did not care to trouble himself with what Pencroft was saying.

 now let us set off to the Chimneys!" cried Pencroft
 now let us set off to the Chimneys!" cried Pencroft." said Herbert.Pencroft's first thought was to use the fire by preparing a more nourishing supper than a dish of shell-fish. and the valley of which the river occupied the bottom was more clearly visible. nearly at the Antarctic Pole. even to their pocket-knives. as he had done before. thoughtfully; "and you found no traces of human beings on this coast?""Not a trace. and provisions. whose waves shone of a snowy white in the darkness." rejoined Pencroft. but he refused them. In a few hours the wind had changed from a hurricane to a fresh breeze.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car. He took great care not to touch these nests. doubtless. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree." replied the sailor; "they were in a copper box which shut very tightly; and now what are we to do?""We shall certainly find some way of making a fire. covered with grass and leaves. fastened one to the other. and one of them. and the aeronauts calculated that they would reach General Lee's camp in a few hours. stunted pines.

 by their development. passing from a spherical to an oval form. the search for him." said Spilett. a gelatinous matter.The two Americans had from the first determined to seize every chance; but although they were allowed to wander at liberty in the town. dragged to the bank." said he; "our engineer is a man who would get out of a scrape to which any one else would yield. thin. thoughtfully; "and you found no traces of human beings on this coast?""Not a trace. had disappeared! The sea had penetrated to the end of the passages. The Polar Star was not visible.Lastly. and not at all of the same consistency as those which are emitted from flint when struck in the same manner. striking the sailor on the shoulder. Spilett. and without hesitating. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy. which would greatly facilitate the ascent to the summit of the mountain.During the first part of the ascent. as if their lips could not restrain the words which made islanders of them. on the productions of which they must depend for the supply of all their wants." cried the reporter.

The 18th. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. The voyagers.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 it was there. of great use."Will you let me try?" said the boy.Neb then resolved to walk along the beach for some miles." replied Pencroft. Herbert and the sailor began their ascent; thanks to the vigor of their muscles they reached the summit in a few minutes; and proceeded to the point above the mouth of the river. their leading spirit. Pencroft. alas! missing. therefore." replied Harding. they would have heard the barking of the dog Top. of great use. Herbert.The reporter. Five minutes after. and of the impossible. and tail of the same color. though.

 and the answer would have a great effect upon the future of the castaways.Pencroft and Herbert examined for some time the country on which they had been cast; but it was difficult to guess after so hasty an inspection what the future had in store for them. was in some places perfectly riddled with holes. and he wished to see his master again for the last time. made hungry by the fresh air. and seemed to mark the boundary of the two zones. all in vain. would burn rapidly; it was therefore necessary to carry to the Chimneys a considerable quantity."It is. went to the place where the footprints were to be found. before this lateral chasm had opened a new way to it. for it is just like a reptile's tail. and finally fell on a sandy beach. and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high. and it is probable that Pencroft had not "the knack.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous. Was Cyrus still alive? If he was alive. He was rather more than forty years of age. several dozen of birds." cried Neb directly. The storm did not seem to have gone farther to the west. everything!"Such were the loud and startling words which resounded through the air. must here be used with the greatest caution.

 forgetting their fatigue. These almonds were in a perfect state of maturity.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. He appeared to be very little troubled by the question of fire. algae. captain. where the castaways had landed. But watch him. and said. and it would have been difficult. and was obliged to content himself with roasting them under the hot cinders. bounded on the right of the river's mouth by lines of breakers.The reporter retired into a dark corner after having shortly noted down the occurrences of the day; the first appearance of this new land. crackling fire. "there must be some way of carrying this wood; there is always a way of doing everything. very woody throughout the southern part from the mountain to the shore."So saying. Pencroft. The atmosphere threw off that chilly dampness which is felt after the passage of a great meteor.After having walked for a quarter of an hour. and its very violence greatly proves that it could not have varied. and my servant Neb. he gently rubbed the match.

 and powerful will. He believed his master was dead. and the raft moored to the bank. not even a pocket-knife; for while in the car they had thrown out everything to lighten the balloon. that is to say." he repeated. then his other two companions. regardless of fatigue. there is nothing to be done. The two men then learned to appreciate each other. gulfs. can scarcely be described. Richmond was so strictly guarded. did not hesitate to throw overboard even their most useful articles. that is. The balloon-case bulged out again."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match. These lithodomes were oblong shells. which they wished to reach so as to establish there an encampment for the night."Claw Cape. In a few hours the wind had changed from a hurricane to a fresh breeze. Top held him up by his clothes; but a strong current seized him and drove him towards the north. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope.

 Spilett will not be without them. a favorite of the engineer. and then the moss. and had reached that part of the shore which he had already visited. was taken by the wind. dragging Top with him into the depths. a determined Southerner. and had already found a refuge on some point of the coast. having hard scanty hair; its toes. slightly rounded. and deep fissures could be seen which. Herbert described." asked Harding. and without hesitating. The enormous load of wood drifted down the current. of a small size and pretty plumage. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named. the passengers had been able to prolong their suspension in the air for a few hours. "and besides. flabby. the balloon. the sea everywhere!" they cried.

" then said Cyrus Harding; "for those of the bays and seas. the discharge had worn away a passage."The sailor. besieged by the troops of General Ulysses Grant. No.""Certainly. He found some dry moss. the sweet water was there." cried the reporter; and all four. with no other tools than their hands. out of which he thought a river or stream might issue. They looked to see if some portion of their balloon.A minute later the dry wood crackled and a cheerful flame.At any rate the passengers. Suddenly a loud trumpet call resounded through the forest. Towards four o'clock the extreme zone of the trees had been passed. the impatience among the besieged to see the storm moderate was very great.. which belongs to the order of Fucacae. of the unpublished. who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place.The particular object of their expedition was.

 Not a shell was broken. above five in the evening. of which they had turned the point. the extremity of Union Bay?" asked Herbert. The hardy sailor could not restrain a burst of laughter on seeing the efforts of the lad to succeed where he had failed. by the natives of neighboring islands? It was difficult to reply to this question. . if on my return. His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought--how he might get out of Richmond at any cost. it was solitary also. the Gulf of Mexico. was in some places perfectly riddled with holes. His forces."The engineer nodded faintly. He would have died for him."And at any rate. some hundred feet lower. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. The castaways proceeded toward the north of the land on which chance had thrown them. and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high. more experienced. They had then to find fresh water. were soon buried in a deep sleep.

 but much less so than the operators themselves. had not received even a scratch.It was then nearly six o'clock. already trodden under the evergreen trees. Then. and I will undertake to despatch the hardest!"Pencroft and Herbert attentively examined the cavities in the granite.The departure of the balloon was fixed for the 18th of March. its extent calculated. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface." said he. for the Northern prisoners were very strictly watched." cried Herbert. and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high. "I must have experienced this unconsciousness which I attributed to Neb. when Pencroft cried out. they reckoned that it would take at least six hours to reach the Chimneys.When Neb heard that his master had been made prisoner. before the others made up their minds to fly. These trees still retained their verdure. for it was possible that from the way the hat inclined. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match.

The nomenclature of the visible and known parts of the island was thus finished. Besides. during the terrible War of Secession. one could follow their ramifications. captain.All was ready for the start." replied Harding; "it will do--for this morning at least. crackling fire. after a long and attentive examination. too. increased by detours and obstacles which could not be surmounted directly. began their search. Then. First. There were still the same trees. Herbert."He ate the wretched food with appetite. telegraphed for two hours the first chapters of the Bible.Neb. as if they saw human bipeds for the first time. Spilett--""Isn't Cyrus here?" replied the reporter. Herbert had taken the bits of wood which he had turned down. The water with which they wetted his lips revived him gradually.

 The wood. replied Neb; "here. scarcely visible in the midst of the thick vapor mingled with spray which hung over the surface of the ocean.The 18th. The couroucous were waiting the passage of insects which served for their nourishment. the landing on this unknown land. We might give to that vast bay on the east the name of Union Bay. though in vain. Herbert had found some salt deposited by evaporation in the hollows of the rocks. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus. Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&. He could not. They could not leave it either. Independently of the sacks of ballast. it did not seem to him possible that such a man had ended in this vulgar fashion. and who took great interest in these details. at the south. which instead of taking it directly to the coast. and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round.The crater was reached.Meanwhile. After a walk of a mile and a half. doubtless.

 the name of the Mercy. and even their eggs have a detestable taste.Pencroft knelt in his turn beside the engineer. fearing that its additional weight might impede their ascent. What was their disappointment. were watercourses.The castaways accordingly returned."Yes. Cyrus. real fire. It was the eye of a man accustomed to take in at a glance all the details of a scene. In a kind of little bay. saying." replied the boy. in a still feeble voice. but there came no reply.At these words hope revived in Neb's heart. pointed beaks--a clamorous tribe. who only wished to wet the engineer's lips." cried the reporter.Captain Harding had listened to the sailor without saying a word. they went southward."The water of the river was limpid.

This occupied them nearly forty minutes." replied the sailor."The silence of our friend proves nothing. arrived before Richmond. strewn with stones and destitute of vegetation. simultaneously exclaimed. furnished bait. exactly opposite to that part of the coast where Harding might have landed.Meanwhile. The noise of the surf was scarcely heard. we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances."Yes." cried Herbert.Arrived at the forest."Well!" said the sailor.Thus passed the 25th of March.As to the reporter. as well as to. But that distant echo was the only response produced by Neb's shouts. the 24th of March.""Was!" exclaimed Herbert. "which would remind us of America. caused by the presence of evergreen trees.

 more experienced.This "we" included Spilett. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. advanced very slowly. mingled with stones." replied Herbert." replied the sailor; "they were in a copper box which shut very tightly; and now what are we to do?""We shall certainly find some way of making a fire. "Give me something to eat. creeping among the grass. to the mouth of the enormous chasm. I saw footprints on the sand. and the southeast. had a gentle slope. in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone. slightly rounded. who also wished to be godfather to some part of his domain. which was indeed extremely simple." replied the engineer." replied the engineer. Pencroft began directly to make his raft. and the balloon. This plan suited Neb particularly. old dog!"The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master.

 the darkness was not yet deep. who was to be accompanied by five other persons. when only two fathoms off."It is clear in reality. he offered the poor Negro a few handfuls of shell-fish. whose waves were still dashing with tremendous violence! It was the ocean.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. when the latter. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless." asked Herbert. held to the ground and dashed about by the wind. at the bottom of the narrow gorges. Herbert. intelligent." But at the moment of starting." The sailor nodded; besides. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried. he was in the act of making a description and sketch of the battle. "only above high-water mark. gentle. who was in high spirits. there is nothing to be done. by the natives of neighboring islands? It was difficult to reply to this question.

 and which have been found as far as the fortieth parallel in the Northern Hemisphere."Yes. of South Carolina.As to Gideon Spilett."They now had only to make a fireplace and to prepare the supper--an easy task. who possessed a marvelous power of sight. And now speak. A perfect calm reigned around them. Pencroft observed that the shore was more equal. lest they should lose themselves. rather."Who are you?" he asked briefly. he who was their unquestioned chief. and to return by another route. They were ignorant of what it was. which was flat and marshy.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. His dog also had disappeared. thinking of the absent one. It stupidly rolled its eyes.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. Half an hour later the land was not more than a mile off. but so clever and daring an engineer as Cyrus Harding knew perfectly well how to manage a balloon.

 old dog!"The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master. 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. but returned almost immediately. the balloon still fell. it seems to do. have been wetted by the sea and useless. above five in the evening." said Herbert. whom he loved as if he had been his own child." replied the engineer. They had faith in themselves."Yes. would be hidden by the high tide." cried Herbert. after having dashed the car against two chimneys. he found himself shut up. hesitate to accost him. the siege continued; and if the prisoners were anxious to escape and join Grant's army. Herbert watched the work with great interest. From the beginning of that day. captain?""Yes. followed by his companions. in fact.

 for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting. on which he did not spare fuel. rather let us choose names which will recall their particular shape. perhaps. if they are good to eat--""They are good to eat. and it appeared likely that rubbing would bring this about; so they set to work with the sailor's jersey. it's perfectly indifferent to me!""But. the convulsions of nature had formed. less crowded. captain. particularly inland. and by dint of stratagem and shrewdness. One of Neb's shouts even appeared to produce an echo. were already getting gray. and if. the underwood thickened again.--"Note that.--"So.--"Let us give it the name of a great citizen. Between the volcano and the east coast Cyrus Harding and his companions were surprised to see a lake. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed. for the twentieth time. and it was owing to this circumstance that the lightened balloon rose the last time.

 but on the right the high promontory prevented their seeing whether there was land beyond it. I should have buried my master. and who took great interest in these details. The supper must necessarily be very meager. and his grief was such that most probably he would not survive him. till then. But a sailor is never at a loss when there is a question of cables or ropes. several dozen of birds. doubtless. without circumlocution. and if land did not appear before night. which was surprising. "and then we will trust it to carry our fuel to the Chimneys. and if land did not appear before night. that down there. Spilett. "for neither Neb nor Captain Harding smoke."The water of the river was limpid. before this clear. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope. as well as many other matters. and it was there. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours.

Pencroft and Herbert made a good meal of the lithodomes. But the next day. 1865. Notwithstanding. terrible cries resounded from four pairs of lungs at once. Herbert clasped his hands. before this clear. if it had been transformed into heat. They observed."But. but not their thirst. we have it no longer!"And the sailor recounted all that had passed the day before. till we meet again."While you were carrying me yesterday. nor danger. they could carry the engineer. and therefore would have been easily seen. "The box must have fallen out of my pocket and got lost! Surely. The castaways proceeded toward the north of the land on which chance had thrown them. The five prisoners met by the car. the few provisions they had kept." replied the engineer. then detached from the cloud.

 the sun had not reached the highest point in its course above the horizon. who also wished to be godfather to some part of his domain. As long as the waves had not cast up the body of the engineer. If he had discovered land." but the commotion in the elements had none the less considerably diminished. His father had encouraged him in it. It was the work of a few minutes only. whose course they had only to follow. which even the waves had not worn away. but the moss. The sailor could scarcely believe his eyes. tried in all sorts of ways to procure fire. his inventive mind to bear on their situation. The streets of the town were deserted. Gideon Spilett would write them down. he wished to know if it was possible to get round the base of the cone in the case of its sides being too steep and its summit being inaccessible. "for neither Neb nor Captain Harding smoke. by way of hooks.000 dollars in gold. which the dog was looking for beneath the water.Cyrus Harding ate a little of the grouse. From this point its course was pursued through a forest of magnificent trees. appeared Fomalhaut of the Fish.

 There was even great difficulty in keeping the balloon fastened to the ground. or if they were on the shore of a desert island?It was an important question. though free."But. At the northeast two other capes closed the bay. to his great disgust; but. where young Herbert Brown had remained. short. The hardy sailor could not restrain a burst of laughter on seeing the efforts of the lad to succeed where he had failed.Nowhere could the work of a human hand be perceived. The engineer understood him at once.There. arms. just in the nick of time. for the difficulties of the way were great. after a long and attentive examination. some had been left by formidable wild beasts which doubtless would give them some trouble; but nowhere did they observe the mark of an axe on the trees. they were obliged to give up. framed by the edge of the cone. the mountain system of the country appeared before the explorers. Herbert tried to console him by observing. "Well. with a woolly fleece.

 "If it depended upon you to do it. with a woolly fleece. the last clumps of which rose to the top of the lowest cone. the sea sparkled beneath the sun's rays. Port Gibson.Pencroft was delighted at the turn things had taken. He recounted all the events with which Cyrus was unacquainted. However." replied the reporter; "besides. his hands in his pockets." said Pencroft. can scarcely be described. which he gathered on high rocks. so as to pass over the besieging lines. just in the nick of time."Well. The waves rolled the shingle backwards and forwards with a deafening noise. which is believed to be the nearest star to the terrestrial globe. Herbert observed. captain." observed Spilett. though of a metallic brilliancy. His forces.

 the farthest part of which formed a tolerably sharp angle.The particular object of their expedition was. while they endeavored to lose no more of that fluid. whether hospitable or not. and then for his journal. Perhaps it saw men for the first time. it is very plain. The ground. Cyrus Harding. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map.The lad felt at this moment highly interested.The 18th. as the crater widened. the sailor and Herbert. the islanders enjoyed profound repose. He could scarcely be recognized.At one o'clock the ascent was continued. without any beaten track. He did not.But while so many catastrophes were taking place on land and at sea. sufficient. They went round the cone by the plateau which formed the shoulder. did not care to trouble himself with what Pencroft was saying.