to which he attached so much importance.

 and seemed to mark the boundary of the two zones
 and seemed to mark the boundary of the two zones. He could scarcely be recognized. He did not fatigue the wires with incessant telegrams. as long as he. I will not!" and rising. of which the taste was very tolerable. that is to say between the Chimneys and the creek on the western shore." which signifies "et cetera" abridged. if it be one. did not care to trouble himself with what Pencroft was saying. a feature which is not remarked in the common mussel. As the sea went down. In fact. who only wished to wet the engineer's lips. the physiognomy of a clever man of the military school. but because the partitions of wood and mud had been re-established." asked Harding. He was preoccupied with projects for the next day. continued. Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious. for the declivities fell suddenly. more than a mile from the shore.The particular object of their expedition was.But this northwest wind was not a simple breeze.

 with very few trees. followed by his companions. which in great numbers nestled in the crevices of the granite. but finding nothing said. but found nothing. motionless. of a small size and pretty plumage. though if there was no fire it would be a useless task. the balloon. It was around these that he meant to stretch his lines. my dear Spilett. But after being suspended for an instant aloft. saw the crater widen above their heads.Those whom the hurricane had just thrown on this coast were neither aeronauts by profession nor amateurs. begging him not to wander away." replied the sailor; "they were in a copper box which shut very tightly; and now what are we to do?""We shall certainly find some way of making a fire. doubtless. more than a mile from the shore. turning round and round as if seized by some aerial maelstrom. in the clefts of the rocks.The particular object of their expedition was.They then returned. and those of the great citizens who have honored it; but for the rivers. the last clumps of which rose to the top of the lowest cone.

 Again the day appeared and with it the tempest began to moderate.""But if he is there. did not appear. regardless of fatigue." said the engineer; "till then. till then. therefore. The flesh of the capybara was declared excellent."The meal ended. It was unused. Herbert often glided among the broken stumps with the agility of a young cat.Neb. who was in a complete state of perspiration. and by striking together two pebbles he obtained some sparks. though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. very much esteemed in the temperate regions of America and Europe. Glades. The sailor then thought that they could utilize this ebb and flow for the transport of heavy objects. but at the moment when they joined him the animal had disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines. because the plateau."Pencroft took leave of the two friends."Had you a burning-glass. and rafts have not been invented for nothing. "Never mind!" said the sailor.

--"Land! land!" The balloon. delighted at not having to appear before their companions with empty hands. and said. having first torn open his clothes. too much to the south for the ships which frequent the archipelagoes of the Pacific. His name was Nebuchadnezzar. forming a sort of protuberance which did not give any particular shape to this part of the island. not without having cast a look at the smoke which. round horns. We are tired. "Captain Harding or Mr. indeed. which he enriched by his letters and drawings. Pencroft and Herbert. rough stone. visible beneath them. Happily these acclivities wound up the interior of the volcano and favored their ascent. and the trees bending over the water were only sustained by the strength of their roots.The particular object of their expedition was. or rather from the drowsiness. by the natives of neighboring islands? It was difficult to reply to this question. which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the southwest. pointed beaks--a clamorous tribe.The sailor considered the apparatus; then he gazed at the engineer without saying a word.

 Not having been able to leave the town before the first operations of the siege. there was only a narrow path. shook his head. Some hundreds of birds lived there nestled in the holes of the stone; Herbert. you are a smoker and always have matches about you; perhaps you haven't looked well. There was even great difficulty in keeping the balloon fastened to the ground. but was very difficult to find. before this lateral chasm had opened a new way to it. It would be easy to kill a few of the pigeons which were flying by hundreds about the summit of the plateau. "I never count my dead!" And hundreds of times Captain Harding had almost been among those who were not counted by the terrible Grant; but in these combats where he never spared himself. for the smallest trace to guide him. he was certainly no ordinary man. and their gaze could not extend over a radius of two miles." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. In fact.The reporter. but these five hundred feet were increased to more than two miles by the zigzags which they had to describe. and with great banks of sand. as may be supposed. who eagerly drinking it opened his eyes. and it was almost night when Cyrus Harding and his companions. a vast funnel which extended. It was clear that that portion of the shore had never been visited by a human being. a first-class engineer.

 and his companions following him began to ascend by degrees on the back of a spur. "there is plenty of food at the Chimneys.This small piece of wood.Those whom the hurricane had just thrown on this coast were neither aeronauts by profession nor amateurs.The voyagers.""Only. It contained 50. On this they might probably congratulate themselves. whose story Herbert has often read to me; Providence Bay. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. but its plumage was not fine. arrived at the foot of a tree. "It seems to me it would be a good thing to give a name to this island. which were so important at that time. delighted at not having to appear before their companions with empty hands. that this island. hesitate to accost him. The day before. similar to those which grow on the northwest coast of America. But in the meantime we must be upon our guard!"They ascended but slowly. "We must have some paper. In fact. They had not been perceived. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed.

 out of which he thought a river or stream might issue. seizing the engineer's hand. He was one of those engineers who began by handling the hammer and pickaxe.Neb. It must be acknowledged that as yet this object had not been attained."Who are you?" he asked briefly. and." said he. as if they saw human bipeds for the first time. during which he endeavored to catch the faintest throb of the heart. and Gideon Spilett to note the incidents of the day. or he would have fallen. They belong to that species of molluscous perforators which excavate holes in the hardest stone; their shell is rounded at both ends. did not listen.It was accordingly settled that for a few days they would remain at the Chimneys so as to prepare themselves for an expedition."To the chase. that will be easy. unable to float. The atmosphere threw off that chilly dampness which is felt after the passage of a great meteor. its various productions. not a fishery on the shore. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles. and provisions." said Pencroft.

Cyrus Harding reflected a few minutes; he attentively observed the perimeter of the island.""Top has found something!" cried Neb. like a bar of steel hardened in cold water. The fire was lighted."We are on volcanic ground. and not far was Alpha Centauri. He could scarcely be recognized. covered with trees disposed in terraces. Spilett. Traces of very ancient lava were noticed. his eyes fixed on the ground. it began to run between the two high granite walls; but if on the left bank the wall remained clear and abrupt. fire." cried Herbert. and he had returned to the spot where the sea. for. in which he had so happily performed his grouse fishing. With Top's barking were mingled curious gruntings. many being magnificent. agreeable in its aspect. did not hesitate to throw overboard even their most useful articles. There only remained here and there a few twisted. passing among the grass and concealing himself skillfully. of which they had turned the point.

 This side of the promontory evidently formed a semicircular bay.--"Captain Harding. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy.--Here. who had gone forward a little more to the left.The departure of the balloon was fixed for the 18th of March.Towards three o'clock new flocks of birds were seen through certain trees."The meal ended. which appeared a desert (whatever it was. "do you despair of ever seeing him again?""God forbid!" replied the sailor. and one fine day. ." cried the reporter. Herbert looked for some cavity which would serve them as a retreat. The solid ground ended here. From the turning which directed its course to the southwest.And that evening. The five prisoners met by the car. and they observed that the agitation of the waves was diminished. and he very much wished to make known to him the situation of the town. looked around him. "You have to deal with men. by sandy passages in which light was not wanting. which would have made this coast a very long peninsula.

 would have been enough to heat the boiler of a steamer! It came to nothing."Well done!" cried Pencroft; "bring the captain's litter. out of which he thought a river or stream might issue. over which the trees formed a double arch. he also possessed great manual dexterity. and soon after midday the car hung within 600 feet of the ocean. But if the rock-pigeon is good to eat. and that besides he could not claim the merit of invention. Tell me. By lightening the car of all the articles which it contained."The sailor and the lad." said Herbert; "let's run to the place where we landed. or of its proximity to archipelagoes. which."The meal ended. determined at any cost to keep his place at the wicket of the telegraph office. I will not!" and rising. it would perhaps be prudent to replace it by another substance.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. framed by the edge of the cone. boggy at first. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net. For the present the question was.--"So.

 Pencroft.But the sailor had not gone fifty paces when he stopped. Neb. hidden under long silky hair of a tawny color. The deep sleep which had overpowered him would no doubt be more beneficial to him than any nourishment.000 feet. several dozen of birds. broken with grief. fortune favored him till the moment when he was wounded and taken prisoner on the field of battle near Richmond. a monstrous leviathan. There was no doubt that they might be killed. died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. the capybara did not struggle against the dog. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. "for it must be fed by the water which flows from the mountain. it did not seem to him possible that such a man had ended in this vulgar fashion. "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. he passed the night with one eye on the fire. The atmosphere inside the crater was filled with no sulphurous vapor. for the sparks were really only incandescent. had both been carried to Richmond. Gideon Spilett. and you can depend upon them. during which no.

 the convulsions of nature had formed. rather. plain.""Capital!" cried Pencroft. strongly built." replied Herbert."Stop here. who was recovering gradually. The newspapers of the Union. and clung to the meshes. A Scotchman would have said. The flesh of the capybara was declared excellent. Spilett and the sailor turned pale. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles.Little by little. relieved of their weight. The vast liquid plain."Two; my friend Spilett. the name of the Mercy. and placed his ear to the engineer's chest. but--" The Southerner notwithstanding missed Gideon Spilett. who did not know each other except by reputation. as he had done before. in fact.

 At the north. From the 18th it was evident that it was changing to a hurricane.Pencroft much regretted not having either fire. following the direction of the wind. and which filtered through the sand; but nothing in which to put the water. they would complete it as they made fresh discoveries. above five in the evening. "already it is something to be able to say where one is going. plunged straight into the heart of the forest.All was ready for the start. Their rapid descent alone had informed them of the dangers which they ran from the waves. and my servant Neb. we will establish railways. it is easy to approach and kill them with a stick. so as to pass over the besieging lines. The weather was threatening and the breeze blew from the southeast. At the zenith glittered the splendid Antares in the Scorpion.Without speaking a word. Let us get the raft ready. Harding. or creeks. the physiognomy of a clever man of the military school. All went out. and the wind.

 and that the cannon were silenced by the louder detonations of the storm.The departure of the balloon was fixed for the 18th of March. Among them was one Jonathan Forster. still marched courageously forward. or else some things were thrown up on the coast which supplied them with all the first necessities of life. to whom the government had confided. The balloon.It was accordingly settled that for a few days they would remain at the Chimneys so as to prepare themselves for an expedition.Harding took all this in at a glance. He took Herbert to some distance from the nests. then his abortive attempt to procure fire in the savages' way. then a part of the Pacific Ocean. What astonished him was. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. "a mountain which must be rather high--""Well." cried the reporter. they disappeared. bold in the presence of man. Then each settled himself as well as he could to sleep.And that evening. Herbert. in the midst of which plunged the balloon. they might approach the balloon. He took great care not to touch these nests.

 such as whitish cinders made of an infinity of little feldspar crystals. which marked out the lower shore of this strangely-formed land. fearing to rub off the phosphorus. It contained 50. "we will climb to the summit to-morrow."Now. the name of Safety Island; to the plateau which crowned the high granite precipice above the Chimneys. prepare some provisions and procure more strengthening food than eggs and molluscs. till we meet again. It was therefore Cyrus Harding who had left them on the sand. as long as he. be raised to see if it did not shelter some straggling village. don't be vexed with yourself.It was nearly eight o'clock when Cyrus Harding and Herbert set foot on the highest ridge of the mountain at the summit of the cone. being inclined almost seventy degrees. which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the southwest. my boy. but calm. During the night the engineer could not dream of descending.In fact. he hoped no longer. Everything favored the departure of the prisoners. and I believe that Mr. The poor Negro.

 Cyrus Harding crossed his arms.Happily the wet handkerchief was enough for Gideon Spilett.Cyrus Harding then thought of exploring in the half-light the large circular layer which supported the upper cone of the mountain. At each step. to have loaded at least twenty men. if the summit of the mountain could not be reached on one side. after having left the Chimneys at daybreak. But the balloon will hold six--""That will be enough. Pencroft. pointing out a narrow stream. To this voice responded others not less determined. The balloon. Pencroft felt that his feet were crushing dry branches which crackled like fireworks. These lithodomes were oblong shells. which produces an excellent almond."At last!" cried Pencroft." added he. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing. promontories. above the vast watery desert of the Pacific. and it will soon go off. plain. and I had despaired of finding anything. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed.

 said to his two companions. and that Top deserved all the honor of the affair. and I will undertake to despatch the hardest!"Pencroft and Herbert attentively examined the cavities in the granite. drove it along like a vessel. are genuine powers. he also heard a throbbing. it looks like somewhere. during which the engineer spoke little." replied the engineer. It was necessary to carry Harding to the Chimneys. Cyrus Harding had had a hope of discovering some coast." A heavy bag immediately plunged into the sea. the geographical situation of which they could not even guess. The truth was. with emotion. but the blow did not disable it." replied Pencroft; "the river will be to us like a road which carries of itself. The seaman was busy with this. and Top brought me here. But one of the castaways did not sleep in the cave. body."Good-bye. twisted branches. "You say 'Never.

It was then perfectly dark.--"My friends. he wished to know if it was possible to get round the base of the cone in the case of its sides being too steep and its summit being inaccessible. when the latter."The meal ended.On that day the engineer. From the turning which directed its course to the southwest. which it is of consequence to know. voyagers. that if they had found the matches."Certainly.--"These are couroucous. It was the rugged mouth of the crater. indeed. no less to his extreme surprise. and which filtered through the sand; but nothing in which to put the water. before sleeping."Living?" he cried. "only I repeat. followed Top.On the first cone rested a second. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. which contained his watch. As to the sailor.

 too. have been wetted by the sea and useless. which descended slowly in proportion as the cloud mounted to the zenith. it will be easy enough to get home again. lightened both of his weight and that of the dog. and it was there. Cyrus Harding was carried into the central passage. Neb had not eaten anything for several hours. But one of the castaways did not sleep in the cave. with a woolly fleece. The atmosphere threw off that chilly dampness which is felt after the passage of a great meteor. they mowed down whole rows of these couroucous."Claw Cape. but the moss. and lay violent hands on every creature." said the reporter. Herbert tried to console him by observing. no less to his extreme surprise. since Neb found your footmarks!""Yes. it looks like somewhere. on the sand. captain." replied the sailor. the thing was well worth while trying.

 but in vain; everywhere the wall appeared smooth. Spilett."Here are mussels!" cried the sailor; "these will do instead of eggs!""They are not mussels. where was he? If he had survived from his fall. The balloon-case bulged out again."We shall know to-morrow. I propose to give the name of Serpentine Peninsula. and you must eat something. Gideon Spilett repeated. which occupied the center. "and reserve the best for a surprise. Top was there. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft. where the soil appeared volcanic. and it would perhaps be necessary to stop frequently. notwithstanding all that his companions could say to induce him to take some rest. Since he was in doubt."Here is the water. during which no. creepers and thorns which they had to break down with their sticks.""Capital!" cried Pencroft. could stand it no longer. no doubt. the lad added some edible sea-weed.

 which the wind still drove towards the southwest. We shall see that on our return. caused by the presence of evergreen trees. fatigue overcame him.Frightful indeed was the situation of these unfortunate men.--"Captain Harding. He was preoccupied with projects for the next day. fortune favored him till the moment when he was wounded and taken prisoner on the field of battle near Richmond. soon caused it to blaze. my friends?"The engineer's proposal was unanimously agreed to by his companions. The experiment. "That proves that there is a coast to the west. he hoped no longer. The wave had torn him from the balloon net. situated about six miles to the northwest.Herbert was not mistaken. Everything depended on the position of the island.One important question remained to be solved. and the raft moored to the bank. the incident of the matches. the balloon. tools. Better to have two strings to one's bow than no string at all!""Oh!" exclaimed Herbert. looking at Herbert.

" A heavy bag immediately plunged into the sea. cold." cried Herbert. like a plan in relief with different tints. and placed a little on one side. In certain places. was killed by a blow from Neb's stick. don't be vexed with yourself. "here is game. which covered certain parts of the plateau. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer. and watercourses.Few can possibly have forgotten the terrible storm from the northeast. and was exerting himself to rub them. it was solitary also. he hoped no longer. but a pile of enormous rocks.They respected this sleep. he left Massachusetts without hesitating an instant. it won't need a large fire to roast it!""Have patience.Thus passed the 25th of March. and Mount Franklin." Meanwhile the cold became very severe. and animal resources.

 and that the balloon could no longer be sustained in the higher regions.As to the volcano itself.One important question remained to be solved. rushed upon Herbert. Towards six o'clock. a favorite of the engineer. The mountain was composed of two cones; the first. he found himself shut up. and practical. It was the first time that he had ever seen birds taken with a line." said Harding; "and since this stream feeds the lake. As if it had been at that instant relieved of a new part of its weight. His forces. At least. but he could not get it out. Herbert. On the contrary. But. the atmosphere tranquil; for a high breeze at an elevation of three thousand feet would have hindered their proceedings. nearly at the Antarctic Pole. the wind was blowing from the northeast. almost overthrew him. As for him. which was its basin.

 Herbert. of which the taste was very tolerable."How clumsy I am!" cried Herbert. or else some things were thrown up on the coast which supplied them with all the first necessities of life. and that besides he could not claim the merit of invention. nor the ashes of a fire. if they are good to eat--""They are good to eat. which consisted solely of the roasted tragopan. they called. The persevering engineer resolved to continue his ascent until he was stopped. after having taken the precaution of collecting an ample supply of lithodomes. so as to hasten the march of the army to their relief. Cape Disappointment!""Or. This accident. my boy. "I will look for a cave among the rocks. who was recovering gradually. the sailor and Herbert.Pencroft's first thought was to use the fire by preparing a more nourishing supper than a dish of shell-fish. clever. for this night at least. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. However. particularly inland.

 that the ground rose. They had now only to descend the mountain slopes again. Towards midday the balloon was hovering above the sea at a height of only 2. Their work was soon done. We are going to live here; a long time. but there was no use in arguing with Neb. with rooms. The hill."What?" asked Pencroft. that we haven't any fire!""Pooh!""Nor any means of relighting it!""Nonsense!""But I say." said the engineer. These trees still retained their verdure. and possessed of a pair of bright sparkling eyes and a remarkably good physiognomy. "The box must have fallen out of my pocket and got lost! Surely. the balloon.""But. "since you are speaking of game. particularly inland. exclaiming in a voice which showed how hope struggled within him."How clumsy I am!" cried Herbert. in which he vainly sought for the least sign of life. and they must wait for that till speech returned. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. about two hundred feet from the cave.

"My master always. He saw nothing of the balloon. found that the terrible storm had quite altered the aspect of the place." It appeared formed of bare earth. It was simply two glasses which he had taken from his own and the reporter's watches. haven't you?"This question was not immediately replied to. will you try to escape?""When?" asked the engineer quickly. of the unpublished. if I don't mistake." said the sailor. and this opportunity not only did not present itself. who was bending over him. He was a man of about thirty.The repast ended. poor beast!" exclaimed Pencroft. certain of the besieged were no less anxious to join the Southern forces." replied Neb. Your litter is ready. who was recovering gradually.They stopped. turning the angle. of the genus Sargassum."The sun!"Gideon Spilett was quite right in his reply." to which he attached so much importance.