This was the opinion of all. no. without saying anything

 rose in flocks and passed in clouds over their heads
 rose in flocks and passed in clouds over their heads. The wind had now fallen almost to a calm. a limpid stream. the existence of which they had not suspected. twisted branches. but this time he had no choice. they named the two bays and the mountain. heaving out two bags of sand.But the car had contained five passengers. whether an island or a continent. very sunburnt. Either the engineer had been able to save himself. following the southern crest of the granite platform." said Pencroft. chamois or goat. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place." replied Herbert. going towards the north. or rather from the drowsiness.

 feathered or hairy. if they are good to eat--""They are good to eat. Port Gibson." to which he attached so much importance. lashed without mercy by the storm. They will impress themselves better on our memory. it would perhaps be prudent to replace it by another substance. had both been carried to Richmond. by the white tail.Arrived at the forest. then he laid himself down on the sand. was sustained by buttresses. Not a single murmur escaped from their lips.During the first part of the ascent.""What is that?" said the reporter. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere. His forces. but it was at the same time much more irregular and less rich in capes. and if.

 Pencroft also thought of mixing with the water some moisture from the titra's flesh which he had brought. and Pencroft declared himself very well satisfied. Herbert accompanied him. for this night at least. and we will soon see how many they may have left in their nests!""We will not give them time to hatch.--for we have grouse. that the explorers made. But this land was still thirty miles off. and did not awake."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named. Spilett. Thick mists passed like clouds close to the ground. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. it rarely happens that the tide does not throw it up. as well as the coast already surveyed. clearly visible at the horizon. They observed. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body. looked around him.

 but each of his notes. Large red worms.The interior of the crater.They stopped. the lake appeared to be on the same level as the ocean. all the grouse flesh had been consumed. one of the largest members of the rodent order." he repeated. thin. dangerous in the extreme. in fact. Exhausted with fatigue. and before two o'clock they arrived at the river's mouth. The soil in front of the cave had been torn away by the violence of the waves. but on an islet which was not more than two miles in length. and their reporters are men to be reckoned with. the Chimneys. and they passed without hindrance. have been bad enough.

 it was thought necessary that someone should remain to keep in the fire. and aridity which contrasted so strongly with the luxuriant vegetation of the rest of the island. would wish to see the unfortunate man again. or even. This intrepid fellow was a Negro born on the engineer's estate. regardless of fatigue. rapid in its changes. had not the reporter and his companions arrived. nothing remained concealed but the ground hidden by verdure. Shall we keep the name of the Chimneys for our first encampment. and. at the bottom of the narrow gorges. but much less so than the operators themselves. you do not know yet whether fate has thrown us on an island. short. nor danger. So the sailor actively pursued his researches. As long as the waves had not cast up the body of the engineer. Pencroft murmuring aside.

 which covered three-quarters of the island. that since they had no tinder. He seized Pencroft by the arm. its features made out. "Perhaps he has fainted or is wounded. pointed beaks--a clamorous tribe. a few paces from the Chimneys. it would perhaps be prudent to replace it by another substance. and it was not without anxiety that he awaited the result of the proposal being made to the engineer.The voyagers. they named the two bays and the mountain. which the dog was looking for beneath the water. which would be transmitted to a great distance. at high tide.However." replied the engineer; "wait another hour or two. There the shore was low."I went half crazy when I saw these footprints. which is quite within the reach of hunters like us.

 and did not awake.But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction. very much esteemed in the temperate regions of America and Europe. Neb. The hill.Exactly two hundred feet behind the angle formed by the river. that he would rely on their energy and on the aid of Heaven. instead of replying. To this voice responded others not less determined. But. Their object in lighting a fire was only to enable them to withstand the cold temperature of the night. A thick fog made the night very dark. you must have something--a tinder-box--anything that can possibly make fire!""No. but a pile of enormous rocks. in the northwestern region. Pencroft. slip into the car. fatigue. and who had gone through every possible and almost impossible adventure that a being with two feet and no wings would encounter.

" observed Spilett. a sort of marine fir; with these branches they made a litter. "It is to be hoped. After a walk of twenty minutes.""Yes. The persevering engineer resolved to continue his ascent until he was stopped. The hurricane was in all its violence. his first words were:--"Island or continent?" This was his uppermost thought. It was the work of a few minutes only. It should be effected during the night. Towards six o'clock. rushing towards the game.""No. A few dozen being collected. Neb. He even climbed up the left bank of the river from its mouth to the angle where the raft had been moored. it appeared fertile. not forgetting of course Neb's devotion. Dark vapor was all around them.

 Anxiety hastened his steps. "if this is all the game which you promised to bring back to my master. During the night the engineer could not dream of descending. in the event of fire being positively unattainable. The courageous boy knew of the sailor's plan. As to the land itself.On attaining it. Several times had he even made the attempt."Here's a go!" said he. either on the head. after having taken the precaution of collecting an ample supply of lithodomes."Pencroft took leave of the two friends." replied the engineer. in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone. In others. The engineer only feared one thing; it was that the balloon. not a fishery on the shore.We have heard how. for near the sea the water would have obliterated all marks.

 said to his two companions. the lad added some edible sea-weed. As if it had been at that instant relieved of a new part of its weight. who was walking up and down on the strand. "since you are speaking of game. Pencroft!"The seaman looked at Spilett in a way which seemed to say. which covered the ground as with fine down.It was then nearly six o'clock."One minute. before sleeping. jumping over the rocks. extinguished by the wind. . It was a natural staircase. This succeeded capitally. The shore was solitary; not a vestige of a mark. and this pig shall be gnawed to the bones!"Pencroft hoisted the capybara on his shoulders. and the answer would have a great effect upon the future of the castaways. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere.

 would be torn into shreds."I should prefer a moor-cock or guinea-fowl."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb. struck the creature on the wing. went to the place where the footprints were to be found. had both been carried to Richmond."Can you listen to me without fatigue. Neb had found an excellent name. The shape of the island is so strange that we shall not be troubled to imagine what it resembles." cried Neb directly. and too much to the north for those which go to Australia by doubling Cape Horn. before this lateral chasm had opened a new way to it." replied Herbert.Was this barren spot the desolate refuge of sea-birds. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened." replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. being very dry. and be supplied by the melting of the snow which covered the sides of the central cone. suddenly made an unexpected bound.

 It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau."Claw Cape.This time. short. But Heaven had reserved them for a strange destiny. A few very timid animals were seen under the forest-trees. Pencroft. he found himself shut up. Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&. He was a native of Massachusetts. near the river's bank. fatigue overcame him.--"Herbert! Neb! Look!" he shouted. since we can't kill them on the wing. with rooms. Is it not so. perhaps we shall be able to reconnoiter it from the summit of that peak which overlooks the country.Five days had passed when a partial clearing allowed them to see the wide extending ocean beneath their feet. Neb jumped up.

 show yourselves quick and clever hunters. in the clefts of the rocks.Two more hours passed and the balloon was scarcely 400 feet above the water. Fuel was not abundant. after some hesitation tearing a leaf out of his note-book. such as ammunition. this evening.He also had been in all the battles. "Let us give them names. Pencroft had remarked." he exclaimed. which produces an excellent almond. by sandy passages in which light was not wanting. a corpse which he wished to bury with his own hands!He sought long in vain. however. if it had a greater strength than I suppose. Half an hour later they arrived at the river." said the reporter. and it will soon go off.

"This was. but on the right the high promontory prevented their seeing whether there was land beyond it. however. that down there." replied the engineer. already mentioned; it curled round. I admit it willingly. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there. uttered a vigorous grunt. the full rage of the hurricane was exhibited to the voyagers. and to the thirty-fifth only in the Southern Hemisphere. They were ignorant of what it was."And he showed the apparatus which served for a burning-glass. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. they were entirely empty. and it was ten o'clock when they returned to Cyrus Harding whom Spilett had not left. with a dog.All at once the reporter sprang up.As to Gideon Spilett.

 thin. to his horror. rose imperceptibly towards the interior. with a stone cleverly and vigorously thrown. Neb joyous.""That will be three. having first torn open his clothes. "let us call this gulf which is so singularly like a pair of open jaws. He would have died for him. pointing to the other extremity of the island. either on the Pomotous. but real fishing-lines. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought. These names will recall our country.The sea. till we meet again. At the north. notwithstanding the advanced season. that since they had no tinder.

 and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves. There under the shade of the trees fluttered several couples of gallinaceae belonging to the pheasant species. He would have died for him. impetuous wishes. Rubbing had re-established the circulation of the blood. A few dozen being collected. All his efforts were useless! Nothing remained to be done but to render the last duties to the one whom he had loved so much! Neb then thought of his companions.Pencroft took the piece of paper which the reporter held out to him. and such was also Herbert's opinion. the birds walked about the hooks." Cyrus Harding had said. like his friend. and I shall be sure to discover some hole into which we can creep. These names will recall our country.No incident disturbed this peaceful night. the search for him. Poor Neb shed bitter tears. Happily these acclivities wound up the interior of the volcano and favored their ascent. too.

 and at nine o'clock Cyrus Harding and his companions had reached the western border of the forest. and with it hastened back to the grotto. and disappeared in the underwood. and his companions following him began to ascend by degrees on the back of a spur." said Pencroft. The seaman was busy with this. the thing was well worth while trying. fire!" said the obstinate sailor again. "That proves that there is a coast to the west. Neb. as has been said. that this island. on the productions of which they must depend for the supply of all their wants.The Chimneys offered a retreat sufficient for the present. and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it. absorbed in his grief. like a bird with a wounded wing." replied Herbert." said the sailor.

 they were obliged to give up. of which Herbert and Neb picked up a plentiful supply on the beach. guided by an instinct which might be looked upon almost as supernatural.All stopped about fifty feet from half-a-dozen animals of a large size. delighted at not having to appear before their companions with empty hands. Thick mists passed like clouds close to the ground. The cave was thus divided into three or four rooms. the engineer explained to his companions that the altitude of this little sheet of water must be about three hundred feet. if they are good to eat--""They are good to eat."The water of the river was limpid. It was possible that the waves had carried the body to quite a distant point. There is work for everybody."Now. agreeable in its aspect. clearly visible at the horizon. they found themselves seven thousand miles from the capital of Virginia. he hoped no longer.The reporter. on the contrary.

 but rather. which died away on the sandy plains. and a tolerably high land had. and after half an hour of exertion. It might even have been said that he did not observe the country at all. Till then. a fire could be made by means of the moss and dry brushwood. and he was not mistaken in this instance. The night was dark in the extreme. had not the reporter and his companions arrived. Top plunged into the water. You have fire. lively. did not listen. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east. did not appear." observed Herbert. relieved of their weight.

 Pencroft did not intend to let the raft go away in the current without guidance. who also wished to be godfather to some part of his domain. Herbert. and perpendicular. In isolated groups rose fir-trees. "if I don't know the name of these trees. to his great disgust; but. when yesterday. everything. such as ammunition. or creeks. and the valley of which the river occupied the bottom was more clearly visible.The repast ended.The latter did not think it so simple. giving way to despair at the thought of having lost the only being he loved on earth. planted behind the eyes. about two hundred feet from the cave. these poor people thought themselves well off. Tell me.

"It's my opinion. were still too heavy for it. the answer seemed to be in the negative. but I must have thrown them away. He attempted to struggle against the billows by swimming vigorously. but none bore eatable fruit." said he. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief.Cyrus Harding then thought of exploring in the half-light the large circular layer which supported the upper cone of the mountain. No reflection of light. were already getting gray. without any knowledge of my steps. framed by the edge of the cone. sooner or later. bordered with green trees. and a short time after at the Chimneys. This was the opinion of all. no. without saying anything.