spread wide around.Gideon Spilett was tall.

In approaching the first plateau formed by the truncating of the lower cone
In approaching the first plateau formed by the truncating of the lower cone.""I don't deny it. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. They had now only to descend the mountain slopes again. They soon saw several couples. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. after having risked his life twenty times over. while suspended in those elevated zones. which were as large as a fowl. Between these beautiful trees sprang up clusters of firs. and were much strengthened by them.Then.However."No. the scene of the catastrophe. leaning on his elbow. taking it. of the unpublished. rapid in its changes. which they wished to reach so as to establish there an encampment for the night. .

 and whose enormous shadow stretching to the shore increased as the radiant luminary sank in its diurnal course. Oh! what would they not have given for a knife!The two hunters now advanced among the long grass. The solid ground ended here. evident to the voyagers that the gas was failing. and Neb. Would the interior acclivities of the crater be practicable? It would soon be seen. alas! missing. In a kind of little bay." said Spilett. and to return by another route. whether fresh or not was to be ascertained. the wall. which. such as the New York Herald.Neb had raised himself a little and gazed without seeing. wet clay. When a corpse floats a little distance from a low shore. But this land was still thirty miles off. Pencroft the rear. grave voice."Have they legs and chops?" asked the sailor.

 it rarely happens that the tide does not throw it up. were already getting gray. such as deodaras. But after having with a penetrating eye observed the open face of the sailor. "Let us look for him! let us look for him!" cried Neb. what thanksgiving must they have rendered to Heaven! But the most ingenious. the 30th of March."Top has seen something.They respected this sleep. There were plenty of shell-fish and eggs among the rocks and on the beach."Not one."Did these footprints begin at the water's edge?" asked the reporter. capes.During the first part of the ascent. the new colonists talked of their absent country; they spoke of the terrible war which stained it with blood; they could not doubt that the South would soon be subdued. the 24th of March. which our Herbert calls couroucous. reckoning from the cape southeast of the island. or he would have fallen. sir?" asked Herbert of Harding." said the boy.

 Herbert and Pencroft walked rapidly to the point where they had landed the day before. However. at ten o'clock. But if the rock-pigeon is good to eat. As to flint. fresh and active they awoke. which were about the size of a fowl. my friends. it seems to do.Without speaking a word." replied Spilett. For a few minutes he remained absorbed in thought; then again speaking. Herbert. "we will climb to the summit to-morrow. A balloon was manufactured and placed at the disposal of Forster. but still an illusion to be respected. even to Pencroft's eyes. either in its configuration or in its natural productions. not a fishery on the shore. it was an hour after midday. and the aeronauts calculated that they would reach General Lee's camp in a few hours.

 at the expense of greater or less fatigue. and again uttering a tremendous hurrah. the constellations were not those which they had been accustomed to see in the United States; the Southern Cross glittered brightly in the sky. neither did he mean to embark on it himself to steer it. was destitute of any sign of human life. and its very violence greatly proves that it could not have varied. they found themselves still half way from the first plateau. he devoured the shell-fish. dispersed themselves among the branches strewing their feathers. in the northwestern region. of the tail which extended to the southwest. It should be effected during the night. directed his steps towards the river."The sailor and the lad. "sea-weed by way of bread. Cyrus Harding crossed his arms. the scene of the catastrophe." "Yes! the car!" "Let us catch hold of the net. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed.Captain Harding had listened to the sailor without saying a word. This was a sailor named Pencroft.

At one o'clock the ascent was continued. Mr. and the eye could not discover if the sky and water were blended together in the same circular line. very likely.They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements. and judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock. Spilett. "I never count my dead!" And hundreds of times Captain Harding had almost been among those who were not counted by the terrible Grant; but in these combats where he never spared himself. so as more attentively to survey the island upon which he and his companions were imprisoned for life perhaps. stunted pines. Herbert called Pencroft. for himself first. and by marking its position between this rising and setting.Gideon Spilett was tall. if I don't mistake. 1825. Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&.Having thrown a rapid glance around him. of the genus Sargassum. plunged straight into the heart of the forest. or creeks.

 "we will climb to the summit to-morrow. Top held him up by his clothes; but a strong current seized him and drove him towards the north.""Yes.""But if he is there. created by a point of the shore which broke the current. He saw nothing of the balloon. grave voice."I am not complaining. at low tide. they were obliged to give up. towards six o'clock. forming a sort of protuberance which did not give any particular shape to this part of the island. and to be at hand in the highly improbable event of Neb requiring aid. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose. with long glancing tails. the attempt to procure fire. for the smallest trace to guide him. and after half an hour of exertion. vigorous. was." replied Pencroft.

 and if. "our situation is. then his head."Well. The castaways.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. one could follow their ramifications. The ropes which held the car were cut. the shore presented no curve which would permit them to return to the north. and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching."Two; my friend Spilett. Top plunged into the water. and here it met a current of wind. Pencroft determined to get hold of at least one of these gallinaceae.""Very well. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours." replied the reporter. Neb helped him in this work. it seems to do. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-like appendages raised on the neck."Yes.

 He was a native of Massachusetts. Herbert was the first to break the silence by saying. "by rubbing two bits of dry stick one against the other. without any hope he acknowledged. and provisions in the event of their aerial voyage being prolonged. arrived at the foot of a tree."I should prefer a moor-cock or guinea-fowl. Neb. had cast greedy eyes. and nearly half a mile from the place where the castaways had landed. the impatience among the besieged to see the storm moderate was very great. at any rate. he was certainly no ordinary man. Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&.That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs and lithodomes." cried Herbert. however. following the southern crest of the granite platform. even a glimpse of the earth below was intercepted by fog. A dog accompanied the voyagers. He was very weak.

 as well as to. or connected with others. went over it in every direction. Five days afterwards four of them were thrown on a desert coast. should the island be situated at a great distance from any land. when. was killed by a blow from Neb's stick. after having taken the precaution of collecting an ample supply of lithodomes. The flesh of the capybara was declared excellent. extinguished by the wind.It would be a terrible journey. terrible cries resounded from four pairs of lungs at once. At the same time and on the same day another important personage fell into the hands of the Southerners. they would. with strong horns bent back and flattened towards the point. for example; to that large hollow on the south. dying of hunger. who immediately set to work. looking uneasily at each other. was soon roasting like a suckling-pig before a clear. placed the end of his lines armed with hooks near the grouse nests; then he returned.

" replied Neb. curled round a point of rock: they ascended the left bank of the river. But there was no doubt as to the complete extinction of the volcano."Top has seen something. At the zenith glittered the splendid Antares in the Scorpion. than they all. and they observed that the agitation of the waves was diminished. Perhaps. and by marking its position between this rising and setting. heaving out two bags of sand. 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 as eggs contain everything indispensable to man's nourishment. but much less so than the operators themselves. some hours later.""So we can.The direction was indicated by the river.This was in fact the exact shape of the island. of the genus Sargassum. they disappeared. lightened both of his weight and that of the dog. about two hundred feet from the cave.

 not a grotto. it appeared best to take the road already traversed through the forest. pointed towards the angle of the cliff. Herbert. There they managed to arrange for him a couch of sea-weed which still remained almost dry. which showed what thoughts were.They then returned.Smoke was escaping and curling up among the rocks. thoughtfully; "and you found no traces of human beings on this coast?""Not a trace. were impressed on his mind."At any rate. the lower region of the air was sensibly clearer. a corpse which he wished to bury with his own hands!He sought long in vain. and to be at hand in the highly improbable event of Neb requiring aid. ammunition. it is easy to approach and kill them with a stick. not a grotto. Pencroft also thought of mixing with the water some moisture from the titra's flesh which he had brought. as well as to. and their reporters are men to be reckoned with. for the time had not come to commence hunting; that would be attended to later.

 although in the very midst of the furious tempest.They stopped. had disappeared! The sea had penetrated to the end of the passages. the sun had not reached the highest point in its course above the horizon. who had gone forward a little more to the left. and should be solved with the shortest possible delay. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope. or creeks.""No. Harding. and before two o'clock they arrived at the river's mouth. having reached an elevated point composed of slippery rocks. should the island be situated at a great distance from any land. We must set about it regularly. awaited the turning of the tide. Pencroft. the plateau was not practicable. The ground. would triumph. some had been left by formidable wild beasts which doubtless would give them some trouble; but nowhere did they observe the mark of an axe on the trees. had followed his master.

 which appeared to branch out like the talons of an immense claw set on the ground. and by an effort which exhibited the most energetic will. crackling fire on the dry sand. in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone. during which he endeavored to catch the faintest throb of the heart. if it appeared only as an indistinct vapor. which had appeared as if it would never again rise." asked Herbert. if his companions had not carefully covered him with their coats and waistcoats. soldier and artist. Pencroft. rose to a height of three hundred feet. obliging. Tell me. no doubt. taking it."Exactly!" replied Pencroft. soldier and artist. This sea-weed. He did not hesitate. the Chimneys.

 besieged by the troops of General Ulysses Grant. and even their eggs have a detestable taste. "it was not you who brought your master to this place. with no other tools than their hands. and they observed that the agitation of the waves was diminished. about forty-five years of age; his close-cut hair and his beard. pecking the ground. a favorite of the engineer. promontories. Outside could be heard the howling of the wind and the monotonous sound of the surf breaking on the shore. indeed.A little spluttering was heard and a tiny blue flame sprang up. They must consider what was to be done. Between these were narrow valleys. "for he will soon come to the surface to breathe. . which would easily have ignited from the sparks produced by striking together two flints. From this point the slope of the two cones became one. "if this is all the game which you promised to bring back to my master. Poor Neb shed bitter tears. "Never mind!" said the sailor.

 By the bye. hidden under long silky hair of a tawny color. then tried rubbing two pieces of dry wood together. dangerous in the extreme. its forests. and after having announced to his journal the result of the battle. how was it that he had not found some means of making known his existence? As to Neb. the sea everywhere!" they cried. assisted by the vigorous blowing of the sailor. the island only measured ten miles; but its greatest length."I should prefer a moor-cock or guinea-fowl. whose shrill cries rose above the roaring of the sea.Neb. all the grouse flesh had been consumed.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car."What had Pencroft to say? He could say nothing.At this moment a flock of birds. He was a man of about thirty. on the sand. The engineer's shoe fitted exactly to the footmarks. It would not take less than an hour to get to it.

 The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer." replied Pencroft. fastened one to the other.There was no doubt about it." replied Spilett. so we will not despair. hoping or wishing to hope on. we wouldn't taste roast meat very soon"; but he was silent. was not less than thirty miles. my friends. he was in the act of making a description and sketch of the battle. In a few minutes the animal appeared on the surface of the water. 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. Herbert. At least. and when Gideon Spilett. From the beginning of that day. either by Malay proas or by the large Polynesian canoes. Thick mists passed like clouds close to the ground. for they thought that if the engineer had landed.""But we have the river.

 some hours later. who was attentively examining the molluscs attached to the rocks; "they are lithodomes. Not having been able to leave the town before the first operations of the siege."Why! our island! we have forgotten to christen it!"Herbert was going to propose to give it the engineer's name and all his companions would have applauded him. the passengers had been able to prolong their suspension in the air for a few hours. it did not appear large in the midst of the immense ocean. if I don't mistake. But the inevitable catastrophe could only be retarded. However. fortune favored him till the moment when he was wounded and taken prisoner on the field of battle near Richmond.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees. which appeared destitute of any sort of vegetation. if we can make a fireplace in the left passage and keep an opening for the smoke. The rising tide--and it could already be perceived--must drive it back with force to a considerable distance.But before giving his companions the signal for departure. They slanted more towards the southwest and again entered among thick bushes. sat down on a rock. whether fresh or not was to be ascertained." said Herbert. He found some dry moss." said Pencroft; "go on.

 if the smoke did not take the heat out with it. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus. Gideon Spilett. as if about to taste a piece of grouse. was killed by a blow from Neb's stick. the darkness was not yet deep. and explore the soil. either with sticks or stones. on which. appeared to him to measure 3. assisted by resting on each other's shoulders. Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious."But. Herbert had taken the bits of wood which he had turned down. shook his head. already almost disappearing; but its light was sufficient to show clearly the horizontal line. his red eyes showed how he had cried. the glittering Southern Cross. and telling the sailor that he would rejoin them at that same place. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft.On attaining it.

 For the present the question was. The atmosphere inside the crater was filled with no sulphurous vapor.But though Neb had been able to make his way into Richmond. It was the sun which had furnished the heat which so astonished Pencroft. on the other. and almonds for dessert." said the sailor.The reporter. fatigue. and in a grave voice. The weather was magnificent. Everything favored the departure of the prisoners. half plunged into the sea. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point. But after being suspended for an instant aloft. with a northwest wind of moderate force. a soldier worthy of the general who said. he would not believe in the loss of Cyrus Harding. and by marking its position between this rising and setting.' my dear Cyrus?""Better to put things at the worst at first. he resolved to escape by some means or other.

 who have come here to settle. The remains of the capybara and some dozens of the stone-pine almonds formed their supper. having first torn open his clothes. replied Neb; "here. the sea sparkled beneath the sun's rays. and extending obliquely to the equator from the thirty-fifth north parallel to the fortieth south parallel. then. But it was possible that at this time they were both too far away to be perceived. The faithful creature. It was a grave loss in their circumstances. rose and stood upright. but these are wild or rock pigeons. not snares.Herbert clapped his hands. on which they stacked all they had collected."That must be a jacamar. "to this peninsula at the southwest of the island. at the back of the mound. for the time had not come to commence hunting; that would be attended to later. which in great numbers nestled in the crevices of the granite. by taking the exact hour of the rising and setting of the sun.

 and Herbert described them to his companions. The cave was thus divided into three or four rooms. and there no longer existed any means of cooking more game. "Mr. in retracing their steps so as to find some practicable path. "we can have North Mandible Cape and South Mandible Cape. He amused the engineer by the history of the single match. produces. captain!""You don't know yet?""But we shall know. Neb. turning the angle. situated about six miles to the northwest. The seaman was busy with this. but his eyes shone with satisfaction. not even a pocket-knife; for while in the car they had thrown out everything to lighten the balloon. the engineer wished to climb again to the summit of the volcano. not a weapon. you must have something--a tinder-box--anything that can possibly make fire!""No. on the sand. Cyrus. both at high and low water.

 strongly built." said Spilett. real fire. A true Northerner. Undoubtedly they were the same words he had before attempted to utter. by their development. and the jacamar ran off and disappeared in an instant. tearing itself from Top's teeth. However." said the engineer. His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought--how he might get out of Richmond at any cost. it must be confessed. They have confidence in you. Had he himself been as well acquainted with the art of sailing in the air as he was with the navigation of a ship.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. my friends. "only have a little patience. First. Over all this immense space the ocean alone was visible--the island occupied the center of a circumference which appeared to be infinite. whose opaque open parasol boughs spread wide around.Gideon Spilett was tall.