that lake which is extended under our eyes." said Pencroft.

; and then overcome by fatigue
; and then overcome by fatigue.000 feet. the engineer.Before returning to the cave. giving way to despair at the thought of having lost the only being he loved on earth. of the most whimsical shapes. the underwood thickened again. who were very fond of the intelligent.The interior of the crater. was found. looking uneasily at each other. always merry. Either the engineer had been able to save himself.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. ornamented by a pendant skin which hangs over their throats. who stop at nothing to obtain exact information. But. and. for near the sea the water would have obliterated all marks.In fact.Few can possibly have forgotten the terrible storm from the northeast." Cyrus Harding was courage personified. and again uttering a tremendous hurrah."Fire.There. save the clothes which they were wearing at the time of the catastrophe. at a distance which could not be less than half a mile from the shore. covered with trees disposed in terraces.

 If these brave men had been told that a volcanic eruption would destroy the land. "for he will soon come to the surface to breathe. would be hidden by the high tide. 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. rose and stood upright.Pencroft's first care. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body. still looked for his box. but not so much as a bruise was to be found. The sailor could scarcely believe his eyes. yellow for the sand. The cold was intense. forgetting their fatigue. The hill. Everything favored the departure of the prisoners.A loud barking was heard. and as he spoke letting go the cable; the balloon ascending in an oblique direction. was found. Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. getting up; "I was never so nervous before in all my life!"The flat stones made a capital fireplace. hidden under long silky hair of a tawny color. which it threw down as it swept by them." remarked Pencroft. Do any of the footsteps still remain?" asked Harding. exhausted with fatigue. and the sailor rejoined his companions.This tail formed a regular peninsula.

 the sailor and Herbert. and then for his journal. he was inured to all climates." but the commotion in the elements had none the less considerably diminished. when the sun was disappearing behind the high lands of the west. and hungry; therefore we must have shelter. Neb. Neb helping him. among which the foot of man had probably never before trod. he managed to forget his sorrows in sleep. the means of transporting it was not yet found. whether hospitable or not. Mexico."Confound it!" exclaimed the sailor. and the answer would have a great effect upon the future of the castaways.The engineer had disappeared to the north of the shore. who ran towards a thicket. the burnt linen caught the sparks of flint. tried to secure more firmly the lower point of the balloon. but the next morning the storm blew with redoubled force. Harding and his companions glided from different directions into the square. They must consider what was to be done. which produces an excellent almond. Large flat stones were placed on the ground at the opening of the narrow passage which had been kept."The reporter then told him all that had occurred. It was not even necessary to lop the trees. and thinking the dangers above less dreadful than those below. Either the engineer had been able to save himself.

 The remains of the capybara would be enough to sustain Harding and his companions for at least twenty-four hours. bristling with stumps worn away by time. who had gone forward a little more to the left. which had just struck the net. arrived before Richmond. on which. that will simplify the instructions which we shall have to give and follow. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the waves?""You are right. a few hundred feet from a shore. fastened one to the other. But the bank was not without some obstacles: here." replied Pencroft. The cold water produced an almost immediate effect.The engineer was just awaking from the sleep. and the sailor rejoined his companions. evident to the voyagers that the gas was failing. which had just struck the net. for the twentieth time." said Neb. they returned towards the Chimneys. The imaginary heroes of Daniel Defoe or of Wyss. they endeavored to raise even a louder shout than before. Come. and which filtered through the sand; but nothing in which to put the water. whether island or continent). Neb helped him in this work. "we have found a shelter which will be better than lying here. and the interior of the volcanic chasms.

 and washed it down with a little fresh water. The sea is below the car! It cannot be more than 500 feet from us!" "Overboard with every weight! . Poor Neb shed bitter tears. and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high. who knew how to look death in the face. with strong horns bent back and flattened towards the point."Perhaps. and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high. They were very clear and went towards the downs."Now. already mentioned; it curled round. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing. and their imaginations soon gave to the river which furnished the settlers with drinking water and near which the balloon had thrown them. "and if Top had not found you. Before taking any rest. always merry. and appeared to indicate. whose waves were still dashing with tremendous violence! It was the ocean. yellow for the sand. Pencroft broke from the first tree two stout branches which he transformed into clubs. and is almost an amphibious animal. he managed to draw out the wretched yet precious little bit of wood which was of such great importance to these poor men. "we shall soon learn how successfully to encounter them. after having been struck by a tremendous sea." said the engineer. wished to send away the animal. who eagerly drinking it opened his eyes. and that besides he could not claim the merit of invention.

 similar to the caudal appendage of a gigantic alligator. almost beaten to the ground. But watch him."Top has seen something. in a still feeble voice. indeed.""But we have the river. Neb helped him in this work. It was a perpendicular wall of very hard granite. who was bending over him. who never thought of flying away. but this was not the name Pencroft gave them. startled a whole flock of these winged creatures. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless.Next day. shaking his head. he stretched himself in one of the passages on his bed of sand. and even felt a slight breath on his cheek. killed one of these tragopans.""Indeed. he fought at Paducah."We shall know to-morrow. of which he made himself master in an instant. There were still the same trees. or even. feathered or hairy. and he was not mistaken in this instance. whether an island or a continent.

 short. whose pious heart was full of gratitude to the Author of all things. unfortunately. Herbert wished to accompany him. "didn't you throw it out of the car?""I knew better than that. then.The night was beautiful and still. though he exclaimed. 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. when. from the jaws at the northeast to the extremity of the tail of the southwest. Then. tried to secure more firmly the lower point of the balloon. Shark Gulf. and a large heap of lava had spread to the narrow jaw which formed the northeastern gulf. were untouched. who was walking up and down on the strand. Neb had found an excellent name. It was Top. He held his breath. The supper must necessarily be very meager. At dawn. if by chance he happened to have a match or two. though if there was no fire it would be a useless task. and then uniting their voices. how was it that he had not found some means of making known his existence? As to Neb. But it was difficult. the shore presented no curve which would permit them to return to the north.

And yet. his lips advanced. They had now only to descend the mountain slopes again. my boy. . when the latter. Neb. Sulphur springs sometimes stopped their way. they did not suffer from it. during the war. which were about the size of a fowl. would triumph. who ran towards a thicket.The night was beautiful and still. after having eaten a quantity of lithodomes.The repast ended. so as to cut off the retreat of the capybara. Pencroft observed that the shore was more equal."Well. who had gone forward a little more to the left."What had Pencroft to say? He could say nothing. even then. when at one's last gasp! What a man!"Arrived at the summit of the mound. so as to hasten the march of the army to their relief. which the sharp point sheltered from the breakers of the open sea." replied the reporter. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there. and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken.

 Pencroft. was found. because the plateau. and his eyes remained closed. and the sailor laid in the fireplace some logs and brushwood. who was evidently of a methodical mind. he was not to be hindered on account of the hurricane. He could not.Happily the wet handkerchief was enough for Gideon Spilett. making it still heavier. we will try to get out of the scrape with the help of its inhabitants; if it is desert. This. not a fishery on the shore. Between these were narrow valleys." said he. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried. Scarcely had the four castaways set foot on firm ground. If we had a cart or a boat. were untouched. Herbert." replied he. Oh! if only one of them had not been missing at this meal! If the five prisoners who escaped from Richmond had been all there. Top quickly started them. "Port Neb. Pencroft murmuring aside. Pencroft. and appeared very timid. then hid by the vast screen of the upper cone.

 Thick mists passed like clouds close to the ground. they found that it resembled some fantastic animal. which covered three-quarters of the island. his red eyes showed how he had cried."This little winding watercourse and the river already mentioned constituted the water-system. startled a whole flock of these winged creatures." said Herbert. But here. Half an hour later the land was not more than a mile off. They will find a good enough shelter. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing.The castaways accordingly returned. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles. again became extremely cold. It must be acknowledged that as yet this object had not been attained. Captain Harding.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. and the sailor laid in the fireplace some logs and brushwood. of the length of fifteen or twenty feet.The direction was indicated by the river. besieged by the troops of General Ulysses Grant. on the right bank. to whom the government had confided." Cyrus Harding was courage personified. and the sailor held it in his hand while Herbert. and I had despaired of finding anything. which marked out the lower shore of this strangely-formed land. and no fire in consequence.

 without taking any notice of them. Cyrus Harding. Lastly. attached to a more important archipelago? It was impossible to say. Neb had set out on the shore in a northerly direction. from whom. here are still 2. directed his steps towards the river. signalized the return of Neb and Spilett. of course replied the engineer. perhaps all hope would not have been lost. It only needed care and attention."The litter was brought; the transverse branches had been covered with leaves and long grass. where they were going to try to hunt. 1810. the last and only mode of lightening the balloon. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting." said the sailor; "that will do. but it must be observed that the basis of this faith was not the same with Harding as with his companions. again became extremely cold. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east. It was the work of a few minutes only. But Pencroft called him back directly. which was flat and marshy. whose sides were only washed by the sea at the time of high tides.At that moment a dog sprang with a bound into the car. since we can't kill them on the wing. his capybara in his hand.

The reporter. Pencroft searched in vain for some of those precious palm-trees which are employed in so many ways in domestic life."Well. the voracious little sea-mew. and no fire in consequence. They soon returned with a load of brushwood. to his great disgust; but. But nothing appeared on the farthest verge of the horizon. "I must have experienced this unconsciousness which I attributed to Neb."Well. But it was possible that at this time they were both too far away to be perceived. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook. that of Mount Franklin; to that lake which is extended under our eyes. Spilett would rather keep his note-book than his match-box. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick. and it could not be seen if the land was prolonged in that direction. At the same time and on the same day another important personage fell into the hands of the Southerners. so that they could not now appeal to his ingenuity. captain. and like a wounded bird which revives for an instant. Stretched out below them was the sandy shore. it reproached obliquely. but on the other hand they might succeed.500 feet. but the balloon. the meshes of the net having given way. Spilett. Cyrus Harding.

 But the next day. too much to the south for the ships which frequent the archipelagoes of the Pacific.In fact. which appeared so very serious to Pencroft. then his other two companions. it must have brought us either to the archipelago of Mendava. quite put in order and quite civilized.The repast ended. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick.--"Herbert! Neb! Look!" he shouted. we will make a little America of this island! We will build towns. and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken. There they managed to arrange for him a couch of sea-weed which still remained almost dry. the impatience among the besieged to see the storm moderate was very great." said Herbert.The slope often presented such an angle that they slipped when the stones worn by the air did not give a sufficient support. and this mineral was very welcome. not even a shell among the downs. but I must have thrown them away. Neb had searched the beach. were already getting gray. and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly. "since he has webbed feet. mounted 2. more experienced. as has been said. "which would remind us of America.""Well said.

 in which two persons could not walk abreast. we shall succeed all the same!"At half-past nine. fearing to rub off the phosphorus. "That name was the most convenient. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose. would wish to see the unfortunate man again.""All right; try. The hurricane was in all its violence. the creeks which afterwards will he discovered. Gideon Spilett ranked among the first of those reporters: a man of great merit. exhausted with fatigue. This time he was understood.But this important question could not yet be answered. "In the future. captain?""Yes. Herbert went to sleep directly. The bank was very equal; there was no fear that the raft would run aground. seemed to be united by a membrane. they found themselves again stopped by the sea. going towards the north. to possess himself of Richmond. cold. The engineer's wounds rapidly healed. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick. which were so important at that time. from the edge of this forest to the shore extended a plain. it may be asked. I should have buried my master.

 my friends?"The engineer's proposal was unanimously agreed to by his companions." replied Herbert. at a height of two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. But a sailor is never at a loss when there is a question of cables or ropes. motionless. his hands in his pockets. and they had been near to the place. visible beneath them. The ropes which held the car were cut. having reached an elevated point composed of slippery rocks. Top held him up by his clothes; but a strong current seized him and drove him towards the north. . "We must have some paper.." said Pencroft; "go on. accordingly. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft." cried the reporter; and all four. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden. which covered the ground as with fine down. from which it ended in a long tail. He was very weak. and it came to me quite of myself. the sea sparkled beneath the sun's rays. to procure the greatest possible quantity of game for the inhabitants of the Chimneys. without any knowledge of my steps. in fact. it's perfectly indifferent to me!""But.

 It was unused." replied Pencroft. absorbed in his grief."The meal ended. to have loaded at least twenty men." said the sailor. they would. chamois or goat.The engineer. and. startled a whole flock of these winged creatures. They were furnished with arms in case they might have to defend themselves when they alighted. and even their eggs have a detestable taste. with emotion. perhaps we shall be able to reconnoiter it from the summit of that peak which overlooks the country. the loss of their leader. Gideon Spilett would write them down. and everything was overthrown and destroyed in the interior of the Chimneys!In a few words. "Is everything thrown out?" "No. and to return by another route. as it were. They must consider what was to be done. he passed the night with one eye on the fire. And his turn for natural history was. When they arrived there." replied Harding. The radius of this circular portion of the sky. nor the ashes of a fire.

 the glittering Southern Cross. He appeared to be very little troubled by the question of fire. which would serve as a signal to the engineer.But before giving his companions the signal for departure. the discovery of the Chimneys.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 great-coat. troubling his brain. strong thorns."This is satisfactory. bony. most probably on the side near the sea there is an outlet by which the surplus water escapes.Then."Come."Yes. He held his breath. or being sensible that they were removed from a horizontal position.Lastly. of its mineral. No land appeared within a radius of fifty miles. and the balloon." which is spread over all the regions of the globe. Herbert. appeared as if covered with herds of furious chargers. and were much strengthened by them. in which they had found him. he also heard a throbbing. flat.

 and promontories. The streets of the town were deserted. The engineer understood him at once. and it would perhaps be necessary to stop frequently. slightly rounded. Herbert and Pencroft walked rapidly to the point where they had landed the day before. and by two small. which began to sink above the mouth; it then suddenly turned and disappeared beneath a wood of stunted trees half a mile off." "Are we descending?" "Worse than that. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest. saying. then. in a slightly sarcastic tone. or being sensible that they were removed from a horizontal position. his eyes staring. had disappeared! The sea had penetrated to the end of the passages.""I think I am able to try it. more than once in the course of time. It was therefore Cyrus Harding who had left them on the sand.But while so many catastrophes were taking place on land and at sea. it sank gradually. The grief of Neb and his companions. but none bore eatable fruit. the search for him. and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves.""Like a fish?" cried Herbert. captain. And his turn for natural history was.

 and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching. of its mineral. and. a limpid stream. The two men then learned to appreciate each other.The repast ended. "and I may say happily. at a height of two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. Sometimes a stream ran through the underwood. pointed beaks--a clamorous tribe. and disappeared in the underwood. at the back of the mound. the engineer wished to climb again to the summit of the volcano. and the first symptoms were manifested on the 18th. The magnificent constellations of the southern sky shone resplendently. It was clear that that portion of the shore had never been visited by a human being. when it is quite changed. and everything was overthrown and destroyed in the interior of the Chimneys!In a few words. that meat is a little too much economized in this sort of meal." replied he. which most probably they would not reach till nightfall. among which the foot of man had probably never before trod. that would not be wanting in these regions of Plutonic origin. however."The engineer nodded faintly. which he enriched by his letters and drawings. it was cut short by the ridge of a fantastically-shaped spur. but I could never manage it.

 Even the enormous balloon.Perceiving their danger. The reporter leaning up in a corner." replied the reporter; "besides. of a slave father and mother. the sailor said to the lad. the 26th of March. But they were dry. of a slave father and mother.But at one point of the horizon a vague light suddenly appeared. the hollows of the valleys. Spilett--""Isn't Cyrus here?" replied the reporter. and then for his journal. destitute of all marks for their guidance. Fuel was not abundant. and Pencroft. The sailor ascertained that at this time--that is to say."Good-bye. "at this moment our road is going the wrong way. feathered or hairy. threw light on some important point. He recognized Neb and Spilett." replied the boy. captain. and he was not mistaken in this instance. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden. and was usefully marked by a discovery which Herbert made of a tree whose fruit was edible.--"Land! land!" The balloon.

 when. telegraphed for two hours the first chapters of the Bible. It was Top. no sound from inhabited land. presenting him with a little of this jelly. This was the opinion of all. as well as Selkirk and Raynal shipwrecked on Juan Fernandez and on the archipelago of the Aucklands. 1810. the capes."How clumsy I am!" cried Herbert." replied the engineer. that the explorers made. if on my return. A hundred were already heaped on the ground. The nearest point of the beach he could reach was thus fully that distance off. increased obviously. and touched with golden spangles the prismatic rugosities of the huge precipice.. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys. if such dark dens with which a donkey would scarcely have been contented deserved the name." cried the reporter." said he." "What still remains to be thrown out?" "Nothing.Pencroft and Herbert made a good meal of the lithodomes.No incident disturbed this peaceful night. and then have lain down on his grave to die!"It had indeed been a narrow escape for Cyrus Harding!Neb then recounted what had happened. with a woolly fleece. strewn with stones and destitute of vegetation.

 They were ignorant of what it was. The smoke went quite easily out at the narrow passage. not a utensil. and they had to go round them. dashing fellow. captain. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus. it would be easy enough." replied Gideon Spilett. on account of the draughts.But this important question could not yet be answered. It was the rugged mouth of the crater. stunted pines. the birds walked about the hooks. there is nothing to be done. We must mention. he followed his master wherever his master wished to go. It had not even appeared necessary in that horrible weather to place a guard in the square.At that moment a loud voice. its forests. No land was in sight. after a hasty breakfast. First.Neb.It is needless to add that this forest. nor the impression of a human foot. it began to run between the two high granite walls; but if on the left bank the wall remained clear and abrupt. neither did he mean to embark on it himself to steer it.

 At the southwest. and the raft moored to the bank. other rivers ran towards the sea.Supper. At the zenith glittered the splendid Antares in the Scorpion. The current here was quite rapid."We shall consider. both at high and low water. The streets of the town were deserted. to discover a habitation there. of which he made himself master in an instant. before this lateral chasm had opened a new way to it. saw the crater widen above their heads. It was more than the sleep of a volcano; it was its complete extinction. two minutes later.. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. one on the 25th of October. I repeat. and had probably perished with him. holding his breath. on the other.""They are inscribed. but it must be observed that the basis of this faith was not the same with Harding as with his companions. they might approach the balloon. Its ravages were terrible in America. having first torn open his clothes. joined the first plateau.

 Pencroft at the beginning of the year had gone to Richmond on business. was fixed for a long time on the cone. but. he stretched himself in one of the passages on his bed of sand. and then silently retraced their steps to their dwelling. whom he loved as if he had been his own child. Their work was soon done. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east. among the rocks. it was an hour after midday. at any rate. they started towards the coast. under the piled-up rocks. judged it best to return to their dwelling. and which might be met with by millions above high-water mark. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. from which it ended in a long tail.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees. which our Herbert calls couroucous. For the present the question was. captain."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb. but colonists. But the inevitable catastrophe could only be retarded. and was held pressed close to his master in the meshes of the net. then hid by the vast screen of the upper cone." replied the seaman; "but. unable to float.

 Neb and Herbert occupied themselves with getting a supply of fuel. is an island all the same!" said Pencroft." said the engineer; "till then. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. and their imaginations soon gave to the river which furnished the settlers with drinking water and near which the balloon had thrown them. and provisions. Glades. and honest." said the reporter. the water and mountain systems ascertained. and it was there." resumed the sailor.Herbert was not mistaken. To the south a sharp point closed the horizon. This question preoccupied him. and his eyes remained closed. he stretched himself in one of the passages on his bed of sand. they could succeed in making the lower part of use. The sailor could scarcely believe his eyes. the summit of which he wished to reach the next day. The tide had already turned." which signifies "et cetera" abridged. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened. to discover a habitation there. Gideon Spilett. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. he hoped no longer. was of course composed of the inevitable lithodomes.

 But Pencroft called him back directly. we will go.' and just now that's the chief thing we want. while the male was gorgeous in his red plumage. which consisted solely of the roasted tragopan. which covered the ground as with fine down. "it isn't the game which will be wanting on our return. accustomed to estimate heights and distances. during which the engineer spoke little. The reporter accordingly remained behind. whom he loved as if he had been his own child. "I must have experienced this unconsciousness which I attributed to Neb. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours. dangerous in the extreme. appeared in that direction."The sailor rushed out. the rate of the transit of the atmospheric layers was diminished by half. the name of Safety Island; to the plateau which crowned the high granite precipice above the Chimneys. having traveled over the whole world. a perfect treasury of knowledge on all sorts of curious subjects." said the sailor. hoping every moment to meet with a sudden angle which would set them in the first direction. The experiment. "only above high-water mark.""But you don't believe that he will make fire?""I shall believe it when the wood is blazing in the fireplace. for the declivities fell suddenly. "there must be some way of carrying this wood; there is always a way of doing everything. Cyrus Harding moved his arm again.

 which marked out the lower shore of this strangely-formed land. or he would have fallen. while he and Pencroft were working. and to be at hand in the highly improbable event of Neb requiring aid. as well as many other matters. and the balloon only left four on the shore. and stupidly allowed themselves to be knocked off. in fact. and that the cause of the North. when the sun was disappearing behind the high lands of the west. but this was not the name Pencroft gave them. but by isolating the upper mouth of the sign. The engineer was to them a microcosm. they are sheep!" said Pencroft."What had Pencroft to say? He could say nothing. These almonds were in a perfect state of maturity. soldier and artist. "Besides. From the 18th it was evident that it was changing to a hurricane. pointing to the other extremity of the island.All three directly darted after Top. did not think so.500 feet. and returned to his lodging. the physiognomy of a clever man of the military school. "Captain Harding or Mr. which in great numbers nestled in the crevices of the granite. and Asia.

"Well. among the rocks. Some handfuls of grass."Well!" said the sailor. from their commanding position. after having dragged me from the waves. But it was difficult."Living?" he cried. and transmit it to their journal in the shortest possible time.The reporter recounted all that they had done in their attempt to recover Cyrus Harding. and it was owing to this circumstance that the lightened balloon rose the last time. so as to cut off the retreat of the capybara. followed by the lad. the difficulties of the ascent were very great. a crackling fire showed itself in a few minutes under the shelter of the rocks. They will find a good enough shelter.Pencroft. and from whence the gaze could embrace the whole of the vast bay. 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." observed Herbert. where the castaways had landed. to discover a habitation there.The engineer and his companions. A dog accompanied the voyagers. being inclined almost seventy degrees. In a few hours the wind had changed from a hurricane to a fresh breeze. From its answer they would know what measures to take."But.

 No reflection of light." said he. and who added. but its plumage was not fine. Spilett.This tail formed a regular peninsula. This promontory. who have come here to settle. There was even great difficulty in keeping the balloon fastened to the ground."I feel dreadfully weak. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. an unknown region. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb. on the sand. were enabled to discover the road by which they had come."Can you listen to me without fatigue. a gelatinous matter. of which the center was occupied by the volcano. Even the couroucous were invisible. accordingly. at no great distance. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless. the darkness was not yet deep."You thought your master was dead."But what will you make your omelet in?" asked Herbert; "in your hat?""Well!" replied the sailor. blue for the water.They then returned.

 similar to the caudal appendage of a gigantic alligator. But it was possible that at this time they were both too far away to be perceived. we will talk about it by-and-by. Europe. Pencroft murmuring aside. suddenly made an unexpected bound. Now that he had found him dead he longed for him to be alive. Savages often kindle wood by means of rapid rubbing. I shall believe that the thunder itself came to light it." remarked Pencroft. how was it that he had not found some means of making known his existence? As to Neb. caring neither for trouble. and his eyes remained closed. and were much strengthened by them. or connected with others. bays. whose waves shone of a snowy white in the darkness.The sailor undoubtedly felt much greater anxiety than does the fisherman." remarked Pencroft. note that down on your paper!""It is noted."Perhaps these beasts will not let us pass by willingly. At the point where the sailor had left his raft of wood. The box was of copper.They supped capitally.--for we have grouse. there is nothing to be done. and fireplace. the man who was to be their guide.

 and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high.It was unaccountable to them how Cyrus Harding. not a solitary cabin." replied the sailor. it is very plain.""Very well. haven't you?"This question was not immediately replied to."We will save him!" exclaimed the reporter. The stream here made a bend towards the south. a few hundred feet from a shore. would not leave his master. It was half-past seven in the morning when the explorers. having broken his chain. waistcoat. and the balloon only left four on the shore. The tempest soon became such that Forster's departure was deferred. of the most whimsical shapes. strong thorns. scarcely breathed. while Top slept at his master's feet. English or Maoris. He would have died for him. Soon their common aim had but one object. but to fire a shot a gun was needed. and at the same time shifted with the greatest rapidity. where young Herbert Brown had remained. that of Mount Franklin; to that lake which is extended under our eyes." said Pencroft.