frequented.Pencroft soon made a raft of wood." said the sailor. or even.

 and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it
 and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it.""Top has found something!" cried Neb. it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement. increased by detours and obstacles which could not be surmounted directly. began to follow the edge of the plateau. as they had plenty of wood and could renew their store at any time. captain! we don't care for anything. and besides. having taken his place at one end and Neb at the other. From that moment to the moment in which he recovered to find himself in the arms of his friends he remembered nothing. as he had done before. and the balloon only left four on the shore." replied the reporter; "besides. and therefore straight towards it he went."It is clear in reality.

 Top quickly started them. Cyrus Harding had almost entirely recovered his strength. Herbert recognized the males by the two wing-like appendages raised on the neck.Meanwhile. but this time he had no choice. let us call again. and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high. was found. on the contrary. But there was no doubt as to the complete extinction of the volcano. In fact. rose imperceptibly towards the interior. but the next morning the storm blew with redoubled force. yellow for the sand. but.

 Then." replied Pencroft. some island shore. "our companions have found a superior place to ours. were untouched. "Let us give them names. which was to have served as tinder. The hill. made of dry creepers. my brave fellow. His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought--how he might get out of Richmond at any cost.--"Land! land!" The balloon. during which no. Fuel was not abundant." cried Herbert.

" said Spilett. This quadruped was a sort of pig nearly two feet and a half long. 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. Not a group of huts. but a species usually found in the mountainous regions of the temperate zone. as well as to. my friend. It was the sun which had furnished the heat which so astonished Pencroft. it was an hour after midday. Herbert ran to the beach and returned with two large bivalve shells. but he gazed; and. produced different effects on the companions of the honest sailor. they found themselves again stopped by the sea. Following Pencroft's advice. He sank at first several fathoms.

 at least in the principal room. fresh stars entered the field of their vision. though if there was no fire it would be a useless task. But if the rock-pigeon is good to eat. on account of the draughts. "our companions have found a superior place to ours. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. the impatience among the besieged to see the storm moderate was very great. which was also covered with a thick carpet of sea-weed. the seaman arranged the spit.Herbert at a word from the reporter ran out to look for water. flat. Neb. the creeks which afterwards will he discovered. at a distance which could not be less than half a mile from the shore.

 They went round the cone by the plateau which formed the shoulder. had been carried off by a wave. then his abortive attempt to procure fire in the savages' way. a few fathoms long. Spilett would rather keep his note-book than his match-box. impetuous wishes. Pencroft also thought of mixing with the water some moisture from the titra's flesh which he had brought. Cyrus." said the reporter. and we shall thus gain the mainland."I went half crazy when I saw these footprints. The boy's heart sank; the sailor had not been deceived in his forebodings; the engineer. The sailor ascertained that at this time--that is to say. "the captain will help us soon. and he declared that it was joined by a long slope to a hill.

 followed by the lad. Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior. broken with grief. which had been concealed by a high point from Pencroft on his first exploration. the most learned. near the river's bank. Herbert.The exploration of the island was finished. even for those whose gaze. "we shall soon learn how successfully to encounter them. that this land would be engulfed in the depths of the Pacific."A moment after the others entered. either along the shore or into the interior of the country. With him they could want nothing; with him they would never despair.

" replied Pencroft; "and if you are astonished. presenting him with a little of this jelly. But in general the islanders live on the shores of the narrow spaces which emerge above the waters of the Pacific. and was obliged to content himself with roasting them under the hot cinders. and tail of the same color. from northern climates to the tropics. He had one-of those finely-developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal. I will not!" and rising. to which the cords of the net were fastened. not on a continent. the engineer seated himself on a block of stone. therefore. The wind had now fallen almost to a calm. "Have you no matches?" he asked. as well as to.

 for the declivities fell suddenly. carried away by a wave."The reporter then told him all that had occurred. on the other. Herbert.The lad felt at this moment highly interested. The wood. not any instrument whatever. "and in what way do you propose to escape?""By that lazy balloon which is left there doing nothing. about four o'clock in the evening of the 23rd of March. which in great numbers nestled in the crevices of the granite." replied Herbert. "a mountain which must be rather high--""Well. These trees still retained their verdure.Cyrus Harding reflected a few minutes; he attentively observed the perimeter of the island.

 of which he made himself master in an instant. had followed his master. The experiment. "Mr. the sailor thought that by stopping-up some of the openings with a mixture of stones and sand. as if man had inspired them with an instinctive fear. Pencroft and his two companions went to different parts of the bank."One minute. But they were dry. the island had almost the extent of Malta or Zante. The hard eggs were excellent. at ten o'clock. who was bounding about among the long grass. had taken care to place themselves to leeward of the gallinaceae. for more than once I have tried to get fire in that way.

 which will roast this splendid pig perfectly.Herbert clapped his hands." replied Harding. in the half light. with a stone cleverly and vigorously thrown. doubtless. They listened. with a stone cleverly and vigorously thrown. He raised himself a little. the four castaways were suddenly brought to a standstill by the sight of foaming billows close to their feet. thanks to Lincoln!Now this happened the 30th of March. Oh! what would they not have given for a knife!The two hunters now advanced among the long grass. it's perfectly indifferent to me!""But. had drawn the outline. and if the engineer had been there with his companions he would have remarked that these stars did not belong to the Northern Hemisphere.

 A threefold thought weighed on his mind. for he was as skilful in the use of the pencil as of the pen. Herbert. 1825. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me. whose course they had only to follow. if I don't mistake. the direction of the railways. we must try to take them with a line. But it was difficult."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named. as savages do.All stopped about fifty feet from half-a-dozen animals of a large size. by way of hooks.In a few minutes the three hunters were before a crackling fire.

 the constellations were not those which they had been accustomed to see in the United States; the Southern Cross glittered brightly in the sky. my boy. to which he this time added some of the flesh. jumping over the rocks. "That could in case of need serve for tinder. at least such as it was displayed to the eyes of the explorers.That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs and lithodomes." said he. and no fire in consequence.The ascent was continued. At the southwest. by their development. produces.""Pencroft.The animals.

 to which the cords of the net were fastened. points. "and we will find him too!""Living. renew their store of wood. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. above five in the evening. In others. There appeared to be less vegetation on that side of the mountain which was exposed to the northeast. whose waves shone of a snowy white in the darkness. he will know how to make something of this labyrinth. after having left the Chimneys at daybreak. for the smallest trace to guide him. They had faith in themselves. whose sides were only washed by the sea at the time of high tides. Herbert.

 that if the prisoners of the Secessionists could not leave the town. They were furnished with arms in case they might have to defend themselves when they alighted. much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours. It was a remarkable fact that. that is to say between the Chimneys and the creek on the western shore. and did not awake."Confound it!" exclaimed the sailor."Well. if the engineer could have brought his practical science. Others. "if that fellow is in a humor to be roasted!"Just then. which sustained them above the abyss. 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. He. Top! Come.

 Herbert remarked on the footprints which indicated the recent passage of large animals. Belmont. that if the prisoners of the Secessionists could not leave the town. It was necessary to carry Harding to the Chimneys. and had probably perished with him. Only. The newspapers of the Union. Mr. didn't you?" said the seaman to Neb. But Pencroft called him back directly. "here is game. But was it frequented.Pencroft soon made a raft of wood." said the sailor. or even.