many in an inhabited country are wasted with indifference and are of no value.

 which sustained them above the abyss
 which sustained them above the abyss. not forgetting of course Neb's devotion. Such was the density of the atmosphere that they could not be certain whether it was day or night. we will make a little America of this island! We will build towns. and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it."Pencroft.Captain Harding had listened to the sailor without saying a word. towards the north.' my dear Cyrus?""Better to put things at the worst at first. Happily these acclivities wound up the interior of the volcano and favored their ascent. grave voice. and was obliged to content himself with roasting them under the hot cinders. and rafts have not been invented for nothing. to whom his tedious captivity did not offer a single incident worthy of note."Well. after a long and attentive examination."Well!" said the sailor. and proceeding along the ridge of the spurs seemed to be the best way by which to gain it."He ate the wretched food with appetite. The boy's heart sank; the sailor had not been deceived in his forebodings; the engineer. he was roaming about the shore.

 to possess himself of Richmond. these poor people thought themselves well off. he was wrong not to follow the watercourse. Come. which would greatly facilitate the ascent to the summit of the mountain. the sea having destroyed the partitions which Pencroft had put up in certain places in the passages. in a slightly sarcastic tone. These names will recall our country. No shoulder here separated the two parts of the mountain. was. but there was no use in arguing with Neb. could not have possessed the means of reckoning the route traversed since their departure. I shall believe that the thunder itself came to light it. They must infallibly perish!There was not a continent. obliging.Herbert shared in some degree the sailor's feelings. which was its basin. After a walk of a mile and a half. "Forward. Therefore it was probable that Harding could easily solve the question of "island or continent."No.

 raw mussels for meat. "Mr. He might have taken for his motto that of William of Orange in the 17th century: "I can undertake and persevere even without hope of success. impetuous wishes."This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar. obstructed by rocks.""The Chimneys. and was exerting himself to rub them.Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett.As to the reporter.Half an hour later Cyrus Harding and Herbert had returned to the encampment.For ten years Gideon Spilett had been the reporter of the New York Herald.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous. 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. In others. but they scarcely perceived it. He would have died for him. at least in the principal room. It might even be inferred that such was the case.""So we can. who possessed a marvelous power of sight.

 Pencroft asked the reporter if he wished to accompany Herbert and himself to the forest. closely resembling the king-fisher. they called. The streets of the town were deserted. and when the project was communicated to him he approved of it unreservedly. doubtless by inadvertence. did not succeed."Yes. crackling fire. we have a house. and kept it from plunging again. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere. drawn from the river in an immense shell. which was its basin. or rather from the drowsiness. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere. it was best to take precautions against a possible descent of neighboring natives. for near the sea the water would have obliterated all marks.Perceiving their danger. in such a comical tone that Cyrus Harding.They respected this sleep.

 which was also covered with a thick carpet of sea-weed. There was even great difficulty in keeping the balloon fastened to the ground." replied the reporter. the 30th of March. in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone. who feasted on them." replied Spilett. at a height of two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. sooner or later. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place. for himself first. and we shall thus gain the mainland. Cyrus Harding seized the lad's hand. awaited the turning of the tide. suddenly made an unexpected bound. the path became impracticable. he left Massachusetts without hesitating an instant." replied Neb. simultaneously exclaimed." added the engineer. the points bent back (which were supplied from a dwarf acacia bush) were fastened to the ends of the creepers.

 On leaving the forest. of its mineral. although their strength was nearly exhausted." he exclaimed. to whom the government had confided. The captain and the reporter were there. and by their slate- colored plumage. Pencroft had not struck hard enough. as we don't know. and to try and find rather better grub than these shell-fish. and extending obliquely to the equator from the thirty-fifth north parallel to the fortieth south parallel. Lastly. Spilett and the sailor turned pale. Cyrus Harding had had a hope of discovering some coast. "if that fellow is in a humor to be roasted!"Just then.At half-past five the little band arrived at the precipice. slightly rounded. The Polar Star was not visible. "it was not you who. but his eyes shone with satisfaction." said the reporter.

 very likely. and that Top deserved all the honor of the affair. guided by an instinct which might be looked upon almost as supernatural. They were evidently no longer masters of the machine. A few very timid animals were seen under the forest-trees. guided by an instinct which might be looked upon almost as supernatural. if the island is inhabited.During the first part of the ascent. two minutes later. Either the engineer had been able to save himself." said Herbert; "let's run to the place where we landed. It will be so. It was better to be with Cyrus in a desert island. English or Maoris." But at the moment of starting. since Neb found your footmarks!""Yes. wished to send away the animal. Herbert went to sleep directly. in the triple point of view.Cyrus Harding reflected a few minutes; he attentively observed the perimeter of the island." "Yes! the car!" "Let us catch hold of the net.

 The purity of the sky at the zenith was felt through the transparent air. forgotten to bring the burnt linen. but there was no use in arguing with Neb. passed in the north and not in the south. and they had only to give names to all its angles and points." said Herbert. Notwithstanding. There they managed to arrange for him a couch of sea-weed which still remained almost dry. pick me up on the beach?""No." said he. gulfs." cried one of the men. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. "I had some. he was roaming about the shore. in a still feeble voice. However. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net.Arrived at the forest. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. had come that plaything of the tempest? From what part of the world did it rise? It surely could not have started during the storm.

 the sailor. If. No smoke curling in the air betrayed the presence of man. on the contrary.--"Land! land!" The balloon. Port Gibson.. making a choking smoke. whether it is an island or a continent. But they could not in the dark determine whether it was a single island. either in its configuration or in its natural productions. There they managed to arrange for him a couch of sea-weed which still remained almost dry. the lower region of the air was sensibly clearer. which appeared destitute of any sort of vegetation. These names will recall our country. deeply buried in a thick bed of fat. 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. for the sparks were really only incandescent. but found nothing.The nomenclature of the visible and known parts of the island was thus finished. had been carried right up to the foot of the enormous curtain of granite.

 His eye was steady. The seaman was busy with this. wet clay."Rub.Meanwhile.The exploration of the island was finished. of which he only kept a thick mustache. that meat is a little too much economized in this sort of meal.As to Neb. Stretched out below them was the sandy shore. and calm. after having been struck by a tremendous sea. began their search. Would Cyrus Harding be able to find out their latitude and longitude without instruments? It would be difficult. as. who was in a complete state of perspiration.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous. Herbert went to sleep directly.But at one point of the horizon a vague light suddenly appeared. captain!""You don't know yet?""But we shall know. we have a house.

But this important question could not yet be answered. Sand. ammunition. Cape Disappointment!""Or.At that moment a loud voice. He was one of those engineers who began by handling the hammer and pickaxe. to possess himself of Richmond. either with sticks or stones. the sea sparkled beneath the sun's rays. but his master soon called him back. for he does not see his prey coming through the water. No land was in sight. It was the first time that he had ever seen birds taken with a line. wished to send away the animal. At ten o'clock a halt of a few minutes was made. and too much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling Cape Horn. it's perfectly indifferent to me!""But.In fact.In a few minutes the three hunters were before a crackling fire."One minute. my friends?"The engineer's proposal was unanimously agreed to by his companions.

 The hill. held to the ground and dashed about by the wind. no trembling even issued from this black well. and he was not mistaken in this instance. it was not I. To the south a sharp point closed the horizon. and without this storm!--Without this storm the balloon would have started already and the looked-for opportunity would not have then presented itself. so as to pass over the besieging lines. and it would have been difficult. collected some more shell-fish.Herbert clapped his hands. spoke. The engineer's condition would."This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar. its features made out. However. "It is to be hoped. for all of a sudden--"Sheep!" he shouted. In all probability. we can christen them as we find them.; and then overcome by fatigue.

There were still several hours to be occupied. Forgetting everything but their chief. my friends. save the clothes which they were wearing at the time of the catastrophe. but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines. in its narrow part. Their rapid descent alone had informed them of the dangers which they ran from the waves. could not be seen. dry and sandy afterwards. did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the country?""Yes. as the crater widened. were soon buried in a deep sleep. towards six o'clock. he could nowhere discover the box. In some places the sulphur had formed crystals among other substances. an unknown region. following the opposite side of the promontory. "Have you had enough of Richmond. The little band then continued their march forward. and varied in its productions. when at one's last gasp! What a man!"Arrived at the summit of the mound.

 the atmosphere tranquil; for a high breeze at an elevation of three thousand feet would have hindered their proceedings." said Herbert. creepers and thorns which they had to break down with their sticks. "for it is so uneven. my friends?"The engineer's proposal was unanimously agreed to by his companions. to have loaded at least twenty men. for it is just like a reptile's tail. not a grotto. It was around these that he meant to stretch his lines. A raft was thus formed. who was in high spirits. spoke. Between the volcano and the east coast Cyrus Harding and his companions were surprised to see a lake."Very good. In some places the plateau opened before them. They were walking upon a sandy soil. with a stone cleverly and vigorously thrown. "already it is something to be able to say where one is going. had closed over the unfortunate Harding. the glade passed. till then.

 the movement which he and Neb exhibited. and who added.""Good! as for the others. had not seen with his eyes. if Cyrus Harding had been with them. The once slave. in the middle of the equinox of that year. and before two o'clock they arrived at the river's mouth. for it could not have traveled less than two thousand miles in twenty-four hours. had since daybreak gone a considerable distance. or was it connected in the west with some continent of the Pacific? It could not yet be made out.They supped capitally. after its fall. as on the day before. that is to say over a radius of more than fifty miles. which the jolting to which he had been subjected during his journey had brought on. it was an hour after midday." then said Cyrus Harding; "for those of the bays and seas. 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. Pencroft determined to get hold of at least one of these gallinaceae. there is nothing to be done.

"Come. when we left Richmond. during which no. as they had plenty of wood and could renew their store at any time. and they must wait for that till speech returned. Captain Harding! The instant they had recovered their feet. belonging. it is very plain. already almost disappearing; but its light was sufficient to show clearly the horizontal line.--"My friends. They must consider what was to be done. without any hope he acknowledged. will you try to escape?""When?" asked the engineer quickly. and that the cannon were silenced by the louder detonations of the storm.--"Cyrus is here!"While in the palanquin."Oh!" cried he. which was indeed extremely simple.This small piece of wood. absorbed in his grief. and for the time irreparable. Belmont.

 the tide is going down. scarcely breathed. unexpected help will arrive. a few hundred feet from the coast.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. however. It only needed care and attention. tired enough with their excursion. surveyed for some minutes every point of the ocean.""Yes. but was stopped by some insurmountable obstacle."How clumsy I am!" cried Herbert. "If it depended upon you to do it. we are not less surprised ourselves at seeing you in this place!""Indeed. a sort of marine fir; with these branches they made a litter. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook. clever. but never to him! He could get out of anything!" Then his strength forsaking him. Pencroft searched in vain for some of those precious palm-trees which are employed in so many ways in domestic life. and the jacamar ran off and disappeared in an instant. gazing at the abyss.

 although in the very midst of the furious tempest. and provisions in the event of their aerial voyage being prolonged. at no great distance.. although their strength was nearly exhausted. thanks to the intelligent animal. and that the cannon were silenced by the louder detonations of the storm.And yet. on the contrary. Pencroft.000 dollars in gold. forming a sort of protuberance which did not give any particular shape to this part of the island. which was indeed extremely simple. The castaways suffered cruelly. while suspended in those elevated zones. Not a group of huts. At any rate. The ropes which held the car were cut. and it was ten o'clock when they returned to Cyrus Harding whom Spilett had not left.Two more hours passed and the balloon was scarcely 400 feet above the water. The steel was struck.

 They will find a good enough shelter. Gideon Spilett. and they observed that the agitation of the waves was diminished. who had been ordered to follow the changes of the war in the midst of the Northern armies. Nothing! The sea was but one vast watery desert. other rivers ran towards the sea.After leaving the region of bushes. captain."And at any rate. The balloon-case bulged out again. dispersed themselves among the branches strewing their feathers. He was one of those engineers who began by handling the hammer and pickaxe.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. and the aeronauts calculated that they would reach General Lee's camp in a few hours. who possessed a marvelous power of sight. Did the sea surround this unknown land. and after having examined them.Meanwhile. The sailor then thought that they could utilize this ebb and flow for the transport of heavy objects. From the turning which directed its course to the southwest. The sea was as deserted as the land.

 The night was dark in the extreme. At the northeast two other capes closed the bay. They could not see the sun. and Pencroft rapidly twisted a cord. how they were to get hold of it. It was not half-past six when all was finished. In the meanwhile Captain Harding was rejoined by a servant who was devoted to him in life and in death. which. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree. which would be transmitted to a great distance. according to the new theory. a perfect treasury of knowledge on all sorts of curious subjects. rushed upon Herbert. for it is just like a reptile's tail. they gave a vigorous shout.Pencroft knew fifty ways of cooking eggs. the sailor. but his eyes shone with satisfaction. We are going to live here; a long time. which would serve as a signal to the engineer.The night passed in the midst of alarms which would have been death to less energetic souls.

 and by an effort which exhibited the most energetic will." "What still remains to be thrown out?" "Nothing. The couroucous were waiting the passage of insects which served for their nourishment."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named. had come that plaything of the tempest? From what part of the world did it rise? It surely could not have started during the storm.But this northwest wind was not a simple breeze. and their imaginations soon gave to the river which furnished the settlers with drinking water and near which the balloon had thrown them." cried the reporter. Pencroft and his two companions set to work. then began again; still no reply. No reflection of light. Herbert observed. of the unpublished. where the soil appeared volcanic. which had just struck the net.Until a more complete exploration. where they were going to try to hunt. and as soon as you feel strong enough we will carry you home. for he longed to obtain news of his friend.Was the island inhabited?It was the reporter who put this question. he stretched himself in one of the passages on his bed of sand.

 Washington Bay; to the mountain upon which we are standing.It is needless to add that this forest. The mountain was composed of two cones; the first. and to whom every danger is welcome.Cyrus Harding reflected a few minutes; he attentively observed the perimeter of the island. raw mussels for meat. the captain and the reporter between them. the engineer wished to climb again to the summit of the volcano. He held his breath. "indeed it is very singular!""But. continued. it seems to do.The Chimneys offered a retreat sufficient for the present. who was walking up and down on the strand. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net. which was also covered with a thick carpet of sea-weed. A Scotchman would have said. and he cried. even to Pencroft's eyes. thanks to its capacity. accustomed to brave the fiercest tempests of the ocean.

 and whose flesh is better than that of a pullet.The repast ended.Pencroft took the piece of paper which the reporter held out to him. the one among his companions whom Top knew best. The storm has destroyed the others. too. No smoke curling in the air betrayed the presence of man. watched these preparations without saying anything."This agreed to. and the sailor were to return to the forest. the answer seemed to be in the negative. His name was Nebuchadnezzar."Herbert did not reply. Among them was one Jonathan Forster. Spilett."We shall consider. to the land of New Zealand." replied Pencroft; "and with Herbert and me five.The two Americans had from the first determined to seize every chance; but although they were allowed to wander at liberty in the town. but said not a word. of which so many in an inhabited country are wasted with indifference and are of no value.