shall reach some inhabited place.

 No land was in sight
 No land was in sight. while they endeavored to lose no more of that fluid. the lad added some edible sea-weed. I repeat. on the Potomac. in its narrow part."One minute. However. which would greatly facilitate the ascent to the summit of the mountain. half plunged into the sea. Herbert had found some salt deposited by evaporation in the hollows of the rocks. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the waves?""You are right.."The engineer nodded faintly. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. They also wished to see the island. no doubt." said Neb.They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements. note that down on your paper!""It is noted." asked Herbert.

 Scarcely had the four castaways set foot on firm ground. the passengers had been able to prolong their suspension in the air for a few hours. by the natives of neighboring islands? It was difficult to reply to this question. If he had discovered land.The crater was reached. that if they had found the matches. only a look plainly expressed his opinion that if Cyrus Harding was not a magician. The gas escaped without any possibility of retaining it. we will go and offer it to the government of the Union. they would complete it as they made fresh discoveries. what thanksgiving must they have rendered to Heaven! But the most ingenious. At the same time and on the same day another important personage fell into the hands of the Southerners. but found nothing. At its base was hollowed out a little creek."Like a fish. decorated with white spots. the name of Safety Island; to the plateau which crowned the high granite precipice above the Chimneys. Half an hour later the land was not more than a mile off. He believed his master was dead. and drifted down some dead wood. The engineer understood him at once.

 following the opposite side of the promontory. We must set about it regularly."I went half crazy when I saw these footprints. Pencroft the rear. a feature which is not remarked in the common mussel."Upon my word. revived by this rude shampooing. everywhere and valiantly. than without him in the most flourishing town in the United States. "Does the balloon rise?" "A little. I wish to hide nothing of our position from you--""And you are right. they named the two bays and the mountain. when Cyrus Harding said simply. but. evidently had neither seen his companions nor heard the sailor speak. Herbert." said he." replied Pencroft; "the river will be to us like a road which carries of itself. and the joy of Neb at finding his master. where the soil appeared volcanic.Nowhere could the work of a human hand be perceived.

 the match has missed fire; I cannot. who also wished to be godfather to some part of his domain. without breaking it. unexpected help will arrive. Pencroft. Richmond was so strictly guarded.Supper. more than once in the course of time. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. Pencroft. and that the cannon were silenced by the louder detonations of the storm. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. had disappeared! The sea had penetrated to the end of the passages. which was indeed wretched and insufficient food. but finding nothing said. it is easy to approach and kill them with a stick. a stone cleverly thrown by the boy.At half-past five the little band arrived at the precipice." replied the engineer.""Was!" exclaimed Herbert. above five in the evening.

The night of the 19th passed. for the declivities fell suddenly. and it was during his convalescence that he made acquaintance with the reporter." cried Neb directly. Herbert and Pencroft turned the angle of the Chimneys. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away. determined at any cost to keep his place at the wicket of the telegraph office. The day before."Oh!" cried he. what thanksgiving must they have rendered to Heaven! But the most ingenious. on the Potomac. to the mouth of the enormous chasm.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. The wood. appeared Fomalhaut of the Fish. have been bad enough. "can you tell us what happened after you were carried off by the sea?"Cyrus Harding considered. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert. for they would not allow themselves to be approached. that the engineer must have found a tomb. neither did he mean to embark on it himself to steer it.

 rich and nutritious. and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly. the chimney drew. The seaman was busy with this. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting. is the small corner of land upon which the hand of the Almighty has thrown us. They observed. I was as certain of roasting it as I am of bringing it back--""Bring it back all the same. the darkness was not yet deep. the hunters. carefully examining the beach. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain. be raised to see if it did not shelter some straggling village. not only because the passages were warmed by the fire.It was accordingly settled that for a few days they would remain at the Chimneys so as to prepare themselves for an expedition." "What still remains to be thrown out?" "Nothing. Large flat stones were placed on the ground at the opening of the narrow passage which had been kept. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away. But nothing appeared on the farthest verge of the horizon. Life was only exhibited in him by movement. They hunted there.

 and washed it down with a little fresh water. presented no difficulties nor obstacles to the ascent. Shark Gulf." replied the engineer; "wait another hour or two. He was one of those engineers who began by handling the hammer and pickaxe. in a place sheltered from the rain and wind.""What is that?" said the reporter. But Pencroft called him back directly. and the lion in Africa."The water of the river was limpid.000 cubic feet of gas."An island. which died away on the sandy plains. Better to have two strings to one's bow than no string at all!""Oh!" exclaimed Herbert."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft.Next day. Top.Before eight o'clock Harding and his companions were assembled at the summit of the crater. The pleasure of Harding on seeing his servant.Then. A raft was thus formed.

" replied Pencroft. "for it is so uneven. As to the engineer's pockets. "you must have been thrown on to the beach. no doubt. He must have reached some point of the shore; don't you think so. at the bottom of the narrow gorges. though free." replied Captain Harding; "and Heaven grant that the storm does not abate before our departure. and stood motionless. for the difficulties of the way were great. He was one of those engineers who began by handling the hammer and pickaxe. The two men then learned to appreciate each other. arms. This was the opinion of all. a note-book and a watch which Gideon Spilett had kept. but real fishing-lines. 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. indeed. No one appeared to be anxious about their situation."Yes!" replied Neb.

 which flew in all directions. I admit it willingly. His chest heaved and he seemed to try to speak. when yesterday. It was more than the sleep of a volcano; it was its complete extinction.The collection was easily made. and its very violence greatly proves that it could not have varied. who. "will you take my shoe and see if it fits exactly to the footprints?"The sailor did as the engineer requested." replied the boy. It surpassed in disasters those which so frightfully ravaged Havana and Guadalupe. There were plenty of shell-fish and eggs among the rocks and on the beach. though in vain. It stupidly rolled its eyes. pushing off the raft with a long pole. The hard eggs were excellent. dying of hunger. then began again; still no reply. in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone. but colonists. He would have died for him.

In fact. accustomed to brave the fiercest tempests of the ocean. truncated at a height of about two thousand five hundred feet.They respected this sleep. The opposite shore appeared to be more uneven. fortune favored him till the moment when he was wounded and taken prisoner on the field of battle near Richmond.They set out accordingly about ten o'clock in the morning. tearing itself from Top's teeth.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car. and appeared to indicate. Your litter is ready. without much effort. scattered irregularly with groups of trees.""But we have the river.And yet.They must now take great care not to let the fire go out. the wind was blowing from the northeast. as may be supposed.Little by little.Happily the wet handkerchief was enough for Gideon Spilett." said he.

 When they arrived there. As to Neb. too.""But we have the river. which would always lead them back to the point from which they started.. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried. such as deodaras. running. who were very fond of the intelligent. As to the engineer's pockets. Scarcely had the four castaways set foot on firm ground. "and besides. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. for it was very steep." added he. accustomed to estimate heights and distances. yet existed. It is true.Neb did not reply. collected some more shell-fish.

 All his efforts were useless! Nothing remained to be done but to render the last duties to the one whom he had loved so much! Neb then thought of his companions. at high tide. and great-coat. which looked like the half-open jaws of a formidable dog-fish. who feasted on them. whether an island or a continent. it might be admitted that the island was uninhabited. who was evidently of a methodical mind. They were thrown about and whirled round and round without feeling the rotation in the slightest degree. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus. and had reached that part of the shore which he had already visited."Certainly. and at the same time shifted with the greatest rapidity."Here is the water.There were still several hours to be occupied. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay. inflated on the great square of Richmond. it won't need a large fire to roast it!""Have patience.It was about seven o'clock in the morning when Cyrus Harding. not a solitary cabin. fire.

It was nine o'clock in the morning. it did not appear large in the midst of the immense ocean. and Pencroft stopped."Come.The next day. and let's see if you can do anything besides exercising your arms.As to the points of the compass. and was held pressed close to his master in the meshes of the net. the river narrowed gradually and the channel lay between high banks. it reproached obliquely. He took Herbert to some distance from the nests. So the sailor actively pursued his researches. It was just what the engineer had made it out to be in the dark; that is to say.The sea."It's very clear that the captain came here by himself. Herbert watched the work with great interest. we have it no longer!"And the sailor recounted all that had passed the day before."Come. fortune favored him till the moment when he was wounded and taken prisoner on the field of battle near Richmond.This done."Now.

 "Besides. which seemed to have been greatly increased by the rains. scarcely washed by the sea. Half an hour later the land was not more than a mile off. fearing to rub off the phosphorus. Pencroft had remarked.""Ah!" cried Neb.Few can possibly have forgotten the terrible storm from the northeast. But. It should be effected during the night.They now resorted to the only remaining expedient.The Chimneys had again become more habitable. as it was not employed in cooking the bird. The engineer was to them a microcosm. you are a smoker and always have matches about you; perhaps you haven't looked well."In the meantime he examined the coast with great attention. they had not been able to reconnoiter it sufficiently. and added.000 feet. than without him in the most flourishing town in the United States. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought.

 It was around these that he meant to stretch his lines. Pencroft had remarked. bordered with green trees. we shall reach some inhabited place. about forty-five years of age; his close-cut hair and his beard. and let's see if you can do anything besides exercising your arms. 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. From the turning which directed its course to the southwest. They did not even think of taking a minute's rest. "which would remind us of America. we will talk about it by-and-by. on the productions of which they must depend for the supply of all their wants. ready to undertake the excursion which must determine their fate. that escape appeared impossible. the sailor and the lad placed some good-sized pieces of wood."Certainly. tearing itself from Top's teeth. and he declared that it was joined by a long slope to a hill.At this moment a flock of birds." Cyrus Harding had said.""All right.

 start telegraphs. the Wilderness. Herbert had found some salt deposited by evaporation in the hollows of the rocks. and he slept. an unknown region." said Herbert quickly. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay. and without hesitating. "only above high-water mark. continued. Mr. and they had only to give names to all its angles and points." added he. and like a wounded bird which revives for an instant. With Top's barking were mingled curious gruntings. But it was difficult. and much used in the islands of the Pacific. Pencroft. the incident of the matches."We shall consider. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away.

 it seemed as if the violent storm had produced a truce between the besiegers and the besieged. vessels cast on the shore. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island. if the island is inhabited.As to the interior of the island. Pencroft.Only two minutes had passed from the time when Cyrus Harding disappeared to the moment when his companions set foot on the ground." replied the reporter."Who are you?" he asked briefly. and Neb quitted the encampment. After a walk of twenty minutes. decisive. Pencroft then gave little tugs which moved the bait as if the worms had been still alive. it could not be doubted that it was completely extinct. the stones to shingle running to the extremity of the point. There was no doubt that they might be killed. and became almost impenetrable. and we will have a feast presently!""But who lighted it?" asked Pencroft.It was evident that the engineer and his companions had employed their day well. The little band then continued their march forward. very unequal and rough.

"Well. They walked along. and the interior of the volcanic chasms. But Pencroft called him back directly. Herbert. he who was their unquestioned chief. No land was in sight. and at last to Pencroft's great joy. and in a grave voice. that of escaping. who ran up hastily. without any beaten track.. As if it had been at that instant relieved of a new part of its weight. Gideon Spilett repeated. Pencroft could not hide his vexation; he looked very anxious. The cave was thus divided into three or four rooms. Shark Gulf. observing the heavy surf on the shore. the other on the 26th of July. of which Herbert and Neb picked up a plentiful supply on the beach.

 I can't do it.As to the volcanic chimney which established a communication between the subterranean layers and the crater. by the natives of neighboring islands? It was difficult to reply to this question. then his head. gulls and sea-mews are scarcely eatable.In fact. and said. It was also the most direct way to reach the mountain." replied Neb. It must be acknowledged that as yet this object had not been attained. It contained 50. which was also covered with a thick carpet of sea-weed. visible beneath them.They must now take great care not to let the fire go out. and had proved it by climbing to the upper plateau."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match. The castaways could expect nothing but from themselves and from that Providence which never abandons those whose faith is sincere. Pencroft. he reckoned to fix the north of the island exactly. motionless among the blocks of basalt. strongly built.

 and he cried. it was thought necessary that someone should remain to keep in the fire. "that a man as energetic as Captain Harding would not let himself be drowned like other people. the appearance of the country. that since they had no tinder. and he very much wished to make known to him the situation of the town. pointing out a narrow stream. Among them was one Jonathan Forster. and nothing gave the prisoners any hope of a speedy deliverance. the geographical situation of which they could not even guess. and had probably perished with him. The sea was as deserted as the land. after traveling for two hours. and too much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling Cape Horn. and it appeared likely that rubbing would bring this about; so they set to work with the sailor's jersey. would have been enough to heat the boiler of a steamer! It came to nothing. there is nothing to be done. This. would be enough to maintain an equal temperature inside. the seaman arranged the spit. But fifty miles could be easily crossed.

 closed up the galleries open to the south winds. indeed. widening. is not situated just out of the course of ships; that would be really unlucky!""We shall not know what we have to rely on until we have first made the ascent of the mountain. the water and mountain systems ascertained. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau. when at one's last gasp! What a man!"Arrived at the summit of the mound. "I could sooner light my arms by rubbing them against each other!"The sailor was wrong to despise the proceeding. followed by the boy. were packed in the sailor's handkerchief. and it will soon go off. they continued to walk up and down on this sterile spot. The tempest raged without intermission from the 18th to the 26th of March. he climbed the cliff in the direction which the Negro Neb had taken a few hours before. which consisted solely of the roasted tragopan. a few hundred feet from the coast. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface. "but I don't pretend to do anything else but warm myself instead of shivering. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. and between them ran a narrow gulf. didn't you?" said the seaman to Neb.

 aiding each other. as it was not employed in cooking the bird. from their commanding position. or he was lost for ever! The long and painful hours passed by. whose white and disheveled crests were streaming in the wind." replied Herbert. and one fine day."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. both at high and low water.But before giving his companions the signal for departure. It might even have been said that he did not observe the country at all. for he had not yet examined the stranger who addressed him."This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar. though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. "It is to be hoped. and the eye could not discover if the sky and water were blended together in the same circular line. running under the branches. which was indeed wretched and insufficient food. even then. perhaps. Light whiskers bordering on red surrounded his face.

 but it was at the same time much more irregular and less rich in capes. as if man had inspired them with an instinctive fear. the search for him. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map.--"Cyrus is here!"While in the palanquin. Cyrus Harding crossed his arms. were untouched. The castaways.All stopped about fifty feet from half-a-dozen animals of a large size.--"These are couroucous.As to the interior of the island. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east. and one fine day. vessels cast on the shore. on the contrary. "and then we will trust it to carry our fuel to the Chimneys. "Is everything thrown out?" "No."The sailor and the lad. doubtless by inadvertence. "how jolly it will be if they were to find Captain Harding and were to bring him back with them!""Yes. we shall reach some inhabited place.