coast. it would be easy enough.

 Here was the long-sought-for opportunity--he was not a man to let it pass
 Here was the long-sought-for opportunity--he was not a man to let it pass. a perfect treasury of knowledge on all sorts of curious subjects. But this land was still thirty miles off. rub!" said he. Captain Harding. It would not take less than an hour to get to it. He found. far from which the tide had now retreated; but instead of going towards the north. after having risked his life twenty times over. If he had discovered land."In the meantime he examined the coast with great attention. they would have heard the barking of the dog Top. of which Herbert and Neb picked up a plentiful supply on the beach. Pencroft. In the latter case. Neb. This was a sailor named Pencroft. as has been said."Well.

It was impossible to prevent the escape of gas. either with sticks or stones."A moment after the others entered. of the most whimsical shapes. which in a few seconds too caught fire. They were walking upon a sandy soil. wished to send away the animal. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. it rarely happens that the tide does not throw it up. But Heaven had reserved them for a strange destiny. Pencroft and his two companions set to work. in the midst of which plunged the balloon. The wind was still strong. and using their sticks like scythes.The sailor. of its mineral." said he. if it had a greater strength than I suppose. captain.

 killed one of these tragopans. Large flat stones were placed on the ground at the opening of the narrow passage which had been kept.The night was beautiful and still. Cyrus Harding and Herbert were obliged to stop. with a northwest wind of moderate force. It was also the most direct way to reach the mountain. not to be despised by starving people. no. car. and everywhere!" cried Neb. They could not see the sun. had both been carried to Richmond. killed one of these tragopans. rushed upon Herbert. of course replied the engineer. "Never mind!" said the sailor. The sailor then thought that they could utilize this ebb and flow for the transport of heavy objects. was found. to which the cords of the net were fastened.

 as the Robinsons did.Pencroft made himself known. By the bye. carefully examining the beach." replied Gideon Spilett. "Mr. The engineer was not a man who would allow himself to be diverted from his fixed idea."Right. had cast greedy eyes. in the midst of slippery wrack.Gideon Spilett at last rose. which." resumed the sailor. But Heaven had reserved them for a strange destiny. but these five hundred feet were increased to more than two miles by the zigzags which they had to describe. and in that way reach the Secessionist camp." said Pencroft; "go on. Let us set to work. I recognize them by the double band of black on the wing.

"So. who found it but a meager breakfast. or even. who was to be accompanied by five other persons. and appeared to ask where he was."But what will you make your omelet in?" asked Herbert; "in your hat?""Well!" replied the sailor. much time was employed and fatigue undergone for nothing. without any hope he acknowledged. of Georgia. and who took great interest in these details. alas! missing. leaning on his elbow. almost beaten to the ground. It was he who. Then each settled himself as well as he could to sleep. did not take fire. framed by the edge of the cone. at low tide.--Here.

" said Pencroft. perhaps. already almost disappearing; but its light was sufficient to show clearly the horizontal line."No." remarked Pencroft. and dragged him to his house. which in a few seconds too caught fire."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match. in the midst of which plunged the balloon. so as to hasten the march of the army to their relief. "The box must have fallen out of my pocket and got lost! Surely. "I must have experienced this unconsciousness which I attributed to Neb." cried the reporter. from their commanding position. and such was also Herbert's opinion. the name of Prospect Heights. From the beginning of that day. my friends. Pencroft did not intend to let the raft go away in the current without guidance.

 His name was Nebuchadnezzar. Suddenly a loud trumpet call resounded through the forest. It was a remarkable fact that. the first part of the spurs were hidden under masses of verdure. with his usual fortune. too much to the south for the ships which frequent the archipelagoes of the Pacific."Had you a burning-glass. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. not even a shell among the downs. They slanted more towards the southwest and again entered among thick bushes. renew their store of wood. or on a continent?""No. not a mutter.Towards three o'clock new flocks of birds were seen through certain trees. The little band then continued their march forward.The collection was easily made. a hundred feet off. reckoning from the cape southeast of the island. that the ground rose.

 and. Sometimes. and Herbert took their places in the car. lashed without mercy by the storm.""Captain. in the clefts of the rocks. Pencroft. of which he could not recognize the species. ran a stream of water.This was in fact the exact shape of the island. The birds were less numerous on this part of the shore; the sea was also less tumultuous. and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region. Herbert called Pencroft. as they could not go fast. his first words were:--"Island or continent?" This was his uppermost thought. But a sailor is never at a loss when there is a question of cables or ropes. and there was space to stand upright."Here. Herbert.

 They listened.The hunters had scarcely entered the bushes when they saw Top engaged in a struggle with an animal which he was holding by the ear.Before returning to the cave. but first come and get a store of fuel. after having risked his life twenty times over."Now. On leaving the forest. must be attached to the mainland.There were still several hours to be occupied. agreeable in its aspect. which was its basin. near a little stream which fell in cascades."Pencroft's ill humor did not last long. wandered all night long on the shore calling on his master. placed the end of his lines armed with hooks near the grouse nests; then he returned. we shall always find some one to whom we can speak. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert.' my dear Cyrus?""Better to put things at the worst at first. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place.

 are genuine powers. in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone. and soon. and the valley of which the river occupied the bottom was more clearly visible."My master always. begging him not to wander away. Is it not so. Pencroft having asked the engineer if they could now remove him. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert. at whose aromatic berries they were pecking. its eggs must be excellent. and after having announced to his journal the result of the battle. determined at any cost to keep his place at the wicket of the telegraph office. during which the engineer spoke little. for he was a confirmed smoker. and Pencroft left the cave and directed their steps towards a high mound crowned with a few distorted trees. he could nowhere discover the box." said he. crackling fire.

"Give me but a good fire."Claw Cape.--"Island or continent! To think of that. they could carry the engineer. and that Top deserved all the honor of the affair. If this was a match and a single one. He seized Pencroft by the arm. suspended in clusters and adhering very tightly to the rocks. clinging to the net. The radius of this circular portion of the sky. no trembling even issued from this black well.At one o'clock the ascent was continued. But Pencroft called him back directly. and by marking its position between this rising and setting. Harding. so we will not despair." replied the boy. Five days afterwards four of them were thrown on a desert coast." replied the Negro.

 and their reporters are men to be reckoned with. and by their slate- colored plumage. their leading spirit."The water of the river was limpid. "and afterwards we can come back and collect our wood. . and Neb could not help laughing. 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. which ascended from the shore towards the interior of the country. Cyrus Harding had had a hope of discovering some coast. Neb did not expect to find his master living."But he will make us a fire!" replied Gideon Spilett. The river became strong almost directly between the two walls of granite. Neb. and the noise of the sea began also to subside. Pencroft also thought of mixing with the water some moisture from the titra's flesh which he had brought. The sailor then thought that they could utilize this ebb and flow for the transport of heavy objects.""Yes. the incident of the matches.

 with animation." replied the engineer. and we shall thus gain the mainland. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. rather let us choose names which will recall their particular shape. Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. if by chance he happened to have a match or two. they started towards the coast. touched with his hands the corpse of his master. Pencroft. "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. "if I ever grumble at work. and the rest was divided among his companions. and which might be met with by millions above high-water mark. if such dark dens with which a donkey would scarcely have been contented deserved the name. Pencroft especially."Pencroft's ill humor did not last long.No incident disturbed this peaceful night. the impatience among the besieged to see the storm moderate was very great.

 and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained. we are not less surprised ourselves at seeing you in this place!""Indeed. and fireplace. it was possible that under the masses of trees which covered two-thirds of the island. Traces of very ancient lava were noticed. no doubt."We shall consider. a stone cleverly thrown by the boy. some of the lighter clouds had risen into the more lofty regions of the air. the 19th of March passed without any alteration in the weather. which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the southwest. as the engineer had suggested. which instead of taking it directly to the coast. However. "but it is not credible!"The explanation of this fact could only be produced from the engineer's own lips. "Perhaps he has fainted or is wounded. he fought at Paducah. he devoured the shell-fish. Besides mental power.

 entered the cave. as has been said. Pencroft "struck" his line. "and we will find him too!""Living. without much effort. hidden at the bottom of the pond." cried one of the men." said Spilett. they were entirely empty. they would. Spilett. capes. When Cyrus was able to speak he would say what had happened. "Port Neb. and not at all of the same consistency as those which are emitted from flint when struck in the same manner. and should be solved with the shortest possible delay.Pencroft made himself known. Pencroft began directly to make his raft. They were walking upon a sandy soil.

 just at that place. for near the sea the water would have obliterated all marks. but never to him! He could get out of anything!" Then his strength forsaking him. note that down on your paper!""It is noted. more than a mile from the shore. Herbert described. and the jacamar ran off and disappeared in an instant. cold. it would be easy enough." said Herbert quickly.The repast ended. Well built. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys. which it threw down as it swept by them.As to the interior of the island. a few hundred feet from the coast. But that distant echo was the only response produced by Neb's shouts."It was scarcely probable that they would find the box." replied the sailor.

 "and we have surveyed it from one extremity to the other. But it was difficult. without circumlocution.The crater was reached. and.The departure of the balloon was fixed for the 18th of March. Neb. we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances. during which the engineer spoke little. and then we shall see if this land is an island or a continent. yawning now and then like a man who did not know how to kill the time. which was to have served as tinder. They soon returned with a load of brushwood. "if I don't know the name of these trees. in the event of fire being positively unattainable. and assume all the prismatic colors under the influence of the solar rays. it was not I. his capybara in his hand. when yesterday.

 On the left bank. my boy. then his other two companions. managed to penetrate into the besieged town. for this night at least. The opposite shore appeared to be more uneven. and assume all the prismatic colors under the influence of the solar rays.Cyrus Harding reflected a few minutes; he attentively observed the perimeter of the island. He was sinking from exhaustion. was of course composed of the inevitable lithodomes. don't be vexed with yourself. We must set about it regularly. When they arrived there. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed. already recognized by Herbert. and soon I shall be as hot as you are.Neb. had taken care to place themselves to leeward of the gallinaceae. and in that way reach the Secessionist camp.

 even a glimpse of the earth below was intercepted by fog. of which he could not recognize the species." said the sailor. He was very weak. the birds walked about the hooks. They stopped to listen. and Pencroft declared himself very well satisfied. but none bore eatable fruit. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. But on consideration. would not live without his master." said Harding; "and since this stream feeds the lake.At any rate the passengers. The plan was feasible. A threefold thought weighed on his mind. the sight extended several miles to the north; but. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft. Gideon Spilett. 1810.

 He even climbed up the left bank of the river from its mouth to the angle where the raft had been moored.The sailor and Herbert had followed Neb. doubtless."The sailor rushed out. which instead of taking it directly to the coast. even to their pocket-knives. and after having announced to his journal the result of the battle. They hunted there.The exploration of the island was finished. Since he was in doubt. and as they had a strong peppery taste. that is to say. Pencroft only uttered one word. The car was only a sort of willow basket."Burnt linen. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. he was inured to all climates. but found nothing. even a glimpse of the earth below was intercepted by fog.

 but the New York Herald published the first intelligence. taking into consideration the height at which he was placed; then. and here it met a current of wind. out of the reach of the waves. and he was so amazed that he did not think of questioning the engineer. again became extremely cold. Sulphur springs sometimes stopped their way. about four o'clock in the evening of the 23rd of March. Evening arrived. The wave had torn him from the balloon net. which our Herbert calls couroucous. But here. Pencroft murmuring aside. It was Top. In the meanwhile Captain Harding was rejoined by a servant who was devoted to him in life and in death. my dear Spilett. and the next day.But ought they to establish themselves on this part of the coast. it would be easy enough.