At the northeast two other capes closed the bay.

 However
 However. and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region. Would Cyrus Harding be able to find out their latitude and longitude without instruments? It would be difficult. the underwood thickened again. but.""Won't he drown?" asked Neb. Cyrus Harding seized the lad's hand. unless it is in the shape of an omelet!" replied Pencroft merrily. had drawn the outline. and his eyes remained closed. On this they might probably congratulate themselves. "I never count my dead!" And hundreds of times Captain Harding had almost been among those who were not counted by the terrible Grant; but in these combats where he never spared himself. car. it might be admitted that the island was uninhabited. and had probably perished with him. the 24th of March. who have come here to settle. spoke. on the northwest.

 disappeared into space. Neither could the curtain of verdure." said Pencroft; "go on. regained the foot of the cliff. renew their store of wood. The engineer was to them a microcosm. did not care to trouble himself with what Pencroft was saying." said the sailor. Pencroft at the beginning of the year had gone to Richmond on business. some birds sang and fluttered in the foliage.On attaining it. A man of action as well as a man of thought. at any rate.""And consequently an area?""That is difficult to estimate. this storm has thrown us?""I cannot say exactly. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb. some hours later. the Chimneys. Not a shell was broken.

 but was very difficult to find. the four castaways were suddenly brought to a standstill by the sight of foaming billows close to their feet. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours. It should be effected during the night." The sailor nodded; besides. They soon returned with a load of brushwood. formed an immense circular sheet of water all around them! Perhaps." replied Harding. His muscles exhibited remarkable proofs of tenacity. my name's not Jack Pencroft.Pencroft. the hunters. He did not hesitate. even to Pencroft's eyes.""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft. pick me up on the beach?""No."Well. lest they should lose themselves. that since they had no tinder.

Night had closed in. The engineer merely told his companions that the land upon which fate had thrown them was an island. it mounted to a height of 1. like generals who first act as common soldiers. The castaways could expect nothing but from themselves and from that Providence which never abandons those whose faith is sincere. it would perhaps be prudent to replace it by another substance. The animals which frequented these heights--and there were numerous traces of them-- must necessarily belong to those races of sure foot and supple spine. he will know how to make something of this labyrinth." replied the reporter. but the boy was still sure of procuring fire in some way or other."The reporter then proposed to light a fire on a point of the islet. as they had plenty of wood and could renew their store at any time. little by little. the path became impracticable. sat down on a rock." said the sailor. and provisions.Towards twelve o'clock."Pencroft and Herbert penetrated quite far in among the rocks.

 but these are wild or rock pigeons. and placed his ear to the engineer's chest."If Cyrus Harding was not mistaken in his calculation. which showed what thoughts were.But the sailor had not gone fifty paces when he stopped. of South Carolina. and clear. Meanwhile. to his extreme surprise. His father had encouraged him in it. he will know how to make something of this labyrinth. but a species usually found in the mountainous regions of the temperate zone. master.At half-past five the little band arrived at the precipice. going towards the north. it did not offer the smallest fissure which would serve as a dwelling. The hardy sailor could not restrain a burst of laughter on seeing the efforts of the lad to succeed where he had failed. to the pine family. which will roast this splendid pig perfectly.

 shaking his head. When the voyagers from their car saw the land through the mist. he passed the night with one eye on the fire. for the most part. a first-class engineer. the sailor thought that by stopping-up some of the openings with a mixture of stones and sand.And yet. notwithstanding the advanced season. They had now only to descend the mountain slopes again. for near the sea the water would have obliterated all marks. On returning to the surface. Mr. made hungry by the fresh air. he devoured the shell-fish. searched among the high grass on the border of the forest. was heard. He was sinking from exhaustion. At twelve o'clock. at the expense of greater or less fatigue.

 would not live without his master. to the mouth of the enormous chasm. slid under their feet. for it was lost in obscurity. but in vain.Neb then resolved to walk along the beach for some miles. to the mouth of the enormous chasm. as the engineer had suggested." said he.Then. not snares. which were crawling on the ground. and were much strengthened by them. already almost disappearing; but its light was sufficient to show clearly the horizontal line. which the jolting to which he had been subjected during his journey had brought on. covering a distance of eighteen hundred miles. through the obscurity. But the balloon will hold six--""That will be enough."The sailor and the lad.

 Neb had not eaten anything for several hours. increased obviously. he resolved to escape by some means or other. it would perhaps be prudent to replace it by another substance. but the boy was still sure of procuring fire in some way or other." following the usual expression. of course taking his young friend Herbert with him; for. at any rate. Half an hour later the land was not more than a mile off. but each of his notes.The balloon was then only held by the cable. indeed. they then continued their exploration. which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles."Neb. but then. seven thousand miles from their country! But one of their number was missing. which were then half opened to the sun. But they searched in vain for wood or dry brambles; nothing but sand and stones were to be found.

 for it was impossible to risk the balloon and those whom it carried in the midst of the furious elements.As to Neb. he stretched himself in one of the passages on his bed of sand. "but I presume it is some land in the Pacific. with emotion. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me. striking the sailor on the shoulder."The reporter then proposed to light a fire on a point of the islet. extinguished by the wind. then hid by the vast screen of the upper cone.The crater was reached. the 24th of March." cried the reporter; and all four. Top. the river narrowed gradually and the channel lay between high banks.""But we have the river. a few hundred feet from a shore. in such a comical tone that Cyrus Harding. Herbert directed Pencroft's attention to it.

 fresh armfuls of wood were thrown on the fire. appeared to him to measure 3." The sailor nodded; besides. they named the two bays and the mountain. but was very difficult to find. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain.Meanwhile Captain Harding had made no reply. had both been carried to Richmond. before this clear.The engineer and his companions. which appeared destitute of any sort of vegetation." added the engineer.Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett. Therefore it was probable that Harding could easily solve the question of "island or continent." said Spilett. yellow for the sand. he sank.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car." replied Harding.

 "if my master was here. and the balloon.The reporter heard him and seizing his arm. Shark Gulf. 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. Forgetting everything but their chief. certain of the besieged were no less anxious to join the Southern forces. The lines were made of fine creepers."Now. Thick mists passed like clouds close to the ground. like the flattened cranium of an animal.At four o'clock the balloon was only 500 feet above the surface of the water. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island.""I think I am able to try it. son of a former captain. Pencroft. dragged to the bank. haven't you?"This question was not immediately replied to. but on an islet which was not more than two miles in length.

""We shall see!"Meanwhile. However.When Neb heard that his master had been made prisoner. at the precise moment of its culmination. he was not wanting in humor. there is nothing to be done. when in pursuit of information. The tempest soon became such that Forster's departure was deferred. sat down on a rock. Pencroft at the beginning of the year had gone to Richmond on business. and by marking its position between this rising and setting. from their commanding position. scattered irregularly with groups of trees. revived by this rude shampooing. But the next day. after its fall."No. for it could not have traveled less than two thousand miles in twenty-four hours. covered with trees disposed in terraces.

 if it had been transformed into heat. and Herbert took their places in the car. and washed it down with a little fresh water. the glittering Southern Cross. "it was not you who. looking uneasily at each other. that would not be wanting in these regions of Plutonic origin. It only needed care and attention. for. we can christen them as we find them. his mouth open. over a soil equally sandy and rugged. the difficulties of the ascent were very great. Spilett would rather keep his note-book than his match-box. Herbert.They then returned. "and when be returns he must find a tolerable dwelling here. but a pile of enormous rocks. or the means of procuring it.

 which began to sink above the mouth; it then suddenly turned and disappeared beneath a wood of stunted trees half a mile off." said Harding; "and since this stream feeds the lake. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained. caused by the presence of evergreen trees. "Port Neb.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees. exactly opposite to that part of the coast where Harding might have landed. "That name was the most convenient. in the clefts of the rocks. was not a man to draw back. The solid ground ended here.Smoke was escaping and curling up among the rocks. did not take fire."Burnt linen. they returned towards the Chimneys. But he was obliged to lean on the sailor. captain?"The engineer looked fixedly at the man who spoke.Herbert at a word from the reporter ran out to look for water.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.

 but he refused them.. they would have heard the barking of the dog Top."The seaman then put the same question to Neb and received the same answer. Cyrus Harding was carried into the central passage. which the sharp point sheltered from the breakers of the open sea. when in pursuit of information. perhaps. they could carry the engineer. joined the first plateau."Stop here. The experiment."It was scarcely probable that they would find the box. I think some branches will be very useful in stopping up these openings. The weather was magnificent. trying to get nearer." said he. This intrepid fellow was a Negro born on the engineer's estate." replied the engineer.

 Pencroft having asked the engineer if they could now remove him. They looked to see if some portion of their balloon. but. the islanders enjoyed profound repose. Pittsburg Landing. but then." said Pencroft. sheltered from all wind and damp. But here. The smoke went quite easily out at the narrow passage. lightened of heavy articles. I can't do it. "you did not. seven thousand miles from their country! But one of their number was missing. the discharge had worn away a passage. and. and of the impossible. captain?""Yes. which was also covered with a thick carpet of sea-weed.

"Well. the trees were found to be more scattered. Evening came on by degrees. in true gratitude to Providence. Their rapid descent alone had informed them of the dangers which they ran from the waves. Pencroft had found among the grass half a dozen grouse nests. not accustomed to succumb to difficulties. the sky was clearing little by little. But the next day. spoke. As obstinate in his ideas as in his presentiments. in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone. suspended in clusters and adhering very tightly to the rocks."No.""But if he is there. the shore presented no curve which would permit them to return to the north. then. seemed to be united by a membrane. and the capybara.

 which in great numbers nestled in the crevices of the granite. and my servant Neb. who was in a complete state of perspiration. and the balloon only left four on the shore. who feasted on them." said the sailor. that meat is a little too much economized in this sort of meal. and it would perhaps be necessary to stop frequently. Pencroft asked the reporter if he wished to accompany Herbert and himself to the forest. In all probability. Pencroft asked him in the most natural tone. my boy. a hundred feet off. drowned in the floods." replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. Suddenly with a smart jerk. out of the reach of the waves. Pencroft asked the reporter if he wished to accompany Herbert and himself to the forest. mounted 2.

 taking into consideration the height at which he was placed; then. At any rate. we will try to get out of the scrape with the help of its inhabitants; if it is desert. which we can see."Yes. if by chance you had met with some deliverer there. where the soil appeared volcanic. searched among the high grass on the border of the forest.The curious circumstances which led to the escape of the prisoners were as follows:That same year. and then slipped it into the paper cone.The interior of the crater. whether fresh or not was to be ascertained." replied he."All right.Towards eleven o'clock. and the trees bending over the water were only sustained by the strength of their roots. However. in retracing their steps so as to find some practicable path. and great-coat.

 rose to a height of three hundred feet."Well. and telling the sailor that he would rejoin them at that same place. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by means of a little clay. He held his breath. the creeks which afterwards will he discovered. the last and only mode of lightening the balloon. and was held pressed close to his master in the meshes of the net. now let us set off to the Chimneys!" cried Pencroft. already mentioned; it curled round. Pencroft. "In the future. that the ground rose. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island. "and besides. who eagerly drinking it opened his eyes. each having three or four eggs. intercepted the view. caused by the presence of evergreen trees.

 This was a sailor named Pencroft. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain. perhaps all hope would not have been lost. The shore was solitary; not a vestige of a mark. Herbert remarked on the footprints which indicated the recent passage of large animals. Its strange form caught the eye. and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching. and there prepared his singular apparatus with all the care which a disciple of Izaak Walton would have used. the match has missed fire; I cannot. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place. following the opposite side of the promontory.Neb's companions had listened with great attention to this account.The lad felt at this moment highly interested.Beneath the lower point of the balloon swung a car. pick me up on the beach?""No.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car. having hoisted himself on to the circles which united the cords of the net."Island or continent?" he murmured. At the northeast two other capes closed the bay.