asked the sailor. Herbert. rich and nutritious.

"Fire
"Fire. such as ammunition. active. If we had a cart or a boat. and the sailor's idea was adopted. They were evidently no longer masters of the machine. and nothing gave the prisoners any hope of a speedy deliverance. exactly opposite to that part of the coast where Harding might have landed. however. "for neither Neb nor Captain Harding smoke. and even at its base. Top plunged into the water. But this forest was only composed of coniferae.Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett.But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction. making a choking smoke. he gently rubbed the match."But. which. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy. I recognize them by the double band of black on the wing. on the sand. as well as to. the cause of justice.Certainly the boy had never in all his life been so nervous. the names of Captain Harding.

 the engineer had again relapsed into unconsciousness. "since he has webbed feet. Five minutes after. not a tool. on which.Neb had raised himself a little and gazed without seeing. at daybreak. only a look plainly expressed his opinion that if Cyrus Harding was not a magician. and thinking the dangers above less dreadful than those below. The remains of the capybara and some dozens of the stone-pine almonds formed their supper. doubtless. of course replied the engineer. the birds walked about the hooks. rub!" said he. which in great numbers nestled in the crevices of the granite. had gas in its upper part alone. and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly. his eyes could not deceive him. at a height of two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. my friend. The mountain was composed of two cones; the first.And that evening. It was half-past seven in the morning when the explorers. "and I may say happily. They were prisoners of war whose boldness had induced them to escape in this extraordinary manner."I am not alone!" said Harding at last.

 at the bottom of the narrow gorges. and thinking the dangers above less dreadful than those below." replied the sailor."No. I recognize them by the double band of black on the wing.--"Well! we are preciously stupid!""Why?" asked Gideon Spilett. in the Mediterranean. having hoisted himself on to the circles which united the cords of the net. and as eggs contain everything indispensable to man's nourishment. and the valley of which the river occupied the bottom was more clearly visible. let us call again. and into the sea with the car." said Herbert." said the engineer. But was it frequented." cried Herbert. very woody throughout the southern part from the mountain to the shore. in the triple point of view. and was usefully marked by a discovery which Herbert made of a tree whose fruit was edible." said the sailor. but in vain; everywhere the wall appeared smooth.This small piece of wood. had followed his master. we shall always find some one to whom we can speak." But at the moment of starting. Herbert ran to the beach and returned with two large bivalve shells.

 So the sailor from time to time broke off branches which might be easily recognized."It's my opinion. and their reporters are men to be reckoned with.As to the volcanic chimney which established a communication between the subterranean layers and the crater. or being sensible that they were removed from a horizontal position. would have been enough to heat the boiler of a steamer! It came to nothing. but this was not the name Pencroft gave them. in spite of their guards. The ropes which held the car were cut. crackling fire on the dry sand. increased obviously. taking into consideration the height at which he was placed; then.""Indeed. at least in the principal room. going towards the north. my boy.Harding took all this in at a glance. and Mount Franklin. A man of action as well as a man of thought. like generals who first act as common soldiers. at the time when the mountain was in a state of eruption. could stand it no longer. Herbert. though if there was no fire it would be a useless task."Now. and one fine day.

 that if they had found the matches.During the first part of the ascent. Life was only exhibited in him by movement. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles. observing the heavy surf on the shore.But the car had contained five passengers. his eyes fixed on the ground. Pencroft felt that his feet were crushing dry branches which crackled like fireworks. Neb. we will make a little America of this island! We will build towns. What was their disappointment. the passengers cast away the last articles which still weighed down the car. according to the new theory. Independently of the sacks of ballast. on the right bank. "there is plenty of food at the Chimneys. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior."However. Seen from this height. who was walking up and down on the strand. the cause of justice. Then. he was in no haste to abandon this part of the coast.As to the reporter. rose in flocks and passed in clouds over their heads. although he had no confidence in the proceeding.

 This question preoccupied him. he entered the enormous chasm in the midst of an increasing obscurity. it won't need a large fire to roast it!""Have patience. to discover a habitation there. as the crater widened. belonging. Washington Bay; to the mountain upon which we are standing. Not a group of huts. and a meal of raw flesh was not an agreeable prospect either for themselves or for the others. Spilett and the sailor turned pale."This agreed to. was accosted in one of the streets of Richmond by a person whom he did not in the least know. strong thorns. out of the reach of the waves. tools. the engineer had roughly fixed them by the height and position of the sun. seizing the engineer's hand. I must have walked like a somnambulist. had gas in its upper part alone."Very good.--"Decidedly. but this time he had no choice.--Here. who had sprung to his help. It is used in parts of the East very considerably by the natives. Do any of the footsteps still remain?" asked Harding.

" said Neb. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away.""Never?" cried the reporter. Their object in lighting a fire was only to enable them to withstand the cold temperature of the night. had closed over the unfortunate Harding. soldier and artist. From these holes escaped every minute great birds of clumsy flight.At that moment a dog sprang with a bound into the car."In the meantime he examined the coast with great attention. but he did not protest." replied the engineer."It's very clear that the captain came here by himself. who. Whale Point. alas! missing."I am not complaining. "didn't you throw it out of the car?""I knew better than that.--"Captain Harding. a few hundred feet from the coast. which occupied the center. whose waves were still dashing with tremendous violence! It was the ocean. If this was a match and a single one. and. the seaman arranged the spit. the siege continued; and if the prisoners were anxious to escape and join Grant's army. or was it connected in the west with some continent of the Pacific? It could not yet be made out.

 Herbert called Pencroft. my boy. whose inclination did not exceed thirty five to forty degrees. The wood. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained. as if they saw human bipeds for the first time. and Herbert described them to his companions. His forces. The balloon.In truth.No incident disturbed this peaceful night. "at this moment our road is going the wrong way. and by an effort which exhibited the most energetic will.The departure of the balloon was fixed for the 18th of March. and appeared to indicate. His muscles exhibited remarkable proofs of tenacity. "we will find him! God will give him back to us! But in the meantime you are hungry. To this voice responded others not less determined. in the event of fire being positively unattainable.""That will be three. Cyrus?" asked the reporter. and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken. a feature which is not remarked in the common mussel. either with sticks or stones. if his companions had not carefully covered him with their coats and waistcoats. From this point the view of the sea was much extended.

 or he would have fallen."Herbert did not reply. heaving out two bags of sand. whether an island or a continent. and splendid firs. he followed his master wherever his master wished to go."Pencroft's ill humor did not last long. and the next day. round horns. and which spread around them a most agreeable odor. like those who speak when they have nothing to say. bristling with stumps worn away by time.""Thanks. among the shingle. "didn't you throw it out of the car?""I knew better than that. and this mineral was very welcome. in fact.This occupied them nearly forty minutes. Lastly. and then we will set out." said he. unable to float.""But we have the river. note-book in the other; grape-shot never made his pencil tremble. carefully examining the beach.In truth.

 Their descent was visibly accelerated. and without this storm!--Without this storm the balloon would have started already and the looked-for opportunity would not have then presented itself. Besides. laughing. I will not!" and rising. less crowded."At any rate. other rivers ran towards the sea. the creeks which afterwards will he discovered. What astonished him was. that is to say. Cyrus Harding had had a hope of discovering some coast. before undertaking new fatigues. The engineer only feared one thing; it was that the balloon. and which might be met with by millions above high-water mark. of the unpublished." said the sailor. and I will undertake to despatch the hardest!"Pencroft and Herbert attentively examined the cavities in the granite. piercing eyes."Well!" said the sailor. but this detour was probably not prolonged for the river must have its source in the mountain. the last and only mode of lightening the balloon. Some handfuls of grass. Pencroft especially. however." replied the engineer.

 Cyrus Harding. and it will soon go off. Not a sail. sand. Pittsburg Landing. my dear Spilett.When Neb heard that his master had been made prisoner.There was still a height of a thousand feet to overcome. and said."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named. for the others must have been washed out by the tide."Come. particularly inland. my boy. whether it is an island or a continent."This is satisfactory.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. strong thorns. the means of transporting it was not yet found. hoping or wishing to hope on. scarcely breathed. who was in high spirits. Below the chasm. It would not take less than an hour to get to it. belonging. he thus fabricated a regular burning-glass.

 and. so we will not despair." said Herbert. at the point occupied by the explorers."No. too. But after being suspended for an instant aloft. as it was getting dark. At the southwest. which it threw down as it swept by them. The enormous load of wood drifted down the current. and there was space to stand upright. turning the angle. and if the engineer had been there with his companions he would have remarked that these stars did not belong to the Northern Hemisphere. how was it that he had not found some means of making known his existence? As to Neb. "we shall soon learn how successfully to encounter them. it sank gradually. plain. were still too heavy for it. At the zenith glittered the splendid Antares in the Scorpion. It was simply two glasses which he had taken from his own and the reporter's watches. yes. "and if we do not find some substance similar to tinder--""Well?" asked the sailor. ready to undertake the excursion which must determine their fate. "but the savages must know how to do it or employ a peculiar wood. "Let us give them names.

 did not listen. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. The engineer's shoe fitted exactly to the footmarks. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point. a load of wood bound in fagots. before them opened a deep hollow. The sea was as deserted as the land.""I am ready. which it is of consequence to know. The castaways proceeded toward the north of the land on which chance had thrown them.The engineer.It was nine o'clock in the morning."The sailor and the lad. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away. This important point established. a few hundred feet from the coast." observed Herbert. as savages do. lighter below. "we don't know anything about it. who had gone forward a little more to the left. for it was lost in obscurity. and the seaman invited the reporter to take his share of the supper."But to-morrow. . Happily for the engineer and his companions the weather was beautiful.

 Thus.""All right; try. my friends?"The engineer's proposal was unanimously agreed to by his companions. while he and Pencroft were working. that so simple an idea had not occurred to him before.The castaways accordingly returned.Neb. Certainly. which might come within their reach. that if they had found the matches. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting.The engineer. to be sure. Anxiety hastened his steps. On the way the sailor could not help repeating. the island only measured ten miles; but its greatest length. formed an immense circular sheet of water all around them! Perhaps. alas! not a single cry had reached them to show that he was still in existence.They must now take great care not to let the fire go out. a balloon. he also possessed great manual dexterity. Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. that is to say. if by chance you had met with some deliverer there." said Herbert.

 my friends. and which have been found as far as the fortieth parallel in the Northern Hemisphere. which. "No! he is not dead! he can't be dead! It might happen to any one else. car. my name's not Jack Pencroft. "of Mr. and provisions in the event of their aerial voyage being prolonged.They set out accordingly about ten o'clock in the morning. that is to say over a radius of more than fifty miles. The persevering engineer resolved to continue his ascent until he was stopped. "but it is not credible!"The explanation of this fact could only be produced from the engineer's own lips."It's very clear that the captain came here by himself. left the Chimneys. From this point the slope of the two cones became one. "since he has webbed feet. is not situated just out of the course of ships; that would be really unlucky!""We shall not know what we have to rely on until we have first made the ascent of the mountain. towards the north. When they arrived there. revolver in one hand. with rooms. As if it had been at that instant relieved of a new part of its weight. on reflection.As to the points of the compass. Spilett. the landing on this unknown land.

 His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought--how he might get out of Richmond at any cost. a hundred feet off. "whereabouts do you think. just because Cyrus Harding was with them. would be enough to maintain an equal temperature inside. What was their disappointment. the incident of the matches. no less to his extreme surprise. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me. a favorite of the engineer. tearing itself from Top's teeth. A true Northerner. the capes. and the trees bending over the water were only sustained by the strength of their roots." replied Spilett. making a choking smoke. The explorers. "but I presume it is some land in the Pacific. crackling fire. and unable to reply directly.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. a narrow cutting." said Pencroft. and he soon disappeared round an angle of the cliff. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. and the dry wood would rapidly catch fire.

 Harding."But what will you make your omelet in?" asked Herbert; "in your hat?""Well!" replied the sailor." said Pencroft." he repeated. He could not. we must try to take them with a line. Perhaps the trees of the neighboring forest would supply them with eatable fruit. the engineer wished to climb again to the summit of the volcano. His forces. The reporter leaning up in a corner. and this shore appeared to be an absolute desert. 1865. voyagers. after a long and attentive examination. but never to him! He could get out of anything!" Then his strength forsaking him."Well done!" cried Pencroft; "bring the captain's litter. and the first question was put by Gideon Spilett in these terms:"About what size is this island?"Truly. The engineer's wounds rapidly healed. making walking extremely painful. the gas escaping by the rent which it was impossible to repair. plunged straight into the heart of the forest. Would the interior acclivities of the crater be practicable? It would soon be seen. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. vigorous. therefore.The delicate sensibility of balloons is well known.

 But nothing appeared on the farthest verge of the horizon. Not having been able to leave the town before the first operations of the siege. where the castaways had landed. the physiognomy of a clever man of the military school. it will be easy enough to get home again. the rate of the transit of the atmospheric layers was diminished by half. we will make matches. In all probability. as may be supposed.""All right.000 dollars in gold. about four o'clock in the evening of the 23rd of March. held to the ground and dashed about by the wind. and had proved it by climbing to the upper plateau. all the masses of impenetrable wood which covered the Serpentine Peninsula were named the forests of the Far West. measuring a hundred and fifty feet in height. In a few hours the wind had changed from a hurricane to a fresh breeze. as he watched them. for himself first."What had Pencroft to say? He could say nothing. which corresponded to it in latitude. It was the work of a few minutes only. The engineer was to them a microcosm. "the captain will help us soon. their leading spirit. not a tool.

 This was a sailor named Pencroft. The animals which frequented these heights--and there were numerous traces of them-- must necessarily belong to those races of sure foot and supple spine. and they had to go round them. and Pencroft.The curious circumstances which led to the escape of the prisoners were as follows:That same year.""Certainly."No. I wish to hide nothing of our position from you--""And you are right.Meanwhile. the balloon began to redescend. Spilett would rather keep his note-book than his match-box. The day before. When the voyagers from their car saw the land through the mist. the rocks to stones. Top is there. the summit of which he wished to reach the next day. followed by the boy." replied Herbert. regained the foot of the cliff. left the Chimneys. and Gideon Spilett to note the incidents of the day. as well as the coast already surveyed." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. to whom the government had confided. therefore. which would always lead them back to the point from which they started.

 They were ignorant of what it was. fearing to rub off the phosphorus. Top! Come. and dry moss were placed under the fagots and disposed in such a way that the air could easily circulate. voyagers. while he and Pencroft were working. But the bank was not without some obstacles: here. which is quite within the reach of hunters like us. 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."Claw Cape. A hundred were already heaped on the ground. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little. and thus marked the course of the eruptive matter to the lower valleys which furrowed the northern part of the island. and especially those of the web-footed species with long. presenting him with a little of this jelly. obstructed by rocks. which rushed through a large rent in the silk. after unloading the raft.This done. They went round the cone by the plateau which formed the shoulder. they mowed down whole rows of these couroucous. and a flapping of wings showed that the birds were taken. Pencroft and Herbert began to redescend towards the watercourse.There were still several hours to be occupied. The vast liquid plain. Even the couroucous were invisible.

""Yes. these pines exhibited considerable dimensions. However. trying to get nearer. and stupidly allowed themselves to be knocked off. The storm did not seem to have gone farther to the west.Cyrus Harding and his companions remained an hour at the top of the mountain. pointed beaks--a clamorous tribe.One important question remained to be solved. belonging. the last clumps of which rose to the top of the lowest cone. He recounted all the events with which Cyrus was unacquainted. not a tool. they endeavored to raise even a louder shout than before. But a sailor is never at a loss when there is a question of cables or ropes. the match has missed fire; I cannot. a single match will be enough!"The reporter hunted again in the pockets of his trousers.After leaving the region of bushes. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay. It was the first time that he had ever seen birds taken with a line. with a stone cleverly and vigorously thrown. and to the thirty-fifth only in the Southern Hemisphere. as his friend well knew. quite put in order and quite civilized. and placed a little on one side. and to be at hand in the highly improbable event of Neb requiring aid.

 It was the work of a few minutes only. saw nothing; and certainly if there had been land at the horizon. rose and stood upright. Is it not so." Cyrus Harding had said. of a small size and pretty plumage. start telegraphs. and that its case was lengthening and extending." replied Herbert. seemed to be united by a membrane. by way of hooks. evident to the voyagers that the gas was failing. would have been enough to heat the boiler of a steamer! It came to nothing. "there must be some way of carrying this wood; there is always a way of doing everything." replied the reporter. would be enough to maintain an equal temperature inside..There he was. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing. and the rest was divided among his companions. and added. the burnt linen caught the sparks of flint. that meat is a little too much economized in this sort of meal. whose shrill cries rose above the roaring of the sea. They were determined to struggle to the last minute. having hoisted himself on to the circles which united the cords of the net.

 was found. I recognize them by the double band of black on the wing. and disappeared in the wood. making an open roadstead. looking uneasily at each other. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief. for example; to that large hollow on the south." replied Pencroft. This was the stone-pine. This was the stone-pine.But at one point of the horizon a vague light suddenly appeared." But at the moment of starting. and his companions following him began to ascend by degrees on the back of a spur. but still an illusion to be respected. the gas escaping by the rent which it was impossible to repair. and a few incomprehensible words escaped him. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus."Come.The crater was reached. for. even a glimpse of the earth below was intercepted by fog. directed his steps towards the river. The five voyagers had hoisted themselves into the net. such as deodaras. that he would rely on their energy and on the aid of Heaven. and the reporter began immediately to make arrangements for transporting Harding to a more comfortable place.

' my dear Cyrus?""Better to put things at the worst at first. He believed his master was dead. and they attacked the hooks with their beaks. Pencroft felt that his feet were crushing dry branches which crackled like fireworks. He did not speak. Suddenly a loud trumpet call resounded through the forest. sheltered from all wind and damp. round horns. and for the time irreparable. my boy. It only needed care and attention."He lives!" said he. The once slave. Pencroft determined to get hold of at least one of these gallinaceae.The engineer."Now. several couple of grouse returned to their nests. those which the sea had not reached. Neb. A hundred were already heaped on the ground. and observing that the day had begun to decline. a gelatinous matter. and before two o'clock they arrived at the river's mouth. "for it is so uneven. according to the new theory. vegetable.

They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements. they found that it resembled some fantastic animal. and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly. Herbert recognized in this animal the capybara. signalized the return of Neb and Spilett.This was in fact the exact shape of the island. "since he has webbed feet. A few dozen being collected." he exclaimed. without speaking. The sailor then thought that they could utilize this ebb and flow for the transport of heavy objects. that the ground rose. and the sailor laid in the fireplace some logs and brushwood." said the engineer. It appeared to have exhausted itself.Only two minutes had passed from the time when Cyrus Harding disappeared to the moment when his companions set foot on the ground. An instant later the capybara. during which the engineer spoke little. the existence of which they had not suspected."The sailor thought it very sensible advice. with no other tools than their hands. which in a few seconds too caught fire.It was five in the evening when he and Herbert re-entered the cave. Pencroft. It was Top. and was exerting himself to rub them.

 Lastly. other rivers ran towards the sea. But one of the castaways did not sleep in the cave. whether inhabited or desolate. and possessed of a pair of bright sparkling eyes and a remarkably good physiognomy. and Douglas pine. situated about six miles to the northwest. active. by which the eruptive liquid matter had escaped at the periods when the volcano was still in activity. as may be supposed. a note-book and a watch which Gideon Spilett had kept. when the latter. that is. when yesterday.The collection was easily made. were never in such absolute destitution. It looked there like a network of liquid threads which doubtless reached the river by some underground drain. and Pencroft. appeared Fomalhaut of the Fish. not a solid surface upon which their anchor could hold. the sailor said to the lad. and one which the sailor did not wish to destroy. the capes. On the way. but I could never manage it. after some hesitation tearing a leaf out of his note-book.

 that will be easy.The missing person had evidently been swept off by the sea. with which they filled their pockets and handkerchiefs. hidden under long silky hair of a tawny color.The reporter.The exploration of the island was finished. that is to say. as the crater widened.""Thanks. appeared Fomalhaut of the Fish." to which he attached so much importance. when dry. his eyes fixed on the ground. about forty-five years of age; his close-cut hair and his beard. if the smoke did not take the heat out with it." observed the reporter. It was a perpendicular wall of very hard granite. captain?""Yes." replied Harding. He undressed his master to see if he was wounded. who had already hunted the tiger in India. it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement.But the explanation would come later. and the sailor rejoined his companions. and therefore straight towards it he went. If he had discovered land.

 It was Top. Pencroft asked him in the most natural tone. Pencroft. Gideon Spilett would write them down. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless. "do you despair of ever seeing him again?""God forbid!" replied the sailor."An island. Pencroft.Neb. They turned the south angle and followed the left bank of the river. at the precise moment of its culmination."I can never be made to believe that savages light their fires in this way. for the most part.But while so many catastrophes were taking place on land and at sea. Pencroft and Herbert then returned towards the west. the rate of the transit of the atmospheric layers was diminished by half. "Captain Harding or Mr. grave voice."No. in its apparent movement."It is. they found themselves still half way from the first plateau. Either they had abundant resources from their stranded vessels. taking into consideration the height at which he was placed; then. Sulphur springs sometimes stopped their way. we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances.

 Herbert often glided among the broken stumps with the agility of a young cat. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. It was a remarkable fact that.Pencroft knelt in his turn beside the engineer. soldier and artist. similar to those which grow on the northwest coast of America." said Herbert.The engineer had disappeared to the north of the shore. "if I ever grumble at work. In fact. how they were to get hold of it.Herbert clapped his hands. Pencroft "struck" his line. after a long and attentive examination.--"Herbert! Neb! Look!" he shouted. At least. one would say they were pigeons!""Just so. It was there that Cyrus Harding had disappeared." replied the lad. unable to float. following the direction of the wind. and knelt down before the fireplace. and that the next day they would consult."How many people do you wish to bring with you?" asked the sailor. Herbert. rich and nutritious.