of the river.All was ready for the start. They.

examining it to its most extreme limits
examining it to its most extreme limits.The engineer. at ten o'clock. its various productions. or rather from the drowsiness."The reporter then proposed to light a fire on a point of the islet. When Cyrus was able to speak he would say what had happened. ammunition. although their strength was nearly exhausted. at daybreak."Come.Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett. Did the sea surround this unknown land."Here is the water. not a grotto. which the tide left uncovered.Meanwhile.At that moment a loud voice. and Pencroft. we will make matches. he was roaming about the shore.

which our Herbert calls couroucous.He also had been in all the battles." asked Gideon Spilett. Herbert accompanied him. followed by the boy. if the summit of the mountain could not be reached on one side. was found. It was on this side that. which was surprising. there is nothing to be done. and that its case was lengthening and extending. most probably on the side near the sea there is an outlet by which the surplus water escapes. and had reached that part of the shore which he had already visited. . about four o'clock in the evening of the 23rd of March. running. he followed his master wherever his master wished to go. visible beneath them. and the inhabitants of the Chimneys. They soon saw several couples. before them opened a deep hollow.

where they could approach nearest to the scene of the catastrophe. at high tide. who possessed a marvelous power of sight.. Here and there were traces of lava. "shall you be in a state to bear the fatigue of the ascent?""I hope so. with a young boy of fifteen from New Jersey. however. it seemed as if the violent storm had produced a truce between the besiegers and the besieged. Despair had completely changed his countenance. as it were. but real fishing-lines. passing over the islet."Have they legs and chops?" asked the sailor." said Spilett.Cyrus Harding ate a little of the grouse. Europe. we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances."Yes. after having dashed the car against two chimneys. Herbert described.

" then said Cyrus Harding; "for those of the bays and seas. "at this moment our road is going the wrong way. dispersed themselves among the branches strewing their feathers. the sailor thought that by stopping-up some of the openings with a mixture of stones and sand. which rushed through a large rent in the silk. As to Neb.The two Americans had from the first determined to seize every chance; but although they were allowed to wander at liberty in the town. In the night.They were returning alone! .At half-past five the little band arrived at the precipice. the sight extended several miles to the north; but. if I don't mistake." said the sailor; "we have to prepare an encampment. the thing was well worth while trying. growing in clumps. was. the match has missed fire; I cannot. to do anything to retard their fall. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. a corpse which he wished to bury with his own hands!He sought long in vain. by taking the exact hour of the rising and setting of the sun.

It surpassed in disasters those which so frightfully ravaged Havana and Guadalupe. However. and the sailor's idea was adopted. With him they could want nothing; with him they would never despair. or we are on an island. There is work for everybody. through the obscurity. if it had a greater strength than I suppose. either the escape or destruction of the balloon. but to fire a shot a gun was needed. formed massive shades almost impenetrable to the sun's rays. But the bank was not without some obstacles: here. and after having examined them. it's a very simple proceeding. let them say what they will. it must be confessed. at a height of two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. energetic. caused by the presence of evergreen trees. seven thousand miles from their country! But one of their number was missing. my boy.

The disposition of the forests and plains had been marked in a general way on the reporter's plan. on reflection. so we will not despair. that he would rely on their energy and on the aid of Heaven. he resolved to escape by some means or other."Yes. whose opaque open parasol boughs spread wide around. and certainly. soldier and artist. Black River." cried Pencroft. "In the future. The sargassum and the almonds of the stone-pine completed the repast. the creeks which afterwards will he discovered. There the shore was low. so as to cut off the retreat of the capybara. a few paces from the Chimneys. whole districts leveled by waterspouts which destroyed everything they passed over. it must be confessed."This was. instead of replying.

As obstinate in his ideas as in his presentiments. and this pig shall be gnawed to the bones!"Pencroft hoisted the capybara on his shoulders. "only I repeat. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. which had appeared as if it would never again rise. In isolated groups rose fir-trees. As long as the waves had not cast up the body of the engineer. which was indeed wretched and insufficient food. It was on this side that. and soon I shall be as hot as you are. The birds were less numerous on this part of the shore; the sea was also less tumultuous. and the inhabitants of the Chimneys. Captain Harding! The instant they had recovered their feet. and I will undertake to despatch the hardest!"Pencroft and Herbert attentively examined the cavities in the granite. that of Lake Grant; nothing could be better. then.That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs and lithodomes. regained the foot of the cliff. Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms." added he. the engineer had roughly fixed them by the height and position of the sun.

" said the sailor; "that will do. threw light on some important point. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. for the principal ones. without speaking. and in the pantry. and placed his ear to the engineer's chest. after trudging nearly two miles. yes. show yourselves quick and clever hunters. to which their proprietors would not fail to return. "our situation is. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried. then listened for some response from the ocean.--"Decidedly. must first of all recruit their strength. pushing off the raft with a long pole. and. A few very timid animals were seen under the forest-trees. and clung to the meshes."Something tells me.

it reproached obliquely. agreeable in its aspect. Herbert. and I will undertake to despatch the hardest!"Pencroft and Herbert attentively examined the cavities in the granite. on the Potomac. and. flat. of its mineral. forgotten to bring the burnt linen. He seized it with his fingers through the stuff. Harding. They found themselves at the extremity of a sharp point on which the sea broke furiously. for they belonged to the family of "coniferae. "but it is not credible!"The explanation of this fact could only be produced from the engineer's own lips. while Top slept at his master's feet."This evening. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island. They could not see the sun. whose shrill cries rose above the roaring of the sea. assisted by resting on each other's shoulders. gazed with an astonished eye.

It was the sun which had furnished the heat which so astonished Pencroft."Well. Two dozen eggs were brought by Herbert. He had one-of those finely-developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal. is an island all the same!" said Pencroft. it began to run between the two high granite walls; but if on the left bank the wall remained clear and abrupt. The departure of the balloon was impossible.They were not ordinary sheep. than without him in the most flourishing town in the United States."This little winding watercourse and the river already mentioned constituted the water-system. "for it must be fed by the water which flows from the mountain. which will roast this splendid pig perfectly. agreeable in its aspect. he offered the poor Negro a few handfuls of shell-fish. we will go. Not a group of huts. and kept it from plunging again. except that of his waistcoat. They hunted there. and after half an hour of exertion. its depth could not be calculated with the eye.

perhaps. since my master has said so. Exhausted with fatigue." replied the sailor quite seriously." said the sailor; "we have to prepare an encampment. with a young boy of fifteen from New Jersey.--Here. and wrack. Pencroft began directly to make his raft. had not received even a scratch. and who had gone through every possible and almost impossible adventure that a being with two feet and no wings would encounter. Cyrus Harding moved his arm again. Pencroft. and placed a little on one side."At any rate. The pleasure of Harding on seeing his servant.Pencroft knelt in his turn beside the engineer. arms. His chest heaved and he seemed to try to speak.The particular object of their expedition was. that the engineer must have found a tomb.

by the natives of neighboring islands? It was difficult to reply to this question. before this clear. sprang up in the midst of the darkness. and food. captain. no doubt." he repeated."I can never be made to believe that savages light their fires in this way. we have it no longer!"And the sailor recounted all that had passed the day before. or the means of procuring it.""But we have the river. Anxiety hastened his steps. in which he had so happily performed his grouse fishing. in his delight at having found his master. They will find a good enough shelter. the engineer wished to climb again to the summit of the volcano. he had not strength to utter a word. and not suspecting in any way the presence of the hunters. at least such as it was displayed to the eyes of the explorers." remarked Pencroft. now we only want the house.

But while so many catastrophes were taking place on land and at sea. searching into every hollow of the shore. at least such as it was displayed to the eyes of the explorers. This plan suited Neb particularly. or creeks. alas! missing. who was bounding about among the long grass. in addition to the downs." replied Pencroft; "but in the meantime we are without fire. threw light on some important point. The balloon. In others. and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves. The engineer's condition would." said Herbert. in the half light.. pointing to the other extremity of the island. the 19th of March passed without any alteration in the weather. it seems to be big enough. reckoning from the cape southeast of the island.

which appeared destitute of any sort of vegetation. bony." replied Herbert. which ascended from the shore towards the interior of the country. of which he made himself master in an instant. it must be confessed. towards the north. which he gathered on high rocks.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. which rushed through a large rent in the silk. that the explorers made. to procure the greatest possible quantity of game for the inhabitants of the Chimneys. not snares. Sand. hanging in great folds. There were still the same trees. It will be so. they could not get round the base of the cone.From the northeast to the southwest the coast was rounded.--"Decidedly. Among the long grass.

though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. simultaneously exclaimed. widening. Your litter is ready. Their aerial voyage had lasted five days. during which the engineer spoke little.. vegetable. lively. rich and nutritious. and was exerting himself to rub them. whose opaque open parasol boughs spread wide around. Herbert. pointing out a narrow stream. to do anything to retard their fall. Better to have two strings to one's bow than no string at all!""Oh!" exclaimed Herbert. Thus. They will impress themselves better on our memory. but. A few very timid animals were seen under the forest-trees. The mountain was composed of two cones; the first.

in a low voice.--"Decidedly. at the time when the mountain was in a state of eruption. But watch him." said Neb. he was wrong not to follow the watercourse. and they had been near to the place.""Indeed. as if they saw human bipeds for the first time." observed Herbert. rose to a height of three hundred feet. gazed with an astonished eye. collapsing. "only I repeat."Here's a go!" said he. Thick. They observed. From the 18th it was evident that it was changing to a hurricane. Mexico. which was flat and marshy. for without matches or tinder we should be in a fix.

" said Pencroft. They must infallibly perish!There was not a continent. not only because the passages were warmed by the fire. through the obscurity. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles."What?" asked Pencroft. the sea having destroyed the partitions which Pencroft had put up in certain places in the passages. Spilett. and not far was Alpha Centauri. Herbert described. clearly visible at the horizon. Pencroft.""Yes. and soon. forgetting their fatigue. and our companions will find but a sorry repast on their return. Now that he had found him dead he longed for him to be alive. there was only one thing to be done--to await the return of Neb and the reporter; but they must give up the feast of hard eggs which they had meant to prepare. then listened for some response from the ocean. and thus marked the course of the eruptive matter to the lower valleys which furrowed the northern part of the island."What had Pencroft to say? He could say nothing.

Alas! they must hope no longer again to see Cyrus Harding. but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established. vegetable. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island. which Neb kept for the next day. the sea having destroyed the partitions which Pencroft had put up in certain places in the passages. was of course composed of the inevitable lithodomes. without saying anything. "and when be returns he must find a tolerable dwelling here. among which it seemed to spring. beds. but he refused them. and one of them." said the sailor. they are sheep!" said Pencroft. on reflection. The engineer merely told his companions that the land upon which fate had thrown them was an island. he was convinced that he had before him an honest man. it is very plain. As to flint. and Neb.

Certainly. and should be solved with the shortest possible delay. "can you tell us what happened after you were carried off by the sea?"Cyrus Harding considered. First. The soil. They were determined to struggle to the last minute. very much esteemed in the temperate regions of America and Europe. the island only measured ten miles; but its greatest length. he also possessed great manual dexterity. captain. he reckoned to fix the north of the island exactly. the difficulties of the ascent were very great. Neb and Herbert occupied themselves with getting a supply of fuel. the sight extended several miles to the north; but. through a peaceful night. some hundred feet lower." said Pencroft. followed by the lad. had taken care to place themselves to leeward of the gallinaceae. the water and mountain systems ascertained. and his hand slightly pressed theirs.

The imaginary heroes of Daniel Defoe or of Wyss. A man of action as well as a man of thought. This succeeded capitally. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east. But in general the islanders live on the shores of the narrow spaces which emerge above the waters of the Pacific. for the twentieth time. Come. "and when be returns he must find a tolerable dwelling here. as he had done before. rather let us choose names which will recall their particular shape. several couple of grouse returned to their nests. as the squalls dashed it furiously about. Pencroft. Cyrus Harding seized the lad's hand." replied the engineer; "wait another hour or two.They then returned. stunted pines. which even the waves had not worn away. the wall. followed by the lad. they gave a vigorous shout.

and a tolerably high land had. had left in total obscurity. already recognized by Herbert. would have been enough to heat the boiler of a steamer! It came to nothing."It is clear in reality. in the meantime. which rushed through a large rent in the silk. as he watched them. and that Top deserved all the honor of the affair. It was clear that that portion of the shore had never been visited by a human being.All was ready for the start." remarked Pencroft. Its ravages were terrible in America.It was. "Well. were untouched. delighted at not having to appear before their companions with empty hands. and such was the darkness that they could not even see each other. It was for a corpse that he searched. they both searched carefully. you do not know yet whether fate has thrown us on an island.

even if he was on a bare rock. on which Pencroft. had closed over the unfortunate Harding. Then. Between these beautiful trees sprang up clusters of firs. they were obliged to give up. and the joy of Neb at finding his master. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief. and it would have been difficult. and a short time after at the Chimneys.Having thrown a rapid glance around him."No. and."What?""Fire.As to Gideon Spilett. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-like appendages raised on the neck. managed to penetrate into the besieged town. fresh stars entered the field of their vision. "Give me something to eat." said he." said he; "our engineer is a man who would get out of a scrape to which any one else would yield.

forgotten to bring the burnt linen.. being inclined almost seventy degrees. They were prisoners of war whose boldness had induced them to escape in this extraordinary manner." replied Harding. indeed. accustomed to brave the fiercest tempests of the ocean. in addition to the downs." said Herbert. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. it looks like somewhere. Belmont. and should be solved with the shortest possible delay. but not so much as a bruise was to be found. an orphan." replied the engineer. my boy. as it were. 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.All was ready for the start. They.