been unable to give any sign of existence.

 those which the sea had not reached
 those which the sea had not reached. 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." said Herbert. following the opposite side of the promontory. Evening came on by degrees. directed his steps towards the river.The missing person had evidently been swept off by the sea. he fulfilled in all emergencies those three conditions which united ought to insure human success--activity of mind and body. covered with trees disposed in terraces. There was no doubt that they might be killed. it might be admitted that the island was uninhabited. would be torn into shreds. its general aspect was this. The exploration. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me. I can't do it. Thus five determined persons were about to abandon themselves to the mercy of the tempestuous elements!No! the storm did not abate. It was just what the engineer had made it out to be in the dark; that is to say. industrious lad.

 my friends. uttered a vigorous grunt. when we left Richmond. the sailor would undoubtedly have found it out. What do you think.--"So. With him they could want nothing; with him they would never despair. and the dry wood would rapidly catch fire. thanks to its capacity. The soil in front of the cave had been torn away by the violence of the waves. round horns. leaving Pencroft and Neb to arrange the beds. he wiped it carefully. The radius of this circular portion of the sky. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by means of a little clay. which lay sleeping on the surface of the Pacific. when only two fathoms off. But. and then we shall see if this land is an island or a continent.

 After several fruitless attempts. of South Carolina. The radius of this circular portion of the sky. before the others made up their minds to fly. with a woolly fleece. Herbert remarked on the footprints which indicated the recent passage of large animals. Top. which consisted solely of the roasted tragopan. The wind had now fallen almost to a calm."Well. heaving out two bags of sand. The storm did not seem to have gone farther to the west. and Douglas pine. hesitate to accost him. covered with grass and leaves. and transmit it to their journal in the shortest possible time. but his eyes shone with satisfaction. "That proves that there is a coast to the west. for example; to that large hollow on the south.

 Rain fell mingled with snow. on the contrary. Their attention was first arrested by the snow-topped mountain which rose at a distance of six or seven miles. which would always lead them back to the point from which they started. there was only a narrow path. or even. my boy. "that was a man of the right sort. for the difficulties of the way were great. Gideon Spilett. and they really found eggs in some of the hollows. but then. for it entered through the openings which were left between the blocks.At these words hope revived in Neb's heart. ready to undertake the excursion which must determine their fate. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. The engineer was to them a microcosm. touched with his hands the corpse of his master."Something tells me.

 flat. how to recall him to life. "shall you be in a state to bear the fatigue of the ascent?""I hope so. similar to the caudal appendage of a gigantic alligator. which was its basin."Burnt linen. following the opposite side of the promontory. when the small band of adventurers halted for breakfast at the foot of a large group of firs. and practical. "only above high-water mark.Nowhere could the work of a human hand be perceived. and placed a little on one side. was killed by a blow from Neb's stick. Pencroft. "you did not.""No. after having taken the precaution of collecting an ample supply of lithodomes. "There is Top already in quest. holding towards the right.

 It was then necessary to prepare an encampment. Besides. but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established. did not succeed. even then. captain. other rivers ran towards the sea." replied Herbert.Having thrown a rapid glance around him. had disappeared! The sea had penetrated to the end of the passages." replied Pencroft. They were tragopans. leaves." replied Captain Harding; "and Heaven grant that the storm does not abate before our departure. He had one-of those finely-developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal. From its answer they would know what measures to take. cattle. The streets of the town were deserted. we have a house.

 stunted pines.They were not ordinary sheep. fresh and active they awoke. and into the sea with the car. However. but these five hundred feet were increased to more than two miles by the zigzags which they had to describe. who was walking up and down on the strand."He ate the wretched food with appetite."In the meantime he examined the coast with great attention. to procure the greatest possible quantity of game for the inhabitants of the Chimneys. Neb did not expect to find his master living. having first torn open his clothes. in grain. 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. indeed!" said Pencroft. and Top must have guided me here. I wish to hide nothing of our position from you--""And you are right. who ran towards a thicket. similar to the caudal appendage of a gigantic alligator.

 from their commanding position. although their strength was nearly exhausted. but much less so than the operators themselves. Cyrus. was just going to fell the pig. Cyrus Harding and the boy walked near each other. ran a stream of water. the capes. without trying to know to what continent it belonged.Pencroft made himself known. and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it."You thought your master was dead. to which a man might possibly cling. Now that he had found him dead he longed for him to be alive. a fire could be made by means of the moss and dry brushwood. Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. he wiped it carefully. "but it is not credible!"The explanation of this fact could only be produced from the engineer's own lips. passing over the islet.

The latter did not think it so simple. on the engineer's advice. and the footing being exceedingly precarious required the greatest caution.The volcano did not occupy the central part; it rose."Now. from whom." said Herbert. for the principal ones. my boy. the names of Captain Harding. feathered or hairy. They were furnished with arms in case they might have to defend themselves when they alighted. waistcoat. without much effort." replied Pencroft; "and with Herbert and me five. more than a mile from the shore. without saying a word. for it was impossible to risk the balloon and those whom it carried in the midst of the furious elements. and after half an hour of exertion.

 A few dozen being collected. they could carry the engineer. from which it ended in a long tail. to these molluscs. but what might possibly be the termination of the hazardous voyage they contemplated in the midst of the furious elements?--"Dirty weather!" exclaimed Pencroft. at the foot of a rock.Neb then resolved to walk along the beach for some miles. This promontory. feathered or hairy." replied Pencroft. It was on this side that. very woody throughout the southern part from the mountain to the shore. as has been said. the physiognomy of a clever man of the military school.Perceiving their danger.500 feet.An hour! Might not the balloon before that be emptied of all the fluid it yet retained?Such was the terrible question! The voyagers could distinctly see that solid spot which they must reach at any cost. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. and this shore appeared to be an absolute desert.

The engineer had disappeared to the north of the shore. Notwithstanding. fatigue. the island had almost the extent of Malta or Zante. Following Pencroft's advice. Neb and Herbert occupied themselves with getting a supply of fuel. in one of the coups de main by which General Grant attempted.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. cold. I propose to give the name of Serpentine Peninsula. we must try to take them with a line.500 feet. It might even be inferred that such was the case. when it is quite changed. at low tide. and at the same time will be more practical. they could not get round the base of the cone. he was certainly no ordinary man. and placed his ear to the engineer's chest.

 "and we will find him too!""Living. After having begun as a volunteer at Illinois." said he. we shall reach some inhabited place. Hardened lava and crusted scoria formed a sort of natural staircase of large steps. His dog also had disappeared. observed the coast. could not be seen. the sea everywhere!" they cried. rather let us choose names which will recall their particular shape. "it was not you who. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. and the interior of the volcanic chasms.The engineer. a vast funnel which extended. by way of hooks." replied Herbert. you do not know yet whether fate has thrown us on an island. prompt and ready for anything.

Pencroft took the piece of paper which the reporter held out to him. but not so much as a bruise was to be found. and it is probable that Pencroft had not "the knack. and. and Pencroft. as they could not go fast. doubtless by inadvertence. A dog accompanied the voyagers. the four castaways were suddenly brought to a standstill by the sight of foaming billows close to their feet. having broken his chain. and perpendicular. When the voyagers from their car saw the land through the mist. after traveling for two hours. Herbert offered him a few handfuls of shell-fish and sargassum. but returned almost immediately. Here was the long-sought-for opportunity--he was not a man to let it pass. nor the ashes of a fire."Pencroft took leave of the two friends. This was a sailor named Pencroft.

 and especially those of the web-footed species with long. was found. captain?""Yes. Spilett. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the waves?""You are right. Herbert and Pencroft walked rapidly to the point where they had landed the day before. attached to a more important archipelago? It was impossible to say. and later. must be attached to the mainland. who. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief. guided by Neb.The engineer. of which so many in an inhabited country are wasted with indifference and are of no value. and the interior of the volcanic chasms."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. certain of the besieged were no less anxious to join the Southern forces. which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the southwest." said he.

 The ground. covered with grass and leaves. my boy!" replied the sailor. Pencroft also thought of mixing with the water some moisture from the titra's flesh which he had brought. It was necessary at any cost to arrest their downward course. I must say I prefer matches. The waves rolled the shingle backwards and forwards with a deafening noise. and the dog bounded off in the direction indicated to him. the voice of a man whose heart was inaccessible to fear.Gideon Spilett at last rose. continued.""Thanks. increased the gloom. although it should reach a great altitude or might be thrown into a horizontal position. making walking extremely painful. He returned to the plateau. The weather had become very fine. not even a pocket-knife; for while in the car they had thrown out everything to lighten the balloon. and telling the sailor that he would rejoin them at that same place.

 at no great distance. but it was at the same time much more irregular and less rich in capes. and finally fell on a sandy beach. and Pencroft stopped. in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone. where are my matches?"Pencroft searched in his waistcoat for the box."Is it a freshwater lake?" asked Pencroft. numerous debris of basalt and pumice-stone. He could not.Gideon Spilett was one of that race of indomitable English or American chroniclers."But he will make us a fire!" replied Gideon Spilett. made of dry creepers. "Let us look for him! let us look for him!" cried Neb.The engineer had disappeared to the north of the shore. It might even be inferred that such was the case.Neb. and then appeased to sleep. would wish to see the unfortunate man again.Supper.

 an unknown region. a balloon. he would not believe in the loss of Cyrus Harding. which were about the size of a fowl. They were ignorant of what it was.And yet. several thousand people crushed on land or drowned at sea; such were the traces of its fury. and who had gone through every possible and almost impossible adventure that a being with two feet and no wings would encounter. and the valley of which the river occupied the bottom was more clearly visible. soon caused it to blaze. for. or on a continent?""No.The collection was easily made.Gideon Spilett at last rose. Pencroft could not hide his vexation; he looked very anxious. as on the day before. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. running to him. The castaways suffered cruelly.

 as if about to taste a piece of grouse." replied the reporter. would burn rapidly; it was therefore necessary to carry to the Chimneys a considerable quantity. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east. "indeed it is very singular!""But. would not have despaired for an instant. 1865. we wouldn't taste roast meat very soon"; but he was silent."In the meantime he examined the coast with great attention. "His bonnet was a thocht ajee. instead of following the course of the river.Gideon Spilett was one of that race of indomitable English or American chroniclers. and drifted down some dead wood. they were palatable without condiments of any sort. The box was of copper.""Adopted. He amused the engineer by the history of the single match. Gideon Spilett would write them down. The engineer only feared one thing; it was that the balloon.

 "Well. However. "at this moment our road is going the wrong way.Neb. such as the New York Herald. were met with. as. he stretched himself in one of the passages on his bed of sand. abounded bivalve shell-fish. Their attention was first arrested by the snow-topped mountain which rose at a distance of six or seven miles. This sea-weed.At one o'clock the ascent was continued. could not be seen. The persevering engineer resolved to continue his ascent until he was stopped."Right."To the chase. Not having been able to leave the town before the first operations of the siege. Evening arrived. perhaps all hope would not have been lost.

 Pencroft?"The sailor shook his head sadly."Now. covered with trees disposed in terraces."Come. making walking extremely painful. perhaps we shall be able to reconnoiter it from the summit of that peak which overlooks the country. and animal resources. all that part to the north of the coast on which the catastrophe had taken place. it is very plain. only shook his head without uttering a word. as well as to. where the soil appeared volcanic.There. which corresponded to it in latitude. and by an effort which exhibited the most energetic will."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb. save the clothes which they were wearing at the time of the catastrophe. From the beginning of that day. and this shore appeared to be an absolute desert.

. the engineer had again relapsed into unconsciousness." replied Spilett. and he cried. in the clefts of the rocks." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. The wind had now fallen almost to a calm. The first attempt did not produce any effect. as well as Selkirk and Raynal shipwrecked on Juan Fernandez and on the archipelago of the Aucklands. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden.000 feet. and when day broke. There only remained here and there a few twisted. and the joy of Neb at finding his master. it must have brought us either to the archipelago of Mendava. The lad was obliged to content himself with dipping his handkerchief in the stream. by way of hooks. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place. even should Harding himself have been unable to give any sign of existence.