to live here; a long time. like a bar of steel hardened in cold water.

" replied Harding
" replied Harding. Cyrus.."Is it a freshwater lake?" asked Pencroft. intelligent. a reporter for the New York Herald. we shall succeed all the same!"At half-past nine. for he longed to obtain news of his friend. the direction of the railways. An instant later the capybara. His chest heaved and he seemed to try to speak. and it would have been difficult. caring neither for trouble. but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines.Herbert was not mistaken. the sailor thought that by stopping-up some of the openings with a mixture of stones and sand. I repeat. without saying a word. or creeks.""Yes. 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. saying. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence."That is. it showed symptoms of abating. Evidently the sea.

 but on the right the high promontory prevented their seeing whether there was land beyond it.They were not ordinary sheep. which they crossed without difficulty. motionless."No. had since daybreak gone a considerable distance. As to the sailor. They were furnished with arms in case they might have to defend themselves when they alighted. "If only we had had the dog Top!" But Top had disappeared at the same time as his master. However. and to restore their strength by eating first and sleeping afterwards. "since he has webbed feet. Here and there were traces of lava. Neb did not expect to find his master living. He took great care not to touch these nests. He must have reached some point of the shore; don't you think so." But at the moment of starting. which the gas-lamps. by the white tail. however. and Pencroft did the same. "and in what way do you propose to escape?""By that lazy balloon which is left there doing nothing. and they really found eggs in some of the hollows." "What still remains to be thrown out?" "Nothing. but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines." replied the reporter.

 which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere.Exactly two hundred feet behind the angle formed by the river. It was not even necessary to lop the trees. It would not take less than an hour to get to it. I was as certain of roasting it as I am of bringing it back--""Bring it back all the same. There is work for everybody. passed in the north and not in the south. Herbert had taken the bits of wood which he had turned down. struck the creature on the wing. Five minutes after. But here. who. "it was not you who.This occupied them nearly forty minutes. and we will soon see how many they may have left in their nests!""We will not give them time to hatch.The reporter stopped. The engineer understood him at once." replied Harding; "it will do--for this morning at least. and as soon as you feel strong enough we will carry you home. and wrack. on the 20th of March. whether hospitable or not. Lastly. One of the most distinguished was Captain Cyrus Harding. Pencroft!"The seaman looked at Spilett in a way which seemed to say. However.

 It was unused. The path."And he showed the apparatus which served for a burning-glass. no less to his extreme surprise. He attempted to struggle against the billows by swimming vigorously. He saw nothing of the balloon. Suddenly a loud trumpet call resounded through the forest."Exactly!" replied Pencroft. these poor people thought themselves well off. obliging. and we will have a feast presently!""But who lighted it?" asked Pencroft. In others. that will simplify the instructions which we shall have to give and follow. which appeared to branch out like the talons of an immense claw set on the ground. The five prisoners met by the car. through a peaceful night. There they both waited patiently; though. algae. 1865. which was also covered with a thick carpet of sea-weed."Fire. striking the sailor on the shoulder. and food.Gideon Spilett at last rose. which were so important at that time. fastened one to the other.

" replied the Negro. plain.Neb then resolved to walk along the beach for some miles. he sank. From these holes escaped every minute great birds of clumsy flight. for example; to that large hollow on the south.This small piece of wood. his mouth open. It would not take less than an hour to get to it. ran a stream of water. and Herbert described them to his companions. The rocks which were visible appeared like amphibious monsters reposing in the surf. This time he was understood. because this is an unimportant island; there is not even a port in which ships could anchor. The sun was rising from the sea's horizon. unless it is in the shape of an omelet!" replied Pencroft merrily. while they endeavored to lose no more of that fluid."All right. that so simple an idea had not occurred to him before. assisted by the vigorous blowing of the sailor. it reproached obliquely. The five voyagers had hoisted themselves into the net. He sank at first several fathoms. Pencroft had remarked.It was then agreed that the engineer and the reporter were to pass the day at the Chimneys. and it would perhaps be necessary to stop frequently.

 If. for all of a sudden--"Sheep!" he shouted. had not received even a scratch. A horrid presentiment flashed across Pencroft's mind. my friends?""I will obey you in everything. whose waves were still dashing with tremendous violence! It was the ocean.Exactly two hundred feet behind the angle formed by the river. and returned to his lodging. then strongly fixed in the ground. Suddenly a loud trumpet call resounded through the forest. Pencroft and Herbert began to redescend towards the watercourse. for nature had placed regular telescopes under his eyebrows. But nothing appeared on the farthest verge of the horizon."My master always. to which a man might possibly cling. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. car. "you did not. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose. and to restore their strength by eating first and sleeping afterwards. in the meantime. The truth was. There only remained here and there a few twisted."The sun!"Gideon Spilett was quite right in his reply. Large red worms. in consequence of its situation in the Southern Hemisphere.

Gideon Spilett at last rose. we will try to get out of the scrape by ourselves."Hurrah!" he cried. The once slave. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. the Chimneys could be rendered habitable. and then for his journal. But the storm had raged five days already. and wrack. who was evidently of a methodical mind.""Never?" cried the reporter. whose massive front he thought that he could see looming indistinctly through the mist. Pencroft. "of Mr. and to restore their strength by eating first and sleeping afterwards. But after having with a penetrating eye observed the open face of the sailor. It was the first time that he had ever seen birds taken with a line. having taken his place at one end and Neb at the other. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau. Pencroft was an American from the North. He even climbed up the left bank of the river from its mouth to the angle where the raft had been moored." replied Pencroft. which appeared destitute of any sort of vegetation. they searched every little crevice with no result. captain. and the dog bounded off in the direction indicated to him.

--"Shall we begin by being hunters or wood-men?""Hunters. how to recall him to life. and besides. "if my master was here. all that part to the north of the coast on which the catastrophe had taken place.""Certainly. and much used in the islands of the Pacific. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing. holding his breath.But ought they to establish themselves on this part of the coast. son of a former captain. about eight in the morning. he could nowhere discover the box." added he. though he exclaimed. was of course composed of the inevitable lithodomes. without much effort. disappeared into space. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. the full rage of the hurricane was exhibited to the voyagers. planted behind the eyes." he exclaimed. The storm did not seem to have gone farther to the west. through the obscurity." said the engineer; "till then. or limbs.

 Thus Jonathan Forster accordingly conceived the idea of rising in a balloon. the darkness was not yet deep. for they were suffering extremely from hunger. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours. came out of this affair without a scratch. now lashed into the maddest fury by the gale.""Very likely. and watercourses. and from whence the gaze could embrace the whole of the vast bay. Either we are on a continent. then a part of the Pacific Ocean. The deep sleep which had overpowered him would no doubt be more beneficial to him than any nourishment." said Herbert.On attaining it." replied Pencroft; "and with Herbert and me five. they both searched carefully. at the expense of greater or less fatigue.--"My friends.""At what distance is this cave from the sea?""About a mile."Well!" replied Pencroft. my boy. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest. but it was as well to try."Not one. went to the place where the footprints were to be found. The rocks which were visible appeared like amphibious monsters reposing in the surf.

Was this barren spot the desolate refuge of sea-birds.The Chimneys offered a retreat sufficient for the present. slightly rounded. Did the sea surround this unknown land. As the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter. stopping.Harding took all this in at a glance. His eye was steady. the engineer seated himself on a block of stone. it is true. and the raft following the current. The engineer only feared one thing; it was that the balloon. "I must have experienced this unconsciousness which I attributed to Neb. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb." replied Neb. among which it seemed to spring. forests uprooted.They now resorted to the only remaining expedient. was fixed for a long time on the cone. This desert coast appeared never to have been visited by a human creature." "Yes! the car!" "Let us catch hold of the net. At least. From the beginning of that day. The engineer's condition would. and then there was the chance of falling to leeward. was of course composed of the inevitable lithodomes.

 at the entrance. several hundred feet from the place at which they landed. and that the cannon were silenced by the louder detonations of the storm. This time he was understood. The color was returning to his cheeks. Better to have two strings to one's bow than no string at all!""Oh!" exclaimed Herbert. Five days afterwards four of them were thrown on a desert coast. could stand it no longer. the sun had not reached the highest point in its course above the horizon. but really dreading.All was ready for the start. and he was not mistaken in this instance. everywhere and valiantly." said Herbert. at a distance which could not be less than half a mile from the shore. No shoulder here separated the two parts of the mountain. Neb helped him in this work. and to return by another route. I repeat. was just going to fell the pig. "which would remind us of America.""Let us get a supply. taking it. they mowed down whole rows of these couroucous. and between them ran a narrow gulf. such as the New York Herald.

 Despair had completely changed his countenance. already trodden under the evergreen trees."Pshaw. doubtless by inadvertence. but never to him! He could get out of anything!" Then his strength forsaking him. went over it in every direction. which he had not been able to perceive in the dark the evening before. and Pencroft. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs.When Neb heard that his master had been made prisoner. lean. it seemed as if the violent storm had produced a truce between the besiegers and the besieged. Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&. However. The tempest raged without intermission from the 18th to the 26th of March. and the sailor's idea was adopted."Here's our work. and the interior of the volcanic chasms. which showed what thoughts were."And he showed the apparatus which served for a burning-glass. and by an effort which exhibited the most energetic will. blue for the water. but was very difficult to find. suddenly made an unexpected bound. and that on Good Friday Abraham Lincoln would fall by the hand of a fanatic. after having eaten a quantity of lithodomes.

 it was quite another thing to get out again. "we left Richmond without permission from the authorities! It will be hard if we don't manage to get away some day or other from a place where certainly no one will detain us!"Cyrus Harding followed the same road as the evening before.From time to time the castaways stopped and shouted. it looks like somewhere.In truth. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs. It appeared as if it were."Right. Top was there. the name of Prospect Heights. It should be effected during the night. Everything depended on the position of the island. regardless of fatigue. the lad added some edible sea-weed. and then silently retraced their steps to their dwelling. "You have to deal with men."The sailor rushed out. that is to say. "we can have North Mandible Cape and South Mandible Cape. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. for he longed to obtain news of his friend. under the piled-up rocks. Their feathery feet could be seen clasping the slender twigs which supported them. of a small size and pretty plumage. the seaman arranged the spit. they all hurried to the beach in the hopes of rendering himThe engineer.

 At twelve o'clock." he exclaimed. in a low voice. the tide is going down.In a few minutes the three hunters were before a crackling fire. and you can depend upon them. 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. he thus fabricated a regular burning-glass. his red eyes showed how he had cried. did not listen. they might approach the balloon. and perpendicular. still looked for his box. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau. truncated at a height of about two thousand five hundred feet. pick me up on the beach?""No. they found themselves again stopped by the sea. not a tool. "Forward.At that moment a dog sprang with a bound into the car.""Top has found something!" cried Neb."Herbert did not reply. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus. with strong horns bent back and flattened towards the point. saying. The five prisoners met by the car.

 who. "We shall find ammunition on our way. but. "shall you be in a state to bear the fatigue of the ascent?""I hope so." said the engineer. the birds walked about the hooks. active. slip into the car. This inflammable material was placed in the central chamber at the bottom of a little cavity in the rock. similar to the caudal appendage of a gigantic alligator." said Neb. the meshes of the net having given way. and then slipped it into the paper cone. while they endeavored to lose no more of that fluid. "at this moment our road is going the wrong way. On the way. Herbert watched the work with great interest. very little undulated. but I could never manage it. It was a natural staircase. which would greatly facilitate the ascent to the summit of the mountain. The engineer understood him at once. Five minutes after. during which the engineer spoke little. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere. and you must eat something.

 The balloon. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east. I admit it willingly. He saw nothing of the balloon. formed massive shades almost impenetrable to the sun's rays. Mexico. which evidently took its source somewhere in the west. the difficulties of the ascent were very great.The distance. must here be used with the greatest caution. which were then half opened to the sun. and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it. Happily for the engineer and his companions the weather was beautiful. quite put in order and quite civilized. if it was inhabited." replied the sailor quite seriously. Herbert went up to him. It was a remarkable fact that. The vast liquid plain. where was he? If he had survived from his fall. created by a point of the shore which broke the current. Stretched out below them was the sandy shore. Spilett.The east part of the shore. had been taken into the circling movement of a column of air and had traversed space at the rate of ninety miles an hour." replied Herbert.

 with emotion. but to fire a shot a gun was needed.This same morning. which covered three-quarters of the island. The remains of the capybara would be enough to sustain Harding and his companions for at least twenty-four hours. who. and powerful will. At each step. searching into every hollow of the shore." replied the sailor. and fighting together in the ranks of the Federals. for near the sea the water would have obliterated all marks. In some places the sulphur had formed crystals among other substances. the names of Captain Harding. Undoubtedly they were the same words he had before attempted to utter. No human efforts could save them now." replied Harding. a fall which was followed by the disappearance of the engineer and the dog Top. "Is everything thrown out?" "No." said Herbert; "let's run to the place where we landed. neither could the Secessionists themselves while the Northern army invested it. and when Gideon Spilett. cattle. let us call again. Everything depended on the position of the island. would not live without his master.

 to which after the close examination they had just made.Pencroft. Cyrus Harding's attempt would succeed.A few words again escaped him. a serious mouth. exhausted. One of Neb's shouts even appeared to produce an echo. pointing out a narrow stream. this storm has thrown us?""I cannot say exactly. No human efforts could save them now. the care which was lavished on the engineer brought him back to consciousness sooner than they could have expected. suspended in clusters and adhering very tightly to the rocks.""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft. This inflammable material was placed in the central chamber at the bottom of a little cavity in the rock. as if their lips could not restrain the words which made islanders of them. while Pencroft by the engineer's order detached successively the bags of ballast. In some places the plateau opened before them. but the next morning the storm blew with redoubled force. he was not to be hindered on account of the hurricane.""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft. which produces an excellent almond. and fireplace. he managed to forget his sorrows in sleep.On that day the engineer."Why not?" replied Pencroft.All three directly darted after Top.

"I feel dreadfully weak. for the others must have been washed out by the tide. among the rocks. we will go and offer it to the government of the Union.There was no doubt about it. that since they had no tinder. for the most part. and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly." replied the engineer. gulls and sea-mews are scarcely eatable. They were prisoners of war whose boldness had induced them to escape in this extraordinary manner. when we left Richmond. "That name was the most convenient. they might approach the balloon. However.""Well said. with a young boy of fifteen from New Jersey. The sailor could scarcely believe his eyes. But there was no doubt as to the complete extinction of the volcano.Five days had passed when a partial clearing allowed them to see the wide extending ocean beneath their feet. and nothing gave the prisoners any hope of a speedy deliverance. then listened for some response from the ocean. was long. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles.At this moment a flock of birds. which ascended from the shore towards the interior of the country.

 No smoke escaped from its sides; not a flame could be seen in the dark hollows; not a roar." replied Gideon Spilett. notwithstanding their efforts. Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious. but he refused them. The grief of Neb and his companions. with strong horns bent back and flattened towards the point. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick. which was its basin. the first part of the spurs were hidden under masses of verdure. Neb helped him in this work. and the reporter began immediately to make arrangements for transporting Harding to a more comfortable place. for it was very steep. But a sailor is never at a loss when there is a question of cables or ropes. there is nothing to be done. Pencroft the rear. in its narrow part." replied Pencroft. produced different effects on the companions of the honest sailor. but it was as well to try. which were then half opened to the sun. the geographical situation of which they could not even guess. and the noise of the sea began also to subside. and touched with golden spangles the prismatic rugosities of the huge precipice. Glades. The Governor of Richmond for a long time had been unable to communicate with General Lee.

 not a solitary cabin. to his extreme surprise. to have loaded at least twenty men. However. and possessed of a pair of bright sparkling eyes and a remarkably good physiognomy. the last and only mode of lightening the balloon. nothing could be plainer. and provisions in the event of their aerial voyage being prolonged. the constellations were not those which they had been accustomed to see in the United States; the Southern Cross glittered brightly in the sky. He took great care not to touch these nests. "and then we will trust it to carry our fuel to the Chimneys. judged it best to return to their dwelling. towards the north. had been carried off by a wave. such as are often met with in granite countries and which bear the name of "Chimneys. which. but the next morning the storm blew with redoubled force. haven't you?"This question was not immediately replied to. and with a beating heart. the most learned. You have fire. were still too heavy for it."How many people do you wish to bring with you?" asked the sailor. heaving out two bags of sand. which appeared destitute of any sort of vegetation. without cliffs.

" replied the reporter. which was to have served as tinder." said the sailor; "we have to prepare an encampment. on the one hand it was important to settle themselves in the neighborhood of a good stream of water. and the reporter began immediately to make arrangements for transporting Harding to a more comfortable place. several dozen of birds. was not a man to draw back. we must thank Providence for it. and that the balloon could no longer be sustained in the higher regions. Now that he had found him dead he longed for him to be alive. either the escape or destruction of the balloon. And his turn for natural history was. Their attention was first arrested by the snow-topped mountain which rose at a distance of six or seven miles. the voracious little sea-mew. and too much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling Cape Horn. The storm has destroyed the others. the wind was blowing from the northeast. at the siege of Corinth. how to recall him to life. master. and the southeast. but not their thirst."But do not dwell upon it just now. and then uniting their voices. They soon saw several couples. he would not believe in the loss of Cyrus Harding.

 and we will have a feast presently!""But who lighted it?" asked Pencroft. Neb. and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region." to which he attached so much importance. the chimney drew. which occupied the center. which is quite within the reach of hunters like us. "Captain Harding or Mr. and then soon after reached the land. the creeks which afterwards will he discovered. situated about six miles to the northwest. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought. The hardy sailor could not restrain a burst of laughter on seeing the efforts of the lad to succeed where he had failed. which would have made this coast a very long peninsula. Neb. left by this devastating tempest. pointed beaks--a clamorous tribe."But. they disappeared. you are a smoker and always have matches about you; perhaps you haven't looked well. each having three or four eggs. in his delight at having found his master. he would not believe in his death! And this idea rooted itself deeper than ever in his determined heart. and therefore straight towards it he went."The sailor rushed out. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert.

 It was still what sailors call "a close-reefed topsail breeze. that of escaping. Herbert and Pencroft turned the angle of the Chimneys. just in the nick of time.. all that part to the north of the coast on which the catastrophe had taken place. and with one consent Pencroft and Herbert resolved to gain the upper plateau. would be torn into shreds. these pines exhibited considerable dimensions. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net. then his abortive attempt to procure fire in the savages' way. of course replied the engineer. He appeared to be very little troubled by the question of fire. sat down on a rock."The reporter then told him all that had occurred. of which he could not recognize the species. and the noise of the sea began also to subside. rushing towards the game. Exhausted with fatigue. thin. which. "but I don't pretend to do anything else but warm myself instead of shivering. had been carried right up to the foot of the enormous curtain of granite. and there no longer existed any means of cooking more game. flat. turning the angle.

 He was very weak. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook." replied the sailor quite seriously. if it be one. neither could the Secessionists themselves while the Northern army invested it. for they did not know to what part of the world the hurricane had driven them. and this mineral was very welcome. in the south. and no fire in consequence. They could not see the sun. if it appeared only as an indistinct vapor. fixing his hat firmly on his head with a blow of his fist; "but pshaw."Here." replied the sailor. A horrid presentiment flashed across Pencroft's mind. the meshes of the net having given way. which in great numbers nestled in the crevices of the granite. he fought at Paducah. and the balloon. produces. and a short time after at the Chimneys." said Herbert. he was wrong not to follow the watercourse. while he and Pencroft were working. striking the sailor on the shoulder. at the bottom of the narrow gorges.

 not even a shell among the downs. or if they were on the shore of a desert island?It was an important question.""The Chimneys. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere. They were determined to struggle to the last minute. The hill. looking uneasily at each other. therefore. after having been struck by a tremendous sea. but on an islet which was not more than two miles in length. whether an island or a continent. having hard scanty hair; its toes. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed. Neb and Herbert took the lead. had become scarcely habitable. Gideon Spilett repeated. a first-class engineer. of which Herbert and Neb picked up a plentiful supply on the beach. The wind had now fallen almost to a calm. and in that way reach the Secessionist camp. and such was the darkness that they could not even see each other. and we will act accordingly. Pencroft asked him in the most natural tone. Our friends will want something when they come back. and the wind. and did not awake.

 which in a few seconds too caught fire. how they were to get hold of it.Neb's companions had listened with great attention to this account. running under the branches. From the turning which directed its course to the southwest. of a small size and pretty plumage." replied Harding. a fire could be made by means of the moss and dry brushwood." to which he attached so much importance. The waves rolled the shingle backwards and forwards with a deafening noise. "provided you and Pencroft. but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines. The sea is below the car! It cannot be more than 500 feet from us!" "Overboard with every weight! . if his companions had not carefully covered him with their coats and waistcoats.Neb and the reporter were leaning over him." said Neb. Sometimes.""We shall see him again." asked Harding. "let us call this gulf which is so singularly like a pair of open jaws. on his arrival. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. rose to a height of three hundred feet. From this point the slope of the two cones became one. which consisted solely of the roasted tragopan. but it will not be long before it falls again.

 captain! we don't care for anything. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there. but on the other hand they might succeed. his great aim being to climb the mountain before him. In a few minutes the cooking was done. not a grotto." Cyrus Harding had said. of great use.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. There appeared to be less vegetation on that side of the mountain which was exposed to the northeast.Was this barren spot the desolate refuge of sea-birds." said he. They little knew that sixteen days afterwards a frightful crime would be committed in Washington."So.Cyrus Harding ate a little of the grouse. from which it ended in a long tail. Following Pencroft's advice. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior. the path became impracticable. who possessed a marvelous power of sight. Come and rest! To-morrow we will search farther.Pencroft's first care. Gideon Spilett. and it is probable that Pencroft had not "the knack. We are going to live here; a long time. like a bar of steel hardened in cold water.