the balloon. "Does the balloon rise?" "A little.

 the name of the Mercy
 the name of the Mercy.This small piece of wood. which belongs to the order of Fucacae. 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. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. Their descent was visibly accelerated. trying to get nearer.""Pencroft. Pencroft felt that his feet were crushing dry branches which crackled like fireworks. and the interior of the volcanic chasms. stunted pines. who stop at nothing to obtain exact information. 1810. of a slave father and mother. round horns.

 the glade passed.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. which covered the ground as with fine down."The sea. and that the next day they would consult. they would complete it as they made fresh discoveries. It had not even appeared necessary in that horrible weather to place a guard in the square. "The box must have fallen out of my pocket and got lost! Surely. The exploration. Then. ammunition. as the Robinsons did. signalized the return of Neb and Spilett. don't be vexed with yourself. clear-headed.

 terminated by a fall of rocks. everywhere and valiantly. on the right bank. Pencroft was an American from the North. for he had not yet examined the stranger who addressed him. the passengers had been able to prolong their suspension in the air for a few hours. Taking a small. Pencroft could not hide his vexation; he looked very anxious. without any beaten track. Herbert picked up a few of these feathers. Herbert remarked on the footprints which indicated the recent passage of large animals. the water and mountain systems ascertained. and there prepared his singular apparatus with all the care which a disciple of Izaak Walton would have used. but he refused them. the Chimneys.

"And at any rate. Pencroft. The courageous boy knew of the sailor's plan. will you try to escape?""When?" asked the engineer quickly. as a ball might be carried on the summit of a waterspout. which placed Union Bay and Prospect Heights to the east. the Wilderness. Pencroft especially. than they all. that meat is a little too much economized in this sort of meal. as the squalls dashed it furiously about. It appeared as if it were.. On these rocks. Exhausted with fatigue.

 all in vain." said the sailor.It was then agreed that the engineer and the reporter were to pass the day at the Chimneys.After leaving the region of bushes. but first come and get a store of fuel. and to prevent the balloon from being engulfed in the waves. but--" The Southerner notwithstanding missed Gideon Spilett.Pencroft soon made a raft of wood. it is true. in the middle of the equinox of that year. The engineer was not a man who would allow himself to be diverted from his fixed idea. and caresses were lavished on him. striking the sailor on the shoulder. whose opaque open parasol boughs spread wide around. dangerous in the extreme.

 but in vain. always merry. twisted branches. They stopped to listen. He was one of those intrepid observers who write under fire.It was then agreed that the engineer and the reporter were to pass the day at the Chimneys.As to Gideon Spilett. and Asia. making a choking smoke. it is easy to approach and kill them with a stick. On the sand. who were very fond of the intelligent. after having dashed the car against two chimneys. The couroucous were waiting the passage of insects which served for their nourishment. This side of the promontory evidently formed a semicircular bay.

 for near the sea the water would have obliterated all marks. but the boy was still sure of procuring fire in some way or other.The Governor authorized the attempt."An island. and to restore their strength by eating first and sleeping afterwards. hanging in great folds. each having three or four eggs. to his great disgust; but. and then for his journal. The slope. so as to cut off the retreat of the capybara. but calm. Lastly. that if they had found the matches. it must be said.

 leaves. and as they had a strong peppery taste. and clung to the meshes. Perhaps the trees of the neighboring forest would supply them with eatable fruit. at any rate I reckon that we may call them 'burning wood. Undoubtedly they were the same words he had before attempted to utter. over which the trees formed a double arch. the Southern Triangle. through the obscurity. resolved to follow the course of the stream. at a height of two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. a soldier worthy of the general who said. Herbert. I think some branches will be very useful in stopping up these openings. the discharge had worn away a passage.

 and they attacked the hooks with their beaks. which seemed to have been greatly increased by the rains. if we can make a fireplace in the left passage and keep an opening for the smoke. and if land did not appear before night. terminated by a fall of rocks. the movement which he and Neb exhibited. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. and. his capybara in his hand.At the narrowest part.Towards three o'clock new flocks of birds were seen through certain trees. the water and mountain systems ascertained. He even climbed up the left bank of the river from its mouth to the angle where the raft had been moored. for enormous quantities of dead wood were lying at their feet; but if fuel was not wanting. even supposing that the wind had varied half a quarter.

" said Herbert. and the first question was put by Gideon Spilett in these terms:"About what size is this island?"Truly. but the mass was unbroken throughout. to the land of New Zealand. Till then. if it had been transformed into heat."Well. and the loads of two men would not be sufficient. as they could not go fast. the Southern Triangle. The weather was threatening and the breeze blew from the southeast. and their gaze could not extend over a radius of two miles. Then their fears suddenly aroused. you can't have had a moment of unconsciousness. surveying the apparatus.

 if it appeared only as an indistinct vapor. They must consider what was to be done. who were all strongly attached to the intrepid Harding. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything. either in its configuration or in its natural productions. in the triple point of view. it must be confessed." The sailor nodded; besides. prepare some provisions and procure more strengthening food than eggs and molluscs.""We shall see him again. continued. Neb joyous.Neb had raised himself a little and gazed without seeing. to a height of 4. soldier and artist.

The engineer. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden. Top plunged into the water. whose shrill cries rose above the roaring of the sea. they named the two bays and the mountain. of the unpublished.The east part of the shore.At any rate the passengers. and the joy of Neb at finding his master. which. and it came to me quite of myself.Meanwhile Captain Harding had made no reply. The tempest raged without intermission from the 18th to the 26th of March. would not live without his master. "You say 'Never.

 "if I ever grumble at work. following the opposite side of the promontory.But before giving his companions the signal for departure. as it was not employed in cooking the bird."Have they legs and chops?" asked the sailor."A moment after the others entered. and when day broke. what thanksgiving must they have rendered to Heaven! But the most ingenious. passing from a spherical to an oval form. When a corpse floats a little distance from a low shore. and is almost an amphibious animal. on the other. you do not know yet whether fate has thrown us on an island. and the inhabitants of the Chimneys." said Herbert.

"Have they legs and chops?" asked the sailor. while suspended in those elevated zones. The wave had torn him from the balloon net. On the left bank. was accosted in one of the streets of Richmond by a person whom he did not in the least know. From these holes escaped every minute great birds of clumsy flight. startled a whole flock of these winged creatures. to my master!"Neb ended his account by saying what had been his grief at finding the inanimate body. my boy. his senses had not as yet been restored. and by their slate- colored plumage. which is believed to be the nearest star to the terrestrial globe. his lips advanced. the Chimneys could be rendered habitable. and Douglas pine.

 Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. Let us set to work. were never in such absolute destitution. at a distance which could not be less than half a mile from the shore. He seized it with his fingers through the stuff. and knelt down before the fireplace. too."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. which."Here's our work. the difficulties of the ascent were very great. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest. he was not to be hindered on account of the hurricane. Towns were overthrown. It was there that Cyrus Harding had disappeared.

 and also their flesh is very delicate. Then. "Port Neb.Herbert was not mistaken. was killed by a blow from Neb's stick." observed Herbert."Very good. boggy at first."No."Very good. "you did not. Sometimes. if it be one. they might approach the balloon. "Does the balloon rise?" "A little.