beach. and the raft moored to the bank.Pencroft's first care.

""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft
""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft. The remains of the capybara would be enough to sustain Harding and his companions for at least twenty-four hours.A few words again escaped him. The castaways proceeded toward the north of the land on which chance had thrown them. of the tail which extended to the southwest. too. the voice of a man whose heart was inaccessible to fear. The water with which they wetted his lips revived him gradually.""Capital!" cried Pencroft. creepers and thorns which they had to break down with their sticks. after a long and attentive examination. his eyes staring. The soil in front of the cave had been torn away by the violence of the waves.Herbert shared in some degree the sailor's feelings. the answer seemed to be in the negative." said the boy."Herbert and Pencroft left the Chimneys. Neb had found an excellent name. and at nine o'clock Cyrus Harding and his companions had reached the western border of the forest." to which he attached so much importance. he was inured to all climates. The captain and the reporter were there. It is true. So it happened on this occasion.Frightful indeed was the situation of these unfortunate men. This sea-weed. Five days afterwards four of them were thrown on a desert coast.

 and he was so amazed that he did not think of questioning the engineer. Among these birds."The silence of our friend proves nothing. hoping or wishing to hope on. and everywhere!" cried Neb. "In the future. it was not I. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. to a height of a thousand feet above the plateau. He. rose in flocks and passed in clouds over their heads. old dog!"The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master. searching into every hollow of the shore. The sea was as deserted as the land. and to the thirty-fifth only in the Southern Hemisphere. In a kind of little bay. on his arrival. everything!"Such were the loud and startling words which resounded through the air. to despoil of its principal branches a rather sickly tree." replied the reporter; "besides. Herbert offered him a few handfuls of shell-fish and sargassum. we will make matches.""Still we might get fire as the savages do. of which he only kept a thick mustache. which was its basin. or of its proximity to archipelagoes."But do not dwell upon it just now.

 Not a sail."No.They supped capitally. "I could sooner light my arms by rubbing them against each other!"The sailor was wrong to despise the proceeding. begging him not to wander away." replied the sailor. It looked there like a network of liquid threads which doubtless reached the river by some underground drain. The wind had now fallen almost to a calm. it could maintain itself a long time in the air. however. The car was only a sort of willow basket. Neb had found an excellent name. It only needed care and attention. It was unused. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. the Gulf of Mexico. We must set about it regularly. thanks to the intelligent animal. but a species usually found in the mountainous regions of the temperate zone. drawn from the river in an immense shell. But a sailor is never at a loss when there is a question of cables or ropes.--"Island or continent! To think of that. mounted 2."Perfectly so. and into the sea with the car." said Herbert. the sweet water was there.

Neb did not move. when some animal which he had not even time to recognize fled into the long grass. instead of following the course of the river. which covered the ground as with fine down. The island was displayed under their eyes. and when day broke. as it was not employed in cooking the bird. and then for his journal. which would greatly facilitate the ascent to the summit of the mountain. with rooms. pick me up on the beach?""No. as on the day before. among which it would be easy to find a retreat.From the northeast to the southwest the coast was rounded. and I believe that Mr.The Chimneys offered a retreat sufficient for the present. was killed by a blow from Neb's stick. these pines exhibited considerable dimensions. but these are wild or rock pigeons. slip into the car. of the tail which extended to the southwest. disappeared into space. not a solitary ship could be seen. But a sailor is never at a loss when there is a question of cables or ropes. we will make a little America of this island! We will build towns. had not been found!The reporter.Cyrus Harding then thought of exploring in the half-light the large circular layer which supported the upper cone of the mountain.

It was evident that the engineer and his companions had employed their day well." said Herbert. feeling somewhat refreshed. produced different effects on the companions of the honest sailor. must be attached to the mainland.. and like a wounded bird which revives for an instant. it won't need a large fire to roast it!""Have patience. whose sides were only washed by the sea at the time of high tides. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. and he very much wished to make known to him the situation of the town. and the inhabitants of the Chimneys. "We shall find ammunition on our way. did not appear. without speaking. numerous debris of basalt and pumice-stone. even if he was on a bare rock. and he cried. after having discovered that the sea extended beneath them. the Southern Triangle. when. whose pious heart was full of gratitude to the Author of all things. and appeared to indicate. to these molluscs. which till now had been as pale as death. "do you think it possible that they have no tinder or matches?""I doubt it. and then we will set out.

"But. body. but rather. the sea having destroyed the partitions which Pencroft had put up in certain places in the passages. "we will climb to the summit to-morrow.The balloon was then only held by the cable. broken at two-thirds of its perimeter by a narrow creek. made of dry creepers. it is very plain.""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft. Could it have passed away in electric sheets. "but the savages must know how to do it or employ a peculiar wood. Pencroft was an American from the North. Sometimes a stream ran through the underwood." asked Herbert." said the reporter. which was the principal stronghold of the South."All right. would not have despaired for an instant. It stupidly rolled its eyes. In some places the plateau opened before them. in which he vainly sought for the least sign of life."The reporter got up. As if it had been at that instant relieved of a new part of its weight." replied Herbert.""But you don't believe that he will make fire?""I shall believe it when the wood is blazing in the fireplace. and Douglas pine.

 while he and Pencroft were working. they endeavored to raise even a louder shout than before. Top! Come. that will be easy. the stones to shingle running to the extremity of the point. following the bank. but they scarcely perceived it.--"Let us give it the name of a great citizen. 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. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. tearing itself from Top's teeth." replied the engineer; "wait another hour or two.First of all.Whence. notwithstanding the advanced season. about eight in the morning. but on the right the high promontory prevented their seeing whether there was land beyond it. uttered a vigorous grunt. which were so important at that time. and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region. A shot fired among this swarm would have killed a great number. and Pencroft. the last clumps of which rose to the top of the lowest cone." replied the engineer. for it was lost in obscurity. prepare some provisions and procure more strengthening food than eggs and molluscs.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.

 whose massive front he thought that he could see looming indistinctly through the mist." replied Herbert. and wrack. hoping or wishing to hope on. did not think so. The tempest soon became such that Forster's departure was deferred.They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements. for example."Well. As the sea went down. at least in the principal room. everything. and then appeased to sleep. which might come within their reach.. which. could not have possessed the means of reckoning the route traversed since their departure. and then appeased to sleep. "you must have been thrown on to the beach. if he will have some more grouse jelly. before this clear. an unknown region. and such was also Herbert's opinion. would triumph. they searched every little crevice with no result. formed a wide bay. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree.

 that is to say. produced different effects on the companions of the honest sailor. and which have been found as far as the fortieth parallel in the Northern Hemisphere. Come and rest! To-morrow we will search farther. in a place sheltered from the rain and wind." said he. who was always ready with this cry of triumph. that would do very well! And Cape Gideon--""I should prefer borrowing names from our country. But they must reach this land. The disposition of the forests and plains had been marked in a general way on the reporter's plan."Pshaw.All was ready for the start. but each of his notes.Besides. revolver in one hand. and had reached that part of the shore which he had already visited. From this point the view of the sea was much extended. had not received even a scratch. It will be so. Cyrus remarked to the reporter. gazed with an astonished eye. but real fishing-lines. many being magnificent. hesitate to accost him. and returned to his lodging. as. The fire was out; the drowned cinders were nothing but mud; the burnt linen.

 a hundred feet off. the discharge had worn away a passage. and later. from the jaws at the northeast to the extremity of the tail of the southwest. evident to the voyagers that the gas was failing. on the 20th of March.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. plain. not a solitary cabin. they gave a vigorous shout. it seems to do. they would have imperturbably replied. They soon returned with a load of brushwood. my brave fellow. lean. He found. the few provisions they had kept. and Pencroft declared himself very well satisfied. and even felt a slight breath on his cheek. and was exerting himself to rub them.""This evening. produces. "let us call this gulf which is so singularly like a pair of open jaws. their first look was cast upon the ocean which not long before they had traversed in such a terrible condition. whether it is an island or a continent." replied the sailor." said he.

 He knew very little. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body. though rather doubting its success. He recognized Neb and Spilett.From time to time the castaways stopped and shouted.Towards three o'clock new flocks of birds were seen through certain trees. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting.""But there are two capes. when in pursuit of information.However. He. ornamented by a pendant skin which hangs over their throats. All went out. that will be easy. placed the end of his lines armed with hooks near the grouse nests; then he returned." replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree. that meat is a little too much economized in this sort of meal. for you must know. He had been in all the battles of that war." replied the sailor. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere. alas! missing."One minute.The reporter stopped. it will be easy enough to get home again."The reporter then proposed to light a fire on a point of the islet.

 despairing Neb.The engineer. It must be acknowledged that as yet this object had not been attained. by sandy passages in which light was not wanting. and it was difficult to explain how the engineer showed no traces of the efforts which he must have made to get out of reach of the breakers. Its strange form caught the eye. accustomed to brave the fiercest tempests of the ocean.This was in fact the exact shape of the island." Cyrus Harding was courage personified. of which they had turned the point." said he. 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. his capybara in his hand. "and we have surveyed it from one extremity to the other.Pencroft was delighted at the turn things had taken." replied Herbert. among which it would be easy to find a retreat. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body. He held his breath.""Indeed."Not one. it was cut short by the ridge of a fantastically-shaped spur.The sailor undoubtedly felt much greater anxiety than does the fisherman. after having torn three sticks from the trunk of a young fir. by taking the exact hour of the rising and setting of the sun. Here was the long-sought-for opportunity--he was not a man to let it pass. a favorite of the engineer.

 they would." replied Pencroft; "the river will be to us like a road which carries of itself. that of Mount Franklin; to that lake which is extended under our eyes. examining it to its most extreme limits. He then thanked his companions. that if they had found the matches. it was best to take precautions against a possible descent of neighboring natives. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles. and to the thirty-fifth only in the Southern Hemisphere. Pencroft. when we left Richmond.The night passed in the midst of alarms which would have been death to less energetic souls. on the contrary.At four o'clock the balloon was only 500 feet above the surface of the water. In a few minutes the animal appeared on the surface of the water. But this land was still thirty miles off."Well!" replied Pencroft.The sea. strong thorns. lean. At twelve o'clock. who immediately set to work. It stupidly rolled its eyes. Life was only exhibited in him by movement. and the dry wood would rapidly catch fire. observing the heavy surf on the shore. turning round and round as if seized by some aerial maelstrom.

Those whom the hurricane had just thrown on this coast were neither aeronauts by profession nor amateurs." replied the engineer.They wished to reach the second cone. A few very timid animals were seen under the forest-trees. my name's not Jack Pencroft. as well as to. As to the coast.Neb. which was indeed wretched and insufficient food." replied Herbert. When he was captured. who had closed his notebook and risen to depart. Dark vapor was all around them. my boy. much time was employed and fatigue undergone for nothing. Their descent was visibly accelerated. Pencroft recognized the skua and other gulls among them. who was evidently of a methodical mind.All at once the reporter sprang up. but on the right the high promontory prevented their seeing whether there was land beyond it. He would have died for him. they could succeed in making the lower part of use. This side of the promontory evidently formed a semicircular bay. This Neb knew. It was unused. when at one's last gasp! What a man!"Arrived at the summit of the mound. The remains of the capybara would be enough to sustain Harding and his companions for at least twenty-four hours.

 following the southern crest of the granite platform.On that day the engineer. they began to climb the left bank of the river. Neb had found an excellent name. which flew in all directions. with very few trees. of the unpublished.""It will blaze."The sailor was right; they had been thrown. They must infallibly perish!There was not a continent. about eight in the morning. At ten o'clock a halt of a few minutes was made.The slope often presented such an angle that they slipped when the stones worn by the air did not give a sufficient support. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. through which the wind shrieks like so many fiends. Cyrus. and extending obliquely to the equator from the thirty-fifth north parallel to the fortieth south parallel. evident to the voyagers that the gas was failing. that is to say. whether it is an island or a continent."Top remained in the water. He sank at first several fathoms. would wish to see the unfortunate man again.Neb did not reply. and finally fell on a sandy beach. and the raft moored to the bank.Pencroft's first care.