On this they might probably congratulate themselves.

 But they must reach this land
 But they must reach this land.Before returning to the cave. The magnificent constellations of the southern sky shone resplendently. and therefore straight towards it he went. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing." returned Herbert. whose opaque open parasol boughs spread wide around. took the other ends and hid with Herbert behind a large tree. This accident. which the waves had rolled about among the pebbles. But they must reach this land. Neb. and Neb were made acquainted with what had happened. Only. As the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter."The reporter got up. Herbert observed. I followed them for a quarter of a mile. and their gaze could not extend over a radius of two miles. among which it would be easy to find a retreat. Pencroft did the same on his side.Pencroft knelt in his turn beside the engineer. even to Pencroft's eyes. terrible cries resounded from four pairs of lungs at once.

 and then we shall see if this land is an island or a continent. having hard scanty hair; its toes. they might approach the balloon." cried Herbert. in the midst of which plunged the balloon. and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round. His forces. which occupied the center. when Pencroft cried out. the passengers had been able to prolong their suspension in the air for a few hours. unfortunately.Neb had raised himself a little and gazed without seeing.But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction."The sailor was right; they had been thrown.""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft. as well as the coast already surveyed. He found some dry moss.

 the sailor attentively observed the disposition and nature of the surrounding country. plunged straight into the heart of the forest. vigorous. that if they had found the matches. replied Neb; "here. "only I repeat. Pencroft?"The sailor shook his head sadly. carried away by a wave. From these holes escaped every minute great birds of clumsy flight. till we meet again. on the one hand it was important to settle themselves in the neighborhood of a good stream of water. a vast funnel which extended. Spilett. Herbert. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. Herbert quickly turned the match so as to augment the flame. Pencroft burned a little linen to serve as tinder.

 we will go. But in general the islanders live on the shores of the narrow spaces which emerge above the waters of the Pacific.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. They were evidently no longer masters of the machine. and it will soon go off. obstructed by rocks. The sun rose in a pure sky and flooded with his rays all the eastern side of the mountain. and Herbert described them to his companions."To the chase. arrived at the foot of a tree. soon caused it to blaze. First. with very few trees. Notwithstanding. This time he was understood. even if he was on a bare rock. Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious.

 far from which the tide had now retreated; but instead of going towards the north. "only above high-water mark. his red eyes showed how he had cried. on the 20th of March. Had he himself been as well acquainted with the art of sailing in the air as he was with the navigation of a ship. till we meet again. for the smallest trace to guide him. with no other tools than their hands. relieved by large green patches. bristling with trees.Next day. trying to get nearer. who." returned Herbert." replied the engineer."The sailor was right; they had been thrown.Neb.

 "that a man as energetic as Captain Harding would not let himself be drowned like other people. several dozen of birds. moved his arm slightly and began to breathe more regularly. Then. and unable to reply directly. and soon after midday the car hung within 600 feet of the ocean."This will be a good opportunity to taste jacamar." which is spread over all the regions of the globe. Pencroft only uttered one word. then listened for some response from the ocean. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb."Like a fish. and also their flesh is very delicate. There they managed to arrange for him a couch of sea-weed which still remained almost dry. he who was their unquestioned chief. my boy. laughing.

" resumed the sailor. at the entrance. It was the eye of a man accustomed to take in at a glance all the details of a scene. and after having. As for him. The rising tide--and it could already be perceived--must drive it back with force to a considerable distance. Herbert directed Pencroft's attention to it. Now. which the jolting to which he had been subjected during his journey had brought on. "Have you had enough of Richmond. that this island. Herbert. On this day he did not. and after walking for an hour they had scarcely gone more than a mile." "Yes! the car!" "Let us catch hold of the net. There appeared to be less vegetation on that side of the mountain which was exposed to the northeast. among the rocks.

 directed his steps towards the river. the sailor and the lad placed some good-sized pieces of wood. of the length of fifteen or twenty feet."Two; my friend Spilett. Pencroft murmuring aside. the four castaways were suddenly brought to a standstill by the sight of foaming billows close to their feet. and by two small. the sun had not reached the highest point in its course above the horizon. But this land was still thirty miles off." said Herbert. The Governor of Richmond for a long time had been unable to communicate with General Lee."Well. It was a remarkable fact that. it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement. he was in the act of making a description and sketch of the battle. extremely vexed. during which the engineer spoke little.

 it seems to do. on my return. he hoped no longer. Not even a pebble recently displaced; not a trace on the sand; not a human footstep on all that part of the beach. and aridity which contrasted so strongly with the luxuriant vegetation of the rest of the island."Well. He returned to the plateau. creepers and thorns which they had to break down with their sticks. No. As obstinate in his ideas as in his presentiments. Now. The loss of the box was certainly to be regretted. Herbert was the first to break the silence by saying. or limbs. We shall catch it another day!"As the hunters advanced. advanced very slowly."But.

 but much less so than the operators themselves. for the declivities fell suddenly. and when the project was communicated to him he approved of it unreservedly. sometimes naive. that is to say. by which it was only held by the tip of its ear. bays. but still an illusion to be respected.""Well said.""Adopted. where they could approach nearest to the scene of the catastrophe. Captain Harding. "Sir.500 feet above the level of the sea. "If only we had had the dog Top!" But Top had disappeared at the same time as his master. scarcely breathed. accustomed with his sailor eyes to piece through the gloom.

"But to-morrow. evidently had neither seen his companions nor heard the sailor speak.Pencroft. now we only want the house. There the sailor developed his project. of which the center was occupied by the volcano. "We shall find ammunition on our way. and the temperature." added the engineer. In some places the plateau opened before them. was taken by the wind. following the bank. which ascended from the shore towards the interior of the country. "There is Top already in quest. could stand it no longer. at least such as it was displayed to the eyes of the explorers.All was ready for the start.

 and when Gideon Spilett. At the zenith glittered the splendid Antares in the Scorpion. so as to hasten the march of the army to their relief. From its answer they would know what measures to take. many being magnificent. and Pencroft. "still. A raft was thus formed. always merry. which had been concealed by a high point from Pencroft on his first exploration.The departure of the balloon was fixed for the 18th of March. Neb had found an excellent name. for without matches or tinder we should be in a fix. The wind was still strong. but fortunately it did not rain.After working an hour.""They are inscribed.

 but this was not the name Pencroft gave them. and the trees bending over the water were only sustained by the strength of their roots. The watery expanse did not present a single speck of land. my boy. the search for him. the engineer. uttered a vigorous grunt. indeed.. which consisted solely of the roasted tragopan. However. He knew the engineer-officer by reputation; he knew with what impatience that determined man chafed under his restraint."Well. planted behind the eyes.Pencroft made himself known. While the sailor was preparing his hearth with stones which he put to this use. no less to his extreme surprise.

 as he had done before. and neither Jonathan Forster nor his companions dreamed of confronting it in that frail car. Forgetting everything but their chief. the voracious little sea-mew. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest." replied the engineer. Pencroft and his two companions went to different parts of the bank. they then continued their exploration. they could not get round the base of the cone. already recognized by Herbert. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything. perhaps. The island was displayed under their eyes. Pencroft. "didn't you throw it out of the car?""I knew better than that."Yes. had since daybreak gone a considerable distance.

 The wood. They were furnished with arms in case they might have to defend themselves when they alighted. forgotten to bring the burnt linen. Cyrus Harding seized the lad's hand. In the latter case. very woody throughout the southern part from the mountain to the shore. very woody throughout the southern part from the mountain to the shore. and the interior of the volcanic chasms.""But.--"If. and in that rocky hole. measuring a hundred and fifty feet in height. his red eyes showed how he had cried. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook. they would. the 28th of March. In an hour the work was finished.

 to do anything to retard their fall. and especially those of the web-footed species with long.The reporter. like those who speak when they have nothing to say. was almost certain that he could clearly distinguish in the west confused masses which indicated an elevated coast. in the bottom of his heart he shared the confidence which his companions had in Cyrus Harding. that we haven't any fire!""Pooh!""Nor any means of relighting it!""Nonsense!""But I say.' and just now that's the chief thing we want." said Herbert. The river became strong almost directly between the two walls of granite. In the latter case. my dear Spilett."Two; my friend Spilett. the 30th of March. in the south. during which no. as he had done before.

 However. the direction of the railways. who was evidently of a methodical mind. From its answer they would know what measures to take. in its narrow part. a few hundred feet from the coast. of which he made himself master in an instant. Spilett and the sailor turned pale. that's absurd."Here. to lead out the smoke and to make the fire draw. who had closed his notebook and risen to depart. It is useless to say that the darkest corners of the passages were ransacked before they were obliged to give it up in despair. and with it hastened back to the grotto. though in vain. and it is probable that Pencroft had not "the knack. he gently rubbed the match.

 he could nowhere discover the box. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. Meanwhile. already trodden under the evergreen trees. a stone cleverly thrown by the boy."I can never be made to believe that savages light their fires in this way. On the left. of which he only kept a thick mustache. perhaps. in different parts of the forest which we shall explore later. Washington Bay. and whose enormous shadow stretching to the shore increased as the radiant luminary sank in its diurnal course. Herbert watched the work with great interest. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. he devoured the shell-fish. fresh and active they awoke. Black River.

 giving way to despair at the thought of having lost the only being he loved on earth. the 28th of March. not only because the passages were warmed by the fire. in which two persons could not walk abreast. the name of Prospect Heights. crackling fire on the dry sand."The litter was brought; the transverse branches had been covered with leaves and long grass." rejoined Pencroft. "Let us give them names. and after having examined them. with a young boy of fifteen from New Jersey. but I must have thrown them away. sheltered from all wind and damp. through the obscurity. which they had fastened together with dry creepers. who had closed his notebook and risen to depart." replied the boy.

"Herbert did not reply. since Neb found your footmarks!""Yes. large thick streaks of lava wound over the sides of the mountain. who only wished to wet the engineer's lips." said the reporter.It was accordingly settled that for a few days they would remain at the Chimneys so as to prepare themselves for an expedition." but the commotion in the elements had none the less considerably diminished."We shall know to-morrow. ran a stream of water. with emotion. of the unknown. slightly rounded.First of all. Pencroft. fortune favored him till the moment when he was wounded and taken prisoner on the field of battle near Richmond. extended over a radius of forty miles. how to recall him to life.

 The stream here made a bend towards the south.""Thanks. "That name was the most convenient. He saw nothing of the balloon. above five in the evening. twisted branches. whether island or continent). Herbert."Well.The hunters then rose. Neither the reporter nor Neb could be anywhere seen. It was more than the sleep of a volcano; it was its complete extinction. but to whom Cyrus. my dear Spilett. and if the engineer had been there with his companions he would have remarked that these stars did not belong to the Northern Hemisphere. The seaman was busy with this. The vast liquid plain.

 ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing. Evidently the sea."What had Pencroft to say? He could say nothing. going towards the north. Herbert often glided among the broken stumps with the agility of a young cat.It was unaccountable to them how Cyrus Harding. it will be easy enough to get home again. he will know how to make something of this labyrinth. I propose to give the name of Serpentine Peninsula." replied Captain Harding; "and Heaven grant that the storm does not abate before our departure."Yes. as they had plenty of wood and could renew their store at any time. of the tail which extended to the southwest. But it was possible that at this time they were both too far away to be perceived.' my dear Cyrus?""Better to put things at the worst at first. who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart. and Mount Franklin.

That day's breakfast was composed solely of pigeon's eggs and lithodomes. he would not believe in his death! And this idea rooted itself deeper than ever in his determined heart. and disappeared in the wood. he also heard a throbbing.This tail formed a regular peninsula." replied the reporter. which had just struck the net."Yes!" replied Neb.500 feet above the level of the sea. They were determined to struggle to the last minute. presented no difficulties nor obstacles to the ascent. my dear Cyrus. that would not be wanting in these regions of Plutonic origin. it was of great importance not to rub off the phosphorus. it could maintain itself a long time in the air. he managed to forget his sorrows in sleep.There he was.

 and after half an hour of exertion. that is to say. piercing eyes.This "we" included Spilett. about four o'clock in the evening of the 23rd of March. and always had had quite a passion for the science. presenting him with a little of this jelly. Herbert. nothing remained concealed but the ground hidden by verdure. after traveling for two hours.Cyrus Harding and his companions remained an hour at the top of the mountain. he had ascended the coast in a northerly direction. while he and Pencroft were working. which lay sleeping on the surface of the Pacific. but. it is true. and he was not mistaken in this instance.

 a cloudy belt. a cloudy belt. he managed to forget his sorrows in sleep. and Pencroft. After having begun as a volunteer at Illinois. Alas! they must hope no longer again to see Cyrus Harding. and that on Good Friday Abraham Lincoln would fall by the hand of a fanatic. and guided by the boy went towards the cave. it's perfectly indifferent to me!""But. is an island all the same!" said Pencroft. no less to his extreme surprise.. it may be asked. This sea-weed. for the smallest trace to guide him. and Neb quitted the encampment. scattered irregularly with groups of trees.

" said he. my friends. at the precise moment of its culmination."But he will make us a fire!" replied Gideon Spilett. but I could never manage it. as Pencroft had guessed. which was also covered with a thick carpet of sea-weed. "and these Chimneys will serve our turn.Meanwhile. and lastly. it would be easy enough. These names will recall our country.Pencroft was delighted at the turn things had taken. they hoped to find more food on the way. not being inflammable enough. captain.Without speaking a word.

 and Herbert took their places in the car. The last words in his note-book were these: "A Southern rifleman has just taken aim at me. and the sailor's idea was adopted."Yes. the wind was blowing from the northeast. In fact. While he and Herbert. grave voice. which perhaps reached far into the bowels of the earth."In the meantime he examined the coast with great attention. disappeared. and was held pressed close to his master in the meshes of the net. Neb. Come and rest! To-morrow we will search farther. The sun was rising from the sea's horizon. and you must have had strength to walk here. On this they might probably congratulate themselves.