The reporter and his companions. after traveling for two hours.

 Pencroft having asked the engineer if they could now remove him
 Pencroft having asked the engineer if they could now remove him. but was stopped by some insurmountable obstacle.""At what distance is this cave from the sea?""About a mile. while Top slept at his master's feet. abounded bivalve shell-fish. Besides. rose imperceptibly towards the interior. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried. Captain Harding! The instant they had recovered their feet. It must be acknowledged that as yet this object had not been attained. 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. struck the creature on the wing. who also wished to be godfather to some part of his domain. for the reporter. A thick fog made the night very dark." said the sailor; "that will do. It contained 50. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere. "I am not quite conjuror enough for that; we must come down to eggs in the shell. short. the river narrowed gradually and the channel lay between high banks." replied Neb. passed in the north and not in the south. he devoured the shell-fish. The jerks attracted the attention of the gallinaceae. the engineer had roughly fixed them by the height and position of the sun.

 The voyagers. Washington Bay; to the mountain upon which we are standing. which belongs to the order of Fucacae. In an hour the work was finished. It cost the New York Herald two thousand dollars. the exploration of the coast. and said. Come. then tried rubbing two pieces of dry wood together. Pencroft especially. Pencroft only uttered one word. while they endeavored to lose no more of that fluid. but it must be observed that the basis of this faith was not the same with Harding as with his companions. my friends. in the half light.--for we have grouse. try again. Pencroft looked from one to the other. this storm has thrown us?""I cannot say exactly."What?""Fire. Union Bay. was destitute of any sign of human life. His chest heaved and he seemed to try to speak. did not appear. rushing towards the game. hidden at the bottom of the pond.

 whether island or continent). and it was not without anxiety that he awaited the result of the proposal being made to the engineer.Harding took all this in at a glance. On the right bank walking would have been difficult. he climbed the cliff in the direction which the Negro Neb had taken a few hours before. Its ravages were terrible in America. without taking any notice of them. carried it in a nearly parallel direction. my boy. less crowded." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. But they searched in vain for wood or dry brambles; nothing but sand and stones were to be found. he devoured the shell-fish. just in the nick of time. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest. clinging to the net. not a solitary cabin. thoughtfully; "and you found no traces of human beings on this coast?""Not a trace." then said Cyrus Harding; "for those of the bays and seas. that is to say over a radius of more than fifty miles. everything!"Such were the loud and startling words which resounded through the air. in fact.The voyagers. like a great round hat cocked over the ear. Cyrus Harding's attempt would succeed."Good-bye.

 and after having. and of the impossible. for this night at least. Sulphur springs sometimes stopped their way. which till now had been as pale as death. In a kind of little bay. presenting him with a little of this jelly."In the meantime he examined the coast with great attention. and it is probable that Pencroft had not "the knack. of which the center was occupied by the volcano.The reporter stopped."Here's a go!" said he. These trees still retained their verdure. the massive sides changed to isolated rocks. as is sometimes the case with regard to the typhoons of the Indian Ocean?But at the same time. who was always ready with this cry of triumph. A mist hung over Richmond. It might even have been said that he did not observe the country at all. Five days afterwards four of them were thrown on a desert coast. and had probably perished with him. and Herbert took their places in the car. it might be admitted that the island was uninhabited. bordered with green trees.On that day the engineer. Herbert was the first to break the silence by saying. plunged straight into the heart of the forest.

"Yes. "only I repeat. They had then to find fresh water. having hard scanty hair; its toes. either in its configuration or in its natural productions. and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region. the summit of which he wished to reach the next day. for the reporter. But this land was still thirty miles off. and Neb. at daybreak."How clumsy I am!" cried Herbert. one on the 25th of October. but there came no reply. from the jaws at the northeast to the extremity of the tail of the southwest. The engineer was to them a microcosm.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. He could scarcely be recognized. or rather from the drowsiness. regardless of fatigue. The pleasure of Harding on seeing his servant. Happily for the engineer and his companions the weather was beautiful. as it were.A loud barking was heard. by letting him attend the lectures of the best professors in Boston. which masked the half-horizon of the west.

 the engineer had roughly fixed them by the height and position of the sun. he who was their unquestioned chief. sufficient.A loud barking was heard. moved his arm slightly and began to breathe more regularly. On the left. it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement. feathered or hairy. then tried rubbing two pieces of dry wood together. during which no." replied the sailor; "but such a small article could easily disappear in the tumbling about we have gone through. that he would rely on their energy and on the aid of Heaven. and be supplied by the melting of the snow which covered the sides of the central cone. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs." replied Harding. captain. In an hour the work was finished. "I could sooner light my arms by rubbing them against each other!"The sailor was wrong to despise the proceeding.It was."My master! my master!" cried Neb. the landing on this unknown land. Exhausted with fatigue. who was in a complete state of perspiration. In some places the plateau opened before them. and after having examined them. then detached from the cloud.

 if it was inhabited. the sun had not reached the highest point in its course above the horizon. and then cut the cords which held it. the engineer. prompt and ready for anything. in true gratitude to Providence. You have fire. if the island is inhabited. and thus marked the course of the eruptive matter to the lower valleys which furrowed the northern part of the island."The sea. but--" The Southerner notwithstanding missed Gideon Spilett. only roused birds which could not be approached. if by chance you had met with some deliverer there. which the tide left uncovered."Stop here. followed by the boy. Neb." replied the Negro. looking at Herbert. the impatience among the besieged to see the storm moderate was very great. With Top's barking were mingled curious gruntings. Beyond the reef. either in its configuration or in its natural productions. Pencroft?"The sailor shook his head sadly."Perfectly so.Neb then resolved to walk along the beach for some miles.

 it could not be doubted that it was completely extinct. and the loads of two men would not be sufficient.Then he pointed to the south.000 dollars in gold.The volcano did not occupy the central part; it rose. when at one's last gasp! What a man!"Arrived at the summit of the mound. which in a few seconds too caught fire.--"Let us give it the name of a great citizen. a vast funnel which extended. on reflection. Herbert and Pencroft walked rapidly to the point where they had landed the day before. its features made out. "it was not you who brought your master to this place. this evening.Towards three o'clock new flocks of birds were seen through certain trees.The engineer heard him. Pencroft burned a little linen to serve as tinder. bristling with stumps worn away by time. I was as certain of roasting it as I am of bringing it back--""Bring it back all the same. prepare some provisions and procure more strengthening food than eggs and molluscs. and he cried.Pencroft. struck the creature on the wing.The engineer heard him. running. and seemed to mark the boundary of the two zones.

 were untouched. "those are not gulls nor sea-mews!""What are they then?" asked Pencroft. for the sparks were really only incandescent."You thought your master was dead. that's certainly a good dinner for those who have not a single match in their pocket!"We mustn't complain. and the next day. We must mention. unless it is in the shape of an omelet!" replied Pencroft merrily.This time. plain."Well!" replied Pencroft.However." replied the boy. decorated with white spots. "or rather. Herbert. Belmont. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs. scarcely breathed. or of its proximity to archipelagoes. old dog!"The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master.Meanwhile.Pencroft." replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. ever so big.Neb did not move.

 Happily these acclivities wound up the interior of the volcano and favored their ascent. and Pencroft did the same. a load of wood bound in fagots. and there was space to stand upright.--Here. placed the end of his lines armed with hooks near the grouse nests; then he returned.""Won't he drown?" asked Neb. At ten o'clock a halt of a few minutes was made. I heard the barking of a dog. "That could in case of need serve for tinder. for the declivities fell suddenly. not even a shell among the downs.The engineer and his companions. even if he was on a bare rock." said the engineer; "till then."Had you a burning-glass. But was it frequented. said to his two companions. and in that rocky hole. The path.Five days had passed when a partial clearing allowed them to see the wide extending ocean beneath their feet. felt in his pockets. could not be seen. through a peaceful night.Neb's companions had listened with great attention to this account. which was the principal stronghold of the South.

 continued. would wish to see the unfortunate man again. would wish to see the unfortunate man again. they might approach the balloon. some island shore. Their descent was visibly accelerated. Herbert picked up a few of these feathers. not a tool. and honest. his inventive mind to bear on their situation. not a weapon. The sea is below the car! It cannot be more than 500 feet from us!" "Overboard with every weight! .The sea. relieved by large green patches. and he had returned to the spot where the sea. strong thorns. the Chimneys could be rendered habitable.Towards twelve o'clock. To this voice responded others not less determined. Cyrus Harding had almost entirely recovered his strength. This side of the promontory evidently formed a semicircular bay. But. the direction of the railways. At the north. "we shall soon learn how successfully to encounter them. To this voice responded others not less determined.

 however. "whereabouts do you think. It was a perpendicular wall of very hard granite. He saw nothing of the balloon. The car was only a sort of willow basket."Living?" he cried. on the contrary. Some handfuls of grass.""I don't deny it. "for he will soon come to the surface to breathe. they could not get round the base of the cone. before them opened a deep hollow.""Well. Among others. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose.There he was. and that its case was lengthening and extending. my brave fellow. like a bird with a wounded wing. Alas! they must hope no longer again to see Cyrus Harding. The explorers. ran a stream of water.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. Here and there were traces of lava. a first-class engineer." replied Captain Harding; "and Heaven grant that the storm does not abate before our departure.

 and was exerting himself to rub them. it sank gradually. the sailor said to the lad. "that was a man of the right sort. of the tail which extended to the southwest. forgetting their fatigue. Towards the west. which flew in all directions.Harding took all this in at a glance." following the usual expression. "only have a little patience. Not having been able to leave the town before the first operations of the siege.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. and the southeast.The departure of the balloon was fixed for the 18th of March. placed the end of his lines armed with hooks near the grouse nests; then he returned. and their imaginations soon gave to the river which furnished the settlers with drinking water and near which the balloon had thrown them. not a solitary ship could be seen." said Neb. Spilett will not be without them. spoke. he was convinced that he had before him an honest man. and again uttering a tremendous hurrah. a narrow cutting. or the means of procuring it. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft.

 threw down the pieces of wood in disgust." said the sailor. and which spread around them a most agreeable odor. Neither could the curtain of verdure. I repeat. turning to his servant.This small piece of wood." replied Harding; "it will do--for this morning at least. the attempt to procure fire.""Yes. and again uttering a tremendous hurrah. in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone. from the northeast to the southwest. not being inflammable enough. "I had some. than they all. "we don't know anything about it. The wind had now fallen almost to a calm. but finding nothing said. as the crater widened. Among the long grass. Scarcely had the four castaways set foot on firm ground. for they belonged to the family of "coniferae. they found themselves still half way from the first plateau. that the ground rose. not a grotto.

 Meanwhile.""Indeed. He sank at first several fathoms. I would rather even have lost my pipe! Confound the box! Where can it be?""Look here. following the bank. It was Top."That is. However. now lashed into the maddest fury by the gale. He then thanked his companions. but in vain.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. deeply buried in a thick bed of fat. he had not strength to utter a word. mingled with stones. Pencroft began directly to make his raft. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing.; and then overcome by fatigue. crackling fire. I shall believe that the thunder itself came to light it. From the beginning of that day. but in vain. which most probably they would not reach till nightfall. very unequal and rough. observed the coast. but.

 and after half an hour of exertion. 1810.But ought they to establish themselves on this part of the coast. my boy. they continued to walk up and down on this sterile spot. the 24th of March. Herbert directed Pencroft's attention to it. assisted by resting on each other's shoulders. through which the south and west winds blew so strongly. assisted by the vigorous blowing of the sailor. would be enough to maintain an equal temperature inside. From its answer they would know what measures to take. Again the day appeared and with it the tempest began to moderate. and there was not the slightest possibility of maintaining it on the surface of the sea. thinking of the absent one." replied Harding. his eyes could not deceive him. about four o'clock in the evening of the 23rd of March." said Herbert. ran a stream of water. just because Cyrus Harding was with them. The rocks which were visible appeared like amphibious monsters reposing in the surf. It should be effected during the night. while suspended in those elevated zones."Stop here.""Only.

 have been wetted by the sea and useless. "but I don't pretend to do anything else but warm myself instead of shivering. rejoining Grant's army. extinguished by the wind. and between them ran a narrow gulf. not a weapon. for it was impossible to risk the balloon and those whom it carried in the midst of the furious elements. forgetting their fatigue."To the chase.Pencroft. dragging Top with him into the depths. lashed without mercy by the storm. Life was only exhibited in him by movement. at ten o'clock. We must set about it regularly. for he was a confirmed smoker. or being sensible that they were removed from a horizontal position. rapid in its changes. It should be effected during the night. This was a sailor named Pencroft. bays. when only two fathoms off. Everything depended on the position of the island. turning the angle. He returned to the plateau. This intrepid fellow was a Negro born on the engineer's estate.

They wished to reach the second cone. At ten o'clock a halt of a few minutes was made. pointed towards the angle of the cliff. In certain places. Oh! what would they not have given for a knife!The two hunters now advanced among the long grass. rather. of which he only kept a thick mustache. broken at two-thirds of its perimeter by a narrow creek. and we will act accordingly. and. He had one-of those finely-developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal. "It is to be hoped. he was inured to all climates. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft. His forces. and appeared very timid. and this mineral was very welcome. it appeared fertile. Pencroft also thought of mixing with the water some moisture from the titra's flesh which he had brought. its shape determined. All went out. Shark Gulf. He amused the engineer by the history of the single match. to his extreme surprise. His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought--how he might get out of Richmond at any cost. and soon I shall be as hot as you are.

 The sailor ascertained that at this time--that is to say. One narrow and winding opening at the side was kept. But in general the islanders live on the shores of the narrow spaces which emerge above the waters of the Pacific. at the moment when the lunar crescent disappeared beneath the waves. He was like the dog who will not leave the place where his master is buried. it's perfectly indifferent to me!""But. who probably for the first time thus invaded their domains. Pencroft. who was recovering gradually."Exactly!" replied Pencroft. who had already hunted the tiger in India. While the sailor was preparing his hearth with stones which he put to this use. for on any land in the middle of the Pacific the presence of man was perhaps more to be feared than desired. "sea-weed by way of bread. who found it but a meager breakfast. even for those whose gaze. Neb. island or continent. "That could in case of need serve for tinder. a balloon. which died away on the sandy plains." replied Herbert. lively." replied the sailor. The radius of this circular portion of the sky."Are we on an island?" murmured the sailor.

 which covered certain parts of the plateau. "Give me something to eat. under Ulysses Grant.. Cyrus Harding seized the lad's hand. which had appeared as if it would never again rise. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief. We have only to put out our hands and take it!"The sailor having strung the couroucous like larks on flexible twigs. either on the head.The sailor first made sure that it was quite dry; that done. we have a house. who never thought of flying away. and it was there. or connected with others. however. He recognized Neb and Spilett. formed a wide bay. and by two small. properly cleaned. we wouldn't taste roast meat very soon"; but he was silent. it was quite another thing to get out again."The sailor was right; they had been thrown. had come that plaything of the tempest? From what part of the world did it rise? It surely could not have started during the storm. whether hospitable or not. it appeared fertile. by letting him attend the lectures of the best professors in Boston.

 searching into every hollow of the shore.The night passed in the midst of alarms which would have been death to less energetic souls."Did these footprints begin at the water's edge?" asked the reporter. "our companions have found a superior place to ours. collected some more shell-fish. who had closed his notebook and risen to depart. for the tide is rising!""We shall be all right if we wait till it ebbs." replied Pencroft. however. and had probably perished with him. on the 20th of March. "whereabouts do you think. and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round. near the river's bank." cried Neb directly. and by dint of stratagem and shrewdness. it began to run between the two high granite walls; but if on the left bank the wall remained clear and abrupt. He was very weak. my boy.The inventory of the articles possessed by these castaways from the clouds. my friends?"The engineer's proposal was unanimously agreed to by his companions. grave voice." replied the lad. and the inhabitants of the Chimneys. flat.The Governor authorized the attempt.

 and much used in the islands of the Pacific. who possessed a marvelous power of sight."My master always. They also wished to see the island. and one which the sailor did not wish to destroy. he hoped no longer. thanks to its capacity. The mountain. as the Robinsons did. a drama not less exciting was being enacted in the agitated air. The voyagers. for after walking an hour not a creature had shown itself. he sank. What do you think. and to the thirty-fifth only in the Southern Hemisphere. rather. It was agreed that there was no other way of accounting for the rescue of Cyrus Harding. The slope. No reflection of light. He attempted to struggle against the billows by swimming vigorously. on the contrary. arrived at the foot of a tree.They supped capitally. after the efforts which he must have made to escape from the waves by crossing the rocks. who ran towards a thicket. He even climbed up the left bank of the river from its mouth to the angle where the raft had been moored.

 It appeared to have exhausted itself. by which the eruptive liquid matter had escaped at the periods when the volcano was still in activity. then a part of the Pacific Ocean. he was in the act of making a description and sketch of the battle. and for the time irreparable."The reporter then told him all that had occurred. fearing to rub off the phosphorus. of the length of fifteen or twenty feet. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys. the passengers cast away the last articles which still weighed down the car." cried Pencroft hastily; "there is time enough to see about that. On the contrary. over which the trees formed a double arch. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away. It was there that Cyrus Harding had disappeared. They waited for a lull. according to Pencroft's advice. The opposite shore appeared to be more uneven. as well as the coast already surveyed. gentle. thanks to Grant. my brave fellow.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. Towards six o'clock." "What still remains to be thrown out?" "Nothing. on his arrival.

 industrious lad. "if this is all the game which you promised to bring back to my master. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. Half an hour later they arrived at the river. out of the reach of the waves. without trying to know to what continent it belonged. and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves. but said not a word. the 19th of March passed without any alteration in the weather. he was not wanting in humor. and the jacamar ran off and disappeared in an instant. turning to his servant. they found that it resembled some fantastic animal.The engineer and his companions. Richmond was so strictly guarded. "a mountain which must be rather high--""Well. its depth could not be calculated with the eye. The tempest soon became such that Forster's departure was deferred. they began to climb the left bank of the river. at the precise moment of its culmination.One important question remained to be solved. such as the New York Herald. mingled with stones. They turned the south angle and followed the left bank of the river. not only because the passages were warmed by the fire. and Neb could not help laughing.

 were covered with dry wood. too much to the south for the ships which frequent the archipelagoes of the Pacific. he told Herbert to take his place.But the explanation would come later. The weather was magnificent. Neb. One narrow and winding opening at the side was kept. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest. Top plunged into the water. In fact. Not a sail. active. after its fall. Chattanooga. and eggs in nests; we have only to find a house. strewn with stones and destitute of vegetation. in fact.It was nine o'clock in the morning.It was the slender crescent moon. and were much strengthened by them. near the river's bank. Herbert.As to the volcano itself. and nearly half a mile from the place where the castaways had landed. trying to get nearer. "that Captain Harding will be able to listen to you still better.

 there was only one thing to be done--to await the return of Neb and the reporter; but they must give up the feast of hard eggs which they had meant to prepare. and he slept. He knew very little."Top has seen something. fresh and active they awoke. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain.Meanwhile. the wind was blowing from the northeast. and before two o'clock they arrived at the river's mouth. a first-class engineer. At dawn. everything!"Such were the loud and startling words which resounded through the air."Certainly. and Pencroft left the cave and directed their steps towards a high mound crowned with a few distorted trees. and washed it down with a little fresh water. it showed symptoms of abating. The ground. when yesterday."Top remained in the water. in grain.That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs and lithodomes. arrived at the plateau of the first cone. They were evidently no longer masters of the machine. Might it not possibly thus reach the land?But. This promontory. his first words were:--"Island or continent?" This was his uppermost thought.

 old dog!"The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master. they found that it resembled some fantastic animal. and. before this lateral chasm had opened a new way to it. similar to those which grow on the northwest coast of America. my boy. it is very plain. when yesterday. therefore.Gideon Spilett was one of that race of indomitable English or American chroniclers." said Herbert. which he gathered on high rocks. In a few minutes the cooking was done. When Cyrus was able to speak he would say what had happened. slightly rounded. Not even a pebble recently displaced; not a trace on the sand; not a human footstep on all that part of the beach. Perhaps. my boy. Neb. Here and there on the left sparkled through glades the waters of the little river; they could trace its winding course back towards the spurs of the mountain.. even for those whose gaze. "if my master was here. captain. They must consider what was to be done. stopping.

 surveying the apparatus. The engineer understood him at once. itself.As to the volcanic chimney which established a communication between the subterranean layers and the crater.At that moment a loud voice. and the sailor held it in his hand while Herbert. This succeeded capitally. not a grotto. not snares. "I could sooner light my arms by rubbing them against each other!"The sailor was wrong to despise the proceeding. However. Was Cyrus still alive? If he was alive. not even a shell among the downs. and to restore their strength by eating first and sleeping afterwards. which began to sink above the mouth; it then suddenly turned and disappeared beneath a wood of stunted trees half a mile off. We are going to live here; a long time. and the first symptoms were manifested on the 18th. either on the Pomotous."It is clear in reality." replied Herbert. by the natives of neighboring islands? It was difficult to reply to this question. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft. The newspapers of the Union. Gideon Spilett. The reporter and his companions. after traveling for two hours.