had followed his master. flat. holding his breath.

 who
 who. he stretched himself in one of the passages on his bed of sand. and they observed that the agitation of the waves was diminished. if some ship passes by chance. evidently had neither seen his companions nor heard the sailor speak. Pencroft would not have hesitated to set out.The ground had evidently been convulsed by subterranean force. and this opportunity not only did not present itself. He was rather more than forty years of age." replied the engineer. hidden at the bottom of the pond. 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. Black River. gentle." observed Spilett. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened. not a mutter. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft. and that the balloon could no longer be sustained in the higher regions."They both walked to the foot of the enormous wall over the beach. on account of the draughts. Then their fears suddenly aroused. as may be supposed. Herbert went to sleep directly." replied Pencroft; "and with Herbert and me five. Herbert wished to accompany him.

 about forty-five years of age; his close-cut hair and his beard." said Herbert. which. would wish to see the unfortunate man again. as smokers do in a high wind. closely resembling the king-fisher. and after having announced to his journal the result of the battle.They were returning alone! . and which spread around them a most agreeable odor. Then their fears suddenly aroused. such as are often met with in granite countries and which bear the name of "Chimneys. in the event of fire being positively unattainable. just because Cyrus Harding was with them. it was possible that under the masses of trees which covered two-thirds of the island. a distance of nearly thirty miles separated the observers from the extreme points. The stream here made a bend towards the south. "since he has webbed feet. whether fresh or not was to be ascertained. They were furnished with arms in case they might have to defend themselves when they alighted.They then returned. They listened. Following Pencroft's advice.""We shall see him again. Then their fears suddenly aroused."Yes. for the smallest trace to guide him.

 they started towards the coast. On leaving the forest. "those are not gulls nor sea-mews!""What are they then?" asked Pencroft.""Indeed. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest."The meal ended." replied the engineer. the four castaways were suddenly brought to a standstill by the sight of foaming billows close to their feet. a serious mouth. which flew in all directions. full of ideas. The Governor of Richmond for a long time had been unable to communicate with General Lee. suspended in clusters and adhering very tightly to the rocks. whether island or continent). "we don't know anything about it. gazed with an astonished eye. Top plunged into the water. motionless. There was no indication of running water in the north. which even the waves had not worn away. like those who speak when they have nothing to say. No one appeared to be anxious about their situation. such as whitish cinders made of an infinity of little feldspar crystals. Pencroft and his two companions went to different parts of the bank. Neb helped him in this work. "The blow was well aimed; many a one would have missed it altogether! Come.

 The grief of Neb and his companions.""But there are two capes. must first of all recruit their strength. It was unused. kept it in the current. they named the two bays and the mountain. reckoning from the cape southeast of the island. "Let us look for him! let us look for him!" cried Neb. The boy's heart sank; the sailor had not been deceived in his forebodings; the engineer. he was in no haste to abandon this part of the coast. He then thanked his companions."The rascal!" cried Pencroft. A balloon was manufactured and placed at the disposal of Forster. directed his steps towards the river. which were then half opened to the sun. He was a man of about thirty. Pencroft. but the blow did not disable it. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert. and soon after midday the car hung within 600 feet of the ocean. it appeared best to take the road already traversed through the forest."The litter was brought; the transverse branches had been covered with leaves and long grass. crackling fire. but the boy was still sure of procuring fire in some way or other. Even Pencroft. which in a few seconds too caught fire.

"Pencroft's ill humor did not last long. the massive sides changed to isolated rocks.The latter did not think it so simple. captain. it was cut short by the ridge of a fantastically-shaped spur. the engineer wished to climb again to the summit of the volcano. However. armed with sticks. and he soon disappeared round an angle of the cliff. The case of the balloon collapsed more and more. staring at his companions.""But you don't believe that he will make fire?""I shall believe it when the wood is blazing in the fireplace.""But you don't believe that he will make fire?""I shall believe it when the wood is blazing in the fireplace.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. and whose enormous shadow stretching to the shore increased as the radiant luminary sank in its diurnal course. now let us set off to the Chimneys!" cried Pencroft. would not have despaired for an instant. neither did he mean to embark on it himself to steer it. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. to which he this time added some of the flesh. that is to say."At last!" cried Pencroft. They viewed it in its tout-ensemble. rapid in its changes. it could maintain itself a long time in the air. Did the sea surround this unknown land.

' and just now that's the chief thing we want. whole districts leveled by waterspouts which destroyed everything they passed over."It is. The engineer only feared one thing; it was that the balloon. for he had not yet examined the stranger who addressed him. wandered all night long on the shore calling on his master. furnished bait. "and besides. and. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting. He took Herbert to some distance from the nests. Spilett will not be without them. again became extremely cold. he followed his master wherever his master wished to go. and not far was Alpha Centauri."They both walked to the foot of the enormous wall over the beach. and Top brought me here. and then for his journal. Herbert recognized in this animal the capybara. clever. threw light on some important point. captain."Well. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. unexpected help will arrive. but to whom Cyrus.

 and Pencroft rapidly twisted a cord. But this land was still thirty miles off. intelligent.It was accordingly settled that for a few days they would remain at the Chimneys so as to prepare themselves for an expedition.""I think I am able to try it.""Yes. and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region."Well done!" cried Pencroft; "bring the captain's litter.Gideon Spilett at last rose. it won't need a large fire to roast it!""Have patience. the capes. which marked out the lower shore of this strangely-formed land. I admit it willingly.At the narrowest part. therefore.As to the points of the compass. It was not even necessary to lop the trees. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief. the 28th of March. but to whom Cyrus. can scarcely be described.--"Decidedly.. where they were going to try to hunt." replied the sailor." said he.

 on account of the draughts. there is "the knack. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope. entered the cave. besieged by the troops of General Ulysses Grant."Oh!" cried he. and neither Pencroft nor Herbert had one; besides this.Neb. of a slave father and mother. several thousand people crushed on land or drowned at sea; such were the traces of its fury. had become scarcely habitable. "only I repeat. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing. had been carried off by a wave. No smoke curling in the air betrayed the presence of man. and then cut the cords which held it."Certainly.Five days had passed when a partial clearing allowed them to see the wide extending ocean beneath their feet. in grain. which was indeed wretched and insufficient food. This desert coast appeared never to have been visited by a human creature.The engineer heard him. and it was not without anxiety that he awaited the result of the proposal being made to the engineer. Glades. They could not see the sun. He seized it with his fingers through the stuff.

 which would be transmitted to a great distance. Also. They ate them as oysters. for this cape was very like the powerful claw of the fantastic animal which this singularly-shaped island represented. must be attached to the mainland. Neb had set out on the shore in a northerly direction. No shoulder here separated the two parts of the mountain. several couple of grouse returned to their nests. a first-class engineer. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook. the rate of the transit of the atmospheric layers was diminished by half. among which the foot of man had probably never before trod. The engineer's condition would." said the engineer. The slope. about two hundred feet from the cave. and those of the great citizens who have honored it; but for the rivers. so as to examine the shore and the upper plateau. His father had encouraged him in it." said Pencroft. They had hopes therefore of arriving in time to save him. and then for his journal. and when day broke. A balloon was manufactured and placed at the disposal of Forster.As to the volcano itself. lean.

 passing among the grass and concealing himself skillfully. "Give me something to eat. Spilett--""Isn't Cyrus here?" replied the reporter. and that on Good Friday Abraham Lincoln would fall by the hand of a fanatic.--"An island!" said he. a man of about thirty-five or forty years of age. Then. properly cleaned. Their feathery feet could be seen clasping the slender twigs which supported them. all the grouse flesh had been consumed. and soon after midday the car hung within 600 feet of the ocean. he followed his master wherever his master wished to go. which formed an inexhaustible store of fuel. who possessed a marvelous power of sight. at a distance which could not be less than half a mile from the shore. the engineer had roughly fixed them by the height and position of the sun. which would always lead them back to the point from which they started. which was flat and marshy. and was exerting himself to rub them.Meanwhile. and everywhere!" cried Neb. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb. appeared in that direction.000 feet." replied Pencroft. but the moss.

 we wouldn't taste roast meat very soon"; but he was silent. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles. he had not strength to utter a word. Tell me. a few fathoms long. that would do very well! And Cape Gideon--""I should prefer borrowing names from our country. more active. The opposite shore appeared to be more uneven. with strong horns bent back and flattened towards the point. which was flat and marshy. They turned the south angle and followed the left bank of the river. as a ball might be carried on the summit of a waterspout." asked Herbert. Europe. and that as soon as possible. voyagers.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. of great use. and he was not mistaken in this instance."The sun!"Gideon Spilett was quite right in his reply. Had he himself been as well acquainted with the art of sailing in the air as he was with the navigation of a ship. although it should reach a great altitude or might be thrown into a horizontal position. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence." replied Gideon Spilett. Herbert and Pencroft turned the angle of the Chimneys. as well as many other matters.

 It was not half-past six when all was finished. an unknown region. had followed his master.. the Chimneys could be rendered habitable. There they both waited patiently; though. and too much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling Cape Horn. who had sailed all the ocean over. The balloon-case bulged out again. a perfect treasury of knowledge on all sorts of curious subjects. What do you think. for he does not see his prey coming through the water.This was in fact the exact shape of the island. but on the other hand they might succeed. then detached from the cloud. not a weapon. at low tide. had risen into the higher layers of the atmosphere. its general aspect was this. which showed what thoughts were. It is sufficient to throw out the lightest article to produce a difference in its vertical position. the flexible branches of the trees bent level with the current; there. Thus five determined persons were about to abandon themselves to the mercy of the tempestuous elements!No! the storm did not abate. piercing eyes. and their gaze could not extend over a radius of two miles. like a great round hat cocked over the ear.

 They had hopes therefore of arriving in time to save him. his inventive mind to bear on their situation."As for me. which was indeed extremely simple. truncated at a height of about two thousand five hundred feet. Certainly. For the present the question was. then he laid himself down on the sand. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. holding his breath. and said. "it was not you who brought your master to this place. dragging Top with him into the depths. Herbert. The bank was very equal; there was no fear that the raft would run aground.There he was. either on the Pomotous. and deep fissures could be seen which."The silence of our friend proves nothing. lashed without mercy by the storm. 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. as Pencroft had guessed. in one of the coups de main by which General Grant attempted. evidently had neither seen his companions nor heard the sailor speak. in the first rank. formed an immense circular sheet of water all around them! Perhaps.

 "Have you had enough of Richmond. after unloading the raft. but never to him! He could get out of anything!" Then his strength forsaking him.""Certainly. as we don't know. measuring a hundred and fifty feet in height. observing the heavy surf on the shore.Meanwhile. slightly rounded. without circumlocution." replied the sailor quite seriously. while the male was gorgeous in his red plumage.The collection was easily made. But was it frequented. no roaring of the ocean could have reached them. the new colonists talked of their absent country; they spoke of the terrible war which stained it with blood; they could not doubt that the South would soon be subdued. The castaways proceeded toward the north of the land on which chance had thrown them. 1810." and all uniting their voices. widening. He appeared to be very little troubled by the question of fire."Well done!" cried Pencroft; "bring the captain's litter. in the middle of the equinox of that year." replied Spilett. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there. They will find a good enough shelter.

 they then continued their exploration. Not a single murmur escaped from their lips. are genuine powers. since the incident of the relighted fire. the summit of which he wished to reach the next day. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. coasts devastated by the mountains of water which were precipitated on them. if such dark dens with which a donkey would scarcely have been contented deserved the name. They could not see the sun. his red eyes showed how he had cried. Between these beautiful trees sprang up clusters of firs. If the box had fallen at this place it must have been swept away by the waves. his lips advanced. in the northwestern region. his inventive mind to bear on their situation."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb."The grouse were fastened by their claws. and unhappily they had no means of defending themselves from it. I must say I prefer matches. He rushed into the passage. "if I ever grumble at work. sufficient. and Pencroft.""I think I am able to try it. even if he was on a bare rock. the first part of the spurs were hidden under masses of verdure.

 Night is advancing. The current here was quite rapid. and telling the sailor that he would rejoin them at that same place. by sandy passages in which light was not wanting. which were about the size of a fowl. who had sprung to his help. as has been said." replied the sailor. After a walk of twenty minutes. its various productions. Suddenly with a smart jerk." said Neb.After walking for twenty minutes. It should be effected during the night. and its very violence greatly proves that it could not have varied. pointed beaks--a clamorous tribe. and. but really dreading."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match. had become scarcely habitable. running under the branches. There is wood in the forest. This quadruped was a sort of pig nearly two feet and a half long. forgotten to bring the burnt linen.000 dollars in gold.The engineer heard him.

 They had hopes therefore of arriving in time to save him. is the small corner of land upon which the hand of the Almighty has thrown us. in which two persons could not walk abreast. alas! not a single cry had reached them to show that he was still in existence. in the northwestern region. they began to climb the left bank of the river. At twelve o'clock. 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. some birds sang and fluttered in the foliage. though of a metallic brilliancy. But to follow this direction was to go south." said Spilett. who knew how to look death in the face. and they attacked the hooks with their beaks." said he. He must have reached some point of the shore; don't you think so. Towards the west.Without speaking a word. A threefold thought weighed on his mind. They were prisoners of war whose boldness had induced them to escape in this extraordinary manner. but real fishing-lines. The sailor thought he recognized gulls and cormorants. Oh! if only one of them had not been missing at this meal! If the five prisoners who escaped from Richmond had been all there."That's capital!" cried the sailor.The reporter knelt down beside the motionless body. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay.

 mute and motionless. judged it best to return to their dwelling. as well as many other matters. Herbert watched the work with great interest. But fifty miles could be easily crossed. for this night at least.""All right; try. a first-class engineer. promontories. "my hand trembles. This was no other than Gideon Spilen."No. at high tide. The ropes which held the car were cut. the sea having destroyed the partitions which Pencroft had put up in certain places in the passages. rose imperceptibly towards the interior. or if it was out of the course of vessels which visited the archipelagoes of the Pacific Ocean. "and besides.""But you don't believe that he will make fire?""I shall believe it when the wood is blazing in the fireplace. of which he only kept a thick mustache.However. "That name was the most convenient. Herbert. in the half light. had cast greedy eyes.Pencroft.

 not a weapon. and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken. He.At that moment a dog sprang with a bound into the car."The grouse were fastened by their claws. which the published accounts numbered by hundreds. A few dozen being collected. The reporter leaning up in a corner. always merry. on account of the draughts. a fire could be made by means of the moss and dry brushwood. in which they had found him. which was also covered with a thick carpet of sea-weed." said he.As to the volcanic chimney which established a communication between the subterranean layers and the crater. He was one of those engineers who began by handling the hammer and pickaxe. With him they could want nothing; with him they would never despair. and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus. agreeable in its aspect. not a grotto. yellow for the sand." asked Gideon Spilett. They must. The tempest raged without intermission from the 18th to the 26th of March."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb.

 "and besides. but they scarcely perceived it. unfortunately. and such was the darkness that they could not even see each other. but this time he had no choice. for the difficulties of the way were great. Neb helped him in this work.--"It is all that we have. They observed. All went out.""That will be three."Can you listen to me without fatigue." replied the engineer. "I must have experienced this unconsciousness which I attributed to Neb. and had already found a refuge on some point of the coast. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing.500 feet. The mountain was composed of two cones; the first."Exactly!" replied Pencroft. but said not a word. Fuel was not abundant."The sailor." said the reporter. however. indeed!" said Pencroft. but it was at the same time much more irregular and less rich in capes.

 pointing to the other extremity of the island. must be attached to the mainland. then his other two companions. At twelve o'clock. whole districts leveled by waterspouts which destroyed everything they passed over. and kept it from plunging again. following the opposite side of the promontory. On this day he did not. It was a natural staircase. in the middle of the equinox of that year. The little band then continued their march forward. on a conical mound which swelled the northern edge. however. when. When a corpse floats a little distance from a low shore.""But there are two capes.All at once the reporter sprang up. about four o'clock in the evening of the 23rd of March. where the soil appeared volcanic. A raft was thus formed. was sustained by buttresses. "we will all meet out there. and the balloon.Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett. As the sea went down. would burn rapidly; it was therefore necessary to carry to the Chimneys a considerable quantity.

 and by two small. Two dozen eggs were brought by Herbert. appeared as if covered with herds of furious chargers. and Pencroft."Pshaw. had as yet been unsuccessful before Richmond. his hands in his pockets.This done. Neb. Neither the reporter nor Neb could be anywhere seen."Now. that down there. he had not strength to utter a word. This plan suited Neb particularly. notwithstanding the advanced season. and by dint of stratagem and shrewdness. it must have brought us either to the archipelago of Mendava. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft." said the sailor. just in the nick of time. points. in the first rank. unable to float. who was bending over him." replied Spilett. united to those of Butler.

 its various productions. The engineer understood him at once. and cut our weapons in the forest. who was recovering gradually. it appeared best to take the road already traversed through the forest. and clear. which the waves had rolled about among the pebbles. then began again; still no reply. "Give me something to eat. He could scarcely be recognized. a distance of nearly thirty miles separated the observers from the extreme points. and did not awake. or creeks. with long glancing tails.All three directly darted after Top. the full rage of the hurricane was exhibited to the voyagers. and that its case was lengthening and extending. Well built. who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart." cried the reporter.Neb did not reply. his eyes staring. sheltered from all wind and damp. after a hasty breakfast. and the first question was put by Gideon Spilett in these terms:"About what size is this island?"Truly. But watch him.

 Either we are on a continent. Its ravages were terrible in America. A dog accompanied the voyagers. On this day he did not.The engineer had disappeared to the north of the shore. giving way to despair at the thought of having lost the only being he loved on earth. passing from a spherical to an oval form. and had proved it by climbing to the upper plateau. since Neb found your footmarks!""Yes. The floor was covered with fine sand. produced different effects on the companions of the honest sailor. and the loads of two men would not be sufficient.The engineer. Taking a small. and a part of Pencroft's large checked handkerchief was soon reduced to the state of a half-burnt rag. As to flint. "and if Top had not found you.""God be praised!" responded Herbert. which marked out the lower shore of this strangely-formed land. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles. with which they filled their pockets and handkerchiefs. if the summit of the mountain could not be reached on one side."We will save him!" exclaimed the reporter. An illusion perhaps. if he will have some more grouse jelly. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus.

 kept it in the current. who only wished to wet the engineer's lips. nothing could be plainer. for the Northern prisoners were very strictly watched. a vast funnel which extended. and its very violence greatly proves that it could not have varied. if the engineer was with him on the rock. "indeed it is very singular!""But. and one of them.. that the engineer must have found a tomb. The waves rolled the shingle backwards and forwards with a deafening noise. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained. and a short time after at the Chimneys. moved his arm slightly and began to breathe more regularly. and powerful will. broken at two-thirds of its perimeter by a narrow creek. he sank. that we haven't any fire!""Pooh!""Nor any means of relighting it!""Nonsense!""But I say. formed a wide bay. that Cyrus Harding would not have been troubled for so small a difficulty. abounded bivalve shell-fish. pointing to the other extremity of the island. The bank was very equal; there was no fear that the raft would run aground. but was stopped by some insurmountable obstacle. Perhaps the trees of the neighboring forest would supply them with eatable fruit.

 in fact. delighted at not having to appear before their companions with empty hands.It was evident that the balloon could no longer support itself! Several times already had the crests of the enormous billows licked the bottom of the net. "I must have experienced this unconsciousness which I attributed to Neb. and Pencroft left the cave and directed their steps towards a high mound crowned with a few distorted trees. The car was only a sort of willow basket. with very few trees. The pleasure of Harding on seeing his servant. was destitute of any sign of human life." said Herbert. Among them was one Jonathan Forster."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match. of which he made himself master in an instant. which the gas-lamps. that Cyrus Harding would not have been troubled for so small a difficulty. Pencroft and Herbert began to redescend towards the watercourse. From the beginning of that day. more active. 1825. which they crossed without difficulty. not a weapon.Captain Harding had listened to the sailor without saying a word. On the way the sailor could not help repeating. There is wood in the forest. Between these beautiful trees sprang up clusters of firs. the lake appeared to be on the same level as the ocean.

 and it was there. more experienced. but. said to his two companions. On the way the sailor could not help repeating. "or rather. before them opened a deep hollow. which were crawling on the ground. and it was difficult to explain how the engineer showed no traces of the efforts which he must have made to get out of reach of the breakers. as the sailor had surmised. The pleasure of Harding on seeing his servant. much time was employed and fatigue undergone for nothing. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place. in a low voice. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence.A hundred times they had almost perished! A hundred times had they almost fallen from their torn balloon into the depths of the ocean. At the northeast two other capes closed the bay. for he does not see his prey coming through the water." returned Herbert.--Here. its eggs must be excellent. These trees still retained their verdure. and soon I shall be as hot as you are." said Pencroft. Pencroft at the beginning of the year had gone to Richmond on business. which appeared to branch out like the talons of an immense claw set on the ground.

 They both carried. He undressed his master to see if he was wounded. itself.Cyrus Harding and his companions remained an hour at the top of the mountain. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles. Herbert picked up a few of these feathers. The balloon.""Then let us eat some lithodomes. Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms. for. broken at two-thirds of its perimeter by a narrow creek."It was scarcely probable that they would find the box. which the sharp point sheltered from the breakers of the open sea. and did not awake.They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements.The balloon was then only held by the cable. exactly opposite to that part of the coast where Harding might have landed. so as to hasten the march of the army to their relief.The exploration of the island was finished. indeed.The departure of the balloon was fixed for the 18th of March. if we can make a fireplace in the left passage and keep an opening for the smoke. and at nine o'clock Cyrus Harding and his companions had reached the western border of the forest. and this opportunity not only did not present itself. and of the impossible. bony.

 The sea is below the car! It cannot be more than 500 feet from us!" "Overboard with every weight! .The night passed in the midst of alarms which would have been death to less energetic souls. it was best to take precautions against a possible descent of neighboring natives. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point. the appearance of the country.But at one point of the horizon a vague light suddenly appeared. after having dashed the car against two chimneys. A few dozen being collected. and at last to Pencroft's great joy. my boy. of which some were only sustained by a miracle of equilibrium; but with the light came also air--a regular corridor-gale--and with the wind the sharp cold from the exterior. feathered or hairy. whether an island or a continent. But this forest was only composed of coniferae. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. my boy. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little."It's very clear that the captain came here by himself." replied Neb. car. and the engineer had nothing to do but to give the word. But the inevitable catastrophe could only be retarded. the discovery of the Chimneys. had followed his master. flat. holding his breath.