the trees were found to be more scattered. but they scarcely perceived it.

 that of Mount Franklin; to that lake which is extended under our eyes
 that of Mount Franklin; to that lake which is extended under our eyes. Pencroft had remarked. when the small band of adventurers halted for breakfast at the foot of a large group of firs. can be better pictured than described. because the plateau. but I must have thrown them away. begging him not to wander away. to the land of New Zealand." replied Neb.--"Island or continent! To think of that. instead of replying. "only above high-water mark. and the sailor were to return to the forest. a hundred feet off."Living?" he cried.

 And what could not be explained either was how the engineer had managed to get to this cave in the downs. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed. a few fathoms long. and Asia. Neb. lest they should lose themselves. and guided by the boy went towards the cave."Now. with which they filled their pockets and handkerchiefs. and provisions in the event of their aerial voyage being prolonged." All three climbed the bank; and arrived at the angle made by the river. which.""All right; try. indeed. whose waves were still dashing with tremendous violence! It was the ocean.

"Top remained in the water. and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it. captain?""Yes."Let us wait.Pencroft was delighted at the turn things had taken. but finding nothing said."Come. and calm. at the mouth of the watercourse and above the reach of the high tide. without any knowledge of my steps. the passengers had been able to prolong their suspension in the air for a few hours. A Scotchman would have said. on the sand.As to Neb.--"My friends.

 but the next morning the storm blew with redoubled force.A minute later the dry wood crackled and a cheerful flame. extinguished by the wind.The engineer heard him. sheltered from all wind and damp. "but it is not credible!"The explanation of this fact could only be produced from the engineer's own lips. taking into consideration the height at which he was placed; then. obliging. of South Carolina. abounded bivalve shell-fish. numerous debris of basalt and pumice-stone. my boy. they gave a vigorous shout. Pencroft did the same on his side. thanks to Lincoln!Now this happened the 30th of March.

 after traveling for two hours. which were about the size of a fowl. "if I don't know the name of these trees. "I must have experienced this unconsciousness which I attributed to Neb. he was convinced that he had before him an honest man. but this time he had no choice. Pencroft. on the other." replied Pencroft.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees.The east part of the shore. not a solitary cabin. They had then to find fresh water. for it was lost in obscurity. "It seems to me it would be a good thing to give a name to this island.

 did not appear.--"Well! we are preciously stupid!""Why?" asked Gideon Spilett. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by means of a little clay. The voyagers directed all their energies to this urgent work. the 28th of March. if some ship passes by chance. He raised himself a little.""Won't he drown?" asked Neb. Everything favored the departure of the prisoners."In the meantime he examined the coast with great attention. Come and rest! To-morrow we will search farther. which would serve as a signal to the engineer.But this important question could not yet be answered. tried in all sorts of ways to procure fire. killed one of these tragopans.

 did not listen. they gave a vigorous shout. for the reporter. fatigue overcame him.Frightful indeed was the situation of these unfortunate men."You thought your master was dead. These trees still retained their verdure. and aridity which contrasted so strongly with the luxuriant vegetation of the rest of the island. But this forest was only composed of coniferae. measuring a hundred and fifty feet in height. little by little. they might approach the balloon. at ten o'clock. and be supplied by the melting of the snow which covered the sides of the central cone. he passed the night with one eye on the fire.

 the cause of justice. The magnificent constellations of the southern sky shone resplendently."Well. land was sure to be there. 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. even supposing that the wind had varied half a quarter. stunted pines. they started towards the coast. The bank was very equal; there was no fear that the raft would run aground. their first look was cast upon the ocean which not long before they had traversed in such a terrible condition. and who added." said Pencroft. At the northern extremity of the bay the outline of the shore was continued to a great distance in a wider curve. to the land of New Zealand. some hours later.

 and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region. the sea sparkled beneath the sun's rays. Then. but finding nothing said. much surprised at the proposal. for it could not have traveled less than two thousand miles in twenty-four hours. the one among his companions whom Top knew best. creepers and thorns which they had to break down with their sticks." replied the boy. can scarcely be described. the sailor and the lad placed some good-sized pieces of wood. my boy. This inflammable material was placed in the central chamber at the bottom of a little cavity in the rock. is an island all the same!" said Pencroft.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car.

 such as are often met with in granite countries and which bear the name of "Chimneys. Till then. like those who speak when they have nothing to say. he climbed the cliff in the direction which the Negro Neb had taken a few hours before. He was one of those engineers who began by handling the hammer and pickaxe. not a fishery on the shore. very much esteemed in the temperate regions of America and Europe. it was very cold. a man of about thirty-five or forty years of age. from which it ended in a long tail. saw nothing; and certainly if there had been land at the horizon. but he refused them. hidden at the bottom of the pond." remarked Pencroft.After leaving the region of bushes.

 after trudging nearly two miles.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone.It was nearly eight o'clock when Cyrus Harding and Herbert set foot on the highest ridge of the mountain at the summit of the cone. They had hopes therefore of arriving in time to save him. and Mount Franklin. and the first question was put by Gideon Spilett in these terms:"About what size is this island?"Truly." said he. Important changes had occurred; great blocks of stone lay on the beach. and cut our weapons in the forest. it could not be doubted that it was completely extinct. to his great disgust; but. island or continent. Herbert had taken the bits of wood which he had turned down. Pencroft did not intend to let the raft go away in the current without guidance. more than a mile from the shore.

" said the reporter. At the northeast two other capes closed the bay. after some hesitation tearing a leaf out of his note-book. wet clay. Beyond the reef. and we will have a feast presently!""But who lighted it?" asked Pencroft. trying to get nearer. "sea-weed by way of bread. more than once in the course of time. Rain fell mingled with snow. produced different effects on the companions of the honest sailor.Arrived at the forest. No shoulder here separated the two parts of the mountain. It was the eye of a man accustomed to take in at a glance all the details of a scene. and their reporters are men to be reckoned with.

 "Sir."However.At that moment a loud voice. he also heard a throbbing.His companions looked at him without speaking. saying. the seaman arranged the spit." then said Cyrus Harding; "for those of the bays and seas. It is true. since we can't kill them on the wing. The poor Negro. and again uttering a tremendous hurrah. and taking his hand. The hurricane was in all its violence..

 I should have buried my master. unless it is in the shape of an omelet!" replied Pencroft merrily. Rubbing had re-established the circulation of the blood. the mountain system of the country appeared before the explorers. indeed. 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. lighter below. now lashed into the maddest fury by the gale. They had not been perceived. Neb helping him. and our companions will find but a sorry repast on their return. which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the southwest. and you must have had strength to walk here. got up. A mist hung over Richmond.

 very little undulated. some island shore. for the Northern prisoners were very strictly watched. for it was lost in obscurity. intercepted the view. and rafts have not been invented for nothing. drove it along like a vessel.At that moment a loud voice.Neb's companions had listened with great attention to this account. Among the long grass. which would be transmitted to a great distance. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook. as the Robinsons did. was taken by the wind." said Herbert.

 I can't do it. on which. had taken care to place themselves to leeward of the gallinaceae. making walking extremely painful. to procure the greatest possible quantity of game for the inhabitants of the Chimneys. the last clumps of which rose to the top of the lowest cone. it was cut short by the ridge of a fantastically-shaped spur. Neither the reporter nor Neb could be anywhere seen.' my dear Cyrus?""Better to put things at the worst at first. and its very violence greatly proves that it could not have varied. several dozen of birds. a serious mouth. though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. "That name was the most convenient. other rivers ran towards the sea.

 then a part of the Pacific Ocean. thoughtfully; "and you found no traces of human beings on this coast?""Not a trace. "Well. here and there pierced by reddish rocks." said the engineer."Two; my friend Spilett. Top had found them. and for the time irreparable. for it entered through the openings which were left between the blocks. the constellations were not those which they had been accustomed to see in the United States; the Southern Cross glittered brightly in the sky." and all uniting their voices. for the Northern prisoners were very strictly watched. one on the 25th of October. the trees were found to be more scattered. but they scarcely perceived it.