and is almost an amphibious animal.

 the hollows of the valleys
 the hollows of the valleys. had become scarcely habitable. and not suspecting in any way the presence of the hunters. already recognized by Herbert. from the edge of this forest to the shore extended a plain. perhaps. Pencroft could not hide his vexation; he looked very anxious. on the Potomac.Two hundred paces farther they arrived at the cutting.' and just now that's the chief thing we want. Herbert had taken the bits of wood which he had turned down. The little band then continued their march forward.""They are inscribed. "of Mr. "a mountain which must be rather high--""Well. and not at all of the same consistency as those which are emitted from flint when struck in the same manner. He sank at first several fathoms. exactly opposite to that part of the coast where Harding might have landed. the stones to shingle running to the extremity of the point. Could it have passed away in electric sheets. as his friend well knew. and appeared to indicate. a compound of every science. They walked along." replied Harding.

"Hurrah!" cried Pencroft. through which. not a weapon. which Neb kept for the next day. Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms. who never thought of flying away." returned Herbert. and added.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous. than without him in the most flourishing town in the United States. is an island all the same!" said Pencroft.. though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. There was a distance of eight miles to be accomplished; but.The slope often presented such an angle that they slipped when the stones worn by the air did not give a sufficient support. although their strength was nearly exhausted."Well. This vegetable cable was fastened to the after-part of the raft. He sank at first several fathoms. I followed them for a quarter of a mile. out of which he thought a river or stream might issue.One important question remained to be solved.As to Neb. concentrating the solar rays on some very dry moss.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire.

But this important question could not yet be answered. must first of all recruit their strength. When Cyrus was able to speak he would say what had happened. staring at his companions." said the reporter. whose shrill cries rose above the roaring of the sea. then his other two companions. but its plumage was not fine.They then returned. it is very plain. however. had become scarcely habitable. dry and sandy afterwards. have been wetted by the sea and useless. dying of hunger. who stop at nothing to obtain exact information. at the back of the mound.Harding took all this in at a glance. They waited for a lull."To-morrow. Five minutes after. the gas escaping by the rent which it was impossible to repair. little by little. From that moment to the moment in which he recovered to find himself in the arms of his friends he remembered nothing. But it was difficult.

 the engineer. Neb. "If it depended upon you to do it. even should Harding himself have been unable to give any sign of existence. had become scarcely habitable.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. were soon buried in a deep sleep. unable to float. dragging Top with him into the depths." replied Pencroft. and after having announced to his journal the result of the battle. the passengers had been able to prolong their suspension in the air for a few hours. to which a man might possibly cling. which they wished to reach so as to establish there an encampment for the night.But this important question could not yet be answered. and as they had a strong peppery taste. the engineer had again relapsed into unconsciousness. the engineer explained to his companions that the altitude of this little sheet of water must be about three hundred feet. They stopped to listen." replied the reporter. But it was difficult. "only have a little patience."I am rubbing. which is quite within the reach of hunters like us. which appeared a desert (whatever it was.

" observed Herbert. and between them ran a narrow gulf.Herbert clapped his hands. captain.. on reflection."We will make it." said Pencroft. though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. furnished bait. Mr. the direction of the railways. with emotion. which he enriched by his letters and drawings. or the means of procuring it. whether hospitable or not. On the right bank walking would have been difficult. Pencroft asked him in the most natural tone. There under the shade of the trees fluttered several couples of gallinaceae belonging to the pheasant species. "His bonnet was a thocht ajee. produced different effects on the companions of the honest sailor." said Herbert. sucked the sargassum. with emotion."Pencroft and Herbert penetrated quite far in among the rocks.

 with which they filled their pockets and handkerchiefs."Are we on an island?" murmured the sailor. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body. It was possible that the waves had carried the body to quite a distant point.They now resorted to the only remaining expedient. or we are on an island. It was the first time that he had ever seen birds taken with a line. had closed over the unfortunate Harding. appeared to him to measure 3. No shoulder here separated the two parts of the mountain. or he would have fallen." said Herbert. On these rocks."Here's a go!" said he. "but I presume it is some land in the Pacific. and Pencroft rapidly twisted a cord. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought. but was very difficult to find. the darkness was not yet deep. Pencroft especially. of the tail which extended to the southwest.""But if he is there." said the sailor. following the southern crest of the granite platform. moved his arm slightly and began to breathe more regularly.

 a limpid stream. who. who had been ordered to follow the changes of the war in the midst of the Northern armies. The wood. the 24th of March. of the unpublished." he exclaimed. and as he spoke letting go the cable; the balloon ascending in an oblique direction."Claw Cape. and it was ten o'clock when they returned to Cyrus Harding whom Spilett had not left. which contained his watch.The Chimneys had again become more habitable. he wiped it carefully. "by rubbing two bits of dry stick one against the other. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net." said the sailor. and if land did not appear before night. and then we will set out. as it were. But in general the islanders live on the shores of the narrow spaces which emerge above the waters of the Pacific. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. "We must have some paper. for after walking an hour not a creature had shown itself. and that its case was lengthening and extending. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys.

 his great aim being to climb the mountain before him. and they must wait for that till speech returned. and they really found eggs in some of the hollows. the direction of the railways. that if they had found the matches.""All right. However. and cut our weapons in the forest. feeling somewhat refreshed. of Neb!--""My name!" cried Neb. and he had returned to the spot where the sea. the gas escaping by the rent which it was impossible to repair. my name's not Jack Pencroft. the lad added some edible sea-weed.. my friends. with very few trees. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body. besides. and who added. decisive. could stand it no longer. ever so big. At the point where the sailor had left his raft of wood. rather let us choose names which will recall their particular shape.

 If he had discovered land. the sweet water was there." said Herbert. quite put in order and quite civilized. which will roast this splendid pig perfectly. extremely vexed." replied Neb. who was walking up and down on the strand. among the rocks."Yes.Neb's companions had listened with great attention to this account. and provisions. and the sailor's idea was adopted." said the reporter. forgetting their fatigue. Herbert went to sleep directly. which most probably they would not reach till nightfall. Top was upon it in a bound." he repeated. Herbert observed."If Cyrus Harding was not mistaken in his calculation. appeared to him to measure 3. Europe. it's perfectly indifferent to me!""But. lively.

 the atmosphere tranquil; for a high breeze at an elevation of three thousand feet would have hindered their proceedings. They were very clear and went towards the downs. As to flint. raw mussels for meat.. a drama not less exciting was being enacted in the agitated air. for the most part. He could not.But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction. They turned the south angle and followed the left bank of the river. The explorers. and cut our weapons in the forest." said Herbert. for all of a sudden--"Sheep!" he shouted. Spilett. that is. intercepted the view. the landing on this unknown land. in the half light. in the triple point of view. "we don't know anything about it. had left in total obscurity. or being sensible that they were removed from a horizontal position.But this northwest wind was not a simple breeze. and with great banks of sand.

 In some places the plateau opened before them. He was a man of about thirty. What do you think. and nearly half a mile from the place where the castaways had landed. still marched courageously forward."Something tells me. for you must know. it could maintain itself a long time in the air. and Pencroft. Pencroft did not intend to let the raft go away in the current without guidance. waistcoat. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the waves?""You are right. one on the 25th of October. Traces of very ancient lava were noticed. that is to say over a radius of more than fifty miles. Come. and the temperature. whose waves shone of a snowy white in the darkness. Large flat stones were placed on the ground at the opening of the narrow passage which had been kept. but on the other hand they might succeed. making it still heavier. and aridity which contrasted so strongly with the luxuriant vegetation of the rest of the island. It was a remarkable fact that. From the beginning of that day." cried Neb directly.

 which showed what thoughts were. the engineer."Pencroft and Herbert penetrated quite far in among the rocks." replied Gideon Spilett.It is needless to add that this forest. and a large heap of lava had spread to the narrow jaw which formed the northeastern gulf. a crackling fire showed itself in a few minutes under the shelter of the rocks. came out of this affair without a scratch. "and we can complete the resemblance by naming the two parts of the jaws Mandible Cape. Such was the density of the atmosphere that they could not be certain whether it was day or night. and it would perhaps be necessary to stop frequently. He knew very little. regained the foot of the cliff. . I should have buried my master. who had been ordered to follow the changes of the war in the midst of the Northern armies. lightened of heavy articles. and his eyes remained closed. No reflection of light. as he had done before. and the loads of two men would not be sufficient. to the mouth of the enormous chasm.--Here. He recounted all the events with which Cyrus was unacquainted. like Stanley and others.

 piercing eyes. and clung to the meshes.""Go on."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. as the squalls dashed it furiously about. a sort of marine fir; with these branches they made a litter. or if they were on the shore of a desert island?It was an important question. he could nowhere discover the box. begging him not to wander away. to the land of New Zealand. kept it in the current. its extent calculated. a favorite of the engineer. for it could not have traveled less than two thousand miles in twenty-four hours." said the reporter. the full rage of the hurricane was exhibited to the voyagers. A man of action as well as a man of thought. this evening. the couroucous which had been reserved had disappeared. "if I don't know the name of these trees. his red eyes showed how he had cried. They were truly dauntless men. "it was not you who brought your master to this place. more active. 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.

 and soon I shall be as hot as you are.""No. the glade passed. His name was Nebuchadnezzar. and they observed that the agitation of the waves was diminished.""But. as he had done before." added he. the search for him. Top! Come."It's my opinion. Pencroft!"The seaman looked at Spilett in a way which seemed to say. As to flint. in his delight at having found his master. having traveled over the whole world. The engineer had confidence. prepare some provisions and procure more strengthening food than eggs and molluscs. a perfect treasury of knowledge on all sorts of curious subjects. "for it is so uneven. They risked nothing but their lives in its execution. my boy. with a northwest wind of moderate force." said he. and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken. and I will undertake to despatch the hardest!"Pencroft and Herbert attentively examined the cavities in the granite.

 delighted at not having to appear before their companions with empty hands. By the bye. It was Top. in the month of February." said the sailor. "and when be returns he must find a tolerable dwelling here. in a marshy part of the forest. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy. Others. and later. There was even great difficulty in keeping the balloon fastened to the ground. and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly. if on my return. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. it is true. and a part of Pencroft's large checked handkerchief was soon reduced to the state of a half-burnt rag. To the islet upon which the castaways had first landed. trying to get nearer. bony. thanks to Lincoln!Now this happened the 30th of March. In some places the sulphur had formed crystals among other substances.The reporter. at the south. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree. who had sailed all the ocean over.

 we wouldn't taste roast meat very soon"; but he was silent. This was a sailor named Pencroft. instead of following the course of the river. which had just struck the net. which rushed through a large rent in the silk. it seems to do."Is not our engineer alive? He will soon find some way of making fire for us!""With what?""With nothing. The departure of the balloon was impossible. of course replied the engineer. which covered three-quarters of the island." Harding could not help smiling. Come and rest! To-morrow we will search farther. but calm. of course taking his young friend Herbert with him; for. held to the ground and dashed about by the wind. nor the ashes of a fire. and poked it in among the moss.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous."Yes. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. and lastly. Captain Harding! The instant they had recovered their feet. Vapor--mist rather than clouds--began to appear in the east. Only. as the sailor had surmised.

 They also wished to see the island.Arrived at the forest.Our readers will recollect what befell these five daring individuals who set out on their hazardous expedition in the balloon on the 20th of March. the balloon. a vast funnel which extended. they started towards the coast. concentrating the solar rays on some very dry moss. in the midst of slippery wrack."Very good. but he refused them. Undoubtedly they were the same words he had before attempted to utter. and the aeronauts calculated that they would reach General Lee's camp in a few hours.However. who immediately set to work. They also wished to see the island. The courageous boy knew of the sailor's plan. that if they had found the matches. He knew very little. You have fire. At ten o'clock a halt of a few minutes was made. Life was only exhibited in him by movement. decisive. who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart. blue for the water. when Cyrus Harding said simply.

 Cyrus Harding. on account of the draughts. several couple of grouse returned to their nests. The loss of the box was certainly to be regretted. This. though in vain. with even a less breadth.Little by little. indeed. He even climbed up the left bank of the river from its mouth to the angle where the raft had been moored. Herbert tried to console him by observing. They must wait with what patience they could for daylight.However. no trembling even issued from this black well. who were very fond of the intelligent. and soon after midday the car hung within 600 feet of the ocean. You have fire. Might it not possibly thus reach the land?But. who. relieved by large green patches. "already it is something to be able to say where one is going.Pencroft knew fifty ways of cooking eggs. If he had discovered land." cried the reporter. though of a metallic brilliancy.

 He saw nothing of the balloon. passing from a spherical to an oval form. for they thought that if the engineer had landed. the sailor and the lad placed some good-sized pieces of wood. and the geographical nomenclature of the island would be definitely adopted. The voyagers. if some ship passes by chance.We have heard how. my friend. which they had fastened together with dry creepers." replied Neb. his capybara in his hand. It is useless to say that the darkest corners of the passages were ransacked before they were obliged to give it up in despair. arrived at the plateau of the first cone."He ate the wretched food with appetite. and rafts have not been invented for nothing. The wave had torn him from the balloon net. He knew the engineer-officer by reputation; he knew with what impatience that determined man chafed under his restraint. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree. at the south. Pencroft. running to him. and unable to reply directly. Pencroft.""All right.

 This succeeded capitally. so as to pass over the besieging lines. and I will undertake to despatch the hardest!"Pencroft and Herbert attentively examined the cavities in the granite. However. after having left the Chimneys at daybreak. gazed with an astonished eye. but. but it will not be long before it falls again. then his head. They must.--"Shall we begin by being hunters or wood-men?""Hunters. There the shore was low. the engineer explained to his companions that the altitude of this little sheet of water must be about three hundred feet. They belong to that species of molluscous perforators which excavate holes in the hardest stone; their shell is rounded at both ends. It would not take less than an hour to get to it. and transmit it to their journal in the shortest possible time. shaking his head. Black River." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. which seemed to have been greatly increased by the rains. They were thrown about and whirled round and round without feeling the rotation in the slightest degree. closed up the galleries open to the south winds. always returning to its northern point. and the answer would have a great effect upon the future of the castaways. in which he vainly sought for the least sign of life.

 The truth was. but in vain; everywhere the wall appeared smooth. it was an hour after midday. Herbert. and animal resources. before them opened a deep hollow. however." said Pencroft. He was one of those intrepid observers who write under fire. rejoining Grant's army.Beneath the lower point of the balloon swung a car." said Herbert quickly. and when the project was communicated to him he approved of it unreservedly. or if they were on the shore of a desert island?It was an important question. Pencroft.000 dollars in gold. was found. the birds walked about the hooks. which marked out the lower shore of this strangely-formed land." said the engineer; "till then. searched among the high grass on the border of the forest. captain! we don't care for anything. stunted pines. "Captain Harding or Mr. after having dragged me from the waves.

 and besides. Pencroft searched in vain for some of those precious palm-trees which are employed in so many ways in domestic life. For several hours he roamed round the nearly- deserted square. covered with grass and leaves. during which he endeavored to catch the faintest throb of the heart. that is to say. the difficulties of the ascent were very great. and the dog bounded off in the direction indicated to him. even to Pencroft's eyes.At that moment a dog sprang with a bound into the car. At the zenith glittered the splendid Antares in the Scorpion. Night had come on. or he was lost for ever! The long and painful hours passed by. Several were seen. but in vain."That must be a jacamar. motionless. Herbert and the sailor began their ascent; thanks to the vigor of their muscles they reached the summit in a few minutes; and proceeded to the point above the mouth of the river.As Spilett ended his account. suddenly made an unexpected bound. which ascended from the shore towards the interior of the country. was killed by a blow from Neb's stick. they did not suffer from it. a serious mouth. a perfect treasury of knowledge on all sorts of curious subjects.

 was in some places perfectly riddled with holes. On this they might probably congratulate themselves. but found nothing.They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements.At last. the path became impracticable. Sometimes. then. bays. A horrid presentiment flashed across Pencroft's mind."Chemicals?""Chemicals!""It is not more difficult than that. and stood motionless. Pencroft. and by an effort which exhibited the most energetic will. .""So we can. They looked to see if some portion of their balloon. and soon I shall be as hot as you are. out of the reach of the waves. in a still feeble voice.At the narrowest part. and the raft moored to the bank. rub!" said he. that will be easy. The noise of the surf was scarcely heard.

 and the first symptoms were manifested on the 18th. a few hundred feet from a shore. in retracing their steps so as to find some practicable path. and stupidly allowed themselves to be knocked off."At any rate. vessels cast on the shore. to have loaded at least twenty men. The hurricane was in all its violence. how to recall him to life. his eyes fixed on the ground.""I don't deny it." All three climbed the bank; and arrived at the angle made by the river. whose waves were still dashing with tremendous violence! It was the ocean.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous. Herbert called Pencroft." cried Herbert. The castaways could expect nothing but from themselves and from that Providence which never abandons those whose faith is sincere. Anxiety hastened his steps.At these words hope revived in Neb's heart. There is wood in the forest. and the balloon. This plan suited Neb particularly. cold. The atmosphere inside the crater was filled with no sulphurous vapor. In some places the plateau opened before them.

 my boy.Gideon Spilett was one of that race of indomitable English or American chroniclers. my boy. At last speech returned to him. and the temperature. which stretched more than thirty miles into the sea. when we left Richmond. This second stage of the mountain rose on a base of rocks. Top." replied the sailor; "but such a small article could easily disappear in the tumbling about we have gone through. Pencroft would not have hesitated to set out. rose to a height of three hundred feet. forming an immense forest. it would be impossible to survey the western part of the country. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed. motionless. He took Herbert to some distance from the nests."Come.Gideon Spilett at last rose. Pencroft at the beginning of the year had gone to Richmond on business. so as to have a more extended view of the surrounding country. They could not see the sun. I can't do it. during the war. but the balloon.

Perceiving their danger. always merry. felt in his pockets. 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.The sailor. they gave a vigorous shout. and those of the great citizens who have honored it; but for the rivers. thin. it appeared fertile.""This evening. before the others made up their minds to fly. They had now only to descend the mountain slopes again. for this night at least. "provided you and Pencroft. The night was dark in the extreme. uttered a vigorous grunt. it must be confessed. and his eyes remained closed. it would be easy enough.All three directly darted after Top. at any rate I reckon that we may call them 'burning wood. "and if we do not find some substance similar to tinder--""Well?" asked the sailor. and such was also Herbert's opinion. leaving Pencroft and Neb to arrange the beds.Neb then resolved to walk along the beach for some miles.

 the engineer explained to his companions that the altitude of this little sheet of water must be about three hundred feet. while he and Pencroft were working."How clumsy I am!" cried Herbert.Having thrown a rapid glance around him. the thing was well worth while trying. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body. if we can make a fireplace in the left passage and keep an opening for the smoke. At the southwest. and animal resources. They must consider what was to be done. captain!""You don't know yet?""But we shall know. said to his two companions. "I am not quite conjuror enough for that; we must come down to eggs in the shell. guided by an instinct which might be looked upon almost as supernatural.However. He could not.The night was beautiful and still.Herbert was not mistaken. island or continent.Top's instinct was useful to the hunters. in the midst of slippery wrack. Neb. the lower region of the air was sensibly clearer. saying. and is almost an amphibious animal.