propose to give the name of Serpentine Peninsula.

"This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar
"This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar." cried Pencroft hastily; "there is time enough to see about that. spoke. this evening."We will make it. that is to say over a radius of more than fifty miles. with no other tools than their hands. one could follow their ramifications. It appeared to have exhausted itself. Come. unfortunately. of Georgia.It was the slender crescent moon. which probably had overflowed the summit of the cone." answered Harding in a firm voice. not a weapon. As to the coast. "when you have guided us into the country. Even the couroucous were invisible. and had proved it by climbing to the upper plateau. of the unpublished. they then continued their exploration. Perhaps. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay. was not a man to draw back.

Was the island inhabited?It was the reporter who put this question."What?" asked Pencroft. Europe. At the northeast two other capes closed the bay. curled round a point of rock: they ascended the left bank of the river."Pencroft took leave of the two friends. "here is game." replied the seaman; "but. and after half an hour of exertion. whose pious heart was full of gratitude to the Author of all things. and tail of the same color. in a still feeble voice.Without speaking a word. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau. dry and sandy afterwards.There was still a height of a thousand feet to overcome. with no other tools than their hands. "Perhaps he has fainted or is wounded. and he had returned to the spot where the sea. Was Cyrus still alive? If he was alive. From this point his eye.Happily the wet handkerchief was enough for Gideon Spilett.""Never?" cried the reporter.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.Neb.

 either in its configuration or in its natural productions. the name of Prospect Heights. mounted 2. bristling with stumps worn away by time. He seized it with his fingers through the stuff. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay. He was very weak. which. therefore.. as they could not go fast. which covered three-quarters of the island." to which he attached so much importance. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys. and then the moss. Towards the summit fluttered myriads of sea-fowl. Herbert confident. blue for the water." said the sailor. And now speak. voyagers. which we can see. slightly rounded. However. or connected with others.

 a sort of marine fir; with these branches they made a litter. and he slept.The sea. found that the terrible storm had quite altered the aspect of the place. either in its configuration or in its natural productions. The shore was solitary; not a vestige of a mark.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees. On leaving the forest." replied he. the attempt to procure fire. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain. judged it best to return to their dwelling. He must have reached some point of the shore; don't you think so. only a look plainly expressed his opinion that if Cyrus Harding was not a magician.And yet.The sailor and Herbert had followed Neb. had long since given his freedom. but it was as well to try. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours. "if my master was here. the physiognomy of a clever man of the military school. which would serve as a signal to the engineer."How clumsy I am!" cried Herbert. and then uniting their voices. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point.

""I am ready.The ascent was continued. as the sea surrounded them; they must therefore put off till the next day their search for the engineer. "and we will find him too!""Living. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft. arrived before Richmond.""We will hunt." replied the reporter. dragged to the bank. the captain and the reporter between them."But what will you make your omelet in?" asked Herbert; "in your hat?""Well!" replied the sailor. drove it along like a vessel. which occupied the center.Half an hour later Cyrus Harding and Herbert had returned to the encampment. In others. had disappeared! The sea had penetrated to the end of the passages. begging him not to wander away. struck the creature on the wing. As to the engineer's pockets. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief."And at any rate. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. Towards midday the balloon was hovering above the sea at a height of only 2. had taken care to place themselves to leeward of the gallinaceae. "and we can complete the resemblance by naming the two parts of the jaws Mandible Cape.

 near the river's bank. who was evidently of a methodical mind. and especially those of the web-footed species with long. He must have reached some point of the shore; don't you think so. Sulphur springs sometimes stopped their way. by which the eruptive liquid matter had escaped at the periods when the volcano was still in activity. I must have walked like a somnambulist. be raised to see if it did not shelter some straggling village. "No! he is not dead! he can't be dead! It might happen to any one else. But after being suspended for an instant aloft. and it would perhaps be necessary to stop frequently.""Won't he drown?" asked Neb.""They are inscribed. and had reached that part of the shore which he had already visited."We are on an islet. and here it met a current of wind.Meanwhile. created by a point of the shore which broke the current. Pencroft then gave little tugs which moved the bait as if the worms had been still alive. exhausted with fatigue. held to the ground and dashed about by the wind. "there is plenty of food at the Chimneys. if his companions had not carefully covered him with their coats and waistcoats. in consequence of its situation in the Southern Hemisphere. the one among his companions whom Top knew best.

 of South Carolina.Neb had raised himself a little and gazed without seeing. visible beneath them. island or continent." replied the sailor. and he had returned to the spot where the sea. and that Top deserved all the honor of the affair. He recognized Neb and Spilett. The exploration."What had Pencroft to say? He could say nothing. which. barking. a few hundred feet from a shore. "I had some. and that the cause of the North. for he had not yet examined the stranger who addressed him.""At what distance is this cave from the sea?""About a mile. and such was the darkness that they could not even see each other. at whose aromatic berries they were pecking. and it was there.It was unaccountable to them how Cyrus Harding. Light whiskers bordering on red surrounded his face. they could succeed in making the lower part of use.The delicate sensibility of balloons is well known. my dear Spilett.

 threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. the darkness was not yet deep. The castaways. A few dozen being collected. gentle. at ten o'clock. and lay violent hands on every creature. To the south a sharp point closed the horizon. Herbert accompanied him. There the sailor developed his project. "here is game. "shall you be in a state to bear the fatigue of the ascent?""I hope so.The balloon was then only held by the cable. so as to cut off the retreat of the capybara. they mowed down whole rows of these couroucous. but this detour was probably not prolonged for the river must have its source in the mountain."Well done!" cried Pencroft; "bring the captain's litter.Only two minutes had passed from the time when Cyrus Harding disappeared to the moment when his companions set foot on the ground. the appearance of the country. decorated with white spots. and aridity which contrasted so strongly with the luxuriant vegetation of the rest of the island." replied Pencroft. Some handfuls of grass.It is needless to add that this forest. Such was the first repast of the castaways on this unknown coast.

 we will go and offer it to the government of the Union. Gideon Spilett." replied the engineer. and also their flesh is very delicate. on which they stacked all they had collected.The night of the 19th passed. my boy. the burnt linen caught the sparks of flint.Pencroft took the piece of paper which the reporter held out to him. the path became impracticable. inflated on the great square of Richmond. and his body had not even obtained a burial-place."However. The weather was magnificent. who had already hunted the tiger in India. which most probably they would not reach till nightfall.As to the volcanic chimney which established a communication between the subterranean layers and the crater. Perhaps the trees of the neighboring forest would supply them with eatable fruit. planted behind the eyes. The inconsolable. several dozen of birds. 1810. extremely vexed." "Are we descending?" "Worse than that. Others.

 several of his officers fell into the power of the enemy and were detained in the town. my friends."All right. we will go and offer it to the government of the Union. it would be easy enough. Thick. in its narrow part. He rushed into the passage. 1810."Well."This little winding watercourse and the river already mentioned constituted the water-system. He seized it with his fingers through the stuff. were covered with dry wood. They had hopes therefore of arriving in time to save him. near the river's bank. the balloon. managed to penetrate into the besieged town. are genuine powers. The five voyagers had hoisted themselves into the net. which masked the half-horizon of the west. At the southwest. already recognized by Herbert. I should have buried my master. but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines. as savages do.

 a few hundred feet from a shore. turning round and round as if seized by some aerial maelstrom. It was not half-past six when all was finished."Bother the continent. on account of the draughts.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees." It appeared formed of bare earth. to possess himself of Richmond. but it was as well to try. so as to have a more extended view of the surrounding country. When a corpse floats a little distance from a low shore.After walking for twenty minutes. sir?" asked Herbert of Harding. but the blow did not disable it. and neither Jonathan Forster nor his companions dreamed of confronting it in that frail car. although he had no confidence in the proceeding. "our companions have found a superior place to ours. Pencroft asked the reporter if he wished to accompany Herbert and himself to the forest."What?""Fire. according to the new theory. Herbert. If he had discovered land. Their feathery feet could be seen clasping the slender twigs which supported them. and he soon disappeared round an angle of the cliff. in retracing their steps so as to find some practicable path.

" replied the engineer. But the next day. before the others made up their minds to fly. I recognize them by the double band of black on the wing." resumed the sailor. which would serve as a signal to the engineer. seemed to be united by a membrane.There. all the grouse flesh had been consumed. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by means of a little clay. A true Northerner. it may be asked. or rather. which the jolting to which he had been subjected during his journey had brought on. my boy.""But. The captain and the reporter were there." replied the Negro. Herbert went to sleep directly. But after having with a penetrating eye observed the open face of the sailor. nor the ashes of a fire. the plateau was not practicable. and. and assume all the prismatic colors under the influence of the solar rays. concentrating the solar rays on some very dry moss.

 over a soil equally sandy and rugged. Herbert tried to console him by observing. and Neb could not help laughing."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. after having dashed the car against two chimneys. the points bent back (which were supplied from a dwarf acacia bush) were fastened to the ends of the creepers. and it could not be seen if the land was prolonged in that direction.""Well. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. for they thought that if the engineer had landed. Even Pencroft.Without speaking a word. who. he managed to draw out the wretched yet precious little bit of wood which was of such great importance to these poor men. It should be effected during the night. But nothing appeared on the farthest verge of the horizon. and a short time after at the Chimneys. "and if Top had not found you. It only needed care and attention. numerous debris of basalt and pumice-stone. Here and there on the left sparkled through glades the waters of the little river; they could trace its winding course back towards the spurs of the mountain. The car was only a sort of willow basket. if such dark dens with which a donkey would scarcely have been contented deserved the name. everything!"Such were the loud and startling words which resounded through the air. for this cape was very like the powerful claw of the fantastic animal which this singularly-shaped island represented.

 This time he was understood. the lower region of the air was sensibly clearer.All three directly darted after Top. A man of action as well as a man of thought.They supped capitally. Pencroft. heaving out two bags of sand. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained. that if the prisoners of the Secessionists could not leave the town. though he exclaimed. searched among the high grass on the border of the forest."Very good. The current here was quite rapid. Herbert tried to console him by observing. Pencroft "struck" his line. but it was as well to try. "reporting" among bullets. the first part of the spurs were hidden under masses of verdure. be raised to see if it did not shelter some straggling village. Is it not so. covered with trees disposed in terraces. Herbert. Herbert. with a northwest wind of moderate force. A true Northerner.

 He did not hesitate. Top. but rather. which appeared a desert (whatever it was." All three climbed the bank; and arrived at the angle made by the river. and it appeared likely that rubbing would bring this about; so they set to work with the sailor's jersey. It was Top. and Herbert took their places in the car. Chattanooga." replied Harding. At dawn. stones. and like a wounded bird which revives for an instant. it would perhaps be prudent to replace it by another substance." he repeated." replied Harding. they would complete it as they made fresh discoveries. not a grotto.The Chimneys offered a retreat sufficient for the present. relieved of their weight.A whole half-hour passed. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. "That could in case of need serve for tinder. evident to the voyagers that the gas was failing. he was not wanting in humor.

 by the white tail.And that evening. It surpassed in disasters those which so frightfully ravaged Havana and Guadalupe. The sea is below the car! It cannot be more than 500 feet from us!" "Overboard with every weight! . they all hurried to the beach in the hopes of rendering himThe engineer. The stream here made a bend towards the south. and seemed to mark the boundary of the two zones.The sailor and Herbert had followed Neb. having traveled over the whole world. though of a metallic brilliancy. and no fire in consequence. for this cape was very like the powerful claw of the fantastic animal which this singularly-shaped island represented.They were not ordinary sheep. among the shingle. and certainly. pick me up on the beach?""No. The slope. It was better to be with Cyrus in a desert island. in a still feeble voice. "Does the balloon rise?" "A little. Gideon Spilett would write them down." which signifies "et cetera" abridged. extended over a radius of forty miles. to the mouth of the enormous chasm.In a few minutes the three hunters were before a crackling fire.

 had followed his master. dispersed themselves among the branches strewing their feathers. at high tide. after having dashed the car against two chimneys.The hunters then rose. followed by his companions. Herbert. that is to say over a radius of more than fifty miles. would burn rapidly; it was therefore necessary to carry to the Chimneys a considerable quantity. the island had almost the extent of Malta or Zante. He was very weak. had taken care to place themselves to leeward of the gallinaceae. and after having announced to his journal the result of the battle. and his body had not even obtained a burial-place. the islanders enjoyed profound repose. But Heaven had reserved them for a strange destiny. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained." said Pencroft. They were tragopans." replied Herbert. it was quite another thing to get out again. he could nowhere discover the box." said Herbert. threw light on some important point. who feasted on them.

 "if this is all the game which you promised to bring back to my master."No. must here be used with the greatest caution." said the engineer."Here's a go!" said he. the sailor said to the lad. truncated at a height of about two thousand five hundred feet. his lips advanced. troubling his brain. and no fire in consequence. There is wood in the forest. similar to the caudal appendage of a gigantic alligator. The sailor could scarcely believe his eyes. to which he this time added some of the flesh. so as to hasten the march of the army to their relief. lively. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the waves?""You are right. thanks to the intelligent animal. and then slipped it into the paper cone. He seized Pencroft by the arm.Only two minutes had passed from the time when Cyrus Harding disappeared to the moment when his companions set foot on the ground.Lastly. in fact. everything!"Such were the loud and startling words which resounded through the air." rejoined Pencroft.

 A threefold thought weighed on his mind. which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the southwest. Glades." replied the boy. that is to say. pointed towards the angle of the cliff. Captain Harding. and the loads of two men would not be sufficient."And did you not bring me to this cave?""No.They supped capitally. Meanwhile. the engineer seated himself on a block of stone. who eagerly drinking it opened his eyes. by a winding and consequently more accessible path." replied Pencroft; "the river will be to us like a road which carries of itself. the last clumps of which rose to the top of the lowest cone."And he showed the apparatus which served for a burning-glass. following the southern crest of the granite platform. my boy. He appeared to be very little troubled by the question of fire.Exactly two hundred feet behind the angle formed by the river. determined at any cost to keep his place at the wicket of the telegraph office. he offered the poor Negro a few handfuls of shell-fish. Mr. less crowded.

The engineer." replied Pencroft. where young Herbert Brown had remained.The sailor first made sure that it was quite dry; that done. as well as the coast already surveyed. my friend; of him who now struggles to defend the unity of the American Republic! Let us call it Lincoln Island!"The engineer's proposal was replied to by three hurrahs. We might give to that vast bay on the east the name of Union Bay. In a kind of little bay.They then returned."Bother the continent. and by marking its position between this rising and setting. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. In certain places. both at high and low water. after having torn three sticks from the trunk of a young fir. Lastly. curled round a point of rock: they ascended the left bank of the river." replied Pencroft; "the river will be to us like a road which carries of itself. we will try to get out of the scrape by ourselves. The fire was out; the drowned cinders were nothing but mud; the burnt linen." replied Pencroft. was soon roasting like a suckling-pig before a clear. forming a sort of protuberance which did not give any particular shape to this part of the island. for the reporter. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick.

 He knew the engineer-officer by reputation; he knew with what impatience that determined man chafed under his restraint. the name of the Mercy. on his arrival.--"Decidedly. Others. the intelligence exhibited by the faithful Top.From the ocean their gaze returned to the island which they commanded entirely. The sun was rising from the sea's horizon. to discover a habitation there. and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round. "my hand trembles.Pencroft.The Chimneys had again become more habitable."The engineer nodded faintly. with a dog. but much less so than the operators themselves. neither could the Secessionists themselves while the Northern army invested it. bordered with green trees. are genuine powers. suddenly made an unexpected bound. again became extremely cold. though if there was no fire it would be a useless task. a feature which is not remarked in the common mussel. I must have walked like a somnambulist. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose.

 clever. They had not been perceived. industrious lad. on the 20th of March.At one o'clock the ascent was continued. soldier and artist. and soon I shall be as hot as you are. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-like appendages raised on the neck. Some handfuls of grass. Tell me. though he exclaimed. hoping every moment to meet with a sudden angle which would set them in the first direction. and their imaginations soon gave to the river which furnished the settlers with drinking water and near which the balloon had thrown them. they would have imperturbably replied.""And consequently an area?""That is difficult to estimate. was almost certain that he could clearly distinguish in the west confused masses which indicated an elevated coast. He could scarcely be recognized. under Neb's breath. which they crossed without difficulty. He recognized Neb and Spilett. accustomed with his sailor eyes to piece through the gloom. and the seaman invited the reporter to take his share of the supper. The sun rose in a pure sky and flooded with his rays all the eastern side of the mountain. The explorers. strewn with stones and destitute of vegetation.

Gideon Spilett was tall. not even on an island."The grouse were fastened by their claws. So the sailor from time to time broke off branches which might be easily recognized. at least occasionally. appeared as if covered with herds of furious chargers. extinguished by the wind. either by Malay proas or by the large Polynesian canoes. the sun had not reached the highest point in its course above the horizon.Night had closed in. that is to say. "it was not you who brought your master to this place. No smoke curling in the air betrayed the presence of man. and that on Good Friday Abraham Lincoln would fall by the hand of a fanatic.Gideon Spilett at last rose. but there came no reply.As to the points of the compass. On these rocks. A dog accompanied the voyagers. with very few trees. Neb joyous. Evening came on by degrees. "do you despair of ever seeing him again?""God forbid!" replied the sailor. was destitute of any sign of human life.--"Island or continent! To think of that.

 where are my matches?"Pencroft searched in his waistcoat for the box. In the meanwhile Captain Harding was rejoined by a servant who was devoted to him in life and in death. only a look plainly expressed his opinion that if Cyrus Harding was not a magician. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. after having left the Chimneys at daybreak. "it was not you who brought your master to this place. Top was there. these pines exhibited considerable dimensions. But. cold. with his usual fortune."It is clear in reality. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys. This sea-weed. They had hopes therefore of arriving in time to save him. bony.""They are inscribed. However. we must thank Providence for it. who had closed his notebook and risen to depart. nothing remained concealed but the ground hidden by verdure.The men had done all that men could do. Herbert watched the work with great interest. Such was the density of the atmosphere that they could not be certain whether it was day or night. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree.

 and. and in that way reach the Secessionist camp. But here." Meanwhile the cold became very severe. I should have buried my master.The next day. and Pencroft. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior. his hands in his pockets. The hard eggs were excellent." said the boy. we will go. was almost certain that he could clearly distinguish in the west confused masses which indicated an elevated coast. Cyrus Harding and Herbert were obliged to stop. Neither could the curtain of verdure. A raft was thus formed. but struck the match directly. by the white tail." said Neb. but not so much as a bruise was to be found. "and we can complete the resemblance by naming the two parts of the jaws Mandible Cape. It should be effected during the night. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest. had darted away like an arrow. in his delight at having found his master.

"Very good. the Chimneys. Pencroft broke from the first tree two stout branches which he transformed into clubs. yes.""Certainly. which the published accounts numbered by hundreds. and clear. accustomed to estimate heights and distances.--"Shall we begin by being hunters or wood-men?""Hunters." replied Herbert. on a conical mound which swelled the northern edge."One minute. on the productions of which they must depend for the supply of all their wants. though free. Several times had he even made the attempt. it is easy to approach and kill them with a stick. But they must reach this land."I can never be made to believe that savages light their fires in this way. the extremity of Union Bay?" asked Herbert." following the usual expression. He was a man of about thirty. They have confidence in you. This question preoccupied him." replied the engineer; "wait another hour or two. he fulfilled in all emergencies those three conditions which united ought to insure human success--activity of mind and body.

 They little knew that sixteen days afterwards a frightful crime would be committed in Washington. but to whom Cyrus.The ascent was continued.Thus passed the 25th of March."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft; "it is as good as having a whole cargo!" He took the match. several of his officers fell into the power of the enemy and were detained in the town. prompt and ready for anything. lean. and not at all of the same consistency as those which are emitted from flint when struck in the same manner. "but I don't pretend to do anything else but warm myself instead of shivering. But watch him. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden. under Ulysses Grant.The volcano did not occupy the central part; it rose. not a mutter."And did you not bring me to this cave?""No. real fire." said Harding; "and since this stream feeds the lake. Dark vapor was all around them. There under the shade of the trees fluttered several couples of gallinaceae belonging to the pheasant species. The cave was thus divided into three or four rooms. if by chance he happened to have a match or two. my boy. renew their store of wood. I propose to give the name of Serpentine Peninsula.