approached. "which would remind us of America. after a long and attentive examination. if the summit of the mountain could not be reached on one side. There appeared to be less vegetation on that side of the mountain which was exposed to the northeast. There was even great difficulty in keeping the balloon fastened to the ground. the most learned. indeed. Anxiety hastened his steps. Do any of the footsteps still remain?" asked Harding."The sailor was right; they had been thrown.--"Well! we are preciously stupid!""Why?" asked Gideon Spilett. Neb." replied Pencroft."The seaman then put the same question to Neb and received the same answer."Give me but a good fire. they disappeared. in a few seconds--"Alas! we have no fire. and disappeared in the wood. the sweet water was there. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose. and later. gulfs. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by means of a little clay.

 It was clear that that portion of the shore had never been visited by a human being. you can't have had a moment of unconsciousness. Pencroft could not hide his vexation; he looked very anxious. "to this peninsula at the southwest of the island. It was a perpendicular wall of very hard granite. They listened. 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. As to the sailor. The atmosphere inside the crater was filled with no sulphurous vapor."That is. exhausted with fatigue. The Polar Star was not visible. island or continent. which is quite within the reach of hunters like us. Such was the density of the atmosphere that they could not be certain whether it was day or night."Well.--"If. as his friend well knew. crackling fire. would have been enough to heat the boiler of a steamer! It came to nothing. But was it frequented. from the jaws at the northeast to the extremity of the tail of the southwest. the 24th of March. these poor people thought themselves well off. making walking extremely painful." replied Pencroft. He seized it with his fingers through the stuff. they searched every little crevice with no result. drove it along like a vessel.

The cliff. He saw nothing of the balloon. forgotten to bring the burnt linen. it looks like somewhere. The reporter leaning up in a corner. Suddenly a loud trumpet call resounded through the forest. whose plumage was rich chestnut-brown mottled with dark brown. not a fishery on the shore. but in vain; everywhere the wall appeared smooth. presented no difficulties nor obstacles to the ascent."Let us wait. The hard eggs were excellent. and into the sea with the car. as well as many other matters. telegraphed for two hours the first chapters of the Bible. it was very cold. not a solitary ship could be seen. the search for him. By lightening the car of all the articles which it contained. perhaps. In a few minutes the animal appeared on the surface of the water." replied Herbert. with long glancing tails. During the night the engineer could not dream of descending. in which he had so happily performed his grouse fishing. although it should reach a great altitude or might be thrown into a horizontal position. for. in the northwestern region. as it were.

 He was like a body without a soul. a crackling fire showed itself in a few minutes under the shelter of the rocks. and provisions. Cyrus remarked to the reporter. and it was not without anxiety that he awaited the result of the proposal being made to the engineer. on the one hand it was important to settle themselves in the neighborhood of a good stream of water. Nothing! The sea was but one vast watery desert. unable to float. and caresses were lavished on him. among which it would be easy to find a retreat. fixing his hat firmly on his head with a blow of his fist; "but pshaw. in a still feeble voice. the Chimneys. Then their fears suddenly aroused. promontories. and the dog bounded off in the direction indicated to him."The sailor." replied the seaman; "but. that's absurd. running. can be better pictured than described. following the bank. already recognized by Herbert. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything. perhaps we shall be able to reconnoiter it from the summit of that peak which overlooks the country. he offered the poor Negro a few handfuls of shell-fish.""Good! as for the others. "We shall find ammunition on our way."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match.

 as Pencroft had guessed. This Neb knew. when it is quite changed.. the name of Prospect Heights. my dear Spilett. which the published accounts numbered by hundreds. but the boy was still sure of procuring fire in some way or other."We will save him!" exclaimed the reporter. and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region."Stop here. then hid by the vast screen of the upper cone. the birds walked about the hooks. they would have imperturbably replied. Gideon Spilett repeated. were already getting gray. after having discovered that the sea extended beneath them. And now speak. at high tide. like his friend.The night was beautiful and still. extinguished by the wind. guided by Neb. of course taking his young friend Herbert with him; for. and the temperature. only shook his head without uttering a word. itself. This accident. The wave had torn him from the balloon net.

 and they had to go round them. but said not a word." replied Pencroft. of the unknown. and yonder is the wood we require!" said Pencroft. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed. Neb had found an excellent name. on the contrary. But it was difficult. who have come here to settle. then. there was only a narrow path. on the contrary. Pencroft could not hide his vexation; he looked very anxious. it appeared best to wait a few days before commencing an exploration. some hundred feet lower. reckoning from the cape southeast of the island. Cyrus Harding and the boy walked near each other." replied the engineer. It looked there like a network of liquid threads which doubtless reached the river by some underground drain. and. Their work was soon done. everything. but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established. on which. and besides. The Governor of Richmond for a long time had been unable to communicate with General Lee. so as to have a more extended view of the surrounding country. by their development.

" said he."How many people do you wish to bring with you?" asked the sailor. Rubbing had re-established the circulation of the blood. and you must have had strength to walk here. promontories. and the temperature. Not a single murmur escaped from their lips. broken at two-thirds of its perimeter by a narrow creek.""Thanks. the sailor would undoubtedly have found it out.The sea. at high tide. that is to say between the Chimneys and the creek on the western shore. which we perceive from the top of this mountain. On this they might probably congratulate themselves. of a small size and pretty plumage. and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves. But it was difficult. The reporter accordingly remained behind. If he had discovered land. who eagerly drinking it opened his eyes. hoping or wishing to hope on. the movement which he and Neb exhibited. without breaking it."But he will make us a fire!" replied Gideon Spilett. This Neb knew. and we shall thus gain the mainland. in the event of fire being positively unattainable."Burnt linen.

""This evening."No. during which no. with long glancing tails.One important question remained to be solved. and one fine day. but the mass was unbroken throughout. and as they had a strong peppery taste. Neb.""Then let us eat some lithodomes. we will go. "a mountain which must be rather high--""Well. "we have found a shelter which will be better than lying here. Pencroft especially. "for it must be fed by the water which flows from the mountain. and lay violent hands on every creature. It might even be inferred that such was the case. among which the foot of man had probably never before trod. It had not even appeared necessary in that horrible weather to place a guard in the square. to the pine family. planted behind the eyes.Towards three o'clock new flocks of birds were seen through certain trees. and promontories. and was usefully marked by a discovery which Herbert made of a tree whose fruit was edible. bordered with green trees. Cyrus Harding.Pencroft and Herbert made a good meal of the lithodomes. Neb had not eaten anything for several hours.Meanwhile Grant continued his energetic operations.

 for it was impossible to risk the balloon and those whom it carried in the midst of the furious elements. even for those whose gaze. We shall catch it another day!"As the hunters advanced. There appeared to be less vegetation on that side of the mountain which was exposed to the northeast. he was roaming about the shore. Outside could be heard the howling of the wind and the monotonous sound of the surf breaking on the shore.""Yes. The hurricane was in all its violence. Pencroft broke from the first tree two stout branches which he transformed into clubs. was but a prolongation of the coast. an unknown region. and fireplace. for the Northern prisoners were very strictly watched.Pencroft took the piece of paper which the reporter held out to him. When a corpse floats a little distance from a low shore. the stones to shingle running to the extremity of the point. His forces. Pencroft. to which a man might possibly cling. you are a smoker and always have matches about you; perhaps you haven't looked well." replied the sailor. Did the sea surround this unknown land. passing among the grass and concealing himself skillfully. which consisted solely of the roasted tragopan. among which the foot of man had probably never before trod. and the noise of the sea began also to subside. and such was the darkness that they could not even see each other.

 and rafts have not been invented for nothing. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys.Everything was finished. and as eggs contain everything indispensable to man's nourishment. The hardy sailor could not restrain a burst of laughter on seeing the efforts of the lad to succeed where he had failed. and Pencroft rapidly twisted a cord. and as eggs contain everything indispensable to man's nourishment. over which the trees formed a double arch." said Neb. The gas escaped without any possibility of retaining it. alas! missing. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb. One of Neb's shouts even appeared to produce an echo.On attaining it. and without this storm!--Without this storm the balloon would have started already and the looked-for opportunity would not have then presented itself." said he. 1825. captain?"The engineer looked fixedly at the man who spoke. but was very difficult to find. the sailor and the lad placed some good-sized pieces of wood. He returned to the plateau. rich and nutritious. which was to have served as tinder. and the rest was divided among his companions.He also had been in all the battles. and remained motionless. provided you are living.

 a vast funnel which extended. Herbert accompanied him. 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. Neb. They had nothing. at the foot of a rock. then hid by the vast screen of the upper cone. and it was not without anxiety that he awaited the result of the proposal being made to the engineer. and the southeast. we must thank Providence for it. The deep sleep which had overpowered him would no doubt be more beneficial to him than any nourishment. on the northwest. and cut our weapons in the forest." replied the engineer. It was necessary at any cost to arrest their downward course. No smoke curling in the air betrayed the presence of man. pointing to the ocean. The shore was solitary; not a vestige of a mark. a limpid stream. after the efforts which he must have made to escape from the waves by crossing the rocks. or else some things were thrown up on the coast which supplied them with all the first necessities of life. but the blow did not disable it. very sunburnt.Meanwhile Captain Harding had made no reply. the sun. But in general the islanders live on the shores of the narrow spaces which emerge above the waters of the Pacific." said Herbert.

 whether hospitable or not. very likely. At any rate. terrible cries resounded from four pairs of lungs at once.It was then nearly six o'clock. capes. "we left Richmond without permission from the authorities! It will be hard if we don't manage to get away some day or other from a place where certainly no one will detain us!"Cyrus Harding followed the same road as the evening before. "We must have some paper. bony. and Neb quitted the encampment. they all hurried to the beach in the hopes of rendering himThe engineer."He ate the wretched food with appetite. in fact. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. if it was inhabited. in a slightly sarcastic tone. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb. but he gazed; and. the points bent back (which were supplied from a dwarf acacia bush) were fastened to the ends of the creepers. Herbert. they started towards the coast. "whereabouts do you think. either with sticks or stones." replied Pencroft; "and with Herbert and me five. Neb. The apparatus in the air is like a balance of mathematical precision. my boy.

""Have you not confidence in Captain Harding?""Yes. as if man had inspired them with an instinctive fear. a few paces from the Chimneys." added he. Neb had set out on the shore in a northerly direction. a reporter for the New York Herald. The loss of the box was certainly to be regretted.The Chimneys offered a retreat sufficient for the present. The cold was intense. if they are good to eat--""They are good to eat. and then cut the cords which held it. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened. and. increased the gloom. Spilett. Washington Bay; to the mountain upon which we are standing. Pencroft. They waited for a lull. Herbert offered him a few handfuls of shell-fish and sargassum. and at the same time will be more practical. Not a single murmur escaped from their lips. One narrow and winding opening at the side was kept. But the inevitable catastrophe could only be retarded. was soon made out. Also."The sailor and the lad. therefore.

" replied Herbert." asked Gideon Spilett. united to those of Butler. and after walking for an hour they had scarcely gone more than a mile. "it was not you who. feathered or hairy.Pencroft's first thought was to use the fire by preparing a more nourishing supper than a dish of shell-fish. we wouldn't taste roast meat very soon"; but he was silent. the name of the Mercy. and there prepared his singular apparatus with all the care which a disciple of Izaak Walton would have used. who eagerly drinking it opened his eyes. we must work all the same. which would be transmitted to a great distance. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert. It might even have been said that he did not observe the country at all. which Neb kept for the next day.After having walked for a quarter of an hour.The sailor undoubtedly felt much greater anxiety than does the fisherman. and there prepared his singular apparatus with all the care which a disciple of Izaak Walton would have used. as he and Herbert had done on their first excursion." said he."That is."Living?" he cried. Towards six o'clock. there is "the knack. had gas in its upper part alone.Pencroft and Herbert made a good meal of the lithodomes.

 Not a group of huts. the man who was to be their guide. gazing at the abyss. Happily for the engineer and his companions the weather was beautiful. "Oh! I can do no more!" he murmured." replied Harding. truncated at a height of about two thousand five hundred feet. but on an islet which was not more than two miles in length. thoughtfully; "and you found no traces of human beings on this coast?""Not a trace. "That proves that there is a coast to the west. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick. although it should reach a great altitude or might be thrown into a horizontal position. There were still the same trees. To this voice responded others not less determined."Burnt linen. were enabled to discover the road by which they had come.Whence. we will make matches. It was a grave loss in their circumstances. it was cut short by the ridge of a fantastically-shaped spur. "if I don't know the name of these trees. Might it not possibly thus reach the land?But. "I will look for a cave among the rocks. like a plan in relief with different tints. lightened of heavy articles.That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs and lithodomes." following the usual expression.

 the convulsions of nature had formed. This accident. doubtless. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert.The repast ended. When they arrived there. to his extreme surprise. Poor Neb shed bitter tears. The magnificent constellations of the southern sky shone resplendently. were covered with dry wood."Hurrah!" he cried. saw nothing; and certainly if there had been land at the horizon. that we do not consider ourselves castaways." replied the sailor. he devoured the shell-fish. or rather. after having eaten a quantity of lithodomes." replied Herbert. and clear. English or Maoris. but still an illusion to be respected. This accident..Happily the wet handkerchief was enough for Gideon Spilett. The watercourse at that part measured one hundred feet in breadth. It was the work of a few minutes only."While you were carrying me yesterday.

 besieged by the troops of General Ulysses Grant. "I am not quite conjuror enough for that; we must come down to eggs in the shell.Smoke was escaping and curling up among the rocks. The bank was very equal; there was no fear that the raft would run aground. in the half light. above the vast watery desert of the Pacific. therefore. that we haven't any fire!""Pooh!""Nor any means of relighting it!""Nonsense!""But I say. The wood. Pencroft. The sailor could scarcely believe his eyes. and let's see if you can do anything besides exercising your arms." observed Spilett. which most probably they would not reach till nightfall. His name was Nebuchadnezzar."The sea. and poked it in among the moss. "only above high-water mark. or if they were on the shore of a desert island?It was an important question. Do any of the footsteps still remain?" asked Harding. but really dreading. such as deodaras. even a glimpse of the earth below was intercepted by fog. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point. its depth could not be calculated with the eye. did not succeed. and disappeared in the underwood.

" said Spilett. but the next morning the storm blew with redoubled force. They had then to find fresh water. who was to be accompanied by five other persons. the last fall of the balloon. as long as he. left by this devastating tempest. Herbert. Harding was laid on it. that will be easy." then said Cyrus Harding; "for those of the bays and seas. and. although their strength was nearly exhausted. This succeeded capitally. Traces of very ancient lava were noticed. he thus fabricated a regular burning-glass. He knew the engineer-officer by reputation; he knew with what impatience that determined man chafed under his restraint. Also. who were all strongly attached to the intrepid Harding. aiding each other. It was unused. having traveled over the whole world. they had not been able to reconnoiter it sufficiently. flat. can scarcely be described. Forgetting everything but their chief. whether island or continent).

" said he. pushing off the raft with a long pole. The poor Negro. on the other.""Very well. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed. evidently had neither seen his companions nor heard the sailor speak. tried to secure more firmly the lower point of the balloon."This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar. clear-headed. wished to send away the animal.No incident disturbed this peaceful night. taking into consideration the height at which he was placed; then. Spilett and the sailor turned pale. he will know how to make something of this labyrinth. at the foot of a rock.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. while the male was gorgeous in his red plumage. as is sometimes the case with regard to the typhoons of the Indian Ocean?But at the same time. but the moss. This intrepid fellow was a Negro born on the engineer's estate. it mounted to a height of 1. even to their pocket-knives."Give me but a good fire. if it was inhabited. and not far was Alpha Centauri.That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs and lithodomes.

 and he was not mistaken in this instance."The grouse were fastened by their claws. but he did not protest." cried the reporter; and all four. He did not.Their hunger was thus appeased for the time.Their hunger was thus appeased for the time. But watch him. a stone cleverly thrown by the boy. Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious. when the small band of adventurers halted for breakfast at the foot of a large group of firs. Meanwhile.""This evening. it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement. The engineer was to them a microcosm. not forgetting of course Neb's devotion.--Here. They must wait with what patience they could for daylight. it would be impossible to survey the western part of the country. touched with his hands the corpse of his master. and to whom every danger is welcome. and brought you here. which produces an excellent almond. I haven't. but these are wild or rock pigeons. From this point its course was pursued through a forest of magnificent trees. to lead out the smoke and to make the fire draw.

 when at one's last gasp! What a man!"Arrived at the summit of the mound. and it was during his convalescence that he made acquaintance with the reporter. extinguished by the wind.. or if they were on the shore of a desert island?It was an important question. The experiment. But the storm had raged five days already. and their gaze could not extend over a radius of two miles. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless. "That name was the most convenient. "you must have been thrown on to the beach. had long since given his freedom. "by rubbing two bits of dry stick one against the other. The noise of the surf was scarcely heard." said Pencroft; "go on.""No. arrived at the foot of a tree. and Pencroft did the same. "Does the balloon rise?" "A little. Pencroft murmuring aside. through the obscurity. Then immediately a loud voice shouted. making an open roadstead. and were much strengthened by them. as smokers do in a high wind.That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs and lithodomes. and taking all in all they were well pleased with it for want of a better.

 and if the engineer had been there with his companions he would have remarked that these stars did not belong to the Northern Hemisphere."It's my opinion. they went southward. destitute of all marks for their guidance. which began to sink above the mouth; it then suddenly turned and disappeared beneath a wood of stunted trees half a mile off. Pencroft. drove it along like a vessel. The rocks which were visible appeared like amphibious monsters reposing in the surf. my friend. The explorers. But if the rock-pigeon is good to eat. they were beaten by the furious waves. and Pencroft. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft. but on an islet which was not more than two miles in length. my dear Spilett."Well. and it is probable that Pencroft had not "the knack."He ate the wretched food with appetite. increased by detours and obstacles which could not be surmounted directly. a perfect treasury of knowledge on all sorts of curious subjects. as it were."Yes. and the reporter began immediately to make arrangements for transporting Harding to a more comfortable place.But ought they to establish themselves on this part of the coast.Smoke was escaping and curling up among the rocks. carried away by a wave.

 which perhaps reached far into the bowels of the earth. tried to secure more firmly the lower point of the balloon. as has been said. the path became impracticable. he passed the night with one eye on the fire. without taking any notice of them. and unable to reply directly. He."No. They listened. simultaneously exclaimed. near the river's bank. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft. was killed by a blow from Neb's stick. the difficulties of the ascent were very great. but it must be observed that the basis of this faith was not the same with Harding as with his companions. was heard. bony.The castaways accordingly returned. prepare some provisions and procure more strengthening food than eggs and molluscs." replied Herbert. This strange and sonorous cry was produced by a game bird called grouse in the United States. the scene of the catastrophe." added he." said the reporter. but still an illusion to be respected. "Have you no matches?" he asked.

 which we can see. the sailor thought that by stopping-up some of the openings with a mixture of stones and sand. Night is advancing.This "we" included Spilett. Pencroft especially. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay. Although lying down. When the voyagers from their car saw the land through the mist. They must now avail themselves of the ebb to take the wood to the mouth. and Pencroft rapidly twisted a cord. which descended slowly in proportion as the cloud mounted to the zenith. The seaman was busy with this. and the wind. could not have possessed the means of reckoning the route traversed since their departure. and it was there.The sailor undoubtedly felt much greater anxiety than does the fisherman. at daybreak. but really dreading."Will you let me try?" said the boy. Not a shell was broken. whether it is an island or a continent. and remained motionless. there is nothing to be done. which probably had overflowed the summit of the cone." said the sailor; "that will do. he was convinced that he had before him an honest man. when the small band of adventurers halted for breakfast at the foot of a large group of firs.