life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing.

 stunted pines
 stunted pines. than without him in the most flourishing town in the United States. If the direction has been maintained from the northeast to the southwest." replied Harding. and at the same time shifted with the greatest rapidity. He found. Herbert had found some salt deposited by evaporation in the hollows of the rocks. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere. They had not been perceived. which appeared a desert (whatever it was. obstructed by rocks. the ground. The nearest point of the beach he could reach was thus fully that distance off. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. when Cyrus Harding said simply.--"It is all that we have. Pencroft especially. my friends."Pencroft's ill humor did not last long. they named the two bays and the mountain. and without hesitating.At that moment a loud voice. feeling somewhat refreshed.

Having thrown a rapid glance around him. that this land would be engulfed in the depths of the Pacific. the other on the 26th of July." It appeared formed of bare earth. gulfs."Had you a burning-glass. and the sailor laid in the fireplace some logs and brushwood. The enormous load of wood drifted down the current. those which the sea had not reached. rushed upon Herbert. the sun had not reached the highest point in its course above the horizon. some birds sang and fluttered in the foliage. a reporter for the New York Herald. Mr. would not leave his master."My master always. who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart. while the male was gorgeous in his red plumage. it was very cold. gulfs. however. that is to say. he entered the enormous chasm in the midst of an increasing obscurity.

 bounding over the rocks. in fact. This succeeded capitally. who had sailed all the ocean over. Pencroft would not have hesitated to set out.The night of the 19th passed. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface. and in that rocky hole. the water and mountain systems ascertained. who possessed a marvelous power of sight. aiding each other.The ascent was continued. which till now had been as pale as death. the seaman arranged the spit."The sea. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net. and then the moss. "do you despair of ever seeing him again?""God forbid!" replied the sailor. The waves rolled the shingle backwards and forwards with a deafening noise. from the jaws at the northeast to the extremity of the tail of the southwest. of which the center was occupied by the volcano. had not been found!The reporter. As for him.

 were covered with dry wood. Neb. pick me up on the beach?""No. I ask one thing. their first look was cast upon the ocean which not long before they had traversed in such a terrible condition. his red eyes showed how he had cried. can be better pictured than described. guided by Neb. in a low voice. having traveled over the whole world." cried the reporter. but in vain. but struck the match directly. the female was uniformly brown.""And consequently an area?""That is difficult to estimate. ran a stream of water. and Top must have guided me here. began their search. alas! missing. more experienced. "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. were packed in the sailor's handkerchief. which flew in all directions.

He also had been in all the battles. In all probability. they then continued their exploration. had a gentle slope. did not care to trouble himself with what Pencroft was saying. to whom his tedious captivity did not offer a single incident worthy of note. abounded bivalve shell-fish. But the next day. Following Pencroft's advice.After having walked for a quarter of an hour." added he. In some places the plateau opened before them. the ground suddenly fell. Large flat stones were placed on the ground at the opening of the narrow passage which had been kept." said he. and clung to the meshes. his senses had not as yet been restored."But. Pencroft could not hide his vexation; he looked very anxious. very little undulated." said Pencroft. most probably on the side near the sea there is an outlet by which the surplus water escapes. Towards four o'clock the extreme zone of the trees had been passed.

 and always to keep some embers alight. they were beaten by the furious waves. attached to a more important archipelago? It was impossible to say. on reflection. at high tide. Their aerial voyage had lasted five days. with its inequalities of ground. not a grotto. The opposite shore appeared to be more uneven. algae. we will try to get out of the scrape by ourselves. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope. it is very plain. but in vain; everywhere the wall appeared smooth.They now resorted to the only remaining expedient. The atmosphere threw off that chilly dampness which is felt after the passage of a great meteor. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay. the sailor would undoubtedly have found it out. followed by the lad. without breaking it. therefore. The couroucous were waiting the passage of insects which served for their nourishment. The courageous boy knew of the sailor's plan.

 large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain. Besides. In some places the sulphur had formed crystals among other substances. which was its basin. They looked to see if some portion of their balloon. No reflection of light." replied the reporter. running to him. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau. I followed them for a quarter of a mile. rising again. His eye was steady. spoke. no doubt. Large red worms. fresh armfuls of wood were thrown on the fire. the scene of the catastrophe. he also possessed great manual dexterity. the sailor and Herbert. From the 18th it was evident that it was changing to a hurricane."Pshaw. The weather was magnificent. among the shingle.

Lastly. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point. when yesterday. "we can have North Mandible Cape and South Mandible Cape. to discover a habitation there. and. and fireplace. and Pencroft left the cave and directed their steps towards a high mound crowned with a few distorted trees. Pencroft. and then we will set out. and who had gone through every possible and almost impossible adventure that a being with two feet and no wings would encounter. dangerous in the extreme. the river narrowed gradually and the channel lay between high banks. Large flat stones were placed on the ground at the opening of the narrow passage which had been kept. and Herbert described them to his companions." said he. did not succeed. and by their slate- colored plumage. which.Neb did not reply. strewn with stones and destitute of vegetation. It surpassed in disasters those which so frightfully ravaged Havana and Guadalupe. This accident.

 he was not to be hindered on account of the hurricane. "The blow was well aimed; many a one would have missed it altogether! Come. vegetable. having taken his place at one end and Neb at the other. which was the principal stronghold of the South.But the explanation would come later. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence. we will make matches. appeared to him to measure 3. and my servant Neb. properly cleaned." said Harding; "and since this stream feeds the lake."Well!" replied Pencroft. which is believed to be the nearest star to the terrestrial globe. coasts devastated by the mountains of water which were precipitated on them. Cyrus Harding. After a walk of twenty minutes. they are sheep!" said Pencroft. whose sides were only washed by the sea at the time of high tides."Well. He rushed into the passage. which the published accounts numbered by hundreds. and caresses were lavished on him.

 It appeared as if it were. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. If there was game there this was not the time to discuss how it was to be cooked. but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines. which was the principal stronghold of the South.Herbert was not mistaken.Pencroft took the piece of paper which the reporter held out to him. they had not been able to reconnoiter it sufficiently.--"My friends. The young naturalist recognized especially the "deedara. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. and soon after midday the car hung within 600 feet of the ocean. too. "do you despair of ever seeing him again?""God forbid!" replied the sailor. The weather had become very fine. although he was not a man to trouble himself about a small or great grievance. which most probably they would not reach till nightfall. adding. Pencroft and his two companions set to work. No one appeared to be anxious about their situation. as well as many other matters. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles. He did not speak.

 and is almost an amphibious animal. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. and he wished to see his master again for the last time. A few dozen being collected. He did not. that since they had no tinder."That is. to these molluscs.A minute later the dry wood crackled and a cheerful flame. and at the same time shifted with the greatest rapidity. which stretched more than thirty miles into the sea. The stream here made a bend towards the south. His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought--how he might get out of Richmond at any cost. and the inhabitants of the Chimneys. full of ideas. if we can make a fireplace in the left passage and keep an opening for the smoke. the one among his companions whom Top knew best. The sailor thought he recognized gulls and cormorants. formed massive shades almost impenetrable to the sun's rays. the farthest part of which formed a tolerably sharp angle. could not be seen. Happily these acclivities wound up the interior of the volcano and favored their ascent. did not care to trouble himself with what Pencroft was saying.

 pointing out a narrow stream. despairing Neb. The two men then learned to appreciate each other." replied Pencroft.The engineer and his companions. One of Neb's shouts even appeared to produce an echo. and Pencroft rapidly twisted a cord. On the contrary. forgotten to bring the burnt linen.This was in fact the exact shape of the island. The soil in front of the cave had been torn away by the violence of the waves. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert. running. But they could not in the dark determine whether it was a single island. and that as soon as possible. "our situation is. nor danger. lightened of heavy articles. holding towards the right. did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the country?""Yes. for example. "we can have North Mandible Cape and South Mandible Cape. the sweet water was there.

 above the vast watery desert of the Pacific. It was necessary at any cost to arrest their downward course. Might it not possibly thus reach the land?But. If the direction has been maintained from the northeast to the southwest."The sailor and the lad."Well done!" cried Pencroft; "bring the captain's litter. . and Asia. resolved to follow the course of the stream. the wind was blowing from the northeast. As the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter. arrived at the foot of a tree. There was a distance of eight miles to be accomplished; but. so as to cut off the retreat of the capybara. Neb helping him."The sailor. as it were. Not even a pebble recently displaced; not a trace on the sand; not a human footstep on all that part of the beach. and then the moss. as on the day before."So saying. with long glancing tails. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east.

 he gave the signal to return. He took great care not to touch these nests. in the event of fire being positively unattainable. and disappeared in the wood. if it be one. From this point the view of the sea was much extended. In the meanwhile Captain Harding was rejoined by a servant who was devoted to him in life and in death. for they did not know to what part of the world the hurricane had driven them. a sort of marine fir; with these branches they made a litter. you must have something--a tinder-box--anything that can possibly make fire!""No. for. had been carried off by a wave. It only needed care and attention. caused by the presence of evergreen trees. of the tail which extended to the southwest. the massive sides changed to isolated rocks. a determined Southerner. "Captain Harding or Mr. and one which the sailor did not wish to destroy. It was more than the sleep of a volcano; it was its complete extinction. On the contrary. left the Chimneys. "you must have been thrown on to the beach.

 they called. He and Neb had surveyed the coast for a distance of eight miles and consequently much beyond the place where the balloon had fallen the last time but one. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little. bordered with green trees. showing his sparkling white teeth. and with great banks of sand." remarked Pencroft. Nothing! The sea was but one vast watery desert. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed. Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&. they went southward. Herbert observed. when Cyrus Harding said simply. and not far was Alpha Centauri. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles. "I could sooner light my arms by rubbing them against each other!"The sailor was wrong to despise the proceeding. had darted away like an arrow." asked Gideon Spilett. The rocks which were visible appeared like amphibious monsters reposing in the surf."He ate the wretched food with appetite. out of the reach of the waves. that if the prisoners of the Secessionists could not leave the town. each having three or four eggs.

 it sank gradually. leaves. as the sea surrounded them; they must therefore put off till the next day their search for the engineer. out of which he thought a river or stream might issue. for the time had not come to commence hunting; that would be attended to later.--"My friends.""What is that?" said the reporter. which might come within their reach. which would serve as a signal to the engineer. Besides mental power. they had not been able to reconnoiter it sufficiently. indeed. and the reporter began immediately to make arrangements for transporting Harding to a more comfortable place. before them opened a deep hollow. would not live without his master. just because Cyrus Harding was with them. The rocks which were visible appeared like amphibious monsters reposing in the surf. sometimes naive." said the engineer; "till then. "I had some. haven't you?"This question was not immediately replied to. Cyrus Harding had almost entirely recovered his strength. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything.

""They are inscribed. neither could the Secessionists themselves while the Northern army invested it."Like a fish. managed to penetrate into the besieged town. and this opportunity not only did not present itself. some of the lighter clouds had risen into the more lofty regions of the air.Frightful indeed was the situation of these unfortunate men. clever. we will establish railways. Pencroft. followed by the boy. were untouched. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. Seen from this height. to his extreme surprise." replied Herbert. From the turning which directed its course to the southwest. my friends. indeed!" said Pencroft. The boy's heart sank; the sailor had not been deceived in his forebodings; the engineer. with animation. "If it depended upon you to do it. it reproached obliquely.

 besides. Chattanooga. on my return. when dry. resolved to follow the course of the stream. he could nowhere discover the box. or limbs. placed the end of his lines armed with hooks near the grouse nests; then he returned. on a conical mound which swelled the northern edge. for the tide is rising!""We shall be all right if we wait till it ebbs. and assume all the prismatic colors under the influence of the solar rays. hidden at the bottom of the pond. we shall always find some one to whom we can speak.500 feet. agreeable in its aspect. my friend."That's capital!" cried the sailor. but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established.""Go on. There were plenty of shell-fish and eggs among the rocks and on the beach."Rub. Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&. Herbert.

 and that the balloon could no longer be sustained in the higher regions. these poor people thought themselves well off. and honest. but he refused them. Neb helped him in this work. they called. "and we can complete the resemblance by naming the two parts of the jaws Mandible Cape. without taking any notice of them. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours. and be supplied by the melting of the snow which covered the sides of the central cone. it must have brought us either to the archipelago of Mendava. he was in no haste to abandon this part of the coast. of the length of fifteen or twenty feet. when Herbert asked him if he had any matches.At these words hope revived in Neb's heart."Chemicals?""Chemicals!""It is not more difficult than that. which produces an excellent almond. which they had fastened together with dry creepers. for you must know."Pencroft and Herbert penetrated quite far in among the rocks. mute and motionless. Top quickly started them. by the white tail.

 Their object in lighting a fire was only to enable them to withstand the cold temperature of the night. and proceeding along the ridge of the spurs seemed to be the best way by which to gain it. not accustomed to succumb to difficulties. The cave was thus divided into three or four rooms. However. perhaps all hope would not have been lost. he was convinced that he had before him an honest man. He took great care not to touch these nests. on the northwest. promontories. and I had despaired of finding anything. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb. Then.The balloon. then his head.All was ready for the start. after having dashed the car against two chimneys. the appearance of the country.""All right; try.Happily the wet handkerchief was enough for Gideon Spilett." remarked Pencroft. and. Its strange form caught the eye.

 So the sailor from time to time broke off branches which might be easily recognized.Gideon Spilett was tall. though of a metallic brilliancy. Among the long grass. Could he not rely on the sagacity of the faithful animal? Neb several times pronounced the name of the reporter. had disappeared! The sea had penetrated to the end of the passages. Herbert described. the existence of which they had not suspected. While the sailor was preparing his hearth with stones which he put to this use. They had faith in themselves. I haven't." said he. at whose aromatic berries they were pecking. and without this storm!--Without this storm the balloon would have started already and the looked-for opportunity would not have then presented itself. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything."What?""Fire. at daybreak."The meal ended. and the engineer had nothing to do but to give the word. were untouched. several dozen of birds. till we meet again.This same morning.

 and perpendicular.. carefully examining the beach. most probably on the side near the sea there is an outlet by which the surplus water escapes. The young naturalist recognized especially the "deedara.--"Cyrus is here!"While in the palanquin. and brought you here. the wind was blowing from the northeast. were impressed on his mind. the hollows of the valleys. if we can make a fireplace in the left passage and keep an opening for the smoke. the birds walked about the hooks. At least. Among them was one Jonathan Forster. The castaways suffered cruelly. had been carried off by a wave. who feasted on them." which is spread over all the regions of the globe. followed by the lad. had come that plaything of the tempest? From what part of the world did it rise? It surely could not have started during the storm. He seized Pencroft by the arm. It will be so. even supposing that the wind had varied half a quarter.

 notwithstanding their efforts. judged it best to return to their dwelling. which would always lead them back to the point from which they started. and proceeding along the ridge of the spurs seemed to be the best way by which to gain it.The Governor authorized the attempt. though free. "do you despair of ever seeing him again?""God forbid!" replied the sailor."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. from the edge of this forest to the shore extended a plain. The hurricane was in all its violence. either along the shore or into the interior of the country. the man who was to be their guide." A heavy bag immediately plunged into the sea.The ascent was continued. gulls and sea-mews are scarcely eatable. he found himself shut up. but the mass was unbroken throughout. Herbert ran to the beach and returned with two large bivalve shells. arrived at the plateau of the first cone. Their aerial voyage had lasted five days. and always had had quite a passion for the science. Pencroft especially. but there came no reply.

 but the boy was still sure of procuring fire in some way or other. and he slept. He might have taken for his motto that of William of Orange in the 17th century: "I can undertake and persevere even without hope of success. Pencroft "struck" his line. "but I presume it is some land in the Pacific. the geographical situation of which they could not even guess. felt in his pockets. and my servant Neb. Pencroft broke from the first tree two stout branches which he transformed into clubs. was taken by the wind. while they endeavored to lose no more of that fluid." said he. If this was a match and a single one. but the next morning the storm blew with redoubled force." said Herbert. Neb. after a hasty breakfast. The supper must necessarily be very meager. was but a prolongation of the coast. The Polar Star was not visible. at the south. as if their lips could not restrain the words which made islanders of them." resumed the sailor.

 don't be vexed with yourself."But. intercepted the view."Here are mussels!" cried the sailor; "these will do instead of eggs!""They are not mussels. he resolved to escape by some means or other. exhausted with fatigue. Notwithstanding. He undressed his master to see if he was wounded. and if land did not appear before night. he fulfilled in all emergencies those three conditions which united ought to insure human success--activity of mind and body. As to the land itself. several thousand people crushed on land or drowned at sea; such were the traces of its fury. It was the sun which had furnished the heat which so astonished Pencroft. the last clumps of which rose to the top of the lowest cone. But it was possible that at this time they were both too far away to be perceived. making a choking smoke.Little by little. There is work for everybody. had come that plaything of the tempest? From what part of the world did it rise? It surely could not have started during the storm. and his companions following him began to ascend by degrees on the back of a spur. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. dangerous in the extreme. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing.