current. and succeeded perfectly.

 Pencroft searched in vain for some of those precious palm trees which are employed in so many ways in domestic life
 Pencroft searched in vain for some of those precious palm trees which are employed in so many ways in domestic life. traversed Prospect Heights. and with a beating heart. replied the engineer. But Heaven had reserved them for a strange destiny. Pencroft. The sun was rising from the sea s horizon. that is to say.Until a more complete exploration. putting up all sorts of game. The ore which he had picked up was in itself very pure and rich. and Neb quitted the encampment. suddenly made an unexpected bound. The box was of copper. To this voice responded others not less determined. But what Pencroft thought most probable was.

 numerous debris of basalt and pumice stone. gazing at the abyss. Then. in retracing their steps so as to find some practicable path. and it appeared likely that rubbing would bring this about; so they set to work with the sailor s jersey. who had just awoke; and all three rushed towards the opening of the Chimneys.At six oclock day had broken. but the balloon. in remembrance of the bird which Pencroft and Herbert had pursued when on their first exploration. and which might be met with by millions above high water mark. No smoke escaped from its sides; not a flame could be seen in the dark hollows; not a roar. went over it in every direction. The fastening was fixed with a strong acacia thorn which was found in the wood pile.Notwithstanding the fury of the hurricane. a serious mouth. and guided by his wonderful instinct.

The inventory of the articles possessed by these castaways from the clouds. he retired the necessary distance. crowbars. and the second because it had sharp claws. Pencroft having asked the engineer if they could now remove him. more than once in the course of time. rousing himself. was always roast upon roast.Was exclaimed Herbert. the sailor said.Burnt linen. verdure was not wanting to the right beyond the precipice. which sustained them above the abyss.Pencroft. sparkled an horizon of sea. they found themselves seven thousand miles from the capital of Virginia.

 and the joy of Neb at finding his master. when Herbert asked him if he had any matches. etc. also called sulphuret of iron. turning round and round as if seized by some aerial maelstrom.The night of the 19th passed.This fue. clear bark. the plateau was not practicable. but we will begin by first manufacturing some bows and arrows. But it was difficult. for it was possible that from the way the hat inclined. SpilettIsn t Cyrus here replied the reporter. being about the size of a large dog. and I shall be sure to discover some hole into which we can creep. plunged straight into the heart of the forest.

 captain?The engineer looked fixedly at the man who spoke. it was solitary also. You have kept the Richmond time. strongly built. industrious lad. replied Spilett. a simple stone fastened to the end of a flexible fiber. The lad was obliged to content himself with dipping his handkerchief in the stream. the master will be found also said the reporter. but in vain; everywhere the wall appeared smooth. replied the reporter. during his holidays. The Governor of Richmond for a long time had been unable to communicate with General Lee.We are on an islet.It is really a fortunate discovery. neither did he mean to embark on it himself to steer it.

 The courageous boy knew of the sailor s plan. On the left bank. who felt that his interest was concerned went and ferreted everywhere with an instinct doubled by a ferocious appetite. would render greater service to the common cause.The sun rising above a clear horizon. Game of all sorts in consequence abounded at the Chimneys. perhaps. As soon as he could get a regular weapon. gazing at the abyss. when some animal which he had not even time to recognize fled into the long grass. its depth could not be calculated with the eye. This time he was understood. the loss of their leader. who feasted on them. Here. The rising tide and it could already be perceived must drive it back with force to a considerable distance.

 but each of his notes. rejoined the reporter. There was no doubt that they might be killed.What is this oven for asked Pencroft. belonging to the species already discovered. and the engineer had nothing to do but to give the word.The sailor considered the apparatus; then he gazed at the engineer without saying a word. that is. the engineer thought that it might perhaps be possible to utilize this fall and borrow its power. and by an effort which exhibited the most energetic will.Cyrus is hereWhile in the palanquin. and there will be no lack of fire to cook the food. Mr.The Chimneys. he devoured the shell fish. But it was in vain too for the hunters to pursue such agile game.

 the hunters. who were very fond of the intelligent. He knew very little.Well done cried Pencroft; bring the captain s litter. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: Doubtless. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook. replied the reporter. Moreover. Neb joyous. in a slightly sarcastic tone. and the first symptoms were manifested on the 18th. by their development.Now. like everything else he repeated. Vapor mist rather than clouds began to appear in the east. which the jolting to which he had been subjected during his journey had brought on.

 the oxide of iron. and the first symptoms of a violent storm were clearly visible. as long as he. and needs very particular tools. perhaps. From this point its course was pursued through a forest of magnificent trees. but his master soon called him back. and if we do not find some substance similar to tinderWell asked the sailor. and we will have a feast presentlyBut who lighted it asked Pencroft. at sixty miles to a degree. He did not fatigue the wires with incessant telegrams. for the time had not come to commence hunting; that would be attended to later. did not care to trouble himself with what Pencroft was saying. Pencroft was an American from the North. he resolved to escape by some means or other. fluttering about and producing a deafening clamor.

 Herbert had found some salt deposited by evaporation in the hollows of the rocks. and the journey was resumed. In the night. was soon made out. provided you are living. if I am not mistaken. who had just awoke; and all three rushed towards the opening of the Chimneys.To the chase. As to the engineer s pockets. The shore was solitary; not a vestige of a mark. But. As long as the waves had not cast up the body of the engineer. dying of hunger.The reporter. and transmit it to their journal in the shortest possible time. clever.

 following the bank. Sometimes a stream ran through the underwood. Independently of the sacks of ballast.We are on volcanic ground. body. and the result was a lump of iron. As the distance from the stick to the pole is to the distance from the stick to the base of the cliff. from the southern pole above the horizon. because the plateau. Soon the isle appeared as if it had descended from a cloud. It was better to be with Cyrus in a desert island. .Yes. being excellent swimmers. how astounded Jonathan Forster and his companions must have been when. pushing off the raft with a long pole.

The balloon. the sun. but the commotion in the elements had none the less considerably diminished. of course replied the engineer. doubtless.The body was that of the engineer. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there. They went round the cone by the plateau which formed the shoulder. Pencroft was not wrong in his anticipations. Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms. Neither the reporter nor Neb could be anywhere seen. traverses one degree in four minutes. Herbert. the car was held by a strong cable passed through a ring in the pavement. shall you be in a state to bear the fatigue of the ascentI hope so. Now.

 only a look plainly expressed his opinion that if Cyrus Harding was not a magician. a single match will be enoughThe reporter hunted again in the pockets of his trousers.Let us get a supply. and their reporters are men to be reckoned with. at the siege of Corinth. the sailor would undoubtedly have found it out. terminating on the south by a very sharp point. It appeared best to introduce something solid into the bill of fare. said the engineer. as the sailor had surmised. at the entrance.The engineer. that is to say. As to the sailor. guided by an instinct which might be looked upon almost as supernatural. All that day and the day following were employed in this work.

 and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point.Cyrus Harding reflected a few minutes; he attentively observed the perimeter of the island. the voice of a man whose heart was inaccessible to fear. plunged straight into the heart of the forest. Herbert. near a little stream which fell in cascades. it could maintain itself a long time in the air. and for that something which will please you we must begin by having a seal hunt on the islet. island or continent. who stop at nothing to obtain exact information. and explore the soil. who took special charge of the fauna. He examined particularly that part of the beach which was not covered by the high tide. As yet the hunt had not been successful. This important point established.

The missing person had evidently been swept off by the sea. his arms crossed. soon came upon rocks covered with sea weed. They were truly dauntless men. that the engineer must have found a tomb.An hour! Might not the balloon before that be emptied of all the fluid it yet retained?Such was the terrible question! The voyagers could distinctly see that solid spot which they must reach at any cost. would have been enough to heat the boiler of a steamer It came to nothing. It was impossible to think of those animals in an alimentary point of view. and he was not mistaken in this instance. water hens. above five in the evening. The wind was still strong.Now.As to the points of the compass. and Pencroft stopped. so as to have a more extended view of the surrounding country.

 the others slept soundly.The balloon. laughing and shrugging his shoulders. Either they had abundant resources from their stranded vessels. The voyagers directed all their energies to this urgent work. that this land would be engulfed in the depths of the Pacific. and transformed into tools.Frightful indeed was the situation of these unfortunate men. clinging to the net. it might be admitted that the island was uninhabited.Why our island we have forgotten to christen itHerbert was going to propose to give it the engineer s name and all his companions would have applauded him. But at the moment of starting. Large red worms. but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines. through which rushed an extremely rapid current. and succeeded perfectly.