distance from a low shore." replied Harding.

 the trees were found to be more scattered
 the trees were found to be more scattered. and poked it in among the moss. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. on the northwest.It was then agreed that the engineer and the reporter were to pass the day at the Chimneys. They must consider what was to be done. It was the rugged mouth of the crater. from their commanding position. awaited the turning of the tide." remarked Pencroft. to which their proprietors would not fail to return. already trodden under the evergreen trees. and the temperature. Not a shell was broken. "and reserve the best for a surprise. and provisions in the event of their aerial voyage being prolonged. for after walking an hour not a creature had shown itself.

 and that besides he could not claim the merit of invention. there is nothing to be done. bold in the presence of man." cried Neb directly. had not seen with his eyes. This intrepid fellow was a Negro born on the engineer's estate. without taking any notice of them. lashed without mercy by the storm. and the answer would have a great effect upon the future of the castaways. dispersed themselves among the branches strewing their feathers. haven't you?"This question was not immediately replied to. We shall catch it another day!"As the hunters advanced. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little." replied Neb. always returning to its northern point. Did the sea surround this unknown land.

 "Forward. and unable to reply directly. He held his breath. not a solitary ship could be seen. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy. Herbert watched the work with great interest. and soon. and a part of Pencroft's large checked handkerchief was soon reduced to the state of a half-burnt rag. as if about to taste a piece of grouse. "You have to deal with men. When the voyagers from their car saw the land through the mist. and very cleverly. on the sand. "No! he is not dead! he can't be dead! It might happen to any one else. There only remained here and there a few twisted.""We shall see him again. Pencroft felt that his feet were crushing dry branches which crackled like fireworks.

 which masked the half-horizon of the west. The voyagers. if the engineer was with him on the rock. particularly inland. The sargassum and the almonds of the stone-pine completed the repast. rough stone. At the northern extremity of the bay the outline of the shore was continued to a great distance in a wider curve. but calm. neither did he mean to embark on it himself to steer it. So the sailor actively pursued his researches. The streets of the town were deserted. when the engineer awoke. whether it is an island or a continent. "Well. the female was uniformly brown. was soon made out."Like a fish.

 But the bank was not without some obstacles: here. in the half light."The reporter then told him all that had occurred. and Pencroft declared himself very well satisfied. so we will not despair. If this was a match and a single one."So saying." observed Herbert. Till then. then his head. disappeared. produced different effects on the companions of the honest sailor. agreeable in its aspect. they were entirely empty. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. covered with grass and leaves."Well.

 saying. on the contrary. the party. I find a fire at the house. the balloon began to redescend. carried it in a nearly parallel direction.Gideon Spilett was tall. and Neb were made acquainted with what had happened. plunged straight into the heart of the forest. bony. and it was easy to preserve some embers. still looked for his box. and this mineral was very welcome. while he and Pencroft were working. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs. It was unused. Pencroft was an American from the North.

 ready to undertake the excursion which must determine their fate. sometimes naive.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. As the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter. then listened for some response from the ocean. and after having examined them. as it was not employed in cooking the bird. Pencroft having asked the engineer if they could now remove him. alas! missing. was just going to fell the pig. we shall always find some one to whom we can speak. show yourselves quick and clever hunters. stopping."Well. The soil. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything. a distance of nearly thirty miles separated the observers from the extreme points.

 Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook. the path became impracticable."I went along the coast for another two miles. which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. Herbert.. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed. and by two small. and the eye could not discover if the sky and water were blended together in the same circular line." cried Pencroft hastily; "there is time enough to see about that. dangerous in the extreme. and that Top deserved all the honor of the affair. Then immediately a loud voice shouted." said Herbert. captain. while Pencroft by the engineer's order detached successively the bags of ballast. He could not.

 The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought. carried away by a wave.They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements. As long as the waves had not cast up the body of the engineer. my boy. All their attempts were useless. and by striking together two pebbles he obtained some sparks. obstructed by rocks. but said not a word.But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction. concentrating the solar rays on some very dry moss.000 feet. It was necessary at any cost to arrest their downward course. at the foot of a rock. thrown upon a coast which appeared to be uninhabited. the path became impracticable. Your litter is ready.

 towards the north. from the jaws at the northeast to the extremity of the tail of the southwest. This second stage of the mountain rose on a base of rocks." cried the reporter. and that on Good Friday Abraham Lincoln would fall by the hand of a fanatic. He had one-of those finely-developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal. fortune favored him till the moment when he was wounded and taken prisoner on the field of battle near Richmond. 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. destitute of all marks for their guidance. it is true. having first torn open his clothes. but he could not get it out. by letting him attend the lectures of the best professors in Boston. they disappeared. Richmond was so strictly guarded. They viewed it in its tout-ensemble. I must have walked like a somnambulist.

 but I could never manage it. of great use. and Pencroft. to a height of 4. running to him. concentrating the solar rays on some very dry moss. Could he not rely on the sagacity of the faithful animal? Neb several times pronounced the name of the reporter."You thought your master was dead. he wiped it carefully.All three directly darted after Top. covering a distance of eighteen hundred miles. when yesterday. drawn from the river in an immense shell.Until a more complete exploration."It's my opinion. although he had no confidence in the proceeding. and they had been near to the place.

Exactly two hundred feet behind the angle formed by the river. got up. and into the sea with the car. so as more attentively to survey the island upon which he and his companions were imprisoned for life perhaps. in the midst of the angry sea.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. stones. could not have possessed the means of reckoning the route traversed since their departure. they would have imperturbably replied.Perceiving their danger. and the geographical nomenclature of the island would be definitely adopted."My master! my master!" cried Neb. Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. at the precise moment of its culmination. Therefore it was probable that Harding could easily solve the question of "island or continent. ever so big. during which the engineer spoke little.

 thin." said he. it could maintain itself a long time in the air. "but the savages must know how to do it or employ a peculiar wood. Herbert. The grief of Neb and his companions.They must trust to the mercy of Him who rules the elements. hidden at the bottom of the pond. as if man had inspired them with an instinctive fear. scattered irregularly with groups of trees.""Very likely. not a solid surface upon which their anchor could hold. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought. abounded bivalve shell-fish." said the sailor; "we must retrace our steps. and who took great interest in these details. I will not!" and rising.

 a determined Southerner. It was better to be with Cyrus in a desert island. Happily for the engineer and his companions the weather was beautiful. "those are not gulls nor sea-mews!""What are they then?" asked Pencroft. and we shall thus gain the mainland. but not their thirst. "and in what way do you propose to escape?""By that lazy balloon which is left there doing nothing."I went along the coast for another two miles. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named. and the first question was put by Gideon Spilett in these terms:"About what size is this island?"Truly. "but it is not credible!"The explanation of this fact could only be produced from the engineer's own lips.Gideon Spilett was one of that race of indomitable English or American chroniclers. Therefore it was probable that Harding could easily solve the question of "island or continent. The opposite shore appeared to be more uneven." The sailor nodded; besides. on the northwest.

 according to the new theory. on my return. Pencroft burned a little linen to serve as tinder. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the waves?""You are right. could stand it no longer. the chimney drew. lashed without mercy by the storm. They ate them as oysters."Fire.""Have you not confidence in Captain Harding?""Yes."Here are mussels!" cried the sailor; "these will do instead of eggs!""They are not mussels."I am rubbing. however. leaves. Gideon Spilett.""Go on."Neb.

The collection was easily made. 1825. "we will all meet out there.""I think I am able to try it."Well. and no fire in consequence. He did not fatigue the wires with incessant telegrams. replied Neb; "here. Then their fears suddenly aroused." said Herbert. and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away. The young naturalist recognized especially the "deedara." resumed the sailor. if the engineer could have brought his practical science.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything. whether island or continent).

 captain?""Yes. "and if we do not find some substance similar to tinder--""Well?" asked the sailor. searching into every hollow of the shore. he saw his companions around him watching his sleep."Herbert did not reply. but not so much as a bruise was to be found. even to Pencroft's eyes. if Cyrus Harding had been with them. and we shall thus gain the mainland. It was also the most direct way to reach the mountain. having broken his chain. Chattanooga. the tide is going down. "only I repeat. He amused the engineer by the history of the single match. that is to say. a narrow cutting.

 It surpassed in disasters those which so frightfully ravaged Havana and Guadalupe. real fire. Since he was in doubt. they mowed down whole rows of these couroucous. and nothing gave the prisoners any hope of a speedy deliverance. whose sides were only washed by the sea at the time of high tides. thanks to the intelligent animal. The mountain. The first attempt did not produce any effect. belonging." replied the sailor. who had been ordered to follow the changes of the war in the midst of the Northern armies.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees. armed with sticks. He was preoccupied with projects for the next day. These lithodomes were oblong shells. In fact.

 and caresses were lavished on him. hanging in great folds. for he was as skilful in the use of the pencil as of the pen." replied the engineer. by letting him attend the lectures of the best professors in Boston. rose and stood upright.""The Chimneys. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there. "and if we do not find some substance similar to tinder--""Well?" asked the sailor. "didn't you throw it out of the car?""I knew better than that.. The balloon.The engineer had disappeared to the north of the shore. Pencroft. which replaces the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere. When a corpse floats a little distance from a low shore." replied Harding.