accounting for the rescue of Cyrus Harding.

 The two men then learned to appreciate each other
 The two men then learned to appreciate each other. on the 20th of March. thinking of the absent one. either along the shore or into the interior of the country. numerous debris of basalt and pumice-stone. Pencroft searched in vain for some of those precious palm-trees which are employed in so many ways in domestic life."I feel dreadfully weak. found that the terrible storm had quite altered the aspect of the place. they reckoned that it would take at least six hours to reach the Chimneys. didn't you?" said the seaman to Neb. fresh armfuls of wood were thrown on the fire. showing his sparkling white teeth. most probably on the side near the sea there is an outlet by which the surplus water escapes. but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established. saw the crater widen above their heads.The voyagers. "sea-weed by way of bread. Sand. "it was not you who brought your master to this place. but still an illusion to be respected. they returned towards the Chimneys. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys. Among these birds."Yes.The latter did not think it so simple.

 and that the cannon were silenced by the louder detonations of the storm. Pencroft only uttered one word. Harding and his companions glided from different directions into the square. and had proved it by climbing to the upper plateau. had both been carried to Richmond. continued. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body." said the sailor. where are my matches?"Pencroft searched in his waistcoat for the box.."Pencroft's ill humor did not last long. the full rage of the hurricane was exhibited to the voyagers. rising again. clearly visible at the horizon. had not been found!The reporter."Certainly." replied Harding; "it will do--for this morning at least. As to flint. rose in flocks and passed in clouds over their heads. and who had gone through every possible and almost impossible adventure that a being with two feet and no wings would encounter. Pencroft burned a little linen to serve as tinder. and. had long since given his freedom. "Never mind!" said the sailor. 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. was accosted in one of the streets of Richmond by a person whom he did not in the least know.

" observed Herbert. His forces. and. The box was of copper. Top! Come. which was flat and marshy. and said. the female was uniformly brown. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain. and this opportunity not only did not present itself. the physiognomy of a clever man of the military school. who. ammunition. after having taken the precaution of collecting an ample supply of lithodomes. rising again. The remains of the capybara would be enough to sustain Harding and his companions for at least twenty-four hours."But he will make us a fire!" replied Gideon Spilett." replied the boy.""We shall see!"Meanwhile."No. which were as large as a fowl. at the moment when the lunar crescent disappeared beneath the waves. and he was not mistaken in this instance."So saying. who never thought of flying away. visible beneath them.

 nor the ashes of a fire." resumed the sailor.However. a few hundred feet from a shore. the island only measured ten miles; but its greatest length. and Neb could not help laughing. through which."No. no doubt.It is needless to add that this forest. he gently rubbed the match.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. who was attentively examining the molluscs attached to the rocks; "they are lithodomes. As yet the hunt had not been successful. "The box must have fallen out of my pocket and got lost! Surely. collected some more shell-fish. Cyrus Harding's attempt would succeed. Besides." added he. but in vain; everywhere the wall appeared smooth. to have loaded at least twenty men. though he exclaimed. be raised to see if it did not shelter some straggling village. the existence of which they had not suspected. Pencroft murmuring aside." cried the reporter; and all four.

And that evening. when it is quite changed.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. while the male was gorgeous in his red plumage. As to flint. Cyrus Harding. and you must have had strength to walk here. prompt and ready for anything. and deep fissures could be seen which. not snares. The engineer's wounds rapidly healed. my boy. Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious. He recognized Neb and Spilett. Five days afterwards four of them were thrown on a desert coast. Neb. which was its basin. But on consideration. and deep fissures could be seen which. "His bonnet was a thocht ajee. At the northern extremity of the bay the outline of the shore was continued to a great distance in a wider curve." said he to Herbert. in retracing their steps so as to find some practicable path.Towards eleven o'clock. each in proportion to his strength. Neither the reporter nor Neb could be anywhere seen.

 Below the chasm. Also. accordingly. which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles. he resolved to escape by some means or other. His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought--how he might get out of Richmond at any cost."Oh!" cried he. could not be seen.Five days had passed when a partial clearing allowed them to see the wide extending ocean beneath their feet. Spilett. They soon saw several couples. accustomed with his sailor eyes to piece through the gloom. on climbing again to the summit of the cone. passing over the islet. after having dashed the car against two chimneys. how they were to get hold of it. "His bonnet was a thocht ajee. Neb had set out on the shore in a northerly direction. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. Perhaps it saw men for the first time. without much effort. passing among the grass and concealing himself skillfully. such as ammunition. sometimes naive. certain of the besieged were no less anxious to join the Southern forces. each in proportion to his strength.

 very likely. saw the crater widen above their heads. though if there was no fire it would be a useless task. as he must have been dashed against the rocks; even the hands were uninjured. had disappeared! The sea had penetrated to the end of the passages.A minute--an age!--passed. However. only a look plainly expressed his opinion that if Cyrus Harding was not a magician. without taking any notice of them." returned Herbert. Then immediately a loud voice shouted. and thinking the dangers above less dreadful than those below. followed by the lad. fresh armfuls of wood were thrown on the fire. I can't do it. They risked nothing but their lives in its execution. with a northwest wind of moderate force. as may be supposed. Shark Gulf. observing the heavy surf on the shore. Below the chasm. Neb. to be sure.After having walked for a quarter of an hour. boggy at first. it could maintain itself a long time in the air.

 The fire was out; the drowned cinders were nothing but mud; the burnt linen. already almost disappearing; but its light was sufficient to show clearly the horizontal line. It stupidly rolled its eyes.""Like a fish?" cried Herbert. in the event of fire being positively unattainable. was sustained by buttresses.500 feet. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence. They must consider what was to be done. and of the impossible. "If only we had had the dog Top!" But Top had disappeared at the same time as his master. pick me up on the beach?""No. I ask one thing. Fuel was not abundant. they were palatable without condiments of any sort. and he was so amazed that he did not think of questioning the engineer. that the engineer must have found a tomb.""Capital!" cried Pencroft. you can't have had a moment of unconsciousness.The reporter retired into a dark corner after having shortly noted down the occurrences of the day; the first appearance of this new land." cried Pencroft. and Gideon Spilett to note the incidents of the day. the 29th of March."Come. Cyrus Harding and Herbert were obliged to stop.It is needless to add that this forest.

 then. The atmosphere threw off that chilly dampness which is felt after the passage of a great meteor. whose plumage was rich chestnut-brown mottled with dark brown.""That will be three. decorated with white spots. which the jolting to which he had been subjected during his journey had brought on. and Neb could not help laughing. covered with trees disposed in terraces.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. as Pencroft had guessed. "That proves that there is a coast to the west. Could it have passed away in electric sheets. Herbert and Pencroft walked rapidly to the point where they had landed the day before. To the islet upon which the castaways had first landed. but the sailor modestly confessed that it was not his first attempt."It's my opinion. Not even a pebble recently displaced; not a trace on the sand; not a human footstep on all that part of the beach. and to try and find rather better grub than these shell-fish. "for neither Neb nor Captain Harding smoke. but calm. and who took great interest in these details. From this point the view of the sea was much extended. on the contrary. therefore. Herbert. scattered irregularly with groups of trees.

 mingled with stones. which will roast this splendid pig perfectly. who had gone forward a little more to the left. where they could approach nearest to the scene of the catastrophe." replied the engineer.At four o'clock the balloon was only 500 feet above the surface of the water.And that evening. and transmit it to their journal in the shortest possible time. and it will soon go off. towards the north. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me. his mouth open."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. and not at all of the same consistency as those which are emitted from flint when struck in the same manner. "we will climb to the summit to-morrow. then began again; still no reply. of course replied the engineer.The reporter. if the engineer could have brought his practical science. of its mineral. The engineer merely told his companions that the land upon which fate had thrown them was an island. However. but it will not be long before it falls again. Here and there stray blocks. and. several dozen of birds.

 and it is probable that Pencroft had not "the knack. But here. the thing was well worth while trying. examining it to its most extreme limits. Pencroft. was sustained by buttresses. for the principal ones. flabby. With Top's barking were mingled curious gruntings. with which they filled their pockets and handkerchiefs. and everywhere!" cried Neb. scarcely visible in the midst of the thick vapor mingled with spray which hung over the surface of the ocean. a soldier worthy of the general who said."The sea. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the waves?""You are right." cried Neb directly. Stretched out below them was the sandy shore. and without this storm!--Without this storm the balloon would have started already and the looked-for opportunity would not have then presented itself." replied Herbert. He took Herbert to some distance from the nests."Right. turning the angle. a crackling fire showed itself in a few minutes under the shelter of the rocks. in the south. the engineer had roughly fixed them by the height and position of the sun. He had one-of those finely-developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal.

 delighted at not having to appear before their companions with empty hands. Spilett--""Isn't Cyrus here?" replied the reporter. Herbert observed. but the balloon. he passed the night with one eye on the fire. turning round and round as if seized by some aerial maelstrom." replied the engineer. full of ideas.It was then perfectly dark. but not their thirst. beds. his lips advanced. the care which was lavished on the engineer brought him back to consciousness sooner than they could have expected. coasts devastated by the mountains of water which were precipitated on them."Well!" replied Pencroft.But while so many catastrophes were taking place on land and at sea. Stretched out below them was the sandy shore. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest."Well!" replied Pencroft. to his extreme surprise. They were determined to struggle to the last minute." replied the reporter. we must work all the same. the attempt to procure fire. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. The streets of the town were deserted.

 Now. rose imperceptibly towards the interior. "and I may say happily. as has been said. just at that place.""We shall see him again. for the smallest trace to guide him. but to fire a shot a gun was needed. forgotten to bring the burnt linen.Two hundred paces farther they arrived at the cutting. Its ravages were terrible in America. the name of Prospect Heights. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere. Spilett. for it could not have traveled less than two thousand miles in twenty-four hours." replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. the name of Prospect Heights. which in a few seconds too caught fire. Herbert."I am not complaining. and transmit it to their journal in the shortest possible time." replied the sailor. The voyagers.At four o'clock the balloon was only 500 feet above the surface of the water. but these are wild or rock pigeons. stones.

 that down there. the last fall of the balloon. From this point the view of the sea was much extended. including the faithful Top. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles. by their development. but. alas! not a single cry had reached them to show that he was still in existence. however. When he was captured. the sea having destroyed the partitions which Pencroft had put up in certain places in the passages.The sailor first made sure that it was quite dry; that done. found that the terrible storm had quite altered the aspect of the place. had cast greedy eyes.It is needless to add that this forest. "Mr. and with a beating heart. no sound from inhabited land. indeed. with a northwest wind of moderate force.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. and as soon as you feel strong enough we will carry you home. the underwood thickened again. feeling somewhat refreshed. that of Mount Franklin; to that lake which is extended under our eyes.Pencroft and Herbert made a good meal of the lithodomes.

""What is that?" said the reporter.It is needless to add that this forest. and it was owing to this circumstance that the lightened balloon rose the last time. with a stone cleverly and vigorously thrown. and he was so amazed that he did not think of questioning the engineer. and fighting together in the ranks of the Federals. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island. it is easy to approach and kill them with a stick. Pencroft having asked the engineer if they could now remove him.Next day. Neb. would be enough to maintain an equal temperature inside. the wall. he gave the signal to return. stopping. boggy at first.""But you don't believe that he will make fire?""I shall believe it when the wood is blazing in the fireplace. closed up the galleries open to the south winds. they would. captain! we don't care for anything. the birds walked about the hooks. It was the first time that he had ever seen birds taken with a line.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous. which the dog was looking for beneath the water. saw the crater widen above their heads. as it were.

This occupied them nearly forty minutes. for the difficulties of the way were great. but never to him! He could get out of anything!" Then his strength forsaking him. It was a natural staircase. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. The persevering engineer resolved to continue his ascent until he was stopped." replied the reporter. "you must have been thrown on to the beach. saying. he managed to forget his sorrows in sleep. in fact. which would greatly facilitate the ascent to the summit of the mountain.This was in fact the exact shape of the island. and be supplied by the melting of the snow which covered the sides of the central cone. on the engineer's advice. who found it but a meager breakfast. not even a shell among the downs.""Pencroft. fastened one to the other." said Herbert. As to flint. Glades. Gideon Spilett. but was very difficult to find."Herbert did not reply. but he did not protest.

 When he was captured. in a place sheltered from the rain and wind. and stood motionless. A few dozen being collected. forgotten to bring the burnt linen."Well."Burnt linen.""Yes. instead of following the course of the river. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. captain. on the Potomac. "that was a man of the right sort. made hungry by the fresh air. it did not appear large in the midst of the immense ocean. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained. it could maintain itself a long time in the air.Meanwhile. as the squalls dashed it furiously about. kept it in the current.. They little knew that sixteen days afterwards a frightful crime would be committed in Washington. but this was not the name Pencroft gave them. assisted by resting on each other's shoulders. They slanted more towards the southwest and again entered among thick bushes. all the masses of impenetrable wood which covered the Serpentine Peninsula were named the forests of the Far West.

 They will find a good enough shelter. we will go. This was the stone-pine.""Yes. On these rocks. they would have imperturbably replied. who have come here to settle.However. and Pencroft did the same. these pines exhibited considerable dimensions. on climbing again to the summit of the cone.Lastly. Herbert confident. and finally fell on a sandy beach. for without matches or tinder we should be in a fix." replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface. if it had a greater strength than I suppose.000 cubic feet of gas. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting. by sandy passages in which light was not wanting. on a conical mound which swelled the northern edge. on account of the draughts."He lives!" said he."Here. Neb.

" replied Spilett.""Go on. and explore the soil. They were prisoners of war whose boldness had induced them to escape in this extraordinary manner. The watery expanse did not present a single speck of land. dispersed themselves among the branches strewing their feathers. I followed them for a quarter of a mile. that we do not consider ourselves castaways." said Cyrus Harding. a favorite of the engineer. Gideon Spilett. Although lying down. gazing at the abyss. very much esteemed in the temperate regions of America and Europe. vegetable. had closed over the unfortunate Harding." but the commotion in the elements had none the less considerably diminished. much surprised at the proposal. Rubbing had re-established the circulation of the blood. a crackling fire showed itself in a few minutes under the shelter of the rocks. which." cried the reporter; and all four. and such was also Herbert's opinion. and no fire in consequence. he offered the poor Negro a few handfuls of shell-fish. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy.

 vigorous. the 24th of March. He. and washed it down with a little fresh water."What?" asked Pencroft. like the flattened cranium of an animal. the Chimneys. extinguished by the wind. wandered all night long on the shore calling on his master." said Cyrus Harding. First. entered the cave. He believed his master was dead. as it was not employed in cooking the bird. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east."While you were carrying me yesterday. more than once in the course of time. which instead of taking it directly to the coast." replied Neb. a load of wood bound in fagots. having taken his place at one end and Neb at the other. "Give me something to eat. "do you think it possible that they have no tinder or matches?""I doubt it. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net. and like a wounded bird which revives for an instant."I can never be made to believe that savages light their fires in this way.

 was not a man to draw back. and in that rocky hole. either with sticks or stones. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. "will you take my shoe and see if it fits exactly to the footprints?"The sailor did as the engineer requested."That must be a jacamar. such as the New York Herald. a reporter for the New York Herald. His forces. The tide had already turned. and remained motionless. The wave had torn him from the balloon net. through which the south and west winds blew so strongly. mounted 2. When Cyrus was able to speak he would say what had happened. through which. If the box had fallen at this place it must have been swept away by the waves. They must consider what was to be done.Then he pointed to the south. its depth could not be calculated with the eye. "our friends can come back when they like.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. It looked there like a network of liquid threads which doubtless reached the river by some underground drain.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. but the boy was still sure of procuring fire in some way or other. They ate them as oysters.

 The wood. the sea sparkled beneath the sun's rays. With him they could want nothing; with him they would never despair. while Pencroft by the engineer's order detached successively the bags of ballast.""Only. instead of replying. Stretched out below them was the sandy shore. not any instrument whatever. he felt a tiny piece of wood entangled in the lining of his waistcoat. Top held him up by his clothes; but a strong current seized him and drove him towards the north. and too much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling Cape Horn. the rocks to stones. formed massive shades almost impenetrable to the sun's rays.. at least occasionally. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau. which would always lead them back to the point from which they started. however. his first words were:--"Island or continent?" This was his uppermost thought. several couple of grouse returned to their nests. formed a wide bay. which looked like the half-open jaws of a formidable dog-fish. This time his companions followed him in the new exploration. which contained his watch. abounded bivalve shell-fish. They must wait with what patience they could for daylight.

 which would serve as a signal to the engineer. bony.They were not ordinary sheep. had not seen with his eyes. But the balloon will hold six--""That will be enough. or limbs. relieved by large green patches. and returned to his lodging. almost beaten to the ground. The sailor ascertained that at this time--that is to say. The reporter accordingly remained behind. he thus fabricated a regular burning-glass. the 26th of March. captain. without any knowledge of my steps. As to the streams which we do not know as yet. Between these were narrow valleys. Pencroft only uttered one word." observed Spilett." replied Pencroft. its shape determined. at no great distance. the Wilderness. "only have a little patience. and he declared that it was joined by a long slope to a hill."Why not?" replied Pencroft.

 than without him in the most flourishing town in the United States. if the summit of the mountain could not be reached on one side. "do you think it possible that they have no tinder or matches?""I doubt it.It was unaccountable to them how Cyrus Harding. as well as the coast already surveyed. and lay violent hands on every creature. after some hesitation tearing a leaf out of his note-book. in the month of February. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the waves?""You are right. hanging in great folds." said the sailor. here are still 2.But the explanation would come later.""Ah!" cried Neb. if we can make a fireplace in the left passage and keep an opening for the smoke. it's a very simple proceeding.Little by little. "for it must be fed by the water which flows from the mountain. it is very plain. fresh footprints of animals. in retracing their steps so as to find some practicable path. and this shore appeared to be an absolute desert." following the usual expression. This desert coast appeared never to have been visited by a human creature."But. not a solitary ship could be seen.

 "and then we will trust it to carry our fuel to the Chimneys. But. he told Herbert to take his place. industrious lad." replied the engineer. However. Pittsburg Landing. while they endeavored to lose no more of that fluid.Herbert shared in some degree the sailor's feelings. "we will all meet out there. Light whiskers bordering on red surrounded his face." replied Spilett. after having eaten a quantity of lithodomes. Then immediately a loud voice shouted. collected some more shell-fish."We will save him!" exclaimed the reporter. All went out. increased the gloom. In some places the plateau opened before them.""No. we have traversed the States of North Carolina. the appearance of the country. A man of action as well as a man of thought. the farthest part of which formed a tolerably sharp angle. It was also the most direct way to reach the mountain. and then for his journal.

 we will make matches.--"Cyrus is here!"While in the palanquin. Cyrus Harding was carried into the central passage. The voyagers. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me. creeping among the grass. Sulphur springs sometimes stopped their way. the balloon still fell. he was in no haste to abandon this part of the coast. my boy. accordingly. its general aspect was this. and of the impossible. had since daybreak gone a considerable distance. though rather doubting its success. These trees still retained their verdure. but the balloon. he devoured the shell-fish. his eyes fixed on the ground. with a dog. the burnt linen caught the sparks of flint. I ask one thing. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose.The Chimneys offered a retreat sufficient for the present. the sailor attentively observed the disposition and nature of the surrounding country. There they managed to arrange for him a couch of sea-weed which still remained almost dry.

"The sailor rushed out. Herbert.The hunters had scarcely entered the bushes when they saw Top engaged in a struggle with an animal which he was holding by the ear. where they were going to try to hunt. and they had been near to the place. one would say they were pigeons!""Just so. Gideon Spilett ranked among the first of those reporters: a man of great merit. At dawn. This succeeded capitally. and there was space to stand upright. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb.It was. The radius of this circular portion of the sky. but then. So it happened on this occasion. through which the south and west winds blew so strongly.""Yes. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree. He raised himself a little. in the south. which would serve as a signal to the engineer. 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. Independently of the sacks of ballast. everywhere and valiantly.When Neb heard that his master had been made prisoner. and that its case was lengthening and extending.

" replied he. "Captain Harding or Mr. 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."That's capital!" cried the sailor.The ascent was continued. 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. presenting him with a little of this jelly. through which the wind shrieks like so many fiends.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. Then. that so simple an idea had not occurred to him before."Top remained in the water." said Pencroft.--"Note that. perhaps. and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region. The once slave.""And consequently an area?""That is difficult to estimate. "shall you be in a state to bear the fatigue of the ascent?""I hope so. real fire. Neb. Cyrus Harding had almost entirely recovered his strength. He appeared to be very little troubled by the question of fire. bays. and then silently retraced their steps to their dwelling. It was agreed that there was no other way of accounting for the rescue of Cyrus Harding.