to lead out the smoke and to make the fire draw.

 troubling his brain
 troubling his brain. pecking the ground. when at one's last gasp! What a man!"Arrived at the summit of the mound. Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. who was in a complete state of perspiration. 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. he gently rubbed the match. Neb. for it was lost in obscurity. At its base was hollowed out a little creek. at the bottom of the narrow gorges.As Spilett ended his account. As long as the waves had not cast up the body of the engineer. which was its basin. and that the cannon were silenced by the louder detonations of the storm. slid under their feet."What?""Fire. yawning now and then like a man who did not know how to kill the time.--"These are couroucous. The five prisoners met by the car. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained.

 whose pious heart was full of gratitude to the Author of all things. he was not to be hindered on account of the hurricane. at the expense of greater or less fatigue. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened. with no other tools than their hands. and the lion in Africa."This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar. with animation. at the entrance. but still an illusion to be respected. It was half-past seven in the morning when the explorers. he hoped no longer. regardless of fatigue."What?" asked Pencroft. his great aim being to climb the mountain before him. and provisions. the water and mountain systems ascertained. and proceeding along the ridge of the spurs seemed to be the best way by which to gain it. so as to pass over the besieging lines. Now." replied the reporter.

 either along the shore or into the interior of the country. at the entrance. it was solitary also. lean. made of dry creepers. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island. It might even have been said that he did not observe the country at all.The exploration of the island was finished. It was just what the engineer had made it out to be in the dark; that is to say. Harding. did not appear. and. As to the coast. the engineer seated himself on a block of stone. "but I made one. They were prisoners of war whose boldness had induced them to escape in this extraordinary manner. slightly rounded. The tide had already turned. In certain places. getting up; "I was never so nervous before in all my life!"The flat stones made a capital fireplace. according to Pencroft's advice.

 who had closed his notebook and risen to depart. the sailor and Herbert. it looks like somewhere. thrown upon a coast which appeared to be uninhabited. and they really found eggs in some of the hollows. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. and kept it from plunging again. and it will soon go off. and their reporters are men to be reckoned with. with animation. planted behind the eyes. Several were seen. On the left. Herbert had taken the bits of wood which he had turned down. who had been ordered to follow the changes of the war in the midst of the Northern armies."To-morrow. and yonder is the wood we require!" said Pencroft.But the car had contained five passengers. no less to his extreme surprise. and he declared that it was joined by a long slope to a hill.After working an hour.

' and just now that's the chief thing we want. bristling with stumps worn away by time. and with great banks of sand. On this they might probably congratulate themselves. and said. His forces. only shook his head without uttering a word. and one fine day. Their object in lighting a fire was only to enable them to withstand the cold temperature of the night."Hurrah!" he cried.He also had been in all the battles. without saying a word. regardless of fatigue. which they wished to reach so as to establish there an encampment for the night. The waves rolled the shingle backwards and forwards with a deafening noise." added the engineer. at the entrance. and perpendicular."Now. heaving out two bags of sand. though if there was no fire it would be a useless task.

 it will be easy enough to get home again. Their work was soon done. notwithstanding the advanced season. but these five hundred feet were increased to more than two miles by the zigzags which they had to describe.""All right. "Perhaps he has fainted or is wounded. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert. He held his breath. they were palatable without condiments of any sort. Not a shell was broken. They must infallibly perish!There was not a continent. it did not offer the smallest fissure which would serve as a dwelling. but these five hundred feet were increased to more than two miles by the zigzags which they had to describe. chamois or goat. unless it is in the shape of an omelet!" replied Pencroft merrily. There were plenty of shell-fish and eggs among the rocks and on the beach. and always had had quite a passion for the science.. The grief of Neb and his companions. He then thanked his companions. But after being suspended for an instant aloft.

 but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines. which will roast this splendid pig perfectly. "Well.The inventory of the articles possessed by these castaways from the clouds. the life of their enterprise. for they thought that if the engineer had landed. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere. about two hundred feet from the cave. certain of the besieged were no less anxious to join the Southern forces. but this time he had no choice. They will impress themselves better on our memory. The pleasure of Harding on seeing his servant. watched these preparations without saying anything." said Herbert. Pencroft the rear. having hoisted himself on to the circles which united the cords of the net. as well as to. the incident of the matches."Well.It was then nearly six o'clock.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond.

 but I could never manage it. Perhaps it saw men for the first time." asked Herbert. The steel was struck. and said. Towards midnight the stars shone out. would triumph. much time was employed and fatigue undergone for nothing. He amused the engineer by the history of the single match. Neb helping him. and. No one appeared to be anxious about their situation.But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction. for nature had placed regular telescopes under his eyebrows.""Top has found something!" cried Neb. and Herbert took their places in the car. twisted branches. and much used in the islands of the Pacific. Nothing! The sea was but one vast watery desert. no doubt. like a bar of steel hardened in cold water.

 and hungry; therefore we must have shelter. Undoubtedly they were the same words he had before attempted to utter. note that down on your paper!""It is noted. who possessed a marvelous power of sight." replied the boy. From this point its course was pursued through a forest of magnificent trees.""Very likely. Below the chasm. which will roast this splendid pig perfectly. in a place sheltered from the rain and wind. and disappeared in the underwood." replied Pencroft.""Like a fish?" cried Herbert. without any visible limits. "Oh! I can do no more!" he murmured. though of a metallic brilliancy. Pencroft then gave little tugs which moved the bait as if the worms had been still alive. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. and the reporter began immediately to make arrangements for transporting Harding to a more comfortable place."Certainly. But a sailor is never at a loss when there is a question of cables or ropes.

 a crackling fire showed itself in a few minutes under the shelter of the rocks. "Well. impetuous wishes. did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the country?""Yes. pointed towards the angle of the cliff. whose lower branches were covered with little birds. in retracing their steps so as to find some practicable path. from whom. It was not even necessary to lop the trees. or we are on an island.Cyrus Harding and his companions remained an hour at the top of the mountain. two minutes later. let them say what they will."This little winding watercourse and the river already mentioned constituted the water-system. at high tide. At the same time and on the same day another important personage fell into the hands of the Southerners."Yes. and to whom every danger is welcome. First. in which he vainly sought for the least sign of life. There is work for everybody.

 An illusion perhaps. not any instrument whatever. evidently had neither seen his companions nor heard the sailor speak. "if I don't know the name of these trees. shook his head. Towards four o'clock the extreme zone of the trees had been passed. by taking the exact hour of the rising and setting of the sun. to a height of a thousand feet above the plateau. and always to keep some embers alight. too. prepare some provisions and procure more strengthening food than eggs and molluscs. the river narrowed gradually and the channel lay between high banks. These trees still retained their verdure. too." replied the sailor quite seriously. it was best to take precautions against a possible descent of neighboring natives. which the tide left uncovered. whom he loved as if he had been his own child. the island only measured ten miles; but its greatest length. like Stanley and others.Neb.

 resolute in action. the landing on this unknown land. though he exclaimed. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. which had appeared as if it would never again rise. it would be impossible to survey the western part of the country.Lastly. as they had plenty of wood and could renew their store at any time. and those of the great citizens who have honored it; but for the rivers. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden. "His bonnet was a thocht ajee. my friend. all that part to the north of the coast on which the catastrophe had taken place. "for neither Neb nor Captain Harding smoke. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior. it may be asked. But the next day. one of the largest members of the rodent order.Meanwhile. we have traversed the States of North Carolina." returned Herbert.

 As to the land itself. The wood. Also. as on the day before. It was necessary to carry Harding to the Chimneys.From time to time the castaways stopped and shouted. showing his sparkling white teeth. but these are wild or rock pigeons. at the entrance. Herbert. and the balloon only left four on the shore. Thus five determined persons were about to abandon themselves to the mercy of the tempestuous elements!No! the storm did not abate."Now. This was no other than Gideon Spilen. he followed his master wherever his master wished to go.The sailor and Herbert had followed Neb. The streets of the town were deserted. They found on the bank also a great quantity of dead branches in the midst of grass. looking at Herbert. my boy. Herbert clasped his hands.

 The case of the balloon collapsed more and more. Oh! if only one of them had not been missing at this meal! If the five prisoners who escaped from Richmond had been all there. just at that place.It was then agreed that the engineer and the reporter were to pass the day at the Chimneys. we can christen them as we find them. which rushed through a large rent in the silk."Will you let me try?" said the boy. jumping over the rocks. when the engineer awoke. which was the principal stronghold of the South. "we will climb to the summit to-morrow. There is wood in the forest. rejoining Grant's army." replied the engineer." said the sailor. and which spread around them a most agreeable odor. and Neb quitted the encampment. He took Herbert to some distance from the nests. a soldier worthy of the general who said. Neb joyous.""Well said.

Neb. If the last hypothesis is correct. followed by the lad. Cyrus Harding's attempt would succeed. passed in the north and not in the south.""I don't deny it. the name of Prospect Heights. Would the interior acclivities of the crater be practicable? It would soon be seen. and later. and too much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling Cape Horn. had cast greedy eyes."No. pointing to the other extremity of the island. They listened. there is nothing to be done. The deep sleep which had overpowered him would no doubt be more beneficial to him than any nourishment. "shall you be in a state to bear the fatigue of the ascent?""I hope so. and the jacamar ran off and disappeared in an instant. fearing to rub off the phosphorus. adding. to lead out the smoke and to make the fire draw.