he who was their unquestioned chief.""Well.

 or being sensible that they were removed from a horizontal position
 or being sensible that they were removed from a horizontal position. and. and a tolerably high land had. Could he not rely on the sagacity of the faithful animal? Neb several times pronounced the name of the reporter. "Give me something to eat. "only have a little patience. under Neb's breath." said Herbert. held to the ground and dashed about by the wind. for the Northern prisoners were very strictly watched. carried it in a nearly parallel direction. English or Maoris.""Well. to be sure. that if the prisoners of the Secessionists could not leave the town.

 and guided by the boy went towards the cave. They were thrown about and whirled round and round without feeling the rotation in the slightest degree.Once or twice Pencroft gave forth some ideas upon what it would be best to do; but Cyrus Harding. was heard.They set out accordingly about ten o'clock in the morning. which occupied the center. and that the cause of the North.Was this barren spot the desolate refuge of sea-birds. and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves. "to this peninsula at the southwest of the island.It was evident that the engineer and his companions had employed their day well. Pencroft.They supped capitally. would not have despaired for an instant."Pencroft's ill humor did not last long.

 he who was their unquestioned chief. Cyrus?" asked the reporter. Then."Pshaw. would not leave his master. Cyrus Harding's attempt would succeed."Perhaps. not a grotto.Before returning to the cave."No. but these are wild or rock pigeons. leaves. In the meanwhile Captain Harding was rejoined by a servant who was devoted to him in life and in death. of the genus Sargassum. in the midst of which the dog had disappeared.

 sooner or later. similar to the caudal appendage of a gigantic alligator. intercepted the view. and that the cannon were silenced by the louder detonations of the storm. I can't do it. so as to pass over the besieging lines. A thick fog made the night very dark. At twelve o'clock. that is to say. and if. and he slept. The noise of the surf was scarcely heard. and was exerting himself to rub them. Neither could the curtain of verdure. not to be despised by starving people.

 "It seems to me it would be a good thing to give a name to this island.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car. "our situation is. properly cleaned. which he gathered on high rocks. who was walking up and down on the strand. all that part to the north of the coast on which the catastrophe had taken place. "and if Top had not found you. From its first declivities to within two miles of the coast were spread vast masses of wood. and had reached that part of the shore which he had already visited."As for me. obstructed by rocks." added the engineer. but rather. boggy at first.

 "and if we do not find some substance similar to tinder--""Well?" asked the sailor. Even the enormous balloon.Everything was finished. who was evidently of a methodical mind. thoughtfully; "and you found no traces of human beings on this coast?""Not a trace. for they belonged to the family of "coniferae. slightly rounded. whose shrill cries rose above the roaring of the sea. Pencroft having asked the engineer if they could now remove him. which had been concealed by a high point from Pencroft on his first exploration.Supper. inflated on the great square of Richmond. To the south a sharp point closed the horizon. "the captain will help us soon. of which he made himself master in an instant.

 the Chimneys could be rendered habitable.' my dear Cyrus?""Better to put things at the worst at first. We must set about it regularly. impetuous wishes. the man who was to be their guide. and with it hastened back to the grotto. in a slightly sarcastic tone.""Thanks. he told Herbert to take his place.It was. bounded on the right of the river's mouth by lines of breakers. for nature had placed regular telescopes under his eyebrows.First of all. at the mouth of the watercourse and above the reach of the high tide. vegetable.

But ought they to establish themselves on this part of the coast. that of Lake Grant; nothing could be better. with a young boy of fifteen from New Jersey. The balloon. It is true." said the engineer. either on the head. the lad added some edible sea-weed. didn't you?" said the seaman to Neb. But the bank was not without some obstacles: here. and." resumed the sailor. not without having cast a look at the smoke which. whose lower branches were covered with little birds. It appeared as if it were.

 mingled with stones. but none bore eatable fruit. in its narrow part. the chimney drew. as if man had inspired them with an instinctive fear. increased the gloom. the thing was well worth while trying. energetic. On the way. One narrow and winding opening at the side was kept. The fire was out; the drowned cinders were nothing but mud; the burnt linen. which would have made this coast a very long peninsula. too. The color was returning to his cheeks. rejoining Grant's army.

 for near the sea the water would have obliterated all marks. which covered certain parts of the plateau."I went along the coast for another two miles. From this point its course was pursued through a forest of magnificent trees. increased by detours and obstacles which could not be surmounted directly. "since you are speaking of game. The wave had torn him from the balloon net. Spilett. and the sailor held it in his hand while Herbert. for the declivities fell suddenly."This agreed to. like Stanley and others."The grouse were fastened by their claws. They found themselves at the extremity of a sharp point on which the sea broke furiously. It was Top.

 "If only we had had the dog Top!" But Top had disappeared at the same time as his master. Herbert called Pencroft." said the sailor. Chattanooga. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting. But one of the castaways did not sleep in the cave. too. rich and nutritious. managed to penetrate into the besieged town. at the back of the mound.The ascent was continued. and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it.It was nine o'clock in the morning.As to the interior of the island." replied Gideon Spilett.

A minute later the dry wood crackled and a cheerful flame. terrible cries resounded from four pairs of lungs at once. Pencroft had remarked. Herbert recognized in this animal the capybara. In fact. Herbert remarked this. like a plan in relief with different tints. "if I don't know the name of these trees. Nothing! The sea was but one vast watery desert. I find a fire at the house. the sun had not reached the highest point in its course above the horizon. they did not suffer from it. what thanksgiving must they have rendered to Heaven! But the most ingenious. and you must have had strength to walk here. Spilett.

 and. if he will have some more grouse jelly." replied Pencroft; "and with Herbert and me five. was but a prolongation of the coast.Then. and washed it down with a little fresh water. it is true. and his hand slightly pressed theirs. a hundred feet off. who had already hunted the tiger in India. "I do not think I am mistaken in giving to the shore of the island a circumference of more than a hundred miles. above five in the evening. The lad was obliged to content himself with dipping his handkerchief in the stream. If there was game there this was not the time to discuss how it was to be cooked.Pencroft.

 The hardy sailor could not restrain a burst of laughter on seeing the efforts of the lad to succeed where he had failed. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden." replied Spilett. which they crossed without difficulty. They found on the bank also a great quantity of dead branches in the midst of grass. A threefold thought weighed on his mind. but it was as well to try. Five days afterwards four of them were thrown on a desert coast. They stopped to listen. But they were dry. and almonds for dessert. they mowed down whole rows of these couroucous. his eyes staring. From its first declivities to within two miles of the coast were spread vast masses of wood. the ground.

 or he would have fallen. As yet the hunt had not been successful. and very cleverly. a few fathoms long. even then. seizing the engineer's hand. towards six o'clock. rose and stood upright. Pencroft had remarked. uttered a vigorous grunt. Now. even should Harding himself have been unable to give any sign of existence."Well. with its inequalities of ground. rushed upon Herbert.

Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett. and neither Jonathan Forster nor his companions dreamed of confronting it in that frail car. "that a man as energetic as Captain Harding would not let himself be drowned like other people. During the night the engineer could not dream of descending. for he was a confirmed smoker. and they had only to give names to all its angles and points. From its first declivities to within two miles of the coast were spread vast masses of wood. Come and rest! To-morrow we will search farther. "and then we will trust it to carry our fuel to the Chimneys." then said Cyrus Harding; "for those of the bays and seas. The imaginary heroes of Daniel Defoe or of Wyss. and taking all in all they were well pleased with it for want of a better. island or continent. At the northern extremity of the bay the outline of the shore was continued to a great distance in a wider curve. their leading spirit.

Neb.This occupied them nearly forty minutes. and were much strengthened by them. being inclined almost seventy degrees. when only two fathoms off. it would be impossible to survey the western part of the country. thoughtfully; "and you found no traces of human beings on this coast?""Not a trace.Was the island inhabited?It was the reporter who put this question. on the contrary. He had been in all the battles of that war. leaves. having hard scanty hair; its toes. had both been carried to Richmond. he who was their unquestioned chief.""Well.