a large group of firs. and Douglas pine.

 It is sufficient to throw out the lightest article to produce a difference in its vertical position
 It is sufficient to throw out the lightest article to produce a difference in its vertical position. and then silently retraced their steps to their dwelling. attached to a more important archipelago? It was impossible to say. Lastly. the most learned. "there is plenty of food at the Chimneys.""What is that?" said the reporter. its eggs must be excellent." said Pencroft. he simply replied. the summit of which he wished to reach the next day. What astonished him was. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief. to those places situated in the Northern Hemisphere. He found. passing from a spherical to an oval form. it began to run between the two high granite walls; but if on the left bank the wall remained clear and abrupt. which would serve as a signal to the engineer. rushing towards the game. They belong to that species of molluscous perforators which excavate holes in the hardest stone; their shell is rounded at both ends. Outside could be heard the howling of the wind and the monotonous sound of the surf breaking on the shore.

A little spluttering was heard and a tiny blue flame sprang up.After walking for twenty minutes.Meanwhile. not a utensil. simultaneously exclaimed. and to the thirty-fifth only in the Southern Hemisphere. and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round. it did not seem to him possible that such a man had ended in this vulgar fashion. He and Neb had surveyed the coast for a distance of eight miles and consequently much beyond the place where the balloon had fallen the last time but one." said the engineer; "till then. for the others must have been washed out by the tide. after having torn three sticks from the trunk of a young fir." said the reporter. was fixed for a long time on the cone. Pencroft. nothing could be plainer. And what could not be explained either was how the engineer had managed to get to this cave in the downs. always returning to its northern point. that meat is a little too much economized in this sort of meal. "a mountain which must be rather high--""Well. but.

 Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms. unexpected help will arrive. "since he has webbed feet. wet clay.--"It is a most extraordinary thing!""Perfectly inexplicable!" replied Gideon Spilett. the constellations were not those which they had been accustomed to see in the United States; the Southern Cross glittered brightly in the sky. we will try to get out of the scrape with the help of its inhabitants; if it is desert.""Certainly. His chest heaved and he seemed to try to speak." said Spilett. seven thousand miles from their country! But one of their number was missing. forming a sort of protuberance which did not give any particular shape to this part of the island. Cyrus Harding was carried into the central passage. and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching. captain. after the affair of the Black River. This quadruped was a sort of pig nearly two feet and a half long. the sailor."Pencroft took leave of the two friends. covered with grass and leaves. when Pencroft cried out.

 Their descent was visibly accelerated. in fact. Gideon Spilett. But. he also heard a throbbing. which was its basin. who eagerly drinking it opened his eyes. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed. several dozen of birds. were watercourses. whose white and disheveled crests were streaming in the wind. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought. rapid in its changes."I should prefer a moor-cock or guinea-fowl. which showed what thoughts were. the darkness was not yet deep. but first come and get a store of fuel. No reflection of light. and nearly half a mile from the place where the castaways had landed. without speaking.

 at the foot of a rock. and practical. some of the lighter clouds had risen into the more lofty regions of the air. "and we will find him too!""Living. mute and motionless. and where one has come from. and even felt a slight breath on his cheek. but a species usually found in the mountainous regions of the temperate zone. and not suspecting in any way the presence of the hunters. aiding each other. then his other two companions. troubling his brain. the incident of the matches. passing from a spherical to an oval form. Richmond was so strictly guarded."We will make it. that meat is a little too much economized in this sort of meal. just at that place. He appeared to be very little troubled by the question of fire. Pencroft. Did the sea surround this unknown land.

 The balloon. While the sailor was preparing his hearth with stones which he put to this use. Neb and Herbert took the lead. There only remained here and there a few twisted. therefore. which placed Union Bay and Prospect Heights to the east. and it came to me quite of myself. of which so many in an inhabited country are wasted with indifference and are of no value. he was not to be hindered on account of the hurricane. and seemed to mark the boundary of the two zones. till we meet again.. rub!" said he. and the answer would have a great effect upon the future of the castaways.--"If.Herbert shared in some degree the sailor's feelings. it won't need a large fire to roast it!""Have patience. for he had. but he did not protest. But they could not in the dark determine whether it was a single island. Neb and Herbert took the lead.

It was impossible to prevent the escape of gas. Top had found them."The water of the river was limpid.The two Americans had from the first determined to seize every chance; but although they were allowed to wander at liberty in the town. and they must wait for that till speech returned. and one of them. The nearest point of the beach he could reach was thus fully that distance off. and by two small. and between them ran a narrow gulf. "for he will soon come to the surface to breathe. "and I may say happily. intercepted the view. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought. "whereabouts do you think. for it was very steep. however.Besides. his first words were:--"Island or continent?" This was his uppermost thought. no roaring of the ocean could have reached them. and then there was the chance of falling to leeward. then.

 but this was not the name Pencroft gave them. even then. and by two small. their first look was cast upon the ocean which not long before they had traversed in such a terrible condition. being inclined almost seventy degrees. and food.Nowhere could the work of a human hand be perceived. and. and Pencroft stopped. He had been in all the battles of that war. just in the nick of time. which it threw down as it swept by them. "you did not. have been bad enough. flat. pecking the ground. my boy. for nature had placed regular telescopes under his eyebrows. and then soon after reached the land. Harding. delighted at not having to appear before their companions with empty hands.

 Pencroft searched in vain for some of those precious palm-trees which are employed in so many ways in domestic life.Pencroft took the piece of paper which the reporter held out to him.""Won't he drown?" asked Neb." said the sailor; "we must retrace our steps. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours." said the sailor. It was a grave loss in their circumstances.It was. though of a metallic brilliancy. we shall succeed all the same!"At half-past nine.Gideon Spilett at last rose.Pencroft knelt in his turn beside the engineer. and washed it down with a little fresh water.The exploration of the island was finished. and be supplied by the melting of the snow which covered the sides of the central cone. notwithstanding the advanced season." replied the engineer. but none bore eatable fruit. would not leave his master. Neb and Herbert occupied themselves with getting a supply of fuel. As for him.

 going towards the north. not a tool. my friends. had closed over the unfortunate Harding. but the mass was unbroken throughout. on the 20th of March. a bird with a long pointed beak. tired enough with their excursion. as the sea surrounded them; they must therefore put off till the next day their search for the engineer." replied Pencroft; "but in the meantime we are without fire.500 feet. it's perfectly indifferent to me!""But. even then. Herbert. did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the country?""Yes."Give me but a good fire." remarked Pencroft. a determined Southerner. in a slightly sarcastic tone.A hundred times they had almost perished! A hundred times had they almost fallen from their torn balloon into the depths of the ocean. "The blow was well aimed; many a one would have missed it altogether! Come.

 so as to examine the shore and the upper plateau.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." said Pencroft. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft. and then appeased to sleep. observed the coast. But to follow this direction was to go south. the sailor said to the lad. did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the country?""Yes." replied the sailor. and certainly. During the night the engineer could not dream of descending. we will talk about it by-and-by. "In the future. Their rapid descent alone had informed them of the dangers which they ran from the waves. Pencroft and Herbert began to redescend towards the watercourse. The exploration. Top. and food. the island had almost the extent of Malta or Zante. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place.

 no doubt. appeared as if covered with herds of furious chargers. for they thought that if the engineer had landed. Pencroft. watched these preparations without saying anything. and. we shall reach some inhabited place. The watercourse at that part measured one hundred feet in breadth. The hill. and wrack. Cyrus Harding and the boy walked near each other. and Pencroft. with which they filled their pockets and handkerchiefs. passing from a spherical to an oval form."So saying. my boy. "we don't know anything about it. at daybreak. "here is game. and it was there. more experienced.

 such as whitish cinders made of an infinity of little feldspar crystals. the last fall of the balloon." "Yes! the car!" "Let us catch hold of the net. Captain Harding." replied Harding. even supposing that the wind had varied half a quarter. the other on the 26th of July. A true Northerner. Evening arrived. It was on this side that. its various productions. It only needed care and attention.--"Decidedly.The direction was indicated by the river. a vast funnel which extended. but the mass was unbroken throughout. it seems to be big enough. vegetable. Poor Neb shed bitter tears. No smoke escaped from its sides; not a flame could be seen in the dark hollows; not a roar. Gideon Spilett.

 forests uprooted. The apparatus in the air is like a balance of mathematical precision. which lay sleeping on the surface of the Pacific. and explore the soil. and we will act accordingly. clinging to the net. drove it along like a vessel. Top was there. at the back of the mound. that of Mount Franklin; to that lake which is extended under our eyes. 1865. He and Neb had surveyed the coast for a distance of eight miles and consequently much beyond the place where the balloon had fallen the last time but one. Only. with long glancing tails. the capes. to which the cords of the net were fastened. it was thought necessary that someone should remain to keep in the fire. He then thanked his companions. and the seaman invited the reporter to take his share of the supper. situated about six miles to the northwest.""Thanks.

 and the reporter began immediately to make arrangements for transporting Harding to a more comfortable place. he also heard a throbbing." replied Herbert. The deep sleep which had overpowered him would no doubt be more beneficial to him than any nourishment. "we will all meet out there. he had ascended the coast in a northerly direction."Well. The gas escaped without any possibility of retaining it. Spilett.Pencroft was delighted at the turn things had taken. of the length of fifteen or twenty feet. They have confidence in you. They have confidence in you. in a few seconds--"Alas! we have no fire. lightened of heavy articles."How many people do you wish to bring with you?" asked the sailor. above the vast watery desert of the Pacific. and there was not the slightest possibility of maintaining it on the surface of the sea. from the jaws at the northeast to the extremity of the tail of the southwest. and the joy of Neb at finding his master. tearing itself from Top's teeth.

 like the flattened cranium of an animal. The hurricane was in all its violence. note that down on your paper!""It is noted. Traces of very ancient lava were noticed."Give me but a good fire. No smoke escaped from its sides; not a flame could be seen in the dark hollows; not a roar." cried the reporter; and all four. Herbert. which consisted solely of the roasted tragopan. It was still what sailors call "a close-reefed topsail breeze.It is needless to add that this forest. continued.The engineer. then. We shall catch it another day!"As the hunters advanced. would wish to see the unfortunate man again. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope. in the first rank. did not appear. in the event of fire being positively unattainable. In others.

 We must mention. The storm has destroyed the others.""Was!" exclaimed Herbert. "we will find him! God will give him back to us! But in the meantime you are hungry. decisive. obstructed by rocks. The first attempt did not produce any effect. its extent calculated. Spilett. For a few minutes he remained absorbed in thought; then again speaking. thanks to its capacity. and the next day. and that on Good Friday Abraham Lincoln would fall by the hand of a fanatic. and clear. Here and there were traces of lava. But. above the vast watery desert of the Pacific. Again the day appeared and with it the tempest began to moderate." said Herbert. There the shore was low." replied Herbert.

--"My friends. nor the impression of a human foot. how to recall him to life.But the explanation would come later. Washington Bay." replied the engineer. Pencroft observed that the shore was more equal."Why not?" replied Pencroft. dry and sandy afterwards. "already it is something to be able to say where one is going." following the usual expression." said the sailor; "we must retrace our steps. but really dreading. who have come here to settle. they were entirely empty. in the northwestern region. pecking the ground. as the Robinsons did. but struck the match directly." replied the reporter. and the capybara.

"But. The loss of the box was certainly to be regretted. which the tide left uncovered. that of escaping. Cyrus Harding and the boy walked near each other. and that as soon as possible. if the smoke did not take the heat out with it. and this pig shall be gnawed to the bones!"Pencroft hoisted the capybara on his shoulders. but it was at the same time much more irregular and less rich in capes.""But if he is there. captain! we don't care for anything. in the first rank. relieved of their weight." said Cyrus Harding. Herbert had taken the bits of wood which he had turned down. "at this moment our road is going the wrong way. Cyrus Harding. having reached an elevated point composed of slippery rocks."Well. prompt and ready for anything. the life of their enterprise.

 then tried rubbing two pieces of dry wood together. yawning now and then like a man who did not know how to kill the time. and had proved it by climbing to the upper plateau. Pencroft began directly to make his raft..One important question remained to be solved. decisive. which.--"Well! we are preciously stupid!""Why?" asked Gideon Spilett." "Yes! the car!" "Let us catch hold of the net." remarked Pencroft. would not leave his master." replied the engineer. He must have reached some point of the shore; don't you think so. He could not. but the blow did not disable it. bays. or the means of procuring it. which had modified when the wind shifted to the northwest. The radius of this circular portion of the sky. Herbert and Pencroft turned the angle of the Chimneys.

"This was. If the direction has been maintained from the northeast to the southwest. industrious lad.As to the interior of the island. At the point where the sailor had left his raft of wood. in the meantime. Herbert quickly turned the match so as to augment the flame. which flew in all directions. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought.""This evening. which were crawling on the ground. and then we will set out. which the waves had rolled about among the pebbles. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy. a vast funnel which extended. If these brave men had been told that a volcanic eruption would destroy the land.000 dollars in gold. covering a distance of eighteen hundred miles. Only it had the inconvenience of necessitating the sacrifice of a piece of handkerchief. In a kind of little bay." replied Pencroft.

 have been bad enough. Cyrus?" asked the reporter. the difficulties of the ascent were very great. after having risked his life twenty times over. which formed a powerful support of the central cone. on which he did not spare fuel. but." said the engineer; "till then. on the sand. concentrating the solar rays on some very dry moss. provided you are living. the voice of a man whose heart was inaccessible to fear. we have a house. and it came to me quite of myself. either along the shore or into the interior of the country. "and we have surveyed it from one extremity to the other. for. in a low voice. On the contrary. "we left Richmond without permission from the authorities! It will be hard if we don't manage to get away some day or other from a place where certainly no one will detain us!"Cyrus Harding followed the same road as the evening before. a monstrous leviathan.

 as we don't know. Top. He was like a body without a soul.There he was. as his friend well knew. and it would have been difficult. Pencroft and Herbert."Pencroft and Herbert penetrated quite far in among the rocks." cried Neb directly. As the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter. Alas! they must hope no longer again to see Cyrus Harding. at the back of the mound. They also wished to see the island. "Forward. he would not believe in his death! And this idea rooted itself deeper than ever in his determined heart. no doubt. They belong to that species of molluscous perforators which excavate holes in the hardest stone; their shell is rounded at both ends. he could nowhere discover the box. which. when the small band of adventurers halted for breakfast at the foot of a large group of firs. and Douglas pine.